The Christmas You Found Me

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The Christmas You Found Me by Sarah Morgenthaler

This is not your typical light and fluffy Christmas romance. It’s very heartfelt holiday novel, even a bit of a tearjerker, and very hard to put down. The author has been through some loss and her writing here is richer and deeper than her popular Moose Springs, Alaska trilogy, beginning with The Tourist Attraction.

In northern Idaho, recently divorced rancher Sienna Naples is embarrassed when her friend Jess places an ad in the local paper: Husband for Hire, with excellent medical benefits. She kept her family’s large ranch in the mountains in the divorce, but has only a mule, a horse, two donkeys and her older dog Barley to care for a herd of 63 cattle. She can certainly use help on the ranch, but not another husband. Then Jess says they’ve sent an applicant to meet her at the local coffee shop. When Sienna meets Montanan Guy, he’s most interested in the medical benefits the ad mentioned, as his little girl, Emma, has some serious health issues. When Sienna meets the adorable 4-year-old Emma, and her dog Barley falls hard for her, she is stunned to find herself offering a marriage of convenience.

Guy does chores on the ranch when not working construction in town. Christmas is a big deal in Caney Falls, and he’s helping build an enormous walk-through snow globe. The three of them have a magical time enjoying it, though Emma wants to be just like the other kids.

Sienna’s ex, Micah, will be no reader’s favorite character, but he’s a surprisingly complex one. Micah even helps out when Sienna’s elderly father, who has dementia, takes a turn for the worse. This slow-burn romance is joyful, briefly funny, heartwarming, and occasionally achingly sad. I found this to be a compelling and memorable read. Robyn Carr is a good readalike.

Brenda

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

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A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

This is a wondrous and strange story told in letters, journal entries, the equivalent of email, poems, and archives. It reads like historical fantasy, but it might not be. Most people live on or under the sea, with an archipelago of islands the only land around. Two of our characters, Sophy and her sister E. grew up in the Deep House, the only residence built deep underwater, designed by their mother, an architect. E. has anxiety and rarely leaves home. She is affronted when her artist brother arrives unannounced with his fiancée to study a structure that has appeared nearby. E. corresponds with Scholar Henery. Later Henery’s brother Vyell also corresponds with Sophy.

This marine world is described beautifully, as are scientific explorations on and far beneath the surfaces. Most of the characters are scholars, and descriptions of their colleagues and academic departments delight. Emails are known as automated posts. The language is a bit flowery, as of another era, though women are equal with men in academia and gay marriage is common. There are hints of a calamity and plenty of excitement, along with mystery, humor and some gentle romance. Book Two of The Sunken Archive is planned.

Brenda

Forget Me Never

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Forget Me Never by Susan Wittig Albert

Incredibly, this is book 29 in the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries. Thyme of Death is the first book. China owns an herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, a fictional town in the hill country between Austin and San Antonio. A former lawyer in Houston, she’s now an amateur sleuth. Her spouse McQuaid is a PI, a former cop, and a professor of criminal justice. Ruby, her business partner, is a psychic. Their friend Sheila is the local police chief.

China investigates a recent hit-and-run death that might be connected to a 20-year-old arson case. Gardens, scenic landscapes, pets, delicious food, and time with her spouse make a charming frame for China’s cases. In this one, the suspected arsonist of twenty years ago may have faked his death in Mexico and may be living in or near Pecan Springs. Chapter headnotes describe herbs that may (or may not) help with memory issues. This is an interesting read and a clever mystery. China is still in top form, and I look forward to book 30.

Brenda

Funny Story

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Funny Story by Emily Henry

This is a big, funny, contemporary romance with lots of ups and downs. Daphne has moved to northern Michigan with her fiancé, Peter. She’s a children’s librarian and loves her work, but her salary is rather small. After his bachelor party Peter dumps Daphne for his best friend since childhood, Petra. Also, they want Daphne to please move out of Peter’s house in one week! Where to move on short notice? Conveniently, Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles, has a spare bedroom.

A friendship forms and they take fake romantic photos for social media to get back at Peter and Petra. Daphne also makes friends with her coworker Ashleigh, a single mom. About the time Miles’ sister Julia comes to town, sparks flame up between Miles and Daphne. Both have major family issues, Peter with his mom and Daphne with her dad. Then Daphne’s dad comes to visit, with Starfire. Daphne blows off Ashleigh’s birthday and an online interview with a library in Maryland near her mother goes very well. Then it’s time for Daphne’s big library fundraiser for the children’s department, months in the planning, an all-night readathon. In the end, all is well, with almost everyone fairly happy. A compelling read; readalikes include novels by Abbi Waxman, Kate Clayborn, and Sarah Dubb. I enjoyed the northern Michigan setting, including Traverse City, which I just re-visited on vacation.

Brenda

Penric and the Bandit

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Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold

In this fun fantasy/adventure novella, Penric kin Jurald is on vacation, searching for an abandoned temple where there might be hidden treasure. Horse thief Roz decides to tag along with Penric to get a share of the treasure, if any. He is trying to escape from his former gang of thieves. Thievery is fine with Roz, but he doesn’t have a stomach for violence.

When Roz’s gang catches up, Penric turns out to be a tougher mark than expected, as he is a sorcerer with a demon, and also a religious scholar. The temple is extremely hard to reach and Roz has plenty of time to consider what his priorities are during a long standoff. Everyone but Penric and his demon Desdemona are disappointed with the treasure, when it’s uncovered.

I enjoyed the journey and how Penric did his best to get out of a very tricky situation. The Penric and Desdemona novellas begins with Penric’s Demon, which is also in a collection called Penric’s Progress.

Brenda

Lies and Weddings

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Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

This is a contemporary family saga that’s all glitz and glamor, with lots of drama. There are over-the-top parties, very exclusive restaurants, and weddings in exotic locales. Arabella, Countess of Greshambury, steals most of her scenes with her awfulness. She screams at her three grown children and attempts to control them. Arabella is Chinese, but dislikes most other Asians, including Dr. Eden Tong, who is friends with all three of Arabella’s children, but is especially close to Rufus, an artist. Eden lives with her father, oncologist Dr. Thomas Tong, in a cottage on the Greshambury estate.

Settings include Hawaii, Venice, hot-air ballooning in Morocco, and a fabulous car collection in Los Angeles. There’s also a billionaire secretly very ill with cancer. Many descriptions of gorgeous gowns and decadent meals are included, but this entertaining novel doesn’t take itself too seriously. It reads like a vintage Judith Krantz novel, only less steamy and more fun. There’s also a fair number of characters dealing with racial and class prejudice, family histories with plenty of secrets, plus some lovely friendships. This is a good reach for the beach or backyard.

Brenda

The City Beyond the Sea

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Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea by Pari Thomson

Iffenwild is a wondrous city, part of the Marin Deep, with blue water magic. It’s only a legend to those in the Greenwild, first introduced in Greenwild: The World Behind the Door. Botanists in Amazeria are in danger, and want the Greenwilders to come with help from Iffenwild.

Daisy, the Prof, and Indigo travel to the Moonmarket and sneak onto the Nautilus, one of four theater ships headed to Iffenwild to perform for the city residents and their duchess. Also on board is Max, who’s been ill most of his life and was recently kidnapped by the Grim Reapers. Max and Daisy clash; they have similar personalities. Daisy’s cat, Napoleon, is a help and a comfort, as is Indigo’s parakeet. Daisy struggles to control her green magic, while Max is recovering his strength and secretly learning how to swim. Max, in disguise, gets a walk on role in the Nautilus company’s play, and spends time in a storeroom with a magical memory tree.

The theater, ships, water horses and the land/sea combination of Iffenwild enchant. While dark in parts, this page turning middle grade fantasy novel is a very satisfying read. The depiction and use of magic here is delightful. Some people have power with plants or water, there are magical animals, and there are magical fruits, seeds, leaves, and vines. Excellent! A sequel, The Forest in the Sky, is expected next summer.

Brenda

Birding With Benefits

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Birding With Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

This is such a fun debut romance, and I really appreciate that the couple on the cover are both around 40. Celeste is a middle school language arts teacher. Her daughter Morgan is an amazing artist and a high school senior, though she keeps putting off her college entrance paperwork. Celeste’s ex-husband, Peter, didn’t appreciate her exuberant personality. Her best friend Maria is a brand-new mom. Always trying new hobbies, Celeste meets Chris at a sip and paint event, decorating little teapots.

Chris, who studies snails, connects Celeste with his best friend John, who needs a partner and a fake date for a birding event. The event turns out to be a six-week birding competition in the Tucson area for experienced birders. John would like to start guiding new birders and winning the competition would really help him jumpstart his business. Currently he’s a part-time woodworker. Improbably (but predictably), they agree to partner for the event, and Celeste gradually learns to be a birder. After sparks fly, they decide to be birders with benefits and make out in a closet during a party.

Later on, there are some steamy sex scenes for Celeste and John, but their arrangement is planned to end with the competition. When one of the pair wants a regular relationship, the other one gets cold feet. Celeste also has some parenting issues to cope with, and John worries that he’s not ambitious enough for Celeste.

Sweet, sexy, and funny, with realistic conflicts and characters. The author lives in Tucson, writes under a pen name, and is a birder and librarian. She’s happily under contract for two more books. A readalike author is Emily Henry.

Brenda

A Pair of Cozy Fantasy Novels

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Bread and Burglary by Shanna Swendson (Tales of Rydding Village, Book 2)

This is a lovely cozy fantasy novel set in a half-abandoned village. Baker Lucina loves her work and the small village of Rydding, but becomes anxious when the the new smith’s apprentice speaks to her in Tufanan, her native language. Also, Nico was a duke’s guard, and a past relationship with a guard led to Lucina’s fleeing Tufana after an uprising. Wyn makes her tea to help prevent nightmares.

Lucina is hoping to save enough money to send for her Nonna, who raised her and taught her to bake. Some recent thefts in the village have people suspecting Nico, the newest resident. Lucina and the smiths are the only ones not to have been targeted. Does the bread and cream Lucina leaves on her back doorstep every evening help protect her from theft? Her Nonna did the same back in Tufana, as thanks for the magic that makes the bread rise. In this sequel to Tea and Empathy, it’s nice to see the village growing slowly, and for a couple of romance to begin. I look forward to the next Rydding Village tale.

The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught

This is a graphic novel with colorful and charming illustrations. Juniper works at Mira’s bakery. Hadley plays the flute, makes deliveries for the bakery, has a pink pet snake, and longs for adventure. Neither teen look quite human.

A large rush order for tarts made with glowing mushrooms come in to the bakery. Mira asks Juniper and Hadley to travel to the woods to gether the fungi. Of course, their quest does not go smoothly, but they make friends along the way. This includes a fey named Thistle, who has giant caterpillar friends. This is a sweet and cozy queer fantasy.

Brenda

Haunted Ever After

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Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

I loved reading Jen DeLuca’s four romantic comedies set at Renaissance Faires, beginning with Well Met, so I was happy to read her new book.

Set on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Boneyard Key attracts quite a few tourists. Local assume that Cassie, fresh from Orlando, is just another tourist, but she’s hoping to put down roots in the Hawkins House. On her balcony one night Cassie overhears Sophie’s ghost tour, learning that her cottage is said to be haunted by mean old Mrs. Hawkins. Well, really! Cassie absolutely doesn’t believe in ghosts. When her laptop won’t charge and she needs power and wi-fi for a work meeting, she rushes into Haunted Grounds, the local coffee shop, at the last minute. She encounters owner Nick and it is decidedly not a meet-cute scene. The coffee shop and small 2nd floor apartment are said to be haunted by original owner Elmer, who supposedly communicates with Nick by text. Locals also leave an open beer bottle for the usually quiet Beach Bum ghost while they watch the sunset.

Cassie’s gorgeous sunset posts on her group chat with Orlando friends don’t get many comments; all the chat lately seems to be about baby gear. Then the poetry magnets on Cassie’s fridge start moving around, and she starts thinking there may be something to Boneyard Key’s haunted reputation. She develops a friendship with Nick that has potential to become romantic, though Nick wonders if she’ll stay on the island.

The author previously lived in Florida and her love of the area shows in the descriptions of the island, and even of Publix supermarket subs. I enjoyed this novel, and look forward to a sequel or two. Readalikes include the Lucky Lexie cozy mysteries by Shanna Swendson, beginning with Interview With a Dead Editor, and Be My Ghost and High Spirits by Carol Perry.

Brenda

About the book jacket photo: Little Bear thought it was time he made another appearance on our blog.