Must Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgway is a 2006 Avon publication.
Holiday themed novels are my weakness. Like a starving person at a buffet, every yMust Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgway is a 2006 Avon publication.
Holiday themed novels are my weakness. Like a starving person at a buffet, every year I load up on new Christmas themed novels- way more than I could possibly read- even if I started in September- okay, if I started in July. So, my Kindle is now haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past- packed with unread heartwarming holiday family fare, Yuletide murders, and zany Christmas-themed rom-coms. So, this year I limited myself to only three (or four) new releases and instead picked holiday books I already had on my Kindle.
I have no idea how long this book has been on my device- but it’s been a few years- over five- at least. I love the cover, and the story sounded cute- so I plucked it from the pile.
Unfortunately, every year I also manage to pick a book that is the equivalent of a lump of coal amongst all the shiny bows and ribbons- and this year that humbug honor goes to “Must Love Mistletoe’.
This is a contemporary romance that although it had some potential fizzled out pretty early on. I have no doubt that if I’d read this book years back, I’d have been more entertained by it than I am now. But I’ve aged out of CR novels in which there is more heavy breathing, groping, making out and sex scenes than there is meaningful dialogue and character growth.
There really wasn’t a lot of holiday cheer in this one either, despite the premise- there was more grumbling about the holiday than warmth, joy, peace or even comedy for that matter. Though one couldn’t really blame Finn for not being in the holiday spirit- he would go from dark and brooding to lusting after Bailey, to make out sessions, then back to dark and brooding. It just didn’t mix well. Then there was that ending- with an unusual twist that didn’t make sense, and a rather abrupt conclusion.
Overall, this one will fare better for the targeted audience- which I was probably moderately a part of when I first acquired this book- but have long since abandoned.
On the plus side, each chapter ended with a small bit of Christmas trivia- which was fun and interesting-and almost made it worth sitting through all that heavy breathing… almost.
A Betty Neels Christmas is a 2002 Harlequin Publication.
The first book in this holiday collection is “A Christmas Proposal”-
This is a short story thaA Betty Neels Christmas is a 2002 Harlequin Publication.
The first book in this holiday collection is “A Christmas Proposal”-
This is a short story that has been bundled or partnered with other books by Neels several times- This combo was released in 2002- but I believe the original copyright for this story is 1996.
This story is sort of a holiday Cinderella story…
Oliver, a doctor, meets Bertha at a party and immediately recognizes that she is not allowed to live up to her full potential thanks to her stepmother and stepsister. He takes her under his wing, finding her a job, and watching over her situation at home, which is a prickly, delicate situation because Bertha’s stepsister has designs on Oliver…
A very short romance, very charming and sweet!
The second story is a full-length novel entitled – “A Winter Wedding”. If I have my facts straight this story was originally published in 1979.
This is a story about Emily, a nurse, who is caring for her younger sister- who is supposed be helping- but is more of pain than anything else- and her infant niece and nephew after her sister and brother-in-law are detained in another country. She is assigned a medical case working with a doctor who is rude and arrogant, but who eventually manages to have a few encounters with Emily outside of work, and meets her younger, more attractive sister. It would seem plain Emily is left to shoulder all the family responsibilities while her sister and the doctor paint the town….
Oh, my goodness- Betty Neels was certainly a treasure. Her books were always very clean and very old-fashioned- safe for any teenager reading them back in the late sixties and seventies.
Unfortunately, the beginning of this story is just plain ridiculous, with Emily’s spoiled sister doing things that would land her in all kinds of legal or criminal hot water- but getting off scot-free- not to mention treating Emily like her personal doormat.
But, thankfully, that part of the book morphed into something else entirely in the second half of the book, where we find Emily on a grand adventure enjoying herself, but feeling the necessity to return to London and focus on her career- all this despite or because of her feelings for the handsome, but often preoccupied doctor who sponsored her trip.
This second half the story was much more pleasant, and I loved the various characters introduced at this stage, too. The formula is familiar, of course, with Emily believing she was too plain for the doctor who had his choice of pretty women, but perhaps she is more attractive than she knows- with her inner beauty leading the way.
Another spin on the Cinderella story- a trope that never seems to go out of style – and there are many modern versions of it. I must say that despite the age of the story and how unrealistic most of it was, I enjoyed it. It was a pleasant story, and it was great fun to reacquaint myself with Neels. I may have to add some of her titles into my rotation more often.
