(Review) Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

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Title: Holiday Sparks
Author: Shannon Stacey
Published: December 6, 2010 (Carina Press)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Digital eBook, purchased

Summary: House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out. Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there's an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.

Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes' wiring for almost as long as he's wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn't notice Scott back in high school, but she's noticing him now, and soon they're indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other's company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

This is my fourth Shannon Stacey, and I have yet to be disappointed by her. This was a totally cute Christmas novella! I love that her novellas I've read are a little longer than most others. She writes them well, making it feel like a complete story rather than a snippet of a whole.

In this particular story, we have Chloe, a web designer, and Scott, an electrician, formerly that gawky guy with glasses from Chloe's high school who has always wanted her. Their one interaction from high school we actually learn about was so incredibly sweet, although simple. All grown up, their chemistry was fantastic! It almost had me wishing for electrical problems so I could call up my local electrician and cross my fingers that he looked like Scott.

I always love the setting of Christmas in a small New England town. The two just go hand-in-hand so perfectly. In Holiday Sparks were scenes involving snow balls, snowmobiling, and overlooking the picturesque town. And, of course, the town gossip - what small town would be complete without it?

Stacey seems to love the just-a-fling-oh-wait-I-want-more storyline, but she excels at it. The stories never seem repetitive, because each has its own unique characters and facets that make the story special. This was the case in Holiday Sparks. While the basic plot was nothing new, I liked all the different touches. The "electrician" aspect allowed the whole being alone all day, every day thing, which does make a rather convenient romance novel setting. I'm surprised it's not more popular! But I digress. Holiday Sparks was a totally adorable Christmas read, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hugging that man’s ass was what jeans had been created for.

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Scott belonged here, in a place where everybody not only knew your name, but knew what you did in the second grade to get you called into the principal’s office.

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(Review) Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

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Title: Under the Mistletoe
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor #6.5
Published: December 4, 2012 (Forever Yours)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Ebook, purchased

Summary: Mia Hutchinson, Tara and Ford's daughter from The Sweetest Thing, has asked her college boyfriend, Nick, to travel to Lucky Harbor for her aunt Maddie's Christmas Eve wedding.

Despondent when Nick refuses her invitation, Mia returns home alone and faces her high school sweetheart Carlos Rodriguez for the first time since refusing his marriage proposal. Only to find that he is happily dating someone else. With love and holiday spirit everywhere, Mia wonders who will kiss her this Christmas under the mistletoe.

I went into this book with totally skewed expectations because the blurb from Goodreads, at least the way I read it, implied a Mia/Carlos romance. Or maybe I just skimmed it, because let's just be honest, it was an auto-buy for me as it involved the words "Jill Shalvis" and "Lucky Harbor," and I was totally excited to read Mia's story. I enjoyed reading about her in The Sweetest Thing, and I couldn't wait to see how her life went after the book left off. Regardless, this book is not about Mia and Carlos (which became clear very quickly, so I'm not spoiling anything here); it is about Mia and Nick.

Mia was 17 at the end of The Sweetest Thing, but at the start of Under the Mistletoe, she was 22. I always love reading about characters in this age group. (And since it was in the New York Times today and all, I should probably stop desperately hoping someone will come up with a label other than "New Adult," and suck it up and start using it.) Because she had graduated college only months before, I could relate a lot to where Mia was in her life, because I am very close to that point myself. It added a nice element to the experience.

Since Mia was going home for Chloe and Sawyer's wedding, the whole original Lucky Harbor crew was there in all their splendid, hilarious, heartwarming glory. There was even a cameo by Lucille, because what would a Lucky Harbor book be without Lucille? I also like that Carlos was included, and her romance with him was not thrown away as irrelevant or "puppy love."

One warning, though. This story puts the la in novella. There's a reason it says "A Lucky Harbor Short Story" on the cover, rather than novella. The blasted page count declares the book is 85 pages long...and then you're reading along and OHHAIJUSTKIDDING, it ends on page 55. What follows is a teaser for the next Lucky Harbor book.

However, for all its miniature length, Under the Mistletoe is far from just a quick bit of holiday fluff. It was this on one level, of course, but there was a lot of depth, too. I love that the romance did not center around a developing romance, because there simply was not time for that. It involved commitment and Mia and Nick both coming to terms with what they wanted out of life before embarking on their HEA. And the way this came about? Oh, be still, my heart. So many feelings!

