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The Viscounts's Christmas Temptation
The Viscounts's Christmas Temptation
Erica Ridley | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
☆☆☆☆

– Character/ Story Development
X Enjoyed Reading/ Would Reread
X Plot
X Grammatical Errors
X Overall Story

Review: This little novel is what every feminist wants to see in a romance book. My wittle feminist heart was so blown away with the story line and how the roles were kind of reversed. Lady Amelia Pembroke is in charge and running her household, single and getting to the ripe ole age of being too old to be appealing to any man. Yes, this is set back in the early 1800’s so not quite 100% a feminist novel. But there are many parts that are!

I’ve never really been a fan of historical romances but The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation has really brought about a new love for a new genre! This novel was short, simple, and all around sweet. I was left wanting more and more with each turn of the page and I fell in love with Lord Sheffield every darn time he came into the picture. He stole my heart just as fast as he stole Lady Amelia’s.

The only thing that I have against this cheesy novel, is that there wasn’t really any story or character development/ background. But it also worked really well for this story.

Reasons why I rated it 4 stars:
1. No character development
2. Story was amazing and easy to get into.
3. Background on the characters was non-existent.
4. I enjoyed the romance between the main two characters.
5. The novel had a bit of a feminist feel to it, which is really nice to see in this romance style.

“We should go,” he said gruffly, his face inscrutable.

“Why?” Her heartbeat thundered. She gripped his arms tight to keep herself from twining her own about his neck.

He lowered his mouth to her ear, brushing it with a feather-soft kiss. “It isn’t safe.”

Her answering shiver had nothing to do with the cold. She had never stood so close to any man, had never fought the urge to press herself even closer.

“What could happen?” she whispered.

He cupped her face in his hands. “Anything.”
  
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Merissa (12552 KP) created a post

Nov 5, 2021  
SURPRISE! Forever Wilde in Aster Valley, an all new MM romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Lennox is coming November 16th and we have the gorgeous cover!

Reserve your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mAKhZU
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/foreverwilde
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3mFtzIY

When Miller Hobbs finds himself on a winter vacation in Colorado with the giant, exceedingly loud, Marian and Wilde families, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. He’s not really a Marian or a Wilde despite having DNA ties to both.

So every morning before the rest of the family wakes up and fills Rockley Lodge with holiday merriment (and noise), he escapes to the quaint downtown of Aster Valley where he spies a man through the bakery window kneading dough and dancing to music only he can hear. Miller is entranced by the dancing baker, and when Darius looks up and catches Miller staring, the interest suddenly goes both ways.

Can two strangers find love among the quaint chaos of an Aster Valley Christmas? Even if it includes the two most overwhelming and meddling families vying for the title of greatest matchmakers of all time?

#Contemporary
#MM
#Seasonal
#Romance
     
Snowbody Loves Me (Christmas Falls #2)
Snowbody Loves Me (Christmas Falls #2)
Jacki James | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SNOWBODY LOVES ME is the second book in the multi-author seasonal series, Christmas Falls. You don't have to have read book one to get this one, but you're missing out on a brilliant story.

Arlo is the owner of one of the B&Bs and Emerson is the one lucky enough to find a spare room when everywhere is fully booked up. It is insta-lust, quickly followed by insta-love. To be fair, they don't act upon the insta-lust immediately with neither of them sure what is going on or how long Emerson will be staying.

There are lots of pluses for this book, but I do wish they would have spoken a little more about the big things. I know it can be scary to put yourself out there, but surely getting a solid answer is better than a lifetime of uncertainty.

This was a fun, low-angst, seasonal romance set in a town I am coming to love. Definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 13, 2023
  
This set of short stories were very interesting to read and I like that they were all different in there own way, with fantasy and LGBTQ elements. I am fairly new to young adult so many of these authors I haven't read before but I will be delving into some of their works in 2016.

I was a little let down with this collection of short stories, there has been so much buzz going around for this book. I felt that the stories were too short and that you didn't really build enough connection with the characters to feel the warm fuzzy feeling of romance.

I will try to put a brief synopsis of each story but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

Midnights by Rainbow Rowell is a story about Mags and Noel who have been friends over the past 4-5 years and it is told on every New Years eve and gradually they grow closer every year to more than just friends. 3 stars. Now everyone should know that I am a fan of Rainbow Rowell, but for me she is better at longer novels with the slow burn of a romance, for me this was much too short and I didn't feel the connection with the characters.

The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link is a fantasy love story (to be honest I can't remember too much about this) 2 stars. It was ok, but things weren't explained enough.

Angels in the snow by Matt de la Pena is about a guy called Shy and he is cat sitting for his boss, when he gets a knock on the door from a women called Hayley , she has problems in her flat and Shy is the only guy to help out.3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, the characters were super cute, the romance was cute and a lovely short story.

Polaris is where you'll find me by Jenny Han is a about Natalie, she was abandoned as a baby, found and adopted by Santa, she grows up in the North Pole. Love between her and an elf develops. 3.5 stars This was super cute and reminded me of the film Elf.

It's a yuletide miracle Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins was another cute story of Marigold buying a Christmas tree just to speak to a guy. 3.5 stars.I don't know how many times I am going to say cute but this is what it was.

Your Temporary Santa is a LGTBQ story, which is great to see in this mix of stories, however it wasn't for me 2 stars.

