Alone for the Holidays by Vivien Mayfair

Snow is falling hard near the picturesque town of Woodstock, Vermont, with its scrumptious bakeries, brightly lit storefronts, and twelve-foot Main Street Christmas tree. Romance is in the air for everybody except spicy Russian Clara Neverov, recently divorced, bitter, and alone for the holidays. As an acclaimed romance author, she revels in her solitary life relying only on Internet book groups for her socialization under a fake American name pulled from childhood memory and her best friend’s photo.

Giving up on Christmas after too many of them alone, she adores the solitary life free from Scrooges and messy entanglements. When a mysterious editor from a Goodreads book group she cares about shares a sad story about being alone for the holidays after his wife passes away, she accidentally invites him to spend them with her.

The only problem is that her snowy country cottage is nowhere close to the magical Santa’s wonderland that she described. In fact, it closely resembles the undergrown Grinch’s lair on a bad day.

The situation goes from bad to worse when Finn Jacobs drops an email that he’s on his way to spend Christmas with her. He doesn’t mention an arrival date and he believes her to be a trim blond bookshop clerk instead of her real identity as an overweight author with unruly espresso hair and black eyes. With some festive holiday intervention, icy roads slam her truck right into his car, where she quickly finds herself desperately scrambling for another false identity, terrified he’ll learn the truth.

When an unexpected storm snows them in while their cars are being repaired, Clara continues the ruse as somebody else with hopes that her online dream man will come to love her as she is and not as the fantasy women in his mind. The only way she can do that is to give him the Christmas of a lifetime.

There is one thing that is for sure, that spending Christmas alone is no longer an option. Lose yourself in this sweet holiday romantic tale of hope, second chances, and forgiveness during the most magical time of the year.

BONUS MATERIAL: Delicious tried-and-true family holiday recipes as seen in the book. Treat yourself to a cheesy chicken crunch-top casserole, dreamy peppermint dark chocolate mochas, a white chocolate peppermint cake, a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, buttercream frosted cutout cookies, and many more.

The perfect Christmas short story novelette ideal for sweet romance fans of authors like Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts, Brenda Novak, Holly Martin, and Jenny Hale. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank Booksiren & Vivien Mayfair for allowing me to read and review this Christmas novella.

Clara Neverov is a romantic novelist who hides away from world under an assumed name. She strikes up a friendship with Finn Jacobs through Goodreads online. She invites him to her home tocelebrate Christmas as he's lonely and so is she, but she doesn't actually think he will come. All of a sudden she receives an email to say he's coming. She's hidden who she really is from him, so what happens when his car and her car crash. Will she let him know who she really is or will he just carry on letting her fool him?


I struggled with the book as I couldn't quite understand the characters at the beginning, but as I carried on with the book I began to warm to the storyline, still in 2 minds about both characters and would of been nice to get to know Finn's background a bit more.

The Sheikh’s Christmas Lover (Christmas with the Yared Sheikhs #3) by Leslie North

Ah, chaos. What would any holiday be like without it?

For Sondra Wilson-Woods, who craves order but has a knack for handling disorder, pulling off a traditional Maatkare Christmas is the ultimate accomplishment. Hired to make the kingdom’s Advent season a success, despite the absence of their beloved matriarch, Sondra may have taken on more than she can handle—especially when the gorgeous heir to the kingdom, Robel, decides she needs his help.

But despite her best efforts, each of Sondra’s plans go awry, and not even Robel, with his meticulous preparation, seems capable of mapping out an event that will go off without a hitch. If Sondra can just get through this Christmas season successfully, she and her orphaned niece will at least have financial security. And if she can just resist the charms of an infuriating Robel, she can leave Maatkare with her heart intact.

Robel loves order and is more than happy to help out their event planner when a broken ankle leaves him palace-bound. He firmly believes if he plans well enough, nothing can detract from the traditional Maatkare Christmas season that he demands. But as each carefully scripted event goes off the rails, Robel finds himself more and more attracted to Sondra—something that was never part of the plan. It’s best to end things before it’s too late, before saying good-bye is too difficult.

Too bad Robel’s strategy forgot about protecting his heart.

When faced with the worst Christmas morning ever, Robel realizes that it’s the untraditional and unplanned moments that bring the brightest light.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Leslie North for the final installment of the Yared Sheikh series.

Sondra Wilson-Woods was hired as the Royal Event Planner at the Kingdom of Maatkare. Robel Yared is the Crown Prince who will one day inherit the Kingdom from his father Sheikh Yared has broken his ankle and is in a cast, so can't do anything much around the palace except for one thing. He thinks Sondra needs his help as he wants to keep things traditional BUT Sondra has other plans. Can they work together or will things blow up in either of their faces? What was Sheikh Yared's REAL reason for bringing Ana, Maia and Sondra to the palace in the 1st place? Why is the Yared twin girls trying to cause havoc with the Nativity play?

All will be revealed when you read the final installment to Christmas with the Yared Sheikhs.

The Sheikh’s Christmas Family (Christmas with the Yared Sheikhs #2) by Leslie North

Who would have thought one little kiss would throw Maia Kurtz’s orderly world into complete chaos?

It’s Christmas time in Maatkare, and it’s Maia’s job to make sure the Sheikh’s palace is decorated for all the holiday festivities in this tiny, Orthodox Christian kingdom. The decorating is the easy part. Yonas Yared, the youngest son of the family, is a bit more of a challenge. Maia knows she’s in trouble when she sees how wonderful Yonas is with her young son, and how his seductive smiles cause her to go warm all over. Protecting her heart from the one man who makes her think naughty thoughts she shouldn’t is proving more difficult than she thought.

Yonas will go crazy if he’s forced to spend the entire, endless, holiday season with his family. He’d much rather be partying the nights away than stuck in the palace helping their new razor-tongued decorator. Still, Maia’s got something irresistible about her, and he certainly hadn’t planned on getting his socks knocked off by one simple kiss. As events transpire to keep him in the palace, he’s surprised to realize he’s glad to be home—and equally surprised to find that getting his serious little decorator into his bed is becoming more and more important. The problem is, once she’s there, he doesn’t want her to leave. And nothing in his life has ever scared him more.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Leslie North for allowing me to read this wonderful second installment in the Yared Sheiks's series.

Maia Kurtz is the Royal decorator for Christmas at the Kingdom of Maatkare and she's trying to keep everything in order. Yonas Yared is the youngest son of  Sheikh Yared, he's meant to be away with friends (like always), but he's been summoned to stay this Christmas at the palace and help Maia with the decorating of the palace. What could possibly go wrong? Well he kisses Maia and she has no idea what to do? Yonas has a soft spot for Maia's son but does he also have a soft spot for Maia? What happens when Yonas' world collides with Maia's world? Will it be a Happy Ever After Christmas or will it fall apart at the seams?

The Sheikh's Christmas Fling (Christmas with the Yared Sheikhs #1) by Leslie North

It’s the Christmas season in the tiny Kingdom of Maatkare, and the royal family needs a chef. Desperate to prove herself after her first restaurant failed, Ana Rizzo jumps at this chance for redemption and nabs the high-paying, short-term job. The opportunity couldn’t be more perfect. Ana will be able to stretch her culinary skills, earn enough money to open another restaurant, and still be able to give her adopted daughter the attention she needs. Her biggest challenge will be winning over the family’s elderly cook and getting Noel Yared, the middle son, to give her food his stamp of approval. She only cares about Noel’s palate, not his soulful brown eyes, his gorgeous runner’s body, and his amazing kisses. An avid runner herself, Ana pushes herself to keep up with Noel during their daily runs. But she’s finding the biggest challenge is resisting Noel’s charm.

Noel finds Ana endlessly fascinating and incredibly sexy. With a bit of charming persuasion from him, the two begin what they both know is a short-term affair. No rules, no heartache, just great sex and a bit of fun. So when he believes Ana has betrayed his family’s trust, he’s glad his heart wasn’t involved. Glad she’s gone. Glad he’ll never see her again. Until he realizes a couple terrible truths too late: Ana was actually the one who was betrayed, and somehow he’s fallen hard for her. Now he needs a bit of Christmas magic to prove he’s worthy of her love.

I would like to thank Leslie North and Netgalley for a copy of this wonderful book. 

Ana Rizzo is a single mum which a divorce and a failed restaurant. She comes to the Kingdom of Maatkare for a wonderful job opportunity as a Royal Chef for the Christmas holidays. Noel Yared is the 2nd oldest son of the Sheik Yared and is a stickler for traditional foods. Can Ana do the food justice? Will Noel let Ana bring in some flair with the foods over the Christmas holidays? Will Ana's heart be broken? Who is behind the missing food and what happens when Noel finds out Ana wasn't really the thief?

I loved reading all about the Yared family and absolutely LOVE Leslie North's characters.

Taken (Last Chance #3) by A.L. Long

Award Winning Author of The Shattered Innocence Trilogy

“If we could never be together, I would forever remember his touch.”

Alannah’s life was right on track. She knew what it meant to love and be loved. All of that changed when Winston Nelson steps back into her life and takes away everything she longed for. Hidden away where no one can to find her, Alannah once again has to submit to the man she swore would never control her again.  Day by day The hopes of a normal life begin to disappear along with her desire to live.  

Contains adult content 18+

It is suggested that you read Bought before reading this book.

Last chance Series

Bought

Slaved

Taken

Broken

Freed

Find more of A.L. Long's books at www.allongbooks.com

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Taken starts where Slaved finished, Laine is in the arms of Roman (which is where she belongs), but for how long? Martin Holland is sorry for his part in what happened to Laine in the previous book, but can Roman ever forgive him for what he did? What is Stuart Nelson up to? Why is he destroying Rapture, Roman's club? What will happen to Laine, Roman & Martin next? Will Roman and Laine EVER get their HEA or will Winston Nelson spoil it once again????

All will be revealed when you read TAKEN by the magnificent A.L. Long.

Heart in the Right Home by Lisa Hill

Wedding bells are chiming in the village of Clunderton, but will it be happy-ever-afters all around? Rebecca Cavendish thinks not. All she’s feeling is shame and remorse since her affair with property mogul, Edward Hardwicke, whilst in another corner of the village, Louise Edwards is slowly coming to the conclusion she might not be in love with husband, Johnnie, anymore.

Meanwhile, Lottie Hardwicke is resisting the urge to do what she does best…interfere. When Edward’s son, James, turns up announcing Hardwickes’ intentions to develop land on the outskirts of the village into residential homes, and Edward makes a further shocking announcement, a divide begins to set hold amongst the villagers, perhaps more monumental than the country being torn apart by Brexit…

Will Lottie refrain? Or will she cave-in to that need to interfere, and ensure everyone ends up with their heart in the right home?

I would like to thank Lisa Hill for this book as I found the characters just flowed again like they did in the previous book.

Rebecca Cavendish is the scarlet woman from the affair with Edward Hardwicke. She's left behind to pick up the pieces and try and get on with her life. BUT when James Hardwicke comes into the village with news about a business that Edward is doing, he sets his sights on Rebecca Cavendish to try and win her over. In other news, Louise Edwards wants out and has no idea how to leave as she feels guilty for wanting to leave the girls behind. Jack Sellwood & Pamela Hardwicke is shacked up and wants to get married, but her impending divorce to Edward is in the way of their happiness. Also Jean who's Pamela's sister is not impressed with Pamela but can they sort out their differences for their mother Audrey? Then Edward hits the village with news he's dying. IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH or is there something more sinister behind him coming back to the village.

You need to read the 2nd installment of Lisa Hill's Lottie Hardwicke book, Heart in the Right Home series. YOU won't be disappointed :D