Review: The Lovely Return by Carian Cole

 

What if death doesn’t do you part?

They say be careful what you wish for. But on December 5, Alex Fox makes a wish in the midst of a devastating tragedy. Little does he know that his wish will come true.

Six years after that fateful day, a little girl wanders into Alex’s studio. With her quirky personality, endless questions, and adorable smile, Penny Rose becomes an enchanting yet bittersweet distraction.

Penny Rose is an odd girl—at least, that’s what her parents say. Penny herself doesn’t feel particularly odd; she simply feels misplaced. As if somehow, in some way, she is living in the wrong place... in the wrong life.

As the years pass, Alex and Penny develop a friendship. But it becomes harder and harder for them to ignore their undeniable chemistry, no matter how off limits it is. Alex believes he’ll never find love again, let alone fall for a girl half his age. But Penny is everything he could ever want or need. Not only is she caring, witty, and beautiful, but she accepts the past that haunts him.

Penny couldn’t be happier. She’s been head over heels for sexy, brooding artist Alex Fox for as far back as she can remember. But when her childhood dreams and visions start resurfacing again—dreams of a life with Alex way before they ever met—she starts to think they’re not dreams at all.

They’re memories.

Penny’s revelation to Alex threatens to tear them apart, making them question the impossible and unbelievable. Can love truly transcend time and death, giving them a second chance at their happily ever after? Or is Penny battling a broken mind that has led her down a path of heartbreaking delusion?

 

My Review:

A hauntingly beautiful love story.

I was mesmerized by this book and couldn’t get enough of it.

I don’t remember reading a book where reincarnation was the theme.  I am glad I picked this one up.  Not only is the story interesting, it is also a beautiful love story about a young girl, Penny, who befriends Alex, a widower, and over the years, their friendship turns to romance.  When Penny starts having visions (stronger than she previously had) of Alex’s late wife, she spirals out of control and is deemed mentally unstable.  This could be the end for them.  But their love for each other remains strong while they are apart and when they see each other again, there is no holding back.

My favorite quote in the book is “Be careful what you wish for.  Make it count.  Because you just might get it.”  There couldn’t have been a better quote for this book, than this one. 

 

 

Review: A Merry Bramble Christmas (Bramble House Chronicles Book 2) by CJ Carmichael

Bramble House B & B is booked for the Christmas season, and new owner Amy Arden and her husband Chet Hardwick are excited to spend their first Yuletide season as a married couple. To spread the joy of the season, they have carefully selected their guests for the week before Christmas including two very special people.

Oliver Rivers is coming to Marietta to fulfill his mother’s deathbed wish…to locate the daughter his mother gave up when she was fifteen. When that doesn’t go as planned, he finds himself gravitating to another guest at Bramble House.

Everyone calls Gemma Granger the runaway bride, but they don’t know she was deceived by her fiancé and fled to Bramble House to nurse her broken heart. Instead, Gemma finds herself feeling an instant connection with Oliver and helping him bond with his long-lost family.

Oliver suspects Gemma is taking on him and other projects to avoid dealing with her heartbreak. But the truth is that with each passing day, Gemma is discovering that her real life and her real love might not be where she thought it was.

 

My Review:

A beautifully written Christmas story.

Falling in love wasn’t the plan, but when Gemma and Oliver met, while staying at Bramble House, it happened. They both needed someone and didn’t even realize it.  This book is so much more than just a romance.  It’s about starting over, discovering long lost relatives and learning to love again.  This is the kind of book that I can easily see being made into a movie.  The book is written so well that scenes are easy to visualize.  The story held my attention through the entire book and I had a hard time putting it down.  I think I even grew a bit attached to the characters.  This book will put you in the Christmas spirit. 

 

 

Review: A Poinsettia Paradise Christmas (Love in El Dorado Book 2) by Janine Amesta

This Christmas a lump of coal might just turn into a diamond…. Natalie Gonzalez-Torres has never been a fan of Christmas. As the manager of her family’s coffee shop, she avoids all the holiday kitch. But this year, her uncle assigns her to run a coffee cart at Poinsettia Paradise tree farm to prove she’s ready to become a full partner. The assignment feels like a lump of coal in her non-existent stocking, until a Christmas tree farmer helps uncover her inner elf. Too bad she’s already given up on finding love. Mason Lavigne bursts with expansion and improvement ideas for his family’s Christmas Tree Farm, but his dad still still sees him as a kid. This Christmas, Mason’s determined to prove his worth, especially after his dad mentions he’s thinking of selling. With his stress off the charts, helping Natalie is a bright light this holiday season as long as Mason’s not distracted from his mission by her sparkling eyes and quick wit. They both have something to prove but doing it together might be more than they can resist.

 

My Review:

A sweet Christmas romance.

This is one of those books that I just couldn’t get enough of. The characters were so much fun.  Natalie made me laugh with her quick wit, always knowing just the right thing to say.  They are total opposites.  Natalie wasn’t into dating, but Mason wanted a relationship with her.  Natalie hated Christmas and Mason worked on his family Christmas tree farm.  I enjoyed seeing them grow closer and Natalie learning to trust Mason.  The secondary characters added so much to the story too. The diva Santa was a hoot!  This is the perfect Christmas book if you’re looking for something a little bit different with some emotion and some great laugh out loud moments.