Bookish Mewsings: The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox & Chaos and Cranberries by Joann Keder (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

Charlie Goodwin drew a shaky breath and tapped furiously on her phone, the screen illuminating her face in the otherwise dark storeroom. [opening of The Holiday Swap]

               ★                    

"I know how she feels. Work can be all-consuming. It's hard to remember there's more to life than the show." 

"'The show'?"

"Oh, I just meant, like, work can be a  sort of circus show . . . You know? Charlie sipped her water, hoping Jake didn't notice she was flustered.  [excerpt from 56% in The Holiday Swap]

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021

Romance/Holiday; 351 pgs

Writing team Marissa Stapley and Karma Brown, writing as Maggie Knox, have written a sweet romance about identical twins who switch places over the holiday season. Charlie Goodwin cohosts a reality baking show with a condescending and handsy cohost. When she suffers a concussion in an accident, she is forced to take some time off--only it couldn't be at the worst time. With her career on the line, she begs her sister Cass to trade places with her. Cass is dealing with her own issues--it's holiday time at the family bakery and business is extra busy. She's just broken up with her long-time boyfriend who cannot seem to accept that they are not a couple anymore. Plus, rumor has it a big box bakery may be moving to town, which will threaten the Goodwin family's business. Cass readily agrees to the switch, and the two step into each others lives.

Both Charlie and Cass are different enough personality wise, but also similar as sisters often are. Neither is completely happy with their lives the way they are and switching places gives them an opportunity to see what life might be like in each other's shoes. I really enjoyed my time with Charlie and Cass as they discovered something in themselves they did not realize they had. For Charlie, it was reconnecting with her roots and realizing she does not have to be someone she isn't. And for Cass, it was realizing she has the courage and strength to go after her own dreams and set her own path. 

While playing the role of Cass, Charlie is still dealing with the side effects from her concussion while at the same time managing her family's business at their busiest time of year. The schedule is hectic to say the least. Her sister's ex keeps popping up at the worst times, and she's is falling hard for the dependable and swoon-worthy firefighter Jake. Meanwhile, her sister Cass is putting on high heels and taking to the stage, trying to stay ahead of the manipulative and conniving Austin, her cohost and nemesis. They are both up for the same job, a new baking reality show, and Cass doesn't want to blow it for her sister. There's also the cute (and also swoon-worthy) Miguel, the physician's assistant who had first diagnosed Charlie with her concussion. He and Cass have really hit it off and their relationship is getting serious fast. While Cass and Charlie both struggle with how to tell the new men in their lives the truth, they also make little and sometimes big changes in each others lives--all for what each of them considers for the better. But will the other sister feel the same way? 

Twins switching places is not a new trope but I do enjoy reading these types of stories from time to time. It is always interesting to see the direction an author will take her characters and story. The Holiday Swap was an enjoyable and sweet holiday romance. Cass and Charlie are both relatable characters as are their love interests.  I also really liked seeing the growth in some of the side characters, particularly Sharon, who I admittedly was not fond of in the beginning. This holiday novel reminded me of a Hallmark holiday movie in many ways. While not a stand out holiday romance for me, it was a pleasant way to spend a few hours this holiday season. 

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Tug Muehler, normally calm and composed, leaned over the check-in desk, grasping each side with his muscular arms. [opening of Chaos and Cranberries]

       ★   

November Bean had gone home to change into a jumpsuit adorned with tiny reindeer, matching glasses frames, and headband, too. She had bells that jingled on her sneakers, which she hadn't removed, and something brown and shiny around her neck. Lanie warned Feather privately not to ask about it. [excerpt from 56% in Chaos and Cranberries]

Chaos and Cranberries (A Piney Falls/Charming Mysteries Christmas Crossover) by Joann Keder

Purpleflower Press, 2022

Crime Fiction/Cozy/Paranormal/Holiday; 350 pgs

I won a copy of Chaos and Cranberries this past week in a giveaway and decided to dive right in. There's nothing like a little murder to spruce up the holiday season! This is my first book by Joann Keder, although not the first in her two series featuring the Piney Falls and Charming characters. And while I generally prefer to start at the beginning of a series, I had no trouble jumping into both in this crossover mystery. Chaos and Cranberries is a great introduction to several unique and fun characters. Not to mention I now I have two new cozy series to add to my already burgeoning cozy mystery to read list!

