We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Brenda Novak

 

Summary:

 

Jaclyn Wentworth is on her own with three little kids. She used to be married to the golden boy--former golden boy--of their small Nevada town. The marriage was a disaster because her ex-husband never grew up. And he sure wasn't much of a daddy.

Now Jaclyn's living in Reno. And who, of all people, does she run into there but Cole Perrini, bad boy of Feld, Nevada. Former bad boy. He was her ex-husband's opposite in every way--and he still is. Because Cole's made good in every sense of the word.

Will Jaclyn and her children get the husband and father they deserve? Not a Scrooge, but a Santa!

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 304 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: Bought

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: November 1st 2001 by Harlequin Books

 

This is the third novel I've read from Brenda Novak and I have to admit, it's actually my favourite one so far. I used to love Harlequin Super Romances back in the day so when I saw this for sale during the summer at my local used bookstore I just had to have it and since I'm participating in the Ho Ho Ho Read-a-Thon I thought this would make the perfect read and it was.

 

I was a little unsure of how this romance would turn out. I've read one of the authors newer historicals as well as one of her newer contemporary romances and I've learned to be a little leery of some authors older titles but with this one my fears were completely unfounded.

 

I read We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus in one sitting, it was that good folks. I thought the story was so realistic that I couldn't help but root for Jackie the heroine. She went through a really bitter divorce and she's striving to make a life for herself and her three children but it's had because she has a dick of an ex-husband and she has to deal with his dick of a father who is set on controlling all of their lives. I'm a sucker for a heroine who already has kids because they're generally a lot smarter than some other female leads and I like that they generally aren't self centered. Jackie was great, she had lived a privileged life before her divorce but she has a good head on her shoulders and she understand the value of a dollar.

 

Cole, was a bit of an enigma at first. He was one of those strong silent types with a good heart, but very shy when it came to anything that dealt with feelings. He was smart, well to do and had a loyal heart and I loved how he was with Jackie and her three kids. He was very protective of not only her, but her 3 kids as well.

 

As a couple I thought they were great. They new each other in high school and she married her ex-husband who was the most popular guy in school while he was on the outskirts and was considered trailer trash. I liked how after both of them went through some difficult times in life that they found each other after years.

 

Overall, I thought We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was a great contemporary romance. It wasn't completely set around the holidays but Christmas did play a big part of the story in the latter half of the story. Brenda Novak is fast becoming a favourite author of mine, and I can't wait to read more of her books in the near future. She was able to create a great clean romance that was sweet without being sappy and like I mentioned it was realistic so there were some laughs and a little drama thrown in for good measure.

 

I would recommend this to all fans of contemporary romances. While the cover dates the novel (it was published in 2001) I think the story holds up well and I didn't think it was cheesy in the least and I thought it was a great quick read with a lot of warmth.

 

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

Loved It!
★★★★★

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Snowbound with the Soldier by Jennifer Faye

 

Summary:

Maybe this Christmas...?

It has been seven long years since Kara Jameson last saw Jason Greene. Returning home as a wounded war hero, Jason looks a shell of the man she once knew. Yet her heart still skips a beat as if it was yesterday.

Stepping back into civilian life, Jason looks to Kara for help. But there's too much water under the bridge; not to mention too much lingering attraction.

But it seems that the mountain weather has other ideas, and when Kara and Jason end up snowbound together they are forced to confront the ghosts of Christmas past.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 256 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: October 1st 2013 by Harlequin

I love Harlequin.

I really do, because of them I've been able to get myself out of a lot of reading funks and because of them I've discovered some great authors. Authors, like Jennifer Faye. Back in August I was first approached by the author to review her book and the other day I had the time on my hands to finally get to it.

Snowbound with the Soldier was a delightful read, and a quick one to. I went through the whole book on my Kindle within an hour and a half and I loved every single minute of it. I'm a sucker for second chance love stories, hero's battling demons (even if they're only internal ones) and I love romances set in small towns during Christmas time all of which this romance had in abundance.

Since this was my first foray into Faye's writing I was cautious like I usually am when it comes to a new to me author but I ended up loving her story within the first 20 pages I was hooked by Jason and Kara's love story because it was so realistic. Sometimes, while I love Harlequin Romance titles I find they can be a little unrealistic but this one had the feel of a romance I can see happening in real life, and I just love when I come across stories like this.

