Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber

December 10, 2021 By 1 Comment


Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Original Title: When Christmas Comes
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Trading Houses. Trading Towns.

Trading Christmas!

Emily Springer, widowed mother of one, decides to leave Leavenworth, Washington, to spend Christmas with her daughter in Boston.

Charles Brewster, history professor, curmudgeon and resident of Boston, wants to avoid Christmas altogether. He figures a prison town should be nice and quiet over the holidays—except he’s thinking of the wrong Leavenworth!

Through an internet site, Charles and Emily arrange to swap houses for the holiday. So Emily goes to Boston—and discovers that her daughter has gone to Florida. And Charles arrives in Leavenworth and discovers that it’s not the prison town—it’s Santa’s village! The place is full of Christmas trees, Christmas music and…elves.

Meanwhile, Emily’s friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to visit her and instead finds Charles, an avowed grinch. Then Charles’s brother, Ray, shows up at his home in Boston to discover that he isn’t there—but Emily is.

Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!

This novel is a classic holiday rom-com and one I’m not surprised is actually a reissue. My mom gave me her 2004 copy called, When Christmas Comes, and when I was ready to write this review, I discovered that the publisher reissued it as Trading Christmas. I like the new title because it more accurately describes what a reader will find within its pages. Everyone wants to surprise their favorite person for the holiday but they themselves get the shocks of their lives when they swap houses. It’s like they turned their homes into what we now call Airbnbs. The results are both hilarious (Santa and his elves) and sweet.

This book follows two main ladies, very good friends, Emily and Faith. Then there are two die-hard bachelor brothers, Ray and Charles. Neither party knows what the other is doing. For various reasons they all decide to travel for the Christmas holiday. Some do it to visit the other, one does it to get away from all things Christmas, and another character travels as a favor to his mother. The third is a subplot about Emily’s daughter, Heather. Heather strikes out in independence but eventually has to face the results of her decision and its ramifications. Has Emily’s influence as a mother made a difference in her daughter’s life? Or will she throw it all away on her quest to be ‘adult’? Some of the topics are serious, but all of the intertwined story arcs are fascinating, uplifting, positive, healing, humorous or hysterical (cue the runaway lobster).

If fans of holiday romances have not had a chance to read Trading Christmas, and you have a couple of hours to enjoy some free time, please do give this novel a try. It has everything from snowball fights, sledding, and yummy baked goods, and runs the gamut of emotions; annoyance, astonishment, surprise, happiness, silliness and cute ‘awww’ moments. Then there are begrudging curmudgeons being dragged into the holiday spirit. To see the way the brothers respond to the influence of Emily and Faith is truly delightful, and definitely fun. The guys’ mother is a touch of genius – talk about a drama queen – in the best sense of the term. Even her dog has an attitude. LOL

I’m so very glad I had a chance to read this novel. The romances within are sweet verging on sensual. The progression of their romances are a gradual thing as they share experiences, memories, past hurts and pains until hope for the future starts to grow. The most romantic scenes hold the promise of what could be between them and when it takes root, explodes into passionate kisses and a reawakening of joy and happiness about the Christmas holiday, and life itself. It’s a wonderful mixture that works.

Trading Christmas is worth reading at any time of year, but especially so when Christmas lights and music are actually occurring around the reader. Talk about getting into the season. If you need a jumpstart, then this book just might do the trick.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Guild Boss by Jayne Castle (Author), Barbara Rosenblat (Narrator)

December 9, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Guild Boss by Jayne Castle (Author), Barbara Rosenblat (Narrator)
Publisher: Berkley, Recorded Books, Inc. (Publisher-audio)
Genre: Romance, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Living in this new, alien world doesn’t stop the settlers from trying to re-create what they’ve left behind. Case in point—weddings are still the highlight of any social calendar. But it’s the after-party that turns disastrous for Lucy Bell. Kidnapped and drugged as she leaves the party, she manages to escape—only to find herself lost in the mysterious, alien underground maze of glowing green tunnels beneath Illusion Town. She’s been surviving on determination and cold pizza, scavenged for her by a special dust bunny, when help finally shows up.

Gabriel Jones is the Ghost Hunter sent to rescue her, but escaping the underground ruins isn’t the end of her troubles—it’s only the beginning. With no rational reason for her abduction, and her sole witness gone on another assignment for the Guild, whispers start circulating that Lucy made it all up. Soon her life unravels until she has nothing left but her pride. The last thing she expects is for Gabriel Jones to come back to town for her.

The Lucy that Gabriel finds is not the same woman he rescued, the one who looked at him as if he were her hero. This Lucy is sharp, angry, and more than a little cynical—instead of awe, she treats him with extreme caution. But a killer is still hunting her, and there aren’t a lot of options when it comes to heroes. Despite her wariness, Gabriel is also the one person who believes Lucy—after all, he was there. He’s determined to help clear her reputation, no matter what it takes. And as the new Guild Boss, his word is law, even in the lawlessness of Illusion Town.

