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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

December - the holiday season!

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December for me is always a great reading month. With a sickness and some time off, I was able to finish the month and the year on a high!

1. On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci
2. Meet Me On Love Lane by Nina Bocci
3. You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley
4. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
5. Calli by Jessica Lee Anderson
6. How Quickly She Disappears by Raymond Fleischmann
7. The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell
8. The Widows by Jess Montgomery
9. Wife After Wife by Olivia Hayfield
10. The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin
11. The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisin
12. Keep Holding On by Susan Colasanti
13. My Drunk Kitchen Holidays! by Hannah Hart
14. The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons
15. An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer
16. Lawyer for the Dog by Lee Robinson
17. What Counts as Love by Marian Crotty
18. A Social Media Survival Guide by Melody Karle
19. The Women in Black by Madeleine St John
20. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

Total pages read, clicked and flipped:  6,578


Where having I been Reading?:
Pennsylvania (3)
Louisiana
France
Alaska
Ohio
London
Paris
Connecticut
Tiger Island, SC
Nantucket
Charleston, SC
Australia



First Book of the Year!

This has become a favorite tradition of mine - to start the year with my first read being an intentional read that hopefully sets my reading year on a great path.  

So for this year, my first read echoes my same intentions from last year, I would like to increase my netgalley review percentage.  I am still at the same percentage I was last year, which is impressive as I have increased what I have been approved for, so it took work to stay at a consistent number, but I would love to increase it in 2020.  

So my first book of 2020 will be the oldest published book on my netgalley to do list - Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner.  Although I think I read it, it was before my blog, so no review to put on netgalley.    

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Review: My Drunk Kitchen Holidays! by Hannah Hart

My Drunk Kitchen Holidays!
by Hannah Hart

Publisher: Plume Books
Pages: 224
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In a world where everyone is looking for some good news and something to celebrate, Hannah Hart is there with almost fifty ideas, arranged into twelve months of themes and recipes for how to celebrate with family and friends.

A collection of recipes, activities, and suggestions about hilarious and joyous ways to celebrate with family, friends, pets, and your entire community, My Drunk Kitchen Holidays! will commemorate holidays from Valentine's Day to Graduation, Pride Month and International Left-Handers' Day (really!). The book will culminate with the fall holidays that get much deserved attention: recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and a celebration of Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Christmas that is festive, inclusive, and incredibly hilarious.
  

Kritters Thoughts:  What a unique book!  Hannah Hart takes the reader through every month of the year and shows unique ways to celebrate the usual holidays and some outlandish ones.  This isn't your typical recipe book, so if you are looking for that, you need to look elsewhere.

This book was a self help, idea, and memoir all rolled into one and it worked for me.  I went into reading it with an open mind and I loved it.  I can't wait to pass this one along to a friend who may need to be reminded to celebrate holidays throughout the year no matter what is going on in your life.  


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

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.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Review: A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

A Wedding in December
by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: HQN Books
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister, Katie, is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself! If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiancĂ© but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived—how can she tell them she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget!


Kritters Thoughts:  Rosie is the younger sister by quite a few years and has always been the one that the family has taken care of as she was born with asthma and it has impacted her life from the beginning.  Her older sister Katie only knows how to take care of others and is horrible about asking for help herself and with a recent incident at work she is not doing a good job of picking herself up and moving forward.  Their parents Maggie and Nick have been separated, but no one knows and they haven't been able to be honest with each other or anyone else about the status of their relationship.  Rosie gets engaged at Thanksgiving and wants a Christmas Eve wedding in Colorado, so the family goes to support her, but all of their drama follows.

I absolutely love a book that is told through multiple perspectives as I feel as though you get a complete story, with chapters told from Maggie, Katie and Rosie's perspectives, it was nice to see the story from all sides.  The chapters were easily noted and it was obvious who was who, so there was no confusion, even from the beginning.

