Tag: holiday romance

A Merry Little Meet Cute by. Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Merry Little Meet Cute

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Author: Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

Pages: 418

Publication Date: 9/19/22

Categories: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Adult

Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.

Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.

Content Warning: fat phobia, internet slut-shaming

It was the cover for this book that attracted me. It made me wonder about the cutesy cartoon art but…with red trees? It seemed a bit unconventional for a holiday rom com to have so much red on the cover with pink – and the synopsis was different and intriguing. This is what I thought:

+ There are a few things I was happy to see in this book: a plus size character who is an adult film star, people that work in the adult film industry, bisexual main characters, it’s a very sex positive book. Both characters are likable and I also totally enjoy the subtle Christmas vibes to the book as well – it’s not a book surrounding Christmas but the fact that the story is based on filming a holiday movie around Christmas time gives it enough holiday vibes.

+ I thought the romance between Bee and Nolan was sweet and spicy. I think it was a good balance. I expect nothing less from an adult film star and a has-been bad boy from a boy band! They are both trying to break into different careers and don’t want to mess up. I think it helped that both characters were likable.

+ I thought the secondary characters were fun! I liked Sunny who is Bee’s best friend, Luca was funny and I even enjoyed Gretchen (the director). I think having Bee’s parents and Nolan’s family in the story also added the wholesome, holiday vibes to the story as well.

~ I didn’t mind the raunchiness between Bee and Nolan, but it would have been nice to feel more of a connection between them outside of the lust. I did like that they had a moment apart when the conflict of story came to a head, and it was cute when they are back together again – but I feel like I wanted more from the ending? In all fairness it keeps the light hearted, rom-com, Hallmark movie vibe (just with a little more sexiness). But to me the story started off good and then fizzled out at the end.

~ They only know each other for 2 weeks – so yes, it’s insta-love, just to warn those who aren’t into that.

Tropes: insta love, characters trying to change their public image, forced proximity, co-workers

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Why you should read it:

  • you want to read a spicy holiday romance
  • Bee and Nolan’s romance and sexy times
  • it’s a light hearted rom-com

Why you might not want to read it:

  • it’s insta lust and love

My Thoughts:

As a holiday romance, I think it’s great how spicy and steamy it is. The characters are likable and it has enough Christmas vibes to add some wholesome element to the story even with all the raunchiness. I think the whole cast together was fun. Bee and Nolan are cute together but I did wish there was more of an emotional connection between them – but on the other hand I still enjoyed the lighthearted feel about this book

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by. Jenny Bayliss | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Title: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

Author: Jenny Bayliss

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 10/17/22

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Categories: Women’s Fiction, Holiday Romance, Contemporary, Christmas

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Elinor Noel – Nory for short – is quite content running her second-hand bookshop in London. Forever torn between her working-class upbringing and her classmates’ extravagant lifestyles at the posh private school she attended on scholarship, Nory has finally figured out how to keep both at equal distance. So, when her oldest friends invite their school gang to spend the days leading up to their wedding together at the school castle, Nory must prepare herself for an emotionally complicated few days.

The reunion brings back fond memories, but also requires Nory to dodge an ill-advised former fling. When she falls quite literally into the arms of Isaac, the head gardener with nothing but contempt for the ‘snobby prep school kids’, the attraction between them is undeniable. And as Nory spends more time with Isaac over the wedding festivities, she finds herself falling hard for the boy who used to throw mud at her and her posh friends.

As Nory and Isaac explore their common ground, pressures mount on all sides and Nory must decide what kind of life she wants to live and what sort of love is worth the risk…

Content Warning: mention of suicide, cheating

I was expecting a light-hearted Christmas romance but I got something a little bit more than that. Here’s what I think about this book:

+ It starts off in a cozy bookstore, I got the holiday feels right away just from that alone but then it moves on to a castle in the English countryside where Nory’s friend is going to get married at. It’s a reunion of Nory and her boarding school friends and the castle is in her hometown. This is where she runs into Isaac and an attraction between them sparks.

+ There is a big cast of characters because we get to meet Nory’s friends from school. I thought they were a fun group and I loved how they interacted with one another. Everyone had such different personalities, they each stood out.

+ I thought the love story was very sweet. Isaac is someone from Nory’s hometown and past and it was pretty funny how they reunite again.

