Category: book review

Deck the Halls Book Review

St. Martin's Press

In Deck the Halls, one man must face his past to find his future this Christmas.

Deck the Halls Book Review

About Deck the Halls

In the last year, George’s life has drastically changed. The formerly homeless veteran now has a job he likes, a family in the residents of Darling, VT, and for the first time in years, a home. But while his present is good, he’s still haunted by the past, a past that appears shortly before Christmas when the older sister of his brother-in-arms hunts him down and finds him in Darling, working at the Ladybug Garden Center.

Amy’s looking for closure for her family after her brother’s death in the Middle East, but the serious man she finds working in Vermont doesn’t resemble the soldier she remembers from years before. This man is hardened and yet somehow fragile, too, and in her desire to find out what really happened to her brother, she learns more about George than she ever expected.

With a little Christmas magic and the whole town supporting them, can these two bruised hearts make a future together?

My Thoughts

Deck the Halls while a Christmas novel and a romance, it has some powerful moments throughout the story as it tells the story of George.

George is a veteran who suffers greatly with PTSD after he returns to America. He is haunted by his past and the death of his best friend. It forces him to turn to alcohol and he had eventually became homeless. Now living in Darling, he is given a second chance but at times he is still haunted by his past.

When Amy shows up, he is forced to deal with the past and her brother’s death. Amy can barely recognize the man in front of her. Gone is his light heartiness and in his place is a man who is hard on the outside but has this gentle core that could be broken at any time. It was interesting to note that there was some attraction between these two before George went away with the army.

As Amy helps him confront his path while giving her some closure, these two work through some very difficult moments. They both have had difficult pasts but in order to move forward, they need to confront their past, make peace with it and decide to move into the future with hope.

I loved every moment of this powerful and beautiful story. I cried, I laughed and I wanted nothing more than the best for these two. I am sure this is a story that so many individuals can relate to on some level. It is difficult to let go of our past, especially when it haunts us and we wonder if there is anything we could have done differently to change the outcome. This can lead to self hate which is just as destructive. This novel while full of raw, honest emotion gives hope and an important message of forgiveness, faith and love.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and SMP Romance.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters plus the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers
is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at- home mom and romance novelist. Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta where her romance career began, writing about cowboys and the west. She is the author of Somebody Like
You, Somebody’s Baby, and Someone to Love.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Christmas at Two Love Lane Book Review

St. Martin's Press

In Christmas at Two Love Lane, the best gift of all is the one you share with someone else.

Christmas at Two Love Lane Book Review

About Christmas at Two Love Lane

From the moment he strode through the iron gate and into the offices of Two Love Lane on a crisp December day, it was obvious that Deacon Banks was something different. He wasn’t a Charleston native, not with that adorable Yankee accent. And unlike the usual client at the elegant matchmaking agency, he had no interest in finding a woman to marry―just a few no-strings dates while he was in town.

Macy Frost takes her professional services very seriously―how could she not, when she’s rumored to be a direct descendant of Cupid? Tech entrepreneur Deacon says he’s just trying to make his social-climbing aunt happy by being seen out and about with a few prominent beauties, but Macy insists she can make her client fall in love…for real. And Deacon can’t help but think she might be right. As charming as the palmetto trees and magnificent harbor may be, it’s the beautiful, breath-of-fresh-air Macy who’s become Deacon’s favorite part of the scenery. But can the hopelessly romantic Southern belle stop trying to fix him up and just let Cupid do his work on her own heart?

My Thoughts

Christmas at Two Love Lane follows the story of Macy (our legendary match maker) and the ultra sexy tech guy Deacon. These two are polar opposites in so many ways but sparks fly when these two meet!

Macy is a Southern Belle. She is in love with the concept of love and has this ultimate fairytale romance played out in her mind, which means that she has a hard time settling for anything else. She is also the town matchmaker (with a rough family history of being related to Cupid?!). She is one of the owners of the local matchmaking agency. I love her confidence, her strength and her desire to wait for the love of her life.

Deacon on the other hand seems to be running from love. To make his Aunt happy, he has agreed to go on a few staged dates (although his Aunt has no idea they are staged). He is happy being single and wants to keep it that way. He feels the strong attraction to Macy but is terrified of his feelings. We watch him struggle with his attraction throughout the novel.

Christmas at Two Love Lane is a fun, steamy novel that has a slow build but well worth it in the end. We watch our two main characters struggle to understand and deal with their attraction. Sometimes this lands them in the funniest of situations! You will find yourself laughing, shaking your head and wishing for more. I really hope there is a second installment as I would love to see what happens with this couple in the future (and all of our other amazing characters in this story).

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and SMP Romance.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Kieran Kramer, author of the Impossible Bachelors series, was born in Washington, D.C. to an Air
Force pilot father and actress/singer mother. She grew up mainly on Johns Island, a rural sea island near Charleston, South Carolina, where she helped build her family’s log home. Having worked for the CIA and as journalist for The Charlotte Observer, Kieran is now a stay-at- home mom. She once won $34,000 on Wheel of Fortune, and also won on Family Feud. She’s been married to her naval officer husband, Chuck, for twenty-one years, and they have three children.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Beyond Believing Book Review

iRead Book Tours

Beyond Believing is a sweet, funny and romantic story that touches the heart, serves up delicious twists and turns, and shows the reader that there’s no such thing as “coincidence.” Author D.D Marx regards this book as her love letter to friendship.

