Lady Elizabeth Spaulding’s world has fallen apart. Despite living her entire life to please her demanding parents, the Duke and Duchess of Marwood, she has little to show for it. After Elizabeth’s second failed betrothal, her father’s debts and appalling acts of retaliation force him to flee the country, consigning Elizabeth and her bitter mother to a life of poverty and exile. But Elizabeth’s fortunes change one day when an elderly acquaintance makes her an offer she can’t refuse.Lady Walmsley, widowed and childless, is in need of a lady’s companion—and who better than the lovely Lady Elizabeth? Determined to rescue Elizabeth from her dreary life in the country, Lady Walmsley secures the help of Kit, the dashing Earl of Cantwell, in her quest. But the young woman they find is a ghost of the charming girl they once knew. Taken in by Lady Walmsley, and with Kit’s enthusiastic encouragement, Elizabeth finds herself pushed further and further from her empty solitude as she discovers the joy of truly living. Now, for the first time in her life, she must decide for herself who she is and if she deserves to be loved.
Lady Walmsley, widowed and childless, is in need of a lady’s companion—and who better than the lovely Lady Elizabeth? Determined to rescue Elizabeth from her dreary life in the country, Lady Walmsley secures the help of Kit, the dashing Earl of Cantwell, in her quest. But the young woman they find is a ghost of the charming girl they once knew. Taken in by Lady Walmsley, and with Kit’s enthusiastic encouragement, Elizabeth finds herself pushed further and further from her empty solitude as she discovers the joy of truly living. Now, for the first time in her life, she must decide for herself who she is and if she deserves to be loved.
My Review:
In the time of quarantine for Covid19, this book is a heartwarming romantic read.
Elizabeth’s life is pretty sad. She’s neglected and abused, and she does what is expected of her regardless of how she feels. In fact, there’s much she doesn’t even know about herself. That’s where her new friend, Kit , comes into play. He has a genuine interest in her, and unlike those who abandoned her when her world feel apart, he and a kind noblewoman who take her in, helps her overcome her challenges and find love along the way.
I enjoyed the relationships Elizabeth had with Lady Walmsley and Kit.
Vee was too sensible to believe in love at first sight. Attractive guys and great personalities were not mutually exclusive…until she met Yangbin. Maybe it was his dimples, or his broad shoulders, or maybe it was simply that he was adorable. Whatever it was, Yangbin stood out to Vee like no one ever had.
She tried to brush him off. Forget about their one meeting and pretend she wouldn’t care if she never saw him again, but when he showed up working at the hotel where Vee was spending Christmas vacation, she couldn’t help but think fate had played a part.
She still didn’t want to believe in love, but life had other plans.
My Review:
Snowflake Kisses is an enjoyable romantic comedy about first love, with the promise of lasting love. It has a nice fairy tale with a happy ever after feeling.
And it has Christmas as it’s backdrop, which is why I am featuring it today.
As Kpop grows in global popularity, I think we can expect to see more books like this. Although improbable, it is not impossible to think you might meet a Kpop star in the United States. So grab your copy today, sit back, pull up a chair, and prepare yourself for a delightful afternoon of reading.
Christmas at Falstone Castle– Sarah M. Eden – The Dowager Duchess of Kielder eagerly anticipates spending Christmas with her son and his family. Though their relationship has been strained, the duchess is determined to heal the chasm. Even with the help of the widowed local vicar, her plan will take a Christmas miracle. But during this magical season, anything is possible . . . even two second chances for love.
The Heart of Christmas – Anita Stansfield – When a chance meeting brings together a gentle seamstress and a widowed banker, each lonely soul finds a first hint of hope. As their lives become entwined, it will take Christmas spirit to guide a broken family to love and healing.
’Tis the Season to Be Daring – Esther Hatch Elizabeth – Davenport has had quite enough of the London Season. Determined to evade a parade of unsuitable suitors, she seeks help from the one gentleman who has no regard for Society’s rules. All of Society knows Lord Hawthorne is not interested in marriage, yet he cannot deny Miss Davenport’s unique charm. And as the Christmas season works its magic, their charade begins to feel less like playacting and more like love.
The Christmas Dress – Joanna Barker – Seamstress Nell Addington is thrilled when her childhood friend Jacob Hammond commissions a dress for his sister. But when Nell realizes her feelings for Jacob run far deeper than friendship, an unexpected snowstorm—and some holiday cheer—may convince them both that love is worth fighting for.
