Tag: holiday romance

Book Review: The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ginny Baird
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family’s winery, Katie leaps at the chance… that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the “news.”

Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there’s Juan’s brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right—and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems.

Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan’s plan to “rebrand and expand” Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she’s still committed to Juan… even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead.

With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

IT WAS FINE.

I think this book could work for a good amount of people, I just didn’t have intense feelings about much of this. I thought the initial premise was intriguing. I thought it would go one way and it went another and I rolled with it. I thought most scenes were sweet and I did like the couple.

There were also LOTS of holiday cheer. I liked all of the activities and traditions throughout. Really brought that winter atmosphere. I also adored the tight knit family and learning their story too.

The third act did make me quirk my head a bit and I thought things were slightly blown out of proportion. Otherwise, that’s kind of it. It’s a short read and maybe for you??

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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ARC Book Review: Five Stolen Rings by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Gracie Ruth Mitchell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 11th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

FIVE stolen rings, FOUR calling birds, THREE French kisses, TWO falling in love, and a Partridge in a pear tree…
Stella Partridge never expected to move back to her hometown. She never expected to be a house-sitter for the twelve days leading up to Christmas as a desperate bid to earn some extra money. And she definitely never expected to recognize the thief that breaks into the house she’s Jack Piorra, her childhood best friend, the one who turned cold and distant overnight and never told her why.
Jack insists there’s something in this house that belongs to him. But Stella’s not going down without a fight–not in house-sitting, and not in love. If only locking the windows and doors could keep Jack from stealing her heart…
.
FIVE STOLEN RINGS is a wacky romcom mashup of Home Alone and Twelve Days of Christmas, perfect for fans of love, laughter, and holiday warm fuzzies!

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

IN LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Oh this book is utterly charming and an absolute delight for the holiday season. If you don’t have time for many this year, LET THIS BE ONE OF THEM. I loved it so much. It had the perfect level of holiday shenanigans and let me tell y’all, it had one of my all time favorite tropes, a man who is gone for the FMC. I dare you to not swoon during his POV.

I loved all of the banter, it’s cheeky and sassy and incredibly flirtatious. The little flashback moments did a great job of setting up the present story line and I liked that the high school drama didn’t become an overwhelming issue as adults. Communication was key and I loved the way that Stella and Jack found their way back to each other.

This book reminded me of why I love reading holiday romances. The spirit of the season, some amazing heated kisses and sweet family and friends moments too. Five Stolen Rings has it all, it’s under 300 pages which I know is a highlight for many seeking something engaging and quick for this time of year.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: We Three Kings by Kristen Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Kristen Bailey
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Release Date: October 14th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maggie Field was looking forward to a solo Christmas in her cosy London flat – before her three workmates decided to liven things up for her.

Maggie loves her job as head of IT at a financial firm, and her three geeky but lovable work buddies. And when they invite her to stay with each of them for the holidays, she can’t resist the chance to get to know them better.

But then her boss tells her she has to make one of her beloved team redundant, and Maggie is distraught. Frank’s work is his world, Jasper’s sarcastic humour is everything, and Leo…well, he’s talented, professional, confusingly attractive, dependable, and funny… Maggie definitely doesn’t want to lose him.

With her career and her heart on the line, Maggie sets off on the Christmas adventure of a lifetime, from playing fake girlfriend at a lavish wedding, to rescuing baby foxes on a posh country estate, to chasing a very confused donkey on Christmas Day in the Lake District. She can’t ignore the sparks between her and Leo – but she also can’t avoid her dilemma.

Can she find a way to keep her work family together, and maybe even find true love under the mistletoe?

A hilarious and heartfelt celebration of friendship, workplace romance, and finding where you belong. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary, this festive rom-com will have you laughing, crying, and reaching for the mince pies.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the audiobook.

UNEXPECTED.

I went into this very blind, only knowing that I liked Bailey’s Christmas romance last year. I did like the audiobook narration for this one and found it to be an easy listen. This was a bit more fiction than I was expecting but I think the heart of this story was wonderful and this was a genuinely kind book.

Maggie Field was adorable and sweet and I loved her character. And her found family work friends were the perfect group to follow around for the holidays. I loved the laugh inducing antics and the quiet, bond forming moments too. It’s a heartfelt read that was full of festive cheer. I actually really liked the way the ending came together and it was a bit of joy in my day to finish this one.

Overall audience notes:

  • Holiday Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door

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ALC Book Review: The Christmas You Found Me (Heart of the Wilderness #1) by Sarah Morgenthaler

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Holiday Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Sarah Morgenthaler
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sarah Morgenthaler is back with a heart-mending contemporary romance featuring a single dad you’ll fall for; a satisfying slow burn love affair; found family you’ll root for; small town holiday magic; and all the quirky animals and snowy rustic scenes your heart desires.

Sienna Naples’s family has taken care of their wild Idaho land for generations and Sienna can’t imagine any other life. But at Christmastime, with her parents gone and her painful marriage finally over, it’s full of memories…and incredibly lonely. Until a tall, handsome stranger and a little girl walk into her life and suddenly the holidays are alive again.

When single father Guy Maple shows up as the result of an ad meant to be a joke, the handsome Montana construction worker isn’t joking. Money is tight this Christmas, and Guy’s four-year-old daughter Emma has stage-five chronic kidney disease. She needs a kidney transplant, but if Guy can’t prove that he can afford Emma’s anti-rejection medications, his daughter isn’t going to stay on the transplant list. Guy’s willing to do anything, including marrying a stranger, to keep her safe. It’s an impulsive marriage of convenience, and Sienna knows this isn’t real, no matter how much she adores Emma, how well Guy fits in to the ranching life—or how much light and laughter is coming into their lives as a result. But the more time she spends with her new family, the more she fears losing the fragile, feisty little girl and the kind, devoted, hard-working, incredibly attractive man who is her husband—but is it only in name?

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

THE FEELS.

I easily hand off five stars to any book that makes me cry because it’s really hard to do so and this book earned those tears. I was a puddle finishing it and all of the emotions that came together (don’t worry, it’s a HEA!).

I loved these flawed characters leaning on each other through hard seasons of life. I was obsessed with Guy and his endearing qualities. A man who got up and did the hard things every single day. Who loved with such fierce loyalty. I loved everything about him and how well he balanced with Sienna. And I loved Sienna’s tenacity too. Her impulsivity to help someone in need became the best decision she ever made. The journey captured my attention and I couldn’t help but pick this book up because it continually draws you in.

The audiobook narration is AMAZING. I loved it. I loved how the narrator worked with Guy’s voice and how Emma’s voice wasn’t too childlike. I loved this soft romance set on a beautiful mountain filled back drop. It is filled with all the things I love and I am so thankful that Sarah Morgenthaler wrote another book. She is one of my favorites and this is a perfect holiday gem.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Holiday Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: a child with kidney failure (theme throughout), divorce, mentions of PPD (side character), emesis

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