Mistletoe Moments ~ The Close #5

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

Synopsis:  You are invited to spend CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE where each of the neighbors are celebrating in their own special way.

Veronica and Owen are looking forward to a happy Christmas on The Close with their friends and neighbors. Their son Travis, is due to take some important exams, but will he be able to concentrate when a serious crush derails his schedule?

As their fortieth birthday approaches, some significant celebrations will be required, but how can Veronica agree to Owen's life-changing request?

The fifth standalone episode of "Christmas on The Close" shows how sharing a treasured life with someone does not necessarily result in sharing the same treasured dreams.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Fast read that will get you ready for the holidays (which are right around the corner).  This is a standalone book, however, it is such a quick read, so why not read books 1 - 4 of The Close beforehand?  

Lots of activities and "issues" are covered and solved in this very short novel, which I appreciated.  I don't like it when books have to add "fluff" to get to a page count.  Likable characters, even though I felt bad for Travis.....to be a teen again!

I will be checking out the rest of the series so I can peak into all the other neighbors' lives!

Stephanie Wood writes contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories and her books explore a wide range of life’s challenges, dreams and responsibilities. The stories are all character based, so she has fun expressing each unique personality and the reasons behind their actions in a setting which always has a strong sense of community.

She published the AEGEAN SUN series of books as a fly-on-the-wall vision of life in a Greek resort during the summer season, using her extensive experience as a holiday rep to bring some unusual incidents to life on the page. The series began as an exploration of the various ways in which tourists make the most of their holidays and how they interact with the locals while they are visiting. The later books in the series have taken a closer look at the locals themselves to show how their lives and relationships are sometimes changed by the regular influx of seasonal visitors.

The CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE series is set in a British suburban cul-de-sac over the festive period and visits each house individually to discover how the neighbours who live there celebrate the season in their own special way.

A new series is planned for publication in 2025, so stay tuned for more details.

Stephanie lives in Lancashire where, apart from reading and writing, she loves gardening and cycling and is a huge fan of the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours.

Social Media:

Website

X

The Close on X

Facebook

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

Breaking the Ice

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

Synopsis:  What do an entitled billionaire and small-town ice-skating coach have in common?

Ellie
My life is not turning out like I thought it would.

My mom’s arthritis has gotten so bad that I had to move in with her. I’m making ends meet by giving ice skating lessons at the arena in Maple Falls. I’d be in serious trouble had the Harts not given me that job.

Which makes it impossible to say no when they ask me to let Troy’s obnoxious billionaire brother stay in the cabin on my mom’s property during the charity hockey event they’re running.

Zach
First the tabloids call me out for being a cheapskate and then Yolanda Simms takes to national television to tell everyone what a vicious heartbreaker I am?

Yeah, my life has been better.

My brother thinks I can fix my bad press by coming to Maple Falls and donating big to his new charity endeavor. Too bad he didn’t mention the woman who owns the cottage I’ll be staying at hates me with a passion.

He also didn’t mention she’s everything I’ve ever looked for in a woman…

Breaking the Ice is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It's an enemies to lovers, billionaire romance, with forced proximity, It's a small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  This is the first book in the seven-author Love on Thin Ice Series. I can't wait for the next one!  Disclaimer: I have been a hockey mom for 17 years and a huge hockey fan.  I love that "hockey rom-coms" are so popular!

Breaking the Ice was a great first book in this series.  Very well laid out and you can see how new characters can easily be the focus of the next book.  I adored Elle and her mother! She was hard-working, put her family's (mother's) needs first, was down-to-earth, and kind. Zach was very similar, however, due to his money and name he was often perceived to be a jerk. 

Loved their story and how they found happiness in the end, despite one person trying to ruin it. Like anything you pick written by Whitney Dineen.......you will love it.  Guaranteed to laugh out loud, can't wait to read the next chapter and don't want the book to end!

It is a must read.....and can't wait for book 2 in the series.

USA Today Bestselling author Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there’s been a plethora of validation that she’s a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After winning many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she’s decided to let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there’s that.

Whitney loves to play with her kids (a.k.a. dazzle them with her amazing flossing abilities), bake stuff, eat stuff, and write books for people who "get" her. She thinks french fries are the perfect food and Mrs. Roper is her spirit animal. 

***Super fans, please check out my reading group Eat, Laugh, Love on Facebook for early announcements and other good stuff: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145541502567944 

***If you're the average run of the mill fan, go here--where you will still have plenty of fun: https://www.facebook.com/Whitney-Dineen-Author-11687019412

First Place at the Top Shelf Book Awards, 2020

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016, 2018, 2019.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

Synopsis:  Every brushstroke a mystery, every canvas a lie.
Love Painted in Lies is a laugh-out-loud feel-good comedy romp. Minty's return to Maida Vale isn't just about the chaos of raising twins, Old English Sheepdog shenanigans, school runs, and caring for her parents. Her life is shadowed by whispers of her involvement in a family art forgery ring that once duped the London elite.

The watchful eyes of the law linger on Minty; they're convinced she’s back to unearth a treasure trove of truths about a legendary missing painting. Minty must prove her new life is a genuine fresh start. But does she know more than she's revealing, or is her return an honest attempt to repaint her life’s canvas?

