Review: The Christmas Blueprint (Bear Creek, #2) by Sinclair Jayne

 

Re-discover the magic of the Christmas season with this sweet and heartwarming holiday romance that will have you believing in second chances. Fans of the Hallmark Channel won't be able to put down this sparkling small town Christmas romance.

She needs a win this Christmas. He’s standing in her way.

Boutique owner Sophia Gonzales is ready to shake off her grief and make some changes. As a new member of the town’s planning commission, she agrees to run point on an exciting proposal to repurpose an abandoned, historic mill for the city. But proving herself becomes far more challenging when she meets with her project partner—her late fiancé’s best friend who's never agreed with her about anything.

The last thing architect Killian Flanagan wants is to move back to Bear Creek, but his best friend needs him to watch his daughter while he completes his last deployment. So Killian accepts a part-time city planner job, hoping he can avoid the one woman he’s never been able to forget. But not only is Sophia the first to greet him, she’s already got plans in motion for his—no, their—project.

It's the ghost of Christmas past, with Sophia and Killian trying not to fall in love in the present…but maybe a future together is the real blueprint for happiness.

 

My Review: 

A beautifully written Christmas reunion romance.

This book has everything I was looking for in a holiday romance.  It was full of hopes and dreams, and Christmas magic.

Killian Flanagan and Sophia Gonzales grew up together.  They both had crushes on each other, but they never confessed their true feelings.  Years later, Killian is back in Bear Creek and he finds himself working along with Sophia planning a new artisan market in town.  As Killian and Sophia work together, their feelings for each other grow stronger.  But before anything can happen, Killian must confess a secret.  This secret could ruin all the progress they just made.

This book is a great addition the Bear Creek series.  I just couldn’t get enough of it.  Sometimes a book is so good, you just don’t want it to end.  I also enjoyed catching up with characters from the previous book. 

 

Review: Someone Cruel in Coyote Creek (The Accidental Detective, #3) by Kris Bock

 

Turning fifty in her childhood bedroom wasn’t on her bucket list…

Kate Tessler is convinced her sister is trying to kill her. In fact, she might prefer death to Jen’s “50 for 50 Challenge,” where Kate will try fifty new things throughout the year she turns fifty. Still adjusting to her new underemployed life back in her childhood home in Phoenix, the last thing Kate wants is to prepare for paddle boarding, especially when she receives an anonymous message claiming that Mayor Todd Paradise is taking bribes. The author claims to have proof, including photos, and challenges Kate to publish the story.

Could good guy Todd, Kate’s almost boyfriend, really be corrupt or is someone trying to set him up? Kate sets out to discover the truth, with help from her multi-generational, unconventional, and often unhelpful crew. She thrived reporting from war zones as an international war correspondent, but can she survive a deadly fundraising party, a close encounter with a taser, a turn at an open mic night, and a 100-pound dog named Whiskers?

 

My Review:  

Full of fun, excitement and witty humor.  

Kate Tessler is about to turn fifty and her sister has fifty new experiences lined up that she wants Kate to try before the big day.  If that wasn’t enough, someone is trying to set up Kate’s friend, mayor Todd Paradise, saying he has been taking bribes.  But when a murder happens at a fundraiser dinner, it becomes a race to find the killer before someone else ends up dead.  

Kate has her hands full in this book.  It is a fun and exciting story and a great addition to The Accidental Detective series.  I enjoyed catching up with Kate, her family and friends in this book.  I enjoyed seeing Kate and Todd become closer in this book too.    

 

 

Review: Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes

Filled with Christmas cheer, and the magic that can only be found in Jackson Hole, Wyoming under the shadow of the Tetons, Anita Hughes's Christmas at the Ranch is a love story that is sure to enchant, and warm your heart like a cup of hot apple cider.

It’s days before Christmas and Samantha Morgan is in her Brooklyn apartment when her editor, Charlie, shows up. Her publisher Arthur Wentworth is throwing a Christmas party and wants Samantha to be the guest of honor. Samantha tries to come up with an excuse to miss it. She writes a series of books featuring a female James Bond-type heroine named Sloane Parker and Charlie is the only person who knows that Samantha is the opposite of Sloane, though the marketing team has built up an entire social media presence for her claiming that she is just as adventurous. In reality, Samantha rarely leaves her neighborhood and does her research online. She is afraid of almost everything and is only happy when she’s sitting in her apartment and writing.

Samantha reluctantly agrees to go. But instead of taking her to Arthur’s house in Connecticut, the driver goes to the airport. On the phone, Charlie admits that the party is at Arthur’s new ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. For a person who hates even walking around the block when it snows, this is her worst nightmare.

