Mini Reviews: More Holiday Novels

Now is the time to crack open a holiday book if you haven't yet or maybe download a holiday audio book. There's nothing better than doing a mundane task around the holidays (ahhhmmm...Christmas cards) than a  good holiday audio book to get you through it. Here are three more holiday tales that fit the bill.

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison

Genre: Audio Book/Holiday/Romance

Pub. Date: November 10, 2021

Publisher: Dreamscapes Media

Source: Library

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.

A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.

Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received."

 

Stella Bloom wants to save her family's idyllic Christmas tree farm, but times are tough. To gain some traction, she enters an online contest that she hopes will bring her farm more attention. But there's a catch. Stella wrote up a description of the farm that included running it with her dreamy boyfriend. Problem! She doesn't have a boyfriend! Once she realizes the the woman hosting the contest is coming to visit, she realizes that she needs a fake boyfriend stat. She asks Luka, her best friend, and of course, he wants to help except the more time they spend together, the more time she realizes she may have  feelings for him after all.  Fans of the fake dating trope will enjoy this holiday romance as there's no better setting than a Christmas tree farm (cue Taylor's song) to get you in a festive mood. B.K. Borison's Lovelight Farms is a charming (and steamy!) romance that I enjoyed on audio - perfect for December!

So, Lovelight Farms is book one in Lovelight series and I just might have to check out the others. I thought Borison did a great job balancing out the romance tropes and making it feel like a Hallmark movie, but not overly saccharine. I also really enjoyed the friends to lovers trope; Borison handles that masterfully in Lovelight Farms. It's hard to stand out in the holiday genre, but this one was a delight.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White

Pages: 208

Genre: Holiday/Adult Historical Fiction

Publisher: Baker

Source: Library

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their old friendship would kindle into something more--but that was before she heard that Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will finally be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste. Due to misunderstandings, Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself torn between his affection for her and her family's distance toward him because of Lady Pearl, a woman he'd rather forget. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas . . . and to disgrace Cyril in the process.Inspired by The Nutcracker, this Edwardian-era historical romance is a tale of holiday spirit, love, and the power of family and friendship from bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White."

 

 

Lady Mariah Lyons was hoping for a relaxing Christmas at her family's beautiful estate in England, but she finds out she needs to get married. Since she is a woman, the manor does not pass to her; in fact, it goes to Cyril Lighthouse, her former childhood playmate whom she hasn't connected with in years. She has always harbored feelings for him and thought there was a possibility for something more in the future, but she has heard some rumors about him that are less than appealing. There's also Soren Gyldenkrone in town, who is Danish royalty and he has his eyes set on Lady Mariah. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor is a cute holiday novella inspired by The Nutcracker; it's a cozy, clean read that's perfect for the season and will be especially appreciated by fans of historical fiction.
 
If you are looking for a quick romance this holiday season with a setting to die for, Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor is right up your alley. It's a clean romance, so don't expect anything steamy in this one, but it is cozy like a warm sweater, and the perfect accompaniment after a long day. I love all things The Nutcracker, so I appreciated all the allusions to the holiday classic.
 

 

 

 

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction/Audio Book/Holiday

Publisher: Macmillian Audio

Pub. Date: October 31, 2017

Source: Library

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "A novel that reimagines the story behind Charles Dickens' Christmas classic Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer’s block sets in. Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace in his great palace of thinking, the city of London itself.

On one of his long night walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets the mysterious Eleanor Lovejoy, who might be just the muse he needs. As Dickens’ deadlines close in, Eleanor propels him on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition, and love. The story he writes will change Christmas forever."

 

 

Charles Dickens finds himself in a bind, both financially, and emotionally. He needs to write a holiday tale (and quickly) to clean up his messes as his last book was a flop. He has to pay for his large expanding family, his wife's opulent holiday party, and all the holiday gifts, not to mention the fact that his family members (including his father) keep begging for money. He isn't feeling inspired though. He takes walks around London at night and runs into Eleanor Lovejoy, who provides a spark of inspiration. Perhaps this is what he needs to pen a holiday tale that everyone will love. Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a fictionalized account of how Charles Dickens came up with the idea of A Christmas Carol. It's compelling, especially on audio; fans of Dickens will relish it.
 
I adore A Christmas Carol and spent many years of my life teaching this classic novel to middle school students, so I jumped at the chance to listen to this audiobook. I was a bit disappointed in Silva's take on Dickens as he was difficult to like and morally repugnant at times (very Scrooge!) but I am sure that it is based on some truths surrounding his behaviors, especially about his marriage. Once I got over the fact that he is no Bob Cratchit, I really appreciated the novel and all the references to the classic story. It was fun to try to identify who was Tiny Tim, Uncle Fred, or Fezziwig. Also, the narrator, Euan Morton, was outstanding. He brought to life Dickensian England, the accents, and the characters to life beautifully. I am so glad I decided to listen to this novel because I think Morton really enhanced it. Mr. Dickens and His Carol is a must-listen for fans of Dickens and A Christmas Carol .
 

So, let m know in the comments below if you plan on reading any of these holiday novels or have read them. I look forward to your thoughts!