Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter

Title: Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3)

Author: William Ritter

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Genre: YA Historical Fiction; Horror

Pages: 341

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR; Finishing the Series

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the services of her detective-agency tenants to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all. Soon Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her down to the mythical underworld and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

Oh I am so on board with the series still. I absolutely love the mix of Sherlock Holmes and wild supernatural adventures. The first two books were setting up the larger storyline without really telling us that there was a larger storyline. In this volume, we get the big plans laid out. We finally meet the big players, including the mysterious pale man from the previous two books. We also get to learn so much more about Jenny and Jackaby while following the clues in Jenny’s murder case. I sped through this volume on pins and needles desperate to see what would happen and who would live and die. I cannot wait to finish this series with the last book. So happy to have been recommended this series by a bookish friend.

Jackaby

#1 Jackaby
#1.5 The Map
#2 Beastly Bones
#3 Ghostly Echoes
#4 The Dire King

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Next up on the TBR pile:

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Deal (Off Campus #1)

Author:Elle Kennedy

Publisher: Bloom Books 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 360

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romanceopoly - Campus Corner; 52 Book Club

Spice Meter: 5

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

CW: Rape (in the past, off page, but discussed), Domestic Abuse

I admit to being hesitant to dive into a New Adult romance series. I have a history of being very annoyed by the early 20-something character whining about life. Like seriously, what have you experienced? So, I tiptoed into this series. By the end of the book, I was looking forward to more from this author and the world. This book is so much more than just a college romance. We get very big discussions about domestic abuse and rape. Nothing is put on the page in a graphic nature, but we know it’s happened. We have characters that come together, slowly get to know one another, and eventually build a romantic relationship. I really enjoyed watching Garrett and Hannah connect. The conversations felt real and meaningful.

Off Campus

#1 The Deal
#2 The Mistake
#2.5 The Pact
#3 The Score
#3.5 The Incident
#4 The Goal
#5 The Legacy

Next up on the TBR pile:

Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone

Title: Misadventures of a Curvy Girl

Author: Sierra Simone

Publisher: Waterhouse Press 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 226

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR; Romanceopoly - Farmer’s Market

Spice Meter: 8

For the first time in her life, Ireland Mills is happy with her body. No more fad diets, no more hiding from every camera in the room, no more low self-esteem. She’d rather be alone than with someone who’ll only love her if she’s skinny.

Caleb Carpenter and Ben Weber are everything Ireland and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce dreamed of when conceptualizing the “Real Kansas” promotional campaign. They’re handsome, young, educated, and totally dedicated to their small prairie town.

When Ireland’s Prius gets stuck on a Kansas dirt road and a massive storm rips through town, she’s left stranded with nowhere to turn but to Caleb and Ben. These two hunky country boys are impossible to ignore, but could they ever be interested in her as well?

Caleb and Ben are more than interested…and they’re willing to share. After their first night together, they know this has to be more than a one-time thing. They need to make her theirs forever. But can they convince Ireland they love her, curves and all?

I was hoping that this would be a good choice for my book club’s Dirty Book Month. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. I was completely onboard for a plus-size FMC and even a polyam relationship with two men. I wasn’t really okay with the insta-love from the men. Seriously, it was a bit much. And I wasn't okay with the constant body shaming from Ireland herself. I understand not liking your body and thinking negative thoughts. I don’t necessarily want to read that every other page throughout the entire novel. Authors only have to mention it a few times. Readers are going to forgot that the heroirne has body issues. It felt overdone. I was very much getting annoyed with the internal thoughts interrupting every scene.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Ducks by Kate Beaton

Title: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

Author: Kate Beaton

Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly 2022

Genre: Graphic Novel Memoir

Pages: 448

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR; 52 Book Club

Before there was Kate Beaton, New York Times bestselling cartoonist of Hark! A Vagrant, there was Katie Beaton of the Cape Breton Beaton, specifically Mabou, a tight-knit seaside community where the lobster is as abundant as beaches, fiddles, and Gaelic folk songs. With the singular goal of paying off her student loans, Katie heads out west to take advantage of Alberta’s oil rush―part of the long tradition of East Coasters who seek gainful employment elsewhere when they can’t find it in the homeland they love so much. Katie encounters the harsh reality of life in the oil sands, where trauma is an everyday occurrence yet is never discussed.

