Audible Novella Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Hugh Grant

 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens tells the story of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge, a wealthy partner at Scrooge & Marley. Set during the Christmas season, years after the death of Marley, Scrooge believes all the joy and gift giving of the season to be a humbug. This year, like in years past, he declines his nephew's invitation to Christmas dinner. Once he returns home for the evening, he is visited by Marley's ghost, who encourages him to change his stingy ways. Marley warns him he will be visited by three spirits. As Scrooge joins the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he comes face to face with what he life was, is, and could be. He also learns more about his clerk Bob Cratchit and his young son, Tiny Tim. 

This seasonal historical tale has been a holiday classic for generations. The Audible version, narrated by Hugh Grant, is a superb performance of the story of the stingy Scrooge, who is transformed by three spirits who visit him. Grant captured all the characters so well. I would recommend listening to this any time of year.

• Unabridged Audiobook
• Release date: 12-21-20
• Language: English
• Publisher: Audible Studios

This was a free Audible selection. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Novella Review: Elf Trouble by Sherry James

The Studs 4 Hire series returns in the seasonal novella, Elf Trouble by Sherry James.

Gil Boyd wants nothing to do with the hyper-commercialized version of Christmas that abounds these days. When his bosses at Studs 4 Hire volunteer his services to a local animal shelter for their annual Santa Paws fundraiser, he silences his inner Grinch and hopes to get the job done quickly.

What he doesn't count on is quirky shelter volunteer, Holly Everwood, who is filled to the brim with Christmas spirit. Along with her band of cantankerous mutts, Holly will tempt Gil's resolve to stay unattached this holiday season.

I've missed the Studs 4 Hire series, so I was thrilled to learn of this new release. Though past Studs 4 Hire novels have focused more on the female owners of the company that hires out fabulous looking handymen, this novella finds one of the "studs" as the main character.

Having grown up under less than ideal circumstances, Gil Boyd despises Christmas. When his bosses ask him to build a Santa house for an animal shelter's annual fundraiser, he tries just about everything he can think of to weasel out of the job. But they think he will be perfect for it, so eventually Gil agrees. When a crisis strikes at the animal shelter, volunteer Holly Everwood suddenly finds herself in charge of making sure their Santa Paws fundraiser is a huge success, including working with Gil to design and build the Santa house.

Sparks quickly fly between the two, but both have reasons not to get involved. As they find it harder and harder to keep things professional between them, the days to the Santa Paws fundraiser are quickly approaching, and it seems impossible that the project will be completed on time.

This is a quick, funny, and sexy read. James knows her genre and puts together a fabulous story that will get your blood pumping and tickle your funny bone. The dogs add a neat element to this romantic seasonal tale. You'll definitely want to see how Gil and Holly get to their happily ever after.


Print Length: 159 pages
Publisher: Dusty Trail Publishing; 1 edition (December 19, 2013)
ISBN #: 9780991281053
ASIN: B00HGWSZUM
BN ID: 2940148918691

This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I purchased a digital copy of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Novella Review: A Vision of Sugarplums by Jennifer Blake

Meghan Castle doesn't like Christmas at all. It's Christmas Eve and she wants to close up and go home to hide from the holiday and the bad memories it brings.

As she goes off to shoo away the last lingering customer from the Silver Bells Christmas Shop, she discovers an abandoned baby under a tree. The handsome hunk she had hoped to kick out of the store, convinces her to take the baby home and offers to help her take care of it.

Though they are both attracted to each other, secrets might tear apart this couple before they get too far.

A Vision of Sugarplums by Jennifer Blake is a romantic novella that goes against Mark Twain's adage that "truth is stranger than fiction," because fiction has to stick to possibilities (make sense). While Blake is very talented when it comes to painting a picture for the reader and she can write a moving love scene, I can't remember when a story has made me so furious. It requires one to stretch the imagination so far that you can't truly enjoy it.

I can't go into all the details without giving away the story, but what I can say is if a man treated me the way Rick Wallman did Meghan, there is no way I would want a future with him--no matter his motivation. This is one time I wish the boy didn't get the girl.


Title:  A Vision of Sugarplums
Author:  Jennifer Blake
Publisher: Steel Magnolia Press
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B006A1Z06W


This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I downloaded a free copy of this book from the Kindle Store. I received no monetary compensation for this review.