Tag: Christmas books

REVIEW: Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost

REVIEW: Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After three consecutive Christmases with a murder, the town of Mistletoe is afraid their history will impact holiday tourism. So the mayor convinces the town and business owners to tighten their belts a little so they can invite a pricey ballet troupe to town to perform The Nutcracker.

But when the star dancer is found dead on a float during the town’s holiday parade, it seems Mistletoe’s efforts to distance themselves from their deadly past were in vain.

Review

This was a fun holiday adventure, and I think series fans – and newcomers – can enjoy it.

For the first half to two-thirds, I felt like the quaint town and holiday activities were seriously overshadowing the mystery. And I actually liked it – Mistletoe is so fun! And Holly’s family and friends are fantastic. But when I noticed the mystery bits felt like an intrusion on the holiday story, I realized things were a bit out of balance.

All of the fun holiday details will amuse readers as long as they aren’t too attached to digging into a mystery. I don’t feel like the primary case gives readers enough details to care about the victim or about finding a solution. The secondary mystery was a little more satisfying. I figured out a good portion of the things on my own, which always feels satisfying.

Series fans will want to see Evan and Holly move toward their wedding. And I don’t think this is too insider-y to keep newcomers from starting here. This will definitely put readers in a Christmas mood.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Pup and Dragon: How to Catch an Elf by Alice Walstead and Paul Gill

REVIEW: Pup and Dragon: How to Catch an Elf by Alice Walstead and Paul Gill

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Dragon has never heard of Santa, and last year he hibernated through Christmas. But he’s all in on helping his best friend, Pup, catch a Christmas Elf.

Review

I am always on the hunt for some good early chapter books to recommend to parents and kids for those who are starting to read on their own. This is the first book in a new series, and it’s in a graphic novel format that I think kids will like.

This story is cute! The illustrations are fun and colorful. The scenarios are silly and zany. I think kids will enjoy these two friends and their wacky adventures in their quest to catch a Christmas elf.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

At the Tara Foundation Christmas party, one of their clients, Derek Moore, is arrested for murder. Derek adopted two dogs from the Tara Foundation – something that gets Andy Carpenter’s legal expertise on Derek’s side. Andy’s also curious because the police call Derek by a completely different name when they arrest him.

Derek was in witness protection because he gave testimony about two gang members for a murder they committed. But now,  one of the gang leaders has been killed – and the evidence is piling up against Derek.

Andy believes Derek is innocent, but proving it could be beyond even his considerable skill and experience.

Review

Another great Christmas-time mystery starring Andy Carpenter. My first ever Andy Carpenter mystery was a Christmas one, and they remain some of my favorites in the whole series.

This was such a satisfying read. I really got concerned that Andy was not going to pull this off – it was a tricky case! All the pieces came together so nicely, though. And in the end I even puzzled out a couple of the reveals on my own. Always a triumphant reading experience! Andy is his usual sassy self here, which I always enjoy. And he gets key help on this case from a surprising source which was a twist I really enjoyed.

I think new readers could start with this story and not have any trouble following the mystery. I don’t know how Andy plays if you don’t already love his sarcasm – but I love it so these are a perfect fit for me. If you enjoy mysteries that are more on the legal side than a cozy (court room drama, police and private investigators, etc.), you should give this series a try. Series fans should of course pick this up to stay current. Book 29, Dog Day Afternoon, will release in the summer of 2024.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Dashing Through the Snowbirds by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Meg and her family are playing host to a group out of Canada that is working with her brother’s company. And for the most part they are a lovely, yet stressed, group. But their boss, Ian, is awful and has everyone walking on eggshells. Meg and a few other Mutant Wizards board members are hoping to dissolve the contract between Ian’s company and Mutant Wizards – both to get rid of Ian, but also to protect Rob’s company from Ian’s bad business practices. But before the board can take action, Ian is dead.

There’s no shortage of suspects, from disgruntled employees to angry clients whose lives Ian nearly ruined. But Meg is on the case. If she’s lucky, she can wrap up the investigation so the Canadians can head home before the predicted snow storm arrives.

Review

Another fun Meg Langslow mystery! This one felt a little more tame compared to the last one. The cast was a manageable size while still giving series readers some of the quirky antics we have come to love.

In addition to a solid mystery, there were several laugh-out-loud moments here that made this a lovely reading experience. I can’t wait to see what Meg and her family and friends get up to next! I recently picked up the e-book of Murder, with Peacocks, the first book in the series. It’s probably been 20 years since I last read it. I am hoping for some re-reading time over the holidays so I can pick it up and revisit the series’ beginnings. The next book in the series, Birder She Wrote, is the 33rd book in the series, and it is scheduled to release in August of 2023.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

REVIEW: Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Jack is a kringle baker at the Julemarked, a magical Christmas market where it’s always December somewhere. But his favorite spot is Milwaukee. Because that’s where she is. He doesn’t know her name, and she never remembers him from year to year. But he always remembers her.

