Christmas at Mistletoe Cove by Holly Martin (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

I've been wanting Eden's story to be told since she was first introduced in the first Hope Island book, Spring at Blueberry Bay. (Yes, this is where I tell you to read them in order. Major spoilers if you don't!) When it was finally released in September I jumped on it, but couldn't bring myself to read it until closer to Christmas and it was so worth the wait. Holly is giving Eden exactly the story I was hoping for.  Once again Holly Martin has proven why she's my go-to for Christmas romance and I'm not even finished with the book yet. It already has five glowing stars for me and would get more if available!

Friday 56 (today is 56% from the ebook) is hosted at Freda's Voice

& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Amazon Description

Summer at Buttercup Beach by Holly Martin (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

I know ... "First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" from Bibliophile by the Sea is on vacation ... but I'm used to doing these two together so I'm just going to stick with it. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

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Amazon Description

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I started reading Summer at Buttercup Beach on my way in to work Monday night. I already knew the main characters somewhat, having had "met them" in Spring at Blueberry Bay. Roman's the brother of Bella, the heroine of Spring, and Freya's his best friend/employee at his glassworks shop. It was pretty clear in the last book that they were fighting feelings, because .... you know .... things are never simple.


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I couldn't put this down once I started it (aside from getting my son ready for school). I carried my phone with me everywhere and even cut my post-work nap short so I could finish it and then try and find the right words for a good and proper review.

I can't do that, it seems, so instead I'm going to write an open letter of sorts to Holly.

Oh, my dear Holly Martin. I don't know how you always seem to know just what I need from a book. It's as though you've been teaming up somehow with my Kindle app and, I don't know, maybe my cat (I'm fairly certain he at least has his own Twitter or Tumblr). 

You've somehow niggled your way into my very being. 


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Once again, you have delivered to me (via your brilliant publishers & NetGalley) a book that's hugged me close and let me snot all over its shirt (if a book wore clothing, that is) and whispered that everything really could work out in the end. You've made me shed an almost ridiculous amount of tears, followed by laughing until I snort beverages out of my nose, followed by more tears.

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Once again, you have given me believable characters to love and root for. You've developed an amazing couple who are able to overcome past foibles and future fears to reach that happily ever after that seems so elusive at times. And even though we all know that it's where they'll end up, it isn't so contrived and cliched in its telling that is feels like you've just called it in.


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So thank you, yet again, Holly. Every time I open one of your books my romantic sappy side grows a little bit stronger and my pessimistic side weakens. If you're ever in my area, I owe you a drink.

Rambling About.. Holly Martin's Spring at Blueberry Bay

This is my 6th Holly Martin book and each one of them has been given five stars .... but only because that's as high as Goodreads and Amazon goes. If I could give more I would because Holly has certainly earned it! Once again I've been blessed by the fabulous folks at bookouture with an advanced copy of her latest, Spring at Blueberry Bay. Of course, this has had no influence on how much I've adored this book.

I've found that each time I open a Holly Martin book my heart grows a little bit bigger and my faith in happily-ever-after gets renewed a little bit more. In fact, that faith in happily-ever-after is really behind this book.

from Amazon:

Of course, the description doesn't do it justice ... nor will my little rambling thoughts. It's being released on Friday (April 7th), though, so you don't have long to wait to fall in love yourself! Since, though, this is supposed to be a "proper review" (as if any of my reviews are ever proper), here are some of my thoughts, jotted down along the way:

• Bella has so much baggage I suspect there's a birthmark shaped like Louis Vuitton's monogram somewhere on her bum.
  
• Isaac has everything a lit-crush should. His own baggage (duffle bag size in comparison to Bella's full travel set), strength, tenderness, a wicked sense of humor, and even a tinge of geek (he does, after all, excel in gaming).
  
• Hope Island is the newest Holly Martin locale that makes me want to pack my bags and move yesterday. The details were so vivid, I feel like I could step foot off the ferry tomorrow and not get lost.
  
• Be aware of speakerphones! They can be hilariously dangerous things.
  
• Thou shalt not read Holly Martin books when thou art supposed to be sleeping. Before you know it you'll be howling with laughter and the jig will be up and everyone will know that you're up, too.
  
• Thou shalt not read Holly Martin books at work when others may be around. The possibility of being asked a hundred times "are you sure you're okay?" because tears can unexpectedly stream down your face is very real.
  
• I need more Bella & Isaac ... and Rocket and Alfie and Rome and Eden and Dougie and Freya and even Claudia. (Claudia must have some kind of backstory, right?) Oh! And Elsie and Roger! (They're so stinking cute!)

Bascially, summer can't get here soon enough. The next Hope Island book is supposed to be out then and I can't wait to revisit this glorious location and its wonderful residents!

Rambling About.. Holly Martin's Christmas Under A Starlit Sky

The fabulous Holly Martin has done it again! Just make sure that when you read this you have plenty of tissues nearby ... or at least the sleeve of a shirt you don't mind snotting all over!

I absolutely adored the first book in her A Town Called Christmas series, Under A Cranberry Sky. Under A Starlit Sky picks up immediately where that one left off. Like, within seconds ... so if you haven't read that one yet, go do so.

This is mostly the story of Neve and Oakley and Adam and Ivy (with a little bonus Luke action thrown in ... not enough Luke, but I'll take what I can get). Neve is the sister of Gabe -- the romantic lead from the first book. Oakley is the man she left behind when she came to manage the Stardust Lake Hotel for her brother. Adam is her assistant manager and only intends to stay on Juniper Island for a few months to help with the opening. Ivy is an artist who runs one of the village shops associated with the resort.

All four of them have been hurt in the past and that's standing in the way of them living in the present and causing all of them to just mess things up (like my mind, my heart, and my shirt sleeves) left and right! It's a rollercoaster of emotions and even when I hated how it was making me have all the feels all at the same time, I was loving every second of it.

I've said before that Holly was destined to write feel-good Christmas romances and she has another five-star winner with Christmas Under A Starlit Sky!

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Friday 56 (share from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice (today pg 56 of the epub) 
& Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader

Amazon Description

This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts… 

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home? 

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas. 

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I can't help the fact that I freaking adore Christmas. I could likely read at least one or two Christmas books a week for the entire year (before into taking into consideration any new releases) and then you would never get a break from my Holly Jolly Ho-Ho-Ho-Happiness. 

Hmmmmm .... Holly Jolly .... Holly Martin ....

I'm beginning to think that the "Holly" is not a mere coincidence.

I don't know if "Holly Martin" is a pen name or her actual legal name but it doesn't rightly matter -- either way, Holly was destined to write feel-good Christmas romances and Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky definitely fits that description. Of course, it's not all mistletoe, hot cocoa and peppermint sticks 

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because it's far more realistic than that (in spite of the gang of Shetland ponies that terrorize the community ... I find them to be a little far-fetched). It's a story of looking back and moving forward and embracing the magic of the season.

I'm not quite done with it yet but so far I'm loving this book. In spite of their flaws (and oh man oh man do they have some), I can't help but root for Piper and Gabe .... and, as part of the package deal, Gabe's adorable 4-year-old Frozen-obsessed daughter, Wren. The setting of the town called Christmas on Juniper Island sounds like a dream come true and, unless you're new around here, you already know that I love books based in and around hotels. I'm super-excited that I already have the next one in the series waiting for me and that it features the hotel's manager, Gabe's sister, Neve. She annoyed me a bit at first, but I've grown to adore her as the pages have scrolled by. (Hopefully the third book will feature their brother Luke. I need to know more about him!)

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The book is being released on September 22nd and once again I thank Bookouture for letting me read early via NetGalley. I sometimes wonder if every time they see that I've requested yet another one of their books if they just shake their heads and roll their eyes.

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Really, though, I typically imagine it to be much more like ....

