Christmas Fiction Book Review: Christmas in Newfoundland - Memories and Mysteries by Mike Martin

Filled with sweet and heartfelt stories of the season, Christmas in Newfoundland by Mike Martin is a nostalgic trip through memories and mysteries set in Grand Bank. From an elderly set of sweethearts remembering their younger days  to Sgt. Windflower's dreams and a Christmas miracle, you'll enjoy getting to know the people of Grand Bank.

Though I often think of these kinds of stories taking place in  small town America, Grand Bank is just as charming. Not knowing much about the area, Christmas in Newfoundland gives readers a snapshot of what to expect in this quiet town by the Atlantic.

I first met Sgt. Windflower in The Walker on the Cape and was happy to be reintroduced to him with this seasonal collection of stories.

If you like small town stories with a cozy feel, Christmas in Newfoundland is a good title to indulge in.


Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing (August 20, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1988437253
ISBN-13: 978-1988437255

This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I received a copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas Romance Spotlight: Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne

Hearts are lighter and wishes burn a little brighter at Christmas…

Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn’t quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids…until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie’s laugh, the baby powder smell of Bridger and the feel of her husband’s hand in hers, Elizabeth worried that they’d moved on without her. That she’d missed too much. That perhaps she wasn’t the right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them.

But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they all trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the hurt of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQN Books; Original edition (September 24, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 331 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1335504990
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1335504999

Christmas Historical Romance Novella Collection: Love at Christmas by Anne Greene

A CHRISTMAS BELLE

Amanda Jeffrey, mail-order bride, arrives in the Wild West expecting to wed a cowboy. Frank Calloway, Sheriff of Angel Vale needs a mother for the baby left on his doorstep. But can the delicate Southern belle accept a Southern man, rather than a cowboy, after another Southern groom jilted her at the altar? And is the delicate southern belle strong enough to handle life in the rugged western boom town?

A WILLIAMSBURG CHRISTMAS

Christmas 1955 - Trent jilted Holly. Should she give him a second chance?

Holly’s a widowed mother raising 8-year-old twin boys by working as a waitress in a famous Colonial Williamsburg Inn. Trent disappeared from Holly’s life ten years ago. Now he’s back and wants to marry her. Santa’s matchmakers bring new men into her life. Will the competition prove too much for Trent?

AVOIDING THE MISTLETOE

1865 Soon after the Civil War -Olivia Rose Baker abandons her dying hometown in Massachusetts to become a mail-order bride in male-dominated Seattle, Washington. Her abusive husband died in the Civil War and left Olivia wary of marriage, so she hopes to take a teaching position rather than become a bride. But Stark Macaulay, former Confederate soldier and now Sheriff of Seattle, the man who purchased her ticket, is smitten with Olivia and insists she fulfil her contract and marry. Fighting demons of his own, Sheriff Stark vows to win the widow or die trying…and almost does.

THE CHOICE

Felicity’s father dies, leaving her stranded at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, one-third the way to homestead 640 acres in the Oregon Territory. She has money and supplies to continue her journey, but a woman alone cannot claim the free land. So, she advertises for a husband. Ben’s got massive debt and Gold Rush fever and heads to California. But at Ft. Laramie he’s robbed of everything he owns. His only recourse is to strike a bargain with Felicity. At the fork in the trail, will he trek to Oregon to help her homestead, or will she accompany him to dig for gold in California? Can these two stubborn people with very different goals make the right choice for them both.

Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Independently published (October 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1697814131
ISBN-13: 978-1697814132

Christmas Picture Book Spotlight: Santa, Please Bring Me a Gnome by An Swerts

 

Dear Santa... That's how Tess starts her letter. You don't have to bring me any toys this year. The only thing I want is a real gnome. Full of anticipation, Tess looks forward to the day her new friend arrives: a friend she can take everywhere, and with whom she can share everything. With Grandpa and Grandma's help, she gets everything ready. Grandpa builds little pieces of furniture, Grandma sews a little blanket, and Tess prepares a welcome meal. And then it's finally Christmas Eve ... Will Santa bring a real gnome? A heartwarming picture book with wonderfully funny illustrations.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clavis (September 15, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1605372757
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1605372754
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6 years
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD490L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3

Christmas Picture Book Review: A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall

 

Get your kids in the holiday spirit by sharing with them A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall.

Santa's reindeer discover a lost black kitten named O'Malley while they are helping Santa deliver presents on Christmas Eve. Unable to find his home, they hide O'Malley on the sleigh and keep his presence a secret from Santa. Once they arrive back at the North Pole, many of the residents help take care of the tired, hungry little kitten. What would Santa say if he knew?

This is an unbelievably adorable story. You have Santa's reindeer acting like a kid hiding something he discovered on the way home from school. They know they're not supposed to bring O'Malley home, but what are they going to do? It's cold out. Besides, isn't Christmas the season of peace, love, and joy? While I wish the interior illustrations were in color, they are still cute. The small size of the book makes it easy for little hands to hold too.

Your children will be enchanted by A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall.

• Publisher: Tate Publishing
• ISBN-10:1617773530
• ISBN-13: 978-1617773532

This review first appeared at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. I received a copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind to provide my review.

Christmas Romance Spotlight: His Christmas Wish by Melissa McClone

I bought a Kindle version of this Christmas romance in 2020. Since then, the cover has changed. Not sure if there have been any changes to the story itself. I am using the cover for the edition I downloaded. You can see the new cover here.

 

Carly Bishop loved Christmas…until tragedy struck.

Distraught and grief-stricken over the deaths of her fiancé and brother, she left Hood Hamlet and her Christmas spirit behind, to start over somewhere new. But now, six years later, her family needs her. Carly returns home to face her past and give her niece and nephew the best Christmas ever.

Burdened with guilt, Jake Porter believes he could have saved his two friends on that fateful day and kept Carly from experiencing such a heart-wrenching loss. When she arrives in town, Jake wants to make amends so they can both finally move forward with their lives.

As Jake helps Carly experience the magic of Christmas so she'll embrace the holiday again, will he also be able to open her heart to something else she’d given up on…love?

Previously published as Rescued by the Magic of Christmas.

Mountain Rescue Romance series

Book 1: His Christmas Wish
Book 2: Her Christmas Secret
Book 3: Her Christmas Kiss
Book 4: His Second Chance
Book 5: His Christmas Family

File Size: 636 KB
Print Length: 262 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1944777105
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Cardinal Press, LLC (November 1, 2018)
Publication Date: November 1, 2018
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07JB2C6X5

Christmas Romance Book Review: Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts

If you like funny seasonal romances, Christmas from the Heart will fit the bill.

Olivia Berg has taken the helm at Christmas from the Heart, a local charity helping families in need in the town of Pine River, Washington. When they lose one of their major donors, Hightower Enterprises, she begs CFO Guy Hightower to reconsider. She is promptly shot down, and Hightower has made it clear there will be no more money coming for Christmas from the Heart.

Guy Hightower knows Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, but pushy Olivia Berg could never understand such a thing. When Guy's car breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he's thrilled to be rescued by a pretty young woman who brings him to Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is Olivia Berg. Just his luck to be stuck with the woman who thinks he's Ebenezer Scrooge.

I've enjoyed the writing of Sheila Roberts since On Strike for Christmas first came out. She blends humor and drama and always comes up with a winner. Christmas from the Heart is another fabulous story I enjoyed from beginning to end. There's the drama: Olivia feeling a huge responsibility to carry on the work of her grandmother and mother before her and Guy Hightower needing to find a way to keep Hightower Enterprises afloat in precarious times. Then there's the humor: the ridiculous emails Olivia sends off to Guy, their first in person meeting, the antics of a small town Christmas with two people who are both attracted to and despise each other.

Christmas from the Heart is another wonderful seasonal story that proves Roberts knows how to weave an engaging and light tale that entertains fans new and old. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.


Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (September 24, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778309614
ISBN-13: 978-0778309611

This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I received a free copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in anyway.

Christmas Picture Book Review: Kevin's Christmas by Liesbet Slegers

 

Toddlers will love sitting down with you to read Kevin's Christmas by Liesbet Slegers.

It's Christmas time. Kevin and his family get ready. They put up a tree, set the nativity at the base of their tree, send out greeting cards, and buy food for the Christmas meal. How exciting!

I love Slegers' books. She really knows how to get in touch with a child's heart and mind. In this adorable new release in her Kevin and Katie series, young Kevin gets involved in Christmas preparations for the first time. The story speaks to toddlers using words they will be familiar with and has Kevin acting in ways similar to this age group. Young readers will feel his excitement and joy in sharing this holiday with his family.

The artwork Slegers creates for this one is wonderful. It's simple, yet uses great colors that will captivate young readers. I also like the multicultural aspect of the book. When Cousin Sally arrives we see she is African American. It's a subtle message, but one that makes you appreciates family diversity, and can help show kids that differences are great.

This is a sweet story that would make a perfect gift.

• Publisher: Clavis Publishing
• ISBN-10: 1605371041
• ISBN-13: 978-1605371047
• SRP:  $12.95

I received a FREE copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions. I did not receive monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

Christmas Picture Book Review: Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls by Veronica Vasylenko

 

Two beloved wintertime songs have been added to pictures thanks to Tiger Tales Books and talented artist Veronica Vasylenko.

The mouse family is celebrating taking a wintertime sleigh ride as they pack up the adults and the children in their "one-horse open sleigh." Over the hills they go, bells jingling on the horse's tail, playing their instruments, and arriving at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

In this beautifully illustrated padded board book, Jingle Bells the song comes alive in a new way. The glitter varnish on the cover and inside pages gives it a wintery glow that will captivate young readers ages 2- 5.

The mouse family returns in Deck the Halls, where they are getting ready for Christmas by decorating the tree, sitting around the Yule log, baking treats, and entertaining friends. Like Jingle Bells, Vasylenko has captured the joys of the season with her little mouse family. With lights and door jambs decorated with holly leaves, and holly berries adorning the walls, there is so much for young readers to enjoy.

These books are quick reads that will be fun to read aloud and sing aloud. They would make great story time books. I like that they remained consistent between the two books, formatting them the same, using the same font on each, and using the glitter varnish on each padded board book. These are definitely books you and your kids can enjoy all season long!

Jingle Bells

• Publisher: Tiger Tales
• ISBN-10:1589258215
• ISBN-13: 978-1589258211
• SRP:  $8.95

Deck the Halls

• Publisher: Tiger Tales
• ISBN-10:1589258681
• ISBN-13: 978-1589258686
• SRP:  $8.95

I received FREE copies of these book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind to provide this review.

Christmas Novella Collection: Western Christmas Wishes by Brenda Minton & Jill Kemerer

Two tales of holiday homecoming.

Spend the holidays with family in these two Western novellas!

Home is where the heart is in His Christmas Family when Laurel Adams comes home and discovers a foster kid and a seriously charming horse trainer living on her grandmother’s ranch. And in A Merry Wyoming Christmas, single mom Leann Bowden is starting over when she and her daughter are rescued from a snowstorm. Might the dashing cowboy be the Christmas gift they’re dreaming of?

Series: Love Inspired
Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired; Original edition (October 15, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335479511
ISBN-13: 978-1335479518