Tag: Christmas

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: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

REVIEW: Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Melody and Beat met as teens – her, awkward and self conscious and him, gorgeous with seemingly effortless ability to command a room. Their mothers were the Steel Birds – female rock legends. The teens were shooting interviews about their famous mothers – and the infamous breakup of Steel Birds. But there was a moment – a comradery born from their shared role as offspring of the famous duo. It might have turned into something if they had had more time.

Years later, Beat is crushed under the weight of a blackmailer’s scheme. And a producer offering him enough to make that go away – again – is too good to ignore. It doesn’t hurt that it gives him a chance to see Melody for the first time since they were teens. But when the producer suggests a reality stream of the two trying to convince their mothers to reunite, he’s about to walk away.

Melody is tired of the empty relationship she has with her mother. This streaming reality program is a chance to get her mother’s attention for once. Maybe Melody could finally be SEEN. And if it doesn’t work, the money could at least allow her the financial freedom to walk away from her mother for good.

Review

There’s a lot to love here. The storyline is just plain fun. Add to that the amazing main character – I was expecting Mel to be mousy but she never was. Reserved, maybe, but hilarious and sweet with a sassy streak. She was a delightful surprise. The heat between her and Beat crackled on the page. The moms brought some excellent additions to the story. And the friend group characters needed more page time. The whole cast is fantastic.

The “we’re getting the band back together” vibe of this was perfect for me too. I loved that premise and the parts of the story that explored the history of the band.

There was a line early in the book that set off a few alarm bells in my head that said this book might be much farther along the “spice” scale than I usually read. And that inkling was right on target. There’s some frank talk about sex with some details bordering perhaps on “kink” at least as I define it. If spicy romance is your jam, you should definitely check this one out. The story is excellent and the content definitely skews “spicy.” If that’s not your style, you might approach this one with caution. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Mothman's Merry Cryptid Christmas by Andrew Shaffer

REVIEW: Mothman’s Merry Cryptid Christmas by Andrew Shaffer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and 8th Circle Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Rudolph needs Christmas off one year, Santa asks Mothman to help lead the sleigh team. But Mothman has a reputation for being unlucky, and he doesn’t want to end up ruining Christmas.

Review

This is a hoot! I liked this far more than I even expected to. Our family has been on the “cryptid” journey for a few years now, so when I had the chance to review this, I just had to see what it was about. The story is simple and fun! I loved the artwork. (I need this Mothman on a t-shirt!)

There are some fun facts here about cryptids in general and about Mothman in particular in the backmatter. As soon as I finished reading this I started a list of folks who need this for Christmas. Don’t miss out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! 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

As a favor to both her blacksmithing mentor and another old friend, Meg is helping behind the scenes of a reality TV bladesmithing competition – a week before Christmas. But when Faulk, her mentor, is attacked before shooting starts, Meg agrees – reluctantly – to compete in his place.

But the production has issues. Someone is trying to sabotage the contestants. The producers seem more “green” than they’re letting on. One of the contestants seems to be harassing women around the set. And then someone is murdered.

Review

This was so fun! I have been feeling for awhile that I missed the whole blacksmithing angle that was a big part of the earlier books in the series. So I was thrilled to realized that even though this was a Christmas book, the emphasis would be on this bladesmithing competition. And it was exactly what I was missing. I’d love to see that part of Meg’s life get more attention in future books.

That said, there’s still some great Christmas elements in the book that make it a great read for the season. I also LOVED all of the crow elements in the book.

Honestly, the mystery was only okay for me. The solution felt random, and there wasn’t the usual debate for me between suspects as I read. Meg spends a good bit of time spinning the same elements over and over in her mind as she tries to puzzle things out, which felt redundant at times.

Despite that fact, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Series fans may have a mixed experience regarding the mystery, but I think the rest of the story is a solid delight. This is book 34 in the series. Book 35, Between a Flock and a Hard Place, will release in the summer of 2024.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

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: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

April Claus is looking forward to having her friend, Claire, visit Santaland. Claire is still a little stunned at April’s life as Santa’s wife. But they have tons of fun activities planned for her vacation.

The first wrinkle is the reindeer strike. Not ideal a week before Christmas. Then there is a drone accident that ruined the ice sculpture contest.

And then there’s a murder.

One of April’s Santaland friends is arrested for the crime, so April has to get to the truth before the whole town turns on her friend and she spends Christmas in jail.

Review

I get such a kick out of this Christmas-themed mystery series! I love the setting, populated by elves, reindeer, and talking snowmen. The fantasy elements are more about the setting and characters than “magic,” but I enjoy this fresh take on a cozy mystery. The mystery here was good and kept me guessing all the way to the end.

I would have liked a bit more of the story anchored to April’s life as Santa’s wife and to the Claus family. But the full cast of elves opens up a lot of story ideas.

Series fans will want to pick up this new book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. Newcomers are probably fine starting here, although some of the setting elements and character history (like with Santa’s family) might take a little bit to make sense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

REVIEW: Blame It on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Holly is the Christmas Queen, but with a break up on her mind and all the usual family Christmas traditions upended by her mother’s plans to have them move in with her boyfriend and his kids, Holly’s not sure this year will be very merry.

Elle is all about being an influencer. And what better time than Christmas for fun activities to build her follower count?

But when Elle agrees to do an Instagram challenge to gain 15,000 new followers – where all of the losers of the challenge have to delete their accounts – she knows she has to take Christmas to a whole new level.

So Elle and Holly find a way to switch homes for the holidays. Elle heads to Holly’s home in England while Holly heads to America. Each of them are determined to make this holiday unforgettable.

Review

This was billed as “Tweet Cute meets The Holiday,” so there was no way I was going to miss this one! I adored Tweet Cute, and The Holiday is one of my favorite Christmas movies.

This was a cute story. I enjoyed the different Christmas experiences and both of the girls in the story. There’s a lot here that was just plain fun – Christmas treats, Christmas sweaters, Christmas love.

I feel like some of the conflicts and story tension could have been stronger, with more punch. But this is a lot like a Hallmark film. You really just need a small moment to put everything in jeopardy so the audience gets the satisfaction of watching everything work out. And this delivers on that satisfying ending.

If you are looking for a fun, cozy holiday love story, be sure to check this one out.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

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!