Tag Archives: Jill Sanders

Tis the Season by Jill Sanders

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Tis the Season
Author: Jill Sanders
Series: Pride, Oregon #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

When I first started reading this story, I didn’t actually realise that Matthew was the child from Finding Pride. Mostly because I didn’t really think things through for a little while. And then it all clicked, and I immediately loved this even more. I mean, I loved the first part of this was enjoyable anyway, but when I started realising the connections and putting all of the pieces together… it made me much, much happier. Although, when it comes to a well written book that is a nice, easy read, it doesn’t take much to make me an incredibly happy woman.

Blake’s disappearance from Matthew’s life is a bit of a mystery throughout much of the book. But I did love that when the truth is revealed, it might be a little bit about love, but mostly it was just totally unrelated to Matthew at all. The fact that they both kind of subconsciously pined for each other in the two year interim… it made the quick jump from calm to steamy in their relationship a whole lot more understandable… and palatable. It was also nice to read about their Meet Cute before the sparks even start to fly.

This was a fun Christmas story, but the part of it that I enjoyed the most was the fact that it is a Christmas story set in a haunted house. That added mystery built alongside the story of Matthew and Blake’s relationship. Again, making this a very difficult book to put down. Or aside, or just forget about in any way, shape or form. There’s something about haunted houses that make me very happy, and the fact that it’s a haunted house at Christmas?

Although I enjoyed this novel, it’s probably the house that I will dream about. It had this amazing old school charm, ghosts, history and just… it felt like the vibes of my dream home. So now I shall go and dream about it in my own time…

<- Season of LoveDare to Love ->

Image source: Amazon

A Pride Christmas by Jill Sanders

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Pride Christmas
Author: Jill Sanders
Series: The Pride #10
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

This was a very fun and short Christmas novella. One that transports you back to Pride, Oregon. It’s made me want to dig into yet another one of these contemporary romance series set in small towns. Just too cute and sweet to be real. But a whole lot of fun to read about. The fact that it was set during Christmas time was all that much better. And the fact that although it took place in Pride, it wasn’t actually about one of the couples from this town.

I always love a good childhood friends to lovers kind of trope. Particularly when they’ve always felt that way but been unable to act on their emotions. It’s this great jump from friendship to lovers that show that they know everything about one another. Probably my favourite trope because they genuinely know where each other’s skeletons are buried but choose to fall in love anyway.

Alice and Eric are an incredibly cute and sweet couple. They’re the kind of couple that I love to read about. And the backdrop of a winter storm along a beach at a bed and breakfast? Just ridiculously wonderful and enjoyable. I love the beach, but now I have a ridiculous urge to go and see it in the winter. At Christmas. With the man I love hunkered down into the cottage with me…

<- Rescue MeMore Jill Sanders ->

Image source: Amazon

Red Hot Christmas by Jill Sanders

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Red Hot Christmas
Author: Jill Sanders
Series: The Pride #7
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This is my first every Jill Sanders book, and I’m definitely feeling like I’m a convert after reading this. Sanders has tones of Robyn Carr, not quite as impossible to put down, but still that great feeling of simplicity and joy that I’ve come to associate with her novels. The small town romances are definitely a catnip for me, one that I love to settle into and drift away with. The fact that this is also a Christmas story, set in the snow was also seriously enjoyable. Even though this started partway through the Pride series, and I was definitely missing a few bits of information, this was a wonderful contemporary romance that had me smiling and just generally enjoying the feeling of falling in love in a tiny town, covered in snow.

There were a few sad moments through this that helped to contrast with the happy feeling of falling in love and finding your happily ever after. For starters, there is Luke’s gran – she is such an integral part of his life, and her loss is definitely a tragic one. I love that Amber is happy to take the moment and let him process his grief without the complications of a new relationship. Plus, he also buys a beagle puppy which made me incredibly happy. I love that as part of the grieving process for Luke, he has the whole town banding behind him as support. This is the dream of a community – one that is there when you most need them without judgement.

There is also Amber’s backstory. At least Luke’s is filled with love, I can’t fathom the difficulties that she goes through and how callous and horrible her parents are. I thought they would be a bigger challenge to the blossoming relationship between Amber and Luke that they were though. I also love that when this knowledge comes to light in the town, the people automatically and unquestioningly band behind Amber in support. Shutting down gossipers and those who are too far into their own delusions to see reality. Both Amber and Luke have negative family moments throughout this story that they are able to support each other through. But, they also are moments which show how loyal and supportive the town of Pride is.

As an introduction to the Pride series, I found this fantastic and overwhelmingly beautiful. The Christmas aspect made it even more enjoyable. And, even though it is a story that takes partway through a established series, I still enjoyed being swept away. Now I just need to find out more about the rest of the characters and fall in love bit by bit with this tiny little Christmas town.

<- My Sweet ValentineReturn to Me ->

Image source: Amazon

Finding Pride by Jill Sanders

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Finding Pride
Author: Jill Sanders
Series: The Pride #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 2012

Thoughts

This novel was a little bit predictable, but still very sweet. I mean, it’s a small-town romance – out of towner comes to escape an unpleasant past, finds a dreamy local and falls madly in love. It’s a tale filled with beautiful, happy, small-town vibes. But, sometimes that’s exactly what I’m in the mood for – a completely predictable romance that is a lot of fun and a pleasant departure from the real world.

Although Megan and Todd are the leads in this novel, I do love Lacey and can’t wait for her story. She’s an absolute firecracker and I love how she is able to just control those around her with the force of her personality. She was a bit of a show stealer, and it’ll be interesting when she is the one who falls head over heels. But, I digress, that’s a story that I look forward to delving into in the future. For now, Finding Pride was a fantastic beginning to a new-to-me series by an author I think I’m going to thoroughly enjoy.

Megan’s domestic violence background is not as well written as some of the other characters that I’ve had in my shelves, but it was still well done. I do love how she eventually stands up for herself. And the way in which she is constantly growing into her own independence and regaining that sense of self. The fact that this happens following the loss of her brother is kind of sad and tragic though. I spent the whole book lamenting the fact that Matthew wasn’t there to see Megan’s growth and the way she finds her new home in Pride. Which is probably the way Sanders wanted it to be.

There is tragedy in Todd’s background as well – the loss of a wife. I felt like this could have been used a little more for character development, it was barely touched upon. Even though it was mentioned that he never truly loved her, it just felt like a completely unnecessary and underutilised detail that didn’t need to be there. The death of his father though was a much better point of character development in this tale. Again, it wasn’t as well structured as some of the other stories I’ve read. But it was still well done. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I’m looking forward to reading the next tale in the Pride series.

<- More Jill SandersDiscovering Pride ->

Image source: Goodreads