Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

A Wedding for Christmas: A Twilight, Texas Novel by Lori Wilde

A Wedding for Christmas: A Twilight, Texas Novel

By

Lori Wilde

Reviewed on October 25, 2016





Sweet, sensual and a funny read that must be on everyone’s Christmas list this year! A Dynamite 5 Stars for Lori Wild’s, A Wedding for Christmas: A Twilight, Texas Novel!

We first meet Katie Cheek in L. A. at a celebrity party, she’s switched places for Christmas with one of her best friends. She’s come to L. A. and her friend is staying in Twilight, Texas. Katie is feeling beautiful and for the first time in her life; sexy and sensual. She was the geeky kid back in school who wore glasses, had braces, frizzy hair and yes, an obsession for being neat. However, now gone are the glasses, braces and frizzy hair, the neat-freak still remains, but she’s feeling drop-dead gorgeous as she walks into the party, heads turn.

She knows men want her, but she isn’t pining after them. No, she’s still in love with her older brother’s best friend, Ryder Southerland. Ryder lived with them for a year when she was in eighth grade and Katie was smitten. However, the day after Katie kissed Ryder, he heads off to the Army and leaves her heart bleeding and thinking she’d scared him off.

Years later, at this fancy L. A. party, Ryder is a celebrity security guard and whilst chasing a stalker (or so he thinks) he knocks over this blonde lady in red and to his surprise, is his best friend’s little sister, Katie Cheek. Learning that Katie is not the stalker and was running to the women’s restroom because she got wasabi spilled on her and was now developing a severe rash, he offers her a ride home to his place.

Whilst there, he and Katie have a fling and the next day Katie runs back to Twilight Texas, thinking she’ll never see Ryder again. That is until a year later, when her brother and her best friend are getting married and who’s the best man, none other than Ryder himself. Also, in the mix, Katie is a professional organizer, having put her neat-freak habit to good use, she’s asked to take on a very severe case of hoarding. She usually turns down hoarders, but this one tears at her heart. It’s Ryder’s father, the Circle S, his home is filled with dirt and grime and buried to the hilt in trash and he comes home from the hospital in a matter of a couple of days. So Katie must work fast.

Whilst working her fingers to the bones, who comes knocking at the door, none other than Ryder himself. After learning of his step-mother’s death and hearing his father is in the hospital, he heads home early and goes to the Circle S, to find Katie standing in the doorway. In a whirlwind of twists and turns, Katie and Ryder are working feverishly to prepare his father’s home for his return and preparing for the upcoming wedding. All the while, they are growing more in love with one another. Can this bad boy from the past open his hardened heart and admit his feelings for Katie? Can this once geeky-girl-turned-gorgeous-woman open up and confess to her long-lived crush?


This is one of the best Christmas stories out there, reads like a Hallmark movie but with some passionate, and sultry scenes. You will fall in love with Katie and Ryder and root for their love all along. This story is filled with some deep family values and struggles that we can all relate to, to some degree. Also, the town of Twilight, Texas just draws you into their charm and Christmas festivities, the scenery in this book is so vivid you will feel as if you’re walking right down the streets. This was my first book of Lori Wilde’s and I must say I’m now, not only addicted to her writing, but addicted to this series and must get all of these book. I highly recommend this book, it will add some sparkle to your Christmas Season this year!

**Thanks to Avon/HarperCollins Publisher for gifting me a copy of this book for an Honest Review**

Friday, June 24, 2016

Madeleine's Christmas Wish by Ella Quinn

Madeleine’s Christmas Wish
By
Ella Quinn
Reviewed December 28, 2015
Madeleine’s Christmas Wish
By
Ella Quinn
Madeleine’s Christmas Wish by Ella Quinn is a lovely 5 Star read that will capture your hearts this Christmas Season.  Madeleine, Cometesse de Beaune is taken captive and is to be sold to a brothel in England. Her Maman (mother) and sister are left behind in France and she fears for their lives. Georges, Marquis Cruzy-le-Chatel, who is a French spy and has been residing in England for several years. He’s acquired a list with the ladies names who are to be sold to brothels and he sees his dear childhood friend, Madeleine’s name also on this list. He’s shocked and worried for her, she’s not only his childhood friend but the only woman he’s ever loved. Their families had planned for them to be married but circumstances prevented the match. However, he now fears for Madeleine’s life and makes a plan to save her. He ventures in the dark to the ship that has sailed in with the young women. Spotting Madeleine, he calls to her and takes her away. He takes her to his friend’s home, where Madeleine is cared for and give clean clothes and food.
In order to help Madeleine return to France and save her family, Georges realizes that he must marry her, but he’s also fallen deeply in love and desires to make her his. She agrees to marry him but makes him promise to not consummate the marriage, for once she arrives in France and saves her family, the marriage will be annulled. Will Madeleine and Georges make it safely back to France and save her family? Will Georges woo his love and captures her heart forever? Will Madeleine realize the love brewing inside of her or will she annul the marriage?
Ella Quinn’s writing is impeccable, she weaves a tale of such sweet love, romance and a bit of adventure into every page. This story is well researched, well written and flows beautifully. The reader cannot help but long for Madeleine to fall into the welcoming arms of Georges and live as safe and warm as the fire in the hearth. Truly a magnificent tale that will capture your hearts this Christmas Season.

A Season of Love Box Set by Christi Caldwell

A Season of Love Box Set

By

Christi Caldwell

Reviewed on December 21, 2015

Two enchanting 5 Star Christmas Romantic tales that will be read again and again!