When I found out that Ms. Rosenblat was the narrator for Guild Boss, mixed with the story-telling talent of Ms. Castle, I couldn’t wait for this novel to come out. I just knew it was going to be fun and entertaining. My wait was worth it; every moment was awesome and I simply could not believe the ending came so soon. It’s the first time I’ve listened to an audio book that I’ve lost track of time and the ending took me by surprise. I expected at least 3 days to listen to the whole thing. It took me a day and a half. Just like her print books that I can read from end to end in one day (who needs sleep?), I finished the audio version in record time. I’ll be buying the print version of this novel as well, now that I know it’s a keeper.

I guess you could say that my review is colored by the narrator’s talent, and you’d be right. Granted, it wouldn’t work if the book itself wasn’t done perfectly, from dialogue, description, action and mystery, and with solid writing all the way through. My favorite scene descriptions were with Otis, the dust bunny, and how he utilized his sparkly pink toy. So adorable and sweet, it satisfies a figurative sweet tooth craving.

That first kiss reminded me of something Captain Kirk would do in Star Trek. I guess for some readers it might seem like a negative thing. Not for me. Sometimes there are moments when you meet someone and the spark is blinding and compelling. You give in to temptation. Reality hits later leading to a let-down or a romance culminating in a marriage of 50 years. It’s happened in real life, so I am totally on board with Gabriel’s character and his actions. Besides, it worked, didn’t it?

As for the heroine, Lucy, her fall from respectable to looney-toons and bit jobs might seem extreme to some readers. I mean, how her new boss treated her and paid her was not fair. That he took advantage of her was apparent. Ms. Castle could do anything she wished while writing this novel – it’s her world-building after all, right? My perspective is – keeping it close to what really can happen in real life allows the believability factor to easily translate to fantastical scenes on a far-off planet. Human nature being what it is does not change just because it’s in a different place. The vices, character quirks, unfair business practices and such happen because humans are eminently fallible. Same with the villains. My favorites are the scheming megalomaniacs with delusions of world domination – it worked in the original series, the Avengers with John Steed and Emma Peel, and adventures on Harmony remind me of some of their plots. Fun, pure escapism, adventure, daring-do, and with Ms. Castle’s books, romance and happy-ever-afters are a given. It’s what I look forward to and Ms. Castle delivered.

I am a happy reader/listener because Guild Boss gave me what I needed – a great read. The novel met all my expectations. I enjoyed how the relics of the past continue to cause havoc, I enjoyed the rescues, the chases, the clever quips, and how the story stayed on point with the plot and romance. There were a couple of love scenes and for a change, they weren’t there to take the place of the story. They were well placed and ensured I would have no doubts that Gabriel and Lucy are compatible and well-matched in all the best ways. The mystery was solved and the villain was someone I didn’t suspect.

All in all, Guild Boss is a keeper. No matter if you read it in print, or listen in audio format, it’s a wonderful story. It’s also a great addition to my growing tower of favorites written by Ms. Castle. If you decide to read this novel, I hope you have as much fun as I did.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber

December 8, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Practical Jenna Campbell has done something impractical. She’s met a man on the Internet and now, a month before Christmas, she’s going to Alaska to marry him. Dalton Gray seems to be everything she wants in a husband—sensitive, gallant, romantic…

On the flight to Fairbanks, she has the misfortune to sit beside Reid Jamison, who obviously isn’t sensitive, gallant or romantic. However, he’s not impressed with her plan to marry Dalton, a man he detests (for good reason, as Jenna later finds out). So Reid takes it upon himself to change her destination—and her marriage plans.

Which is why Jenna ends up at Reid’s cabin in tiny Snowbound, Alaska. It’s currently a one-woman town (and the other woman’s out of town). That leaves Reid, a bunch of eccentric old men, a few grizzly bears—and Jenna. Kidnapped! And then there’s a blizzard. The two of them alone, stranded in Snowbound…

Maybe she’ll be a Christmas bride, after all!

This novel is a delight to read; full of warmth and hope, filled with funny secondary characters that create a feeling of community, and an enjoyable journey to romance.

The Snow Bride was a pleasant surprise. I received the book from my mom at Thanksgiving, and although I’ve read books by Ms. Macomber before, I somehow missed this one. I’m glad I had a chance to give this story a whirl. From the moment I sat down to read, I was hooked by the first chapter. Two and half hours later, practically midnight, I came to the ending and the happily ever after. This novel was a breeze to read because it kept me engaged throughout. Jenna and Reid were a pleasure to meet.

The hero and heroine have sparks fly between them from the get-go. They weren’t the right kind at the beginning – two rocks crashing together to make lots of possible fire-starters – narrow-eyed irritation and miffed annoyance. That was fun. Reid then makes a command decision that sets the ball rolling with unexpected consequences. Of course, that’s what a good romance story is for – pit the main characters against an out-of-control situation and see where the chips fall. I have a few favorite parts while they were snowbound in Snowbound – cribbage and the music and dancing scenes.

I think the most enjoyable moments came from their not understanding themselves, and the actions that led to. A reader knows it’s jealousy, which can only happen if they care and have real feelings for the other. It took another ‘love’ interest to bring everything to a head. That part, I knew was coming and yet Ms. Macomber handled it differently than most. Another reason why I liked this story. It easily could have turned into a cookie-cutter type trope except for the little details the author threw in and made it adorably perfect.

