Review - - Home for Christmas

Home for Christmas: A Novel

by Courtney Cole

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 11, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Cole, the Magic of the Christmas Season sends a woman back in time to the 1940s where she meets her own grandmother and learns the true meaning of family and the holiday.

Piper McCaulley doesn’t know which way is up or down. Her gran, her last remaining family, died two weeks before Christmas, leaving Piper to reevaluate her life. Did she really want to stay chained to the family business just to hang on to this old house? She didn’t care that her great-great-great grandpa had built it with his own hands. How could she make huge life decisions if she’d never even been outside of Alaska?

She needs to leave the snowy wilderness that’s her backyard and see the world, and since her gran left her a battered old compass, Piper takes this a secret message from her beloved grandmother: to follow her heart.

But before she is even a foot outside the door, Piper finds herself caught in a blizzard and wakes up in 1945 in the original home that her ancestors had built—a time when her gran was just a girl Piper’s age. Once she has gotten over the shock, Piper has the joy of getting to know her grandmother in a whole new way, a way that sheds light on everything Piper had come to know and not know about her own past. 

Over the course of one magical holiday season, Piper must go on a journey through time to learn the meaning of real love, home, and how a family legacy can connect one another forever.  

PJ's Thoughts:

This book reached into my heart and left me flooded with feelings. So many feelings. I never knew my great-grandmother but I've always been curious about her. Understandable, as she died minutes after I, her first great-granddaughter, was born. Imagine being transported to a place and time where I might have the opportunity to get to know her as a young woman? Imagine the impact that "meeting" might have not only on my life but on hers as well? Is it any wonder that this book spoke to me? 

The story started slow and, admittedly, didn't grab me right away. It wasn't until Piper landed in the past - where the majority of the book took place - that I began to become engaged, more so with each page turned. The stage the author set in WWII Alaska was brought to life on the page, complete with all of the hardships of the time. But in the midst of the deprivations, she also spotlighted the joy that was to be found in companionship, kindness, and simple pleasures. It wasn't long before I was fully immersed in both the place, the time, the group of veterans boarding at the family lodge, and the reindeer. The adorable, much loved reindeer.

Did I have to suspend disbelief to lose myself in a story where a present-day young woman finds herself sharing a home with her grandmother (at the same age) and the great-grandparents she never knew? Yes. Did I care? Not in the least. Cole made the story so believable that I never once stopped to think, "this isn't real." In my mind, and my heart, it was all happening exactly as written on the page. All those emotions Piper was experiencing as she uncovered previously unknown facets about her grandmother - and herself - were flowing through me as well, including the emotions of falling in love for the first time...with someone living in the past. You better believe I fretted about how that was going to all turn out when Piper was sent back to her own time. If she was sent back. I was so immersed in the story, so invested in the characters and events of the past as they played out that I actually didn't stop to think about that until Piper did...near the end of the book. And then I wondered how the author would possibly give me an ending that made my romantic heart happy. I mean, I knew she'd have to leave eventually. She couldn't be allowed to continue to live in the same space as her ancestors. I wasn't ready for two hearts who had fallen head over heels into a once in a lifetime love to be broken but how to solve the dilemma of them being from two different lifetimes? I won't give away any spoilers so I'll just say that I was very happy with the tear-inducing, sigh-worthy, fill my heart with joy, unexpected ending. 

If you're in the mood for a magical, heart-tugging, feel-good story of love, family, finding your path, and your happiness, pick up a copy of Home for Christmas. It's a book I will be happily revisiting every Christmas. 

Review & Giveaway - - Down in Flames

Down in Flames: An MM Firefighter - Hockey Romance

by Kate Meader

Hot in Chicago Rookies - Book 2

A Hot in Chicago Rookies / Rookie Rebels Crossover

Publisher: Kate Meader LLC

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

It was supposed to be a random hookup.

At a crossroads, my life a hot mess, I swiped right on the guy with the washboard abs and the tree-trunk thighs. His handle was Holt (yeah, really) but as soon as he opened the door, I recognized him: Hudson Grey, the hottest prospect in pro-hockey and apparently, secretly playing for my team. Not mind-blowing enough? He needed someone to punch his V-card, and I was only too happy to volunteer as tribute . . .

Then he ghosted me when it got to be too much.

A year later, my life is back on track and I’m a candidate firefighter at legendary Engine 6. While I might be new to the Chicago Fire Department, I’m a veteran in the game of steamy hookups. My No. 1 rule? No newbies. Except now Hudson has been traded to my hometown team, the Chicago Rebels, and he’s out, proud, and ready to date. And he wants my help introducing him to the local gay scene.

My messy past means I’m the worst guy to be mentoring the shy, sexy jock. But neither can I stand by and watch while others touch the man who already feels like mine.

I might have been his first, but I’m about to learn that the new guy has even more to teach me about hunger, hope, and falling hard.

Includes: First times, hot firefighters, sexy hockey players, mini-golf shenanigans, meddling friends, and fighting like hell for the love of a lifetime.

PJ's Thoughts:

What can I say about Kate Meader's writing that I haven't already? She continues to up her game with each book she releases and is, in my opinion, one of the best authors out there writing in the contemporary romance genre. The majority of her books are male/female couples but occasionally she'll write a male/male romance that stirs my emotions like no other. This is one of those stories.

Jude and Hudson are both incredibly complex, well-developed, relatable characters. I loved how they both evolved over the course of their story and how the dynamic of their relationship shifted in accordance with that evolution. On the surface, Hudson seems to be the one who grows the most - from the shy, awkward, closeted virgin to the strong, confident, openly gay hockey player willing to fight for love - but, in actuality, it's Jude who I felt grew the most. My heart ached for him as his cocky, confident persona began to crumble, revealing the mistakes of his past and the vulnerable core so well hidden, bringing me to tears more than once. 

For those of you who like your physical expressions to be on the mild side, this book may not be for you. The sex is steamy and frequent, but also incredibly tender, and used effectively to move this story along. I loved how hot these two were for one another. If you enjoy steam between two consenting adults that's layered with a whole boatload of emotion, this book gives you both...and then some. Jude and Hudson connect on so many levels. I enjoyed how full-bodied their relationship is, the quality of the time they spend talking about a plethora of topics, how they take care of each other, support one another, tease, laugh, and cry with one another. 

As is typical of a Meader book, there's also a lot of humor balancing the emotion and a richly depicted secondary cast of characters. I'll never look at mini-golf the same way again. Hudson's meddling hockey teammates are pure gold (I can't get enough of them), as are Jude's firefighter pals. Then there's Hudson's parents and how they treat Jude. My heart melted and there may have been tears. 

I don't think I could have pulled any harder for these two opposite, but perfect for one another, men to accept the love they didn't always think they deserved. From their awkwardly sweet introduction to their final, heartfelt declarations, they personified the truth that love is love is love and that love is something we all deserve. This one gets my enthusiastic, heartfelt recommendation. 

