It's Not Monday, Reading List

It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer
One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland (Bedtime Story)
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman
Heartsong's Missing Foal by Whitney Sanderson
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy (Graphic Novel)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Fireborne
The Boring Book
Dreaming the Bear

Currently Reading:

By Design by J. Boykin Baker - Audio - 10%
Risk It All by Katie Ruggle - Ebook - on page 26 of 352

Pages Read/ Time Listened
571:19 Hours Listened (None listened this week)
34,439 Pages Read (664 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
WarDance
Warsong

Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep - UNHAUL
Lord of the Fading Lands

 Crown of Feathers

 Argos: The Story of Odysseus as told by his Loyal Dog

Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions - UNHAUL
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
Dark Harmony
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica - UNHAUL
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Force of Attraction - UNHAUL
Primal Force - UNHAUL
Rival Forces - UNHAUL
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Man Made Boy
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
We Hunt the Flame
Romanov - UNHAUL
Dreaming the Bear
Monsters
Ghostly Tales from the Lost Summer of 1816
Storm and Fury - UNHAUL
Honeybees and Frenemies
Master & Apprentice
The Chosen
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
Mortal Engines
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Merciful Crow - UNHAUL
The Bridge Kingdom
Darkdawn
A Crash of Fate
Black Spire
The Testaments - UNHAUL
The Warrior Moon
Ink
Molly and the Cat Cafe
Plum Crazy Vol. 2
Plum Crazy Vol. 3
Plum Crazy Vol. 4
The White Christmas Inn
There Will Come a Darkness
Shadow Frost
How to Love a Duke in 10 Days
How to Catch a Wicked Viscount
Faker
Three Days on a Train
Destiny of the Wolf
Leave the Lights On
Marshmallows and Mistletoe
Cocoa & Carols
The Prince's Son
At Last
The Last Huntsman
Forgotten Love
Mae's Cafe
Within the Captain's Hold
Elusive Dreams
Christmas & Cannolis
Fated Mates
Take My Breath Away
Stolen by the Viking
Destroyed by Magic
Abducted by Magic
Rise Like a Goddess
Out Like a Goddess
Finding Her Dragons
Freeing Her Dragons
When the Lady Lies
The Bromance Book Club
Christmas Camp
Cowboy, It's Cold Outside
His Cowboy Heart
Pride and Prometheus
Stone Cold Cowboy
Sugar
The Belgariad Vol. 2
The Mad Scientists Daughter
The Season of Us
The Way Home
The Good Ones
The Christmas Keeper
Royal Holiday
A Royal Christmas Wish
A Piece of the World - UNHAUL
All I Want for Christmas is a Werewolf
The Boy The Mole The Fox and the Horse
The Very Very Far North
Little Women
Secret Sisters
Love and Other Consolation Prizes - UNHAUL
Not the Girl You Marry
For the Killing of Kings
Something Red
Darien
Shiang
Spine of the Dragon
The Blackest Heart
The Queen of Swords
The Stone in the Skull
The Winter of Ice and Iron
Black Storm Comin'
Dragonshadow
Skinner Luce
The Summer Dragon
Winter of the Witch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I know it isn't Monday, but I had the day off yesterday and while I had planned on getting on here to post, Munchkin kept me far too busy!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday week last week.  While I enjoy the holiday season, I am so glad to see this one done and over with.  I am ready to get back to a somewhat normal schedule and house. 

I know we are also on the brink of the new year, and normally I would be posting my end of year wrap ups and plans for the new year this week, but I did a really poor job of tracking my reading this year and have yet to compile all of the stats.  I also haven't really finalized my plans for next year yet either.  I hope in the coming week I will be able to get all those much awaited posts up for you. 

In the mean time, I have a few reviews to post.  I definitely took on a lot of requested reviews for January and February, more than I had intended but so many of my highly anticipated books are coming out in these months! So I have a lot of books to read very quickly. I also went on a bit of a shopping spree on Boxing Day, thanks to Book Outlet and while the order hasn't come in yet, I have added those books to my purchased list for this year (I honestly didn't want to mess up my new year purchasing plan right out of the gate).


Wishing you all a safe and wonderful New Year!

Graphic Novel Review of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Read for: Recently Added

Synopsis: "Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons.

The conversations of the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared thousands of times online, recreated in school art classes, hung on hospital walls and turned into tattoos. In Charlie's first book, you will find his most-loved illustrations and some new ones too."

My Review: I have been eyeing this book for a bit but when it was voted Barnes & Noble's Book of the Year 2019, I was able to pick it up locally. I can completely understand why it was voted Book of the Year! This book is beautiful with beautiful writing, and stunning illustrations. All that is wrapped around some of the simplest but most amazing words of wisdom. This book hit me at just the right time and they gave me such peace. I will keep this book handy as I want to use it as guidance in the coming year.

My Rating: I cannot say enough about or recommend this book enough to you, even pictures online do not do the beauty of this book justice.  Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy, even if it is just to borrow from a friend or from the library.  I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Review of Heartsong's Missing Foal by Whitney Sanderson and Illustrated by Jomike Tejido

Read for: Netgalley/ Requested Review

Synopsis: Iris cannot wait for Heartsong to have her foal. Unicorns go into the Fairy Forest to have their babies, so Iris isn’t surprised when Heartsong goes missing for a few days. Yet when the unicorn does not return, Iris and Ruby have to go in and find her. The Fairy Forest is filled with trickster magic and can be a dangerous place. Can Iris and Ruby find Heartsong and her missing foal before it is too late?

There are unicorns behind Magic Moon Stable, but no one except Iris and Ruby know they exist. As Unicorn Guardians, it is their job to protect the unicorns and their magic to keep them safe from the outside world.

My Review: When I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it. I have always been a huge fan of unicorns and this would have been a book and a series I would have been obsessed with as a young reader. I like the unique backstory of the key to this magical kingdom being passed down from generation of girls to generation of girls, and it is explained a bit how it works. There are some gaps in the story that I found a bit confusing and think the other books in the series may clear up, but I don't think the target audience would notice those gaps quite as much. I like the unique world created for the unicorns and I want to read more about it. The illustrations weren't complete in my early edition but from the looks of what is planned, they will be great additions to the story and assist the younger readers in picturing the story.

My Rating:  I would have loved this book as a young girl and I am so happy to see a series I can get my nieces started on reading! I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the above is my honest review and opinion.

You can find out more about Whitney Sanderson and the rest of the Unicorns of the Secret Stable on her Goodreads Page.

Heartsong's Missing Foal is scheduled for release on January 1st, 2020 but you can pre-order a copy now in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or request it at your local bookstore or library.

Advent Reads Day 25: The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Merry Christmas!

Read for: TBR & Beat the Backlist

Synopsis: "Written in 1816 by the German Romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann for his children, nephews and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child's wonder at Christmas. Since its publication, it has inspired hundreds of artists and adaptations, most notably the legendary ballet, scored by Russian composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Today, the story - and its enchanting images of sugar plums and nutcrackers, mistletoe and the Kingdom of the Dolls - continues to cast its fantastical spell on readers of all ages."

My Review: I have seen the ballet and listened to the music many times, I have read books based off this story but never the original material. I thought it was finally time. I must admit that I am rather out of practice with classics and this was a slow read for me. I also found the translation to be a bit clunky, at times the words were translated exactly but the meaning that was intended was clearly different. I think that lead to it being slightly confusing while reading it but looking back at the story I can understand it fine. I think maybe if I had picked up a different translation or maybe an audio version, I might have enjoyed it a bit more.

My Rating: I had been eyeing this one for a while and am glad I finally read it but I think I will stick to the ballet and more modern interpretations in the future.  I do give it a rating of Three Paws!

Advent Reads Day 24: Bedtime Story: One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "Best friends the bear, the moose and the beaver have been so busy getting ready for Christmas, they have forgotten the most important decoration of all - the Christmas tree! Rushing through the snowy forest, they reject one tree after another. And then they spot it. A pine tree that is just the right size, with soft needles and a wonderful scent - it's perfect! But just as the beaver is about to chop it down, the bear stops him. He can't allow this tree to be harmed, it is simply too beautiful! But the moose and the beaver disagree. Is there a way they can have a perfect Christmas - without chopping down the perfect tree?"

My Review: I have been seeing this on a bunch of my recommended for me lists and decided to pick it up from the library. This is a really cute book for little ones, it is a quick story with some really cute illustrations. The story is also great with a bit of love for leaving nature as it is and enjoying the beauty of it. I think little ones between 2-4 will really enjoy this as a nice bedtime story leading up to Christmas.

My Rating: This is a cute and fun book for young children, older kids around Munchkin's age will be a little bored by it.  But it is a quick and satisfying story to get the little ones settled down and into bed for the big night.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Advent Reads Day 23: Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley

Synopsis: "A Nantucket shopkeeper discovers that Christmas is the perfect occasion to make unexpected friendships . . . to warm the coldest of hearts--and maybe even find love.

Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf.

Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar's steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn't so cold after all. And with the help of Wink's uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer's enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story."

My Review: I have never read any of Nancy Thayer's books, but I have always wanted to pick one up because of the local setting. So what better way to kick off my reading than a holiday book?! Admittedly, I have never been to Nantucket, but I am familiar with the small isolated island setting with the huge class difference. I really appreciated the spin that Thayer put on the billionaire romance and the scrooge element as well. It was fun to see those familiar tropes twisted a little. I really enjoyed Christina's character she was sweet but had a level of determination I love for my female characters. Andy was great but just a little lackluster for me, he almost felt like a side character. The bright light in this one was without a doubt, Wink, she just brings that brightness and positive Christmas feeling to the story. This was a great book full of a variety of characters who really grew throughout the story.

My Rating: This was a great holiday read with some interesting twists on familiar romance and Christmas tropes.  While the characters were a little flat, the setting really stood out.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

I received a complimentary copy of Let it Snow via Netgalley. The following is my honest review and opinion.

To found out more about Nancy Thayer and her books, check out her Goodreads or Website.

Let It Snow was released early this fall so you can obtain your own copy in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or check with your local library or bookstore.

Monday Reading List

It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle
The Christmas Star by Donna VanLiere
Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates
A Royal Christmas Wish by Lizzie Shane
Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Bedtime Story)
Esther's Gift by Jan Karon

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Heartsong's Missing Foal
A Boy, A Mole, A Fox and a Horse
All I Want for Christmas is a Werewolf
Cursed - DNF

Currently Reading:

Molly and the Cat Cafe by Melissa Daley - Print - on page 26 of 320
Fireborne by Rosaria Munda - Audio/ebook - 31%

Pages Read/ Time Listened
571:19 Hours Listened (None listened this week)
33,775 Pages Read (356 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
WarDance
Warsong

Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep - UNHAUL
Lord of the Fading Lands

 Crown of Feathers

 Argos: The Story of Odysseus as told by his Loyal Dog

Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions - UNHAUL
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
Dark Harmony
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica - UNHAUL
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Force of Attraction - UNHAUL
Primal Force - UNHAUL
Rival Forces - UNHAUL
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Man Made Boy
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
We Hunt the Flame
Romanov - UNHAUL
Dreaming the Bear
Monsters
Ghostly Tales from the Lost Summer of 1816
Storm and Fury - UNHAUL
Honeybees and Frenemies
Master & Apprentice
The Chosen
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
Mortal Engines
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Merciful Crow - UNHAUL
The Bridge Kingdom
Darkdawn
A Crash of Fate
Black Spire
The Testaments - UNHAUL
The Warrior Moon
Ink
Molly and the Cat Cafe
Plum Crazy Vol. 2
Plum Crazy Vol. 3
Plum Crazy Vol. 4
The White Christmas Inn
There Will Come a Darkness
Shadow Frost
How to Love a Duke in 10 Days
How to Catch a Wicked Viscount
Faker
Three Days on a Train
Destiny of the Wolf
Leave the Lights On
Marshmallows and Mistletoe
Cocoa & Carols
The Prince's Son
At Last
The Last Huntsman
Forgotten Love
Mae's Cafe
Within the Captain's Hold
Elusive Dreams
Christmas & Cannolis
Fated Mates
Take My Breath Away
Stolen by the Viking
Destroyed by Magic
Abducted by Magic
Rise Like a Goddess
Out Like a Goddess
Finding Her Dragons
Freeing Her Dragons
When the Lady Lies
The Bromance Book Club
Christmas Camp
Cowboy, It's Cold Outside
His Cowboy Heart
Pride and Prometheus
Stone Cold Cowboy
Sugar
The Belgariad Vol. 2
The Mad Scientists Daughter
The Season of Us
The Way Home
The Good Ones
The Christmas Keeper
Royal Holiday
A Royal Christmas Wish
A Piece of the World
All I Want for Christmas is a Werewolf
The Boy The Mole The Fox and the Horse
The Very Very Far North
Little Women
Secret Sisters
Love and Other Consolation Prizes
Not the Girl You Marry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


What a week! It has been a really trying week this last week and I am ready to move on to next year.  We already had our second snow day of the year last week, due to nasty ice storm that coated everything in a thick layer of ice. We are only just now getting rid of that ice finally.  Hubby ended up hurting his back at work last week, and then proceeded to catch a head cold at the doctor's office when he went to get checked out.  I always think I am on track for the holidays and be able to relax and enjoy the holiday with the family, but something always happens and I am left grasping at straws to pull everything off every year. As a result of trying to get everything done over the weekend I ended up missing an Advent Reads Day, for the first time ever I think.  I am trying my best to be okay with it and just be happy that I managed to instead bake cookies with Munchkin.  I think this year has been a real year of learning that I am only one person and there is only so much I can accomplish.

Advent Reads Day 21: Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story by Jan Karon

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Borrowed Books

Synopsis: "In Esther's Gift, Esther Bolick is filled with the holiday spirit as she prepares to bake the annual batch of her famous-and utterly scrumptious-orange marmalade cakes. Right after Christmas Eve service at Lord's Chapel, she and Gene will deliver a two-layer marmalade to each of seven friends and neighbors, all of them favorite Mitford characters. Then Gene calculates what it costs to bake this legendary cake, and Esther is stunned. Is it worth it to spend so much money on people who haven't always measured up to her expectations? The answer is clear. She'll cut her list back-way back.

This decision makes perfect sense until the lyrics of a Christmas carol steal into her heart, and help remind her what a gift really means."

My Review: As with the Mitford Snowmen which I read right before this one, I haven't read other book by Karon and wasn't really familiar with the characters or setting of the town of Mitford, but the story is still a great book to read. Sometimes we get so caught up in the cost of things that we forget the feeling of giving and this book is a perfect little reminder. Even all those cookies and goodies have a cost associated with them (I had actually been thinking about this with my annual chex mix which takes an hour for each batch, with the 10-12 batches to make each Christmas, that time really adds up), but the act of giving those goodies and how much it means to the recipient that you thought of them makes all the effort worth it. A great story that gets you thinking and forgetting the trouble of the season and reminds you of the joy of the season instead.

My Rating: This was really a great little story, it is short enough to fit in during the busy season but it was really a great reminder why we are so busy.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Advent Reads Day 20: Bedtime Story: Construction Site on Christmas Night by Sherri Duskey Rinker & Illustrated by A.G. Ford

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "Construction toys and construction joys: The trucks are gearing up for Christmas by building a special gift! But, there's a surprise waiting for each of them, too! Presents await for Excavator, Bulldozer, Crane, Dump Truck, and Cement Mixer as each finishes their part of this big, important job and rolls off to a sweet and sleepy goodnight.

A gift that will delight: Playful rhyming text from the bestselling author of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and vibrant illustrations from the acclaimed artist AG Ford make this a perfect gift for young construction fans everywhere."

My Review: Even though Munchkin has moved on from picture books, we still return to the Construction Site books a lot. This one was a great addition to the series with some favorite characters. I love the rhyming and the illustrations in these books. As an older reader Munchkin did note that each individual job couldn't all be done on a single day but that is coming from a 7 year old who has been raised in the world of construction. For younger readers, they will still find the fun magic in the story.

My Rating: While this story may have lost some of it's magic for Munchkin, we still enjoy the characters and the wonderful rhyming and rhythm in this story.  We give it a rating of Four Paws!

Advent Reads Day 19: A Royal Christmas Wish by Lizzie Shane

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

Read for: Recently Added

Synopsis: "Jenny knows she isn’t the princess type. Sure, she’s friendly and caring, but with her clumsiness and lack of self-confidence, glass slippers would only make her trip. When Dom, the cute guy she runs into in the park, turns out to be the prince of San Noelle, she figures he must not be her happy ever after.

But a mysterious countess grants Jenny’s one wish, and she finds herself married to this handsome prince! Unfortunately, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, her life will go back to normal.

In funny and touching ways, Jenny navigates royal traditions the best she can. But even as she grows closer to Dom, the clock is ticking. With love and a little holiday magic, could she somehow make the enchantment last forever?"

My Review: I received this book in the Once Upon a Book Club Box Mini Christmas box and am so glad that I did! I dove right into this book as soon as I opened the box and I really couldn't stop reading it! While the story is familiar with all the tropes and Hallmark movie style story, but just like those movies, I can't get enough of this style of Christmas books. I absolutely adored the characters, Jenny, Prince Henry and Dom all captured my heart. The writing draws you in and the story keeps the pages turning (I even hid the book under my desk at work to read the last 25 pages because I couldn't wait).

My Rating: This was just the right style of book for me this year, heart warming, sweet, a quick holiday romance with a touch of magic.  I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Advent Reads Day 18 with the Harlequin 12 Books of Christmas: Cowboy Christmas Redemption by Maisey Yates

Welcome to Advent Reads!

This is an event I have had on my blog for several years running now.  Each evening I feature a different holiday themed book. Think of it as your Book Advent Calendar! I post a variety of holiday books including romance, children's, middle-grade, mystery, paranormal, and I try to find some that are other holiday celebrations than Christmas too. I hope you will stop by each evening to see what new book I have for you!

I have the pleasure of bringing you the next book in our Advent Reads in connection with the Harlequin 12 Books of Christmas Winter 2019 Virtual Tour! Thank you to both Harlequin and Pump Up Your Book for allowing me to participate and bring you our book for today!

Synopsis: "He didn’t want to come home for the holidays—but can an unexpected reunion with a woman from his past make this cowboy’s Christmas merry and bright in this sweet and sizzling novella? When Cooper Mason left Gold Valley, Oregon behind him eight years ago, he told himself he wouldn’t be back. But when a Christmas promise sends him home to face his demons, he’ll find that not everything is as he remembers—especially family friend Annabelle Preston, who’s somehow morphed from childhood pest to full-grown, hot-blooded and oh-so-tempting woman. Growing up, Annabelle had built a lot of dreams around the ruggedly gorgeous Cooper—dreams she’s long ago learned to put behind her. Until a chance encounter with Cooper leads to a night neither can forget, and all the old feelings come blazing back to life. Now, Annabelle has a week to prove there’s more between them than a no-strings holiday fling…and with a little Christmas luck, she just might convince Gold Valley’s favorite cowboy to come home for good."

My Review: I have a clear soft spot when it comes to cowboy romances, and I really love holiday romance, so I was really excited to pick this book up. I honestly can't remember the last time I read an unrequited romance, and honestly, after reading this one, they may not be for me. I really enjoyed the characters, Caleb and Ellie; there is clearly a lot of history and backstory there. We do get filled in with a lot of that, even being the 8th book in a series, which as someone who hasn't read the rest of the series, I really appreciated that added information. I did feel like Amelia was more of a plot device to force contact than an actual character in the story, which made me a bit uncomfortable. I also found the constant internal turmoil each of the characters had to be a bit heavy for a holiday romance. I generally look for something a bit lighter during the season. With that said, if you are following the series, this feels like it could play big role in the series as a whole.

My Rating: I really struggled a bit with this one, during the holidays I reach more for light, quick and easy romances.  This one clearly had a lot of baggage with the characters.  While it didn't work for my current reading mood, it will certainly appeal to those who are looking for a good series with some problematic characters who grow and develop throughout the story.  I give it a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.

Here is a little excerpt of the story to see if it is something you would enjoy as well . . .

“Caleb!” Amelia flung herself off his parents’ front porch and into his arms. He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him, clinging tightly to him. And then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She smacked her hand against his jaw. “Prickly,” she complained.

Something in his chest tugged. “Well, you caught me at the end of the day, squirt. I need to shave.”

She looked at him and wrinkled her nose. “Am I going to need to shave someday?”

He laughed. And he was surprised how genuinely light he felt in that moment. “Not likely. Your mom doesn’t have a beard, does she?”

“No,” she said, frowning. “My mom says that you have Christmas trees.”

“I do,” he said. “At least, they’re about to be mine. It’s going to be a whole farm of them.”

“I didn’t know you had Christmas trees on a farm,” she said.

“Well, you can. It’s where most of the Christmas trees from the lots come from.”

“I want to see them.”

He hesitated because he knew that if he took Amelia to see the trees, in all likelihood he would have to take Ellie with him. And really, spending time with Ellie and Amelia in the same space right now was strange and loaded.

“All right,” he said. “But only if your mom’s okay with that.”

“She will be,” Amelia said, full of confidence.

He set her down, and she scampered into the house.

“What am I going to be okay with?”

He turned around and saw Ellie. The sight of her just about set him back on his heels. She looked the same as she always did.

But that was the problem.

“Amelia wants to go out and see the Christmas trees,” he said. “I didn’t figure you would mind. I don’t mind taking her by myself, if you need to go home.”

She lifted her shoulder. “No. I don’t mind going up.”

She started to take a step toward him, and his gut tightened. Then the door opened again, and Amelia reappeared with her backpack from preschool, and another stack of old printer paper that his mother had given her to scribble on.

“Can we ride in Caleb’s truck?”

“Yes,” Ellie said.

“I’m sitting in the middle.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Ellie’s lips, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. The impish expression making his gut feel hollow, and effortlessly conveying that she had been hoping for the middle seat.

She was flirting with him.

Now, that, he hadn’t expected.

So maybe this whole making her wait thing was really going to work in his favor.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it's been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Coming Home for Christmas is available now and you can obtain your own copy in print or digital format from Amazon or Harlequin's site.  You can also the other 12 Books of Christmas and many more recommendations on Harelquin's Website.