In Chaos and Cranberries, Feather Jones and her boyfriend Tug arrive at their hotel in Piney Falls ready for a little Christmas vacation only to find out their room isn't available. Someone has been murdered and the room is now a crime scene. Lanie Anders, who works at the hotel, invites Feather and Tug to stay in hers and her husband's guesthouse when she finds out about their dilemma. What could be a more perfect crime fighting team than Feather, Lanie and friends? Lanie is known about town for having a nose for solving crime, and Feather's not new to investigating crimes either. Feather has the advantage of being able to communicate with the dead too, which proves an asset in Chaos and Cranberries. With Christmas right around the corner, the women hope to find the murderer in time to still enjoy the holiday. 

I was hooked from the beginning of this mystery. The characters are quirky and fun. I appreciated that the author gives the reader a glimpse into the tragic pasts of the main characters. This is not a novel where you will find a loving supportive family behind the protagonists--but rather a strong and supportive group of friends who chose their own family. Lanie seems like the kind of person everyone loves and would want to call a friend. She's inviting and kind. She and her husband Cosmo are both great characters and are so much in love. I also really liked Feather and Tug. Both are down to earth characters and clearly devoted to each other. I found Lanie's bestfriend a bit overwhelming at times, but she did provide much needed comic relief.

I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and the paranormal aspects that Feather's abilities brought to the story. The mystery itself was darker than I anticipated--creepy with a teaspoon of macabre thrown in--but that is not a bad thing. There were plenty of twists and an unexpected turn or two. The novel is high in suspense, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. If you like edgier cozy mysteries with a strong paranormal element, then this cozy might be a good one for you. 

Do either of these books sound like a book you might enjoy reading? If you have read them, tell me what you thought!

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© 2022, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Mewsings: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis & In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

I was ready; so ready for him to ask me. ~ Opening of Dear Emmie Blue

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

Atria/Emily Bestler, 2020

Fiction/Romance; 320 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review.

I have to say I loved Dear Emmie Blue from the moment I began reading straight to the end. This sweet romance was so much more than I expected--and a bit unexpected to boot. The novel opens with Emmie Blue sick in the bathroom of a restaurant having just learned that the crush of her life is engaged to someone else. And will she be the best woman? Of course, she will, but will it rip her heart out in the process? Sound a bit like My Best Friend's Wedding? Well, it's not. 

When Emmie was sixteen she was feeling lost and alone when she released that balloon with a message into the sky over England. Little did she know, it would be caught by a boy her age in France. The two became fast friends, sharing their hopes and dreams and worst fears. Fourteen years of friendship, and the two are the best of friends.

Emmie has long loved Lucas but been afraid to tell him. His life seems so together while hers seems to be going nowhere. Her relationship with her mother is in tatters and she's almost given up on finding her absentee father. She rents a room from an elderly woman she barely talks to.

I adored Emmie. She is such a bright spot in the novel. For everything she has been through and will go through, she has such a positive outlook on life and sees the best in people. And yet, when it comes to her own life, she does not always see what she has right in front of her. Besides Emmie, Louise, Emmie's landlady, was my most favorite character in the novel. She has been through a lot herself over the years.

Dear Emmie Blue is a novel of self-discovery, letting go and taking chances. It is full of heart, at times bittersweet, and, when I reached the end, I was reminded of why I love to read so much.

Call me a harlot. ~ Opening of In a Holidaze 

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Gallery Books, 2020

Romance; 288 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review.

In a Holidaze was my first Christmas themed book of the year and it did not disappoint. Mostly. I was so excited to start this Groundhog Day like story about a young woman who relives the same holiday multiple times--stuck in some sort of time loop--until she gets it right. What exactly "it" is, she isn't sure at first. 

Maelyn Jones has a job she barely tolerates and is back living at home to save on expenses. As they have for all the years past, Mae, her teen brother and her divorced parents join friends at a cabin for the holidays. That cabin in Utah is her favorite place in the world. 

But after a late night romantic interlude that never should have happened and then receiving bad news the next morning, Mae worries all is lost. She makes a single wish just before everything goes dark. She wakes up on the airplane, sure she's been in a car accident, only to find herself back on the plane--not headed home, but headed to the cabin. As if the holiday had not yet happened. She soon discovers she is reliving the past, having been given a second (and more) chance. 

I found In a Holidaze to be just as funny and romantic as I hoped. I loved Mae and I really enjoyed spending time at the cabin with her friends and family. Mae is a relatable character. I wasn't too sure about her love interest at first admittedly and doubted whether he was as into her as she was to him, but as the novel progressed, I began to see things a little differently. My only real complaint about the novel is that I felt the time loop premise was not used to its full advantage. Even so, I liked the way everything was wrapped up in the end. This was my first novel by the writing team that is Christina Lauren, and it will definitely not be my last. 

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© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Mewsings: More Than a Touch of Holiday Romance

Coming Home From Christmas (Haven Point, #10) by RaeAnne Thayne

HQN, 2019

Romance; 384 pgs

Source: NetGalley

This was it. ~ Opening of Coming Home for Christmas

Elizabeth and Luke had been madly in love when they got married and started a family. What they could not anticipate was the Postpartum Depression that would take so much out of Elizabeth—affecting her ability to mother as well testing her relationship with Luke. Neither of them really knew how to navigate through it. It seemed never-ending. A car accident. A brain injury. Loss of memory. Elizabeth has created a new life for herself under a different identify. At first it was because she had no idea who she was, but as time passed, her memories began to come back to her. How could she resume her old life when so much time had passed? After what she had done? As much as she loved her family, she still doubted her ability to be a good mom and wife. How could they ever forgive her?

Seven years have passed and Luke is facing a murder charge if he doesn’t produce his wife. His brother-in-law was able to track her down and now he must face her after all these years of believing she was dead. Come to find out, she had abandoned her family completely and gotten on with her life, with no regard for her children, much less him. Or so he believes. The last thing he wants to do is hurt his children more than they’ve already been hurt. It is hard to deny the attraction still between them, but how could their marriage survive what it’s been through?

RaeAnne Thayne is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. She draws out the emotions of her characters so well. I cannot help but cry with them, feel angry alongside them, and want so much for them to find the happiness they deserve. Given the circumstances, Luke’s initial anger toward his wife is completely understandable. His grief and pain are palpable. And so is Elizabeth’s. Having suffered through Postpartum Depression myself, I could relate to some of what she had been feeling after the birth of her children, and see how it could lead her to where she was those seven years later. I do not think she always made the wisest of choices once she regained her memory, letting her fear get in the way, but imagine that was something she still needed to work through.

As always, RaeAnne Thayne hit a home run for me, and I enjoyed Coming Home For Christmas. Her characters feel so real and Haven Point sounds like such an idyllic place to live. I enjoyed this sweet romance with its heavy themes quite a bit.

One Wish: A Christmas Story by Jodi Thomas

Zebra, 2019

Romance; 100 pgs

Source: NetGalley

Sam Thompson stood in the blackened corner of the alley silently watching the mercantile across the street. ~ Opening of One Wish 

Maggie Allison took over the mercantile when her parents died and leads a relatively quiet—and lonely—life. One night just before closing, three men enter the store intent to rob it. Just as Maggie fears for her own life, in steps Sam Thompson, a local rancher, who comes to her rescue, chasing the would be thieves away. One of the thieves is none other than Boss Adler, one of the most notorious criminals in the area. With him on the loose, and Maggie being able to identify him, Sam offers to take Maggie in until Adler is caught. He lives in an isolated part of the county where even lawmen do not like to enter. While Maggie is prim and proper and well-educated, Sam is much more rough around the edges. Sam and Maggie share a past—having been friends for a short while as children, attending the same school, however went their own ways due to circumstances beyond their control.

This Old Western historical romance made for a cozy Christmas story. Maggie and Sam are somewhat reserved around each other at first, but that soon changes. Maggie knows her mind and is not afraid to speak it. I really liked Sam and his quiet ways. He has a secret he has been keeping, and Maggie is one of a very few who comes to know that secret as soon as she steps into Sam’s house. Maggie and Sam are well suited for each other, and I enjoyed my time spent with them. This novella is a sweet romance with a bit of action mixed in. I would not have minded a longer story in order to more fully develop the characters and get to know more about their lives surrounding the events in this short book.

The Christmas Keeper (Happily Ever After, #2) by Jenn McKinlay

Berkley, 2019

Romance; 318 pgs

Source; NetGalley

She had never believed in love. ~ Opening of The Christmas Keeper

Savannah Wilson is in town to rebuild her bruised and battered reputation by helping her best friend market her new bookstore. She much prefers big city living to the small town she finds herself in—although it does have its own charm, if she’s honest with herself. And there is Joaquin Solis, who she knows she must resist at all costs. He could derail all her plans. Besides, they aren’t a good fit even if Joaquin feels otherwise. When the two get wind that the bookstore might be in trouble, they agree to work together to build up publicity to turn the store’s fate around. This is Joaquin’s chance to show Savannah that their growing attraction to one another can amount to more than just a short-term fling.

You have to love a book that partly takes place in the Happily Ever After Bookstore. At least this reader has to. I have yet to read the first book in the series (you can bet I will!), but that did not hurt my enjoyment of A Christmas Keeper. It stands just find on its own. I really liked the very independent Savannah who was cheated out of her successful publicity career. She really suffered a blow when she lost her job, and is trying to get back on her feet again. Joaquin owns a horse ranch that offers horse therapy. His parents died in a terrible accident years ago, leaving him to care for his younger sister who had suffered a brain injury in the accident. It’s obvious he loves his sister very much. Family is extremely important to him. It was impossible not to fall for Joaquin. At least I would if I were in Savanah’s shoes. He is quite the catch!

In some ways, A Christmas Keeper reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie—only much better. It is sexy and charming with just the right amount of humor and drama to make this a fun read.

A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

Mira, 2019

Romance; 384 pgs

Source: NetGalley

When her phone rang at three in the morning, ripping her from a desperately needed sleep, Maggie's first thought was bad news. ~ Opening of A Wedding in December

I ended my holiday-themed reading with this absolute gem of a romance novel. Rose White is the youngest of two daughters. She wakes her mother up with a late night call to tell her not only that she’s engaged, but also that she plans to get married over Christmas in the Aspen, Colorado—just a few short weeks away. Maggie isn’t so sure this whirlwind wedding is a good idea. Rose has not known the groom for long. Of course Maggie will go to the wedding, as will her husband. But she’s determined not to let on to anyone that she and her husband, Nick, are planning to divorce and have not been living under the same roof for months. It would ruin the happy occasion and break their daughter's hearts. They can pretend to be happily married for their short trip to the United States for the wedding, surely. 

The White’s oldest daughter Katie has always been a bit skeptical about this thing called love. She knows Rose is making a mistake, and she plans to do what she can to talk Rose out of this silly impulsive wedding if it is the last thing she does; meanwhile hoping no one will notice the mess her life has become, how she doubts herself and kept hidden the trauma she recently suffered.

Perhaps you can imagine what comes next. Rose begins to doubt her decision to marry her adoring fiancé, Dan, because of her sister’s doubts. There’s the gorgeous best man who sees right through Katie—and to whom she finds herself attracted to in a way she’s never felt before. Then there are Maggie and Nick, empty-nesters who have raised two beautiful daughters and who have grown apart over the years, losing the spark they once had.

Oh my gosh, how I loved this book! Lack of communication is at the heart of the novel and the cause for so much of the characters’ frustrations. If only everyone would talk to each other about what they are thinking and feeling! The novel comes at relationships from several different angles: that of sisters, mother and daughter(s), and the more romantic ones, including that of husband and wife. You also have Katie’s story dealing with the trauma and her need to forgive herself and heal. Sarah Morgan does an excellent job of putting the reader into each of the three protagonists (Rose, Maggie, and Katie) lives, and I could relate to each of them in varying ways. While all three of the women’s stories are strong, I most connected with Maggie. I love that the author included her story—love isn’t just for the young! I thoroughly enjoyed A Wedding in December—and how I would love to stay in one of those tree houses at the resort they were all staying!

I want to wish you all a Happy Holiday season. 

May the New Year bring you much 

love, laughter, and the makings of happy memories. 

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© 2019, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne & Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say edited by Rhonda Parrish

Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point #7) by RaeAnne Thayne 

Harlequin, 2017

Romance (Holiday); 345 pgs

Source: E-copy provided by publisher via Edelweiss for an honest review.

 Opening of Sugar Pine Trail: This was going to be a disaster.

An only child to two older now deceased parents, librarian Julia Winston has always lead a quiet life. For a book club assignment, Julia jots down some ideas of experiences she would like to do--a bucket list of sorts. She doesn't take it very seriously, at least not until her long time crush rents the apartment above her. Jamie Caine is sexy as can be. He's a pilot for his family's company. He doesn't give much thought to his plain librarian landlord at first. But when she takes in two young boys whose mother has disappeared, he begins to see her in a different light. And then he accidentally stumbles on her list. He wants to fill her life with the same awe and joy he's felt since getting to know her. Only Jamie has his own demons from the past to ward off. He doesn't want to get involved in a serious relationship--and he knows Julia is the kind of woman who deserves no less.

I always enjoy my time in Haven Point and getting to know Julia and Jamie was no different. Julia is a bit reserved at first, and I admit it took me a little bit to warm up to her. I think it must be the same way Jamie saw her at first--but once I got a real look into who she was, I was pretty taken with her loving heart and generous spirit too. Jamie was pretty cool as well. He could have turned out to be one of those playboys that make me cringe in romance novels, but his own back story is pretty compelling. And those two boys . . . Talk about heartbreak! Their story is what really made this book for me. I cannot say this is my favorite of RaeAnne Thayne's novels, although I did enjoy it quite a bit. I adore the Caine family and wouldn't mind spending more Christmases with the family.

To learn more about RaeAnne Thayne and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on Facebook and Twitter.

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Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say edited by Rhonda Parrish

World Weaver Press, 2017 

Fantasy/Science Fiction; 215 pgs

Source:  E-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Opening of Mrs. Santa Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say: If you look up Santa Claus the top Google result is Wikipedia (because of course it is). 

I could not pass up this anthology of short stories when I first came across it. Santa Claus is canon as is his wife, although she always gets the short straw when it comes to most stories about Christmas. In Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say, readers are treated to fourteen stories featuring Mrs. Claus as you have never seen her before. As with any collection of short stories, some of the stories are stronger than others, but I enjoyed them all overall.

There were a few stories I wanted to like more--and I might have had there been just a bit more development. The one that immediately pops into my mind is Randi Perrin's "Moves Like Jagger", in which Mrs. Claus is a witch--and you know how I love stories about witches. I liked the world building and the hint of backstory provided, but, as I said, wish there had been more to flesh it all out for me. I had a similar feeling about "Good Morning" by Kristen Lee, which I was pulled into right away, but felt was too short.

"Miss 'Lil Toe Head" by Michael Leonberger was likely the most melancholy of the lot. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, to be honest. Playing Mrs. Claus along with the woman she loves dressed as Santa Claus, the two make money during the holidays by acting like the jolly couple--hired by parents to be "caught" by children in their homes leaving behind presents. It takes a dark turn after that, with a few unexpected twists--medical experiments, a traumatic childhood, and a appearance by the real Miss Claus. Or one of them at least.

Among my favorites was "Wight Christmas" by Laura VanArendonk Baugh, her story featuring Mrs. Claus as a Valkyrie investigating the recent destruction of toys and the murder of elves. A mix of humor, well-imagined characters, and an intriguing premise, I was quite taken with this first story in the collection. It got the book off to a solid start. I also really enjoyed "Unexpected Guests" but Andrew Wilson, about a powerful fae version of Mrs. Claus and her human husband. While her husband is away, Elora discovers some unwelcome guests out to steal from her. I do love stories about the fae, and I liked the world building in this one quite a bit. Another really fun one, and perhaps my favorite of all of the stories was "Shouldering the Burden by M.L.D. Curelas, in which our heroine, Phaedra Claus, a bit of a pirate, returning a statue to her home in Greece.

There was a definite science fiction  and fantasy slant to several of the stories, from aliens to monster hunters, to stories with a more steampunk feel to them. Or even stories with a more traditional feel  despite Mrs. Claus being as nontraditional as they come. Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say was the perfect way to finish up my holiday reading for the time being. A bit of romance, crime fighting, horror, comedy, action, and a whole lot of magic mixed in.

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© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

Warm August sunlight slanted across the dusty windshield of Cameron McLendon's blue Ford pickup as he drove south on Highway 93. ~ Opening of The Christmas Room

The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

Berkley, 2017

Romance (Holiday); 428 pgs

Source: E-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was my first time reading something by Catherine Anderson and The Christmas Room did not disappoint. I am used to Christmas-themed romances starting up closer to Christmas than this one did, and so the August start threw me for a minute. I didn’t mind though.

The Christmas Room was a double romance, really. Catherine adeptly showed the nuances of love earlier in adulthood and in later adulthood through both of those relationships. I enjoyed following both Kirstin and Cam’s story as well as Maddie and Sam’s.

Sam Conacher is a wealthy widowed rancher who has no patience for anyone and not only runs off his twenty-six year old daughter’s beaus, but also makes sure to ruin their reputations as well. Kirstin wants a life of her own and to get out from under her father’s thumb. She loves him though and loves the ranch she grew up on.

Cameron (also known as Cam for short) and his son, along with Cam’s mother, Maddie McLendon, have moved to Montana to start a new life. Cam has long wanted to settle in the state, having been stuck in California for years due to custody issues. Now in Montana, the McLendon's haven’t been able to break ground on their house, and have set up camp on their land.

When Cam and Kirstin meet at a local bar, there is an instant connection. Cam is reluctant to pursue a relationship at first, given who Kirstin’s father is. Both, however, decide it is worth the risk. Sam Conacher is not at all happy when he finds out they’ve been sneaking around behind his back and threatens to ruin Cam. Only, every time he tries to confront Cam, he instead ends up in a face down with the formidable Maddie McLendon, a popular mystery author.

Caleb isn’t without his own troubles as he tries to adjust to being in a completely new environment, struggling to fit in. Cam was young when he became a father, and Caleb was raised by his grandparents for a good part of his childhood. At sixteen, he is proves to be a loving son and good all-around person. It is obvious Cam and Maddie love Caleb and he them.

I enjoyed The Christmas Room more than I thought I would. I had gone in expecting a straight forward romance, but what I got was so much more than that. I adored Maddie and not just because she is a mystery author. I loved her spirit and how she protected her family. She is such a strong woman, and I enjoyed watching her confrontations with the curmudgeonly Sam. When she finally was able to break through his protective shell of grief over the loss of his wife, she did not hold his past actions and words against him, but encouraged him to step up and be a better person.

I have found that many romance novels touch on the subject of grief in one form or another. This one deals with the grief from the loss of a parent and a spouse. Grief is such an individual process—how we cope, the guilt and anger we may carry, and the pain and sadness that can linger. It has been six years since Sam’s wife died, and yet it is like yesterday for him. Kirstin misses her mother, but also her father—the man he used to be before grief took over his life. When Cam’s dad died of cancer two years before, Cam stepped up to take care of his mother the way she had taken care of him and his son. Maddie is afraid to burden her son any further than he already must feel—keeping her health issues to herself, not wanting to have to worry him and her grandson.

I really came to care for all the characters in The Christmas Room. This was a heartwarming book and made for a wonderful holiday read.

To learn more about Catherine Anderson and her work, please visit the author on the author's website. You can also find the author on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

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© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Rancher's Christmas Song by RaeAnne Thayne

The twins were at it again. ~ Opening of The Rancher's Christmas Song

The Rancher's Christmas Song (Cowboys of Cold Creek #16) by RaeAnne Thayne

Harlequin, 2017

Romance (Holiday); 224 pgs

Source: E-copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Single dad Beckett McKinley’s rambunctious twins ask their music teacher, Ella Baker, for help in learning their father’s favorite Christmas song. They want to surprise him by singing it at the children’s annual holiday show. On impulse, Ella agrees, but only if the boys will teach her how to ride a horse. She has long struggled with a phobia of horses with roots from her childhood. I admit I had to remind myself to suspend my disbelief in this—a teacher asking young boys to teach her to ride a horse seemed a bit silly . . . but it wasn’t as if she didn’t realize it was impulsive, and she wished she could take it back almost as soon as she said it. They were just so excited about the trade though. She didn’t have the heart to disappoint them.

Beck has long been attracted to Ella Baker, the daughter of his neighbor and mentor, but his effort to keep his distance and hide his feelings has only made her think he doesn’t like her. She assumes it is because she grew up in Boston, not Cold Creek, and he, like her father, feels she doesn’t belong there. Ella has conflicting feelings about Beck—she is attracted to him and yet sees him as a rival for her father’s attention—and for her family’s ranch.

I adored those twin boys. They had energy to spare, and ran their teachers and father ragged, but they have good hearts and are eager to do the right thing. I like Ella’s approach with them.

While Ella has some things to overcome, like her fear of horses, her real conflict is with her father and his inability to see that she is willing and capable to learn how to run the ranch. Her father’s failing health is in part what brought her to Pine Gulch, a place she loved as a child. She wants to make it her home. Beck and her father see her being there only temporarily—her father still seeing her as a child he has to protect, and Beck seeing his former wife, also a city woman, in Ella despite the two women being completely different.

I really liked Ella and Beck, both down to earth and hardworking people. Ella takes on her fear head on, and I loved that about her. She knows what she wants and she goes after it. Beck is still haunted by his past and has to get past that before he can fully let love in. The two characters have definite chemistry together. I enjoyed seeing the characters come into their own—and grow together over the course of the novel.

I may have got misty-eyed at the end of this one—and in a few other places. This was a sweet romance—perfect for the holiday season.

To learn more about RaeAnne Thayne and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on Facebook and Twitter.

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