CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Snowbound at Christmas by Debbie Mason

Christmas Colorado #5, Originally published in 2015 this reissue has a nice new cover. This is a great series from Debbie Mason, I've only read 3 out of the 7, not including the novellas, but each book I've read is so great. I love her writing, Christmas, Colorado seems so real in my head with all it's quirky residents and idyllic scenery.

Cat O'Connor loves her hometown she loves her family's ranch especially the people who go out of their way to help and then there is her sister Chloe, pampered and protected since she was an unhealthy baby who grew up into an entitled and selfish actress for a daytime soap. Cat became a police officer until she fell for the wrong man and it ruined her career. Needing to get out of Colorado she moves to LA to work as her sister's.... well everything. After some time Cat realized she was ready to go back home she already told Chloe she was leaving when an "accident" happened. Cat knew one thing for sure it was no accident someone just tried to kill her sister and she wasn't going to leave her sister alone until she found out who.

Grayson Alexander was on a well deserved vacation when his cousin recruited him for a job working undercover on a daytime soap to find out who is trying to kill the lead actress. Unfortunately his grandmother got kicked out of another nursing home and he was stuck with her posing as his manager; a great actress back in her day she fit right in with everyone. Gray himself posing as Lord Harry Halstead a new leading man, opposite Chloe. First off he assumes Cat is the primary suspect until he meets them and after talking to the crew his suspect list grows pushing Cat farther down the list. The more time he spends with them the more he likes Cat but Chloe is under the delusion that Lord Harry and her are a couple. Things don't any easier when they move the shooting to their hometown it just gives the would be killer more opportunity to go after Chloe.       

This is my favorite so far. Overall it was a great read it had several laugh out loud moments and the characters were so amusing. It was fun seeing the process of how Cat and Gray finally got together. Chloe, loved to hate her I so wanted to smack her upside the head. Ty is hysterical along with some of the other Christmas, Colorado residents. Such a fun Christmas Rom-Com I recommend to my book loving friends.

CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW The Highlander's Christmas Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Clan Kendrick #2, This series is a spin-off of Vanessa Kelly's Improper Princesses series which was a spin-off of her Renegade Royals series this can be read as a stand alone, all the pertinent information is given in a way that works as a nice reminder for those of us who have read it. Donella was first introduced in book 4 of the Renegade Royals book, again you don't have to read it in fact if you haven't read it it gives it a bit more mystery.

After the events of her broken engagement three years ago Donella converted to Catholic and joined a convent but now, days away from taking her vows Reverend Mother is kicking her out. Logan trying to gain favor with the Earl of Riddick agrees to escort his grandniece home. Donella was nothing that he expected he was delighted with her sense of humor and her courage especially when faced with an attempted kidnapping and roughing it in the wild to escape. Even after the parted and Donella was safely home with her family Logan couldn't stop thinking about her, even with the surprise of his son showing up in Scotland with his Grandfather Angus when he should still be in Canada. Donella wants to go right back and join another convent but Riddick gets her to agree to wait six months and try to have fun before she makes any decisions. She even agrees to plan a Christmas party for Alec and Eden at their Glasgow townhouse. Eden and Alec send her down first until they can join her in the meantime she is to stay at the Kendrick home bringing her in close proximity to Logan. The threat to Donella hasn't quite gone away they just change tactics and start horrible rumors despite how she is feeling for Logan and his son she feels it best to become a nun. It's Logan's job to convince her otherwise. 

Overall, it was a great read. One thing I love about Vanessa Kelly's writing, not just her great storyline and fantastic characters, she's able to convey the feel of the time period and it's not just all the typical brogue (I'd be disappointed if a book took place in Scotland and didn't have any) but everything in general, celebrating both Christmas and Hogmanay. I enjoyed Logan and Donella story especially what they did at the end. I love all the Kendricks I look forward to the next one.   

CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Christmas in Harmony Harbor by Debbie Mason

Harmony Harbor #9, I love this book. It's the last book of the series, or at least it plays out like it is the last. It works as a standalone but there is quite a bit of back story along with the Gallaghers and Greystone Manor. I enjoyed the entire series this one made me bawl at the end. It really is the perfect ending heartwarming and just a little bittersweet.

