First Book 2018

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For a few years I have marked it special the first book that I read each year.  This year, I am going to read That's Not My Suitcase by Laina Turner as my first book of the year.  I have been working the last few months on reviewing the books I was approved on Netgalley.  

For those who don't know Netgalley is a service for bookstore owners, book reviewers and the like where we can get ebooks of books before they are released to read and review.  

I have quite a lot of ebooks on the website and have been trying to read and review more and more of them to get my percentage on that website up.  I have a percentage goal for 2018 and I am going to work hard to get there.  

So my first book of 2018 is a book from Netgalley that I need to read and review and I am hoping to strive towards my goal in this next year!

December - the last of 2017

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With all the crazy of December and the holidays, for some reason it is usually a good reading month for me. I helped it along by scheduling a ton of fun romance books that were light and easy and made reading a nice escape from the crazy!

1. Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah Morgan
2. Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
3. Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini
4. Merry Mary by Ashley Farley
5. Breaking the Story by Ashley Farley
6. The Holiday Gift by RaeAnne Thayne
7. The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*&!K by Sarah Knight
8. What Happened by Hillary Clinton
9. Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand
10. Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand
11. A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck
12. Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
13. Christmas in London by Anita Hughes
14. Artefacts and Other Stories by Rebecca Burns
15. A Brush With Love by Rachel Hauck
16. Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley
17. The Lost Season of Love and Snow by Jennifer Laam
18. Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks
19. The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson
20. End Game by David Baldacci
21. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller
22. Royally Roma by Teri Wilson
23. Royally Romanov by Teri Wilson
24. Royally Wed by Teri Wilson


Total pages read, clicked and flipped:  7,437

Where having I been Reading?:
New York City, NY (2)
England (3)
Richmond, VA (2)
Idaho
Massachusetts (2)
Maine
London (2)
Alabama
Russia
Phoenix, AZ
Colorado
Vermont
Rome
Paris

Holiday vacation

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I am going to take a week off from the blog and spend it with family and some books! 

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas to all!

Review: Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

Christmas in London

by Anita Hughes

Publisher: St Martin's Griffin

Pages: 288

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  It’s a week before Christmas and Louisa Graham is working twelve hour shifts at a bakery on Manhattan's Lower East Side. When a young cooking show assistant comes in from the rain and begs to buy all the cinnamon rolls on her tray, she doesn’t know what to do. Louisa is just the baker, and they aren't hers to sell. But the show burned the rolls they were supposed to film that day, so she agrees.

The next morning, Louisa finds out that her cinnamon rolls were a hit, but the star of the show was allergic, and the whole crew is supposed to leave for London that afternoon. They want Louisa to step in for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's. It’s a great opportunity, and Digby Bunting, Louisa’s famous baking idol, will be there. Even if he does seem more interested in her than her food.

And then there’s Kate, the show's beautiful producer. On their first day in London she runs into the skinny boy she jilted at St. Andrew's in Scotland ten years ago. Now he’s a handsome, brilliant mathematician, and newly divorced. Their familiar spark is still there, but so is the scar of how they left things. Kate and Louisa are busy preparing for the show, but old and new flames are complicating their work.


Kritters Thoughts:  For me with Anita Hughes books, there is no in between, I either love them or completely dislike them.  This one just didn't work for me.  There were two female leads - Louisa and Kate.  Louisa, I just couldn't understand nor like.  Kate was fine, but wasn't enough to overcome my dislike of Louisa. 

Louisa is plucked out of obscurity when she is working late in a bakery in New York.  She is asked to fill in for a famous chef and fly to London to film a show.  Kate is a producer on that show and needs this show to go well to ensure her job.  But she will run into her past in London and will have to make some decisions.  

Kate was great.  I loved the drama she had to deal with and loved seeing through her eyes the behind the scenes of shooting a tv show.  She was a strong female character and I could root her on from page one.

Louisa was way too wishy washy for me and all over the place.  Her side of the story didn't seem plausible and I just couldn't get into it.  I felt like her feelings were all over the place and she just seemed too clueless for me.  I like my female characters to be strong and aware of what is going on around them.

So I will still read Anita Hughes books, but I will still be wary of my reading of her.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 69 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

A Royal Christmas Wedding

by Rachel Hauck

Publisher: Zondervan

Pages: 227

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  It’s been five years since Avery Truitt and Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom fell in love. But he broke her heart with no explanation.

