Enemies

About the Book:

Enemies (Berrybrook Middle School) by [Svetlana Chmakova]

Title: Enemies
Series: Berrybrook Middle School
Author: Svetlana Chmakova
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: September 27th, 2022
Genre: Children Graphic Novel

Felicity’s sure she’s going to do something big. Exactly what is still a mystery, but she’ll figure it out. Her sister, Letty, teases Felicity that she never finishes stuff, but that’s just because Letty is so perfect. Still, life is good with plenty of friends—drawing with the art club and playing games with her buddies keep her busy. But when she decides to join a contest to show Letty that she CAN get things done, Felicity begins to wonder if friends becoming enemies is easier than she thought. Are they really enemies, though…? What does it even mean to be enemies? And…who is it that she needs the most on her side…?

Book Review:

Another installment in the world of Berrybrook Middle school, Enemies follows Felicity’s story. A character you may recognize from previous books set here. Felicity is going to do something amazing, once she figures out what exactly she it will be. While her sister, Letty, may tease her about never finishing anything, it is only because Letty is so perfect. Felicity’s life is good with lots of friends, in art club and playing games. When she decides to enter a contest to show that she can get things done, Felicity begins to realize that friends becoming enemies is easier than she thought. But are they really enemies? And who does she really need on her side?

I was so excited for this book! We all read the previous books set in Berrybrook and I was excited to return. I love the variety of art styles that graphic novels have. This one leans toward cartoon/anime style, which is really fun and I think fits the story well. I am always so impressed by artists who produce such distinct and memorable stories and characters.

Felicity is an engaging and relatable character. When comparing herself to her sister, she feels like she doesn’t quite measure up. Her talents lean towards art and games. However, her desire to do something great began to negatively affect her friendships. She felt the pressure to do something great, to do something innovative and to do it well. I liked Felicity and really felt for her. Friendships are hard and adding the figuring out yourself that tends to start in middle school makes it even harder. I liked watching her grow and appreciated how she asked for help. I was glad that her parents were supportive and encouraging and that she was able to find resolution.

The story moved along at a pretty quick pace, but it fit the style and format. I think the ending was very fitting for the lessons that Felicity learned. Overall, I really enjoyed this story, thought the art was lovely, and appreciated the lessons Felicity learned.

Middle grade graphic novel:

No language

Very light mention of romance

Good relationship with parents

Sister relationship growth

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Christmas with the Boy Next Door

About the Book:

Christmas with the Boy Next Door (Christmas in Snow Hill Book 2) by [Jess Mastorakos]

Title: Christmas with the Boy Next Door
Series: Christmas in Snow Hill #2
Author: Jess Mastorakos
Release Date: November 23rd, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance

He’s a Marine turned small-town cop, and she’s the single mom next door. Can the magic of Christmas unite them even with all that stands in their way?

Marine veteran Jack Rhodes returns to Snow Hill, PA to join the local police force. It’s a good gig because it means he’ll be close to his sister and her growing family, but taking this job has other perks, too, like living next door to his sister’s best friend.

Robin McBride is determined to give her daughter a happy, stress-free life. So even though she’s had a crush on Jack since the day they met, he’s a police officer now, making him off-limits. Her late husband worked for the same department and died in the line of duty. There’s no way she’ll put her daughter—or herself—through that again.

As they grow closer over hot cocoa and holiday traditions, Jack knows he needs a Christmas miracle to convince Robin to risk her heart. And when her past comes back to haunt her, he’ll do anything to show her he’s worth believing in.

Book Review:

This was just as good as I had hoped! Everything that Mastorakos writes seems to be a hit and this one was just lovely! Christmas with the Boy Next Door is the second book in Jess Mastorakos’ Christmas in Snow Hill series. I have been waiting for this book to be released and it was worth the wait!

Jack was just so much fun! I love his relationship with his sister and how kind and considerate he was. I really loved Jack and getting to know more about him. He was such a wonderful character, I was definitely rooting for him as he tried to make a relationship work with Robin. Jack had to learn to get go of his feelings about Christmas and embrace the hope for a future.

Robin was also lovely! I connected with her from the beginning and I wanted to see her end up with Jack. Robin was such a strong character and I loved how she cared for her daughter, Abby. Robin had to learn to let go of the past and her fears, hoping for the best. She had to trust that loving Jack was worth the risk of losing him.

