Review & Giveaway - - Housebroke

Housebroke

by Jaci Burton

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 12, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.

Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.

Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.

Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn't puppy love—it's true love.

PJ's Thoughts:

This sweet and steamy story kept me happily entertained from beginning to end. Burton gave me a tale that had me laughing at some points, tearing up at others, and cheering on our lead couple while they worked through issues on their way to happy endings. The overall story had a fun, upbeat vibe without sacrificing depth of emotion.

Trust (or lack thereof) was a key component of this story. Both Linc and Hazel had good reason to hold trust in reserve. I appreciated the time the author gave them to work through issues, allowing their relationship to slowly develop. Hazel, in particular, needed that time. Joyful bedroom gymnastics were one thing but after her ex's betrayal, leaving her with nothing, including her self esteem, she needed that time to find her footing before being able to move forward. Yes, there were missteps along the way but I liked that they didn't go on for too long and that clear communication, understanding, and compromise (on both sides) were used to resolve them. The strong family dynamics - on both sides - added an additional layer to the story as well as to the growth of the characters. You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats not only his mom but also yours. And then there were the dogs...

To say Hazel's foster dogs were important characters in this book would be a massive understatement. Not only did they provide important insight into both Hazel and Linc, they stole every scene they were in and pretty much the whole darn book. Hazel adored them. Linc adored them. I adored them! I loved how Burton made each of the five dogs a unique, fully-developed character in his/her own right. Their individual personalities, quirks, and actions were vividly depicted, bringing them to life on the page. I wanted to cuddle them, play with them, and adopt the whole bunch. 

Reading Housebroke was a fun way to spend an afternoon. I'm wondering if Jaci Burton plans to return to this locale for another book, say a story for Linc's younger brother? I'd be down for that!

Have you read Jaci Burton?

Do you enjoy dogs (or pets of any kind) in books?

Tell me about the furry creatures in your life.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 15 will receive a print copy of Housebroke.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review & Giveaway - - The Cowboy Whisperer

The Cowboy Whisperer

by Sabrina Sol

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

When a champion equestrian butts heads with a sexy, brooding cowboy, the heat between them sizzles.

After her last disastrous competition went viral, Olympic hopeful Veronica del Valle spent three years healing – and hiding. Finally ready for another shot, Veronica agrees to train at an under-the-radar, family-run ranch in tiny Esperanza, California. The living accommodations? Sparse. High-end equestrian equipment? Zero. What Rancho Lindo does have is stable manager Tómas Ortega, a brooding, handsome cowboy who offers Veronica unsolicited advice during her training sessions. Advice that, infuriatingly, turns out to be right every time.

The only thing Tómas cares about are his horses and saving his family’s ranch—and not their new boarder, who makes it clear she’s not happy with his stables. So he’s shocked Veronica offers to pretend to be his girlfriend when Tomas’s ex comes back to town. All she wants in return is some after-hours training. He soon realizes Veronica is nothing like he imagined, and the harder he falls, the more he worries, because Veronica’s Olympic dreams will eventually take her away from Rancho Lindo – and from him.

PJ's Thoughts:

I do love me a cowboy. Make him a broody Mexican-American cowboy with strong family bonds, a special connection to horses, and a once broken, now wary heart and I am all in. Plus, bonus, he has brothers!

Sabrina Sol has created an enjoyable contemporary romance with two main characters who have both been hurt by love. I enjoyed their journey from adversaries to lovers, with a fake relationship that gradually grows into friendship, thrown into the mix. Veronica and Tómas each have flaws, familial complications, and emotional baggage that make them both realistic and relatable. Each has an emotional journey of growth to complete individually as well as part of a couple. Sol guides them through it with a deft hand. The banter between them is lively, as is the initial friction that morphs into an undeniable attraction. They're opposites in many ways but alike in others, sharing commonalities, such as their love of horses and of family. I could feel the feelings that slowly grow between them even when they are at odds. 

I really enjoyed the Mexican-American representation of both families in this book. Sol has included traditions, (drool-worthy) food, and Spanish language that give the characters and their storylines a rich cultural authenticity. It brought them to life for me, eliciting a deep appreciation for their history as well as their present-day lives. 

