Advent Reads Day 23: The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

  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: "In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…

Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…

As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?"

My Review: I have been eyeing this book for a while and finally got a chance to pick it up this year.  It was a slower and longer read than I usually pick for the holiday season but I really wanted a lot more family driven stories as opposed to the light fluffy romances I usually reach for.  This one fit that bill and was completely worth the time to read.  Each of the characters was so unique and had a clear voice in the story. It was quite an emotional journey as they came together and discovered things about themselves, each other and their own history and family. While many of the topics are a bit heavy, there is still plenty of light moments and even laugh out loud moments to keep it from getting too dark. The ending was so great as we got to watch the sisters come together and support each other in new ways.

My Rating: This was definitely a longer, slower read but it was very addicting and had me reaching for it again and again to find out what happens next.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Advent Reads Day 22: The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright

 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 New England inn seems like the picture-perfect place to spend the holidays. But when a snowstorm shuts the roads and keeps them all inside, the guests find themselves worrying that this Christmas may not be exactly what they dreamed of.

Molly just needs to keep her head down and finish her latest book, but her writer’s block is crippling. The arrival of Marcus, a handsome widower with two young girls, is exactly the distraction she doesn't need.

Hannah was hoping for a picturesque winter wedding, but her plans come crashing down when her fiancé calls everything off. She reconnects with her childhood friend, Luke, when he comes to check on his grandmother before the storm.

Jeanne and Tim don't know how they're going to keep the inn open another year—or how to bridge the distance between them in their marriage. With a flurry of unexpected guests, they'll have to work together to fix all the problems that crop up. But will it be enough to rekindle their relationship?

As the characters’ stories intertwine, they start to find hope where they thought it had been lost. With faith, and a little bit of Christmas magic, the inn—and its inhabitants—might just make it through the holidays after all."

My Review:  This is definitely that warm, cozy, feel good book that I was looking for this season. I loved the setting of a small inn filled with people avoiding a storm. We had characters from all walks of life and stages of life. Romance is a big feature in this story but I love how it featured relationships in so many stages; fresh and relatively new, a broken relationship, a tested more established relationship, relationships after a loss and budding new relationships. We also get some great family relationships and elements. It was just an all around sweet, making things work when times are tough and the holidays are upon us. 

My Rating: I really enjoyed this one, it was relatively short and a lot of familiar elements but it was done in a way that felt like a new take on things. I got all the warm cozies I wanted with it. I give it a rating of Four Paws.

Advent Reads Day 21: The BIG Christmas Bake by Fiona Barker & Illustrated by Pippa Curnick

  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: "The Big Christmas Bake is a funny, lively romp through the twelve days of Christmas, taking the elements of the popular carol, and weaving them cleverly into the ingredients for a Twelfth Night Cake.

Starting with the partridge and its gift of dried fruit, this rhyming story includes all of the familiar characters from the song as they all contribute to the baking of the magnificent Twelfth Night cake.

A trio of french hens bring baking powder

Six geese bring eggs, and lots of feathers too

Ten lords help carry the cake into the oven ready to bake

At the end of the story, there is a recipe included to bake your own cake at home, giving this book the potential to be a favorite Christmas story as well as a resource to be used every year in introducing a twelfth-night cake tradition to a family.

Characterfully illustrated by Pippa Curnick The Big Christmas Bake is a beautiful, lyrical, and gently humourous Christmas story for the whole family to enjoy. "

My Review: This was such a fun book, and would be a blast to read with some littles.  I had no idea about the Twelfth Night Cake tradition so it was also fun to learn a little about it. It is told with some great rhymes and a bit of a play on the Twelve Days of Christmas song, it will have those young and old giggling. With the added illustrations, you will find this might become a favorite holiday season re-read. Keep the fun going after Christmas with a 12 days celebration with a recipe to make your own Twelfth Night Cake and start a new tradition.

