... Kris Kringle by Caroline Mickelson is a warm and fun romantic read that takes place in the North Pole ...
927163
The Return of Kris Kringle by Caroline Mickelson is a warm and fun romantic read that takes place in the North Pole and is a great story to start off the upcoming holiday season. Its fast little read that will have you captivated with all the authors remarkable characters. I have read several of this authors stories and have become a fast fan! Kudos Ms. Mickelson!
3223789
Blizzard of Love is a novelette, and can be read in an evening.  Despite its length, however, it is a well written entertaining read.  Luke and Bonnie's initial meeting is hilarious and a real ice breaker, snow and ice being the defining factor of this book.  The connecton between them is palpable in the fish bowl setting  with three other people present. When a storm downs the electricity, the small group of people are forced to share a room to preserve heat and candle light.  Luke is so certain that he will never marry and certainly not to a city dweller, and makes his feelings clear.  Disappointed, Bonnie accepts his verdict and when the snow clears, leaves the farm with a heavy heart.  This is a clean holiday romance that I found refreshing.  I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
947751
This book takes you to the town of Icicle Falls, a romantic, fun, quaint place in the mountains.  The story interweaves the lives of three friends who need some help of a handyman, Grant Masters, a gorgeous available distinguished man. The women's trials are each different with different needs. Cass Wilkes is a single mom whose roof needs fixed and is determined to stay single. Griffin James is on a relationship rebound and determined to fix up her place to sell and move away. Stefanie Stahl is tired of waiting on her husband to finish all the jobs he has half way started but has not finished. When Grant puts his services up for auction at fundraiser, the women decide to pool their resources and win his services and share him. Grant and his family adds adventure and excitement to each woman involved in the agreement. This is a book worth reading. I would recommend reading it. Any adventure to Icicle Falls is always a retreat away from reality. Sheila has a way of making you feel like you are living in the book.
4912900
This is the first book Ive read by Camilla Isley, when Camilla contacted me regarding her books I was initially drawn to her novels with the covers. A Sudden Crush has a gorgeous summer blue background with tropical trees and flowers enclosing a silhouetted couple and a monkey. The cover looked dreamy and an ideal escapist read for a cold winters day. The synopsis was my next port of call with a view to reading this novel and it sounded like a fun read.

I was soon drawn into the story. Camilla had developed great characters in Joanna Price and Connor Duffield, I warmed to them quickly.

Joanna Price is a book editor working for a top publishing firm in the city of Chicago, she fell in love and married the handsome bestselling author Liam. Joanna and Liam had just boarded the plane for their honeymoon however, after a mad rush to the airport to catch the plane there were no spare paired seats left for the honeymooners to sit on so Joanna was paired with a Mr Grumpy, aka Connor Druffield, and much to Joannas dismay her beloved is sat next to a stunning model. Joanna pleads with her neighbour Connor to change seats but he grumpily replies hes happy where he is sat next to the window and doesnt wish to swap seats. So Joanna and Connor are lumped with each other for the rest of the plane journey. Unfortunately, the plane journey is hit by turbulence and we find Joanna and Connor waking up stranded on a deserted tropical island. Joanna is not impressed of all the people to be stranded on an island with is Mr Grumpy. Connor is also pretty much not overwrought with his companion as he is a country boy rancher who has a dislike for city girls.

Connor soon settles into survival mode on the island and builds a shelter, fire and hunts for food in the sea and jungle. After Joannas initial shock finding herself on the island she is distraught about her husband Liam, is Liam alive, will she see Liam again, will they be rescued off the island? Joanna eventually calms down and befriends an orphaned monkey who soon becomes inseparable with her, Joanna happily names this little monkey Manny.

We follow the journey of how Joanna and Connor survive on the island, how their relationship develops from loathing each other to actually talking to each other, as theres not an awful lot else on a desert island they can do. There are some wonderful comedy moments between the pair and some lovely endearing moments. I loved this part of the story. It did actually sound idyllic and I soon fell in love with Manny followed by Connor! :)

The story continues after theyve been rescued. How will Joanna and Liams marriage cope with this traumatic event? Will Joannas life go back to normal? Will Joanna and Connor ever meet up again?