Kara was a sweetheart, she was devoted to her daughter, her family, her friends, her job, Jason's father but she totally wasn't expecting the man who broke her heart seven years ago to turn up and end up being her boss. However, unlike other heroines I've seen put in similar circumstances she handled it with a lot of grace and minimal freakouts. I just loved her and thought that her spunky personality and ability to not only put up with Jason's snark but to dish it back at him was really refreshing.

Jason on the other hand deserved a big ol' smack up side the head at least a dozen times throughout the book and if he were a real person I would have been more than happy to deliver those smacks with a smile. I get that he was battling some internal demons but his reasoning was so flawed I thought he was a little outrageous and found myself to be increasingly angry with him but in the end I liked him.

What I liked most was the fact that there was a slower build up for these two characters and while certain things happened a little quick for my tastes the fact that they had been engaged previously established a deeper connection between them so insta-love wasn't a factor (thank goodness). I loved the fact that book was set during the holidays because it made this sweet little romance all the more cozy.

Overall, I think Jennifer Faye may just be a new favourite author of mine. While I love my steamy romances sometimes I just love a sweet small two chirstmas second chance love story like this one with compatible characters, a dash of drama and a whole lot of laughs.

I would recommend Snowbound with the Soldier to fans of the Harlequin Romance line who want a sweet romance without it being to sappy and something that is quick to read on a cool day curled up with a cup of tea. I for one am really looking forward to reading another of Jennifer Faye's books in the near future.

 

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

Loved it!
★★★★★

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The Right Kind of Girl (Best of Betty Neels) by Betty Neels

 

Summary:

A suitable wife?

Emma Trent had spent most of her life looking after other people, so it was a shock to encounter a man so determined to take care of her - Sir Paul Wyatt was fast becoming her very own guardian angel!

She was hardly in a position to turn down his proposal of marriage, even if it was motivated by convenience on his part. With her plain looks and practical nat

...more

A suitable wife?

Emma Trent had spent most of her life looking after other people, so it was a shock to encounter a man so determined to take care of her - Sir Paul Wyatt was fast becoming her very own guardian angel!

She was hardly in a position to turn down his proposal of marriage, even if it was motivated by convenience on his part. With her plain looks and practical nature, Emma knew her limitations, but longed for children of her own. Could the eminent surgeon be the answer to all her dreams?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 224 pages (Mass Market Paperback)
Source: Own
Available Formats: E-book (No longer in print)
Publication Date: June 1st 2004 by Harlequin (first published December 1995)

A few weeks ago I was chatting with a woman who like's the blog's Facebook page and she recommended Betty Neels to me because I was looking to expand my sweet reads library and it just so happened that my local used bookstore had a moving sale almost around the same time so I was able to score The Right Kind of Girl for 25 cents.

Anyways, since I love when people comment on the page I decided to give this one a try since I needed a quick and easy read I decided to go with this one. I knew right off the bat that the book wasn't going to be one of my steamy romance and it was nice to read something cozy and sweet for once.

Emma Trent is your average 25 year old woman living and working in rural England where she's practically taking care of everyone but herself. Not that she's a mess or anything, she's just one of those people that gives and gives. I thought Emma was exceptionally sweet and I really liked that about her. Unfortunately for Emma, tragedy strikes and her mother dies unexpectedly leaving her in a financial hole which Sir Paul Wyatt offers to bail her out of. Sir Paul is in his 40s and completely self sufficient and is looking for a companion so he proposes marriage to our young heroine, though not out of love but out of convenience.

The thing about this love story is that even though I wasn't expecting anything hot and heavy I would have liked the characters to have some passion for each other. Paul completely took advantage of Emma's youth and naivete. She obviously cared deeply for him but all he seemed to do is treat her like a child. However, Emma was partly to blame because the poor girl had very little backbone for much of the novel and I wanted to slap her about a bit and tell her to put her big girl panties on but things between her and Sir Paul seemed to work out by the end of the book.

