SRP REVIEWS: HOLIDAY EDITION (PART II) – Merry Ex-Mas, Tender Hearts, and The Mistletoe Inn (HALLMARK MOVIE)

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 and books that I can during this time frame.

Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts

The holidays aren’t quite that merry for some of the women in Icicle Falls: Cass’s daughter is engaged and wants to get married this Christmas and have her father (Cass’s ex) and his new wife stay at Cass’s house, Charlene’s ex-husband waltzes back into her life with apologies and a renewed love for her, and Ella is trying to get used to being divorced which is hard when you still live with your ex. But, all is not what it seems and it will take the spirit of the holiday to help the women sort out truth from fiction. I love how this story shows the struggles of three women trying to find the Christmas spirit when it would be easier just to let it remain lost. This book has a nice balance of holiday setting, holiday theme, and the angst that can make us want to give up trying to maintain  holiday cheer for those that we love (and who sometimes create our trying moments).

Tender Hearts by Gail Delaney

Billy and Erin met while they were both in Hawaii on vacation. Erin was sure their time together was only a vacation fling and not true love so she slipped out of Billy’s room–and life–only to find she needed to venture back into his life since they created one together.

This story takes place over many months, ending during the Christmas season. This was one of my favorite books as the characters felt real and had a great chemistry together, even when they were at odds with other. The issues they were trying to overcome came across as natural rather than obstacles created so the couple could struggle with being together. The ending was beautiful and poignant, a perfect Christmas story ending. (Currently, it’s one of my favorites.) I don’t normally add disclaimers but I wanted to let readers know this book does have some heartbreaking scenes of a very ill baby which might be hard for some readers, especially during the holiday season.

And last is another holiday movie review, Mistletoe Inn (A Hallmark Countdown to Christmas Movie)- This movie is based on the book The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans. Kimberly finds herself single just in time for the holidays when her boyfriend dumps her because she isn’t serious (like him!) about her writing. Kimberly has dreamed of being a writer but seems to allow her insecurities to hold her back from her dream. She finally decides to prove her ex wrong by going to a writing retreat that takes place in the Mistletoe Inn around Christmas time. I love a good romance, especially a Christmas one, and this one also throws in writing. I understood Kimberly as I struggle with some of her insecurities and being desperate for others approval. The holiday setting was perfect. I loved her love for Christmas (another thing I had in common with the heroine) and also how the famous (but never before seen in public) romance writer compared writing to decorating a Christmas tree. I hadn’t thought I’d come away with some good writing advice from the movie! This was a heartfelt Christmas movie and I thought the characters had a wonderful chemistry together. It was just what I love in a Christmas movie: small-time angst, getting to know and trust yourself and others, and love being realized and born during the holiday season.

SRP Review Holiday Edition (Part III): The Gift, Mistletoe and Murder, and Home for the Holidays

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 and books that I can during this time frame.

The end of the year is upon us and with that I’m winding down in my holiday reading. I’ll have one more edition of my holiday reviews before I reenter the world of non-holiday stories. The first book for this edition is The Gift by Lisa Mondello. I really enjoyed this book. The plot had a wonderful blend of a Christmas setting and a Christmas spirit theme that I enjoy (and prefer) in holiday books. Neither the holiday setting or theme was heavy-handed, and the two elements worked perfectly together. I loved how Allison and Derek meet and how their conflict naturally stemmed from the first encounter, though I do wish Allison had been more forthcoming I understand why she kept the knowledge to herself. I would’ve like for Allison to have her own ah-ha moment in the book instead of it just being Derek, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. It was a lovely read and stirred up my Christmas spirit.

The next book was Mistletoe and Murder by Laina Turner. This is a cozy mystery short story and is set during Christmas time. The heroine Presley goes home for the holidays and agrees to help an ex-boyfriend discover the truth behind some financial shenanigans going on at his business which then evolves into having to track down a murderer. The mystery element is the strongest one in the story. Presley has a charge-forward, look back later personality which lands her in trouble and in humorous situations. I enjoyed getting to know her.

The last book for this edition is Home for Christmas by Melissa McClone. This was my favorite holiday read (so far) this year. It had the perfect balance of Christmas spirit/heart and Christmas setting. I loved Rachel and Nate. Rachel was a heroine who was equal parts spunky and vulnerable which made me connect to her immediately and wanted me to see her happily-each-after happen. Nate was strong and protective, and yet had a soft side to him that was endearing. The couple played perfectly off each other and I loved how their romance played out.

The Bar V5 ranch was perfect for a Christmas setting. The descriptions had me longing for snow (and I usually don’t look forward to it), and made me wish I could take a vacation there. It felt so real to me. The Christmas spirit was so alive in this book and made it so enjoyable to read. I took my time reading this story as I wanted to stay at the Bar V5 for awhile as it was such a heartwarming place. Yes, I know I’m gushing but it’s the way this book made me feel when I was reading it. The last scene had me releasing a long, satisfied sigh as it tugged at my heart. I can’t wait to read another story about the Bar V5 ranch.

 

 

SRP Review: Deadly Assets by Wendy Tyson

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

Deadly Assets is the second book in the Allison Campbell Mystery Book series. Even in the first book (Killer Image), I saw Allison Campbell has a self-rescuing princess. While her past affected her deeply, she never allowed it to control her and found a way to use her pain and insecurities as a way to not only better her own life but also others. I loved how Allison learnt from her past and was willing to acknowledge the mistakes she made that contributed to the issues she had.

In the second book, Allison’s first foray into amateur sleuthing made a big impact on her life and that of her close friends. Allison was considerate of their  concern for her, especially when she finds herself having to solve the disappearance of two of her clients, and at the same time asserts her independence. I loved how Allison was able to do that without alienating anyone and taking their feelings into consideration. It’s a hard balance for a woman to stand on their own without pushing everyone away…and also not putting themselves in unnecessary danger. Allison knows when to turn to others for help and I find that an important (and sometimes) overlooked trait for a self-rescuing princess. I know at times I believe the only way to be ‘truly’ self-sufficient is to do something totally on one’s own but shutting one’s self away from others can be a lot easier than allowing people into your inner circle.

I really admire the character of Allison Campbell because I see being able to reach out when necessary, and still maintain the strength to stand on her own when she knows it’s in her best interest. Allison doesn’t take unnecessary risks, yet has no problem facing danger when it will help her clients and friends. I can’t wait to see what happens in Allison’s life in book three (Dying Brand).

NOTE: Currently, the ebook version of Deadly Assets is on sale for 99 cents. I don’t know how long the sale will last. Please pick up a copy if you’re interested in getting to know Allison Campbell better. The first book in the series is Killer Image, and the third just came out on Tuesday, Dying Brand.

SRP Holiday Review Holiday Edition (Part II): Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle

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 and books that I can during this time frame.

I hope the holiday season so far has been one of joy, wonder, and happy times for everyone and continues to be so. I also expect it has been a little busy. I don’t know why, but this year it seemed to have snuck up on me. I had thought I had a good plan to get all my holiday preparations done and have plenty of time to read but time escaped from me. It probably didn’t help that I had the flu for about a week which stole away some of my energy, not to mention an online course I was taking. But, I have been able to read two books (and hope to be done with a third tonight).

The first book I read was Mrs. Miracle. I first heard about this book when I watched the movie on the Hallmark channel a few years ago. It was one of the movies I was on the lookout for every year (along with its sequel). This year, we switched from DirectTV to cable and our area doesn’t get the Hallmark channel. I was so disappointed. Since I couldn’t watch the movie, I decided to read the book. I tried really hard not to compare the book to the television movie but in the end it kept coming to mind.

There were elements of the book that weren’t in the movie which made the book richer and gave the characters more depths, and there was a scene or two (definitely one) that I was glad wasn’t in the movie. The main part of the story stays pretty much the same in the book and the movie and I think if you enjoyed the movie, you’d the book. And, if you didn’t enjoy the movie because you found it a little sappy (which some people find most of the Hallmark, Lifetime, UP, etc holiday movies) then you might enjoy the book instead as it’s richer and delves into the heavier aspects of the situation. This story has a Christmas time setting also a Christmas time message of hope, love and forgiveness. Even though it’s a little heavy (deals with a widower with small children), I still found it to be a ‘feel good’ story.

The next book I read was Call Me Mrs. Miracle. I enjoyed both of the books with Mrs. Miracle, but will admit that my favorite of the two was Call Me Mrs. Miracle. For me, the second Mrs. Miracle had more of a Christmas story line as part of the plot centers around a toy store at Christmas time and a little boy’s Christmas wish. Like with Mrs. Miracle, there is also a Hallmark movie based on this book. I will also admit there is one element of the book that I like a lot better in the movie than I do in the book and wish it was the same. I don’t want to give it away so won’t say anymore. It didn’t change the story much, but to me it made the Christmas spirit come through more in the movie than in the book. This book left me a little teary-eyed (which is hard to do) and has moved up the list as one of my favorite holiday reads. It had the right amount of emotion, plot, holiday setting and Christmas magic feeling to make it a perfect holiday read for me.

SRP Review Holiday Edition (Part II): Mistletoe Magic, Where Angels Go, Heartache Motel

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 and books that I can during this time frame.

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas Eve and I’ve only had three books reviewed for this holiday reading season. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago I somehow tweaked the muscles in my shoulder and neck and reading (having to hold my neck down a little) is what causes the most amount of pain. I’m starting to feel better so have been able to increase my reading time. Here are some of the books I have been able to get through in the last few weeks:

Mistletoe Magic by Melissa McClone

This was a sweet Christmas romance story. Caitlin finds a tiny kitten and takes it to the vet to get it checked over…and unexpectedly runs into someone from her past. This was a heartwarming short-story that takes place on Christmas Eve. There was minimal angst in the story (which was wonderful as some days I want touching, funny stories) and it just wrapped itself around me. Both the leads were likable and I found myself rooting for them. If you need a quick dose of holiday magic, this short story would be perfect.

Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber.

This story is about three ambassador angels going down to Earth to each answer a prayer is set during Christmas time.I usually love Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories…not that I thought this one was horrible…but I found the sadness of one of the three storylines overwhelming for me. I knew going into the book that one of the resolutions was possible, but I held out hope. All three of the stories connected at the end, and I wish the stories weaved together a little bit throughout the book. Also, for the one situation in the story I found it was left unfinished and would have loved to see the actual ending. (If I mention the details, I’m afraid I’ll give the story away).

Last of my reviews for this editions…and definitely not least is Heartache Motel by Terri Austin, Larissa Reinhart, and LynDee Walker. These are three short stories featuring different heroines which are set around Christmas time (but not the same Christmas) at the Heartache Motel in Memphis.

This anthology includes the stories Diners Keepers, Losers Weepers by Terri L. Austin, Quick Sketch by Larissa Reinhart, and Dateline Memphis by LynDee Walker. I want to go to Memphis during Christmas time after reading this anthology, though I’d pick a different motel to stay at. Each story in this book had its own voice, even though all three contained humor, mystery, and a strong, sassy heroine. I loved how the setting and time frame was a true part of the stories and not a gimmick. These three mysteries wouldn’t be the same if they were someplace else or at a different time. And, I must admit I’d love to get one of Cherry’s holiday wear creations. I’m one of those people who actually adore and wear Christmas theme sweaters.

SRP Review: Holiday Edition IV – Harlequin Holiday Collection, The Do’s and Don’t of Holiday Parties, and Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

It is that time when my holiday reading comes to a close. After New Year’s day, I just can’t get into the mood of reading holiday stories. It’s one of my quirky traits. I didn’t get as much reading as I’d have liked this holiday season, so many more books are still left on my to read list. This year, I’ll try harder to have projects wrapped up before Thanksgiving so I have more reading time. I had a wonderful holiday season so I can’t really complain…when one’s only complaint is not enough reading time then it’s been a great holiday season.

I’m looking forward to all of the other books waiting for me on my Kindle and on my book shelves. What to pick, what to pick? Before I get distracted with new reading, I’ll do my final Holiday Review for the holiday season of 2012.

The first book I’ll be talking about is a collection of four short stories titled The Harlequin Holiday Collection.The four stories in this collection are And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree, Seduced by the Season, Evidence of Desire, and Season of Wonder. My two favorite stories in this collection were And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree and Season of Wonder. What I like most about collections is there is usually a story (or more) that each reader will enjoy. I found the first and last story in this collection really drew me in because the Christmas season was a strong element in the story and that’s what I really look for during this time of year. And the first one had me giggling which is a huge plus as I love humor in holiday stories.

I try to get a few non-fiction books in and this time they came at the end of my reading list. Next was The Do’s and Don’t of Holiday Parties by Jacqueline Whitmore. Every year, we throw an ornament exchange party and I wanted to get some new ideas for next year. There were a few tips I picked up, but for the most part the items mentioned were things I had read or heard about before. Now, I do read a lot so I picked up my information here and there throughout the years, it’s nice having it all in one book. I did like the separate section for office parties as they should have a different focus and ‘rules’. If you’ve been thinking about hosting a party and not sure where to start, or what you might be getting into, this is a great book to read.

The last book I read this holiday season, and the one I wished I read first is Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas: Having the Holiday Season You Long For by Judy Christie. Many times when I was reading this book, I found myself having to slow down so I could savor the words and the feelings. I wanted to take my time and allow the advice to soak into my brain and heart. This is also one of my favorite reads this year. I plan on starting next year by reading this book, but I’ll read a chapter every few days so I can remind myself to slow down next year. I do want to let readers know that this book does have scripture references and stresses the religious aspect of the Christmas season. I do think that no matter how you celebrate the Christmas season, this book will help give you ideas on how to make the season what you’d like it be.

SRP Reviews: Holiday Edition III – Lakeshore Christmas, Decorating for Christmas, and Christmas with Hope

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

During this month, 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 and books that I can during this time frame.

The holiday season is winding to a close. I’ve been able to find time for reading, but not so much for reviewing. A good and bad thing. It means I’ve been enjoying choices so much I wanted to jump into the next one rather than pausing to write a mini-review. The bad news is trying to catch up and finding the notes I made. I have a habit of putting things in ‘safe places for later’ and totally forgetting the location of the safe place.

Now on to my reviews:

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs. A couple of my favorite holiday (and general) book elements were in this story; Christmas time setting, a librarian as the heroine, and a love of Christmas by one character and the other who dislikes it. I love these types of holiday stories where the hero and heroine are at opposite ends of the spectrum and land up coming together in the end. I loved the fact that the hero had been a child star made famous by a holiday movie and how that factored into his dislike of the holiday. At times, I kept debating which movie the author had in mind when writing the story. This is a contemporary love story and has a part that is a little steamy (very tastefully done). Lakeshore Christmas was one of those stories that had me totally immersed in the setting and the town. I’d lose track of time and didn’t want to put the book down. I wish I could visit Lakeshore next holiday season. There was one element of the story I found myself a little disappointed in as there was no ‘announcement’ from the characters about something they discovered or suspected, but as I thought about it was the perfect ending. I checked this book out from the library but will probably go buy a copy as I know I’ll want to read this again.

Next is Decorating for Christmas by Kasey Rogers. It does seem a little strange to read this in the middle of the holiday season, but I had a decorating plan for our house this year. I’ll admit this year’s decoarting was pretty similar to last year’s except for the addition of my ‘Finding Nemo’ tree. I thought I give this a read to prepare for the after Christmas sales and see what I’d need to pick up for next year. I do love and enjoy decorating for the Christmas holiday season. I liked how the author used themes and gave you ideas on how to incorporate it throughout your house. While I like using themes in certain locations, I can’t see myself doing my whole house in one theme. For one, I’d have to buy a lot more stuff (and we have plenty on hand already) and even though I loved some projects and they’d work in a room of ours, the thought of using tools to build holiday decor kind of scares me. Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to give it a try.

The last book I’ll be talking about in this post is Christmas with Hope by Anne Patrick. Anne Patrick is one of my favorite suspense authors and I was thrilled to pick up this free read from Desert Breeze Publishing. Christmas with Hope had one of the most unusual Christmas settings I’ve read. It takes places in Iraq and the heroine and hero are soldiers serving in the war. It’s a bit of an intense story at times because of the setting and the realness the author gives us with details, but I enjoyed seeing a romance bloom in an environment with danger lurking around the corner. I was glad I stepped outside of my ‘holiday reading comfort zone’ as I enjoyed ‘seeing’ how Christmas would likely be for those serving our country in a war environment.

