Feasted On: The Holley Sisters of Thornthwaite Series, Book 1 | #BookReview @katehewitt1

- This was an ARC Read -
Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition & Paperback
File Size: 3703 KB | Paperback Print Length: 180 Pages
Publication Date: October 12, 2017 | Language: English
Publisher: Tule Publishing
ASIN: B074199G9Z | ISBN-10: 1947636553 | ISBN-13: 978-1947636552
Main Genre(s): Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format Jess Read This Novel In: eBook - MOBI File
Jess Obtained This Book Through: NetGalley

"A Vicarage Christmas" [The Holley Sisters of Thornthwaite Series, Book 1] by Kate Hewitt

Author's Book Description : Welcome to Thornwaite, a quaint village tucked up in England’s beautiful but rainy Lake District… where homecomings happen and surprises are in store for the four Holley sisters...

Anna Holley, the third of four sisters, has always felt a little bit forgotten. A family tragedy when she was a child had her retreating deep into shyness, and social anxiety kept her on the fringes of the cozy chaos of the busy vicarage.

After several years away from home, Anna returns for Christmas... and an important announcement from her father. As much as she once loved the village, coming back is hard and puts Anna's social capabilities to the test.

Avoiding her sisters’ bossy questions, she heads out to the local pub one night, and meets a handsome stranger nursing a pint. Somehow, unburdened by expectations, Simon seems like the perfect person to spill all her secrets to—including a hopeless, long-held crush on her sister’s boyfriend. Confident she’ll never see him again, Anna returns home... only to discover the next day that Simon is actually her father’s new curate!

Anna is beyond mortified, but Simon won’t let her retreat into her usual shyness—and for once Anna is forced to confront the past, and all the fears and feelings she’d tried so long to hide. But with his own heartache that needs to heal, can Simon help Anna to make this the most magical Christmas either of them have known?

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! Ever since a tragic accident took place when Anna was young, she has struggled with crippling anxiety and stuttering issues. So much so that she has tried her best, in various ways, to hide it from everyone, even though she hasn’t always been successful. She has stayed away from her close-knit hometown for the past three years because of her issues. However, at her parent’s request, she returns home for the Christmas holidays, and into a world of drama that begins the day she arrives home. That happens to also be the day that she meets Simon, a man who has just moved to her hometown, who she spills a majority of her secrets too. Yet, Simon doesn’t stay a stranger for long, which leads Anna into a future she had never dreamed for herself ... but is it the better path for her or will it come at another cost?

This novel was not what I was expecting.

Disappointmentville: Christmas Mountain Series, Book 1 | #BookReview #CiaraKnight

- This was an ARC Read -
Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition & Paperback
File Size: 2627 KB | Paperback Print Length: 168 Pages
Publication Date: October 23, 2017 | Language: English
Publisher: Self-Published
ASIN: B076C8V8QK | ISBN-10: 1688285016 | ISBN-13: 978-1688285019
Main Genre(s): Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format Jess Read This Novel In: eBook - MOBI File
Jess Obtained This Book Through: NetGalley

"Homecoming for Christmas" [Christmas Mountain Series, Book 1] by Ciara Knight
(Originally published as "Homecoming in Christmas Falls" Book 1 of Return to Christmas Falls Series which is what it was called when this reviewer read it.)

Author's Book Description : Eight years after fleeing Christmas Mountain because of a high school prank gone wrong, Ashley Brooks receives a mysterious letter from her mentor asking her to come home. She arrives to face all she left behind—her family, her friends, and the rich boy she’d loved who would never date the girl from the wrong side of town.

Brent Donnelly, high school jock, brainiac, and dutiful son did everything right until the day Ashley returns to Christmas Mountain. With one look at the girl who got away he questions all his life choices, including following in his father’s footsteps in the family business.

Faced with a potentially devastating decline of tourism in their hometown, Brent and Ashley must work together to save the magic of their town, but when Ashley discovers he still has feelings for her best friend she must finally face the real reason she left Christmas Mountain—to try to heal her broken heart.

My Book Review : 2 out of 5 stars. The day of Ash’s (Ashley) high school graduation, she and her best group of friends pull a prank that lands them in jail. That incident changes her life drastically as she moves away from home without telling anyone, but her parents, the following morning and has stayed away from her hometown ever since. Now about eight years later, she returns home at the request of her high school mentor and in the process pick up the pieces of past relationships with friends and more. Yet, will she be able to reconcile with her friend and longtime crush, Brent, or will their insecurities and other people keep them apart for good?

I had been drawn into this novel’s book description from the beginning but what sealed me reading it was when I was looking for a novel to read for the 12 Days of Cozmas read-a-thon. And at first glance I thought this novel was perfect for me.

Disappointmentville: Pinecraft Homecomings Series, Book 1 | #BookReview #CherylWilliford

Format Jess Read This Novel In: Mass Market Paperback
Mass Market Paperback Print Length: 282 Pages
Publication Date: April 1, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0-373-89920-3 | Language: English
Publisher: Harlequin : Love Inspired
Genre: Amish Romance, Contemporary Romance, Christian Romance
Jess Obtained This Book Through: My Aunt Pam's Bookshelf located at my Parent's House

"Her Secret Amish Child" [Pinecraft Homecomings Series, Book 1] by Cheryl Williford

Author's Book Description : An Amish Second Chance

Newly widowed Lizbeth Mullet has a secret: she's never told anyone the true identity of her son's father. Not even now that she's come home to Pinecraft and the man in question is her new landlord. Fredrik Lapp may not know Benuel is his son, but the two soon form an unmistakable bond. And seeing Fredrik again stirs feelings Lizbeth had worked hard to bury. With Fredrick's affections resurfacing, too, the burden of Lizbeth's secret is only getting heavier. Revealing the truth could mean a lifetime of happiness together—or the loss of her second chance at forever.

