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2020 Fall Flurry of Holidays Challenge -- December Reviews and Discussion
Normally, cheesy Christmas romance isn't my thing, but I'm feeling it this year. I have the next Jackie Lau book I'd like to read, and I nabbed a m/m Christmas romance between a glass blower and... I dunno, something kinda nerdy. I think there's an Adrianna Hererra book that fits the bill... (Mangos and Mistletoe - on sale now for 99 cents, so I nabbed it).
I have that one queued up on audio for my upcoming two-day drive!
Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan
3 stars
In this holiday story Flora MacKenzie and her brother Fintan are opening a hotel. By doing this they are finishing out the vision of Fintan’s partner who started the project but passed away before its completion. It takes place on a small island in Scotland and there is a unique cast of characters who have either come to the island to work there or are from the area.
The author has added in humor and love. There are Christmas preparations, local politics and family dramas. Secrets do not last long and things may not always go as planned. The quirky characters and situations make this a fun book that you cannot help but like.
Nicole R wrote: "It is finally here!! My favorite reading month of the year! I have my Christmas tree up, my cheesy Christmas romance novels purchased, and my wine rack stocked. I. AM. READY.Please post reviews f..."
I already have three books here--one I hadn't even realized would count, because it spoofs Christmas. That's Hogfather. It turns out that the Hogfather is Discworld's Santa Claus, and gifts are left for children by the Hogfather after he goes down the chimney, but his sleigh is pulled by four large boars. I have barely started it for a read, so it will count :) In this book, and this is NOT a spoiler, the Hogfather has disappeared and Death is doing his best to fill in for him (it is dark comedy).
I haven't read the book of Hogfather but have seen the movie, and while it's a bit satirical, it actually does come around to a pretty good-spirited conclusion. Unconventional, but still a good Christmas season story.
Hebah wrote: "I haven't read the book of Hogfather but have seen the movie, and while it's a bit satirical, it actually does come around to a pretty good-spirited conclusion. Unconventional, but still a good Chr..."I am enjoying it so far. There is no way I am going to wait and only read the weekly sections for the group discussion. The next time I read it I am going to read as much of it as I like.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie4 stars
A rich old man gathers his grown children and their wives together at his manor to celebrate Christmas. His has been estranged from most of them for years and he loves pushing their buttons and making them squirm. Since this is an Agatha Christie novel, we know there will be a murder and Poirot will be called in to find out who amongst the house guests is a killer.
I liked this mystery. Other than the reason for the gathering, Christmas did not feature very much in the book. I liked trying to figure out who did it. The ending was a surprise to me, but after the big reveal, I could look back at events earlier and see the clues that I missed. That is my favorite result and Christie definitely hit the sweet spot. I liked all the characters and Christie did a great job developing them and making each personality distinct and interesting. Overall, it was a satisfying read, but not as "Christmasy" as I hoped.
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett3 stars
Twas the night before Hogswatch, and all through the house...
Hogwatch is in trouble, because the Hogfather has gone missing, so DEATH is taking his place, I kid you not. He is doing this because it's the right thing to do and it is essential that children keep believing in the Hogfather.
The Auditors are behind this, and in this motley collection of characters there is the worst Assassin I have ever seen in one of these who doesn't care about upholding the code, etc, of the guild too much.
My favourite character in this is Susan, and since I read this first of the Death books, I want to know if she is in all of them.
This is a fun satire on Christmas-with-Santa-Claus and various and sundry other things, but there was no Captain Carrot--the City Watch Books are more my style, but I might read another one if Susan is in it.
ChristmasRest You Merry / Charlotte MacLeod
3.5 stars
Peter Shandy is a professor at a small college. Many of the faculty live close to each other, and at Christmas they go all out in their neighbourhood to decorate. It’s called the Illumination Festival and it attracts people out to see the lights. While Peter is away, there is a Christmas party. When Peter returns, he finds the assistant librarian dead in his house. It appears she was trying to fix some decorations and she fell. But, on looking closer, Peter doesn’t think it was an accident. The last time the librarian was seen, she was leaving the party.
I quite liked this. It’s a quick read and, unfortunately, the first in a series. I will continue on (if I can find the next book(s), as this one was originally published in 1978). I don’t read a lot of Christmas-themed books, so the Christmas-y stuff was kind of fun, too.
WinterWinter Loon by Susan Bernhard
4 stars
When Wes Ballot was 15 years old and his father had abandoned Wes and his mother once again, he followed his drunken mother out onto the frozen Minnesota lake and watched helplessly as she broke through the ice and drowned. There was absolutely nothing he could do but the guilt stayed with him. Wes' father Moss Ballot felt it would be better for his son to live with his maternal grandparents and once again Wes found himself abandoned by a man who should be taking care of him. Grandparents Gip and Ruby are hard-living, hard-drinking people who are not particularly pleased to have a teenager on hand. While living with them Wes learns some dark buried secrets that begin to explain his dearly departed mother.
Wes attends the local high school and is immediately smitten when he sets eyes on Jolene. She is a beautiful native American girl who lost her own mother tragically not long ago. Wes and Jolene bond over their mutual sadness but soon become inseparable. Gip and Ruby are dead set against the relationship; a white boy and an Indian girl, nope. Jolene's family, however, welcomes Wes into their home and even take him in when his grandparents are fighting. Seeing the closeness and the warmth of Jolene's family circle makes Wes long for his father. He knows he must go in search of Moss Ballot and try to piece together what is left of his own heritage.
Although the story was quite depressing at times it was very good. Wes is a great character and while he is not always the most admirable young man, I wanted him to find happiness and closure to his family's tragic past. This is a debut novel and I really admire the author's writing. I will certainly hope to read more in the future.
A Highlander Is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham3 stars
An enjoyable audiobook that passed the time on a long drive, but not one that I am going to rave about.
Claire is running from her family obligations, and hiding out in Highland, Georgia. Cut off from her family, she is flying under the radar and making a living by being the live-in companion to Ms. Meadows, a cute, sassy older woman. Enter Holt: the totally gorgeous, farmer neighbor who always seems to swoop in to help Claire when she finds herself in trouble. Thankfully, the Christmas season backdrop provides lots of holiday-themed run-ins between these two!
Claire was a bit whiny, and I found that her "hiding" from her family in the age of all things internet/social media was a HUGE stretch. I liked the supporting characters and wish we would have had a bit more of them.
But, cute and Christmasy was all I requested. And that is what I got.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren3.5 stars (round up to 4)
A 22-hour road trip had me scurrying for holiday audiobooks to listen to, and first up on my list was the latest holiday offering from Christina Lauren!
Mae has spent every Christmas the exact same way: at a house outside Park City Utah with her parents, younger brother, and her parents' college friends-who-are-like-family and their kids. They spend 6 days doing all the holiday things, and it is Mae's favorite part of the year!
This year, on the last night, she has an eggnog-fueled make-out session with her friend Theo! Despite the fact that she has been crushing on his older brother Andrew since her pre-teen years. When she comes to after a tragic accident involving a Christmas tree truck, she finds herself....back at December 20th and heading to Park City afresh. This could be her chance at a do-over! But what exactly are the fates giving her an opportunity to fix?
This was cute, though the groundhog day theme made it slightly redundant at times. But, snowball fights, Christmas lights, and romance under the mistletoe wins me over every time. It made the drive through endless Pennsylvania and Ohio fly by!
I will say though, did anyone think that (view spoiler) No? Just me? lol.
December: ChristmasIn a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
4 Stars
This is exactly what I wanted- a semi-predictable, cute, over the top cuddly romance- set at Christmastime, and with a fun twist. This twist being- Groundhogs day, our main character relives the same holiday week a few times, before she learns what Christmas and love is all about. This is very Christina Lauren, very cute, very light, very easy to read. Hallmark movie but the perfect mix of drama and holiday fun.
I wish I could join the fun at the Hollis/Jones family Christmas tradition. A big Utah house with themed days- scavenger hunt day, snow-creature building, sledding, their roots are based in tradition. When Maelyn lives through this week once, she makes a "mistake" and wishes to learn what she wants in life. After reliving it a few times, she learns more and more, and she gets the perfect ending with the iteration that was the best for her, despite the drama it may cause.
