Baby Santa's Worldwide Christmas Adventure by M. Maitland DeLand

 

Now that the holidays are just around the corner, I can't help but get excited for what's to come: decorations, music, movies, foods, the scents, and especially books! I decided to get my feet wet with the holiday season of books by being allowed to review this gem! Its a quick easy read and the pictures just add to the whole feeling :)

Santa has a problem! His sleigh is broken and will not be repaired for the Christmas Eve trip. However, Baby Santa comes to the rescue! He suggests that Santa takes advantage of the different means of transportation that is available in each country that Santa will be visiting. Baby Santa also comes along for the ride by carrying the sack of toys for Santa. This was truly an educational story as well since you see the various means of transportation in which each country utilizes: Camels in Egypt, Jeeps in Australia, Trains in Japan, etc. I really enjoyed reading this book about hope and passion! A perfect story to begin my holiday book reading!

Morning Glory by Sarah Jio

Sarah Jio is by far one of my favorite authors! When I was granted the permission to review the advanced copy I was more than excited to start on this book right away. This is my 5^th book I have read by her -  4 I own, and I have already pre-ordered this one since I knew it wouldn’t disappoint!

I love the style in which Sarah writes her books: the characters she vividly describes, the emotions they experience, and the environment in which it takes place is written in a very detailed way which makes it a perfect read for any reader. She writes in a way that truly gets you involved in the story! I couldn’t help but want to drop everything I was doing on the weekend just to finish it!

This is a heartwarming story of love and loss. There are 2 main characters in the story: Penny Wentworth, a 1950’s housewife, and Ada Santorini, editor of Sunrise magazine. Penny seems to have it all: an artist husband who takes care of her even when he is absent, a beautiful home (a houseboat they live on), and she has a genuine sweet-hearted nature for those around her. However, when she disappears after a party no one on Boat Street will speak of what happened.

Then there is Ada Santorini. Ada has lost everything: her husband and her precious little girl. Leaving the memories behind, she quits her fancy New Year job and moves to Seattle into a houseboat on Boat Street. There she finds mystery, a community, and maybe a new love. Will she solve the mystery of boat street and re-build her life at the same time?

The story ends with an unexpected twist that leaves the reader EXTREMELY satisfied. Morning Glory was another fabulous love story, DEFINITELY a must read!!! I look forward to adding this to my Sarah Jio book collection!

 

Starry Night

Starry Night

By: Debbie Macomber

256 Pages

Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

You are in for a treat. Debbie Macomber's new book, Starry Night, is a delight! In her usual way Debbie captures you and off you go to the wilds of Alaska with Carrie Slayton. 

Carrie wants to report on major events, but so far she is stuck being a social reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. She makes the decision to return to her hometown of Seattle  and  hopes there she will have an opportunity to  report on major events.  

Her boss throws her off when he tells her she can pick any assignment if she interviews Finn Dalton, author of the bestselling book Alone. Carrie had never heard of the author or the book and figures she can easily pull this assignment off over the Thanksgiving weekend. Then she discovers that no one knows where he is- or has talked to him. All communication is done by computer. 

After much research Carrie gets a lead and a request to make a delivery to Finn. Thanksgiving weekend finds her in Fairbanks and eventually being dropped off on a frozen lake. Finn's welcome is just as cold as the snow storm she is dropped into. Finn and Carrie both discover they have a lot to learn about life and each other. 

What did she have to deliver? Who are the people that help her?  In the end, why didn't she write the article when she returned? Settle into your favorite reading spot and join Carrie on her Alaskan adventure.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Darcy

Happy Birthday Mr. Darcy

By: Victoria Connelly

Kindle Ebook only

The Austen Addicts we've come to know and love are back! This novella brings back some of our favorite characters from the series for a wedding that may not happen. Readers of A Weekend With Mr. Darcy  and Christmas With Mr. Darcy  will love catching up with Katherine Roberts and Warwick Lawton. They are getting married!! (Hopefully)

Purely Hall is hosting it's first Jane Austen themed wedding. However, not everything is smooth sailing. Katherine has an attack of the nerves. From worrying their work lives and marriage won't mix to how they will combine both of their vast book collections (each has several thousands), Katherine's fears grow the closer to the wedding she gets. Can Warwick save the day?

