Review - - Mistletoe in Park City

Mistletoe in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 3

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: December 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Gracie McBride is up to her elbows in Christmas cookie dough at her beloved bakery, Sugarfall, when a health-conscious rival opens a sleek new shop across the street—serving kale cupcakes and protein-packed pastries that threaten to steal her customers. But when a holiday project throws them together, Gracie discovers that sometimes the sweetest treats in life come from the most unexpected ingredients.

At Snowberry Lodge, the season sparkles with love as Cindy and Nicole prepare for a double Christmas wedding. But MJ can’t stop thinking about Matt Walker, the mysterious guest who came and went last year, leaving her to wonder...will he keep his promise to return?

With weddings, wishes, and a sprinkle of mistletoe—will this be the sweetest Snowberry Christmas yet?

PJ's Thoughts:

Scott and Holloway continue to bring the humor, heart, and holiday goodness in this third book of their Christmas in the Canyons quartet. 

By now, these characters feel like good friends and each new book, a much anticipated visit to their beautiful, snowy corner of the world. That speaks to the authors' ability to develop characters to the point that they feel like real people in whom my heart is invested. 

When we rejoin the family, one year has passed since the end of book two. A lot has happened but as I read I never felt as though I was missing anything. It felt like we picked right back up with everyone during an annual visit to the mountains. Romance is in the air for multiple couples with wedding planning in the works, matchmaking kids, and a surprise arrival. I loved every word. 

This heartwarming series has my enthusiastic recommendation. Because each book builds on the previous one, I strongly encourage readers to read them in order. The fourth and final book will be published later this month. 

 

Review - - Snowfall in Park City

Snowfall in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 2

Publisher: Holloway and Scott

Release Date: November 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Nicole Kessler never planned to fall for the rugged ski patrolman who keeps rescuing her on and off the slopes. Cameron is charming and protective, with a complicated life he’s convinced no woman would ever accept. But when Nicole steps into his world, she starts to wonder...is she risking her heart for a man who’s not ready to let her in?

At Snowberry Lodge, MJ McBride finds herself drawn to a charismatic guest. He’s warm, funny...and clearly hiding something. As his stories start to unravel, she’s left questioning what is he really doing at the lodge this Christmas?

Meanwhile, single mom Gracie takes her son on a new adventure in hopes he’ll connect with other kids—but the experience leaves her realizing it might be time to step out of her own comfort zone, too.

PJ's Thoughts:

Heart, hope, and holidays for the win. 

The second book of the Christmas in the Canyons series takes us back to Park City, Utah for another chapter in the ongoing lives of the multi-generation Snowberry Lodge family. This one really tugged at my heartstrings. I've become invested in these characters, rooting for them to discover not only love but the best of themselves. And, of course, figuring out a way to save their beloved family lodge.

There are new friendships, new romance, plenty of laughter, a few heartfelt tears, triumphs over adversity, a bit of a mystery, and unexpected possibilities from a surprising source. Add to that, the beautiful snow-covered mountains, festive holiday spirit, and unbreakable family bonds and you have a story that will launch you straight into the warmth and joy of the holiday season. 

Grab a mug of cocoa, a cozy blanket, and curl up with Snowfall in Park City by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. I highly recommend it. 

This is a quartet of books that I recommend reading in order. Begin with Sleigh Bells in Park City then follow that with Snowfall in Park City. Books three and four, Mistletoe in Park City and Midnight in Park City, will be published before the end of 2025. 

Review & Giveaway - - Sleigh Bells in Park City

Sleigh Bells in Park City

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Christmas in the Canyons - Book 1

Publisher: Holloway and Scott

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

It’s never too late to come home for the holidays. At the cozy, family-run Snowberry Lodge, the Christmas season stirs up more than just festive cheer. For Cindy Kessler, it brings the shocking arrival of her ex-husband Jack—along with the return of his world-famous sleigh rides and the spark they never quite lost. Could this be the second chance at love or just one more goodbye?

Cindy’s daughter Nicole is facing a different kind of challenge. After a childhood ski accident shattered her confidence, she swore off the slopes for good. But when someone she loves needs her, Nicole may have to confront the fear she’s kept buried for years.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Benny and his great-grandpa Red are cooking up some merry mischief—a secret holiday scheme that just might pull off a Christmas miracle and save the lodge.

PJ's Thoughts:

Co-written by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott, Sleigh Bells in Park City takes readers to the mountains of Utah with the first book in what looks to be another heart-tugging holiday quartet by two of my favorite authors.