Beaton’s natural cartooning prowess is on full display as she draws colossal machinery and mammoth vehicles set against a sublime Albertan backdrop of wildlife, northern lights, and boreal forest. Her first full length graphic narrative, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is an untold story of Canada: a country that prides itself on its egalitarian ethos and natural beauty while simultaneously exploiting both the riches of its land and the humanity of its people.

CW: Sexual harassment, rape

Fascinating look at life on an isolated mining facility in Canada. I have enjoyed Beaton’s comedic takes and was intrigued by this memoir. Be advised that this book details her experiences of sexual harassment and rape while working in the Oil Sands. This is not a comedy. This is a look at her life experiences and a discussion of how isolation can affect a person. I enjoyed some of the questions that jumped into my brain while reading. I will most definitely keep Beaton on a must-read list of authors.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Court of the Vampire Queen by Katie Robert

Title: Court of the Vampire Queen

Author: Katee Robert

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 2022

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Pages: 496

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Winter TBR; Romanceopoly - Fang Alley

Spice Meter: 8

Three Powerfully Alluring Vampire Men

And One Queen to Rule Them All

All Mina ever wanted was to escape her father's control. Half human, half vampire, she lived eternally torn between two worlds, never fully experiencing the pleasures of either―until her father chose her as the pawn in his latest political move, gifting her to the darkly powerful and dangerously seductive Malachi Zion.

Malachi is not a vampire to be trifled with. He rules with an iron fist and has a reputation for the darkest of sins. But the longer Mina spends with him, the more she realizes he's not the monster she first thought―and as fear bleeds into lust, then trust, then something more, Malachi opens Mina up to a world she never knew could be hers for the taking: including the love of Malachi's two closest friends and companions.

Now surrounded by all three men, the center of their shockingly seductive world, Mina may finally have the power to face down her father and take back the life―and crown―that by all rights should be hers.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.

CW (from the author): Dubious consent, blood play, breeding, abusive parent (father), patricide, pregnancy, blood, gore, murder, explicit sex, vomiting (cause pregnancy), discussions about abortion, abusive parent (father, historical, off-page), blood play, attempted sexual assault (alluded to, non-graphic), attempted drugging

I picked this up on the strength of Robert’s Dark Olympus series. I figured that this one was going to be steamy and no joke, the steam gets started in Chapter 1. And it doesn’t let up until the last page. Make sure to notate that this is a MMMF explicit romance. I was drawn in my the dark vampire romance and stayed for the good discussions and relationships. Mina was a bit of a naive character for the first section, but thankfully she grows and matures throughout the novel. Once we get to know Malachi, Wolf, and Rylan, the story kicks into gear and I really fell for this book. I especially loved the relationships between the men. They somehow balanced each other out. In the end, we get an interesting look at creating polyam relationships albeit ones with supernatural beings. I ended up taking a star off because of the pacing. The last section of the book felt incredibly rushed without the good resolution that I was craving. I understand that Robert collected three novellas into one. That explains a few of the weird pacing issues, but I still wasn’t a big fan.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bad Boy for Christmas by Layla Valentine

Title: Bad Boy for Christmas (Christmas Romantic Comedies #3)

Author: Layla Valentine

Publisher: 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 196

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

HER:
There I was, reeling from the biggest disaster of my life, with my PR career in smithereens, I was bracing myself for the worst Christmas ever. Then I saw a shot at retribution. Tyler Bliss, Boston’s hottest bad-boy hockey star, finally thrown off his team. I know I can change the public’s perception of him and get him reinstated, he just needs to clean up his act, and follow my plan to the letter. Given his reputation, that might be more difficult than it sounds… Can we make our own Christmas miracle?

HIM:
They call me Bad Boy Bliss. I’m a beast on the ice, and off. All I want is to be back playing the game I love, And now this bossy publicist is telling me she can make it happen. I’ll grit my teeth through all the publicity stunts if it means being back on the team by January, We both need for this to work, But that means keeping our hands off each other, And I’m starting to think the frustration might be more than either of us can take.

Meh. I was intrigued by the summary and was definitely up for a bad boy hockey player. Unfortunately, we just don’t really get to know enough about either character to care that much. I wasn’t that excited about the pairing. Tyler wasn’t the exciting bad boy that I wanted. He’s more like the class clown who gets in fights. The story touches on some hard topics (e.g. alcoholism, death), but seems to just gloss over things. I needed more. And the steamy scenes weren’t all that steamy.