Overall, I wasn't overly impressed by The Right Kind of Girl. It was a cozy and sweet which I loved, and Emma was a great character but I just couldn't commit to the romance aspect of the book. I thought the whole story line was a little jumbled and it seemed to go from naught to 100 kilometers an hour with the drama and angst that I felt made the story lose some of it's charm. That being said I still found it enjoyable and I'm glad that I gave an author I hadn't read before a try. This one might not have been the best book for me to be introduced to the author's writing style but I do look forward to reading another book by Neels soon.

I would recommend this book to fans of clean, contemporary, sweet romances. Also fans of 1990's contemporary Harlequin books should give this a try. This was a good little book that could be read on a cool fall day with a warm cup of tea.

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 Liked It!
★★★

 

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Temptation in a Kilt (Bad Boys of the Highlands #1) by Victoria Roberts

 

 

Summary:

 

She’s on her way to safety

It’s a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong’s desperation that she’s seeking refuge in a place as rugged and challenging as the Scottish Highlands. She doesn’t care about hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control…

He redefines dangerous…

Ciaran MacGregor knows it’s perilous to get embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially one as headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise to escort her all the way to Glengarry, now he’s stuck with her, even though she challenges his legendary prowess at every opportunity. When temptation reaches its peak, he’ll be ready to show her who he really is…on and off the battlefield.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 352 pages (paperback)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: September 4th 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca         

 

 

Now, it really isn't a secret that I have a wee obsession with highlanders and historical romances set  in Scotland so when this one came up for review on NetGalley I knew I had to get it and the good people at Sourcebooks Casablanca I got the chance to review it.

 

I read this one in just a few hours that's how much I enjoyed it. This was a fantastic read from debut author Victoria Roberts one that I literally could not put down. I think I stayed up until 4 a.m. reading this so by the time I was done I could bleary see my eyes were so bleary. At first I was ecstatic about finishing it so quickly then that turned to sadness because I realized I would have to wait forever for the second book to come out.

 

I really loved Rosalia's character  not to mention her name (I think it's a beautiful name) because she had such strength to her even though she grew up with abusive parents she didn't turn into a weak simpering idiot, instead she inherited the highland spirit from her father's side of the family along with the highland temper and she was able to dole out her fair amount of wrath when she wanted to which was something Ciaran learned very quickly.

 

The fact that Rosalia had such determination really endeared her to me and I love how Ciaran was taken aback by Roalia's independance and it was really funy how he reacted to that through out the novel. Plus the Rosalia and Ciaran didn't fall into the pit of Insta-love that's been plaguing novels and they actually fought their attraction to each other and took forever to admit they liked each other let alone loved each other made the book even better for me

 

This historical romance surprised me with the fact that there was an actual plot line to it because lets be honest here there are a lot of historical romances that really don't have much of a plot out there so this one was great to read. The fact that there was kidnapping and murder in it really made me love it more...wait...what does that say about me? Oh never mind. You know what I mean.  Plus this book was a CLEAN romance (No sexy time for Rosalia and Ciaran) which I was a little bit disppointed by but you know at the end of the day that hardly mattered they still had enough love and lust for each other the pages burned with it.

 

Victoria Roberts wrote a great highland historical romance with action, mystery and intrigue and I can't wait to read the second book in the series. I love her writing style and I hope that she continues to write for years to come because we all need a little romance in our lives even if it's through a book! The love that Rosalia and Ciaran have it sweet and strong and everything you want in a historical romance.

 

If you love historical romances I strongly suggest giving Temptation in a Kilt a try because of how different it is from a lot of other novels in this genre and it's a quick read. Perfect for a rainy fall afternoon. 

 

* I received a free copy of this book from the published via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated in any way.

 

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Awesome, I loved it!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
 

*[Blog Tour Review] Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan (Love Finds You) by Melanie Dobson

Summary:

It's the height of the Gilded Age, but Elena Bissette's family has lost most of its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, and they spend summers there in hopes of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls at the Grand Hotel, she spends her days walking along the island's rugged coastline. There she meets Chase, a young fisherman who invites her to watch the ships from an abandoned lighthouse. The two begin to meet there in secret, hoping to solve a decades-old mystery. Meanwhile, Elena's mother contrives introductions between Elena and the island's most eligible bachelor, an elusive millionaire named Chester Darrington. When Elena's two worlds unexpectedly collide, she will be in for the surprise of her life.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 320 pages (Paperback)

Source: ARC

Publication Date:July 1st 2012 by Summerside Press

There's nothing like reading a simple, sweet historical romance during the summer and this book for me really hit the spot. This was my first time reading anything by Melanie Dobson and also my first time reading a book in this series.

