Publisher: Self

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.


The Portrait by Emilia Kelly | Book Review

Posted March 16, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

The Portrait by Emilia Kelly | Book ReviewThe Portrait by Emilia Kelly
Published by Self on September 13, 2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 305
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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For fans of Kate Morton and Daphne Du Maurier comes the tale of a woman enchanted by the past until it threatens her future. The Portrait is a captivating debut filled with new love, old secrets, and a mysterious missing woman, all set against the vibrancy of 19th-century London and the construction of the Crystal Palace.

"Atmospheric and gripping, The Portrait deftly weaves Victorian details, Brontë-esque romance, and riveting suspense." -Emily Inouye Huey, author of Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Every work of art tells a story. And every story has its secrets.

London, 1850. Iris Sheffield has plenty of people to worry about in her life: Hope, the ailing younger sister for whom Iris feels responsible. Winston, Iris's fiancé, who is consumed with his work. And James, the handsome but arrogant artist painting Iris’s portrait, with whom she is forced to spend countless, awkward hours.

But when Iris finds the diary and photograph of a mysterious young woman, she can’t stop wondering who the woman is and what has become of her. The more questions Iris asks, the more she suspects someone does not want her to discover the answers.

Exploring themes of sisterly bonds, familial obligations, and the lengths we go to for those we love, The Portrait illustrates the surprising and frightening ways a work of art can tell a story.

The Portrait was a surprise for me! I was immediately drawn to the beautiful book cover, and then the synopsis grabbed me and I had to dive in right then. I love Gothic stories, told in the style of Daphne Du Maurier, but I will admit to being concerned that her name was mentioned in this synopsis just because those are big shoes to fill! But I really loved this, and can see readers of her work enjoying The Portrait as well.

It’s been a week or so since I finished The Portrait, and I keep thinking about it. The atmosphere was slightly ominous and mysterious without keeping me up at night with the lights on, but just enough that I craved getting back to it when I wasn’t reading. I minored in art history in undergrad, so I loved all the discussions surrounding art and portraiture. I loved brooding James, and the quiet attraction he feels for Iris. The stolen glances and the unspoken thoughts felt dangerous and utterly romantic, in a very subtle way. There’s a mystery that gripped me and held on until the exciting climax at the end. The writing is beautiful and enchanting. I found myself getting lost in the words as they floated around, enveloping me in a cozy blanket to protect me from the chill of the story. Honestly, I was intoxicatingly captivated and remember that feeling I had while reading more than the elements of the story itself. It felt like a dream, and it’s hard to really describe my thoughts because of it.

I highly recommend this to those who are looking for an atmospheric mystery with a subtle hint of romance, steeped in art and secrets. It’s for those who want to feel a little unsettled, but not scared. Emilia Kelly is an author to watch, for sure!


Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book Review

Posted December 23, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison | Book ReviewLovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Series: Lovelight Farms #1
Published by Self on November 10, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Where the lovelight gleams …

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only … there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.

Well that was lovely. Anyone who throws together fake dating best friends on a Christmas tree farm deserves my undivided attention. And, B.K. Borison you got it! I will admit, I was worried about the hype but I needn’t have worried. This was lovely. Lovely, I tell you. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. Ok. Stella owns a Christmas tree farm that she and her mother, who passed away before the book began, went to when she was a child. It holds so many memories for her, so when it went up for sale she bought it. But times are tough. The farm is hemorrhaging money because everything keeps going wrong (or is it sabotage??), so she enters a content to try and win a cash prize and publicity from a famous social media influencer. Grrr… I am so tired of influencers. Like, SO tired. lol. But moving on. Stella lies on the application for the contest and claims her best friend, who she has been in love with for years, is her boyfriend. No big deal, she will rope him into pretending he is. And he is really, really good at it. Stella is super likable. She’s guarded, but she loves fiercely and protects those she cares about. Luka is a dreamboat. No complaints.