My Rating: This is definitely a fun book to keep the holiday going and introduce some new (or old) traditions. The illustrations and the rhyme will have the littles wanting more.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

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

The BIG Christmas Bake is out now so you can pick up your own copy in print or digital format from Barnes & Noble, Amazon or your local bookstore or library in time to start your own 12 Days celebration!

Advent Reads Day 20: Oh. What. Fun by Chandler Baker

   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: "Everyone is home for the holidays, clamoring for all the Christmas cheer only their mother can whip up. They can already smell the chestnuts roasting—or is that Mom’s hair on fire? From a New York Times bestselling author comes a laugh-out-loud short story for any mom who’d rather wreck the halls.

Tyler, Channing, and Sammy Clauster have descended on their childhood home, with significant others and four-year-old twins in tow, for another good old-fashioned Christmas. Overwhelming holiday magic, as always, comes courtesy of their mom, Claire. They know she’s thrilled to cook, wrap gifts, decorate, accommodate, play games, overprepare every Christmas Eve Eve Eve tradition, and still let Dad be known as the Fun One. It’s her thing, right? Maybe the family should have paid closer attention. Because this year, something is a little off-key—and it’s not just the carols."

My Review: I was looking for a short, non-romance holiday book and stumbled on this one.  It was definitely a bit quirky and no romance was involved. It was funny but in an almost 'I get it' sort of way.  The way us moms work so hard to make holidays just right, with lots of traditions and keeping everyone happy, working ourselves to the bone, but for what? For no one to recognize all the effort?! Sometimes you just have to loose it bit for everyone to open their eyes and this book captures that in a comical way. 

My Rating: This was short, fun and completely different from other holiday books, and it hit just right when in the midst of planning and prepping to host the family for Christmas.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

Advent Reads Day 19: The Girl with the Pirate Smile by Joseph Truitt

   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: "Break into an old cookie factory with a mysterious new friend? Rob the townspeople to supply the cookie ingredients? Will the law catch up with Emma and Penelope before they get the cookies baked for Christmas?

Rediscover your inner child in this magical Christmas mystery as you follow the lonely Emma Harper through the enchanting town of Pottsville during the height of Christmas merriment. When Emma’s mysterious new friend, Penelope, convinces her to break into the old cookie factory, her life is instantly filled with adventure and purpose. Emma soon becomes captive to Penelope’s spunky personality, but when strange, enchanting things happen around Penelope, Emma suddenly begins to question the reality of her new friend.

Fall in love with Emma and Penelope in this heartwarming Christmas tale of friendship, adventure, and love for Christmas cookies."

My Review: I was looking for a good Christmas book for Munchkin and stumbled across this series so decided to give it a try first.  This was quite the adventure story.  It is a bit of a chosen one trope but you can't help but route for Emma and she struggles with bullies, school, family financial difficulties and more. As an adult reading it, I definitely saw a couple of the twists ahead of time but there are still a lot of surprises throughout the story. Definitely a fun one for any kid to read and see the underdog kid saving the day. I will definitely be continuing with this series.

My Rating: This was a fun Middle Grade book to read during the holiday season. Even though the main character is a girl, it is such an adventure I think it is just as suited to young boy readers as well. I give this one a rating of Four Paws

Advent Reads Day 18: The Season of Us by Holly Chamberlin

  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: "Against the irresistible backdrop of Christmas in New England, bestselling author Holly Chamberlin creates a heartfelt and memorable novel—a story of reunited family, new beginnings, and unconditional love—the best gift of all.

To outsiders, Appleville, New Hampshire, is a storybook small town complete with a little white church and a gazebo on the village green. To Gincy Gannon Luongo, it was a place to escape from, as quickly and as permanently as she could. Since she moved away twenty years ago, Appleville has been her hometown in name only. But at her brother Tommy’s urging, Gincy is coming back to visit their recently widowed mother in the weeks leading up to Christmas—and she’s bringing her teenage daughter, Tamsin, with her.

