Release Day! Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey ~ My Thoughts #ChristmasInPeachtreeBluff #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!!

Congrats Kristy

on the release of

Christmas in Peachtree Bluff!

Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Series: Peachtree Bluff #4

Christmas, Fiction, 368 pages

Published October 26, 2021 by Gallery Books

In the newest installment of New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey’​s Peachtree Bluff series, three generations of the Murphy women must come together when a hurricane threatens to destroy their hometown—and the holiday season in the process.

When the Murphy women are in trouble, they always know they can turn to their mother, Ansley. So when eldest daughter Caroline and her husband, James, announce they are divorcing—and fifteen-year-old daughter Vivi acts out in response—Caroline, at her wits end, can’t think of anything to do besides leave her with Ansley in Peachtree Bluff for the holidays. After all, how much trouble can one teenager get into on a tiny island?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

As the “storm of the century” heads toward Peachtree Bluff, Ansley and her husband, Jack, with Vivi in tow, are grateful they’re planning to leave for the trip of a lifetime. But Vivi’s recklessness forces the trio to shelter in place during the worst hurricane Peachtree has ever seen. With no power, no provisions, and the water rising, the circumstances become dire very quickly…and the Murphy sisters, who evacuated to New York, soon realize it’s up to them to conduct a rescue mission. With the bridges closed and no way to access Peachtree Bluff by land or air, they set sail on Caroline’s boat, The Starlite Sisters, determined to rebuild their beloved town—as well as their family.

In “pitch perfect tones” (Publishers Weekly) and written with her signature Southern charm, New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey explores the magic of Christmas, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family in a tale that reminds us that, no matter the circumstances, home is always where we belong—especially during the holidays.

My thoughts about Christmas in Peachtree Bluff ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"For magazines and travel guides, globe-trotting Instagrammers and hotel reviewers, Peachtree Bluff, Georgia, was a beach destination best enjoyed during the heat of summer."

I absolutely love, love, love the Peachtree Bluff series. And I love reading Christmas holiday books this time of year. Well, Kristy has combined two of my biggest bookish loves into a fabulous Christmas story centered around the Murphy family—a family I became enamored with from the very first book in this series.  

There is plenty of drama in Peachtree Bluff as a hurricane is making it way inland and everyone is being asked to evacuate. Not everyone is able to leave and those who end up having to stay spend several intense days getting through the worst of it. The Murphy family pulls together once again, supporting each other the best that they can, even though its not always easy. So much drama, so much love. 

I also loved all the holiday traditions that are such a big part of Peachtree Bluff. Even after the "storm of the century" threatens their beautiful town, everyone pulls together to celebrate and keep all of those age-old traditions alive. That was such a wonderful part of the story and made me wish I could be there for all of the celebrating. It filled me with such joy! 

Christmas in Peachtree Bluff is a story that I highly recommend! If you love Southern fiction then this would be perfect for you. This whole series is amazing. And then, if you also love reading Christmas stories, this is a definite must-read. It combines both of those elements exquisitely!

Thank you to Kristy Woodson Harvey and NetGalley for the ARC of Christmas in Peachtree Bluff. This is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, and The Peachtree Bluff series. A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry. 

Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her work has been optioned for film and television, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Parade’s Big Fiction Reads, and Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks. Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. 

She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel. ~ Amazon

Connect with Kristy

BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Release Day! On My Terms by Ashley Farley ~ My Thoughts #OnMyTerms

 Happy Release Day!!

Congrats Ashley

on the release of

On My Terms!

On My Terms by Ashley Farley

Mystery Romance, 214 pages

Published October 26, 2021 by AHF Publishing

Jolie Hogan likes coffee black, panties lacy, and tequila neat. She’s a cop, turned journalist, turned private investigator. People say she’s ballsy. Truth is, her courage is a recklessness that stems from her troubled past.

Jolie is currently in a mess of trouble. She’s been set up for murder by a powerful criminal attorney. The murder victims are the attorney’s wife and Jolie’s husband, Lucas. Jolie will do whatever it takes to clear her name. Including selling her soul to the devil. In Jolie’s case, the devil is a wickedly hot detective who brings the past back to haunt her.

My thoughts about On My Terms ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Rain pounds the roof of my parked car as I watch for activity at the two-story brick home across the street. A bolt of lightning brightens the night sky, illuminating the other stately homes on the block."

This story grabbed me from the first chapter! There was a lot going on and I immediately got drawn into the drama. And being familiar with Ashley's storytelling, I knew this was going to be a story that would be full of memorable characters, plenty of emotion, and tons of wonderfulness. I was not disappointed. 

Jolie goes through so much, right from the get-go and as things escalate, she learns who has her back, who she can trust... and who is out to get her. There were some heart wrenching scenes but those were balanced out with plenty of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It was beautiful watching the people who loved Jolie gather around her when she needed them the most. 