Fast forward to present day, and Colin is Brighton’s most eligible bachelor now that cousin Stephen has married. When Avery’s father dies of a heart attack, she puts her life on hold and returns home to St. Simons Island, Georgia, to help Mama with the family restaurant. But Mama misses Avery’s sister Susanna, who lives four thousand miles away in Brighton Kingdom—and is expecting her first child. So Mama insists she and Avery spend the Christmas season in Brighton.

Colin and Avery are going to see each other a lot while she’s visiting. But she can’t forget the way he hurt her, and he didn’t expect his feelings to still be so strong.

Avery is torn between considering a future in Brighton and taking a coaching job in Georgia, and Colin is finally pushed to pursue what he really wants. Is it too late to convince Avery that she is his true love? And even if he does, will she make it to the chapel on Christmas Day to give him her heart?

Kritters Thoughts:  The fourth in a series that are interconnected but focus on different characters, this book focuses on Prince Colin and Avery Truitt.  It had been awhile since I had read the first three books, but it was easy to dip back into this world of sorts.

I would say out of all the characters and pairings in this series, I think I liked this one the least.  I just couldn't fall in love with either of them and their love story just wasn't floating off the page.  I knew going in that this being a Christian fiction romance that we wouldn't have any steamy bedroom scenes, but even with that this book just didn't get there for me.  I loved the others, I think this one just flopped.

This wouldn't keep me from continuing to read Rachel Hauck as an author, but I think this series is done and I am glad. 

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 67 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins

Now That You Mention It

by Kristan Higgins

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 384

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  One step forward. Two steps back. The Tufts scholarship that put Nora Stuart on the path to becoming a Boston medical specialist was a step forward. Being hit by a car and then overhearing her boyfriend hit on another doctor when she thought she was dying? Two major steps back.

Injured in more ways than one, Nora feels her carefully built life cracking at the edges. There's only one place to land: home. But the tiny Maine community she left fifteen years ago doesn't necessarily want her. At every turn, someone holds the prodigal daughter of Scupper Island responsible for small-town drama and big-time disappointments.

With a tough islander mother who's always been distant and a wild-child sister in jail, unable to raise her daughter--a withdrawn teen as eager to ditch the island as Nora once was--Nora has her work cut out for her if she's going to take what might be her last chance to mend the family.

But as some relationships crumble around her, others unexpectedly strengthen. Balancing loss and opportunity, a dark event from her past with hope for the future, Nora will discover that tackling old pain makes room for promise...and the chance to begin again.

Kritters Thoughts:  Nora Stuart was a good character, I enjoyed her, but for me the story was just a little all over the place.  

I love Kristan Higgins stand alone books, so when I was pitched this book to read, I didn't even have to read the synopsis, I knew I was going to read it and was pretty sure I was going to love it.  And yes, I didn't love the plot, but I was at least along the ride with a good character.  For me, the plot went all over the place.  It almost felt like she was trying to include way too many things.  There was back and forth in time and drama all over the place and it was over the top drama, so I just couldn't get into it and enjoy the ride.  

I am huge fan of Kristan Higgins, so although this book won't be in my top five of hers, not loving this book won't keep me from reading her over and over again!


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 68 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand

Winter Solstice

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publisher: Little Brown

Pages: 262

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Raise one last glass with the Quinn Family at the Winter Street Inn. 

It's been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that's about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they've experienced in years. And Bart's safe return isn't the family's only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she's finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn't be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly.

Kritters Thoughts:  The final book in this series, book four and these books build on each other, so again you don't want to proceed if you haven't read the first three books as I may spoil a thing or two.  

Bart is back home after more than two years as POW.  Ava has found a direction and is headed down a path.  Kevin is happy and finally feeling like a success.  The other family members each have their own issues they are confronting.  

This was probably my least favorite out of all of the books in the series.  There is a new character introduced and it takes a bit to realize why he is in this book and I get why he was introduced, but I didn't love that he took away the focus on the family.  I might would have limited his chapters in the book, I am not sure we needed his perspective.  

Beware this book can make you feel all the feels and you may need a tissue and I wouldn't advise reading it in public!  I won't say what sends you down the road of feels, but it is real.  I think I am glad that this series ends here.  I like that it is four books full of the family, but is finished and complete.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Review: Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

Winter Storms

by Elin Hilderbrand

Publisher: Little Brown

Pages: 246

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn's old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there's hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan. 

That doesn't mean there aren't a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can't quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can't decide between the two lovers that she's been juggling with limited success. However, if there's one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it's Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place--and the people--they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again. 

Kritters Thoughts:  The third in a winter series in which you most definitely need to start at book one, so don't proceed if you haven't read book one or two.  This is the continuation of the Quinn family and what I love most about this series is in each book, a lot of the characters get their chance to tell their story where they narrate a few chapters in each book.

