A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler

 

Title:  A Ruff Royal Christmas

Author:  Karen Schaler

Narrated by:  Hannah Curtis

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 19 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

Do you enjoy books that include animals?  I do! Rambunctious border collie Stormy in A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler was a great dog character.

Princess Ava is working on putting together a charity Christmas Eve event, but things fall apart when she loses her mother’s new border collie, Stormy.  Stormy was going to be announced at the Christmas Eve party as the first royal pet.  Justin, an American dog trainer, and Princess Ava search for Stormy and start to feel attracted to each other.  Ava is already promised to another, Duke Henry, in an arranged marriage.  Will Ava and Justin change the futures laid out for them by their parents?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       I continue to read Christmas books into January as I love them so much!

·       I am glad author Karen Schaler is back.  I enjoy her annual Christmas novel.  She broke her hand Christmas Eve 2023 and was unable to write and publish a new Christmas story in 2024.  I enjoy her annual books and The Christmas Prince series she wrote for Netflix.

·       Princess Ava is a mechanical engineer who graduated at the top of her class.  I loved this STEM representation – it’s hard to find engineers in fiction!

·       Ava is dealing with grief with the loss of her father.

·       This was a forced proximity romance as Ava and Justin search for Stormy.

·       I loved that there was a snowmobiling scene in the story – there aren’t that many stories with snowmobiles!  I enjoy snowmobiling, but don’t get to go that much.

·       This was a sweet, fun, and light Christmas romance.

·       A Ruff Royal Christmas would make an excellent Hallmark or Netflix movie.

·       I liked how the story dove into Ava’s insecurities with the press and her relationship with her mother.  Justin helped her to think about what she wanted to do with life moving forward.  Ava helped Justin to realize that he could make his own way and didn’t need to run his father’s vet office and that he could go his own way as a trainer.

·       This was a cozy read.

·       This was an entertaining book on audiobook, and I enjoyed the narrator.

Overall, in A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler is a cozy Christmas romance that is a comfort read any time of year.

Mayhem on the Marzipan Express by Rebecca Connolly (Great Reads Book Promotion Tour)

 

Have you ever taken a trip on a train?  My Mom put together a trip around ten years ago from Michigan to Chicago with the grandkids.  It was a lot of fun.  I would like to travel by train more!

Claire Walker was previously on Britain’s Battle of the Bakers cooking competition.  She did not win the competition but did catch the attention of famous chef Alan Gables and the love of Jonathan Ainsley.  Claire and Jonathan are taking a train trip across Scotland with Claire serving as Alan’s sous chef.  The historic steam train has been renamed “The Marzipan Express” and is full of Alan’s fans for a unique celebrity experience.  Shortly after the journey starts, a passenger is found murdered.  The passengers also find themselves stranded with mechanical problems with the train. Will Claire be able to solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This the second book in the “A Claire Walker Mystery” series.  I read it as a standalone and it worked.  It did really make me want to go back and read the first book.

·       I enjoyed the cooking details and wanted to eat the treats.  Recipes are included at the end of the book.

·       It reminded me of the classic Agatha Christie tale, Murder on the Orient Express.

·       I loved the Scottish setting.

·       Claire had some insecurities in her relationship with Jonathan, but I enjoyed their growing romance.

·       This was a clean read.

·       It was also a cozy read and perfect for winter.

·       I loved the dedication to David Tennant at the start of the book.  Now I really want to see a TV movie starring David Tennant as Alan!!

·       There are also good discussion questions included at the end that can be used with a bookclub.

Overall, Mayhem on the Marzipan Express by Rebecca Connolly was a very fun cozy mystery with great characters, great setting, and a touch of romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @author.rebecca.connolly @shadowmountainpub @austenprose for the review copy of this novel as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.

