A Christmas Serenade + Giveaway

Let the joy of the season sweep you off your feet with this charming collection of novellas from four of your favorite historical romance authors! From serendipitous meetings to second chances, each story brims with holiday cheer and unexpected love.

“A Caroling Christmas” by Jennifer Moore 
Arthur Stanford, a reclusive scientist, reluctantly agrees to host a Dickensian Christmas party planned by Eliza Hopewell. As the holidays—and Eliza—weave their irresistible magic, will Arthur choose love over solitude? 

“A Carol So Bright” by Kasey Stockton 
Lillian Hartley, a woman who loves to sing but has lost her confidence, is reunited with the man who once broke her heart. As they rediscover their connection, will the holiday season spark a new song in their hearts? 

“Christmas at Bellingham” by Katie Stewart Stone  
Bellingham Hall bustles with holiday cheer as Esther Harris endeavors to reconcile the dowager countess with her estranged son amidst family secrets and unexpected love with a childhood friend. 

“Christmas in Amorwich” by Anneka R. Walker 
Amelia Park is disillusioned by romance after Noah Brooks failed to propose. When the pair is reunited for the holidays, Noah realizes he may have waited too long—winning Amelia’s heart now might require a Christmas miracle.

My Review:

A wonderful collection of holiday novellas that not only focus on love, but on the true spirit of Christmas, including forgiveness and reconciliation. Uplifting and toe-curling!

“A Caroling Christmas” by Jennifer Moore – If you told me I’d be singing high praises for a holiday romance featuring a host of arachnids, I would have laughed hysterically while speedily fleeing the room! But here I am, besotted over zoologist Arthur and his unlikely troop of matchmaking critters. He’s a classic absent-minded professor type, clumsy and bumbling but with the best of intentions. Eliza is a party planner with excellent attention to detail and the ability to pivot for any catastrophe. Her astounding organizational skills come in handy quite a few times over the course of the Stanton’s Dickensian Christmas party! Misunderstandings lead to stolen moments, an earth shattering kiss and a happily ever after by Christmas Day!

“A Carol So Bright” by Kasey Stockton – The second chance, brother’s best friend tropes play out to perfection in this heartwarming novella. Lily has harboured a secret love for her brother’s best friend even though she knows he has an understanding with another lady. Emotional angst ensues when he stays with her family over Christmas. Love the part music plays in their romance which includes a most swoonworthy declaration of love!

“Christmas at Bellingham”by Katie Stewart Stone   – Esther and Andrew are reunited over Christmas in this friends to more holiday romance. She’s a lower class girl with a dowager benefactor which has put Esther at odds with the rest of her family. I get the feeling this novella is an addition to a series since there’s a ton of characters from both families introduced early on and a family history it felt like I should know. So, a lot to digest for a new reader, especially with the shorter word count.

“Christmas in Amorwich” by Anneka R. Walker – Amelia and Noah are a pair of star-crossed lovers who make things worse through rampant miscommunication and mixed messages. I was both exasperated and amused by them! Nothing like romantical shenanigan nonsense during a Regency Christmas house party! Loved the seasonal touches and adored that hard-won happily-ever-after! At last!!

Edam and Weep

When a fundraiser turns fatal, Carly Hale is confronted by a trail of clues that all point to her mother as the culprit . . .

When the local high school hosts a fundraiser, restaurant owner Carly Hale is happy to sign on and enlists her mother’s help selling her much-loved grilled cheese sandwiches at the school. But no good deed goes unpunished, and the vendor stationed next to them at the event turns out to be aggressively rude and bullies them both. Never one to be pushed, Carly’s mom gives the man a vicious tongue-lashing and assumes that’s the end of it—until later that day when the man is found dead, strangled with her scarf.

With her mom on the hook for murder, Carly has no choice but to find out who killed the man and why. It turns out the victim had always been bad news and had racked up a long list of enemies. One of those enemies may have been the menacing stranger Carly saw lurking on the edges of the fundraiser, but her intuition tells her the murdered man’s girlfriend may have been mixed up in it too. Certain one of them—or both—did the deadly deed, Carly realizes too late that all her sleuthing has landed her next on the killer’s hit list . . .

Includes tantalizing grilled-cheese sandwich recipes!

My Review:

Warning: reading this book may result in extreme grilled cheese cravings. Read at own risk. And I love that the author delights her readers with tantalizing adaptations of this classic sandwich staple. I had just as much fun reading about the ingenuous recipe ideas as I did following the mystery!

And that mystery — delightfully twisty-turny with plenty of suspects since the victim was so obnoxious! And, sadly, one of those suspects is Carly’s mom so…a girl sleuth has to do what a girl sleuth has to do! And this murder investigation couldn’t come at a worse time! Because Carly’s personal life is already complicated enough.

Love these characters and the growth we’ve seen in them all with each new book. The cozy aspects of this mystery are so heartwarming and comforting. Friends and family who always have your back. A cute rescue pup. The restaurant that’s like a second home to half the town. And, of course, the romance! Happy sigh!

The author has struck the perfect balance between cozy and mystery and both aspects of the story kept me frantically turning pages….well, avidly listening since I enjoyed the audio book narrated by the wonderful Mia Gaskin. She’s been the narrator for the entire series and I love that continuity. She has done a fantastic job with these characters which keeps me turning to the audio editions for my Grilled Cheese Mysteries fix.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Five Golden Wings

Readers will flock to NYT bestselling author Donna Andrews’ latest installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.

Two of Meg’s cousins, members of Mother’s vast Hollingsworth clan, are getting married, and both have chosen Caerphilly for their Christmas destination wedding . . on the same day, in the same venues. But while they’re cousins they’re also lifelong enemies. Mother’s efforts to keep the peace are wearing her down, and the battling brides (and their mothers) are making the holiday season miserable for everyone. So Meg steps in to keep the peace. And it was going badly even before she stumbles over the murdered body of the wedding photographer.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of suspects. The photographer has been hitting on many of the guests, bridesmaids . . . possibly even one or both of the brides. He’s also been slinking about and taking candid shots that are unflattering, embarrassing . . . occasionally even incriminating.

Can Meg help the local police nab the killer in time for the weddings to go on as planned? Unless, of course, the killer was one of the brides or grooms, in which case she needs to identify the killer in time to reveal their identity when she hears those fateful words, “If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else forever hold your peace.”

My Review:

What would Christmas be without a new Meg Langslow seasonal mystery to get us into the holiday mood? And this 38th (Yes, 38!!! and I’ve read them all…multiple times) book is full of all the charm and humour unique to this incredible series. Discovering a new Meg Langslow mystery is the highlight of my reading year and the Christmas ones are extra special.

Of course, Christmas in Caerphilly has the nasty habit of including a festive murder and Meg is always in the middle of the intrigue! Luckily she has a great rapport with the Chief of police and her meddling comes in handy…especially since she always seems to be the one to discover the victim. Love that predictability and the way the author manages to infuse the real spirit of Christmas in the midst of all the murder and mayhem.

This Christmas two bridezillas are putting a damper on Meg’s Christmas celebrations. Love the nod to the first book in the series (three bridezillas in that one!) but even though the two books share a similar theme they are very different. There are some great plot twists with the mystery which kept me guessing and I love the way the author was able to include so many of my favourite characters in the seasonal sleuthing. And, of course, there’s plenty of humour and Langslow family hijinks to liven things up even more.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Five Golden Wings’, narrated by Bernadette Dunne, who has been with the series from the very beginning. I get such a cozy homecoming kind of feeling every time I listen to one of the Meg Langslow books. Dunne has created unique voices for the many characters and has kept them consistent over all these years! And she captures the humour and heart of these stories to perfection.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Trail of Suspicion + Giveaway

Uncovering buried secrets
could be fatal for a K-9 and his handler.

When crime scene technician Aurora “Rory” James and her K-9, Moose, stumble upon a dead body in the woods, she finds herself fighting off a killer who wants to hide his crimes. Although she’s the criminal’s next target, Rory doesn’t want protection from Sergeant Asher Mitchell—the man who implicated her father in her mother’s disappearance years ago. But as the attacks escalate and they discover that a second body belongs to Rory’s missing mother, Asher realizes that the murderer will do anything to stop the police investigation. Can Rory and Asher catch the culprit before they become the next victims?

My Review:

Whoa – what a riveting romantic suspense! An emotional and thrilling story that finds reunited high school friends facing down a killer. Brilliant pacing with a nice rhythm between action scenes and more contemplative ones. And there’s lots of emotional angst in those down times because Rory and Asher didn’t part on the best of terms.

Asher has regretted the decision he made ten years ago that splintered their friendship. Rory has been nursing bitterness ever since. Getting deep into each of their perspectives made for a compelling read and their hard-won happily-ever-after that much more rewarding.

And then there’s the suspense. Pierce did an amazing job of peppering in all kinds of forensic and K-9 details which made the story even more fascinating and added an air of authenticity to the investigative side of the suspense. And the way the author used Rory’s forensic knowledge when she’s in dire danger was ingenious.

I really enjoyed listening to the audio book. Narrator Melissa Moran’s performance matched the energy of the story, from the action scenes to the romantic ones. A wonderful listening experience.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Double Protection Duty

When a toddler goes missing,
a K-9 team must move fast.

A family trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns into a nightmare when K-9 officer Kenyon Graves discovers one of his twin boys has been abducted. Now Kenyon needs the help of his team and his longtime friend Raina McCord to save his toddler son. But the kidnappers are elusive—and intent on killing anyone who stands in the way of their sinister scheme. With threats closing in, time is of the essence to catch these criminals…before Kenyon and Raina pay the ultimate price.

My Review:

Who can resist a dedicated beagle K-9 officer? Especially one named Peanut! I love everything about these Love Inspired Suspense K-9 series, but especially the different dogs who come with their own unique personalities and human/dog bonding experiences.

Peanut’s partner, Kenyon is trying to get his life back together after years of trauma. His wife died leaving him a single parent to infant twins. He was shot in the line of duty, lost his memory and struggled through exhaustive rehab. His best friend Raina has been his rock through it all and now that things are finally settling into some kind of normal, he’s beginning to realize that he might have feelings for Raina that go beyond friendship. But before he can figure out what that means, danger hits way too close to home.

A kidnapped child. Multiple attacks that put Raina at risk. Suddenly everything Kenyon hold’s dear is in danger. This tense, action packed suspense featuring a friends to more romance kept me riveted right up to the last page.

This is the seventh novel in the ‘Dakota K-9 Unit’ continuity series but reads well as a standalone (has it’s own unique suspense plot) though there is more page time focusing on the gun smuggling ring with all the team because we’re getting close to the series’ grand finale. Eep!!! I can’t wait for ‘Final Showdown’s‘ release in October since there is some ominous foreshadowing at the end of this story. Plus it will feature the romance I have been waiting for! Eeeeppp! I’m so excited!

I happily listened to the audio book of ‘Double Protection Duty’ narrated by Marisa Blake whose performance added extra tension to the romance and desperation to the suspense. Really loved the way she brought this story to life.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Disappearance in Alaska + Giveaway

A kidnapper will stop at nothingto silence the only witness.

The last thing Ava Kindred remembers before being thrown off a cliff and left for dead in the Alaskan wilderness is witnessing her friend’s abduction. And when she’s saved by local police chief Mark Tremblay, she enlists his help to track down her friend. Except no trace of this woman’s existence can be found and their search only leads to dead ends. But they can’t deny that Ava’s life is in danger. With time running out and unknown enemies just steps behind, can they discover what really happened before Ava’s permanently silenced?

My Review:

Another compulsive romantic suspense from Elisabeth Rees! And this one has a kinda psychological thriller vibe that is so compelling! Ava’s desperation is palpable, her confusion heartbreaking and her struggle to find someone she can trust amps up the tension that much more.

Mark is a hyperviligent sheriff who finds uncanny parallels between Ava’s situation and the way his sister died. He’s struggling with grief and misplaced guilt and is determined he won’t fail Ava the way he did his sister. His journey towards acceptance and closure is so moving and provides a lovely inspirational component to the story.

The action and danger is nonstop and there’s an aspect of the suspense that makes it even edgier. (I can’t say more without posting spoilers and I’d never do that!) Just know this book is chockfull of compulsive page-turning goodness from start to finish!

Or, in my case, compulsive listening since I enjoyed the audio edition of ‘Disappearance in Alaska’ narrated by Jennifer Sun Bell. She captured all the tension and drama perfectly which made for a wonderful listening experience.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Code Name Edelweiss + Giveaway

“What I am looking for–what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss–is a spy.”

Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and his courageous spies uncover a storm of Nazi terror in their own backyard.

In the summer of 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. But in Los Angeles, no-nonsense secretary Liesl Weiss has concerns much closer to home. The Great Depression is tightening its grip and Liesl is the sole supporter of two children, an opinionated mother, and a troubled brother.

Leon Lewis is a Jewish lawyer who has watched Adolf Hitler’s rise to power–and the increase in anti-Semitism in America–with growing alarm. He believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever known. The trouble is, authorities scoff at his dire warnings.

When Liesl loses her job at MGM, her only choice is to work with Leon Lewis and the mysterious Agent Thirteen to spy on her friends and neighbors in her German American community. What Leon Lewis and his spies find is more chilling–and more dangerous–than any of them suspected.

Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story, unknown until recent years: How a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood.

My Review:

Well, now that I’ve read Code Name Edelweiss, I have no idea why I procrastinated reading it! I was so wary because of the Hollywood setting that I kept talking myself out of picking it up from my TBR pile but, once I finally did…wow!

What an emotionally impactful read! And at such an interesting time in world history. Landsem really brings the Pre World War Two, Depression Era setting to life. Hitler is coming into power in Germany but German American Liesl’s worries are much closer to home: how to keep her family fed and housed after she loses her secretarial job at MGM studios. Her scrappy determination finds her employed as a spy for a Jewish lawyer who is worried that anti-semitism is on the rise among the disenfranchised in Los Angeles.

Liesl doesn’t believe that Nazi sentiments are prevalent in her community, but jobs are scarce and the pay is generous so she goes undercover at the German social club. Another spy has already infiltrated the group, the mysterious Agent Thirteen, and we get portions of the story from his point of view and spend a good part of the book not knowing his real identity which is such an intriguing plot twist.

Liesl soon discovers that there is a sinister underbelly to the social club. Nazi sympathizers are gathering forcesa nd plotting their own homegrown operation. Especially chilling since this is based on fact – Lawyer Leon Lewis and his anti-Nazi spy ring did actually thwart the American Nazi movement.

A cloak-and-dagger suspense paired with complicated family dynamics create an angsty page-turning read. But what really struck me was Liesl’s personal growth. I didn’t actually like her in the beginning. There were choices she made that I found hard to understand and her willingness to just ignore any ‘unpleasantness’ like that would make it go away was infuriating. But she’s on a journey of self-discovery and learns some gut wrenching lessons before she finally finds her voice. If not me, who? If not now, when?

Dangerous Montana Inheritance + Giveaway

A shocking bequest
could cost her life.

Attacked on the property she unexpectedly inherited, Rose Balfour barely escapes with the help of former hostage negotiator Henry Walsh. Someone is determined to keep her from testifying at a loan shark’s murder trial. But when she does and the danger continues, Rose suspects there are answers in the house left to her. Teaming up with Henry, Rose uncovers surprising evidence and a powerful enemy determined to silence them. Not even Henry’s isolated ranch is a safe refuge. With their lives on the line and captors closing in, can Rose and Henry expose the web of secrets—before they vanish forever?

My Review:

I love a good inheritance story and this one is fantastic! Such a great backdrop for a suspense and this one gives all those edgy vibes and a heap of mystery. The opening scene is all heart-stopping action and sets the stage for all the tension and drama to come. And, mercy, but the pursuits are relentless and the danger increasing. Makes for an unputdownable kind of read.

Henry and Rose knew each other in high school, though this isn’t a second chance romance. They both struggled with challenging family situations and coped quite differently which leads to some perception problems in their current situation. It takes a bit of time for barriers to be dropped and trust accepted. They make a great team…when Henry isn’t being overbearingly protective and Rose isn’t being stubborn! The push/pull of their relationship adds an extra zip to the developing romance.

Treachery, betrayal and rising danger create chaos and uncertainty, drawing Henry and Rose closer as they struggle to solve an impossible mystery. Love the way they draw on their faith in God during the toughest times. A poignant reminder that no matter what we face, He is right beside us all the way.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Dangerous Montana Inheritance’ narrated by Emma Lysy and enjoyed the way her performance brought this story to life. Made for a compelling listening experience.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

A Weary World Rejoices + Giveaway

With nothing going as planned, will Christmas be a complete disaster this year?

The people in these stories are tired, weighed down by the struggles and cares of life. In the midst of their challenging situations, each receives an unexpected letter.

❅ The Christmas Kiss – Stacy Monson
❅ Unremarkable Sue – Eleanor Bertin
❅ Love, Christmas – Johnnie Alexander
❅ Gifting Christmas – Angela D. Meyer
❅ The Back Door Christmas Tour Company – Sara Davison

Songs like “O Holy Night” are filling the airwaves and promising hope for a weary world, but what will it take for the men and women in these stories to experience true joy this Christmas?

A Weary World Rejoices is a collection of five stories about discovering joy in the midst of life’s challenges—at Christmas and every day of the year.

My Review:

An eclectic collection of short stories and novellas that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Each story focuses on discovering love, generosity and hope in the midst of troubles during the holiday season.

The Christmas Kiss by Stacy Monson – Warning: chocolate cravings guaranteed if you read this story! Piper’s new chocolate shop is a bustling success, until disaster strikes and threatens her business. Property manager Finn is eager to come to her rescue and a sweet, awkward, hesitant romance begins to blossom.

Uremarkable Sue by Eleanor Bertin – A short story featuring a young woman who is often overlooked as she quietly serves others until her true worth is finally recognized.

Love, Christmas by Johnnie Alexander – Another short story that illustrates the beauty of giving. A grieving widow plays secret Santa to a struggling college student and the mystery gift giving snowballs through the town.

Gifting Christmas by Angela D. Meyer – Weary innkeepers who have closed their inn for the holidays (and a much deserved rest) welcome in a diverse mix of stranded travellers in the middle of a snowstorm. Chaos ensues and everyone one very nearly misses out on the spirit of Christmas!

The Back Door Christmas Tour Company by Sara Davison – Christmas in Tahiti! This novella has a mysterious air, an almost magical (supernatural) element which set the mood beautifully. A group of strangers are gathered together to create a memorable Christmas holiday that somehow meets all their varied needs. It features a significant inspirational thread that is seamlessly woven throughout the story and includes a light romance.

A Murder Most Fowl

A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.

When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.   

With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. Relying on their assistant-turned-friend Rylie for help, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.  

This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.

My Review:

So much to love about this new cozy mystery series! The food truck theme is a stroke of genius and, in this first book, Beth has entered them in a cooking competition for a new food truck reality show which brought a whole lot of likely suspects into our sphere once the murder happens. I had a lot of fun armchair sleuthing right along with Beth and Rylie (and a reluctant Seth.)

Of course there’s the classic handsome detective who might just become a love interest for Beth, plus a secondary romance for her bestie Rylie which makes my romantical heart so, so happy. The mystery is well plotted with clever twists and turns and even a few gasp out loud moments. Beth is impulsive and tends to speak first, think later, which gets her into some interesting situations. Let’s just say she’s not the most subtle amateur sleuth out there! And I loved the twin dynamics – lots of sibling bickering and teasing while stoic best friend, Rylie tries to stay neutral.

The author has achieved a wonderful balance between cozy and mystery and it’s all delivered with her special brand of humour that included more than a few laugh out loud moments for me.

I listened to the audio edition of ‘A Murder Most Fowl’ narrated by Tina Wolstencroft. She did a brilliant job delivering the snappy dialogue for a variety of characters and her comedic delivery was spot on too which really added to my listening enjoyment.

My thanks to Spotify Audiobooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.