For What It's Worth


Monday, October 12, 2020

Monday Minis: I’m Dreaming of a White…October???


I’m not usually a big seasonal reader - and I'm reading the wrong season lol - but give me all the sweet, Hallmark holiday, HEA, romance vibes right now!

These two check all those boxes and were pretty flipping adorable.

First up…

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (Pine hollow #1) by Lizzie Shane ~ Goodreads Ben, an overwhelmed single dad (Uncle to his orphaned niece) has a meet cute with Ally Gilmore, a photographer who heads back to her small hometown to take care of her aging grandparents and to help save their animal shelter of misfit canines after funding is cut off right before Christmas.

This book was just adorable and heartwarming. Ally and Ben get off on the wrong foot (& he’s quite the grumpster at first) but end up having this slow burn friendship/romance while they both learn to put their trust in community, friends, family and each other. It was just the sweetest but also had a lot of great life messages. And puppies!!

This seriously needs to be made into a Hallmark movie! 



In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren ~ Goodreads “One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.”

That summary suggest a love triangle vibe but that’s a bit misleading so no worries there. 

Mae Jones always spends Christmas with her (divorced) parents with their family friends in a cabin in Utah. Her best friend is Theo while she secretly pines for his brother Andrew, who sees her as a little sister.

After a drunken kiss with one of the brothers, Mae’s life is thrown into a tailspin – and a Groundhog Day scenario where she keeps reliving the trip until she can figure out exactly what the universe is trying to get her to do to make things right.

This was pretty hilarious. Each restart produces a different set of problems for Mae but she does her best to heal her friendship with Theo, get the man of her dreams and save the cabin and figure out what to do with her life.

The whole cast was great, the setting was fun and Chistmasy with a touch of magic.

My one teeny-tiny complaint would be that I didn’t think one character was given enough depth and it weakened the story a bit but otherwise it was absolutely delightful and fun!

Are you reading holiday stories yet? Or is it #TooSoon?

20 comments:

  1. I have never sought holiday books, but they seemed to find their way to me this year. I must say, they have been a delight too.

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    1. I saw them popping up already and I just need that fluff right now.

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  2. I think Hallmark vibes are understandable right now, given the dumpster fire that is life right now. Ha. And I do like festive reads sometimes whe the holidays approach. I'm trying to fit in some scary reads in October yet, then I might read some cozies or something in Nov/ Dec...?

    In A Holidaze looks so fun. Maybe it's that festive cover. :)

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    1. I was thinking scary going into October but obviously went in a different direction lol

      In watching Bly Manor so at least I'm getting something scary in

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  3. I haven't been reading many Christmas books lately, but I plan to, and I've already added a few Christmas movies to the Netflix List, and yes, I've already entered my Hallmark Christmas contest in preparation for all the new movies that are coming later this month. Yay! Hugs, RO

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    1. I hardly ever read Christmas stories but I watch all the movies!

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  4. I've never been a seasonal reader but I'm totally in the mood for some super light reading these days. In a Holidaze was so fun. :)

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    1. I just need guaranteed fluff and happiness in my life right now lol

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  5. I do not want to, but all xmas books are out now!

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    1. I was shocked at how many were up on netgalley and then released in October.

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  6. The 12 Dogs of Christmas sounds very Hallmark! I'm happy that Holidaze had some good humor at least!

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  7. I read In a Holidaze and there was a LOT going on. I am not the biggest fan of Groundhog Day plots. But I loved the holiday satting!

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    1. There was but I was up for that at the time. I just wasn't a fan of how that one brother was developed - or not developed I guess.

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  8. Bring on some snow too!(lol) Hugs, RO

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  9. I have to laugh b/c I don't usually read a lot of Christmas holiday-centric titles, and then not until later November. Yet, I've already finished two this past week. I guess after the crap of 2020, I'll take an early holiday!

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  10. That's ok, I listened to some Christmas books in like April lol. These sound cute!

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  11. I only read A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve. 🎄

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