Category: Christmas Romance

Mistletoe Cottage by Debbie Mason

Posted October 25, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

mistletoe-cottageTitle:  Mistletoe Cottage
Series:  Harmony Harbor #1
Author:  Debbie Mason
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 25, 2016
Publisher:  Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she’s forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter’s blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved.

Sophie’s return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away. Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they’ve concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic…

Titles in this series include:  Mistletoe Cottage, Starlight Bridge (Feb. 2017)

Read on for my thoughts on Mistletoe Cottage.  No true spoilers, promise.

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A Baxter Family Christmas by Karen Kingsbury

Posted October 25, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Women's Fiction / 0 Comments

a-baxter-family-christmasTitle:  A Baxter Family Christmas
Series:
Author:  Karen Kingsbury
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 25, 2016
Publisher:  Howard Books
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Two sorrowful years have passed since the terrible car accident that took the life of John Baxter’s daughter, Erin, along with her husband and three of their four daughters. But this year John has invited a stranger for dinner – Kendra Bryant, the transplant recipient who now has Erin’s heart.

In light of her father’s idea, Ashley and her brother Luke don’t think it’s right. They want to protect their ten-year-old niece, Amy – the only surviving member of the accident. But John is determined and believes meeting this woman is something his deceased daughter would want.

At the same time, Maddie West, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Brooke Baxter West, is praying for meaning this Christmas. Could she find it in a newfound friendship with a boy she never expected to see again? Maddie believes in miracles, especially at Christmastime, but this is a stretch even she can’t imagine.

Meanwhile, Kendra Bryant has been struggling these past few years to find meaning in the tragedy that gave her a second chance. She believes this invitation to see the Baxters and witness their unwavering faith in God can instill hope and happiness back into her life.

Heartwarming and touching, filled with love and hope, A Baxter Family Christmas brings together two families in the aftermath of a tragedy and in the midst of an unfolding love story, all with the help of one very special child.

Read on for  my thoughts on A Baxter Family Christmas.  No true spoilers, promise.

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The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish by Barbara Ankrum

Posted October 24, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

the-cowgirls-christmas-wishTitle:  The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish
Series:  The Canadays of Montana ##3
Author:  Barbara Ankrum
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 24, 2016
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Event planner Eve Canaday and her secret crush, Dr. Ben Tyler, are unexpectedly drafted to help a little girl fulfill her late mother’s wish—a magical Christmas to create some happy memories. Eve sees this opportunity as a sign; Ben, as a glitch in his plan to leave Marietta behind for good.

As the trio checks off the to-do list of Christmas fun, Ben’s ‘bah-humbug’ opinion of the holiday fades, along with ideas about keeping his distance from Eve. Getting involved is the last thing he wants to do but, alas, there’s no accounting for cosmic interference.

With the season of miracles upon this jewel of a town, will Eve find it’s possible that Christmas wishes aren’t only for little girls?

Titles in this series include: A Cowboy To Remember, Choose Me Cowboy, The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish

Read on for my thoughts on The Cowgirl’s Christmas Wish.  No true spoilers, promise.

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Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

Posted October 18, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

christmas-joyTitle:  Christmas Joy
Series:
Author:  Nancy Naigle
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 18, 2016
Publisher:  St Martin’s Press
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.

Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour—and win—the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak.

Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family.

Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas Joy.  No true spoilers, promise.

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Christmas at the Castle by Melissa McClone

Posted October 18, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

christmas-at-the-castleTitle:  Christmas At The Castle
Series:  Ever After #3
Author:  Melissa McClone
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 18, 2016
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

A royal wedding. A meddlesome mother. An unexpected union.

A European getaway during the Christmas holiday is exactly what veterinarian Katrina “Kat” Parsons needs. She can’t wait to be a bridesmaid in her childhood friend’s royal wedding, but she hopes to steer clear of the bride’s arrogant older brother.

Crown Prince Guillaume wants his younger sister’s wedding day to be perfect, but he’s suspicious of Kat. He and his mother on are on high alert, afraid Kat is not just there for the wedding, but also to find a prince of her own.

But when Kat’s kindness and generosity prove them wrong, the prince realizes there’s more to her than he ever imagined. Can he trust his heart or will he lose the one woman he can’t live without?

Titles in this series include:  The Honeymoon Prize, The Cinderella Princess, Christmas at the Castle

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas At The Castle.  No true spoilers, promise.

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Christmas Ivy by Joanne Jaytanie

Posted October 17, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

christmas-ivyTitle:  Christmas Ivy
Series:  Christmas Forever, The Second Season #1
Author:  Joanne Jaytanie
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  November 5, 2015
Publisher:  Books To Go Now
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Ivy’s always been a part of Christmas; can this Ivy put down roots in Forever Christmas, where the spirit of the holidays never fades?
 
Ivy Harper is a survivor. Deprived of college by a selfish mother and stuck in a dead-end job that can’t pay the bills, it’s the last straw when she finds herself a crime victim, too. Hoping for a new start, she flees to the big city, only to end up homeless. Her one chance is an intern program that offers a new life on a farm outside a small town. But can a farm job provide Ivy’s artistic soul the security and fulfillment she needs?
 
Mason Weatherly is exhausted. A leading surgeon, ER doc, and specialist in internal medicine, Dr. Weatherly is in constant demand. Unfortunately his seventeen-hour days and long weeks mean he has no relationship or personal life. Frazzled and desperate for a break, Mason decides to visit his brother, Colton, before Colton settles down. Mason needs to discover for himself how a small town and a tree farm managed to tame his career-driven brother.