I would say that the twist of the 'Groundhog day' threw me at first. I totally wasn't expecting it, but once I got used to it, it was fun. My big qualm is just that the characters felt very 1-dimensional. Our main character Mae was a little deeper- but all the rest of the characters were cookie cutter. Our love interest, Andrew felt TOO perfect, the parents and family friends were stereotypical in their parts.
A Timeless Christmas - Alexis Stanton
4 stars
Megan is an American historian acting as a housekeeper in a museum mansion former home of Charles Whitley. Charles disappeared in 1902 and shows up at his home in 2018. Brilliant inventor, Charles, is fascinated by the technology and Megan is thrilled to have a direct link to history once she accepts that he has time traveled. Besides being an intro to setting the stage for romance it is also a look at technology from a different perspective and has some humorous scenes as well.
However, to me a big bunch of typical time travel questions are never addressed. As a light holiday romance it was fun. It is also a Hallmark Christmas movie showing several times this month.
Christmas. Duh.Cowboy Christmas Bluesn by Maisey Yates - 3 stars
- because we need to see these covers! Especially JoAnne and Tien!This gets a full 3 stars because Yates actually abandonned the virgin trope. Thank goodness!
Cooper is back in Gold Valley for Christmas, unable to say 'no' to his parents. He has avoided Gold Valley for 8 years, since the death of his older sister from cancer, passing through once or twice a year to see his parents but avoiding Christmas. Cooper lives for today, shut down emotionally, connecting with no one. But he's certainly not let his sexy body go to ruin - he herds cattle for a living, constantly roaming, no roots or home, but that's hard work that keeps that bod in shape.
Annabelle has all grown up, owning a successful store on Main Street in Gold Valley, but suffering from very low self-esteem from 5 years with a belittling boyfriend. When she sees Cooper is back in town and hanging out at the local saloon every night, she decides to seduce him, have a fling, and enjoy herself. Nevermind that she had a serious case of hero worship as a kid, and lusted after him as a teen.
Clearly these two are destined to hook up for more than a night in this Christmas novella. Along the way, Cooper helps Annabelle gain confidence and embrace how beautiful and accomplish she is, and Annabelle helps Cooper heal and embrace life again. There is lots of hot steamy sex where both reach satisfaction - although in truth Cooper is a real douche part of the time. And some of the emotional merry-go-round is tedious and repetitive - even though this is barely 100 pages. But I liked this couple, their HEA and that there were sufficient Christmassy scenes to make this an appropirate Christmas Cowboy Romance.
Let It Snow by Cassie Cross
4 stars
My daily morning binge of Christmas novella's continues. I think it will be a theme this year!
Amy is devastated that her life-long best friend, Josh, is leaving Austin to move back home to Connecticut. Not only because they do everything together, but because she has been secretly in love with him for years! He surprises her with the idea of a road trip home followed by a one-way plane ticket back to Austin, but a blizzard that leaves them stranded in Holly Hills may change their plans.
Y'all, I am a big fan of the totally unrealistic and stereotypical friends-to-loves trope, and this one did not disappoint!
Mistletoe in Paradise by Jill Shalvis
4 stars
Christmas 2020 is the year of the novellas! I just can't get enough of them.
Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors for cheesy Christmas romance books, and while I was bummed that she did not have a full-length novel this holiday season, this short novella did not disappoint!
Hannah and James spent every Christmas childhood together sailing the Caribbean with their families. But, a short-lived dating experiment in their early 20s left them both heartbroken and bruised. Seeing each other for the first time in six years, while spending several days trapped on a boat together, may finally force them to talk about their previous breakup...and maybe rekindle the flame. (Not spoiler: this is a romance, that flame is rekindled.)
*sigh* Ugh, these books just make me so happy.
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up, audiobook
This was a lovely book, and just what I like for a holiday read. People have real problems, don't get me wrong, but it's not depressing or heavy and you can feel that there is hope coming. So, as a GR friend of mine put, it's a bit like a Hallmark movie, but I liked it better.
Problems? Yes there are, and they aren't just restricted to Oswald Campbell. However, when he receives a terminal diagnosis and is advised to move south, this begins the story that leads us to a small town where we meet people with histories of grief and a small girl with a very sad life going on. In all of this there is a tame red bird (Cardinal, and this comes up, but he's just called a red bird), with a maimed wing who lives in the store.
