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Merissa (13169 KP) rated Christmas Wish List (Hartbridge Christmas #2) in Books

Nov 24, 2021 (Updated Jul 10, 2023)  
Christmas Wish List (Hartbridge Christmas #2)
Christmas Wish List (Hartbridge Christmas #2)
N.R. Walker | 2021 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST is the second book in the Hartbridge Christmas series, and we land right back in the Hallmark Town, complete with previously known characters, as well as new ones.

Jayden has become a drifter, always working but living temporarily, and is looking for somewhere to call home. Cass has returned home and is determined to make his new business venture a success. The sparks are there, but will Jayden stay?

If book one was low angst, then this one is medium. Jayden doesn't automatically make the leap as Hamish did, and the idea of falling in love terrifies him. But Cass has a sweetness about him that is hard to resist. I loved how this was a slow burn, but high on the romance and the getting-to-know-you parts. Jayden made no attempt to hide his attraction, and seeing Cass react was the best part.

Another Christmas story, full of warm fuzzies, that makes you want to visit. The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony sounded wonderful, and I wanted to be there, especially for some of that brisket!

A great addition to the series that made me smile and fill up in equal measure. The only downside is I have to wait a year for the next one. Absolutely brilliant and 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 24, 2021
  
Coconut Layer Cake Murder
Coconut Layer Cake Murder
Joanne Fluke | 2020 | Mystery
5
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Clearing Lonnie
Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar, has been ordered to rest – it came straight from Doc himself. But a trip to California to help a friend pack up is cut short when Hannah’s younger sister, Michelle, calls in a panic. There’s been another murder in Lake Eden, and Michelle’s boyfriend, Lonnie, is the prime suspect. After a night out with friends, Lonnie took a drunk woman home only to pass out on her couch. The next morning, he wakes up to find her dead in her bedroom with no memory of anything after he passed out. Since Lonnie is a detective with the police department, most of them can’t investigate since they are friends with the suspect. Naturally, Hannah immediately flies home, but can she figure out who is the killer?

If you haven’t read the last few books, be aware this one spoils some pretty major things by necessity since they had a major impact on Hannah’s life. Those up to date on the series will be happy to learn we get an answer to the cliffhanger from the last book early on. This book is a return to the status quo of a few entries ago. After a slow start, the pacing gets better once Hannah returns home. There is still plenty of talk about cooking, however, but we get clues and red herrings until we reach the climax. The characters are all here, and I enjoyed seeing them, but there is little in the way of actual character development. That includes the love triangle, which is back in play here. We get another nineteen recipes, and I think I gained weight reading about them. They certainly sound delicious. Fans who have stuck with this series will enjoy this outing. If you are new, don’t jump in here but go back to the beginning to see why we love these characters.
  
A Song of Home is the third novel in the Pearl Spence series In this novel we find Pearl living in Bliss with her father and Ray, leaving the thoughts of Red River Oklahoma and her mama far behind her.
Pearl settles into a new routine of school, helping Aunt Carrie at the farm, hanging out with Ray or getting lost in a good book and then Opal shows her how to dance. But things change when Mama comes home unexpectedly and pregnant! It isn’t the happy return that Pearl had wished for.
This is a delightful story of the great depression and the swing era. In this novel deals with a couple of issues; one is forgiveness and the other is the racial conflict that was happening at that time.
This book teaches us to reach out with love and to treat others as we would want to be treated; whether we are poor, the color of our skin or the choices we have made in life.
The author has an ability to bring the characters to life and make you feel like you are right there amongst the characters. Ms. Finkbeiner has done a brilliant job bringing the characters to life. I love how she writes the story through Pearl's eyes and makes us realize that our actions have consequences, our children watch what we do and how we react.
A very good book and a great ending to this series. This novel can be read alone by itself, but I highly recommend that the whole series be read.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
  
It's county fair time in Rose Pedal, Texas, and stay at home dad Deuce Winters is helping with the 4H booth fundraiser. That's how he stumbles upon the body of George Spellman in the freezer. George was the grounds keeper of the fair and a nice guy. Who wanted him dead?

I love these characters and the humor in the series, so it is always nice to visit them. I didn't think the plot was quite as twisty as previous entries and I didn't care for the environmental lecture, but both of these were minor complaints. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-father-knows-death-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
15 Minutes (A Maizie Albright Star Detective Mystery, #1)
15 Minutes (A Maizie Albright Star Detective Mystery, #1)
Larissa Reinhart | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Celebrity gossip fans, reality TV fans, and of course mystery fans are going to love Maizie Albright. She is determined, quirky, and lots of fun. A former child actor who played a detective on TV, Maisie returns home to Black Pine, Georgia seeking an apprenticeship with a real private investigator. Will Maisie be able to convince her unwilling mentor that she’s more than a hollywood has-been? Full of humor and romance, this is a great start to a new series.

Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/01/26/15-minutes-by-larissa-reinhart-blog-tour-giveaway/">The Book's the Thing</a>

<i>I was provided with a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.</i>
  
MT
Me Too (The Bandy Papers, #5)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fifth entry in [a:Donald Jack|442728|Donald Jack|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s 'Bandy Papers', this is set back in Bandy's home country of Canada, prohibition era (so between World War 1 and World War 2), and sees the titular hero(?) getting involved in rum-running to the States before running for (and winning a seat in) parliament.

While perhaps not as consistently funny as the earlier entries in the series (maybe because of the subject matter of Candian politics? Maybe because that's foreign (forgive the pun) to us Europeans?), this still has its moments where it near made me laugh out loud - as such, this perhaps not the best choice to read when you're on a bus packed full of people!
  
PS
Perilous Shield (The Lost Stars, #2)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second part of Jack Campbell's <i>The Lost Stars</i> series, this picks up directly from the end of the previous ([b:The Lost Stars Tarnished Knight|13542832|The Lost Stars Tarnished Knight (Lost Stars, #1)|Jack Campbell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1338076136s/13542832.jpg|19060811]), with Midway in imminent danger of being (re)invaded by the Syndicates.

This time around, however, Black Jack is involved in the story, albeit only peripherally, as he arrives in the system on his way home in time to aid in the defense of the planet.

Like the previous novel(s), this is an enjoyable read from start to finish, but I wouldn't advise diving in here without first reading any of the previous.