Overall, the two books in this collection compliment one another with similar holiday/winter themes. Quite enjoyable despite the age of the stories!
Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand is a 2016 Little, Brown and Company publication.
The blurb for this book says this is the last book in a trilogy- anWinter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand is a 2016 Little, Brown and Company publication.
The blurb for this book says this is the last book in a trilogy- and it was meant to be- but this there is one more book after this one- FYI.
This book starts with a summer wedding and a feeling of hope. But there are still many dark clouds hovering over the Quinn Family…
Patrick is released, but discovers his strong wife is human after all when her secret drug use comes to his attention. Ava is still undecided about her love life; Kevin realizes he and Isabelle can’t put their lives on hold any longer and Kelley receives a serious health diagnosis. Meanwhile, the family still sits on pins and needles waiting for news about Bart…
This series is a little bit addictive. As per usual the story features high drama- with a bit more somberness in places, but there are a lot of fresh starts and promising futures, too!
Overall, this was another addicting installment in this holiday themed series!
A Little Christmas Faith by Kathyn Freeman is a 2017 Choc-lit publication.
Faith’s dream of owning and operating a hotel has come true. It’s ChristmasA Little Christmas Faith by Kathyn Freeman is a 2017 Choc-lit publication.
Faith’s dream of owning and operating a hotel has come true. It’s Christmas and the hotel is now open for business decorated to maximize the holiday spirit… and she’s gotten her first guests- never mind that they are her own parents.
Enter Adam- her first authentic guest- a big lumberjack of a man who wants nothing more than to ignore Christmas…
Unfortunately, he’s come to the wrong place to escape the holidays….
I don’t mind a bit of the sunshine/grumpy trope, just so long as either side is not too heavy handed- and in this case it was mostly balanced, with Adam coming on a bit too strong on occasion, but nothing too over the top.
I had a bit of a wrong impression going into this one, though. I was expecting something a little lighter and cleaner- like Hallmark Movie clean- but there was some heaviness here I wasn’t anticipating, with a smattering of language and sexual content. (My presumption- so my bad on that front)
I also struggled with the messaging concerning Faith’s teenage niece, Chloe. Having a boyfriend is not a measure of one’s self-worth, and a great teaching moment here was missed. I know this is not a story one should over analyze, but it was a niggle that wouldn't stop worrying me.
The subject matter that comes later in the book is quite emotional and because the details came so deep into the story the heaviness overshadowed the sudden reverse back to lighthearted holiday events and perhaps put a damper on the warm and fuzzies I was longing for.
Overall, I wanted to love this one. I think I’ve read this author before, some time back, and enjoyed her work, but this one didn’t work for me as well, unfortunately.
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs is a 2023 William Morrow publication.
Brenda is not a ‘Christmas’ person. Too many bad memories attached –The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs is a 2023 William Morrow publication.
Brenda is not a ‘Christmas’ person. Too many bad memories attached – not to mention the recent Christmas eve discovery of her husband’s infidelity-which makes her even more determined to escape the holiday this year- which is how she finds herself traveling thousands of miles from Houston to New York to deliver a slew of dogs to their forever homes. But a series of events leaves Brenda stranded, sorely testing her ability to avoid Christmas...
Well, who can pass up a tail wagging Christmas tale? That cover is just too precious to pass up. This is a lovely romantic story with plenty of holiday cheer. There’s a nice balance between the romantic elements and the heartwarming holiday magic- nothing too sweet or too heavy.
The story is not entirely ‘clean’- the intimacy is closed-door-and though the language is infrequent- and pretty mild- there should be a ‘no-cursing’ clause in all holiday- themed novels- it just doesn’t feel right to me.
But besides that one complaint- I enjoyed this story. It was fun, whimsical, and super romantic… and of course… there were dogs!! Enough said!
Mistletoe Mine by Emily March is a 2023 publication. (Originally published in 2011)
I missed this one when it was originally published in 2011. It’s beMistletoe Mine by Emily March is a 2023 publication. (Originally published in 2011)
I missed this one when it was originally published in 2011. It’s been repackaged, if you will, with a new cover and an updated excerpt at the end of the story. But, regardless, it’s a new story for me, and I’m glad I was made aware of it.
It’s been a long time since I landed my feet in Eternity Springs, and it was nice to revisit that world for a short time. This story is, as are most holiday themed novellas, short and sweet. There is depth to the story as well as some Christmas scenery to capture the romance of the season as well as the magic.
