Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Title: Montana Sky
Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 0-7499-3765-3
Pages: 467
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Borrowed from library
Goodreads


When Jack Mercy died, he left a twenty million dollar ranch to his daughters on a single condition - they must all live on the ranch for one year. For Willa who was raised on the ranch this is an invasion of her home, while Lily sees it as a safe haven from her abusive ex-husband and L.A. girl Tess just wants to collect her cash and get back to the city. The sisters have never met before, let alone lived together but they must put their differences aside when it becomes clear that a brutal enemy is out to destroy Mercy Ranch and the women who live there.

This was my first ever Nora Roberts book and I picked it up after watching the TV movie. I'd enjoyed the film so much I wanted to know what the actual book was like. The book is a richer, more detailed storyline than the movie, althouth the movie did keep the main plotlines. Although I generally prefer to read the book before watching the movie, in this case I'm glad I saw the movie first as otherwise I would have missed certain scenes from the book (like when the sisters go to a spa) that were not included.

The book focuses on the three Mercy sisters - independent cowgirl Willa, fiesty screenwriter Tess and shy reserved Lily. Each is given their own backstory and plotlines with their own romantic interest. I loved how each woman was distinct and came to life on the page, and it was great to see how different each romance was. Willa has a love/hate attitude to neighbouring rancher Ben McKinnon, Tess wants a no-strings affair with lawyer Nate and Lily falls for Adam and ends up healing the scars of her past. Even the supporting characters are well written and developed, showing a great depth of character which makes them interesting to read.

The ranch setting was really interesting and differs from the film in that it goes a lot deeper into the workings of a ranch. While the movie made a ranch seem like an attractive place to live, this shows off the hard work involved with birthing calves and moving livestock. This feels like a more realistic take and the book also shows Ben and Nate's ranches and the differences in how they are managed.

The plot is well paced and there is tension threaded throughout by the threat of the killer and Lily's ex-husband. Those scenes are tense, creepy and at times very disturbing to read. Nora Roberts has done an outstanding job of getting inside the mind of an abusive partner and the ways he justifies his actions to himself are unsettling to say the least. The storyline is divided into seasons which shows the required year on the ranch well whilst giving some gorgeous descriptions of Montana.

All in all this was a great read and I'll definitely be reading more by Nora Roberts.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair

Title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0-425-21346-3
Pages: 269
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #3
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Rory MacKenzie has been treated as a pariah for his entire life because his ancestor lost the woman he loved and by sending her his greatest piece of work, he cursed the village for all eternity. Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to a mysterious wardrobe that will only reveal its treasures for the woman with the magic of her ancestors. When Vickie opens the wardrobe and finds a beautifully carved unicorn, she and Rory find themselves thrown together by the choices of their ancestors.

This is the final book in the Accidental Witch Trilogy (after The Kitchen Witch and My Favorite Witch) and this time focuses on Vickie. Although the series began as pure contemporary romances, the magical aspect has steadily grown and this sits very close to being a paranoraml romance. I've wanted to know more about Vickie since she was introduced so it's great to see things from her perspective.

The storyline is well plotted and maintains a steady pace throughout. There are a few twists and turns which keep things interesting, one of which introduces Harmony, Destiny and Storm who are set to star in the Triplet Witch trilogy which follows on from this. The romance between Vickie and Rory is well written. Vickie dislikes Rory from the start and Rory isn't looking for romance so they each resist the feelings developing between them.

Unlike in the previous books, Vickie is very body conscious and this is well dealt with as unlike other romances she doesn't suddenly realise her beauty when a hot guy takes an interest. The other aspect of the book that is particularly well done is the scars both Vickie and Rory carry from their childhoods and gradually begin to heal with the support of each other.

I was really surprised by how much I liked Vickie's antique store. Vintage fashion has been a key element in the books since the beginning so it was really great to read more about it. The magic in the story is also unique as rather than cast spells, Vickie seems to make rhyming wishes that come true in some hilarious ways.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the first Triplet Witch book Sex and the Psychic Witch.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50

My Favorite Witch by Annette Blair

Title: My Favorite Witch
Author: Annette Blair

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0-425-20723-4
Pages: 286
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #2
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Jason Pickering Goddard's career as a playboy ice hockey star came to a dramatic halt when a car accident left him unable to play. At the insistence of his grandmother he is the new Director of Special Events at the struggling Pickering Foundation, hoping his fame will save the foundation's boys foster home. But when Jason walks into the office to see Kira Fitzgerald with wand in hand cursing her ex-fiance, he wonders if he'll be able to survive the year with Kira as his new coordinator let alone save the foundation.

This is the second book in the Accidental Witch trilogy (after The Kitchen Witch), this time focuses on Kira who was introduced in the previous book. Kira has left Salem and moved to Rhode Island to work at the Pickering Foundation after she caught her ex-fiance cheating on her with her sister. Jason has also returned to Rhode Island with broken dreams after being forced to leave the NHL. The book is well plotted and paced, with a few twists and turns thrown in and a healthy dollop of tension from the foundation's struggles to maintain a full St. Anthony's Home for Boys.