My Review:
What a lovely collection of stories. It can sometimes be hard to find a collection of short romance stories that are free from vulgarities, so it was with delight that I saw this. A must read for a wintry Christmas night.
I was given an ARC from the publisher via netgalley.
The theft of a friend s priceless, family-legacy Christmas ornaments brings amateur detective and culinary expert, Sadie Hoffmiller, back on the case in a new standalone cozy mystery.
This Christmas, Sadie Hoffmiller Cunningham is making a list and checking it twice. For the first time since she and Pete married five years ago, their combined families are gathering for the holidays in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a party that would make Santa and Mrs. Claus proud.
She just has to bake the famous Cunningham Candy Cane Cake, make sure the looming snowstorm doesn’t derail everyone’s travel plans, and oh, yes, solve one teensy-tiny mystery before the big day.
At ninety-four and nearly blind, Mary, Sadie’s friend and neighbor, knows this will be her last Christmas. When Sadie learns that someone has stolen antique Christmas ornaments from Mary’s tree, she vows to find the thief, no matter what. The ornaments had been appraised at more than $40,000, but they were worth even more to Mary, who had intended to bequeath them to her great-granddaughter, Joy, as a final gift.
With Pete in Arizona wrapping up a case of his own, it’s up to Sadie to question the residents of Nicholas House, where Mary lives, and deduce who had the means and the motive to steal heirloom ornaments during what should be the most wonderful time of the year.
When stories of other thefts surface, Sadie feels like she’s creating a “naughty” list that could rival Santa’s. Identifying the thief, recovering the ornaments, and restoring them to Mary’s tree in time will take a Christmas miracle and maybe a few extra-special cookies.
My Review:
This little gem is a cozy mystery that I was given an ARC via Netgalley from the publisher.
If you want a little mystery with your Christmas cheer, check out this book. It will have you laughing. It will have you crying. This is a book about family, faith, and love.
Addies loves nothing more than curling up on the couch with her dog, Duck, and watching The Great British Baking Show with her mom. It’s one of the few things that can help her relax when her OCD kicks into overdrive. She counts everything. All the time. She can’t stop. Rituals and rhythms. It’s exhausting.
When Fitz was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he named the voices in his head after famous country singers. The adolescent psychiatric ward at Seattle Regional Hospital isn’t exactly the ideal place to meet your soul mate, but when Addie meets Fitz, they immediately connect over their shared love of words, appreciate each other’s quick wit, and wish they could both make more sense of their lives.
Fitz is haunted by the voices in his head and often doesn’t know what is real. But he feels if he can convince Addie to help him escape the psych ward and get to San Juan Island, everything will be okay. If not, he risks falling into a downward spiral that may keep him in the hospital indefinitely.
Waiting for Fitz is a story about life and love, forgiveness and courage, and learning what is truly worth waiting for.
My Review:
With the recent posts on social media about mental health, and especially what OCD is and what it isn’t, I thought I would revisit this book. I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
This book took me awhile to get into. I almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t. This book is worth the read, especially after I learned more about what OCD is. OCD isn’t the simple disorder people joke about. (You like to keep your pens grouped by color? Paperclips organized by size and color? That’s not clinically OCD if it’s because you like things organized to a fault. But if you organize it every day in your office as a ritual before you work because if you don’t calamity will befall you or the office, that is OCD. )
Addie has OCD. Part of why this book was hard for me to get in to was you really get into Addie’s head. It’s very internalized. Dealing with mental illness in your family is difficult enough. You often feel like you are walking on eggshells, not wanting to trigger them. Seeing it from the patients side was also hard for me. It gave me new understanding and renewed empathy.
Now, other aspects might be hard to believe. But this is a work of fiction, and is also a coming of age story about Addie. If you can suspend your disbelief about children being able to escape the hospital, it’s worth it.
Mythical creatures are cultural artifacts—creations of the human imagination from all around the world. From terrifying monsters to sacred mystical beasts, weird-looking humanoids, magical birds, and many other fantastic beings, the mythological creatures in this book are sure to enchant and amaze! Discover myths and legends spanning from ancient times to modern day from every corner of the globe. Learn the cultural origins of 240 different mythical creatures, captured in ten chapters and 100 colorful illustrations. You will find terrifying bogey monsters as well as benevolent guardians. Meet creatures that symbolize obstacles to overcome, ones that explain the occurrence of disease, some that ward away evil, and others that were created simply for amusement. Explore mythology from the Middle East, Africa, India, Japan, Mexico, Europe, Polynesia, and beyond. This guide is a ticket to travel the world and discover its strangest magical beasts from the safety of your own home.
My Review
What can I say? I loved this information packed catalog of Monsters and Mythical Creatures. Every entry is richly detailed. For some reason, my ARC wouldn’t let me see most of the artwork, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this book.
Monsters and Mythical Creatures from Around the World will be available November 28, 2019.
Sixteen-year-old Alecia doesn’t know anything about goblins or magic. She’s never even heard of Alfheim. She’s just trying to get through high school and get her driver’s license.
And then she meets a faerie creature who needs her help. One impulsive bargain later and she has magic powers, her grandfather kidnapped, and the FBI is involved. But she knows she did the right thing. Can she pull it all together before things entirely spiral out of control?
Alfheim Seoul is a fast-paced, fantasy adventure.
Clean. Suitable for all ages.
Roxbury Books Says:
I had to grab this. (It’s price is hard to beat, FREE, until Sunday 6-15–19.) I’m way behind on book reading myself, but two things caught my eye in one of my writers groups today. The words goblin and Seoul.
Two things I like.
If you grab this title, feel free to comment back. I’d love to know what you think.
I’ve asked the authors at Clean Indie Reads for books that take place in spring. Let’s hop right to it and the books are:
Librarian Chloe McAlister finds solace in her books—and hats—but doesn’t know where to turn when her longtime crush gets engaged. On a whim, she signs up for a speed-dating mixer and convinces her best friend, Dill Thomas, to attend. All goes as planned until she realizes Dill means more to her than she thought … and he goes and falls for someone else.
This 10,000-word short story is perfect for your lunch break, workout, or while you wait in line at the mall. Read it today to experience a hint of spring any time of the year!
This book will have special Kindle Coundown pricing April 2 – 8th
It sounds too good to be true…
The invitation from “Perfect Match” offers Ava Godfrey an all-expense-paid week on Enchanted Island with the man of her dreams. Seven days of Caribbean sunshine, tropical beaches and candlelight dinners sounds like heaven. The only catch—she can’t meet her Prince Charming until she arrives on the island. The scenario sounds risky, yet she finds the prospect intriguing. Will she find her “perfect match” or will she encounter the perfect scam?
They send him to deal with the diva…
Jeffrey Thomas has a job to do—cancel Ava Godfrey’s contract. She’s cost his boss a small fortune by turning down not one, but two matches sent by the agency. He’s determined to cut her loose until he meets the spunky, fun-loving redhead and is irrevocably attracted to her. Though he’s temped to stay and find out if she’s his perfect match, his priority is to persuade her to go home. But when Ava’s bag is stolen along with her identity, Jeff’s only concern is helping her recover what she lost. Will he lose his heart to her in the process?
There’s a new King in town! That’s the good news. The bad news is that William Bradshaw has problems. He’s new on the job but he’s already made enemies with a fire-breathing dragon. His friends aren’t much better: goblins whose favorite pastime is messing things up, trolls with anger management issues, an over-achieving fire scepter, and an uncooperative magic mirror.
Aside from that, all he has to worry about is a war. And that’s the trouble. Throughout recorded history the goblins have never won a battle, let alone a war. But things are going to be different this time. William Bradshaw is determined to win, using every means at his disposal, including stealth, subterfuge and exploding outhouses.
Most people fear the Spanish Inquisition. He’ll make the Inquisition fear him.
Hiding behind a veneer of Catholicism, the Mendez family secretly practices their Jewish faith. It’s a dangerous way of life in 17th century Spain. Their worst fears are realized when, one late spring night, armed soldiers arrest Simon Mendez’s father for “Judaizing” – teaching Jewish traditions to others.
Incensed by the arrest, Simon is determined to rescue his father before he’s burned at the stake.
It won’t be easy. The Mendezes’ neighbors turn against them, and Simon and his family must flee their home to escape arrest. But they can’t hide forever, and in order to save his father, Simon must risk everything.
He will need to strike back hard against the overwhelming power of the Inquisition. With his father’s life on the line, there is no other choice.
The Inquisition had better start praying
There’s someone kidnapping the street kids in Twynne Rivers! DeFrantis is a young human girl living on the streets, trying to eke out a living in the sprawling city, and she has problems. First, after a botched attempt to steal a chicken, she’s on the run. Second, for some reason, someone other than the City Guard is trying to hunt her down. Finally, the poor kids she was trying to feed got sold off to slavers. She has to save them, but first, she has to find them! Along the way, she gets help from strangers: Antonerri, a soldier turned heretic – Thissraelle, an elven mage girl; Granthurg, the studious giant; and Karendle, a half-dwarf wizard wannabe ….But who is the Dragon’s Flame? “…Each of these characters emerges from wildly differing circumstances, and have unique perspectives and goals, which don’t always neatly align with those of their companions, and in some cases can leave them wondering if they’re even fighting on the right side. It’s that searching and self-doubt — all while being swept up by larger events — that makes these players in this little drama so fascinating.” – Doug Bedwell, Author of “A Counterfeit Princess” and “Robot Captain” This story is based on the setting and system of the table-top role-playing game, “A Tale of Heroes” By Mark Hansen, Brendon Hansen, and Jacob Hansen. It’s a family-friendly, story-driven system designed to help families enjoy time together.Roll Dice – Build Character.
Kate Morrison has plans to rekindle her dying relationship when her boyfriend Derek invites her on a two week business trip to Korea. But when the trip turns out to be just that—business—she discovers that eating kimchi and bulgogi alone isn’t exactly what she’d hoped for.
Even though he can’t take his eyes off his laptop, Derek does try to make sure Kate isn’t completely bored. Unfortunately, hiring an oppa tour guide to show her around isn’t the solution Kate had been hoping for. All she really wants is for Derek to remember how much he still loves her.
Kate decides that spending more time with her “oppa,” Sean, might jog Derek’s memory. The problem is, Sean isn’t just attractive—he’s smart, funny, and he not only listens to her dreams about writing children’s books, he encourages them. With Derek too busy with mergers and acquisitions to find time to be jealous, will Kate be able to win his heart back before her new oppa steals hers away?
My Review:
This series has been a lot of fun to read, and this title had its own charm. I don’t want to be unfair, but this wasn’t my favorite book of the series. I found it a bit hard to really root for the romance, and in a romance book that is big. Perhaps though, my expectations was what I was missing as a reader. This story isn’t as much a romance as it is a slice of life story. And with that in mind, it is a story worth reading.
Kate and Derek are in a relationship that neither of them appear to be invested in anymore. As this is Kate’s story, we don’t really get to learn much about Derek except that he’s a workaholic. His job is his mistress; and Kate isn’t getting what she wants or needs out of the relationship. When she realizes she might get that with Sean, she’ll have to decide does she stick with Derek for old time’s sake, or risk it all on love.
This novel is on sale for $0.99 for a limited time.
When Mayumi was born, her grandfather created a garden for her. It was unlike any other garden she knew. It had no flowers or vegetables. Instead, Ojiichan made it out of stones: ?big ones, little ones and ones in-between.? Every summer, Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan, and they tend the garden together. Raking the gravel is her favorite part. Afterward, the two of them sit on a bench and enjoy the results of their efforts in happy silence. But then one summer, everything changes. Ojiichan has grown too old to care for his home and the garden. He has to move. Will Mayumi find a way to keep the memory of the garden alive for both of them?
This gentle picture book story will warm children’s hearts as it explores a deep intergenerational bond and the passing of knowledge from grandparent to grandchild over time. The lyrical text by Chieri Uegaki and luminous watercolor illustrations by Genevieve Simms beautifully capture the emotional arc of the story, from Mayumi’s contentment through her anger and disappointment to, finally, her acceptance. The story focuses on an important connection to nature, particularly as a place for quiet reflection. It contains character education lessons on caring, responsibility, perseverance and initiative. It’s also a wonderful way to introduce social studies conversations about family, aging and multiculturalism. Mayumi lives in North America with her Japanese mother and Dutch father, and visits her grandfather in Japan. Some Japanese words are included.
My Review:
Heartwarming tale with beautiful illustrations.
One of the things I loved about this storybook was that it showcases family love. Although Grandpa lived far away from Mayumi, he still was a part of her life through the garden he created for her. The ending is poignant.
When Mayumi was born, her grandfather created a garden for her. It was unlike any other garden she knew. It had no flowers or vegetables. Instead, Ojiichan made it out of stones: ?big ones, little ones and ones in-between.? Every summer, Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan, and they tend the garden together. Raking the gravel is her favorite part. Afterward, the two of them sit on a bench and enjoy the results of their efforts in happy silence. But then one summer, everything changes. Ojiichan has grown too old to care for his home and the garden. He has to move. Will Mayumi find a way to keep the memory of the garden alive for both of them?