Ellen Gannon, once feisty and strong-willed, is mired in depression six months after losing her husband. Tommy isn’t doing much better. Gincy starts restoring order to the household in her usual practical way, but the real issues run much deeper than an empty fridge or an unpaid bill. Imagined slights and lingering resentments have created chasms between them all.

With each passing day, Gincy realizes she has seriously undervalued her mother and underestimated her brother. Only now, with the support of her husband, daughter, and best friends, is she starting to see how much she may have missed. For beyond the surface of every family and every picturesque town is something more complicated but infinitely more rewarding—a tapestry of those small acts of acceptance, love, and loyalty that could transform this Christmas into the best Gincy’s ever known."

My Review: I have had this book on my Christmas TBR for a few years and finally got around to picking it up this year, and it was a perfect time to read it.  I really appreciated the fact that this book is not a romance, instead it focuses on the relationships within a family. I loved the eye-opening look at how we see relationships between siblings or parents as a kid and then again as adults. This was definitely a journey as Gincy gets to know who her mom and brother really are and who they have become over the years. It was a great book to read during the holiday season and it definitely got me thinking more about how my view of family may not be entirely accurate.

My Rating: This was an emotional book with lots of sentimental moments, sad moments, frustrating moments, and moments a love. It will also make you take a look at those relationships in your own life and maybe reaching out.  I give this on a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Advent Reads Day 17: You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

 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: Netgalley/Requested Review

Synopsis: "Bring a little joy to the world?

Not today, Santa.

Matthew Prince is young, rich, and thoroughly spoiled. So what if his parents barely remember he exists and the press is totally obsessed with him? He’s on top of the world. But one major PR misstep later, and Matthew is cut off and shipped away to spend the holidays in his grandparents’ charming small town hellscape. Population: who cares?

It’s bad enough he’s stuck in some festive winter wonderland—it’s even worse that he has to share space with Hector Martinez, an obnoxiously attractive local who’s unimpressed with anything and everything Matthew does.

Just when it looks like the holiday season is bringing nothing but heated squabbles, the charity gala loses its coordinator and Matthew steps in as a saintly act to get home early on good behavior…with Hector as his maddening plus-one. But even a Grinch can’t resist the unexpected joy of found family, and in the end, the forced proximity and infectious holiday cheer might be enough to make a lonely Prince’s heart grow three sizes this year."

My Review: I saw the title and cover of this book and knew I had to read it for Advent Reads this year. While it looks and sounds like it is inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I didn't get much of that vibe from it, I definitely got more of A Christmas Carol Scrooge vibe. I did listen to the audiobook version and I did really enjoy the narration of this book.  It did read a bit young for what I was expecting, it is categorized as a New Adult romance but the main character acted much younger and the writing fit more YA style. Janovsky definitely did a great job of making Matthew Prince into an unlikable character with a redemption arc. I adored Hector and found him to be a perfect character for a holiday romance story. It definitely is a nice M/M Hallmark style romance story. 

My Rating: This was an enjoyable story once you get past the younger style of writing and immature character. I liked the character growth and the setting of the story. I give it a rating of Three Paws.

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

You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince is out now and available in print or digital format from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or request it at your local library or bookstore.

Advent Reads Day 16: When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klavan

   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: "Colorful Christmas lights dapple the family homes in the idyllic lakeside town of Sweet Haven when Jennifer Dean, a young librarian at the local elementary school, is brutally murdered. There are witnesses and her boyfriend Travis Blake confesses to the crime… but something doesn’t quite add up. Blake is a third generation Army Ranger, awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in Afghanistan—how could a beloved son of this tight-knit burgh commit such a grisly deed?

As a community of military families a few miles down the road from an Army base, no one in Sweet Haven wants to investigate a war hero like Blake, not even the top brass at the police department. In steps Cameron Winter, a rugged and lonesome English professor haunted by the ghosts of his own Christmas past, whose former lover asks him to prove Blake innocent. The Sweet Haven murder reverberates in his mind, echoing a horrific yuletide memory from his youth, and Winter knows there are darker powers at play here than a simple domestic dispute. If he can solve this small-town mystery, just maybe he can find peace from his inner demons as well.