~ I was expecting light hearted but got a book with some heavy topics like a friend who committed suicide and even Nory’s past scandal of sleeping with one of her friends while drunk (and he’s married). There is also the subject of classism throughout the story. Nory went to a boarding school and all her friends are rich, compared to Isaac and everyone at home who isn’t rich. So there was a lot of judging going around. There was a lot of friend drama, maybe too much drama, but I was hoping for a simple, sweet Christmas love story.

~ The story starts off in a cozy bookstore that Nory owns and then moves to the castle but where is the Christmassy vibes? I felt like it had Christmas stuff near the end of the book but I was expecting it from beginning to end.

Tropes: childhood acquaintances to lovers

Spice Level: 🌶

Why you should read it:

  • fun interactions between a big group of friends, humor and drama
  • a cozy bookstore and a beautiful castle in the English countryside, some Christmas vibes
  • sweet love story between Nory and Isaac

Why you might not want to read it:

  • needs more Christmas
  • too much drama between the friends and some heavy topics – reads more like women’s fiction than romance

My Thoughts:

I struggled to get through this one even though the beginning was fine. I loved the beginning because it starts off in a cozy bookstore and then at a castle and we get to meet Nory’s friends. Someway in the middle of the story, I started to lose interest. I wanted more of Isaac and Nory but I felt like a lot of the friend drama got in the way of that love story. I wish it was more Christmassy also. So it didn’t work for me because I was expecting a light-hearted story but if you like romance with a little something more, then you will enjoy this one.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Cat Cafe Christmas by. Codi Gary | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: A Cat Cafe Christmas

Author: Codi Gary

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 10/3/22

Publisher: Forever

Categories: Holiday Romance, Romance, Cats

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Forever for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A laugh-out-loud, opposites attract romance about three of the world’s most beloved C’s: Christmas, Coffee, and Cats.

Veterinarian and animal lover Kara Ingalls needs a Christmas miracle. Opening the Meow and Furrever Cat Café to find loving homes for adorable, adoptable cats was a dream come true—but with more cats than customers, it’s quickly turning into a nightmare. If Kara can’t figure out some way to get the café out of the red, it won’t last past the holidays.

Marketing guru Ben Reese may be annoyingly smart and frustratingly bossy, but when he hatches a plan to put the café in the “green” by Christmas, Kara realizes that she’d be a fool to turn down his help. And so what if he turns out to be an excellent problem solver and nerdy-hot—he can’t even handle fostering one little kitten. She needs to keep their relationship professional and focus on saving the cafe.

But if Ben and Kara can set aside their differences—and find homes for all the cats by Christmas—they might discover that, by risking their hearts, they’ll have their own purr-fect holiday . . . together.

Content Warning:

Holiday romances always have a predictable outcome which is what I want, but I love how this story involves happy endings for many cats needing to be adopted. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ Kara is a veterinarian who runs a non-profit cat cafe. Right off the bat we know she’s a good person with a good heart who clearly loves cats. But we also learn she has a tarnished past. Will her past ruin the success of her cat cafe? She hopes not.

+ Kara and Ben have a slow and sweet relationship. It’s not rushed, they take things slow and they really become friends first. They were matched pretty good I think but they did have their own trust issues because of their past relationship.

+ Not only did I love all the description of cats before each chapter but I think cat cafe’s are great (I’ve only been to one). And the secondary characters like Charity and Schwartz really stood out to me. Charity is Kara’s best friend and Schwartz is Ben’s coworker/friend. I like that the friends were there for Kara and Ben! Do we get a story about Charity or Schwartz? Because I’d love to read one about them and more about the cat cafe.

+ This is a great holiday romance which starts at Thanksgiving. But we get the Christmas vibes because of all the events surrounding the cat cafe fundraising plus, Kara and Ben sharing their likes and dislikes about the holiday. Ben reminisces about his family in Boston and Kara has her own family memories also. I also like how Schwartz is Jewish and mentions Hanukkah. But as a Christmas romance I think this one definitely check off all the boxes.

~ There wasn’t much conflict between Kara and Ben and when there was I think it resolved fairly easily. It also isn’t a huge enemies to lovers story because I felt like they put differences aside fairly quickly.

~ Could use more chemistry between since they didn’t like each other at first but I do have to say I did that they settled into a cozy, slow relationship instead of one that burned quick.

