Tome Thursday: A Baby for Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's choice of book review which, I'll be honest, I was skeptical about going in.

 

Then again, it's been a while since I could read a holiday-themed romance and feel like it actually hit all the right beats, you get what I'm saying?

 

But this one was good.

 

Actually, this one was kind of GOLD, rather than just good.

 

Which means my hope in all of these has been restored, at least for the time being!

 

So make sure you've got your favourite drink and/or snack ready, cozy up under a fluffy blanket in your favourite reading spot, and pick this one up so you can bring some holiday cheer into your life.

 

Even if only for a moment.

 

Because nothing says Christmas more than a couple lonely hearts finding their happily ever after, like in A Baby for Christmas.

 

Tome Thursday: The Christmas Deal

 

Hello everyone!

 

Yes, finally, we'll have the entire series here on the blog, as it should have been all along.

 

And ironically, I kind of did the reviews backwards a little bit, seeing as last week's book was the current - and thus far LAST - book in the series.

 

BUT that said, we've now become the ultimate Pokemon trainers and caught them all!

 

Ha.

 

Of course this is also the spot where I learn it really is the way Miss Andrews writes her twenty-somethings that apparently doesn't sit well with me anymore, but that's beside the point, because I'm also rather sure that I've read some of her books with twenty-somethings and LIKED them.

 

I digress, and I'm rambling.

 

So without further ado, let's take a look at how it all started, shall we? In a nifty little book that's only about two hundred pages long, titled The Christmas Deal.

 

Tome Thursday: The Christmas Veto

 

Hello everyone!

 

And welcome to the next installment in our Christmas book review saga, which has unfortunately rather missed its mark.

Ah well, there's bound to be some, when you read as many holiday-themed books as I do!

I'm not too fussed about it, but I'm minorly disappointed, because I tend to enjoy books by this particular author for the most part.

It just feels like something's missing in this one.

Interestingly, I've also noticed that I'm missing the very first in this little grouping of hers, so I may go back and read it again to put it on here, finally, and have the full collection that way.

That sounds like fun, doesn't it? Especially since I DO have book numero due while I'm at it.

My logic is impeccable, obviously.

Without further ado, however, let's dive right into The Christmas Veto, by Keira Andrews.

Tome Thursday: Lumberjack under the Tree

 

Hello everyone!

 

And welcome to the last book review of 2022.

 

That's right, we're headed into 2023 at full-tilt now, which means that we're only about one blog post away from completely wrapping up.

 

So I picked what I hope is a good one.

 

At least, I liked it!

 

Which is saying something given I can be the world's harshest critic sometimes, even if I like the other books written by the same author.

 

But that's beside the point.

 

Thing is, I wanted a do-over from the book I DID pick from Keira Andrews for this holiday season, which I didn't love as much as I hoped to. I was cautiously optimistic about her novella, however.

 

And boy, did it turn out to be more than just alright!

 

Lumberjack under the Tree brings all the holly jolly you may have missed, plus more.

 

Tome Thursday: The Christmas Leap

 

Hello everyone!

 

This feels like it's a bit of a trend now, if I'm being completely honest.

 

And it probably is!

 

I mean, thus far, we've been surprised and excited by a Christmas-themed book every year for several consecutive years in a row when it comes to Keira Andrews.

 

Is it any surprise whatsoever that there would be ANOTHER one this year?

 

AND the promise of what's hopefully going to be a new one in 2023, too!

 

But I'm starting to just meander without purpose.

 

Keira Andrews was probably the first gay romance author I ever stumbled upon when I was trying to find books that I'd thoroughly enjoy in that particular genre.

 

I've since read quite a few, potentially all of them from her, but I'd have to double check.

 

The Christmas Leap is a sequel to another one of her works, and I'll be telling you all about it down below.

 

Tome Thursday: In Step

 

Hello everyone!

 

I have a really, REALLY good book for you this week, and I'm not just saying it.

