Hawaiian Holiday by Michele Paige Holmes

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Synopsis:

Hailey Walsh has always loved Christmas, and this year the holiday was supposed to be the most magical of all, spent with her large family and her fiancé in preparation for their wedding just two days after. Then Gage broke their engagement. 

Now instead of playing in the snow with her nieces and nephews, Hailey's building a playground with children she's never met before, spending her Christmas with strangers in Hawaii, on a service program she hopes will lift her spirits and help her begin to pick up the broken pieces of her life and heart. 

Gage Stevens didn't want to spend Christmas in Hawaii any more than he wanted to break his engagement, but sometimes fate has a way of slamming a guy against a wall and forcing him to tough decisions- for the good of others, be that his ex-fiancé or his mom. And while he's certain that no ocean breeze or tropical wonderland can heal what's wrong, one glimpse at a familiar head of red hair and Gage realized fate may not be done with him yet.

Review:

Wow this book was very different than the other clean romance books I've read recently. This book was full of love, kindness, hope, trials, and tears. I loved that it took place in Hawaii... who doesn't dream of going to Hawaii and during the holidays definitely sounds like a dream. Hailey's life came crashing down so she headed to Hawaii to get her mind off what is going on. When she got there she was able to serve and help so many different people in many ways. This was a perfect Christmas story of giving of yourself and when you do that you can find happiness. This is a very well written book and I loved each of the characters and the way they were developed. This was a very sweet heartwarming story that left you feeling good and wanting to "light the world."

Stars: 5

Hope for Christmas by Rachelle J. Christensen

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Synopsis:

Anika Fletcher hates Christmas--its promises of good tidings and hope for the future are a tinseled as the ornaments on Kenworth's Hope Tree. Despite her feelings, Anika wants to maintain her daughter's faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth's old fashioned soda fountain. Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. Just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything. Anika isn't sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing-- especially at Christmas when it's easy to enjoy a kiss and believe love can last longer than the season.

Review:

This is a sweet story of a hard working single mom who wants to give her daughter a magical Christmas but they are struggling to make ends meet. Anika works hard at her job and meets Carlos who is a kind man who seems to be around when she needs him but she doesn't trust anyone. Carlos is a gentleman and I love how he treats Anika and her daughter. I found myself hoping Anika would see his kind heart. It has quite the ending and you hope that it will all work out.This was a well written cute story that puts you in the holiday spirit. This is a perfect Christmas story about faith, family, hard work, love, and of course Hope!

Stars: 4.5

Christmas with the Recluse by Victorine E. Lieske

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Synopsis:

When Charley gets sent by her father to appraise a mansion full of antiques, she gets a surprise when she arrives and the owner is cold and mean, and doesn't want anything to do with Christmas. And even worse? It's not really an appraisal job at all. He just wants her to clean out his mountain of junk from his garage. But Charley makes it her goal to show him that Christmas is a special time of year. And as time goes on, she sees his frozen heart start to thaw.
Alexander has been dealing with the guilt from his wife's death for two long years. It's time to move past, so he hires someone to help rid his garage of his wife's memories. But when she arrives, she's not at all what he was expecting. And even though she's a bit crazy, she helps him find his Christmas spirit once again.

Review:

I LOVED this fun, sweet and of course clean Christmas book! I lost sleep over reading this book... I could not put it down and read it way in to the wee hours of the night. I just wanted to know what was going to happen. I knew I loved Charley's character when she had silly holiday socks on... I LOVE holiday socks and have so many of them and wear them all year round! Charley was quirky and young but a hard worker especially when it was not what she thought she would be doing. Alexander was a grump who needed a little Charley quirkiness and Christmas magic in his life... he just didn't know it until she arrived. I love how she was young and innocent and just did and said what she thought instead of worrying about much. The connection that forms and the sparks that fly with some steamy kisses was a bonus.  I loved all the characters, the storyline and the details throughout the book. It was a heart warming romance and I found myself laughing out loud a time or two.

Stars: 5

Until We Kissed by Heather B. Moore

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Synopsis:

Pine Valley librarian Livvy Harmon has big dreams, which include marrying Dr. Slade McKinney. Trouble is he's only kissed her once in their four months of dating, and it wasn't all that great. But Livvy isn't ready to give up yet on hooking such an amazing man, even though Slade seems to have time for everyone but her.
When Livvy keeps running into writer Mason Rowe, who seems to be camping out in her library to finish his book under strict orders from his agent, Livvy at first keeps him at arm's length. But the more their friendship grows, the more she finds that her dream relationship with her doctor boyfriend isn't so dreamy after all.

Review:

Such a cute book! Livvy's big dream has always been to marry a doctor and she currently is dating one but as I continued reading I disliked him more and more. Ewe! She is always on the back burner and Livvy is a cute librarian who has a lot to give and she deserves someone who wants to spend time with her and thinks the world of her. Mason Rowe is a famous author who hasn't written in awhile so he escapes to Pine Valley to write and meets the cute librarian and her weird boyfriend. I love how Mason stuck up for Livvy and helped her. She realizes with his actions that she deserves so much more and maybe she could forget about her dream and create a new one. I love their friendship that forms. Their chemistry was undeniable and the steamy kisses in the library were just melting the pages with the sparks that were flying. I loved this idea of a book loving librarian falling in love with a famous author. Of course we all know I love the town of Pine Valley and this series is just so cute. I loved experiencing Pine Valley in winter it was so magical.

Stars: 5

The Midnight Groom by Taylor Hart

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Synopsis:

How much would you bet on true love this Christmas season?
After the worst year of his life, Cameron Cruz, owner of the Denver Storm, agrees to a family Christmas cruise with his twin sister and her family. Sure maybe part of the reason he agreed to go was because it got him out of court mandated therapy for a week. Still he was trying to focus on relaxing. He was trying to focus on having fun. He was trying not to look at the reports that came everyday from the private investigator's he'd been hiring and firing for the past year to bring justice to the man who killed his wife.
Isabel Kind was only on this Christmas cruise for one reason-to heal. After tragically losing her husband and son five years ago, she'd been stuck. And she and her therapist thought doing the list of excursions they'd planned to do as a family-might help her move on. When she sprains her ankle and Cameron Cruz offers to help, she finds herself accepting.
After reluctantly getting piggy backed by the amazingly strong and handsome man, swimming with the sting rays, and zip lining through the Honduran jungles, she is more and more mystified by this troubled man. Even more mystified that he's not only helping her physically but he's also trying to help her emotionally-even if, as he says, he can't heal himself.
When bad news comes to light and Cameron has to face the past, they are left with a choice-walk away or let the power of grace make them whole.

Review:

This book draws you in from the very beginning. Man that Prologue is a tear jerker you're so happy but then so sad leaving you very intrigued for the rest of the book. This was a captivating book about tragedy, grief, forgiveness and healing. Cameron's sister talks him in to going on a cruise for Christmas. A very reluctant Cameron comes along even though he has too much to do back home. Little did he know it would be the perfect thing to help with the beginning of his forgiveness and healing. I love the bond of friendship that forms between Isabel and Cameron and that they are their for each other understanding a little of what each other are dealing with. I like their teasing and deep caring for each other. This was a great book that leaves you with a happy heart. I love that this is a great representation that there can be hope and love through hard times and that you don't have to go through trials alone. I wish there was more Christmas to it because I love me some Christmas but I definitely enjoyed it!

Stars: 5