Charming Charlie by Trish LeBaron

 

Synopsis:

The only perfect thing about Charlie MacAfee Bates is her perfectly disastrous dating record. But Charlie has a lot of love to give, and she’s ready to storm the holiday dating scene to find her magical match and gain her biggest wish—a perfect little family full of squishy babies. Armed with her checklist of ideal qualities in a man, and a magical dating app, Charlie is determined to have Mr. Perfect wrapped up under her tree by Christmas. Unfortunately she’s spending most of her time with her new boss, a man who doesn’t match a single item on her list.

All Nick Linwood wants for Christmas is to stay perfectly grumpy. His house may be decked with boughs of holly, but he’s not fa-la-la-la-looking forward to the anniversary of his ex leaving him at the altar. Nursing a broken heart, Nick has withdrawn from the community of Moonrise Cove and become too grinchy to enjoy anything about the holidays. Until a beautiful redhead with rich coffee-brown eyes answers his job posting, draws him out from behind his work, and charms him without even trying.

Ignoring what’s right in front of her, Charlie follows misguided online advice that sends her on a streak of terrible dates that are anything but holly or jolly. What will it take for her to realize Mr. Perfect only exists on paper and Mr. Perfectly Right for Her has been working beside her all along?

My Review: 5 Stars

To tell you how much I absolutely adored this book, I'm going to start off with a confession. Hopefully this will also be a warning to you to clear your schedules before starting this book.

Confession. I stayed up WAY too late reading this book and only stopped because my kindle kept hitting me in the face whenever I dozed off. I also didn't even attempt to go back to sleep when I woke up at 2:43am. I literally rolled over, grabbed my kindle, hopped on the ferry, and headed right back to Moonrise Cove to pick up where I had left off. I was not going to let Charlie and Nick do anything without me! 

Charlie. *sigh* Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Girl! What in the world am I going to do with you?! I have never loved someone so much but also wanted to shake some sense into them constantly. Charlie and I had many talks while she was trying to figure out what was right in front of her the whole time. I may or may not have growled at her in frustration a time or two. But I couldn't stay frustrated for long. Charlie really is such an amazing heroine that you can't help but love her! She's been through a lot to get to where she is and I loved how Nick was her safe place while she figured it all out. 

And speaking of amazing.... 

Nick. *dreamy sigh* Oh how I loved you! Grinch-like behavior and all! Nick, too, has been through a lot. There's a good reason for his grinchiness and I loved that Charlie didn't shy away from it. She helped him to see that what he thought was right, really wasn't and that love can be so much more with the right person. I swear these two were handpicked by Santa! 😉 They were just what the other needed, when they needed it. Their love story really is magical. 😍

Y'all. Why can't Moonrise Cove really exist, magic and all?! I would become a permanent resident there if I could! There's always a feeling of nostalgia and comfort whenever I visit. It makes me want to curl up in my big comfy chair, wrapped up in my cozy blanket fresh out of the dryer, with a mug full of my favorite hot chocolate in my hand, and forget that the world around me exists. It's definitely one of my favorite places to be!

I do have to say that while I absolutely adored this book and couldn't get enough of it, I wanted just a little bit more. I'm crossing my fingers we get to see more of Charlie and Nick in future books because I have questions I'm dying to get answers to. 😂

I'm so glad I discovered Ms. LeBaron! She is a very talented writer that knows just how to capture and keep my attention. I cannot wait to see what she has planned for us next! I'm sure it will be just as amazing as her first two books! 

As for my casting, I saw these two pretty much from the beginning. Love them! What do you think?

Melt my Heart by Jules Barker

Synopsis:


Vera Penwythe never thought she’d go for another relationship so soon, and certainly not a fake one. She’s moved back in with her Gran for the holidays after a humiliating break up left her in debt to her two-timing ex. But when a charming neighbor begs her to pretend to be his girlfriend until his mom recovers from heart surgery, she can’t resist. She yearns to feel needed and be part of something, even if it is all fake. Besides, this way she’ll get the benefits of companionship without the expectations and heartbreak of a real relationship. Vera may have the power to create frost with her hands, but she wishes she could freeze her heart to keep it safe.

Harry Levine never thought lying to his mom would lead to the best mistake of his life. But when his parents’ excessive PDA and a tumbling tower of ice cream tubs lead his parents to assume that Vera is the long-term girlfriend they’ve never met, Harry begs her to go with it. He can’t bear to tell his sick mom that he’s broken up with his girlfriend. Instead, he enlists Vera’s help to keep up the ruse until his mom is on the mend. That just means a few family parties, shared shifts at his dad’s magic-themed ice cream parlor, and—oh yeah, passing Vera off as the picky girlfriend he’s told them about. But what do you do when the lie you started becomes the best thing that’s ever happened to you?

Vera doesn’t trust her bad-guy radar and she doesn’t trust love. But Christmas at Moonrise Cove has a way of working its magic and soon her walls begin to melt. Will she be able to risk her heart to believe that something fake could ever become something real?

My Review: 5 Stars

I’m a sucker when it comes to Christmas romance. I love to immerse myself in as many as I can this time of year. If I could take the entire month of December off work every year to just read Christmas romances, I totally would. There’s just something about them that makes this girl swoon and let out all the little dreamy sighs.

Add in one of those goofy grins and that’s exactly what happened while reading this book. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I adored Vera and Harry!

From the moment Vera and Harry met, sparks start flying, and, try as they may, there was no denying the chemistry and the feeling of rightness they had when they were together. I loved watching their relationship go from fake dating to friendship to love. They balanced each other out and fit perfectly together. They quickly became favorites of mine.

I loved meeting both of their families and getting to know them. Y’all. I think Morgan is my favorite! She seriously rocks! Merlin and Dori are pretty perfect too. I loved how they weren’t afraid to show everyone how much they love each other. They have got to be the sweetest couple ever!

Oh, how I wish I lived in Moonrise Cove! I love every little thing about it. From Rainbow Beach to the Frost Fairies to all the fun little shops to the townsfolk. Y’all! This place is magical! I can’t wait to go back there again!

Ms. Barker has officially been added to my favorite author's list. Anyone who can capture me from the very beginning, keep me up reading way past my bedtime, and then waking up extra early just to see what happens next, definitely deserves to be on that list. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!

As for my casting… *dreamy sigh* Aren’t they perfect?!

Magic in the Moonlight by Jules Barker

 

Synopsis:

After an awkward-almost kiss ten years ago, her older brother's best friend is back and more distracting than ever.

Laurel tried to kiss Nate when they were teenagers, and he flat-out rejected her. Then he left the island and never came back. Okay, so it was because of family drama and not because he was horrified his best friend’s little sister tried to lock lips with him. But Laurel can’t help re-living that embarrassment when Nate returns to the island grown up and gorgeous.

Laurel certainly hasn’t been pining for him this whole time. She’s been busy running her small boutique, collecting a fabulous vintage wardrobe, and mastering her magical ability to read the emotional energy of objects. No time for worrying about the past.

Except, suddenly, Nate is everywhere. Family dinner. Stopping by with her favorite treats. Getting hired by Gran to renovate Laurel’s cottage. It’s awfully hard to prove you’re a competent, fully-grown woman who’s so over a man when he’s your personal handyman tearing down your walls. If only she could tear down his image of her as the lonely little tagalong from his teen years. Having the confidence to make a move is even harder when she discovers he may already have feelings for someone else.

Laurel’s Gift is reading the emotional past of objects, so why is it so hard to understand her emotional present?

My Review: 4 Stars

One of my favorite genres is urban fantasy. Sadly, I have the hardest time trying to find books in this genre. The majority of them are either geared towards YA or are simply not clean. Y'all. I was SO excited to discover the Magic of Moonrise Cove series. It has swept me away and has given me that much needed break from reality. I am so glad that I don't have to leave Moonrise Cove anytime soon! This place is... well... magical! 😍

Confession time. The "Brother's Best Friend" trope is usually a hit or a miss for me. It has never been in between and there's been more misses than hits. Thankfully this one was a hit! *whew* Haha. Don't ya just love when that happens?

Laurel and Nate have known each other since they were kids. She's had a crush on him for years but, for Nate, she's always been "Simon's Little Sister". It's been 10 years since Nate left the island and now that he's back, Laurel isn't quite sure how to handle it. All she wants to do is avoid him as long as possible. But between a handsy scarf and her Gran, avoidance doesn't last very long. Things were a bit awkward between Laurel and Nate in the beginning. But it doesn't take long for them to pick up where they left off all those years ago. 

I enjoyed their journey from friendship to something more. They were so good together. I loved watching Nate take care of and support Laurel when she needed it the most. Y'all. That man deserves a medal! Laurel was a bit slow on the uptake and there were a few times I wanted to shake her and say "Wake up woman! How can you not see what's in front of your face?!" 😂 Thankfully she figures it out before it's too late.

While I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time putting it down, there was one thing that kept me from giving it the full 5 stars I wanted to. What is that one thing? Kisses. I needed more kisses. I missed melting into a big ol' pile of gooey goodness and letting out all the dreamy sighs. Now don't get me wrong. There were some definite dreamy sighs escaping while reading the book, but I just wanted a bit more.  

I am absolutely loving this series! It is SO fun! I find myself wanting to devour all of the books as fast as I can but then I want to read them slowly so I can savor every minute of them. The struggle is real y'all! 😂

Ms. Barker has officially added herself to my "authors to watch" list. She had me staying up way past my bedtime because I just had to know what happened next! I can say, without a doubt, I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by her! 

And you guys know no review of mine would be complete without a casting. I have one word for these two. Perfection! What do you think? 

Magic in the Mix by Trish LeBaron

Synopsis:

Pastry Chef Lucy Crowthorne has no room for romance in her life. Running her bakery, making trendy pastries, and mixing potions takes up all the space on her proverbial plate. Using her craft to spread good vibes in her secret magical community is both fun and keeps her focused—until a tall, dark-eyed, and extremely distracting someone begins poking his nose around her kitchen.

Food columnist Devin Dawson can’t ignore his inbox any longer. Loyal customers of Pastries and Potions want foodie magazine PastryLit to get the scoop on this young baker and her desserts that are wowing the Oregon coast. He checks out the pastry shop and can’t deny her mousse cakes and caramel bars are worth repeat visits. But it’s the pastry chef behind the bakery case that he’s having undeniable cravings for.

Lucy’s been burned in the past, figuratively of course. Revealing her magical identity to her ex-boyfriend was her worst adulting decision ever and led to the “Clint Catastrophe” her family won’t let her forget. Now let’s be clear, Devin Dawson is nothing like Clint. So why can’t Lucy shake the feeling that if Devin discovers her secret it will lead to catastrophic heartache?

My Review: 5 Stars

Confession. One of my favorite tropes is food fiction. I love reading about all the yummy creations and then dream about recreating them. Sadly, when it comes to this trope, the pickens are slim. So, imagine my surprise and utter delight when I see the cutest book cover and discover it's all about a magical pastry chef! I felt like it was screaming at me... pick me! pick me! And pick I did. I may or may not have squealed and did a little happy dance as I one-clicked this baby.

Y'all. From the moment I started reading, I was swept away to the magical island of Moonrise Cove. Everything around me ceased to exist and I found myself sitting in the small alcove at Pastries and Potions with Lucy and Devin, nibbling on a Hunky-Chunky chocolate cupcake and drinking hot cocoa while being regaled by their adventurous love story. 

Before she was even born, Lucy's life was mapped out for her. She didn't have a choice in what she wanted to do or who she wanted to be. Having the decisions made for her had her feeling trapped and smothered. She just wanted to be free to choose things for herself. Opening up Pastries and Potions was just the ticket to prove to everyone that she can do the hard things on her own. With so much on the line, she can't afford any distractions. 

Enter in Devin. Y'all. I loved him instantly! I know I say this in a lot of my reviews but, he was absolutely perfect for Lucy! Even though he's absolutely clueless when it comes to magic, it doesn't stop him from being who Lucy needs in her life. Whether it's saving her from accidents, encouraging her when she's feeling down, cleaning up the disasters that seem to be following her around, whatever she needs, he is always there for her, no questions asked. He is absolute perfection!

Oh how I adored Lucy and Devin! I loved getting to know them and seeing what made them tick. Their journey wasn't all sunshine and roses. There were bumps along the way and hard choices needed to be made. But those things made them stronger and helped mold them into who they were meant to be. 

You guys! This is seriously the cutest and sweetest book! But it really needs to come with a warning or two. I'm thinking something like... 

*WARNING* Make sure you have some sweet treats with you while reading because you are most definitely going to be craving some yummy goodness like Moonrise Turtle Bars and Hunky-Chunky chocolate cupcakes. (Y'all. I really need these in my life!)

*WARNING* Make sure you clear your calendar because once you start, you won't want to stop. It may or may not cause you to be late back to work after lunch. 

If you haven't guessed already, I absolutely adored this debut novel by Ms. LeBaron! She did a phenomenal job of kidnapping me and holding me hostage until the very end. I cannot wait to read more of her books! 

As for my casting... y'all. There are no words! I love these two!