Tag: Christmas books

Book Review

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: December 2022

GoodeyReads

It’s the end of 2022! And there were plenty of amazing reads this month. I loved my rereads and the many new books I came across too.

Favorites

Least Favorites

  • Morning Star (Reread)
  • Lightfall
  • ACOTAR Series (Reread)
  • A Holly Jilly Christmas
  • Sisters of Sword and Song
  • Before I Let Go
  • Fractured Sky
  • The Co-Op
  • Bloodsinger
  • Dear Emmie Blue
  • A Heart Worth Stealing
  • You Wouldn’t Dare
  • The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
  • A Wilderness of Stars
  • Beauty Reborn
  • The Syren’s Mutiny
  • Just My Type
  • Cotswolds Holiday (Christmas Escapes #1) by Kasey Stockton
  • [Reread] Morning Star (Red Rising Saga #3) by Pierce Brown
  • [ARC] You Wouldn’t Dare by Samantha Markum
  • Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg
  • Lightfall (The Starchaser Saga #4) by Renee Dugan
  • [Reread] A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC/Novella] A Holly Jilly Christmas (Sheet Cake Love Stories) by Emma St. Clair
  • The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis
  • Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
  • Fates Illuminated (Call of the Norns #1) by Aimee Vance
  • Before I Let Go (Skyland #1) by Kennedy Ryan
  • [Novella] Visions of You (Lost & Found #0.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] Snowbound (Tattered & Torn #2.5) by Catherine Cowles
  • A Vision in Smoke (Until the Stars Are Dead #2) by Allyson S. Barkley
  • Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • [ARC] Never Vacation With Your Ex by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
  • [Reread] A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas
  • To Bleed A Crystal Bloom (Crystal Bloom #1) by Sarah A. Parker
  • [ARC] The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
  • Let it Snow by Michelle Stimpson
  • [Novella] A Very Merry Christmoose (Deadlights Cove #2.5) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance
  • Esperance (Esperance Trilogy #1) by Heather Frost
  • [Reread] A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
  • The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt
  • Children of Ragnarok (The Runestone Saga #1) by Cinda Williams Chima
  • Two Wrongs Make a Right (The Wilmot Sisters #1) by Chloe Liese
  • Lord of Gold and Glory (Fae Isles #2) by Lisette Marshall
  • The Holly Dates by Brittainy Cherry
  • [Reread/Novella] A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOTAR #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [Novella] Christmas Presents by Tarah Dewitt
  • 50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover (Bower Boys #1) by Kelly Siskind
  • Let Love In (Canyon Cove Love Stories #3) by Marie Soleil
  • Bloodsinger (The Starchaser Saga #5) by Renee Dugan
  • [ARC] Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham
  • [ARC] Off the Map (Beck Sisters #3) by Trish Doller
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #4) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Just My Type by Falon Ballard
  • [ARC] The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
  • The Syren’s Mutiny by Jessica S. Taylor
  • Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
  • [Novella] Falling in Somerset (Lost Story Bookshop) by Jenny B. Jones
  • [ARC] A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review

Book Review: A Timeless Christmas by Alexi Stanton

GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 296 pages
Author: Alexis Stanton
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Release Date: October 23rd, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They’re from two different centuries,
but they’re perfect for each other.

Megan Turner is in love with the past. As a tour guide at a beautiful historic mansion, she tells visitors about its original owner, Charles Whitley. An inventor and businessman in the early 1900s, he rose from poverty to wealth…only to disappear without a trace.
Charles was always intrigued by the future. He just never expected to go there. But when he repairs a mysterious clock he bought on his travels, he’s transported to the twenty-first century, with his home decorated for Christmas and overrun by strangers.
Charles is determined to find a way back to his own era, especially when he learns about what happened after he left. But as Megan introduces him to the wonders of smartphones, pizza, and modern holiday traditions, they both feel a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Could it be that, somewhere in time, they belong together?

MAYBE THE MOVIE IS BETTER.

Went into this knowing exactly what was being laid out, a Hallmark movie as a book (or was it the other way around? I don’t know which came first for this novel).

And it may have been laid on a bit too thick for me.

I don’t mind cheesiness (when expected) and a fast-paced romance, but this was like whoa. Can we back up and add some more plot here? The book took place in less over a time span of what I gathered to be less than a week and I wasn’t even feeling the connection between the main characters. I think some further development was needed.

The concept was there and the writing was pleasant . It was easy for me to fly through it and appreciate the aspects presented. There’s some sweet moments and a connection to letting people who care about you in and coping with issues that have crept up from the past.

Maybe I’ll try watching the movie and see what I think of it compared to this!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

Instagram || Goodreads

Monthly Wrap-Up

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2020

GoodeyReads

What a good month! Took on less books because I read TWO books that were 1,000+ pages and I also read through many many holiday books. It’s that time of year!

Favorites this month: Tarnished Empire, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Anxious People and Rhythm of War
Least favorites: The Royal Treatment, Sinking City, and Jingle All the Way

  • [ARC] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • The Royal Treatment (Crown Jewels Romance #1) by Melanie Summers – (☆☆☆)
  • In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren – (☆☆☆☆)
  • [Gifted] Sinking City by Megan Walker and Janci Patterson – (☆☆)
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • A Deal with the Elf King (Married to Magic #1) by Elisa Kova – (☆☆☆)
  • Texas Cooking (Texas Hill Country #1) by Lisa Wingate – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – (☆☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Her Silent Knight (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair #1) by Ashtyn Newbold – (☆☆☆☆)
  • The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella – (☆☆☆ 1/2)
  • Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • All is Mary and Bright (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair #2) by Kasey Stockton – (☆☆☆)
  • A Timeless Christmas by Alexis Stanton – (☆☆☆)
  • Christmas Cliche by Tara Sivec – (☆☆☆☆)
  • Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber – (☆☆)
  • Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4) by Brandon Sanderson – (☆☆☆☆☆)
  • All About Us by Tom Ellen – (☆☆☆☆)

How was your month? Do you have a favorite book you read?
Lets talk in the comments!

Instagram || Goodreads

Book Review

ARC Book Review: Mistletoe and Mr. Right (Moose Springs, Alaska #2) by Sarah Morgenthaler

GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 6th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can’t stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana’s determined to prove that she belongs…even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town’s hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really…how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it’s not getting any easier now that his dream girl’s back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it’s clear she needs help, fast…and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It’s an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong…together.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own!

ADORABLE.

This book was everything Christmas and romantic and I just loved it. I was incredibly excited when I got an ARC because I loved The Tourist Attraction and knew I needed to read Lana’s story as well.

I loved how Lana and Rick’s relationship developed. It could have been very insta-love, but didn’t come off that way at all. They were both sweet on each other and had the CUTEST interactions. I couldn’t help but smile at the antics they would end up in. And the conflict between the two (as expected in a contemporary romance) wasn’t silly or over-hashed. It really fit into their situation and understanding of the differences between them. Which made the ending even more tender and I am just smitten with Rick and Lana y’all. Opposites attract trope that I thought was perfectly well done.

Even as separate characters they kept me interested. I didn’t mind which point-of-view I was reading because I was invested with both. The pace moved quickly and even side stories fit in well (hellooooo the cuteness that is still Graham and Zoey).

This is such a good Christmas-time read and am so happy I found this series. I can’t wait for more stories because I want to know about all of these characters. These books are easy to read, add just enough drama, and make you have the biggest smile.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance [Christmas]
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; a closed door scene
  • Violence: a tranquilizing gun accident, a side character in a nearly deadly car wreck
  • Content warnings: brief sexual harassment of a side character, a near drowning of a child

Instagram || Goodreads