Advent Reads Day 24: Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas by Mark Lee & Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

 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!

Synopsis: "Add a big dose of Christmas cheer to an array of trucks for counting and you have the components of read-aloud holiday magic.

One doughnut truck, on a cold winter day, drives into town and parks and stays.

The snowy town is filling up with a procession of trucks of all shapes and sizes, including a snowplow, a crane, a digger, a semitrailer transporting the town's majestic Christmas tree, and even a flatbed carrying Santa's sleigh. All in all, twenty trucks roll in full of sparkle and anticipation, ready to set up the holiday festivities. But when the star being hoisted to the top of the Christmas tree wobbles and crashes to the ground, what could possibly be used to replace it? Thankfully, a pair of siblings scan the scene and come up with the perfect solution. Author Mark Lee and illustrator Kurt Cyrus team up again for a buoyant story delivering satisfying rhymes, holiday spirit, and most importantly, twenty trucks for counting."

My Review: Munchkin was, and still is, a huge fan of trucks, so I am always ready to pick up a picture book involving them. This one was a fun book as a variety of trucks work together to bring a town Christmas celebration together. Not only is a great book for those little truck fans in your life but it also includes the counting element and the familiar scenes of winter and Christmas that young kids will enjoy. This would be a fun book to read with the little ones throughout the holiday season.

My Rating: This was exactly as expected, Munchkin would have loved this book when he was younger and we would have had to re-read it again and again.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

With that, I hope you all had a great time with the Advent Reads series this year and maybe found a book or two to pick up for yourself or a loved one.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!

Advent Reads Day 23: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

 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!

Synopsis: "One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners..

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays."

My Review: I have had this book waiting on my shelf for a whole year and I finally got to pick it up. This was my first Christina Lauren and it did not disappoint. I loved the premise of a groundhog type day to perfect a Christmas holiday. I really appreciated how somethings that were kept alive for nostalgia and tradition reasons maybe need to be let go or allowed to grow into something new. So often we keep doing things because that is the way they have always been done and maybe that takes a bit of the magic away. While other traditions are what ties the family and the holiday feeling together and while this was done in a bit of a romance/chick flick manner, it does do a really good job of making you think about those things and the reasons we do them. I think this is one of those books I will be revisiting every few years to remind me it is not the way of doing things that matters but who we are with and our joy in being together.

My Rating: I may have read into this book a little too deep, but it was really what I needed to hear as we enter yet another Christmas that looks completely different from those before.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Advent Reads Day 22: Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson

 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!

Synopsis: "For years Jeanette Winterson has loved writing a new story at Christmastime, and here she brings together 12 of her brilliantly imaginative, funny, and bold tales. For the Twelve Days of Christmas - a time of celebration, sharing, and giving - she offers these 12 plus one: a personal story of her own Christmas memories.

These tales open a portal into the spirit of the season, when time slows down and magic starts to happen. From trees with mysterious powers to a tinsel baby that talks, philosophical fairies to flying dogs, a haunted house to a disappearing train, Winterson's innovative stories encompass the childlike and spooky wonder of Christmas, perfect for listening to by the fire with loved ones or while traveling home for the holidays.

Enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic courtesy of one of our most fearless and accomplished writers."

My Review: I was kind of looking for some short stories to read in between all the holiday chaos when I came across this book. It did have several short stories and in a really wide variety of styles that were really easy to listen to between projects. There were also several recipes included but I haven't looked at the download to try them yet, some did sound really tasty. The stories were each pretty unique, some were a bit scary with some ghosts and hauntings, others were super warm hearted. I think my favorite story was Snowmamma. Between each story is a break where the author shares some personal holiday stories, along with the recipes; that was a nice touch especially for the audio book where sometimes the stories flow together so much you can't tell one from another.

My Rating: While I really like the way this one read on audio book, I do kind of wish I had a print version so it would be easier to pull out the recipes to try. This was a great book for when you have very little time but want a holiday story. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Advent Reads Day 21: Cocoa & Carols by Marianne Rice

 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!

Synopsis: "Finishing up his patrol as the sun sets on Thanksgiving Day, officer Patrick Johnson stumbles across a woman and her dog sleeping in her car. She refuses to go to a shelter and masks her dire condition, but the Johnson manners run deep and he finds himself inviting the stranger to his parents' Thanksgiving dinner. Before the meal is over his heart grows soft for her and her scruffy dog.

Trying to make ends meet as an understudy in the local play isn't enough to keep Jocelyn fed and a roof over her head. She doesn't like handouts but the police officer with shoulders that could compete with Captain America and the kindest eyes she'd ever seen leaves her no choice but to go with him to his family's home. She's instantly greeted with warmth from his parents, brother, and sisters, and before the meal is over, she believes in miracles. Their newfound friendship turns quickly to something more, only Jocelyn doesn't plan on staying in Maine for very long. Her lifelong dream is to star on Broadway and Patrick has no desire to leave his small town. Will her dreams and his stubbornness get in the way of their relationship? They'll need a Christmas miracle to help them find their happily ever after."

My Review: I read this book very early in the season but it still really stands out to me. It was a pretty short and easy to read holiday romance that gives you all the feels. I would recommend reading the first book in the series as there are a lot of side characters that pop up in it (big family, small town). I loved the premise of the story about a police officer just going above and beyond to care for those in his community. I, of course, loved the big family and they way they can be overwhelming but also so full of love. If you are looking for that clean, sweet hallmark movie feeling, definitely give this one a try.

My Rating: I admit that this book might seem a bit familiar, as does every Hallmark movie, but honestly sometimes that is what you need, something that doesn't take all the brain power to follow but that you can still sink into and feel cozy. This book gives you all of that, I give it a rating of Four Paws.

Advent Reads Day 20: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

 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!

Synopsis: "When Holly White's fiance cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime--exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly's family tree farm.

When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly's father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn't help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn't watch out, she'll end up on Santa's naughty list in Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost's jolly series debut."

My Review: I have been wanting to read this book for a while but have been holding out for the holiday season. I have definitely found a new favorite cozy mystery series and I can't wait to read more! I loved the setting of a small town Christmas tree farm with a bunch of super fun holiday events (I kind of want to take part in the Reindeer Games). Add in a bit of death and suspicious threats and you have a heart pounding holiday read. It was definitely a fun change from some of the overly sweet holiday romances I have been reading, don't get me wrong there is definitely a dash of heated and a bit of attraction in this one as well but it only adds to the story and doesn't take it over. I really enjoyed Holly, she seems to have passed the stage of wanting to make her own way in the world and is now seeking the comfort and love of family. I loved that nostalgia element to this story, it added to the cozy holiday feel to it.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun break from a lot of the overly sweet holiday books and I loved the characters and setting. I give this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag and I will definitely be keeping up with this series.

Advent Reads Day 19: The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling

 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!

Synopsis: "A heartwarming, page-turning adventure about one child's love for his most treasured thing, and how far he will go to find it. A tale for the whole family to fall in love with, from one of the world’s greatest storytellers.

One boy and his toy are about to change everything...

Jack loves his childhood toy, Dur Pig. DP has always been there for him, through good and bad. Until one Christmas Eve something terrible happens — DP is lost. But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when all things can come to life... even toys. And Jack’s newest toy — the Christmas Pig (DP’s replacement) — has a daring plan: Together they’ll embark on a magical journey to seek something lost, and to save the best friend Jack has ever known..."

My Review: I understand much world hates Rowling (and understandably so) but in the somewhat abysmal search for a middle grade Christmas book for my son to read, I came across this one. It ended up being the perfect story for him to enjoy, it seems to be very heavily inspired by the Velveteen Rabbit and something else from my childhood that I can't quite remember. I love the idea of the Land of Lost things. My son has a particular stuffy that he has loved since day one, so he was really able to relate to a lot of Jack's feelings about DP. It was quite the adventure and perfect for young readers to pick up throughout the month of December.

My Rating: If you take out all the drama surrounding the author, this turns out to be a pretty fantastic story. Both Peanut and I give it a rating of Four Paws!