Review: Christmas Under a Starlit Sky (A Town Called Christmas #2) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published October 19th 2016 by Bookouture
My Rating: 5 Stars

My review:

 Neve found out she was pregnant but didn't think she was good enough for her gorgeous movie star boyfriend so she lied and told him it wasn't his because she didn't want to tie him down. Meanwhile the Inn is getting ready for Christmas and this author has written this town so wonderfully that you want to be there. Never really loves Oakley and does want to spend the rest of her life with him but she also doesn't want to leave her family and move to California but she also doesn't want a long term relationship. There is also another relationship happening between Adam and Ivy. Both have been hurt in the past. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky (A Town Called Christmas #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 22nd 2016 by Bookouture
My rating: 5 stars

My Review:

 This story takes place on Juniper Island. Piper travels for a company doing reviews on hotels/resorts. She gets sent to Stardust Lake Hotel. When she finds out Gabe owns it all her emotions come back. They were childhood friends and teenage lovers and he had broken her heart. Her mom died when she was a little girl and her dad didn't want her and told her no one did she she had a pretty crappy upbringing and trust issues. But Gabe and her see their mistakes from the past and miscommunication. How the author described places and this hotel I wanted to be there so bad. This town sounded perfect for Christmastime and I could just picture everything. The love story was great and all of Gabe's family and staff. I can't wait to read the next book. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Review: The 24 Days of Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

Christmas Romance
Published November 8th 2016 by Lyrical Shine
My rating: 3 1/2 stars

My review:


This was a short quick read of only 50 pages. Frank and his daughter are using an old advent calendar that had brought him and Addie together when they were kids. She is now back in town, after a divorce and a much publicized backlisting as a reporter. A few days later she ends up with her ex's son. Feelings kindle again between Addie and Frank as they celebrate Christmas activities.

Review: A Very Jaguar Christmas (Heart of the Jaguar #5) by Terry Spear

Paranormal Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This is set at Christmastime but not very Christmassy like you would think. A little boy is lost and come to find out he is werewolf. He was dropped off at a day care center for Jaguar shifters. Neither shifters knew about the other one. The story is of a Jaguar couple who are looking for the little wolf cub/boy's family. I liked the main couple and their finding out about their true feelings for each other and trying to start a relationship while traveling and helping out the boy cub. I like paranormal so this was right up my alley. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Mansfield

Regency Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published November 1st 1993) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 This is an old Regency Romance and read just like it. A nobleman had been spurned 11 years ago. When they meet again, he remembers her but she has no knowledge of who he is. She has changed a lot. Now a widow and lost her home she becomes a governess to the nobleman's family. They meet up on their way to her new job and his family and are robbed in their coach.
After a few days and their bickering she is told who he is. He just got betrothed to someone so he could forget her. Typical Regency book. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth Mansfield

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Open Road Media Romance

(first published 1970) 

My rating: 3 stars

 

My review:

 

 Evelyn is a a governess and let go from her services because a besotted son had left her in a compromising position and the mother believed the governess had her eyes on him. The son's friends felt bad for her and took her with them on a holiday and then to get employed after the holidays. Well there was confusion on family members parts and a lot of she likes him and he likes her and a widowed sister not wanting to marry and move out of her widowed brother's house and a jealous woman who wants one man and she doesn't like being shunned. A lot of craziness but cute story that had me laughing. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Mistletoe Cottage (Harmony Harbor #1) by Debbie Mason

Christmas Romance
Published October 25th 2016 by Forever
My rating: 4 stars

My review:

 Very cute story and actually had me laughing out loud a few times. Sophia grew up in Harmony Harbor but she fleed several years ago and pregnant, with her mom. A fire destroyed her home so she came back home to be with family.Firefighter Liam has been in love with Sophia since she was a teenager and he wants a second chance with her and needs to prove to her that he is the one. After Sophia gets back she is hired as the manager to the manor. Things change to the good after that. I want to read the rest of this series and I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Claude’s Christmas Adventure by Sophie Pembroke

A dog adventure
Published October 20th 2016
My rating: 4 stars

My Review:

 This was such a fun read. Claude is a french bulldog and accidently gets left behind, when his family goes away for Christmas. So the book starts with him going through a neighbor's cat door. He friends 2 neighbors and they are on the quest to find out whose dog it is. The chapter take turns telling the story from Claude's point, the neighbor's point and the owner's point. The family does everything in their power to get back home. Meanwhile neighbors all come together to celebrate Christmas. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection) by Richard Paul Evans

Christmas Romance

Audiobook

Published November 18th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio
My rating: 5 stars

My review:

 I listened to this on audio, through my library. Elise is dreading the holidays. 3 years ago she found out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend. That resulted in a bitter divorce.
Then one November day, a stranger, Nicholas approaches her in the mall food court. Instead of being alone for holidays he propositions her for 8 weeks they pretend to be a couple and he draws up a contract with 4 simple rules. She agrees and they start spending a lot of time together but parts of her past come back to haunt her. But she finds out she isn't the only one with a haunting past. I loved how these 2 came together and a relationship formed. When I started listening to this it was how the movie started that was on Hallmark, last month. But that is where the similarities end.

Review: Holiday in Your Heart (Caribou Crossing #7) by Susan Fox

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 Maribeth is 39 and waiting for Mr. Right. Her biological clock is ticking so she is thinking about getting a sperm donor so she can have a child. Then she meets Mo. Mo has a troubled past and came to town to apologize to his ex wife and his son who he abandoned as a child. He has made a lot of mistakes and has regretted them all. He wants everyone to know how much he has changed. Mo meets up with Maribeth and sparks flu instantly but Mo doesn't feel he deserves her and is adamant about not having anymore kids. After a lot of time together and having an extended family that he gets to know, can he change his mind. It was good to see how someone changed their life and made it for the better. I enjoyed this story and received this from NetGalley.

Review: We Need A Little Christmas (Evergreen Lane Novels) by Sierra Donovan (

Christmas Romance
Published September 27th 2016 by Zebra
Rated: 4 stars

My review:
 This was a fun and quick Christmas romance. Liv's Grandmother has passed away so she came home to help her mom and sister to say goodbye and clean out the house. She ends up meeting up with Scotty who is the handyman of the town. As he helps them with everything she starts having feelings for him. But her home and business are back in Texas and she needs to get back to a business that she isn't sure will be there anymore. I received this from netGalley for a review.

Review: Christmas at Lilac Cottage (White Cliff Bay #1) by Holly Martin

Christmas Romance
Published September 25th 2015 by Bookouture
Rated: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a fun read and loved the story. This is set in White Cliff Bay and at Christmas time, which sounds beautiful there. Penny loves her home which is a cute cottage and twinkling fairy lights. She decides to rent out the annex of her house to a father and his teen daughter. He starts out as a grumpy person but warms up to Penny. She is an ice carver and befriends his daughter and teaches her how to ice carve. Penny and Henry end up with a strong connection and want to see where it will go. Loved the ice carving they did and the competitions. The love story was great also and shows how important communication is. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Review: Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome, #4) by Annie Rains

Christmas Romance short novel
 Published November 8th 2016 by Loveswept
Rating: 4 stars

My Review

 This was a quick and fun read. It's a short novel set in Seaside, North Carolina, where a military base is and the male main character is at.Allison has been single for quite a while. She seems to always date losers. Her mom is a psychiatrist, who always finds fault with all the men Allison dates. If she doesn't date then her family gives her a hard time and if she is dating then the guy is all wrong. She can't win. At a charity ball she buys a man to be her pretend boyfriend and is name is Troy and a military man. So they ave pretend dates to get to know each other and the sexual tension builds up and feelings start coming into play. This was a great story and I received it from NetGalley for a review.

Review: One Christmas in Paris by Mandy Baggott

Rated 3 stars
Published October 7th 2016 by Bookouture
Christmas Romance

My thoughts:
 This was a fun and quick read. Ava and Deb are best friends from London. They got Paris to help Ava forget about her cheating boyfriend and Deb thinks that her stepdad is cheating on her mom. They meet up with 2 frenchmen and become friends and spend the week with them. Deb and Ava do some sleuthing to find out if the stepdad is cheating. Ava's mom is a control freak and thinks she knows what her daughter should be doing with her life. Ava ends up falling for Juliene and helps him deal with missing his sister and helping him with his photography. I really enjoyed the characters. The only thing I hated in this book and the reason that I only gave this 3 stars is the character using the word Totes in about every other sentence. I thought maybe it was an expression that hey use in London but why didn't Ava ever say it, not even once. So I felt it was overused and 3/4 of the way through the book I cringed every time it was used. I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber review