Jack and Robin had such great chemistry and I loved reading about them together. Their interactions were easy and they had a great connection. Their romance was super sweet and fun to read about. I also love the side characters, Holly, Jack’s sister, and Noelle, Jack’s niece, were just wonderful additions. I love the family aspects in this book and the siblings’ relationships. It was cute to read about Jack interacting with Abby. I also loved Tommy and I am so excited to see that he is going to get his own book!

The plot was interesting and I was engaged the whole time. I read this book in one day! I could not recommend it more! It had a wonderful mix of romance and a hint of suspense and mystery. Christmas with the Boy Next Door is a clean contemporary romance and I would recommend it to those who have enjoyed Mastorakos other books and just even clean contemporary Christmas romances.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Cabin Mate

About the Book:

Cabin Mate: A Sweet Friends to Lovers RomCom (Under Kansas Skies Book 4) by [Leah Brunner]

Title: Cabin Mate
Series: Under Kansas Skies #4
Author: Leah Brunner
Release Date: December 1st, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy

When the woman of my dreams finally becomes available, all bets are off.

I lost a bet to my older brother. My evil, life-ruining older brother. (Okay, maybe that’s a little over-dramatic).

Now I can’t go on a date for FOUR months. I can’t even touch a woman. No hand holding. Forget kissing.

I’m walking the straight and narrow (AKA dateless and lonely) just fine. Until my best friend (the woman I’ve been pining over since college) gets her heart broken.How can I say no to those big, gorgeous blue eyes when she asks me to fly to Vermont to attend her sister’s wedding with her? As her fake boyfriend.

Yeah, all bets are off. (Don’t tell my brother).

It’ll be easy… pretend to be my best friend’s boyfriend without holding her, kissing her, or falling even more in love than I already am.

But when we end up having to share a room at her family’s cabin, the line between real and fake becomes very blurry…and very tempting.

Book Review:

Can I just say that this book was amazing! I finished it in one day and I was trying to finish a paper for school 🙂 Cabin Mate is the fourth book in Leah Brunner’s Under a Kansas Sky series and it was just as good as I had hoped!

Brooks was even better than I had hoped! He made his mistakes in the past but he was such a sweetheart. I loved getting to read about Brooks and seeing him grow. He was kind and considerate and he really loved Molly. He had liked Molly for a long time but he ultimately wanted her to be happy so he let her be. It was cute to read about him trying to woo Molly but also trying to be a good friend.

I also loved Molly! She was a great character and it was cool to see Brooks through her eyes. It was sweet to read about her start to fall for Brooks and see what a great guy he was. Molly never expected to fall for Brooks but he managed to wiggle his way into her heart.

Brooks and Molly were such a lovely couple! I loved their chemistry and how they were friends first. This was just such a cute friends to lovers book! The plot was engaging and I wanted to know how they were going to end up together.

I also really enjoyed the family scenes, especially seeing Brooks’ siblings again. I adore sibling relationships and Brunner writes great ones! I am so sad to see this wonderful series end but I think that this was a stunning conclusion! Cabin Mate is a must read!! It is a closed door contemporary friends to lovers romance. I would recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary closed door romances and probably at least 13 years and up.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Cotswolds Holiday

About the Book:

Cotswolds Holiday: A Sweet Romance (Christmas Escape) by [Kasey Stockton]

Title: Cotswolds Holiday
Series: Christmas Escape #7
Author: Kasey Stockton
Release Date: November 30th 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Step one: receive an invitation to the wedding of my ex-boyfriend to my ex-best friend . . . eight months after he broke up with me.

Step two: fly to England to avoid said wedding.

Step three: kiss an Englishman to get over the ex-boyfriend . . . and try not to fall in love.Because I really can’t fall in love with a man who lives on the other side of the world from me, even if he is the most perfect British lumberjack-pub owner I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Part of the Christmas Escape series, Cotswolds Holiday is a clean Christmas romance where an American girl runs off to England and tries not to fall in love. Check out the other books in the series, which can be read in any order:

Book Review:

When Luna receives a wedding invitation from her ex-boyfriend and the request from the bride to be in the wedding party, she sticks to her tried-and-tested response, disappearing. The perfect escape ends up being the cozy English village of Cotswold in the middle of December. But once she arrives, she discovers that snow is more slippery than she expected, her room vastly different from the listing and the pub owner/landlord is more like something from a lumberjack fantasy. As he finds a place in her heart, Luna has a problem.. She can’t fall for an Englishman who lives on the other side of the world, even if he seems perfect. It is harder to run and even though she knows it will have to end, will she be able to say goodbye?