When I first got the e-mail about this book's blog tour I was really excited to read it. You see I have a friend in one of my Goodreads groups that loves this series of books and after seeing how much she's liked them I knew I had to grab my chance and give this one a try even if it's a wee bit out of my normal reading zone.

It has everything I could ask for in a book like this. There was a historic setting, romance and of course a fair dash of family drama and interference just to make it interesting. Since I love history the fact that this one happened on the historic island of Mackinac I knew I would love it especially since Melanie Dobson was kind enough to include a brief historical note about the island in the few pages before her novel began. I thought that it was a nice touch because I've honestly never heard of the island but now that I have I really would love to visit there.

I thought the writing in the novel was great, Melanie wrote it and paid close attention to details. One thing I really loved about it was the way she went out about depicting the scenes in the book in a way that I actually felt like I was there on the island with Elena.

I also really enjoyed the characters in the novel as well except for the obvious ones who were bad apples (You'll just have to read the book to figure out who they are :D ) but, even they were written into the story well because without them there wouldn't really have been much of a love story. I loved Elena and Chase they were such great main characters I couldn't help but enjoy reading about them because sometimes it's nice to take a break from reading the steamier romances and read something a wee bit more innocent.

Melanie Dobson wrote an excellent novel and I loved how she paid tribute to Mackinac Island. I thought she did a great job and this was a pleasure to read. One that I'll be passing along to other people starting with Mr. Turning The Pages' Mommy :)

I recommend this to anyone, in particular to those who love clean/christian romances.  It's perfect for the summertime and perfect to read at the pool or the beach or a weekend away at the cottage.

Author Bio:

Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside's Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn't writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

For more about Melanie Dobson and her books, visit www.melaniedobson.com.

*I recieved a FREE copy of this book in exchange for my FREE and HONEST review.

To visit Melanie's Blog CLICK HERE

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Really Liked it!
★ ★ ★ ★

The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber

Summary:

No one tells a Christmas story like Debbie Macomber. The Christmas Basket is filled with gifts for the reader -- gifts of warmth and laughter . . . and emotional truth. This Christmas, let Debbie make you smile!

That summer -- more than ten years ago, while they were still in high school -- Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton fell secretly in love. Secretly because their mothers had been locked in a bitter feud for decades. But despite the animosity between Sarah McDowell and Mary Sutton, Noelle planned to elope with Thom. Until he jilted her.

This Christmas Noelle McDowell is home to celebrate the holidays with her family. (After all, December 25 is also her birthday.) Unfortunately, Noelle's feelings about home -- or rather, her hometown of Rose, Oregon -- were changed forever the day Thomas Sutton broke her heart.

This Christmas the feuding mothers find themselves working together to fill Christmas baskets for charity. What irony! And what an opportunity for reconciliation . . . if only they could see it.

This Christmas Noelle and Thom discover they're still in love. Regardless of their mothers' reactions, they want to be together. Is that possible? Can old rivalries be set aside? Will Sarah's Christmas daughter have a second chance with Mary's charming son?

Maybe she will . . . this Christmas!
Summary Taken from Goodreads.com

Be honest with yourselves. You knew that I'd review another Debbie Macomber Christmas book. Deep down you knew it. I know you must be getting pretty tired of them but I just so happen to enjoy them and find them to be the perfect holiday reads.

That being said let me make this clear this is my least favourite of all her Christmas books that I have read so far. But it was still cute. Plus it was a very quick read since I was able to finish it in about 2 hours while travellng to and from school on Friday.

The story was kind of prdictable but still Christmasy and I did enjoy it. Just not as much as her other Christmas books. I didn't feel very strong attachments to any of the characters in this book. Sure I liked some of them but others like Thom the male lead I didn't care for. I think I'm noticing a pattern. I rarely like the men in Debbie Macomber's books. Usually I want to punch them. There's always something about them that seems off.

