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November 29, 2012

The BLI Holiday Reading Challenge 2012

The BLI Holiday Reading Challenge
I don´t know how I missed this challenge! Between work and the house, I am exhausted. But my guilty pleasure is reading Christmas books. I love them, I even made a list of the Christmas books I wanted to read this year (now I have more).

Anyway, I'm going for the Candy Cane-aholic level: read 7 or more holiday themed books.

If you want to know the rules and sign up, please visit Book Lovers Inc.

Books Read (coming soon!):
  1. Mistletoe Mischief by Stacey Joy Netzel
  2. White Christmas by Emma Lee-Potter
  3. Christmas Without Holly by Nicola Yeager

November 24, 2012

Book Review: Naughty and Nice by Ruthie Knox, Molly O'Keefe, Stefanie Sloane

Title: Naughty and Nice
Authors: Ruthie Knox, Molly O'Keefe, Stefanie Sloane
Published: November 5th 2012 by Loveswept
Age: Adult
’Tis the season for romance with three original holiday-themed novellas! Unwrap this festive eBook bundle and discover why these authors are quickly becoming the biggest names in the genre. Ruthie Knox tells a heartwarming contemporary story of first loves given the gift of a second chance; Molly O’Keefe releases the ghosts of Christmas past with a prequel to her novel Crazy Thing Called Love; and Stefanie Sloane weaves an irresistible Regency tale of fiery passion that burns deep on a cold winter’s night.

ROOM AT THE INN by Ruthie Knox

Carson Vance couldn’t wait to get out of Potter Falls, but now that he’s back to spend Christmas with his ailing father, he must face all the people he left behind . . . like Julie Long, whose heart he broke once upon a time. Now the proprietor of the local inn, Julie is a successful, seductive, independent woman—everything that Carson’s looking for. But despite several steamy encounters under the mistletoe, Julie refuses to believe in happily ever after. Now Carson must prove to Julie that he’s back for good—and that he wants her in his life for all the holidays to come.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Molly O’Keefe

Maddy Baumgarten and Billy Wilkins are spontaneous, in love, and prepared to elope the day after Christmas—that is, if Maddy’s family doesn’t throw a wrench in their plans. After all, Maddy’s barely out of high school and Billy’s a notorious bad boy. Maddy doesn’t care about Billy’s rough past—all she cares about is living in the here and now. But after Maddy’s mother stops speaking to her in protest, and a Christmas Eve heart-to-heart with her father leaves her with butterflies, Maddy starts to get cold feet. She loves Billy, but is she taking this big step too soon?

ONE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Sloane

After being jilted by her fiancĂ©, Jane Merriweather turns to her dear childhood friend, the Honorable Lucas Cavanaugh, for support—and unlocks the smoldering desire simmering in the man’s troubled heart. Frightened by his newfound feelings, Lucas flees to Scotland. But when the Christmas season brings them together again, one glance is all that’s needed to reignite his yearning. If Lucas can convince Jane that his intentions are as pure as the falling snow, they’ll turn a dreary December into a joyous Yuletide affair.
I love to read anthologies for Christmas. I thought Naughty and Nice was going to be very hot, erotic and more, but it turned to be more sexy and sensual,  without missing the sweet romance..

The first one, ROOM AT THE INN by Ruthie Knox, I think it's the longest and my favorite. Carson and Julie have a complicated relationship. Carson is always running and Julie is just tired of him. He's back to take care of his old father, but wasn't expecting to still find Julie attracted. They have to share a house, and between fighting and kisses, it's time for Carson to let go of his fears. I really liked the story because the characters had a past which made things more interesting.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Molly O’Keefe is a really cute story about young love. Maddy is just turning eighteen and planning to marry Billy. They are the perfect couple, but her mother isn't so happy about the union. She wants Maddy to have a future, not just be the wife. It's about the importance of choosing for yourself whats best for your future, even if some people don't agree. It has a steamy moment, and it made me remember when I was younger and in love. If I had the opportunity to marry him when I was younger, I think I would have done it. BTW, we still haven't hehe, but we are still together. :)

And finally, ONE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Sloane was a nice surprise. It's historical romance, which was a treat for me, and the characters, Lucas and Jane, were just perfect. It was a funny and relaxed romance, I just couldn't stop smiling. Perfect to end this anthology.