Holloway and Scott always bring the feels and there are plenty of them in this heartwarming story. I laughed, shed a few tears, laughed some more, and fell in love with each member of this close-knit family...all four generations...and the horse. How could I not fall in love with Copper? 

If this book doesn't have you wanting to hit the slopes (it's the bunny hill for me), take a ride through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh (preferably under a starlit sky), cheer on a long overdue second chance romance, indulge in the baked delights at Sugarfall Bakery, sip hot cocoa by a roaring fire, and watch an endless loop of hilarious Grumpy Santa videos courtesy of the youngest and oldest members of the Snowberry Lodge family, then are you even paying attention? I'm ready for all that and more. Luckily, I don't have to wait long for more Snowberry Lodge stories. The four books in this series will all be published over the next two months with the final book dropping just after Christmas. 

Note: This quartet has continuing characters with a different family member/couple taking center stage in each book. No cliffhangers!

When do you start reading holiday books? What's your ideal setting for a Christmas getaway, fictional or real life? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 3 will receive a print copy of The Summer We Met (book one, The Destin Diaries) by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Summer We Kept Secrets

The Summer We Kept Secrets

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

The Destin Diaries - Book 4

Publisher: Self published

Release Date: August 15, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Seven summers. Two families. One beach house. And a diary that holds all the secrets.

As the sun beats down on Destin, life at the Summer House takes a dramatic turn—starting with its tiniest new arrival. As Jonah settles into life as a single father of a newborn, he has to imagine a future he never dared to dream. When his seemingly perfect sister shows up with a few secrets of her own, the entire family dynamic is forced to shift.

Tessa is stepping into a new chapter—one that asks her to choose between playing it safe or taking the kind of risk that changes everything. And when Kate returns to Destin to see if her spark with Eli still burns, they face a test that could easily mean the end of this budding romance.

Meanwhile, Maggie must confront her deepest fears as she and Jo Ellen set off on a secret adventure that is equal parts heartstopping and hilarious.

In a season of sunshine and second chances, some secrets are meant to stay buried. But others will come to light and bring these two intertwined families ever closer...and forever changed.

PJ's Thoughts:

Each book in this series has taken me on an emotional journey filled with laughter, tears, heartbreak, hope, and love. And, each book in this series has left me eager to return to this beautiful Destin beach house for more time with the Lawson and Wylie families. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I turn the final page of the seventh book. I guess I'll have to go back to book one and read them all again. I love these characters that much. 

The Summer We Kept Secrets continues the evolving relationships that have grown over the course of the first three books while also introducing course changes that will impact all of our characters. The authors have developed these characters to the point where they all feel like friends which, of course, heightens the emotional impact of every shift and obstacle life throws their way. I am so invested in each and every one of them!

One of the facets I love about this series is the attention given to each generation. Whether it's a young child struggling in school, twenty-somethings searching for their life path, middle-age couples testing romantic waters for a second time, seniors setting off on unexpected adventures, or an unexpected reunion that may (or may not) lead to a fifty-something woman finding love for the first time, each generation is given their due. 

In this book, I especially loved the time allotted to the two family matriarchs and their secret adventure. I laughed, cringed, laughed more, and sighed with deep satisfaction as two women (my age) challenged themselves, expanded their horizons, faced their fears, and opened their minds to new possibilities. 

I can't wait to discover what Holloway and Scott have planned for all of their characters in book five.  As each book in this series builds upon on the previous ones, I strongly recommend reading them in order. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Asheville Christmas Tradition

The Asheville Christmas Tradition

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Carolina Christmas - Book 4

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: November 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but the Chambers sisters are discovering that even the happiest season has its share of surprises. Noelle, newly married to Jace and managing her own cozy art gallery, is on a mission to perfect the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting. But between stepmom duties, dreams of growing her family, and strong-willed townsfolk resisting her festive plans, Noelle’s Christmas spirit is put to the test.

Meanwhile, Angie’s working at the iconic Biltmore House, where an intriguing new curator has her second guessing both her career and her heart. And their fun-loving stepcousin Hannah is struggling with the fact that her long-term relationship has fizzled out. Will a chance meeting with a former pro hockey player who now owns the Christmas tree farm have her skating her way into a whole new life?

Once again, Christmas brings challenges and change, happiness and heartbreak, and the power of unbreakable family bonds. Join these strong, funny, and loving women as they celebrate old traditions and create a few new ones along the way.