 

Shopaholic Christmas by Sophie Kinsella

 

What is a favorite series that you have read?  I have always enjoyed the Shopaholic series for a light funny read that helped me out when I was sick with Hyperemesis gravidarum when I was pregnant.  I was very saddened to learn of Sophie Kinsella’s premature death from cancer.  I was looking through her works and realized I had missed the last Shopaholic book – Christmas Shopaholic.  I love this series and Christmas books, so I decided Christmas was the time to read it.

Becky Bloomwood is back in England with her husband Luke and daughter Minnie.  She is excited for her traditional family Christmas at her parents’ house.  Her life is thrown into a tailspin when she discovers that her parents are moving for a time to the trendy Shoreditch neighborhood in London so that her half sister Jess and husband can stay at their home for the holidays.  Becky is now hosting Christmas!  Everyone has a lot of demands and needs that need to be met that are pulling the joy out of Christmas.  Will Becky be able to have a Christmas that meets her family’s needs while also having a good Christmas for herself and her little family?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I could relate to this book as I have had many similar feelings while hosting family events.  I really liked how Luke kept advising Becky  to think - is it really needed for the true core and family or is it extra fluff?

·       Becky still hasn’t gotten over her shopping addiction, but she is a caring person that always thinks of others.  She is just really lucky she married a rich husband!

·       I laughed out loud several times.  It reminded me why I love this series.  I need to reread the entire series.

·       This is number nine in the series.  It has been quite some time since I’ve read the previous book, and it was pretty easy for me to jump back in and remember the characters.  I think you could read this as a standalone, but it is really fun to experience all of the books.

·       This book was very engaging, and I read it very quickly.

·       I love all the characters.  They are like old friends.

·       The book had a great ending that is also now the ending for the series.

·       I was continually amazed at all the scraps that Becky is able to get herself into.  I wonder how Kinsella thought it all up – it was hilarious!

·       This was a fun read that made me happy

·       In between the chapters there were text messages, emails, Google searches and the like that related to the action and moved the story along.  They were pretty funny.

Overall, Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella was a light, engaging, and hilarious read that was perfect to read during the holiday season.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @tnzfiction for the review copy of A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck.

Have you ever attended a Christmas wedding?  I’ve been to a couple of weddings right after Christmas, but not on or before Christmas.  It’s a beautiful time of year to get married, but we did have to drive through a snowstorm to get to one.

Avery Truitt was a college volleyball star and has dreams of coaching college volleyball.  She is traveling with her mother to the (fictional) Kingdom of Brighton for the holidays as her sister, Susanna, is pregnant.  She will see her former love, Prince Colin, for the first time since he stood her up at prom five years ago.  Will Avery be able to find out the truth on why Colin ghosted her?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the prologue.  It was a very exiting story set in the 19^th century where a man must ring the Pembroke chapel to signal that there will be a royal wedding on Christmas day.  This last time the bell was rung, it resulted in death.  I admit that I did want more resolution on this flashback and wish the story would have flash backed to it again.

·       This is book number four of a series, but it was okay reading it as a standalone.  I would like to read the rest of the series.

·       This book is definitely for fans of the Christmas Prince series on Netflix.  This book would make a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

·       This was a slow read for me and I’m not sure why, maybe the business of the season?

·       This was a clean read and inspirational contemporary romance.

·       It was a modern-day fairy tale.

·       Brighton royalty all seems to marry girls from the American south for some reason.

·       The trope was second chance romance which is one of my favorites. 

·       This story had echoes of Persuasion by Jane Austen although this time it’s the man, Colin, who is persuaded that he shouldn’t pursue a relationship with a foreign non-royal.

Overall, A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck is a sweet inspirational contemporary romance that is for lovers of Hallmark Christmas movies and the Christmas Prince series on Netflix.

A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan

 

Do you travel during the holiday season?  We travel at either Thanksgiving or Christmas to Michigan each year to visit my family.  It’s by car, but the drive through Chicago keeps things exciting.

A Merry Little Lie is a family drama that is told through many point of views.  Becky is trying to get home for Christmas but is stranded at the airport.  She runs into her brother’s best friend Will, and he offers her a ride home.  Will experienced her very embarrassing moment at her twin sister Rosie’s wedding.  Will she be able to face down this embarrassment? 

