Once Upon a Holiday by Claudia Burgoa

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Once Upon a Holiday
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Series: The Spearman Family #3, Chaotic Love #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

Once Upon a Holiday is a great romance set during Christmas time. It’s a reminder that, even though many of us love being around our family at this time of year, sometimes it can get a wee bit stifling. Plus, Christmas is the time of change and growth. Something that June embraces whole heartedly, and Sterling eventually embraces. It was a perfect Christmas story with just enough drama and angst to make me not want to put it down. As with the other Burgoa books I’ve read recently, I was entirely enraptured by this story and can’t wait to read about how the Spearman brothers all fell in love.

I love that June, when she hasn’t had life turn out quite the way she wants, decides to grab fate with her own two hands. She knows what she wants for her own life, and rather than waiting and wishing on a star, she just takes control. Rather than conforming to what is expected of a woman in her late twenties / early thirties, she does what she actually wants. But, she also manages to work on her future in a completely logical and well-thought out manner. I absolutely adore how she is able to take charge of her own life and stick to her decisions, without listening to her somewhat overbearing brothers.

Finding out about Sterling’s history, it’s easy to understand how and why he’s withdrawn from society and the world around him. Yet, rather than run away like I had assumed he would, he actually stepped up to the plate really quickly. I love that he was so willing to protect and support June from fairly early on in the story. And, even if he isn’t quite aware that he’s doing it, he is immediately trying to protect her from the costs of being with him. I mean, it must be hard being with a celebrity, but the insane fans? I can’t even imagine, and I love that Sterling quickly makes sure that she has her own security detail to keep her safe and protected.

From the very first page, this has all the feels of beginning and renewal, perfect themes for a Christmas story. I mean, it was obvious from the title that Once Upon a Holiday was going to be a pleasurable tale of love and family. The fact that it’s got a surprise pregnancy, a secluded couple, and a snowy backdrop. Honestly, I seriously enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more about both the Spearman and the Ahrens brothers.

<- Then He HappenedAlmost Perfect ->

Image source: Barnes & Noble

Loved You Once by Claudia Burgoa

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Loved You Once
Author: Claudia Burgoa
Series: The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

I’m not always the best at reading books in order, particularly as I’ve been picking up random romances from boxsets and with a Christmas theme lately. Which meant that I ended up reading Loved You Once, the first in the Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers series third. And you know what? I actually kind of liked my reading order. Pierce and Leyla, Henry and Sofia are such powerful and dynamic couples, and I loved reading about them. Particularly as their stories unfold alongside Hayes and Blair’s. It’s just that Hayes and Blair seem to reach the happily ever after portion of their tale so much quicker.

I love how forgiving both Blair and Hayes are. Their second chance romance is built on a pair who have felt betrayed by each other in the past. I did feel like Blair was incredibly beautiful and forgiving with her decision to move forwards with Hayes. Whilst I also understood how Hayes lashed out, it was Blair’s forgiveness that I found stunning. I don’t know if I’d have the strength of character to forgive someone who hurt me that badly that quickly. And I love that Blair was able to be this kind and giving in her heart.

Carter and his death are a horrible backdrop for the six brothers featured in this series. It’s part of what tears them all apart, and for Hayes, the one who got to grow up with him, it was absolutely tragic. I love that Blair was a true friend right until the end, and when her part in all of their shared history is revealed, she’s not the villain everyone believes her to be. Plus, it’s also a great way for Blair to be welcomed back into the fold and insanity of the Baker’s Creek Brothers all over again. Now I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series entails… with each of the brothers moving on from the scars of the past.

Hayes is wonderfully smart in recognising his flaws and how he’s shut himself off from the world. I love that he is the first of the brothers to realise that his scars have led him to remove himself from the world. And in doing so, he may end up exactly like his father – alone, scarred and dying all by himself. It was a great reminder for me that you can’t take money and possessions with you, but you will always be loved and remembered by your family.

<- More Claudia BurgoaA Moment Like You ->

Image source: Claudia Burgoa

Kisses at Candy Cane Lane by Laramie Briscoe

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Kisses at Candy Cane Lane
Author: Laramie Briscoe
Series: Blizzard Bluff #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

What a cute little Christmas novel. One in which a woman named Noelle (and a man named Cal) fall in love at her inn. With a great little happily ever after. It was a really nice and cute story that made me feel like dipping my toe into this season. And I’m definitely keen to read more in the world of Briscoe and Blizzard Bluff. Particularly since this is the last Christmas story in this little Christmas trilogy.

I like that Cal and Noelle have always had feelings for each other, and take forever to act upon them. The fact that they grew up a little first, and gave each other the space to grow into who they wanted to be made me like this all that much more. Of course, this initial getting together leads to the whole accidental pregnancy thing. I love that, rather than any kind of push back, it’s all about support and being there for one another.