I smiled a lot while reading. I nodded many times when a character made insightful observations or suggestions and giggled quite a bit when it came to Jenna’s mom, Chloe. Again, Chloe’s character could have been done many different ways based on her … track record, and yet, the author once again side-stepped any negative drama that seems to dog that particular trope and instead furthered the positive, uplifting and romantic theme of the romance. Like I said at the beginning, this was a truly charming and enjoyable journey to romance. One I can recommend especially during the Christmas holiday because that is around the time when the HEA wraps up. If you think it’s going to be traditional, you haven’t met Palmer and Addy. Those two side characters cracked me up.

The Snow Bride is the perfect book to relax and unwind with because the drama is light, the happiness factor is high and the romance is fun and satisfying. A definite recommendation.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere

December 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Mainstream Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Each Christmas we are given a promise from heaven. And each year on earth we make promises to each other. This is a story about how a promise from one person to another shows us the true meaning of faith, remembrance, and love.

Seven years ago Gloria endured a family tragedy that almost shook her faith entirely. Each Christmas she places a card in an envelope on her tree, restating a promise she made to her husband before he died. Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is building a life by caring for people in need. Whether it’s a young mother who can’t pay her electric bill or a family who needs some extra food, Gloria always finds a way.

Miriam is a thorn in Gloria’s side. Miriam is a constantly critical, disapproving neighbor who looks with suspicion at all the good things Gloria does. When a twist of fate makes them roommates instead of neighbors, it’s the ultimate test of patience and faith.

Chaz has a good job as head of security at Wilson’s Department Store, but each night he returns home to an empty apartment. He longs for a wife and family of his own but realizes that the life choices he’s made have alienated him. He befriends a young boy whose mother has fallen on hard times, giving him a chance to have a life he thought impossible.

In The Christmas Promise, the lives of these characters collide and we learn that even as we move ahead, the past is never far behind. And when we are forgiven much, we love much. In this warmly humorous and deeply poignant story, we are reminded that the Christmas Promise is the promise of second chances.

Sometimes it’s nice to try something unknown, and this story by Donna VanLiere, a new-to-me author, was one of those books that took me by surprise because I ended up liking it. By and large, I’m a romance reader so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. It has romantic elements and of a fashion, it does have an emotional and satisfying happy ever after. It’s not the type I’m used to but for this novel, it was perfect. It was happy, it was poignant, it left me with the ‘feel goods’ and the writing was well done if a bit unusual. It was unusual because the point of view switched from first person, which followed the story of the main female lead, Gloria, also called Miss Glory, and the third person point of view from some of the secondary characters. I don’t remember if I’ve ever come upon a story written quite this way. In The Christmas Promise, it worked.

Because the author wrote the chapters and storylines of a few of the characters like the weaving of a tapestry, everything spirals down to a point. I found that style of storytelling quite challenging. Not because it was confusing, it impressed me more than anything else. Everyone’s lives seemed to touch another’s in one way or another. It brought a sense of unity to the community. Gloria seems to be the person who spearheads charitable works for anyone and everyone she comes across who is experiencing hardship in one way or the other. I think that is where the ‘Christian Fiction’ label can apply. It wasn’t on the level of inspirational, but the guiding principle of taking care of a neighbor in need falls under the purview of corporal works of mercy. That’s where all the important secondary characters are found. Mary-am, Spaz, Donovan, Carla, Erin and quite a few others are not only helped by Gloria but she eventually is helped by them. The blessings she receives in doing for others far outweigh anything she could have imagined at the start of the story.

On an aside, I am compelled to mention that the synopsis or blurb for The Christmas Promise is actually different depending on if you look up the title as a print or as an audiobook. I prefer the print version’s blurb but combined, it gives a potential reader a clearer idea of what the novel is about. It mentions humor and I didn’t have any laugh out loud moments while reading. A few ‘Awws’ and ‘that’s so sweet’ when it came to the interactions between Spaz and Donovan, a few smiles with Miriam’s crabby antics, but the big emotional pull and downright tear jerker is between Gloria and one of the secondary characters. If a reader enjoys stories that are strong in the ‘feels’ area, then this book is going to bring about those happy sappy tears so make sure you have a tissue handy, just in case.

On the whole, The Christmas Promise is a powerful story of faith, friendship, redemption, true Christmas spirit and love of family and neighbor. It’s incredibly well-written and the pace is constant. I usually prefer light fluffy stories but I’m glad I took a chance on something a bit more solid. It reminded me of what the holiday’s focus should be. Not material things, but people. Not only family, but friends and sometimes friends of friends. Even though this story has a Christmas theme, I personally feel this story can be read at any time of year. It’s a timeless message. If you haven’t read this story yet, or heard of this author, please give her a try. I’m glad I did.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs

November 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Finding Nikki by Jamie L. Biggs
A White Mountain Pack Novel
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Nikki always knew she was different. What she didn’t know was that she isn’t entirely human.
Nikki discovers after her mom dies, why they never stayed in one place. She is now determined to make Mesa, Arizona her permanent home.

But when the broody, tall, dark, and handsome stranger shows up in her diner, Nikki realizes that if she is ever going to stand a chance at making a home for herself, she will have to go on the run again or fight like never before.