Overall, a quick, enjoyable story everyone can enjoy- at any time of the year!
Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm by Kathryn Springer is a 2024 Harlequin Love Inspired publication.
I only allowed myself a couple of pre-release or new Christmas at Spruce Hill Farm by Kathryn Springer is a 2024 Harlequin Love Inspired publication.
I only allowed myself a couple of pre-release or new release holiday books this year- and this was one of them. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this book was not slated for release until late 2024!! Yikes!
So, here’s what I’m going to do-
I'm going to write a small preview of my review- then post the full review closer to release day:
Overall, this is a light story, but one with some poignancy and depth. It will appeal to younger and more mature contemporary fiction/romance readers, alike!
Winter Stroll by Erin Hildebrand is a 2015 Little, Brown and Co. Publication.
This is the second installment in a four-part series centered around theWinter Stroll by Erin Hildebrand is a 2015 Little, Brown and Co. Publication.
This is the second installment in a four-part series centered around the Quinn Family, each installment taking place during the Christmas holidays on Nantucket.
This story takes place one year later with the Quinn family dealing with a plethora of upheavals. As they gather for Genevieve’s baptism, and the holidays, it seems things are more unsettled than ever. Bart is still missing, believed to be a POW, Ava’s former boyfriend is back begging her for another chance, and Jennifer is struggling to raise three boys while her husband serves his time in prison, and Mitzi is falling apart with worry over Bart, which is affecting her relationship with George- and that’s just for starters!!
Non-stop drama from start to finish! While this book is centered around the holidays- that atmosphere is absent, in my opinion. Some holiday songs are played, but under the circumstances one can understand why the family is not exactly feeling the holiday spirit. The family issues are a bit bleak at times, but there are some romantic developments that were really nice and helped to offset the tense developments.
Once again, I found myself caught up in the drama, heavy though it seemed at times, and once again, I was caught off guard by the ending, which once again, ends with a cliffhanger.
As it is edging toward the holiday season, I’m hoping to squeeze in at least one more installment- but hopefully, I’ll be able to complete the entire series before the end of the year.
Overall, a nice fall/winter contemporary story. A a little romance, a lot of drama- a quick, absorbing story!
How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews is a 2017 Minotaur publication.
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time again…
Yep! Christmas in July!!
This year inHow the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews is a 2017 Minotaur publication.
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time again…
Yep! Christmas in July!!
This year in Caerphilly, there will be a full-blown production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Malcolm Havers, a quasi-big-name actor has been cast in the role of Scrooge. Unfortunately, Haver is difficult and has a bit of a drinking problem. While everyone is trying to keep Havers sober, someone keeps supplying him with booze.
Hoping to catch this ‘bootlegger’ Meg follows Haver to his possible source, only to discover an animal smuggling ring….
And a dead body…
Andrews always adds a little something extra to her holiday themed mysteries. I loved the mystery, which was well-plotted, and had a kind of dual thread, and of course, the play and the snowy Christmas atmosphere, along with a little holiday spirit, gave the story a little sweet, cozy, and heartwarming atmosphere to close things out.
This is the twenty-second installment in the series, and it is still drawing me back for more. I enjoyed touching base with all the zany characters, who are, by now, old friends, and it is especially nice when they are dispensing a little holiday cheer!
Overall, Andrews delivers again- and of course, I look forward to my next visit to Caerphilly!...more
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn is a 2022 publication. (Amazon Original Stories)
Normally, I don’t do well with short stories, but the title of thResting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn is a 2022 publication. (Amazon Original Stories)
Normally, I don’t do well with short stories, but the title of this book grabbed my attention, and I just couldn’t resist.
As it turns out, this quickie was very well done. The characters have some good back and forth dialogue, there’s a hint of holiday magic and a cute romance all rolled into a compact package. It was well worth the time spent reading it, and it might even cure your own ‘Resting Scrooge Face’.
Overall, because this one is under a hundred pages, it would be terrific ‘lunch break’ distraction and quick holiday spirit booster!
Snowed in For Christmas by Sarah Morgan in a 2022 HQN publication.
Lucy, Ross, Alice, Nico, Clemmie, Fergus, Glenda, Douglas and last, but not least, Snowed in For Christmas by Sarah Morgan in a 2022 HQN publication.
