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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I loved these short stories that took place at Christmas. My favorite was the one by Stacy Finz and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. I loved the snowy, California town her story was set in and the characters. Like most collections of shorts, I was sometimes left wishing for a full novel.
Won this book in a giveaway by Stacy Finz (not obligated to review).
Won this book in a giveaway by Stacy Finz (not obligated to review).
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Four short Christmas stories about finding love under the Christmas tree. From a forlorn widow to an injured war hero to a Nashville fiddler to an old fling - all four were cute and hopeful. Obviously all four had ups and downs but ended on high notes - it's Christmas after all! Some stories are a little stronger than others - but they all were nice to listen to in audiobook form. Mostly clean - but there are steamy closed door scenes.
As with any anthology, some were better than others, but overall this set really hit the holiday spot.
Christmas Passed is a sad story that finds a twisty way to turn happy. Brandy is severely depressed after her husband dies and her children are paying the price. It's almost as if they've lost both parents instead of one. But Ryan sneaks into her life and helps her find the bright spots, one at a time. A very touching romance that just might make your cry.
A Glory Junction Christmas is a fun read. Hannah's ex is getting re-married and it seems like she's the only one in town not invited to the wedding. Christmas just isn't as much fun when you feel like you're being left behind and left out. Josh is determined to see her happy and smile again. A sweet romance, but it didn't stand out as much as some of the others in this collection.
Moonshine and Mistletoe is my favorite of the collection, by far. The whole situation that Emma and Abe find themselves in was perfect. It doesn't hurt that she's a librarian and he's a musician. The perfect pair in my mind. I can't even pick a favorite part, because I loved all of them so much! Great mix of humor, a little excitement, and the sweetest couple ever.
An Apple Valley Christmas is another sad starting one, and it takes awhile to turn around. I loved the history of Emma's house. The house is almost a character in the story on its own. A little different than some of the stories I've read. I really enjoyed the way it turned both of our characters around and slid them together.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
Christmas Passed is a sad story that finds a twisty way to turn happy. Brandy is severely depressed after her husband dies and her children are paying the price. It's almost as if they've lost both parents instead of one. But Ryan sneaks into her life and helps her find the bright spots, one at a time. A very touching romance that just might make your cry.
A Glory Junction Christmas is a fun read. Hannah's ex is getting re-married and it seems like she's the only one in town not invited to the wedding. Christmas just isn't as much fun when you feel like you're being left behind and left out. Josh is determined to see her happy and smile again. A sweet romance, but it didn't stand out as much as some of the others in this collection.
Moonshine and Mistletoe is my favorite of the collection, by far. The whole situation that Emma and Abe find themselves in was perfect. It doesn't hurt that she's a librarian and he's a musician. The perfect pair in my mind. I can't even pick a favorite part, because I loved all of them so much! Great mix of humor, a little excitement, and the sweetest couple ever.
An Apple Valley Christmas is another sad starting one, and it takes awhile to turn around. I loved the history of Emma's house. The house is almost a character in the story on its own. A little different than some of the stories I've read. I really enjoyed the way it turned both of our characters around and slid them together.
*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*
First three novellas were DNF. I was enjoying “An Apple Valley Christmas” when I felt like the author ran out of pages and had to wrap things up abruptly. This novella is part of a series and as I haven’t read the other books maybe that’s why I didn’t feel like I got a handle on the characters before it ended.
This a great, quick read for the holiday season and all four are feel-good stories. The fourth story, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy, was my favorite. If you're a lover of sweet romances with realistic characters, this is a nice option! I don't usually read romances, but these stories were a nice break from the darker, more serious books I typically consume.
This a great, quick read for the holiday season and all four are feel-good stories. The fourth story, An Apple Valley Christmas by Shirlee McCoy, was my favorite. If you're a lover of sweet romances with realistic characters, this is a nice option! I don't usually read romances, but these stories were a nice break from the darker, more serious books I typically consume.