I did like the humour in this book and the story of the fued between the mothers was good too but I wish Noelle had been a more active heroine. She was very forgettable like many of the charcters which is why coupled with how I felt that the ending was rushed that I didn't like this book as much as others by the other. Don't get me wrong I still recommend it and enjoy her writing but I find that this was one of her weaker works though still heartwarming.

★★★ 1/2

The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber

Summary:
A Snowbound Christmas . . .
A Second-chance brideA Snowbound Christmas . . .
A Second-chance bride!
Practical Jenna Walsh has done something impractical. she's met a man on the Internet and now, a month before Christmas, she's going to Alaska to marry him. Dalton Gray seems to be everything she wants in a husband -- sensitive, gallant, romantic . . .
On the flight to Fairbanks, she has the misfortune to sit beside Reid Jamison, who obviously isn't sensitive, gallant, or romantic. However, he's not impressed with her plan t marry Dalton, a man he detests (for good reason, as Jenna later finds out). So Reed takes it upon himself to change her destination -- and her marriage plans.
Which is why Jenna ends up at Reid's cabin in tiny Snowbound, Alaska. It's currently a one-woman town (and the other woman's out of town. That leaves Reed, a bunch of eccentric old men, a few grizzly bears -- and Jenna. Kidnapped! And then there's a blizzard. The two of them alone, stranded in Snowbound . . .
Hmm. Maybe she'll be a Christmas bride, after all

So with this book the lovely Debbie Macomber took us on a whirlwind adventure to a small town in Alaska called Snowbound which I honestly wish was a real place because I'd move there in a heartbeat.
Now this isn't my favourite Debbie Macomber Christmas book  and I think that it's because I didn't like the heroine Jenna too much. She was alright but I wish she would have shown her backbone more and listened to Lucy, Reid's sister when she along with the rest of the residents of Snowbound told her that Dalton Gray was little more than a womanizing scam artist and it's best not to get involved with him. Honestly at 30 years old you would think that she would believe the people that actually know the man considering she hasn't even met him in person yet! I literally wanted to slap some sense into her.
I did like Reid though. I thought it was sweet that he shaved his beard for Jenna (Though I love beards!) I thought he was more personable than many of Macomber's other male leads in the sense that he wasn't as much of an ass about things.
I thought that the other side characters like Jenna's mother, Addy and Palmer and Pete all made the book that much more of a cozy read. They really lightened the mood at times and I found the fact that they wanted to get Jenna to stay was really sweet.
All in all Debbie Macomber gave us another wonderfully written heartwarming tale to read.

★ ★ ★ ★

That Holiday Feeling by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, & Robyn Carr

Summary:
Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber

In this classic story, Debbie brings those Manning men and Manning sisters home for a mistletoe marriage when a single dad finally says "I do."

The Perfect Holiday by Sherryl Woods

Will bachelor Trace Franklin become a groom-to-be by Christmastime? He sure will ... if Savannah Holiday's aunt Mae as anything to do with it.

Under the Christmas Tree (Virgin River #8) by Robyn Carr

When the folks of Virgin River discover a box of adorable puppies under the town's Christmas tree they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help. But it's his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues --- and tails --- wagging!


FYI: Since this is an anthology I will be talking about each novella/short story separately.

Silver Bells:
I really enjoyed this sweet story. As you can probably tell from my past reviews I love me some Debbie Macomber especially when it comes to her holiday stories. She just has that little something special in her books that make them magical. I really liked Carrie, I thought she was sweet and since I haven't yet read Debbie Macomber's Manning Men series so I was glad that she didn't delve too much into the series. I thought Carrie was very sweet but I wasn't as big of a fan of Philip her love interest. I did love his daughter Mackenzie though and found her to be adorable! I also liked the band of characters that live in their apartment. I found that Philip was arrogant and annoying. But I did like how they all had their happily ever after. Plus it had a Christmas story.

The Perfect Holiday:
Hannah and her mother Savannah have recently made the over from Florida to Vermont to take over Savannah's Aunt Mae's B&B after her passing. Savannah is on her own since divorcing her husband the year before and now she has the weight of the B&B on her shoulders. Due to the move her Christmas with her daughter is going to be present-less but filled with love just the two of them. That is until Trace Franklin the CEO of Franklin toys and long time friend of Aunt Mae follows her wishes and spends his holiday at the B&B...at the same time Savannah and Hannah are there. It seems as though Mae is doing a little matchmaking of her own from beyond the grave. After Mae's bringing them close together how could Trace and Savannah not fall in love during the season of giving, hope, and joy.
This was the first time that I've read anything by Sherryl Woods and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed her writing and I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the near future.

