Love On Spruce Island by Daisy Landish

From Goodreads:

Anna Dawson is a divorced, single mother who works too hard and claims she has no time for a love life. The truth is, at 48 years old, she’s still bitter about her ex-husband. When she’s sent on assignment on a dreamy island, she meets a man that may very well rearrange her priorities.

Tyler Marshall is a charming, African American, 50-year-old ex-military man who never even considered having a committed relationship. But a streak of odd situations puts Anna Dawson on his path. Will he take the hint and give love chance?

My Take:

I give this novella 3/3.5 stars because it felt more like the outline of a story to me. There is a lot of potential here, but the story is so short that I never really got a feel for the characters, and the timeline felt strange. Maybe more time passed than I thought during the story? It felt like he proposed to her on the fourth time they were together.

For my clean reads only followers--there is some innuendo and the f-word is used once but nothing other than kisses happens.

I received a copy from storyorigin in exchange for an honest review.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Stranded For The Holidays

From Goodreads:

Stranded for the Holidays is a collection of clean romance novellas where the Hero and Heroine are stuck together!

The Yuletide Thief by Daisy Landish

A Clean Historical Holiday Romance

As a vicar’s daughter, Emily Hawthorne has few marriage prospects in the country. She loves children and has resigned herself to becoming a governess. Before leaving for London to seek employment, she decides to arrange a proper Christmas for the orphans of their church. But she’ll have to compete with Robin of Sussex, a highwayman who fancies himself the next Robin Hood.

Stranded with a Shifter by Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Stranded Together: A YA Holiday Romance

When Kayla stops in Jessie’s Café after a day of Christmas shopping, a cute guy offers to buy her coffee. But when they’re about to sit down, he makes up some excuse and bolts in a panic. Next thing she knows, Kayla is stuck in the department store elevator with him and everything changes.

Clueless at Christmas by Peyton Lawson

A Sweet Contemporary Holiday Romance

When a beautiful woman knocks on his cabin door in the middle of a blizzard on Christmas eve, Jacob can’t believe his luck. From the looks of it, Santa sent him an angel in the snowstorm.
But things are never as they seem...

Grounded for Christmas by Daisy Landish

A Classic Grumpy/Sunshine Sapphic Holiday Romance!

Jamie hates Christmas, and is less than looking forward to spending it with her mum, whose drinking problem always seems to worsen come the holidays.
But the arrival of Emma brings an unexpected twist to the season. Will she manage to raise a little holiday cheer out of her new friend?

My Take:

This was a super quick read. I liked that there were different romance genres in this set of short stories. They are cute, wholesome stories that will make you smile. They did feel a bit rushed to me though, and I wished the stories were longer. There just wasn't time to flesh out the characters with depth other than the romance thread. The one about the reindeer shifter had me laughing at the thought of a reindeer shifter. All the stories were in good fun.

All in all I'll give this 3.5 stars and a clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no intimacy on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, intimacy is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to intimacy), more talk about intimacy, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but intimacy is closed door.
PG-14—somewhere between PG-13 and R. Not erotica, but at least a paragraph of on-screen intimacy
R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” intimacy, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the intimacy and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Saving Sycamore Bay by Cami Checketts

From Goodreads:
A football hero. A southern belle in need. Can they rescue her home together?

Harrison Jackson graduated from Auburn University with his master's in accounting and thought he was leaving the world of college football and adoring fans to crunch numbers and make money. Little did he know his boss has other plans for him--a beautiful southern belle and her family's mansion that are both in need of rescue and more than a little TLC.

Grace Addison lost her mother and daddy within a year of each other, she is not going to lose the only home her family has known. Her ex-boyfriend and lawyer are trying to talk her into selling and she has no money to fight anyone, but she has her determination and her pride. When the most handsome and strong-looking man she's ever seen shows up on her doorstep, claiming he's been sent to help her, she thinks he's salvation and an angel combined. When she finds out he's an accountant, she laughs in his face.

Someone is determined to take or burn Grace's home no matter how hard she and Harrison fight. Can she trust Harrison to protect her or should she give up her dreams?

My Thoughts:

I always enjoy Checketts' stories. She writes with a light had that makes it easy to get lost in the story and use my own imagination to filling details with the setting and so forth. This one was no different. Harrison is such a good man. Strong and confident where it counts, he is just the man Grace needs to get through some troubled times. I loved how gallant and determined he was to keep her and her home safe.

Grace was sweet if a bit naive. Her greatest strength was also her greatest weakness--she cares deeply about people and sees the good in them even when the warning signs are there. Because of this, there was just enough suspense to add some extra depth to a sweet love story.

I give Saving Sycamore Bay a solid 4 and clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

R--swearing (can be related to sex), feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot

Sweet Tea and Kisses Boxed Set

I'm not dead! Sadly, I've been super busy with work and helping plan a community event that will take place later this month. That hasn't left much time for reading for enjoyment. I did get the privilege of reading this fun collection set in Atlanta, Georgia. Having been married in that busy city myself, I definitely see the romance of the area.

Below is the blurb for each short story and my thoughts in italics.

From Goodreads:
(Sweet Tea and Kisses: A Contemporary Romance Boxed Set) Discover the alluring world of the South with six sweet contemporary romance novellas from New York Times, USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Chase fireflies that glitter on starry nights, listen to the call of the cicadas, and smell the luscious scent of magnolias as you experience the adventures of cowboys, brides, second chances, and unexpected romance all set in Atlanta. Don’t miss your chance to fall deeper in love as you explore the South through the eyes and hearts of these unforgettable characters.

