Tag Archives: Christmas

Open Fire by M.E. Carter

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Open Fire
Author: M.E. Carter
Series: Florida Glaze Hocky #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

From the title of this story, and the fact that it’s a Christmas story, I knew that the song “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” was going to get mentioned (and stuck in my head). And I wasn’t wrong. I ended up walking around the house singing this song for ages after starting this story. And then, I got it stuck in my head all over again when I started writing this review. Honestly, I’m just going to have to sing this song every time I see the cover for Open Fire, and I’m honestly okay with that – this was a fantastic novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I can’t imagine trying to fly around Christmas, particularly on Christmas eve. That must be one of the most awkward and intense times at the airport. Which meant that having a romance based on flying at this time of year, and the inevitable flight delays was something that fascinated me. I mean, I always try to travel off the peak times, and I’ve never had to entertain myself in an airport for more than four hours, so it was fun to read about how Becker and Sloan were able to do so. Plus, having a romance set in a single location (primarily) in a matter of hours was a fun and brilliant way to make this story come to life.

This was the very definition of a slow-burn romance. Becker and Sloan spend a lot of time getting to know one another and just, genuinely enjoying each other’s company. The majority of this book is honestly just about them spending time together and getting to know one another. The fact that they don’t actually kiss until right towards the end just made it all that much sweeter and more spine tingling. Honestly, it made me swoon just a little bit reading about this. The build up was phenomenal and I can’t wait to read another M.E. Carter story.

Not only is this a fun and engaging romance, it also highlights the importance of family and Christmas time. I love that both Sloan and Becker are trying to rush home to spend the time with their families, although they have vastly different traditions. But, really, it was the moment that Becker chooses to dress up as Santa for Sloan’s family and jump into their relationship with both eyes open that made me absolutely fall for this Christmas romance.

<- Trial by FirePlaying with Fire ->

Image source: Amazon

Wrapped in Red by Sam Mariano

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Wrapped in Red
Author: Sam Mariano
In: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Circus, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I’m not really sure how I felt about this short story. I mean, it was a little bit cute with a happily ever after. But, Lee was a little bit too controlling for my tastes. I love a good Alpha male, but this tripped over into a whole other region for me. A story that I mostly enjoyed, but one that I probably wouldn’t bother reading again if I’m being honest.

Along with Lee being a bit too controlling, I found Georgia and her unrequited love to be a little bit sad. There’s plenty of romances I read with unrequited love, but these people tend to have a will of steel about them. Or at least a reason for understanding the space between them and the focus of their affections. I didn’t really get that feeling with Georgia and Lee. He just treats her like nonsense, and she sticks it out? Not my favourite romance is definitely what I’m saying here.

As much as I didn’t love this short story, I also didn’t hate it. It was fairly easy and enjoyable to read. And honestly, it was the most Christmassy story in the whole of the Meet Me Under the Mistletoe anthology so far. An enjoyable diversion, just not one I would look at repeating.

<- This ChristmasO Holy Night ->

Image source: Amazon

This Christmas by Theodora Taylor

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: This Christmas
Author: Theodora Taylor
In: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I really want more of Josh and Neisha, this is their beginning and honestly, I want more of them. However, the link in the Meet Me Under the Mistletoe anthology wasn’t working, so I’m just going to have to try out some more Theodora Taylor books in the meantime. It’s not exactly disappointing to have another intriguing author on my TBR list. I also love that unlike the preceding short stories in the anthology, This Christmas only has a brief appearance at the Morelli Christmas Gala. One that is just the culmination of the tale, not the integral part. And it doesn’t actually involve a Morelli.

Even though Neisha is honestly borderline stalkerish with her obsession and Christmas cards. I like that she is able to recognise that her behaviour is not exactly healthy. And ultimately tries to pull away and move on positively afterwards. It may not quite work. Particularly as her yearly Christmas cards are what wins Josh’s heart. But it’s always nice when an obsessive character recognises how unhealthy their behaviour actually is. Plus, there’s a whole heap of history between them that Josh doesn’t even recognise. Honestly, just writing this makes me want more of their story!

Even if I struggled to find the next story for Josh and Neisha, I love that there are other couples in this world that I can dive into. There is so much I wanted to unpack in this short story that I’ll probably read again. I can’t imagine what reading a novel by Taylor will be like.

<- Baby, It’s Cold OutsideWrapped in Red ->

Image source: Amazon

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: My Favorite Holidate
Author: Lauren Blakely
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: 2024

Thoughts

Fable and Wilder are one of my favourite fake relationship couples that I’ve read in a while. They both obviously have feelings for one another from the beginning, but they’re small and subtle. Not the big, tricky forever love that I often read about. Yet, they’re also intense enough that both enjoy using their fake relationship ruse as an excuse to act on their feelings. And to get to know one another better. It’s a little bit of a love at first sight kind of feeling, but not one that made me want to roll my eyes at the predictability.

Brady might be a great catalyst for all of the nonsense that occurs in My Favorite Holidate, but he’s actually a total creep. I mean, the cheating and the horribleness is one thing, but as the story goes on, he just gets easier and easier to completely hate. He is absolutely detestable, and constantly jumping in to just be irritating. He doesn’t even seem like much of a threat to Fable and Wilder’s happiness until the very end. Mostly he’s just creepy and irritating. But then, when he does completely overstep, I love that he is completely shut down. I’m a big one for poetic justice and the “bad guy” getting their Just Desserts. But this was definitely one of my favourite ways in which this was done.

I love Fable’s creativity and the way in which she is able to create something out of nothing. I used to love making Christmas ornaments with my mum and sister, but they were most definitely never anywhere near as good as the ones which Fable creates. The fact that this gift giving is part of her love language and the way in which she shows her affection is also incredibly cute. Honestly, I spent a lot of my reading of this imagining the amazing things that Fable was able to create.

Wilder is the opposite from Fable – where she is creative, he is analytical. They might have similar personalities, but they have very different approaches to the way they experience their lives. he might be an incredibly driven man, but he’s also immensely sweet and kind of adorable. Having said that, it’s the two other women in his life who totally steal the show. His daughter, Mac, is really sweet and a bit of a firecracker, plus I love that she has a good relationship with her mother – not something I’ve read heaps of lately. Then there is Bibi. I would read a whole series of books which feature Bibi in some way, shape or form, she is an absolute hoot!

I loved the entire premise of this book and the whole journey was a lot of fun. Plus, even though this might be a standalone romance, it connects in with two more Lauren Blakely series that I can’t wait to dig my teeth into! Not that I need anymore books on my TBR… but I love that I have them to add anyway!

<- The Bromance ZoneThe Real Deal ->

Image source: Amazon

Joy to the World by Nicole Zoltack

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Joy to the World
Author: Nicole Zoltack
In: Twelve Lords for Christmas (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Historical romance, Regency romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2016

Thoughts

I enjoyed this novella, it was a light and easy story that I got through pretty quickly. However, I wasn’t completely obsessed, and I don’t know if I want to read more Zoltack or not. It was a fun story, but one that was also somewhat forgettable. Just a simple and pleasant way to pass time, entering a world of regency romance at Christmas time.

Joy to the World features a false marriage proposal and blackmail which leads to real love and a happily ever after. I like that Eliza spends a lot of this story thinking through her choices and refusing to be tricked for a second time. When one Duke replaces another, she doesn’t just dive into her new situation, but rather, wonders what she needs to do to actually have a happy and healthy life. She doesn’t just dive into this new world without thought.

This wasn’t necessarily much of a Christmas story, but it was still one that I enjoyed. I like that everything takes place at Christmas-time, but it isn’t the focus of the story. This is a hard novella to write a review about, because whilst it was enjoyable, it wasn’t necessarily unforgettable. It was just… simple, pleasant and quite cute.

<- A Most Inconvenient EarlThe Lady’s Guide to Mistletoe and Mayhem ->

Image source: Amazon

It’s Hotter at Christmas by HelenKay Dimon

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: It’s Hotter at Christmas
Author: HelenKay Dimon
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

I didn’t mind this story, and even though it’s technically part of a series, the not minding means that I’m counting this as a standalone. Not a bad story, but not one that had me overly keen to dive into anymore of Dimon’s writing. I think the thing about this that I loved the most was the idea of celebrating Christmas in Hawaii. It was definitely a lot more similar to the kinds of Christmases that I’m used to. Hot, sunny and filled with joy.

As someone who lives in a bit of a tourist region, I totally get Ted’s hesitation on welcoming Marissa into his life. It doesn’t matter where you live, there are still the same everyday concerns. Plus, tourist regions are more expensive. I loved how straight to the point he was about this. And how his hesitation to committing to Marissa was based in reality. But, he was also refusing to consider the exception to the norm when he laid down the law.

Marissa is somewhat feisty. But in a kind of awkward way. It feels very point on and just… loud. Not the kind of feisty heroine that I tend to prefer. Probably part of the reason that I’m not completely obsessed with this story like I wish I was.

<- Bah, Handsome!Kissing Santa Claus ->

Image source: Amazon

Bah, Handsome! by Jill Shalvis

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Bah, Handsome!
Author: Jill Shalvis
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

Hope and Danny start out this Christmas novella on two different sides of the fence to begin with. But, I love that Danny quickly decides to work with Hope, rather than against her. Indeed, her fight with her brother to keep her B&B inspires him to move forward with his life in a different direction to what he had maybe previously planned. They end up working incredibly well together, and I really enjoyed how Danny’s quiet support and presence is what ultimately wins Hope over. Even if she fights it right up until the very end.

Although I really enjoyed this story, I didn’t love that Hope’s financial pressures and situation weren’t actually resolved at the end of this story. I mean, there was the great happily ever after, but I wanted to know more about her wonderful future. It’s all well and good that Danny’s future is kind of sorted, and that he’s told the horrible loan shark to go take a hike. But, I wanted to know that that had some kind of positive impact on Hope’ls looming deadline.