Kisses at Candy Cane Lane is a very quick, easy and sweet Christmas read. I loved the simplicity of it all. And I also loved the characters, their development and the emotion behind all of their relationship. This was a fun way to start to get into the Christmas spirit and I look forward to more of this enjoyment in the other Blizzard Bluff books.

<- Christmas at Candy Cane LaneMore Laramie Briscoe ->

Image source: Kobo

Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Birthday Suit
Author: Lauren Blakely
Series: The Guys Who Got Away #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I’ve been really wanting to dive into this series since reading Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend. But, sadly, I’ve always read on the kobo and it’s been sitting in Kindle Unlimited. Which, ultimately has meant that I pulled the trigger and decided to get KU as well as Kobo Plus. On this book alone, there are no regrets for that decision. Birthday Suit was a wonderful book and I couldn’t put it down from the very first page. It was everything that I loved in a really good romance, the angst, the characters and all of my joy.

I love that even though Birthday Suit is a second chance romance, but not really of the typical kind. Rather, instead of having a romantic history that they both stuffed up, it’s all about Leo’s unrequited love and Lulu’s ability to move into a whole new future. The complications of their past and the tangled webs of Tripp are kind of intense at times. And then, to keep up with the emotional rollercoaster that Blakely takes you on, there’s one tiny insight into Tripp’s views on Leo and Lulu. And it just… honestly destroyed me.

All of the tangled web that is Leo and Lulu’s relationship turned this into a wonderfully, enjoyably intense romance. I love that it’s a combination of Leo’s guilt for coveting his best friend’s wife for years. And Lulu’s confusion about her sudden feelings and moving forward with her life. Rather than glossing over these details and the emotional confusion that turning from a trio to a duo inflicts upon Leo and Lulu, Blakely is able to highlight this as part of their character journey. The very angst that is experienced is what makes the two so relatable and wonderful.

As with all heroines that I love, Lulu is ridiculously strong and independent. I love that the strength she shows doesn’t involve suppressing or hiding her feelings. But, rather, she revels in them. It’s a reminder that committing to love and embracing how you feel isn’t a sign of weakness, rather, it is a strength in and of itself. I also love that Lulu was historically able to away from relationships that weren’t healthy for her. And pursue her own desires and needs.

<- More Lauren BlakelyDear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend ->

Image source: Barnes & Noble

Marry Christmas by Kat Baxter

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Marry Christmas
Author: Kat Baxter
Series: Hot Texas Nights #3
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I’m always a big fan of second chance romances, and second chance romances at Christmas? It’s not the kind of book that I’d willingly put down. And, luckily for me, Marry Christmas didn’t just tick all of those boxes, it was just beautifully written as well. Something about Maggie and Brooks made me gunning for their happily ever after more strongly than I have in a while. I mean, second chance Christmas romances are littering my TBR, but something about this one worked incredibly, and sweetly well.

This is a fairly short read with pretty much no angst, and just all the positive vibes. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a serious villain in this and a wonderfully manipulative grandmother. But I would’ve expected Brooks’ father to be far more evil and cause more drama than he does. Since he’s the reason that Brooks breaks things off with Maggie in the first place. I would’ve thought he’d throw another spanner in the works when they become adults.

There is a lot of on page action in this story – the kind of action that made me fan myself just a little bit while I was reading this. I don’t always love the on page action. But Baxter manages to write it in a way that had me smiling and thoroughly enjoying the experience. Now I want to read more of Baxter’s writing and see if I get the same happy vibes the next time around.

As with all good Christmas stories, this is one that’s not just about the romance. But it’s also about family and love. About being there for one another and caring for each other. It might be the “most wonderful time of year” for some. But that’s only because they have the pleasure of being surrounded by loved ones.

<- FakesgivingRules of the Friend-Zone ->

Image source: Kobo

You Wandered Off Like a Foolish Child to Break Your Heart and Mine by Pat York

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: You Wandered Off Like a Foolish Child to Break Your Heart and Mine
Author: Pat York
In: Silver Birch, Blood Moon (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 1999

Thoughts

This is a great follow on short story from The Wild Heart. In The Wild Heart, the thorns and dangers of Sleeping Beauty were seen from another point of view. But in York’s short story, all of those who tried (and failed) to reach the princess are focused upon. Honestly, this story was a great way to continue this feeling of reimagining. And it hit me from the very first word.

You Wandered Off Like a Foolish Child to Break Your Heart and Mine is a dark story from the very first sentence. It shows those who seriously lost out in the original fairy tale. I mean, ultimately, the princess is freed and there’s a “happily ever after”. But at what cost? Not everyone is a winner and for every story, there is a losing side. Sometimes those losers are actually kind of innocent and it’s a little bit sad.