Read on for my thoughts on Christmas Ivy.  no true spoilers, promise.

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A Cotswold Christmas by Kate Hewitt

Posted October 17, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance, Series / 0 Comments

a-cotswold-christmasTitle:  A Cotswold Christmas
Series:  Willoughby Close prequel
Author:  Kate Hewitt
Genre:  Contemporary Christmas Romance
Published:  October 17, 2016
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Welcome to Wychwood-on-Lea… a not-too-quaint village where frosty evenings, welcoming fires, and second chances will make this a Christmas you’ll never forget.

Anna Vere has escaped to the Cotswolds for Christmas to try to heal from her broken engagement and, far worse, her broken dreams. When her reserved room at a bed & breakfast is flooded, she takes up the offer of camping out in Willoughby Close, the converted stables of the nearby manor house… and is taken under the wing of sexy local carpenter Colin Heath.

What starts out as merely helping a neighbor in need turns into far more as Colin and Anna share a surprisingly intense and emotional connection, weaving their own Christmas magic as they spend the holiday together. But Anna has a secret she’s scared to reveal, something that could destroy the fragile bond they’ve just created, and Colin knows she’s only in England for a short time. Can these two sudden soul mates risk their hearts for a love that has yet to be tried and tested?

Read on for my thoughts on A Cotswold Christmas.  No true spoilers, promise.

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Sleigh Bells Ring by Sandra D. Bricker; Barbara J. Scott; Lynette Sowell; Lenora Worth

Posted October 14, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

sleigh-bells-ringTitle:  Sleigh Bells Ring
Series:  A Novella Collection
Author:  Sandra D. Bricker; Barbara J. Scott; Lynette Sowell; Lenora Worth
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 14, 2016
Publisher:  Gilead Publishing
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Never mind a pony. The Tucker girls have inherited their father’s horse farm for Christmas. Make that . . . a run-down horse farm. It needs some serious TLC in order to make it sell-ready. Joanna knows that by recruiting her sisters and one handsome ranch hand they can fix up the place and even celebrate one last Christmas while they’re at it. However, to Isabella, returning to their home in Kentucky bluegrass country for Christmas seems like an impossible hurdle. Can her Chicago boyfriend make life merry and bright again?

One thing’s for sure—nothing is peace on earth for Sophia as a new beau brings up old wounds. And when the fate of the horse farm is put in jeopardy because Amy accidentally fraternizes with the enemy, tensions rise. But it’s not like the land developer stole Christmas . . . just her heart.

Can the Tucker sisters have themselves a merry little Christmas?

Stories in this collection include:  All I Want For Christmas by Sandra Bricker, Her Old Kentucky Home by Lynette Sowell, Please Come Home for Christmas by Lenora Worth, I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Barbara J. Scott

Read on for my thoughts on Sleigh Bells Ring.  No true spoilers, promise.

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By Firelight by Janice Maynard

Posted October 11, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

by-firelightTitle:  By Firelight
Series:
Author:  Janice Maynard
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  (combined)  October 11, 2016
Publisher:  Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine
My Rating:  3 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

By Firelight
There’s nothing like nearly freezing to death on the Appalachian Trail to make a woman want to live a little. And when Madison Tierney stumbles upon Grant Monroe’s mountain cabin during a blizzard, she’s gripped by something more than gratitude. Soon, the glow of firelight sparks hot, sweet kisses…and the start of a Christmas adventure she’ll never forget.

Hot Arctic Nights
In North Pole, Alaska, Christmas spirit is everywhere—except in Hallie Prentiss’s heart. At least her two-week stint managing the Dancing Elves B&B will pay the bills. Then she gets a look at long-term guest Daniel Reynolds. Whether dressed as Santa or (even better) wearing next to nothing, the man is gorgeous, charming, and sexy as hell. Workaholic Hallie is tempted to take a walk on the naughty side for once. But when she does, will she ever want to leave?

Previously published as By Firelight in A Very Merry Christmas and Hot Arctic Nights in Wicked Wonderland.

Read on for my thoughts on By Firelight.  No true spoilers, promise.

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A Christmas Kiss by Elizabeth Mansfield

Posted October 5, 2016 by Marsha in Christmas Romance / 0 Comments

a-christmas-kiss

Title:  A Christmas Kiss
Series:
Author:  Elizabeth Mansfield
Genre:  Regency Romance
Published:  Original 1970 – reprint October 4, 2016
Publisher:  Open Road
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

After defending her virtue by striking the besotted son of her employer, Miss Evalyn Pennington is discharged from her position under a cloud of scandal. With no place to go and no prospects for the coming year, the impoverished governess accepts an invitation from Jamie Everard, heir to an earldom, to spend the holidays at his family’s estate. But Evalyn has barely settled in at Gyllford Manor when she catches the eye of Philip Everard, the fourth Earl of Gyllford—and Jamie’s father.
 
After his wife died, Philip vowed to never marry again, despite his sister’s best efforts to reintroduce him to London society. Then, his son brings a guest home for Christmas. Is the lovely, intelligent Evalyn the woman to make his footloose son settle down at last? But why does Jamie treat Evalyn in such a cavalier manner? And what is Philip to do about the reigning beauty of London who has set her cap for him—and is about to set in motion a scheme that will have far-reaching consequences for them all?

Read on for my thoughts on A Christmas Kiss.  No true spoilers, promise.

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