I really enjoyed the idea of a couple falling in love at a cute little B&B. At Christmas time. As the snow falls all around them. This was just cute, simple and sweet. Nothing really intense as far as plot line, but I didn’t need an intensity to the plot line when I chose to read this Christmas romance. I wanted something cute, enjoyable and with all of the happiness and sweetness that a good Christmas romance entails.

<- Lock, Stock and Jingle BellsIt’s Hotter at Christmas ->

Image source: Amazon

Kissing Santa Claus by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Kissing Santa Claus
Author: Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2009

Thoughts

Kissing Santa Claus was a fun anthology to read at Christmas time. It was three fun novellas placed in wildly different settings. But, all with the undertones of Christmas and love in the festive season. Each and every story had a feeling of moving on and new beginnings, all emphasising the turn of the season and the start of a new year. It was fun, light and a wonderfully easy read. Just the thing for someone who was really struggling to get into the whole idea of Christmas this year.

Even though I enjoyed this anthology, it definitely wasn’t my favourite set of Christmas novellas. It started really strong and I seriously loved Kauffman’s story, Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells. But then it just got weaker and weaker until ultimately I wasn’t even that fussed about finishing the final novella in this anthology. Yet, it was still a fun set of stories, and not one I would necessarily delete off of my shelves.

As much as I didn’t love this anthology, it was still a great way to get into the Christmas mood. It was also really nice, and somewhat rare, to read a Christmas story that was not based in the snow. It was nice to have a Christmas tale that was a whole lot more familiar than the idea of a White Christmas. Or just any kind of snow and cold really…

<- It’s Hotter at ChristmasLock, Stock and Jingle Bells ->

Image source: Amazon

Love for the Holidays by Arizona Tape

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Love for the Holidays
Author: Arizona Tape
Series: Rainbow Central #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, LGBTQI
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

This was such a great, beautiful and seriously cute sapphic romance. It was that gorgeous roommates to friends to lovers storyline. And I love how Ivy and Frances spend the entirety of this story getting to truly know one another and support each other. Honestly, for me, the romance took a step back from the relationship building. I absolutely adored this couple and how they manage to chase away the hurts of the past around Christmas time. As with everything I’ve read by Arizona Tape, this story was fun, light and made me fall more and more deeply in love with every passage.

Although Ivy starts this story consistently stating that she’s straight, this story isn’t really about her “coming out”. Honestly, it’s such a non-issue that you almost miss the moment. Rather, this story is very much about two women falling in love with each other through support and mutual desires. Honestly, the entirety of this romance is so refreshingly drama free. The only angst for both Ivy and Frances is that they aren’t sure how to show their roommate that they want more. And they don’t quite know how to make a move.

Where Ivy is all bright light and intensity, Frances is a little more subdued. I actually really enjoyed reading about her falling for Ivy. It’s such a gentle falling based on mutual support and kindness. These two girls are honestly total relationship goals. They are supportive and kind. And their entire friendship turned relationship ends up being based on mutual respect and non-judgement for each other. Plus, I thought that Ivy’s best friend, Jenna, would kick up a bit of a fuss at their relationship. But, like everyone in this story, she is all support and love. Honestly, I wish all social circles were capable of this kind of support and kindness.

Both Ivy and Frances have difficulties with family that is seriously triggered by the holidays and Christmas. They might be on different ends of the spectrum of family closeness in this, but I love how Love for the Holidays drives home that this time of year, whilst enjoyable, can also be difficult. Even in the moments that we are enjoying time with our family, it can still be tough to figure out how to negotiate the whole myriad of feelings. Ivy and Frances both did this beautifully, and it came as a welcome breath of fresh air and joy for a holiday season that I’m going to find difficult myself.

<- More Arizona TapePlease Be My Love ->

Image source: I Heart Sapphfic

The Mistletoe Trap by Eve Pendle

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: The Mistletoe Trap
Author: Eve Pendle
Series: Faking Stitch #1
In: Twelve Lords for Christmas (Miscellaenous)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Historical romance, Regency romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

Not only is this a second chance romance, but also a regency romance set at Christmas time. It is really cute and filled with the typical misunderstandings of a second chance romance. Amelia and Robert are also immensely likeable and unforgettable. The perfect couple to lead this story. One that left me smiling and feeling nostalgic for Christmases that I haven’t even experienced!

The Mistletoe Trap is a holiday novella with lots and lots of kisses under the mistletoe (which is of little surprise considering the title). Plus, it is a key part of the actual storyline. Kisses denied and given under the mistletoe being the driver for their story. I also love that, although this is a regency romance novella, it’s one that doesn’t take a simpering woman as a lead. Rather, Amelia is able to take charge of her own life after being snubbed by Robert. She might not have had the original romance that she wanted, but she managed to find happiness in her own life anyway.

This is a great historical romance that takes place at Christmas. It is all about new beginnings and saying goodbye to the mistakes of the past. Although Amelia and Robert might end up trapped into their new happily ever after. It’s ultimately what they both want, and they are well equipped to set off into a beautiful happily ever after with one another. A simple and joyous read that left me smiling and relaxed.

<- A Cup of CheerA Most Inconvenient Earl ->

Image source: Larissa Lyons