Note: The initial meeting between Jude and Hudson plays out in the short prequel, White-Hot Hookup, which is currently available to download at no charge. I recommend reading it before beginning Down in Flames. 

~~~~~~~~~~ 

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AUTHOR BIO
 
Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with big-hearted guys and strong heroines - and heroes - who can match their men quip for quip.
 
 
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Review & Giveaway - - Duke Most Wicked

Duke Most Wicked

by Lenora Bell

A Wallflowers vs Rogues Novel

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 27, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a wicked duke who has gambled away his fortune must be in want of an heiress.

Scarred by a dark secret, Brandan Delamar, Duke of Westbury, must concede his misdeeds have finally caught up with him. With five younger sisters to support, he must marry for money.

Sunny and steadfast, Viola Beaton is no heiress. As music instructor to the duke’s sisters, she’s developed a genuine affection for the bright young ladies. Unfortunately, she’s also developed a forbidden passion for her wildly attractive employer. 

It must be the way he inspires her to compose sonatas about moonlight and kisses. Or how his gaze smolders and lingers on her skin. Or because he makes her heart whisper impossible things.

When Westbury decrees that he’ll choose not only a bride, but grooms for his sisters, Viola can’t allow him to curtail their freedom. She strikes a bargain: if he allows his sisters to attend the Season, Viola will chaperone them and keep them safe from scandal.

Only…what if Viola and the duke are the ones most likely to cause a scandal? 

PJ's Thoughts:

The first word that comes to mind when I think of this book is "sparkling." That's not to say it doesn't also contain emotional depth. It does. In fact, there are many layers to the story. But the overwhelming feeling I got while reading it was joy. There's an effervescence to Bell's writing that keeps me smiling, and eagerly turning pages from start to finish, secure in the knowledge that I'm in for a humorous, witty, heartfelt, hopeful, sparkling, steamy, romantic ride. 

Viola and West are characters who engaged my emotions almost immediately. My heart ached for what West had endured at his father's hand during his childhood. I almost didn't blame him for the course he took when he vowed to be the most wicked duke in London. I rejoiced when he proved to not be beyond redemption, having been first awaked by his sisters' (five of them!) predicament then guided onto the right path by their music teacher, Miss Viola Beaton. Of course, I also rejoiced when he kept a bit of that wickedness in reserve to share with our (not so) prim and proper miss.

Viola was an absolute delight and a bit of a surprise. She had hidden layers that I was not expecting but that were oh, so enjoyable. I loved how she went toe-to-toe with West even as her crush on him caused her to flutter and stammer. I loved the role music played in her life and how the author used it in a variety of scenes. I loved how adamant she was in support of his sisters...and everyone else, actually. It was satisfying to watch her finally stand up for herself. That's when the fun really started. The wicked fun.

These two are so good together. I loved their banter, how they each slowly revealed their layers to the other, how they brought out the best in one another. The love scenes were steamy, organic, and so much fun. I imagine much laughter in their bedroom...in all the rooms. They've become one of my favorite Lenora Bell couples. I have no doubt that I will visit their story again. 

If you're a fan of books by Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare and have not yet discovered Lenora Bell, I encourage you to give her a try. Duke Most Wicked would be a great place to begin.

Have you read Lenora Bell?

Do you have a favorite of her books?

Do you enjoy a wicked hero who is (somewhat) tamed by the heroine? We don't want them to lose all that wicked fun, do we? ;-)

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 4 will receive a signed copy of Duke Most Wicked from PJ.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 4 will receive a special prize package from Lenora Bell. The package includes:

*Signed copy of Duke Most Wicked

*Round sticker and bookmark

*Pearl hair pin

*Copy of the Yuletide Carol from the book (written and composed by Lenora's mother)

*U.S only

*Must  be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review and Giveaway - - Flirting with the Beast

Flirting with the Beast

by Jane Porter

Modern Love - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 29

Reviewed by PJ

It’s been five years since Andi McDermott lost her husband, and she's finally starting to feel like herself again, ready to live fully—she’s even started dating again. But when her holiday plans with her stepson and his fiancée fall through, she refuses to spend another Christmas alone while everyone is celebrating with their families. Impulsively, she decides to go up to her cabin in Lake Arrowhead, a place she used to love to visit but hadn’t gone to in years, not since the feud started between her husband and their nearest neighbor.
 
Andi starts to rethink her decision when being alone at the cabin proves to be more challenging than she expected—a heavy snowstorm hits the area, and Andi finds herself trapped there with no one to help except for her neighbor, Wolf Enders. A military vet who lives full-time on Lake Arrowhead, Wolf is as grumpy and intimidating as Andi remembers. But he’s also unexpectedly kind and uncomfortably sexy—his presence reminds Andi that she may be older, but her body still works perfectly fine, thank you very much. But can this good girl tame this sexy beast of a man, and will this snowy fling turn into a love of a lifetime?

PJ's Thoughts:

I am thoroughly enjoying the mature love stories in Jane Porter's new Modern Love series. These characters have a fair amount of life experience and all that brings with it. They're proving you're never too old to start over, to fall in love, and to grow. I love that Porter has created complex characters with complicated family dynamics, unpacked emotional baggage, relationship wariness, and sizzling desire. 

Andi and Wolf are fully developed, realistic and very relatable. In Wolf, Porter has perfectly captured a true alpha, very stubborn male. It was fun to watch the sparks he and Andi created, especially in light of his contentious past with her late husband. Watching Andi grow into her confidence and strength was especially satisfying. In many ways, even though she has several decades behind her, this is her coming of age story and it was heartening to see her take control of her life. 

There were times when I wondered if these two would be able to find their way through their own emotional roadblocks. Porter gave them the time to work through issues - separately and together - before leading them to their happy ending.  They created laughter, steam, friction, and deep emotional upheaval along the way but that made their eventual happily ever after all the more satisfying and believable.

If you enjoy heart-tugging contemporary romance with mature lead characters, give Flirting with the Beast a try. I highly recommend it.

Do you enjoy alpha heroes?

Have you read any romances featuring mature characters that you would recommend?

Have you read any Jane Porter books yet?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 1 will receive a print copy of Flirting with the Beast.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Review - - Sanibel Moonlight

Sanibel Moonlight

by Hope Holloway

Shellseeker Beach - - Book 7

Publisher: Hope Holloway

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Nearly a year has passed since Eliza arrived for a “few days” on Shellseeker Beach. She has overcome grief, forged lifelong relationships, and found a place where her heart can sing. All around her, there is peace and harmony and love for the found family who has conquered every challenge thrown at them.

But when a person from the past arrives with an offer that might be too good to be true, one of the newest and most tender relationships might be set up for failure. And Eliza’s sister has to finally come to terms about her life on Sanibel…and that may mean reconsidering everything she thought mattered to her.

Through it all, Eliza seeks clarity with her second chance at romance…but she must face one last and unexpected challenge or this new love will slip through her fingers like moonlight on the water.

PJ's Thoughts:

Holloway concludes her Shellseeker Beach series with another complex, emotional, feel-good story for these unforgettable characters. Typically, I jump right into her books as soon as they've downloaded to my Kindle. This time, I let it simmer for a few days. I wasn't ready to say good-bye and, based on past experience, I was certain this farewell would be a heart-tugging experience. I also knew that once I began reading this book I wouldn't be able to put it down. I was right on both counts.

One of the many things I've enjoyed about this series is how real and relatable Holloway's characters are. These characters form a mixture of backgrounds, generations, and life experience, all expertly woven together into a tapestry of more than friendship. Over the course of seven books, they have formed romantic relationships, discovered unknown siblings, opened their hearts to new experiences, suffered disappointments and betrayals, and become chosen family. They are flawed, like us all, which makes them so much more interesting. They have depth, as do their journeys. But they also have fun, this small group who have joined together at Shellseeker Beach. They make me want to join them. They make me want to know them.  

In this final book of the series, Holloway ties up all of the loose ends that have fluttered throughout the series. There are hard won happily ever afters, and although some of them may not look exactly like series readers expected, this reader was very happy with the way things turned out. To readers who have not yet discovered the Shellseeker Beach series, I strongly recommend reading these seven books in order. 

True to form, the epilogue made me laugh, smile, and shed more than a few tears along with a fond farewell. The fact that the series setting - Sanibel Island - was significantly damaged by Hurricane Ian made that final chapter all the more poignant. I've included below a message from Hope Holloway (taken from her website) that addresses the hurricane devastation and how readers can help. 

~~~~~~~~~~

A Special Note about Sanibel Island

from Hope Holloway

My heart has been ripped out by the catastrophic storm destruction on Sanibel Island, and the whole southwest coast of my home state of Florida. It is painful to see the images of this once glorious slice of paradise. Sanibel has been my “fictional home” for a year as I write the Shellseeker Beach books, all set there. When I think of the residents, locals, librarians, booksellers, and shop owners who've helped me craft this series, I almost can't bear their pain.

I am pledging to donate a portion of every book sold in the Shellseeker Beach series for the remainder of the calendar year directly to the residents, businesses, and the refuge on Sanibel Island. My goal is to raise at least $10,000 through the sales of this series, so I hope you'll tell your friends, sisters, mothers, and besties to grab a book in paper or digital, or download on Kindle Unlimited.

Please help me help Sanibel Island in this small way. If you have the books already, I hope you will consider a donation to the Red Cross or www.FloridaDisasterFund.com.

Review & Giveaway - - Some Dukes Have All the Luck

Some Dukes Have All the Luck

by Christina Britton

Synneful Spinsters - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 8, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Ash Hawkins, Duke of Buckley, no more wants to marry than he wants a stick in his eye. As the owner of a gaming hell, he is all too aware the odds of a happy marriage are against him. But raising his three rebellious wards alone is proving more than he can handle. He needs to find someone who stands to benefit from a marriage of convenience as much as he does. Someone logical, clinical, and rational. And in a stroke of luck, he quite literally stumbles over just such a woman.

After years of ridicule for being more interested in bugs than boys, Bronwyn has accepted that she’ll never marry for love. Her parents, however, are threatening to find her a husband. Bronwyn doesn’t need any scientific research to show her Ash has secrets. But his proposal would give her the freedom to continue her entomology research and perhaps finally get published. Just as long as she can keep her mind on her work and off his piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and wicked, wicked tongue.

PJ's Thoughts:

Christina Britton keeps upping her game with each book she publishes. I've enjoyed all of them but this one is my favorite so far. In fact, it's one of my favorite books this year. 

I'm a pushover for an emotionally tortured hero who believes himself unworthy of love while at the same time aching to open his heart. In this book, it's not only romantic love that Ash holds at bay but his feelings for his three young wards as well. Wards who have a connection with him of which they are unaware and who believe he only wants to be rid of them. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Then there's Bronwyn, who has to be in the running for my favorite heroine this year. A socially awkward young woman with a brilliant scientific mind, she's saddled with parents who only value her for her ability to gain them entrance into society through marriage. What they do to her in pursuit of their goals is atrocious. It's no wonder she agrees to a marriage of convenience with Ash (who she does not realize is a duke) the day after they're introduced. I wanted to ship her parents off to a deserted island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. 

