Tittle           : Jingle All The Slay (Marshmallow Hollow Mysteries #1)

Author        : Dakota Cassidy

Pub Date    : October 12, 2020

Pages          : 230

My Rating   : ★★★

The Summary

Halliday Valentine, a psychic witch who recently relocated from New York City to Marshmallow Hollow, a very normal community, where she operate the family business that specializes in all things Christmas she got the factory from her mother, who in turn acquired it from her grandmother, Nana Karen, but now it's just me (kind of...long story), Her grumpy British pet hummingbird Atticus, one unappreciative rescue cat, her talking reindeer Karen, and my best friend Stiles (the only human aware of her witchy side).

Oh, and Digby Dainty, a tall drink of water who leases her guest cottage, is also known as Hobbs. And who she'd be interested in learning more about. They share many interests, including a passion for true crime. As macabre as it may sound, her excited to spend time with Hobbs exercising our amateur sleuthing abilities when a crooked real estate tycoon turns up dead in the middle of the annual ice festival.

She guess not thrilled. After all, a guy is dead. He did, however, attempt to scam several residents out of their hard-earned businesses. In fact, how many of her amiable, loving neighbors seemed to want the man dead was the only thing that surprised her more than a murder in their quaint Christmas town.

My Review

A tacky holiday paranormal cozy mystery set in a Christmas-loving Maine hamlet. The lavish Christmas theme with a hint of magic was fantastic. It combines various genres without favoring any in particular. Simply said, it fits.

In contrast to most cozy mysteries, the first chapter made me feel cozy right away. The mystery was intriguing, and the magic is amazing. The plot was also interesting. It didn't take long to get going, but it wasn't rushed either.

The connections are interesting, the characters are likeable, and throughout the story, Dakota lets the reader feel various emotions. Although there are obviously some major secrets there, their courtship is still a touch awkward as they get to know one another while investigating a local murder. Only passable writing was done.

Those who enjoy clean mysteries without any profanity and who like to always be reminded of Christmas should definitely read this novel. There is little to worry readers about in light of the awful crime. I can understand why it could appeal to others. It's cutesy and has talking animals.

All in all, it was a fun holiday read, and if you've never read anything by Dakota, this is a great place to start!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : Forever Mine (Hazel Island #1)

Author        : Iris Morland

Pub Date    : October 12, 2021

Pages          : 197

My Rating   : ★★★

The Summary

Gwen Parker relocates to picturesque Hazel Island to begin a new life following a contentious divorce. Relationships are not something she has time for right now because she runs a bed and breakfast.

It doesn't matter that her pal Jack Benson, who is tough and ruggedly attractive, makes her want more.

But Gwen is aware that she is too damaged from her past marriage to put herself in further danger of tragedy.

Jack Benson favors leading a lonely existence. He knows from his experience as a fisherman that relationships ebb and flow like the tides.

Gwen, though, is unique. She inspires him to desire a life he never thought he would want.

However, Jack is unable to pursue his feelings for Gwen without endangering their friendship.

Jack and Gwen are unable to deny their attraction to one another until temptation proves to be too great.

Can these two friends let go of previous heartbreaks to accept a newfound love when the past rears its ugly head?

My Review

The new novel in the small-town romance series introduces us to Gwen, the owner of the bed and breakfast on the island, which is located south of Seattle. This show has quirky characters and charming small-town appeal.

Gwen is a good woman in business, but she guards her private life like the doors to the Federal Reserve's vault. Jack's upbringing is the only reason he is an introvert. Their bond is unique and reliable, slowly growing over time. Although progress is challenging, emotions are more powerful. Moving on is made more challenging by a fear of past remarks and family judgment. Since they each had so many hurdles and fences in place, it was magnificent to see as they gradually removed them.

It was really entertaining to see Gwen and Jack interact. I found it sweet how they changed from being friends to friends with benefits, but they also just appeared to find so much peace and tranquility in one another's embraces. I admired their dedication to one another and the affection that did develop between them despite the fact that their previous relationships may not have been the best. Both their friendship and how everything ended seemed appealing to me.

The plot was intriguing and the writing was great, so I kept turning the pages. There are many powerful characters and powerful emotions in it. Although the plot moved along without any problems, the ending regrettably gave the sense that the author was hurriedly wrapping things up.