Under the Christmas Tree (Virgin River #8)
I have been a fan of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series since I started reading them at the beginning this year. This however was my first time in Virgin River at Christmas. I loved the story. There was love, Christmas time and abandoned puppies. I liked the way the relationship developed between Nate and Annie but I wish Nate wasn't so juvenile. I don't want to give Virgin River away to readers because I think this is one of the best series I've ever read. The way Robyn weaves her story is magical and real. Every time I read something by her I feel uplifted.

All in all I recommend this book to anyone. It's a great holiday anthology for those who love sweet romances.

★★★★

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's new series begins during the most magical time of year
 ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.



ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister's will gives him the instructions: There's no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC... Maggie Collins doesn't dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

...TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home...
Summary taken from Goodreads.com

This was my first time reading a book by the author Lisa Kleypas and I went into it with low expectations even though this has been sitting on my TBR shelf for over a year. I was first drawn to the book because of the cover which is lovely and since I've been reading Christmasy books the last couple weeks I thought this would be a nice heartwarming tale.
I was wrong. This book had no elements of a heartwarming tale, though I did love Holly and I liked Maggie a lot I just could not get over my distaste for Mark Nolan and his brothers Sam and Alex. I actually thought all three brothers were complete asses the who book. The fact that Mark didn't want Holly to have an imagination and didn't thin Maggie should still miss her dead husband really irked me. I also hated how pushy he was and I didn't like how Maggie did NOT appear to have a backbone at all. I mean sheesh she's a redhead. She SHOULD be fiery! 
I felt like the whole story was rushed and forced. It didn't seem to flow and it was as if the author didn't  know how she wanted the story to go. I wish that there would have been more warmth in the book and I felt that Holly and the dog Renfield were the best things in the book. I wish it had been better since this is the first book by this author that I've read so I'm hoping that the next book I read by her is better.
I actually don't think I would recommend this book to anyone but please, don't let my review stop you from reading this book. Try it and see for yourself how you like it :)

★ ★1/2

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

Summary:
Rediscover the joy of #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber's delightful tale of unexpected love, second chances, and a cat named Dog.

Lacey Lancaster has always longed to be a wife and mother. However, after a painful divorce, she decides it's time to lay low for a while in her charming San Francisco apartment with her beautiful Abyssinian cat, Cleo.
Everything would be wonderful, except for her utterly impossible neighbor Jack Walker. When he's not arguing day and night with his girlfriend, begging her to move in with him, he's chasing down his cat named Dog, who seems determined to get Cleo to succumb to his feline advances.
Then Lacey discovers the awful truth—Cleo is in the family way and Dog's to blame. She's furious that neither Jack nor his amorous animal seem too upset about the situation.
But Lacey learns that things are not quite as they seem. Jack's "girlfriend" is really his sister—and his intentions toward Lacey are very honorable. And though she's not quite sure about Dog, Lacey begins to discover the tender joy of falling in love all over again.






Summary taken from Goodreads.com

I hate to say it but I was a little let down by this book when I read it today. It's my least favourite of the 5 Debbie Macomber books I've read. That being said it was still a cute read and very light hearted read but I felt that it lacked the heartwarming feeling that seems to be her magic touch.
I believe this is one of her earlier works that was printed in an anthology back in 1994 and I suppose that that is why he book didn't exude that heartwarming feeling that emmenate from her other books.
I liked Lacey but I think she was too cold for me even with her HEA with Jack. I really liked how Debbie made the cats more like characters in the story rather than props like other authors sometimes do.
I think that since this was only 102 pages long I went into it with high expectations and because  I have adored her other books I thought that this would be the same style. I'm still glad I read it though because now I can see the progression and the evolution in her writing over the past 18 years.
I recommend this book to those who want to get a feel for her writing and for those looking for a cute, quick and easy read!