Interestingly neither Kira nor Jason are interested in starting a relationship, and while they have sparks from the moment they met each resists them accordingly. This allows them to develop a friendship which eventually grows to include some intriguing rabbit holes. Both Kira and Jason are really well written with interesting backstories and well developed personalities.

The supporting characters are equally well written. Bessie, Jason's grandmother frequently interferes in their relationship, trying to push Jason to be happy despite his determination to return to the ice. The boys from St. Anthony's steal pretty much every scene they are in, especially the twins Travis and Zane. Travis is desperate to be adopted but won't abandon his disabled brother which leads to some heart-wrenching scenes.

Melody and Vicki also appear in this book, allowing us to catch up with Melody and Logan who are now married and expecting a baby as well as the Kitchen Witch show which Kira uses as part of the fundraising campaign. We also get to learn more about Vicki who is the lead character in the final book of the trilogy.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50

The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair

Title: The Kitchen Witch
Author: Annette Blair
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0-425-19881-2
Pages: 295
Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #1
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When Logan Kilgarven offers to help his neighbour Melody Seabright get a job at his TV station in exchange for babysitting his son, the last thing he expects is for Melody to bewitch the manager into giving her a cooking show. Melody is thrilled to have landed such an awesome job, but resisting the temptation of stuffed suit Logan isn't her only problem. The Kitchen Witch is an great idea for a show...as long as Melody can learn to cook.

This is the first book in the Accidental Witch trilogy and one of my favourite books that I have read and re-read multiple times. This manages to blend magic, laughter and romance flawlessly with interfering parental figures, a television show and mouthwatering descriptions of food. Despite the a magical angle this is a contemporary romance, although if you read the entire trilogy they do evolve into paranormal romance by the third book.

All of the characters are really well written and the author has managed to build believable backstories that help explain their motivations without info-dumping the reader. Melody is the perfect balance of ditzy and determined. She has a major thing for vintage fashion, but she's also stubborn and desperate to prove her worth. Logan hides his bad boy tendancies under a pressed suit, trying to do the best thing by his son Shane, who is the cutest kid ever and I'm not usually a fan of children.

It is great to read about Logan and Melody's work as well as the development side of television shows isn't something frequently seen in books. I loved Melody's early attempts at cooking and I was really rooting for her show to succeed. I really enjoyed how neither Logan nor Melody wanted to be attracted to each other and actively sought out more appropriate partners, especially when they were working from their preconceptions of one another.

All in all this is an awesome read and I'm looking forward to My Favorite Witch.

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

Overall: 48/50

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Title: The Espressologist

Author: Kristina Springer
Publisher: FSG Teen
ISBN: 978-0-374-32228-1
Pages: 184
Series: N/A
Type: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


How much can anyone tell about you by your favourite coffehouse drink? Well if you're 17 year old barista Jane Turner then quite a lot. Jane has been making notes on the types of person who order different drinks and calls it Espressology. There are the loyal and trustworthy medium iced vanilla lattes, the smart and simple medium dry cappuccinos and the patriotic straightforward americanos. Now Jane is ready to try matchmaking customers and soon Espressology is the newest holiday marketing technique at Wired Joes, and Jane finds herself getting more attention than she ever expected.

I picked up this book because the premise sounded really fun and unique but not really knowing what to expect. This was my first contemporary YA and being new to the genre meant I was a bit lost at first. The storyline is evenly paced but develops slowly and while I enjoyed the premise and the espressolgy explanations (although the closest to my favourite was not flattering at all!) I did find there was a lack of depth overall. I didn't even realise the book was set in Chicago until about 2/3 in.

Jane never really develops as a character. We learn she works at Wired Joes, goes to college occasionally and has a friend called Em. There is never much to distinguish her at all so she comes across as a plain Jane (if you'll excuse the pun). The lack of development is pretty widespread with boss Derek being the stereotypical overworked grump and frat boy love interest Will who I disliked from his first appearance and couldn't believe how cluless Jane was about him.

The characters I did like are Jane's friends Em and Cam who she decides to match after Em breaks up with her long-term boyfriend. Again Jane was clueless around Cam but he was probably the best developed character in the book. As someone in a similar care situation I was surprised at how realistic his actions were and they fit well with someone in that sort of role.

Wired Joes comes off as a Starbucks clone, which is unsurprising given that the entire book was written in a Starbucks. Even some of the drinks are clearly Starbucks branded ones. This was pretty disappointing as I'm a big fan of Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse mysteries (which start with On What Grounds) and they manage to create a unique but recognisable environment.

All in all this was a fun frothy read ideal if you're looking for something light.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 6/10
Ending: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 37/50

On a Snowy Night by Debbie Macomber

Title: On a Snowy Night
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 0-7783-2110-X
Pages: 370
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

This book actually contains two stories that were originally published individually as gift hardbacks - The Christmas Basket and The Snow Bride.

