Merry Christmas!

 

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 - - Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels

Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels

by Jennifer Wilck 

Holidays, Heart and Chutzpah - Book 3

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by Hellie

Journalist Jessica Sacks’s career is on the line if she doesn’t ace this next assignment. She must interview firefighter Thomas Carville, Browerville’s celebrated hero—and her forever crush since childhood. When Jessica returns home for Hanukkah, handsome Thomas takes her breath away. And rudely shuts her down when she asks for an interview.

Thomas knows he and the man he saved are both lucky to be alive, regardless of his actions. And now Jessica is poking into his business. Thomas would rather kiss her under the mistletoe than answer her questions. But his priority is protecting his sobriety and his secret. They’re as far apart as Christmas and Hanukkah, but even their differences can’t trump the power of love.

Hellie’s Heeds

I got to read the other two books in this series–and I think that made the reading of this book even more joyful as we got to visit with other beloved characters and continue to see them in the small town setting that Wilck created. Special Edition Harlequin books are known to really tug at heartstrings, and this one is no exception as Thomas is a hero who is seeking redemption. (Okay, maybe not seeking–because he doesn’t think he’s worthy of it–but that’s the trope nonetheless. He needs it.) Thomas as a hero is very complicated–since when you find out his secret–it makes him a real and flawed person, but as such, he is also in need of real world consequences for what has happened. Wilck doesn’t shy away from the real world consequences, but still is able to provide a satisfying and hopeful ending that brings two people together who need and deserve love. 

This is not to suggest that Jessica the heroine is not without flaws–she has her own issues. Due to the shame of being fired from her job, she is not honest or forthcoming with Thomas or her parents–and for a bit, even her friends. I had some issues with Jessica and her job–being that the reason she was fired, I thought that for someone who had worked 10 years at this position (which seemed stretching it because she was only 28 in the book and she was a journalist–and I believe she was also a college graduate)--and with the experience, I thought the mistake she made was something only a real rookie would have done. Then again, it is entirely possible to have led a rather charmed work life–and it was just a doozy of a mistake you made. Still. The doozy of a mistake it was–I did find it rather far-fetched she was upset that they wouldn’t give her a second chance. But…I also recognize we needed to get the heroine back home and interact with the hero, and this was a very clear way to do it. 

That aside, the chemistry between the characters and the scenes that built up their romance–as well as additional conflict of coming from different religions, also added to the atmosphere of how will this have a happy ending? I also enjoyed learning more about the traditions of Hanukkah and experiencing a blending of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions and celebrations where everyone was curious, respectful, and accepting. Which is definitely what the season is all about, in my book. 

Review - - Christmas Sweater Weather

Christmas Sweater Weather

by Jaqueline Snowe

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her older brother’s sexy-as-sin best friend, ever since that mortifying night when he flat-out rejected her. Fine. Except this Christmas season, they’re thrown together at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, complete with mistletoe, cozy fireplaces, and adjoining rooms. She can tell herself to get over Hayden, but holiday cheer is turning to holiday lust every time he is within ten feet of her. 

Between being a full-time single father and his high-pressure college coaching job, a romantic relationship is off the table for Hayden. But he’s fought his attraction to Charlotte for as long as he can. A one-night stand is starting to sound like a good idea—as long as her brother never finds out. But with two long weeks until the wedding, hiding their growing feelings is going to take a Christmas miracle.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you enjoy over-the-top Christmas shenanigans, single dad heroes, heroines you'd like to be besties with, and steamy, heartfelt romance, you'll want to add Christmas Sweater Weather to your holiday reading list. It made me laugh, made me cry (happy tears!), and left me eager for the next Jaqueline Snowe novel. 

So many feelings in this book. It's fun, saucy, and funny but that's just the surface. There's an emotional depth to these characters too, especially Hayden and Charlotte, that adds layers to both the characters and their journey to a happy ending. Snowe takes her time with them, allowing their relationship to grow at an organic, relatable pace, especially considering the awkwardness between them as the story opens. Chemistry is never a problem but there are other issues to be addressed. I appreciate the time given for them to grow, both individually and as a couple, and the methods implemented to help them do so. I like the communication between them and how they handle issues when it lapses. And I love the supportive and caring family that surrounds them, both biological and chosen.  

I enthusiastically recommend adding Christmas Sweater Weather to your holiday reading list. It's a charming heart-tugger that kept me happily reading from start to finish. If you enjoy this one, I suggest you also check out Snowe's 2023 holiday novel, Snowed in for Christmas. Click the title to read my review. 

Review - - The December Market

The December Market

by RaeAnne Thayne

Shelter Springs - Book 2

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

PJ's Thoughts:

I can always count on RaeAnne Thayne for heart-tugging, feel-good stories that immerse me in the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Stories that include healing, romance, humor, family, and hard-won happy endings, all of which are front and center in Thayne’s newest holiday novel, The December Market. 

Rafe and Amanda have both had emotional baggage and loss in their lives. For Amanda in particular - for more reasons than one - it’s been difficult to move on from tragic events in her past and open her heart to the possibility of love. I enjoyed these two so much. Rafe won me over just as completely as he did Amanda. Though not without some ups and downs. There’s a lot to overcome here. It’s going to take a special man, an irrepressible six-year-old boy, adorable grandparents, and possibly Santa to fulfill a little boy’s wish and secure a happy ending for a most deserving couple. 

