Christmas Novella Blog Tour: Featuring Jill Shalvis, Jessica Scott, and Nadia Lee + Giveaway!

Love a great Christmas romance, but pressed for time? Pick up a holiday novella to satisfy your craving for a great happy-ever-after. This season contemporary authors Jill Shalvis, Jessica Scott, and Nadia Lee are all releasing Christmas reads. Today these authors stop by to spread the holiday cheer and discuss their characters' New Year's resolutions. Take it away ladies!

Jill Shalvis author of Merry Christmas, Baby

Chloe’s New Year’s resolution is to stop driving her sexy, gorgeous husband Sawyer batshit crazy. She knows she does it, and sometimes she does it on purpose, but she is going to try really hard to keep it to a minimum this year in the name of keeping the romance alive. Sawyer would say that was a great resolution but that he loves her just as she is and no changes are necessary. Yeah, we love him to death… Oh as for Sawyer’s resolution? He doesn’t make them.

Jessica Scott author of All I Want For Christmas Is You

Sam is going to work on getting her head fixed. She’s had a heck of time adjusting to coming home from the war so she’s planning on spending some quality time with Patrick and getting their lives put back together. They both know they’ve got a lot of work to do but the most important thing to Sam is that Patrick didn’t leave her when she’d royally messed up.

Patrick plans on spending time taking care of Sam. He hasn’t had a lot of time to spoil her and he wants to get to know her again. What are her likes and dislikes. Can he remember how to make her body sing. He’d got plans for New Years Eve that involve Sam and a bottle of champagne and not necessarily in that order.

Nadia Lee author of The Billionaire’s Holiday Obsession

Iain's resolution is to be more open to others and to new ideas (to make Jane happy). And also to make Jane laugh at least once a day.

Jane's resolution is to start her career as a private chef. And to visit at least two places she's never been before...which won’t be difficult, as she hasn’t done much traveling.

***

About the Novellas

Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis

Wild child Chloe Thompson can't believe how much things have changed. She still can't get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart, an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen.

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Jessica Scott

All Major Patrick MacLean wanted was Christmas with the woman and child who were his family in everything but name. But Captain Samantha Egan has come back from the war a different woman than the one who left - and she doesn't know if she can love him anymore.

But neither of them counted on the determination of a little girl they both call daughter and if Natalie has her wish, her parents may have no idea what's coming for them. It's going to take Christmas miracle to bring these two wounded warriors back from the edge of a broken heart.

The Billionaire’s Holiday Obsession by Nadia Lee

Deep in debt and stalked by a deadly conman, Jane Connolly needs a job and a safe place to stay. With no one to turn to in an unfamiliar city, she can't refuse the kindness of a magnetic stranger.

A former mixed martial arts fighter, billionaire Iain Pryce couldn't walk away from a small town girl in a big city, especially when it's obvious she's in trouble. But her sweet spirit threatens the single principle he's been living under for the past thirteen years: don't lose control...

Click on link below for the Giveaway!

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Review of Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis

Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis

Chloe Thompson has everything a girl could ask for a great husband, amazing sisters and a great job. However, things shake up in her life when she finds out that she is pregnant. This is a surprise because neither Chloe or her husband Sawyer ever thought they would be parents because of their difficult childhoods. To bring in more money for his growing family Sawyer starts working additional jobs which takes him away from his wife and growing child. This puts strain on their marriage as Chloe worries that her husband won't come home and that she will have to raise her child alone. Will Sawyer and Chloe be able to make their marriage work? Will Chloe be able to relax and enjoy this holiday season?

In this short novella Jill brings you humor, tears, family and friends.

My Review:

I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and her Lucky Harbor series so when I heard that she was ending it I was sad but also understood why she was doing so. However, I am very grateful that she gave us another Christmas book, "Merry Christmas, Baby" and that she had my favorite two characters Sawyer and Chloe being the main storyline. Out of all the books that I have read in the Lucky Harbor series theirs was the story that I connected with the most so when I found out that Jill was having them have a baby I was ecstatic!

Again Jill did a great job of setting the scene of the book and her writing as always was excellent. I think that she does a great job of mixing romance, emotion and laughter all into her books and really has you caring for her characters.

Great job Jill. I can't wait to read more of your books and hope that you come out with another great series like Lucky Harbor!

Review of A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson

Book Three in the Lone Star Bride series begins a couple months after Alice and Robert have wed and have welcomed a child. This story centers around Jessica Atherton who we first met in the second book and Austin Todd who is a cattle inspector.

