Book Review: Christmas in Kilts ( A Highland Fairy Tale) by Bronwen Evans, Terri Brisbin, Lecia Cornwall, Lavinia Kent, and May McGoldrick

Christmas in Kilts ( A Highland Fairy Tale) by Bronwen Evans, Terri Brisbin, Lecia Cornwall, Lavinia Kent, and May McGoldrick is a fast and fun collection of historical, Scottish romances with holiday flare from five best selling authors. The stories include A HIGHLANDER'S HOPE by Terri Brisbin in which a village harlot who would never dream she could have a different life meets a Highlander visitor for the holidays who brings with him an offer and hope! Then there is LEFTOVER MISTLETOE by Lavinia Kent when readers discover what happens when a highlander finds himself stranded with an English lady around Christmas. Maybe the mistletoe will help answer that question. In A SCOT FOR CHRISTMAS by Bronwen Evans our main character is ready to embrace her life and future as a spinster while he is trying to have one last hurrah before he gives into his family's wishes and proposes marriage to his neighbor, but fate has other ideas when the lady and the Scot meet at a holiday house party in the wilds of Scotland. In SWEET HOME HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS by May McGoldrick a chance encounter between a ship's captain and a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her young niece leads to a little magic during the holidays. And in A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS WAGER by Lecia Cornwall a snowstorm forces a charming lass hiding a broken heart to take shelter in a castle with three fine Highland lairds just days before Christmas, there’s a game afoot, who will be the first to win a kiss and maybe her heart.

Christmas in Kilts is a collection of fast and fun reads. I like that I had a chance to explore writing by some authors that I had not read before, and a couple that I have. At no point did any of the stories or characters feel underdeveloped, or like I was missing something vital. Unfortunately that is a common flaw in this sort of collection, and I was glad to see it avoided here. While I did enjoy some of the stories more than others, Sweet Home Highland Christmas and A Scot For Christmas being my stand out favorites, there were none that would convince me not to try reading other things by the included authors. This is a great romance collection for those that enjoy the Scottish, historical romances, and want to try new authors without the commitment of a new series to follow.

Christmas in Kilts is a fun read for fans of historical fiction with a Scottish leaning. Fans of these authors will definitely want to pick it up, and those that have heard of the authors but have yet to dive into their work can use this as a fun, and enjoyable, way to test the waters. As always with collection, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but this time around there were none that I would have wanted to miss. 

Book Review: The Santa Thief by Alane Adams, Lauren Gallegos

The Santa Thief is a picturebook written by Alane Adams and illustrated by Lauren Gallegos.  It's winter in Girard, Pennsylvania and the pond is completely frozen over--ready for a young boy to go skating!--but Georgie's ice skates are too small. All Georgie wants for Christmas is a new pair of skates. But times are tough in 1920s Pennsylvania, and he gets the disappointing news Santa might not come this year. Follow Georgie as he decides to take matters into his own hands and steals Santa's identity--and discovers what Christmas is all about. 

The Santa Thief is a Christmas tale with illustrations reminiscent of The Christmas Carol and other classics. I like that Georgie made his own Christmas joy by doing something positive for his family when he had earlier only been disappointed. It was nice that in the end his parents were able to get him the skates, while still showing that it was by working hard and saving rather than Santa that he got what he really wanted. I am not sure that parents trying to keep Santa's magic alive will want to share this read, and I have no idea why Thief was in the title. However, those trying to instill a little respect for hard work, charity, and the importance of thoughtfulness in gift giving might want to give this book a read.

Book Review: White Christmas by Rebecca York

White Christmas by Rebecca York is a novella with paranormal; aspects and abundant holiday cheer. The snow is coming down so fast, Amelia Parsons doesn't see the speeding car until it's too late. One moment she’s crossing an ice-rutted street in St. Stephens, Maryland. In the next, she's flying into the air, and the world goes black. She wakes, confused, in what appears to be Santa’s workshop during the holiday rush. If that’s not strange enough, a hunky FBI agent named Daniel is there, demanding to know why she’s involved in a plot to ruin Christmas. Can she convince him she's not the villain and then work with him to find the real saboteur?

White Christmas is a short story, which means need to happen quickly. Amelia is not allowed to freak about about the existence of Santa and all the trappings when she wakes up in the North Pole after getting hit by a car. The mystery of who is sabotaging the workshop is dealt with fairly quickly- though the why is never really answered for me. Similarly how Daniel ended up on assignment there, and how Amelia lands there, and how things all come together in the end, are equally glossed over. Sadly I felt like the attraction between Amelia and Daniel was weak, and their coming together did not feel real or right to me. I don't know. I was prepared to really love it, even if I waited to after Christmas to get around to it, but it was not what I was looking for. I expect much more character and relationship development from York, even in a novella.

