October 14, 2023

* Review * CONFESSIONS OF A CHRISTMASHOLIC by Joss Wood

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Confessions of a Christmasholic by Joss Wood
Published by One More Chapter on October 19, 2023
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Sutton Alsop hates Christmas. So much so, when confronted with a house that looks like Santa himself vomited Christmas all over it, she accidentally (drunkenly) destroys every fairy light, fake reindeer and candy cane in sight. Unfortunately for Sutton, this house belongs to none other than Gus Langston, single dad and owner of the village’s year-round Christmas shop – aka Mr Christmas himself.

But Mr Christmas has a secret only Sutton knows…

With the two of them forced together for the holidays, the sparks between them are hot enough to melt even the coldest of hearts!

This quirky holiday read will melt your heart while tickling your funny bone! Joss Wood is oozing sarcasm in such a delightful way in this feel-good, emotional story of second chances with an English Christmas backdrop painting the story of bliss, while real life rears it’s ugly head here and there to delve into past betrayal, unreliability and falling in love when they least expect it. Utterly delightful overall, but the ending was really weak and needed to give us more to wrap up this great fam.

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a small town romance revolving around Christmastime with the ups and downs of life shining bright.

* Review * HER LAST WORDS by Carolyn Arnold

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Her Last Words by Carolyn Arnold
Series: Detective Amanda Steele #9
Published by Bookouture on October 17, 2023
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The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…

When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley, her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.

Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.

But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…

You’ll be hooked from the first page! The author quickly intigues the reader with a new case for Detective Amanda Steel to sink her teeth into that hits a little close to home. I enjoyed the context of the mystery, and while I felt this was a tad weaker story that normal for this series and failed to hold my attention quite as stringently, I thoroughly enjoyed the hook of the whodunnit. I always leave looking forward to more Amanda!

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a series with a strong female lead who puts her heart and soul into solving the crime in her town while having meaningful relationships and drama mixed into the dialogue of each book.