Genre: Holiday - Christmas

Cabin Crush by Kasey Stockton | Book Review

Posted December 15, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Cabin Crush by Kasey Stockton | Book ReviewCabin Crush by Kasey Stockton
Series: Gift-Wrapped Romance
Published by Golden Owl Press on October 27, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 198
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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This Christmas, all she wants is him.

Rachael
I’ve had a crush on my brother’s best friend my entire life. Once, in high school, I even got a taste of what it would be like to be with him thanks to some well-placed incredible and humiliating. We always spend Christmas with Max’s family at our cabin, and every year I have to suffer through a blissful week with him in a completely platonic way. His steady stream of girlfriends have made him off limits . . . until now.

It’s Christmas.

We’re at the cabin together.

And Max Dawson is single.

Max
I’ve never looked forward to Christmas less in my entire life. My parents’ holiday will be ruined after I tell them my news, and to make matters worse, I blabbed to Rachael on the drive out to the cabin. Now she has to keep my secret until I’m ready to share with my family.

Which is probably why she’s acting so weird. Watching me. Touching me. Flirting. It would be terrible if I wasn’t enjoying it so much. But her brother has made it clear she’s off limits. And besides, I kissed Rachael once, and we all know how that ended.

So we definitely shouldn’t do it again.

Right?

There’s just something about a trope-filled Christmas romance, and Cabin Crush has a bunch of them! You’ve got brother’s best friend, childhood friends/grew up together, mutual pining (yet they both think their love is unrequited), forced proximity, and friends to lovers. I love all these tropes, and am honestly so happy to not see an enemies to lovers for once because that’s my least favorite and appears to be everywhere right now, across all genres. Anyway, this was cute! Even though some young teen drama happened that made things a little awkward for the two of them, Rachael and Max have a really sweet friendship. They’ve been pining away for one another for years, and that makes it even cuter.

I love a dual point of view, which you’ll get with this story. It’s so fun getting into the heads of the main characters, and it made me really like both of them. I really enjoyed the family cabin all decked out in Grinch-themed decorations. This cabin sounds like a very cozy and comforting place to be, minus the lack of heating in some of the rooms. I loved the two families, particularly the dads who were both super lovable and funny. I really enjoyed the coziness of the story. The families spend their time at the cabin watching Hallmark and other Christmas movies, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows around the fire, baking and decorating cookies, doing puzzles, chatting on the couch, eating lots of yummy food, hiking, caroling, sledding, and more. There were some deeper, more difficult conversations to be had surrounding loss and grief, and I felt those were handled with reverence and added depth to the story. The romance itself was a little on the cheesier end of cheesy, even for a Christmas romance, but that’s ok! It made me smile. All in all, Cabin Crush is a very fun closed-door romance with a lot of Christmas cheer and characters you’ll love. I’m excited to read some of the other standalones in this series!


Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson | Book Review

Posted December 14, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Almost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson | Book ReviewAlmost Like Being in Love by Sariah Wilson
Published by Montlake Romance on November 14, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Time Travel
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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A modern-day Ohio woman and a seventeenth-century Scottish laird fall in love at first sight in a magical holiday romance by Sariah Wilson, the bestselling author of The Chemistry of Love.

Maren Kelly and her friend Penny may be lost in the Scottish Highlands, yes. They may be caught in the blizzard of the century, sure. But despite their dire straits, Maren is going to honor her ailing mother’s wish for them to experience all the magic, mystery, and whimsy Scotland has to offer, even if she freezes to death trying. When they’re rescued by the dashing Duncan Campbell, who seems like he walked straight out of the seventeenth century, Maren is more than a wee bit bewildered.

Their shelter is Duncan’s castle in Highglen, a captivating village that feels somehow familiar…as does the laird himself. Brimming with holiday cheer and friendly, boisterous family members, Highglen is a safe haven in the frigid winter storm. Maybe it’s the carolers and the warm hearth—or Duncan’s comforting brogue and stolen kisses—but Maren feels as though she’s come home. And in Duncan, she may have found her long-awaited soulmate.

But is this a miracle that could last a lifetime?