Now Zack has tipped his hand by letting his wolf out to protect her. Nikki’s hands are tied – or are they?

As fate approaches, only one question remains: Will Nikki accept Zack and what he has to offer her, a real home and family, or will she go on the run?

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The trope has been done before, true, but the way Ms. Biggs wrote Finding Nikki totally entertained me and left me feeling very happy when the story concluded with its well-rounded epilogue.

This book was the first one I’ve ever read by this author and I liked her style. I enjoyed the flow of the story, from Nikki’s first meeting Zack, to finding out why her mother was so paranoid, and why it was nothing like the heroine anticipated. Yes, there is the ‘fated mates’ plot but I appreciated the fact that the connection and relationship actually started when they were kids. It may have seemed sudden to the heroine, but it actually wasn’t. Another aspect of the novel was its being told in first person POV. The author did it well. There were no awkward moments or lengthy internal narrations. The pace was perfect for this story.

As with most paranormal stories with werewolf cultures, there are the violent, passionate natures, claws, rival packs and political plots and conflicts. What I found to be a breath of fresh air and is one hundred percent appreciated by me was the author’s decision to keep me out of the bedroom. I was spared the announcer-type-moment-by-moment details to the nth degree about what happens between Zack and Nikki. I found the kisses, the touches, the eye-to-eye contact and the sensual atmosphere more than enough for me to get the picture that the chemistry between them is hot, satisfying and wild. True, it made the story move a bit faster but that was okay by me. I didn’t have long to wait for the good stuff.

My emotions were affected, especially the part about Nikki’s dad. I didn’t expect that to happen and it got me in the heartstrings. When it came to the dramatic and climactic attack amid all the growls and violence, again, the author didn’t need to go into graphic detail. I understood. I comprehended the ramifications. In this novel, less is more and again, I felt it to be a strength because I focused more on the characters, their emotions and the end results. As a reader, I was given everything I needed to fall in love with the main characters, feel emotions for them, worry and celebrate with them when the epilogue revealed a wonderful future and happy-ever-after for Nikki and Zack. I also thought her nickname for the hero was genius – cute, adorable, and ever so accurate. What starts off as annoying to the hero turns into a label of love and affection. That’s how I knew they had a strong and positive relationship.

I looked for more from this author and it doesn’t look like there are additional stories specific to the White Mountain pack, but if there ever is one, I’ll be one happy reader. I’d snap it up in a heartbeat. This story was an utter joy to read and has a complete happy ever after with all the threads that matter tied up with a wonderful, happy bow. I can easily recommend this to paranormal romance readers like me who are more into the romance and the story than the bed.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer

October 7, 2021 By 1 Comment


Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal, Holiday
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life turns upside down when her friend foresees the wrecking ball that threatens to destroy Cassie’s home and workplace. But Cassie isn’t giving up without a fight. She casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

Jack Quinn has had his eyes on Lakeside Books for years. He has big plans for the cozy waterfront property, but he didn’t expect to care about the store or its employees. And he never imagined he’d be drawn to a certain brown-eyed saleswoman.

Almost as if by magic.

This novella is the perfect story for when a reader is short on time but needs a quick fix of romance. Merry Little Wishing Spritz made me smile, grin, giggle and thoroughly entertained me. It kind of reminded me of Samantha in Bewitched, and when Cassie spoke to her cat, Smudge, it brought to mind a fond memory of Bell, Book and Candle when Gillian, the female lead, talks to her cat, Pyewacket. The thing is with this story, it’s more upbeat, sweet and playful with a happy ever after ending that left me happy and content.

I’m of the opinion that this story would make a delightful holiday movie which could be watched not only at Christmas, because of the mistletoe, but Halloween too, because good solid romance movies can span the holidays that happen towards the end of the year. I would really enjoy watching all the little pranks Cassie played on Jack. He was a good sport about it all – not suspecting a thing, of course. The scene with the reindeer made me grin.

The supporting cast is pretty much one person, Peyton, Cassie’s best friend. She’s the heroine’s cheerleader, confidant and conspirator in getting Cassie to open up to the possibility that Jack may not be like all the other losers Cassie had dated in the past. She was a perfect best friend and I liked her personality.

It was a stroke of genius to include the topic of gift giving to those in the community that had no one to give them gifts. Cassie and Peyton dressed up as adorable elves and that’s another reason why I could see this book being made into a film. There were so many details that touched the heart, coaxed emotions and feelings, and brought to life their little part of the world.

Merry Little Wishing Spritz is a happy romance story that includes a little paranormal zing of witchy wonderfulness to spice up the fun as Cassie and Jack fall in love. I’m glad I found this little gem and I believe a lot of readers are in for a treat when they read this book for themselves.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

From Rags to Kisses by Shana Galen

October 5, 2021 By Leave a Comment


From Rags to Kisses by Shana Galen
The Survivors, #11
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

She’s poor as a church mouse.

