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Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated The Girl Who Saved Christmas in Books
Jun 14, 2018
The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig is a very charming story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is the story of Amelia Wishart, who is the first child ever to receive a gift from Father Christmas. She never loses hope throughout the misery she encounters in her very young life and however much she would like to stop believing in magic and goodness, she never fully does. Her hope made that first visit possible, and, just a couple of years later, her hope might just save Christmas itself.
The story takes place in two locations that couldn't be more different: Elfhelm, where it is clean and only ever gets as cold as you want it to be, and in 1841 London, where it is dirty, cold and unfriendly place to orphans.
The characters in the story are quite fun. Amelia and Father Christmas both have strong personalities with a firm determination to get things done. Mr. Creeper is just as his name predicts, he is creepy and not a nice man at all. The guest appearances of a ruling head of state and a famous author are perfect. One passage was hilarious and it took me several minutes to sop laughing before I could continue reading. I was amused.
I recommend this book for read-a-loud's to children and for middle grade readers.
I received this book from NetGalley via Random House Children's Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in two locations that couldn't be more different: Elfhelm, where it is clean and only ever gets as cold as you want it to be, and in 1841 London, where it is dirty, cold and unfriendly place to orphans.
The characters in the story are quite fun. Amelia and Father Christmas both have strong personalities with a firm determination to get things done. Mr. Creeper is just as his name predicts, he is creepy and not a nice man at all. The guest appearances of a ruling head of state and a famous author are perfect. One passage was hilarious and it took me several minutes to sop laughing before I could continue reading. I was amused.
I recommend this book for read-a-loud's to children and for middle grade readers.
I received this book from NetGalley via Random House Children's Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.
Sam (74 KP) rated Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop in Books
Mar 27, 2019
This one way okay. It’s an acceptable Christmas romance, but like I said before, I’m a bit younger than the type of reader this is aimed for so I may be the wrong person to be reviewing this.
It was quite entertaining and it did manage to keep me hooked through the majority of the book. However, I did end up skimming the final quarter just because I was getting bored of the plot and was ready to move onto a new book.
I think that this has the prospect to be a really good book, but I’m just in the wrong age group to manage to relate to a lot of it.
It was quite entertaining and it did manage to keep me hooked through the majority of the book. However, I did end up skimming the final quarter just because I was getting bored of the plot and was ready to move onto a new book.
I think that this has the prospect to be a really good book, but I’m just in the wrong age group to manage to relate to a lot of it.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated A Wreath of Snow in Books
Feb 15, 2018
My I love this. It really keeps the holiday spirt a live. It is centered around Christmas season. Something happen about dozen years that though both Gordon and Margret. I love this book because it bring in the historical fiction with a romance that blooms though out the book.
The Campbell's do not realize that they hold a grudge towards someone. There son is hiding something as well about this injury. Though it all things get cleared up and worked though since there train was abandon because of snow and something else.
If you enjoy historical fiction or looking for one during the holiday season. This one is quite a pick and you get two in one with one.
The Campbell's do not realize that they hold a grudge towards someone. There son is hiding something as well about this injury. Though it all things get cleared up and worked though since there train was abandon because of snow and something else.
If you enjoy historical fiction or looking for one during the holiday season. This one is quite a pick and you get two in one with one.
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated The Grinch (2018) in Movies
Dec 19, 2018
Enjoyable Movie
I'm not usually a fan of remakes, but this one was pretty good. I enjoyed see old characters that I know and love drawn in a modern style. The visuals in this movie were great. It made me wish I could step into the movie, and celebrate Christmas with them.
Despite the visuals this is never going to be my favorite version. It lacks a lot of the charm the original cartoon has, and the Grinch in the new version isn't as good as the one from the live action movie. Overall I think the biggest thing hurting this film is that it had way to much to live up to.
Despite the visuals this is never going to be my favorite version. It lacks a lot of the charm the original cartoon has, and the Grinch in the new version isn't as good as the one from the live action movie. Overall I think the biggest thing hurting this film is that it had way to much to live up to.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2460 KP) rated Yule Log Murder in Books
Nov 6, 2018
Put on a Yule Log and Curl Up with this Novella Collection
This book contains three Christmas mystery novellas by three different mystery authors featuring their main sleuths. Up first is the title story by Leslie Meier as Lucy Stone tries to figure out how a young woman died on the set of a movie being filmed in town. Next comes "Death by Yule Log" by Lee Hollis. In this story, Hayley Powell meets her daughter's new boyfriend. While she is less than impressed with him, she begins to poke around when he is accused of murder. Finally comes "Logged On" by Barbara Ross. Christmas is approaching, and Julia Snowden is determined to make a great yule log to impress her boyfriend's family. She's so desperate she gets help from Mrs. St. Onge, an unpleasant neighbor everyone agrees makes the best yule log cakes around. Only, something seems off. Can Julia figure out what is going on?
Fans of any of these authors will want to pick up this book. All three feature strong mysteries. Each story is around 100 pages, yet still feature some good twists and surprises that kept the pages flying. I did find the characters in the Lucy Stone story annoying, but that is my only complaint with the book. I don't read Lee Hollis, but I am tempted to with how much I enjoyed the story here. I love Barbara Ross's books, so it was fabulous to get another story with them. You'll get plenty of Christmas spirit while reading this book, and each author includes some recipes you can make after you've finished the book, including three different recipes for yule logs.
Fans of any of these authors will want to pick up this book. All three feature strong mysteries. Each story is around 100 pages, yet still feature some good twists and surprises that kept the pages flying. I did find the characters in the Lucy Stone story annoying, but that is my only complaint with the book. I don't read Lee Hollis, but I am tempted to with how much I enjoyed the story here. I love Barbara Ross's books, so it was fabulous to get another story with them. You'll get plenty of Christmas spirit while reading this book, and each author includes some recipes you can make after you've finished the book, including three different recipes for yule logs.
The Gift of the Magpie
8.0
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The 28th book and the seventh Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series, The Gift of the Magpie...
Death at Holly Lodge
9.0
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T’was the weeks before Christmas, and Daisy nabs a new case, when a missing man is found ...
Humbug: Scrooge Before the Ghosts
8.0
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A Christmas Carol shows us one terrible day in Ebenezer Scrooge’s life, but have you ever wondered...
Historical MM Forbidden Love
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2460 KP) rated The Dangers of Candy Canes in Books
Dec 9, 2023
Deadly Slip While Decorating
When one of Jaine Austen's clients, Seymour Fiedler of Fiedler on the Roof Roofers, is sued for wrongful death, he hires Jaine to put down her pen and solve the crime. Seems that Garth Jankin fell off his recently reroofed house while decorating for his neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. Since Garth had numerous enemies, Jaine quickly decides that the tiles must have been loosened. But who would do something like that?
As with the books, this story is very funny. Jaine can't resist temptation, and spends time talking about her need to lose weight while eating Christmas candy. A sub-plot about Jaine volunteering with a group that mentors underprivileged girls almost slows the story down at times. In fact, it makes the ultimate climax seem a little abrupt. But Jaine is a charming character and I love spending time with her. The other characters are interesting as well. And several red herrings keep this story interesting and fun until the end.
NOTE: This story was originally released as part of the anthology Candy Cane Murder. If you’ve already read that book, you don’t need to get this story a second time.
As with the books, this story is very funny. Jaine can't resist temptation, and spends time talking about her need to lose weight while eating Christmas candy. A sub-plot about Jaine volunteering with a group that mentors underprivileged girls almost slows the story down at times. In fact, it makes the ultimate climax seem a little abrupt. But Jaine is a charming character and I love spending time with her. The other characters are interesting as well. And several red herrings keep this story interesting and fun until the end.
NOTE: This story was originally released as part of the anthology Candy Cane Murder. If you’ve already read that book, you don’t need to get this story a second time.