I adored this novel. It was like a modern day fairytale: like a cross between Robinson Crusoe and Cinderella. When I got to the end I sighed as I loved the ending but I was also distraught as I didn't want the story to end, Id love to know more about how the characters lives continued. This novel had it all funny comedic moments; idyllic location; a gorgeous endearing monkey; characters to fall in love with and to despise; a heart warming story that gives you hope and makes you smile and a story that you wish could go on and on  5/5*
2620745
Title: The Captain's Bride (Northern Lights #1)
Author:  Lisa Tawn Bergren
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9781578560134
Source: Review copy from Blogging for Books
Published: WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (June 2, 2009)
Synopsis of book: Elsa Anders's dream of marrying Peder Ramstad is about to come true. But as this independent, strong-willed woman discovers her own creative gifts--a love for travel, painting, and the sea--can she find happiness with a captain who insists upon leaving her safely on shore?
Leaving their home in Norway behind, Elsa and Peder embark on a new life in  with their closest friends, including: Kaatje Jansen, a woman seeking a new beginning for the sake of her marriage and for the child growing within her; Elsa's sister Tora, a sly young vixen who knows exactly what she wants--and exactly how to get it; and Karl Martensen, a man torn between his friendship for Peder and a forbidden, secret love for Elsa, a man tormented by emotions that threaten to ruin them all.
From the gentle hills of Bergen, Norway, to the rocky coast of Camden, Maine, and across the crashing, danger-filled waves of the open sea--experience an epic saga of perseverance and passion, faith and fidelity, in the Northern Lights series: the historical series by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Why I read this book: I was given this book by Blogging for Books to read and give an honest review. I also enjoy historical fiction so the book stood out to me.
What I didn't like: That now I have to buy the next in the series to continue on with this historical saga. Just kidding I know that is not a bad thing right.
What I did like: I enjoyed the time period of this book as that is one of my favorite times to read about. I also enjoyed that it starts out in Norway as I have a lot of Norwegian heritage and am always looking for books that take place there or have to do with Norwegians.
Overall Impression: This book is full of very strong characters. We start out in Norway and then journey over the high seas to the new land: America - to start life anew. I think the author did a good job of making the characters seem very real as they faced situations that happen in everyday life. One of my favorite characters was Tora - she knew what she wanted and she knew what she had to do to get it. I liked that she was so stubborn that she got on the boat even though she was told she could not go. It took me a short time to get into the book but once I got going it was hard to stop. I will continue on with this series so I can find out what happens next to this cast of characters. I give this book 4 stars.
4750621
4 Stars

Maybe This Love, is the second full length title in the Colorado Ice Series, but can easily be read as a standalone.  This was my first time reading anything written by Jennifer Snow, and it will not be my last.

Maybe This Love revolves around the budding relationship of Ben Westmore, an NHL hockey player and Olivia Davis, a successful divorce attorney.  Ben is clear with an woman that he spends time with, not to have expectations, but one night of drinking leads to an error in judgement that will alter his future.

Olivia is a smart, strong, confident and driven and highly successful, career orientated woman.

The chemistry is intense between this pair, yet their connection is forbidden.

I adored the secondary characters of Ben's family, and look forward to his siblings finding their happy ever afters in future titles.

Overall this story is a heartwarming romance, with fun, flirty and playful banter.  The twists and turns in the story line, made what could have been a predictable story line quite entertaining and engaging.  I am quite a fan of a sports romance, in particular hockey themed romance, and will look forward to reading additional titles in this series.
4733165
This lovely Christmas read about family and love and togetherness brings all the good bits of the festive season into a warm hug of a tale.

I liked Nicki. Shes a woman who dreamed big and continued to try, even when her dreams didn't turn out anything like shed hoped. Shes tired of failing, but still tries with all her heart at whatever tasks she sets for herself. I loved how she wanted to fix things for Atlas and Quincy, falling for them both but truly only wanting them to find each other. Shes kind and caring and bright and bubbly and the complete opposite of Quincy, but I really enjoyed how she coaxed both Quincy and Atlas out of their shells and drew them together.

Quincy is very different to Nicki. Hes a man who likes things a certain way, hates change and isn't fond of crowds or meeting new people. In fact, most of the time he prefers not to leave the house, but despite his gruff, taciturn demeanor, the fact that hes moved house and tries so hard for Atlas sake, even when he doesnt know what to do with the boy, speaks volumes. Hes a man of action rather than words and I loved seeing him slowly open up his heart to both Atlas and Nicki in this book. The progress is sometimes slow, but hes a really good man beneath all his gruffness and the way he sees Nicki for who she really is was lovely.

Then theres also adorable, quiet Atlas and fun, friendly Pops, not to mention all the charm of Marietta at Christmas time. The whole thing is irresistible with a romance that grows steadily throughout and characters that completely won my heart. Throw in the advent calendar and you're left with a delightful Christmas read thats packed with warmth and feelings of goodness. Definitely one of my favorite winter reads so far this year.

(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley)
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Eve Canaday has had a little bit of a crush on her longtime friend Dr. Ben Tyler but nothing had ever come of the crush. When Eve volunteers to drive Ben to the airport for his vacation trip though the pair instead find themselves stuck in a snowbank when a reindeer crosses their path in the road.