It's read by the author who does have some screen acting credits, and I enjoyed listening to it.
A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau
2.5 stars (round up to 3)
The theme of my last few Christmas novellas has been: snowstorm that is worse than predicted, unexpected stop at roadside motel, only one room left, said room has only one bed, hijinks ensue.
I'm not mad about it.
Greg and Tasha find themselves in this scenario as Greg gives Tasha a ride from Toronto to their small hometown. He has barely seen her in the 15 years since their high school romance fizzled out once they went to college, but he can't help remembering how good they were together.
Moving on to my next novella...
Regency Royal Navy Christmas - Carla Kelly
5 stars
A great collection of stories by Carla Kelly featuring naval officers at Christmas time. Kelly has a way with bringing no nonsense officers together with practical nurturing women or with those officers coming across a problem that needs solving and stepping forward to handle it. In these stories both of these things happen resulting in a warm comfortable feeling at the conclusion of each one. Highly recommended.
Nicole R wrote: "A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau
2.5 stars (round up to 3)
Nicole, since you are reading so many Xmas novellas, do you have the appetite for maybe one more winter romance? A really short one? (And the snow is not that bad!) I'd love your review. It's only a 15-minute read. Free on Kindle Unlimited or I can just send it. Unexpected Gifts
Amy wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas by Jackie Lau
2.5 stars (round up to 3)
Nico..."
Amy, I will definitely add it to my TBR list for the month and will hopefully get to it before January 1 hits and I turn back into a non-Christmas reading pumpkin! I have Kindle Unlimited so I am all set!
Listening to eight winter nights on audible and I love it. And I’m also reading the winter crown about Eleanor of Aquitaine.
No Ordinary Noel by Pat G'Orge-Walker3 fun stars
This is my first time reading a Sister Betty Book, and I plan to go back and read the two that come before this one (some say they are funnier). My rating is an average, since this ranged from laugh out loud funny to a bit boring for me. One scene had me laughing so hard that I thought I might end up rating this 4 stars, but the last part of the book reminded me that it was more of a mix.
Nevertheless, if you like Christian comedy, you might enjoy this one. Plus, some of the names are priceless. There are the less-than-pious Bea Blister and Sasha Pray Onn (known as BS), Trustee Noel, the former pastor, Reverend Knott Enuff Money is mentioned only in passing, but there are some other punny gems as well. That said, the humour is not all puns, there is a variety of types that mesh in this holiday book.
For a blurb or description, there is one on the MPE.
I should have read the PBT reviews before reading this!!! But it counts for three things, and at least it was quick...
Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz
1.5 stars rounded down
Okay, it's true that I am not generally keen on Pride and Prejudice retellings, since in my mind that is Austen's greatest book and is very well done. However, this had the potential to be so much more because de la Cruz writes fairly well in this type of genre. However, it fell flat for several reasons.
The gender switch between Darcey and Luke (instead of Lizzie, but this was odd since she is Elizabeth so a better name could have been chosen, IMO) could have worked, but she really lost some of the most important elements of what this story is all about even if updating. The good news is there is no explicit sex, which is so anti-Austen I have no idea why retellings do this, but some this felt too contrived to me. Plus it didn't really know how to peak properly, IMO, with the final romance. I do give kudos to the epilogue, since that is more Austen-like; we always get a glimpse of the happy stuff later on.
One of the biggest problems in this retelling is that these people all knew each other way back when, so it's really a different story with only a very few elements of the original kind of tale. A good retelling, IMO, is fresh but still has all of the most important elements. This one totally lacks the true "pride and prejudice" of the original, as well, plus no brilliant character depictions (but then, what retelling has those???)
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg3 stars
This was just what I was looking for, a warm and fuzzy feel good story. The book opens with Oswald T. Campbell getting just about the worse news a person can get just before Christmas. He has just months to live and his doctor suggests he leaves the wet winter climate in Chicago and go to a warmer climate in the south. The doctor gives Oswald an old brochure for a resort in Lost River Alabama.
Turns out the resort is no longer in existence, but Oswald goes anyway and finds a small, tight knit community there. The community welcomes him and he settles in.
