Recent Reads: Witching You a Charmed Christmas by Jenna Collett

Witching You a Charmed Christmas by Jenna Collett 

Series: Witching You #1
Publisher: Independently Published
Publication Date:  December 9, 2023

 

Format: Ebook
Source: From a Stuff Your Kindle day. Also available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this posting.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A witchy matchmaker faces off against a grumpy Christmas tree farmer with a heart encased in ice.

Delia Frost wants only one thing for Christmas: to earn a promotion at her mystical agency known for granting holiday miracles. She wouldn't mind a stocking stuffer with the attention of her longtime office crush either, but neither of those gifts are under her tree unless she completes the case file that just landed on her desk.

Her mission? Travel to the quaint, snow-dusted town of Wood Pine and work her magic on Jack Bradley, a rugged, Christmas tree farmer with a heart as cold as winter itself. All she has to do is make Jack fall in love with the shy, yet talented, local pastry chef by midnight on Christmas Eve, and the promotion is hers.

The problem? As Delia weaves her spells, she finds herself drawn to Jack, igniting feelings she never planned for.

But Jack’s heart won’t melt without a fight.

Known for his Scrooge Complex, Jack's world is more about pine needles than tinsel and joy until Delia Frost blows into his life like a bad winter storm. The last thing he needs is the meddlesome woman playing matchmaker. But when unexpected sparks fly, he’s torn between driving the woman out of town and hoping she’s his Christmas miracle.

Review: 

This was my favorite read during the HoHoHo Readathon this year.  At only 130 pages this was super cute and had my love for the holidays, witches, and a great grumpy/ sunshine dynamic all rolled into one book. 

Delia works as a witch at an agency that grant miracles, and when her friend gets snowed in and she can't take a case, Delia steps in in hopes of gaing a big promotion. Her goal, matchmaking, get this grumpy, grinch-like man to fall for a women in town. Jack, her target, is not going to make it easy. 

Delia is so stubborn and can't wait to accomplish her goal that she doesn't even realize that she is falling for her target. Jack is stubborn as well and really a menace to the Christmas season and spirit. Their witty banter and pranks on each other had me laughing and loving this book so much. It was honestly sad that it is only novella length.

With novella, there is a lot more insta-love especially if noted as romance; but this one was sweet and written in such a fun manner that it really didn't matter all that mich to me. I liked Delia and how the author incorporated her being a witch into a holiday miracle setting, such a fun idea... it doesnt alway have to be elves with Christmas magic. I thought that Jack was a good male lead as well, he was a pain, but his determination to get Delia away from him only made it better when he figured out he had fallen. 

Overall, so wickedly cute. This was such a fun and funny read and I will certainly be looking for more from this author soon.

Recent Reads: Meltdown in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon

Meltdown in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon 

Series: Christmas River #10
Publisher: Vacant Lot Publishing
Publication Date: December 17, 2017 

 

Format: Ebook
Source: From a Stuff your Kindle Day. Also included on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this posting.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

How do you find a killer when everyone in town has a motive?

That’s the question pie-baker extraordinaire Cinnamon Peters and the rest of the cozy little mountain town of Christmas River are asking this December.

After Moira Stewart — the town’s worst gossip — is found dead of unnatural causes one snowy morning, rumors begin swirling like snowflakes in a blizzard about her unexpected demise.

But not everything is as it seems in Christmas River this holiday season. And in a town where everyone stands to gain from Moira’s death, Cinnamon and her husband Sheriff Brightman find themselves stumbling into dangerous and deadly territory.

Because this December, the weather outside is frightful…And so is the murder.

Review: 

I picked this book up during a Stuff Your Kindle freebie day, and did not know that it was #10 in a series. That said, it was fine to read on its own, but you could tell that there were some things that happened in previous books that might have made it easier to understand. Especially around the relationships and town dynamics overall. 

The story itself followed Cinnamon, a baker in Christmas River. While the town is cozy, there has been a murder and Cinnamon found the body, and now she is a suspect. The body was of the town gossip, Moira. So anyone could have done it. 

I liked the story overall, but at times it really felt over done. There were full sections that I am not sure were really needed. For example, there was a lot of talk about weight from the baker... it is the holiday season, she is a baker - there are pies. I understand that we all need to be more understanding about our bodies, but it was just too much. 

The mystery itself is kinda a modern take on Agatha Christie's style where it all just kind of comes together in the end. While I like that style it was also not done as well as those classics. I did like the clue drops and surprises throughout the book though, they were well placed and kept the pacing moving steadily. It was just a steady pace though, nothing I wanted to fly through, just enough to keep me chugging along. 

In all honesty I had to put this book down for a day and pick something else up. While cozy and holiday themed, it was taking longer than I had hoped to get into it. The characters seemed a bit one-dimentional, but that could have been because book 10... not 1...

So overall it was good/ok. I don't think I will pick up more in this series, and maybe I might have liked it better if this was book 1 and not 10 (and I was more invested in the town, sorry I keep noting it, I was shoked to learn this was #10!). If you are looking for a cozy, Christmas themed mystery, this one might be for you. It is a slower pace and so if you need a leasure read, you should pick it up.

Happy Holidays from Cover2CoverBlog 2024

Happy December and Happy Holidays! 

I hope 2024 has brought you moments of joy, growth, and connection. For me, this year has absolutely flown by—it feels like just yesterday we were welcoming it!

Whatever your celebrations look like this season, I want to take a moment to wish you all the warmth, love, and magic the holidays can bring. May your days be filled with happiness, health, and plenty of time to enjoy some amazing reads.

Thank you for being part of my online community. Stay well, my friends, and cheers to a wonderful holiday season and an even brighter year ahead!

xoxo- Steph

 

Recent Reads: Slay Bells Ring by Mona Marple

Slay Bells Ring by Mona Marple

Series: A Christmas Cozy Mystery Series Book 2
Publisher: Aspen Park Publishing
Publication Date:  May 21, 2024 

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Freebie during a stuff your Kindle day. Also available on Kindle Unlimited as of the time of this posting. 

Rating:


Synopsis: 

Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!
It's New Year's Eve in Candy Cane Hollow.

This winter wonderland may look festive and be home to the Claus Family, but all is not as it seems. The festivities take a turn for the bizarre when the giant glitter ball comes crashing down on cantankerous elf chef, Greasy. Chief Superintendent Wiggles is sure the death is just a tragic accident, but Holly isn't so sure. Greasy was lots of things, but it appears that popular wasn't one of them. 

Holly begins her own investigation with the eager help of Mrs Claus, while dimpled Nick Claus warns them both to be careful.
Was the death an accident? Or is that a false ho-ho-hope? 

Slay Bells Ring is a festive cozy mystery and second in an exciting new series by popular author Mona Marple. 

Review: 

We are still in Candy Cane Hollow with Holly in the second installment of these holiday cozy mysteries. With Holly's appearance in town, things are really getting riled up. She got there and there was a murder, which she helped to solve. It is now coming up on New Years Eve and there is a huge town ball... sadly in a crazy turn of events the disco ball falls from the ceiling on top of an elf.  Holly is convinced that it is also a murder, decor like that doesn't often fall and hit anyone. 

Holly is trying to find out if it was a murder or just a very unlikely coincidence. She is still her determined self but is less lonely with the Claus familty and in the Candy Cane Hollow setting.

This book had the same flow and vibes as the last one - cozy mystery, clean romance, and lots of holiday themes. And like the last one, I only really had an issue with the timeline... in a week there have been 2 murders.... what the heck! I guess the holidays just make people crazy. 

What I like about these books is just how simple they really are - they are full of festive feels and while murder mysteries, they are pretty light and just fun to read. This book also has a bit more romance, but I won't spoil it for new readers. If you liked the first one, this is a good follow up, but very similar overall. 

Recent Reads: Christmas Corpse by Mona Marple

Christmas Corpse by Mona Marple 

Series: A Christmas Cozy Mystery #1
Publisher: Aspen Park Publishing
Publication Date:  May 21, 2024

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Stuff your Kindle day Freebie, also on Kindle Unlimited.

Rating:

Synopsis: 

Welcome to Candy Cane Hollow, where every day feels like Christmas!

Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is driving home for Christmas and not feeling too happy about the empty house waiting for her.