SRP Review: The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

This heroine review is going to be unlike any other I’ve written because I’m going to be talking about two characters, Linda and Molly. The reason this is unusual is Molly, the daughter of Linda, isn’t a point of view character so I only got to know her through Linda. Linda is the point of view character and while I enjoyed getting to know her, Molly is the character in The Goodbye Quilt who stuck out to me and made a place for herself in my heart.

I did like the main character, Linda, and enjoyed seeing her change and come into her own as she struggled to find a ‘new life’ and purpose for herself. Linda had jumped into the role of mother with her whole heart and now found herself kind of forced into a new role…which she wasn’t sure what it would be…when her daughter graduated from high school. What I really liked about Linda, and made her a self-rescue princess, is that she kept those ‘parts’ of herself she liked even though others felt she needed to branch out more. Linda grew while still staying true to herself at her core, which isn’t always and easy thing to do.

I’m thinking Molly resonated with me more because I have a daughter who will be graduating this year and will be venturing out on her own. I loved seeing Molly through her mother’s eyes and watching as Linda discovered the strength in her daughter. I held my breath at times as I waited to see what choices Molly would make, especially when she was pulled in two different directions. To me, Molly is a self-rescue princess because she stood up for herself and made her wishes known. What I really liked was how Molly made her decisions and voiced them in a strong and respectful way. It’s not always easy to get your point across to the people you love. Being able to do is while keeping your temper and attitude in check is a necessary skill and I believe a truly admirable quality.

SRP Review: Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had time to read. I missed reading. Missed spending time with heroines and heroes I hadn’t written. I wanted to meet new people rather than just spending time with ones I knew. A situation hard to work around when an author has two books coming in November. Editing took precedence over a lot of other areas in my life. Reading being the main one.

I was so excited when I completed the manuscripts and knew I had time to fall into a book. I needed a heroine who could make me laugh. One who had a unique way of viewing the world, situations, and even in how she reacted to them. A heroine who embraced herself, flaws and all, even when being truly, completely herself brought out judgments and made people question if she ever had been introduced to common sense.

Cherry Tucker was just that heroine. She knew how others viewed her and her family, yet remained true to herself and didn’t allow anyone to influence how she thought of herself — and her family. I have a feeling Cherry was able to brush off attitudes toward her because she accepted and admitted her own faults instead of denying them. I think this self-acceptance made Cherry able to accept others for who they were.

I love this attitude of Cherry’s and wished I could be the same. She doesn’t hold others responsible without also holding herself accountable for what happened. I love her honesty and the way she lives from her teenage mistakes — even when she can’t live them down. Cherry faces her troubles head on, giving everything she can to right the wrongs she feels are being committed. I’m looking forward to seeing Cherry in action in future stories and how she grows from her experience of tangling with a murderer.

SRP Review – Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

Disclaimer: The reviews I post on The Self Rescue Princess won’t be the usual style of book review that talks about all the points and elements of a novel. My intention is to focus on heroines that I believe exemplify the spirit and character of a self-rescuing princess or are on their way to achieving that status.

Lindsey Norris is a woman starting over after a betrayal breaks her heart. She takes a job at the Briar Creek Public Library to give herself a fresh start in a new town where a friend lives. And she’s a librarian … what is not to love about that. Lindsey is my type of Self-Rescue Princess, and just not because she’s a librarian which makes her awesome to being with. I love her personality and attitude. I love how she stands up for herself without throwing everyone else to the wayside. I love when a heroine takes care of herself yet isn’t all about ‘me’.

Lindsey refuses to be a doormat and accept poor treatment –to herself and others–but is also willing to reach out and put aside her anger if it will help someone else. She’d rather open a closed door and face discomfort and the pain of her past, rather than live from that place of anger and allow someone to suffer. Her hurt is part of her life and has factored into the decisions she has made … like moving … but she isn’t allowing the hurt to become her life.

I enjoy traditional ‘cozy’ mysteries and this book was a wonderful balance of mystery, personality and the hope of a romance for a very likeable self-rescue princess. I can’t wait to read the next one and see how Lindsey’s life (and hopefully a love) is turning out.