Tropes: holiday romance, enemies to lovers,

Why you should read it:

  • it’s got cats – so if you are a cat lover, you will love seeing these adopted cats find new homes during the holidays
  • it has the holiday theme, a need to save the cat cafe during Christmas and all the good vibes of a holiday romance
  • the romance is cozy and not so dramatic, light-hearted

Why you might not want to read it:

  • not much conflict
  • would be nice to have a little more chemistry

My Thoughts:

A Cat Cafe Christmas is a light-hearted holiday romance that will give you lots of cozy feels especially if you love cats. I love all the cat descriptions from each chapter and how Kara had a good heart trying to find them homes. I thought the romance between Kara and Ben grew gradually into something warm and comforting for both parties, but would have loved some sizzle. There were good secondary characters and getting to know the cats was awesome as well It made me want to get a cat and I can’t say that I am a cat person, since I’ve only had dogs but this book made me want one. Overall, if you are looking for a sweet holiday romance, try this one!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Christmas Clash by. Suzanne Park | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Christmas Clash

Author: Suzanne Park

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 368

Publication Date: 10/4/22

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Teen

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Who’s naughty and nice at Riverwood Mall? In this hilarious holiday rom-com, two rivals get together to save their families’ livelihoods, and Christmas, too!

Chloe Kwon can’t stand Peter Li. It’s always been that way. Their families don’t get along either: their parents operate rival restaurants in the Riverwood Mall food court―Korean food for the Kwons and Chinese food for the Lis. Now it’s the holiday season and Chloe’s the photographer at the mall’s Santa Land, and Peter works at the virtual reality North Pole experience right across the atrium. It’s all Chloe can do to avoid Peter’s smug, incredibly photogenic face.

But it turns out the mall is about to be sold to a developer and demolished for condos. Eviction notices are being handed out right before Christmas. Their parents don’t know what to do, and soon Chloe and Peter realize that the two of them need to join efforts to try to save the mall. Just when it seems like they can put aside their differences and work closely (very closely) together, they discover that the Kwon and Li feud goes far deeper than either of them realize…

Content Warning: bullying, racism

I wanted to read more holiday romances this year and so when I saw this on NetGalley, I requested it because I’ve read another book by Suzanne Park that I enjoyed. This one was a cute young adult romance. Here’s what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I love both the Korean and Chinese representation in this book. Peter’s family is Chinese and runs a Chinese restaurant and Chloe’s family runs a Korean restaurant. I thought it was cute how they each had a favorite food from one another’s restaurant even though they are rivals. We get a glimpse of into each of their family dynamics and a little bit of the histories too. We also see how Peter and Chloe deal with racism from their community. Chloe and Peter are very relatable.

+ The romance is super sweet, more geared towards a teen audience I think. Peter and Chloe only really know each other from the bad blood between their families, but they don’t even know the reason why they hate one another. So seeing them from enemies, to partners, to something more is really cute.

~ It’s a holiday romance and a lot of the story is set at a mall, which yes, is a staple during the holidays because of Christmas shopping and pictures with Santa. There is a Friendsgiving scene, so this is basically the start of the holidays but not quite at Christmas yet. So it had some elements hinting to Christmas but it isn’t totally full-on Christmas, which I was hoping for.

~There are a bunch of things going on in the story. The mall is about to close and Chloe and Peter try to save it because it’s their families livelihood. In their attempts to save it they find out more about the bad blood between their families. Chloe is trying to achieve her dreams of winning an art award that could help her with college. Also the romance is happening between them and I like that there was depth to the characters but I feel like the story didn’t flow as easily as it should.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, family rivalry, saving a location from closure

Spice Level:

Why you should read it:

  • it’s a holiday romance that doesn’t countdown to Christmas, more like events that are happening around the holidays and it was nice to see the families make peace, the store owners fight for their livelihood and a little romance thrown in
  • the romance is sweet and cute, more geared towards teens than young adult
  • nice Chinese and Korean representation

Why you might not want to read it:

  • might not have as much Christmassy elements for a Christmas romance

My Thoughts:

This was a cute holiday romance where two teens from rival restaurant families fall for one another when they decide to pair up and help save the mall and their family businesses. I liked the Korean and Chinese culture representation and that we do get holiday references even though the story doesn’t count down to Christmas like in some other holiday romances. I feel like teen readers would enjoy this one a lot.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by. Suzanne Park | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Plight Before Christmas by. Kate Stewart | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Plight Before Christmas

Author: Kate Stewart

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Publication Date: 12/16/21

Categories: Holiday Romance, Adult, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary

Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.

