Book 6: Under The Mistletoe

My winter break has started and finally - finally! - I get some reading done. And slowly I feel the spirit of Christmas coming to my soul and home. Let's check out book number 6, shall we?

I am not a big fan of historicals. I like them from time to time, but usually I prefer contemporary romance.

The last historical I read was for last year's challenge and it was this one by Mary Balogh. Check out the link, cause it was high praise for that book, which I loved reading and treasure dearly.

There was one historical on the agenda for this year, again by Mary Balogh, and it is another keeper: Under The Mistletoe.

I was a bit sceptical at first, because it was a) a historical and b) it was five novellas of about 70 pages each. Huh, novellas. I am not a friend of those. Too often I feel like the storyline is rushed and implausible. There is no time to develop depth within the characters and who the hell falls in love within 70 pages?! Huh? Yeah, right.

Again, Mary Balogh taught me a lesson. None of the above is true for this amazing book. Lovely settings filled with funny, generous, loving and caring characters.

Run and grab a copy, friends. I guarantee you a wonderful time with this book and I really, really have to check out Mary Balogh other books. Oh joy, so much to explore!

Happy Reading!

P.S. See my historical influenced style of writing? *lol*

Favorites: The Farm Chicks Christmas

If you love Christmas as much as I do, you have to go and grab yourself a copy of The Farm Chicks Christmas.

Serena is blogging from her lovely farm showing off her home, sharing her recipes and introducing family life. With her second book, she offers the most inspirational Christmas ideas and cookie recipes for the season.

The book is full of crafts, ideas and colorful pictures of Serena's and her friends & family's decorations. Lovely! Honestly, lovely!

My favorite book to bring over the season to my home and my heart. Check it out. As well as Serena's blog. *click*

Book 5: The Christmas Cookie Club

Howdy, friends!

I am a slow reader this season and an even slower blogger, but here is book number 5: The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman.

"I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party."

First lines can totally thrill me, such as the above. And this first line is as special and funny as the whole book. We get to know the members of a Christmas Cookie Clb, who celebrate their cookie swap every season. They are all women and more or less connected for years and years of friendship. Each woman has a story and recipe to share. And these recipes are great!

Well, nuff said. That's it basically. We learn more about the women and their personal background and their stories. Additionally, there are little snippets of information about all kinds of groceries, which can be found in cookies: sugar, dates, salt... Very informative and in a very entertaining writing.

This book is a keeper. Not for the recipes only, but for the depth and uniqueness of characters. I laughed, I cried and I hoped for these women. I highly recommend this holiday read. Have fun!

Reading Romance

This has to be shared, cause it's too good not to. Do you read romance? Of course, you do. So do I. As do women (and a few men) all over the world. I love my romance. It's one of the most wonderful things in the world. Check this out.

Book 4: Christmas In Lucky Harbor

Hello, friends! This last week has been crazy, but here I am. Back to my former self, I managed to do some reading and here is some lovely double feature, which I highly recommend: Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis.

The compilation contains book 1&2 of the Lucky Harbor series: Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing.

Lucky Harbor is the small town setting, in which the three half-sisters Maddie, Tara and Chloe inherit an old Inn. They hardly know each other, but then they have to live and work together to make the Inn work and with it comes a sexy contractor, his best friend, a world champion sailor,  and to make the circle complete, the county sheriff. All stories are told within three books, so in case you wanna read all of them, you have to make sure to grab this week's release Head Over Heels.

Yes, this might sound predictable and when you are a wee bit clever, you might figure out who will end up with who, but I don't care about that. The author still manages to surprise me with the story line and that's what counts to me.

I love the books of Jill Shalvis. Her writing is funny (laugh out loud-funny!) and fast. Her characters are wonderful, annoying and lovely. Her heroes are sexy as hell and know how to handle their women. All alpha, but totally worth every single word written about them.

Go and grab this book. Make sure to have some coffee and cookies nearby. Cuddle up and have fun reading. I am sure you will.