Review: Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Format: ebook
Pub Date: 2012
Publisher: Montlake
Length: 309 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

I am still clawing my way out of the Reading Slump That Will Not Die, so I took to Twitter to find some new-to-me authors who are similar to those whose books nearly always work for me (specifically Jill Shalvis and Maisey Yates).  Twitter, as always, came through. One of the authors suggested was Marina Adair.

I'm not sure how I ended up choosing this particular book, since it's a Christmas book, but it definitely fit the bill for what I was looking for: lighter, FUNNY romance. The set up is pretty simple: single mom Regan lands in Napa Valley with a new job prospect and a huge dollop of hope that things in her life will get easier. Soon she learns that her past has caught up with her and that her own personal nemesis is sabotaging her hopes and dreams again.

TBR Challenge Review: Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance Book; Book 4) by Larissa Ione

Format: ebook, mass market
Pub Date: November 2012
Publisher: Grand Central
Length: 424 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

This month's TBR Challenge theme is holiday stories. And since my definition of holiday novels is as quirky as my definition of holiday movies, I picked the last book in Larissa Ione's Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. Because nothing says Merry Christmas like some demons and some bad-ass immortals.

 This is a series I've read most of, but it's been awhile. I had this one in the digital TBR and somehow managed to read it in time for the challenge. Woohoo! (I'm late posting, but what else is new? Stupid holiday obligations and all).

Unlike the first few Demonica books, which did NOT work for me, this series has been a winner so far. They have such a strong voice, lots of attitude, and everything works together well. My favorite part, though, is the very beginning. Mainly because the heroine discovers an unconscious, naked, frozen man in her woods and promptly christens him Fish Stick. What's not to love about that?

Review: Ripped by Sarah Morgan

Format: ebook
Pub Date: November 26, 2013
Publisher: Cosmo Red Hot Reads/Harlequin
Length: 95 pages
FTC: Purchased myself

I've been a bit caught up in Real Life Obligations again, so I haven't been out and about in Romancelandia for the last month or two. Apparently, I missed hearing about this book. I did what I never do: I acted on an author rec to try a book. Of course, cynical me, I tried the sample first.  I was majorly hooked, and couldn't get the rest of it fast enough.

Not only is this a holiday novella, this is written in the first person! And (THANK GOODNESS) not the first-person, present. It's very rare that you read a romance that's written in the first person that is either a) not Urban Fantasy or Paranormal or b) not written in 1st/present  (which I loathe more than Ebenezer Scrooge loathes giving his employees the day off).  Added to that...this is absolutely hysterical. One caveat: the author is British or at the very least, lives in Great Britain. There are some phrases which may seem odd to American readers and the humor is definitely of the wacky, British style.

Recipes: Quick Holiday Goodies

If you need a quick hostess gift or addition to your holiday cookie tray, here are three super easy recipes that have always produced great results for me.


Candy Cane Hearts
Mini candy canes
white candy coating (sometimes called Almond Bark)

For each heart, you will need 2 mini candy canes. I crush the inevitable broken ones in a plastic bag using a rolling pin to sprinkle later. Melt candy coating according to package directions. If it's too thick to pour, try adding a tiny bit of vegetable oil until you get the right consistency.

Line a work surface with waxed paper. Arrange two candy canes into a heart shape. Fill with melted candy coating. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Cool, then carefully peel from the paper.

Hump Day Movie: Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Special

© Henstooth Video

For me, a child growing up in the 1980s, the Claymation Christmas Special made far more of an impact than the 1960s stop motion Rudolph and Frosty movies did. The Raisins and their friends were funny, they were unusual, and they were "modern."

Watching them today, the only thing that seems really dated to me is the sophistication of the claymation work. The California Raisins commercials were HUGE when I was little. Of course, I lived in California, but they made TOYS out of them. Those were some of the first toys *I* could ever remember being made from commercials. And they were raisins!  The Will Vinton Christmas Special took that stop-motion technique even further, using unusual characters to share a wide variety of carols.  The hosts are dinosaurs. The Carol of the Bells is done with goofy bells hitting themselves. It's silly, innocent, and still one of my favorite memories of the holidays as a child.