I am so happy for the season of holiday books! While I have only read one of the other books in the series, I really have enjoyed them both! Luna is feeling at the end. She is still reeling from the loss of her boyfriend and her friend. She also is rethinking her life as she spends more time in Cotswold. I felt like Luna’s voice came out clearly in this story. I definitely empathized with her and her struggles. I will say even though I felt for her and enjoyed her story, I had trouble relating to her. I felt a bit disconnected at times. However, I really enjoyed seeing her growth. After getting some space, she was able to process her life. It was sweet to watch her develop relationships in Cotswold, with Ruby, Maggie and all the rest there. I also appreciated the good relationship she had with her family, it was really cute!

The romance was very cute! Luna and Rhys both had things to work through and Luna’s looming departure hanging over them. I liked how much they seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Rhys was very sweet to Luna. He was a bit more settled than she was and really helped her in her journey. It was fun to see the whole village interact. There was a fun small town vibe to it all, complete with small town drama. Overall, this was such a lovely holiday read. I would recommend it to those who enjoy clean contemporary romances.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Just Between Us

About the Book:

Just Between Us (Just Us Book 2) by [Madison Wright]

Title: Just Between Us
Series: Just Us #2
Author: Madison Wright
Release Date: November 18h, 2022
Genre: Closed Door Romance

Ellie Bates is in big trouble.

When her parents, the owners of the apartment complex she manages, tell her she’s on her last strike, Ellie knows she can’t break any more rules or risk getting fired. She needs to tread very, very carefully or chance falling straight through this thin ice beneath her feet.

That’s easier said than done when Camden Lane moves into her complex and starts flipping her world upside down. But dating residents is off-limits and getting close to him is a rule she’s not willing to break.

Camden Lane can’t get Ellie out of his head.

He may be in town for work, but it’s Ellie that his focus keeps drifting toward. Between his impending departure date and her parent’s rules, he knows nothing can happen. Except, the more time they spend together, the harder and harder it gets to resist the pull they feel toward each other.

When the lines between them start to blur, Camden and Ellie have to decide where their priorities lie. Is what they have worth what’s at stake?

Book Review:

This is the first book that I have read by Madison Wright and yet I really enjoyed it! But I still need to read the first book, which is next on my list. Just Between Us is the second book In Madison Wright’s Just Us series.

Ellie was a work in progress but I still enjoyed reading about her. She was trying so hard to please her parents and make them proud of her, but she was losing herself along the way. I liked seeing Ellie’s growth in the book and watching her falling for Cam. Ellie was sweet but she had to learn to live her own life. Ellie had to learn to fight for what she wanted and what she believed in. Ellie had to decide if Cam was worth the effort or if she wanted to stay in the easy zone forever.

Cam was also a wonderful character! I liked him from the beginning and it was fun to learn more about him. He was burnt out from work and searching for a break, but he never expected to fall in love or feel settled in Nashville. Cam was just so sweet and it was cute to read about him falling for Ellie. Cam had to learn to hope for the best. He had to decide if he was willing to take the leap with Ellie.

I was drawn to the characters from the beginning and the story was really compelling. I love Cam and Ellie’s relationship. There were times when I was frustrated with Ellie but things worked out in the end so I was happy. 🙂 Ellie and Cam had to figure out how they were going to make their relationship work, but how to still reach for the stars. The side characters were so funny and really added to the story. I also adored the relationship between Ellie and her brothers, it was so sweet.

Just Between Us was a great book! I am so excited to see what Wright writes next! Just Between Us is a closed door contemporary romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Anything that You Want

About the Book:

Anything That You Want: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (An Opposites Attract RomCom) by [Mary Carson]

Title: Anything that You Want
Author: Mary Carson
Release Date: September 15th, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy

He’s the hot owner of a home construction business who wants to build a family.

I’m the Doctor of Obstetrics who wants to deliver anything but.

Can two total opposites learn to play house?

I help couples create the families of their dreams. Which is perfect, since I’ll never have a family of my own.

But then I meet James. Tall and lean, with sun-kissed hair and skin…and those hands. I can’t keep my eyes off his hands.

He’s everything I’m not — too kind, too compelling, and too cute for words. It doesn’t take long before his warm charm is melting my heart.