My Book Review : 2 out of 5 stars. Lizbeth is an Amish widow who is escaping her life in Ohio and moving back to where she grew up in Pinecraft, Florida. While establishing herself back into the community she grew up her life takes a sudden twist when she learns that her feelings for Fredrik (her older brother’s best friend) is still there. But if they get to close her big secret will be exposed so would it all be worth the heartache?

This novel ... oh this novel ...

Made the Grade: It Must Be Christmas: Three Holiday Stories by Jennifer Crusie, Donna Alward, & Mandy Baxter | #BookReview @JennyCrusie @DonnaAlward @MandyJBaxter

- This was an ARC Read -
Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition & Paperback
File Size: 903 KB | Mass Market Paperback Print Length: 384 Pages
Publication Date: October 4, 2016 | Language: English
Publisher: St. Martin's Press : Paperbacks
ASIN: B01CXON5TS | ISBN-10: 1250106370 | ISBN-13: 978-1250106377
Main Genre(s): Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romance Anthologies
Format Jess Read This Novel In: eBook - MOBI File
Jess Obtained This Book Through: NetGalley

"It Must Be Christmas: Three Holiday Stories" by Jennifer Crusie, Donna Alward, & Mandy Baxter

Author's Book Description : Previously published stories from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie, Mandy Baxter, and Donna Alward, these hot romantic stories share the spirit of love this season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when love is in the cold and frosty air―and desire reaches the boiling point...

Hot Toy
From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie comes a hilarious, sexy story about a determined shopper who grabs the last action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the arms of a sexy secret agent. Mayhem under the mistletoe ensues. Business as usual this Christmas season...right?

Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher
Nate wants to stay away from all the women who want his money in Mandy Baxter’s story set deep in the heart of Texas. But when gorgeous do-gooder Chloe Benson comes knocking at his door―in search of funds for her charity―Nate can’t ignore the passion he feels for her. Maybe love is priceless after all?

Christmas at Seashell Cottage
’Tis the season in Jewell Cove when local doctor Charlie Yang finds her quiet, steady life disrupted by both an abandoned baby in the nativity manger and ex-SEAL Dave Ricker. Are these turn of events too good to be true? Or is Christmas working its magic―for real?

My Book Review : For this full book I give it 3.25 out of 5 stars! Though I couldn't get into all of the novels that were included in this anthology, what I did read I enjoyed! All three are sweet contemporary small town romances that I recommend to those who are interested in that style of book genres.

Made the Grade: Jewell Cove Series, Book 1.5 | #BookReview @DonnaAlward

- This was an ARC Read / Jess read this novella within an anthology novel called "It Must Be Christmas: Three Holiday Stories." -
Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1740 KB | Print Length: 198 Pages
Publication Date: October 7, 2014 | Language: English
Publisher: St. Martin's Press : Paperbacks | ASIN: B00L73JQNQ
Main Genre(s): Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance, Quick Read
Format Jess Read This Novel In: eBook - MOBI File
Jess Obtained This Book Through: NetGalley

"Christmas at Seashell Cottage" [Jewell Cove Series, Book 1.5] by Donna Alward

Author's Book Description : It's Christmas in Jewell Cove...

And local doctor Charlie Yang finds her quiet, steady life disrupted by both an abandoned baby in the nativity manger, and a real-life mystery man. Sure, she's always wanted a family of her own, but she didn't imagine it coming from a baby that wasn't hers and a man who was more interested in living day by day than making long-term plans.

Ex-SEAL Dave Ricker hadn't planned on making Jewell Cove his forever home, but the talented and　tender-hearted Charlie has him reconsidering his position on settling down. Can a beautiful woman, adorable baby and a small-town full of holiday spirit change his mind for good?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars, brought together because of unforeseen circumstances Dave (David) and Charlie (Charlene) have an immediate connection but will it be able to grow into an everlasting relationship or just the "fling" that they agreed too?

This was a charming novel that hooked me from the time Charlie tried to "use baby Jesus" as a weapon. 😂

My #BookTube Thank You to Life Is A Page Turner | @LifeIsAPageTurn

India (over at Life Is A Page Turner) mentions my BookTube account and my Twitter account in her video! SO .. this is a post showing off that video and giving you a meet-and-greet of India's BookTube Account.

Made the Grade: Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie | #BookReview @JennyCrusie

- This was an ARC Read / Jess read this novella within an anthology novel called "It Must Be Christmas: Three Holiday Stories." -
Available Formats through Amazon: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1130 KB | Print Length: 83 Pages
Publication Date: October 13, 2015 | Language: English
Publisher: St. Martin's Press : Paperbacks | ASIN: B012N98XPE
Main Genre(s): Holiday Romance, Contemporary Romance, Quick Read/Short Story
Format Jess Read This Novel In: eBook - MOBI File
Jess Obtained This Book Through: NetGalley

"Hot Toy" by Jennifer Crusie

Author's Book Description : Previously published in the anthology "Santa, Baby," "HOT TOY" is now available as a standalone e-story for the first time!

Mayhem ensues under the mistletoe as a determined shopper grabs the very last hot toy action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the middle of a real-life spy game and in the arms of a sexy secret agent...

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars! On Christmas Eve, Trudy is out at an older toy store in hopes of finding the “IT” toy for boys that year. But of course because of it BEING Christmas Eve she doesn’t find it. She only finds last year’s model, yet that throws her life into a chaos-filled adventure!

This novella was not what I was expecting, yet I enjoyed its action-packed plot and Trudy’s quick wit.