This story was a great read for the season as it takes place in the mountains of Colorado with snow storms and a frigid temperature.  With decorations in the cabins and activities like skiing, sledding and snow mobiling, this book was just right to curl up in my cold weather and enjoy.  


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

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 55 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from HarperCollins.  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.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

I ended up sick in bed for the weekend which resulted in lots of reading time, didn't enjoy not feeling well, but loved the reading time.

A
 meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:
The Widows by Jess Montgomery
Wife After Wife by Olivia Hayfield
The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin
The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisin
The Hollows by Jess Montgomery

Currently Reading:
The Third to Die by Allison Brennan

Next on the TBR pile:
Keep Holding On by Susan Colsanti

Friday, December 20, 2019

Review: Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Hope at Christmas
by Nancy Naigle

Publisher: St Martin's Press
Pages: 342
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.


But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.


Kritters Thoughts:  A Christmas book that also has a bookstore as almost a central character is my kind of story!  Sydney and Ray Anne move to a small town in North Carolina to restart their lives as Sydney's husband has decided to start life with a new woman.  Sydney has a farmhouse passed down from her grandparents and these two land there and are immediately surrounded by the small town love that anyone can hope for after a major life change.  

This book may have become my favorite of my holiday reads this year.  The setting set it above the rest as I could picture this small town bookstore in NC as I am a HUGE fan of The Island Bookstore in the Outer Banks of NC.  The Book Bea made me think of that sweet little place and it made me want to get in my car and go visit it!  I hope that that little place in the Outer Banks has the community that surrounds the bookstore in this book because that made the book for me.

This was the sweetest book and I had to slow myself down so I could just enjoy it even longer.  I was sad to find out that there is only one Nancy Naigle holiday book that I haven't read, saving it for next year! 


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Ebook 2019 Challenge: 60 out of 100


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.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Review: The Christmas Wedding Ring by Susan Mallery

The Christmas Wedding Ring
by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In her youth, Molly Anderson couldn't help crushing on gorgeous bad-boy Dylan Black—even though he only had eyes for her older sister. When things didn't work out between them, he said goodbye to Molly as well, vowing they'd have a great adventure when she grew up. Years later, dumped by her fiancĂ© just before Christmas, she's finally ready to take Dylan up on his promise.

A guarded Dylan always had a weakness for Molly, and when she waltzes back into his life—grown-up and gorgeous—he's stunned. So why not whisk her away for some no-strings-attached fun?

Laughter-filled days and late-night kisses are changing Molly's life, for good. The only gift she truly wants now is Dylan's love, but when he discovers the secret she's been keeping, she may lose him again…this time forever.


Kritters Thoughts:  Molly Anderson has spent the last number of years with a ring that was given to her by a crush with a promise of a future adventure and when her life sort of falls apart she decides to call in that adventure and take a break from her life to decide what is going to be next for herself.  Dylan Black has been building a business that revolves around a passion, but he has hit a crossroad when the mess of business is interfering with his ability to actually create new product and do what he really loves.  This adventure is perfectly time for him as well.

I loved this story.  Without spoiling a major plot situation, I had something super in common with this character and the feelings that she had with Dylan.  For me this book felt close to home and since I am far removed from my moment, it was just refreshing to revisit those feelings and know that I healed from that time.

I loved the stand alone quality of this book was really appealing during the holiday season.  It was great to read a book that wasn't a part of a series and have no feelings of missing out on any part of the character's backstories.  I was glad to know that when I finished this story I was finishing the whole story.

Molly and Dylan were great characters to follow on this adventure.  They felt like real people in a real story and I love it when a fiction story doesn't go over the stop, but stays semi rooted in reality.  

I want more of this every holiday season to read!


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

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 59 out of 100


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.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Review: Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra

Meg and Jo
by Virginia Kantra

Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 400
Format: book
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The March sisters—reliable Meg, independent Jo, stylish Amy, and shy Beth—have grown up to pursue their separate dreams. When Jo followed her ambitions to New York City, she never thought her career in journalism would come crashing down, leaving her struggling to stay afloat in a gig economy as a prep cook and secret food blogger.

Meg appears to have the life she always planned—the handsome husband, the adorable toddlers, the house in a charming subdivision. But sometimes getting everything you’ve ever wanted isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

When their mother’s illness forces the sisters home to North Carolina for the holidays, they’ll rediscover what really matters.

One thing’s for sure—they’ll need the strength of family and the power of sisterhood to remake their lives and reimagine their dreams.


Kritters Thoughts:  Have you ever wondered how the March sisters from Little Women would be in our current day?  This book answers that question, but with the addition of great little nods to the original work.  

Focusing on the two older March sisters, Meg and Jo, they take turns narrating the book as they deal with many of the ups and downs that a family goes through.  Meg is the oldest and has always been the reliable one that stayed close to home and is raising a family while also being the one to pick up the pieces.  Jo is in NYC and trying to write while also work in a kitchen and life isn't what she expected it to be.  

I completely adored this book.  I loved how easily this book felt in the current time, but the little things that easily transferred from the original work were just neatly put in this book.  I don't want to spoil these moments for other readers, but this book made me want to go re read the original just to see if I had missed any of the easter eggs.

I may go read it soon because there will be another book on the way that focuses on Beth and Amy and I can't wait to see where the book goes with those two.  


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley.  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.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Review: The Rancher's Christmas Song by RaeAnne Thayne

The Rancher's Christmas Song
by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 224
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Music teacher Ella Baker's plate is already full. But when single dad Beckett McKinley's wild twin boys need help preparing a Christmas song for their father, Ella agrees on one condition: they teach her to ride a horse. She's hoping that'll help mend her strained relationship with her rancher father; it certainly has nothing to do with the crush that's lingered since her one and only date with Beck. 
It isn't disinterest spurring Beck to keep his distance—if anything, the spark is too strong, with Ella reminding him of his ex-wife. Soon what started as an innocent arrangement is beginning to feel a lot like family. But with the holidays approaching, Beck and Ella will have to overcome past hurts if they want to keep each other warm this Christmas…

Kritters Thoughts:  Ella Baker has moved back to this small farming town to help her father on their ranch and to even possibly inherit her family's business.  While home she has taken a job as a music teacher and has started really embedding herself in the community.  Her neighbor, Beckett McKinley is spending another season without his wife as she passed away and left him with their twin boys.  He is trying to balance fatherhood while running a farm and thinking about the future for their family.  As with all romance we books, we know where this will end up . . . 

My favorite thing about reading these Christmas romances at this time of year is that they are sweet and predictable so it makes for the perfect light reading.  As a romance reader we always know that the journey to the end will have some hick ups and speed bumps, but we know it will end in a happy spot!  

Ella and Beckett were so great to follow because they are just great characters with real drama going on in their lives.  Nothing felt over the top, instead it all felt typical family drama.  

I loved the twin boys in this book.  They were written so well and were just such a sweet addition.  I loved how they moved the story along in their own unique way.  They may have been the highlight of the book for me!

I knew that this book was a part of a long series, but I love that with most romance series you can pop in and out of the series as each book centers around different people but may make appearances in other books.  


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

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 57 out of 100


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.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

With my company's holiday party this weekend and me playing hostess, not a lot of reading happened, but the last two weeks of the year should be nice and quiet!

A
 meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:
How Quickly She Disappears by Raymond Fleischmann
The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell

Currently Reading:
The Widows by Jess Montgomery

Next on the TBR pile:
The Hollows by Jess Montgomery

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Review: The Postcard by Lily Graham

The Postcard
by Lily Graham

Pages: 132
Format: eARC

Goodreads:  “She always said she’d find a way to let me know that death wasn’t the end …” 

When Ivy Everton, a children’s book illustrator, moves to Cornwall to start a new life with her husband Stuart, she gets given her mother’s old writing desk, a bittersweet token from a mother who made childhood magical. 

When she clears it, she finds that the desk holds an unexpected surprise; one she wishes, in a way, that she hadn’t found, as wedged in the corner is a blank, faded postcard addressed to her, in her mother’s hand. At first, the postcard serves only to haunt her; a constant reminder of her mother’s last message, now forever silenced, and she can’t help but wonder what unwritten secret lies unsaid. 
Yet, as the days pass mysterious inexplicable things begin to happen, odd items go missing from her studio, only to reappear, ethereally transformed in the seemingly empty desk. 

Soon Ivy realizes that the postcard was never really blank, it was simply waiting … waiting for her to find it. 
Part ghost story, part magical Christmas tale, The Postcard is about a love that transcends time and space to transform and heal.


Kritters Thoughts:  What the sweetest little book!  Ivy Everton's mother passed away and she has decided to take her mother's old writing table with her to use to illustrate the children's books she has been working on.  Upon moving the desk she finds a postcard from her mother that isn't finished.  This postcard will be an avenue to talk to her mother and to get some guidance from the beyond.

This book was the sweetest thing I read.  It is loosely Christmas related, so I loved putting the review here in the middle of December.  Ivy is pregnant after trying for a long time and at a time where she really wants a mother she is trying to talk to her in anyway possible.  I loved the ups and downs of this story and how Ivy worked through her loss while preparing for a gain in her family.  

At just over 120 pages this book was a quick and easy read to enjoy during the crazy month of December.  I would more of this from this author.  


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 37 out of 100


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.


Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Review: Christmas From the Heart by Sheila Roberts

Christmas From the Heart
by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: Mira Books
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters

Olivia Berg's charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia's grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he's declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.

Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don't have money to spare, you don't have money to share. You'd think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.

With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia's Christmas budget depends on Hightower's contribution. She's focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.

When Guy's Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he's relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What's a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn't learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?


Kritters Thoughts:  I may have said this already this season, but if you are a fan of those Hallmark Christmas movies, then this book is right up your alley.  With a little bit of cheesiness and just the right amount of romance, this book is just right for the holiday season.

Olivia Berg has been running a charity for awhile, but it is so close to her heart because her mother who recently passed away also ran this charity in this small town in Washington state.  They have relied on the same donors for years to be able to make Christmas joyful for all of their residents, especially those who are living on shoe string budgets.  One big corporate donor has decided not to donate this year and with that they will be missing funding and won't be able to do everything they wish, so Olivia has to get creative.  At the same time she ends up rescuing a man stranded on the side of the road and he could possibly have some deep pockets to help fill the gap for this organization, and of course drama ensues . . . 

I completely adored this book.  With the giving theme in this book fitting right into the reason for the season, I felt like it was perfect as a Christmas book.  I loved the bit of deception by Guy Hightower, thought it was perfect and cheeky!  As all romance books have, there has to be drama before the reader can get to the real happy ending and this one felt real and no where near soap opera level!  

This was a great read, I want more of this!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 54 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from HarperCollins.  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.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Review: 'Tis the Season by Robyn Carr

'Tis the Season
by Robyn Carr

Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  'Tis the season for family, friendship and the thrill of a holiday romance…

Under the Christmas Tree

With snow falling over the redwood forests, secluded Virgin River is the ideal place to spend the holidays. Each year, the close-knit community gathers in the town square to decorate and light a massive tree. Carols are sung, hot chocolate is shared—and a surprise left under the Christmas tree is about to bring two special people together!

Midnight Confessions

Holiday kisses don't end with Christmas—there's still the New Year's Eve party at Jack's Bar to attend. Locals and newcomers alike find themselves eager for that special countdown…and that midnight kiss.

So join us in Virgin River this year, where Robyn Carr's trademark humor, warmth and sincerity will have you celebrating the festive season in your favorite mountain town.the festive season in your favorite mountain town.
 


Kritters Thoughts:  There were three novellas housed within this one book and I will review them each individually below.  

The first one was called Under the Christmas Tree and took place in Virgin River.  With a set of puppies found under the community Christmas tree, it brings the town together and particularly Annie and Nate who will together nurse to health this set of puppies.  Since there were only 111 pages in this book, there wasn't a lot of time for Robyn Carr to get to the heart of the story and unfortunately for me it made this romance feel like insta love and was almost whiplash for me and I didn't enjoy the book because of it.  I felt as though it went from Annie and Nate meeting to getting straight into bed!  The one thing I can say, is I loved the premise on how they met - very cute.

The second story was Midnight Confessions and this by far was my favorite story in this collection.  A New Years Eve party and a two disgruntled individuals who are glad that the year is coming to close with both having bad break ups, they meet at the small town bar and start up a great conversation that could lead to more.  I liked this story the most because with the limit of pages, it felt like the right amount of romance in the story.  The story left at a moment where I wouldn't mind a follow up book to flesh out the rest of their story.

The third story was Backward Glance and felt so oddly placed in this collection.  This book didn't take place during the holidays nor did it take place in Virgin River, so just really felt weird with the other two.  Now as its own piece of work, I loved it.  A reconnection through a nosy matchmaker of a mother, it was a great story with just the right amount of romance tropes and a great storyline to enjoy.  I would love more from this couple and this set of characters.          


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


Ebook 2019 Challenge: 53 out of 100


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.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Review: Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Christmas Angels
by Nancy Naigle

Publisher: St Martin's Press
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Growing up, Liz Westmoreland dreamed of taking over her grandparents inn located in the small mountain town of Angels Creek only for it to be sold before she ever got the chance. While browsing the internet, she stumbles upon a listing for what looks to be the picturesque inn and it’s set to go to auction. Liz places a bid, and by a miracle, wins the auction. But when she gets there she finds the property in significant disrepair.

When Matt Hardy narrowly lost the inn and property that butted his land, he just hoped it wasn't another city slicker coming to make matters worse after the previous owners gutted the place for an art gallery. But the minute he recognized the sweet, freckle-faced girl from his childhood and heard her plans to reopen the inn, he jumps at the chance to help his childhood crush restore a place where he made so many fond memories.

While working on repairs, Liz and Matt discover her grandmother’s collection of angels in one of the cabins. When the angels start mysteriously showing up all over the inn, she begins to look at them as reassurance—that restoring the inn is what she's meant to do. But when an accident leaves Liz feeling like she made a mistake, will Matt—and the residents of Angels Creek—be able to show Liz that she's found a home? And possibly true love as well?


Kritters Thoughts:  Liz Westmoreland makes a rash decision one morning and wins an auction on the house her grandparents used to own and operate as an inn.  As the "big city" Charlotte girl moves to small town in North Carolina to renovate and reopen the inn that she grew up in, I loved watching Liz reconnect with her past and learn about the people currently living in the small town and the impact that the inn would have on them all.  

This was another Christmas book that I would love to see be made into a Hallmark Christmas movie it had just the right heart and small town charm mixed with a great love story.  Liz and Matt were just great!  Liz renovating something that was close to her heart and Matt having a connection to it as well was just the best story to read.  With their connection from the past, it helped the book feel less like insta love and more like a true fall in love story.  

My favorite part of the story was when Liz the always in control individual takes a major fall and has to hand over the "reigns" and let someone else take over.  This part reminded me of myself so much.  I am a planner and like to be responsible for everything, so I related when watching Liz have to let Matt take control and how that could feel when you want to do it all.  

There was one part that felt a little out of left field and that was when Matt's sister showed up out of left field, I wish the author had done some prep work with some phone calls or text messages between the characters, it would have just made her appearance a little more smooth.  I love the piece that she was a part of the story, just would have loved a little warning that she could come!

This was a great Christmas story to dive into during this season.  It was perfect and sweet.


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

Ebook 2019 Challenge: 52 out of 100


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.