 

A while ago I ran into a blurb telling me about a book that was GOING to be released sometime in early 2022, and I added it to my 'to be read' list on Goodreads.

 

Turns out, I'd been right to do so.

 

I've had a soft spot for same-sex romance books since I discovered that they even exist, because a lot of the time, the tropes that have become so incredibly boring and over-written in heterosexual romances take on a new life when it's two men or two women.

 

I don't know what it is!

 

This one tonight isn't exactly outdated, it's just a really clever one, but it's DEFINITELY worth the time and the read. I think I managed in about three sittings, and each sitting I found something to bawl my eyes out over.

 

No joke.

 

So without further ado: In Step. Because everybody needs a little dance in their life.

 

Tome Thursday: Cold War, pt 2

 

Hello everyone!

 

And here we are as February draws to a close, with the second half of a review that we began last week.

 

Have you enjoyed the book? I hope you have!

 

See here's the thing, as far as I can understand it: it was originally published as a duology but then edited and re-published as one single book written in two parts, which actually works in its favour, come to think of it.

 

Ms Andrews has released an actual duology earlier this year, but the problem there was that the second book certainly suffered from the fact that it was second.

 

It would have maybe been better if it had also been done like this one in the past.

 

But I don't claim to be an expert and certainly not on publishing methods, nor writing! In any event, I enjoy Ms Andrews' writing regardless, and so here we are.

 

Let's head back into the world of figure skating for another week, shall we?

 

Cold War is up, for a second time - and has nothing whatsoever to do with real life situations right now.

 

Tome Thursday: Cold War, pt 1

 

Hello everyone!

 

Now I'm not reviewing this particular book - or part one of the book - because of anything that's happened at this year's Winter Olympics, because I haven't really been paying attention to the games.

 

Well, at least to the ice skating portion of it. I did watch the ski jumping, or some of it.

 

But for the rest I really haven't even lost sleep over what has or has not gone down, so don't mistake this for anything other but me enjoying a good book.

 

See it's come to my attention that, despite the fact I say I've read most of Keira Andrews' published works, I actually haven't.

 

There's a BUNCH of them I still need to either pick up or finish, and it's just so much fun to explore, I'll be honest with you guys! Because Ms Andrews tends to write some of the best contemporary fiction I've had the privilege to read.

 

Tonight's book, or the first part of it really, is no exception, so why don't we stop dropping hints and whatnot and simply get right into it?

 

It's titled Cold War, and you'll figure out the reasons VERY quickly!

 

Tome Thursday: Kiss and Cry

 

Hello everyone!

 

Are you surprised?

 

No one should be surprised. I tend to be like a bloodhound on a scent whenever Keira Andrews releases a new book!

 

Which was exactly what happened this week.

 

If you've been following this blog for a while then you'll know that I pretty much have Anderson books galore in review on here, and I'm STILL not finished, because I keep finding more that I haven't picked up yet.

 

However, as I was reading her latest holiday-inspired one, I was very much aware that it would lend itself very well to a sequel, which means that I was super stoked when the author actually announced one!

 

I mean, come on. When you have characters that seem to just pop off the page in a way that makes it impossible to ignore them, what else are you going to do but write their story, correct?

 

I know. Absolutely correct.

 

So lace up those skates and let's head on into Kiss and Cry, shall we?

 

Tome Thursday: Eight Nights in December

 

Hello everyone!

 

So going through my Christmas blog posts, I realized that I seem to be missing things, specifically holiday-related, and especially from one of my favourite authors.

 

This is, as the Grinch would say, an audacity!

 

I've somehow missed one or two holiday books by Keira Andrews, despite the fact I've done reviews during separate years where ALL I've focused on were her books.

 

It's a mystery how this happened!

 

But as I like to occasionally dig through and pull out stuff I haven't poked at yet, this year seems to be the catch-up kind of year.

 

I may not have done Booktober BUT my goodness, I'll be doing these Christmas ones right!

 

So without further ado, let's have a look at a really cute novella, shall we?