PJ's Thoughts:

Family. Faith. Heart. Humor. Hope. Love. These are the cornerstones of The Asheville Christmas Tradition, book four in the Carolina Christmas series co-written by women's fiction authors Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and this book. It's been a heart-tugging and heartwarming journey. There were tears but also smiles, sighs, and more than a little laughter along the way. It's my recommendation that the books be read in order.  

Scott and Holloway seamlessly blend their writing skills in this book. I would not be able to tell you which author wrote which words. They all flow together as if written in one voice. The characters are complex, interesting, and fully developed, creating bonds among the full cast of fictional characters as well as with me, the reader. I feel like I've come to know them, flaws, quirks, and all. They have realistic - and relatable - issues. They overcome challenges any of us might face. They have complicated family relationships, not always seeing eye to eye, but that family bond is strong and unbreakable. I love the support given and received among the women in this book, the lessons imparted and learned, and not only within the family. And I love the men in their lives, the committed partners who both give and receive the love, respect, and support we all should be fortunate enough to find. 

There are also romantic elements within this book that offer insight into various characters. A long-term relationship ends, an unexpected one begins, a married couple face a difficult decision, a sweet tradition offers comfort to a widow, and all three sisters - and their partners - look forward to the future with hope, joy, and love in their hearts. 

I would also like to mention the setting of the books in the Carolina Christmas series: Asheville, North Carolina. Most, if not all, of you are aware of the devastation heaped upon Asheville and the rest of Western North Carolina by Hurricane Helene. Scott and Holloway bring the beauty and unique vibe of Asheville to life in these books, all written before the storm. It's an area I love and know well, having lived within two hours of Asheville for more than twenty years. Mountain people are strong, they are resilient, and they will persevere. Of that, I have no doubt. It may take a while but they will rebuild their lives and their towns. In the meantime, they need help. Scott and Holloway have pledged to help that effort by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Carolina Christmas series (all four books - all formats) to Samaritan's Purse, an organization doing critical work on the ground in Western North Carolina. To help them in this mission, I have purchased a set of the four Carolina Christmas books in print format.

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 10 will receive the set of books: The Asheville Christmas Cabin, The Asheville Christmas Gift, The Asheville Christmas Wedding, and The Asheville Christmas Tradition. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Asheville Christmas Wedding

The Asheville Christmas Wedding

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Carolina Christmas - Book 3

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: December 1, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

With a grand and glorious wedding planned for the end of the year, the family faces a new and daunting challenge and the possibility of losing their beloved cabin. Angie rallies everyone for her mission, but meets so many unexpected roadblocks.

As the holidays come to a close, each of the sisters stands at the precipice of a new life. Noelle has fallen in love, but the cost might be more than she’s willing to pay. Eve has an idea that is wild and wonderful, but she’s put her fate in the hands of a complete stranger. And Angie can’t start her new life without somewhere to live, so she is moving heaven and earth to find the proof they need to keep the cabin.

Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains and promises a whole new life ahead.

PJ's Thoughts:

This is the heartwarming, uplifting series I needed this Christmas. As preparations continue for Aunt Bitsy's wedding in book three, The Asheville Christmas Wedding, the family is thrown into chaos by unexpected events. Futures are threatened, relationships are tested, and life-changing decisions loom. New beginnings await all three triplets...if they have the courage and the faith to take those first steps.

Holloway and Scott flawlessly guide their characters with love, compassion, and more than a little humor in this third book of their Carolina Christmas series. They have a way of drawing me into their world and into this family. I'm emotionally connected to the characters, absolutely certain they're all enjoying their lives, celebrating the love and strength of their family, their relationships, and the possibilities that await. No, I haven't lost touch with reality. Yes, I do know these are fictional characters but the layers, intricate details, and nuances these two authors bring to them, plus the challenges life places in their paths, make them seem very, very real.

The Asheville Christmas Wedding ties up many of the threads begun in book one while leaving the door open for future stories for these characters. I was so happy to read that the authors plan to continue the series with more stories for the Chambers sisters next fall. Book four, The Asheville Christmas Tradition is scheduled to be published November 1, 2024 and already available for preorder.

The Carolina Christmas series is one I strongly advise readers to read in order. The books are: The Asheville Christmas Cabin, The Asheville Christmas Gift, and The Asheville Christmas Wedding. Why not give yourself a gift and get all three, or download them from Kindle Unlimited if you're a KU subscriber. I'll just be over here on my sofa with a cup of hot cocoa reading them all over again. 