Getting a ride back into town Ben finds he has to cancel his vacation and when they stop by the hospital to let them know it seems that fate kept Ben from leaving when he finds a longtime friend had fallen off a ladder hanging Christmas lights. Ben steps into the surgery while Eve takes care of his poor daughter in the waiting room.

After the surgery Ben and Eve find themselves caring for the little girl who had lost her mother the year before and now has her father recovering in the hospital. Finding that the young mother of the girl had set in motion a special Christmas for her daughter and husband in the event that she hadn't survived to be there Ben and Eve step in to make sure the plans are carried out which brings them closer together as the magic of the holiday surrounds them.

The Cowgirl's Christmas Wish is the third book in the Canadays of Montana series taking place in the lovely small town of Marietta, Montana with all of it's usual Christmas charm. As usual with these various series set in this town you get mentions of other characters and events from the town all throughout the book but this can be read as a standalone novel.

I enjoyed the fact that this particular couple had already been friends so with the situation forcing them together at the holidays they are given the chance to become more than just friends in their lives. Another nice addition was having the four year old that this couple is caring for involved as it seemed to bring even more fun Christmasy events into the read as they follow the list to make a perfect Christmas for her.

Overall, another lovely holiday romance taking place in the small town of Marietta, Montana. Yes, I am a fan of this town and all of the lovely couples coming together during the holiday charm.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
3351369
Reading ONE SNOWY NIGHT is a perfect way to spend a chilly afternoon snuggled up in your favorite chair with something warm to drink. Part of the Heartbreaker Bay series, this holiday novella is sure to please. It is signature Jill Shalvis, a story filled with wicked humor and sassy romance.

Max and Rory have been frenemies for years. After a misunderstanding when they were teens, they spent a lot of time lusting but snarking at each other ever since. Rory plans to go home for Christmas to visit her estranged family by taking the bus. Max volunteers to drive her home when encouraged by Rory's matchmaking boss Willa (one of my favorite characters in the series). He is also bringing his lovable scene stealing dog, Carl. It's a long and slow trip with a snowstorm on their tail.

At first, they didn't communicate well and they dealt with a lot of hurt and anger. Forced to spend so much time together, they fit together the pieces of what went wrong years ago. At last, they can deal with their true feelings and their chemistry goes in hyperdrive.

The story is filled with charm with fun characters. Being a novella, it wraps up at the end a bit quickly, but doesn't take away from Max and Rory and their second chance. I liked how Rory, one of Willa's "strays" was more confident now. Together, she and Max make for a fun couple with a lot of chemistry and forever love. I can't wait to read another story in this engaging series!
1160377
This was an enjoyable little romance, a departure from the author's usual historical romance.
Porsche has loved Cody all her life, but he has never paid any attention to her. In order to attract his notice, Porsche decides she needs a fake boyfriend, and hot dancer Brandon fits the bill.  For his part, Brandon decides to play the role of fake boyfriend until he can convince Porsche that he should be her real boyfriend.  As the attraction between them grows, they face some major challenges, including family, friends, and Brandon's own secret.  Can they overcome these challenges to actually develop a relationship.

The characters were all likable-caring and warm, but with some flaws. The story line was complex but not too difficult to follow, and the sex was hot but not overly explicit.

Overall this was just a delightful little romance.

Review copy provided for an honest review.
1878917
ICE is a fast, fun read that had me turning pages until long past my bedtime. The main characters are likeable with well-developed personalities and back-stories that add a lot of richness to their relationship. The way Ms. Rowe brings the Alaskan landscape to life makes it as much a character in this book as the people. After reading, all I wanted to do was go to Alaska... and find myself a bush pilot.

The male lead, bush pilot Cort McClaine, is sexy, funny, and delightful. He's got all those alpha male characteristics that I love in a steamy romance novel, but with a sharp wit and a playful sense of humor that makes him much more fun than the average alpha hero. The chemistry between the main characters is fantastic, as well as the expertly orchestrated cat and mouse between them and an unknown killer.

If you like sexy romance with strong-willed characters and a good dose of suspense, this book will not disappoint.
3721468
I received this book free from the Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I know this is late but sometimes I enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit during the winter when it is cold and snowy and boring.

This is a story about two people are finding it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. Rudi,the owner of Santa's Secret Village, is divorced and is so anti-holiday that he is thinking about selling the resort. He has even told his seven-year old daughter that there is no Santa Claus. Eva has stayed to herself since her husband has died and is also not in the holiday mood. But she still wants her young son to enjoy the holiday at this resort.

Eva moves in next to Rudi. The couple meet and the rest, of course, is history.

This is a beautiful romance that reminds me a lot of the Hallmark movies that are on during the holiday time. It is a light romance that I like to call a feel-good book - by the end of the book I have a smile on my fact.
721463
Loved it!

A perfect romantic getaway read for Baby Boomers, Gen X and the Millennials.

Stop the clock for a bit and immerse yourself in a 'simpler time ' - or was it really simpler? The McCarthyism witch hunts were heating up. Women were for the most part defined by stereotypical roles of 'wife and mother', spinster, or secretary.

The Sweetheart Deal by Allison Morse is a solid, more-than-satisfying romance filed with intrigue, corporate hijinks, and a heroine and hero who want more out of life and love than society allowed. The settings were written with enough detail to pull me further into this world. (On a side note - I especially enjoyed the character named George.)

I felt like I was watching a prequel to Madmen and I enjoyed every second of this book. I'm looking forward to more authentic fun reads in the future from Ms. Morse.
1285944
I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted look at a Christmas fairy who just doesnt match up to the normal standards at the North Pole.  I loved her attitude right from the start and was one hundred percent behind her calling someones little darling an ungrateful, nasty little brat.

The chemistry and humour between Holly and Kian had me smiling and I like the way the relationship between them developed, even under the constraints of the story where Holly had just a short time to make someones wish come true.

The story wasn't predictable and there was enough interaction with other characters to leave you hoping that theyll get their own Christmas makeover in another book.
212900
The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts was a delightful book and the perfect story to curl up with in your favorite chair by the fireplace for the Christmas season! It's a magical story full of warmth and friendships and it leaves you with a good feeling knowing that sometimes miracles really can happen and life can be full of wonderful surprises.

Kylie has no job and her boyfriend dumped her for her sister. Could things get any worse? Maybe not. One afternoon while Kylie is out she finds herself in an antique shop where she spots an old but beautiful snow globe that fascinates her. The shop owner tells her that there is a story behind the snow globe and proceeds to tell her about a previous owner and the miracle that happened to him when he owned the snow globe and not only that but it seems miracles seem to happen to others who have had the snow globe. It seems that this snow globe has been passed from generation to generation and it always seems to fall into the hands of a person who is in need of a Christmas miracle. If anyone can use a Christmas miracle this year, it would certainly be Kylie and she heads out of the shop with the snow globe.

Her friends Suzanne and Allison are skeptical and think Kylie has gone a bit off her rocker especially when Kylie tells them that she's started seeing things in the snow globe. The thing is the things she's seeing seem to come true. Still her friends aren't buying into the snow globe visions yet but Kylie is and she's beginning to realize her dreams can come true and nothing could be better.

Suzanne is the type of lady who is always on the go; very career oriented and unfortunately at the expense of her husband and daughter. While it seems she has everything going for her, it turns out she doesn't. Her family is suffering from her obsessive work schedule and her need for everything to be perfect and something is going to have to change or she'll lose everything. Could the snow globe be the answer for her too?

Allison seems to be one of those sweet kind of friends who's always there when you need them but she's a bit of a pushover when it comes to her boyfriend and family. She's been extremely lost since losing her grandmother so maybe the snow globe can give her the answers she's looking for as well.

I really enjoyed The Snow Globe. It just goes to show you what can happen in your life if you just open your heart up to it. I loved the friendships between these women; they truly had each others best interests at heart and looked out for each other. It's wonderful how for each of them their Christmas miracles unfolded and it warmed my heart to be able to share it with them in this story.

If you're looking for a magical Christmas tale this season I would absolutely recommend The Snow Globe - my copy is being passed right on to my mom who can't wait to read it after my raving about it. It will warm your heart and leave you feeling good and who couldn't use that no matter what time of the year it is!
1197879
Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

I am learning to love books written around Christmas time. There is something so welcoming when one reads of snow drifts, crackling fires and warm receptions, I guess.

This book was a lovely gift from the first view. The cover invited me in from the start and I felt whisked away into the plot immediately.

It was like reading a happy Christmas movie instead of watching it and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There is a sparkling ribbon of romance flowing through the pages. Glimpses of various characters offered a sense of community and sparked a desire to reach more closely into my own.

I might tie a pretty bow around it and offer as a present to someone needing to read through a place where not everything has to be commonplace.

I was given this book by WATER BROOK publishing company to review at no cost to me.
674104
This is the second novel by Karen Clarke that I have read and loved.
I have also read The Beachside Sweet Shop which I also enjoyed.
 It is a lovely romantic comedy set in a cafe located at the beach!
A well written book, a relaxing story with an excellent story flow, a book about starting over and parent-children relationships. If you are a parent, it's going to make you see the well-meaning things you say to your children from a different perspective.
For fans of Sophie Kinsella's "My not so perfect life".