 

Eight Nights in December is absolutely adorable.

 

Tome Thursday: Only One Bed

 

Hello everyone!

 

You knew this was coming. You HAD to have known this was going to happen!

 

Keira Andrews releases a new holiday-flavoured romance every single holiday season, and if you ever thought I wouldn't be reviewing them ... well, you've gotten up on the very wrong side of the bed haha.

 

I'm pretty sure that I've covered almost all of them thus far, though of course I may be wrong and have missed one or two, which if I have, I'll just have to remedy at some point, no problem.

 

News of this year's found its way to me at the best possible time when I needed the extra distraction, and as always, it did not disappoint at all.

 

As far as I'm concerned, if you want fluffy, happy, merry holiday reads, Ms Andrews should be your go-to!

 

Also included are some steamy moments and all the happily ever afters you could possibly want.

 

So without further ado, let's not waste any more time, shall we?

 

Because Only One Bed is up, and man, it's a good one!

 

Tome Thursday: The Barbarian's Vow

 

Hello everyone!

 

This is the last pre-Christmas book-related blog post that I'll be doing this calendar year, as next week begins the extravaganza that is running up until the holidays are over!

And as I promised you guys last week, it's time to wrap up the duology we started then.

Keira Andrews has ALSO promised another holiday romance coming around this time next week as well, so I'm pretty excited about that, I always am about the themed books she writes, because I normally fall in love with her characters and plots pretty easily.

I did with the Barbarian too, at least in the first book.

But I will warn you - and this is only fair - that I wasn't as enamored with this second one as I was with the first, and it'll probably show in the review.

Nothing against the writing (which is still superb), and everything against how the plot turns out, sadly! However I will say I enjoyed aspects of it, and at the very least there is a HEA in here as well.

So without further ado, let's just get right into it, shall we? The Barbarian's Vow has been waiting all week, after all.

Tome Thursday: Wed to the Barbarian

 

Hello everyone!

 

It's been a little bit since the last time I reviewed a book by Keira Andrews, and I'm super happy to be able to say tonight is the night again.

 

I accidentally stumbled across Ms Andrews's work when I was looking for something new and exciting to read, and since then, I've probably gone through most of her written works, if you ask me, though I don't think I have them all reviewed.

 

But every once in a while, usually before or around Christmas time, I do get back to it at least.

 

Tonight's book isn't exactly holiday-related - that one's coming in December! - but it IS amusing nonetheless.

 

You know how you always read stories about barbarians (usually Scottish) who come to sit on a council or whatever or they have to be appeased somehow, and the only solution everyone can think of is marrying one of them to one of their delicate ladies?

Well, this is about the same story, only it's a turnaround into gay romance.

Wed to the Barbarian, here we go!

Tome Thursday: Merry Cherry Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

We made it.

 

Against practically all odds this 2020 year, we DEFINITELY made it through to the end. Some more, some less successfully, but at least it's now almost over and we can begin to look forward to 2021. I plan on watching The Lord of the Rings and just going to bed early, I think.

 

Hopefully you all stay safe and healthy and have a love-filled evening!

 

In the meantime, we are wrapping up this blog season with the last Christmas blog.

 

Luckily for me when it comes to these things, Keira Andrews has published a new Christmas romance practically every year for the last few years, which means there is always one to look forward to, and 2020 was no exception.

 

This one might have been even better because of the general situation, if you ask me.

 

But if you're looking for some wholesome, M/M romance with reasonable characters, cuteness overload, some steamy scenes and a happily ever after, then she's ABSOLUTELY the one to read.

 

Merry Cherry Christmas is just another in a long list that keeps on giving.

 

Tome Thursday: Flash Rip

Hello everyone!

When in doubt, always turn to an author you KNOW writes well.

I have a number of contemporary romance authors I turn to when I need something to pass the time with, or just a pick-me-up after having a bad day.

One of them is Keira Andrews.

