Christmas Reads

I love Christmas books. They give me the feelings that actual Christmas no longer does. They leave me feeling warm and hopeful, while actual Christmas leaves me feeling stressed and anxious. I'm not a Grinch at all, however, I do struggle with Christmas. My favourite part is all the decorations and lights. My least favourite is shopping. It's become way too stressful and frustrating. I also lost my grandma on December 22nd, 2011, so Christmas just isn't the same anymore.

That all being said, I do love the feelings that Christmas books give me and I always look forward to reading them each year. So far this year, I've only read two. The first was Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber. I've read a few Macomber books and she definitely knows how to get that Christmas feeling flowing. This book wasn't my favourite. It had a great premise, but it fell a little flat for me.

Ashley has to get home to her mom in Seattle for Christmas and Dash has to get to Seattle for a job interview, but there's a problem, all flights are booked. They both decide to rent a car, but there's only one car left. Despite being strangers, they decide to share the car. I love road trip books, and this one had its moments but I had some issues. I did enjoy the banter between Ashley and Dash. I did not enjoy how elusive Dash was with his job interview. I just wanted to know what job he was interviewing for.

The entire FBI/mistaken identity of Ashley was a little too much and too unbelievable for me. I honestly could have done without that entire setting. The ending was very anti-climatic, and it all ended way too perfectly. I expect Christmas books to be cheesy, but this was almost too cheesy. I did give this 3 stars because I was looking for something quick and cheesy and that is exactly what I got.

I received this book through NetGalley

The next one I read was One Wish in Manhattan by Mandy Baggot. I really adored this one! Hayley is heading to New York with her nine year old daughter Angel with one wish: to find Angel's dad. Angel is the product of a one night stand in New York and now Hayley is determined to find him, even though they've had no contact whatsoever since that one night.

Oliver Drummond is the CEO of a large company, and has a reputation of being a bit of a ladies man. A chance encounter at a Chinese restaurant sets the whole book in motion, but Oliver also has a secret. He believes he has a life threatening gene defect that could end his life at any moment.

As I said, I really liked this book. I could see the setting perfectly, and to see New York at Christmas is on my bucket list. Baggot did an incredible job of setting up the scenery and I really did feel like I was there. Angel and Hayley were so much fun. I loved their relationship and banter. It reminded me a little bit of Rory and Lorelai in Gilmore Girls. They got themselves into a few silly situations, but they only added to the story.

Oliver was a little frustrating at times, but I liked his character, too. He was a little misunderstood, and through the book he really came into himself. I liked the romance because while it was a little unbelievable, it was sweet and imperfect.

My only complaint about this book was that it felt a little bit long at times. It dragged a little bit, but I still really enjoyed it and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. It's the perfect book to read during this time of year.

What are your favourite Christmas books? I'm always looking for more to add to my list.

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

From Goodreads: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.
My thoughts: This was such a fast read and one I really enjoyed. This book shows what happens when a rumour rapidly flies through a high school - what it does to those involved directly, and even those who are not directly involved. Everyone knows that there's usually only a smattering of truth in rumours, but when you're in high school and your popularity is on the line, truth doesn't seem to matter. Even when someone gets hurt.

Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective (something I really love), and each chapter reveals more about that fateful night. It also reveals more about the different types of people in high school, from the popular people, to the not so popular people. I really liked Kurt, the quiet genius who doesn't have a lot of friends, but who knows what happened that night. Kurt befriends Alice while the whole school turns away, and while his intentions may not be as pure as you'd think, it all works out for him.

I liked the way the story unfolded. It was a short read, but that worked well in this story because too many more details or more characters might have made the story too jumbled. Instead, it read at the perfect pace with details being released at the right times.

The ending was what made the story for me. I was hoping that Mathieu would throw in an Alice chapter, and was happy when I finally got there. Having the story told from everyone but Alice's perspective made it a unique way to read the story because you have to form your opinion about Alice without actually hearing from her until the very end. I liked Alice before I read her chapter, but I really liked her afterwards.

I rated this four out of five stars based on Goodreads rating system, and I think that teens and people who enjoy YA will really like it.

Review: Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

I will be completely honest and say that what drew me to this book was its cover. I am a sucker for a pretty cover, and this one is beautiful. All that green and the pretty lanterns! That being said, the cover and the book itself did not disappoint at all.

Kate recently lost her husband, Matt, in a biking accident. She and her young daughter, Devin, have been trying to cope with the loss, though Kate hasn't been doing too well. Until one day she wakes up. That same day Devin finds a post card written years ago by Kate's great aunt Eby inviting her back to Lost Lake whenever she gets the chance. Lost Lake is the cottage resort owned and run by Eby and George. Kate decides that she needs to go see how Eby, George, and Lost Lake are doing.

They're not doing very well, apparently. George has since died, and Eby is getting ready to sell Lost Lake to a developer because she wants to return to Europe. Throughout the story, we get to meet the lake's regular summar visitors. Selma (beautiful woman who seems to bewitch males), Bulahdeen (a sweet, grandmotherly type), and Jack (the strong silent type in love with Lisette), as well as Lisette (Eby's best friend who was born without a voice box) who works at the cottages, Wes who was Kate's childhood friend, and various other townspeople.

From the description, it may sound like just another summer by the lake story, but it's much more than that. It's about healing, knowing when, and how, to move on, and waking up. Plus, there's the storyline about an alligator that only Devin can see. Who doesn't like seemingly invisible alligators?

I loved the slight magic to this book, which I've come to understand is common for a Sarah Addison Allen novel. It wasn't big and in your face, but it was there adding magic to the already lovely words.

I loved Devin. She reminded me a bit of a modern Anne of Green Gables. She was unique and not afraid to be who she was. She was smart beyond her years, but still had that childhood innocence and wonder to her.

The prose and descriptions were great, and I felt myself dreaming about the cottages my family and I have been to a couple of times. This was the perfect book to read in the dark, cold days of January.

This was my fist Allen book, but now I want to go back and read all of her other books. If they're any bit as enchanting as Lost Lake, then count me in.

My favourite passage from the book:

 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.