Almost Like Being in Love is a sweet time travel romance, which I enjoyed quite a bit! It was such a fun book to curl up in bed with and read in the light of my Christmas tree. Maren and Penny get lost in a snowstorm one night and find themselves rescued by a seventeenth-century Scottish laird and brought to his castle. I was side-eyeing this concept a little until it’s revealed that this happens sometimes. A big storm comes to modern-day Scotland every few years, someone gets caught in it and is sent back in time to this castle, and there you have it. So these people at Highglen keep an eye out for people and help them and ask them for updates on what’s been going on in the world since the castle last appeared. Time is different for them, and it’s all kind of magical and interesting. I loved Highglen and the people who live there. I loved reading about their Christmas traditions and their relationships with one another. The romance between Maren and Duncan is sweet, but MAJORLY insta-lovey. Like, the biggest case of insta-love I’ve ever read. You have to just suspend your disbelief and also try to keep your eyes rolling from the melodramatic dialogue and declarations of love. It’s Christmas, so that’s much easier for me than during other times of the year. I thought the ending was really sweet, and I enjoyed learning about how time travel works in this world. Note that this story is all closed-door (just some kisses), which I particularly love in a Christmas story. If you’re looking for a quick, festive, sweet little treat of a book then this is definitely an option!


Making Merry by Kerrigan Byrne | Book Review

Posted December 13, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Making Merry by Kerrigan Byrne | Book ReviewMaking Merry by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Goode Girls #1.5
Published by Oliver Heber Books on December 1, 2020
Genres: Historical Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 113
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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There’s no room at the Inn…

Sprightly Victorian spinster, Vanessa Latimer, is stranded for the holidays in the Scottish Highlands by a relentless winter blizzard. She takes refuge at a centuries-old inn where the only available room is haunted by the ghost of a warrior who fell at Culloden Moor.

One who refuses to give up his side of the bed.

Johnathan de Lohr awakens to find a siren bathing in the chamber of sorrows that keeps his restless spirit imprisoned. Though he’s the ghost, John knows that the captivating woman will be the one to haunt him.

Unless they can figure out a way to set his tormented soul free.

Making Merry is such a charming, romantic, magical little story! I loved both Vanessa and Johnathan. Their connection, conversations, and banter were just delightful! They have a really sexy meet-cute, and things take off from there. I loved it when Vanessa taught Johnathan about what life is like in her time, and his surprise was so sweet. He’s so honorable, too. Such a gentleman. The romance takes place over one night, which would normally not be believable for me but it’s Christmastime so all bets are off. And Kerrigan puts a bit of a spin on the usual ghostly romance, which means readers get a little steam. Novellas often feel too short or rushed for me, but this was a very satisfying read! It could have been longer, but it was also perfect the way that it was. Both main characters were well-developed, with full backstories and actual personalities. I really liked the supporting characters, too. The ending is super lovely, and left me smiling. I want to read the rest of this series now. All in all, a win for me!


Love in the Scottish Winter Highlands by Beatrice Bradshaw | Book Review

Posted December 8, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Love in the Scottish Winter Highlands by Beatrice Bradshaw | Book ReviewLove in the Scottish Winter Highlands by Beatrice Bradshaw
Series: Escape to Scotland #1
Published by Self on November 1, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 244
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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She is determined to restore her inherited Scottish castle. He needs her to fail so he can escape his tormenting memories. Can true love overcome the pain of the past this Christmas?

When Londoner Marla Wilson unexpectedly inherits a crumbling castle in the Scottish Highlands, she's desperate for a fresh start. But her stubborn neighbour Niall McCarron—still haunted by his tragic past—needs her to sell her inherited mansion. And that's never gonna happen.

Marla and the annoyingly attractive widower clash at every corner of their Highland small town. Yet beneath their fiery disputes simmers an increasingly irresistible attraction. Even though he drinks rosé…

A snowy Christmas party in the village pub brings unexpected feelings to the surface. Slowly, Niall and Marla’s enmity turns to friendship. Until during a fierce Highland snowstorm, their last guards come down and they spend an unforgettable night of deep desire and passion.

But Niall still hides a secret, with plans that could demolish Marla's dreams of putting down roots in the Highlands. Will their blossoming love survive when the truth comes out or will their old wounds ruin everything?

+++ Love in the Scottish Winter Highlands is the first part of the stand-alone 'Escape to Scotland'-series. It's written in third person with alternating POV and addresses bereavement and emotional growth. This novel contains some swearing and two open door scenes. +++

Love in the Scottish Winter Highlands is a wonderfully sweet story, set in the most beautiful location over Christmastime. Marla and Niall have an adorable meet-cute, and even though they really don’t like each other in the beginning you can see the sparks immediately. I liked both characters. Marla is enthusiastic about taking on the challenge of restoring her newly and mysteriously inherited castle, and her independence and drive is admirable. Niall would rather she not be there at all, but it’s for a far deeper and more emotional reason than one might expect. It was interesting watching him help her and fall for her while also wishing she would sell the castle and leave. He’s grumpy and broody, but that’s all a facade to hide the pain he’s been in since his wife passed away. He and Marla are both grieving and trying to figure out how to move forward in a life neither one of them planned for. Marla’s dilapidated castle, while a disaster, sounds like a magical place and I loved reading about her renovation process. I loved seeing Niall slowly open up to people and return to his former self a little. I loved the close-knit community and all the Scottish holiday traditions they participated in together. There is a lot of merriment and dancing, which sounds like so much fun. The romance is a very slow burn, and very believable. I thought is was very sweet and tender.

