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.**