The December Market put me firmly in the Christmas spirit even though it’s only October. Pretty sure I’m going to be reading this one again. If you haven’t read last year’s Christmas at the Shelter Inn (Amanda’s brother Griffin’s story), check out my review. You don’t have to read the books in order, though characters and events from book one also appear in The December Market. I recommend both. 

Review - - The Merry Matchmaker

The Merry Matchmaker

by Sheila Roberts

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Frankie Lane knows what’s best for just about everyone but herself. Her divorced sister, Stef, who is too young to give up on love; her shy employee, Elinor; and her daughter, Natalie, who works in Frankie’s shop, Holiday Happiness, and really needs to start her own business selling the delectable chocolates she makes at home; even her best friend, Viola, who is trying to renovate her old Victorian. Frankie knows she could help all of them, if they’d just let her—and if all of her help didn’t end in utter disaster. 

Then there’s Mitch Howard, the owner of the local hardware store. They’ve been friends ever since Frankie opened her store, nine years earlier. He got her through the nightmare when she lost her husband in a freak accident, and he’s her favorite shoulder to cry on. He’s been divorced for years, and it’s such a waste of man! Mitch is the fittest, finest man Frankie knows. He’s easygoing, wise and kindhearted. Mitch needs someone. And she’s determined to help him find that someone—whether he likes it or not.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sheila Roberts is back with another humorous, heart-tugging novel that is sure to put readers in the Christmas spirit. One of the facets of Roberts’ books that I most enjoy is the sense of community she creates, something that’s important in The Merry Matchmaker, with main character Frankie front and center. 

Frankie is that friend, family member, business owner that has her hands in just about everything going on in her small town. She’s the person who is certain she knows what’s best for everyone else and sets about making it happen…whether “everyone else” wants it or not. Where she’s completely clueless is when it comes to what she needs.

Roberts walks a fine line with this character. Her antics generate humor but also awkward situations, frustration, and occasionally hurt feelings. What saves her is the fact that everything she does comes from a place of genuine - if misguided - kindness. She may be fifty but she still has some growing to do, a journey that Roberts skillfully, and realistically, guides. 

The supporting cast of the book are all richly depicted, contributing humor, holiday fun, and, in some cases, life lessons along the way. Combining laughter, emotion, and those all-important lessons is something Sheila Roberts does exceedingly well. The touch of romance - between mature characters - adds another layer of enjoyment as does the community’s many Christmas events. This one is sure to put you in a holiday frame of mind. 

Review - - One Big Happy Family

One Big Happy Family

by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating.

But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months.

As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, she’ll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.

PJ's Thoughts:

Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family is one special book. I’ve been reading Mallery for years, enjoyed many of her books, but even among the many Mallery keepers lining my shelves, this book is an all-time favorite. It’s so addictively enjoyable I read it in one day and am already looking forward to my next re-read. I won’t be a bit surprised if it ends up being one of my special annual, in-front-of-the-tree-with-hot-cocoa-and-a-cozy-blanket Christmas reads. It’s just that good. 

Mallery brings an ever expanding cast of characters to this story but it never feels cluttered or confusing. Chaotic? Well, that’s a different story but it’s the kind of holiday chaos I gobble up faster than hot-from-the-oven holiday shortbread. The characters are all developed with care and a thoroughness that brings them to life on the page. They are layered, complex, intriguing, and authentic. Even those who are eminently unlikable at first have layers that slowly reveal unexpected depths. Secrets are revealed, life decisions are made, a romance rekindles, another deepens, broken family relationships take the first steps toward healing, children bring a magical anticipation, and friends and family, old and new, biological and chosen, illustrate clearly that Christmas is the perfect time to open our hearts to the hope, joy, love, fun, and unexpected guests of the season. 

Don’t miss Susan Mallery’s One Big Happy Family. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Review - - The Holiday Cottage

The Holiday Cottage

by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.

Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?

For Dorothy, helping Imogen offers a longed-for chance to make reparations for her own past. But as her daughter Sara keeps reminding her, it brings risks, too. Yet Dorothy knows that only a leap of courage will allow her family to grow and heal. And perhaps this Christmas, with Dorothy’s help, the new life that Imogen is slowly piecing together could be better than anything either of them could imagine…

PJ's Thoughts:

I always look forward to Sarah Morgan’s Christmas books. I can count on an emotional journey in a vividly depicted winter setting with intriguing family dynamics and significant character growth. All of that holds true for The Holiday Cottage though this one, while good, falls a bit short of the 5-star read Morgan typically provides. At least it did for me.

I had a difficult time getting into the first half of the book or feeling a connection to Imogen. The pace dragged and I found myself putting the book aside several times. I just wasn’t being pulled in as I usually am with this author. I kept going however and eventually the pace picked up as did the interest. From the midpoint on the story takes off and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half was everything I enjoy about Morgan’s writing, including a picturesque setting, Christmas tree farms, adorable children, romance, complicated relationships, and discovering the joy of the holiday season.

I enjoyed the different perspectives of Imogen, her favorite client Dorothy, and Dorothy’s daughter Sara. There are complex family dynamics that play out over the course of the book as well as significant individual growth for all three women. There is also a romance for Imogen that, while a bit quick, still left me feeling confident in the long-term stability of the relationship. There’s also a significant story thread for Imogen that’s left open-ended. I was really hoping to see on-the-page closure. Other than that, however, I was happy with the way the book concluded. Even if it’s not among my favorites of this author’s books, a Sarah Morgan novel is still a good read and well worth my time. 

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.