But when a handsome stranger sits next to her on the plane, things begin to look up. She feels comfortable enough to spill all her secrets to him, including all of her fears and the truth about her fake Instagram account. However, when she shows up at the house, it turns out that this man, Drew, is Arthur’s son. Now Samantha is worried that Drew will tell his father about her lies.

Over the course of Christmas week, Samantha grows closer to Drew. But when his fiancée, Beatrix (who recently gave him an ultimatum about settling down), shows up, things get more complicated. As Samantha’s fears of bison and giant icicles subside, and her feelings for Drew grow deeper, new fears develop…

Will she leave this Christmas adventure broken-hearted? Or will true love prevail?

 

My Review:

Beautifully written.

This is an amazing story about friendships, secrets, letting go of the past and facing your fears.  And, finding love when you least expect it.  

I enjoyed this book right from the start.  Samantha is a popular author, but very few people know about her anxiety issues.  It’s so bad, she almost turns down the chance to spend Christmas week at her publisher’s luxurious ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  The trip was life changing as she learns to face her fears and makes new friends and even falls in love.  She becomes a better version of herself.  This book is also filled with a lot of wisdom and great advice.

 

Thank you St Martin's Press, St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Review: How Snowball Stole Christmas (Paperback) by Kristen McKanagh

 
Most cats have nine lives, but Snowball is one of the very few with two jobs. Officially, she’s the Weber Haus inn’s greeter. Unofficially, she’s the town matchmaker. Her track record is the cat’s pajamas—until she meets her owner’s grinchy brother, Peter Diemer. Peter hopes to move the family bookstore to a busy location downtown—but someone else has outbid him for the last storefront.
 
Christmas is the ideal season for Lara Wolfe to fulfill her dream of expanding her home business into a real shop. Too bad someone is posting negative comments on the town forum. What kind of Grinch objects to a toy store?
 
Snowball is sure these two are a perfect match. They already have so much in common—books are a kind of toy, right? Now all they need to add to the mix is love, and Snowball has just the shenanigans up her furry sleeve to deliver a sweet romance in time to make the season merry and bright . . .
 

My Review:

A great addition to the Snowball series.

If you have read any of the previous Snowball books and loved them as much as I do, you definitely need to read this book.  In this book, Snowball is playing matchmaker for Peter and Lara.  She has her little paws full with these two, especially with the secret Peter is keeping from Lara.  Lara is a previous guest at Weber Haus and just moved to town and bought the townhouse next to Peter.  She also just opened a toy store at Weber Haus Shops; the last remaining spot that Peter wanted for his book store. Neither Peter or Lara planned to get involved romantically, but with Snowball, anything can happen when she sets out to bring two people together. 

This book was a little more involved than the previous ones.  Not only was Snowball matchmaking Peter and Lara, she is dealing with another romance that is happening all on its own.  One that Snowball does not approve of.  And, it seems everything else Snowball does is going wrong lately. This has her feeling sad.  Over all, I loved this book. I just can’t get enough of Snowball and these fun characters.  You can read this book as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the series in order so you get to know the characters better. 

 

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

 

Review: Swipe Right for Marriage (Misguided Masala Matchmaker #2) by Sinclair Jayne Sawhney

Who needs a husband?

Corporate attorney Shanti Kapoor is not falling into the arranged marriage trap her family has set. Too bad her skillful dodge is thwarted by her younger sister, who accidentally sets Shanti back in the sights of her law school nemesis and fiercest competitor, Rakesh Singh. She and Rakesh have a history she’d rather forget, but now she owes him a favor that Rake’s definitely collecting on. Worse, playing the part of Rakesh’s bride at Charlotte’s Festival of India dredges up emotions Shanti thought she’d forever buried.

Rakesh has goals far beyond the DA’s office in Charlotte and a strategy for every move he makes. He only hesitated once to chase something he desired—Shanti Kapoor. Not this time. Rakesh knows he’s got one shot, so when fate plays into his hands, he shamelessly seizes advantage.

Shanti and Rake are at the top of their game. Their chemistry is explosive and someone’s going to get hurt. But all's fair in love and war—and with these two, it’s always been both.

 

My Review: 

An amazing second-chance romance. 

Ten years ago, Shanti and Rakesh had a short-lived fling before they went to college.  They never spoke again afterwards.  When they are finally reunited, the attraction is still there.  But they both have high demanding careers and a relationship really isn’t in the picture.  There is just one thing they need to learn; you can’t deny your destiny. 

This beautifully written love story was more than I could have ever imagined.  I loved the reunion story, but I also love this big Indian American family.  This book is filled with romance, emotional scenes, funny scenes and many serious ones as well.  All around, this is a wonderful story and great addition to the Misguided Masala Matchmaker series.