You can still find it on DVD, but I have yet to see this show in-store anywhere. Amazon has it for $20.

There are clips available on Youtube. I love We Three Kings . The shoes and mustaches on the camels kill me.

What's your favorite childhood holiday movie? Have you seen this one?

Review: Holiday Kisses by Jaci Burton, Shannon Stacey, HelenKay Dimon, and Alison Kent

Format: ebook
Pub Date: December 5, 2011
Publisher: Carina Press
Length: 103,000 words
FTC: review copy courtesy of the publisher

I read this around Christmas time, but with all of the craziness going on, I didn't get the review up in a timely manner. But for those who read holiday books year round (like me) here's what I thought of the second Carina Press holiday anthology: overall, very good, although as is typical with anthos, there were some I liked more than others.

Recipe: Caramel Pecan Shortbread Cookies

This is the most-requested cookie on my holiday cookie tray. The recipe is from Land o Lakes.


Cookie
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt



Topping
30 unwrapped caramels
1 tablespoon half and half
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 325°F. Combine butter, powdered sugar and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until well mixed.

Press dough evenly into 8-inch square baking pan lined with aluminum foil; prick with tines of fork every 1/2 inch. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Lift cookies from pan using aluminum foil. Immediately cut into 20 (approximately 4x1/2 inch) sticks. Cool completely.

Place caramels and half & half in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring twice, until caramels are melted (1 to 2 minutes). Dip ends of shortbread sticks into melted caramel mixture; roll in pecans. Place onto waxed paper; let stand until set.

Tis the Season to be Sinful by Adrienne Basso

Format:Mass Market, ebook
Pub Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Length: 343 pages
FTC: Review copy courtesy of the publisher

There's a lovely, old-fashioned feel to the prose in Tis the Season to be Sinful. It's one of the few books I've read recently that feels thoroughly steeped in the period. But, unfortunately, the conflict is all over the place, the characters somewhat shallow, and the holiday elements seem more engaging than the romance.

My problems with the book center mainly around the lack of focus to the story. It seems like it's just not sure which problem it wants to explore about our hero (our heroine seems marginalized throughout.) Do we explore the working class values of the American? His inability to join in with Christmas festivities? His absence from the new home he married to get for months on end? Or his strained non-relationship with his wife's children?  There are so many different mini-conflicts in this book that all are dealt with in an unsatisfying and superficial way.

While this book did its job, it's not something I'll be reading again. I loved the holiday elements, but for some reason, the romance was just...ok. Since I did manage to read it in only a couple of sittings, I'm giving it higher marks than it might sound like it deserves.


My Grade: C

The Blurb:

The Season For Surprises. . .
Juliet Wentworth knew what she was getting into: a marriage of convenience that will save her estate and protect her family long into the future. But she wasn't expecting to find the passion of a lifetime in her new husband's arms. After just one night, Juliet knows a marriage in name only will never be enough. . .
The Season For Seduction. . .
Richard Harper's beautiful new bride has him reeling with desire--and running for cover. After all, falling in love was never part of the bargain. Yet when Christmastime celebrations bring him back to their country manor and back into Juliet's arms, Richard finds his wife is determined--and all too able--to win over his heart, one kiss at a time. . .

Happy Holidays! Oh wait...

It seems like Christmas merchandise creeps onto the shelves earlier and earlier every year. I've spotted Christmas crafts in July, and the holiday decorations are popping up in big boxes as soon as the back to school promos come down.

And with the holiday decor comes the holiday romances. Many of them with publication dates of September and October. Before Halloween! And there are a ton of them coming out this year. (See pictures and links below the break.)

I personally love holiday romances, but they do seem kind of risky for authors. Their sales season is fairly short (although there are some, like me, who read them all year long.) And so many of them center around Christmas, which means they risk alienating those who celebrate other winter holidays like Hanukkah or Kwanza.


What do you think of holiday romances? Do you love them, hate them, or just feel kind of meh? And are you like me, and read them all year long or do you only read them close to the holidays?