Christmas Romantic Comedies:

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Highlander's Holiday Wife by Vanessa Kelly

Title: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife (Clan Kendrick #5)

Author: Vanessa Kelly

Publisher: Zebra 2022

Genre: Romance

Pages: 426

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

It’s Christmastime in Edinburgh, but Lady Samantha Penwith’s secret mission takes no holiday: the Highlands-born lass vows to find the assailants who murdered her beloved husband, founder of a charitable school for orphaned boys. On her latest undercover excursion, she closes in on a pair of armed attackers and interrupts another assault, then disappears into the darkness, leaving the lone victim mystified—and lucky to be alive . . .

Braden Kendrick may be the sensible brother, yet the dedicated doctor routinely ignores the dangers of his late-night calls to the city’s slums. But when a fleet-footed rescuer saves his life, he’s determined to uncover the stranger’s identity. And once he does, he’ll find himself facing his own past loss for the first time—and more than willing to risk his heart again, just in time to make the Clan Kendrick’s Christmas celebrations more festive than ever . . .

Not super focused on Christmas, but a very enjoyable historical romance. We finally get to see more of Braden Kendrick after being teased for four books. I had been hoping that he wouldn’t just be the quiet doctor. Thankfully, we get much more from him and from Samantha. I loved the big mystery and action sequences within this story. It helped to fill in the gaps and give the book much more. I loved piecing together the mystery along with Braden and Samantha. My biggest complaint is that this volume is very light on the steamy scenes. In fact, they were practically nonexistent. Much more of a closed door romance in this one. Still it was a good light book to end my year with.

Clan Kendrick

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fake It for Christmas by Layla Valentine

Title: Fake it for Christmas (Christmas Romantic Comedies #1)

Author: Layla Valentine

Publisher: 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 233

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

HER:
Billionaires just aren’t like the rest of us, are they?
No sooner has my boss requested my assistance at a winter wedding, we’re boarding a private jet to Aspen, and I’m being introduced to every member of his filthy rich and utterly insane family as his girlfriend – and he barely even knows my last name!
I know I’ve bitten off more than I can chew,
I just need to play this role for a few weeks, collect my check and go.
So why can’t I tear my eyes off his brother?

HIM:
At my sister’s wedding, there’s one girl taking all the attention from the bride,
My brother’s new girlfriend – the one he never thought to mention until right now.
Immediately, I can tell that something’s up. Our parents’ approval is hard-won, and it can drive some of us to ridiculous ends…
Are these two really an item? Or, just maybe, did my brother simply not want to be the only sibling here without a date?

Decent Christmas romance novella, but I really wanted a bit more between the main characters. There was a lot of discussion about the Bentley family and the situation at work, but not enough between Ellie and Sawyer. I wanted a bit more meat on the bone. Still it was a decent open door (but not super steamy) romance.

Christmas Romantic Comedies:

#1 Fake It for Christmas
#2 Stuck Together for Christmas
#3 Bad Boy for Christmas

Next up on the TBR pile:

Stuck Together for Christmas by Layla Valentine

Title: Stuck Together for Christmas (Christmas Romantic Comedies #2)

Author: Layla Valentine

Publisher: 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 219

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

For the first time in years, I was excited about the holidays, A week of sun, sea and luxury, curtesy of my newly loaded brother. I should have known there’d be a sting in the tail… The moment I arrive in Hawaii, I realize there’s an intruder in the house, And it’s no burglar—no, it’s far worse than that, Because Ryan Finch—my brother’s business partner, and the same man my mother’s been trying to hook me up with for years—is apparently here for the holidays as well. The longer we spend together, the harder it is to remember all the reasons why I told myself that going there would be a terrible idea, And my relaxing Christmas getaway has just turned into the ultimate exercise in restraint.

Short little novella following a sorta enemies to lovers couple. We get a cute set-up with interfering parents and siblings focused on a Christmas in Hawaii. I love their slower progression to a relationship. I would have enjoyed a longer focus on their relationship after they started dating, but that’s my usual complaint about these type of novellas.

Christmas Romantic Comedies:

#1 Fake It for Christmas
#2 Stuck Together for Christmas
#3 Bad Boy for Christmas

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

Title: The Librarian Spy

Author: Madeline Martin

Publisher: Hanover Square Press 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 400

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war..

