Christmas Sweater Weather by Jaqueline Snowe - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Christmas Romance 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoyable in parts; I wanted more 

Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her brother’s best friend after he rejected her love and broke her heart. Now, Charlotte is on her way to attend her brother’s bachelor party. It’s Christmas too, the most favorite time of the year for the Calhoun family. Charlotte tells herself she would do whatever possible to act normal around Hayden. 

Hayden is a single dad to an adorable little girl and a sports coach at a college. He has no time for romance or love. However, he cannot help but want to be with Charlotte. His feelings for her haven’t been casual for a long time. 

With the impending Christmas and the wedding, Charlotte and Hayden also have to navigate their feelings for each other and decide what they want from life. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Charlotte and Hayden. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, I wanted to like it more than I did! 

The Calhouns are crazy about Christmas. The Christmas-obsessed family is also C-centric – Christopher, Claire, Christian, and Charlotte. Thank god, Christian’s girl is named Penny. Though I don’t like it when more than one character has names starting with the same alphabet, I found this cheeky. Also, the parents don’t have a major role, so less confusion all around. 

The blurb makes it clear about what to expect from the FMC. Her love for the guy shines throughout the book. Her POV was enjoyable with genuine emotions. Her reactions feel appropriate since her feelings for the MMC are a (major) part of her. 

Fortunately, in the very first (second) chapter from the MMC’s POV, we know about his feelings for the FMC. I liked it as it wasn’t some ‘oh why didn’t I see you this way before’ which doesn’t always work well. 

However, I’m not a fan of Hayden. I liked him enough initially even if the repetition got on my nerves. But well, let’s just say he needed to be a lot better. Not impressed, dude! We have some great book boyfriends out there. He is not on that list. 

I also feel the characters could have had a little more depth since they have been crafted to carry the book. There’s potential but somehow a majority of it is limited to surface-level stuff aka lust. I don’t complain about steam in books. However, this one needed less steam and more genuine interactions. Scenes where they truly deepen the bond (like that conversation about how much he hurt her years ago).  

The middle drags. Yep. Though there’s some plot progress, we seem to go in circles with the MCs circling each other. I would have loved a couple of more scenes with the family. After all, the side characters (Christian, Penny, & Garrett) were great. Heck, give us some scenes with Gwen instead of telling us about it. 

I could guess what would get messed up in the last quarter. There are clues to it. However, the execution made me dislike the MMC even more. Flawed characters are okay but I think I’m over this kind of hero. They no longer appeal to me. 

There’s an epilogue of sorts, which is good. Somehow, I wasn’t that impressed. In fact, my favorite scenes in this quarter were the ones with the family members. Go figure! 

To summarize, Christmas Sweater Weather has great potential and shines in parts but doesn’t meet my expectations. While it is a cute read with fun Christmasy things, it could have been so much better! 

Not sure if the problem is because the characters are in their mid to late 20s. They are projected to be mature beyond their age but don’t act like that often. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ChristmasSweaterWeather

The Fake Wedding Project by Pippa Grant

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance, Family Drama

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A bit of family toxicity, loads of drama, and some love 

The Silvers and Andersons of Tinsel, a small town in Michigan, have an intense family feud going on for decades. No one really knows the reason for the continuing feud. However, the younger generation is tired of it. 

When Amanda panic-blurts about being engaged to Dane Silver, the duo decides to continue the charade. Why not use a fake engagement to end the feud forever? 

It sounds great until things start to feel a bit too real for comfort and they have to make some major decisions. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Dane Silver and Amanda Anderson in alternate chapters. 

My Thoughts: 

The premise makes it clear that there will be some toxic family drama for the main characters to deal with. Some of them are quite decent and actually make an effort while others are idiots. Of course, the intention is to show the toxicity of the situation, so we have to have annoying but necessary scenes. 

While the dual POV helps know what the main characters think, having both in the first person makes it confusing at times. The voices are not always distinct. Also, I’m not sure of this new trend of addressing the readers at random or breaking the fourth wall. I’m tired of it already. 