Rosie married Declan after a very quick relationship.  They are having problems – will they be able to hide them from Rosie’s family?

Hayley is being introduced to Jamie’s family as his significant other and they have some exciting news to share.  Jamie is Rosie and Becky’s older brother.  Hayley is meeting the family for the first time.  Will she find the family she has always wanted?

Jenny is happy her kids are coming home and is trying to put together the perfect Christmas experience.  Will she be able to hold everything together?

My thoughts on this book:

·       A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan is the Brenda Novak Book Club read for December.  I finished it up at the end of the month and still need to watch the book club meeting on Facebook.

·       There were a few different romance tropes in this book including forced proximity, friends to lovers, and second chance romance.

·       I would rate this as some spice.  There were a couple of steamy scenes.

·       It made me laugh when the elders were very excited about the romance between the young people.  Grandma in particular was very forthright in her thoughts.

·       Jenny and her husband, Martin, are having problems as he has just retired as a doctor and doesn’t know what to do with himself.

·       I liked all the relationships in this book including the romantic, sibling, parent, etc.  It was a good family drama.  I liked how the book focused on family in all different stages of life.

·       I loved how Hayley was accepted and able to experience a family Christmas she never had before.

·       This book did move rather slowly for me with all the characters to keep track of.

Overall, A Merry Little Lie by Sarah Morgan is an enjoyable family drama perfect for the holidays and all year round.

Book Source:  Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

 

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie

 

What was your last read of 2025?  A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie was my last read of 2025.

Miss Marple’s nephew, Raymond, has paid for her to vacation in the Caribbean for her health.  She arrives alone but gets to know the people at the resort she is staying at.  She is intrigued by an old soldier’s story.  When he is found murdered, will she be able to connect the story with the crime?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       A Caribbean Mystery is my December pick for the Read Christie 2025 Challenge.  This challenge explored Christie’s stories through her canon of characters and their careers.  December was novels featuring military characters.  A Caribbean Mystery featured “the old major whose habit of storytelling puts him in grave danger.”

·       It cracked me up that just like Poirot, there really is no vacation for Miss Marple. Murder finds her wherever she goes.

·       Fellow guest, Mr. Rafiel and Miss Marple team up to solve the murder.  I liked their partnership.

·       This was a perfect read for Christmas break.

·       There were a lot of shenanigans going on with couples at the resort. 

·       The poor couple that owned the resort know that murder is bad for business and want the case resolved quickly.

·       Nemesis is apparently a sequel to this novel. I hope to get to it this year!

·       Miss Marple has great powers of observation.  When she knits or putters around, people tend to ignore her and say incriminating things in front of her.

·       This novel kept me guessing.

A Caribbean Mystery is a perfect cozy mystery to keep one dreaming of sunny days in the midst of a snowy winter.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Christmas: 101 Joyful Holiday Stories by Amy Newmark

 

Title:  Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Christmas: 101 Joyful Holiday Stories

Author:  Amy Newmark

Narrated by:  Kirby Heyborne, Emily Norman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 29 minutes

Source: Review copy from Simon Audio.  Thank-you!

What types of books do you like to read when you are super busy?  Chicken Soup for the Soul:  The Spirit of Christmas was perfect for a busy time.  The stories are all short, seasonal, and uplifting.

Chicken Soup for the Soul:  The Spirit of Christmas is a collection of 101 true stories that are set anywhere from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, with most being set at Christmas.  My thoughts on this collection:

·       This was great on audiobook.  I listened to this collection to start off my day for the last couple of weeks and it started off my day with a very bright spot.

·       Purchase of this book supports Toys for Tots which is a very worthy organization.

·       I liked that some stories gave me a good laugh while others brought a tear to my eye and really made me think about the true meaning of Christmas.

·       This was a cozy read.

·       There were a lot of stories related to Christian faith throughout, but mixed faith families such as a blended Hanukkah/Christmas celebration were also discussed.