Christmas Romance
Published October 4th 2016 by Ballantine Books
Rating: 5 stars

My review:
 This was a cute and fun read. Debbie Macomber wrote another great Christmas book. Julia has a neighbor who is like Ebenezer. She writes a blog and decides to do a 12 Days of Christmas challenge to kill him with kindness. He lives across the hall from her in their apartment. Every morning they leave at the same time for work and she always smiles and says hi but he is not friendly. So she goes out of her way and even buys him coffee, bakes him cookies, all of which he declines. After a while though he starts smiling and being nice. They start having feelings for each other til he finds out about the blog. Being hurt in the past he feels used again and can't seem to forgive her.
I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Do You Believe in Santa? by Sierra Donovan review

Christmas Romance
Published September 29th 2015 by Zebra
Rating: 5 stars

My Review:
 This was a quick and fun read. The ending was perfect!! Mandy Reese is a woman who believes in Santa because she saw him when she was 8 years old. She now works in a Christmas store in her home town of Tall Pines in southern California, in the mountains. Jake arrives in town to convince the town to build a Regal Hotel. He meets Mandy when he stops at the store. They start seeing each other. He eventually finds out she has seen Santa but he doesn't believe her. They fall in love but he is still skeptical. He isn't sure if they can make it work with his job and she doesn't know if she can be with someone who doesn't believe in her. I loved all the characters in the book but the ending is what made it a 5 star rating for me.

I received this from NetGalley for a review.

Snowbound At Christmas by Debbie Mason - review

 Published September 29th 2015 by Forever
Genre: Christmas Romance
 Rating: 4 stars

My Review:
  This was a quick and fun read. Cat O'Connor is an ex cop and works for her spoiled self centered sister who is an actress. Her sister treats her like a servant instead of a sister. Chloe works on a soap opera and then she gets an opportunity for an audition for a chance of a lifetime role.Cat and Chloe are twins and so they pretend to be each other and it works great until someone is trying to kill Chloe. Now Grayson is brought in under cover as a soap actor to find out what is going on. As they go to the town Christmas more things happen and is someone really after Chloe or are they after Cat. This also has a cute love story going. I received this from Net Galley for a review.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer- review

Heartless- Marissa Meyer
Genre :Fantasy/ Fairytale Retelling
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends (November 8, 2016)
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:
 I did enjoy the book but I didn't LOVE it! I got bored halfway through the book and then it picked up again. Cath wants to be a baker and own her own shop but her parents forbid it and says she has to marry the king, boring. She meets Jest and falls for him instead. A lot of Alice in Wonderland in here but instead of Alice you are dealing with Cath, who is supposed to be the Queen of Hearts. I hated her mother and Margaret, who has a holier than thou attitude. The King is sooo boring I would run for the hills lol.
 Marissa Meyer is a great storyteller but I like the Lunar Chronicles a lot better.

Halfway through the Dewey's 24-Hour readathon, checking in

I have done really well and finished 4 books
Sandman - William W. Johnstone  3 stars
Halloween Magic and Mayhem - Stella Wilkin 3 stars
Vampire Affliction - Eva Pohler 4 stars
And Then She Was Gone - Christopher Grayson 4 stars

Next up is Kinsey and Me - Sue Grafton

These are all kindle books that I have been reading. Taking a small break to charge my tablet and phone.

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

Starting today, Saturday October 22, at 8 am is this readathon and ends Sunday , Oct. 23 at 7:55 am. I am reading all kindle books and am going to try to read the following:
Finish Sandman by William W. Johnstone
Read:
Halloween Magic and Mayem by Stella Wilkinson
Vampire Affliction by Eva Pohler 
The Witches of Dark Root by April Aasheim.
Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I bought snacks and Dr. Pepper for the caffeine. I need to go and change to comfy clothes and am getting ready my wax warmers ready for today and my candles. Hubby is in charge of dinner. I have leftovers to make taco salad for lunch so I am good to go. 