Review: Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

Format: ebook
Publisher: Carina Press
Pub Date: December 6, 2010
FTC: Purchased myself

The Blurb:

House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out.

Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.

Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s.

But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

I read this holiday novella a few weeks ago, but never got around to reviewing it. I loved this story while reading it, but a few weeks later? Small details are bugging me.

Normally, I love the small town, successful girl returns home trope. And I did this time, too. But this just seemed to lack the sizzle and wit of some of Shannon Stacey's earlier works. I know it's a novella, and thus limited in length/scope, but I would have liked more banter. I'm shallow that way.

The fact that the heroine works from home negates most (not all) of the potential conflict about the big city girl and the home town boy. Clearly, if they choose to make it work, they can without her having to give up her career or him having to relocate his  business. I actually would have preferred to see more small town gossip or meddling. Something to remind Chloe about the drawbacks of small town life in a negative way. Which would have made her decision a little more complicated and angsty.

[On an unrelated side note, this cover bugs me. I normally love Carina's covers. They are some of the best ebook covers out there (and way better than most of Harlequin's print covers). But the position of this guy's hand seems off. ]

Still, it's a sweet little holiday novella.

My Grade: B-

Review: Winter Wishes (anthology) by Vivian Arend, Vivi Andrews, and Moira Rogers

Format: ebook
Pub Date: December 6, 2010
Publisher: Carina Press
FTC: Digital copy received through Netgalley

The Blurb:

A Twist on Tradition
A woman has the Christmas Eve from Hell. Two cat shifters play naughty games. And a witch brings out the beast inside the man. The magic of the season takes on a whole new meaning in these three fantastic—and festive—novellas from some of the best voices in paranormal romance.

I know I'm a bit tardy getting this one published. The holidays are over, but I am one of those readers who can read holiday stories any time of year.

I don't think I've read a holiday novella collection quite like this one. I'm a big anthology fan in general. Anthos allow me to sample new-to-me authors without the time commitment of an entire full-length book. And the inclusion of a better known author will help get me to pick up the book...something the marketing pros at the publishers clearly know.

I was familiar with Moira Rogers' writing, but had never read either of the other two authors featured here. While I enjoyed all 3 stories, I was surprised that it was the middle one, the one about angels no less, that captivated and surprised me.

Hump Day Movie(s): Die Hard and Lethal Weapon

"Holiday movie" was a fluid genre in my house growing up. My mom is Queen of Monster Movies and Action Flicks. Which means that anything that had the slightest mention of the holidays in it was considered fair game for December viewing.

The two biggest in our house were the original Lethal Weapon and Die Hard . Both old school late 80s action movies with lots of guns, explosions, and foul language. The stuff that holidays are made of. Although, YES, there are some holiday decorations to put you in that festive mood. Plus, it has Mel and Bruce in roles that fit them well...unlike much of their newer stuff that lacks the impact of these movies.

Hump Day Classic Movies: White Christmas, Meet Me in St. Louis, Miracle on 34th St

I am not a big musical fan. There. I said it. There are a few movies, though, that wormed their way past my dislike of the format to become favorites. Two of those are White Christmas (1954) (starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) and Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) starring Judy Garland.

The ironic part is that the music is precisely the reason I love both of those. The tunes are so catchy, I'm left with a earworms for weeks afterwards. Especially of the lesser known songs.

I'm not really a Judy Garland fan. But I think I like Meet Me in St. Louis because she isn't cast as someone much younger than she really is (Her character is 17. She was 22 at the time). And Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Probably because it's a bit of a bittersweet song. The movie isn't a "holiday" movie, exactly, but it does have a few holiday scenes.

My other favorite holiday movie, not a musical, is Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Why? Because Maureen O'Hara is in it. I swear, I love just about every movie she was in. And the guy that plays the lawyer (John Payne)? He was sooo cute. There have been a few remakes of this, but none have come close to touching this version for both charm and heart.

Holiday Traditions: It's Treelighting Time!

