I love stories that are centered around the theme of Christmas, so when the chance came for me to read and review A Different Christmas I could not resist.  This is the type of story that will get you in the mood for the upcoming Christmas holidays. It was funny, engaging and sweet. It will have you itching to pop out the Christmas tree and decorations. It reminded me of the fun I used to have growing up during the Christmas season.

The story is about Sam and Luke, who are as different as night and day. Sam grew up in a loving home, where Christmas celebrations were one of the most important family events.  Luke, on the other hand, grew up in a home void of maternal love and one where Christmas was seen as an opportunity for networking.

Christmas was coming soon and Sam was looking forward to going home to celebrate with her family. However, her plans were derailed by her boss. Luke wanted her to accompany him to New York for business, of course, she was not amused.  She didn’t particularly like him. She considered him to be an arrogant prick.

At first I didn’t like Sam. Frankly, I thought her attitude towards her boss was a bit off. The manner in which she spoke to him would indicate that she had no respect for him.  She was judgmental, where Luke was concerned. She chose to form opinions about him without getting to know him. I must admit, though, there were moments when I couldn’t help but laugh at some the words that spewed from her lips.  Being forced to spend the week leading up to Christmas with him she came to realise that there was more to Luke than what she initially thought. Eventually, a softer and more caring side to her would emerge as a result. I adored Luke. After seeing what he went through as a child, my heart went out to him.  He had built walls around his heart, refusing to let anyone in, that was until he met Sam.

I was happy with how the romance between Sam and Luke developed.  It was not rushed. Their feelings for each slowly evolved, especially on Sam’s part. Luke had been drawn into her from the first time he saw her. He knew she barely tolerated him, as such he was hoping to use this trip to build a connection with her. However, what he did not count on was her power to break down the walls he had erected around his heart.

I found the characters interesting. Some I loved, some not so much.  I appreciated the way Luke handled his mother.  Her behaviour is the type that would test the patience of a saint, but never once did he showed her any disrespect.  It was so much more than a romance novel. It was a story about the importance of family and how the accumulation of wealth was a poor substitute.

If you enjoy Christmas romances, then you will love this book. This was my first time reading the author’s work and I was not disappointed.

I won this book in a giveaway so I wanted to do a review on it!  

Find momo coast to coast is a super cute book about a border collie and Andrew Knapp traveling across the U.S. and Canada.  Momo is easy to find in some and more difficult in others.

 

The pictures are stunning by themselves.  There is a mixture of turisty and regular day pictures.  Truly amazing!

 

I kind of wish there was a little snipit about each location.

A good reference book for anyone with an interest in digital photography.

Although the author tends to focus (no pun intended) on DSLRs and various expensive accessories, it will suit anyone who just wants to move away from the "Auto" setting of their all-in-one camera as well (which was my situation).

He looks at various situations, such as landscapes, sports, weddings and explains what settings would be good for each without going into too many technical details.

It finishes with a series of "recipes" where he shows a particular kind of shot and breaks down the settings that were used such as ISO and aperture. This works well as a quick reference and also a general starting point when you are trying to make your own pictures pop.

It does get a bit jokey in places, which can be hit or miss (usually miss) but overall the techniques and explanations are well done.

This one is fun. It's a hide-and-seek picture book. Can you find Momo in the pictures that span coast to coast? Most of them were very easy, but it was still fun. The pictures are well done. Everyone picks this up when walking through my living room.

Won through a Booklikes giveaway

 

“Momo and his human are hitting the road traversing North America and photographing famous and not so famous spots along the way. Momo while loving his travel time is very camera shy and his in every shot. It's up to you to find him.
What an exciting quest these two are on. I would love to just take off in a van with my dog, it's a dream. Looking at their pictures is a fun way to pass the time while drinking coffee, sipping tea, or munching down some shortbread cookies. They are not difficult, Momo is stealthy but not invisible. It is a travel log of love and simplicity a great picture book for all ages with a story. All members of my household and visitors have picked this up read through it and aww'd at the cute puppy.
Thank you Quirk Books for this book