Blog Tour: Celebration at Christmas Cove

Guys, I know Halloween is this weekend, but I am already planning out all my holiday reads. I haven't put on the Christmas music (yet!), but I have a pretty extensive list of holiday novels that I'd like to check out this upcoming season.

High up on my list is a charming novel, Celebration at Christmas Cove by Carrie Jansen. I hear it is perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins and Debbie Macomber.  It's being described as a Hallmark movie and that is exactly what we all need right now! Plus, the setting of a New England island is dreamy, don't you think? Celebration at Christmas Cove is the first in the new Sea Spray Island series and is out now.

 

Learn More About the Novel:

 

Goodreads says, "Travel magazine writer Celeste Bell is in a terrible mood. Not only was her flight to the Caribbean diverted to a Massachusetts island, now it looks like she'll have to spend Christmas there. Single and still mourning the loss of her mother a year earlier, Celeste is desperate to avoid any emotional entanglements and all holiday festivities. She just doesn't feel like celebrating.  But that's exactly what community center director Nathan White and his young daughter Abigail want to do. Nathan is entirely focused on making sure that his daughter has a happy Christmas, especially with the knowledge that if he can't raise money for the community center soon, it will close and they'll have to leave the island. When he meets Celeste, Nathan begins to feel a connection and wonders if he's brave enough to risk his heart once more.  Thawing their frozen hearts, and saving the community center will require a Christmas miracle. But tis' the season..."

 

You can purchase a copy of Celebration at Christmas Cove at Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Amazon, and Bookshop.   To learn more about Carrie Jansen, you can visit her website.

So, is this book on your holiday TBR list? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

 

Book Review: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

Pages: 448

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Pub. Date: February 11, 2020

Publisher: Redhook

Source: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A young woman in Belle Epoque France is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist.  In 1895, sixteen-year-old Juliet LaCompte has a passionate, doomed romance with the married Parisian painter Auguste Marchant. When her mother — a witch — botches a curse on Marchant, she unwittingly binds Juliet to the artist through time, damning her to re-live her affair and die tragically young lifetime after lifetime as the star-crossed lovers reincarnate through history.  Luke Varner, the worldly demon tasked with maintaining this badly crafted curse, has been helplessly in love with his charge, in all her reincarnations, since 19th century France. He’s in love with Nora, a silver screen starlet in 1930s Hollywood. He’s in love with Sandra, a struggling musician in 1970s Los Angeles. And he’s in love with Helen, a magazine exec in present-day DC who has the power to “suggest” others do her bidding.  In this life, Helen starts to recall the curse and her tragic previous lives. But this time, she might have the power to break the cycle…"

 

Helen Lambert works in D.C. in the political scene and it's a demanding job.  She curiously starts to have vivid dreams that make her feel like she was there--living them! When she meets Luke Varner, she starts to realize, thanks to his convincing, they have met before--many times actually over several lifetimes.  At first, this is hard for Helen to wrap her head around, but then she starts to realize that Luke is correct. These dreams she has been having are actual memories of her other lives where she is reliving her mistakes over and over again.  First there's Juliet LaCompte, a beautiful young woman who lives in 1895 France.  She is betrothed to a horrible young man whose family owns the land her father farms on and she thinks all hope is gone until she meets a painter Marchant, and she becomes his muse. An affair ensues, but it doesn't end well.  Things especially get complicated when Juliet's mother, a secretly practicing witch, finds out about Juliet's affair.  The curse her mother performs wasn't completed entirely right and the consequences are dire.  In Juliet's other lives, the versions of her are doomed to make the same mistakes.  There's Nora, a starlet from 1930s Hollywood, and Sandra, a 1970s musician living in Los Angeles.  One thing that binds all these women and their stories together isn't always the doomed ending, but their connection to Luke.  Luke, who is supposed to be looking after her and the complexities of the curse, has ended up loving her throughout time.  Can Helen break the curse that has plagued her for years?  A Witch in Time is the perfect atmospheric Halloween read for fans of Outlander and The Time Traveler's Wife.  

Helen is a really complex character in A Witch in Time. We really get to know her by having her experience her former lives through her dreams.  Juliet, who lived in 1895 France, really tugged on my heartstrings. Readers know she is making the wrong choice by having an affair and trusting Marchant, the Parisian painter, but we must remember she is young and naive.  She is looking for a way out of her upcoming marriage to a horrible young man and she thinks Marchant might be her way out of it.  Juliet experiences a lot of abuse, so be aware of this trigger. At times, her abuse was difficult to read, but it made me want to root for her to get away from her life on the farm.  Once her mother finds out about her affair, things start to go from an intense historical novel to a creepy, magical read.  Juliet's mother is a witch and we realize this once she starts performing a dark spell on Juliet and things go sideways. 

Meanwhile, Helen is experiencing these memories through her dreams and it is taking a toll on her. She does have Luke to talk to and unbox it all, but he doesn't give away too much. He wants her to keep "dreaming" in order to get her answers.  One thing for sure is Helen's connection to Luke is growing stronger by the day.

Helen's other lives, Nora and Sandra, are equally interesting and heartbreaking in A Witch in Time.  Both women live out similar lives to Juliet and readers know that she is doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again.  Nora, a Hollywood starlet in the 1930s, and Sandra, a musician in the 1970s, face a lot of the same problems as Juliet even though they lived many years apart.  One thing that I was pleasantly surprised by was Sayers's ability to create different stories and have different time periods all within one larger story. She developed each time period very well and I was, surprisingly, not drawn to one character over another, but instead was rooting for Helen to get some answers and break the vicious cycle.

So, if you like an atmospheric tale around Halloween, but don't want anything too dark, give A Witch in Time a try, especially if you like stories involving time travel. This was Sayers's debut and I enjoyed it, so I will definitely be keeping my eye out for her next novel.

Have you read A Witch in Time? The e-book is currently on sale for $4.99; it's a steal! Is this book on your TBR list? Do you like stories involving time travel? Let me know in the comments below. 

Book Review: The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley

Pages: 464

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 5, 2021

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Bellewether,

Mariana, The Rose Garden,  

The Shadowy Horses, and The Winter Sea

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "In the autumn of 1707, old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England. At the same time, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to bring the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger.  Queen Anne's commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun paying out money sent up from London to settle the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier--an ill-fated venture that left Scotland all but bankrupt.  When the young widow of a Darien sailor comes forward to collect her husband's wages, her claim is challenged. One of the men assigned to investigate has only days to decide if she's honest, or if his own feelings are blinding him to the truth.  The Vanished Days is a prequel and companion novel to The Winter Sea, with action that overlaps some of the action in that book. The Vanished Days goes back in time to the 1680s and introduces the reader to the Moray and Graeme families."

 

Lily Aitcheson's husband has died while serving his country during the disastrous Darien expedition.  She is making claim to him, so she can receive the death benefits, but it's proving to be quite the investigation as she cannot completely prove she was married to him.  While investigating her claim, Kearsley takes us back to Lily's childhood and young adulthood to helps us understand her better. The story is also told through Sergeant Adam Williamson, who is investigating Lily's case.  The more he learns about Lily, the more complicated it all gets.  Also, things are anything but peaceful in Scotland now.  There's people who want the Jacobite King back on the throne and the state of Edinburgh is tumultuous. While investigating Lily's case, loyalties will be tested, truths will float to the surface, and many mysteries will be uncovered. The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley is the third book in her Scottish series, but it can be read as a stand alone; fans of historical fiction shouldn't miss this immersive gem!

Lily is a really complex character in The Vanished Days. The more we learn about her childhood, the more I felt for her.  Her parents both died when she was young and a family takes her in when she is but a child.  There were some happy times in her childhood, especially when she befriends Jamie Graeme, who has promised to always be there for her. However, as she grows older she is faced with difficult events in her life dealing with men in positions of power.  These events force her to leave her old life behind.   

As I mentioned, Kearsley has Adam, the investigator, narrate some chapters and it was definitely an interesting technique as readers don't really know who he is. He is trying to figure out if Lily was indeed ever married, but she is having a hard time even proving that simple fact as the people who witnessed her marriage are now all dead. Slowly, as Adam questions Lily, we learn more about her childhood, and things start to become clearer.  However, Gilroy, the other investigator, isn't buying it one bit.

Kearsley, as always, brings to life the time period very well in The Vanished Days.  I was familiar with the Jacobite Rebellion, thanks to Outlander, but Kearsley takes us on a deep dive into Scottish history.  She brings the unsettled times to life very well and expertly depicts how this time period could specifically be difficult for women as they have little to no power.  Don't count Lily out though! She has many secrets and plans up her sleeve!

My only issue with The Vanished Days is the fact that it took awhile to get going. The first half of the book was very dense with its historical and political details. Thankfully once you get through a lot of the heavy details, things start to pick up and it becomes very suspenseful. I was questioning so much!

Speaking of suspense, there's a lot of twists and turns in The Vanished Days. There's betrayal, mixed up identities, romance, politics, war...it's got it all!  I found myself going back to re-read certain portions that were clues, which I initially missed.  Readers will be pleasantly surprised by the plot twists in this one! I recommend The Vanished Days to fans of Kearsley as well as fans of Outlander and historically rich fiction. 

So, are you a fan of Susanna Kearsley? If so, what's your favorite of her novels? Did you read The Vanished Days yet? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

My Favorite Reads for Halloween

 

Halloween is fast approaching! Grab your favorite candy and a glass of your favorite adult beverage and curl up with one of these books that's perfect for the spooky season.  Today I am highlighting my favorite Halloween picture books as well as some spooky and ghostly reads for adults. There's nothing better than curling up with a atmospheric novel during the month of October. If you find a book that sparks your interest, many of the YA and adult books' detailed reviews can be found in my review archive. 

My Top Ten Favorite Halloween Picture Books:

 1.  The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine

2.  Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

 

 

3.  The Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk by Stan and Jan Berenstain

4.  Eek! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton

 

 

 

5.  Inside a House That is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

6.  It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff 

 

7.  How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace

8.  Five Little Pumpkins by Ben Mantle

 

 

 

9.  The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg

10.  In the Witch's Kitchen: Poems for Halloween by John E. Brewton

 

 

 

My Top Ten Favorite Books for Halloween: Early Reader/Chapter Books

 

 

1.  A Ghost Named Fred by Nathaniel Benchley

2.  A Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne

 

 

3.  The Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osborne

4.  Vlad the World's Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson

5.  Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier

6.  Nate the Great and the Halloween Hunt by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

7.  The Notebook of Doom series by Troy Cummings

8.  Polly and Buster series by Sally Rippin

9.  Flat Stanley and the Haunted House by Jeff Brown

10.  The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler

 

 

 

My Top Ten Favorite Books for Halloween: Young Adult Fiction

 

1.  Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

2.  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

 

 

3.  The Diviners by Libba Bray

4.  Blythewood by Carol Goodman

 

 

 

5.  The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

6.  The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

 

 

7.  The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

8.  Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

 

 

9.  The Witches by Roald Dahl

10.  Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

My Top Ten Favorite Books for Halloween: Adult Fiction

 1.  Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

2.  The Hex Ex by Erin Sterling

 

3.  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

4.  The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

5.  Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

6.  A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers

 

7.  Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

8.  The Complete Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe 

 

9.  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

10.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

 

 

 Check out similar posts from previous years to find out what other books made my list:

Halloween Picture Books and Chapter Books  - 2018

Halloween Picture Books - 2017

Halloween Picture Books - 2016

YA and Adult Halloween Reads - 2018

 

So, what books are you love to read around Halloween? Did any of my books make your list? Let me know in the comments below. 

Book Review: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult Fantasy/Romance

Pub. Date: September 28, 2021

Publisher: Avon

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two.  That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.  Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.

The summer that Vivi was nineteen years old is when her heart officially got broken by a boy.  As any good witch would do, she took a long intoxicated bath, and thanks to her loyal cousin's help, they ended up cursing her ex, Rhys Penhallow.  They knew they broke a rule by drinking and preforming magic, but Vivi doesn't think Rhys was actually cursed.  She isn't even sure if they did it right. It was more theatrics than anything and a way for Vivi to try and get over him.  You see he hid the fact that he was already betrothed and for that, she can never forgive him.  Fast forward to nine years later and Rhys has returned to Vivi's small town.  He is there for a Fall Festival and is a guest speaker as the Penhallow family have ties to this town.  Once she sees Rhys, not only do her old feelings for him start to re-emerge, she realizes that the curse she preformed years ago might have worked.  Strange things are happening to Rhys and its not just bad luck.  In fact, Vivi witnesses it for herself when he tries to recharge the town's ley lines. Things go from bad to worse and it is starting to impact the entire town.  The more Vivi and Rhys work together to try and figure out how to fix things, the more their old feelings come back and as much as Vivi doesn't want to fall for him again, she can't help it.  Maybe he has changed? Can she really forgive him though? Erin Sterling's The Ex Hex is a fun, magical romp that has romance, witchcraft, and an adorable setting to boot.

Vivi is the best kind of witch in The Ex Hex. She didn't grow up around witchcraft, so she is bit behind the others.  She is still learning the ins and outs.  I really adored her relationship with her cousin and her aunt.  Their discussions and banter were some of my favorite parts of the novel.  Vivi had a definite Bewitched vibe to her and I was here for it!

 

Rhys was a tough character for in The Ex Hex. I know I was supposed to be swooning over him, but I didn't love him as much as I hoped. I liked how Rhys and Vivi rekindled their summer romance, but I didn't feel their connection as strongly as I expected.  But that doesn't mean there wasn't romance in The Ex Hex, because there is and it's steamy!

For me, the best part of the book was the adorable town of Graves Glen.  It was like Stars Hollow in that it was charming, everyone knows everyone, there's an adorable street with various shops, a college nearby, and it's always a beautiful fall day. I loved the details Stirling included and how the town was preparing for the Fall Festival. Needless to say, October is the best month to read this book.

 

If you love a good witchy romance, give The Ex Hex a try this fall, especially if you are like me and want to read something Halloween inspired, but not too spooky. This was like a rom-com from the Hallmark channel, except with much more steam.  So, while The Ex Hex wasn't my favorite book of the season, I still appreciated the chance to escape to an adorable town filled with angsty witches, ghosts, curses, and lots of romance. It was the exact kind of light read I was looking to curl up with in October.

 

What do you guys think? Have you read The Ex Hex? Do you enjoy witchy or spooky read in the fall? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.