Tonight is our annual Holiday Sparkle here in my little town in the mountains. Downtown merchants stay open late (and by late, I mean they don't lock their doors at the usual 5 pm), and hand out snacks to the men, women and children who brave the cold. Carolers and musicians perform for the crowds on the courthouse steps. Santa listens to Christmas wishes of little boys and girls in a special chair set up for him on the courthouse plaza. The courthouse itself is festooned with lighted reindeer and single Menorah. And one of the large trees on the front lawn is strung with lights waiting for the countdown to the official tree lighting while those of us who can remember grumble about how the "old" tree was bigger and better.

The best part for me, though, (besides the free! fudge they always hand out at the Drug Store), is seeing old friends from high school and college. Former teachers and professors, too. It seems like everyone comes home for Sparkle. No matter how far away they live. The sidewalks are nearly shoulder to shoulder—which is saying something for a town that has only about 5000 people in it. And you can't walk more than a few feet without seeing someone you know or someone you used to know.

For the kids, I can say without question that the best part is the truck light parade. Firetrucks, logging trucks, ambulances, cement mixers and tow trucks all make a loop around downtown covered in Christmas lights and the occasional holiday inflatable lawn ornament. The tackier the better.



I sometimes worry whether I did the right thing by moving back home to raise my children. But when I see the people, truly merry and filled to the brim with cheer, and I feel the strong sense of community, I'm positive I made the right decision. My kids may hate this place when they become teens. They may want to leave and never look back. But considering the number of people who DO come back every year, even just to visit, I'm not too worried.

What kinds of holiday celebrations do you have where you live? Are they big city spectaculars or something similar to what we do here?

Hump Day Classic Movie: Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)

Everyone has their favorite holiday movies. For me, it's the old fashioned, stop motion animated classics originally shown on TV. Last night, our family watched Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Featuring the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town takes us from Kris Kringle's infancy to his current state of gray-whiskered, jelly bellied joviality.

The only thing I *don't* like is that I get a major earworm from the songs. Because this is, in typical animated fashion, a musical of sorts. And I'll catch myself humming (off-key because I can't even hum well) throughout the day.

What holiday movies do you love to watch?

Review: The Dickens with Love by Josh Lanyon

Format: ebook
Publisher: Samhain
FTC: purchased myself
Pub Date: December 2009

The Blurb:

A quirky holiday romance about Faith, Hope, and…er…glow-in-the-dark condoms!
Three years ago, a scandal cost antiquarian “book hunter” James Winter everything that mattered to him: his job, his lover and his self-respect. But now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition. A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants that book at any price, and he needs James to get it for him. There’s just one catch. James can’t tell the nutty professor who the buyer is.

Actually, two catches. The nutty Professor Crisparkle turns out to be totally gorgeous—and on the prowl. Faster than you can say, “Old Saint Nick,” James is mixing business with pleasure…and in real danger of forgetting that this is just a holiday romance.

Just as they’re well on the way to having their peppermint sticks and eating them too, Sedgwick discovers the truth. James has been a very bad boy. And any chance Santa will bring him what he wants most is disappearing quicker than the Jolly Old Elf’s sleigh.

Josh Lanyon's books never cease to surprise me with their terrific characters and complexity. But I will admit...I didn't look forward to reading this one. Because I really (and I mean really) hate Charles Dickens. Yes, I know it makes me sound like a Scrooge.

I hate his cutesy little names that are generally tied to character traits. And I think the man was too wordy. Serialized novels in the Victorian era were often wordy, and I'm no stranger to 19th century literature, but I just can't stand his style of writing. Just a personal preference, and not the fault of Mr. Lanyon.

So it was with great reluctance that I started reading The Dickens With Love. And, despite Lanyon's tongue-in-cheek use of Dickensian names as well (James Winter?), I found myself blasting through it in a single sitting. As usual for anything written by this author.