The Cowboy Whisperer is the second book in this series but stands well on its own. Even though the lead couple from book one, Second Chance at Rancho Lindo, feature prominently in this book I never felt lost or confused for not having read their story. However, once I met them I knew I'd be diving into their book too. I hope we'll continue to see the evolution of both couples' relationships as the series moves forward. 

Have you read books by Sabrina Sol?

Do you enjoy reading romances with strong cultural representation?

How do you feel about cowboys, whether present day or historical?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 7 will receive a print copy of The Cowboy Whisperer.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Thank you to Forever Romance for the generous donation of a print copy of The Cowboy Whisperer for today's giveaway. 

 

Review - - Four Weddings and a Puppy

Four Weddings and a Puppy

by Lizzie Shane

Pine Hollow - Book 5

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 21, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

When two childhood friends return home after their sports careers don't go as planned, a puppy just may give them a second chance at happiness together.

She’s always been the girl with the plan . . . until the plan crashed big time

Kendall Walsh has exactly one second to save a fancy, five-tiered wedding cake and any possibility of being a wedding planner—not to mention her family’s struggling ski resort. All because of one very cute, very furry, golden menace of a retriever who has a serious thing for butter chiffon icing. Which is exactly when Olympic skier Brody James shows up and saves the day . . . and the cake.

Brody makes Kendall feel about a million indecipherable things. He’s her brother’s bestie. Her first crush. And a ridiculously popular Olympic hero, which only reminds her of her own failed Olympic dreams. What Brody isn’t telling her is that he’s walked away from it all. The fame. The sponsorships. The celebrity girlfriend. Now he and Kendall are both lost somewhere between their past and a future they can’t yet see. But four weddings, one mischievous puppy, and a few steamy kisses later, these two might just realize that they are both exactly where they need to be…with each other. 

PJ's Thoughts:

I don't know how I managed to not read any of the books in this series before getting an ARC of book five, Four Weddings and a Puppy. Once I began reading I couldn't put it down. Finished the entire book in one day then immediately bought the first four books in the series. Then, I read all four of them back-to-back over the next five days. I am in love with Pine Hollow, the pups, and all of the residents!

Shane has created a friends-to-lovers trope simmering with emotional depth, snappy banter, and swoony romance. Brody has enjoyed a stellar career on the slopes while Kendall's crashed spectacularly just short of achieving her dreams. Yet both are now at a crossroads and unsure of their next steps. It's the perfect time to reunite them as adults and toss some unexpected romance into the mix. I loved how they each supported the other, challenged one another, their open and heartfelt conversations, and the perspective, confidence, and direction gained. I really enjoyed these two together. 

While the book deals with some tough topics - mental health, debilitating injuries, dysfunctional family relationships - its overall tone is upbeat and hopeful. Let's face it, when you have a town brimming with lovable dogs and a good friend who runs the local shelter, there's bound to be plenty of laughter and smiles. 

Although I usually prefer to read a series in order, I had no issues with jumping into this one at book five. However, as I mentioned above, by the time I had finished Four Weddings and a Puppy, meeting Kendall's friends and numerous pups in the process, I couldn't wait to go back to book one and read everyone else's heartwarming journeys to love. If you enjoy charming ski towns, great friend groups, heartwarming romance, and adorable dogs, don't miss Four Weddings and a Puppy, as well as the earlier books in Lizzie Shane's Pine Hollow series. I laughed, cried, and willingly handed over my heart in all five books. 

Review - - Never Wager with a Wallflower

Never Wager with a Wallflower

by Virginia Heath

The Merriwell Sisters - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: November 7, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is a selfless academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Covent Garden that she works tirelessly for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door.

For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn’t just his life, it’s in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather’s knee in a tavern on the far away banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up shop here. He’s spent five years making a success out of his gaming hall in the sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the pleasure palace of his dreams―and where better than in the capital’s sinful heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he’s just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage run by his cousin’s wife’s youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five years ago.

While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble―and learn to love thy neighbor?

PJ's Thoughts:

As soon as Galahad Sinclair hit the pages of the second book of this series he captured my interest. By the end of that book I knew I wanted more of him and was over the moon when I discovered he would be paired with Venus "Vee" Merriwell in Never Wager with a Wallflower. I could hardly wait for these two adversaries to discover what we readers already knew. They were made for each other. Now, they just needed to lower their guards long enough to open their hearts - and minds - to that undeniable fact. 

Both Gal and Vee carried a lot of emotional baggage from their childhoods into their roller coaster relationship, impacting each of them in different ways. I have to admit, I was Team Gal pretty much 80% of the book. It was only in the final 20% that I began to warm up to Venus. She did eventually win me over though so I'm glad I didn't give up on her. I do appreciate satisfying character growth. She's a complex character who protects herself with seemingly impenetrable, self-righteous walls when confronted with a man she unconsciously senses has the power to break through to her wounded heart. Watching Vee and Gal both evolve over the course of their journey was satisfying and heart-tugging. 

The ensemble of secondary characters bring humor, conflict, and texture to the overall story. While the extended families once again have significant roles, it's three of the young orphans in this book who stand out for me, capturing my affection with their antics while also creating opportunities to delve more deeply into Gal's and Vee's priorities, vulnerabilities, prejudices, and emotional wounds, opening the door to understanding, forgiveness, growth, and love. 

If you enjoy an enemies-to-lovers, historical rom-com with a slow-burn romance, significant emotional depth, meddling family, character growth, humor, and happy endings, give this one a try. It's the last book of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone, though I think it's more enjoyable to experience the evolution of all the characters by reading the three books in order. 

Click the title to read my review of book one, Never Fall for Your Fiancee and book two, Never Rescue a Rogue. 

Review & Giveaway - - Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop

Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop

by Jenny Colgan

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 10, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Christmas comes early—far too early—to McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It’s summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie’s is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. After all, who can resist the charmingly narrow historic street with its Victorian grey stone buildings and warmly lit shop windows?

Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen’s not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves…for McCredie’s bookstore, and for Carmen herself. 

PJ's Thoughts:

Jenny Colgan takes readers back to Edinburgh, Scotland for part two of the story that began in her 2021 holiday novel, The Christmas Bookshop (read my review). Picking up where book one ended, this new novel follows Carmen and Oke (pronounced okay) through the next year as they navigate life's challenges together and then apart. 

I would describe Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop as women's fiction, or possibly contemporary fiction, though it also has strong romantic elements. The primary focus, however, is definitely on Carmen and her journey of growth which is filled with peaks, valleys, hilarity, and a fair share of awkward moments. I love the relationship that has developed between Carmen and Mr. McCredie, the quirky, elderly owner of the bookshop where she works. There's frustration, exasperation, gratitude, and a boatload of affection between these two. There are, in fact, a whole group of quirky characters who populate the quiet street in old Edinburgh where the bookshop resides. Colgan really brings them, and their street, to life in vivid detail, immersing me into their daily lives as they navigate the ups and downs of a changing landscape as a greedy purveyor of tacky tourist shops slowly worms his way into their neighborhood.

The tenuous and tricky relationship between Carmen and her sister is again front and center. Things are changing at her sister's house, where Carmen came to stay for a few months while getting back on her feet and has now been there a year. Family dynamics are another area where Colgan excels with realistic and complex tension between the sisters, children who steal every single scene they're in, and a new "manny" who provides laugh-out-loud humor along with surprisingly wise advice and more than a few temptations. 

The one area where I felt a bit let down in this second novel is the romantic relationship between Carmen and Oke. They break up at the beginning of this book, with Oke returning to his native Brazil for a six-month scientific expedition in the Amazon. We follow them individually through Carmen's POV in the majority of the book with Oke's POV popping up in an occasional chapter here and there and no communication between the two until the end of the book. Though I understand the importance of Carmen's individual growth, I enjoyed their scenes together in book one and really missed that in book two. 

Overall, I enjoyed Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. It was engaging, gave me a taste of the holidays in Edinburgh, made me laugh in places, cringe in others, and brought home the happy ending I was hoping for. This is a book that I strongly recommend reading after you have read The Christmas Bookshop. 

Have you read Jenny Colgan?

Did you read The Christmas Bookshop?

What holiday books are you looking forward to reading this year?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 5 will receive a print copy of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Thanks to Avon for the giveaway copy! 

 

Review - - The Duke Starts a Scandal

The Duke Starts a Scandal

by Sophie Jordan

The Duke Hunt -  Book 4

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 24, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

A duke with secrets. 

Lucian, the newly minted Duke of Penning, has much to prove— to himself, his family and the ton. Craving spotless respectability, he must find an aristocratic wife. Unfortunately, he can’t keep his eyes—and thoughts—off his deliciously distracting housekeeper. Such a dalliance can only mar the facade he's constructed to protect his sisters' future from the demons of his past...but this fiery passion is a temptation he cannot resist. While Susanna may not the bride he needs, she is everything he desires. 

 A woman with a past.

As the housekeeper to one of the grandest estates in England, Susanna Lockhart has worked determinedly to become all that is proper and efficient, and she never steps over the line. Romance is an indulgence for the upper class, not for her—and most especially not with her employer. But every smoldering glance from the surly, handsome duke calls to the long-buried reckless wanton inside Susanna. A love between them can never be, but will Lucian and Susanna risk being together…

Even if it starts a scandal... 

PJ's Thoughts:

I took one look at that cover and couldn't wait to dive into this book. Steamy romance up against the wall with our housekeeper heroine taking charge? Yes, please! Unfortunately, what the cover promised the story didn't deliver. The scene on the cover did not make it into the book and though there was a bit of steam (one love scene near the end of the book), the overall heat level was quite low for a Sophie Jordan book. That's actually something I don't mind if I know to expect it going in but, in this case, my expectations were quite different.

Does this mean I didn't like the book? No, it's an enjoyable story, one worthy of four stars but I was hoping for more complexity. More character development. More connection. More emotional depth. Especially with the hero. Maybe I was just in the mood for some meaty angst. Others may feel differently but I wanted these two to yearn for one another...and I wanted to feel it. I didn't.

Sophie Jordan is one of my auto-buy authors. I love her books but this one fell a bit short for me, one of those "I liked it but I really wanted to love it" books. Still, if you enjoy mild angst, low steam (except for that one scene), and cross-class historical romance, it may be the perfect fit for you. 

Review - - Christmas at Corgi Cove

Christmas at Corgi Cove: A Novel

by Annie England Noblin

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 17, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Rosie Reynolds had come to lakeside Corgi Cove as a lost, lonely girl abandoned by her own mother, but there she discovered a true place to call home. She loves her Corgis, Bonnie and Clyde; loves the lakeside life; and loves her aunt and uncle most of all. But when she discovers their struggling inn is about to be bought out by some big city chain, she hatches a plan: to win a contest naming theirs the best Christmas-themed inn in the USA. It's a long shot, but she knows if the whole town pulls together that they can do it.

But she didn’t count on Everett St Claire, who emerged from his gleaming, black BMW, straightening his tie and asking himself how did a big-city guy like him find himself in a speck on the map like Corgi Cove? And how fast could he get back to the city? After all, it couldn’t be that difficult to convince one elderly couple to take the money to retire.

He didn’t count on getting sucked into life on the lake. Sure, the people might be…eccentric, and Rosie might seem like a pain in the backside, but there is something alluring about the place. And with the holidays nearing, and the deadline looming, Rosie and Everett are about to discover the magic of a Christmas at Corgi Cove.

PJ's Thoughts:

I discovered this author two years ago but it only took that first book (Maps for the Getaway-click for review) to have me snapping up her backlist and eagerly anticipating each new release, especially the winter books. If, like me, you're counting down the days until the start of what I call Hallmark Holiday Movie Season, you'll want to add Noblin's newest offering, Christmas at Corgi Cove to your 2023 reading list. 

This book has all the feel-good elements that I've come to enjoy in my winter holiday reading: humor, love, family dynamics, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, community spirit, holiday hijinks, happy endings, and adorable, mischievous, lovable dogs (cats are good too but this book has dogs). 

I love that the author uses alternating chapters to tell the story from both Rosie's and Everett's points of view. Everett could easily be the villain of the piece but watching his evolution through his own thoughts and actions gives the reader the insight needed to feel empathy for him and his situation. Rosie and her family elicit the reader's support immediately (who doesn't love an underdog?) but Rosie herself has issues to work through. I enjoyed watching both of these characters grow throughout the story, learning what's really important in life, falling for one another bit by bit, discovering the fine art of compromise. By the end of the book, I was cheering for both of them equally hard.