What follows is an emotionally layered journey between Ash and Bronwyn that made me laugh, made me cry, and filled me with so many feelings. I adore Bronwyn with her pragmatic, scientific approach to life. Her discussion with Ash about physical relations is one of my favorite scenes in the book (snort laughing ensued). I adore Ash even more for the way he responds to that, how he values her for who she is and desires her because of that (sizzling chemistry between these two!). I love how he supports and encourages her dreams, how he slowly loses his heart to her while also believing his heart isn't worthy of her love. And how satisfying it is to watch Bronwyn blossom under the attention of someone who has no wish to change her or denigrate her intelligence. And this isn't a one-way street. Bronwyn's impact on Ash's life is profound. These two (actually five, counting the girls) are meant to be a family and watching that come to fruition filled me with so much joy.

The Oddments, Bronwyn's group of friends (all spinsters) feature prominently in her journey and have me even more eager for more stories in this series. If you've read Britton's Isle of Synne series, you'll recognize them along with a few other secondary characters but if you're new to her writing, you should be able to jump in with Some Dukes Have All the Luck without missing a beat. I do, however, enthusiastically recommend all of the Isle of Synne books as well. Check out my reviews below.

A Good Duke is Hard to Find

Someday My Duke Will Come

A Duke Worth Fighting For

Have you read Christina Britton yet?

Do you enjoy marriage of convenience romance? What's your favorite romance trope?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 9 will receive a print copy of Some Dukes Have All the Luck. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

 

Review - - The Duke Alone

The Duke Alone

by Christi Caldwell

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: October 18, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Lady Myrtle McQuoid has always felt a little forgotten, and this season is no exception. When her boisterous family vacates their London townhouse for the country, Myrtle finds she’s been left behind. But she just needs to stay warm, keep her belly full, and distract herself until her relatives realize their mistake and turn back to collect her. Surely that won’t take long.

Brooding widower Val Bancroft, the Duke of Aragon, has shut himself off from the world. He craves blessed solitude—a loyal dog, a silent house, and his own company are all he requires. Certainly not the nonstop chattering of the joyful, opinionated young woman next door.

But with a potential threat lurking in the winter shadows, Myrtle may need to pluck up the nerve to approach the reclusive duke. And Val is not one to turn his back on a vulnerable lady.

Amid the silent nights of London, beneath a blanket of snow, could the light of a new, warm love be kindling?

PJ's Thoughts:

If you've seen the movie Home Alone, you will in short order clue in to the fact that the movie's plot is a major influence on our heroine's story. An eighteen-year-old young woman, newly returned from finishing school, mistakenly left behind by her family in a large, empty, leaking house. No food, no fires, no servants...and two burglars casing the place. But, what have we here? A grieving, reclusive, widowed duke just across the street? The possibilities are limitless and Caldwell cannily takes advantage of them all.

I love a grumpy-sunshine pairing and, boy howdy, do these two qualify. Val just wants to be left alone but chatty, carol-singing Myrtle, with her wild curls, huge dimples, and smile that won't quit keeps showing up at his door. Again, and again, and again. It seems the grouchier he gets, the wider her smile becomes. His horse likes her. His huge, scary-looking dog who doesn't like anyone but Val is a total marshmallow in her hands. And Val? He's quickly becoming befuddled, bewildered, and thoroughly charmed. He doesn't need this irrepressible bundle of sunshine in his life. Or maybe, she's exactly what he does need. 

Caldwell brings a perfect blend of lighthearted laughter and emotional depth to this story of two people who both feel alone and out of step with those around them but slowly grow to realize they are exactly right with one another. There are hijinks and a bit of danger, plus sweetly poignant moments that tug at the heart. There's also a dog - Horace - who darn near steals the whole book. I adored him. I adored Myrtle with him. I can only imagine how he's going to be with any children Val and Myrtle have. I'm already smiling at the thought. If Caldwell has any thoughts about a novella (maybe next Christmas?) for this new family down the road, I'm all in!

A couple small issues: I loved Myrtle's constant singing but having all the lyrics included on the page got old fast. I skimmed through most of them. Also, I have a feeling some readers may be uneasy with how young and innocent Myrtle seems (she turns 18 during the book). To them, I would say, keep reading. I felt a bit of that in the early chapters of the book but found the ensuing growth and depth of her character during her journey organic and believable, leaving me happy with the balance of feelings and power within her relationship with Val. These two are meant to be. 

The Duke Alone is going straight to my keeper shelf where it will be revisited this Christmas and every Christmas to come. It made me laugh, made me cry, and left my heart overflowing with joy.