Miracle on Ford Avenue review

Title:   Miracle on Ford Avenue

Author:   Natalie Walters

Ch: 10

Pg:  

Series: Harbored Secrets

Genre:   Christian, Christmas

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Natalie Walters

 

One of my favorite Christmas reads of the year and the only one that made me cry. And cry one-chapter in. But it was a good cry as Gold Star families are something that’s near and dear to my heart. And it was nice to see the people of Walton again and catch up with the characters from Harbored Secret series. This was a sweet novella. That If you liked the Harbored Secrets series then you need to read this one.

While it was Snowing review

 Title:  While it was Snowing

 Author:  Tari Faris

Ch: 10

Pg:  180

Series: Restoring Heritage 2.5

Genre:  Christian Rom Com,  Christmas Rom Com

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Taris Faris

    I’ve been wanting Danielle’s story since we met her in You belong with me. And we finally get her story in a Christmas story. I’m normally not a fan of best friends to more but in this Christmas novella it worked. Danielle reminded me so much of myself at a young age. And like with Danielle a wise women said similar words to me that Danielle was told and they were right. I loved the sweet moment with the ornaments.

This book is a perfect Christmas novella for any woman who’s every felt like a fish out of water. Or who though they had to be someone different.

The Christmas Table review

 Title:  The Christmas Table 

Author:  Donna VanLiere

Ch: 30

Pg:  231

Series: Christmas Hope

Genre:  Christmas

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

 

This sweet Christmas story from the author who brought us the Christmas Shoes. I just knew that this one would make me laugh, make me cry and celebrate the season. I look forward to her books every year and this year was no different.

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Clara's Soldier review

Title:  Clara’s Soldier: A Retelling of The Nutcracker

Author:  Brittany Fichter

Ch: 13

Pg:  164

Genre:  Retelling

Rating: 4 Stars

    Clara’s Soldier by Brittany Fichter is a retelling of the Nutcracker set just after WWII and I have to say it’s one of my favorite Nutcracker retellings. The historical time period of WWII especially the post war time makes the perfect setting for a retelling.

    I’ve always loved the Nutcracker every December my mom would take me to see the ballet and read the book countless times during the same month. As well as the cartoon. So this book was perfect for adult me. A book I read in one day. To me The Nutcracker has been a story that has always leaned towards balancing reality and fantasy and this book was no different.

    I do want to mention something that may be considered a slight spoiler but I feel that it is a necessary warning. The fantasy part of this story as in The Nutcracker realm happens in the form of PTSD filled nightmares of a soldier that Clara crash lands in.

Like a Christmas Dream Review

 Title:  Like a Christmas Dream

 Author:  Lindsay Harrel

Ch: 16

Pg:  134

Series:  Port Willis

Genre:  Christmas, Rom com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Blue Aster Press

     Like A Christmas Dream is a Christmas novella by Lindsay Harel is part of the Port Willis. This was a sweet Christmas story about learning that it’s alright to follow your dreams. I loved going back to the town of Port Willis and seeing some of my favorite characters again. I finished this one in day. Perfect to add to your Christmas reading.

Review of Joy to the World

Title:  Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection

Author:  Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

Pg: 336

Genre:  Christmas, Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher: Kregel Publications

 

Joy to the world is a Christmas Novella collection set in the Regency period. Which is a time period that outside of Jane Austen I don’t really read. But I did enjoy this one. And while I liked Heaven and Nature Sing by Carolyn Miller and Wonders of His Love by Erica Vetsch. My favorite was Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt which gave me Beauty and the Beast with faith feels. All in All this was a sweet Christmas novella.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Christmas Swap

Title:  The Christmas Swap

 Author:  Melody Carlson

Ch: 17

Pg:  163

Genre:  Christmas Romance, Rom Com

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher:  Revell

 

I’m a sucker for Christmas movies and books. From the beginning of November till the end of December I’m curled up with a blanket reading Christmas books. So when i read the burb about a house switch during Christmas I knew I had to read this one.

I know the house switch trope has been done before, but Melody Carlson brought her own unique twist to it. In which the house switch becomes one sided but only one party knows that.

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas Rom Com in book form. It was a quick read that I finished it in a day. This book is great for those who love hallmark movies and rom coms and Christmas.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

Favorite Christmas Movies

1

11. 

The Christmas Card 2006- A Christmas card brings a Solider to the small town it came from and the woman who sent it. 

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2000 Live action one with Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Love that you get the Grinch's back story. 

3.The Santa Clause Trilogy

   

4. Santa Buddies 

Review of The Christmas Heirloom

Title:  The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas

Author: Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin, Becky Wade

Pages: 384

Genre: Christmas family sagas

Rating: 3.5

The Christmas Heirloom is a collection of Christmas Novellas that follows a brooch that is passed down to the women in the family.  In the first novella Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter Sarah Gooding is a a companion to an elderly lady.  A job that lead to love all because she returned a brooch.  Sarah and the woman's grandson is what starts this family journey and legacy first in England and then to United States.  

     Karen Witemeyer's novella Gift of the Heart takes us to Texas with widow Ruth Albright with a story that is a bit a retelling of the story of Ruth from the Bible. Ruth will do anything to keep a roof over her daughter's head, even giving up her family heirloom brooch in order to do it. 

In A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas Fleeta Brady is a bit of a tomboy who prefers hunting and being outdoors to more lady like chores. After losing both her parents she's given up on love.  But her mother's brooch and another hunter mite just have other ideas. 

The final novella in this bind up is the Contemporary  one by Becky Wade Because of You. That is set in the world of Bradford Sister's Romance series. Maddie Winslow who works for her friend Britt Bradford has found herself falling for her friend's widower Leo and his adorable toddler son. She keeps fighting her attractive  because it's not right. Then the heirloom brooch reappears and someone makes their feelings known. 

This was a fairly quick novella collection read. I liked the stories but Because of You was my favorite mainly because it is part of the Bradford Sister Romances series and I was already new characters. All in all a quick read. With a slight Hallmark channel Holiday movie feel. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.