When her car skids into a snow bank, she's rescued by a sweet old lady who promises her name is Mrs Claus.

Holly is taken to Candy Cane Hollow to recover, and finds herself in a genuine winter wonderland.

As Christmas Day approaches, the grouchy medical receptionist appears to have been poisoned by a mince pie.

And to Holly's surprise, Mrs Claus is the prime suspect.

With Mrs Claus under suspicion, Holly vows to return the woman's generosity by clearing her name.

Maybe it will impress Mrs Claus' dimpled dish of a son, too?

Review: 

Holly Wood crashes in the snow on her way home from work and is saved by an older woman going by Mrs. Claus. Holly is rescued at just the right time - for her health but also for her life outlook, she is in need of a change. 

On their way to town they head to urgent care to ensure Holly is ok and upon returning to Mrs. Claus' house they learn that the receptionist was murdered and the Mrs. Claus is the prime suspect. 

This was a short holiday murder mystery, set in a Christmas themed town with the Claus family. Holly, with time on her hands, stays around to ensure she is better but also help out Mrs. Claus since she saved her. It probably doesn't hurt that she has a very good looking son as well and Holly might be interested. 

Holly seems a bit lost to start and this is just the distraction that she needs. She is lonely and alone and it is the holidays. She is a determined and self-sufficient main character trying to help in this hidden town. 

I livked the overall story, but the timeline seemed a bit lost for me - was she driving home on Christmas eve... was she in town for Chritmas Eve... and christmas comes and goes in there but seems like a few days. That was my biggest hang up with this read. I just had trouble figureing out how many days Holly was in town. 

Overall, this was a cute, short holiday novella. So if you like a murder mystery and a very holiday themed world, this might be a good one to pick up.

Book Blitz w/ Giveaway: Made To Last by A.S. Kelly

Made To Last by A.S. Kelly
(Love At Last, #5)
Publication date: December 4th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

About the Book 

Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Tommy O’Doherty, and I’m madly in love.

Too blunt, you say? Seriously, why lie?
Everyone seems to know about it already. The gossip about my major crush on my best friend’s neighbour has spread like wildfire.
And I have to admit, I didn’t do anything to stop it.

Not everyone is as good at pretending to be a playboy—even if the most they can handle is a PlayStation—like my weird colleagues and messy friends. Not everyone can keep it together when they meet the sweetest, most sensitive, and most wonderful creature on Earth.

Too bad she doesn’t see herself that way. Too bad she doesn’t believe my words, my kisses, my caresses, or my romantic gestures. Too bad she’s not ready to believe that what we have is real and that I’m not just her backup boyfriend, but the man who truly wants to be with her.

Even though I keep telling her that we are made to last, I’m starting to think she will never believe me unless I am willing to show her in a dramatic and obviously questionable way that I’m serious and that there is no better man for her than me.

Each book in the Love At Last Series is standalone:

– Last Call
– About Last Night
– One Last Kiss
– The Last One
– Made To Last

  

Barnes & Noble / iBooks

I walk into her place and shut the door, but I linger in the doorway as Ivy heads to the kitchen. She returns two minutes later with a vase full of flowers. She places them on the coffee table next to the couch and then looks at me.
“Did you really say you’re into me?”
“Totally. I said I’m totally into you.”
Ivy bites her full red lip, her eyes bright, emotional, and surprised. The perfume she’s wearing wafts through the air, making me lose my lucidity for a moment, and…
And she’s already messed up my head.
You know that, right?
All I need is that twinkle in her eye, that slight flush on her face as she realises I can’t take my eyes off her. All I need is that anxious breath that seems to be a reflection of my own. All I need is this silence, filled with images to capture and moments to write about. All I need is to know that she wanted this as much as I wanted it.
I don’t know how long it takes to realise that the person in front of you is the one you want next to you. I’m already there.
Am I completely insane, or am I unexpectedly wise?
Only time will tell.

About the Author

A. S. Kelly writes Rom-Com, Romantic Fiction and Family Saga.
Avid reader, hopeless romantic, lover of yoga, knitting and home baking.
She was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, two children and a cat named Oscar. 

Find the Author 

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | X | Bookbub | Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—