Lucy, Ross, Alice, Nico, Clemmie, Fergus, Glenda, Douglas and last, but not least, Nanna Jean have all gathered for Christmas- except that Lucy is an unexpected guest, having found herself trapped there by a vicious winter storm after she pulls an in person ‘cold call’ with Ross Miller, the CEO of ‘Miller Active’, which specializes in activewear, desperately hoping to snag a new and lucrative account.
Lucy has idealized the Miller family- but soon discovers their ‘perfect family’ image isn’t as perfect as it seems. The Millers also have their share of personal resentments, broken dreams, and doubts and fears- just like everyone else…
I love Sarah Morgan- she’s one of my ‘go-to’ contemporary fiction/ romance authors, these days. Knowing this author, I knew the book would have depth and might not necessarily have the light festive atmosphere of other Christmas themed stories.
Don’t get me wrong, the issues are not all that heavy, really, but… the story is heavy on the drama, if that makes sense. This is SM’s style, no matter what the calendar says. In fact, with a calendar change and few tweaks here and there, this book would work just as well as a 'beach read'. So, while there are holiday festivities- the story does have a bit more levity.
I admit I got caught up in the Miller’s lives, and their various concerns and relationship woes- it was pretty good stuff. If I must make a complaint, it would be that the story was too busy. I’m ashamed to admit that for a while there I almost completely forgot all about poor injured Lucy, who was left alone for an inordinate amount of time. In fact, the characters seemed to have realized this at about the same time I did- and thankfully, Lucy was checked on- and was woven back into the story. So- yes, a few too many POVs and characters, perhaps.
I also thought that Clemmie and Alice’s issues might have been wrapped up a little faster, as well as the Ross/Douglas/Glenda thread- because all these characters have a long history with their family and prospective partners, whereas Lucy and Ross only just met, and spent precious little time alone. Their banter was not terribly playful or sharp the few times they did have a convo, and their romance was terribly rushed.
That said, Morgan is a seasoned pro, and she was able to adeptly bring all the threads together with satisfaction and with a nice happily ever after!
All’s well that ends well, right?
Right!
Oh-and just one more thing, Nanna Jean deserves a special mention as she very nearly stole the entire show!! I loved her!...more
Christmas at Cozy Holly Inn by Meredith Summers is a 2021 publication.
This is a cute holiday themed contemporary novel centered around Pinecone FallsChristmas at Cozy Holly Inn by Meredith Summers is a 2021 publication.
This is a cute holiday themed contemporary novel centered around Pinecone Falls, a cozy little town in Vermont. Julie Green’s grandmother, Ida, is selling her B&B, but before the sale in finalized, she wants to host one more Christmas Eve party. Unfortunately, she is a little under the weather, so she calls Julie asking her to help with decorating the B&B. Because Julie is in-between jobs, and she can’t refuse her grandmother under the circumstances, she leaves Boston to spend a few weeks getting the B&B in shape for the big Christmas party finale….
When she arrives, though, the place is in disrepair, she finds a cat she doesn’t want, and who doesn’t seem to like her very much, but becomes her temporary responsibility, and a neighbor, Nolan Miller, she doesn’t have fond memories of, is suddenly quite interested in whether she plans to stick around or return to Boston.
Nolan’s family has been through some heavy tragedies, virtually erasing their holiday spirit- seemingly forever. Now they are set to buy the B&B, but Julie’s appearance has made them suspicious. To make sure the sale isn’t about the fall through, Nolan’s family wants him to keep an eye on Julie Green…
This is a festive story with plenty of holiday atmosphere. Lots of snow, decorations, holiday memories and a little romance to top things off. Because this was such a nice story, I hesitate to nitpick- but the small-town vs. the big city comparisons were too heavy handed, and contradicted itself a time or two as Julie's neighbors weren't always very nice. There are salt of the earth people everywhere, not just in small towns, but that is my only complaint.
I was completely won over by the animals in the story- both ‘Kringle” the cat and ‘Snowball”, the dog played key roles in the story, and were occasional scene-stealers.
Overall, I love good, clean, holiday stories- and I read lots of them every year- and yes, often they are predictable-but that is not always a bad thing, in my opinion, and so what? Sometimes holiday stories can go overboard on the sap, though- but Summers did a good job of keeping the story light in tone, while avoiding anything too sickly sweet. It had just the right touch of holiday spirit and was a lovely way to spend a dreary afternoon. ...more
Southern Living Christmas 2022 is a Harry N. Abrams publication.
