suspending all sense of disbelief. 

I pretty much figured that much out when I read the blurb. 'Thief In the Light' in fact has 3 MCs in it and no we're not talking about a ménage à trois with this one since the third MC that I'm referring to happens to be a house named 'Mildred' or more formally 'The Oaks'.

It's been a long time since I've read a book by this author, but I'm really glad that I was able to get to this one. I think we're all familiar with the expression that 'something has character' well in this case that something happens to be a house that has gone straight past 'having character' into she's got personality.

From the first time that Arnold Kreed (just call him Kreed because Arnold...so doesn't suit him) entered 'The Oaks' he felt like he'd come home and that was it the deal was done. He bought the beautiful old Victorian style house and turned it into a B&B and hasn't looked back. 

The night that Lucky finds himself lying in a ditch on the side of the road and facing what he sure is one of the most uptight people he's ever met turns out to be the luckiest night of his life. When Mathilda insist on helping Lucky out of the ditch and into her car so she can drop him off at Kreed's B&B. When Lucky enters the B&B he's determined to sneak out and be on his way ASAP but one look at Kreed and he suddenly finds himself breaking all the rules...even rule #1 the most important rule of them all...DON'T STAY!

'Thief In the Light' is actually the second paranormal story that I've read or listened to featuring a house that's decidedly sentient. However for me that's where the similarities between 'Thief In the Light' and 'Surreal House' ends...well that and the fact that I really enjoyed both stories.

While I truly consider Mildred to be one of the MCs in this story she was definitely not central to the story and by that I mean the story could have been told without her, however, I truly don't think it would have been nearly as much fun to read. The house's presence was given to us in subtle...believable ways for lack of a better way to express it. We know how she feels about things by the slamming and/or locking of doors, people suddenly running out of hot water even though they've just turned the shower on. Bells tinkling when a someone enters even though there's not bell, groaning of pipes, squeaking floorboards...that no one's walking on and other such idiosyncratic happenings that make Mildred a consistent and fun character in the story without having her steal the center stage.

Kreed and Lucky both had issues and unfortunately people from their past that they're going to need to deal with before they can begin to find their happily ever after, but it's with the beginnings of friendship, trust and faith in each other that they're able to do this along with the support of a small but caring community. Ms Samms has filled this story out with some wonderful secondary characters whom I would happily spend more time with. From Mathilda who first brings Lucky to Kreed's B&B to Steph, Steve, & Jake the siblings who run the bookstore across the street from the B&B, to Mr. Benson the local barber just to mention a few.

While there were some things about the ending that felt a little bit glossed over for me. I also have to wonder if there had been more detail in regards to certain situations, events and outcomes if things might not have ended up being a bit less enjoyable with regards to the outcome of things from Lucky's past (I apologize for the vagueness here but I'm trying to keep it spoiler free) as for the out come of things from Kreed's past/present situation I wanted more detail as it felt like some people got away with things with impunity and seriously that was not good...not good at all. I wanted them to have to face the consequences of their actions and it just didn't feel like they did...so that's mostly why only 4 stars and not 5 for me.

"Thief In the Light" is the  first book in this newest series by Jaime Samms and I have to admit that while Kreed and Lucky's story was solid as it stands I'm so looking forward to more and finding out what and who's happening next.

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An ARC of "Thief In the Light" was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I seem to keep finding or maybe I'm putting myself into the same situation. Honestly I think it's a bit of both, so I'm going to try and explain  my situation, without being too wordy...

It's about the Christmas stories...I love Christmas, so of course it's safe to assume that I love Christmas stories of which I've read a few this year approximately 15 that were specifically labelled as being 'Christmas Stories' and a few more that while they weren't labelled as such, part or most of the story took place during the holiday season. It also seems that my most frequent comment about a lot of them has been "I would have liked more". Thankfully I haven't read many if any that had me saying 'Thank heavens it was short" or my personal favorite "The best thing about this one is that it was short".

For me there's a world of difference in those statements the first one "I would have liked more" is meant to imply that I enjoyed the story and I wish the author had made it a bit longer. Not that it was incomplete or lacking in any way just that while sometimes 'less is more' sometimes 'more can be better' and as for 'Thank heavens it was short or the best thing about this one is that it was short'. I think those statements are self-explanatory and we can just move on from them.

'Model Christmas' was once again a case of 'I would have liked more' and this time it was more at the beginning and a bit more at the ending because even though I enjoyed the story and I got what was going on and wasn't lost at any point in time for lack of information. I just didn't have enough time to really connect to the characters or their situations. I liked Sebastian and Cody and to be honest I think had there been a bit more story surrounding them both I could have "LIKED" Sebastian and Cody. 

Jaime Samms is one of those authors whose stories I always enjoy...still, some more than others but never have I regretted reading any of them. Her book 'Lace' is an absolute favorite of mine and has such a special place in my heart. So while I was hoping to enjoy this story a bit more than I did, I'm also realistic enough not to expect from a story that was just under 40 pages what I got from a story that was just over 100 pages.

If not totally unusual, Sebastian and Cody's meeting at the very least contains  some circumstances that could be considered a bit awkward, fortunately these two seem to have the wherewithal to handle whatever life throws their way without adding a lot of unnecessary drama.  Among the unusual is the fact that Sebastian seems to have known so little about the man he left home to be with and then there's he's skeevy landlord and his hulk of a neighbor...can we get a story about him please, Ms Samms. I just feel like he's got a good one to tell us.

Even though the relationship between them develops quickly what Sebastian and Cody share isn't a case of love-at-first-sight but more a case of necessity-dictates with a strong leaning towards more to come. 

Seb's just looking for somewhere safe to stay for a few days until he can get himself sorted out and living in one of the less desirable parts of town Cody feels like he'd be a whole lot safer with a  roommate. and what starts as two men each with problems that can easily be solved when they help each other effortlessly becomes a sweet and heartwarming story about finding a home in the most unlikely of places and what better time of year to finally find that home than Christmas. 

As I said back in the beginning of my review...I wish there was more but since that's not the case than I shall simply wish for the author to give us a follow up story about these to adorable men...if not before, then...there's always next Christmas!

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A copy of 'Model Christmas' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

A rash of murders seems to be linked to a peace promoting woman. Delia and Isadora get caught up in it along with Delia's new husband Gabe Ryan. The story is told alternating between the supernatural world of Delia and Gabe's mundane police investigation, the two are intertwined as usual and when one of the victims is a member of the Chinese community things get complicated with the involvement of a Chinese leader of the community with illicit ties and supernatural connections.

The kitten stole every scene she was in.

It seemed to run out of steam near the end and the mystery is tied up neatly but unsatisfactorily for me. Still I'd read more by this author.

Delia Martin is from early twentieth-century San Francisco and she has come back to help care for the woman who took her in when her parents died in the San Francisco fire.  She has always had ghosts as companions and originally she ran away to New York to escape their ever-presence, which disconcerted her.  Now she's back and there are more around and they seem to be related to the case her foster-sister's fiance is involved with. A serial killer who left for a while and seems to be back to prey on the extra people from the Exhibition that's in San Francisco this year.

It's that pre-war era that is quite interesting for a lot of writers and I liked it.  This is a cop drama with some supernatural elements that really appeals to me and keeps me reading.  There were moments where the pacing seemed uneven but overall it was an interesting read with people who cared for and about each other throughout.  I'm looking forward to more in this series.