Children's Review & Trailer ~ A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story ~ A.J. York

A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story by A.J. York
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Children's Holiday
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Goodreads

Synopsis
Upstairs in the Anderson's attic there is chatter coming from the Christmas, Easter and Halloween boxes. Someone new has arrived. Tallulah the Christmas Fairy wakes up to find herself attached to the top of a tree. She soon makes friends and has a magical first Christmas. Once the festivities are over, Tallulah finds herself in the attic with the other decorations from Easter and Halloween. Each year they watch the seasons change as they wait excitedly for the turn to go downstairs. Until one day new boxes appear and then the unthinkable happens. A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story is a magical and uplifting tale for the whole family.

This sweet Christmas story is sure to spark a young one's imagination as well as cause some reminiscing for adults!

Tallulah is a Christmas Fairy and has just awakened in her new home. She gets a special place on top of the Christmas tree, where she is able to see all the goings-on in her home with the Anderson family. She quickly makes friends with the other Christmas decorations and once Christmas is past, the other seasons' decorations. As the Anderson children grow up, things change for all the decorations. And in some ways, those changes are bittersweet.

Watching as the decorations for each season wait their turn with such excitement, how they stand guard as the others take their turns, and support one another while they wait had me fondly remembering my childhood and holiday decorating. I also found myself hoping my children will have fond memories of holidays as I delighted in reading about Tallulah and the others creating special memories for the Andersons...and each other.

**TRAILER**

**#COYER Review ~ The Viscount's Christmas Temptation ~ Erica Ridley**

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation
The Duke's of War #0.5
Release Date: November 1, 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Amazon Freebie
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fete of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time - he needs her!

When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family's annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia's guerrilla tactics, he's up to his cravat with tinsel...and tumbling head over heels in love.

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation was a delight! It had me giggling aloud and enjoying every minute - every word - from Lady Amelia and Viscount Sheffield.

Lady Amelia is a woman who lives a very structured, organized life. There is nothing she's unprepared for as she believes if the details of life are run efficiently, she is prepared for anything. However, she didn't count on meeting Viscount Sheffield or that spending time with him would prove that taking time for fun is worthwhile when it's spent with the right person.

Viscount Sheffield also lives an orderly life. He simply schedules in the fun. He's worked hard at proving himself worthy of his title and doesn't think he has the time for matrimonial pursuits. His pursuits are more of the short-term nature. But meeting Lady Amelia has him thinking that a challenge would be fun.

The plot was amusing - watching as these two attempt to sway the other towards their own agenda. They each thought they could teach the other something but didn't feel they had anything to learn. They were both wrong on the latter. The banter between them had me smiling and laughing and their chemistry was a lovely thing. The Viscount's Christmas Temptation was a quick, sweet read and I'll definitely check out other books in this series, as well as from Erica Ridley.

**#COYER Review ~ Unexpected Gifts ~ Elena Aitken**

Unexpected Gifts
A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance
Release Date: November 11, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Amazon Freebie
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Christmas represents everything Andi Williams is supposed to have, and doesn't. Running away to a remote mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies, sounds like the perfect way to escape, until a mix-up finds her sharing a villa with sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford.

Colin's determination to enjoy the holiday he's missed for the last five years, sweeps Andi into a season of joy that she's not sure she's ready for. Can Andi open herself up to everything the holidays have to offer...including love?

Unexpected Gifts was a cute holiday romance. There was something about the mountain lodge setting at Christmas time - call me sappy, but it was sweet. 

Andi Williams is not a fan of the holidays. It only seems to serve as a reminder of what she doesn't have. Having had her heart broken and her family all busy with their own lives, what she really wants to do is find a place to hide. When her business partner/best friend reminds her of a free stay at Castle Mountain Lodge, Andi jumps at the chance to getaway.

Colin Hartford has been away from home - Canada - for 5 years...too long. He's come to Castle Mountain Lodge to experience the holidays in the traditional way he's been missing. When he hears that a woman has had a reservation mixup, he offers up one of his extra rooms.

Unexpected Gifts delivered on the holiday spirit. It was your standard-fare romance but I enjoyed the characters, the chemistry between Andi and Colin, and the development of their relationship and personalities. They each had suffered in their own way and happening upon one another again seems the perfect remedy for what's ailing them.

The story flowed well and was well-written. And although I enjoyed the holiday aspect since I was reading it at Christmas time, the story would be enjoyable at any time of year. Aitken is a new-to-me author and I will read her again.

**Teaser Tuesday ~ #49**

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

Unexpected Gifts

A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance

by Elena Aitken

Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Christmas represents everything Andi Williams is supposed to have, and doesn't. Running away to a remote mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies, sounds like the perfect way to escape, until a mix-up finds her sharing a villa with sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford.

Colin's determination to enjoy the holiday he's missed for the last five years, sweeps Andi into a season of joy that she's not sure she's ready for. Can Andi open herself up to everything the holidays have to offer...including love?

***Teaser***

"I was just laying here thinking how much I'd love a coffee while I enjoyed the view and then you showed up. Are you a mind reader?"