Coloring Wednesday Recipe - Pasta Pie a La Bison

Pasta Pie a La Bison

8 oz spaghetti
2 TBSP melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 C grated parmesan cheese
16 oz. spaghetti sauce
1 C cottage or ricotta cheese
1/2 C shredded Mozzarella cheese


Preheat oven to 350
Cook spaghetti. drain
Stir butter, eggs and parmesan cheese into hot spaghetti.
Use this mixture to shape a crust in a 10" pie pan.
Spread cottage or ricotta cheese over crust and cover with suace. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and bake until cheese melts.

Coloring Wednesday's Ham and Noodle Casserole recipe

I have a You Tube channel and I do Cross Stitch Sunday and Ramblings, Coloring Wednesday & ramblings, Friday Reads. A subscriber asked me to do a recipe on Wednesdays. So here is my Ham and noodle casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole

4 Cups noodles, uncooked
1 lb ham, chopped
1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
1 green pepper
2 can cream of celery soup
1 cup milk
2 tsp horseradish
2 tsp prepared mustard
2 cups crushed potato chips


Cook noodles according to package. Drain. Mix all ingredients except for chips. Add ingredients to noodles, stir to mix. Put in greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, top with chips, return to oven for 7 minutes.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury review

The Forbidden Wish - Jessica Khoury
standalone
YA Aladdin retelling/Fantasy
Publisher: Razorbill (February 23, 2016)
Rated 4/5 stars

 Synopsis:
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 



But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

My Thoughts:
This story was a little different as the jinni was female and a little darker. The Princess and Aladdin don't fall in love but he does help her fight for her throne. I enjoyed this book very much.

February 2016 Book haul featuring Rascal the cat

January 2016 BIG book haul

Salt To the Sea - Ruta Sepetys review

Salt to the Sea - Ruta Sepetys
Standalone
Young Adult Historical Fiction
 Publisher: Philomel Books (February 2, 2016)
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:
 World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people—adults and children alike—aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.

MY Thoughts:
Set in Winter 1945 world war II. We follow 4 teenagers with 4 secrets. The chapters alternate between the 4 teenagers point of view. Each one from a different homeland and affected by tragedy, lies and war. They all happen to show up at the same place and try to survive. This book was gripping and I had such emotions for each character. The ending was happy and sad. I started the book with low expectations of liking it as I don't always like historical fiction and figured I would get to maybe 50 pages and stop. I was surprised how much I loved this book and got sucked right in.

The Siren by Kiera Cass review

The Siren - Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 26, 2016)
Genre: YA, Folklore, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:
Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?


My Thoughts:
I loved the story. There are 4 Sirens and one is at the end of her 100 year serving as a siren. She gets to become human and she will lose her memory of being a siren. Kahlen still has 20 years to go when she meets Akinli. I love the friendship between the 4 sirens. Also the love story between Kahlen and  Akinli. I found this a fun and fast read.

The Passenger by Alexandra Bracken review

Passenger - Alexandra Bracken
#1 in Passenger series
Time traveling fiction
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (January 5, 2016)
Rating 4/5 stars



Synopsis:
 In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever.

My thoughts:
I loved this book and the cliffhanger was typical Alexandra Bracken and I can not wait for the 2nd book to come out.

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman review

1. The Dark Days Club - Alison Goodman
2. #1 Lady Helen series
3. Fantasy/ paranormal
4. Published  Viking Books for Young Readers (January 26, 2016)
5. Rating: 5/5 stars

 Synopsis:

 London, 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation at the royal court of George III. Her life should revolve around gowns, dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family’s maids disappears, she is drawn into the shadows of Regency London.
            There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few able to stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons that has infiltrated all levels of society. Carlston is not a man she should be anywhere near, especially with the taint of scandal that surrounds him. Yet he offers her help and the possibility of finally discovering the truth about the mysterious deaths of her parents.
            Soon the two of them are investigating a terrifying conspiracy that threatens to plunge the newly Enlightened world back into darkness. But can Helen trust a man whose own life is built on lies? And does she have the strength to face the dangers of this hidden world and her family’s legacy?    
           Set in the glittering social world of the Regency upper-crust, the Dark Days Club is a supernatural adventure that introduces New York Times best-selling author Alison Goodman’s Lady Helen Wrexhall—another heroine whom, like Eona, readers can take to their hearts.

My thoughts:

You never know who to trust and not trust in this book. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Helen is being raised by her aunt and uncle and I can not stand her uncle. He is the type that just waits for her to do one little thing wrong. I can't wait for the next book.