I stumbled across her work completely at random, and I didn't even really start reading right away, but once I did, you can bet that I was hunting down any and all available books by this particular author.

I think I've reviewed a bunch of them here on the blog already.

In any event, she just published her newest romance, and wouldn't you know it but it coincided rather perfectly with me wrapping up Booktober and starting regular reviews again?

Grab your surfboards, everyone, because it's time for Flash Rip.

Tome Thursday: Santa Daddy

Hello everyone!

And here we are with our final Christmas-themed book review!

Although to be fair, I'll probably be recapping and talking about some other holiday-related books, but for the time being the four-week episode of picking one author and working my way through her seasonal stories has come to an end.

Of course I have to go out with a bang, at least book-wise.

I saved this years holiday novella for last, even though I pretty much read it first.

Keira Andrews certainly has a way with words though and I highly recommend any and all of her books if you haven't read any of them yet.

Me personally, I still have a soft spot for Valor on the Move, but I feel like that's probably because it includes the Secret Service.

Anyway, let's dive right into Santa Daddy, shall we?

Tome Thursday: If Only in My Dreams

Hello everyone!

Time for book three in our countdown to Christmas (and to the end of December as well) and can we just say how fast time flies, again??

Like, didn't December just start last week or something?

How is it almost Christmas already?!

But okay, fine, Christmas is almost here for us and it's time to write another blog post about a book.

When it comes to this one, bear with me a little please, because sadly I had no time to read it again yet and so I'm punching it out of my brain from memory.

Hopefully I got the gist of it right!

Although I mean, it's not rocket science.

It's happily If Only in my Dreams, by Keira Andrews.

Tome Thursday: Where the Lovelight Gleams

Hello everyone!

It's time for my second book blog in this Christmas themed blogging experience, and as I've already said I'm taking four books of the same author this year and putting them up one by one, though not perhaps in the sequence I read them in.

I mean, to be fair, a lot of these are short, sexysweet and to the point, which means I don't need that much time to read them anyway.

And that's okay!

I love the fact that you don't have to spend weeks gnawing through thousands of pages, even though I will happily do just that if the proper book occasion calls for it. But when it's about Christmas stories, it kind of makes much more sense that you'd go through them fast and easy and with a sharp staccato beat that makes you smile.

Keira Andrews doesn't usually disappoint in her delivery of humour, romance, and sexy times, so chances are any book of hers you pick up will be worth your while.

So why don't we start talking about Where the Lovelight Gleams?

Tome Thursday: In Case of Emergency

Hello everyone!

As you may have gathered, just as I'm doing Hallmark Christmas movie reviews for my Tuesday blog posts, I will be doing a series of them for my book ones as well.

Last season, I picked Serenity Woods as my holiday author of choice.

This year, while I still have a few left by Ms Woods to get through, I chose someone else.

Keira Andrews is one of those writers I always pick up when I'm feeling a bit down and need some extra cheer, because not only are her character relatable, she also delivers guaranteed happy endings. So what more could you want from a book?

For these four weeks leading up to Christmas I'll be reading and reviewing her holiday-themed romances, though of course four blog posts is hardly enough time to get through them all.

I'll just do the four that I grabbed before holidays started.

And no, I'm not starting with her latest one, either. I think I'll leave that for next week. For this week, let's go with In Case of Emergency.

Tome Thursday: Test of Valor

Hello everyone!

Time for another book blog, and I once again reached for an author who writes stories that are very near and dear to my heart.

I mean, I never actually thought I'd see the day when I enjoy reading about gay romance, but there you have it, surprises happen everywhere and at any time!

Of course this book is probably not as high on my list as some of her others, but that doesn't mean it wasn't an enjoyable read. I tend to go through her reading material very, very quickly, which does obviously mean I need to occasionally re-read things before new releases happen.

In any event, however, this one was a first read.

It IS a sequel though, so obviously if you want to read this as a stand-alone, you can, but it'll make a lot more sense if you read the first book before it.

I'm talking about Test of Valor.