Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake (TLC Book Tour)

 

What is your first read of the New Year?

My first read was Cinderella and the Duke by Lydia Drake.  I read this delightful book in a day.  This story has everything I love in a romance; witty and sexy main characters, a marriage of convenience that develops into true love, and hints of a fairy tale romance.

Julia Beaumont has one ball to try to find a husband.  Her evil stepmother has not allowed her to attend balls during the season for ten years.  She is firmly on the shelf now, but her sick stepmother has allowed her to chaperone her young stepsister to the Weatherford Ball.  While at the ball, she meets the notorious rake, Gregory Carter, the Duke of Ashworth.  She helps him out of a tricky situation, but they have one stolen kiss.  Julia leave her slipper behind at the ball.  Gregory returns the slipper the next day and before they know it, they have decided on a marriage of convenience.  Julia will not have to spend her life as a nursemaid to her stepmother and Gregory will no longer have bored married ladies chasing after him.  Will this marriage of convenience turn to true love?

I would highly recommend this book to fans of the Bridgerton series.  I would say this book is medium to high level of steam.  I loved the chemistry between Julia and Gregory and how it was a slow build to their romance.  I also enjoyed that they both had an inner depth and past hurts that the other had to discover to learn more about their character. There was also a lot of humor in this book that had me laughing out loud. This was a very fast light read and an enjoyable story.

Favorite Quote:

“But Gregory had other craftier ideas.  He was 80 percent crafty ideas, 15 percent smug virality, and 5 percent effortless smoulder.”

Review Copy from Entangled Publishing.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the TLC Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber

 

What is your favorite Christmas or holiday cookie or treat?

It’s not Christmas without a Debbie Macomber book.  This book was my December read for the Brenda Novak Book Group.  I still need to watch the meeting!  They are posted each month on Brenda Novak’s Facebook page and are delightful.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends in the 1970’s.  Both lead very different lives.  Peter is the pastor at a local church, while Hank runs a local tavern.  Both believe the other has an easier time at their job so they decide to switch jobs for a week before Christmas.  Both discover that the other has a much harder job than they thought.  They also find that they can make a difference at their new jobs and perhaps find love along the way.

I loved this story.  I thought it was very heartwarming and really looked at the true meaning of Christmas.  I find it interesting that many books labeled “Christian” really are just stories that are a clean read, but have nothing about faith.  This book is not labeled as a Christian read, but it was a great one.  It had many thoughtful points such as are the church ladies judging rather than helping people in town?  Who should they be helping?  Do you know what anyone is going through if you haven’t walked in their shoes.   Everyone kept being surprised that Hank the bartender knew scripture and applied it in his life.  There are strippers and a biker gang in this book, which are not traditionally in a Christmas story.

The story is framed with a grandmother telling this story to her grandkids.  I kept wondering who she was going to end of being and it had a satisfying conclusion. 

Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

 

What is the best mystery that you read this year?

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas was the pick for my Back to the Classics Book Club this month at the Kewaunee Public Library as well as the December selection for #ReadChristie22.  The prompt for this month is “A story containing precious jewels.”

Mr. Simeon Lee is a very old rich man that has collected his family together for Christmas.  He is a cruel man who insults his late wife and their children at dinner before going to his office.  The next thing the family knows, there are loud crashes from his office and a horrifying scream.  The office door is locked, but they break it down.  Inside, they find Simeon Lee dead and his uncut diamonds missing.  With so many people who wanted him dead, who killed him and why?

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas was a traditional locked room mystery.  There were many red herrings and I didn’t guess the ending.  It did make sense once it was all revealed.  I like how Poirot put the pieces together.  I also enjoyed the small bits of humor such as how Poirot is impressed by the policeman’s mustache.  We had a good discussion about this book last night at book club.  While this was set at a Christmas gathering, it didn’t have too much to do with Christmas.

Overall, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas is a good mystery for anyone looking for a different type of read for the season.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories: From Hans Christian Andersen to Angela Carter edited by Jessica Harrison

 

What is your favorite holiday short story?  I love holiday short stories.  One of my favorites is “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.  That story is not included in this collection, but another O. Henry story is “A Chaparral Christmas Gift.” 

This is a collection of classic Christmas stories that is perfect for the lover of classic literature.  If you are looking for Hallmark type Christmas stories, this is not the book for you.  The stories take place at Christmas time, but many are poignant.  Many are translated from another language, like one of my favorites, “The Fir Tree” by Hans Christian Anderson.  Another favorite story was included, “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote.  Many other classic authors are represented at well including, but not limited to:  Langston Hughes, Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, and Anton Chekhov.   It was an interesting collection, with many stories I haven’t read before.  I am going to get this as a hard cover for my collection next Christmas.

Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Once Upon a December by Amy Reichert

 

Do you like to read books that are set locally?