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(No ... not REALLY really ... I've just been waiting for a good excuse to use the gif)

Book Beginnings & Friday 56 -- Holly Martin's Snowflakes on Silver Cove

Snowflakes on Silver Cove is the second book set in White Cliff Bay. I read the first, Christmas at Lilac Cottage, back in December and this one was actually one of the deciding factors in doing Christmas in July! I even put it off a little longer than I wanted to just so I would be able to have it lined up for a Book Beginnings & Friday 56 post.

As always, Friday 56 (share from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences) is at Rose City Reader.

Amazon Description:

Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself…
Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance.
As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George.
But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas?

Cracking up from the very beginning! Is the squeaking a mouse? If it is ... what's up with the bang???

Of course, I know exactly what it's all about now but I'm not going to tell you. That would take all of the fun out of it being a tease!

Snowflakes on  Silver Cove was an absolute delight! I loved the first White Cliff Bay book and this one was just as wonderful if not even moreso. The two books actually take place at the same time but with different main characters so it was fun to see some of the folks and events from Christmas at Lilac Cottage again from a different view. I'll definitely be grabbing the third one soon and hope that there will be many more to come!

Rambling About.. Holly Martin's One Hundred Proposals

Title: One Hundred Proposals       Author: Holly Martin Publication: 25 June 2014 - Carina UK First Line Prologue: 'Okay, you can open your eyes now,' Harry said. First Lines Chapter 1: I put the phone down on another excited client and sighed. It was February 11th and we'd had a surge of customers all desperately wanting to propose on top of the Eiffel Tower on Valentine's Day. I felt like screaming. Favorites on 4s:  4%: Two years was way too long for unrequited love. 14%: 'Well a near death experience is adrenaline filled. My heart was pounding, there was close, physical contact. It's not a proposal I'm likely to forget.' 24%: 'So the noodle hair, is this a new look you're trying out? I think I prefer the onesie.' 54%: It took every muscle, every fibre of my being to physically stop myself from screaming yes at the top of my lungs. 64%: You hear about this sort of thing all the time; couples that were madly in love slowly getting bored with each other, to the point where one of them or even both start plotting ways to kill the other one. 74%: Kirsty MacLennan says: I agree with Megan, snog her face off, you'll get a definitive reaction then.

Ramble: 
So here are the basics: Suzie started the website/business the.PerfectProposal.com after a not-so-perfect proposal. Harry is her best friend/web designer/partner in crime. He decides that it would be a good business gimmick to try and find the perfect proposal for Suzie by proposing to her one hundred ways and blogging about them on their site. After one goes viral on YouTube the proposals are able to get even more outrageous as the two travel the world with him proposing to her over and over and over again.

I absolutely positively without any doubt loved this book. It tore my heart to shreds and made me spurt coffee out of my nose on numerous occasions but it was so worth every agonizing second. It's all I can do to hold off until my Christmas in July to read the follow-up!

And that, my dear friends, is all you get out of me. A little blip and the random quotes above (oh, and the teaser from Tuesday). You'll have to fork over the dollar yourself to find out more ... like why I claim a tutu-wearing cow is my new spirit animal ...

A Very Valentines-y Top Ten Tuesday & Teaser Tuesday

It's a Valentine's Day Freebie this week for The Broke & The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday and  I'm reading a Valentines-y-ish chick lit right now that I have been chomping at the bit to use for MizB's Teaser Tuesday. I love a good schmaltzy feel-goodie heart-achey chick lit and what's more schmaltzy feel-goodie heart-achey than Valentine's Day? SO I'm doing my Top Ten Chick Lits I'm Excited About Potentially Getting My Heart Ripped Out Over ... right after the teaser for the book currently shredding me to pieces!

Holly Martin -- One Hundred Proposals

and, in no particular order ...

Top Ten Chick Lits I'm Excited About Potentially Getting My Heart Ripped Out Over

#TeaserTuesday # 41 - Holly Martin's Christmas At Lilac Cottage

The Book & The Tease

Christmas At Lilac Cottage by Holly Martin

I had started to read another book ... discovered that the story STARTS on Christmas Day ... and used that as an excuse to squeeze in an extra chick lit!

The Meme