Ultimately, the novel is a good, enjoyable small-town romance comedy. Not your typical story of friends becoming lovers. Certainly not in the way I had hoped, but not negatively either. Even so, I enjoyed it.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : A lot Like Christmas (Wishful #11)

Author        : Kait Nolan

Pub Date    : November 30, 2018

Pages          : 161

My Rating   : ★★★★★

The Summary

Ryan Malone, a jaded Army medic, never anticipated that his next assignment would take him back to small Wishful, Mississippi, from Afghanistan. His great uncle's health is deteriorating, and the obnoxious old coot has alienated the entire family. In order to prevent Uncle Percy from breaking a hip or worse, they are resorting to Ryan to get him to move into assisted living. He wants to enter, complete the task, and leave again. That most certainly excludes making time for a kind-hearted waitress with a heart the size of the Atlantic.

Hannah Wheeler, an interior designer, is far removed from the influential clients of her previous Atlanta firm. She's realized she truly likes the small-town life she found with her sister, despite the fact that she currently spends her days waiting tables. She's now prepared to show Wishful her genuine ability during the Christmas season by utilizing her talents to spread some festive cheer. But she will have her job cut out for her with Ryan and Percy.

My Review

A sweet story about finding love, finding a new direction in life, and rediscovering the Christmas spirit. We get to re-visit some familiar characters and get to know some new ones because this book is a part of the Wishful series. If you haven't read any of them, you can begin with this one and then go back to the beginning to discover more about this wonderful small town.

This book recounts the experiences of Hannah Wheeler, a former interior designer who now works as a waitress. As she is preparing to start over, she meets Ryan Malone, an army medic who is home on leave.

Hannah and Ryan were a great match. Hannah is really generous. She radiates love, giving, pleasure, and the holiday spirit. As a true badass, Ryan seemed first a little gruff, but after seeing him with Percy (who is akin to the lovely elderly neighbor we all grew up with), I was immediately persuaded that he wasn't being a jerk and was instead a man who was carrying a lot of weight.

It's intriguing to watch how their connection progresses as their individual backstories are revealed. I appreciate how Hannah and Ryan are each dealing with their own issues and are able to help one another get through them.

The beginning is quite fascinating. extremely beautifully written. Because it has a Christmas theme and is set in the adorable, small Mississippi town of Wishful, this novella is a pleasant story to read over the holiday season. It has a nice epilogue and a perfectly happy HEA despite being a short story.

This story's sole flaw was that there wasn't enough of it. It was pretty much perfect, albeit I'm a voracious reader and yearned for more!

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : Cupid For Hire (Cupid #1)

Author        : Lila Monroe

Pub Date    : July 16, 2019

Pages          : 251

My Rating   : ★★★★★

The Summary

Anyone can fall in love with her...

Poppy Hathaway works as a paid Cupid. Need a passionate letter of love, a racy sext, or an epic apology so that your significant other will forgive you for taking too long to inquire, "Is my cousin hot?" She will take care of you. But when Dylan Griffin, her most persistent bachelor client, approaches her with a significant new job, Poppy learns that three simple words can add up to a significant difficulty.

He has his sights set on the incorrect goal.

Dylan refuses assistance in courting a different bikini model (for once in his life). He needs Poppy's assistance to win over his high school crush, and he's willing to pay for it. When this Cupid adds a summertime trip to the Catskills that is equal parts "Dirty Dancing" and dirty conversation, she quickly finds herself out of her element and head over heels with the last man she imagined. But when it comes to her own emotions, can she find the appropriate words? Will this happily-ever-after actually be more of a disastrous romance?

My Review

I had a hard time putting this book down since it was so cheery, entertaining, and funny. The primary characters' smart banter and sense of humor were excellent. I was intrigued from the first page and found myself smiling as I flipped the pages.

Both separately and especially when they were together, I adored Poppy and Dylan. These two connected with me in some way. They were so likable and relatable that reading about them was enjoyable.

Poppy and Dylan had the ideal relationship. They were very attractive and had such wonderful chemistry. He was the perfect fusion of seductive, sweet, and dashing, while she was the perfect mix of beauty, wit, and natural goodness. They looked great together!

The dynamics between the main characters changed from an annoying "employer-employee" relationship to a warm, amusing friendship before they spent some time together getting to know one another and discovering there is something more intriguing beneath the surface. I absolutely loved how the plot progressed and how the main characters' relationships changed. The book has just the right amount of angst, never too much and it works well with the story and these characters.

I would enjoy watching it if it were made into a movie because this story read so hot!! This book surprised me in a good way, and I'm pleased I read it. I've read a lot of romantic comedies this year, but this one is the finest!

Undoubtedly inspiring and perfect reading for the new year, it! Another great book to read to overcome the reading slump :).

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : The Christmas Window

Author        : Melissa McClone

Pub Date    : October 18, 2018

Pages          : 304

My Rating   : ★★★★

The Summary

An aunt who arranges dates hopes her nephew will find happiness beneath the mistletoe...

Callie Andrews, who owns a dog daycare, just has one Christmas wish: to take first place this time around. In Silver Falls, the annual window display competition is a big deal, so she's determined to show off her accomplishments when her family comes to visit. The "baby" of the family is prospering on her own, and it's time for her parents and three older brothers to accept this.

Reliving the past is the last thing Brandt Winslow wants to do, but going back to Silver Falls requires him to face the reason he left. His aunt's well-intended interference in his love life, however, and the foolish matchmaking she undertakes cause his vacation to take an unexpected turn.

Callie and Brandt discover the holidays are full of surprises...and romance despite their resistance to being partnered up. But will the pair be able to stay together until the new year with only the enchantment of Christmas?

My Review

I must first say how much I adore the cover of this book. I was lured in right away by the adorable puppy and holiday ambiance. The book's cover matches it perfectly. You become quickly in the spirit of the season.

Given the believable characters and the vivid atmosphere the author has created, it's easy for me to envision myself in the heart of Silver Falls and participating in the small town festivals.

Even if the angst of the plot was slightly foreshadowable, it didn't affect the tone of the book as a whole. The plot of the book was straightforward, and the writing was outstanding.

The novel features frequent cameos by four-legged furry friends, so in addition to everyone else, this one will surely appeal to animal lovers. Thanks to a compelling plot, this is a terrific way to pass a few hours of the day!

The romance in this book was lovely, and I really liked how the heroine gave the hero a chance even though none of them wants to be in a relationship. Ms. McClone has produced a pretty wonderful book overall.

If you're looking for anything to get you in the holiday spirit, this small-town story is a nice choice. I completely concur with other people's comments that this book would make a great Hallmark movie.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.

Tittle           : The Paris Soulmate

Author        : Brooke Gilbert

Pub Date    : December 15, 2022

Pages          : 348

My Rating   : ★★★★

The Summary

Christine makes the decision to travel off her bucket list after realizing she would soon turn 30. She's always wanted to go back to Paris, but after learning that she had a number of uncommon autoimmune illnesses, she never thought she'd be able to.

With an unexpected surprise, she is now on her way to the city of love. A really attractive British stranger appears to have unintentionally crossed her path.

Are they visiting the city of love at the same moment merely by coincidence? Everything seems like it would be unreal.

My Review

I really enjoyed reading this book. A love story that gave those who struggle with illness and anxiety a chance while actually living up to the cliche "once you experience, then you understand completely."

The main character embarks on a trip of a lifetime after discovering that she has a number of rare autoimmune disorders. It was a sigh of relief to read a story with such a wonderful portrayal and no labels for ailments. Then Colin shows in as a "fake" friend who subsequently develops feelings for Christine; he was simply such an intriguing character, and it was obvious how he truly felt about her. They both earned every single thing.

Although I'm not a big fan of insta-love, I believe that the concept worked in this situation because of the chaos that ensued. I have to admit that there were some incredibly romantic moments throughout our brief insta-romance.

Those who have been to Paris before will find that it provides a wonderful vacation from reality. The description was both simple and beautiful. The text is easy to understand because the chapters are concise and we follow both Christine and Colin's points of view.

Even still, I believed that the love story could have used a little more time and at times moved a little too rapidly. However, this is unquestionably a story for between periods and for moments when you're restless.

I wholeheartedly suggest this book to anyone interested in the insta-love cliche!

I voluntarily left this review after being provided with an advance copy for free.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.