Intrigued by the summary and the idea of two women being internal to the spy business during WWII. Disappointed that the spy business doesn’t really show up and just how boring and naive both women are. I think I am spoiled by WWII novels with Kate Quinn’s book. Her heroines (while usually based on real people) are spunky and tough. They are delight to get to know with the pages of the book. Ava and Elaine were pretty disappointing in comparison. I really detest when characters are super naive and others keep vital information from them resulting in miscommunications, faux-pas, and outright mistakes.This happened so many times throughout the book. I had trouble rooting for the ladies and really any of the characters. I was very angry with Joseph and his treatment of Elaine (before the book even starts). I just couldn’t forgive him for working with the resistance, lying to his wife the entire time, and even going so far as to forbid her to do anything for the war effort. Ugh! So frustrating. Overall, I was very disappointed in this novel.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Highlander's Irish Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Title: The Highlander’s Irish Bride (Clan Kendrick #4)

Author: Vanessa Kelly

Publisher: Zebra

Genre: Romance

Pages: 464

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Miss Kathleen Calvert may be the daughter of an Irish aristocrat, but she has no intention of acting like one. All she desires is to return to her family’s estate to raise horses and manage her father’s magnificent gardens. But when a scandal threatens her reputation, her parents order her to a remote Scottish estate, hoping she will finally learn to behave like a proper lady. To make matters worse, her escort is a handsome Highlander who just happens to be the most boring man in all of Scotland . . .

After a youth of dangerous and wild escapades, Grant Kendrick surprised his family—and himself—by becoming a successful businessman and the most respectable Kendrick brother. But does that matter, when the beautiful and free-spirited Kathleen deems him a stodgy bore? Luckily, he gets the chance to prove her wrong when their carriage is ambushed by thieves. But it will take all his ingenuity to protect the beautiful lass who has stormed her way into his heart—and to convince her that a life with him will be a love-filled adventure . . .

I continue to enjoy this series, but not absolutely adore it. This particular book seemed to drag a big in the middle. I was getting annoyed by Jeannie’s repetitive behavior. I admit that I was distracted by her character throughout the book. I wanted to spend more time developing the relationship between Grant and Kathleen. As to the main characters, I found both of them intriguing, but it was definitely Kathleen that kept me reading. Grant was a bit too reserved for my tastes. I wanted a bit more banter and sass (like his twin Graeme). I kept reading wanting to see them get their happy ending and figure out the identity of the gang. Decent addition to the series. I can’t wait to see Braden’s story next.

Clan Kendrick

#1 The Highlander Who Protected Me
#2 The Highlander’s Christmas Bride
#3 The Highlander’s English Bride
#4 The Highlander’s Irish Bride
#5 The Highlander’s Holiday Wife

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

Title: The Christmas Swap

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Fleming H. Revell 2020

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can't find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there's someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

West Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet--or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house's caretaker. But when Emma's friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things get . . . messy.

A very chaste romance for today’s read. I was intrigued by the plot and I really did like West. Unfortunately, all the other characters are so incredibly unlikable that it really makes you wonder about Emma’s judgement. Gillian is the worst as being manipulative toward her supposed best friend. I could not believe what Emma put up with and made excuses for. The book ended up making me pretty angry for Emma (and for West being on the receiving end of some of the manipulation). A cute idea that just really didn’t do it for me at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

Title: One Snowy Night (Heartbreaker Bay #2.5)

Author: Jill Shalvis

Publisher: Avon 2016

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 160

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn’t seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl.

Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory’s out of options. She’s had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he’s attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south.

They’ve done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.

I managed to sneak in this novella during the last leg of drive to Indiana this week. Loved this cute little story of Rory and Max reconnecting on a trip north to Tahoe. I was intrigued by their pairing in the last book and was excited to snatch up this hold from the library. We get a cute little story and I was excited to see actual conversations happenings while in the truck and then the motel. Carl was a great addition to the story. I only wish we would have gotten to see more from these two. (Note: this is an open door romance.)

Heartbreaker Bay

#1 Sweet Little Lies
#2 The Trouble with Mistletoe
#2.5 One Snowy Night
#3 Accidentally on Purpose
#4 Chasing Christmas Eve
#4.5 Holiday Wishes
#5 About That Kiss
#6 Hot Winter Nights
#6.5 Just Say When
#7 Playing for Keeps
#8 Wrapped Up in You
#8.5 Twist of Fate

Next up on the TBR pile:

Snowpiercer Vol. 3

Title: Snowpiercer Vol. 3: Terminus

Author: Olivier Bocquet , Jean-Marc Rochette

Publisher: Titan Comics 2016

Genre: Comic

Pages: 232

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

On a future, frozen Earth, humanity has been packed onto self-sustaining trains, doomed to circumnavigate the globe until the end of the interminable ice age - or until the engines give out.

