Tag: holiday romance

Book Review: Saved by Noel by Tracy Baack

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 301 pages
Author: Tracy Baack
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 1st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Everyone says to dream big . . . but how do you turn those big dreams into reality?

From the time she was a little girl, Clara’s dream has been to write romance movie scripts for her favorite television channel. But not just any love stories—Christmas romance is her particular obsession. Unfortunately, that dream has taken a back seat to the demands of her real job as a copywriter and manager.

Clara’s big break comes when her late aunt leaves her an inheritance with one stipulation she must spend the money on something to help her achieve her writing dream. And Clara knows just what to do with it. She purchases a small cabin in the woods to serve as a writing retreat. With the perfect cozy atmosphere, Clara is finally ready to prioritize her lifelong goal.

However, she’s sidetracked when an unfortunate mishap lands her face-to-face with Clark, the town handyman. After an initial spark of attraction, Clara soon discovers that Clark is decidedly not a Christmas enthusiast. She quickly gets distracted by the broody man she can’t forget and the small town that embraces her as one of its own.

Will Clara get so sidetracked helping Clark and the town that her dream slowly dies? Or will they be just the inspiration she needs to make all her dreams come true?

Calling all Hallmark Christmas movie lovers! Saved by Noel is the perfect book for anyone who loves cozy Christmas romances. You’ll find all the heart-melting, feet-kicking swoon with zero explicit content in this closed-door, kisses only sweet romance.

MIXED THOUGHTS.

This is my first book by the author, and while not my faaavorite. I would read another and am curious what stories she’ll write next. Sometimes a holiday romance just doesn’t quite click for me and I had that issue here.

It is a charming book, very Hallmark-esque (with some meta vibes because she wants to write holiday scripts). What I struggled with was the initial Clara had about the town and it not being Christmas-y enough. Some thing bugged me with the way she approached Clark about it and I thought the plot needed another layer. After that though I think it settled better into the banter and cute moments. There’s some good small town moments and I think had a sweet ending.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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Book Review: Season’s Schemings by Katie Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Holiday Sports Romance
Length: 262 pages
Author: Katie Bailey
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue Publishing
Release Date: December 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

‘Tis the season to get even…

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.

Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.

All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?

Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.

On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter offer: he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.

Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.

Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

Sparks fly and Christmas cheer is abundant in this festive marriage of convenience rom com. Season’s Schemings is a closed door/fade to black romance that includes mild language, innuendo, and tons of sizzle without the spice.

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

I didn’t know what I was going to get out of this one. It was coming on the heels of TWO two star holiday romances and I needed a win. And oh how grateful I am that it was a win. It was a little bit too chaotic for me in the beginning but found its footing and I was charmed way by Seb.

I love marriage of convenience. If I see it, I’ve got to have it and this was clever and fun. I liked the set-up and all of the following holiday shenanigans. It’s cheerful and on the lighter side and I though the audiobook was great too. AND it’s also a hockey romance which is another tally in the win column.

One of my favorite FAVORITE aspects was that this was steamy without the spice. I loved that this had actual closed door material and brought the heat without the explicit scenes. This is my true favorite place to be and I want to to read more from Katie Bailey purely for this reason alone.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: cheating (not between the main characters)

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Book Review: All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Falon Ballard
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Bitter exes. Professional rivals. Just one bed.
What could go wrong?

Jessica Carrington always wanted her own happily ever after. But, until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick Matthews, a fellow romance writer and now her biggest rival, who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It’s clearly what he’s good at, after all . . .

So, when their professional obligations find them snowed in – and forced to share a room! – at the same remote inn a few days before Christmas, Jess and Nick are both fuming. But what’s more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? And when they realise the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer’s block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying.

Jess can’t shake the feeling that Nick is the last guy on earth she should be falling for (again), but, as they both finally get back in their flow, is he actually all she wants for Christmas?

VERY FRUSTRATING.

This book made me angry. Anger inducing books get two stars.

So let’s see. The entire book is about the physicality of their relationship. It was practically the only thing they could talk about and it was not endearing in any way, shape, or form. I was tired of hearing about it and the book is less than 300 pages.

And the reason he broke up with her?! DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. If I could have thrown a book I would have.

I enjoyed Lease on Love and everything after that has been downhill. I am calling it on reading anymore books by Falon Ballard.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 4+ open door

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Book Review: Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

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Rating: ★★
Audience: Holiday Fiction
Length: 397 pages
Author: Jenny Bayliss
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

White Christmas meets Nora Ephron in Jenny Bayliss’ latest wholehearted, ensemble-cast holiday extravaganza.

Christmas can officially get stuffed because Harriet Smith is not feeling bright and merry this year. She hasn’t for a while. So when her college-aged daughter opts for Manhattan’s winter wonderland instead of Christmas at home, Harriet finds herself seeking solace in a wine-soaked one-night stand.  

But how Harriet will spend the holidays is swiftly decided for her after she takes the fall for some students who break into the town’s old Winter Theater. To get the students off the hook, the theater’s elderly owner requests that Harriet direct the washed-out stage’s final Christmas performance. And Harriet will do anything to help the kids . . . even work with the owner’s lawyer who, as it turns out, is her less than impressed one-night stand.

Directing the play with him won’t exactly change her life. But it might just reignite the Christmas spirit and remind her what makes life merry and bright again.

WHERE?

For a book called Kiss Me at Christmas. I felt there a distinct lack of romance. My ruined expectations made this hard to read and I struggled through the audiobook. The audio narration was perfectly fine, the book itself was not.

I didn’t care much for the heroine either. Most of the book felt frustrating. I think there were some good growth moments by the end and some of the themes were enjoyable to be touched on because I don’t see them often.

Ultimately I needed and wanted more romance. And I didn’t like the casual nature of most of the relationship (started off with a one night stand). I was very much over hearing about the play.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Fiction
  • Language: low – moderate
  • Romance: closed door

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