When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.

Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.

Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.

I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.

I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.

I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.

I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.

I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.

Fa la la la la la, FML.

I picked this one up before Christmas and I thought it was perfect as a holiday romance. Whitney is in her late 30’s, the single one in her family who has no boyfriend, no kids and just lost the promotion at work.

I really love Whitney’s family in this story. They gather at a cabin for a family Christmas. Her parents are funny and her siblings act like siblings. They love and fight and love some more, it’s so heart warming. Whitney is a wonderful aunt to her niece and nephews and you can just really feel her love towards them. She knows her time to becoming pregnant is ticking down fast and she sees no future in it.

By strange coincidence, her ex-college boyfriend apparent works with her older brother now and has come along to the cabin to be with them for Christmas. Whitney is caught between present day Eli, and the memories of their past. I thought it was interesting how everyone was dealing with their own stuff. Whitney’s older sister, Serena is having a rough patch in her marriage, her brother and his wife seem to be doing well but it’s not all roses and then there is her and Eli. Her parents seem like they have had the perfect marriage (in Whitney and her siblings eyes) but even they had rough times. These issue are so relatable and I’m glad it didn’t paint relationships as this perfect thing – these are what relationships look like after the wedding and maybe a few kids.

Eli and Whitney have a past and there are many flashback memories of that past. It seems like Eli is there to apologize for breaking her heart but Whitney doesn’t want to heart it. There is a happy ending for them though because it’s Christmas! lol…no that isn’t quite the reason why, but Eli being around Whitney’s family makes him realize a lot of things about Whitney.

Content Warnings: death of parents, illness

As far as Whitney and Eli are concerned – they only dated 8 months and that was years ago but it really took a toll on her outlook on relationships. He was her first love and heartbreak. Their flashbacks gives us a good glimpse of their past but my issue with Eli was he couldn’t just tell her what he wanted to say. We learn why near the end of the story and there was so much to unpack about him – but I felt like he and Whitney dragged on a bit too long. We get all of the answers at the end, but most times I was more invested in Serena/Thatch’s relationship because I could relate to being with kids, and being sassy like Serena.

Why you should read it:

  • fun family Christmas shenanigans – family cabin/snow
  • second chance romance plus other family relationships in trouble
  • heart warming story about family and relationships

Why you might not want to read it:

  • push/pull from Whitney and Eli kind of took too long for me

My thoughts:

I just needed a holiday romance and the cover of this intrigued me! What I got was a heart-warming story about close family, working through and fighting for relationships, fun Christmas traditions and family bickering, a second-chance romance and all the holidays feels. Glad I picked this one up!

📚 ~ Yolanda

The Naughty, the Nice, and the Nanny by. Willa Nash | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Naughty, the Nice and the Nanny (Holiday Brothers, #1)

Author: Willa Nash

Format: ebook (kindle unlimited)

Pages: 165

Publication Date: 11/4/21

Categories: Contemporary, Holiday Romance, Single Dad

One week with one little girl—an angel, according to my staffing agency. Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash. Until I show up for my first day and face off with a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl wearing a red tutu and matching glitter slippers.

Oh, and her father? My temporary boss? Maddox Holiday. The same Maddox Holiday I crushed on in high school. The same Maddox Holiday who didn’t even know I existed. And the same Maddox Holiday who hasn’t set foot in Montana for years because he’s been too busy running his billionaire empire.

Enduring seven days is going to feel like scaling the Himalayas in six-inch heels. Toss in the Holiday family’s annual soiree, and Christmas Eve nightmares really do come true. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.

I forgot how perfect novella length holiday romances are when it comes to getting straight to the point. This is a cute holiday romance about a nanny, Natalie, who takes a week long job to help take care of the child. The father of the child is a guy she went to school with and had a crush on (like every other girl in school).

The story takes place in Montana which gives it that cozy, small town (but a growing small town) feel. Maddox Holiday, the single dad comes from a tight-knit family and has two other brothers. They are wealthy and successful but still down to earth. Violet, Maddox’s daughter is a terror, but Natalie knows how to charm and connect with her which makes the story heart-warming. Natalie is also down-to-earth and doesn’t let a child terror scare her off, she is determined.

The chemistry between Maddox and Natalie is quick but they have a slight history so they aren’t completely strangers. And when they get to the sexy parts, well…they have so much heat between them they could melt snow.