When a scrap of music piques their interest, the inhabitants of the Icebreaker take the ultimate risk and cross the frozen ocean, a vast expanse with no train tracks... and no way to return to them.

This was the standout volume for me! We pick up right where Volume 2 left off and eventually find ourselves in a hidden world. I loved the imagination in the creation of this underground world. I loved the reveals as we finally understand what is happening with the mice. A much more thrilling story from start to finish. I only wish the art was a little less stark and dark.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

Title: The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay #2)

Author: Jill Shalvis

Publisher: Avon 2016

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

If she has her way . . .

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her . . .

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him . . .

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice . . .

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work . . .

I ended listening to this entire book while driving to Indiana this week. Very delightful contemporary romance set in San Francisco. I loved getting the feel of a small town within the city with all the people who live and work in the building. Add in a very sexy ex-classmate and a feisty cat, I was all in on this story. I really enjoyed the storyline and the developing romance between Willa and Keane. My only big complaint was the narration. I hated how childlike the narrator made Willa’s voice. It definitely pulled me out of the story. I am excited to read more in this series and see the other relationships develop. I’m especially interested in Elle and Archer… (Note that this book is an open door romance.)

Heartbreaker Bay

#1 Sweet Little Lies
#2 The Trouble with Mistletoe
#2.5 One Snowy Night
#3 Accidentally on Purpose
#4 Chasing Christmas Eve
#4.5 Holiday Wishes
#5 About That Kiss
#6 Hot Winter Nights
#6.5 Just Say When
#7 Playing for Keeps
#8 Wrapped Up in You
#8.5 Twist of Fate

Next up on the TBR pile:

Snowpiercer Vol. 2

Title: Snowpiercer Vol. 2: The Explorers

Author: Benjamin Legrand , Jean-Marc Rochette

Publisher: Titan Comics

Genre: Comic

Pages: 144

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

In a harsh, uncompromisingly cold future where Earth has succumbed to treacherously low temperatures, the last remaining members of humanity travel on a train known as Snowpiercer while the outside world remains encased in ice.

The occupants aboard the Snowpiercer believed themselves to be the last humans alive, yet they soon learn that they are not alone. There is another train that could potentially spell destruction for the passengers of the Snowpiercer as it carves a trail through the endlessly freezing terrain.

This second train houses a small band of people that are willing to brave the relentless cold in search of the truth and discover what is left of the world by any means necessary.

We get the next chapter in the Snowpiercer saga, but suddenly we’ve jumped forward in time and somehow are on a different train. There were multiple Snowpiercers? Very confusing… Once I settled in, I started to like the story, but there wasn’t enough there to keep my attention on high alert. I Don’t always need everything explained, but the utter lack of any explanations in this volume bothered me. And I’m still not a fan of the art at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughs

Title: A Magical New York Christmas

Author: Anita Hughes

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin 2021

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

It’s Christmas week when 26-year-old Sabrina Post knocks on the door of the Vanderbilt suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, ready to accept the ghostwriting position for the memoir of Grayson Westcott—a famous art dealer.

A struggling journalist, Sabrina can't believe her luck: a paycheck and six nights in her own suite at the Plaza. She feels like Eloise, the heroine from her favorite children’s books. To make the job even more exciting, Grayson recounts how he worked as a butler at the Plaza sixty years ago for none other than the author of the Eloise books, Kay Thompson.

What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Wentworth, a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar. When Ian assumes Sabrina is another wealthy guest at the hotel, she doesn’t correct him —a decision she doesn’t regret after learning that Ian is a member of the British aristocracy. But, things are not what they seem. The truth is: Ian is not a wealthy lord; he’s actually the personal secretary of Lord Spencer Braxton.

As the week unfolds, will Sabrina and Ian learn the truth about one another.

Started out strong, but then became incredibly repetitive and pretty boring. I don’t think I really enjoy the mistaken identity trope; too much lying and evasion. And this one really kept that up until way too late in the book. And then we get to the weird underlying story of Kay and Grayson. I just didn’t really care and I was annoyed by how many times that we were reminded just how unusual Kay was. Boring. Spencer also did not really add to the plot at all. And then we get to Sabrina and Ian. I just didn’t see them enough together to get a sense of the romance. Every scene involving both of them was too brief. We just didn’t get enough. Too many flashbacks, not enough in the moment romance.

Next up on the TBR pile:

All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox

Title: All I Want for Christmas

Author: Maggie Knox

Publisher: Viking 2022

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Will they hit the right notes this holiday season?

When Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, each thinks they’ve finally gotten their big Nashville break. But then they’re paired up for duet week and stun the world with their romantic onstage chemistry. With fans going wild for #Saxie the network demands that they remain a duo on andoffstage, or exit the competition. Faking a relationship until their final performance in the Starmaker holiday special shouldn't be too hard, except for one small problem—Sadie and Max can’t stand each other.

But with their dreams just within reach, they agree to the ruse. Will their fake relationship be exposed before they can win? Or might their phony connection turn real by the Christmas finale?

Another standout Holiday romance pick for this year! I enjoyed Maggie Knox’s (actually a writing team) book from last year, The Holiday Swap. But this one was much much better! I’m a bit of a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope (it always has good banter!) and this was one just about perfect for me. Sadie and Max definitely go through their share of miscommunication and obstacles, but I loved how much they believed in each other underneath all the dislike. The side characters added just enough to the story to make it believable. And the setting in Nashville, while being not a huge fan of country music, was a great location for this book. I was desperate for them to get their HEA, but enjoyed the ride all the way through. (Random side note: The writing team is made up of Karma Wilson and Marissa Stpnley. I’ve never read Stapley, but have read Wilson’s Recipe for a Perfect Wife and hated it. Apparently, I prefer her balanced out with a writing partner.)

Next up on the TBR pile:

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

Title: Just Like Magic

Author: Sarah Hogle

Publisher: Putnam 2022

Genre: Holiday Romnace

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Bettie Hughes once knew the comfort of luxury, flaunting a collection of designer purses and an enviable dream home in Hawaii. That was before she lost all her money. Long obsessed with her public image, Bettie boasts an extravagant lifestyle on social media. But the reality is Bettie is broke and squatting in Colorado, and her family has no idea.

Christmas, with its pressure to meet familial expectations, is looming when Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backward and accidentally conjures up Hall, the Holiday Spirit, in the form of a charming and handsome (if offbeat) man. Once the shock wears off, Bettie knows she’s stumbled upon the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true, plus a ready-made fiancé.

But as some of Bettie’s wishes lose their charm, she finds herself thrown off-kilter by Hall’s sweet nature. Suddenly, grumpy Bettie is finding her heart merry and light. But the happier she gets, the shorter Hall’s time on earth grows. Can Bettie channel the Christmas spirit and learn to live with goodwill toward all men? Or will her selfish ways return as soon as the holidays are over?

This might just be my favorite Holiday romance of all time! I absolutely adored this wacky combo of Scrooged and a Hallmark movie. Bettie is whirlwind of chaos at the beginning of this novel when she accidentally summons the Holiday Spirit. Right away I was rooting for Bettie and her family to find some semblance of connection. It reminded me a lot of Schitt’s Creek. Sure the characters are way out of touch with reality. But they are funny and you know that deep down there’s a heart of gold in here. They just spend the entire book engaging in crazy antics until they find it. Most of the book is not a romance, but you start to see little slivers of romances as the pages progress. I absolutely loved how Bettie and Hall’s relationship grew throughout the book. By the end, I was desperate for them to get a HEA. The romance is very chaste with just some small kisses and a few innuendos. Delightful read for my week!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

Title: Window Shopping

Author: Tessa Bailey

Publisher: Tessa Bailey 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 258

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan,
shop windows are decorated in red and green satin.
I’m standing alone in front of the famous Vivant department store,
when a charming man named Aiden asks my opinion of the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, I say, unable to lie.
He asks for a better idea with a twinkle in his eye.
Did I know he owned the place? No. He put me on the spot.
Now I’m working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.
But as a down on her luck girl with a difficult past,
I know an opportunity when I see one—and I have to make it last.

I’ll put my heart and soul into dressing his holiday windows.
I’ll work without stopping.
And when we lose the battle with temptation,
I’ll try and remember I’m just window shopping.

Okay, this is my second Tessa Bailey book and I really don’t think that she is the author for me. The book started interesting with a great setting of an upscale department store. I loved the whole feel of the store and the window display plot line. The parts of the book beside the romance I really enjoyed. The romance was a big dud for me. I was okay with their differing personalities. I actually like the sunny/grump trope. It’s very cute. My big problem was the way Aiden did the sexy talk. It’s a huge turnoff when men call women “girl” during sex. There was weird infantilization. I just cannot with this type of dirty talk.

Next up on the TBR pile: