Bookish Thoughts: Meddling with Mistletoe

 

Okay, in years past, I haven't been a big fan of Christmas novellas.  But this year, I've read three so far that have been so fun and filled with the wonder and joy of the holiday.  These stories are definitely changing my opinion of Christmas books!

Description:

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a catch: Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.

About the Author:

Liz Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including Beyond the Tides, The Last Way Home, and Summer in the Spotlight, as well as the Georgia Coast Romance and Prince Edward Island Dreams series. She works in marketing, makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, and daydreams of summer days on PEI's shores. Learn more at LizJohnsonBooks.com.

My Thoughts:

I loved The Red Door Inn and all of the Prince Edward Island books and I was so happy to return to this delightful setting and characters for a Christmas story!

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this Christmas novella.  But as I’m relearning the beauty of the Season, I’m finding myself drawn to these stories.  Stories with lights, snow, tinsel, giggling children, hope, and maybe a grump or two who slowly sees the wonder again, too.  And I love it!  This book has all of those things, including a quirky baker and a meddling aunt.

I always love the characters Ms. Johnson brings to life in her stories, and these characters are certainly no exception.  I could easily relate to Whitney, who is searching for her dream and working so hard to prove herself reliable.  And who doesn’t want to love the Christmas grump (Daniel) and see him prodded into joining the fun?  And Julia Mae was SO adorable!  Visiting Marie and Seth, along with Aretha and Jack, made me want to read the whole series again!

If you are looking for a sweet and fun Christmas novella full of the joy of the season, I highly recommend this book!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

As always, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by! If you'd like to learn more about this book or maybe check out the others in the series, links are below!

Have a ducky day!

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Bookish Thoughts: Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor

 

Hello, Friends!  Goodness, it has been so long since I've shared a review!  Our three little ones have definitely been keeping me busy!  But, I'm super excited to be sharing a couple Christmas novella reviews over the next couple days.  Starting with (drum roll) . . . . Christmas At Sugar Plum Manor!

Description:

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

My Thoughts:

I want to go back in time and visit Sugar Plum Manor (if it were real)!

But, seeing as how that isn’t an option, reading this book is definitely the next best thing!  I loved it so much!  I’m not usually much of a Christmas novel reader, but when one of your very favorite authors shares that she’s writing one, you smile and start reading it as soon as it’s available.  At least, I do.  Because who doesn’t love Christmas in August? (when my advanced copy arrived)  I’m definitely looking forward to reading it again, closer to December, maybe with a fuzzy blanket, a cup of tea, and some Christmas cookies.

Things I loved: the setting.  A beautiful manor house in England!

The characters:  Lady Mariah was delightful!  I loved her kind and generous spirit and how she seeks to share joy with others.  And Cyril who loves Mariah’s whimsy and discovers a family, if he’s willing to leave his bitterness behind.  The village children!  I can just imagine the fun they had, throwing snowballs and leading the adults on a merry adventure.

The reminders of the season:  a couple of the characters are grumpy and obviously aren’t enjoying the wonder of Christmas and I loved how the author and the other characters drew them, and myself as the reader, into the delight and joy around them.

Overall, if you are looking for a beautiful story to spend a few hours with that leaves you laughing and smiling in contentment as the last page is turned, I would highly recommend this one!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own!

It feels so nice to be sharing reviews again! I really want to say that I'll be doing so more often, but I honestly can't promise anything, with the holidays coming and littles needing lots of love. So, thank you for stopping here today! I hope, if you decide to read this book, that you enjoy it at least as much as I did.

Have a beautiful day!

Purchase Links:

Roseanna's Store

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Bookish Thoughts: A Noble Scheme

 

Description:

In the opulent and perilous world of high society's most elite--and most dangerous--families, two investigators must set aside their broken hearts to uncover the truth.

Gemma Parks is known to the London elite as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talents to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the firm's members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren't for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his heart in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma to not only restore the missing boy, but to also win back the only woman he's ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham and Gemma must devise a noble scheme to save the boy's life and heal their hearts.

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White (RoseannaMWhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books . . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, I’ve tried to write this review 3 times now and I keep coming back to spoilers. And I do NOT want to spoil anything.  So, this is my attempt at sharing my thoughts, without ruining the story for anyone else.

Welcome (back) to The Imposters series! Ah!! I've been waiting for this book since reading the first one, “A Beautiful Disguise,” and now I get to wait for Yates’ story.  Does anyone else love a great series??? Though this is the second book, you technically don’t have to read them in order.  But you should. Because it’s a series . . . right?  And also, the first book was fantastic. 