Content Warnings: divorce

Violet has to deal with an absent and neglectful mother which sucks. But that was another area Natalie could relate with her.

I know it’s a novella so things get crammed in so it’s insta-love because come on, things have to happen in a week since it’s a short story! But at the epilogue a year later, they are married with a baby coming along?! Talk about rushing things lol…I’m just being nit-picky though.

Why you should read it:

  • a super quick holiday romance
  • story of Violet and Natalie bonding is heart-warming

Why you might not want to read it:

  • insta-love but it’s a novella length so it’s expected
  • too short

My thoughts:

This short holiday romance was actually pretty balanced and I enjoyed seeing Natalie and Violet’s relationship grow. Maddox and Natalie was just bonus haha…but it’s a quick read, and gives you all the holiday romance feels. Not sure if I will read the whole series but I’m interested in reading a full length novel from this author.

📚 ~ Yolanda

BLOG TOUR} The Christmas Escape by. Sarah Morgan | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: The Christmas Escape

Author: Sarah Morgan

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 10/26/21

Publisher: HQN Books

BUY HERE: BookShop.org | Harlequin | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |Books-A-Million | Powell’s 

Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Friendship, Marriage, Family

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This Christmas, be whisked away by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan in this uplifting novel of friendship, the festive season, and risking everything for the biggest gift of all…

Christy and Alix are forever-friends. Not even Alix’s well-meant but badly-timed intervention the night before Christy’s wedding has put a dent in their bond. There’s nothing Alix won’t do for the woman who helped fill the hole in her heart left by her own family’s rejection. But taking Christy’s boisterous little daughter Holly on holiday to Lapland, days before Christmas, is a huge ask. Marketing whizz Alix might know how to turn toys into million-dollar Christmas bestsellers, but the responsibility of parenthood terrifies her. And unfortunately, she’ll have a witness to her ineptitude, in the annoyingly delicious shape of Zac, Holly’s father’s best friend, who will also be there…

Christy had hoped this year would be her dream Christmas, in her dream new family house. Instead, it’s turning into the nightmare before Christmas, with a frightening list of household repairs, no money, and a make-or-break crisis in her marriage. Even worse, it’s a crisis of her own making, and one that is on her shoulders to fix. With best friend Alix coming to the rescue and looking after Holly, Christy will finally have time to focus on rebuilding her relationship.

As Alix confronts her fears and finds unexpected romance under the Northern Lights, and Christy fights to save her marriage, could it be that their Christmas holiday opens their eyes, and their hearts, to what they’ve always wanted?

I got a little more from this story besides a Christmas romance story. It was more complex with issues like friendship, marriage and family being touched on.

Christy and her family are supposed to go to Lapland which is this winter, and secluded destination in Sweden. Christy has always loved Christmas and in Lapland she is looking forward to a winter wonderland and to meet her estranged aunt. But nothing goes as planned when problems arise with Christy and her husband, Seb, before the trip. She asks her best friend Alix to take her daughter, Holly on schedule and Christy and her husband will meet up with her. Sounds simple but it isn’t because Alix doesn’t know much about babysitting and to make things worst, Seb’s best friend Zac is going to go ahead with Alix. Alix has been avoiding him since Christy’s marriage to Seb! And that isn’t the only drama, Christy’s aunt has some issues she has to work out with Christy as well…so there is a lot going on.

I loved the setting of Lapland which is really a winter wonderland. For Holly, the child, in this story, it really is a dream come true.

A lot of things do get resolved in this story: Christy and Seb’s marriage problems, Alix and Christy’s friendship, Christy and her aunt’s relationship and the romance part of the story…Alix and Zac are the star of the book with their banter and attraction. I like that all the problems between these people are real and relatable. Obviously communication was the key in fixing a lot of the problems and it works out in the end.

The romance between Alix and Zac is fun because they are opposites who are quite attracted to one another. The romance between Christy and Seb is one about finding the lost spark between them that got lost along the way of having a child, moving and other life challenges. But they all do that in the winter beauty that is Lapland.

I was expecting a light read but this isn’t because of all the issues taking place with the characters.

It took awhile in the beginning to introduce the characters, their problems, and their back stories – the story got better when they were in Lapland.

