Tag Archives: romance

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Book Review: A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong, by Cecilia Grant

I picked up a copy of Cecilia Grant‘s A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong in December of 2019. I finally got around to reading it as part of my Christmas Reading Challenge this year.

a christmas gone perfectly wrong

It should have been simple…

With one more errand to go—the purchase of a hunting falcon—Andrew Blackshear has Christmas completely under control. As his sister’s impending marriage signals the inevitable drifting-apart of the Blackshear family, it’s his last chance to give his siblings the sort of memorable, well-planned holiday their parents could never seem to provide.

He has no time to dawdle, no time for nonsense, and certainly no time to drive the falconer’s vexing, impulsive, lush-lipped, midnight-haired daughter to a house party before heading home. So why the devil did he agree to do just that?

It couldn’t be more deliciously mixed-up…

Lucy Sharp has been waiting all her too-quiet life for an adventure, and she means to make the most of this one. She’s going to enjoy the house party as no one has ever enjoyed a house party before, and in the meanwhile she’s going to enjoy every minute in the company of amusingly stern, formidably proper, outrageously handsome Mr. Blackshear. Let him disapprove of her all he likes—it’s not as though they’ll see each other again after today.

…or will they? When a carriage mishap and a snowstorm strand the pair miles short of their destination, threatening them with scandal and jeopardizing all their Christmas plans, they’ll have to work together to save the holiday from disaster. And along the way they just might learn that the best adventures are the ones you never would have thought to plan.

my review

I enjoyed the heck out of this. It’s just so blissfully joyful. Even when Andrew is completely confounded by Lucy and her machination he’s still secretly happy (even if it takes him a little while to understand that). And even as she’s struggling to reconcile what she wants with what she can have without compromising her or Andrew’s futures she’s so pleased with herself and Andrew’s responses. They are both so careful of the other’s best interests and honest with themselves and each other. The book is largely angst-free and a pleasure to spend time with. I guess I just have no choice but to continue the series.

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Review: A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong by Cecilia Grant (2014)

book review: a Christmas gone perfectly wrong by cecelia grant


Come back tomorrow. I’ll be reviewing The Problem With Mistletoe, by Kyle Baxter.

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Book Review: Mine To Five, by Tara September

Tara September had a promo over on Sadie’s Spotlight that included a giveaway for an audio copy of a book from her backlog. I got lucky and won a copy of Mine to Five. Since it turns out to be a holiday office romance, it’s perfect for my Christmas Reading Challenge.

mine to five tara september

‘Tis the season for an office romance!

Working beyond nine to five and barely getting by, Melanie Thomas is eager to celebrate the impending holiday season and to toast the start of her dream marketing job over drinks with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, he has different plans—like seeing other women.

Indulging in a pity party with tequila, Melanie confides in a sexy stranger at the bar. It’s almost Christmas, one night of letting go won’t hurt anything, right? Turns out it just might—when the stranger is her new boss. Determined to succeed at her job, Melanie won’t be scared away. This is her chance, even if her hot boss has her feeling all merry and bright and wishing for a less than professional relationship.

Matthew Ryans is burned out and on thin ice at the company he helped build unless he gets his head back in the game. Yet, his head, both upper and lower, are quickly becoming obsessed with his new assistant. Still, he can’t seem to fully begrudge Melanie’s distracting presence and the Christmas joy she brings with it. Especially considering that her enthusiasm has him reenergized. For once, he is longing for Mondays, but with his heart and job on the line he can’t risk blurring the lines no matter how strong the lure of holiday mistletoe is.

Will their holiday passion be able to fuel mutual career success, or will it only get in their way in the New Year?

my review

I found this fun but super predictable. It doesn’t deviate from the well-trod path even a little bit. But I also realize that this is part of what people like about holiday romances. So, I suppose this is a success in that regard.

I liked both characters well enough, though I thought their relationship (even with the awkward start) went from casual work colleagues to casual come-meet-my-mother way too quickly. And I was a little squinked out by the power imbalance of Mathew being older and Mel’s boss. I realize this too is a fantasy—the powerful boss falling for the assistant. But it is pretty cliched and when the friction was introduced in the last quarter you really felt it.

The writing is crisp and easily readable…or listen-to-able in my case and the narrator—Verla Bond—did a good job. All in all, not a big winner for me (mostly because it’s not really a story-line I gravitate toward in general), but also not a raspberry either.

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Other Reviews:

Book Review of Mine to Five by Tara September

https://berittalksbooks.com/2020/10/25/mine-to-five-by-tara-september-book-review-rararesources/

What’s Beyond Forks: Book Review Mine to Five, by Tara September

Mine to Five by Tara September

Come back tomorrow. I’ll be reviewing In Case Of Emergency, by Keira Andrews.

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Book Review: Sleigh Spells, by Bella Falls

I borrowed an auido copy of Bella FallsSleigh Spells through Hoopla (narrated by Johanna Parker) . I listened to it as part of my Christmas Reading Challenge.

sleigh spells audiobook

Have yourself a very Merry Witchmas in Holiday Haven, where the magic and mystery of Christmas is snow joke!

Aurora Hart hates everything Christmas, but how could she turn down the opportunity to serve one year of probation in Holiday Haven versus a full sentence for her crimes? Saddled with a talking squirrel roommate, Aurora is doing her best to keep a low profile as she bides her time. Everything is going fine…until Santa’s sleigh gets stolen.

Now, all eyes are on her and the other town Humbugs, and it’s up to Aurora to keep her behind from ending up back in jail. With the help of a very important person from the North Pole, she finds herself hot on the trail of the real culprit. But it will take her having to do something she’s never done before—accepting new friends and their assistance. Only then will Aurora be able to turn not only her own life around but also Christmas for the entire world!

Will Aurora be able to solve the mystery of who stole Santa’s sleigh in time? Or will the culprit get the final sleigh?

 my review

You know all of those Christmas cartoons we watched on TV every year as a kid? This book is like those, but with jobs, drinking, and flirting grown ups. It’s utterly ridiculous— with elves, yetis, trolls, paranormals, and talking squirrels all living in the north pole and assisting Mrs. Clause find Santa’s missing sleigh. Somehow, though, it manages not to feel eye-roll worthy and is still somehow amusing. The villain is absolutely obvious (and fairly cliched). So, the mystery isn’t the point. The characters are sweet (though I didn’t feel I got to know them particularly deeply) and I had a good time spending a little time with them.

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Other Reviews:

Sleigh Spells by Bella Falls

Sleigh Spells

Come back tomorrow. I’ll be reviewing A Christmas Date, by Camilla Isley.