The Christmas Cottage by Jane Porter

This book has something for everyone: history, architecture, romance, Christmas, travel, mysteries and holiday fun for all.

This book starts out with Ella as she lands In England to visit with her sister during the Christmas holidays. Ella is finishing up her PhD soon and wants some quiet time to herself while celebrating with her sisters family.

She is taken aback when she sees Baird is the one picking her up. He was the best man at her sisters wedding in the US and she was his counterpart. Baird is family lawyer mostly dealing with high end divorces. Things happen that you get a vague idea about the past as they spend together we learn more about the circumstances at the wedding. They are both physically drawn to one another, not just physically and know they can never be together.

Love all the ages of the characters and hearing of their problems and how they are resolved. So much to learn from this story:

travel throughout England to various locations, even comes with travel guide information of what to go see, Scottish traditions,

intelligent conversations about writers sch as Jane Austen and philosophers, shopping at the local shops. Love hearing of the history and architecture and past centuries, and festive decorations, even simple walks outside with the dogs are refreshing.

Love family members that take over the kitchen to make their own holiday favorites-this sounds just SO fun. Enjoy learning how to make the Eton Mess dessert dish and playing cards, games, puzzles and the mystery behind Alec's troubles.

Surprise when Ella shows her mad crazy side, wicked so good! Love small things Baird does through others that really put a smile on Ella’s face.

Super love all the support, couldn't even imagine this! Last book gave me the holiday spirit back after decades of not even putting up the tree. enjoying this year, I have the faith again, thanks to this author. A KEEPER for me!

Love finding out what is in store in the next book.

Can be read as a stand alone.

Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Lighting up Christmas by SInclair Jayne

This story follows RIley and she's approaching the town to enhance the Christmas marketplace. She had prepared presentations for the council but the mayor keeps putting her off and now it's just around the holidays and they state they have no money for the endeavor. She has many means to make things come together, very imaginative and cunning. She meets the new owner of Tully lands where she used to play and gets him to ask her to his lands to show the lightings she has for sale. Zhanz is the land owner now and has his own way of doing things, likes his space. He doesn't know what to make of her and thinks it is just like when his grandfather met his spouse. He is attracted to her and her to him...there is turmoil and misunderstandings...

Love harring about the others in town as I am familiar with the characters.

Really enjoy this series of Bear Creek.

A Merry Bramble Christmas by CJ Carmichael

Love this book because of not only the characters but the location and it's Christmas.

Story starts out with Chet and Amy, the owners of the Bramble House and they have just right amount of staff to help with the guests that are checking in during the holiday season.

Oliver arrives and he's looking to locate his long lost sister and her family. Their mother had passed away and it was her dying wish to reach out to Trish and her boy Sawyer. He learns her spouse Dan a firefighter is now deceased.

Story also follows Gemma who's left Denver and just wants peace and quiet. She's known as the runaway bride as she left her spouse and doesn't even want to marry him. More details come to light during the book.

Story also follows other guests and the B&B and it's easy to keep track of everyone. Things don’t always go according to the plan, there are obstacles and situations and love the outcomes.

Love hearing of all the festivities and the town happenings. We also learn of others who live and work in town, love catching up with them all.

Such an awesome read for the holiday season.

The Christmas Blueprint by Sinclair Jayne

This story starts out with Sophia and her best friend Riley attending a town meeting. Sophia wants to be on the board to determine what to do with town land. She's already an accomplished planner running other yearly events around town. Love how she gets others involved for the good of the town.

Story also follows Killain who is a planner from Seattle and he's back home and is on the planning commission. He only plans to stay a year, as long as his job contract is for. He finds other work there that will also keep him busy.

Love hearing all the details of the events and these will help me set up for craft shows displaying my knitted items. Love hearing about the felted wool items and making wreaths for anybody interested.

So much excitement and festivities around town.

They do get together but because of the mayor's plans they fall apart once again as there are unspoken words that could make a difference.

Beautiful holiday read. Very sparky and snarky, what a combination.

Not predictable at all. Can't wait to read more from this series.

Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

A Match by Christmas by Jami Rogers

This story is cool the way it's laid out. Each of main characters gets their own chapter and alternates with the other main character. As things are happening to one, at the same time the new chapter starts you get to hear the other side of what's going on.

Elle is a social media influencer and helps promote the local companies, usually for free. She is maid of honor in the wedding of her friend.

Tuck is returning back from NY to attend the wdding and spend time with his family. He's best man at his brothers wedding. He runs high tech companies.

They each share a past not so long ago and Tuck had left. Because the wedding couple get sick, Elle and Tuck are now doing all the little things they were to do. It puts them together every day and there is a lot of time to talk. Elle shares pictures of the things they do for the big wedding.

Elle is devastated when she drops by the couples house one day... she storms off and so does Tuck. He is angry because his face is now on the internet without his permission.

He wants a long distance relation with her and she states no so he has another plan.

Great holiday read and the outcome is amazing. never saw it coming.

First time reading this author and can't wait to read more of her works.

Clued in Christmas by Mia Heintzelman

Really fun mysterious Christmas romantic story.

Nadia and her friends own and run the Love and Games business. It is close by to Booked UP which Micah runs and owns.

Fun holiday season read and with twists. Love the excitement the game of Clue plays in this story and how they make it work.

Nadia and Micah had dated during the summer, just fun times then break up and go their separate ways. She still has a thing for him and he to her.

Problem is there are things he had not told her and it hits her really hard when she finds out. He wasn't trying to hide anything. The group of friends perform an interention and things happen. So fun at the ski lodge, the activities, etc.

Can't wait to read more from this author.