More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

November 23, 2012

Book Review: Snowed Under by Jude Ryan

Title: Snowed Under: A Christmas Short Story
Author: Jude Ryan
Published: November 17th 2011 by Chelsea Square
It's the week before Christmas, and all through the house...
With just seven days until Christmas, Janna Myers needs a snowplough to get through the mountain of work on her desk. Not that she cares, though. This holiday season, like all the ones before it, she plans to spend curled up with her laptop, visions of pound signs dancing through her head. When a blizzard traps Janna in the country with handsome Alistair Randall, CEO of the UK's biggest Christmas tree supplier, Janna must either embrace the holiday spirit or risk losing her PR firm's biggest client. Can Janna muster up some Christmas cheer, or will her bah humbug attitude cost her dearly?
Janna is a London business woman and not Christmas lover, but she has to put on her best face to work with Alistair Randall, CEO of a big Christmas tree supplier company. His company is going down and she's about to loose one of her biggest clients, so it's her job to try and find him a way to keep the company and her services.

Snower Under, as the title says, is a very short story, more about the Christmas spirit and celebrations than a romance between Janna and Alistair. Thanks to a blizzard, they have to spend a few days together at his cabin, and they discover Christmas brings not-so-happy memories to both of them. They are attracted to each other but the story needed more pages to make it a full romance.

It was a very quick read, but it was disappointing not to know more of Alistair and Janna. It was like the story was left at the middle...maybe a little bit more would have been great!


More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon.

November 15, 2012

My Christmas Books To-Read

It may be a little bit early to post this, but by favorite holiday is Christmas, and here in Venezuela we are already celebrating. You can listen our typical Christmas music, 'gaitas', and we already started to eat our typical Christmas food: 'hallacas' and 'pan de jamon'.

HallacasPan de JamonGaitas

Our traditions are very different for other countries. We have Santa Claus, but usually the one who brings Christmas presents is the baby Jesus (don't ask me how). We wait for him until midnight and celebrate him with gifts and fireworks. It's amazing, the best party!

We don't have snow, but we still decorate with Christmas trees, lights and fake snow. I think it's hilarious to have fake snow when I have palms just outside my house. 

This year I'm very excited because just a few days before Christmas, I'm going to Disney World!. I know, a little bit old for me, but every time I've been at USA, I could never visit Disney. It's like a dream come true. I'm going with my boyfriend, but we both are very close to our family, so we are coming back at Christmas Eve to spend it with them :)

Anyway, Christmas books are my new tradition (since last year, I think). I just love them. All of them are cute, some a little bit naughty, but it's a great way to start celebrating the holidays!







The Holiday Bride (Holiday Brides #2) by Ginny Baird
The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo









November 14, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #106 - The Collector by Victoria Scott

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.
March 12th 2013 by Entangled Teen

Apparently it's YA (I thought it was adults), but still sounds amazing!!!

November 13, 2012

Book Review: The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Title: The Marriage Mistake
Series: Marriage to a Billionaire #3
Author: Jennifer Probst
Release Date: November 6th, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster - Gallery Books
Age: Adult
Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed….
I read The Marriage Bargain, first book of the Marriage to a Billionare series, a while ago and really liked it. So when I saw The Marriage Mistake at Netgalley, I couldn't wait to read it! I didn't realize I missed the second book until I was half done with this, but obviously it's now on my to-be-read shelf.

I love a good brother's friend and little sister romance, it's always adventurous to fall in love behind everyone's back. Carina is the youngest of her house, and everyone threats her as a child, even her childhood crush Max. But she's ready to make everyone clear, specially Max, that she's now a woman.

Carina was kind of a young me. She knew what she wanted, but didn't know how to get it! Max has been her constant crush and seeing him again is making her crazy. Making him jealous is a great game, until things get out of control.

Max ended being my favorite character. He always liked Carina, but his loyalty to his friend keep him back. He gets jealous when she's with other men, so when she ask him for just one wild and passionate night, he finally accepts.

Of course none of them were planning to be discovered by Carina's mother. Personally, I didn't thought it was realistic the way her mother acted. Why make them get married? And why did they accepted it so easily? I know her family is very traditional but, people still do that?

Anyway, it was a great story. I liked the way Carina finally found herself and that Max was brave enough to keep her. It meant big changes to them, but it was so obvious they were meant to be together.

Overall, if you are looking for passionate love stories, you should definitely try the Marriage to a Billionaire series.


More information about this book at jenniferprobst.comGoodreadsAmazon.