The thirty-sixth novel by two-time Edgar Award winner Andrew Klavan, When Christmas Comes is a seasonal tale of tradition, family, and murder; its chilling twists are best experienced curled up beside a burning Yule log."

My Review: I have been seeing this book everywhere lately, so I decided to give the audio book a shot. I have been reading more mysteries this year, but let me clarify that with staying I have been enjoying Cozy Mysteries, which are much different from this book as I discovered.  This was more of a mental thriller/mystery than I was used to.  It did have a bit of sentimentality around Christmas and holiday memories, but it takes a backseat roll in the story. If you are more into this style of book, I would recommend reading a print version as opposed to the audiobook as there are a lot of jumps in timeline and settings that aren't defined well while listening. I also found the main character a bit icky in the way he constantly pictures himself in romantic situations with nearly every female he interacts with, it got a bit uncomfortable for me.

My Rating: All in all, this was not a good fit for me, in genre, characterizations or format but those who are looking for something not so cozy for the holiday season it might be a good fit.  For me personally I give it a rating of Two Paws.

Advent Reads Day 15: Little Bird Finds Christmas by Marianne Richmond & Illustrated by Janet Samuel

  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: Netgalley/Requested Review

Synopsis: "A delightful holiday book from beloved author Marianne Richmond, Little Bird Finds Christmas reminds us all of what's really important during the holidays.

Back in their warm and cozy nest, Mama and Little Bird cuddled against the December chill.
"Want to know my favorite place to find Christmas?" said Mama.
"I do," said Little Bird.
"With you," Mama said.

An adorably sweet new Christmas story from a bestselling author whose books have become family classics, LITTLE BIRD FINDS CHRISTMAS is a delightful journey of finding Christmas wherever you are-in your heart."

My Review: This was such a cute little board book. Little bird hunts throughout a small town and forest looking for Christmas, because it is coming. Little Bird sees a lot of the familiar sights we associate with the holiday season, lights and decorations, gifts, carols, and more but just can't find Christmas. When Mama reveals that Christmas is a holiday and the spirit of the holiday and that it lives in you, it will spark some great conversations with littles about the true spirit of Christmas and how it isn't all about the gifts under the tree. It is a nice way to steer the talk away from all the commercialism of the holiday and bring it back to home and family.

My Rating: This was such a great book for the littles in your life. The bright colors and illustrations will keep their attention and the content of the story will spark some great questions and conversations with them as well.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

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

Little Bird Finds Christmas is available now in print and digital formats and you can pick it up from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or request it at your local library and bookstore.

**I apologize for the break in the Advent Reads event, the flu hit me really hard last week, now I am playing catch up.**

Advent Reads Day 8: Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

   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 Christmas story about family, friendship and finding love in unexpected places.

Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.

Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour—and win—the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak.

Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family.

Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?"

My Review: Like Debbie Macomber, Nancy Naigle has come to mean Christmas and this one definitely captures all the things you get from a Hallmark Movie, small town setting, interesting cast of characters, loads of emotions, some healing of hearts and a good dose of romance. This one was a bit heavy handed, almost a bit too much feel good spirit going around, so if Hallmark isn't your thing at Christmas, maybe pick a different book, but if you want all those feelings and over the top Christmas spirit oozing with romance this is the book for you.

My Rating: I don't usually say this but it might have been a bit much for me, but that could just be my mood this year. I more than likely would have gushed over this one last year.  As of right now I give it a rating of Three Paws but might try again when things are looking a bit more chipper.

Advent Reads Day 7: The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber

  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: "Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn't be more different. Peter, the local pastor who is dedicated to his community, spending time visiting the flock, attending meetings, and, with the holiday season approaching, preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity. As a bartender, Hank serves a much different customer base at his family-owned tavern, including a handful of lonely regulars and the local biker gang.