I was delighted to discover that Once Upon a Christmas is set in Milwaukee.   Astra Noel Snow is a librarian at a branch of the Milwaukee Public Library.  She loves her yearly tradition of joining her best friends at the Milwaukee Christmas Market.  Julemarked is a special street with many wonderful Christmas shops including a bakery that specializes in Kringles.  The Clausen brothers run the shop.  Jack Clausen loves watching Astra come to visit the shop every year.  Jack wants to ask Astra out, but he has a problem.  Julemarked is a magical place that moves around the world through the year, never guaranteed to be back in the same spot.  Every four weeks it’s a new December somewhere else in the world and Julemarked is there.  Once it leaves a location, the people there magically forget about it until it returns.  Will Jack and Astra be able to find a happily ever after?

I liked that Once Upon a December had a very unique premise.  Julemarked was a magical alley.  It all seems wonderful, especially that you are basically immortal, until you realize that to have someone from the outside join that life, you would have to give up everything that you love about your normal life.  Or if you leave Julemarked, you are also leaving the world that you love and immortality.  This makes it an interesting conundrum for dating.

I loved that Astra was a librarian and thought it was interesting learning about her job.  I also, loved all of the Wisconsin and Milwaukee references.  I have lived in Milwaukee in the past and currently live in Northeast Wisconsin.  It was fun to visualize where they were talking about in Milwaukee.  It was also fun that they bake different flavored kringles, which are a Wisconsin traditional pastry.  Does anyone outside of Wisconsin know what they are?

The only part of the book that annoyed me was how much of a door mat Astra was for her ex-husband Trent.  She was still doing his mending and basically allowing him to barge into her home at any time.  I don’t understand why she didn’t change her locks.  I was glad when she finally stood up for herself.

Overall, Once Upon a December was a fun, unique, and delightful Christmas romance. 

Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday Traditions by Brian Earl

 

Title:  Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday Traditions

Author:  Brian Earl

Narrated by:  Brian Earl

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 4 hours and 21 minutes

Source: Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

 

Do you like learning about the history of holiday traditions?  I love it!  I’ve been reading books about holiday traditions since I was in elementary school.

I was very excited to discover this audiobook this year, Christmas Past:  The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday Traditions.  I was even more excited to learn as I listened that Brian Earl has a podcast called Christmas Past and I have also been enjoying listening to it this Christmas season.  Christmas Past is a short fun book that has four main sections:  food, entertainment, sights and sounds, and society.  Each section has several chapters with a variety of subjects.  I loved learning about fruit cake, Christmas cards, wrapping paper, Christmas songs, Christmas movies, and why do we say Merry Christmas rather than Happy Christmas?  There were many other interesting topics as well.

Brian Earl the author narrated this and also does his podcast.  He was a great narrator and very interesting to listen to.  After I finished up this book, I immediately started listening to his podcast.

I highly recommend this book and podcast to anyone who is interested in learning more about Christmas traditions.

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

 

 

Title:  Kiss Her Once for Me

Author:  Alison Cochrun

Narrated by:  Natalie Naudus

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 38 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster.  Thank you @BookClubFavorites #BookClubFavorites for the free books.

What is the best new holiday book you read this year or best new holiday movie?

Ellie Oliver moved to Portland a year ago with her dream job at an animation company.  She is disappointed her mother didn’t visit for Christmas, but she meets an interesting new woman, Jack.  They fall in love over the course of an evening, but after a grave misunderstanding the next morning, they go their separate ways. 

One year later, Ellie has lost her job and is working unhappily in a coffee shop.  The shop landlord, Andrew, and Ellie discover they get along quite well. Andrew pops a question, would she like to be in a marriage of convenience?  It will allow him to access his inheritance and he will give her $200,000 which could be life changing for her.  Ellie agrees and joins Andrew for Christmas weekend with his family. There she discovers his sister is Jack.  Hijinks ensue.  Will Ellie be able to figure out what she really wants in life?

I enjoyed Ellie’s journey.  I related to a lot of it.  She was always able to work hard and get what she wanted out of life.  When she loses her job, she is cast to the wind.  She is not sure what to do with life with her plans not working out.  She has to learn through the course of the novel that she should continue with the art she loves, while also setting healthy boundaries with her family.  She also has to learn how to go for who she loves. She learns to trust someone else besides herself. Jack and Ellie had great chemistry and I liked their story.

I enjoy the marriage of convenience trope and fake romance.  This particular story is like My Best Friend’s Wedding and While You Were Sleeping.  While I enjoy both of those movies, I also get annoyed by both of them for similar reason.  I start to feel bad because of all of the lies.  I was having a hard time in the middle of this book for the same reason, but luckily the story picked up again and it had a great ending.

The book references the song Last Christmas more than once, and it made me wonder why the book wasn’t named, Last Christmas. Luckily, “Kiss Her Once for Me” from Holly Jolly Christmas makes a later appearance.

Natalie Naudus was a great narrator and I enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

The Light Before Christmas by Marty Machowski

 

Do you have an advent wreath or calendar?  We have an advent wreath and use an old devotional with it that my husband used growing up that is for kids.  My kids still like lighting the candles at dinner even though they are teenagers.