Evangeline Christmas left her NYC psychiatric practice behind to run the all year round Christmas store, Holiday House, in Harmony Harbor. A store that has been in her family for about a century and now it's being threatened by international real estate developer, Caine Elliot. Holiday House is Evie's haven and she will do anything to save it even make a deal with the devil. The devil being Caine and the deal more like a bet. Evie has an Angel Tree where people put up wishes that aren't easily done. She bets Caine that he can't do three Angel Wishes before Christmas, if she wins Caine takes his development of Wicklow Tower somewhere else and if she loses then she leaves no arguing, no more protests and convinces the rest of the town too. Evie plans it to where it's very much like a Christmas Carol and these acts of kindness will turn Caine from Scrooge at the beginning of the book to Scrooge at the end of the book.     

It wouldn't be so hard if Evie and Caine weren't also fighting their attraction to each other. The first wish brings Caine into close proximity to Evie daily which allows the both of them to get to know each other better. The more they find out about each other the more they like each other until they both give in to the attraction and fall in love. Caine's Grandmother is not an easy woman and she is dead set on ruining the Gallaghers and if she has to scare away Evie to move things along she will.

Overall, this was a great story this is one of my favorites. What am I going to do without this series?

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CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Christmas Angels is a sweet Hallmark-esk Christmas Romance it's an easy romance and it I read through it in no time, I thought it was a lot shorter than 300ish pages. I really enjoyed this one it really leaves you with a Christmasy feeling. The main characters both love Christmas and have so much in common. Liz Westmoreland grew up in the city but she's a small town girl at heart all she has ever wanted was to run the Inn her Grandparents owned. Matt Hardy loves his hometown of Antler Creek he's never wanted to leave it he came back after college and lost his fiancee because she didn't want to live in such a small town she wanted the big city and all it's perks.

By sheer chance Liz finds her grandparents Inn up for auction and bids on it sight unseen, well recently unseen. Liz is the winning bid she takes a leave of absence from work, it helps that her best friend is her boss. It seems like every other person thinks Liz is crazy for doing this but Liz is determined this is the life she wants. Liz's heart drops when she walks into the Inn to find it gutted the previous owners ripped just about everything out and turned it into an art gallery. Matt recognizes Liz almost immediately and since he didn't get the winning bid for the Inn he's glad it went to her. When they were younger and she would come to visit her Grandparents he had such a crush on her and now she's back hopefully to stay; to help with that he puts in a bid to fix the Inn and the connected cabins. All of Antler Creek is happy to have Liz there and that she's bringing back the Inn. When ever Liz is in doubt about her choice she seems to find one of her Grandmother's angels laying around and it gives her hope that this is what she's supposed to be doing, until disaster strikes and Liz really begins to doubt herself it's up to all her new friends and Matt to show her she's exactly where she needs to be.

Overall, it's such a sweet read. I really hope Hallmark picks this one up. I can just imagine how beautiful Lights at the Lodge would look. It's a great heartwarming story with great characters and I hope we aren't done with Antler Creek yet it's place I'd love to visit again.

ARC REVIEW The Trouble with Christmas by Amy Andrews

Credence, Colorado #2, Not to long ago the population of Credence increased due to the advert put out to lure women into moving here most of the women moved hoping to find a husband Susanne St. Michelle is not one of those women. She moved temporarily to help inspire her muse into painting original work again. Susanne has made a career of painting replicas, legal forgeries but she wants to create her own work. She rented a cottage on a ranch unfortunately the nephew of the man who owns the ranch isn't very welcoming. Joshua Grady regretted not letting his uncle sign over the ownership of the ranch when he told Grady that he rented out the cottage. Grady likes his peace and quiet and he never plans on marriage and he doesn't want someone on his property that will disrupt his life.

Susanne's muse woke up the moment she set eyes on Grady and her muse couldn't be quited until she painted him, so she did as the statue of David, as Adam, as a cherub and a couple other famous works of art all with his face. Unfortunately Grady is not amused when he finds them. Susanne wasn't planning on going home for the Holidays but when her mother confesses that she's having marital problems Susanne gives in and lets her parents come to her for Christmas, unfortunately that was after she told them all about her Christmas obsessed boyfriend Grady. Now all she has to do is convince Grady into it, he does but only after getting her to give up the paintings of him in return.