My world is turned upside down when I find myself named the temporary guardian to a niece I never knew I had. And James is ready and willing to help. Building bunk beds together is easy when he’s used to building houses. (Did I mention his hands?)

When I learn how much he wants to have a family of his own, I remember why a man as good as James should never be with a girl like me.

He might be a builder.

But he’s tearing down my walls.

If I’m not careful, I’ll be the one left in ruins.

Book Review:

I can’t believe this is Carson’s first book! This was an amazing and adorable romcom that I loved. The characters were endearing and touching, and they felt real, especially Ellie. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I loved Ellie. She had so many layers to her, and it was refreshing to have a more reserved female main character. Romcom characters are generally quirky, awkward, and almost pixie-like, and while Ellie was definitely full of her own quirkiness, she also was very stiff and sometimes overly formal. She didn’t trust people, and she could be a bit standoffish without meaning too. I loved watching her learn to open up and trust people. As she went through the process of fostering her niece, she was able to heal some of her old wounds too.

James was such a sweetheart! Oh my gosh, definitely an adorable book boyfriend. He literally dropped everything to help Ellie so much, and I think it was cute that the “normal” romcom roles were kinda of reversed in this story. Ellie made the dramatic apology to James, and James was the super nice, almost perfect human being. I think he felt a bit too perfect at times though, and I would have loved to see his arc about not actually trying to be fulfilled. But he was honestly an amazing guy!

I loved the plot of this too. It felt interesting and funny, and I liked how there wasn’t a ton of drama. The conflict felt realistic because of Ellie’s past trauma without being too dragged out.

I would definitely recommend this sweet romcom! It is a clean read with a couple of innedos. So I would recommend it to any lovers of clean romcoms!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Stay with Me

About the Book:

Stay With Me: A Waters of Time Novel by [Jody Hedlund]

Title: Stay with Me
Series: Waters of Time #3
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Release Date: December 6th, 2022
Genre: Time Split Romance

Sacrificing and dying to oneself is costly.
But doing so brings new purpose and joy.

As a private investigator, Sybil Huxham has seen her fair share of strange occurrences. But nothing in her career has been more perplexing than the miracles she’s witnessed as a result of people drinking ancient holy water. When she discovers more of the rare holy water, she experiences strange overlaps with a nobleman in the Middle Ages who is languishing in a dungeon, accused of treason and condemned to die. To save his life, she finally crosses to the past completely.

Nicholas Worth has never met a woman quite like Sybil, and as the two run for their lives into the Weald, they find refuge among a community of outlaws. With both their reputations on the line, they have little choice but to marry. As they get to know each other, an undeniable attraction develops. But danger and disease chase after them, drawing ever closer. Will they be able to escape the threats? And will Sybil choose to stay with Nicholas in the past, or will she be ripped apart from him forever?

Book Review:

I just loved this one! This series has been so intriguing and this book was another winner! Stay with Me is the third book in Jody Hedlund’s Waters of Time series. This has been such a fascinating series and it is always so exciting to be drawn back into this world.

Sybil was a great character. I was drawn to her from the start and I wanted to learn more about her. She was trying to solve the mysteries of the holy water and help her brother. But she never expected to find herself in the past, trying to save a wounded nobleman. Sybil was such a strong character, and I loved reading about her. It was sweet to read about her falling for Nicholas. She tried to do things on her own, but with him she didn’t have to shoulder the load by herself. Sybil had to learn what it would mean to love Nicholas and truly let him into her life.

Nicholas was such an honorable character. I really enjoyed reading about him and I am so happy that he gets his happy ending. Nicholas was trying his hardest to be better than his father and his brother, but he was also trying to figure out what kind of man he would be. Nicholas was honestly a sweetheart and it was cute to read about him interacting with Sybil. He had fallen hard for her and he wanted to protect her. Nicholas had to learn to trust in God’s plans and that he didn’t need to be afraid to love Sybil. He was scared to lose her, but he had to learn that God knew what was best.

Nicholas and Sybil balanced each other out. They really complemented each other. I loved how they made each other better. I was engaged throughout the whole book and I did not want to put it down. I loved the characters and it was sweet to read about them falling in love. The plot was interesting and I wanted to find out how Sybil and Nicholas were going to end up together. There were so many things working against them. The side characters were also fun and I am so excited for the next book!