Krampuslauf by Holly Black has elements of fantasy, however I didn't like the story for me it felt a bit juvenile. 1.5 stars

What the hell have you done, Sophie Roth, I loved this story, it has to be my favorite in the book, it's just a basic romance story but written and developed really well. 4 stars.

Beer buckets and baby Jesus by Myra McEntire, Vaughn Hatcher is the local prankster, however one day he gets arrested but saved by the local priest in exchange for community service, there he meets the girl he has been seeking attention. 2 stars

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White was a really cool story, a girl hating her family, the town she lives in and the people until they get a new chef in the kitchen of the diner that her mum owns and somehow everything starts to become clearer. 3.5 stars This was an enjoyable read.

Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter was a cute story of a girl trying to escape her life and swaps plane tickets with an Icelandic girl and pretends to be her when she meets her destination. 3.5 Stars

The girl who woke the dreamer by Laini Taylor is a fantasy story, which starts off very sad and gripping, but I wasn't sure about the ending. It was very strange. 2 stars

I know that Stephanie Perkins has another collection of short stories coming out in 2016 and will be interested in reading them aswell

Overall I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars
  
I have read other books by Ms. Mentink and I have loved them. So, I was excited to read my second book centered around Christmas and that it was hers. Her books instantly grab you, and keep you hooked until the very last page.

Being married to my own cowboy, I tend to fall hard for the books with cowboys in them. Barrett's character was no exception. I loved every bit of his widowed self and found myself wishing I was in Shelby's shoes on more than one instant! Watching him be so protective of Shelby, even after he found the truth out, was absolutely heartwarming.

The circumstances in the book, the intense, breathtaking suspense that Ms. Mentink weaves through out this story really round out this romance novel. Ms. Mentink threads inspirational messages through out the story, showing her characters relying on God and leaving the reader thinking about the story long after the final page is read.

Ms. Mentink is well deserving of 4 stars and hats off. This book is not that long and easily read in one sitting. I definitely recommend it to all who love a twisting, turning, edge of your seat suspense novel. Well done, Ms. Mentink! Can't wait til the next one!

*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours and the author and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
  
Cami Richardson is good at chasing away the men in her life: first Gavin Kinkaid, a former classmate she’d helped to bully, and later, her husband who left her widowed and a single mom. Now all she wants is to bring a smile back to her eight-year-old son. What she doesn’t expect is for Gavin to become her new neighbor.

Gavin wants to settle down after serving in the Air Force and mend the separation between him and his dad. What he didn’t count on is his changing feelings when he sees Cami as a kind woman instead of his former adversary.

When Cami’s son blindsides them both during the Christmas season, is their reunion at risk or will it grow stronger?



My Thoughts: A wonderful book just in time for the holidays! This book was an enjoyable read that is full of many lessons. This novel is not only about family, forgiveness and letting go, but also about bullying and what it can create. Bullying, name calling is something I believe we have all faced at one time in our lives. Beautifully written with a flowing storyline that keeps the reader interested.


The characters are interesting, down to earth and easy to relate to. This is an enjoyable romance novel with lessons to learn that the reader can read during the holiday season or any time of the year! I look forward to reading more from Elaine Stock.
  
Sparrow
Sparrow
L. J. Shen | 2016 | Contemporary, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've had this one on my Kindle for a few years now, putting it off for one reason or another so it's about time I read it.

This starts with Troy Brennan going to church confessional to kill the priest who gave private information to someone who then went and killed Troy's dad. Fast forward three years and we meet Sparrow who is suddenly finding herself marrying Troy but doesn't know why and isn't happy about it.

When I decided to read this, it hadn't registered with me that it was going to be a little dark. It isn't that bad, really. We see Troy kill the priest at the beginning but other than that he doesn't really do anything that bad. It's just it's Christmas and reading something like this at this time of the year feels a little wrong - and I think after the "All for the Game" trilogy I read that I'm done for Dark books for the rest of the year.

I didn't entirely understand the romance in this one, either. Half the time Troy wasn't even interested in her and she was pretty much just a way for him to have sex so I wasn't really feeling it. Not even towards the end when everything came out and they mellowed towards the other. Maybe as I mentioned above, I just wasn't in the mood.

This is something like my sixth or seventh book by the author but it isn't my favourite.
  
Sparrow
Sparrow
L.J. Shen | 2016
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've had this one on my Kindle for a few years now, putting it off for one reason or another so it's about time I read it.

This starts with Troy Brennan going to church confessional to kill the priest who gave private information to someone who then went and killed Troy's dad. Fast forward three years and we meet Sparrow who is suddenly finding herself marrying Troy but doesn't know why and isn't happy about it.

When I decided to read this, it hadn't registered with me that it was going to be a little dark. It isn't that bad, really. We see Troy kill the priest at the beginning but other than that he doesn't really do anything that bad. It's just it's Christmas and reading something like this at this time of the year feels a little wrong - and I think after the "All for the Game" trilogy I read that I'm done for Dark books for the rest of the year.

I didn't entirely understand the romance in this one, either. Half the time Troy wasn't even interested in her and she was pretty much just a way for him to have sex so I wasn't really feeling it. Not even towards the end when everything came out and they mellowed towards the other. Maybe as I mentioned above, I just wasn't in the mood.

This is something like my sixth or seventh book by the author but it isn't my favourite.