Why you should read it:

  • Christmassy vibes especially when they are in Lapland – beautiful setting
  • relatable problems in marriage, friendship and communication
  • a happy ending

Why you might not want to read it:

  • too much drama between everyone going on
  • slow beginning

My Thoughts:

The setting of Lapland with all the winter activities like dog sledding, snow shoeing, and seeing the Aurora Borealis, sounded divine. I would love to spend Christmas like that. The story was slow in some parts because the characters have backstories and history together that needs to be told. Also I did gravitate more towards Alix and Zac’s story. Despite all the drama going on with everyone in the book, it was an uplifting story about marriage, friendship and family.

📚~ Yolanda

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe and three RITA® Awards from the Romance Writers of America. Sarah lives with her family near London, England, where the rain frequently keeps her trapped in her office.

Author Website

Facebook: @AuthorSarahMorgan

Instagram: @sarahmorganwrites

Twitter: @SarahMorgan_

Goodreads

BLOG TOUR} The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer | ARC Review

Welcome to the blog tour for The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Matzah Ball

Author: Jean Meltzer

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: MIRA

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Categories: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday Romance, Hanukkah Romance, Second Chance Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to MIRA for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oy! to the world

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.

But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg.

Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze. 

This Hanukkah romance was a first for me. I’ve never read one but for the most part I enjoyed this one.

I like the representations that are in the story. Rachel has myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome and it is explained very well and I really got the sense of how it affected her whole life. I learned so many things about Jewish culture in this book, and it was kind of neat to see Rachel and Jacob’s different perspectives on observing certain rules and traditions.

The romance is very sweet – I mean, it started from when they were twelve! It’s a childhood camp crush that turns them into enemies somewhat but wow can these two hold grudges.

I liked that we saw Rachel finding the beautiful things about Hanukkah. She’s Jewish but is secretly in love with Christmas, obsessed with Christmas more like – and she works through some of that. As for Jacob, he has some family issues to deal with and I love his grandmother, such a sweet and fearless woman!

Content Warning: parent abandonment, death of a parent, chronic pain

There are some phrases I found throughout the book that made me cringe. Maybe it was trying too hard with the humor, maybe it is Rachel’s personality? Whatever it is, it didn’t work for me.

Their “romance” started at twelve and they break each other’s hearts (as much as you can at camp when you are 12!) and still hold a grudge almost 18 years later – honestly?…that seemed pretty immature to me and unbelievable. I guess it’s supposed to come off sweet and innocent? But I wasn’t feeling it. Also, I felt like there was no chemistry between them until very late into the book, so yes this is a very slow burn. The miscommunication between them totally bugged me.

Jacob, no matter how handsome and rich he is, didn’t do it for me. I thought he was so clueless not only about Rachel and romance, but even about event planning! He’s supposedly this amazing party organizer but so many things didn’t work when he was planning the Matzah Ball – where are his work connections? He’s in NYC, I would think he’d know how to get the best decorations for a party. I was confused, he can’t mess up that bad, can he? But he did. I was not impressed. That wasn’t the only inconsistent thing in the book, Rachel has CFS but the ending was over the top with her running and climbing and sneaking into the event to make her grand gesture to Jacob. I mean…she must have tanked a lot of red bull to do that, but isn’t the consequences on her body going to be awful? I guess he was worth the pain to her.

Why you should read it:

  • CFS representation, chronic illness
  • learn about Jewish customs and Hanukkah
  • you like sweet holiday romances

Why you might not want to read it:

  • immature grudge between the couple
  • lacking chemistry between couple

My Thoughts:

If you like Hallmark movies, you will like this book. It has a slow burn romance, some wild shenanigans, a man going through some emotional family issues, and a Jewish woman living with a chronic illness and secretly loving Christmas, and a heartbreak judge that’s been held onto for 18 years. I had a few issues with it, especially that the couple lacked chemistry and I want lots of it in a romance book. Also that the grudge between the two is really silly. The best parts of the story was learning about Jewish customs and chronic fatigue syndrome. The family aspects of the book really stood out.

📚~ Yolanda

About the Author:

Author Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch, and served as creative director at Tapestry International, garnering numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. Like her protagonist, Jean is also a chronically-ill and disabled Jewish woman. She is an outspoken advocate for ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), has attended visibility actions in Washington DC, meeting with members of Senate and Congress to raise funds for ME/CFS. She inspires 9,000 followers on WW Connect to live their best life, come out of the chronic illness closet, and embrace the hashtag #chronicallyfabulous. Also, while she was raised in what would be considered a secular home, she grew up kosher and attended Hebrew School. She spent five years in Rabbinical School.