2. Speaking of Luka. He’s Italian and loves to cook Stella yummy pasta dishes, tidies up her home when he visits, and will drop everything at the drop of a hat to be there for her. Where do I get myself a Luka? And his mother, oh my gosh. I love his mom.

3. I love the other supporting characters who co-own the farm with Stella. They’ve got a lovely found family dynamic, and look out for one another. The three of them are such a supportive and loving unit. I’m excited to read their stories in the other books in this series. I also love the local sheriff. He’s taken Stella on as a daughter figure and is very quick to help her with whatever she needs. He watches out for her, and I loved that. The influencer, Evelyn, even won me over, with her down-to-earth personality and caring nature. All in all, it’s such a great cast of characters.

4. I loved the setting so much. The Christmas tree farm sounds magical and beautiful, and the descriptions of the scenery and the weather were breathtaking. I loved the small town, and how everyone knew everyone. It felt like such a friendly place to be.

5. There’s a bit of a mystery, with a couple tense moments, which really added to the story! There’s also a lot of depth surrounding the origins of Stella’s and Luka’s friendship and also how she acquired the farm, which grounded the rather light and fluffy main storyline.

All in all, I loved this. Lovelight Farms is just as sweet and cozy as its name, and I really enjoyed reading it. I got all the warm fuzzies and so much Christmas cheer. I can’t wait to read the other books!


A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book Review

Posted December 21, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel | Book ReviewA Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel
Series: Pride and Pranks #1
Published by Self on December 5, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 131
Format: eBook
Source: Gift
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Snowed in at a cabin with the most infuriating man in the world. I may take my chances with the wolves...

When my best friend found out I’d be alone over Christmas, she hooked me up with a week stay in her family’s cabin in Idaho. I was on a publishing deadline for my latest book and was really looking forward to a cozy week by the fire, cuddled up in flannel pajamas with my laptop and hot chocolate.

Alone.

So imagine my surprise when I arrived at the cabin during a blizzard, and found it already occupied. By an all too familiar face and a fine pack of chiseled abs. Even though it had been ten years since I’d last seen Chase, he had no problem picking up exactly where we left off. I had a big problem with it.It didn’t matter what he threw at me—the old nickname, the teasing, his charming grin, or even those chiseled abs (did I already mention those?), I refused to let him get to me after…the incident. Nope, not me. I was made of stone.

Unfortunately, I’m beginning to understand that when you strike Chase against stone…you get sparks.

★A Christmas Spark is a closed-door romantic comedy full of heart, sizzle, witty banter, and one tiny swear word, but swoony kisses are as steamy as it gets!

I love, love snowed in romances, so when I stumbled across this book last year while looking for some fun Christmas reads I knew I had to have it even though I’m not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers. In this story, the enemies part comes from back in high school when Chase said some hurtful things about Penny. She still feels that pain, whereas he has no recollection of ever saying anything. I think the fact that only one of them saw the other as an enemy is why the trope didn’t bother me. I do wish these two had talked it out way before now, though, because 10 years is a long time to feel that kind of pain over a thing your dumb brother’s best friend said as a teen. But then we wouldn’t have a story, would we? And honestly, if I put myself in Penny’s shoes I’d still be hurt 20 years later and definitely wouldn’t have said anything to Chase about it, so who am I to talk? High school is rough. I know I came out a little traumatized. I really enjoyed how they handled working through it, though, and Chase’s treatment of the situation warmed my heart. The boy has grown up. And he’s gotten himself some abs.

I loved the setting of the cabin. It sounded so cozy and remote, with all the snow and the cold nights under blankets. I’d love to be stranded in that cabin, and I’d really love to be stranded in it with Chase. I loved the banter, the antics, and the Christmas. It’s such a short, short story that I really can’t say much more without spoiling anything! There’s some super swoony moments and some tender discussions and I enjoyed all of it. Many feelings. Cindy’s writing is great, and I can’t wait to read more of this series!