When young Jenny Tate stumbles over the beaten body of a boy in the streets of the London slums, her only intention is to rifle through his pockets. But the bruised lad charms her into helping him, and the next thing she knows, Aidan Sterling and she are fast friends, navigating life on the streets with all its dangers together. Jenny has learned never to trust or love anyone, but as the two grow up, they learn to rely on other. And then Aidan betrays her in the worst way possible.

He’s rich as a king.

Aidan Sterling is one of the richest men in England. He has everything he wants and no one to share it with. After risking his life in the army, he returned to England and made a fortune. Now he keeps his loneliness at bay by focusing on what he’s good at—making money. And then Jenny Tate steps unexpectedly back into his life. He’s never forgotten her and never stopped loving her. Jenny hasn’t forgotten him either, and she hasn’t forgiven him. She’s betrothed to a viscount and has a new life and wants nothing to do with Aidan. But the discovery of an ancient trunk, a hunt for a street urchin, and the interference of homing pigeons might just be enough to bring these two back together.

This is a delightful romance that has a surprising depth to it that I could related to. I enjoyed watching how two kids who started out with nothing except each other go their separate ways, and through life’s convoluted capriciousness, meet again on relatively the same playing field, but this time, it’s in the upper rungs of society. One accomplished it through sheer grit and determination, the other made the most of an opportunity dropped in their lap. Basically, grabbing onto it with both hands and utilizing a different type of determination, jumped right in and never looked back. The how’s and whys of it is what kept me turning the pages. Rags to Kisses is a very apt title.

The reason I say I could relate to these characters, especially Aiden, is the lasting psychological effects of having food, shelter and/or financial insecurity. It’s nothing new – poverty has plagued the human race for many millennia – but understanding its effects on how one lives one’s life is a complicated endeavor. The author had each of her protagonists deal with it in different ways. Aiden’s choices make the most sense to me. One of the choices can be considered hoarding – keeping everything because ‘just in case’. In the hero’s case, it was making money, hoarding it, pursuing it, spending on the best to make up for his early years. Thing is, it’s a bitter cycle because unless something happens to kick them in the pants, and help them understand their drive, it can cause problems in relationships. They don’t understand that their drive would never allow them to feel ‘it’s enough’. It’s kind of sad. So, yeah, I felt for Aiden in a big way.

Jenny’s solution falls into a gray area. Again, it can be compared to real life when one person takes an interest in helping another person down on their luck at just the right time, and opens opportunities that otherwise would have been closed doors. What that person does with those opportunities depends on the drive, intelligence and work ethic they may have – it just needed a chance to thrive. That’s how I saw Jenny’s opportunity. The heroine was smart, not just street smart, but had an intuitive nature that when shaped and guided could produce someone with an acute acumen for business, finance and good deals or high-payoff opportunities. Jenny was given that chance from a most unlikely circumstance, yet, the person who reaches out to her isn’t exactly a cookie-cutter peer. I think that’s why it worked. The quirkiness of how everything played out fascinated me.

I realize that the scheme concocted between Jenny and Lord Chamberlayne is a trope that I’ve read about many, many times. I was a little concerned on how it would play out because it could have sunk this story if I didn’t like the way it was handled. I am happy to report that I truly felt Ms. Galen chose very well. The resolution, though not perfect, was perfect for the times and for their situation. It allowed a happy ever after for everyone concerned and I was content with Lord Chamberlayne’s decisions. In fact, I respected his character. Oscar, on the other hand, was simply charming, adorable and very easy to like. I can see why Jenny adored them so much – it wasn’t just gratitude for their taking a chance on her – the respect was mutual, and the friendship real and solid.

Now, the romance between Aiden and Jenny had many ups and downs. Their chemistry was hot, their feelings powerful and their initial wariness towards each other once they met again, was palpable yet understandable. Readers who like to be in the bedroom a bit to see if the fires burn as hot as they think, should be satisfied with the heat level. There’s no doubt that time has not dimmed their passions; I think they’re more pronounced because both Jenny and Aiden have matured and know what they want.

There was humor woven throughout the novel, like the scene with the pigeons, and Oscar was fun comic relief. There was also more character development in store for Aiden and that stems from his decision help his friend, FitzRoy find a character called Harley. I do believe Harley was in a previous story, so if fans of Ms. Galen remember then they can be assured of a wonderful resolution for the young scamp.

On the whole, Rags to Kisses is a great read, thoroughly entertaining and a wonderful addition to the series. This is an easy book to recommend because I didn’t stop reading until I reached the end. When I did turn the final page, I was surprised. Done, already? That’s the mark of a great read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Mile High with a Vampire by Lynsay Sands

September 28, 2021 By 1 Comment


Mile High with a Vampire by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense
Rating: 5 Stars
Review by: Xeranthemum

In the latest Argeneau novel from New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands, an immortal and her mortal pilot are on the run from hungry vampires…and discover they’re life mates along the way.

Quinn Peters never wanted to be immortal. Once a renowned heart surgeon, she was turned against her will and now she has to drink blood to survive. Before she can ask how her “life” can get any worse, she’s in a plane crash. One of the few survivors, Quinn is desperate to get the mortal pilot to safety before her fellow immortals succumb to their blood lust and drain Jet dry.

But hungry vampires are the least of their worries—the crash wasn’t an accident, and someone is trying to kill Quinn. Will she and Jet find their happily ever after as life mates, or will her assassin find her first?

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I enjoyed from beginning to end and I’m happy to share that Mile High with a Vampire delivered a quality read from the very first pages. It starts with a plane crash, a race for survival, a close call and a revelation that the crash was intentional. That’s just in the beginning chapters, the rest of the plot is figuring out who is trying to kill one of the passengers and why, especially when they’ve done nothing wrong to anyone. Who would do something so foul that they’d be willing to murder everyone on the plane, not just their target? The suspense, the interesting interplay between characters and the well-written plot kept me glued to the story. I didn’t stop turning the pages until I finished the epilogue. Ms. Sands has delivered another winner for fans to enjoy.

It took me a while to remember that Quinn was Pet’s sister in the book, The Trouble with Vampires. That’s when I first learned about their horrific background when they were little kids. This novel, Mile High with a Vampire, completes the story of the two sisters. Quinn finally gets her happy ever after, but of course, she has a bunch of hoops to jump through to get it. She has finally accepted the fact that she needs therapy to deal with what her husband had done to her and their son, what she’s become and to heal enough to start living again. However, therapy ends up giving her a lot more to deal with than she expected. Which of course is the point. The villains who traumatized both Quinn and Pet all those years ago are back in the picture.

Now, the villains are not what I expected. Ms. Sands wrote a scene describing what happened to one of the villains from back in the past and I have to tell you, it’s freakishly horrifying. I actually felt really bad for the guy because it was over the top violent. You may wonder how that past event effects the present and it’s a good question. It’s one of the surprises that impressed me in this book. I would never have guessed it. It helped make the climactic fight scene more meaningful. I know this probably doesn’t make a lot of sense but once you read the book and get to that part, you’ll understand. I didn’t expect to feel any empathy but I kind of did. Don’t get me wrong – a bad guy is still a bad guy – and comeuppance is meted out, but Quinn and Petronella (Pet) weren’t the only ones affected by the past and that’s all I’m going to say.

Now, to get to the good stuff. The romance between Quinn and Jet. It works, it’s great, I thought they were wonderful together, and I liked both their personalities. I thought Jet was a studly hero but it turned out he’s a smart cookie. He’s not just a pretty face. Quinn is adorable. I liked a lot of her internal dialogue and the insight it provides gives a reader a reason to want her to be happy – and that she would choose Jet when she finally was ready.

Their physical chemistry is of course off the charts. Life mates are always hot and bothered for each other. Readers will get plenty of examples of just how ‘hot’ it gets. Fortunately, the book has just enough of those scenes to satisfy readers who like the nitty gritty details, but for readers who are looking for a solid plot conflict, dialogue, action, intelligence with great storytelling and pacing, this story delivers.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a hearty shout out to Lucien, Margarite, Sam, Tybo and so many others in the Argeneau and Notte families that came to help Quinn and Jet survive so they could enjoy their happily ever after. I adore that whole family dynamic and how they all come together to party when things are good, and when things get hairy, they band together to defend and fight for the ones they love when there’s trouble. I believe this is the 33rd book in the series – so that’s a lot of family ties to keep track of. Oh, it might be naughty of me, but I actually snickered when Lucien accidently gets … well, I’m not going to actually tell you what happens… Fans of the series will more than likely understand why I found that scene humorous and why I giggled. Since I didn’t expect that to happen, I’m not going to ruin the fun and surprise by letting the cat out of the bag. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens.

On the whole, Mile High with a Vampire is a sure bet. It’s a fun and exciting adventure. I had a great time watching Quinn and Jet fall in love and you can be sure that I am adding this novel to my very large book pile of keepers. Many of Ms. Sands’ books have made it to my re-read list so many times, I’ve lot count. I’m thrilled with everything about this story and I heartily recommend it to paranormal romance fans in general, and to Ms. Sands’ fans specifically. It’s a great addition to the series and one not to miss.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cliff’s Descent by Dianne Duvall

August 13, 2021 By 4 Comments


Cliff’s Descent by Dianne Duvall (Author), Kirsten Potter (Narrator)
Immortal Guardians Series, Book 11
Publisher: Self-published, Audio publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Every mortal who works at network headquarters knows that vampires reside below them. They were the first to surrender to the powerful Immortal Guardians who hunt them. And they did so, hoping they can be saved, that the doctors and scientists the Immortal Guardians employ can halt the progressive brain damage that robs all vampires of their sanity. Though curious, Emma never thought she would meet any of the vampires who remain under heavy guard several stories beneath her office. Then mercenaries strike, bombarding the building with heavy artillery. The vampires are freed to join the fray… and Cliff saves her life.

From that moment on, she can’t stop thinking about him regardless of the restrictions placed on interactions with vampires. When Emma discovers a way to speak to Cliff at network headquarters, she becomes even more fascinated by him. He’s smart, charming, and honorable to his core despite the darkness that lies ahead. And he seems to crave her company as much as she does his. Aware of the eyes that watch them, they keep their encounters innocent, limiting them to those of mere acquaintances. Nevertheless, their attraction grows and she soon falls in love with him even as the madness begins to claim him.