Overall, this was a fun read. It works fine as a standalone so you don't have to read the first book of the series. I loved Grady and Susanne they were quite the pair. Everytime Susanne said Joshua it made me think of Rachel from Friends pronouncing it "Josh-u-a". I really enjoyed the story and characters I look forward to more from this author and this series.   

CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Maybe This Christmas by Susannah Nix

AUTHOR: Susannah Nix

RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2019

PRICE: $.99

BLURB:

Two best friends. Ten Christmases. One happy ending.

When best friends Alexandra and Lucas share a first kiss on Christmas night their senior year of high school, it feels like the best years of their lives are ahead of them.

Then Alex goes off to college, and Lucas stays behind to work at his dad’s construction business in the small beach town where they grew up. Life, as they say, happens. And somewhere along the way these two high school sweethearts find they don’t have as much in common as they once did.

Lucas’s life is on Beaufort Island, and Alex is all about getting away and moving on. So he makes one of the hardest decisions of his life and lets her go.

But every year when Alex comes home for the holidays, fate conspires to reunite the two former lovebirds on Christmas Day. Year after year, through good times and bad, Lucas and Alex meet up, catch up, and reconnect on the anniversary of their first kiss.

Is it too much to hope that one year they’ll find their way back to each other permanently?

Maybe even this Christmas.

An absolutely adorable stand alone novella from the same author who brought us the Chemistry Lessons series. It kind of reminded me of that one Christmas movie Love at the Christmas Table (2012) but this book was so much better. Christmas of their senior year Alex and Lucas finally admit they like each other and share their first kiss after knowing each other practically all their lives. The next year after graduation and Alex leaving for college Lucas realizes as much as he loves her he needs to let her go to live her life and they break up a year to the day that they started dating. The next year is awkward they haven't talked practically that whole year but they come to realize they can still be friends and be there for each other. One year she has a girlfriend, and the next not and then Lucas has a girlfriend and then a fiance. Each year they grow closer again learning each other as adults rather than school friends and high school sweethearts until they are together, again.

I love the format of this each year is a single chapter and it doesn't give the reader any extra information on what has happened during the past year so that way the characters have something to talk about especially when they are estranged and then they reflect on the past year. Overall, this is a quick and easy read, I really enjoyed it.

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CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Cowboy Christmas Homecoming by June Faver

Dark Horse Cowboys #4, I am so glad the series didn't end with the Garrett Brothers it has now expanded to Zach Garrett their cousin who has been away in the Army. Like with his cousins when Zach meets the woman that was meant for him he's practically 100% all in from the start. It is an easy romance with very few bumps. Zach spent two tours in the military and during his second his dad died and his mom wasn't able to maintain the ranch so when Zach came home he came to his uncle's house not his mother's new home in Ft. Worth. Big Jim welcomed his nephew with open arms. Zach is dealing with a bit of PTSD and feeling like he doesn't fit in with the family any more, but then there is Stephanie.

Stephanie Gale, we met in one of the previous books, is a firefighter/EMT who specializes in confined space retrieval. She recently was called on to a scene where two young children witnessed their step father murder their mother. She was first on the scene and was the one who took the kids to the hospital. Stephanie and the kids formed an attachment and if the social worker wasn't such a *clears throat* wasn't so old fashion Stephanie would have adopted them weeks ago. Unfortunately right before Christmas the step father managed to escape police custody with help of his two brothers. Stephanie worries about the kids but she should be worried about herself too. After her first official date with Zach he bring her home to a destroyed apartment and a couple hours later she's attacked by one of the brothers. Zach's protectiveness amps up he may not have a lot to offer Stephanie but he can protect her until she's no longer in danger.

Stephanie falls for Zach quickly she wants to help him even if that means tracking down Jewel and bringing her here. Trying to track down Zach's dog from overseas took many phone calls being put on hold and transferred a bunch of times, but being a bit sneaky but it payed off. Big Jim has such a big heart he wants what's best for those poor kids so he offers to bring them to his home for Christmas and since Stephanie will be spending the holiday at his house too, well, two birds one stone everyone is happy. That is until Stephanie goes missing.

Overall, great book. It can be read as a standalone even though Leah (from book one of the series) and her pregnancy have a big chunk of this book just about her. It did distract a little from the other storyline but it was nice to see Tyler, Leah and Gracie I just wish it didn't take up so much of the book. I don't want the series to end I kind of want to see Dex, the deputy, get a book. 

CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Snowfall on Cedar Trail by Annie Rains

Sweetwater Springs #3, Holona and Alex have been dancing around their attraction for years, since they were both young, but because Alex was best friends with her brother he never wanted to cross that line. Holona ended up getting married and having a son, her husband was a big football star who died in a skiing accident shortly after divorcing her. Holona loved her husband but their was a side of him she never wanted anyone to know about unfortunately Alex was witness to that once but Alex still only knows half the story.

Alex thinks that Holona doesn't want anything to do with him because that one time he arrested her husband, but fate keeps putting them together and finally when Alex gets picked to be her son's mentor

they finally give in to the attraction. Holona's son, Theo, stopped talking after his father died. Holona always doing what she thinks is best for her son she enters him the new mentor program hoping he can find a good male role model.

Alex is tormented by the unsolved murder of his father. Ever year he reopens the case and questions the witness again and tries to find who killed his father. This year is different this year he was given a clue, and now he's worried that going after this person might put Holona and Theo in jeopardy.

Overall, this was a really great read. It's just over 300 pages and it goes by so quickly. The cuteness factor is really high with both Theo and Officer Chew the foster puppy Alex takes in. The romantic build up between Alex and Holona doesn't take long and their chemistry is great. Even as book three this works as a stand alone but all three books and the novella are wonderful reads.

CHRISTMAS ARC REVIEW Christmas with a Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

I've started my Season's Readings, I'm going to try every Monday to post a New or Favorite Christmas read. 

Longhorn Canyon Ranch #5, Maverick Callahan hasn't been the same since he got back from his Ireland vacation with his Grammy Iris. Since then he has been helping his cousins set up their ranch but when Grammy falls out the pear tree and has to have her hip replaced and her foreman goes off to visit family she needs help around the ranch. She already has a housekeeper, the granddaughter of her best friend whom she invited over to spend the holidays.
Bridget O'Malley lost her best friend, gained guardianship of a new born baby, Laela, and lost her grandmother all in a couple months of each other. So when her grandmother's best friend, Iris, calls and offers her a place to stay and spend the holiday while making some money she jumps at the chance, even if that means leaving Ireland for a couple of months. 

Bridget and Maverick met in Ireland on his last night there and spent the night together, since that night neither has been able to stop thinking about he other but they didn't exchange number or even get each other's last names. When Bridget gets to Texas she never expected to find her cowboy is none other than Iris's grandson. But she's not he same girl she was a year ago she's a mother now and just can't fall into bed with a good looking cowboy. Maverick knows as soon as he sees Bridget again it was fate. He wants her to stay but he just a cowboy with nothing to his name, he has nothing to offer her except his love. Bridget is torn between her love for Maverick and her love of Ireland, she worried that things aren't going to last, that her homesickness will make her miserable, she worries about a lot of things but her love for Maverick isn't one.

Overall, it's a real sweet romance, things get hot and heavy between Mav and Bridget but in the typical Carolyn Brown fashion (she mainly leaves it up to your imagination). I loved Laela, and how quickly Mav bonded with her and Iris is a hoot. I love all the characters and it was such a nice easy read.   

SEASON'S READINGS Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale

A captivating and delightful holiday romance. Jenny Hale hit the spot with this book the loving warmth of the holiday spirit, finding true love and finding out what's most important in life. It has the right amount of holiday cheese ( I love the cheesiness of Christmas movies) without it getting too cliched. Nick Sinclair was an obvious Scrooge but showed signs early on of being redeemable. Abby Fuller's pregnancy put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold but now her son is older and her grandfather's Parkinson's getting worse any extra money would be great, so when one of her in-home nursing patients recommends decorating her grandson's house Abby would be foolish to turn it down.