Author Website | Facebook: @JeanMeltzerAutho | Instagram: @JeanMeltzer | Goodreads

New Year’s Kiss | Book Review

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Title: New Year’s Kiss

Author: Lee Matthews

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 240

Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Holiday Romance, Teen Readers, Contemporary

A fun and upbeat paperback original romance about a girl who has a New Year’s resolution to make the coming year epic in every way—and is willing to put herself out there for love.

Tess and her opinionated older sister Lauren are spending the week after Christmas at the snowy Evergreen Lodge in Vermont and they aren’t happy about it. Their stern grandmother, who owns the holiday resort, is not known for her warmth and good humor. But when shy, straight-laced Tess meets Christopher in the lobby, things are suddenly looking up. And when she decides to get out of her comfort zone and create a bucket list of things to accomplish before the New Year-like singing in public and skiing a black-diamond slope-Christopher is happy to help, even as he keeps a secret that could turn everything upside down. When the ball drops, will Tess and Christopher share a magical kiss-or will Tess start the new year off alone?

  • It’s short, sweet, wholesome, and a quick light holiday romance story.
  • I like the setting of a holiday resort in Vermont where it’s got snow, skiing and a quaint town. It’s a perfect read for Christmas/New Year’s.
  • It’s one of those books where the main character makes a list of things she’s never done and tries to accomplish everything on the list before a certain time, this one would be by New Year’s – she has like a week to do it.
  • Definitely more for teen readers than young adult because it’s light reading. Tess’s parents are going through a divorce and she and her sister Lauren are trying to bond while at their grandmother’s lodge. There isn’t much drama going on in the book, no depth. I was bored in the middle since we pretty much knew what was going to happen.
  • Didn’t really connect to any of the characters.

For what it is, a romance teen holiday story, it hits all the marks – we have the right location, family time (that you dread) and meeting cute boys. Tess goes through some drama but nothing heavy at all and in the end there is a happy ending. If you want a quick holiday romance read geared towards teens, then you will like this one.

🎉 ~ Yolanda

Book Review | 10 Blind Dates

My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: 10 Blind Dates

Author: Ashley Elston

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 327

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Family, Contemporary, Holiday

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents’ house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That’s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she’s started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever… or is it?

I know Christmas is over but I saw this at my library and decided to pick it up because I heard many good things about it.

Sophie and her boyfriend Griffin is on an unintentional break from one another. Broken hearted, Sophie heads to her grandparents house for Christmas. And holidays at her grandparents house is always a chaotic event. When all her family hears of her break-up, they want to cheer her up and devise a way for her to keep her mind off her sadness by making her go on blind dates. But what makes it even more interesting is she doesn’t pick the dates, her family signs up for a day and pick the guy for her. So there are 10 dates Sophie agrees to go on, will Sophie have a horrible Christmas? Or will she find what’s been missing in her life?

  • What’s not to like about a young adult romance book set during Christmas? This story is wholesome and filled with family, friendship, fun and bad dates.
  • The thing that stood out to me a lot is Sophie and her large, loud, chaotic family because that’s what I’m used to. Christmas was that wild for me growing up with 8 aunts and uncles and so many cousins. It was crazy fun! So I loved when Sophie is at her Nonna’s house and hanging with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (around her age and the littles). I enjoyed seeing her renew her bond with her cousins Charlie and Olivia. It’s so awesome having cousins who are your age and you can be friends with. And not all the cousins get along, you always have some that you have drama with and for Sophie it’s the Evil Joes.
  • The dates are fun, and funny, especially the ones in the beginning. The ones at the end seemed rushed but we already know who Sophie wants to date by then!
  • Sophie’s sister, Margot, is in a different town and dealing with pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy. Their closeness is evident and sweet in their conversations through the phone. I enjoyed their sisterly bond.
  • The story seemed rushed at times but there was a lot going on! Sophie had to get through 10 dates, worry about her older sister and deal with Griffin. Plus there was her family in her business so there was a lot going on.
  • It’s obvious who Sophie is going to eventually end up with. But I like that there wasn’t too much drama with the boys. Even with Griffin her ex, there was minimal drama. She’s young, found her carefree self again and looks like she’s going into her college years with the same mentality, which is nice.

I loved Sophie’s loud, crazy family because it reminds me of mine. It had funny moments and touching ones too. Overall, 10 Blind Dates is a cute holiday romance, perfect for teens.