★ ★ ★

There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber

 

Summary:
Bestselling author Debbie Macomber (who won a Quill Award for Best Romance with 44 Cranberry Point) delight her many fans with an annual Christmas romantic comedy. This time, she delivers not only love and laughter but also fruitcake.
Macomber's sweet romance pits Emma Collins, a young reporter, against pilot Oliver Hamilton. Yes, he's attractive; yes, she's attracted; but Emma has issues. She is estranged from her father, she doesn't trust men, and Christmas is just another day to go to the movies alone. A coveted feature assignment takes her by plane to interview the three finalists in a national fruitcake contest. By the time the article is finished, Emma has learned more than a little about life and love from each woman -- and, with Oliver's help, she has rediscovered the joy of Christmas. (Bakers, take note: Recipes for the winning fruitcakes are included -- applesauce, chocolate, and a special no-bake version!).

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Debbie's done it again! I loved the Christmas love story by her. I love how she makes the characters seem so real and this one did not disappoint me at all. Infact I read most of it on my way too and from school today it was so good.
I really enjoyed the setting of this novel and the characers were really likeable though at time I wanted to smack Emma for being so dense when it came to her not knowing how Oliver felt about her. I was rooting for Oliver the whole time.
I thought the story itself was sweet, heartwarming and pretty darn cute and funny. I loved the dogs and the fruitcake recipies sound delicious. I think I may try to make a couple of them or maybe all three. I love how Debbie Macomber adds these things into her books for the readers. It makes her books just that more special.
I recommend this book to EVERYONE! I think I'm going to be passing this one on to my boyfriend's mother. Debbie Macomber writes the best Christmas romances in my opinion and I can't wait to read more by her.
I give this book:

 ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Summary:
This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than...Jake Finley, the owner's son.
For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him--and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.
Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it...
Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others--and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

There's nothing like one of Debbie Macomber's Christmas novel to warm the cockles of ones heart. Reading this Mrs. Miracle was like coming home. It was a modern spin on the movie classic Miracle on 34th street. It was just what I needed to read yesterday. I read it in one sitting so that should tell you how good it was!

I really liked the romance between Holly and Jake, but my favourite character was without a doubt Mrs. Miracle. She remind me of my mother, because she was all knowing and she had a sense of humour. I really love how Debbie Macomber wrote this story it was so heartwarming and light hearted. After reading it I f4lt lifted. She really is the official story of Christmas, at least she is in my eyes. Her books are wonderful to snuggle up on the couch, in your favourite reading chair or in bed reading late in the night with a cup of tea or coffee beside you.

I definitely recommend this one to anyone. Young or old. I can't wait to read the other Mrs. Miracle book.

I gave this book: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto by Liz Fielding

Summary:
Lucy Bright can't believe it when she's plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancée of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps—literally—into the arms of delicious tycoon Nathaniel Hart….
Spooked by their instantaneous chemistry, Lucy flees—but Nathaniel is determined to find his barefoot beauty. Though all he has is one very expensive red designer stiletto to help him!
Summary taken from Goodreads.com


You know Christmas time is coming when I start cracking out the Christmas books. This year I decided to start getting into the holiday spirit by reading this book. I've been reading Harlequin's since I was 11 (probably shouldn't have been) but those were often the only books left in the house that I hadn't read already. Anyways Harlequin's have had a special place in my heart since then.

After a tough week at school I wanted nothing more than to settle down and read something easy, quick, cute, funny, and christmas-y. I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book. Sometimes, I find that though I've got love for the Harlequin books they get a little too corny for my tastes. This one had a Cinderella twist to it so I suppose it was a little corny. I like corny. I wouldn't be with my better half this long if I didn't (I mean that in a nice, loving way Babe). But I enjoyed it immensley.

It had the cheese factor but it was not over done. I found Lucy Bright the protagonist to be quite likeable, and I hated her Fiance Rupert for using her to make money (the sad thing is men actually do take advantage of women for financial gain more than we think). So I was glad that she found her Happily Ever After. I like how though she was blonde, she was not a ditz! Thank you Liz Fielding for giving readers a heroine with a brain and a sense of humour. I loved the ending!

All in all it was a cute, Christmas love story where I connected to the characters. I give it:

 
★ ★ ★ ★.