On My Terms is very different from Ashley's usual writings—more action and suspense—but I love the way she told the story and the direction she took with it. I have loved all of Ashley's stories and this is now one of my favorites. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Ashley Farley the ARC of On My Terms. This is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com ~ Goodreads

Connect with Ashley

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? October 25, 2021 #IMWAYR

        

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

Everything We Didn't Say

Nicole Baart

Pub date November 2

Never Say Sever in Deadwood

(Deadwood #12)

Ann Charles

Narrated by Caroline Shaffer

I love this series!

What I recently finished

The Map of True Places

Salem #2

Brunonia Barry

Heard It in a Love Song

Tracey Garvis Graves

Pub date November 2

What I am going to read next

Cold Kiss

Cold Kiss #1

Amy Garvey

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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This OR That #Giveaway Week 34 ~ The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo OR The Forbidden Garden Ellen Herrick #TheRootsOfTheOliveTree #TheForbiddenGarden

 

I have sooooo many books! 

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves and to share some of the many books I have. It's a way for me to cull my collection and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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The Roots of the Olive Tree

Courtney Miller Santo

Paperback ~ Pub date August2012

Set in a house on an olive grove in northern California, The Roots of the Olive Tree is a beautiful, touching story that brings to life five generations of women--including an unforgettable 112 year-old matriarch determined to break all Guinness longevity records--the secrets and lies that divide them and the love that ultimately ties them together.

I loved this story!

Read my thoughts here

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The Forbidden Garden

Ellen Herrick

Paperback ~ Pub date April 2017

Every garden is a story, waiting to be told…

At the nursery she runs with her sisters on the New England coast, Sorrel Sparrow has honed her rare gift for nurturing plants and flowers. Now that reputation, and a stroke of good timing, lands Sorrel an unexpected opportunity: reviving a long-dormant Shakespearean garden on an English country estate.

Arriving at Kirkwood Hall, ancestral home of Sir Graham Kirkwood and his wife Stella, Sorrel is shocked by the desolate state of the walled garden. Generations have tried—and failed—to bring it back to glory. Sorrel senses heartbreak and betrayal here, perhaps even enchantment. Intrigued by the house’s history—especially the haunting tapestries that grace its walls—and increasingly drawn to Stella’s enigmatic brother, Sorrel sets to work. And though she knows her true home is across the sea with her sisters, instinct tells her that the English garden’s destiny is entwined with her own, if she can only unravel its secrets.

Another great read!

Read my thoughts here

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Release Day! The Truth About Elves by Ekta R. Garg ~ My Thoughts #TheTruthAboutElves #NetGalley

 Happy Release Day!!

Congrats Ekta

on the release of

The Truth About Elves!

The Truth About Elves by Ekta R. Garg

Holiday Fiction, 126 pages

Published October 19, 2021 by Atmosphere Press

As a bartender in Las Vegas, Curtis seems to have the dream life. He’s single, lives close to the Strip, and only has to worry about when to pick up the next extra shift. No one knows the truth about what happened ten years ago, and no one knows how he spends three months every year: as a part-time elf for Santa Claus.

When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.

If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.

My thoughts about The Truth About Elves ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Prerna rubbed her hands together as she hurried down the long hallway outside Mr. C's office. Glad to be out of the cold, she brushed a few snowflakes from her shoulders then unlocked the door to the waiting room and went outside."

I love reading holiday stories, especially those that give me an insider's glimpse at the behind-the-scene world of Santa, his elves, and the North Pole. It all seems so magical to me. 

The Truth About Elves offers a peek at the troubled life of Curtis, a bartender in Vegas for nine months out of the year and an elf for Santa the other three. Who knew elfing could be a part-time gig? Curtis has some issues to work through but with the help of some Santa magic, things just might work out. 

This is a delightful little story that offered me a little escape for a few hours as I soaked up the wonders of the North Pole and the ever wonderous world and characters surrounding Santa Claus. I highly recommend The Truth About Elves and hope that you take a little time out of your busy schedule this season to enjoy some holiday magic 

I received an ARC of The Truth About Elves via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Following the completion of her MSJ in magazine publishing from Northwestern University, Ekta’s career in publishing started in 2005 when she became the editor for all special projects out of Community Newspapers, Inc., (now Pamplin Media Group) in Portland, Oregon. Since then she’s enjoyed a tremendous amount of diversity in her career, freelance writing and editing about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films. In 2010, as the mother to two young children, Ekta added blogging to her resume by starting The Write Edge at http://thewriteedge.wordpress.com. The blog, and its three extension blogs, gives her a place to share her short fiction, book reviews, and parenting adventures.

As a book reviewer for Bookpleasures.com and Netgalley.com, Ekta gets to stay up way too late reading advanced reviewer copies of new adventures by experienced and upcoming authors alike. She also uses The Write Edge as a dynamic communication tool for those interested in hiring her as an editor for their writing projects. She’s met many talented people along the way in the incredible opportunities she’s received to edit short stories, memoirs, how-to books, anthologies, and (her first love) novels.

When not writing and editing, Ekta spends time with friends (the ones other people can see) and ponders just how she came to be so blessed by a husband who loves her and by two beautiful daughters who astound her on a regular basis. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Ekta

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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