Archives for October 9, 2018

* Review * HIS CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL BABY by Anna J. Stewart

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HIS CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL BABY by Anna J. Stewart

His Christmas Carousel Baby: A Christmas Carousel Story by Anna J. Stewart
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

The woman who destroyed his dreams is having his baby!

After spending the last year trying to get his song-writing career off the ground, Wally MacIver is back in Christmas Town for good. His dreams and ambition didn't bring him anything other than betrayal and pain, mainly at the hand of his boss, record executive Grayling Stanhope. So much for thinking their "connection" was anything other than business. But the last thing Wally expects is to run into Grayling again...in Christmas Town!

Grayling fell in love with Wally's songs long before she ever met him. Their attraction and connection was immediate, but divided loyalties and her own insecurities cost her the only man she's ever truly loved. She knows he might never trust her again, but there are some secrets she just can't keep. Somehow, some way, they've got to find a way to move beyond the past: especially now that they're going to have a baby!

Betrayals, reconnections and a baby! With her contribution to the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas anthology, Anna J Stewart brings us a kindhearted man that we are drawn to from the beginning. His story is attention grabbing and once Grayling arrives in town, we start pulling for them to somehow be able to make their relationship work out. Really enjoyed this wonderfully written story!

Wally MacIver chased his songwriting dream in Nashville for a year, but after feeling the blade a little too closely of that cut throat business, he’s back home where he belongs in Christmas Town, Maine. He thought it was a life that he wanted, but after being betrayed by his boss, who he was also having a relationship with, he quickly cut ties and headed home. If that’s the world that music will get him, he’d rather throw himself back into the carpentry work that he loves and help restore the carousel.

Record executive Grayling Stanhope fell in love with Wally before she even met him simply through the power of the songs that he wrote. When they started working together, their connection was immediate and they quickly gave in to temptation. She let her job and the pressure she felt to do well overpower her reasoning of right from wrong where Wally was concerned and she’s never regretted anything more. She knows he may never trust her again, but she has to try. She arrives in Christmas Town with the goal of mending fences on her mind … and the daunting task of telling Wally he’s going to be a daddy!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * SANTA SCHOOL by Melinda Curtis

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SANTA SCHOOL by Melinda Curtis

Santa School: A Christmas Carousel Story by Melinda Curtis
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on October 9, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

This second chance romance is a part of the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas - a 2018 clean romance anthology from some of your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming romance authors.

Can this Scrooge learn to put on a good Christmas?

Dominick Decker’s wife's last wish was that he and their daughter Jessie move to her hometown - Christmas Town, Maine. As a second generation repairman he doesn't understand why Christmas is so important to everyone in Christmas Town. You put up a tree, buy some gift cards and order a pre-made turkey dinner from the grocery store, which leaves plenty of time for service calls in between. What more does he need to do? A lot if he's to give his daughter the Christmas she deserves.

Enter Ruby Caldwell, owner of Santa School and trainer of "professional" Santas. Now that she's been laid off from her day job, she needs to take Santa School from a part-time seasonal hobby to a full-time year-round operation. That requires a positive mindset, along with a healthy dose of creativity. Step one: Santa School for Busy Elves to train single dads like Dominick to put on a great Christmas by themselves. All she needs are a few willing dads and a don't-quit smile. With a challenge like Dominick, let's hope Ruby's smile holds out this holiday season.

Heartwarming, humorous and oh so sweet! With a second-chance-at-love story, Melinda Curtis brings us the story of Dom, the guy who’s working to get the heat back up and running in the Carousel House while he stumbles through giving his daughter their first Christmas without his wife. I enjoyed their story, and Ruby brought a new depth out in him that made him very connectable.

The last promise Dominick Decker made to his late wife was that he would move to her hometown of Christmas Town, Maine with their daughter. He’s settling in well with the heating and air company that he bought, but he’s not doing the best job of winning over his in-laws. They’re a bit over-the-top in their holiday cheer .. but then again, so is the rest of this town! He knows Jessie deserves the best, but is working hard to provide for her really such a bad thing?

Ruby Caldwell just got laid off from her job at the hospital, so she needs to seriously get busy figuring out a way to turn her seasonal Santa School business into something that will provide a livable income the entire year! When she has a run in with Dom that has them placing a bet on whether she can bring the Christmas spirit into his heart by having him attend the class she has going on to train single dad’s like himself how to bring their child a magical Christmas!

Filed Under: Book Reviews

* Review * A CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL PROPOSAL by Melinda Curtis and Cari Lynn Webb

October 9, 2018 Leave a Comment

A Christmas Carousel Proposal by Melinda Curtis and Cari Lynn Webb
Series: 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas
on June 10, 2018
Goodreads

This clean romance kicks off the 2018 anthology written by Harlequin Heartwarming romance authors.

Lisa Garland has big plans for her grandparents' wedding anniversary on December 24th - the grand opening of Carousel House, featuring a fully-restored carousel in downtown Christmas Town. She doesn't expect the company restoring the carousel to go bankrupt or the only man available to help her make the deadline for her grandparents' anniversary to be her ex-fiance.

A decade ago, John Richardson walked away from Lisa for her own good. He's tried hard not to look back. But now Lisa needs a miracle and John might just be the only man who can deliver it. If only he can keep his undying love for her a secret. He's scheduled to return to duty on December 25, so all he needs to do is organize volunteers to finish the carousel and keep his heart under lock and key. But love has a way of opening doors and hearts, and John's holiday season may not go as planned.

A Christmas Carousel Proposal introduces many of the characters in the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas series, which begin the week after John proposes to Lisa. Six romances feature Lisa’s bridesmaids and six feature heroes working on the carousel. All full-length novels end on Christmas Eve.

A delightful holiday reunion! Kicking off this years holiday anthology from the Harlequin Heartwarming authors, this story introduces the story line that a treasured carousel in the town of Christmas Town, Maine is being brought back to life in a new location to be enjoyed by all. Lisa Garland is in charge of getting it all arranged, and it’s super special to her because it’s special to her grandparents and will reopen centered around an anniversary party for them on Christmas Eve. The book introduces many of the characters that will derive the heroes and heroines of the 12 full length books to follow. It piqued my interest and brought the excitement of the carousel to life in my imagination!

Lisa Garland thinks all is on track for the carousel project she’s spearheading for the town council until an unexpected visitor announces that the company in charge of getting the overhaul done has declared bankruptcy and closed down! Panic ensues and the only person capable of possibly still pulling off the deadline just so happens to be the man she hasn’t seen since he walked away from her and their engagement a decade ago!

John Richardson never got over his love for Lisa, but when she voiced doubts about their union, he used it in order to walk away. He was shipping off soon thereafter anyway and considered it for her own good that he was leaving her open to live her own life again. Facing their past and realizing a new future just might be the answer they’ve both been looking for!

Filed Under: Book Reviews