Cliff realizes his future is dark. As one vampire friend after another succumbs to insanity, hope that network doctors will be able to find a cure in time to keep him from meeting the same fate begins to dwindle, leaving him little to look forward to… until he meets Emma. Just speaking to her brings him a happiness and contentment he hasn’t experienced since before his transformation. And when they finally find a way to be alone together, everything changes. Emma burrows her way right into his heart and quiets the voices. She sparks dreams of a future with her that strengthen his determination to beat back the madness. But as time passes, the voices grow louder and insanity begins to chip away at him until he fears it will eradicate every part of him she fell in love with.

Will the two of them find a way to defy the odds and find their happily-ever-after? Or will Cliff’s descent consume him?

I have the eBook but I listened to Cliff’s Descent in the audio version because I wanted the full effect. I have been waiting for a resolving of Cliff’s situation for good or sad for a very long time. Ms. Duvall has provided this reader with everything I could hope for, and a surprise too. I enjoyed the narration by Kirsten Potter because she has Ms. Duvall’s characters and personalities down pat, from their accents, quirks, and humor, to the oftentimes silly and fun razzing at Sheldon’s expense. The narrator’s vocal range is astounding and a strong plus for any reader who enjoys listening to books in addition to reading print. The character from the Bronx tickled my funny bone. It was the first time I’d heard it the series and I grinned every time he was on stage.

Even though it might be coming from the long side of the series, I truly believe that a reader jumping into the Immortal Guardian’s world could enjoy this story as a starter. I say that because it is told from Cliff’s side. He can only tell us what he heard or experienced from his point of view. Fans of the series will remember well where WE were when certain things happened so in my mind, I filled in the blanks. For a newbie reader, this might whet the appetite to investigate the earlier books and discover a banquet of excitement, thrills and romance. To be meeting Roland, Sarah, Marcus and Ami for the first time …? Wow. As it is, I get to be there when Cliff, Vincent and Joe first met the Immortal Guardians. That was an action packed time. It’s tough being a vampire that is doomed to go crazy violent with no hope of sanity sticking around. Yet, Cliff was the exception to most every vampire I met throughout the series. His sense of honor, stubbornness, strength of character and true grit in his determination to hold out as long as possible, to give Dr. Lipton the chance to find a breakthrough – was an inspiration. Cliff has tugged on my heartstrings for so long, I wanted him to have a future, I wanted Dr. Lipton to find a cure. The big question was, how? The virus didn’t originate from any natural source so it didn’t look good. Aaah, but that’s the best part about a romance story, the hope for a happy ever after.

My hope was realized when the story finally picked up from when I last saw Cliff coming out of the woods, after the big, explosive final showdown with Gershom in Death of Darkness. Cliff complained of feeling off and his ears felt weird. Well, I’ll tell you, it wasn’t what I thought it was. That was the huge surprise. I’m thrilled that Cliff gets his second chance but I am not going to tell you how or why because that’s the BEST part of the happy ever after. I was as surprised as Cliff, and almost just as happy. I say almost because his joy was doubled and tripled because of the woman who stole his heart. What a beautiful romantic ending.

Cliff’s Descent was worth the wait. The novel hit all my happy buttons, tied up a loose end that ached for completion and made the Immortal Guardian’s world that much better. It’s a keeper and one I’ll re-read and re-listen to, just like I have all the books in the series. Thank you, Ms. Duvall, for a much awaited happy ever after that was a sheer joy to read. I’m a delighted fan.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan, Eilidh Beaton (Narrator)

July 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan, Eilidh Beaton (Narrator)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, HarperAudio (Publisher)
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A grand baronial house on Loch Ness, a quirky small-town bookseller, and a single mom looking for a fresh start all come together in this witty and warm-hearted novel by New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan.

Desperate to escape from London, single mother Zoe wants to build a new life for herself and her four year old son Hari. She can barely afford the crammed studio apartment on a busy street where shouting football fans keep them awake all night. Hari’s dad, Jaz, a charismatic but perpetually broke DJ, is no help at all. But his sister Surinder comes to Zoe’s aid, hooking her up with a job as far away from the urban crush as possible: a bookshop on the banks of Loch Ness. And there’s a second job to cover housing: Zoe will be an au pair for three children at a genuine castle in the Scottish Highlands.

But while Scotland is everything Zoe dreamed of—clear skies, brisk fresh air, blessed quiet—everything else is a bit of a mess. The Urquart family castle is grand, but crumbling, the childrens’ single dad is a wreck, and the kids have been kicked out of school and left to their own devices. Zoe has her work cut out for her, and is determined to rise to the challenge, especially when she sees how happily Hari has taken to their new home.

With the help of Nina, the friendly local bookseller, Zoe begins to put down roots in the community. Are books, fresh air, and kindness enough to heal this broken family—and her own…?

I honestly don’t know where to start, what to share and how to avoid spoilers. To say this is a busy story is putting it mildly. My mind is blown, my emotions and feelings are all over the place because there are so many reasons to smile, cry, worry and grin. There are parts where I could feel my eyes widen, my jaw drop and my breath stall in my lungs from suspense. There are so many details to all the personalities that star in this novel. The fact that I spent 11 hours listening over two and a half days, at work, late at night, right after breakfast, basically every chance I got tells you how involved I was in the story of Zoe and her little son, Hari. I didn’t know what to expect when I took a chance on this book. I’d never heard of the author before and that’s my loss. I am wowed by this novel.

The narrator has a voice I had to get used to. I did though and now I’ve come to believe that Ms. Beaton’s voice is absolutely perfect for the characters of Ms. Colgan’s characters, especially Zoe, the heroine, and Ramsey’s son, Patrick. The narrator has some other gems throughout but I’ll let readers, if they listen to the book, discover that charming point for themselves.

Here’s the problem with listening to a book instead of reading – I have no idea how to spell some of the names and I don’t want to get it wrong so I’m going to have to describe people through their roles or some such. Bear with me. Patrick is Ramsey’s youngest, Mary is the second oldest and the eldest son has a name I would probably spell wrong. Out of all the hero’s kids, I think Patrick is the most adorable, outgoing and just plain cute. His relationship and effect on Hari is one of the strong elements in the book and one of my favorites. The two were thick as thieves and a delight to read about. I believe Ms. Beaton’s narration was spot on for those two.

Mary’s character is a hard one. That child has issues – serious issues that caused me heartache on her behalf, and is involved in the few scenes that affected my emotions the most. Zoe’s influence is one of the paramount reasons that what happens to Mary is so powerful and important.

Ramsey’s eldest son isn’t quite as prominent as the other two, but Zoe’s gentle guidance took this sullen, internet-gaming young man and turned him into a person with confidence, goals and helped him discover a grand new passion through which he experiences success, joy and a possible path to a career. I liked that.

I think I’m writing this backwards. Zoe is the main character, a single mom of Hari, and Hari can’t speak yet. He’s 4 years old and hasn’t made a peep. Zoe’s love for him comes through loud and clear. He lucked out when he got Zoe for his mom. His dad, Jaz, not so much. Oh, he loves the little tyke, but … there’s a reason Zoe and he never got married. And yet, I didn’t dislike Jaz. He’s irresponsible, yes, but he truly loves his son and I consider that a redeeming quality.

When I first meet Zoe, the author paints a very scary picture. The heroine is in dire straits and things don’t look good. She gets a helping hand from Jaz’s sister and that’s how the whole story in Scotland starts up. True, when I first started listening to the story, I got a little confused about who was who in which chapter, but that confusion didn’t last long. There is a significant reason the author wants readers to meet certain players early on. Readers need to understand what is going on in Zoe’s life, why she takes the jobs that were offered sight unseen and they need to meet the people that mattered in that stage of her life. Here’s another unusual aspect of the book – it has four parts and each part has a ton of chapters. It’s like the author tells Zoe’s and Hari’s story in stages – as a crisis point or major plot twist puts the heroine on a new path, each path becomes a section of her life and that’s why I think the novel is formatted in this manner. It is different, that’s for sure.

When I listed the genre as contemporary fiction, I did not add romance to the list. There are romantic elements, yes, but the book doesn’t really focus on a romance between Ramsey and Zoe. That just happens as Zoe’s influence heals everyone in the house, and that includes the housekeeper. It was nice to see it happen but the focus, the whole story is about Zoe dealing with the hand life has dealt her. It’s showing a reader how she herself heals while she patiently works with all of the hero’s children, meeting each challenge as they come, with compassion, firmness, stubbornness, a gentle grace and love. However, Zoe’s interactions with adults prove to be a bit more challenging. The dialogue comes in fits and starts because she initially is extremely nervous, downtrodden and at the lowest point in her life. That’s at the beginning. By the end of the book, Zoe has come into her own, and she’s a woman a reader can cheer for, care about and be happy for. This novel is basically her journey towards being the strong, confident, and beloved woman she becomes.

Oh my goodness, there is so much more I want to say, to share, to really impress upon readers of this review that The Bookshop on the Shore is worth reading. I mean it. It’s not a fluff read because the author also tackles some hard topics, like what happens to a child that is emotionally traumatized and does things to harm themselves or others. It’s handled with competence, respect and love. Then there is the truth about what really happened to Ramsey’s wife. The townsfolk bandy about lots of rumors and conjectures but don’t believe any of them. The truth is a lot more tragic than any could guess. Yet, it also opened my eyes to what a wonderful person Ramsey is, in his own quiet, few-worded way.

I’ll stop here. I mean, I didn’t even get to mention the evil chicken, the possible sighting of Nessie, what triggered Nina’s contractions to go from 0 to 60, the storm, what happens with the books – see what I mean? This novel is amazing – it’s like a whole world and I felt like I was living it with Zoe. I don’t know if it’s because of the skill and talent of the narrator bringing Ms. Colgan’s words to life or what, but if readers haven’t discovered this heartwarming tale, and are fans of stories that engage a reader on a deeper level, then this book is a must read. Oh, and the HEA is as unusual as Zoe’s life. I couldn’t figure out if it was really a happy ever after or a happily for now. I guess you’ll have to read it and decide for yourself. It does satisfy though because it wraps up with a surprising twist that bodes well for all the people I’ve come to care about.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »