Summary:
Hearts are lighter and wishes burn a little brighter at Christmas...
Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn't quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids ... until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie's left, the baby powder spell of Bridger, and the feel of her husband's hand in hers, Elizabeth worried that they moved on without her. That she missed too much. That perhaps she wasn't right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them.
But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the heart of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning?
My review...
This is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the prior books, and I had no problem following this. I've never read anything by Thayne, but she's obviously a gifted storyteller. I'm likely to pick up her future books.
The author handled depression in a sensitive manner. This emotional tale is a great read for the holiday season, as themes of love and hope are key. I loved the characters, particularly Luke's son. They're so well drawn and realistic. It's a sweet, quick read that would make a wonderful Hallmark Channel movie.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a review.
COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Author: RaeAnne Thayne
ISBN: 9781335504999
Publication Date: 9/24/2019
Publisher: HQN Books
Buy Links:
Author Bio: New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website: www.raeannethayne.com
Summary:
USA TODAY Bestselling author Sheila Roberts takes readers to a small, snowbound town, where a young woman fights to save her family's charity that brings Christmas to families in need, and a stranded millionaire loses his heart and finds the true meaning of Christmas.
Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters.
Olivia Berg's charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of the biggest donors since way back when Olivia's grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he's declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.
Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don't have money to spare, you don't have money to share. You'd think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.
With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia's Christmas budget depends on Hightower's contribution. She's focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.
When Guy's Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he's relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What's a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn't learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?
My review...
This is a charming holiday story, also perfect for the Hallmark Channel movies. The setting is perfect and so well-described that I felt a part of the town. I will admit that the lead characters did make me scratch my head at times. Olivia came across as a bit pushy and rude at times, which isn’t the best way to approach things when dealing with charities. Themes such as miscommunication, rash judgments, second chances, and, of course, love are key. The ending wasn’t quite what I expected, but it’s a quick read that’s a great match for a cold winter day and a warm drink.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a review.
Christmas from the Heart
Sheila Roberts
On Sale Date: September 24, 2019
9780778309611, 0778309614
Trade Paperback
$16.99 USD, $21.99 CAD
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
304 pages
Author Bio:
Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. Her novels have been published in several languages. Her book, Angel Lane, was an Amazon Top Ten Romance pick for 2009. Her holiday perennial, On Strike for Christmas, was made into a movie for the Lifetime Movie Network and her novel, The Nine Lives of Christmas, was made into a movie for Hallmark. You can visit Sheila on Twitter and Facebook or at her website (www.sheilasplace.com)
Social Links:
Facebook: @funwithsheila
Twitter: @_Sheila_Roberts
Instagram: @funwithsheila
SUMMARY:
Come home to Silver
Springs for the holidays, where broken hearts learn to love again...together.
So much for forever.
When Elle Devlin's rockstar husband ditches her on his way to the top, she
takes her two daughters to her sister's place in Silver Springs for the
holidays, hoping family can heal her broken heart. But comfort comes in
unexpected packages when she crosses paths with Tobias Richardson.
The moment Tobias spots
Elle, he recognizes a sadness he knows all too well. After spending thirteen
years in prison paying for his regretful past, Tobias is ready to make amends,
and maybe helping Elle is the way to do it. But offering her a shoulder to cry
on ignites a powerful attraction, and a desire neither saw coming.
My review...
Themes of healing, second chances, and redemption make this book a charming holiday story. It's part of a series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. The tale unfolds through multiple POVs, which gives the reader a full look into their lives. When the book started, I expected the heroine to end up being quite superficial, but, thankfully, that wasn't the case. I really liked the character development and growth in Tobias. Novak creates characters that are easy to root for, and she makes Silver Springs a place readers will want to visit.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a review.
CHRISTMAS IN SILVER SPRINGS
Author: Brenda Novak
ISBN: 9780778308256
Publication Date: October 29, 2019
Publisher: MIRA BOOKS
BUY LINKS:
Brenda
Novak, a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, has
penned over sixty novels. She is a six-time nominee for the RITA Award and has
won the National Reader's Choice, the Bookseller's Best, the Bookbuyer's Best,
and many other awards. She also runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity to
raise money for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). To date,
she's raised $2.5 million. For more about Brenda, please visit
www.brendanovak.com.
SOCIAL:
TWITTER: @Brenda_Novak
Insta: @authorbrendanovak