Stay with Me was just a wonderful book and I would definitely recommend it! I am beyond excited to hear that there is going to be a fourth book! This book definitely needs to be on your TBR. I would recommend Stay with Me to those 16 and up, it is a clean time-split Christian romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Hostile Intent

About the Book:

Hostile Intent: A Sweet Romantic Suspense (Black Tower Security Book 2) by [Tara Grace Ericson]

Title: Hostile Intent
Series: Black Tower Security #2
Author: Tara Grace Ericson
Release Date: November 14th, 2022
Genre: Romantic Christian Suspense

He hired her to find out who is spilling corporate secrets.
She’s determined to find out his.

When Black Tower Security sends Joey Rodriguez undercover at Zia Pharmaceuticals, she has her own motives for agreeing to the assignment – namely, to prove to her boss that Cole Kensington isn’t what he seems.

Cole has always had one goal—a cure for Alzheimer’s. Now that he and his company are close, he’s got a big problem. Corporate espionage in the pharmaceutical industry is par for the course, but this time he called for help. The undercover hacker they sent gets under his skin, but she is supposed to be the best—and he needs the best. Cole won’t let a spy in his ranks jeopardize something this important.

Helping a billionaire wasn’t what Joey signed up for. But as she starts to untangle the web of secrets and spies inside Zia, she finds herself in the crosshairs—and trusting the very man she hoped to expose.

Book Review:

This was a fun and engaging book! I had enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited to see how the second book would turn out. Hostile Intent is the second book in Tara Grace Ericson’s Black Tower Security series

Joey and Cole were cute together. They did not get along at first but it was sweet to read about them connecting and breaking past each other’s walls. I really liked the progression of their relationship and how they learned to trust each other. They were really sweet together as they learned to let go of the past and let others in. They had been through a lot so they were both a little jaded.

I really liked the characters and their development. They felt real and relatable. I also love how Ericson is able to sprinkle faith and God so easily into her books. The characters go through life but they are also challenged to trust and rely on God more.

The plot was interesting and I was engaged in the story from the beginning. I wanted to know how Joey and Cole were going to save Cole’s company. It was fun to read about Joey going from suspecting Cole to falling in love. The romance didn’t feel rushed and I think that it had the perfect amount of suspense. There was suspense and mystery but it didn’t feel scary.

This was a good book and I would recommend Hostile Intent to those who enjoy Christian romantic suspense. I am super excited for the next book in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

12 to 22: POV you Wake Up in the Future

About the Book:

12 to 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future! by [Jen Calonita]

Title: 12 to 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future
Author: Jen Calonita
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: August 16th 2022
Genre: Middle Grade

A smart and funny modern day 13 Going on 30 from New York Times bestselling author Jen Calonita! A tween girl finds out it is like to be 22 when she jumps in time with the help of a mysterious TikTok filter.

Turning 12 1/2 shouldn’t be the most exciting birthday in the world. It’s a half birthday after all. But Harper is thrilled because she is getting the biggest gift of all: her parent’s approval to finally get social media accounts.

Except when she goes to post her first photo, there is a filter she has never heard of before. One that shows you what you will look like when you are older. Curious, Harper clicks on it…but ends up flash forwarding in time to when she is 22.

She will quickly find that being in her twenties means the freedom she always wanted, money for the glow up she didn’t know she needed and working for her idol! But Harper soon discovers a lot more has changed than she expected—including the person she wants to be. Will Harper be able to use the filter to get the life of her dreams? Or will there be more glitches?

Book Review:

This was a super fun, light book! I have to admit there’s something about middle grade that is just so satisfying. And this book was simply perfection! It’s not super angsty, but it still has some of that fun middle school drama 😉

I was honestly a little worried when I saw that this was based off of 13 Going on 30. That romcom was a lot of fun, but I thought that there would be some inappropriate and unnecessary content for kids. Thankfully, this is a super clean read with only a sweet, barely mentioned kiss. Now, on to the actual story.

Harper was a relatable protagonist. She was trying to learn how to stand up for herself and be herself. I think a lot of girls will relate to her desire to be popular, and I think in some ways important. She wants to be grown up, but as she goes throughout the book, she realizes being 22 is not what she thought it would be. I think it’s an important lesson for kids to learn especially since Harper’s really into social media. I love the fact that Calonita doesn’t totally hate on social media or even try to make a huge life lesson about it. But throughout the book, Harper realizes that no one’s life is perfect even when it looks tlike it, and she gets to choose how she lives her teens.