I have a ‘subscription’ to Southern Living magazine via the KU program. I love the maSouthern Living Christmas 2022 is a Harry N. Abrams publication.
I have a ‘subscription’ to Southern Living magazine via the KU program. I love the magazine, which is a little bit addictive, I must say, so when I saw this Christmas edition book at the library I couldn’t resist.
Evidently, this is an annual Southern Living tradition, so this is the newest Christmas publication. I did not know what to expect really, but I thought the book would be a little chunkier than this with better photos and articles. (This is a digital copy- the hardcover version probably has bigger and brighter pictures.)
The book is nice enough- with the charm and elegance has the Southern Living readers are accustomed to, and includes some very interesting southern holiday recipes, with the cakes winning the day.
But, out of curiosity, I checked the book price at Amazon and thought that for what you get the price point was a bit steep. I’m sure the hardcover version is beautiful, but I didn't feel even remotely tempted to buy a copy. I think I got more out of the monthly periodical, than from this book.
If you find a copy at your library- it is a fun book to flip through and might give you a few decorating and holiday planning ideas, and there were a number of recipes.
Though I wasn't tempted to buy a copy of this book for myself, I thought it might make be a good gift idea-but on second thought, a subscription to the Southern Living monthly publication would probably be the better option -and give you more bang for your buck.
Rest You Merry by Charlotte Macleod is a 2012 Mysterious Press/Open Road publication. (Originally published in 1978)
I’ve been curious about this serieRest You Merry by Charlotte Macleod is a 2012 Mysterious Press/Open Road publication. (Originally published in 1978)
I’ve been curious about this series for ages, and I love reading through old cozy mystery series. The downside to that is trying to locate all the installments, since many of these older books are out of print or are priced outside my budget. Thankfully, I found a healthy number of Macleod’s Peter Shandy series in digital format on Hoopla while looking for holiday mysteries. As it turns out, this is both a Christmas themed book and the first book in the series, so it seemed the perfect time to dive in and test the waters.
For a book originally published in 1978 it held up well. There are a few remarks made that we might frown on, and some phrases popped up that were pretty funny. “When can we split for lunch?” Split? LOL! But the best one was referencing law enforcement as the ‘Fuzz’. That one made me laugh out loud. But, overall, the book is not all that dated. The mystery is solid, and I rather liked Peter Shandy. There were a few characters to keep up with, which was a little trying at times, and for a cozy mystery I was a little surprised at some of the language- no F-bombs or anything, but occasionally some words went beyond ‘mild language’, which is not typical for books in this category.
Other than that, this book got the series off to a good start. I have no idea if reading in order is required- I rather doubt it, to be honest- I’ll have to go with what books are available, though, either way. But I will most definitely read more books in the series whenever possible.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin is a 2022 HQ Digital publication.
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. AftFlora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin is a 2022 HQ Digital publication.
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. After yet another break-up, another lost job, and with her best friend moving away, Flora is urged to start her own Christmas themed business, living ‘the van life’.
It’s a great idea! She could be her own boss- so she couldn’t get fired, right? So, she heads off to Lapland with big plans to follow the Hallmark Movie guidelines, hoping she’ll not only be a great businesswoman, but will find true love, too…
Flora’s love of all things Christmas could give Buddy the Elf a run for his money, but she runs into big trouble when she meets Connor. She’s more than a little attracted to the man, but there’s this one teeny, tiny hitch…
Connor despises Christmas!
I wasn’t sure, when I started reading this book, if I was going to be able to withstand Flora’s OTT obsession with Christmas, and her strong personality. She was a little annoying, to be honest, especially for a quiet introvert.
But then we meet Connor, and I knew right then we were going to have a fantastic ‘opposites attract’ romance, and that it was going to be worth sticking around for. Not only that, but I’ve also loved this author for years, and I couldn’t imagine not being charmed by one of her books- especially one with a Christmas theme!
As it turns out, there is no better setting for a holiday story than Lapland!! If your holiday spirit needs a boost, then this book will absolutely do the trick. This an adorable holiday romance, and Rebecca Raisin did a fabulous job of creating holiday magic powerful enough that even nonbelievers can't resist it.
Overall, I ended up loving this story, and the homage to Hallmark Christmas movies, was a nice touch, too!
This is my first official Christmas romance of 2022 and I’d say this was the perfect book to kick off the holiday reading season!
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