Falling for Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Title: Falling for Christmas

Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 978-0-7783-0394-7
Pages: 425
Series: Cedar Cove #8.5 and Mrs. Miracle #2
Type: Adult Chick Lit
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

This book features two of Debbie Macomber's stories - A Cedar Cove Christmas and Call Me Mrs. Miracle.

***A Cedar Cove Christmas***

Mary Jo Wyse is heavily pregnant and sick of being avoided by the father, she decides to track him down. Her search leads her to Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve. A dizzy spell means her path crosses with hunky EMT Mack McAfee, and leaves her ordered to rest. But with no room at the inn, Mary Jo is reliant on the kindness of her newly made friends in Cedar Cove.

I'm relatively new to the world of Cedar Cove so I was a little worried that I'd end up totally lost with this book. However, although I don't know the back story for some of the characters there is enough information here to make each one realistic. I loved Mary Jo and Mack, and it was great how this isn't the typical romance as it starts a year after the story has taken place. Grace and Olivia were lovely and I'm looking forward to reading their books. All in all, a great Christmas read.

Plot: 10/10; Characters: 10/10; Ending: 10/10; Enjoyment: 10/10

***Call Me Mrs Miracle***

Emily Merkle has a new job in the toy department of Finley's, a store that depends on Christmas trade to stay afloat year round. The head of the toy department Jake Finley has taken a gamble on a new toy, and he needs Mrs Miracle's help to get them all sold. But that's not the only help he needs - and Mrs Miracle intends to help him with his feelings for Holly Larson, a woman desperate to give her nephew the most amazing Christmas ever while his Dad serves in Afghanistan. Mrs Miracle definitely has her work cut out for her on this holiday season!

I loved Mrs. Miracle, and was really looking forward to reading this. I absolutely loved it. Mrs Miracle is her same slightly-cryptic self, and Jake and Holly were amazing together. But the real star of the story is Holly's nephew Gabe whose emails to his Dad are really funny and sweet. A couple of background characters were a little two-dimensional, but all in all I really enjoyed this and think it's a brilliant seasonal read.

Plot: 10/10; Characters: 8/10; Ending: 10/10; Enjoyment: 10/10

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Both stories are brilliant and really Christmassy, making this book a near-perfect seasonal read.

Average plot: 10/10
Average characters: 9/10
Average ending: 10/10
Average enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

Title: 16 Lighthouse Road
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 978-0-7783-0290-2
Pages: 384
Series: Cedar Cove #1
Type: Adult Chick Lit
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Judge Olivia Lockheart has inadvertantly caused a scandal. When the divorce petition of Cecilia and Ian Randal appeared on her docket, she decided they needed to work harder on their marriage and returned a shocking verdict - divorce denied! But Olivia has issues of her own with her blossoming interest in local newspaper man Jack. Not to mention her daughter Justine is dating an inappropriate man, her best friend Grace's marriage is in trouble and her mother's mysterious new friend Tom.

This is the first book in the Cedar Cove series and, despite being a fan of Debbie Macomber, a book I've been putting off reading. From the blurb it sounds like Olivia rules against Cecilia and Ian fairly randomly, but it turns out their story is heartbreaking. Their whirlwind romance ended in tragedy when their newborn daughter was born prematurely and died while Ian was uncontactable on a Navy submarine. Olivia's judgement becomes understandable as the two have barely spoken since Ian's return. I found myself really rooting for the couple and hoping they'd sort out their issues.

The strength of the book lies in its characters, each of whom is likeable and has their own story to tell. Aside Cecilia and Ian's relationship, there are several other storylines. Olivia finds herself drawn to Jack who runs the local newspaper. He's new to Cedar Cove and is keeping some secrets. Another plot line is given to Olivia's daughter Justine who is in a relationship of convenience, dating an older man as a well kept trophy. Justine has never wanted a long term commitment, but Olivia worries she's missing out.

Grace Harding is Olivia's best friend, and she's having problems of her own. Her husband is becoming increasingly distant, hiding things and changing his schedule. They've been married for 35 years and Grace worries that Dan has found another woman. Olivia's mother Charlotte has her own story revolving around her friendship with Tom, a patient at a local care home.

Cedar Cove itself is a cleverly developed town that really sounds like a place I'd like to visit. Loosely based on the author's own home town, Cedar Cove manages to tie the storylines together keeping the book coherent and well paced. Quite a long time passes during the book (almost a year) so the story has a grounded, realistic feel as problems aren't sorted out magically overnight.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to 204 Rosewood Lane.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 47/50

Teaser Tuesdays (11)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser:

"If there was one thing she'd learned this past year, it was that she couldn't take anything for granted. She could only hope for the best."

~ Page 275, 16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber