Saturday, December 14, 2019

Advent Reads Day 14: Graphic Novel Review of Klaus: The New Adventures of Santa Claus by Grant Morrison & Illustrated by Dan Mora

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 & Graphic Novel Challenge

Previous Volume:


Synopsis: "The smash-hit series by legendary creator Grant Morrison and young phenom artist Dan Mora returns with this special collection of holiday themed stories.

An ageless ice queen commanding an army of robotic snowmen built of enchanted wood. An evil soda corporation hellbent on trademarking Christmas itself at the behest of a dark doppelganger. It’s all just another day in the life of Klaus, the man who became Santa Claus. 

Luminary author Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Happy!) and Eisner Award-nominated illustrator Dan Mora (Saban's Go Go Power Rangers) bring their lauded reinvention of Santa Claus fully into the 21st century with two modern tales of Klaus saving Christmas from sinister threats that span dimensions."

My Review: After absolutely loving volume 1, I was pretty excited to see Klaus' story continued. Instead of having a cohesive story line throughout this volume, it is more of a bunch of stories broken up, they do have connections but they don't read like a full story. I also wasn't as much of a fan of the stories themselves, it does have a great basis in the commercial war on Christmas but the execution wasn't my cup of tea. For those that really like much darker and obscure almost sci-fi books, this might be more enjoyable but for me it just went a bit too far into the weird.

My Rating: I was kind of bummed about this one, I absolutely loved the first volume, the artwork was stunning and the story a beautiful blend of various folk tales made for a great origin story.  Unfortunately, this one just didn't hold up to the original. I give it a rating of Two Paws.



Friday, December 13, 2019

Advent Reads Day 13: Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares

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: "Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life -- one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It's not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh -- a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same."


My Review: I absolutely loved the cover on this one so knew I wanted to read it. The art is stunning throughout this book. I really enjoy how it took something as familiar as the reindeer and gave them a slightly different origin story. It was a cute story and little ones will enjoy listening to it and looking at the beautiful pictures.


My Rating: This is such an aesthetically pleasing book, the images were so vibrant and eye catching. And I loved idea of a reindeer origin story. A really enjoyable book that can be read again and again. We give it a rating of Four Paws!



Thursday, December 12, 2019

Advent Reads Day 12: The Mitford Snowmen 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 the gentle tradition of James Herriot, Bailey White, and Garrison Keillor, Jan Karon continues the fresh and beautifully written story of Mitford, a small mountain town in the South. With more than 2 million copies of the Mitford Years titles in print, the endearing and eccentric residents of the little town with the big heart have become like family members to hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic readers.In The Mitford Snowmen, everyone's favorite characters are filled with holiday spirit. And when a swirling snowfall brings them to Main Street for a snowman building contest, the spirit of competition comes alive as well.Will Father Tim's or Uncle Billy's creation win the prize at Mitford's First Annual Snowman Jubilee? Will Percy and J.C. steal the show? And what's that wondrous smell of chocolate in the air?If you find the Mitford novels a feast, you'll find The Mitford Snowmen a delicious dessert. Let the town with the big heart bring you Christmas joy in this special holiday story. "

My Review: I have never read any of Karon's works before, so was unfamiliar with her Mitford town setting, but the small size and the beautiful watercolor cover really attracted me to this story. I think if I had been more familiar with the characters I would have enjoyed this one a bit more. With that said it was still a great little holiday story. I loved the sense of community I got from just the few short pages of this story. I also loved that it was all seemingly cranky older characters getting into the spirit by building unique snowmen. The addition of the beautiful watercolor images just adds to the feeling of the story.


My Rating: This was such a heartwarming little story, even not knowing the characters and the setting, the simple act of building snowmen was great.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.



Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Advent Reads Day 11 with the Harlequin 12 Books of Christmas: Coming Home for Christmas by ReaAnne Thayne


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: "Hearts are lighter and wishes burn a little brighter at Christmas… Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn’t quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids…until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie’s laugh, the baby powder smell of Bridger and the feel of her husband’s hand in hers, Elizabeth worried
that they’d moved on without her. That she’d missed too much. That perhaps she wasn’t the right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them. But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they all trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the hurt of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning?"

