Reviews for Christmas Reads to get you in the Holiday Spirit!

Love on Main Street: A Snow Creek Christmas  

All he wants this Christmas is her.

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face his past. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother’s widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can’t imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn’t know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again

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Jake is a soldier who has been through so much, he has lost his twin brother and continues to relive the tragic death through nightmares.  The guilt eats at him.  Raine was once married to Jake's twin brother and is mourning him.  She was counting on Jake for a shoulder to lean on but he is unable to help her because his own feeling are overwhelming him.

This is a very heart wrenching story, it takes you through up and downs.  It has happiness in it but there is a lot of trials and tribulations to get to the happiness.  

I recommend this book for those that are looking for a read that goes a little deeper but does have the sentiment of Christmas.

Link to buy Ebook

 THE HOLIDAY SHOW BY LGC SMITH

Christy Monroe hates Christmas. The excess, the inevitable disappointments--bah. Dan Rose loves Christmas. The fun, the way his bakery smells—it’s all a little magical, especially in Snow Creek. When their first-grade daughters decide they want to be sisters, Christy and Dan had better watch out. The girls maneuver their parents into organizing the elementary school holiday show together. It doesn’t take long for Dan to make it his goal to change Christy’s mind about Christmas—and taking a chance again on love.

LET IT SNOW BY CECILIA GRAY

After losing her parents, Jessica can't bear to lose her childhood home and family bookstore, too. When they're taken from her, she has nowhere to go…except the arms of Daniel, Snow Creek's resident hero paramedic. It's not be the Christmas miracle Jessica wanted, but it might the one she needs….

SECOND CHANCES BY ADRIENNE BELL

There’s no doubt in Eileen Ledger’s mind that the last time she saw hockey superstar Paul McAlester she made the biggest mistake of her life. Only, she’s never been sure if the mistake was in kissing him, or in running away. But ten years later, Paul is back in town for Christmas, and Eileen has a second chance to make things right…as long as she can keep herself from falling in love again.

A CHRISTMAST YARN BY RACHAEL HERRON

Knitting has always served as a distraction, something that Clara can hide behind. After a significant weight loss, though, she's still not sure if she wants to be noticed. When sexy Lincoln ends up on the front porch of her yarn store, he seems to see everything clear as day. Will Clara finally be seen for her true self? 

MISS BONNY'S BURIED TREASURE BY RUBY LASKA

Caroline Bonny has always known about her family curse: no Bonny daughter will ever marry until her great-great-great-grandfather's buried treasure is found. Caroline has made her peace with her life as a spinster-turned-cosmetologist, until easy-on-the-eyes schoolteacher Lance Carter comes to town determined to drown his recent breakup in holiday festivities.  

ONE SILENT NIGHT BY LISA HUGHEY

Nick and Ally Carpenter split up months ago after years of infertility treatments crushed their marriage and their dreams of children. When the couple reunites for the holidays to make a dying woman happy, can an unexpected miracle show them the way back to love or is it too late?

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This was an amazing read!!!  The stories all take place in the same little town and it just one Christmas happy story after another.  This book will suck you into the Holiday spirit, you have no choice after reading it.

I'm sure you can feel me smiling through the words I write.  I really enjoyed reading these stories.  So many different charcters and personalities.  Each story is well done and fun to read.  None of them left me wanting more. Each story meshes well with the next and they keep you wanting to read to the very last page.

Please do read this book to get you in the mood for Christmas miracles.  My favorite story in the book was "The Holiday Show".  I hope you will read this book and let me know which was your favorite!

Link to Buy

A classic heartwarming tale for the holidays from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery

The cheer in Fool's Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. An injury has forced her to return home to her estranged family. So she won't add to the awkward scenario by falling for the charms of her brother's best friend, no matter how tempting he is. When she's recruited to stage the winter festival, she vows to do as promised, then move on, anywhere but here.

Jaded lawyer Dante Jefferson is getting used to the town he now calls home, but the pounding of little dancers' feet above his office is more than he can take. When he confronts their gorgeous teacher, he's unprepared for their searing attraction. Evie is his best friend's sister—off-limits unless he's willing to risk his heart. Dante has always believed that love is dangerous, but that was before he had to reckon with the magic of a certain small town, where miracles do seem to happen….

 

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Susan Mallery never disappoints us with her Fool's Gold series.  I highly enjoyed this book.  

Evie Stryker is a dancer who recently got hurt during a football game.  While recovering she was wisked away by her family back to her hometown of Fool's Gold.  She has mixed feelings about being back and has decisions to make while recuperating.  In the mean time she is teaching dance classes in old buil;ding that also houses the office of lawyer Dante Jefferson.

Dante Jefferson is Evie's brother's best friend and business partner.  He does his best to help where ever he can.  In this case he is helping with the annual Winter Festival.  He helps Evie at every turn and they become closer to each other.  

There is an abundance of holiday spirit in Fool's Gold and it really help get you in the mood for Christmas.  This book was a pleasure to read and I recommend you try out the "Fool's Gold Series".

 Mrs. Miracle on 34th Street

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (just call her Mrs. Miracle) is working in the toy department of Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family gatherings were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means only one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to pay for it…

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

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Due to this book I am truly ready for Christmas.  This books has all the elements it takes to be a perfect Christmas story.  Highs and lows and miracles abound.

There are some wonderful characters in this book.  Mrs. Miracle a kindly older lady helps bring Christmas cheer to the department store Findley's.  She helps Manager and store owner's son Jake sell toy Robots.  Jake feels it'll be this years big seller.  Like Cabbage Patch Kids or Elmo was in the past.

Holly is Gabe's aunt, a great lady who has no children of her own.  She is caring for Gabe, his father is in the army and is in the Middle East.  She wants to make a special holiday for her nephew and to try and make peace with her own feelings of being inept with children.

Jake and Holly meet while Gabe is mooning over the toy robot.  With a little holiday magic just maybe all their Christmas wishes will come true.

I feel like I really lucked out getting to read this book.  It's strife with the magic of the holidays and it made me feel like I had witnessed a truly special moment.  I highly recommend you read this book because it just may make you appreciate Christmas a little more.

Claire Bowman and her twin sister, Sarah, have been making up stories and creating music and art together their entire lives.  Their parents claimed they were harmonizing together from their infant cribs. They now perform and tour internationally as The Bowmans and have successfully released three albums plus their new Christmas album due just released October 29th. Claire's debut illustrated story book, Mert the Anxious Evergreen (November 7, 2013), the triumphant tale about a little pine tree who longs to grow up to be a Christmas tree, was actually inspired by one of the carols on their holiday album.   

Mert is an endearing tale of an anxious tree who wishes to save his beloved home from encroaching land development by being chosen as a Christmas tree, though he doesn't know how. He believes that he will be able to prevent the razing of Hickory Flats farm and forest if only he can find Christmas spirit -- as he conspires with his friend John the cat to overcome new obstacles.  Mert, preciously naïve, mistakenly believes he needs the powerful Christmas spirit in order to achieve anything, but as it turns out he stumbles onto success with the help and love of all those around him.

           

Beautifully written and boldly illustrated, Mert is a tale of Christmas love that you won’t soon forget, sharing warm lessons in friendship, family relationships, camaraderie, finding humor in life’s tough situations, man’s struggles to preserve something good and hope.

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Mert the Anxious Evergreen is a special children's book but cannot be enjoyed in one sitting with a young child who cannot listen for more then 10 minutes at a time.   I managed to only get to 43% of the book before my son said he'd had enough and that the book was too long.

I unfortunately had to agree with my eight year old.  It was a bit too long winded.  The storyline is superb and the illustrations beautiful. 

I wouldn't recommend reading this book via an ereader because you lose the beautiful colors and it is much too hard to read.  I tried changing the size of the letters but then I would lose the pictures in the book.

Please do read the book in person to truly enjoy it.  I also recommend reading it to a child that has a longer attention span then my son. lol

Children and adults alike will fall in love with this adorable little reindoe who lives at the North Pole. Darling wants to be just like all the other reindeer and reindoes in her village, but she is different...her tail has a curl. And Darling discovers that being different isn't much fun. That is...until her wise Uncle Don decides that Darling's curly tail needs a pail...and then Darling becomes a favorite among the reindeer, reindoes, elves and even Mrs. Claus. This lovable tale is sure to become a Christmas classic as Darling with her curly tail prances her way into the hearts of children of all ages.

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No one likes to be different unless they can be unique.  This book not only teaches children that it's ok to be different but to embrace it. 

I adored this Christmas tale and so did my son.  It was not too long and had just the right words to keep him interested and reading along with me.  He really enjoy the pictures and tried guessing what would happen next.

This book is just as enjoyable as Rudolph was to me as a child.  I could see this book becoming a children's favorite during the holidays.


I hope you enjoyed my reviews for this Holiday season, may they get you in the spirit!