Early Book Review: The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on October 11 2016.  Santa has a problem. This kid? Harold? Santa doesn't think he's real. He WANTS to believe in Harold--after all, Harold is one of the most magical parts of Christmas.  But Santa's just not sure. Some of his friends are telling him they think Harold's not real. And the Harold that sat on his knee last Christmas looked AWFULLY different. Santa comes up with a plan to find out once and for all if Harold really exists, with hilarious consequences.

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold handles the questions many children face when they start hearing whispers of the more magical parts of childhood being less than real. Classmates, siblings, cousins, television shows and any number of sources could have a child wondering if Santa and the other magical forces that inhabit childhood are real. By twisting the narrative so that it is Santa not fully believing in a particular child makes the story fun and more engaging to young readers. I think this is a fun and helpful read for families wanting to keep the belief alive a little longer. 

The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold is a delightful picture book for dealing with declining faith in the wonders of Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the like. A wonderful read for families and particularly children that still want to believe. 

Book Review: The Toothless Fairy by Timothy Jordan

The Toothless Fairy is a picture book by Timothy Jordan. Every parent knows the problem – Halloween is over, but the issue of how to handle too much candy has just begun. The question of what to do with an excess of sweets each November 1 provided the inspiration for the book. Conceived by Skeeter Buck and written by Timothy Jordan, the story allows parents and caregivers to explore with their children feelings of being different, the importance of friendship, how to share and care, and even how to create a new family tradition, all while reveling in the magic of Halloween.

The Toothless Fairy is a picture book that might be useful to parents trying to get rid of Halloween candy that might be overflowing in their home, by introducing a new tradition. I was distracted by the formatting issues that were part of my digital galley (which I assume were fixed before the final release). I was not overly fond of the artwork, it looked like the cgi cartoons that drive me crazy, but that is my personal preference rather than anything that might bother other readers. I read through the book a few times, and thought the intent and ideas were good. I was just not a fan of the execution. Others might be more willing to add another mystical creature and tradition to their home, and this could be the perfect book for them, it just did nothing for me.

Book Review: Light Love Rituals: Bulgarian Myths, Legends, and Folklore by Ronesa Aveela

Light Love Rituals: Bulgarian Myths, Legends, and Folklore by Ronesa Aveela is a book that explores Bulgarian myths, legends, folklore, and mythology. Whether you want to learn a little about their ancient Thracian origins, or you want to experience rituals practiced throughout the year with a fictitious Bulgarian family, or even if you’re only interested in traditional Bulgarian cuisine, this book has a little something for everyone.

Light Love Rituals: Bulgarian Myths, Legends, and Folklore was a very interesting read. I love learning about legends and cultures that are new to me, or are slightly different than what I had previously explored. Bulgarian culture is rich in folklore and traditions surviving since the days of the ancient Thracians. As pagan and Christian religions collided, many celebrations merged into one. This book helps readers discover and explore the details of these unique festivals while keeping it interesting for readers of all ages. The book is divided into sections for each of the four seasons with activities and a short quiz for each. It was an interesting and engaging read that would appeal to many.

Light Love Rituals: Bulgarian Myths, Legends, and Folklore is a solid reference and research source for those interested in different cultures, particularly the development of Bulgarian rituals and recipes. 

Picture Books Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas: Holiday Books for Fostering Understanding

Every child likes to read about people that celebrate the same holidays that they do and stories surrounding those holidays. It is also important for children to learn about religions and cultures that differ from their own in order to foster understanding and acceptance for those that might otherwise be labels as different or teased. It is great for children in multi denominational families, or with close friends or family that celebrate differently, to see children like them in stories. The comparisons of celebration, meshing of cultures, and acceptance of all people are very important lessons for children and adults alike. These picture books are all about those that celebrate, take part in, or are curious about more than one kind of holiday celebration come December.

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco is the story of a childhood memory and true friendship. Trisha loves Hanukkah, because that is when her mother stays home from work, her Grampa carves wonderful animals out of wood as gifts, and her Babushka makes potato latkes. In the midst of her family's holiday Trisha visits her closest neighbors, thinking that she will find them find them decorating their home for Christmas. Instead they are all very ill, suffering from scarlet fever. Trisha's family is lucky; they have been spared from the epidemic. Trisha's family has a hard time celebrating when they know that their neighbors, their friends, are so ill. But Grampa has a wonderful idea. They will cut down, decorate, and secretly deliver Christmas trees to the neighbors. Trisha and her brother sacrifice the carved animals they were to receive as gifts in order to decorate the trees and do a good deed for their neighbors. 

My Two Holidays: A Hanukkah and Christmas Story by Danielle Novack and Phyllis Harris offers some discussion and explanation about how some families celebrate different holidays, or even two holidays instead of one. At school, Sam's classmates discuss which holiday they celebrate in December. Sam gets very nervous, because in his family they celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. No child likes feeling different, and this is a great book for starting a classroom discussion or helping a child in a similar situation feel more at ease.

Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Christmas by Michael J. Rosen and Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson (Illustrator) is based on the life of the real Elijah Pierce. He was a lay minister, barber, and woodcarver that lived in Ohio. Pierces woodcarvings are currently owned by the Columbus Museum of Art. The story is a heartwarming tale of one child's acceptance of others. A young Jewish child, nine-year-old Micheal, becomes friends with an elderly African American barber, Elijah, who makes elaborate woodcarvings in his free time. A number of the woodcarvings are biblical, since the barber is a devote Christian. Michael admires the woodcarvings, and in one day of overlapping holiday celebrations Elijah gifts Michael a carving of a guardian angel. Michael is worried that the wonderful carving might go against his own faith, and he comes to learn that friendship and gestures of love can come home with you and rise above the differences in belief. The artwork features thick sweeps of paint and wood-tones, which creates the feel of the characters being carved from wood themselves. 

Light The Lights! A Story About Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman focuses on a household's happy celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas. The title gives a good idea of the motif used throughout the book to tie the two celebrations together. The menorah candles glow brightly in Emma's house during the Jewish holiday; then lights glow nicely on her family's Christmas tree. While the family's celebrations are depicted as purely secular, Emma's response to everything in both celebrations is innocent wonder and delight. The images in the book are bright and unpretentious. There is no mention of the backgrounds of either holiday, and the concentration on the secular might bother some, but might make it more acceptable in a public school setting.

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohn and Bill Farnsworth is based on a true story. In Billings, Montana, a rock is thrown through a boy's bedroom window which was decorated by a menorah. Isaac, the victim, is afraid to return the menorah to his window. His mother takes action and reports the crime to the police and talks on television and at a meeting to discuss the indecent and to encourage the community to take a stand against intolerance and bigotry. Stories about Danish people assisting Jewish neighbors during World War II inspire the community and people in the town, regardless of their own religion, display menorahs in their own windows. After a schoolmate shows support Isaac his support, Isaac is able to take his own stand and return his menorah to its rightful place. The images in the book are soft-focus, realistic oil paintings which dramatize the story and give the characters personality. This is a great book for discussing tolerance. It would also be useful in starting a discussion about acceptance, personal strength, the power that can be found in community, or the existence of hate crimes.

Other book suggestions include; Yesterday's Santa and the Chanukah Miracle by Sarah Hartt-Snowbell and Patty Gallinger, A Christmas Chanukah Wish by Irene Buggy, Valerie A Lepore-Ney and Ileana Nadal, and A Chanukah Noel by Sharon Jennings and Gillian Newland. 

Early Book Review: A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas by Kim Redford

A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas is the first book in the Smokin’ Hot Cowboys series by Kim Redford. It is currently scheduled for release on October 6 2015. Trey Duvall, a rancher and local firefighter, is out of luck. His ranch has suffered from several 'accidental' fires and there is no explanation in sight. All he wants for the upcoming holiday is to get to the bottom of this mystery, but what he gets instead is hotter than any ranch fire when he meets city-girl Misty Reynolds. Misty is there to investigate the fires as well, but for another party. Neither are looking forward to Christmas, but they just might find some real holiday joy. 

A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas is a fun and suspenseful read. We meet the two main characters in a fast and intense battle against a fire, and readers quickly get to feel like they know them. I really liked the characters, and that they were both very dynamic. Misty has some serious issues surrounding fire and Christmas, so she is struggling from the get go as she comes to a small town to discover who might be setting fires on her client's property. Trey is a victim of the far too frequent fires, and happens to be one of the local volunteer firefighters. He is not only working to protect the safety and property of his neighbors, but his own family's ranch as well. There are several suspicious characters and lots of fun romance to be had. A page turn and great read for a cold autumn or winter night. 

A Cowboy Firefighter for Christmas is a highly entertaining read. I found myself invested in both the main characters, as well as the entire town. This was a great first book for a new series and I am looking forward to seeing who is next up to find romance. 

Cover Reveal: Hark: A Christmas Collection By Justin Bog

Hark: A Christmas Collection By Justin Bog

Book Description:

A beautifully written collection of short stories from critically acclaimed Pacific Northwest writer Justin Bog, Hark explores the range of emotions surrounding the holidays. From melancholy to madness, loss and despair to hope and forgiveness, these six tales shimmer with feelings, some we'd rather stuff away, that Christmas can evoke.

Set in colorful locations around the United States, from Anacortes, Washington, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Sun Valley, Idaho, each tale focuses on people who struggle to make good choices, learn lessons, and maybe even find peace during the holiday season.

A bonus story, Poseidon Eyes, from Booktrope's upcoming reissue of Sandcastle and Other Stories; The Complete Edition, is included.

Add Hark: A Christmas Collection to your Goodreads Want To Read list: http://bit.ly/1A2jyoe