Category: Christmas Fiction

CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART by SHEILA ROBERTS

Christmas from the Heart

Christmas from the Heart has helped so many people in the small town of Pine River, Washington, and Olivia Berg is carrying on the tradition of her mother and her grandmother and great-grandmother. Running a non-profit is difficult at the best of times, but Christmas seems to be the time they all are asking for donations.

This year they are falling short. Times are tough everywhere and this year their major donor must say no.

Guy Hightower is at his wits end with his two older brothers lack of planning and control of their company. Being the youngest makes it hard to get your voice heard over your older brothers. Cuts must be made if this company is to succeed. They’ve all gotten used to living the high life and driving expensive cars. And this year their donations went to more high profile charities. It’s just business.

But Olivia has no intention of taking no for an answer as she hounds the man and his poor secretary. What’s a girl to do?

Much like a Hallmark Movie, the poor guy winds up in Pine River, stranded by his Masarati in the snow and guess who is driving by and offers him a ride? Yep. He uses a fake name once he realizes who she is and then they proceed to bring joy and happiness to the town. Until she finds out who he is.

I have to say this was very predictable and Olivia was rather a bully about asking for money from everyone! She was rather unlikeable as a character. Basically, it’s the old Cinderella story. Poor woman, a Rich man who saves the day and just like that! Happy Christmas.

This is the reason I don’t watch those movies.

September 24th, 2019 by Mira Books NetGalley Reads

 

 

WREATH BETWEEN THE LINES ( A COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERY) by DARYL WOOD GERBER

Wreath Between the Lines (A Cookbook Nook Mystery 7)

This is the 7th in the Cookbook Nook Series

Jenna Hart is back along with all of our favorite characters.

While Jenna and her staff are decorating the Nook for all of the special events for the holidays, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

With her sister in town with her daughter and husband staying at her dad’s home it looks like everyone will be home for the holidays.

Only there is something off with her oh so pulled together sister and her husband. And in the midst of trying to figure that one out, Jake, who has the best ever Christmas display in town and is also an old friend of the family, goes out for pizza and comes home to a dead friend.

This is probably one of my favorites in the series. Everyone is holding a secret. But only one of them is a killer. And Jenna knows it isn’t Jake, but can she find out who wants him dead and why?

Leave it to Jenna and her friends to have everything wrapped up by Christmas Eve. You won’t want to miss this one. Surprises are around every corner! Oh! And there are recipes…lots of them!

Well Done!

Netgalley/ November 8th 2018 by Beyond the Page

 

The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere

The Christmas Star (Christmas Hope #9)

Christmas Hope #9

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series comes another heartwarming, inspirational story for the holidays.

CHRISTMAS HOPE #9

This is another heart warming and faith-based book in the series.

This time we meet Maddie, a little girl who has been through so much but has the most positive outlook on life.

Amy is ready to get out there and stop mourning the marriage that didn’t work out. What better place than Glory’s Place as a volunteer. Maddie has already captured her heart.

Gabe has messed up plenty in the past but for the past 5 and a half years he’s gotten sober, works at Maddies’ school and is almost done with college and getting his teaching certificate. Maddie is the highlight of Gabe’s day and she is determined to set him up with her new friend at Glory’s.

Will they all have a Christmas miracle? With this group they just may.

This series is always inspiring. And full of really good characters. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows but they always have each others backs.  Faith, Family and Love.

Well Done!

Netgalley/October 16th 2018 by St. Martin’s Press

 

Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

Dear Santa

A holiday retelling of You’ve Got Mail that will make you fall in love with the Christmas Season!

Angela Carson inherited her lighthouse turned holiday store, Heart of Christmas as well as her Grandmother’s beach home.

The business has been run by three generations of women trying to support their family and being a part of the small town of Pleasant Sands, North Carolina.

But since a new chain store has come to town, this may be the last generation to have a store.

As Angela struggles to make a decision, her niece suggests she write to Santa on her app. To get her sister off of her back, she does. And finds a pen pal with good advice and maybe a chance at love.

This was such a sweet Christmas miracle story. I hope we see more of Angela and Pleasant Sands. There are quite a few really good characters here. It wasn’t sappy but it was uplifting and made me smile a lot!

Well Done!

Netgalley/October 16th 2018 by St. Martin’s Griffin

What Are You Reading This Week?

I have absolutely no idea how these got dropped in my Netgalley Shelf! But I am happy to see them there!

 “Marrying forbidden love, devoted friendship, and the supernatural with Palombo’s signature passion for music, storytelling, and heartbreaking choices, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel enchants with a concoction of love, longing, and loss plucked from the bones of one of our most enduring and haunting legends.” – Erin Lindsay McCabe, USA Today bestselling author of I Shall Be Near to You

 There’s only so long you can run for your life.

 

 The follow-up to her critically acclaimed Lie to Me, J.T. Ellison’s Tear Me Apart is the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.

 The highly acclaimed author of Watching Edie returns with a new novel of dark psychological suspense that explores how those closest to us have the most to hide…

Sometimes life’s most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began…From USA Today bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

I was thrilled to see J.T.Ellison in this group! One of my favorites and with this extreme heat maybe the Christmas Wishing Tree will make us feel a bit cooler!

What is on your TBR pile this week?

xx Patricia

 

Enjoying The Lights and Sounds of the Season!

It’s Saturday already! Time flies when you all have the flu. Luckily we are now a germ free zone.

Yesterday I scrubbed everything with the Vinegar of the Four Thieves just to be sure. Then we read a story called The Green Ghost by Marion Dane Bauer. It came out in 2008 and is a good short chapter book for young readers. It’s a Christmas story told by two little girls. We laughed, we cried and then we laughed again. It is a lovely story to share this time of year! And the five year old asked if this was Fiction or Non-Fiction and my heart melted. He’s 5 and knows the difference. So proud.

The Green Ghost (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by [Bauer, Marion Dane]

In the afternoon we made more paper snowmen and they are now every place you look. Last night we all went to the light show at Regional Park. I’m pretty sure everyone in town had the same idea as traffic was moving at a snail’s pace. After that we went over to Santa’s Village and played around and took pictures. Then it was home for cocoa and a donut. By that time everyone was falling asleep on their feet so it was off to bed for them while we watched Vikings again.

I think everyone is over the worst of it. No more all day pajama days. So it’s back to work. Finalizing plans for our Christmas get away and finishing up the TBR pile.

I imagine everyone is busy running around doing last minute shopping and baking up a storm. I hope you have great weather and a good weekend!

xx Patricia