Audio: Christmas in Chestnut Ridge

By: Nancy Naigle

Narrated by: Virginia Rose

Series: Chestnut Ridge, Book 2

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Release date: 10-08-24 by Tantor Audio

Romantic fiction/to review

It looked sweet, cute and xmassy and it was all those things.

Sheila is visiting her friend and taking part in a Christmas Tree decoration. She seems like she needs a break.

The town was sweet, everyone are nice and friendly. Then she meets a hunky fireman, and even though she has seen him before she is all damn. Ok not really but yes sparks fly and they try it out.

Then there is a fire and the town rally to help the family. And Sheila too.

The only drama is like can they really give it a try because she does not even live there. But honestly the drama is so tiny that it is not even there. It is a heartwarming book where people have good hearts.

Good narration. She did voices and moods well and it really fit the book

In the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge, where tree farms blanket the hillsides and the promise of a white Christmas is ever-present, a heartwarming holiday romance is about to blossom. When Sheila's best friend convinces her to help decorate a tree in the annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, all wrapped in the cozy embrace of a tight-knit community. As she immerses herself in the joy of twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the camaraderie of the townsfolk, Sheila's world begins to transform, and she finds the sense of belonging she never knew she needed.

Meanwhile, Tucker, the town's reliable fire captain, is gathering volunteers to help a family with four young children who have just lost their home to a devastating fire weeks before Christmas. Sheila offers her helping hand, and as the town rallies to support the family in their time of need, sparks of love begin to flicker between her and Tucker.

In this charming town where dreams come true, and Christmas magic is everywhere, come along for a tale of love, community, and the true spirit of the season.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

10/15/2024 Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Now that is something that will not come to me now. That is something that when I am reading I am all awww. I am also old so when I was watching Bluey with my kid I was all damn Bandit is the best dad ever, love him, lol.

I feel like most book boyfriends are those that you love and then leave cos they would never last. 

But I will just go with Julius from Heartstrikers cos he is a cutie and so damn sweet

10/22/2024 What are the top three items on your bucket list?

10/29/2024 How do you like to be scared? Horror or thriller?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole´s Monday: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Series: Dream Harbor #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cozy mystery, Chick Lit

Format: ebook

Pages: 286

Published: August 30, 2023

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A spicy small-town romance,

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

Review:

I had a couple of friends suggest reading this recently and it is simply perfect for October. I decided to try my library but the wait for this was 7 weeks!!!! EEEE too long, so I used my digital reward points I have been saving on Amazon to buy the ebook of this. Yayy. 

This is a small town and Jeanie is excited to start her new life after her aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Dream Harbor will give Jeanie a fresh start away from her dull desk job and hectic life. She meets a lot of folks, but there is something about Logan. He is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. However, Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and they can't stop thinking about each other. At the same time....weird stuff keeps happening. Jeanie will have to figure out who or what is going on.

This was simply perfect for the fall season. It made me want to eat all of the pumpkin glaze donuts we got from the cider mill. Nommmmm! 

I loved Jeanie. She was simply so adorable. Logan? He was okay. He annoyed me a little bit with his inner monologue. Yes, yes. I'm sorry your ex sucked but please.....talk to a therapist or something. Jeanie OBVIOUSLY is 1000000% better and ADORES YOU! *shakes fist* Once he got out of his own way I found him tolerable. 

Hazel and Annie were very endearing. Loved them. 

The mystery felt lacking to me. I wish they would've beefed that up a bit. Jeanie didn't seem as concerned as she should've been LOL. I know I would've been on a warpath!!!

The love was sweet and when we FINALLY got to the spicy bits it got really good. It took eons (I blame Logan). 

All-in-all, this was an adorable book for the fall. Very sweet love, a cute town, and entertaining banter. This would make a good Hallmark movie. I do wish the mystery bits were beefed up a bit though. I do want to read book 2 someday! I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Sweet

Audio: The Mountain crown by Karin Lowanchee

By: Karin Lowachee

Narrated by: Julienne Irons

Series: Crowns of Ishia, Book 1

Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins

Release date: 10-10-24 by Tantor Audio

Fantasy novella/to review

Something went wrong...what? I have no idea because I have no idea what I listened to. 4 hours and not a single clue. Was it the book? The narration? I should have given up but I had a little bit left, the thing is there was always a little bit left because I could not concentrate.

No idea what happened, no connection to the people in it. The story felt confusing. I could not picture anything.

Maybe reading would be better?

Méka must capture a king dragon, or die trying.

War between the island states of Kattaka and Mazemoor has left no one unscathed. Méka’s nomadic people, the Ba’Suon, were driven from their homeland by the Kattakans. Those who remained were forced to live under the Kattakan yoke, to serve their greed for gold alongside the dragons with whom the Ba’Suon share an empathic connection.

A decade later and under a fragile truce, Méka returns home from her exile for an ancient, necessary rite: gathering a king dragon of the Crown Mountains to maintain balance in the wild country. But Méka’s act of compassion toward an imprisoned dragon and Lilley, a Kattakan veteran of the war, soon draws the ire of the imperialistic authorities. They order the unwelcome addition of an enigmatic Ba’Suon traitor named Raka to accompany Méka and Lilley to the mountains.

The journey is filled with dangers both within and without. As conflict threatens to reignite, the survival of the Ba’Suon people, their dragons, and the land itself will depend on the decisions – defiant or compliant – that Méka and her companions choose to make. But not even Méka, kin to the great dragons of the North, can anticipate the depth of the consequences to her world.