Jessica is on a journey to find out who she is and what God has in store for her after, Robert the boy she was groomed to marry, marries someone else. Well on her journey and after dealing with countless suitors she meets two men Harrison Gable and Austin Todd. Two very different men both after the same thing, Jessica's heart.

Austin Todd, a former agent moves to Texas to be a cattle inspector has no plans to make friends or meet women. However, things change when he meets the Barnett's and Jessica Atherton. Not only does he make friends in the Barnett's but also helps them resolve a mystery that has been plaguing Jake and Marty since moving back to Texas from Denver.

My Review:

This is the second book that I have read in this series by Tracie Peterson and I love it. I was a little apprehensive of her choosing Jessica as the one of the main characters as I was not a fan of her in the first book. Tracie surprised me though and really had her grow throughout the whole book. I actually ended up really liking her and rooting for her and Austin to end up together.

What I think Tracie did very well and what in my opinion a very smart move on her part was having a certain story line cross over into all three books. I really liked this because I love to keep up to date on characters from the other books and see how they grow. I am interested to see if she will be adding anymore to the series or if this will be the last one as I really like these set of characters.

Lastly, I think that Tracie did a great job of setting the scene and developing the characters really week. You really felt like you were back in time on the ranch raising cattle with the Barnetts and
Athertons.

This is definitely a book that I recommend to both christian fiction and fiction readers.

Review of Christmas Ranch by RaeAnne Thayne

Christmas Ranch 

Hope Nichols has always been on the move from the day she graduated college. Traveling and teaching English in foreign countries. That is until years later when she feels like the only place she is meant to be is at Christmas Ranch. However, when Hope returns she finds that ranch is in dispare and that her family needs her more than ever. In need of immediate extra help Hope agrees to hire Rafe Santiago a retired navy seal and his nephew. Little does she know that Rafe has a secret that could turn her and her family upside down?

Rafe Santiago comes to Pine Gulch with one thing on his mind and that is to be there for his nephew in his time of need. However, things shake up in his life when his nephew throws a rock at Hope's window shattering it and leaving a debt to be repaid. In exchange for paying off his nephews debt and in hopes of earning extra money well awaiting his sisters trial Rafe offers to help Hope and her family get their christmas ranch up and running. Will Rafe be able to keep his secret buried about his connection to Hope and her family? Can Rafe and Hope deny their connection and just remain co-workers?


My Review:

I received an ARC copy of The Christmas Ranch from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review. This was the first story of RaeAnne's that I have read that is not part of a series. The reason I bring this up is that some authors that I have read can not do stand alone novels well and do better sas series. For RaeAnne this was not a problem. I thought she did a great job with this novel giving you enough backstory on the characters that I felt comfortable with this just being one book if she meant it to be. In addition, I really love in all RaeAnne's books that she does a great job of knowing what she is writing. What I mean by that is that you could tell that she did research because she went more in depth on certain situations that some other writers might refrain from.

I can't say there was any negatives in this book for me. I felt again that it was well written and that the characters were very well developed. If I had to say one negative it would be that if this isn't a series it should be because I would love to know more about Hope's sisters as I feel there is a lot more to know about them.

I would recommend this book to romance, fiction and holiday readers as I think all would enjoy it.

Review of The Heart of Christmas

ARC from the Author Brenda Novak

The Heart of Christmas

Eve Harmon has always been the good girl in town who had everything a girl could ask for: a great job, a loving family and the best friends a girl could ask for. However, there is still one thing missing... a husband. So she decides on the eve of her birthday that she will live a little and of course drink a little. Much to her surprise when she wakes up the next morning there is a sexy stranger in her bed who she brought home last night.

Rex has always lived a secretive life letting very few people in not even his family so when he ends up hooking up with Eve Harmon he figures it will be a one night stand and never have to see her again. However, much to his surprise, Rex or as Whiskey Creek patrons know him, Brent decides to take a break from his protection company life and spend a couple weeks on vacation.

Will Eve end up falling for the sexy stranger when she promised him that there would be no strings attached? Can Rex continue to hide his past life and family from Eve?


My Review:

This is the third book that I have read of Brenda's and this one did not disappoint. As I continue to read Brenda's books I find that her writing continues to get better and better. I felt that the she did a great job of giving you back story on the new character and also continuing the stories on of past characters you have met in previous books. It was cool to see how she continued Cheyenne's story in this book as it made you realize that there was more that is going to be going on with past characters from the Whiskey Creek series.

In addition, I really felt that this book was realistic in the way that Brenda went about things. For instance when she was talking about Rex's past and why he did the things he did it truly made sense. I also felt like she did not sugar coat what can really happen to people who are in hiding from bad people. You can tell that she did her research and didn't try to fluff things.

Lastly, I loved how she took a character that I didn't very much like in the last book to one of my all time favorite characters from Brenda. After the first couple characters I really felt like i connected with Eve and was rooting for her until the very end! I would have to say my favorite part of the book was of course the ending. Don't worry I won't give and spoilers other than to say I was very proud of the way she ended it. Brenda again made it very realistic but also gave readers what they were asking for.

Can't wait to read the next book in the series and to see what she has planned!

Review of Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Mr. Miracle 
By Debbie Macomber 

Addie Folsom has returned to her childhood home in time for Christmas hoping to celebrate the holidays with her mom and
to make a fresh start. However, things don't go as planned when her neighbor nemesis is in a car accident and she offers to take care of him so that their mothers can go on a cruise. Will Addie and Erich remain enemies or will they find that they have more in common than they think?

Harry Mills has been sent to earth to complete one mission. That mission is to help Addie Folsom remember who she is and that there is a plan for in life. Harry is given two things to help him complete this mission. One is his advisor Celeste, who is sent to help keep him on track. The second is a classroom. You may ask how is a classroom going to help Harry complete his mission? You will have to read the book to find out.

My Review:

This is not the first book that I have read of Debbie Macomber's so this book had a lot to live up to. Especially in comparison of her previous two Mrs. Miracle books that Debbie has written. It was a good but not great book. I thought that she did a great job of keeping with theme of guardian angels and a mission for them to complete here on earth. She also did a great job developing the characters and the scenery so you really felt like you were actually there.

In addition, I think that she also did a great job of introducing new characters in addition to the main two characters Addie and Erich. These new characters were interesting and I wanted to read more about them so I am hoping she has more planned for them in future books.

The only down side that made this book good and not great was that I felt it did not end right. I felt like the book was too short. I don't know why but it just felt like there was more that could have been written. It didn't seem like there was a proper ending in the book for Addie and Erich. Debbie left you hanging which is good if she plans to continue them in the next book but I am not sure she is going to.

All in all this was a good Christmas story that had friendship, faith and romance all rolled into one. It is definitely a book that I would recommend to my friends and family.

Review of Snow Angel Cove by RaeAnne Thayne

Snow Angel Cove

Eliza Hayward has left also that she has known and worked for in Boise to start working as a Hotel Manager in Snow Angel Cove. However, things don't go as planned when she gets there and her hotel that she was supposed to work at is on fire. She decides to spending the night in small town and head back in the morning but as her fate would have it life throws another curve ball at her when she gets run down by a car.


Aidan Caine has only one thing on his mind this winter season and that is to bring his family all to his home in hopes of making it a memorable christmas for all. However, things change when his car malfunctions and he hits a young woman. After realizing she has no job and no place to go after she gets out of the hospital he offers her employment through the holidays to help with his family coming in for the holidays.

Will Eliza be able to keep her relationship with Aidan purely professional? Can Aidan keep his big secret from his family?


My Review:

I received this book free from the author in return for an honest, unbiased review.

This is the third book of RaeAnne's that I have read. I thought RaeAnne did a great of job of giving the backstory on the characters so you really felt like you knew them. In addition, I really liked how she allowed you as the reader watch Aidan and Eliza's relationship blossom from the hospital where they were strangers to friends to more than friends at the end. This made the story more realistic to what would have happened in real life.

I also enjoyed how she brought in characters from her series "Hope's Crossing". I always love to see authors continue to grow characters even when they have finished their story in the series.

My only negative of the book was that I found Eliza's response to Aidan's christmas gift to be unrealistic. I really don't think from what I read about the character that she would have reacted that way.

I would be very much interested to see her building on the characters that she introduced in this story because I truly think she can make this book into another series!

Lastly, I leave you with my favorite quote from the book from Eliza, "The way I see it, you're like a fairytale prince & I'm Cinderella without the godmother and the shoes."

I would recommend this book to other romance readers who read the likes of Jill Shalvis, Kristin Higgins and Susan Mallery as you won't be disappointed with this great story from RaeAnne!