Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

source: Purchased
title: Starry Night: A Christmas Novel
author: Debbie Macomber/ (Twitter)
genre: contemporary holiday romance
published: 2013
pages: 231
first line: Carrie Slayton’s feet were killing her.
rated: 3 out of 5

 

 

 

blurb:
’Tis the season for romance, second chances, and Christmas cheer with this new novel from Debbie Macomber.

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a mega-bestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places.

My thoughts:

I was in a Christmasy mood so I ordered a copy of Starry Night a few weeks ago. I am a seasonal reader and I try to enjoy at least one holiday book this time of year.

Starry Night is my first time reading Debbie Macomber. I’ve often seen her books around and I know she is popular in the genre and that some of her books have been made into Hallmark Christmas movies. In the foreword for Starry Night she mentions that she writes a Christmas book every year.

While I found Starry Night to be sweet Christmas romance, it did not blow me away like I wanted it too. It revolves around Chicago based columnist Carrie Slayton who is about to quit her job because she can’t see herself getting ahead with no serious assignments only gossip column stuff. Her boss tells her that if she can find and interview mysterious author Finn Dalton then she will have more serious assignments moving forward and be able to advance her career. Finn wrote a book about living in the wilderness that became an international bestseller and he has gone into hiding ever since. With the holidays around the corner Carrie decides to use her vacation time to find the mysterious Finn.

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Sunday Post/Mailbox Monday 12/9/18: Books and Christmas is Coming Etc.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog…

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists….

Hello blog friends and happy Sunday. Oh my gosh, December is flying by. Christmas is coming soon and as always life is busy and hectic but I am trying not to get overwhelmed. It is cold by me, so very cold. It makes me want to stay inside as much as I can. I did some online Christmas shopping on Cyber Monday so that was good and the rest I’m doing at the mall one night this week. As of yesterday my tree is up and it smells so nice and piney. I enjoy relaxing in the living room and looking at the tree this time of year. Do you do the same?

I haven’t holiday baked yet but soon I hope. I like to make sugar cookies using this recipe but the mood hasn’t stricken yet.
Aside from that I’ve been doing alot of crocheting and watching scary ghost documentaries on tv as per my usual. I will watch the occasional Hallmark Christmas movie here and there too.

Also, I’ve been blasting Queen music on my morning commute more often than not lately. By the way this gif also represents how I act when I finish crocheting a blanket and show it off to friends and family.

No-one Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day by Tracy Bloom

source: NetGalley/Bookouture
title: No-one Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day
author: Tracy Bloom
genre: fiction/holiday humor/romance
published: October 24th 2017
pages: 298
first line: “Tell me there isn’t an enormous inflatable reindeer on the front lawn,” said Katy as she walked into the kitchen and dumped her laptop on the floor.
rated: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

blurb:
Don’t you always plan the perfect Christmas?
Don’t you always think it will be the best one ever?
And doesn’t something always come along and screw it up?

Katy’s been stuck in the office away from her family so she wants it all: snow (fake or real), the Michael Bublé Christmas album, whatever it takes.

There’s only one thing missing as far as her husband Ben is concerned: another baby to complete their family. But Katy isn’t so sure she’s ready yet…

Ben may be playing the role of Master Elf in the pre-school nativity but he is struggling to master his own family life. With romantically-challenged friends, an ex who refuses to go away and Katy’s mum’s 64-year-old toy boy thrown into the mix, Christmas looks like it could be going off the rails… Never mind family planning, can Katy and Ben even plan to make it to the end of Christmas Day?

From the no. 1 bestselling author of No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday, this book will make you cry with laughter, and then book your flights abroad for the festive season.

my thoughts:
I have two words today. Snow. Day. With the snow storm in full effect outside, high winds and freezing temps thankfully work and schools are closed. It will be another comfy pj day with some inevitable snow shoveling later on. Don’t mind me and my gifs lately, I feel like I’ve been including them in each post. I like to add them to reviews, I find they give it a little something extra to express my thoughts. And forewarning, I found a few Gene Kelly gifs, so he will be making an appearance in future posts…lol. I *heart* Gene Kelly.

Anyway, I thought I’d finally get my review up for No-one Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day. This was my last read of 2017 and I couldn’t have timed it more perfectly. I finished it on Christmas Eve Eve. This one is part of as series of books which include No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday and No-One Ever Has Sex in the Suburbs. However, it reads perfectly fine as a stand alone since the author gives you enough background so that you know these characters a little more.

Sunday Post: Bookish Best of 2017

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog…

Good morning blogland. It is very cliché but where did this past year go? It went by so quickly. I feel like the older you get the faster time goes. We had a nice White Christmas last week and now the temps are really dropping. Single digits this week especially at night and early mornings.

I wanted to take a minute to thank you all for taking the time to stop by my blog and read my posts and leave thoughtful comments. I have known several of you for many years and I appreciate our online friendships. I have also met some new blog friends this past year and it has been awesome chatting books and finding new blogs to visit. To all my blogging friends, Happy, Healthy New Year. May 2018 be full of good books, good health and joyful moments. xo

Well, I rounded up a few of my favorite bookish things from 2017 to share with today’s Sunday Post. It is always fun to reflect on the past reading/blogging year.

Here are my Bookish Favorites of 2017 in no particular order alongside my Christmas cookies. This is the recipe that I’ve been using for years and it never fails. The key is to line the cookie trays with parchment paper when baking so they don’t burn.

A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh

source: purchased
title: A Christmas Promise
author: Mary Balogh
pages: 272
published: December 1, 1992
first lines: The Earl of Falloden glanced at the visiting card resting on the salver his butler held extended toward him. He frowned.
rated: 3 out of 5

blurb:
A love that cannot be bought or sold proves to be the greatest gift of all, in this heartwarming classic that demonstrates once again why New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh is among the most celebrated authors of historical romance.

Weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions—especially when a couple seems as well matched as Randolph Pierce, Earl of Falloden, and his bride-to-be, Eleanor Transome. Ellie brings to the marriage a vast dowry, while Falloden, though distant, is handsome, tremendously desirable, and possessed of a title most young ladies can only dream of sharing.

Yet Ellie is not most young ladies. She knows that she must honor her dear father’s dying wish for her to wed the proud earl, but she dreads a lifetime in a union without love—and how can Falloden claim to love her when he married her only for her fortune? As Christmas descends upon the Falloden manor, the warmth of the season may yet melt away the trappings of duty and wealth, leaving behind only a man and a woman destined for each other’s arms.

my thoughts:
Christmas is almost here! It’s a rainy Saturday morning and I thought I’d post my thoughts about my latest read and get some blog hopping in too. We’ll be visiting my parents tomorrow for gift exchanging and dinner and then Christmas day will be spent home cooking, baking and relaxing. I plan on wearing my pajamas all day.

Onto my review, I picked this one apart a little bit because it was just that kind of read. I both liked and I disliked it.

Here we have Eleanor Transome who is a single child and her father is wealthy from having made his fortune as a coal merchant. Ellie and her family are considered working class or cits and although they have money they are looked down upon by the ton who are born into their wealth and status.