Title: Colors of Christmas
Author: Olivia Newport
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Colors of Christmas" Two Contemporary Stories Celebrate The Hope of Christmas By Olivia Newport

My Thoughts....

Two Contemporary Stories Celebrate The Hope of Christmas:

Christmas in Gold

What a story that had me in tears...What will happen when a older woman [Astrid] falls and breaks her ankle. Then her family wants to put her in an assistant living facility. Wow, what a family! You will just have to pick this one up to see how it will all come out as she meets a Physical Therapist named Carly.

Then next we have....

Christmas in Blue

This was such a wonderful contemporary heartwarming story of 'love, loss and the beauty of family and friends.' What will happen as a mysterious stranger [Gabe] appears in town to help Angela. How will this take a turn and instead of dread there will be 'joy and tenderness in Angela's heart' for this holiday.

Both of these stories are well written and will contain a message that is only for the reader to receive. I found these stories tender, so endearing and hopefully one hearts will be lifted for this Christmas holiday season from the read. I was left to be reminded to be 'thankful and never take anything for granted.'

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Title: An Ex for Christmas
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Loveswept
Series: Love Unexpectedly # 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"An Ex for Christmas" by Lauren Layne

My Thoughts....

This is definitely one of those read where one will say wow and shaking ones head! Poor Kelly Byme was really having a lots of trouble not being able to see the forest for the woods syndrome but being caught in in 'tea leaves, tarots cards, magic eight balls and gypsies telling the future. So, when Kelly psychic has her thinking she is getting back together with a ex by Christmas...her search will start and oh my god where it will lead her! So, instead of Kelly seeing Mark Blakely who had been her best friend for years, one she could and did count on and was right their in front her her she still goes through her long list of exes. However, I did keep in mind that Mark was just a friends and not a ex. Oh, yes they did share a spunky dog! This will be one funny and have you laughing out loud as this story goes on as Kelly takes Mark along with her on this venture of hers. Will this put a strain among these two friendship? What will happen as Kelly finally starts to see what is right in front of her? This author does a good job at pulling the reader into this story wanting to know what will happen next in this emotional hot, sweet and sexy romantic story. So, as we find Kelly 'working around getting ready for the holiday, working around superstitions, ex boyfriends, ex friends, a friend and a dog' the reader will get one heck of a good holiday story.

In the end will Kelly and Mark get their HEA? Well, you will have to pick up "An Ex for Christmas" to see how this author will bring the readers one entertaining 'fun read with lots of humor and chemistry' giving us a good Christmas read. Would I recommend this novel? YES!

<!-- [if lte IE 9]> <![endif]-->Title: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor Bleakly Manor
Author: Michelle Griep
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Series: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"12 Day at Bleakly Manor" by Michelle Griep

My Thoughts.....

This was quite a interesting story of Christian historical romance and mystery during 1850's holidays in England. I liked how this author brings to the readers some really intriguing characters during the '12 Days at Bleakly Manor' that had a particular reason for being at this location. Be ready for a fast paced, fun, quirky read with a Gothic and mysterious setting with some great descriptions given and even a little bite of danger.

What happens when Clara Chapman who was once from a well to do family, rejected by her father and later by her fiancé now found to be poor living with her Aunt Deborha receives a cyptic invitation?

"The Twelve Days of Christmas
As never's been reveled
Your presence, Miss Chapman,
Is respectfully hearld.
Bleakly Manor's the place
And after twelve nights
Five hundred pounds
Will be yours by rights."

Who was Benjamin Lane who had been in prison for stealing and is to be deportation to a labor camp from another country. Now what on earth does he have to do with all or this? Well, as the reader continues to read we find that Benjamin believes he was been betrayed by someone he once had loved and that he was also innocent of all of this mess he had been accused of. What will happen when he receives the same invitation to Bleakly Manor that 10 others had received? Now, what will Ben be promised?

Will Clara and Ben [the two main characters] who had some huge misunderstandings be able to work through it all out just be able to come to a better understanding of it all?

I enjoyed how this author was able to bring in the Christian elements [with trust and faith elements] in this very realistic story that will keep you turning the pages to see what was coming next in this story that was of 'second chances and choosing between revenge ad forgiveness.' I did notice that the '12 day of Bleakly Manor 'started on December 24th and ending January 5, 1851 which I thought was somewhat strange but as I was reading I get this idea from the author was done for a particular reason.

This was quite a interesting story after all is said and done. To find all of the answers to the above questions and so much more you will have to pick up this good read that has so many twist to see it's a good story of second chances and redeemed love. This is definitely one of those stories that will keep one guessing until the very end! Even though this novel is around Christmas holiday, I found that it's the kind of read that one can be read at any time of the year.