Winter's Respite is coming, January 1st! #WintersRespite #January2018

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#Review: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans #Christmas #romancenovels

Summary:
At thirty-two Kimberly Rossi, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author.

The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.

My review:
When I picked up this book I was sure it would be somewhat romantic in nature as that who the writer is. I also figured it to be placed at Christmas. All of this was true. It is also true that the book is essentially about romance writers who write romance books.

I enjoyed that Kimberly, the aspiring romance author,goes to a conference at the Mistletoe Inn which is described as a beautiful place but not much more. A mysterious man by the name of Zeke enters the conference and wins over Kimberly but her hesitations and constant crying made me cringe. Get a grip! It annoyed me such a  whiny character could not see her own strengths.

Most of the book talked about the conference itself and took awhile to get to the romance side of the book, of which Kimberly nearly ruined due to trust issues. Ugh!

Overall, things turned out just right with a few interesting twist and turns.  Little jokes the author writes to himself were also present too. It just took me awhile to get there as the book took awhile to develop.

I still give the book three stars as I did like it. I need to pick up some of the authors previous books to read.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~MM Hudson aka Naila Moon

Where to find the author:

Amazon

#Review: The Christmas Spirit: Memories of Family, Friends, and Faith by Joel Osteen #Christmas #Memoir

Summary:
His first holiday book, Joel Osteen offers uplifting and inspiring stories of family and friends celebrating Christmas traditions that will help readers return to the essence of the holiday by practicing the principles taught by our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate that day. With these stories, Joel reminds us all of what is truly important in life. Filled with humorous and compelling holiday memories from Joel’s family and friends, this heartwarming collection will inspire and amuse readers while enhancing their faith in God’s goodness and eternal wisdom. 

My review:
In true Joel Osteen fashion, he tells tales of growing up at Christmas with his family and friends. Although the stories at times seemed a bit sappy, they were also heart felt as I would expect from this preacher and author. He includes tales told by friends as well.

Each story relates to some facet of the Bible and how he has always grown up with faith that all is good and life is how it should be.

I gave the book 3 stars as I did like the memoir of good feelings but at times felt disjointed and repetitive.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.

Where to find the author:

Amazon
Goodreads

#BookBlast & #Giveaway: Murder She Slopes by Rachael Stapleton #Christmas #CozyMysteries #ChristmasSpirit

Murder, She Slopes (A Penning Trouble Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Release Date - November 26, 2017 Print Length: 214 pages  

Sirens ring. Are you listening? Near Candy Cane Lane. A Body is glistening. A murderous sight. Trubble's investigating tonight. Walking through this winter wonderland.

It's the week before Christmas and Investigative Journalist Penelope Trubble has reluctantly agreed to investigate the death of a woman at the Sleighs & Slopes Adventure Resort in the hopes of exonerating her her husband—who just happens to be Penny’s ex. But with so many suspicious characters lurking in the trees, Penelope risks being strangled by clues, Christmas lights, conjecture, and catastrophe. It doesn’t help that Penny's still a little frosty with the man accused of icing his bride, and she must prove he's no cold-blooded killer. At least there’s candy-cane cocoa, a roaring fire, and the Laurentian Mountains to savor—not to mention the hunky detective dashing through the snow after her. Helping an ex is a slippery slope, and things are going downhill fast for Penelope Trubble.

About The Author

Rachael Stapleton lives in a Second Empire Victorian home with her husband and two children in Ontario, Canada and enjoys writing in the comforts of aged wood and arched dormers.

Author Links

Amazon GoodReads

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#Review and #Giveaway: Ghost Owl by Nancy Schoellkopf @nanschoellkopf @iReadBookTours #GhostOwl #NancySchoellkopf #fantasy

Summary:
Mariah Easter wakes up in the middle of the night to discover the world is as bright as noon--but for her eyes only. Urged by her godfather, she embarks on a mission to peer into the dark spaces normally hidden from view, leading her to confront the sinister nature of power, the vulnerability of the ill, and the hidden life of a homeless man: a journey that will bring healing to herself and the man she loves.

My review:
I discovered this book is the third in a series but apparently a stand-alone.I think it might have served me well to read the first two books. It took me awhile to get into this book as I felt it started off a bit slow. However, once it got to the heart of what the book was really about, it took off.

Although the summary says the main character embarks on a mission, this was more another dimension that is thrust upon her almost unwillingly, She has to move through the fantasy elements to not only find her "tribe" but to come back to where she began.

I loved that through it all, she discovers more about life than she would have by not having her powers to "see." The twist throughout was just enough to keep me reading.

This book gets 4 stars from me. 

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle aka Naila Moon
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Would you like to win a copy? See below for details.

Where to find the author:

Nancy Schoellkopf has been creating stories and writing poems for many lifetimes. She is the author of the Avian Series, a collection of novels with elements of magical realism. 
Amazon
Goodreads


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Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge and my Christmas Book Lists #ChristmasSpirit

For the last few years, I have taken upon the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge. Even though this particular challenge started on November 20th, I got a little behind in my start. Even so, I have already read four books that are Christmas related and just bought another today to read.

It is not too late to start, you don't even need a blog. Just click on the picture above and go for it!

Here is my list thus far:

1. Operation Christmas Child-Franklin Graham & Donna Lee
2. Christmas Sweater-Glenn Beck
3. Ghost Tale for Christmas-Pope Osborne
4. The Mistletoe Inn-Richard  Paul Evans
5. Christmas Spirit Memories-Joel Osteen
6. Snowman Maker-Barbara Briggs Ward (reread)
7. Reindeer Keeper, Believe Again!-Barbara Briggs Ward (reread)
8. Christmas Magic-Michael Garland
9. Grumpy Santa-Greg & Evan Spiridellis
10. Christmas Prayers Collection-various authors
11. Christmas, Present-Jacqueline Mitchard
12. The Christmas Thief-Mary & Carol Higgins Clark

~Happy Reading, Michelle

Challenges already for 2018 #bookchallenges #cozymysteries

As the year is winding down, the new year's book challenges are rolling in. As usual, I will be doing the Goodreads challenge and for now, I will also be doing a new challenge (to me), "Craving for Cozies." This challenge is hosted by Dolly Cas from Escape with Dolly Cas Books.

This reading challenge is strictly to read a set number of mystery cozies for the year 2018.  I have set my goal for 12. For more information and sign up, go HERE.

I will update you on other challenges as I apply to them.

Enjoy the rest of the year.

~Michelle