Though the whole story takes place in a week, it is not really insta love, for one character. We know in the first chapter itself that the MMC had a crush on the FMC. Until around 60%, it is a question of what he’ll do about it and the growing awareness between the two. 

The small-town setting plays an integral part of the plot. Turns out this town sees high temperatures in summer and is a Christmas tourist destination with the festival being celebrated around the year. 

The side characters don’t get much depth. A couple of them are sweet. Everyone does what is expected of them, so the plot keeps moving. 

There’s a mystery too, about the feud and its origins. The varied reasons stated for it are hilarious and crazy, though the actual one might be a little serious. Is there anyone who even knows what it is? Why aren’t they revealing it? 

There’s a sort of third-act breakup which is not a breakup but you get what I mean. They need that space to sort things out in the head. 

The ending is HEA with a bonus epilogue from Chili’s POV. Chili is Dane’s dog, a super lazy one! So, the doggy’s POV adds a quirky touch and brings more smiles. 

To summarize, The Fake Wedding Project is a lighthearted read about family, relationships, small towns, and love. While it does have a few unsavory moments, these are essential for character growth. 

This is my first book by the author but I can see why she is popular in this genre. The writing style is easy to read, and the main characters are well-developed. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheFakeWeddingProject 

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Darcy McGuire - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Queen's Deadly Damsels #2 (Standalone)

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/ladyslessonsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214540460-a-lady-s-lesson-in-scandal

Publication Date: 12th Oct 2024

Genre: Victorian Romance

3 Stars

One Liner: Okay! Liked the first book better

Book Blurb:

Wallflower at risk of ruin…

Secret femme-fatale in training Millicent Whittenburg needs to escape her unpleasant betrothal. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans her eventual ruin! Then she can disappear from society to carry out the Queen’s deadly missions. Step 1: seduce the one man who despises marriage more than her!

However, she hugely underestimates her target. Major General Beaufort Drake. Fearsome private investigator, he’s notoriously cold and visibly battle-scarred. But Millie’s scandalously public kiss awakens a deeply suppressed desire in Drake. Instead of allowing them both to succumb to shame he does the unthinkable and offers for her hand in a convenient marriage.

Nothing prepares them for the fireworks when a fearless damsel collides with a dangerous Major General! And as their secret missions align they face their hardest test on the glittering battlefield – a week-long wedding house party where there is nowhere to escape…only new and wicked lessons to be learnt!

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in the third-person POV of Millie and Beau (Drake). 

The book works as a standalone though the characters have met in the earlier one. Reading that is not mandatory but could help see that the MCs had a couple of conversations (banter of sorts).

This series is predominantly steamy romance (~4). The mystery and danger are a subplot and take center stage only in the last quarter. The writing has a contemporary flavor as most books in this genre tend to be.

There’s quite a lot of drama in this one – evil stepmother, shitty exes (jealousy and all that), a struggling relationship (or the lack of it) between the main characters, the mystery of the gang, etc. Some of it works.

For me, the bright spot was Billy Bright, the young lad from book one. Boy, the kid brightened up the scenes whenever he was around. Lady Phillipa, once again, makes her presence felt. I hope she gets her own book.

While the previous book also had a dark backstory for the FMC, the chosen track in this book did not appeal to me. A certain scene, especially around 15% was unexpected. What made sense in the previous book doesn’t work here since the characters and the resolutions are different. Just look at that yellow cover and the flowery design on it. I didn’t expect something this triggering to happen. What’s worse is that the person responsible doesn’t even pay for their actions. No justice! Also, after a point, the issue isn’t even discussed again.

There’s one more random piece of information about a different character that’s revealed and left hanging. Possible that it will be tackled in the next book. Since I did guess a bit from the earlier scene, I knew what the trigger would be. It might affect other readers, though.

Quite a few issues are supposed to be presumed as settled (sorted off page). This doesn’t make the ending as satisfying as it should be. I wanted a more comprehensive approach to tying up at least the major subplots. Only one gets a sort of resolution.

