What Light by Jay Asher

by:  Jay Asher
published by:  Razorbill
publish date:  October 18, 2016

Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

So I was expecting something along the emotional lines of Thirteen Reasons Why.  This book is not that.  It's a sweet little Christmas story, but nothing as deep at TRW.  

Sierra lives 2 lives.  One in Oregon that she has 11 months of the year and one in California for a month at Christmas time.  Normally, she spends her Christmas missing home and she can't wait to get back.  Until, this year when she meets Caleb.  Rumor has it, Caleb attacked his sister with a knife.  However, Sierra wants to find out the truth and see if he's really the troublemaker everyone says that he is.  Everyone is against Sierra's relationship with Caleb, but she knows what she wants and will do what it takes to get it.

If you're looking for a nice YA Christmas story then this is it.  What Light is more of a love story than anything else.  I liked it, but I think I was hoping for a little more depth.  

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

by:  Elin Hilderbrand
published by:  Little Brown and Co
publish date:  October 4, 2016

Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn's old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there's hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan. 

Anybody that has been reading this blog for awhile knows that I don't like trilogies all that much.  It's a marketing strategy that aggravates me.  However, I love Elin Hilderbrand, so I was torn about starting this series.  I think if you're gonna do a trilogy, she did it in a good way.  You get a summer related book in the summer and the one of the winter books each winter in time for Christmas.  

This was the 3rd book in the series and I would assume the last since all the story lines were tied up.  I really enjoyed this series and don't tell anybody I would ever say this, but I hope she starts another Winter trilogy.  

I would recommend these books to anyone.  There's a little bit of something for everyone.  However, these are predominately women's literature.  I gave them a try and wasn't disappointed, I don't think very many other people would be either.

Kosmos Christmas Delivery by Deb Kalmbach

Author: Deb Kalmach, Joey Palmberg (llustrator)
Publisher: Chiwalla Press
Date of publication:September 2016

Kosmo, the king of troublesome terriers, takes trouble to a whole new level! He's a one-of-a-kind, corn-on-the-cob nibbling, ice cream licking, always-into-mischief dog. Kosmo's Christmas Delivery is told from the point-of-view of an older, but not necessarily wiser dog, Kramer, who laments the acquisition of Kosmo by his family, especially his girl, Emily Jean. When the inquisitive Kosmo jumps on board the Yellow Package delivery truck a few days before Christmas, Kramer, secretly wishes the pup will be lost forever. He reluctantly agrees to help Emily Jean search the snowy streets of their small town for Kosmo. Through a series of unusual events, the missing terrier finally comes home, but not a moment before his older sibling realizes how much he cares about his young friend.

Christmas is just around the corner! What better way to get ready than a cute Christmas story? Kosmos's Christmas Delivery is about a dog who has to learn how to get along with a new member of the family.  Kramer is not too happy when the family gets a new puppy that they name Kosmos.  He is all too happy when Kosmos disappears, but once the reality settles in, he finds himself missing his new friend.

I don't have small kids anymore, but I know that this would be just the type of story that would have appealed to them when they were little.  The story is adventurous and amusing.  It also has a great message. The illustrations really bring the story to life and fit the scenes perfectly.  I would definitely recommend this one to parents and grandparents of young children.  It would make a great Christmas gift!

Purchase your copy at Amazon!

About the author:

Deb Kalmbach considers herself an "expert" in not-so-perfect marriages. She's passionate about helping other women take one step forward, then another to find healing and wholeness in their lives. Real hope for real life is what Deb strives to communicate to her readers. 

Deb and her husband Randy can see the half-century milestone (a miracle!) for their marriage on the horizon. They live in a tiny town in rural Washington state with Kosmo, their Jack Russell Terrier, who has inspired a new children's book series.

Blog Tour: Seeking the Star by Traci Borum

Author:Traci Borum

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Date of publication:  October 2015

One December night, in the sleepy Cotswold village of Chilton Crosse, a drifter named Ben collapses on George and Mary Cartwright’s snow-covered doorstep. As Christmas cheer spreads throughout the village with a Dickens-themed festival, Mary nurses Ben back to health, but she becomes curious about the secrets he seems to carry. 

On Christmas Eve, one of Ben’s secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past and to rediscover the faith he once knew. 

Seeking the Star is the third book in the Chilton Crosse series.  I have enjoyed this series so far and was looking forward to this latest installment.  This one was shorter and a lot more serious than the first two.  Ben has been wandering the countryside, trying to run from the nightmares that haunt his days and nights.  When he collapses on the Cartwright's doorstep, he doesn't realize that this town may be his salvation.  

I won't talk too much about plot because it would give too much away.  I will say that this book is both heart wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.  My heart absolutely broke for what Ben was going through.  But I loved how the town just surrounded him with their kindness and friendship. It is a great story that really fits what the upcoming season is all about. The characters from the first two books do make appearances in this one.  It was nice to catch up with them and see them doing so well.  

As I said, I enjoy this series and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this sweet little village.

About the author:

Traci Borum is an insatiable bookworm whose first love is fiction.  As a little girl, she became mesmerized with books—with the textures, the smells, and most especially, the worlds created between the pages.  Years later, she discovered she could create her own worlds by writing.  She’s been scribbling away ever since, writing bits of poetry, articles, and especially fiction.

Traci has been a Creative Writing teacher at a community college for the past ten years.  She's a native Texan and an Anglophile at heart.  She owns two "British" dogs—a Corgi and a Sheltie—and she’s completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater (must be those dreamy British accents!).  More than anything, she treasures the friendships in her life and adores her supportive family.

Traci’s Blog: http://writerscorner-traci.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25873786-splintered-souls 

Red Adept Publishing: http://bit.ly/RAPSeekingStar

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

by:  Elin Hilderbrand
published by:  Little Brown and Co
publish date:  October 14, 2014

Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can't get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley's second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. 

As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who's playing Santa at the inn's annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley's ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn. 

Is there anything I haven't already said about Elin Hilderbrand?  She's hands down one of my favorite writers.  Winter Street is her first Christmas novel.   Now that it's starting to get a little chilly outside in some parts of the world this would be a great book to snuggle up with and get in the holiday mood.

In Winter Street nothing in going right for the Quinn family.  Every family member is having their own personal crisis.  Despite that, they all have to put on a smile and carry on the tradition of the Christmas Open House at the Winter Street Inn.  I loved the idea of the Open House and it was portrayed so well.  It definitely got me in the mood for a good holiday party.

If you're looking for a book to read this holiday season Winter Street would be a great pick.  Or it would make a great present for the reader on your shopping list.  

Merry Christmas From Us to You!!

 Merry Christmas to all of our readers!  

We're taking a break today to spend the holiday with our families.  We'll be back tomorrow!

 Love, Autumn & Kari

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

Authors: James Patterson & Richard Dilallo
Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company (Audio By Hachette Audio)
Date of publication:October 17th 2011


The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died five years ago, Gaby's children have drifted apart, each one preoccupied by the turbulence in their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married-and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day—she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.
But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise—she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

So far, the only James Patterson books that I have read have been mysteries.  The Christmas Wedding was a nice change of pace.  Mr. Patterson and Richard DiLallo have made a great writing team and created a very sweet story involving family and love.  Gaby announces to her kids that she is getting remarried, but the catch is that they have to come home for Christmas to find out who the groom will be.  Even the groom won't find out until that day.  The entire situation was handled so well and so sweetly that I just couldn't help but smile after the reveal.  It also helped that out of the three suitors, she chose that one I liked the most.

I think the thing that really appealed to me the most is that her children's lives were not at all perfect.  They all had issues that they were wresting with and found that turning to famly was the way to help them get through the battle. I kept finding myself rooting for them all. While not everything was solved in the end, I was left with the feeling up hope for all four families.

This is a great holiday read. The audio was great, with 4 different narrators.  I thought that was a nice touch.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Small Town Christmas (anthology)

Authors: Jill Shalvis, Hope Ramsey, and Katie Lane
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication: November 2011

Three heartwarming holiday stories
to prove that love is the greatest gift of all

Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

I'll Be Home for Christmas
After ignoring the advice of Miz Miriam Randall, local matchmaker, Annie Roberts expects another hum drum holiday in Last Chance, South Carolina. But when a stray cat arrives in the arms of Army sergeant Matt Jasper, a calico named Holly just may be the best matchmaker of all.

O Little Town of Bramble
All Ethan Miller wants for Christmas is to celebrate in Bramble, Texas, with family and friends. But when his childhood neighbor, Samantha Henderson, comes home for the holiday, Ethan realizes that the girl-next-door could be the girl of his dreams.

Small Town Christmas is a short, sweet anthology with stories to get you in the mood for Christmas.  Of the 3 stories, I liked Kissing Santa Claus the best.  It was the only one where I felt the couple really felt anything for each other. There was enough back story between the two to feel their HEA.  The other 2 stories were so-so. 

I'll Be Home for Christmas, was just a little unbelievable. Stranger shows up in the town and is invited to stay with the ex-girlfriend of his best friend who was killed in action. Instant love and a HEA? Nah didn't buy it. I felt it ended too soon and it needed more development between the characters.  I didn't like their HEA.   

The last one, O Little Town of Bramble, was just too fast.  I never felt the connection between the 2 characters.  There was discussion of a long time crush on both parts, but I never felt the connection between the 2 characters.  I also thought Ethan's parents were a bit cruel to their son toward the end.  

Anyway, it's a quick read, something to fill the time while you are waiting for Santa to arrive.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira Books

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley’s, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner’s son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him — and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly’s widowed brother is in the army and won’t be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley’s, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…

Fortunately, it’s Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others — and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

I listened to the audio version. It was a very quick "read". I really enjoyed the story. Just the right book to put me in the mood for the holiday season. Even though it was published this year, it had an old fashion feel to it. The characters were fun and believable. The romance was sweet, without any angst and a nice change of pace. My only regret is that it wasn't longer. I would have liked a better epilogue or more about Holly's brother and her boss. I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a quick holiday read. 5 stars on Goodreads.