A Poinsettia Paradise Christmas (Love in El Dorado Book 2) by Janine Amesta

This story follows Natalie who runs the coffee shop at her uncles place. She has the opportunity if she tries hard enough to be the new owner when he retires. Love that she spends time with data and putting into a spreadsheet to prove that a coffee truck would work out well for them.

Story also follows Mason who's in line to take over the family tree farm business. He is given the chance and they have food trucks there and all kinds of activities for children and families to participate in while getting their own tree. A few obstacles are in the way and after meeting Natalie and wanting to spend more time with her and as he listens to her issues he realizes his parents are not that close to one another.

Natialie lives with her parents but they are no happy at all and the father spends his time in the garage. the parents just do nto get along and Natalie fears the same thing will happen to her so she stays away from dating and men.

You figure with what they all hae going on there is no way they will go the distance with one another. Mason talks to his father while Natalie is hearing about the opportunities at the shop with her uncle and asking about her parents when they first got together.

You wonder where they will each end up...

Great story, a bit drawn out for me but love the holiday activities.

The Challenge by Danielle Steel

Love that this book is aobut many different families with all kinds of problems.

The ages are varied and it's cool to hear what effects them all when the kids get into a mess on the mountain. So touching that the group are there for one another.

Hate how the incident changed them all later, down the road.

Really enjoyed this read.

I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

To Catch an Elf by Debra Parmley

This story starts out with Marcie and she's a house/dog sitter and loves to travel from location to location. She has no family any longer.

Story also follows Zeke and his girlfriend Brittany. He's gotten Marcie a job to watch Brittany's dog and house while they vacation in Miami.

Once Marcie arrives at the house she has a letter explaining what she must do there, take pictures of the elf doing and watching different things, according to the day it is. Brittany had entered a contest and hopes to win the big payout.

Brittany doesn't work and has everything she ever wanted, money is not a problem.

Things go sideways when Marcie notices the elf has relocated itself from the closet to where the bowls are. It really scares her out of her mind.

She is out walking Ginger the dog and starts to talk to the neighbor who's out with his dog. They like each other and start spending time together. The whole time the elf is up to other antics. Like how it all turns out and who came to the rescue. Not my typical genre but like the descriptive details and preventive measures that are taken to keep you safe.

Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Cocoa's Christmas Love by Josie Riviera

Cute Christmas read.

Story starts out with Ivy and she and another run the local florist shop in town.

They are struggling as the promotional piece was not very flattering at all. She's a bit concerned especially when hearing another chain floral shop will be coming to town.

Story also follows Blake who is a photographer, mostly environmental items but his grandfather had taken the promotional pictures for the piece in the magazine of Ivy's shop.

He does run into her as she's rescuing a little puppy in a dark alley and he takes a liking to the puppy also. She is so caring and even taking them to the vet.

Love the turmoil and how things have solutions.

Like decorative and very festive settings throughout this book.

Great story.

Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

CHILDREN"S BOOKS

Mystery of King Kong by Paul Moxham

Love these kids books because they teach the children so much about new locations.

The kids and their friend Will are heading to take hot air balloon ride with Mr. Pickle and Uti drops them off, tailing them for as far as he can. Things go great, they even enjoy food while in the basket. Things do go wrong and they end up on an island. The kids notice signs that others have been there and they are able to find food to eat. They are so aware of their surroundings and know so much.

They meet the occupants of the island but then mayhem starts. Kids have great plans and know even without much they can overcome the bad guys. Love how they tend to the ape and how they tend to him.

Never thought it would end this way, wow another KEEPER!

So much to this book: travel, hot air balloon, how to survive on an island, using resources on the plane, herbal remedies that aid others and so much more.

So fascinating, can't wait to read more from this author.

Mystery of the Christmas Spy by Paul Moxham

In this story the children and their friend Will are vacationing in Scotland with their grandparents. Amy answers the phone and before Murphy can even talk to her there is a sound of breaking glass and the mystery starts.... They are trying to find two scientists who have a blueprint for a machine. So much action and adventure in this book that I found interesting. Love hearing of the characters from this series as their quests go on. Descriptions are so detailed, I feel as if I am right there along with them. Such a fun adventure for all ages to enjoy.

Five Minute Middle Grade Mysteries Volume 1 (Solve It Yourself Mysteries) by Paul Moxham

Love this collection of stories for many reasons. They are fun to read, mysteries that you can solve yourself just by reading the story and if you get stuck there is a hint and also the answer is in the book.

Fun characters and their friends still finding new things to solve in everyday life various locations around town and elsewhere.

They are well prepared for any event that occurs and know who to call for help.

Great for a bunch of kids to get together to read and solve these.

Five Minute Middle Grade Mysteries Volume 2 (Solve It Yourself Mysteries) by Paul Moxham

Didn't think I'd like these books but I am hooked on them. Love that I can solve the mystery myself and when we read them with the kids, who are helping to also read them. we pay attention to the clues and it's so fun. Great way to spend time with kids with things they can understand.

Very descriptive and detailed. Entertaining and enjoyable.

To top that there is a bonus book at the end, a full length one, The Mystery of Danger Island,

Mystery of the Christmas Thief by Paul Moxham

Read this book after finishing the 5 minute mystery solve it yourself volume 1 and it was included as a bonus book.

Starts out with the children and their friend and they are in town with their mother as she finishes her shopping. The kids are just walking around town and hear of the diamond thief and thought he was in jail. They follow the clues and Sarah realizes that the cake is what the thief is after. They find out who had bought one of the cakes and visit each one to find out if the thief had been there...

Seems to simple yet the thief has a bit of smarts also. Love hearing all it all comes together. Very descriptive and detailed, felt as if I was right there with them.

Loving the Christmas stories as its Christmas time here.

Super fun read!