I was not a huge fan of one of the elements of the end because it felt a little like a cop-out to me, but I won't go into what it was so as to not spoil it. Overall, although I obviously wished for this story to be a little longer, the content was great. Shalvis wrote another winning addition to the Lucky Harbor series, and if you're looking for a quick yuletide read with more depth and heart than you might expect, I would suggest downloading Under the Mistletoe.

"'Let me in.' 'Come to the door.' You always demand like that? No wonder she isn't listening? Try asking sometime. Not all women will stand for that 50 Shades crap, you know."

---

She wasn’t going to cry again. Hell no. She’d save it for really important events, like watching The Notebook after a round of brutal finals.

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He kissed her as if he could breathe the truth into her lungs.

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"Don’t cry. I’m sorry." He wasn’t exactly sure what he was sorry for, but he’d be sorry for breathing if that was the problem.

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(Review) Ask Her at Christmas by Christi Barth

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Title: Ask Her at Christmas
Author: Christi Barth
Anthology: Romancing the Holiday
Published: December 3, 2012 (Carina Press)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Digital ARC from author

Summary: Caitlin McIntyre’s heart stops when her best friend drops to one knee and proposes. Kyle Lockhart never once hinted over the years that he has any idea she’s in love with him. Not wanting to jeopardize their friendship, she’s never let it slip. Good thing, too, since it turns out he’s only practicing—he’s about to propose to someone else.

A business merger might not be the most romantic reason to propose to a woman he barely knows, but Kyle’s determined to win the respect of his dying father who’s never seen him as quite good enough. Kyle’s always depended on Caitlin’s friendship, while trying to ignore the physical response she arouses. So he turns to her when it comes time to craft his proposal, not realizing his decision will affect their relationship, forever.

I was excited to read this ARC because it sounded perfect for a sweet Christmas read. What better setting than the holidays for a friends-to-lovers romance? I enjoyed reading about Caitlin and Kyle. They had been friends since they were children, but Caitlin had wanted more for years. Kyle had been more oblivious about his feelings - as men in these stories are wont to be - but had always fought attraction to Caitlin. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, neither Kyle or Caitlin had said anything to the other.

Because I am the kind of person who can never get too much build-up, my usual complaint about novellas is that there is not enough time for the relationship to develop. However, this story was actually a perfect fit for the length of a novella. To make it longer would be pointlessly dragging things out for no reason. Caitlin and Kyle had been best friends for years, and that was clear as soon as the story started. Their relationship developed at a good pace, and I liked the way it unfolded.

Unfortunately, there was not much characterization beyond the surface. But I liked Caitlin and her perpetual happiness, and there was Kyle, a total nerd who also happened to have movie star looks. Who doesn't love that? Monica, Kyle's would-be fiancée was an obviously boring and horrid woman despite her Marilyn Monroe appearance. She was clearly not going to present any threat to the couple.

This was a nice little Christmas romance. Nothing too serious or dark happened, and there was not much standing in the way of the HEA. It made me giggle several times and had quite a few good lines. If you're looking for a quick, cute friends-to-lovers romance in a Christmas setting - or a variety of potential ways to propose if you live in the Chicago area - Ask Her at Christmas is a good choice.

Yeah, he wasn’t any good with words. Now, if he could craft an equation that transformed her beauty into the simplicity of numbers, then he’d be eloquent. Except she wouldn’t understand it. And he’d win the prize for biggest nerd ever.

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Believing in love, valuing it, doesn’t make me naïve.

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Nice guys, to be sure, but as geeky as a pocket protector stuffed into a tuxedo on prom night.

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(Review) Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

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Title: Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Author: Marina Adair
Published: October 16, 2012 (Montlake Romance)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Ebook, purchased from Amazon

Summary: Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

April from Good Books & Good Wine mentioned this book on Twitter a week or so ago, and once I read the blurb on Goodreads, I knew I absolutely had to read it. SO MUCH potential for I-want/love-you-even-though-I-really-REALLY-don't-want-to awesomeness, which is basically my favorite trope ever. Add in Christmas, and this book was practically tailor-made for me.

There were quite a few things I enjoyed about this book. For one, I totally fell for Holly, Regan's daughter. She was so adorable with her kitty fascination and her obsessive manners. I really loved the whole dynamic between Regan and Holly. Regan was doing her best to give Holly the best life possible, and their interactions were full of the cutest love possible. The way Gabe fit into this relationship was simply perfect. There are few things more swoon-worthy than a man who is good with kids, and I could not blame Regan at all for her swooning moments after watching Gabe interact with Holly.

The whole cast of secondary characters was diverse and entertaining. There were many of them, from the Mrs. Clauses (a group of older women including Gabe's grandmother) to Regan's new friends in Napa Valley to a reindeer town mascot named Randolph (no, not Rudolph - Randolph). Some of the characters were significantly less awesome, and there was one character in particular who most certainly got coal in her stocking come December 25th. But what's a good romance without a little villainous interference, eh?

Unfortunately, given all that, there were still some aspects that fell short for me. The first scene of the book was a little jarring. I enjoy absurd opening scenes, but this one was both absurd and awkward, and I just didn't quite understand what was happening and why. It also took a while for me to warm up to Gabe. Although I understood his current behavior for the most part, his previous behavior was a little much for me to forgive until he finally started to realize the wrongness of his actions and feel some contrition.

Although it did not quite live up to its potential, Kissing Under the Mistletoe was quite the enjoyable read. I liked the Napa Valley setting; I have not read many romances involving the wine industry. There was great chemistry between Gabe and Regan. Watching Gabe fall in love with Regan and Holly made for many smile-and-sigh moments. All this combined with the heavy Christmas influence makes Kissing Under the Mistletoe a great December read, and I definitely suggest reading it while curled up on the couch with a throw blanket and a mug of egg nog/wassail/your holiday beverage of choice.

Because men did not – repeat, did not – fit into her five-year plan. There was Holly, her career, and creating a home. Period. None of those included the penis-carrying members of society.

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A wise man would answer yes. Last he’d heard, though, the roles of all three wise men were already cast. And he wasn’t one of them.

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She had never really been into arms before, but there was something about his that made her want to wrap them around her and beg him to never let go.

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(Review) It Happened One Christmas by Leslie Kelly

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Title: It Happened One Christmas
Author: Leslie Kelly
Published: November 15, 2011 (Harlequin)
Rating: Lunch Break Read
Format: Physical copy borrowed from the library

Summary: Six years ago, Ross Mitchell and Lucy Fleming shared a hot holiday weekend in Manhattan, back when he was just a hard-bodied guy in a tool belt and she was an impulsive photography student. Fast-forward a few Decembers: Ross and Lucy meet again, by chance, at his office Christmas party. And when they find themselves alone and snowed in after hours, it's not long before they're making their own body heat—again. Only this time, the sex is better than ever! But is it just another holiday romp between the sheets? Or will Lucy and Ross finally get to keep what they really want this year—each other!

A while back, I was struck by the Christmas impulse and grabbed a bunch of holiday themed Harlequins from the library. This was one of them. It was a fun way to spend a slow afternoon at work! It was a sweet love story that I very much enjoyed reading.

I liked the way the story was presented. Ross and Lucy had a slight history from years before, and their new meeting paralleled their old in many ways. The stories unfolded at just the right pace. The flashback integrated well into the present, and it was nice to compare and contrast the two.

I liked that it was the woman who was the Scrooge figure in the book (because heaven forbid you have a Christmas romance wherein one of the characters was not anti-Christmas) with the man who loved it. It made a fun change to read a hero who loved Christmas, because that just makes me smile. Also, Lucy didn't just hate Christmas to hate Christmas; it was because of a tragic accident that had happened years earlier.

As for the interactions between Lucy and Ross, they had some great chemistry from the very beginning. And I will forever and always love the locked/snowed in trope. It is a great chance to work out issues and perhaps steam up some windows (which is obviously going to happen in a Blaze).

Christmas played a great part in the story. It was actually relevant, not just tossed in there for Christmas marketing, which happened in the other "Christmas" Harlequin I read around the same time. The story would not have been the same without it. And what a great story it was! It was a little heartbreaking at times and incredibly sweet. It totally sneaked in there and made me cry during the epilogue. Darn the Christmas sappiness! (Except I totally loved every minute of it.)

If she’d woken up this morning to find her bed had floated up into the sky on a giant helium balloon, she couldn't have been more surprised than she was right now.

---

“I can tell you what it’s like,” she said. “It’s like waking up one day and realizing someone’s torn half your heart out of your chest. Your life is no longer about the number of years you’ve lived, or the ones you have in front of you. It becomes measured by before and after that one moment.”