Nick's father died young and left the company to Nick. Nick feels a sense of obligation to make sure the company is successful, as a result Nick becomes an even worse workaholic than his father to the point it ruined his first marriage and his relationship with his mother. Nick has an instant attraction to Abby and he's patient and kind to Max, her son, he finds himself constantly distracted by them and spending as much time as he can just being with them. Nick feels like he's being pulled in two directions his want to be with Abby and his obligation to work. Nick needs to figure out what's more important to him before he loses his chance with Abby for good. Abby didn't intend to fall in love with Nick but when he makes time for her and Max in his busy day and takes time to text and call her it's hard not to see the wonderful man he is but he keeps running hot and cold with her pushing her away and than holding her close and to top it all off Nick is in the process of moving away and she doesn't think his feelings for her are strong enough to keep him in a house he hates.

Overall, it's a great story to get you in the Christmassy mood and appreciate your family and what you have. I loved the characters and the writing it's my first Jenny Hale book and it won't be my last.   

BLOG TOUR Miss Compton's Christmas Romance by Sophie Barnes

Sometimes playing pretend can lead to the perfect romance…

When Miss Leonora Compton decides to go to Sheffield and spend Christmas with her sister, she finds herself travelling with a man she cannot afford to like. But as their journey progresses she enters an unexpected partnership with him and realizes that things aren't what they seem. Because Mr. Dalton is not only tempting. He may in fact be precisely what she needs.

When Philip believes his travel companion requires protection, he immediately steps in to help by pretending to be her husband. For although the last thing he wants is to form an attachment, Philip is irrevocably drawn to the stunning red-head. And as they become better acquainted and their paths increasingly intertwined, he must decide if risking heartache again is worth the chance of finding true love.

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This is a delightful novella from Sophie Barnes. It's a quick and easy romance with enjoyable characters and fun plot. As shocking as it was for Miss Leonora Compton to go into trade she managed to convince her parents to let her so she wouldn't be a burden on them or her younger sister and her brother-in-law in the future. As a result her parents were able to travel the world without having to worry about her. Leonora is given a shock, her landlord lost the property gambling and her new one wants an exorbitant amount of money by the New Year. With nothing she can do she leaves the shop in her best friend's capable hands and goes to visit her sister for Christmas. Her parents would be shocked that she is taking public transport but it was a frugal thing to do. Mr. Phillip Dalton was immediately captivated by the stunning and stubborn Miss Compton and in order to protect her from the unwanted advances of another gentleman in the coach he claims she's his wife. It seems they are headed to the same destination Phillip is best friends with Leonora's brother-in-law and he was also invited to spend Christmas with them. All they needed was a little push for them to meet and fall in love but will they?

Overall this was a really nice read. I really enjoy Sophie Barnes writing and this was a nice little bite to satisfy me until her next book comes out. 

     The Bull and Mouth coaching house was bustling with travelers buying tickets and preparing for departure while others climbed out of newly arrived coaches. Horses neighed and people shouted, pushing and shoving their way past each other, the loud noise occasionally drowned out by the sound of a horn.

     Her mother would likely have a fit if she ever found out that her daughter had chosen to travel alone on public transportation. In the past, Leonora had always taken a hired carriage, but that was before she’d become aware of the need to save every penny – back when her parents had paid the expense. In hindsight, she should perhaps have asked one of her parents’ maids to accompany her as chaperone. Except she’d been leading an independent life for the past eight months and had little desire to suffer the constant presence of someone insistent on making her follow a long list of rules. 

     So Leonora clasped her belongings and wove her way through the crowd on her own. She’d purchased her ticket a week earlier just to be sure she would get one. “Where’s the coach for Sheffield?” she asked a team of hostlers who were in the process of switching out horses. 

     One of the men pointed toward a coach on the opposite side of the courtyard, and Leonora thanked him before hurrying toward it. Her breath misted in the chill morning air as she stepped around the vehicle and prepared to show the coachman her ticket. But then she spotted him, and her entire body froze in place. Mr. Becker was here, and he was standing next to her coach, which only made Leonora’s heart beat harder. Because if there was one person she did not wish to spend one more second with, it was him. Least of all if they were to be confined to a place from which there could be no escape. 

     Her chest tightened and she realized then that she was holding her breath. She inhaled sharply, the frigid air rushed down her throat and into her lungs where it started to burn. She hesitated briefly, torn between choosing to face him and walking away. He was speaking with a younger and much taller gentleman with dark brown hair. Mr. Becker smiled, his countenance far more pleasant than when he’d come to call on her earlier. The younger gentleman nodded politely and offered his hand which Mr. Becker promptly shook before tipping his hat, adding a comment, and walking away. The younger man watched him go before turning toward the coachman. The two exchanged a few words, and the younger man pulled out his pocket watch to check on the time. 

     Leonora stepped forward. Thankfully, it did not seem as though she would have to endure Mr. Becker’s company. Just that of his friend. Determined to ignore him, she walked straight past the spot where he stood, her entire focus on the coachman. Reaching him, she set down her valise and retrieved her ticket from her reticule. 

     “Thank you, miss,” the coachman said when she handed it to him. He glanced at her luggage. “That will have to go on top of the carriage or in the boot. Which do you prefer?” 

     “I’ll put it in the boot,” Leonora told him. She picked up her valise and turned, only to find her path blocked by what had to be over six feet of solid masculinity. Leonora looked up and immediately bristled upon realizing not only that the man was Mr. Becker’s friend, but that he, upon further inspection, had eyes that weakened her knees and lips that quickened her pulse. He was, as it were, impossibly handsome, and that was almost more annoying than anything else that had happened that morning. 

     “May I help you with that?” he inquired. 

     Oh Lord, his voice was lovely too – like plush velvet sliding over her skin. 

     Leonora squared her shoulders. “No thank you. I can manage perfectly well on my own.” She stepped around him quickly, before his angular jaw and broad shoulders could cause her to change her mind, and went to the boot. It already contained a trunk and a couple of other valises, which meant she would have to heft her own up and over in order to secure it. She glanced around. Surely there must be some Bull and Mouth employee available to help? 

     If they were, none came to offer assistance. Leonora blew out a breath and proceeded to lift her valise, bringing her other hand underneath it while her reticule dangled back and forth from her wrist. Feeling the weight in her arms, she steadied herself against the carriage, bracing her body while struggling to push the darn thing toward the top of the boot. 

     “Are you sure you don’t need help?” the handsomest man in the world inquired. 

     “Absolutely,” Leonora panted. She was now holding her valise at shoulder level, supporting it against another valise that was in her way. Just a few more inches… 

     “Have you always been this stubborn?” 

     “I am not stubborn…just…” Ugh! She managed to wedge her shoulder underneath the valise, but its size and shape made it unstable, and before she could manage to steady herself properly, she felt the entire thing lean to one side. Oh no. She reached up attempting to grab it, but that only quickened the inevitable outcome.

     Her valise slipped from her shoulder and started to fall, until it was caught by a pair of large hands.

     Like Thor wielding his mighty hammer with seemingly little effort, Mr. Becker’s friend lifted the piece of luggage with infuriating ease and placed it securely in the boot. He stepped back and turned to face her, his toffee-colored eyes catching a ray of rare winter sunshine in the process. The effect was dazzling. More so when the edge of his mouth lifted to form a crooked smile with a perfect dimple placed right at the corner. 

     Leonora swallowed. For heaven’s sake, her hands were trembling, though she quickly decided that this was from her recent exertion and not at all because of this handsome man’s attentions. She had no interest in him, she reminded herself. Not when he kept company with the sort of man who would happily force a woman from her home and place of business during Christmas.

     Deciding she would not allow him to divest her of her manners, she raised her chin and met his gaze boldly. “Thank you, sir.” 

     His smile broadened. “Mr. Dalton.” He glanced aside for a second before returning his attention to her. “Mr. Philip Dalton. How do you do?”

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Author Bio:

Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor's degree from Parson's School of design, but most impressive of all - she's been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion - writing. She currently lives on the East Coast.

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SEASON'S READINGS Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler

Christmas Camp #1, This is a quintessential lighthearted Christmas romance where someone learns to appreciate the spirit of Christmas. Haley Hanson isn't really a Grinch, she really just indifferent to Christmas. She grew up poor and never really celebrated it, as an adult now she'd rather take her parents to the Bahamas then stick around all the Holiday craziness. Haley is in marketing and her next promotion depends on her next big client. Unfortunately the big client Haley brought in was given to a co-worker why, because it was a Christmas campaign for a Big old fashioned toy manufacturer. Haley's boss is willing to let her present her idea but she has to go to Christmas Camp.