The story starts just before one Christmas and goes through the next year, ending just past the next Christmas. After a lifetime of feeling sorry for himself and always searching for something, Oswald begins to find himself and starts to enjoy living. There are others in the community searching for something or somehow living in the past. The year is one of discovery and growth for everyone, and bringing them all together is one little girl and a redbird.
A quick read and a feel good story, which is something we all seem to need these days!
Once Upon a Duke - Erica Ridley3 stars
Benjamin, Duke of Silkridge is called to the reading of the will of his estranged grandfather who lives in the village of Cressmouth which he has converted into Christmas village. 5 years before Benjamin left the village abruptly after words with his grandfather leaving behind a girl that he loved. Ben and Noelle meet again and are still drawn to each other but now have personal and logistic commitments. Their story evolves in this Christmas village with a group of eccentric characters. Some funny scenes and of course a HEA. OK read but not likely to pursue the series.
My very last year reading these children's books that I usually read in the elementary school each year. We read them for the last time, and now they are going to the attic for grandchildren.Chanukah Lights Everywhere - my favorite! About how one sees lights in everything around us. In the joy of different religions sharing a street, in the headlights that tell you your grandparents have arrived, in the moon and the stars, that remind you long after the holiday is over about the lights within us that never go out.
The Borrowed Chanukah Latkes - a sweet book about how a young girl tricks her elderly neighbor into not being alone for Chanukah. Makes me cry every single time. I try to teach to kids that they can be a light to others.
The Runaway Dreidel - well that is just pure rhyming fun.
Herschel and the Chanukah Goblins - well that's my new favorite, discovered only in the last three years. Through Goodreads. Again, just fun.
Miss Frost Solves a Cold Case by Kristen Painter
3 enjoyable stars
Jayne Frost is the daughter of Jack Frost, the Winter King, and the niece of Kris Kringle and being the Winter Princess is not as easy as one would expect. When her dad and Uncle Kris ask her to investigate the Santa's Workshop franchise where 6 recent employees had suddenly quit and disappeared, she was open to the adventure. Nocturne Falls is a known for Halloween 365 days a year and is a protected place where supernaturals can live in the open as human tourists think they are just a gimmick. Jayne takes to the town well with new and old love interests as well as friendly coworkers.
The mystery isn't hard to figure out but the characters are very fun though they made me hungry with the constant food talk due to winter elves having high metabolism and a sweet tooth. I'm definitely going to continue the series a bit more and see which boy she chooses.
December - Christmas
A Very Vintage Christmas by Tilly Tennant
It's December, and as Dodie goes through an auction lot of vintage clothing for her fledgling shop, she finds in the pocket of a woman's coat a beautiful love letter written by a soldier, George, in 1944 to his fiancé, Margaret. Feeling it important somehow to find at least Margaret's or George's family to return the letter, Dodie embarks on a search while juggling a struggling business, a quirky grandparent, and a boyfriend who is clearly all wrong for her. What results is nothing less than a Christmas miracle, and along the way, Dodie herself takes a chance on true love.
This was a very enjoyable romance, at times sweet, at times bittersweet, set against the backdrop of Bournemouth at Christmas, full of holiday markets, seasonal music, and other festivities that have me longing to hop across the pond to spend Christmas there! Passion and sex are suggested not described ad nauseum, allowing the imagination take flight. While the mounting coincidences eventually go over the top, and Dodie's refusal to end the so-wrong relationship with the boyfriend was annoying and unworthy of her, as a whole, the story was a delightful holiday read. I have already lined up the sequel to read which revolves around a character met here.
Winter at the Beach by Sheila RobertsJenna's newly-renovated, small and cozy inn near the beach does great business in the summer but, along with all of the other shops and businesses in Moonlight Harbor, business suffers when the tourist season ends during the winter season. Jenna comes up with the idea for a winter festival called Seaside with Santa to draw tourists to the town just before the holidays, and she throws herself wholeheartedly into the planning. The main story is intertwined with the conflict of her teenage daughter, a freshman in high school, beginning a romance with a high school senior, and Jenna's indecision surrounding her two romantic interests. There are several other threads of the stories of the inn guests who come for the festival. A big winter storm creates challenges for all and Jenna worries that the festival will be a failure.