***The Christmas Basket***

There has been a feud between the matriarchs of the McDowell and Sutton families for years, one that was made worse when Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton planned to elope ten years ago - before Thomas jilted her. Noelle has avoided returning to Rose, Oregon since then but now her younger sister is getting married she is returning for Christmas. Noelle thought her feelings for Thom were all in the past, but a chance meeting gives them a second chance at love.

I really enjoyed this story! The characters were well developed, and the past circumstances that gave rise to the story are gradually revealed which helps add tension to the story. The clashes between the two mothers, Sarah and Mary, are absolutely hilarious, and being able to see from both Noelle and Thom's perspectives helps the story flow. I also loved how the story doesn't always take the obvious path, giving rise to some twists and turns.

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

 ***The Snow Bride***

Jenna Campbell has always been responsible, but after meeting Dalton Gray in a poetry chatroom she's decided to take a chance and fly up to Alaska to meet him. However her seatmate Reid Jamison decides to kidnap her in order to save her from herself, and the next thing Jenna knows she's stuck in tiny Snowbound, Alaska with a massive blizzard about to blow into town.

This is the story I brought the book for as it sounded like a cheesy but cheerful Christmas read. It's definitely cheerful and Christmassy, but not cheesy. The lead characters Jenna and Reid are amazing, but their story is given real depth by the supporting characters who also live in Snowbound and Jenna's scatty LA-based mother. The romance is well-developed and not of the standard leap-in-to-bed kind, and the gradual emotional developments between Reid and Jenna are sweet and well-paced.

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

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Both stories are short and sweet (the whole book is only 370 pages) and are perfect Christmas reads. The only thing that lets this book down is it's cover which just isn't up to the standard of the stories.

Average plot: 10/10
Average characters: 10/10
Average ending: 10/10
Average enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 6/10

Overall: 46/50

The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

Title: The First Love Cookie Club
Author: Lori Wilde
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-198842-4
Pages: 370
Series: Twilight, Texas #3
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


In Twilight, Texas there is a tradition that states if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow on Christmas Eve you will dream of your soulmate. Sarah Collier once believed in that tradition, until as a teenager she ended up running down the church aisle on Christmas Day wearing a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers to try to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. Sarah was completely humiliated and hasn't been back to Twilight since. Now Sarah is all grown up and a successful children's author 'Sadie Cool', and has sworn off love completely. But a letter from a sick fan has brought Sarah back to Twilight, and she's about to find that Jazzy, her number 1 fan is the daughter of Travis Walker himself.

This was just one of the stack of Christmassy books I picked up this year, and with no reviews I decided to take a chance. I'm really glad I did. From the author's note at the start dedicating the book to the real life inspiration for Travis and Jazzy, who sadly didn't get a happy ending, to the sweet love story and kooky locals this book is a great read.

Sarah is sweet and easy to identify with, and Travis is the perfect hero but both thankfully manage to avoid the standard romance novel cliches. However Jazzy steals the show with her incredible zest for life despite all the odds. The townspeople reminded me a bit of the people in Stars Hollow in the Gilmore Girls; a bit kooky but kind hearted. The Dickens festival was a bit of an oddball idea in Texas, but it really works with the story.

The romance itself is well thought out, and doesn't see the characters leap into bed together as soon as they're reunited. It was good to see that each carried realistic scars from their lives that were dealt with sympathetically, and that outside meddling didn't interfere with the characters free will.

I'm definitely interested in reading some of the other Twilight novels - this is actually the third in the series, with The Sweethearts' Knitting Club first and then The True Love Quilting Club both before this, and is followed by book 4 The Welcome Home Garden Club. Chances are I'll also be baking a batch of kismet cookies using recipe on the author's website (check it out here), although they probably won't make it under my pillow.

All in all, a light seasonal read with unexpected depths that is well worth a read.

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

Overall: 48/50

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

***********************************************************

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

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Title: Mrs. Miracle
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-108346-4
Pages: 337
Series: Mrs. Miracle #2
Type: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Four years ago Seth Webster's wife died in a tragic car accident and he sent their twin boys to stay with his in-laws. Now the twins are 6 and have returned to live with him, they are going through housekeepers like there's no tomorrow. Seth is at the end of his tether when Emily Merkle turns up on his doorstep. "Mrs Miracle" as she is called by the twins quickly becomes part of the family, and she may even help Seth with his crush on local travel agent Reba. Could the Webster's get a Christmas miracle after all?

 I must admit that this is a little Mary Poppins inspired, but also has a sweet love story to accompany it. This was one of my Christmassy books for this year, and I'm really glad I picked it up. I loved Seth and Reba, and it was great to see each of them battling with their pasts to create a better future for themselves. Judd and Jason (the two twins) are hilarious at times, and it's fab seeing what trouble the two of them can stir up.

The story doesn't just focus exclusively on Seth and Reba though - there are also plotlines about Seth's in-laws Sharon and Jerry, and local busybody Harriet Foster (who gets exactly what she deserves). The book has also been turned into a movie which is a great watch, although annoyingly unavailable on DVD in the UK.

All in all this was a great seasonal read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel Call Me Mrs. Miracle which is also available in the bind-up Falling for Christmas.

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

Overall: 48/50