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(Review) An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James

Title: An Affair Before Christmas
Author: Eloisa James
Series: Desperate Duchesses #2
Published: November 13, 2007 (Avon)
Rating: Staying in Tonight
Format: Audiobook & ebook, both from library

Summary: One spectacular Christmas, Lady Perdita Selby, known to her friends and family as Poppy, met the man she thought she would love forever. The devilishly attractive Duke of Fletcher was the perfect match for the innocent, breathtakingly beautiful young Englishwoman, and theirs was the most romantic wedding she had ever seen. Four years later, Poppy and the duke have become the toast of the ton... but behind closed doors the spark of their love affair has burned out.

Unwilling to lose the woman he still lusts after, the duke is determined to win back his beguiling bride's delectable affections...and surpass the heady days of first love with a truly sinful seduction.

In all honesty, I picked up this book purely because I knew the Christmas feature was coming up, and I needed to read more Christmas books for it. I was not particularly drawn in by the summary, but I love Eloisa James, so I went ahead and started it. Little did I know what awaited me!

I love reviewing audiobooks. Since I listen to them while doing something (usually driving) during which I can't write, I leave voice messages for myself with my long, rambly, often incoherent thoughts of flailage or anger. Listening to those before I write my review is freaking hilarious. One day I'll transcribe myself or upload it (except not because then you would probably be frightened away by the crazy).

Let me tell you, this book? Caused me to leave some insane comments. At one point, I swear, I was talking like Lorelai Gilmore on speed. I loved so much about this story! Probably my favorite thing is how it flips so many historical romance norms. For instance, the book starts with the couple in love. How often does that happen? However, they were both young and rash, and you know that they really should not have gotten married at that point in their lives. Obviously, the marriage does not work the way either party planned, and the real story starts 4 years after the wedding.

The problem lies in the fact that while 4 years have passed, neither Poppy or Fletch have really developed. They are both still young, and they are stuck trying to fill these roles they do not really know how to fill. They are both still a little immature, and Poppy, especially, is very naïve. Thus, they are unhappy and resentful. Perhaps this does not make for the most likable characters for the first half or more of the book, but I like it because it is real. I could really see that happening for a couple of the time period, and I wanted desperately to know how they were going to solve it.

During the story, I loved watching each of the characters grow individually before they were truly able to address their relationship. Poppy especially had a lot of self-discovery to achieve and a backbone to grow. This book read almost like a new adult novel, but a historical one, and I really liked that about it.

One other thing I loved about the book was how the main story and the side stories intertwined. It reminded me how much I absolutely adore Elijah and Jemma (especially Elijah ♥), as well as how I need to give the book about Villiers another try. I actually got extremely invested in all three(ish) side plots, and I thought James achieved a really great balance between the main and side stories. They were there enough to be intriguing, but mostly, they were not there enough to take away from the main story.

Overall, An Affair Before Christmas is a great read. If you are looking for a realistic, beautiful romance with side characters who are sure to make you want to read the rest of the books in the series, I would absolutely recommend it.

It’s not manly to be so perfect in every way.

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There was no point in letting one’s husband think he was interesting; it would only end in disaster.

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The Book Barbies' Fortnight of Christmas Festivities

Christmas is Sharon's favorite holiday by far. As this is her first Christmas with a blog, there was no way it was going to pass without a huge bash and giveaway. The Book Barbies' Fortnight of Festivities is a fourteen-day long (December 11-25) celebration during which Christmas-themed reviews, lists, features, and a giveaway will overtake the blog. Excited yet? Well, you should be! I mean, we used the term fortnight in the title. You know it's going to be awesome.

As Lisa Kleypas is a favorite of both the Barbies (as you have probably noticed), she was the logical choice for the penultimate giveaway. This is also a good choice because it will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Even if you don't like reading Christmas-themed books, you very well might still enjoy this one. Christmas is not nearly as heavily featured as the title implies, although it is obviously still there. Overall, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a cute and feel-good book that will undoubtedly make you smile.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas (Also known as Christmas with Holly, due to the Hallmark movie that just aired based off of it.)

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC…
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

…TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home…

Even if you don't want to enter in the giveaway, feel free to participate in the festivities. The more, the merrier! If you do want to enter, though, you can do so below. Giveaway is international!

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