The secondary cast of characters is pure gold and that includes the hilarious Bonnie and Clyde as well as quirky citizens who insert themselves into the picture at every opportunity. Nosy? Oh, heavens no. They're just concerned. The joys of small town life, am I right? They bring plenty of humor to the story but also genuine caring. When the chips are down, the citizens of this town rally to support one of their own without hesitation.

Christmas at Corgi Cove is another heartwarming story from Annie England Noblin that left me awash in the spirit of Christmas and smiling with delight. 

Review - - Dreaming of a Duke Like You

Dreaming of a Duke Like You

by Sara Bennett

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 10, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Raised in a foundling home and now proprietor of a successful club, Gabriel Cadieux hasn’t ever been welcomed by polite society. But when he discovers he’s the legitimate heir to a dukedom, he must make a choice: accept the debt-ridden title and the trappings of the peerage who shunned him or decline and leave his six rebellious half sisters to fend for themselves. As much as he hates the idea, Gabriel can’t abandon his siblings, even if it means making a deal with the most frustrating—and aggravatingly beautiful—woman he’s ever met.

Vivienne Tremeer storms into Cadieux’s club with one thing on her mind: get the loathsome owner to discharge her brother’s gambling debts. So when Gabriel offers her a trade—if she’ll teach his wild sisters the ways of the ton, he’ll clear the notes—she has no choice but to accept. But with her reputation already on a knife’s edge, falling for the duke could cause the scandal of the season.

PJ's Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It's my first by Sara Bennett and it left me eager to read more, hopefully featuring secondary characters from Dreaming of a Duke Like You. 

Do you enjoy grumpy-sunshine romance? Rags to riches heroes? Fish out of water tropes? Slow-burn chemistry? A flock of younger sisters you didn't know existed? Bennett offers up all that and more in this new historical romance. I love a self-made man and Gabriel is certainly that. He's the ruler of his gambling club world, at home there, in charge, and immensely successful. But give him a dukedom he doesn't want, responsibilities he didn't ask for, and a grandmother he has every reason to despise and our uber-confident business owner is suddenly out of his element. It exposes his vulnerable side and I do love a confident man with a vulnerable core. Enter our heroine, the woman he doesn't want to want but can't seem to resist and the only one with the ability - and willingness - to help teach his half-feral half-sisters how to navigate society. Okay, not so much willingness but if doing this gets her scapegrace brother's debt to Gabriel's club wiped clean then she's all in, even if Gabriel's presence makes her heart race and her libido flutter. This should be fun. 

I love how Gabriel and Vivienne go toe to toe, how she challenges him, and how the chemistry between them grows with every encounter. The relationship between Vivienne and Gabriel's sisters gave me Sister Maria vibes, especially the closeness that develops between Vivienne and the oldest sister, Olivia. That is second only to the melt-my-heart adorableness of youngest sister, Edwina. She captured Gabriel's heart and mine too. I also enjoyed Vivienne's complicated but loving relationship with her brother (four younger brothers: I understand) as well as her cousin. I'd like to see more of both of them in future books. 

I do hope this is the beginning of a series. There are several secondary characters who interest me, such as Gabriel's two best friends. Together since childhood in the orphanage, these men already have me wanting to know more about them and, hopefully, their journeys to love. There are a few loose threads left hanging (Vivienne's step-father for one) that I'm hoping will be taken care of in a future book. The lack of comeuppance for both the step-father and Gabriel's grandmother were the only drawbacks for me in what was otherwise a very enjoyable book. I'll definitely be back for the next one. 

Review - - The Twelve Months of Christmas

The Twelve Months of Christmas

by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Sunny, Arianna and Molly are having three very different but equally terrible Christmases. Sunny is a newlywed with two new stepkids who want nothing to do with her; Arianna is newly divorced and hates having to send her daughter off to spend the holiday with her dad; for Molly, nothing is new, but her job at the post office is getting very, very old.

The whole Christmas season has been a bust all around. But Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they had a Christmas do-over in January? February? On Saint Patrick’s Day?

Christmas all year long—what could that look like? As these three determined women chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters, over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover perfection is way overrated.

PJ's Thoughts:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to celebrate the spirit of Christmas every month of the year? That's what friends and neighbors, Sunny, Arianna, and Molly decide to do after each experiencing a less than ideal Christmas. How will it impact their lives, their families, and their friendship? Will it succeed in returning the joy that's been missing?  These are the questions Sheila Roberts explores in her newest holiday novel, The Twelve Months of Christmas.

Roberts brings a whole boatload of emotions to this book. First, she has assembled a diverse cast of characters, each facing a different type of challenge in their lives, each of whom responds differently to those challenges. Just like in real life, these characters have flaws that drive their actions, creating obstacles among friends and within families. There's betrayal and heartache, but there's also strength, love, inspiration, and unwavering support. Roberts doesn't pull any punches with these women, throwing heartbreaking obstacles in their paths that result in some pretty high emotional mountains to climb. But those obstacles also afford the opportunity for growth, for eye-opening realizations, for the chance to open hearts to the people who are always there for them. Friends who become family. 

There are snippets of humor throughout the book - it wouldn't be a Sheila Roberts book without humor - but, for me, this one leans more heavily to the emotional side. Tears were flowing more than once. As in life, these characters have to deal with significant storm clouds and some of them are heart-wrenching, especially if you are dealing with or have dealt with similar situations in your own life. I'll list trigger warnings below.

If you're looking for a heart-tugging story with multi-layered characters, relatable life experiences, humor, love, and complex relationships, all with the joy and hope of Christmas at its core, give this one a try. But keep the tissues handy. 

Trigger Warning: death, divorce, cancer, stroke

Review - - Once Upon a Christmas Kiss

Once Upon a Christmas Kiss: Cozy Christmas Collection

Cherry Creek Holiday Romance Anthology

by Ciara Knight, Brenda Lowder, Susan Carlisle, 

Terra Weiss, Susan Sands, Christy Hayes

Publisher: Self Published

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

You're cordially invited to the charming town of Cherry Creek, Tennessee, where the legendary book—Once Upon a Christmas Kiss—promises true love to the one who possesses it during the holiday season.

Don’t miss this collection of unique, romantic novellas by six different authors about women who’ve been given the gift of romance. Featuring all your favorite tropes, such as: small town, Second-chance at love, emotionally scarred, opposites attract, friends-to-lovers, secrets, cute meet-cute, blind-to-love, enemies-to-lovers, and of course, a lot of classic Christmas charm.

Who knows, you might be the next to find Once Upon a Christmas Kiss in your stocking.

Included in this collection:

Once Upon a Christmas Reunion by Ciara Knight
Broken hearts reunite for a second chance at love on Christmas night.

Once Upon a Christmas Treasure By Brenda Lowder
When Amelia enlists former best friend Oliver to help her hunt for a legendary book for her sister, she doesn’t know finding the treasure might mean losing her heart.

Once Upon a Christmas Promise By Susan Carlisle
Two emotionally scarred hearts mend through the promise of love.

Once Upon a Christmas Secret By Terra Weiss
To uncover the deepest secret of her late best friend, Dawson must volunteer for the holidays with her nemesis, Sawyer, and do good for the community... and maybe her heart too.

Once Upon a Christmas Wish By Susan Sands
Star-crossed lovers reunite with the help of a little Christmas magic.

Once Upon a Christmas Party By Christy Hayes
Two young millennials find love with the help of a Christmas legend, meddling grandparents, and a well-placed sprig of mistletoe.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of holiday romance collections. It's the time of year when my to-do list becomes a bit (okay, very) chaotic. I'm always looking for a good happily ever after to soothe my soul but carving out the time to read a full-length book isn't always possible. Short stories and novellas are the perfect solution: delicious bites of romantic journeys to love without a full day's commitment. Yes, please!

Another benefit to a holiday collection is the opportunity it affords to discover new - or new to me - authors. In fact, some of my favorite authors over the years were first discovered in an anthology I bought because of a different author. It's happened again with Once Upon a Christmas Kiss. I had previously read only two of the contributing authors in this collection but after reading all of the stories, I now have new backlists to explore and future books (hopefully some set in Cherry Creek) to enjoy.

If you enjoy charming small-towns, a variety of tropes, humor, hope, sweet romance, a festive holiday spirit, and feel-good happy endings, give yourself an early gift and pick up a copy of Once Upon a Christmas Kiss. It's currently available to preorder in e-book format for only $0.99.