Ho-Ho-Ho Read-a-thon Wrap Up Post & Mini Reviews

Success!!! I read all four of the Christmas books that I set as my goal and my mini reviews are posted below.

As for the Christmas Truffles' Creative Writing Challenge, I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your stories. My little fur baby certainly brought out your creativity and every single story was a joy to read. I loved seeing Truffles through your eyes. We'll see if any of your stories come to life as the Christmas season plays out!

I put each of the entries on a separate piece of paper and placed one of Truffles' favorite Temptations treats on each. The first treat she ate I chose as my winner...scientific, huh? She chose...GREG!!! Congratulations, we'll be emailing you shortly for your mailing info :)

Blurb: When Andrew Bateman rolls into town in the midst of a snow storm, his first thought is that the place is hardly big enough for a dog crate, let alone the vet practice he’s looking for. Next thing he knows, his life is flashing in front of him—a depressingly short flash—as he skids right into the side of the local bar.

Things start looking up when the vision he wakes to is not the Angel of Death, but a doctor. Well, actually a vet. Make that a vet tech, wearing red mittens. Who invites him home, where every inch is covered in holiday sparkles, cookies to be decorated, and an odd assortment of stray dogs, cats and puppies…

There’s nothing merrier than a white Christmas in Kentucky!

My Review: Southern small town Christmas romance at it's best...sweet, sassy, and sexy. I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance, but the vet tech/animal rescue angle of this story completely drew me in!

Blurb: Although she lacks for nothing, Claudine Burroughs dreads the holiday season for forcing her to face how empty her life has become. She no longer expects closeness with her coldly ambitious husband, and she has nothing in common with their circle of wealthy, status-minded friends. The only time she is remotely happy is when she volunteers at a woman’s clinic—a job her husband strongly disapproves of. Then, at a glittering yuletide gala, she meets the charming poet Dai Treggaron and finds her spirits lifted. But scarcely an hour later, the charismatic Dai is enmeshed in a nightmare—accused of killing a young streetwalker who had been smuggled into the party.

Even though she suspects that an upper-class clique is quickly closing ranks to protect the real killer, Claudine vows to do her utmost for Dai. But it seems that hypocritical London society would rather send an innocent poet to the gallows than expose the shocking truth about one of their own.

Nevertheless, it’s the season of miracles and Claudine finally sees a glimmer of hope—not only for Dai but for a young woman she befriends who is teetering on the brink of a lifetime of unhappiness. Anne Perry’s heartwarming new holiday novel is a celebration of courage, faith, and love for all seasons.

My Review: Anne Perry's Christmas novellas have been a part of my holiday season for many years now. I haven't read one of her full length novels that have introduced these characters but that has never taken away from my enjoyment of these yummy morsels. I read a review that these novels are  “as delicious as mince pie and plum pudding” and I wholeheartedly agree!

Blurb: The Christmas rush is on as Brandy Borne and her quaintly quirky mother, Vivian, sniff out plum collectibles for resale, only to find the owner of a Santa's workshop worth of treasures has received some deadly tidings. It’s beginning to look a lot like murder…but who wanted the deceased closed for the holidays—permanently? Maybe a rival antiques dealer, a Grinch who collects Christmas? Or the victim’s suspiciously frosty stepchildren? Brandy and Vivian check their list of who’s been naughty or nice, but it may take a Christmas miracle—and some help from Sushi, their elfin shih tzu—to tie a bow around the season’s most wanted killer!

My Review: This one was by far my favorite of the four. I read the first couple books in the Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery Series but then fell behind. I definitely need to play catch up because I absolutely adore these characters. Brandy and Vivian are an absolutely hoot, and Sushi the diabetic Shih Tzu is a scene stealer. Out of control Christmas collecting (which I can totally identify with) turns deadly when one of the collectors is found dead in his outbuilding on the floor of a vintage sleigh. Love, love, loved it...only wish it had been a full length mystery!

Blurb: In this delightful tale, an Eastern Prince arrives in England with some family jewels, which he's having reset as a gift for his fiancée. However, the Prince also has a mistress; she asks to wear one particularly enchanting piece that features a huge ruby, and then promptly disappears with it.

Poirot discovers a connection with a house party at the home of Colonel and Mrs Lacey, and in order to pursue his investigation an invitation is procured for him to the Laceys', ostensibly to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas. With deft skill and the workings of his 'little grey cells', Poirot brings this case to a satisfying end.

My Review: Poirot is eager to celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas in the English countryside, except for the warning not to eat the plum pudding and a body in the snow. A classic Agatha Christie Christmas story that was actually a re-read for me.