Astra looks forward to the Christmas trips with her college friends, especially the Christmas Market. And this year, after the divorce and issues with her ex, she’s lonely and really in need of a girls trip.

Astra has met Jack before. But she never remembers. She comes to the bakery, gets kringle, and maybe chats with him. But after Christmas, he vanishes from her memory. Every year.

Except this year.

Review

I’m struggling to name how I feel about this one. I loved the kringle references. And there are some hilarious moments. Astra’s friend group and Jack’s brother we get to know are fantastic. And maybe that’s where I’m getting hung up. I think I liked the secondary characters more than the primary ones.

The premise here is clever, although I did have some logistical questions. But overall, I didn’t fall in love with Astra and Jack in a way that I wanted to. I was invested in seeing this through to the end, but the characters just didn’t click for me.

If you like your romance with a hint of the paranormal (like the author’s fantastic Kindred Spirits Supper Club, or Ashley Poston’s delightful Dead Romantics), you might give this a try. I think it’s a nice blend of holiday magic and a will-they-or-won’t-they-make-it story. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ – Good, solid, fine

REVIEW: Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

REVIEW: Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Holly barely has time to register that the nitpicky grouch of a reviewer might be in town to cause trouble before the woman ends up dead.

This is becoming an annual event – a murder around her parents’ Christmas tree farm, Reindeer Games. But this is NOT the sort of thing Holly wants to see become a tradition.

Even worse, her beloved Cookie is the prime suspect! Now, her elderly friend is at risk of jail time, customers are bailing on their reservations at the inn, and gossipy townspeople are acting like Cookie might actually have done it.

Holly knows after last time that she really should stay out of things. But her dear friend – and the family business – are at risk. She just needs to find some other suspects to get the heat off Cookie.

 

Review

I have loved this series from the start, and the latest mystery from Jacqueline Frost did not disappoint. There’s a nice balance between holiday events at the tree farm and the events of the mystery. There’s not a ton of the games and events here like in the first two books. But those of us who have been charmed by the setting of this will still have some events to enjoy.

The mystery was fun and fresh – and with a nice dose of peril as with the first two books. The solution was unexpected, and I enjoyed just watching it unfold. While the mysteries in this series are always well done, it’s the characters and the setting that bring me back. (And unlike another series I used to love, the author doesn’t forget about crafting a terrific mystery while writing lovely interactions for the characters.) I wasn’t sure we were going to get a third book when there was such a long gap after book two, so there was a bonus treat to getting to read this. I’m happy the series has picked up again – as are several friends who claimed their fan status when I posted that I was reading this.

I think the mysteries for these stand well on their own, so readers don’t have to read these in order. But I think newcomers will discover that they want to know more about the characters and the farm. So be sure to go back and pick up the first two books.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Holiday Books for 2020

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Holiday Books for 2020

Posted on by Jaymie

You may have noticed that publishers start releasing holiday books in late September, so by now readers have a lot to choose from. This year I focused my October Smorgasbord on full reviews of some of the Christmas books I have read this fall. There are SO MANY more I could have talked about. Some of these have shown up in Book News over the last few weeks while others are shown here for the first time. If you are in the market for a new holiday read, here are some of the holiday books that have released (or are yet to be released) this season!

For Kids

  

 

For Adults – Fiction

 

For Adults – Nonfiction

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 6, 2020.]

Summary

Maelyn Jones and her family spend each Christmas with her parents’ college friends and their families. Maelynn has been coming to this cabin since she was born. The rest of the “kids”in the group are her younger brother, Miles who is 17; the twins, Kennedy and Zachary who are five; Theo, who is Mae’s age, 26; and Theo’s older brother, Andrew, Mae’s lifelong crush, who is 30.

This Christmas, Mae and Theo enjoy too much eggnog and end up making out in the mudroom. Now, Mae is mortified. She doesn’t have those sorts of feelings for womanizing Theo. Thankfully she halted things before they went too far. But Theo is being a jerk about it all. And to make it even worse, Andrew saw them. He’s clueless about her crush and teases her about Theo.

The final straw to this awful 24 hour period is hearing that Theo and Andrew’s parents are going to sell the cabin. The one happy anchor in her life is going to disappear. So she asks the universe to show her what would make her happy. Right after that, the car she is in with her family is blindsided and everything goes dark.

When Mae wakes up, it is December 20th – again. She’s in the airplane on her way to the Christmas she already lived through once. As Mae’s personal Groundhog Day plays out, she’ll have to figure out what the universe is trying to show her.

Review

This is a fun holiday story with some laugh-out-loud moments. Mae and Andrew are great, especially together. They felt young at times compared to their stated ages. Maybe it’s because they are the second generation of this extended family group. I enjoyed the rest of the cast, too. The whole Christmas week at the cabin together was a fun set up for this.

The Groundhog Day story hits hard and fast, but then it almost disappears. Mae has 2 false starts at her do-over, but on the third it shifts from more do-overs to just anxiety about a reset coming and losing the progress she has made. It felt a little off balance.

The ending was good, and I enjoyed the epilogue that ties everything together in a satisfying way. If you enjoy the author’s other work or are looking for a Christmas romance, give this one a try. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+, references to tarot readings)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 13, 2020.]

Summary

Leo Ricci drives a New York City cab and also is the super of the building where he lives. He’s raising his eleven-year-old sister, Gabby. His neighbor and cousin-in-law, Dani, is a huge help as he feels out of his league almost all of the time.

Her Royal Highness Marie Joséphine Annagret Elana, Princess of Eldovia, is in New York to speak at the United Nations about the refugee crisis and then to handle some negotiations with American businesses, one in particular. Failing to fix the relationship between Eldovia and the businessman will be devastating to her country. And she’s not sure how much more of her father’s disapproval she can take.

Leo and Maria meet when she gets in his cab. His sister is gaga over meeting a real life princess. And Leo’s always had a thing for rescuing damsels in distress. He agrees to help Maria out by serving as her driver while she is in the city. In return, she invites Leo and Gabby to Eldovia for Christmas, like they are in some sort of Hallmark Christmas movie. But Leo and Maria come from two vastly different worlds. He’s barely making ends meet, and she’s a princess with an obligation to marry “strategically.” What business do they have spending Christmas together?

Review

This was delightful! It definitely has a Hallmark Christmas Movie feel to it (though far steamier than Hallmark Channel would ever allow), which is exactly what the author was going for. In fact, according to the acknowledgements, there are going to be two more books in the series. And if I am reading the signs right in the epilogue about where the sequel is headed, I am absolutely here for book 2!

I adored Leo and Marie. They really “get” each other. And they have great chemistry complete with excellent banter. They connect over their lost family members, care well for Gabby, and Leo helps Marie find her way through several conflicts. He sees her as a person, not just as a princess.

The story here is great. I loved that the conflicts are around the differences in their status and in the expectations of Marie in her role. There’s no secret identity or lying involved which is a nice change of pace.

This is another winner for Christmas 2020. Don’t miss this sexy holiday romance! (Language, sex, CW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would read again!

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 6, 2020.]

Summary

If you had asked Ashley at Thanksgiving about her Christmas plans, you would have heard her talk about her first real vacation in years. She would have talked about a trip to Paris with her boyfriend, Jeremy, to spend the holiday with his family. For a brief, shining moment she even thought she might be going on the trip with a diamond on her left ring finger. Instead of an international flight with a fiancé, though, she’s on a train headed home. Alone.

On the train, Ashley sits by a sweet older woman, Betty, who knits while Ashley pours her heart out about her life in New York City, her broken relationship, and her unfulfilled dreams. Ashley eventually dozes off. When she wakes up, the train is at her home station. Betty is gone, but she’s left Ashley a knit stocking and the gorgeous vintage Christmas charm bracelet she had been wearing.

Ashley puts the bracelet on to keep from losing it, but she’s determined to find Betty and give it back. It’s too extravagant of a gift. But there’s something weird about it. Ashley can’t get it off – the clasp won’t open. And things keep happening to Ashley that match a charm on her wrist – like the dog on the porch and the decorations at her parents’ house. Is Betty’s bracelet magical? Surely it’s just a coincidence, right?

Review

A delight from start to finish!

I loved this warm and magical Christmas story from Hallmark Publishing. The magical elements made this feel different and fresh and unique. I was pleasantly surprised by the reveal of why each charm is there, and I enjoyed watching the whole story come together.

The characters here are fantastic. Just like a Hallmark movie, there’s the ex who takes the protagonist for granted and doesn’t realize what he has in front of him until she is gone. You also have the charming home town that reminds the city girl of who she used to be. There’s also the true love who got away. I am a sap for every bit of it!

I’ve been reading a lot of 2020 Christmas releases in the last month, and this is one of the best. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would re-read!