Beyond Believing Book Review

About Beyond Believing

When Olivia gets news of her best friend Dan’s fatal car accident, her entire life is upended. Shattered with grief and struggling to find any meaning or purpose to life, she trudges along with a gaping void in her heart. Finally, when her frustration reaches its peak, Olivia decides to trust Dan’s eternal friendship. That trust allows him to break through to her from the beyond, and Dan guides Olivia through the twists and turns of her life into something new and entirely unexpected.

When Olivia exposes a gigantic internal scandal at work, her career implodes. With no job and no one to turn to, she escapes to Palm Springs for the sympathy and care of her beloved cousin, Garrett. He isn’t quite the comfort Olivia hoped for, but on that journey, meets someone who fills the void in her heart. She’s never experienced such a deep love. It heals her soul and rekindles her spirit – and just may have been the design of her dearly departed friend all along.

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this first book in the Beyond series. In this book we are introduced to Olivia and her past with her best friend Dan. I would say about the first half of the book is a look at their history and friendship and really helps to give a good insight into their history, their closeness and how his death affects her. The second half sets her story really into motion – a new career, losing her job and then moving to a new State.

Losing anyone is difficult no matter what. Losing your best friend, the one who knows so much about you, finishes your sentences and completes parts of you can be difficult to recover from. We watch Olivia struggle through his death and come to terms with a future without him there. I loved how she looks for signs that he is still with her and helping her make decisions. I know that sometimes when I see something that reminds me of someone I lost, it always seems to come at that perfect moment when I feel alone, scared and confused.

This is what that book explores – loss, hope, faith and friendship. Friendship can cross all boundaries and I truly believe the ones we have lost are still with us, looking out for us and working to protect us. This book is well written with an excellent plot line that keeps you reading long into the night. I felt close to Olivia, as though she was a good friend that you wanted to comfort and give a big hug to. This is a definite must read novel!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

D.D. marx came barreling into this world with the “gift of gab”. Her parents quickly identified a pattern forming when each teacher conference contained the words “she’s a little too social”. d.d.’s biggest life concern was identifying which boy she’d be chasing at recess rather than mastering math problems. She parlayed this gift into creating play dates on the playground. If friendship were a business, she would be a millionaire. She prides her life on maintaining friends from every walk of life in every corner of the country. This is the fuel that fills her tank.

Graduating with a Communication degree from the University of Dayton, she attempted to break into the world of Public Relations but was instead side-tracked with a J.O.B. At the strong encouragement of her friends and family, who dubbed her a “funny story teller”, she stretched her comfort zone by entering the Second City program in Chicago where her itch for entertainment was finally scratched. Determined to share her story and create a legacy, she decided to combine these talents and become a writer. She returned to her alma-mater to immerse herself in a 3-day writing course where this dream finally came to life. Asked to imagine if she was a super-hero, her task was to dig-deep to describe her special powers. Based on the real-life tragedy of one of her best friends, that answer came without hesitation. All she’s ever wanted was the power to visit with him one last time. This is the inspiration that catapulted her into her debut project titled, the Beyond Series. She dove into a world imagining that he never left.

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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No Place Like You Book Review

St. Martin's Press

In No Place Like You, can Zach find a way to convince Leah that they can make more than just great music together—and that she’s the one that he wants for all time?

No Place Like You Book review

About No Place Like You

In Cloud Bay, home is where the heart is.

Leah Santelli always knew that Zach Harper, son of a rock legend and her best friend’s brother, was painfully out of reach. Then, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Leah shocked herself by asking for—and receiving—the gift she wanted: one night of passion with Zach before he left town to pursue his rock star dreams. Now, years later, Zach is back in Cloud Bay to record his first solo album. His return could also be Leah’s big chance to step up her own music career. But getting the producing credit she needs means spending long hours with Zach in the recording studio…and falling back into the habit of longing for him, for better or worse.

Zach used to believe that a man must put his past behind him. But coming back home for Cloud Bay’s famed music festival has allowed him to finally make amends with his family and, much to his surprise, reunite with Leah. He might have left her once but now it seems he can’t stay away. Trouble is, even though the heat between them burns hotter than ever, Leah has old wounds in need of healing before she can give Zach a real chance. Can he find a way to convince her that they can make more than just great music together—and that she’s the one that he wants for all time?

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this crazy, loving and very real family – the Harper’s. They are children of a legendary rock star and this has shaped the way they think, feel and act. This is very much true for Zach Harper. He is an emotional person but is not very good at showing those emotions. While he has tried his hardest to run from his Dad’s legacy and not be like his Father, he is finding himself more and more like him. This tends to scare him and sometimes cause him to ignore his actions out of fear. He does not want to be anything like his Father (and when you read the story you understand fully why!). He loved his children but wasn’t there for them in the way a child needs.