Yet, with all of the darkness and heartbreak within this story, for me, this story is about a mother’s love for her son. What she’ll give up to try and care for her child, even when he is ungrateful and kind of annoying. Even when all of her efforts are in vain, there is no doubt of this mother’s love for her child.

<- The Wild HeartArabian Phoenix ->

Image source: Wikipedia

Naughty Little Christmas by Lil Valente

Book Review,
Overview

Title: Naughty Little Christmas
Author: Lili Valente
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

Naughty Little Christmas is a fun second chance romance that just happens to take place at Christmas time. It’s fun, light, and an incredibly easy read. Macy and Dean are very cute together, but I didn’t get all of the tingles that I get with a really good romance. I wanted them to find their happily ever after, and there was so much joy in reading this. But, it wasn’t one that I was insanely keen to dive back into. Which is normally my hint that this author may not quite be for me. They’re enjoyable and it’s all fun and everything. But, it’s not an unforgettable and emotionally driven story.

I like that the past is flavoured by the fact that Macy and Dean separated because of misconceptions. And their ten years apart has led them to grow into different people. But, they manage to come back together with a clash and a re-meeting that did have me smiling. In fact, I think the fact that Dean is dressed as Sexy Stripper Santa was honestly my favourite part of this whole story. And that he is stripper Santa for the best of reasons.

I really loved how this story got me into a bit more of the holiday spirit and was such an easy departure from reality. However, I’m not sure that I’ll bother with any more by this author or within this series. It’s a fun story, but not a memorable one. And when you have shelves filled with memorable stories, it’s easy for the not so memorable to get lost.

<- More ChristmasMore contemporary romance ->

Image source: Goodreads

Mountain Man Inn Love by Hazel J. North

Book Review,
Overview

Title: Mountain Man Inn Love
Author: Hazel J. North
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I really wanted to like this, and I definitely liked this story enough to finish reading the whole story. But I just wasn’t enamoured. And I probably won’t bother reading anything else by Hazel J. North. I mean, this was an fairly cute holiday novella. But not one that I find overly memorable. A boss and his junior marketing something or other have the hots for each other. They travel away for work and finally end up acting on those feelings. There wasn’t much angst. There wasn’t much drama. And there wasn’t much of anything that made me want to keep diving into the story. So onwards and all that.

<- More ChristmasMore contemporary romance ->

Image source: Kobo

The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: The Mistletoe Motive
Author: Chloe Liese
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Jonathan and Gabby are such a cute, quintessential, opposites attract couple. And one that finds their happily ever after at Christmas? They are just too dang cute and adorable. I absolutely loved reading about their holiday romance. Plus, each chapter has a Christmas song to start it, the perfect story to get you into the Christmas holiday mood. The fact that they fall in love while surrounded by books, honestly, this was kind of a book that wa tailor made for me. I love books, I love Christmas, and I love Love.

I love that Gabby’s journey to finding love involved her dealing with autism and being demisexual. Whilst she’s entirely accepting of her differences, and often embraces them, Liese is able to still show the difficulties that she has to deal with daily. Plus, it also highlights how difficult her relationship with Jonathan is, because no one is automatically entitled to your truth. Jonathan too has his own challenges that aren’t automatically divulged. I love that much of his grumpiness and disappearances were due to his diabetes, not his actual personality. Both Gabby and Jonathan, once they actually sit down and talk, find that many of their points of contention are due to misunderstandings, not actually because either one is a bad or difficult person.

The Mistletoe Motive is a bit of a enemies to friends to lovers story. I love that they connect through snark and attitude. I tend to approach people I love with a whole lot of sass myself. And honestly, the banter between Gabby and Jonathan is just too damn adorable. I love stories that keep a smile on my face throughout, and Gabby and Jonathan’s relationship managed to do just this. Their confusion, particularly Gabby’s, as they fall for one another is too damn cute. Plus, they use their competitive nature to actually benefit those they love and everyone around them.

The Mistletoe Motive is not just a great Christmas story, but one that is all about save a little, family owned bookstore in a world where a lot of these shops are collapsing. I love the idea of keeping this tradition of books alive, while still adapting to the modern needs and market. Plus, doing it at Christmas makes this story all about embracing the spirit of love and friendship. People spending time with their loved ones for the holiday season and finding their own happily ever afters. Even if it’s not quite what they expected.

<- More Chloe LieseMore Christmas ->

Image source: Chloe Liese

Luck of the Irish by TK Eldridge

Book Review
Overview

Title: Luck of the Irish
Author: TK Eldridge
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Thoughts

I tried with this story, I really did. But, honestly, I kind of got bored with it. I liked what I read, but I didn’t feel like I need to continue on with it. I mean, it was fun, but not altogether that interesting. Which means on to the next book in the TBR.

Image source: Kobo