Warwick is working on a book that has a tight deadline. Inspiration comes at a rather inopportune time- his wedding day. Dan isn't expecting to see Warwick in a writing zone an hour before his wedding, but he does. Seemingly oblivious to the time, Warwick shows no signs of stopping. Will he miss his own wedding?

Carmel Hudson has gotten the reputation of hitting on just about every man within her eyesight. But when she sets her eyes on Dan, she may have met her match. Under the guise of wanting to get horseback riding lessons for her daughter, and herself (despite being an already accomplished rider in her own right), she doesn't hide her true intentions. Numerous phone calls follow and it all comes to a head on the wedding day when Robyn walks in on an unpleasant scene.

Curl up and get ready to revisit with some of your favorite Janeits! You're in for a fun treat.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

By: Debbie Macomber

395 Pages

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Beloved author, Debbie Macomber, is bringing the Christmas spirit early this year. Call Me Mrs. Miracle is a well loved book among her fans, but this time around, it also comes with her another Christmas story, The Christmas Basket. Both stories illustrate Debbie's wonderful talent of telling loving stories that touch your heart strings. 

Call Me Mrs. Miracle has Emily Merkle coming back to work her magic. Jake Finely hasn't celebrated Christmas in over 20 years. His Mother and Sister dying in a car accident on Christmas Eve put an end to the holiday for both his Father and himself. However, their successful store, Finelys, makes Christmas look like a dreamland. Mrs. Merkle (Mrs. Miracle by a mysterious human resources typo) is a season employee ready to change the future of both Jake and his father. First, they have to find a way to sell all the 500 toy robots Jake ordered after his gut feeling told him it would be the toy of the season. (His Father was less than pleased.)

Holly Larson has temporary custody of her nephew, Gabe, while her brother is in Afghanistan. After a little time getting used to the arrangement, Aunt and Nephew are doing well. Her life changes when she goes to buy her favorite latte, only to realize she doesn't have the money to pay for it. Step in her Starbucks hero- Jake Finely. He pays for her drink, and the reason for Mrs. Miracle arrival have now met each other.

Holly is determined to make this Christmas a memorable one for Gabe, so she scrimps and saves money to get him the one toy he really wants- a $250 robot. A wrench is thrown into her plans when she overhears her boss saying she'll be the only employee to not get a bonus this year. 

With help from Mrs. Miracle, the toys get sold and love arrives to two deserving people. Broken hearts are mended, futures are set into motion- all at the hands of Debbie Macomber. 

The Christmas Basket

Forgiving is the theme of this Christmas tale. Longtime friends turned enemies force their bitterness onto the lives of their families. 

Sarah McDowell and Mary Sutton had been the best of friends for as long as they could remember. But all that changes when Sarah borrows Mary's irreplaceable family heirloom tea set and it's stolen. The lie cuts deep and the friends are never able to get past it. A bitter rivalry is born. After 20 years of bad mouthing each other, but avoiding each other, they are put together to make Christmas Baskets for their Women's Club. After two rather embarrassing encounters in stores- one ending with them being escorted out by security guards, things come to a head during an ice storm. Forgiveness comes at the hands of Mother Nature and Scotch while the abandoned duo wait to be rescued.

Noelle McDowell hasn't been home in years. She left with a broken heart when a planned elopement with Thom Sutton doesn't happen. Both were deeply in love, and both blame the other for the reason their love ended badly. And both keep running into each other.

When they finally talk things out, it's learned a misunderstanding was behind all the heartache. Determined to make their relationship work this time around. The only obstacle they have is their Mothers. 

Once again, Debbie Macomber delivers heartwarming stories and lovable characters. You are invested in each story and each character. You going through all the emotions the characters are, and you are as excited as they are when the happy ending arrives.

Merry Christmas, Debbie Macomber style!

New Cozy Mystery Series To Love!!

When it comes to the cozy mystery genre, there are some authors who just stand out. Like Laura Childs and Lorna Barrett, Jenn McKinlay has made a name for herself writing books readers can't devour soon enough. Many readers love getting their sugar high from her Cupcake Bakery series. I fell in love with her Library Lover's series. (I am anxiously awaiting for the November release for the next one.) Well, this talented author with several series already on her full plate has added another: her Hat Shop Mystery series!! 

Cloche And Dagger takes you overseas to London, England. Not only is this where legendary hat shop Mim's Wims is located, but it's where Scarlett Parker is going to escape the chaos her life has become in Florida. Having found out the boyfriend who said he was separated really wasn't, and walking into the anniversary party he through for the wife he said he no longer had would be enough for anyone. Having video of you throwing chunks of the very expensive cake in the boyfriend's face go viral, introduces you to notoriety- complete with morning shows wanting you to be a guest. So, when her cousin, Vivian, tells her hightail it to London Scarlett goes. 

Surrounded by fun secondary characters, Scarlett isn't new to the neighborhood for long. While the fun loving couple opening their own art studio just down from Mim's Wims, to the old childhood friend Scarlett stood up, Harrison, and may be still holding a grudge. You will have fun meeting everyone- even the characters who don't stick around too long. 

I can't wait for the next book in this fun series to come out. Death of a Mad hatter will be in bookstores (and on my bookshelf) in May 2014.

The Impersonator

The Impersonator
By: Mary Miley
309 Pages

Summary:
Long time Vaudeville performer Leah, is offered the job of a lifetime. When a stranger mistakes her for his missing niece, he asks her to impersonate her. It's all so simple. He wants a piece of the massive fortune she would inherit. Leah looks exactly like Jessie Carr, so it'll be easy to convince the remaining family the runaway has come home. However, it's not as easy as Uncle Oliver makes it seem. Jessie has 2 male cousins who stand to inherit the fortune if Jessie never comes back- how happy will they be to see that money slip through their hands? And while she may have an "instant" family, it's a family that has numerous secrets. On top of all that, someone keeps trying to kill "Jessie".

I enjoyed this book immensely. The story takes place in the early 1920s and takes you behind the curtains of the Vaudeville life, as well as into the mansions of the well-to-do. I enjoyed all the characters- even the ones I didn't like. All were portrayed very well and kept you guessing. Author, Mary Miley, wove a fantastic story that threw in more than one plot twist. 

Leah grew up in the Vaudeville life; both her mother and her having performed in it for decades. However, with her mother long since gone, Leah has been on her own. Blessed with youthful looks, she's always been able to play young roles, as well as older ones. But things take an unexpected turn when her current gig comes to an end when The Darlings let her go. With no other options, she takes up the offer a stranger gave her. This gig could set her up for life, if she wanted. All she had to do was portray Jessie Carr- an heiress who wet missing seven years prior. As long as she could convince the trustees, and the remaining family members, the fortune was hers. All Leah had to do was give him some money every now and then. 

Uncle Oliver preps her and gives her all the information she needs. She passes the tests the trustees throw at her. She also manages to avoid being consumed in the fire that takes over the hotel she was staying at. Lucky for her she noticed the mysterious guy following her and changed her plans.

She gets the family to believe she's the real Jessie, but one cousin isn't convinced. Henry is angry his fathered never got his rightful share of the money, and he's not to happy to see history repeat itself with him. However, he and his brother, Ross, take turns making questionable appearances on "Jessie's" radar. 

Before long, "Jessie" learns of several women being found dead- including the one she finds dead on the side of the road. All these women have many things in common- most telling, a chunk of hair cur off. Soon "Jessie" decides she want to find out what happened to these women- and the real fate of the real Jessie.

Soon "Jessie" uncovers one disturbing thing after another about one of her cousins. It isn't long before she's racing to get the truth known before she's the next body found.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries and historical fiction. I was interested from the beginning and was actively guessing who was doing what. The way Mary Miley wove everything together was fascinating and touching. I wanted to see what really happened to Jessie and how all secrets would connect. The ending wasn't a let down in any way. I was very pleased with it and found it did justice to the book's build up. I hope this is only the first of many books Mary Miley writes.