On the Way to Christmas

 On the Way to Christmas
by Sheila Roberts, Melissa Ferguson & Amy Clipson

                                        Release date: October 11, 2022

The Christmas Do Over 

By Sheila Roberts

Have you seen the movie You Again? This story reminded me a little bit of that story. If you haven't seen that movie it is worth seeing it. The one where the girl returns home for her brothers wedding and when she meets his fiancé it is the girl who tortured and was mean to her in high school. But the mean girl has made changes in her life and is truly trying to overcome how she was in high school and to treat everyone around her better. That movie kept coming to mind as I read this story.

But this story was so much fun to read. It is a good reminder that you don't have to let the past control your future. 

Darby has been living and working in New York. She has been telling all her old friends and family that she has this big wonderful job. But shortly before Christmas she is let go so she is returning home to the small town she grew up in. 

Darby was the definition of a mean girl in High school. She burned lots of bridges and hurt lots of people. Including her sister. So when she comes home doesn't receive the warm invitation that she is expecting. 

But the more time that she is home and starts to see how the friends she had in high school and had remained in contact with are still acting petty and like mean girls, she realizes how much she doesn't like that anymore and starts make the changes and apologizes that were needed. 

Darby is able to build bridges with those that she has hurt in the past and come to love the home town she grew up in even more. 

Dashing Through the Snow

by Melissa Ferguson

Willow is going on a Christmas journey. She is going to be riding the Christmas Train. She was suppose to be on this ride with her boyfriend of 7 years but he broke up with her before they were to depart. But Willow still decides to go on the trip.

I really struggles with this story. I was really confused from the moment I started reading as to what was going on. I felt like it jumped all over the place and the chapters didn't flow together very well. I actually ended up not finishing this story.

A Perfectly Splendid Christmas

by Amy Clipson

 

This is the first story that I have read  by Amy. I loved it so much. It makes me excited to read more of her books.

Kacey has come back to her hometown to help her sister out. While there she reconnects with her friend Drew. They had been friends since middle school and had a falling out in high school. But became reconnected as he is the music teacher there. As they start spending time together they are able to open up to each other and share how they truly feel about each other. 

I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley.

Edward and Amelia

 Edward and Amelia
By Karen Thornell
Release Date: June 6, 2022

I have felt like I have been in a reading slump lately. I don't know if it is just because I have been reading more books and quicker then I usually do. But this one helped me to get out of that slump. I stayed up way to late (for me at least) finishing this story. 

Edward and Amelia had never met. But on unfortunate encounter causes them to be forced to marry. They are both not happy about the situation and try to talk their way out of it. 

Amelia hasn't had the best family life. It has left her feeling lonely and as if she wasn't worthy. She had an accident when she was younger that left her with scars. Her family made her feel as if she had to hid them and that because of them she may never marry. 

Edward has always strived to make his father proud. Women/Mothers have thrown themselves and their daughters at him. But he has avoided being caught in a marriage with any of them. Because of this he has received the reputation of being a rake.

Amelia is afraid to let herself fall in love with Edward. Her scars are part of it. Edward is afraid of being in a marriage similar to his parents. But as they start to open up to each other they truly get to see a glimpse of the real person they have married.

This book was so much fun to read. Funny mishaps, horrible family and society. But a great forced marriage to lover story. 

I received a free copy from the publisher and read this book in Apple Books. 

To Kiss a Wallflower

 To Kiss a Wallflower

by Jen Geigle Johnson, Heather B. Moore, Anneka R. Walker

Each of these stories were so much fun to read. They had me laughing out loud and cringing at moments. But all were very heart warming. 

I feel like I would have qualified as a wallflower in high school. I would attend dances and felt like I was on the side lines and never got asked to dance. I always loved the girl choices dances as then I had someone that would dance with me. 

Each author wrote such unique stories but in someway still seemed similar. I am really just barely starting to like novellas. I felt like the stories were so short and felt like I was left wanting more. But now I am coming to appreciate them. They are fun light hearted stories that even though short still make the stories come together well. 

Jen, Heather and Anneka's stories had schemes, lies and long time friendships in them. They made each story so much fun to read. It was fantastic to be able to see the wallflowers find their happy ever after and truly feel seen. 

The Matzah Ball

 The Matzah Ball
by Jean Meltzer

"No," He shot back at her, clapping three times in her face to make sure she was paying attention. "It's not, Rachel! You're brilliant. You're quirky, and weird, and fun. You're one of the most loyal and loving people I have ever met. And even if you never sold another book in your life, even if you spent the rest of your days in bed watching Christmas movies...you would still be all those things. Being sick doesn't cancel out all the other amazing stuff about you, okay? You are not invalid!"

I loved this story so much. I feel like I had gotten into a reading slump and wasn't finding the enjoyment that I usually do in reading. But this book and story helped me to get out of it and find what I loved about reading again.

 It was so fun to watch this enemy to lovers story take place. To watch all the scrapes that they got into. Also to come to realize that they can truly be loved for every part and not just what everyone sees. 

The supporting characters where the best as well. They really helped the story to come out and to help the characters to realize how they were feeling and also to realize that things that happened in the past doesn't mean that they will happen again. 

It's also such a great reminder that just because you have an illness doesn't mean that you have to let it define you. You are able to decide how your life will play out. Yes you may have set backs from the illness but you can chose that things that will make you happy. 

I am so excited to be able to read Jean's next book that will be coming out soon. Mr. Perfect on paper. Thank you Jean for sharing your story with us!

The Hideaway

 The Hideaway
by Lauren K. Denton
Narrated by Devon O'Day

I found this fun story on Audible. This was such a fun story and it is a book that helps you remember that what you thought you maybe wanting is different then what you need.

Sara has just inherited the hideaway when her grandmother passed away. Of course there are these old couples and friends of her grandma's that lived in the house too. They had been such a big part of Sara's life growing up as well. She came back to Sweet Bay, Alabama to make the needed repairs and updates to the house. The contractor is Crawford. Who becomes such a big part of her life. 

Well she makes the needed updates and repairs to the house she is able to piece together part of her grandma's story that she didn't know. She finds out some family secrets as well. It also brings new family members into her life. 

It was such a fun listen and Devon really did such a wonderful job narrating the story and making all the characters so loveable. 

Lily of the Valley

 Lily of the Valley

by Sarah M. Eden

I love that each of the Gent books is going to be named after a flower. I love the flower pages in between each of the chapters. They are so beautiful. 

I also realized that as I read this one and it referenced back to Forget Me Not that I had forgotten things that had happened in that story. I am going to have to go back and reread it.

Violet's family has recently come into money and bought an estate. Her father had worked in trade. They don't know all the social norms. Violet also has a secret that no one but her family knows about.

Kester. Man I feel like I am so like him. He loves to be alone and to be reading or working on his experiments. He doesn't love being in large groups. Often you can find him on the sidelines. 

Violet finally opens up to Kester and lets him know what she has been hiding and what her hopes are to help make it better. Kester and her start working together to find a solution. Violet is perfect for Kester. She puts the gents in their place, she can tell when he has reached his limit. 

I loved reading more about Kester and getting to see his love story unfold. That he was able to find the same love that Lucas and Julia have as well. 

I am so like him. I only like being social when I want to be social. But I love being able to go off and read or just have some quiet time to myself. It's truly how I recharge.