Just Finished: Christmas Magic

It's just over two weeks until Christmas so I thought it was high time to post another holiday review! Christmas Magic is one of the new holiday anthologies published by Still Moments Publishing. While it wasn't one of my favourites, I think others would really enjoy it.

Here's a little bit about each story:

Wishes Come True by Linda Carroll-Bradd
Will mixing one lonely baker and the town’s prodigal son with spices and laughter make a tasty recipe for love?

Harbor Homecoming by Lindsay McFerrin
Can a gigantic dog named Bear be a matchmaker? If it’s Christmas in romantic Bar Harbor, Maine, the answer is yes!

Beginning of Forever by Terri Rochenski
A new face in town forces Lillian Davis to choose between living in her past and what is blossoming in her heart.

When I was in university I would always be home for the break between semesters. My mom and I share a love of romantic Christmas books and I would always finish the books before she did. I think she liked that though because I could tell her what order to read the stories in and if there were any she should skip altogether. Why am I telling you this? Well, because I wish I had had someone to tell me what order to read these stories in. I really liked Wishes Come True and it would have been nice if that had been the last story I had read. It's not that I disliked the other two, it was just that I enjoyed the first one the most.

Sometimes I find that short stories do not have a good pace and that things end up happening much too quickly for it to be believable. That didn't really happen with these stories. Funnily enough, Wishes Come True was the story that I struggled with the most when it came to timing. I think it was just a little difficult to understand how the characters could care so much about each other without really spending much time together.

Each story had a really sweet storyline, which is perfect for Christmas. I loved Bear the dog in Harbor Homecoming and thought he was just perfect for the story. I was also amazed at how Lillian picked herself up after a tragedy and was able to be a terrific mother in Beginning of Forever. I can't imagine what she had to go through.

Overall, Christmas Magic gave me just the holiday boost I needed. The stories were fun to read, the romances were sweet, and there was just the right amount Christmas spirit. Pick this one up if you're looking for a few quick Christmas stories. I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*

Excerpt: Pass the Hot Stuff

Time for the excerpt of Dana Page's novel  Pass the Hot Stuff! This post is part of the tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours! Don't forget to check out the main tour page for all of the other posts! Enjoy this excerpt :)

She found her seat, naturally it was in the middle, and she stopped to try to put her carry-on bag in the overhead compartment.  She stumbled back a little, hitting the man across the aisle in the head with her butt.  “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

     “No problem,” he said.  “I can think of worse ways of getting knocked out.”  Blythe looked startled, and he laughed.  “Here, let me help you.”

     “Thank you,” she said, and looked at him for the first time.  He looked familiar.  He was very good looking and had the darkest, bedroom eyes she had ever seen.  She felt even more flustered now.  “Sorry again…for hitting you.” 

     He smiled in response.  “It was a pleasure,” he teased.

     Blythe’s face turned red; she couldn’t remember the last time she had blushed.  He started to say something else to her but had to get out of the way of the crowd rushing towards their seats like it was general admission.

     Blythe buckled her seatbelt, closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep before takeoff.  She was exhausted.  Just as she was beginning to doze, the flight attendant, trying to shove a ridiculously large bag into the overhead compartment, startled her awake from her half sleep.  She looked over to see what the racket was and noticed the same guy looking at her again.  She gave him a slight, little smile of acknowledgement and shut her eyes once more.  She wondered if he was staring with approval or disapproval.  Was her mascara smeared?  That would have been disapproval.  Was her blouse unbuttoned?  From a man, approval.  He was probably just stunned from having been hit by her big butt, she thought.

     When he wasn’t looking, she craned her head around the people separating them to get a better look at him.  He had very dark hair, the darkest brown, almost black and an olive complexion with strong features.  He opened his eyes and looked over at her.  Oh, did he see me?  

     She tried to sleep again but couldn’t.  How did she know him?  She couldn’t place him, and that’s not a face she would easily forget.  She glanced at him again.

     He stood up and was trying to step into the aisle just in time to have the food cart come rattling through.  He was going to say something to her, but it was either get back in his seat or end up road kill from a food cart.

     At that point, he threw courtesy to the wind as he tried to lean around the people between them and strike up a conversation.  But a flight attendant saw this opportunity to drape herself over the seat and introduce herself to him.  Blythe laughed.  She couldn’t hear his muffled responses, but she could hear the singsong, twittering cadence of the flight attendant.  “What’s your name?”  “What do you do?”  “Why are you going to Memphis?”  Tee hee, tee hee.

     After the flight attendant left, he attempted one more time to stand and approach her, but the pilot asked them all to remain seated.  Blythe smiled to herself.  She had enjoyed this weird little flirtation.  It gave her a rush through the middle of her stomach.  She hadn’t felt particularly attractive lately.  In fact, she couldn’t imagine a guy as attractive as that one even looking at her.  It was times like this that made her realize just how insecure she had become.

Author Bio:

Dana Page was raised in Memphis, Tennessee.  Born just down the road from Memphis in Helena, Arkansas, she considers the Mississippi River Delta her own personal inspiration. Having earned adegree in journalism from Texas A&M University, she has utilized her writing skills in varied areas - small-town politics, human interest stories and writing an entertainment column, to name a few. To support her writing habit, she has worked an odd job or two.  Don't ask her about delivering singing telegrams; some things are best forgotten.  Pass the Hot Stuff is Dana’s debut novel.

  

CLP Blog Tour: Pass the Hot Stuff

Welcome to a stop for the Pass the Hot Stuff tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours! Today I have an excerpt of the novel by Dana Page as well as a guest post from the author herself. Make sure you check out the main tour page for all the other reviews and posts for this tour!

Let's start off with the guest post! Stay tuned for the excerpt in an hour or so...can't give you all the good stuff at once! :)

Jonah Babboni Takes You on a Tour of Hot Stuff

Allow me to introduce myself.  I’m Jonah Babboni.  How do and slap it high, darlin’.  I’m one of the characters in Pass the Hot Stuff.  No, I’m not the hot stuff.  Although, when you hear me sing, you may beg to differ...you’ve never heard anything like it.  If you’re lucky, I’ll sing to you later, but first I’m gonna take you on a little tour.  Step on up into the carriage.  Our horse’s name is Shrimp Creole or French Onion Soup...something like that...or maybe I’m just hungry.  Maybe later, we’ll stop by Emeril’s and get down and dirty with that Grand Marnier Soufflé.

We’ll start on Rue Royale here in the Quarter.  If you look over to your right, there’s Brennan’s.  That’s kind of where it all started.  My good friend Blake St. Germaine and I met the other attorneys for a drink there, and that’s where he first saw Blythe.  But she’s with Bobert.  I know.  I know.  His name is Robert.  I like to razz him a little.  It’s what I do, even if he doesn’t appreciate harmless joshing.  He had his sense of humor surgically removed, you know.  Laughter makes him uncomfortable.  In fact, it makes him look downright queasy. 

Speaking of Blythe, or as I like to call her – Miss America – look to your left, the third floor balcony with all of the lush ferns and yellow flowers...that’s her place.  That’s her dog, Lady Marmalade, barking at us.  What up, Marmalade!  Gitchy, gitchy, ya, ya, da, da!  Blythe is my buddy.  She’s a little doll.  Can I confide in you?  Let’s share a moment and make some memories...  The truth is I rarely interfere in other people’s lives...  Stop laughing.  O.K., I frequently interfere, but the point here is that I really think Blythe would be much happier with Blake than Bobert.  It’s true the two of them would be too lovely to look at, like staring into the sun.  But that’s not the point.  I just don’t believe for a second that she and Bobert are a match made in heaven.  If he wouldn’t get down and dirty with the Grand Marnier Soufflé at Emeril’s the other night, I’m just not buying that he gets down and dirty with her.  Although, I’m sure he would turn up his nose at the words ‘down and dirty.’  I’m thinking associating over high tea is more his style.  Let’s put it that way.

As we head on over to Bourbon...hang on as we dodge a few liquor trucks dropping off and garbage trucks picking up from the party the night before.  See that little joint on the corner?  There’s a great blues band that plays there.  They let me sing with them when I show up, you know, on the rare occasion that I get out and about.  All right.  Stop laughing.  Maybe I’m out and about a little too much.  But one more night like we had there the other night, and I just may get my wish for Blythe and Blake to...have high tea together.  And it all started with me asking the musical question – Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On.

If my melodious serenading doesn’t get them together, then life has let me down.  The truth is Blythe must actually have a screw loose to choose the anemic Bobert over Blake.  I know she thinks Blake is too good looking, too sexy...hey, we could be describing me.  I’m only going to tell you one more time...stop laughing.  Anyway, she thinks he’s a rake, a cad...Blythe watches too many old movies.  The bottom line here is something ain’t right.  And I saw something in Memphis the other night that solidifies it.  At least, what I think I saw...

That’s why we’re heading down to the Mississippi river.  I’m meeting Tricia, Blythe’s best friend.  We’re going to solve the world’s problems over a Muffaletta.  Here she comes now.  Beautiful girl.  But she talks too much.  She’s the freakin’ Mouth of the South.  Don’t you just hate it when people won’t let you get a word in edgewise.  If anyone knows what Blythe’s problem is, Tricia does.  Stick around for the juicy details, if you want...it’s bound to be some hot stuff.

Season's Readings!

I love the holidays and I love chick lit. Therefore, it was a no brainer for me to say yes when author Libby Mercer asked if I could promote some holiday treats for chick lit lovers this Christmas! I've read (and loved!) a few of these books and a few others are on my wish list. I've linked to my reviews for the books that I've read already. Hopefully they'll persuade you to buy these amazing novels!

Without further ado, here's the info for the lovely holiday promotion!

In the spirit of coming together for the holidays, eight popular Chick Lit authors are "partying it up" with a shared promotion for book lovers! That means eight fun and fizzy e-books, each priced at $3.99 or less, that are packed with plenty of laughs and romance to keep you entertained on those long winter nights! And if you'd like to gift one of these books to a Chick Lit fan, we've got you covered with your choice of paperbacks!

Which books are featured in this festive promo?

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey - Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the "one who got away." But are some loves best left behind? E-book and paperback available on Amazon.

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister - Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day's work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? E-book available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble; paperback available on Amazon. (*note: I haven't reviewed this one yet but I LOVED it!)

What the Dog Ate by Jackie Bouchard - Discovering what her dog ate turns Maggie Baxter’s world upside down. With her chocolate Lab, Kona, as her guide, can Maggie forego her overly analytical ways to find a new life filled with tail-wagging joy? E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes; paperback available on Amazonand Barnes & Noble. 

The Girl, the Gold Tooth, & Everything by Francine LaSala - Suburban housewife Mina, beaten-down and struggling with amnesia, starts getting her memory and her mojo back. But she soon learns everything has a price in this fast-paced, richly layered, and darkly humorous satire! E-book and paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  

Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie - When Roxy Rule shares a passionate kiss with her lifelong best friend, she must come to terms with her feelings for him while dealing with two sisters in full crisis mode, a boss who makes her want to stab herself with a letter opener and a fiancé who can't wait to walk down the aisle. Can she keep it together--or will she break under the pressure? E-book available on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble; paperback available on Amazon. (*note: one of my favourites of the year - and you can buy it straight from the publisher as well, Marching Ink.)

Fashioning a Romance by Libby Mercer - Devastatingly handsome and deliciously weird, John Harrington is the man of Caitlyn Taylor's dreams… and her nightmares. She has no use for a womanizer like him, and dodges his advances like a pro. But when they end up in Paris together, Caitlyn feels her resolve begin to slip. How will she ever be able to resist the irresistible in the most romantic city in the world?

 E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

A State of Jane by Meredith Schorr - Jane Frank is newly single after nine years and looking for a second chance at love. But when she dives head first into the NYC dating scene and finds it infested with flakes who are interested today and gone tomorrow, it may be time for Jane to turn the tables! E-book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes; paperback available on Amazonand Barnes & Noble. (*note: I'm part of the upcoming CLP Blog Tour for this novel and I CANNOT wait!) 

Picture Perfect by Lucie Simone - Lauren Tate's perfectly planned life quickly unravels at the seams when a smear campaign threatens her career as a top TV executive, but she learns just how cutthroat showbiz can truly be when the hottest scandal in Tinsel Town turns deadly and the Hollywood hunk who's stolen her heart goes missing. E-book available on Amazon; paperback available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Top Ten Tuesday: Santa, Please Bring Me These Books!

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

This week we're creating lists for Santa. I may have overflowing bookshelves (literally) but that doesn't mean there aren't books that I would like to add...somewhere...perhaps over there in that corner...Hm. Maybe the first thing on my list should be a new bookshelf! My approach for this post was to take a look at my Goodreads to read list and pick the top ten on there. What are you asking Santa for this Christmas?