This was a well-written story and it was very sweet. It just is not really my cup of tea. I was drawn to it by the title, because I do love atmospheric coastal fiction but, although there was a lot of detail surrounding the characters immediate actions and feelings, there was not a lot of description of the environment or the atmosphere of the town, which is normally my favorite part of a coastal fiction novel. I am sorting it in my head as perhaps being part of the "sweet romance" genre, but the more I think about it, the more I'm wondering if it actually was a romance genre novel. It didn't seem to me like the romance aspect was a main part of the plot.
The Winter Companion - Matthews
3 stars
Another sweet Victorian romance, the final on in a series of four. It’s Christmas, and Neville Cross, the only unmarried parish orphan, falls for the paid companion of an abbey guest. Clara Hartwright has much in common with the first three female protagonists of the series. They are all women who are negatively impacted by the social and legal limitations placed on women. As with the first three books in the series, the romance is predictable and happy. This was the perfect book to read while getting a (long awaited) cut and color. Pleasant reading with good historical atmosphere that didn’t require a great deal of my attention.
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas3 fun stars
This was a fun, cheesy holiday romance, but I have to admit that I enjoyed the characters. You have an uncle who is now the legal guardian of his niece after his sister has been killed in an accident and a young widow who is sure she'll never love again but has moved to Friday Harbor to start anew. Naturally there are a few things that come in the way before the happily ever after part, but I was happy that there wasn't tons of schmaltzy internal or external dialogue that drives me crazy with some of these books.
I was glad there wasn't that much magic, but apparently there is more in at least some of the other books in this series.
Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Intrigue Laurens
Audio performance by Helen Lloyd
3 stars
Skating party, Christmas pageant, Carol service; all the usual Little Moseley holiday traditions with Lady O and her grandchildren. I enjoyed all of that, as usual. The romance/French spy capture was too far from reality for me. Not that it needs to be realistic. It was still predictable, easy listening while I did some boring housework.
A Toy Drone for Christmas - Mary Jane Forbes
3 stars
Charley is trying to get started in real estate sales and her brother, Frankie and friends are involved in a drone start up. They decide to pair up and use the drone to show off a house. The video is great but it also picked up something that brings them to the wrong people's attention.
This had a very slow start and was told from too many viewpoints. Didn't make it seem like Charley was the main character. The blurb mentions Tavis as another main character and love interest but he doesn't show up until halfway into the book. Writing style not to my taste but the action in the second half made up for some of the negatives.
Christmas was a tenuous mention near the end. Hardly what I'd term a Christmas story.
ChristmasLady Osbaldestone's Christmas Intrigue by Stephanie Laurens
3 stars
You KNEW I wasn't going to let December slip away without Lady O?!?
We are back in Little Moseley with Lady O and her 3 grandchildren, ready to enjoy the traditional Village celebrations - the Skating Party, the Carol Singing and the Pageant. It's the final months of the Peninsular Wars, the months just prior to Napoleon's first defeat, and a feeling of tentative joy at the war being soon over is cautiously being explored. Into this mix comes Lady O's youngest, Christopher, a rising star in the Foreign Office, and also unmarried at the age of 36. Along comes Marion Sewell, recently returned to London from the courts in Russia and Austria, daughter of a highly placed FO member, coming into Christopher's orbit - or at least trying to - as communication facilitator for a secret negotiation. Much of the story revolves around an increasiningly absurd espionage plot that is drawn out a tad too long. While amusing to see the grandchildren and Lady O running circles around the various adults at the center of the intrigue, you really have to just let it all flow over you for the the plot device it is, to wit: providing an opportunity to see a glimpse of Lady O's past life as the influential wife of a foreign diplomat.
It's also a bit bittersweet as this is our last visit to Little Moseley and its Christmas Traditions and Lady O and her grandchildren.
Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick
5 Stars and 5 candles burning, just like tonight on Night Four!
Oh I just loved this holiday Chanukah inspired Audible Original! Even if you know every detail of exactly how it's going to end, you might just find yourself crying - right where you expect to. On the eighth night of Chanukah on the balcony where it began. Even if you already guessed about the weird absence, and have had three hours of wondering when these adorable dorks were going to get it together. One spends the entire audio listen, just rooting for Rachel Bacharach. And waiting for the ending you know is coming. The story was magical and eternal, and I just loved it! Puts me in the mood for a latke and some romance coming my way.
A Very COVID Christmas by Maggie Aldrich2.5 stars (round up to 3)
I waffled between rather to round this up to 3 or down to 2. I ended up rounding up because it was cute and the COVID references were incorporated in a way that was cute and not depressing. But, all in all, it was a little lighter on the romance than I like.
It is COVID Christmas, and Kinsey has been working/living/recreating at her apartment for nine months. Aside from her teenage niece who attends virtual school from her apartment, Kinsey has seen no one and is a stickler for the mask and 6-feet rules.
But, her friends convince her to dust off that online dating profile she set up before COVID and find a date for her work Christmas party. She manages to find a perfectly lovely man to spend some FaceTime hours with, but she also can't help thinking about her cute upstairs neighbor.
Kinsey's relationship with her 14-year old niece Reece was cute, though Reece's parents were just too stereotypical horrible. There was not much suspense with Kinsey's dating life, and the resolution with her online guy was abrupt. Not enough time was spent showing her interactions with either guy to really make me care about one or the other.
It was a cute novella that wove in our current COVID situation, which I appreciated, but I am glad it wasn't longer.
Prayers of a Stranger: A Christmas Story by Davis Bunn2 stars
This story is about grief and healing to the point of being able to resume life, but it's also about faith, marriage, friendship and travels in Israel.
Overall I liked the story--neither pithy nor fluffy--but dealing with real human emotions and not bad for a holiday book, but it came down a full star for his inaccurate medical information. One NEVER gives ice baths for a fever of 101-102, and, in fact, sponge or lukewarm baths are better. Plus a few other things. Had Bunn bothered to have a qualified MD (as in one that knows how to handle a fever, but, better yet, someone who is knowledgeable about the condition of the child in the book) this would have been much better.
I plan to read one more book by Bunn, and am hoping it is not rife with misinformation, because if it is, that will be it.
A Wallflower Christmas
Kleypas
3 stars
This is a reunion Christmas story with characters from the popular Wallflowers series, another set of Victorian romances. I’d only read one book from that set, but it was sufficient to completely acquaint me with the characters. The honorary wallflower of this book is another neglected country cousin stuck in the role of ‘companion’ to a spoiled rich girl. I enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere, the supportive female friendships and the comedy of the toupee in the tree. The excessively sexual instant romance….not so much.
Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Goose - Stephanie Laurens4 stars
This was a very sweet holiday read. It was perfect for listening to as I wrapped Christmas gifts. I really liked how there were characters of all ages that had equal weight in the story. The entire community in the book was full of fun and interesting characters that I can see filling up the pages of the books later in the series. There was not a lot of depth to the story, but the wonderful characters and charming love story more than made up for that. I can see why so many of my fellow readers look forward to these books every December.
3 stars
The Diary of Minnie Swift is from the ears and eyes of a child. Her story is raw at times and other times a typical child's life, giving you a good idea of what it was to be a child during the depression. Not overly dramatised but does show the effects of unemployment and the impacts it has on not only the Minnie Swift's family but the people around her. Not a quick read and at times a little hard to keep track of what was going on where, when and with whom. Felt a little pushed to get too big of a picture of everything.
A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie3 stars
A Holiday for Murder is the story of a family Christmas gathering gone wrong. Simeon Lee is an invalid and requests his family to all come for Christmas. His son Harry hasn't been home for at least 20 years. Granddaughter Pilar, whom no one has ever met, comes from Spain. Add into the mix, the surprise appearance of the son of a friend from South Africa.
Mr. Lee announces his plans to change his will to his gathered family and is dead, murdered in a brutal way, within hours. Enter our favorite Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who just happens to be visiting a local constable for Christmas. Poirot does his usual gathering of evidence and solves the murder.
I thought I had it figured out, but Agatha got me again in the end! Although I shouldn't have been quite surprised, as the clues are all there.
I liked the family and I liked the story, even though it wasn't exactly a festive holiday for the Lee family.