Book 1 Winning a Lady’s Heart:

We are first met by Alexandra and Nathan in the parlor of Alexandra’s home. Alexandra is deeply in love with Nathan but alas he no longer returns those feelings. He leaves her, breaking her heart and utterly devastating her. She soon learns of a wager he’s made at Whites that tarnishes her reputation but what tarnishes it further is when she confronts him some weeks later at a high society ball. She’s wrought with hurt and is dragged out by her shocked, yet comforting mother.

The Christmas season is near but Alexandra’s heart feels as cold as the fallen snow and colder still when she is summoned to her grandfathers, the Duke of Danby’s castle for Christmas. After her family’s long travels, Alexandra wants nothing more than to disappear under the covers of her warm bed when she is called to see the duke immediately. Fearing his rage and disappointment about her recent scandal, she shakenly but courageously goes to his office. However, to her surprise he talks of love and her true feelings for Nathan are expressed. Her grandfather calls in another of his guests and Alexandra turns to see before her, Nathan and her heart stops. Why did the Duke of Danby invite Nathan and his granddaughter? Will Nathan and Alexandra rekindle their love? Or will their love fall like the Christmas snow?


Book 2 A Season of Hope:

We meet Olivia curled up in the window seat of her room watching the falling snow. She’s reflecting on her age of three and twenty and that another season has passed and to her father’s disappointment, she’s not married. Her mother comes to her room and she and Olivia discuss her father’s desire for her to wed. Olivia does not want to wed for her heart belongs to another, Marcus Wheatley who went off to war five years before and has been presumed dead. She and Marcus loved each other very deeply and she made a promise to him and has pushed off all other suitors that is until now. Her father has offered her hand to a Lord Wellesley. However, to Olivia’s surprise and relief, she’s been summoned by her grandfather, the Duke of Danby’s castle for Christmastide. She and only she has been summoned.

The Duke of Danby is in his office and is talking with his employee, a dark haired man with a patch over his eye and scars marking his face. He is informed by the duke that they are expecting a very special guest, his granddaughter, Olivia. A carriage draws up and Olivia enters the castle only to be whisked immediately to her grandfather’s office. There she not only meets the duke but also hiding in the shadows is none other than her long lost love, Marcus Wheatley. What game is the duke playing now? Will Olivia and Marcus rekindle their love like the fire in the great hall or will Olivia be forced to marry Lord Wellesley and live with only her memories?


Christi Caldwell’s writing is impeccable, she takes the reader on an enchanting ride back in time to the age of Lord’s and Lady’s and of course one rascally Duke. What more romantic than at the most magical time of the year, Christmas, where love reawakens and sparkles just as the candles upon the yew tree. Caldwell’s characterization and plot development are so rich and one can’t help but fall in love with the young lovers in both stories. These stories are sweet, deeply romantic and so very enchanting. You will want to be sure to add this to your Christmas list this season and read these again and again each Christmastide!

Heartbreak and Honor - Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series: Book 3 by Collette Cameron

Heartbreak and Honor (Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series Book 3)

By
Collette Cameron

December 13, 2015


Heartbreak and Honor by Collette Cameron is a holiday tale you will want to be sure to add to your Christmas list this season. This is a remarkable 5 Star read that captures the heart of the Christmas spirit.
We are first met by Tasara Faas, a Highland Gypsy and her young siblings. They’ve been captured by a band of renegade Scots and one evil Blackhall. Soon Tasara and the young bairns are rescued from the dashing and handsome Duke of Harcourt. However, in her fear and feisty nature, Tasara blackens the duke’s eye when he kisses her. Soon her father comes to her aid and gathers his children and heads back to camp.
The next morning Tasara hears her parents talking about her and of how they had come upon her when she was a small child, to her horror she learns that she’s not actually their daughter but belonged to a Lady Atterberry and that she is in fact Alexandra Atterberry. She had been found harmed as a child and her mother and father took her in to the gypsy clan and claimed her as their own in order to protect her. Her father later reveals to her about whom she truly is and due to the recent scandal of her captivity she is asked to leave the encampment for the safety of the other tinkers.
Tasara (Alexandra) is taken in and rightfully claimed by her biological aunt and uncle. She’s taken to their home in London, England and there she begins her tutelage of becoming a Lady and gain her rightful inheritance. However, there is one catch the claim that her step-sister always has rights to the title and inheritance. Alexa begins the little season where at her first ball, she sees the Duke of Harcourt, Lucan and he soon takes a great liking to her.
The Duke of Harcourt must marry by Christmas as promised to his mother upon her sickbed. Although, he is seeking a wife he’d never expected himself to fall so deeply in love with a beautiful gypsy who has the most captivating violet eyes ever. He seeks the hand of Lady Alexandra Atterberry but she is none to accepting and refuses him not once but several times. However, she too begins to fall for the dashing and relentless Duke and soon finds herself enraptured with him and everything about him but she’s unsure how she would be as a Duchess and that she does not want to bring him hardships. The duke has found himself captured under his wild gypsy’s spell… but stumbling blocks abound at each turn of the pages.
Can Harcourt convince the violet eyed Alexa to marry him? Will Alexa admit her love and become the duchess she’s destined to?
Cameron’s writing is magnificent, she takes the reader on a hilarious and sweetly romantic adventure yet one that is also filled with mystery and intrigue. Her humor and wit are one of the highest points of her writing and with each page turn she leaves the reading in suspense of what is to come. Her characterization and style calls the reader to fall in love with the Duke of Harcourt, Alexa and the myriad of characters that grace the pages. She’s truly one of today’s most creative and talented authors.