This book is about Gemma and Graham, two characters who obviously avoid one another in the first book. After reading it, I was very curious as to their backstory. What had happened to them?  And goodness, you may want a tissue or two, or a few more, if you’re a crier. Because their story is so heart-wrenching.   I’m not normally a crier, but a few tears escaped, reading about their pain and also their path to the beginning of healing.  I so appreciate the kindness and grace with which the author handled their relationship and the restoration of other relationships throughout the book. 

Before this sounds like a complete crying book, it’s not! I found the mystery very intriguing and frequently found myself trying to come up with reasons why reading was just as necessary as sleep.   Reading probably won out a little more often than it should have . . . . Also, I could not have guessed the ending. So, there’s that.  Have I left you properly intrigued?

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mysteries, and characters that settle right into your heart!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Anyone else struggle to avoid spoiling a book for someone else? I usually just opt for not talking about it too much, if I'm going to spoil it. But, I hope I said just enough to spark your interest! If so, then links to learn more are below!

Have a lovely day!

Amazon

Goodreads

Barnes & Noble

The Story Graph

(You can also purchase a signed/painted copy from Ms. White's website roseannamwhite.com)

Bookish Thoughts: The Irish Matchmaker

 

Isn't this cover gorgeous?  My 2 year-old saw it and in her little toddler voice said "mommy, it's soooo pretty!"

Description:

As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne's son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker's failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man--and for herself!

Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it's not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker--who clearly has eyes for someone else.

Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?

About the Author:

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance), The Lady of Galway Manor, and The Maid of Ballymacool. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.JenniferDeibel.com

My Thoughts:

I’ve been trying to think of what I would say about this book, if I was sitting down for tea/coffee with a friend and telling them about my most recent read.  I so enjoyed my visit to Ireland with Catriona, Donal, and Sara!  Ms. Deibel does such a stellar job of bringing this beautiful country to life, with vibrant descriptions, authentic (if not “proper”) language, and engaging characters.  

I got excited when I opened the book and before the first chapter was a “glossary of terms” (yes, I’m one of those people), with pronunciations and definitions of many words that were foreign to my American eyes. This novel is the third of Ms. Deibel’s that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and one of my very favorite things about her books is how she writes the descriptions and dialogue.  I can almost hear the brogue!  It’s delightful! I was also quite intrigued by the idea of a matchmaking festival.  It just sounds both fun and a little crazy.  I think Donal would probably agree with at least the second part of my observation. 

I have to confess, I didn’t like Catriona very much, in the beginning.  But as the story progressed, I began to like her better and better. There was one part where I really wanted her friend, Maeve, to give her a good shake.  But then I wanted to cheer when she finally made the better choice.

My only mildly negative comment is that I would have enjoyed it if there had been more page time dedicated to Catriona’s change of heart, though I did appreciate seeing how Donal’s character changed and grew throughout the book.  And the ending was just right.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Welcome back to the blog, my friends! First post of 2024! And . . . yeah, I know it's March. I was planning to post the usual "favorite books of the year" and "most anticipated books" lists. I even had the lists all made in the notes app on my phone . . . obviously, that didn't happen. I had a 5 week-old baby at the time and decided I had enough to keep up with, managing the holidays with 2 toddlers and a new baby. But I'm excited to be back! I have some thoughts for some different posts and one of my very favorite authors (Roseanna M White!) has a new book releasing in a week or so, which means there will definitely be a post about that. Until then, purchase links are below and I bid you a cheery "have a ducky day!"

Amazon

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Goodreads

Bookish Thoughts: Countdown

 

Description:

A stalker who wants to finish what he started. A US Marshal who's vowed to protect his charge. And one woman who is determined to put the past in the past.

Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to do it.

About the Author:
Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight, Crossfire, and Critical Threat, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband. They have two adult children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

My Thoughts:

Do you want to know how engrossed I was in this book?  I have the paperback, but I didn’t want to disturb my toddler’s nap by turning on the lamp, so I downloaded the ebook from my library so I could keep reading on my phone while she slept.  That’s how addicting I found this story.  You have been warned.  If you choose to read this book, you may find late nights and “just one more chapter” appearing before you know it!  Or, you know, having both the ebook and paperback available, so you can keep reading, even when the light would bother a family member. 

Countdown is the fourth (and I believe final) book in the Extreme Measures series.  You don’t have to read the previous books in the series, though I found it made the relationships between the friends more meaningful.  Plus, you get to know Raina just a bit from the other books, so I was very curious to read her story.

Obviously, I found this story to be very fast-paced, with a lot of moving pieces, some that kept me guessing and some that seemed a little obvious, but still useful for the plot.  I quite enjoyed the suspense and I really liked Raina and Vincent. I will say that because a bit of their relationship happened off page (they’ve known each other since book 1), I did sometimes find that the romance seemed a little rushed, though the timeline for this story happens very quickly, as well.  Despite that, I did enjoy the romance side of the story. 