A Kiss is Just a Kiss by Melinda Curtis, USA Today Bestselling Author. Kitty Summer has a wedding to stop. She’s sure the groom doesn’t love her sister, but how can she prove it? By testing his fidelity with one very public kiss, of course.

I believe this was my favorite from the boxed set. Kitty and Beck were both strong personalities and that made the sparks fly. That first kiss was more than they both bargained for! I loved everything about the story, from the angry words, the road trip where everything that could go wrong did, sassy grandma Dotty, and the heart wrenching moment when Kitty tells Maggie, "Just...don't hurt him." The best part was Kitty and Beck were both trying to do what was right at the expense of their own happiness. Thank goodness for Maggie!

I give this a 4.5, with a Clean rating.

Taste of Tara by Shanna Hatfield, USA Today Bestselling Author. Falling in love never tasted so sweet… Pastry chef Tara Tarleton has one month to live out her dreams on a plantation in the South. Reality falls far short of her expectations until a chance encounter with a hunky horse wrangler changes her mind.

This was a cute story, and although I like the way it wasn't a play by play retelling of Gone With the Wind in modern times, I felt the connection was forced at time. Bret instead of Rhet for instance. There were lots of little things like that where I felt the author was trying to hard to make me think of Gone With the Wind, when Tara and Bret's story would have been just as good and compelling without it. 

As far as the romance, I appreciated the natural progression of their affection. I give this one a 3.75 to 4. I enjoyed it, just wanted to lose the correlations being forced on me.

The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author. In order to retrieve and deliver an antique charm before her best friend’s wedding, maid of honor Sarah Carlton must fake being in love with her childhood nemesis, best man Ben Atkins.

This story give "A Kiss is Just a Kiss" a run for the spot of my favorite story from the collection. Sarah and Ben have been in love with each other forever, but they've both been quiet about it. All the tasks that are given to them are fun to read about. Even better is the way it shows Sarah how well she fits and works with Ben until she's reached the place he's been waiting all those wasted years. Very satisfying read.

I give this a 4.5, with a Clean rating.

Sassy Bride by Ciara Knight, USA Today Bestselling Author. A Cinderella meets Rich Charming tale set in small town, Georgia, full of sass and sacrifice. Can a girl form the wrong side of town win over the ugly in-laws, or will she lose her happily ever after forever?

*spoilers* I really wanted to like this one, but Sadie bugged me. Well, maybe it wasn't Sadie, but Ashton's mom? Not really sure. I grew up in the South and am glad to say I never knew any mom's as evil and devious as his mom. It just didn't feel real to me that you could get so close to your wedding date and not have worked out these family issues. In the end Ashton saved this story because he was a good guy who really loved Sadie and truly did choose her over his family. 

I'd probably give this a 3.5, with a Clean rating.

It Could Happen to Us by Lucy McConnell, Contemporary Romance Author. An irresistible contemporary romance about a not-so-humble cop who splits his raffle ticket with an unlucky waitress and the actor who falls in love with her.

This one was cute. At first I was worried about the story following the movie "It Could Happen to You", but luckily it took a detour rather quickly. Instead of winning money, they win a lunch with some celebs--and the cop is a total jerk. Anyway, I also loved that this short story had some time passage involved. Even when we have that first love/attraction/connection thing going on, life is never a fairy tale. Allie and Mark had to wait for their happily ever after for real world reasons. I appreciated that.

I give this a 4, with a Clean rating.

Hit and Run Love by Jennifer Peel, Award Winning and Bestselling Author. What happens when a no-nonsense lawyer and her ex-boyfriend, a police officer, run into each other? Lots of sparks, literally and figuratively. Will this be another hit and run? Or, this time around, will Harrison be able to convince Kallie to give up her running shoes?

This was one of my three favorites from the boxed set. It was easy to connect with Kallie as she kept running away even while I kept thinking she was being stupid. Maybe she's my brand of stupid? Harrison kept chasing her, always wanting to break down that wall he could feel between them. This was one that had me cheering when Kallie finally figures things out. 

I give this a 4-4.5, with a Clean rating.

The Sweet Tea and Kisses Boxed Set by the Sweet Six authors will have you falling in love with the South with every turn of the page.

I give the boxed set Sweet Tea and Kisses a 4-4.5 and Clean rating for easy readability with memorable characters.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

 R--swearing (can be related to sex), feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot

Pastels and Jingle Bells by Christine S Feldman

From Goodreads: 
Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.

But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy. A lot.

Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year… is Ian.

My Take:
I was sad when this story ended. Part of me wishes the author had stretched it out to a full length novel, but then again, maybe I liked it because it was so short. Who knows!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the idea of a woman who was teased/bullied in school running into that guy later in life. Her plan to tell him off was entertaining, but what I really liked was the theme that came through loud and clear without being beat over the head with it. People change, and you never know what they are going through unless you give them a chance. Trish finds that her tormenter's life wasn't all roses when he was young. Plus, he had liked her but didn't know what to do with those emotions. Trish thought she'd never get the chance to stand up to Ian Rafferty after disappeared rather abruptly from her life. I love the irony of the fact Ian's daughter is being bullied and Trish steps in to help.

Everything about this story was cute and fun. And clean to boot! This gets a 4 Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:
Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"
PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door
PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.
R--swearing (can be related to sex), feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot