Annaberry Reads: Christmas

The Trouble with Angels by Debbie Macomber

Title: The Trouble with Angels
Series: Angels Everywhere, #2
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date (originally) Published:
November 1, 1995

A Wing and a Prayer

When irrepressible angels Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy set out for the City of Angels to grant three rush Christmas prayer requests, they are sure they can help without resorting to, er, divine intervention. But they soon find it will take more than one miracle to teach their precious lessons of love--as well as make three special holiday dreams come true!

My Thoughts:

Title: A Season of Angels
Series: Angels Everywhere, #1
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date (originally) Published:
Dec 28, 1993

Wishes for love bring hope from above.

Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy—three willing but sometimes wayward angels—are each given someone's prayer to answer . . .

Shirley: She's sent to help nine-year-old Timmy Potter, who longs for a new father. And although his mother, Jody, has vowed never to trust any man, Shirley is determined to help her love again.

Goodness: She knows Monica Fischer longs for a husband and home of her own, but the young woman has practically given up on finding the right man to stand by her side . . . until Goodness steps in to help.

Mercy: Can Mercy bring hope back into Leah Lundberg's life? This maternity nurse desperately wants a child to fill up the home she's made with her husband, Andrew.

But there's just one catch: Each angel must teach her charge a memorable lesson before the prayer can be granted . . .

My Thoughts:

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne

Title: Mistletoe and Mr. Right
Author: Lyla Payne
Date Published: November 20, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…but lust refused to settle in for a long winter's nap.
She might be all nestled, snug in her bed, by why, oh why, do visions of the wrong guy dance in her head?

Jessica, (not Jessie), figures that nothing could be better than a trip to the Emerald Isle for Christmas break. So she takes a flying leap and follows her boyfriend home for the holidays, not only sure that he will finally agree they're destined for each other, but also that Ireland will provide the perfect backdrop to the beginning of their happily-ever-after.

But it turns out his family--and his gorgeous ex-girlfriend--don't feel the same way, and even the family goat seems to be conspiring against her well-laid plans. The only person making the trip worthwhile is the very last one she should be thinking about, but Grady, the local farmhand, has a way of showing up when Jessica needs him most...and least.

USA Today bestselling author Lyla Payne wraps up the perfect holiday novella, ties it with a ribbon of romance, and tops it with a light dusting of snow. Perfect to curl up with under the tree. Just add hot cocoa!

This is the first book that I've read by Lyla Payne, and I am now looking forward to reading more books written by her. Mistletoe and Mr. Right was a fun, quick read. I thought it was really interesting that this story took place in Ireland, as we got to experience an Irish Christmas, and I enjoyed learning about some of the customs.

To be honest, I could not relate to Jessie at first. She flew all the way to England to share Christmas with a guy who she had barely started dating. I thought that she was crazy at first! I was also baffled that, with the limited time she had, she barely seemed to spend any time with Brennan.

My favorite parts of the story was Jessie's banter with Grady. I really liked him, and appreciated that he didn't put up with much crap! It was super refreshing. I have to say, I wanted more at the end of this story. I would have liked to see how things played out in the future, as opposed to where it left off.

All in all, I definitely recommend Mistletoe and Mr. Right to anyone looking for a clean New Adult, Christmas story, filled with both humor and serious content.

Rating: 4 Stars

Cover Reveal for Holly Lane by J.B. Morgan

Title: Holly Lane

Author: J.B. Morgan

Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance

Perspective Release Date: December 20, 2014

Hollie + Layne = One trip. One week. One chance meeting that they'll never forget. Two hearts. Two different places. And One event that could change it all.

This Christmas, take a stroll down Holly Lane where you'll find Hollie Reed's story of memories, friendships, a town full of holiday joy and the power of love.

J.B. Morgan resides in Oregon where she's a wife and a stay-at-home-mother of two. When she's not writing she can be found carting her kids everywhere, volunteering at their school, busy with her church calling, or reading. She loves the NY Yankees, traveling, her family and chocolate.

Two reasons that helped inspire J.B. Morgan to try her hand at writing:

1. When she was younger, she would make up hero-rescuing stories in her head, revolving
around boys she had crushes on at school.

2. She missed reading about nice, normal, good men and books with a story line.

J.B. likes to write clean New Adult & Contemporary Romance stories. Her up-coming books are mostly suitable for older teen- YA readers as well as those in the New Adult/Contempt genre. She definitely knows how to write a swoon worthy leading male.

Review- Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Title: Simply Irresistible
Series: Lucky Harbor, #1
Author: Jill Shalvis
Date Published: October 1, 2010
Publisher: Forever

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.
In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Omnibus with Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing and two bonus short stories:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo |

My Thoughts:

I haven't read many Adult Contemporaries these days, but I couldn't help but notice that several of the people that I follow on Twitter or Goodreads have or are reading a book by Jill Shalvis. My curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up Simply Irresistible when I was at the library the other day. I have to say, I really enjoyed it!

This was definitely a quick, fun read. Recently, I went back to school (online), and it has been taking most of my time. However, during my evenings, I have been reading Simply Irresistible, and it has really helped me to unwind from taxing days, and put me back in my happy place. I really liked the characters- Maddie, Jax, Chloe, and even Tara! They really had me chuckling and shaking my head at times. Sometimes I got a little frustrated with Maddie, but I really think she redeemed herself in the end. Jax was wonderful, and too good to be true at times. He was just what Maddie needed though!

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Lucky Harbor series, The Sweetest Thing. I've already put a hold on it at the library!

HOLLY LANE (A Christmas Novella) by J.B. Morgan {Includes Excerpt}

Today, I'm excited to share a new Christmas novella written by upcoming author, J.B. Morgan. I love Christmas stories, and cannot wait to read this one!