hopecobbledpots's reviews
419 reviews

It Happened One Christmas 
Author: Chantel Guertin
Publisher: Doubleday Canada 
Pages: 336

Stars: 🌟🌟🌟💫
Scoville Spice Scale: 🌶 ½

Tropes:

🎄Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄Forced Proximity 
🎄One Sleeping Bag
🎄Miscommunication 

This was a fun read about Zoey, a Director who has written her dream script, A Very Chelsea Christmas, set in Chelsea, Canada. Through a series of mix ups, Zoey finds herself having to go to Chelsea just before Christmas to secure filming permits. Chelsea holds a special place in her heart as it is the only place she can remember her family having a great Christmas. Newly single, she figures she'll go to Chelsea, get those permits and then figure out Christmas later since her plans went out the window with her relationship. 

Everything is going well until the Grumpy Owner of the Tree Farm,  Ben, tells her no, absolutely not. But that doesn't deter Zoey. She'll figure it out. But then she goes to meet with the mayor. It turns out Ben goes by his middle name and is the mayor of Chelsea. And he doesn't want a movie being filmed in his town. That's when he suggests Zoey looks into the next town over but days she better get going. With it being 12/23 and the ice storm coming in, things are going to be shutting down. While Zoey races to get to the next town and meet the major, Ben knows her rental won't make it so he follows about 10 minutes behind her.  Zoey ends up sliding down a hill and Ben rescues her. That's when this book takes a turn for the Network Christmas Movie of the Week. 

I loved the town of Chelsea. Zoey was right. It was the perfect place to film a Christmas film. And the tourism it would bring was a selling point. I loved the Christmas songs going back and forth between Ben and Zoey. I loved that Zoey rescued Ben using skills she learned as a lifeguard (you never forget those). I loved Ben's family and the people of Chelsea. They welcomed Zoey with open arms. Even Ben saved Zoey from a drunken jerk her first night in town.  

One of the best things about this book is that it comes with a Discussion Guide at the back. It is perfect for book clubs. That is such a great feature for books to have and I wish more would have it. 

What character did I loved the most? Simon, of course! He knew right away that Zoey was a good person. Dogs always know. 

What I would have liked to have seen. This book is written with each chapter saying December 21, 9:00 am. I really wanted to see January 30th, 6pm "And that's a wrap on A Very Chelsea. Christmas, folks!" Ben and Zoey celebrate and they discuss the future of their relationship. As an Epiloge on December 1st the whole town gathering for the world premiere of the film on TV. And having Ben propose. That would have felt satisfying. 

I do recommend this book as a fun read. 

I received a gifted copy from NetGalley, PenguinHouse Random Canada and Doubleday Canada in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful historic Christmas Romance short story.

The short story is written in a mix of dual points of view and epistolic format. It is absolutely adorable and such a quick read. It's a perfect read with a cup of cocoa and gingerbread cookie. You'll love Caleb and Nola. 

Highly recommend. 

This is written in epistolic format. I recommend the hard copy over digital.  

It's hilarious. 

Callan Shay is done with humanity. He's found a place where he can be left alone and not have to deal with anyone intruding on his peace. So when a mysterious"delivery" woman shows up trying to seduce him, he wonders who found him or rather, who is trying to kill him. 

Frankie Domenici just wants to find her way down the mountain and get out of the torrential rain storm. But when he car spins out and goes off the road leaving Frankie with a head wound and a concussion, she has no choice but to set off on for to try to find help. Seeing a cabin with lights on, she thinks she's found help. What she's found is one paranoid Callan Shay who thinks this tiny woman is there to kill him. Yet Callan finds Frankie's curves and her sass very appealing. 

This was a quick read with alternating POVs between Callan and Frankie. The reader knows the truth and watching the two characters come to the truth is almost painful because they are both stubborn. Plus they have no lack have instant attraction to each other. This book has: 

✅️Forced Proximity 
✅️Enemies to Lovers 
✅️One Bed
✅️Mafia Romance 
✅️Mentions of death/murder
✅️Spice🌶🌶🌶

I wish this book had more of a finished ending. I think one more chapter could have done that.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Exciting and perfect for Spooky season. 

Nothing says family like a boy with the ability to bring people and pets back to life from their ashes and bones. 

Lilah Quinn can bring people back from the moment of their death.  When she does this with Elliott, she gets much more than she bargained for because Elliott doesn't fade away back into his grave. He follows her home. 

This book alternates between Lilah's present and Elliott's past giving readers who have read the first book a whole new perspective on Lilah and why she had her powers. She meets Elliott who has similar but different powers than hers. 

This book contains:

💀Redemption 
👻Reanimation
🪦Time Travel of sorts
💀Found Family
👻Young Love
🪦Some serious weird

Rachel Rener really did a great job with this book. I was hanging on by the seat of my pants at times. 

I absolutely loved the found family themes in Elliott's timeline and how that dovetails with Lilah's own found family. How Elliott and Lilah figure out things and make this book a prequel and sequel and "The Winter's Tale".

It's beautiful and breathtaking. 

If you haven't read The Girl Who Talks To Ashes, please read it before you read this one!  This book is both the sequel and vprequel to it! 

Surgeon, Husband, Brother, Friend. Cruz Espinoza was all those things until one strange night when his life vastly changed. He became something else. Something he didn't want to be. A monster. Living in the dark. Looking for answers. Finding none until a homeless man stumbled upon him and started giving him knowledge. 

This book deals with:

- family lost
- fathers and sons 
- Science and Religion 
- Betrayal 

The writing is done in an extremely interesting way jumping back and forth between a time span of about 6 years. As a reader you have to keep your head on because the time of day makes a difference. 

The last part of the book really surprised me. 

This book was a fast paced book.  Cruz is a very likeable MC who you understand and feel his pain. 

This complete reimagining of the Red Riding Hood mythos is brilliant. Silvia weaves a brand new fairy tale and it is mouth watering delicious to read. Totally worth your time.

Stars: 🌟 🌟🌟🌟

Scoville Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶½

Book overview:

At ten years old, Raven was mysteriously willed to be the next ruler of Seolia, a kingdom nestled within the realm of The Four Kingdoms. Orphaned as a baby, she has spent fifteen years ruling over a kingdom she believes she did not earn all while hiding secrets: she possesses dark magic, and she thirsts for blood.

Now at almost twenty-five years old and with a sudden addiction to stealing life, Raven must fight through her new procured darkness to save her soul, but when a mysterious stranger arrives in her kingdom, she starts experiencing vivid dreams that detail who she truly is. As she slowly starts to unravel her story, what she uncovers at the end of the spool will change the course of her life and her kingdom forever.

My Thoughts:

Raven, the FMC of this book, has been lied to by everyone. By her best friend. By her Court. And now by Zeke, our MMC who is tangled in his shadows, shortcomings, and misdirection. Raven rules the small island nation of Seolia but she still doesn't understand why she was chosen. Things unravel to us,  the reader, but not to Raven until the end. Raven is caught between two men who seem hell bent on hurting her; secrets about herself; and her evolving magic. While Raven has her Elements, she must learn to depend on herself rather than those who have their own agendas. 

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the excellent Worldbuilding. I felt totally immersed in the kingdom of Seolia. I loved the village and the progression of Raven's relationships with the villagers. Especially Eva. 

Tropes:

🔥Forced Proximity 

🌎Abandonment 

❄️Love Triangle

⚔️Insta-Lust

🔥Magic

🌎Secrets

❄️One Bed

⚔️Break Up, Make Up, Break Up, etc.

Check for trigger warnings. 

Thank you to rrbooktours and authorwhitneydean for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest opinion.