When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. To their surprise, the responsibilities of a bartender and a pastor are similar, but taking on the other's work is more difficult than either Peter or Hank expected. As the two begin to see each other in a new light--and each discovers a new love to cherish--their lives are forever changed.

In The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber celebrates the true meaning of the holidays and the inclusive community spirit that binds us all."

My Review: If you have been around here for previous Advent Reads events you know this, but if you are new here it isn't Christmas for me until I have read the newest Debbie Macomber Christmas story.  There have been some really great ones and ones that were so so, but this might be one of the best ones yet! I loved the concept of the story and she really ran with it.  While we may have heard similar stories in the past but none quite like this one. I enjoyed both the friendships and the community elements in this book. Debbie usually has a strong romance element in her books and while it is there, it kind of takes a backseat. I loved the setting, the characters and the story.

My Rating: I have loved a lot of Debbie's Christmas stories but this is really up there with my favorites.  I really recommend this one for a real feel good story for the holiday season, full of traditions new and old and people coming together. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

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

The Christmas Spirit is out now and you can find it in digital and print format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or check with your local bookstore or library and they will be happy to help you.

Advent Reads Day 6: Cat Family Christmas by Lucy Brownridge & Eunyoung Seo

 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 Read/Netgalley

Synopsis: "Count down to Christmas with the Cat Family in this lift-the-flap advent book with more than 140 doors to open, as you help them decorate, bake, and prepare the house for the holiday season.

Count down the twelve days til Christmas in this delightful advent book. With a nod to nostalgic Victorian advent calendars, open up tiny but sturdy flap ‘doors’ on each one of the 24 pages to reveal little details and surprises.

Peer inside the cupboard doors and different-sized tins in the busy Cat Family kitchen to find the missing ingredients for the cake. Open all the front doors on the street when the Cat Family go carol singing.

This is a whimsical Christmas book that gives the Victorian advent calendar tradition a contemporary twist for advent calendar door–hungry hands. Every page is rich with Liberty print–style patterns and William Morris–inspired friezes.

The Cat Family is full of character and personality, and the picture painted of the holiday season in this charming picture book will fill you and your family with Christmas cheer!"

My Review: As we already discussed this season, I love books with cats, especially when you add in Christmas.  This was a really cute book that takes us through the Cat Family holiday preparations and classic traditions. There are TONs of open the flaps for lots of fun for those littles.  The illustrations and the events throughout the book definitely capture that Victorian era feel for a heirloom feeling book but with the bonus of being able to be handled by everyone, not carefully like books from the actual Victorian era.

My Rating: This was a really different and unique book that I enjoyed. There is so much going on in those detailed illustrations and the lift the flaps, there will be hours spent just enjoying them all and finding little secrets throughout. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

I received a complimentary copy of Cat Family Christmas via Netgalley. The above is my honest opinion and review.

Cat Family Christmas is out now and you can find your own copy to enjoy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or request it at your local library or bookstore.

Advent Reads Day 5: A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig & Illustrated by Chris Mould

 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: "You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.

It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible.
If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. It is most certainly not for you.
Because this book is FULL of impossible things.

Are you still reading?

Good.

Then let us begin . . .

A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and an eleven-year-old boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic."

My Review: I know, can you believe that I hadn't read this book until this year?! I don't know why I kept putting this one off, but it was definitely perfect timing to read with Munchkin this year. Even though he is no longer a believer, this was still a magical book to read together. Nikolas has quite an adventure in this book and it creates quite the backstory to the Santa we all know. With so many quirky characters, plenty of action and lots of magical happenings, it just keeps the pages flowing.

My Rating: We really enjoyed this book and I am so glad that I waited to experience it the first time with my son. This is definitely a fun book to read as a family of both believers and nonbelievers. I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!