Book Review: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

 

12 Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost
3.5 Rounded Up to 4 Stars

3.5 Stars, rounding up to 4 - a really fun, christmas cozy mystery! I really enjoyed this one! This book is surroudning Holly White. When her fiance cancels their Christmas Eve wedding only 2 weeks before the event, Holly goes home to Mistletoe, Maine with her heart broken. She is spending time with her family when all of a sudden the President of Mistletoe's Historical Society. Margaret Fenwick is murder and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly's family tree farm. With the murder weapon being a wooden steak to identify trees, Sheriff Evan Gray looks to Holly's father, Bud and other staff working there as suspects. Holly works to figure out what truly happened to Margaret and clear her father's name.

This was a really good christmas read! So much great christmas vibes in this book! After reading several cozy mysteries, this wasn't bad but wasn't the best either. I did like that it had some romance though! We don't always get a cute romance in our cozies! :)

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4b0XVPi
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Book Review: Kiss Me On Christmas by Sarah Monzon

 

As an Autism Mama, I am so thankful for this book! My son is almost 4 years old and was diagnosed at 2.5 years old. I could relate to the struggles this Mama goes through and appreciate the representation. I also related with what she was going through with her Mom. I’ve experienced many of the same things as explained here. Loved the authors note too♥️♥️ This book also gave me some hope I needed today.♥️

This book features single mom Kaitlyn Stafford, and her 10 year old autistic son Liam. They have to help with her sister’s wedding last minute for Christmas and she worries about making sure her son’s routines and traditions for Christmas are kept in tact. When they’re on the plane, they meet her sons favorite YouTube star, Beckett Walsh. Beckett, Liam and Kaitlyn all click instantly. Come to find out, Beckett is friends with Nolan, her sisters new soon to be husband. When Kaitlyn and Liam go to see her sister, they run back into Beckett and the story takes off there.

I loved this story. It was SO cure! The Christmas vibes in this were great too. Family get togethers, games, baking etc. so much fun! I also liked seeing them read the Bible and go to church for Christmas. This was my first Sarah Monzon book and I can’t wait to read more!

Book Review: Pretty Little Pieces by Carmen Schober

Pretty Little Pieces by Carmen Schober - 2 Stars 

This book is all about Georgina and her boyfriend, Lance. They are what everyone calls the next, Chip and Joanna Gaines. They renovate homes for their TV show in Nashville and are the up and up in their relationship and show when things change right when the book starts. From the first chapter, we know the Georgina suffers a miscarriage and her boyfriend Lance says he needs to take a “pause” in their relationship. He didn’t know she was pregnant, and the miscarriage makes him basically “ghost her” after being together for 3 years. The show takes some suffrage, so she starts working to have her own show with Lance out of the picture. She leaves Nashville and finds a new project in a small town in Middle Tennessee when she meets ex-sniper, Cassidy. They start to really like each other and things take off from here.

There are things I liked in this book, but the romance is what ultimately fell flat for me. This book will be somewhat polarizing in the community, in my opinion. I do appreciate authors tackling some tough topics, especially in a Christian fiction. The topics she tackles here include substance abuse, miscarriage, drinking, gun discussions, wavering faith, etc. I agree that it’s important that we have these conversations and appreciate that she had this story very similar to many real life struggles that many people face. However, I do feel like some of the topics could have been handled a little better, (such as the drinking scenes), but appreciate what she was trying to do here. I think someone could be ministered to if they are going through these issues while reading this book because the ending did tie faith in.

I liked the setting in Tennessee, home improvement reality show vibes and the faith mentioned at the end. Cassidy was such a great guy too, I really liked him and his values showed through so well.

What makes this a lower rated book for me is that I didn’t love the romance between Cassidy and Georgina. I don't feel like they had much chemistry together. Honestly, thinking about this from a real-life perspective, since so many other topics were covered in that way, I didn’t love how quickly she was getting into a new relationship after she had so much baggage that I felt like she needed to work through first. On one side, I see how Cassidy could help her work through some of this baggage, especially since he was a Christian and helping her along the way, but on the other hand I felt like it was a very instalove-y lustful relationship more than a cute, sweet romance and that she really needed to go to therapy to work through her issues first, before jumping into this new relationship.

I know many have mentioned they didn’t care for the spice level in this book in some of the scenes between the characters. Looking at it from a Christian fiction perspective, I think she could have toned down some of the descriptions with the kisses and make out sessions.
Honestly, some of the descriptions were unnecessary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Publishing for providing a copy to honestly read and review.

Book Review: One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw

 

One Christmas in Winter by Bell Renshaw - 4 Stars

Set in a cute fictional town, Winter, Montana, this was such a quick cute, hallmark movie style Christmas novella! I’m so glad I read this! SO SWEET AND ADORABLE! Reba is the director of a Christmas movie in Winter when her leading actor has an accident and is temporarily out of acting commission. Luckily, she runs into Hoyt Bradley, a previous actor, now the owner of Bentley’s diner, and Hoyt agrees to help her out as a fill in actor. The rest goes on from there as Hoyt and Reba start getting to know each other and the sparks begin to fly!

I really liked this! Some parts were cheese and super cliche, but I still enjoyed this novella. This would put anyone in the mood for the Christmas season!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40o2Zaa
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Book Review: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

 

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
4.5 Stars 
I am so glad my friend Chrissie recommended this book to me because it truly impacted me learning all about Belle da Costa Greene's life. I am so interested in her now and everything about the J.P. Morgan library!

This is a historical fiction that is a biographical fictionalized story (pulled from many historical details) about Belle da Costa Greene, who was top American financier J.P. Morgan's personal librarian. To see Belle as a black woman who passed as white her entire professional career, hiding her true ethnicity the entire time, I was truly moved and impacted by her story and struggles to keep her secret safe. I love how strong and smart she was and seeing how she was able to be so successful in her life in the early 1900s, looking back and knowing that she was a black woman specifically during that time, was beautiful and eye opening to see. Even though she passed as a white woman during the time, she left such an impact on the world we know today. This story really opened my eyes to the period after the Civil War too. I'm so glad I read this and learned about Belle! The only reason I am giving it 4.5 instead of 5 is some parts were a bit slow and I did not care for some of the sexual scenes but it's still a great historical read.

*Content warnings: intense racism, misogyny, and the trauma of passing as white in the early 1900s, abortion, infidelity, emotional abuse, abandonment, and heavy alcohol consumption, a few sexual scenes that go a bit more above fade to black but not extremely explicit either. 

Amazon:
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Book Review: Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

 

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar 
4.5 Stars 

4.5 stars. What a beautiful biblical fiction with such strong faith and characters. The ending was my favorite.♥️ Definitely want to read more of Tessa’s books in the future. So close to a 5 for me but I got a little bogged down in the middle - still a fantastic read!!!

This story is all about Chariline trying to figure out who is her father. She was raised as an orphan by her Aunt, who has not explained anything of her past to her. We know that Chariline is a mixture of Cush and Roman, but she has no idea who her father is. She begins her search for him after overhearing her grandfather talking to her aunt and learning her father is indeed alive.

This book takes place in the biblical times during the Acts timeline. Tessa packs so much beauty in this story and I loved Theo and Chariline's story together. Theo was a such a gentlemen. I felt like I was on a real adventure with these characters from Cush to Rome. Tessa Afshar is an amazing story teller and I can't wait to read more of her books. The ending was my favorite and I loved the scenes with the queen! (also adding that the audiobook narration of this book is chef's kiss!) Also such great faith content!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40PTDUL
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Book Review: Let it Be Me by Becky Wade

 

Let it Be Me by Becky Wade - 5 Stars 

I loved this continuation in the series. Leah and Sebastian are AMAZING characters and have the BEST chemistry.

This story was centered around Leah trying to figure out all the details surrounding her birth after realizing from a DNA test that the parents she knew her entire life were not her biological parents. Her paths cross with Sebastian, a pediatric heart doctor, who helps her on her journey to solve the mystery surrounding her birth. Unfortunately, Sebastian's best friend Ben has had a crush on Leah for 2 years since have worked together at the local Misty River High School. Things get crazy from here!

One thing I love about Becky Wade's romance stories is she also tells some kind of back story tied in - it's just not your typical romance read. There is so much character depth and development, that you really get to know and love them.

Loved the faith, Leah's story and Sebastian is an absolute DREAM. Can't wait for Luke and Finley's story in the next book.

Series Link: https://amzn.to/47jUbWA
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Book Review: The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham - 5 Stars

I'm 100% sure anything Pepper writes I will love at this point. The Mistletoe Countess is such a WONDERFUL romantic mystery to read at Christmas time! 5 big stars! Our main character of Grace was my FAVORITE - she made me laugh and cheer her on. I loved how she always stands up for the truth and what is right! She is someone who I could see being the best of friends with because she reminds me of myself at times!

But this book ya'll - IT'S THE ROMANCE FOR ME! Set in 1913 Virginia and England, this story is centered around Grace taking her sisters place as Frederick Percy's "wealthy American bride" that he must marry to keep his family's estate going - as they are in dire need of funds. Grace does a selfless thing and takes her sister's place due to a situation that arises from her sister's choices. Grace and Frederick are learning how to be a married couple together for the first time, while living with his family at his estate and things get crazy and mysterious really fast as we learn all about Frederick's family, their past and everything in between....

Grace and Frederick are probably in my top 5 couples of the year. I honestly loved how refreshing they were together. Seeing them learn how to be married, work together and growing to love each other - even in their messiness - it was beautiful. It was so realistic and Grace was so much fun. I also love how they both became sleuth's trying to figure out the mystery together. I love a good cozy mystery and this also had many of those vibes.

The faith content in this book also was so great!

What a unique story and romance. I can't wait to read the next book to see what Grace and Frederick get in to next! 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rX1U58
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Book Review: The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin

 

The Wish Book Christmas - Lynn Austin

4 Stars

Thanks to my friend Oceana for this amazing Christmas book rec! I loved this so much. 4 stars. This book is meant to be read after "If I Were You" and I really need to pick that up soon since it's on my shelf! I loved these characters! We got just enough of the backstory that I really want to learn more about these amazing women and their journeys.


This book is set in 1951 Connecticut where little Bobby Barrett and Harry Dawson are obsessed with the new Sears Christmas Wish Book that arrived and are dying to get every toy in the book from Santa this year. Both of their mothers are single moms who live together with their little boys and they begin to wonder if the boys will truly know what the true meaning of Christmas is - Jesus! They teach them all about the meaning of Christmas using the Wise Men through a school play and it was so beautiful. What a heartwarming story that truly taught us the meaning of Christmas. I listened to this on audio and the narrator did such a great job.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4d9UK9c
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Book Review: Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

 

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
5 Stars 

Wow, 5 stars! What a heartwarming Christmas read with a sweet romance. I absolutely loved Finn most of all. The journey he takes in this story is beautiful. The ending was top tier for me. This story is all about cab driver, once gourmet chef, Finn Parrish, who is forced to continue driving around Miss Callie, a spunky grandmother with health and memory problems that appear to be dementia. Miss Callie's granddaughter, Sydney, is so busy in court as a first year law associate that she is struggling to meet the needs of her grandmother, Miss Callie. She calls a cab to help her grandmother and that's how Finn meets Miss Callie. The story goes on from here as Finn tries to keep up with Miss Callie, meets Sydney and realizes just how much help he can be to them.

Ya'll, this is a tear jerker! I laughed, cried and felt so connected to our characters. It was just magical and captured my heart. I was reminded of beautiful memories of my grandmother's. I loved the faith content in this as well.

Trigger Warnings: If you have a loved one with dementia or struggle reading a story about loss of loved one at Christmas time, this could be a bit of difficult read for some, so I wanted to mention that.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P8GLGF
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