Leah is a kind, strong, independent young woman who has just recovered from a divorce. Although it was a divorce they both agreed on, it still caused her pain that she hasn’t quite worked through. She works in the music industry as a producer and is trying to make a name for herself. She not only wants to use Zach for breaking out in the industry but she also has strong feelings for him – something that she continually tries to deny to him, herself and her best friend Faith. It was very interesting to find out about their secret past that they kept hidden from everyone!

As Zach works on his relationship with his family, his relationship steams up with Leah. You can see the two falling in love but holding so much of themselves back from each other. They both seem too afraid to just let go. You are constantly on the edge of your seat guessing if they will take that leap of faith or continue to hold back.

No Place Like You is a well written story of hope, finding oneself, taking that second chance and trust. Our main characters have to work past their own fears and past history in order to move into the future – one that may just hold a lifetime of happiness and love. It is in their hands to have a happy future but they struggle with putting the past where it belongs – in the past.

I loved every moment of this novel and could not put it down! While it is book three in the Cloud Bay series, you don’t have to read the other ones first but I highly recommend you do (look out for another review of a book in this series, A Season of You, coming October 17th). This book is set to release December 5th, 2017.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Emma Douglas has read like a wild thing since she was small. She discovered romance novels at an age that way probably way too young but she survived unscathed. When she realized you could make up stories as well as read them, she started taking notes about what the characters wandering through her head were telling her and then, eventually, books happened. Before the books happened she did the usual things (was a band geek (and a geek generally), had crushes on rock stars and fictional characters, spent chunks of her summers on an island beach, got a degree in something sensible that doesn’t involve writing about kissing, became a black belt in internet procrastination, fell down the rabbit-hole of craft, traveled a bit, indulged her love of baked goods, got bossed around by cats, began a quest for the perfect margarita, and napped to recover from all of the above. She still does most of that plus the writing thing from a tiny house in Melbourne Australia which her feline overlords have kindly agreed to share with her.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Halloween Friendly Frights with Raincoast Books!

Raincoast Books

Halloween is our favourite holiday in our home. We love decorating the house, baking themed culinary delights and reading stories of ghosts, witches, zombies and more! Not all children enjoy this fun holiday though. It is important to talk about monsters, witches and all the scary stuff so that children can get used to the idea of Halloween and aren’t afraid of the things that go bump in the night!

To help your little ones get into the spirit of Halloween, Raincoast Books has two great book selections for the young reader: Herbert’s First Halloween and How To Catch a Monster.

Halloween Friendly Frights with Raincoast Books!

Herbert’s First Halloween

Herbert is deeply doubtful about his first Halloween-but with a little help from his dad and a special tiger costume, Herbert might just find confidence on Halloween night. Together, father and son practice roaring, carve a pumpkin, and venture out in search of candy. And by the end of the night, Herbert finds his doubts have melted away. A sweet introduction to Halloween and to being brave, this book is sure to delight the youngest of trick-or-treaters.

Herbert’s First Halloween is a sweet book all about a little boy who isn’t too sure about Halloween. I know many parents can relate to having this conversation with their child! Most young children aren’t too sure about this holiday, they may be scared of the costumes, going up to the houses and even the yells of “boo”. It really helps to open up the topic of Halloween, address the fears your child may have and talk about all the fun this holiday can be. I loved how the Dad showed his son a picture of himself when he was a child dressed up for Halloween. This is such a great idea for parents and one I never thought of. Kids love seeing old photos and it is a great conversation starter. This book is beautifully illustrated in seasonal colours (think lots of greens, oranges and browns). It is an excellent book for those little ones who are heading out for their very first Halloween.

You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Halloween Friendly Frights with Raincoast Books!

How to Catch a Monster

“There’s a monster in my closet,
with claws, and teeth, and hair,
and tonight, I’m going to scare him!
He lives just right through there…

Get ready to laugh as a young ninja heads into the closet to meet the monster that’s been so scary night after night! But what if things aren’t what they seem and our monster isn’t scary at all? What if our ninja hero is about to make a friend of strangest sort?

If you dare to travel beyond the closet door and into the land of the monsters… you might just find the very best reward of all. But with robots, lava pie, and a smattering of traps-catching monsters is no easy business!

How to Catch a Monster is an adorable, laugh out loud story of a young ninja that is prepared to face the monster that has been scaring him. The young boy comes home from school in his ninja costume full of confidence and ready to face the terrifying monster. He uses his ninja skills and captures the monster! To his surprise, he finds out that maybe the monster really wasn’t that scary and that maybe he might just make the best of friends.

This story was awesome – we had so many great laughs (how can you not with ninja skills, farts and monsters?!). It was very easy to read out loud with a great flow in the wording. It sets a great tone which helps to bring the story to life (we had a great time making scary and loud noises to help our youngest really get in the story). The illustrations are beautiful and really help to tell the story. The monster was so well done and looks so friendly! Perfect for those kids who are convinced that there is a monster hiding in their closet. How to Catch a Monster will be the perfect, laugh out loud addition to your family library that you will enjoy reading over and over again.

You can learn more about this book and purchase a copy of it here.

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned books free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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