In this book, Mitzi and Kelley are back together.  Bart is still missing in action.  And Ava is in the middle of two guys and trying to make decisions.  I loved this continuation of the series.  I loved almost all of the characters arcs and loved reading from where they started to where they ended up.  These books are so good to read during the holiday season, whether you read all of them in a row or one per year.  

I don't always love Elin Hilderbrand's "summer" books due to the plot lines involved, but the plots in these winter books are completely centered on family and I love it.  I love the big families with siblings and spouses and kids, the books seem so full of real life and family drama.  

Tomorrow I am reviewing the final book in the series, book four.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

It was a busy week as I prepared and attend my work holiday party, but I was able to get in some books in the mean time.  

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

What Happened by Hillary Clinton
Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand
Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand
A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

Currently Reading:

Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins

Next on the TBR pile:

Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

Review: The Holiday Gift by RaeAnne Thayne

The Holiday Gift

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 216

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  With two kids and an active life, widow Faith Dustin only wants peace and quiet for Christmas. But her snowy Pine Gulch ranch is nothing but chaotic. All that keeps Faith going is her helpful neighbor, cowboy Chase Brannon. He's always been "good ol' Chase," her faithful friend. Until he asks her out on a "real" date. 

Years ago Chase blew his chance with the woman he's loved since childhood. Now he's determined to step out of the friend zone…and into the role of husband. But the scared and stubborn Faith won't let herself fall. With Christmas just days away, Chase will need all the magic of the season—and the help of her two matchmaking children—to unwrap a second chance at love.

Kritters Thoughts:  Another book that I read that I was apprehensive because I didn't love the book that came before it in the series and thank goodness was surprised.  

Faith Dustin is one of the three sisters that was featured in the book - A Cold Creek Christmas Story.  She is the oldest of the three and like her sisters has been through a lot.  This is the love story between her and a life long friend and it is the sweetest most perfect love story!  Beware in this romance story there is little sexy times, so if you like to read romance books for that, this one won't work for you.  Instead this book is will they won't they cuteness and I liked the innocence of it.

Because I loved this one so much, I am looking forward to finishing out the three sisters and reading the final one in this series within a series.  I am not sure I will continue on in this small Idaho town, but I will definitely finish this family's stories. 


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 66 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

The First Lie

by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 35

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the farm takes a turn when Ivy’s teenage sister gives birth—all the while maintaining her silence about the baby’s father. Soon Ivy finds herself navigating the space between adolescence and adulthood as she tries to unravel a dark web of family secrets and make sense of her ever-evolving life in the segregated South. 


Kritters Thoughts:  The First Lie is a prequel short story of sorts to go before the full novel Necessary Lies.  I read Necessary Lies in March of 2016 and at the time didn't know there was a prequel short story, I kind of wish I had.  So if you haven't read Necessary Lies, read this one before you dive into that book - this sets such a good foundation for where that story is going to go.  If you have already read it, this is still worth the time, I enjoyed it.

This short story takes you back to a time where things can easily be swept under the rug and women and children have minimal rights for themselves and their lives and the crazy, surprising thing is that this book isn't set to long ago.  This book made me gasp and I had to remind myself over and over again that this was based in truth and isn't too fictionalized and made me realize how far we have come in women's rights - still not all the way there yet!

I love Diane Chamberlain and this is the second time that she has a short story that precludes the novel and I loved it.  I like a little set up before the main event, I wouldn't mind this set up for more books!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 54 out of 50

Review: Breaking the Story by Ashley Farley

Breaking the Story

by Ashley Farley

Publisher: Leisure Time Books

Pages: 248

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Passion, peril, and a scandal that will rock American politics.

Scottie Darden is a train wreck. Her personal life is falling apart, and her career as a photojournalist has stalled out. To attract the attention of the main players in the news industry, she needs a standout story with a unique perspective. What she finds is a scandal that could turn the 2016 presidential election upside down. But before she can release her damaging images to the media, Scottie must uncover the truth behind the photographs. She turns to handsome mystery man Guy Jordan for help. When they join the campaign trail in search of answers, their investigation quickly becomes deadly.

Hop on board for a wild ride of adventure where desire ignites, lives are threatened, and secrets are revealed.

Kritters Thoughts:  A follow up to the novella I reviewed yesterday.  I was worried after not enjoying the novella that I wouldn't love this one much either, I am glad to say that is not the case.  To spoil a little, a lot of what I didn't love about the first book was the husband and everything about him, I was so so thankful that her husband is gone REAL quick and the book continues beyond that.

I loved Scottie Darden so much more in this book when she is off on an adventure that seems a little  more plausible and is worth true consequences.  This book felt more full and real and like a great adventure.  I read this one so quickly in basically one sitting, it was the perfect one to sit down and enjoy during the crazy holiday season.  

After reading this one, I wouldn't mind more from this author in this series and may need to try out another series of hers.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 65 out of 50

Review: Merry Mary by Ashley Farley

Merry Mary

by Ashley Farley

Publisher: Leisure Time Books

Pages: 96

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  A young woman longing for a child stumbles upon a Christmas miracle.

Investigative journalist Scottie Darden is photographing the homeless for her Lost Souls series when she makes a discovery that could change her life forever. Under a makeshift tent in subzero temperatures in a downtown city park, she finds a woman's dead body with her infant child. Without her cell phone to call for help, Scottie makes the split-second decision to take the baby home. Her initial instinct is to provide the baby with food and shelter until her family can be located. But as her fondness for the baby grows, she finds herself facing a life on the run or worse—prison time for abduction.

Kritters Thoughts:  The prequel to the book Breaking the Story that I am reviewing tomorrow, so when I found out there was a prequel I wanted to start there first and then dive into the book.  

Scottie Darden has been photographing the homeless in this park in Richmond, VA and there one night in the cold of December, she finds a deceased women with a crying baby.  When the homeless population vanishes, she takes the baby home with no clue what to do next.

I have to be honest, I am glad this book was short in length, I didn't love it.  Maybe because it was short in length the author couldn't put a lot into it and had to be choosy with the words.  I didn't really love any of the characters and thought Scottie was a little too cooky for me.  For obvious reasons I completely despised her husband Brad and just all around didn't love the story.

My hope is that the first book in the series, what I am reviewing tomorrow - Breaking the Story redeems Scottie and with a story that seems a little more too far from left field I will enjoy the book.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 63 out of 50

Review: Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini

Enchantress of Numbers

by Jennifer Chiaverini

Publisher: Dutton

Pages: 448

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The only legitimate child of Lord Byron, the most brilliant, revered, and scandalous of the Romantic poets, Ada was destined for fame long before her birth. Estranged from Ada’s father, who was infamously “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” Ada’s mathematician mother is determined to save her only child from her perilous Byron heritage. Banishing fairy tales and make-believe from the nursery, Ada’s mother provides her daughter with a rigorous education grounded in mathematics and science. Any troubling spark of imagination—or worse yet, passion or poetry—is promptly extinguished. Or so her mother believes.

When Ada is introduced into London society as a highly eligible young heiress, she at last discovers the intellectual and social circles she has craved all her life. Little does she realize that her delightful new friendship with inventor Charles Babbage—brilliant, charming, and occasionally curmudgeonly—will shape her destiny. Intrigued by the prototype of his first calculating machine, the Difference Engine, and enthralled by the plans for his even more advanced Analytical Engine, Ada resolves to help Babbage realize his extraordinary vision, unique in her understanding of how his invention could transform the world. All the while, she passionately studies mathematics—ignoring skeptics who consider it an unusual, even unhealthy pursuit for a woman—falls in love, discovers the shocking secrets behind her parents’ estrangement, and comes to terms with the unquenchable fire of her imagination.

Kritters Thoughts:  Jennifer Chiaverini is known in the historical fiction world.  For me she has written some really great books that have a foot in historical fact, but have a bit of fiction added to make it a good story!  

This one had a bumpy start for me.  With the prologue being quite lengthy and concerning how Lord and Lady Byron met and "fell in love" and how Ada was conceived, I from the start HATED Lord Byron and was nervous that I would not enjoy this one.  As soon as Ada is given the reigns of the story and narrates her own childhood I was ready for a good book.  

Somewhere in the middle of the book, this one took a dip for me and just dragged along.  I felt like once Ada took the reigns we were going a good 50 mph and then somewhere in the middle it hit a speed bump and went slow and slower and I couldn't get my attention to keep on it.  As soon as Ada met Mr. Baggage it got better, but it never picked up and really worked for me.  

This lackluster read wouldn't keep me from reading more by Jennifer Chiaverini, but I have to say I like her American history books more than this one abroad.  

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Dutton.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

With an unexpected weekend adventure, I actually inherited some reading time, so was able to get a lot more reading done than expected!
A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini
Merry Mary by Ashley Farley
Breaking the Story by Ashley Farley
The Holiday Gift by RaeAnne Thayne
The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F&*!K by Sarah Knight

Currently Reading:

What Happened by Hilary Clinton
Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

Next on the TBR pile:

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand