In A Holidaze

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christina Lauren

Christmas, Holiday, General Fiction, Romance

336 Pages

Published October 6th by Gallery Books

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

My Thoughts:

A fun start to the 2020 Holiday season. Going home after a disastrous Christmas break Maelyn wishes she could know what would make her happy. That was the beginning of a groundhog-esque Christmas adventure. Reading about Maelyn’s repeated attempts to “get it right” was fun and there were some laugh out loud moments. The romance was pretty rushed and while I realize there were some time constraints (the book takes place during the week of Christmas) it felt too abrupt and out of the blue. But I am a sucker for a happy ending. I love it when my books end with everything wrapped in a tidy bow, so the ending made me happy and I was willing to let some things slide. 

A big thank you to #ChristinaLauren, #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks for providing a free Advance Reader Copy. This is my honest opinion.

Amish Christmas Twins

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shelly Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good,  Loree Lough

Christmas, Holiday, General Fiction, Romance

304 Pages

Published September 29, 2020 by Kensington Publishing

THE CHRISTMAS NOT-WISH
Shelley Shepard Gray
When the foster parents they've cautiously grown to love discover they're expecting, orphaned Roy and Jemima Fisher, ages six and seven, are secretly devastated by the certainty they'll be given up. With Christmas around the corner, their only wish is for new foster parents as nice as Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz. Meanwhile, the Kurtzes have wishes of their own--and with faith, they all may be gifted with twice the blessings.

NEW BEGINNINGS 

Rachel J. Good
Still grieving the loss of her husband and unborn baby in an accident several months ago, Elizabeth Yoder is oblivious to her neighbor Luke Bontrager's deepening affection for her. But while she bleakly faces Christmas alone, it's Luke who reminds her it's the season for giving. And when Elizabeth donates her handmade baby clothes to New Beginnings, a home for teen moms, she soon finds her gifts repaid beyond measure, with Luke's love--and new beginnings of their own.

TWINS TIMES TWO 

Loree Lough
What happens when two secretive, stubborn people find themselves thrown together to help four rascally youngsters--twins times two!--create a Christmas surprise for their parents? Mischief and mayhem, and just maybe . . . love!

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed these novellas. I was looking for something uplifting, where I wouldn’t have to wince at the language or skip over the sex scenes. This book fit those requirements. I can probably count on one hand how many books I’ve read that fall under the Amish category, but I am going to seek out more books by these authors. It was a heartwarming and happy read. During the last two stories I was a little frustrated and thought “Just talk to each other already!” But what romance is complete without a little angst?

A big thank you to the authors, #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for providing a free Advance Reader Copy. This is my honest opinion.