Falling for Keeps + Giveaway

He was supposed to be one kiss…not the neighbor across the street.

As the children’s librarian in Autumn Ridge, Emma spends her days surrounded by happy endings. But between restoring her old farmhouse, keeping her family together, and searching for a decent man in a very small town, her own romance feels permanently shelved.

Then one impulsive night at a bar, she kisses Carson Price—the popular guy she crushed on in high school.

For Emma, it’s a reckless little dream come true.

For Carson, it’s a fun night with a beautiful woman he never expects to see again.

Until the next morning… when he moves in across the street.

Newly divorced, cynical, and focused on raising his daughter while rebuilding the dental practice he just bought, Carson has no interest in love. Marriage? Never again. Romance? Absolutely not.

Friendship with his warm, bookish, unexpectedly tempting neighbor? That might be safe enough.

Except Emma has never been good at doing anything halfway. And the more he lets her into his life, the harder it is for either of them to pretend friendship is all this is.

She’s ready to fall. He’s determined not to. But in a small town, staying just friends might be the hardest thing of all.

My Review:

Hello! Glasses wearing librarian heroine looking for love in a picture perfect small town where Cupid seems to be working overtime this autumn?! Yes please! Bonus points because Emma is a children’s librarian and there were some fun bookish references throughout the story.

Honest truth: was not over the moon about a dentist hero…I just can’t, major dentist phobia here…mind you if Carson was my dentist I’d probably feel differently. Like sugar binging to ‘grow’ cavities so I could see him more than a couple of times a year. Bwahahaha!

And what follows is a thoughtful, sweet and swoony (cue a few toe-curling kisses!) romance. There’s a wee bit of a kinda/sorta love triangle, but not really (doesn’t that make sense?) which scared me a bit but, phew, really nothing to fret over at all! Handled beautifully by the author, I’m relieved to say.

I enjoyed being back in Autumn Ridge and getting to visit with some familiar faces – this is my third ‘Falling for Autumn’ book. It’s a multi-authored continuity series set in the same small town and during the same timeline, but each book reads well as a standalone too.

I listened to the audible edition and enjoyed the dual narration by Stephanie Rose and Logan Anare. Always fun when we get two performers for a rom/com. I thought both actors matched well with Kasey Stockton’s storytelling style and characters.

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!!

Cabin Crush + Giveaway

Rachael I’ve had a crush on my brother’s best friend my entire life. Once, in high school, I even got a taste of what it would be like to be with him thanks to some well-placed incredible and humiliating. We always spend Christmas with Max’s family at our cabin, and every year I have to suffer through a blissful week with him in a completely platonic way. His steady stream of girlfriends have made him off limits . . . until now.

It’s Christmas.

We’re at the cabin together.

And Max Dawson is single.

Max I’ve never looked forward to Christmas less in my entire life. My parents’ holiday will be ruined after I tell them my news, and to make matters worse, I blabbed to Rachael on the drive out to the cabin. Now she has to keep my secret until I’m ready to share with my family.

Which is probably why she’s acting so weird. Watching me. Touching me. Flirting. It would be terrible if I wasn’t enjoying it so much. But her brother has made it clear she’s off limits. And besides, I kissed Rachael once, and we all know how that ended.

So we definitely shouldn’t do it again.

Right?

My Review:

A sweet and swoony festive rom/com.

Three tropes I enjoy – brother’s best friend, secret crush and friends to more – mixed in with some delightful holiday shenanigans at a Lake Tahoe cabin. Well, I say cabin, but it’s big enough to hold both Rachel’s and Max’s families.

They’ve been holidaying together forever, just one big happy blended family of sorts. Only Rachel has harboured a secret crush on Max since her early teens. And they have a bit of cringeworthy history so sometimes it’s awkward and Rachel has to give herself pep talks before, during and after each family event. But this Christmas things seem a little different. More sizzle, some unintended (possibly) flirting and, of course, there’s mistletoe.

Loved the families’ holiday traditions and the way they helped progress the romance. Wonderful secondary characters add to the fun (and drama!) There’s even a hint of Christmas magic! An entertaining Christmas read that delivers all the feels.