Christmas Camp was founded by Ben Jacoby and his wife. They hold it every year at their inn the Holly Peak Inn and even now after the her death Ben continues to do it in her honor. What they wanted was a way to rejuvenate someone's holiday spirit, remind the of the magic of Christmas and that the most important thing during the season is family and friends, and a way of learning some new traditions. Haley goes figuring she came breeze  through the week work on her presentation at the same time get her certificate land the client and get her promotion. What really happens is that Haley finds her Christmas spirit and discovers what she really wants to do and falls in love with the innkeeper's son.

Jeff Jacoby loves Christmas, he loves his job as an architect, and he loves his father but after the death of his mother Jeff has put his personal life on hold to take care of Ben. Jeff wants Ben to sell the inn and move to Boston closer to him. Ben's getting older Christmas Camp is getting harder to do with only the housekeeper, Laura, to help and he's not making as much money as he needs to keep the place going. Jeff thinks his way is the best thing to do but Ben loves Christmas Camp to much to stop doing it but doesn't see another option that is until Haley discovers the problem and comes up with a brilliant idea. As Jeff helps Haley discover Christmas magic they start to fall in love but Jeff is an idiot and gets mad at her for wanting to help his father save Christmas Camp.

Overall, this was a good read.  I really think it would be better as a movie. I watched The Christmas Prince and this year's sequel and wasn't that impressed with either and compared to Christmas Camp I preferred Christmas Camp and of course like with The Christmas Prince this book is getting a sequel, Christmas Camp Wedding. It was easy to read, heartfelt and funny; it has an adorable dog, and has side characters that really bring it all together. This is a good Holiday read and when NetFlix makes it into a movie I will watch it.       

SEASON'S READINGS A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlyn Crews

Cold Creek Ranch #1, I love when new series start off with Christmas books. Cold Creek Ranch is in Colorado up high in the Rocky Mountains, a hard place to live. I really enjoyed this book I loved the characters; Gray, Abby, and Becca were well written and easy to connect with. Gray is a hard man being raised by a man who was hateful, ungrateful, and just plain ornery Gray was determined never to be like his father. The biggest way to do that was to not repeat his mistakes he's already done it once and payed the price for it, marrying a flaky girl who couldn't keep her pants on, had no interest in staying at Cold Creek Ranch and died leaving with her lover. One good thing did come out of the marriage his daughter Becca. With his old man dead and buried and his brothers, Ty and Brody, wanting to sell of the land the brothers start to argue. Brody and Ty worry about Gray and they are afraid he will end up like their father, all alone and mean. So Gray comes up with the idea that he needs a wife, one that he knows is steadfast, loves Longhorn Valley and Cold Creek, someone with roots just as deep as his.

Abby Douglas has always loved Gray Everett and now he's proposing to her, something she's always dreamed of but not for the right reasons. Ever since Gray came up with the idea of marrying Abby he's looked at her in a new light more as a woman than just his neighbor and he likes what he sees. The more time he spends with her the more the attraction grows but Gray has spent to long with the main focus of his life as the ranch he's already more like his father than he thinks. All Gray needs is Abby's steadfastness, her unassuming beauty, and her honesty to knock some sense into him but is she willing to risk her heart for something that may never be reciprocated? 

Overall, this was a heartfelt and emotional read. The Everett boys aren't 100% mended but they are off to a great start.Abby and Becca have so much in common they form a quick bond and they are good for each other just as much as Abby is good for Gray. This story was addictive I didn't want it to end I look forward to the rest of the series.     

SEASONS READINGS Santa's On His Way anthology

Santa's On His Way anthology

By Lisa Jackson, Maisey Yates, Stacy Finz, Nicole Helm

What the Cowboy Wants for Christmas: Maisey YatesMeg, Charlie, and Noah all met as teens living in the same foster home. Meg fell instantly in love with Charlie for the last thirteen years she's waited for him, waited to be old enough, waited for him to get a good job, waited for him to come home from New York but this year she decided to stop waiting especially after finding him in bed with another woman. Noah has been a constant in Meg's life and has been in love with her for just as long and finally this year is the year he has his chance to finally show Meg how he feels.

Overall, it was a really nice and steamy read with lots of emotion. Meg looks back on her life and sees things differently than she use too and once she gets all that figured out everything falls into place.

Snowed In: Stacy Finz
My favorite of the book! I absolutely love Glory Junction. As soon as I read in the last Glory Junction book the animosity between Rachel and Boden I knew this was going to be great. Rachel Johnson left her big city corporate lawyer job to pursue her dream of being a baker. Now she owns a fantastic bakery and is looking to expand and she knows just the place. Boden Farmer turned the tired old bar into a gastro pub and he has plans to expand himself but in the meantime he's working the bar for parties which brings him in close proximity to Rachel. They are both prepping for the Christmas Day wedding when they get snowed in. With no distractions standing in their way they finally drop their walls low enough to let each other in but their is still the matter that they both want the same location for their business.

Overall, I loved this one. It's a quick and easy read with funny situations and loveable characters. Rachel has been burned once before so she's hesitant to let anyone else in it takes a grand gesture from Boden to show her he's worth the risk.

A Cowboy Wedding for Christmas: Nicole Helm
Lindsay Tyler dreamed of leaving her hometown behind and she did she left after high school and vowed never to come back. Cal Barton thought he was enough for Lindsay, that she would stay for him and when she left town she broke his heart. After six years of living life on her own Lindsay is homesick she's had her time to grow up and discover who she really is and that person belongs with her family. When her brother gets engaged and she comes home for the wedding she's staying home for good. Now she just has to make it through the wedding at Cal's Christmas Tree Ranch without falling back in love with him.

Overall, this was a nice emotional read about how sometimes to need to be apart and discover who you are away from the comforts of home to really appreciate the place where you belong.

A Baby For Christmas: Lisa Jackson
1995 Annie McFarlane is newly divorced when her husband's girlfriend ends up pregnant. After discovering she may never be able to conceive and then her husband leaving Annie was having a horrible year. 1996 Liam O'Shaughnessy needs to find the real killer of his boss before he gets convicted of murder his only lead is the woman who claimed she saw him there but she's disappeared but he's found her sister. Annie found solace in a small house in the middle of nowhere looking after an older couple ranch. Her plan was to stay a few more days before going to visit her brother and his family but late one night she discovers a baby on her front step with a note "For you Annie". The next night Liam shows up at her door claiming the baby is his and demands to know where her sister, the baby's mother, is but Annie has no idea and with a blizzard blowing in they are stuck together to work it out.

Overall, this one fell short. I love Lisa Jackson's older stuff and this feels like it's only half a book. It feels like there is so much missing from this story. I love the idea of it and the plot and if there is a full version of this story out there I want to read it but this as is is lacking.   

SOURCEBOOK CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE ROUNDUP

Christmas Gift Guide Roundup

Mistletoe in Texas

Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance

Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)

Amazon:amzn.to/2xlXATO

B&N:bit.ly/2xm0AzD

Apple:apple.co/2xkwAUZ

Kobo:bit.ly/2xhxLnM

IndieBound:bit.ly/2xlYjo0

Cowboy Christmas Jubilee

Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small town cowboy romance

Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.

Amazon:amzn.to/2Cy2ctu

B&N:bit.ly/2Cyrfwz

Apple:apple.co/2CzJtOp

Kobo:bit.ly/2Cz5JIb

IndieBound:bit.ly/2Cz5U6j

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas

Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense

Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)

*One of my personal favorites this year 

Amazon: amzn.to/2Fol2WV

B&N: bit.ly/2OL0KpW

Apple: apple.co/2qLwVw4

Kobo: bit.ly/2QQDtoN

IndieBound: bit.ly/2K6PW4R

Cowboy SEAL Christmas

Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.

Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!

Amazon:amzn.to/2MShW02

B&N: bit.ly/2PMd4Iy

iBooks: apple.co/2MSmCD7

Kobo: bit.ly/2MZvvdY

IndieBound: bit.ly/2MAr3TC

Billionaire Wolf for Christmas

Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!

Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.

Amazon:amzn.to/2xm0E2g

B&N:bit.ly/2xhxnWH

Apple:apple.co/2xhnsjY

Kobo:bit.ly/2xkCt4n

IndieBound: bit.ly/2xhxrFV

My Forever Home

Gift this to: Dog lovers, and fans of

Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.

Amazon:amzn.to/2M2jncH

B&N:bit.ly/2LXvQOG

Apple:apple.co/2niQZ79

IndieBound:bit.ly/2LZDkB0

Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

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