This is a fast paced book, and a lot of stuff happens quickly. But Harper has her little sister, Reese to help her along the way. I liked Reese, and it was sweet to see her help Harper. She definitely had a strong personality, and her honesty helped Harper be better. I was happy with how Ava and Zach came back too! It was sweet to read a middle grade book more about sisterhood and friendship rather than boys. Zach played a small role in the story, but Harper’s crush on him wasn’t the biggest deal.

Celia was definitely a piece of work. I would have liked a redemption arc for her, but this is a short book. I loved Saya’s arc though. I think it’s cool to see the stereotypical sidekick have a heart and a brain 🙂 I loved this book! I would totally recommend it to any tweenage girls. It was exactly the light, fluffy read I needed!

Highlights:

No language

Light romance (one sweet kiss)

No innuendos

Conventional family values

Importance of speaking up/learning how to communicate with authority

Sweet female friendships

Excellent redemption arcs

Positive but practical spin on social media

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost

About the Book:

Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost: A Regency Romance (Clairvoir Castle Romances Book 4) by [Sally Britton]

Title: Lord Farleigh and Miss Frost
Series: Clairvoir Castle #3
Author: Sally Britton
Release Date: September 21st, 2022
Genre: Historical Romance

An Irish miss and a duke’s son have little in common, but Christmas at the castle has a way of bringing the most unlikely people together.

Isleen Frost wishes her family had stayed in Dublin for Christmas but understands it would have been folly to decline an invitation to the Duke of Montfort’s Christmastide house party. Isleen refuses to allow the opulent castle and powerful duke to impress her. But the duke’s eldest son, Lord Farleigh, is another matter entirely.

Raised as the heir to a duke, Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh, has learned to project a calm self-assurance despite an inner fear he will never be as confident a leader as his father. When a friendly wager and a spirited Irish lady challenge all his unspoken thoughts, he determines to prove her wrong—and ignore the growing attraction between them.

Christmas celebrations at the castle are always full of surprises, but Isleen and Simon are not at all prepared for the feelings the season inspires between them. An Irish miss and a duke’s son have no business falling in love. But the magic of sleigh rides, snow-covered hills, and mistletoe might change their minds…

Book Review:

Such a perfect holiday read from Sally Britton! I love this series, it is the perfect gentle romance for a stressful season. I got this book right after my midterms and it was a lovely treat to read. The Clairvoir Castle series follows the inhabitants of Clairvoir Castle as they find their path in life and find love!

Isleen Frost would rather spend Christmas at home in Dublin, than in England, but knows the foolishness of declining the invitation to the Duke of Montfort’s Christmas party. She is determined to not let the powerful duke or the stunning castle impress her, but the duke’s son, Lord Farleigh is a surprise to her. Simon Dinard, Lord Farleigh has learned to project a calm self-assuredness as the heir to duke, but he has an inner fear that he will never be as confident a leader as his father. A friendly wager with the spirited Irish lady visiting the castle challenges him, even as he tries to ignore the growing attraction between them. The Christmas celebrations at the castle are full of surprises, but an Irish miss and a duke’s son have no business falling in love. Will the magic of sleigh rides and mistletoe change their minds?

As always, an amazing book from Sally Britton! I was so excited to read Simon’s book after meeting him in the previous books! He seemed very sweet and a great brother to the rest of the siblings. I am happy to report that he is just as sweet as I thought! He is finding his place as the heir, standing in the shadows of his noble and powerful father. He was definitely a relatable character in that sense. I appreciated his sense of responsibility, even though he tended to take things a bit too seriously. But Simon found a match in Isleen! She was so fun! I loved her spirit and intelligence. She was confident and opinionated, but still very thoughtful. I appreciated the positive relationship she had with her family as well. The two of them were super cute together! They could have meaningful conversations, but also brought out the playfulness in each other.

Through wagers and Christmas celebrations, Simon and Isleen grew closer. I liked how they had a chance to spend time together in different settings and the support of returning characters. One of my favorite things about the series is seeing old friends again. This book definitely brought back some fun characters and I enjoyed seeing them in different spaces. Nearly all the characters were there and it was so funny reading their interactions. The story moved along pretty quickly and as said before, it is meant to be a gentle romance, so although there is some excitement, overall it is a sweet and clean book. I would definitely recommend it to readers 13 and up. It is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.