Review: I'll Be Yours For Christmas by Samantha Hunter

Format: Mass Market Paperback (also available as an ebook)
Pub Date: December 2010 (available now)
Publisher: Harlequin
FTC: Received copy for review from author

The Blurb:

From the time they were kids and neighbors, Reece Winston tugged Abby Harper's pigtails and tormented her. But when Abby—now the sole owner of her parents' vineyard—sees Reece Winston again after years apart, she's unexpectedly struck by the need to play a much more adult kind of game....
Then a freak accident forces her to stay with Reece, and Abby decides that what she really wants for Christmas is Reece—perhaps wrapped with a red bow. But as Abby and Reece explore their naughty lists, they begin to realize that nothing is quite as easy as it seems!

I love holiday stories. I especially love holiday romances. Add in a neighbors-to-lovers plot, and I'm a happy little bookworm.

I admit, I normally shy away from most of the category Harlequin books. Not because I have anything against them, but because they are often too short to make me believe in the characters the way I'd like. That wasn't the case with I'll Be Yours for Christmas. The characters were very well done, even the secondary ones, and the plot was interesting and focused.

As someone from the west coast, it was a nice change to see something set in an east coast vineyard. It was unusual and refreshing not to have that Napa Valley feel to a story like this one. And I really loved all of the Christmas elements incorporated into the story. Over a dozen Christmas trees, wine themed ornaments. Small touches, but it kept the holiday feel consistent throughout the book.

The heat between Abby and Reece is scorching! I liked that Abby had a few minor kinks and Reece was very aware of them. The slow build, with a few interruptions thrown in to amp up the frustration, was nice. It felt realistic, especially given their brief "almost" encounter back in high school.

I also appreciated how the author resolved the career conflict while keeping the relationship balanced. The changes were not done in a self-sacrificing way that felt unequal, but instead felt like a move forward for both characters.

My only complaint, and it's a very minor one, was that I felt like the "arson investigation" to hold up insurance payments wasn't really needed. It didn't add anything to the story; there was enough conflict without it.

Grab a cup of eggnog and curl up in front of the fire with this one. You'll be in the holiday mood in no time.

My Grade: A-/B+

Happy Independence Day!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July!

Here in the mountains, at-home fireworks are a very big no-no. Wildfire is an ever present danger, so we have the public shows over the mill ponds or lakes in the area. But I miss the sparklers, the little ash snakes, the piccolo petes. There's something much more personal about those at-home fireworks--even if they are sometimes dangerous--than the big, distant explosions in the sky for me.

But even more special to me are the parades. I love parades. I love the silliness of the floats. The sense of community as the various organizations tromp by. I love how teary eyed I get watching the veterans slowly march past. And I love how happy and friendly everyone is because they are celebrating our nation's birthday.

Buy Books for the Holidays! Suggestions for Kids

Books are the best gift for any occasion as far as I'm concerned. If chosen correctly, they are the gift that never stops giving. And they show the recipient that the person giving them the book knows them well. Or wants to share something personal that they love with them. It's an intimate kind of gift if you do it right. Books as gifts epitomize 'it's the thought that counts.'

Picking books for young children can be tricky. There is a definite difference between what parents like (pretty illustrations, great story) and what children like (great characters and engaging language). There's nothing wrong with giving a PARENT a book to read for their child if you think they will enjoy it. And there's everything right about giving a child a book that will hopefully stay with them forever.

The Holiday Spirit: Bibliophile style

It's that time of year again. Time to be thankful for our blessings and to think about sharing a little with those who are less fortunate.

In that spirit, here are a few ideas for those who find their bookshelves overfloweth!

• Sign up as a volunteer shipper for Operation Paperback .  OP is a registered non-profit that ships paperback books (and a few other odds and ends) to our troops overseas. 
• Sell those books online and donate all or a portion of the sales price to the charity of your choice. eBay has recently reduced the minimum donation amount, so selling books for a good cause just got better!
• Donate your old books to the Friends of the Library or to your local library's collection. I have quite a few book club edition romances that I've grown tired of. Our local library doesn't have a big romance selection, so I think I'll offer them to them first.
• Donate to First Book, a site that provides free children's books to kids in need.

Anyone else have some bibliophile ways to share the holiday spirit this season?