About this Book from the Publisher: This four-week Advent family devotional by best-selling author Marty Machowski combines devotions on the theme of light and darkness with the story of eleven-year-old Mia and her grandmother as they prepare for Christmas. Grandma loves to share her faith, especially at Christmas time, and although she is blind, she can see the light of Jesus shining bright and helps Mia—and children of all ages—to do the same.

Every year, Mia loves to spend the month of December with Grandma getting ready for Christmas. This year, they read a special devotional, The Light Before Christmas, together. Machowski brings families into their devotional time, sharing the story of Christmas. Through a Bible study of light and darkness, readers will discover how the theme of light weaves its way through the Christmas story and God’s plan of salvation.

The Light Before Christmas contains thirteen devotionals—three for each of the four weeks of Advent and one more for Christmas. Each devotional includes a Scripture for the day, an object lesson, a question to discuss as a family, a song to sing together, and a prayer.

Review:   I thought it was fun to read through a new Advent devotional.  This is a good devotional for a busy family with three devotionals for each week rather than one daily.  I love that it starts with a craft – making your own Advent wreath.  If you have never done an Advent devotional before, this is a great way to set the scene and get started. 

Each week of Advent starts with a story of Mia and her Grandmother.  I love that the story uses the Grandmother’s blindness to focus on how she can still feel the faith and see the light of Jesus, even thought she is blind.  It is an engaging story that teaches an important lesson.

I thought the devotionals themselves were also great ones to use as a family.  I like how they have on object, such as a lamp with a clear bulb where you can see a filament, to use as a focal point to start the introspection and the discussion.  I liked the questions too and they prompt good discussion.  My daughter loves to sing Christmas songs and I enjoyed that classics such as O Come O Come Emmanuel were included as well as a brief history of the origins of the song.  This devotional would work best with preschool and grade school kids, but it can also work through teenage years as well.

There is also a great curriculum that you can use for your church Sunday school that goes along with this devotional. “This two-level (preschool and elementary) curriculum consists of  lessons  that  include  Scripture  readings,  dramas,  object  lessons, discussion questions, activity pages, crafts, and songs.”  I like that there is a script as well as printables to use for your Sunday School class.  Until recently, I led a Children’s Liturgy as my church and this would have been great to use.

Review Copy from New Growth Press.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril

 

What is your favorite type of Christmas candy?  I love so many different types, but fudge is my favorite.

Alex and Hannah are identical twin sisters who own a book and candy store, Murder and Mayhem, in a small town in Montana.  Originally from Frankenmuth, Michigan, the ladies have used their family chocolate making tradition to create a line of murder-themed chocolates, perfect to pair with your favorite mystery.  When Alex finds a neighbor, friend, and Sleuth Book Club member, Jane, dead in her own home, she decides she is going to track down her killer.  Jane had wanted to show Alex a true crime show as she thought the picture of a killer on the show matched someone in their small town.  Was Jane onto something or is there another reason that she was murdered?

I enjoyed the mystery in this one and did not figure out the killer until the pieces all fit together at the end.  This was the first book in a new planned cozy mystery series, and I can’t wait to read more.  I enjoyed Alex and Hannah and meeting their friends and acquaintances in their small town.  I also love that they own a combination candy and bookstore.  I think that is a spectacular combination!  I also loved that it was at Christmas time and enjoyed that as well.  There was humor in the story and the book overall had good pacing.

Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Santa’s Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

 

Title:  Santa’s Little Yelpers:  An Andy Carpenter Mystery

Author:  David Rosenfelt

Narrated by:  Grover Gardner

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Length: Approximately 6 hours and 41 minutes

Source: Review Copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

 Do you judge a book by its cover?  I totally judge a book by its cover.  I judged this book as being full of puppy love at Christmas and didn’t investigate what the story was about.  This book actually doesn’t have much to do with puppies or Christmas, but it was a good story.

 The story does start out with Andy Carpenter’s dog rescue, Tara’s Foundation, named after his golden retriever, Tara.  The rescue has eight new puppies and Chris Myers works at the foundation helping with the puppies.  Chris was once a lawyer but has been debarred after serving time for killing a man in a bar.  Chris was drunk and doesn’t remember killing the man.  Once he finds out the star witness has lied, he has hope that he will be able to overturn his conviction.  But when the star witness is killed in a drive by shooting, Chris is arrested for his murder, and it is up to Andy to help Chris out.  Will he be able to prove his innocence?

 I thought the mystery was interesting and fun.  Andy was a character.  I loved his humor and his tenacity at solving the crime.  The mystery had a lot of twists and turns, and I did not figure it out!

 Santa’s Little Yelpers is number twenty-six of the Andy Carpenter series.  I had not read any other books in this series, but I did enjoy this audiobook as a standalone.

 I loved Grover Gardner’s narration.  He has a nice deep voice that sounds like a detective on the scene of a crime.  It fits perfectly with this book.