During the holiday season, the reviews I post on The Self-Rescue Princess will have a different focus as my reading habits change. From Thanksgiving until the New Year, I only read novels set during the holiday season or have a seasonal theme. The Holiday Edition reviews will focus on the holiday spirit in the stories, and I plan to review more than one book in each post. I decided to go with more than one because I find I read more at this time and I want to share as many holiday short stories, novellas, books, and movies that I can during this time frame.
The end of this year keeps throwing wrenches into my well-laid plans. I had planned on having my next Merry & Bright done but the story needed a little more time so I found myself deep in editing during December and just as I was getting on track…I’d catch something. I guess my immunity systems just isn’t what it used to be. But I’m determined to at least do a couple of my review editions, so here I go:
First book for my holiday reviewing is Apple Cider Slayings by Julie Anne Lindsey. Living in West Virginia, I couldn’t wait to read a story set in my now home state. In the story, Winnie is helping her grandmother run the orchard while also working on starting her own business she hopes will help keep the orchard in the black. On the day of an important meeting–and a tour–Winnie discovers the body of her grandmother’s nemesis and her grandmother becomes the prime suspect.
I love the description of the orchards and all the Christmas preparation for the festivities at the orchard. The mystery is the prime focus of the story…which it should be. I did feel like I had solved the mystery early in the book and was surprised (pleasantly) when I learned I was wrong. While the story is set during the holiday season, it doesn’t play a key role in the story. The mystery was solid and I really liked Winnie and her grandmother.
Next up is a Christmas movie–The Christmas Movie Christmas which was on UPtv Channel. Eve loves everything about Christmas, especially Christmas movies–my kind of woman while her sister, Lacy, feels the opposite. They make wishes to Santa and wake up in a Christmas movie! How lucky can a girl(s) get! While Eve is living a dream come true, Lacy feels like she is in a never-ending nightmare.
This was the cheesiest, corniest, cliche-ridden Christmas movie ever—and I adored every second of it. I loved how the movie was supposed to be over the top and give the viewer every standard Christmas movie want. For the holidays, I love my entertainment to be cheerful, uplifting, and heart-warming. I want “small” time angst and this movie gave me what I desire. I have to say it is my favorite holiday Christmas movie this year. I plan on adding it to my must-watch list.
And last entry for this edition is The Little White Christmas Lie by Kristy Tate. Romance writer Millie Cruise has agreed to attend an event at a quaint inn in New England and doesn’t realize that the man she falls onto on the train is the Carson, grandson of the proprietor. The pair get off to a horrible start when Carson makes fun of the romance books his grandmother loves to read–her favorite author being the heroine who writes under a pseudonym.
On the way to the inn, Millie gets into an accident and not wanting to leave her side, Carson, tells the emergency that they’re engaged so he can stay with her. When word reaches his family, and the small town, the lie takes on a life of its own. Carson agrees to tell his family the truth until Millie’s ex-boyfriend turns up and Millie changes her mind. What’s one little white lie going to hurt?
This was a charming story set around Christmas time. There was a lot of shenanigans going on during the time and sometimes it left me a little confused on what was going on. (Though it could also be me as I haven’t been feeling well.) I wished the story was a little slower paced so I could enjoy the Christmas movements a little more and I’d been able to “meet” all the secondary characters.
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