I was hoping for a little more focus on Christmas, which this book kind of breezes through. I enjoyed the parts I got, but for such a short book it spans quite a few months and December is right in the middle. I was disappointed when December ended and we moved in to January and February. I also found one of the open-door scenes to be a bit cringey. I don’t know about you but there are some words that, when used during a sexy scene, do the exact opposite of what they’re intended to do. lol. Apparently Marla has some very lovely genitalia, and the actual human anatomy word (vu***) was used instead of the usual choices that elude to the part in question. It’s just not a sexy word, but maybe that’s just me! It reminded me of that episode of Friends when Ross is dating this girl who asks him to talk dirty to her and he has no idea what to do, so he just spits out that same word and she recoils and he looks like he’s swallowed a bug and the mood is absolutely killed. lol. Anyway, I digress.

This was a much heavier book than I was expecting. The themes of grief and blaming oneself for the loss of a loved one were very prevalent. Well done, but difficult to read. This is not what I would consider to be a light holiday romance, so go into it prepared for that. I still really enjoyed it, though! The descriptions of the scenery were lovely, and I can tell that this author loves Scotland. I am interested in seeing what the author does with the next book in this series!


Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton | Book Review

Posted December 6, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Cotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton | Book ReviewCotswolds Holiday by Kasey Stockton
Series: Christmas Escape
Also in this series: Faking Christmas
Published by Self on November 30, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas
Pages: 347
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Some people face their problems head-on, other people run . . .

When my ex-boyfriend sends me his wedding invitation eight months after breaking up with me, and the bride expects me to be in the wedding party, it's time for my tried-and-tested party trick: disappearing.

And nowhere is better to escape to than the cozy English Cotswolds in the middle of December.

Everything goes according to plan until I arrive in the Cotswolds. Snow is more slippery than I expected, my room is nothing like the listing described, and my pub owner landlord—well, he steps directly from my lumberjack fantasies and into my heart.

The only problem? I can't fall for an Englishman who lives on the other side of the world from me. Not even one who has Dr Pepper on tap and kisses like it's an Olympic sport. It's much harder to run across the pond, and all good things must come to an end . . . but what if I can't say goodbye?

Part of the Christmas Escape series, Cotswolds Holiday is a clean Christmas romance where an American girl runs off to England and tries not to fall in love.

Cotswolds Holiday is another book in the series of closed-door Christmas standalone novels called Christmas Escape. I had so much fun reading several of these books last Christmas, and this was one of them! I just didn’t have room in my schedule to post my review, so I delayed it for a year to post now! While not my favorite in this series, I had fun reading it. Luna is a YouTube yoga instructor (ugh), and escapes to the English countryside to get out of having to attend her ex’s wedding. Rhys is amazing. He owns the quaint, cozy little pub that Luna rents a room in for her stay in the Cotswolds. He’s quiet and thoughtful and subtly flirty

There’s a lot of drama surrounding exes, and that did wear me out a little. Luna’s ex-boyfriend is still contacting her, trying to get her to attend their wedding for the sake of his fiance. This entire storyline actually really irked me, and ends up a little manipulative in my mind. Nobody whose ex-boyfriend breaks up with you and then jumps into marrying your best friend within just a few months should have to put up with being made to feel guilty for being upset about it and not wanting to be there to watch. The magic of Christmas just wouldn’t fix that for me, but I digress. Then there’s also drama with Rhys’s ex, another yoga instructor (ugh), and I didn’t like that storyline either. Blergh. Then there was this other storyline with Luna trying to form a partnership with this popular yoga clothing line (ugh), and the people she’s trying to work with suck a lot. The romance was fine, if not a bit dramatic at times. Luna likes to run away from her problems, hence the drama.

What won me over on this book was Rhys and his pub. And Christmas. I loved this pub, and how it was all decorated for the holidays. It sounds so cozy and the regulars there all know each other. There’s a knitting group that meets there, and a book club. The people are all so nice. The pub has a bit of a mascot in this cute dog who hangs out and has adopted everyone. Rhys and his cousin run the place, and I loved the cousin. She was a more interesting and likable character than Luna, in my opinion. Rhys’s cooking sounds delicious. I loved the scenery of the Cotswolds and I even enjoyed their silly rivalry with a neighboring town. I love the little Christmas festival. So all in all, it was a fun read that I made some allowances for because it’s Christmas and I loved the setting. And I want Rhys.