My Review: First, I want to point out that I have never read any books by Thayne and definitely haven't read the previous 9 books in this series, though I think I may go back and do that now. It really wasn't necessary to read the previous books as this one could be read as a standalone but some back story on a few of the side characters would have added another element to the story. I admit that it took me quite a while to get into this story, the premise for this story was very different from any 2nd chance romance books I have read before. The struggle with postpartum depression struck a little close to home (even though I am many years outside of it, those dark times still linger). I do appreciate the very real emotions the kids displayed, particularly Cassie. I appreciate how everything wasn't all honky dory after all the grief, loss and lies. It was definitely a darker toned Christmas story than I usually read but it still ended up hitting me in the feels, just the way I like it!

My Rating: While it did take me a bit to get into this story, I do really appreciate the different take on the 2nd chance romance trope.  I also got hit with all the feelings I like to feel from a holiday book. I give it a rating of Three Paws.


Here is a little excerpt of the story to see if it is something you would enjoy as well . . .
Her throat closed with emotions, regret and sorrow and guilt. She had to clear them away to speak. “Why…why didn’t you try to have me legally declared dead?”
“Because I didn’t want to.” The raw emotion in his voice seared through her.
“Luke.”
His name. That was all she could manage through the tangle of emotions.
He gazed down at her, his expression almost…tortured.
One moment he was skewering her with his furious expression; the next he threw his arms around her, yanked her toward him and lowered his mouth to hers.
Shock held her motionless for only a moment. Then the sheer delicious glory of being in his arms again overwhelmed her. She wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss with all the pent-up longing she had held inside her these long years of being alone.
The heat that had always been between them flared, wild and unrestrained. His mouth was hard on hers, fierce, demanding. Delicious. There was no trace of tenderness, only anger and loss, betrayal and sorrow and desire, all twisted together.
When he finally yanked his mouth away and released her as if she had scorched him, she stumbled backward, her knees drained of all strength. Her soul felt drained, too.
“Does that answer your question?” he asked, his voice raspy and low. “I never stopped hoping you would come back. Even when I was ninety-nine percent certain you were dead, that tiny one percent of hope wanted desperately to be wrong.”
He released a heavy breath and she watched in fascination as he tucked away any trace of emotion, becoming self-contained and expressionless once more.
“Do what you want to the house. Paint or don’t paint. I don’t care. This place means nothing to me anymore. The kids and I have moved on and are happy in our new house. I just want this one sold and out of my life.”
Like her. She meant nothing to him either, that wild, heated kiss notwithstanding. She did her best to blink back tears but was afraid he still saw them.
“I don’t know how much I can do in only one day but I’ll…I’ll try.”
He looked as if he wanted to argue but finally gave her one more long look and headed out the door.
After he left, Elizabeth touched her lips, the long-familiar taste lingering there. Oh, how she had missed him.
She still loved him.
Had never stopped.
She collapsed onto the sagging sofa, unable to contain all the emotions raging through her. She loved Luke and wanted what was best for him. That could never be her. Not then and especially not now, with all her baggage.
She might not be able to be part of his life or their children’s lives, but she could do one small thing for them. She could freshen up this house a little bit, make it more attractive to prospective buyers.
It was a small gift, but one she wanted desperately to give them.




About the Author
#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.



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.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Advent Reads Day 10: Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant & Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin

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: TBR/ Beat the Backlist

Synopsis: "It's winter vacation, and the Cobble Street Cousins have lots of fun to share with chapter book readers, such as learning to sew from their friend, Mrs. White, keeping a dairy of their wonderful year at Aunt Lucy's, and best of all, enjoying a Winter Solstice party with Aunt Lucy and her boyfriend, Michael."

My Review: I have had this book sitting on my shelf for a while now, just waiting to be picked up. It is a very cute book about 3 little girls living with their Aunt. It is the 3rd book in the series but you don't have to read the previous two books to enjoy this one. It really has a feel like the Little House on the Prairie stories but more modern and updated. I like how this story revolves around kindnesses to so many people, simple smiles and company can go further than a gift. It also revolves around the Winter Solstice as opposed to Christmas as a time for gathering together, which is also refreshing. It is pretty easy to read and is meant for young readers just getting into chapter books (on about the same level as Magic Tree House books).

My Rating: This was a really fun and refreshing book to read. I appreciate how it was centered around the gift of time and talents as opposed to material belongings. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Advent Reads Day 9: The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere

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 & Love this series

Previous Books:

Synopsis: "Donna VanLiere, New York Times bestselling author of the timeless The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope, is back with this moving and uplifting story about finding love, hope, and family in unexpected places.

Lauren Gabriel spent many years of her childhood in foster homes, wishing her mother would come back for her and be the family she needs. Now twenty-years-old, she still longs for a place that she can truly call home. Her work as a cashier is unfulfilling, and at Christmas it’s unbearable with the songs and carols and chatter of Christmas that she hears throughout the day.

When Lauren ends her shift one night, she finds herself driving aimlessly in order to avoid returning to her lonely apartment. And when she witnesses a car accident she is suddenly pulled into the small town of Grandon, first as a witness but then as a volunteer for the annual fundraiser for Glory’s Place, a center for single mothers and families who need assistance. Could this town and its people be the home she has always longed for?"


My Review: I have been following this series for a few years now but it has been nearly a year since I last read one of them, so it did take me a while to get back into the setting and remember the characters. Once Gloria & Miriam were introduced back into the story, I quickly settled back in, I absolutely love their banter. This was a sweet story and I really enjoyed Lauren's backstory and the development of her character. But the shining star of this one is definitely Ben, I adored his character even though it was such a minor on page roll, he still plays such a big part in the whole Christmas feel of the story and town. This is definitely another great book in the series and I am so glad I have stuck with it for so long.


My Rating: I have really enjoyed this whole series, starting way back at Christmas Shoes. If there is anything that really brings on the Christmas spirit, it is these books and this one was no different.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

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

It's A Christmas Thing by Janet Dailey
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
Loving My Actual Christmas by Alexandra Kuykendall
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
'Twas the Night by Marin (Bedtime Story)
A Walk One Winter Night by Al Andrews (Graphic Novel)
The Scrooge of Loon Lake by Carrie Nichols


 Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Christmas Star
The Nutcracker
Coming Home for Christmas


Currently Reading:
Molly and the Cat Cafe by Melissa Daley - Print - on page 26 of 320



Pages Read/ Time Listened
568:25 Hours Listened (4:49 listened this week)
32,587 Pages Read (448 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
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
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Force of Attraction
Primal Force
Rival Forces
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
Honeybees and Frenemies
Master & Apprentice
The Chosen
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
Mortal Engines
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Merciful Crow
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

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


Gosh I can't believe how quickly this month is going! I have been so busy this past week that I didn't even realize that the first week of December was rushing by already! We had a fully packed week last week, with our first snow day (Munchkin had to come to work with me), Munchkin's Christmas Concert, Basketball game and a fun filled Grinchmas Weekend with the family. I also participated in the Tis the Season-a-thon last week and read a few Christmas books (though I wanted to read so many more).

Once again I hope you are enjoying my Advent Reads this year, I have a lot more new releases this year, which I am very excited about.  I also have quite the variety coming up this week for you as well!


Sunday, December 8, 2019

Advent Reads Day 8: The Scrooge of Loon Lake by Carrie Nichols

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: "It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

…with the grumpiest man in town!

The love of his life left him. The navy discharged him. So former lieutenant Des Gallagher sees no reason to celebrate Christmas—now or ever.

Yet when Natalie Pierce shows up on his doorstep, a bright light enters his gloomy existence. As Des shapes her—and her little son’s—world for the better, she wonders if a scrooge could turn into the perfect Santa…"

My Review:  Of course I had to jump into reading this book, a holiday romance in a small town with a grinchy, gruff main character, sign me up! I really enjoyed the slight twists on some of the common romance tropes. I did find thought that Des, our male main character, wasn't quite grumpy enough for me, he was a bit too easy to break. I did really enjoy his interactions with Sam though, and I guarantee it will give you those heart swelling emotions you are looking for in a holiday romance book. I did enjoy Natalie, she is such a caring mother and is so upbeat and full of Christmas cheer. This was definitely a heartwarming holiday romance, I just want more!

My Rating: While I did really enjoy this story, I wanted so much more. I wanted more grumpiness and more backstory and a little bit of a longer book.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.


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

To find out more about Carrie Nichols and her books, check out her Goodreads Page or Website.


The Scrooge of Loon Lake was just released on November 1st, so you can now obtain your own copy in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or request it at your local bookstore or library!