·       I haven’t read a Chicken Soup for the soul book for quite a while and Imthink I need to listen to more of these on audiobook moving forward.

Overall, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Christmas: 101 Joyful Holiday Stories by Amy Newmark was a great cozy read and audiobook that really brought me into the spirit of the season.

Golden Age Christmas Mysteries Edited by Otto Penzler

 

Title:  Golden Age Christmas Mysteries

Author:  Otto Penzler

Narrated by:  Jonathan Sleep

Publisher: Highbridge Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 4 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite holiday decoration?  My favorites are the ceramic decorations my Grandma made me through the years.

Golden Age Christmas Mysteries is a collection of Christmas stories.  My thoughts on these stories:

·       I loved the little biographies about each author before the stories.  I felt like I was learning more about classic mystery authors. 

·       These were all new Christmas stories to me.

·       There were 14 stories with a mix of authors and styles.  Some more famous classic mystery authors such as Mary Roberts Rinehart, and John Dickson Carr, etc. were included.

·       I was surprised watching the new Knives Out movies that the author John Dickson Carr was prominently featured, and I had just read his Christmas story in this collection.

·       I really enjoyed this collection, especially as I got more into the book.  I’ve since downloaded eBooks/audiobooks of a few of the authors.

·       The narrator was great and did excellent voices.  His voice sounded like a Golden Age mystery narrator.

·       My favorite story in the collection was The Reversible Santa Claus by Meredith Nicholson.  It was a delightful and fun story.  The Hopper is a reformed thief who is trying to live an honest life when he feels the call to steal an automobile with a large purse inside.  He soon finds himself in a pickle as he as inadvertently kidnapped a child.  Hilarity ensues as he tries to figure out how to return the child without getting into trouble.  I want to read more of this Indiana author’s works.

Overall, Golden Age Christmas Mysteries Edited by Otto Penzler was a delightful collection of all new to me Christmas mystery stories.  I greatly enjoyed it and recommend it.

The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol

 

Do you have a favorite book that you like to reread at the holidays?  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is just such a book for me.

The Night Before Christmas by Nikolia Gogol is the story of Vakula, a blacksmith and his fight against the devil who has stolen the moon and is causing all sorts of trouble in his village to win the most beautiful maiden.  This story was the December pick for the Classic Buddy Read hosted by @Dees.Reads.  This story was written in 1831 and is a traditional story read on Christmas Eve to children in Ukraine and Russia.  It is a short novella and I spent most of the time thinking – what the heck am I reading?  It was a strange tale and pretty much the opposite of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore.  I guess I was expecting more of the Moore version, and this really threw me off.  It will not be a classic I reread at the holidays of the future.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.

Under the Netherfield Mistletoe by Abigail Reynolds

 

Do you hang up a mistletoe in your home?  My kids make sure ours is up over our staircase every Christmas.

Elizabeth Bennet is searching for mistletoe at Netherfield when she meets Georgiana Darcy who has come with her brother to Netherfield to escape from the Christmas season and mend her broken heart.  As Elizabeth and Georgiana’s friendship grows, Darcy and Elizabeth find that their feelings and chemistry does as well.  Will these two end up together for Christmas?

My thoughts on this book:

·       I love Regency Christmas stories and must enjoy at least one every year!

·       This is a cute Pride and Prejudice variation.

·       It’s a short novella length which is perfect for the holidays.

·       I loved the Gardiners and their children in London.  It was a fun family and wonderful to see the Darcys get to know them.  I also enjoyed that Darcy had been childhood friends with Mrs. Gardiner’s brother.

·       Georgiana’s growth throughout the story was a joy to read about.  I was happy that she was able to finally stand up for herself.

·       I loved the sparks and chemistry between Darcy and Elizabeth – especially under the mistletoe!

·       This was a clean romance.

Overall, Under the Netherfield Mistletoe by Abigail Reynolds was a sweet Pride and Prejudice Christmas variation and romance.  It was a fun read for the holidays!

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.