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating in this week's list!

1. From Notting Hill with Love...Actually – Ali McNamara
2. Just Friends with Benefits – Meredith Schorr
3. The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder – Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare
4. The Heather Wells Series– Meg Cabot
5. Austenland– Shannon Hale
6. The I Heart Series – Lindsey Kelk
7. How Lucky You Are – Kristyn Kusek Lewis
8. Off the Menu – Stacey Ballis
9. The Pollyanna Plan – Talli Roland
10. Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey – Bob McCabe

Just Finished: Notorious Nineteen

Oh, Stephanie Plum. I've been reading this hilarious mystery series by Janet Evanovich for...hmmm...well, awhile. I figure it was probably close to ten years ago when I picked up One for the Money - and that's nowhere close to when it was first published (the earliest publication date I can find is 1994). I've always enjoyed reading this series because they're quick, easy, and amusing reads. Notorious Nineteen, the latest in the Stephanie Plum series, did not disappoint.

Here's the synopsis:

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.
After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape...or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.
The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone...or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory...

Confession: I hadn't actually read Explosive Eighteen when I received Nineteen in the mail. For some reason I just never got around to reading it, which is surprising since Smokin' Seventeen ended on such a cliffhanger! Naturally, I did what any bookworm would do when faced with such a situation. I went down to the library, got Eighteen, and proceeded to finish both novels over the course of a weekend.

I felt like there was a lot going on in this book. There's always a ton of craziness happening in Stephanie's life but this just seemed almost excessive. That being said, the involved side story with Ranger made me wonder if Evanovich is setting things up to finish the series after book twenty. As much as I enjoy this series, I think it's time to wrap things up. How long can we really wait before knowing which man Stephanie ends up with?!  Personally, I think I'm hoping for her to get together with Morelli in the end.

It was amusing to see how things had changed since the series began. For example, Stephanie referred to the fact that Ranger's look had totally changed (thank goodness - ponytails on men are so unattractive). I also love that in Nineteen, she was surfing Pinterest! Can you imagine the Stephanie in One for the Money being on Pinterest? She wouldn't know what the heck you were talking about!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Notorious Nineteen, the latest Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich. It had everything you've come to love about this series - Ranger vs. Morelli, classic Grandma Mazur, and a totalled car or two. Sure, they're formulaic, but that's half the fun. As much as I think that it's time to wrap up this series, I don't know what I'll do when it's over! Now I must ask you a very important question: are you Team Ranger or Team Morelli? :)

Happy reading!

*I received a copy of this novel from Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.*

Just Finished: Chocolate Kisses

Happy December first! It seems only fitting that I kick the month off with a review of a sweet (in more ways than one) Christmas short story. Chocolate Kisses by Darlene Fredette was such a lovely read.

Here's the description of this short story:

When Jackson Frost returns to Redford Falls, Candi Cane knows he’s not only after her chocolate kisses.

This story had everything I needed for a Christmas fix. Giggle inducing names (Jackson Frost and Candi Cane? Love it), a chocolate shop complete with story time and Santa Claus, a small town, and a second chance at love.

The only teeny little thing that I didn't like too much was the reason why Jackson came back. I don't want to give anything away but I wish it was a little less...serious and legal, I suppose. I've been trying to think of another explanation for why he could have come back to town and I have yet to come up with anything. This is by no means a deal breaker but I wanted to mention it - even though it's cryptic and only the author or others who have read this would understand what I mean. :)

I really liked the pace of the story. All too often it seems like short stories rush the plot but that wasn't the case with this one. Everything happened at a natural pace and it made sense. It helped that the characters already knew each other as it meant the ending wasn't forced or outlandish.

I'm really hoping that Fredette will write more in this Redford Falls series. I think it's such a lovely setting and there are so many opportunities for some more sweet stories. I'm partial to Jackson and Candi now so I hope that we'd get a glimpse into what they're up to in the next story.

Overall, I loved reading Chocolate Kisses by Darlene Fredette. If you're looking for a quick Christmas story, I definitely recommend you check this one out.

Happy reading :)

*A copy of this story was provided by the publisher, Still Moments Publishing, in exchange for an honest review*