To summarize, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal has its moments but doesn’t appeal to me as much as the previous book in the series. I had high hopes for this since I liked both characters, but the execution wasn’t great. Hopefully, things will be better in the next book. Fingers crossed!

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Darcy McGuire

Darcy McGuire is a high school counsellor who grew up in the wilds of New Zealand but happily settled in the Pacific Northwest. In between dodging territorial geese, gathering duck eggs, and taking the dog for long walks, Darcy loves writing about fierce female protagonists who may dodge daggers and bullets but never seem to escape Cupid’s Arrow.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @AuthorDarcyMcGuire

Instagram: @authordarcymcguire

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DarcyMcGuireNews

***

This has been a stop on the #ALadysLessonInScandal blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by! 

Murder at Wintertide by Fleur Hitchcock - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th Oct 2024

Genre: Middle-Grade Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoy the chilly mystery! 

Young George is excited to spend Christmas with his Dad and Grandpa at the rented house named Wintertide. When he sees a sudden light on the cliff and hears about a dead body found in the sea, George wonders if the events are connected. Isla, his cousin, seems to have the same doubts. Soon, the tweens band together to find out more and solve the mystery, not realizing that it could very well put their lives at risk. 

The story comes in George’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a short prologue about a body drifting in and out of the sea in the third-person POV. Then, it switches to George’s first-person narrative in the present tense. The kid and his dad are traveling to meet their family for joint celebrations (Grandpa’s birthday and Christmas). 

There’s a bit of a mystery right in the beginning about some people arguing on the road. We slowly get more information about the family dynamics, new members, the boy’s favorite ones, etc. Since it is in his POV, we don’t always know much about the others. However, this slowly changes and the undercurrents become clearer. 

The setting is perfect for the mystery. Lyme Regis is a coastal town, a bit away from the mainline. It has high cliffs, an extensive beach, and beautiful streets. The weather alternates between windy, rainy, snowy, and chilly. Naturally, this makes the mystery more interesting. 

The other kid, Isla is sweet. George is a different kind of sweet. Both are easy to like and root for. Their contrasting personalities and the slowly budding friendship between the new cousins add a nice personal touch to the plot. Of course, there are many other personal elements since this is a family trip. 

The mystery blends archeology, history, action, adventure, danger, some attempted sleuthing, and all the things children would love. As expected, the kids get into situations that could be way dangerous in real life. At least, the adults here are not fully absent. They do try to keep the children safe, and the kids also realize they are getting into tricky stuff (even if it doesn’t stop them).

The culprit is easy to guess thanks to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues scattered throughout. It should keep the young readers engaged and make them guess about the whos and whys. 

There’s some light humor sprinkled at random, making George an entertaining narrator. I like the subtle change in him as things change towards the end. 

The ending is heartwarming and sweet, just as how it should be for the target age group. There are some bittersweet moments too, but hope and love do triumph over everything else. 

To summarize, Murder at Wintertide is a steady-paced mystery with young sleuths solving a crime and discovering more than what they want. This is my first book by the author, and I’m curious to read more. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #MurderAtWintertide

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Cozy Witchy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A good debut; cozy read 

Hecate Goodwin aka Kate lives in a cozy cottage near the Ipswich forest in the same compound as her family house, Goodwin Manor. As a hedge witch, she prefers solitude and the company of her black cat, Merlin. 

Suddenly, Kate is bombarded by nightmares, strange messages, her older sister Miranda, and Matthew Cypher, a man who once tricked her. Kate has to host the annual Halloween gathering while dealing with what would occur on her birthday (the same date). Matthew’s arrival complicates things as he comes from a coven that practices forbidden magic. 

However, Matthew may be the only one to help her when the truth of her dead mother’s dark magic practices comes to the front. Turns out, Kate’s mother hid many secrets. Whom should Kate trust? What should she do? 

The story comes in Kate’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Isn’t that an adorably cozy cover? Despite the word dark in the title, the book doesn’t get too dark or dive deep into scary elements. It has a few scenes and some danger but the overall vibe is pretty much comfy. 

The setting is atmospheric, be it the forest, the cottage, the manor, or the little bits of village we get to see. I could feel the mist and the darkness of the shadows lurking around and waiting for the FMC. 

A lot of space is taken up by routine activities like cooking, eating, etc. This is another reason for the cozy vibe. The story progresses a little during these scenes but not all readers will enjoy it. 

Kate’s arc is decent (she has her flaws) but the others are pretty straightforward. Matthew gets some sort of grey shades but then we know he is the hero, so it’s only Kate and others doubting his intentions. I do wish at least the main side characters had a little more depth. 

This is a romance with some paranormal danger thrown in. While I did like the possibly enemies-to-lovers (at least for Kate) trope, the love happens too fast and some of it feels unbelievable. 

The blurb calls this a celebration of the Halloween season, which is an apt description. Shaman is a big day for the witches, and the preparations start early. There’s a lot of pumpkin as well (carving, latte, etc.). 

The pacing is steady. It may feel slower at times but I think the momentum sustains pretty well. 

An epilogue would have been nice too. It was needed as I had a few questions about some motives, etc. 

There are recipes at the end (yay) for the various dishes mentioned in the book. I like a couple of those and might try them one day. 

To summarize, A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy witchy romance with a touch of darkness and danger. It is a good debut work (and no kitchen sink). I look forward to reading more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ADarkAndSecretMagic

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Dual Timeline, Romance 

3.3 Stars (almost an outliner)

One Liner: No magic realism; not that impressed 

1987

Augusta Stern had to finally retire from her job as a pharmacist. She moves to Florida upon her niece’s advice. However, not having a busy routine makes her restless. Add to it the reentry of Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy she knew in her teenage years, disturbs her peace of mind. 

As a young girl in the 1920s, Augusta was proud of her father’s pharmacy and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Her great-aunt Esther’s arrival brings many changes in their lives, including the biggest one that leaves Augusta with many regrets. 

Sixty years later, can Augusta find a way to move on with her life and spend the remaining time in peace? What happened back then? 

The story comes in Augusta’s third-person POV in both timelines, with Irving and other POVs at random. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m more of an outliner for this. I wish I could have liked it more.

Firstly, there is no magic realism here. There’s possibly an attempt made but it is just fancy descriptions and wishful thinking. Every healer woman is not a witch nor does she work with magic even if people think otherwise. 

This is mainly a second-chance romance for characters in their 80s. While it is great to read books with senior citizens where they lead active lives, seeing the MCs act childish doesn’t really feel heartwarming. I did empathize with the FMC’s resentment to an extent. 

The side characters like Esther and Shirley could have had more development. Esther especially could have been a lot more than what she ends up here. It would have also helped create a more definite setup for magic realism. And a special yay to Jackie. Love her! 

I do like the topics chosen – women in medicine, gender bias, parental death, medical advancements, bullying, mafia, etc. However, when I realized the core of the plot rests on miscommunication (or the lack of communication), I lost interest. It’s bad enough to read 30 and 40-year-old characters making a mess of relationships. These people are in their 80s and still cannot have a decent conversation until the end! 

Also, the 1987 (present timeline) feels like it is set in the 2000s. My guess is that the age was calculated from the 1920s to decide when the present timeline should be. However, the rest of it feels more contemporary (like after 2010) except for the lack of mobile phones and social media.

The pacing dips in the middle. Though we see both timelines, there isn’t much movement in the present one.

We get the first chapter from Irving’s POV around 35% or so. By then, I was sure this would continue in Augusta’s. The sudden change pulled me out of the story. We also get a few scenes from the omnipresent third-person. The changes should have been introduced earlier. For example, having the first Irving’s chapter at 10-12% would have set the pattern for the rest of the book. 

The Jewish rep is well done without providing too much detail but making it stand out just the same. 

To summarize, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a cozy read about first love, second chances, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and women in medicine. I wish I liked it more but it is not a bad book by any means. Guess I wasn’t in the mood for it. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for eARC. T

#NetGalley