A Mistletoe Christmas Review

 

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In the small Texas town of Mistletoe, the pretty little plant definitely lives up to its reputation for eliciting kisses!

 

Santa’s Mistletoe Mistake by Carla Cassidy

Little Libby asked Santa to bring her mommy a prince for Christmas: cowboys need not apply. That means cattleman Jake Hanson is definitely out. But the Man in Red works in mysterious ways….

 

A Merry Little Wedding by Cathy McDavid

Maid of honor Emma Sturlacky wishes she could enjoy the preparations for her mom’s Christmas wedding. If only it felt less like an echo of her own disastrous engagement. (And if only her handsome ex-fiancé, Nick Hayes, wasn’t one of the groomsmen!)

 

Mistletoe Magic by Marin Thomas

Who’s got more baggage: Finley McCarthy, the struggling single mom of boisterous twin boys, or Cooper Hollis, the jaded rancher caring for his curmudgeonly dad? Tough call. More important, will that baggage squash their chance at a budding romance?

 

(Blurb from Goodreads)

 

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Review: Ruthless (Mob Boss #1)

Image from Goodreads

Image from Goodreads

Two years out of college, Angelica Bondesan spends her time working as a barista, keeping in touch with her prodigal brother, and trying to figure out how to bridge the gap with her father, a wealthy real estate developer.

But all of that changes the night she’s kidnapped. Thrown into a windowless room, Angelica is positive there’s been some kind of mistake — until she meets Nico Vitale.

Gorgeous and frightening, Nico became the boss of New York City’s Vitale crime family after the execution style murder of his parents two years earlier. Since then he’s turned the old-school mob into a sleek, modern army of ruthless men who understand that physical violence — while always an option — isn’t the only way to get what you want.

Now Angel is forced to face the truth;

Her father is not the man she believed him to be.

Nico Vitale is dangerous, possibly lethal.

She is falling in love with Nico Vitale.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

 

In this New Adult Contemporary Romance by Michelle St. James, Angelica Bondesan is just minding her own business when she suddenly gets kidnapped. She figures it’s because her father is wealthy and the kidnappers want a ransom. But as the days go on, she decides to go on a hunger strike causing the man behind the kidnapping, Nico Vitale, to get personally involved.

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Review: Neanderthal Seeks Human

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There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn’t know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can’t help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can’t afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can’t refuse.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

Ah, I loved this book. It starts off with the main character, Janie, in the bathroom at her work without any toilet paper. Janie also broke up with her boyfriend the night before. She really isn’t having a good day.
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Review: Borrowing Trouble

 

Image from Goodreads

Image from Goodreads

Juggling a new boyfriend who is constantly MIA for work, his mom who likes her just a little too much, a best friend whose husband might be sneaking around, and a busy career saving clients from sexual harassment lawsuits is pulling Marisa Tanner apart at the seams.

Being with Trip is good, but is it real? Will he bail on her like her past boyfriends or for once in his life will Trip be able to maintain focus longer than the time it takes to close a business deal?

A follow-up to Risking Ruin, Borrowing Trouble maintains Mae Wood’s distinctive style of smart and sexy chick lit.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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This is book 2 in the Give Me Memphis series. You can see my review for book 1, Risking Ruin, here.

Borrowing Trouble starts off where it left off, with Marisa and Trip still together. Like the blurb states, Marisa is becoming  a bit overwhelmed with everything, and feels like she is being pulled at all angles. Trip seems so sure about their relationship, and Marissa isn’t quite as sure. Can love really happen that fast? She is a bit insecure as to how Trip feels about her, and how she feels about Trip. Totally normal emotions in a new relationship.

Trip’s mother loves Marissa, and Marissa just isn’t quite sure how to act. Plus Marissa’s best friend is having marriage problems.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in the book, and other things that I won’t give away. With that said, though, I do feel like the book was missing a major climax. There were a bunch of conflicts happening and being overcome, but I just didn’t feel much of a climax in the book.

All in all, it was a good book! If you’re looking for a contemporary romance read, give this series a try.

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

3 and a half stars

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***I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Guest Post: Laura Donohue

Becoming a Writer

First Sight is the first book I completed, but it wasn’t the first book I ever wrote.  I started writing my very first novel almost ten years ago.  I had a great idea, excitedly told a few people about it, created an outline, starting writing…and never finished it.  I still have my first draft, but I just couldn’t get the storyline to go where I wanted it to.

Long before then, I was always writing something.  Just as some people have loved to read since they were kids, I’ve always loved to write.  Reading is an escape, an adventure, and the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.  As much as I’ve always enjoyed escaping in a book, I’ve also always loved coming up with my own stories.

As a kid, I’d write my own pretend stories and articles.  When I was a college student, I enjoyed mostly nonfiction.  You know those students that hated term papers?  I wasn’t one of them!  I have an English degree, and researching, drafting, and coming up with my thesis and argument were challenges I enjoyed.

It wasn’t until after college that I started writing fiction again.  I had so many stories I wanted to get down on paper that it was almost difficult to decide which one to start with.

When I had the idea for Maddy and Travis’s story, I started writing and couldn’t stop.  I’d come home from work and write late into the night.  I’d spend time on weekends, vacations, and even occasionally my lunch break if I had an idea that I just had to get down on paper.

I remember once at a job interview (I’ve been a writer/editor for fifteen years), the interviewer asked what I liked to do in my free time. I said reading and writing.  How’s that for making a career out of something you love?

Have you ever had a book you just couldn’t put down?  That’s how I feel when writing.  I just can’t wait to get the story down on paper to see where it goes.  Nothing is better than watching your characters grow and coming to a satisfying conclusion.

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About Laura Donohue

Laura Donohue pictureLaura Donohue is a graduate of George Mason University. She spent ten years working as a technical writer and editor before publishing her first novel. She lives in Washington DC with her husband and daughter.

Contact Laura Donohue

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First Sight Cover

Maddy Smith writes for a trendy website in Washington DC, has two fabulous best friends, and her own apartment. When a girl’s night out ends with her locking eyes with the handsome stranger across the room, the last thing she expects is for him to show up at her office on Monday morning.

Travis Emerson, her attractive and single new colleague, just moved to town. Although an immediate friendship between Maddy and Travis forms, she soon finds herself wishing for something more. After a misunderstanding between them occurs, not only is her hope for a relationship ruined, but their friendship is in jeopardy as well. Is any chance that Maddy had with Travis over? Or could he possibly be what she’s been looking for all along?

Follow Maddy and Travis on a series of adventures that will quickly have you cheering them on. First date jitters? Not when you’ve been in love since First Sight!

Find the book

Goodreads

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***Book cover and author picture provided by the publisher.***

***I also work for Booktrope Publishing but do not receive monetary compensation from sales of First Sight by Laura Donohue.***