Finally Christmas by Tee Williams

 

Finally Christmas by Tee Williams -  5 Stars 

I was absolutely enamored with Tee Williams' debut novella, "Finally Christmas" - a solid 5 stars from me! This story has well-developed characters engaging in genuine conversation, making it the quintessential Christmas short story. The author packs so much in this short story and I found myself relating to some of what the main girl was going through. 

We follow Meredith who is a new Christian coming from a toxic family situation. She has never celebrated Christmas because she grew up in the Jehovah's Witness church so her new church family decides to throw her a fun Christmas party for the first time. Her family is extremely overbearing and confronts her constantly to leave her newfound faith in Jesus. Amidst the chaos of what's going on with  her family, she meets Mason, who works at her new church and their immediate connection adds a sweet touch to the story.

I found myself relating to Meredith's struggles with her family being overbearing. I loved how she said even though the Bible says to honor and respect her Mother and Father, she can do that from a distance. This resonated deeply with me, alleviating the guilt I often feel in similar family dynamics.

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed "Finally Christmas", finding it not only captivating but relatable. I can't wait to see what Tee comes out with next!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6023964056
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48dt3XK
YouTube Review to come.

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from those links.

The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole

 

The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole | 3.5 Stars 

I enjoyed my time with this book! The first 60-70%, along with the conclusion, resonated with me the most.  It's a happily ever after type Christmas read and I always enjoy those. This particular story falls under the category of clean romance—no explicit language—and overall, it delivers a positive and uplifting narrative.

We follow New York fashionista Meg who returns to her hometown of Chicago to manage her late father's apartment building. She lost her job and starts a new journey to take care of all the disasters going on in the apartment building where she meets the handsome handyman, Logan. They start to form a romance together as she tries to gain the approval of the very entertaining tenants and her father's unpaid assistant there. Then Meg meets a resident there, Ellie, who has a Christmas dress from days gone by that hold many memories. The dress give Meg inspiration for a new dream she has to help save the crumbling apartment complex to restore it to its former glory and keep it as a safe home for the tenants.

This book will leave you with so many feels! We see Meg deal with grief from the loss of her sister many years ago and the recent loss of her father. She regrets not being there for her Dad over the years and being so involved in her job. Along the way, as she meets the tenants and gets to know them, we really see her start to change as a person and realize how much she cares for them and she wants to continue the legacy her Dad started! That's the part of the story I loved most - seeing her growth as a character.

On the flip side, the relationship drama introduced toward the end, involving Logan's ex-girlfriend, felt somewhat intrusive and detracted from the overall narrative. Personally, I found this subplot annoying and out of place. While I appreciated the romance between Logan and Meg, the recurring "ex" dynamic, including Meg's ex and her best friend, felt awkward.

Despite these reservations, I found the story enjoyable and would recommend it as a heartwarming, clean Christmas read.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6089297482
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RDSY3L
YouTube Review to come.

*Amazon links are an affiliate link and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen

 

A Winter by the Sea - Julie Klassen - 3.5 Stars (Book 2 in the On Devonshire Shores series)

"A Winter by the Sea", the second installment in Julie Klassen's On Devonshire Shores series, proved to be an enjoyable read. We continue our journey with the Summers sisters, primarily following Emily Summers as she pursues her dream of becoming an author. Facing rejecting from a local publisher, she agrees to an intriguing proposing from a charming competitor, leading her into unexpected twists involving a love triangle. Despite my usual aversion to love triangles, this one was well-executed. 

This series fully immerses you in the atmospheric setting and you really do feel like you are right there with the "Sisters of Sea View" throughout the story. My only complaints are the books in this series do feel a bit too long for my liking, as I struggle to keep interest at times with the plot. There were also times it felt too slow for me, but I enjoyed this book in the series a bit more than I did book 1, mostly because of the less POVS to keep up with from a personal standpoint.

Emily's character  shines in this book, showcasing her passion for writing and her dedication to her family. I loved seeing her process writing the guidebook for Sidmouth too, very interesting. We see a little bit of Sarah's journey but I preferred just following Emily here. She really cares for her family and I think she may be my favorite sister in the group. We also see some of the royal family shown here - that added a fun layer too.

This book really is a very fitting one to read in the Winter time as well as it has some really great descriptions of the Winter season. Maybe because I finished reading Little Women recently is another reason I liked this one a bit more than book 1 because I could certainly see how lovers of Little Women would enjoy this story. 

Overall, a good continuation to the series that I think people who love regency-era stories with rich  historical settings would enjoy. Thank you to Bethany House for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6084319673
Amazon: https://amzn.to/48eV15B
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/516356
YouTube Review to come.

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from those links.

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters

 

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters - 5 BIG Stars!

Now, here is the Christmas romance book that truly captured my holiday spirit this season! I adored it immensely, especially after spending the month reading other Christmas books that didn't quite resonate with me—until I stumbled upon this gem. Natalie Walters, thank you for delivering an exceptional romantic suspense Christmas story filled with the festive cheer I needed!

We follow Former NHL defenseman turned protection agent, Andrew Bishop and Frannie Frost. Frannie is in New York for a surprise visit to her boyfriend, but things don't work out as planned when her boyfriend breaks up with her for another woman. Left feeling alone in the middle of New York, Frannie is determined to make this trip one to remember by checking off her bucket list of Christmas activities! Frannie's brother asks his friend (Andrew) to deliver his sister Frannie to the airport. Since her brother saved his life last year, he feels like he can't say no. Things get a bit crazy when the woman that Andrew was supposed to be protecting gets mistaken to be Frannie so a bit of mistaken identity and fun bucket list items make for a fun Christmas adventure!

As a Christmas enthusiast, witnessing Frannie partake in these joyous holiday activities was perfect for me. The New York setting added an extra layer of charm, allowing me to vicariously experience the city through the story! What I cherished most about this book was its embodiment of the Christmas spirit. The romance was endearingly sweet, delivering an irresistibly cute story.

Pick this up if you want a fun Christmas adventure with all the good things!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6059306299 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/48aTGMX 

YouTube Review to come.

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

 

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter 

2.5 to 3 stars. I may write a formal review later but this book follows a girl who is running from her past with her little boy and is hiding her identity. Her car breaks down and she is stuck in this new town and meets many new people.

 They help her get back on her feet and she meets specifically this guy Beau who starts being interested in her and vis versa. What bothered me about this book is Beau has a girlfriend for 60% of the book and never broke up with her while he was as developing feelings for our new girl in town.

And his girlfriend was helping the new girl out by letting her stay at her place. It just felt icky. Also there’s a mistletoe scene where someone is encouraging him to kiss the new girl…and he kisses her cheek when she moves a little and he kisses part of her lips. Whileeeee he is still dating his current girlfriend.

I don't think Denise hunter’s older books are for me. I have read two now that have this cheating thing going on. This is a Christian book, why? It encourages it. 

The only reason I gave this 3 stars on goodreads versus 2, is I really liked the scenes about the girls past and the mystery there involved with it and the small town and side characters. But the romance did NOT work for me personally. I really liked her book this year called A Novel Proposal but this one wasn’t for me.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5994193580
YouTube Review to come.

 

 

All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

 

All's Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon - 3 Stars 

I greatly enjoyed Sarah Monzon's novel "Kiss Me On Christmas" last year, particularly because it resonated with me as a mother of a child with autism. Consequently, I was eagerly anticipating delving into her latest book, which features representation of social anxiety and promises a delightful Christmas romance. While I found the overall story to be enjoyable, I must admit that it didn't quite capture my heart as much as I had hoped. 

In this story, we follow Jeremy and Mackenzie, co-workers in the field of graphic design, both competing for a new promotion at work. Mackenzie grapples with severe social anxiety, and we witness her journey navigating this challenge in various work and social situations, all while dealing with the additional stress of her mother's Alzheimer's. Jeremy, on the other hand, is an uncle raising his niece and nephew, doing his best to provide for them. Both characters have compelling reasons for needing the promotion, leading them to enter into a competitive dynamic. While the story possesses elements of romantic comedy with some humorous moments, I found myself somewhat underwhelmed by the limited interactions between the female main character (FMC) and male main character (MMC). I hoped for a more pronounced development of their romantic connection. Rather than a typical romance, the book leans more towards a Christmas-themed narrative centered around a girl emerging from her shell and learning to cope with and manage her anxiety. I can relate to some of what she went through as I find myself dealing with social anxiety at times, specifically in the work place. In general, the writing was commendable, and I believe it would appeal to a wide audience. However, it didn't quite resonate as a personal favorite for me. I did love the faith content of prayers and discussion of God throughout the story.

Cute, clean Christian Christmas romance read. 3/5 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5728835772
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/516388
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GSab4C
YouTube Review to come.

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from those links.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - 5 Stars 

Little Women is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. It certainly captured my heart from the very first chapter. From its very first page, we have themes of sisterhood, love, and individual growth that resonates profoundly. I loved the four March sisters. They each have their own unique personality and dreams. We see each of the sisters individual journeys, witnessing setbacks, struggles and the unbreakable bond that ties them together. I love the Christian themes throughout the story that we see such as forgiveness, the importance of gratitude and being content, compassion for others, trusting in God, etc. Marmee (their mother) was one of my favorite characters as well - she is such an inspiration to me as a mother. 

Set in the Civil War era, this book has a lot of thought-provoking commentary that remains relevant today. The novel encourages readers to reflect on their paths and the importance of staying true to yourself, helping others, being independent where possible, being self-sacrificing, etc. Chapter 40 made me cry - I will say that. Such an emotional impact!

Overall, the writing is enchanting and has such a timeless quality to it that will leave you captivated. Full reading vlog to come with more thoughts on Dec 24!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5911536576
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GOhwCe
YouTube Review to come and vlog. 

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.