Review - - The Asheville Christmas Gift

The Asheville Christmas Gift

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Carolina Christmas - Book 2

Publisher: Self published

Release Date: November 10, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

The forecast for Christmas is chilly with a chance of major life changes for three sisters who have been brought together by their aunt. The month in Asheville has already opened the women’s eyes to new possibilities, and each of the sisters must make major decisions this holiday season.

With her daughter joining the family at the cabin, Angie faces the fact that her marriage is over, but has no idea how or where to start again. Noelle can no longer deny that the boy she once loved is now a man she could love again…although it would mean giving up her big city life and exciting New York career. Eve and her husband discover an opportunity that would upend their comfortable lives, but might bring them immeasurable joy.

Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains and promises a whole new life ahead.

PJ's Thoughts:

With perfect pitch and pacing, book two continues the journeys of triplet sisters Angie, Eve, and Noelle. When they made the decision to spend December at the family cabin they hadn't visited in 20+ years, little did they know how their lives would change. Now each sister is facing a crossroads, one that could change the course of the rest of their lives. 

I have fallen in love with these characters. Scott and Holloway have created complex women about to turn forty, giving them realistic and relatable challenges with which I could easily identify even if I hadn't walked their particular path. Then they surrounded them with supporting characters who add depth, humor, conflict, and love. I want to know them, hang out with them, comfort them in times of grief, and celebrate unexpected joys. 

These stories are filled with hope, heartbreak, family, faith, and the possibility of new beginnings, all woven together into a heart-tugging tapestry that had me laughing, crying, gasping with outrage, and sighing with delight. I'm already counting down the days until book three, The Asheville Christmas Wedding, releases on December 1. 

I enthusiastically recommend the Carolina Christmas trilogy and strongly suggest reading the books in order. Click here to read my review of book one, The Asheville Christmas Cabin. 

Review - - The Asheville Christmas Cabin

The Asheville Christmas Cabin

by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Carolina Christmas - Book 1

Publisher: Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott

Release Date: October 27, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

The first of a charming, heartwarming holiday trilogy that will whisk you away to a dreamy winter in the mountains. With sweet romance, strong family bonds, and an uplifting story of hope and joy, this is the perfect Christmas collaboration between two beloved women’s fiction authors!

When the Chambers sisters receive an invitation from their jet-setting aunt to spend the entire month of December at the family’s cabin in Asheville, North Carolina, they have one question -- why? The retreat, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, may be the site of many happy childhood holidays and summers spent enjoying the beauty of the area and each other…but it also holds sad memories. The sisters, and their aunt, have spent twenty-five years avoiding the cabin and renting it to strangers. Why would Aunt Elizabeth want her “dearest darling” nieces to put their busy lives in three different states on hold and spend a month in the mountains?

Eve, Angie, and Noelle, triplets born on Christmas Day, owe their very lives to their aunt, and they agree they must go. Once there, not only do they learn to let go of the past and embrace a bright future, they all start to see their lives in a new way.

Big city girl Noelle comes face-to-face with her first love...and feelings for this single dad are strong, tempting her with a small town lifestyle that she never imagined she’d embrace. Eve, a stressed-out mother of three, revels in the change of scenery and begins to learn the art of letting go of complete control. And when Angie’s rocky marriage truly cracks, she finds a new kind of joy with a connection to the past and a reconnection with her daughter.

Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains, and promises a whole new life ahead.

PJ's Thoughts:

Individually, Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott have penned some of my favorite series of the past few years. Together, these two authors have merged their talents to mix up heart-tugging holiday magic in a new trilogy that is not to be missed. 

Set in Asheville, North Carolina (these mountains are a character all on their own), Holloway and Scott have created a cast of multi-generation characters who engaged my interest and emotions, immersing me in the ups and downs of their lives, relationships, fears, and dreams with plenty of laughter, and a few other emotions, along the way. The steam is low but the emotion is soul deep as relationships are tested, long-held beliefs are challenged, new opportunities are presented, and romance is on the horizon if certain characters have the courage to take the leap. I'm all-in and eager to take this three-book journey with Eve, Angie, Noelle and the rest. As the triplets approach their 40th birthday, they all find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. I'm eager to discover which paths they choose, where those decisions take them...and if six-year-old Sawyer ever finds that elusive bear. 

The Asheville Christmas Cabin (27 Oct. 2023) is going straight to my keeper shelf (where I'm sure it will be revisited) and I've already marked my book calendar for the next two installments: The Asheville Christmas Gift (10 Nov. 2023) and The Asheville Christmas Wedding (1 Dec. 2023).