This book starts off in winter, and the descriptions can make you feel the cold seeping right through the book and into your bones:The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur by Bernard Cornwell - 5 stars - My Review
PBT Comments: This book takes place in England, with references to other lands - Romans, Saxons, Irish, and Scottish. Content warnings: (view spoiler) Those who enjoy A Game of Thrones will probably love this book, though this one does not contain the fantasy elements.
“Our whole line surged forward and scarred swords hammered at the enemy with a new energy. The silver horn, so pure and clear, called again and again, a hunting call to the slaughter, and each time it sounded our men pressed forward into the branches of the felled trees to cut and stab and scream at the enemy who, suspecting some trickery, glanced nervously around the vale as they defended themselves.”
This is one of the best books I have read on Arthurian legend. It is epic in scope, and contains a wonderful mixture of history, strategy, battles, political intrigues, alliances, and relationships. All the key players are here, including Guinevere, Mordred, Galahad, Lancelot, and Merlin, though some are not in their traditional roles. It envisions them as real people living in a real time, without employing elements of fantasy or magic.
It is told from the perspective of Derfel, looking back on his life as one of Arthur’s commander-warriors. Derfel was a Saxon slave brought up by Merlin in the Celtic traditions. In his later years, Derfel converted to Christianity, but at the time of his service to Arthur, he was a pagan and Mithraist. Many religions are colliding at this time, particularly various pagans, Druids, and Christians. Thus, Derfel is in a position to shed light on many aspects of medieval life – rituals, superstitions, and celebrations.
Cornwell attempts to peel away the layers of myth, resulting in a tale that conveys a feeling of authenticity. If Arthur existed, he is easily envisioned as acting as he does in this tale. For example: “Arthur confuses morality with power, and he worsens the mix by always believing that people are inherently good, even the worst of them, and that is why, mark my words, he will never have peace. He longs for peace, he talks of peace, but his own trusting soul is the reason he will always have enemies.”
The author has come up with a historical approach to a period of scant documentation – it has been lost to time. He uses genuine names of regions, leaders, and warring factions. Of course, warfare is almost constant, so alpha males are in the forefront, but this book is not lacking in strong female characters. I felt engrossed in the story from beginning to end.
Cornwell identifies historical fact versus fictional portrayals in the Author’s Notes at the end. Published in 1995, this is the first book in a trilogy, but has an independently satisfying ending. I do not normally read sequels, but I will make an exception for this set.
I haven't gotten a chance to read a December book yet, but I now have To The Bright Edge of the World (which struck me as wintry enough to probably count) from the library and just requested the ebook of Royal Holiday! (And I'm waiting to see whether I'll get In a Holidaze from the hold list early enough. I actually just requested a library card from the library in the larger city near me, since I learned that any state resident can request a card, so that may get me some more options.) I will finally finish the fall semester when I submit my last paper tomorrow, so after that I'll be getting to some wintry books!
forsanolim wrote: "I haven't gotten a chance to read a December book yet, but I now have To The Bright Edge of the World (which struck me as wintry enough to probably count) from the library and just ..."I remember glomming onto holiday reads immediately after handing in those final exams and papers just before Christmas! Enjoy the wallow...you deserve it!
Winter in Paradise by Elin HilderbrandOn New Year's Eve, after news of a tragic event, Irene Steele travels with her two grown sons to the island of St. John, and learns that her husband had a secret second life that she had been completely unaware of. Each member of the Steele family is dealing with layers of drama and is keeping secrets. In St. John, the family may find the answers, and the peace, they all seek.
Winter in Paradise was a blend of family drama, atmosphere, mystery, and romance. The characters were enjoyable to read about – some were more likable than others. The descriptions of the wintry Midwest contrasted with the sunny tropical island were striking. There was a lot of detail describing St. John; you could tell the author was familiar with the island. I liked this story very much. It appears to be the first in a short series, and it did end on a cliffhanger, although it was a degree of suspense I can live with. This is the first book I've read by Hilderbrand, who I have seen described as the queen of the beach read. I look forward to reading more by her.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days (other topics)Winter Stroll (other topics)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (other topics)
Bridget Jones’s Diary (other topics)
A Nantucket Christmas (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Elin Hilderbrand (other topics)Helen Fielding (other topics)
Helen Fielding (other topics)
Camille Minichino (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
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