Overall, if you’re a fan of fast-paced romantic suspense, then I would definitely highly recommend this book (and the rest of the series)!

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I'll probably only have a couple more reviews to publish before baby #3 arrives! How crazy is that?! I'm honestly not sure how much reviewing I'll be doing after November, especially with 3 sweet girls to love on. We shall see! As always, if you found yourself curious about this book, links for more info are below!

Have a lovely day!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

GoodReads

The Story Graph

Bookish Thoughts: A Beautiful Disguise and GIVEAWAY!

 

Happy Release Day to Roseanna M. White! Join her in celebration of A Beautiful Disguise! Enter the giveaway and join the fun here: https://bit.ly/3NS24t1

Description:

1909

Left with an estate on the bring of bankruptcy after their father's death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm for the elite to spy on the elite.  Dubbed the Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the creme of society who want answers delivered surreptitiously.  But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as potential traitor. 

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the field, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch, he's intent on showing his worth.  He suspects an aristocrat of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but he needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to the Imposters, Ltd.  No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can't possibly be as noble as he seems. 

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

My Thoughts:

I fear I'm just becoming a broken record when it comes to reviews for Ms. White's books.  She is definitely one of my "must have" authors and I regularly (at least a couple times a year) reread one or more of her books.  So when she announces a new book or series, I just wait impatiently for it to be available, no questions asked.  I don't even have to know what the storyline is - I just know I'm going to fall in love with it.

That said, I was super intrigued with the premise behind this new series.  I adore anything to do with mysteries or investigations and this one was so well done!  I was left guessing throughout the story, and even by the end, I was as surprised as the characters when the plot was revealed!

Speaking of the characters, I adored Marigold Fairfax, her brother, and the others of their eclectic team/household.  I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that the lion was definitely a favorite addition.  And I can't wait for Graham and Gemma's book!

"Maybe we'd all be wiser, maybe fewer people would be hurt if we questioned more.

If we didn't think that closing our eyes to darkness meant it didn't exist.

As if by closing them, we didn't just create more darkness. . . .

The truth isn't always pretty. But I like to think it's always beautiful."

- Yates Fairfax

Marigold has spent so long working to be seen without actually being known or noticed, so when Sir Merritt actually sees her, I couldn't help but cheer for him. I had to smile at Sir Merritt proving Marigold wrong again, and again, and again, in her opinion of people in general, but of himself in particular.

Goodness, this review is ridiculously hard to write! I don't want to add any spoilers, but sharing any of my favorite parts of the story would involve potentially sharing one. So I suppose I'll surrender, before I get myself in trouble and just say - "read this book! It was amazing and beautiful and suspenseful and intriguing and . . . you might love it as much as I did! So go forth and read it!"

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodness, book friends! The summer entirely got away from me! Chasing 2 toddlers and managing the exhaustion of pregnancy (praise the Lord!) has left me with a very neglected blog. And once sweet girl #3 is here, it will quite possibly be entirely forgotten for a while. So thank you for your patience now and for your forgiveness later, when I fall off the face of the blog-verse again.

If you haven't already clicked the link at the top to enter the giveaway please don't forget to do that! And happy reading, my friends!

Purchase links:

Amazon

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Christian Book

Roseanna's Shop (signed)

Bookish Thoughts: The Shifting Current

 

Description:

An elusive killer. A false identity. A deadly maze of lies.

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart.

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him.

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other?

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

About the Author:

Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their "wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters" (Publishers Weekly), "gripping storyline[s]," (RT Book Reviews), and "sizzling undercurrent of romance" (USA Today).She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit danipettrey.com 

My Thoughts:

I have been waiting for Emmy and Logan’s book for 4 years!  Ever since reading the first book in the series.  I. Have. Been. Waiting.  And I confess, I was pretty bummed when I saw it was “just” a novella.  But after reading it, I stand corrected.  A novella was perfect for them!  

So if you’ve read the other books in the series, you’ve probably been following these characters as long as I have.  If you haven’t, then stop, go get those books, read them, wait 4 years, and then come back.  Just kidding.  But seriously, go get the other books.  So after following them through the prior books, their relationship and how it all plays out, works perfectly.  It didn’t seem unnatural or rushed.  And given that, I honestly probably would have been frustrated with them, had they been given a full-length novel to finally figure it out.  So, well done, Ms. Pettrey!

Though I hated seeing the end of the series, it ended well.  And I’m excited to see what comes next!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my advanced copy of this book!  I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Though I'll always prefer paper books to e-books, I do want to point out that the e-book is only $2.99 right now! So if you're wanting to finish the series, but a paperback is out of your budget range right now, that may be an option!

As always, thanks for stopping by! Have a lovely Mother's Day weekend!

Amazon

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GoodReads

The Story Graph