Amidst it all, a mysterious stranger strolls into her already turbulent world, bringing a hint of intrigue and the possibility of romance. Is he a brushstroke of fate or a shadow from her past?

With gangsters on her heels and love at her door, Minty’s journey is a hilarious adventure, where art and reality comically collide in Maida Vale.

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  For the love of Muffin....I LOVED this book! 

I absolutely love the other two novels by Holly Denham (Holly's Inbox and Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City).  I was so disappointed when I never saw other novels by Holly.  Last month Holly sent me an email letting me know she had a new book out, Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale.  I was so excited and was told it  is not like her other two books. True......but it was another 5-StarL Must Read book!

I couldn't get enough of Minty and her parents. I was laughing out loud at some of the chaos that was always going on. Crickety - the owls were hilarious! As Minty is avoiding gangsters and the police she seems to always skirt around them we learn about her life and all the colorful characters.  She also falls for a guy who I loved, than didn't and in the end adored him.  He just got who Minty was and accepted her family. 

If you are looking for a laugh out loud book with an exciting plot (completely different than others I have been reading) than you MUST read Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale.  Purchase it now (free on KindleUnlimited) and you will not be disappointed, and get ready to roll around laughing. ESPINACAS!!!

My favorite characters:

Minty - I want her as my BFF! She is hilarious (and artistic).

The Harries - Minty's twins are too funny.  Thinking of calling my twins The Ablies (Abbie and Allie).

Ned - I want to be friends with this quirky person who would make me laugh.

Minty's parents - I just want to hug them as we love life together and look at owls.

Devon (aka Craig or Barry) - The guy that comes through in the end when it really counts.

Holly Denham, known for her heart-warming romantic comedies, is back after fifteen years. Her first two books captured hearts worldwide, were translated into six languages and received a stream of excellent reviews from OK Magazine, Heat Magazine, Closer Magazine, The New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, Guardian Unlimited and many more. Now, Holly returns with a new, laugh-filled love story that's sure to enchant readers once more. Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale is out 25th of May 2024. Get ready to turn your phone to silent, put the kettle on, and settle down for a page-turning adventure, because the fun is about to begin again. Discover more about Holly and her adventures in writing by searching for Holly Denham Books on your favorite social platform.

Amazon 

Get new posts by email:

Life Begins at 50

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

Synopsis:  

The brilliant, brand-new novel from the TOP TEN bestselling author of 59 Memory Lane

New friends, new flame, new fun . . .

Kate dreamed of a happy marriage, a house full of children and a fulfilling teaching career. But after twenty-five years of married life and about to hit the big 5-0, it’s clear that her dreams haven’t quite come true. Then her husband leaves her for his golf partner, forcing Kate to take stock of what has become of her life.

Luckily, new friendship comes her way in the form of three feisty older women who take Kate under their wings, plus a new flame (could it be more . . .?) sparks with local divorced dad, Milo. As her big birthday approaches, Kate’s zest for life begins to return.

But opening herself up means making herself vulnerable to being hurt all over again . . .

Can it be true that life begins at fifty? And will Kate be brave enough to find happiness, and grab hold of it with both hands?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/LifeBegins50Social

One (or more) Sentence Summary:  Life Begins at 50 is a perfect book for anyone who is about to turn 50 or has turned 50.  It is also a great read for any one who knows someone special celebrating those milestones. 

I don't think I could have ever put the connection between Kate and Milo together, but wow! All the characters in the book really made it a good read. Even though the main story revolves around Kate, every character has a part in the development of the story. My favorite has to be the village ladies and Kate's dear friend Sophie.

I did find Kate to be a huge push over in the beginning of the story.  I felt she let everyone, her parents, her brother, and especially her husband push her around and her husband belittled her throughout their marriage (the pieces we were able to see). I did not like Howard/Brad.  However, when Howard leaves Kate, she finds her footing and blossoms into an amazing women.  Always caring for others.....she finally takes care of herself and goes after what she wants in life. Lovely ending and I wish I had the as many sweet and caring friends in my life....Kate was very special to many people.  It was hard to see with Howard/Brad in her way.

Pick up a copy of Life Begins at 50 and enjoy a good read!  We all deserve a good book and time to read it!

Previously a teacher and assistant head, Celia Anderson now writes full time and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, having proudly graduated from their New Writers’ Scheme in 2013. So far, she has concentrated on writing romantic fiction and/or stories with a flavour of magical realism.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaAndersonAuthor

Twitter: @CeliaAnderson1

Instagram: @cejanderson

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/CeliaAndersonNews

Get new posts by email:

No Ordinary Tuesday

  ~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Never miss out on future posts by following Seaside Book Nook.

Book Summary:  

Lena Sharma is a successful San Francisco restaurateur. An immigrant, she’s cultivated an image of conservatism and tradition in her close-knit Indian community. But when Lena's carefully constructed world begins to crumble, her ties to her daughter, Maya, and son, Sameer—raised in thoroughly modern California—slip further away.

Maya, divorced once, becomes engaged to a man twelve years her junior: Veer Kapoor, the son of Lena’s longtime friend. Immediately, Maya feels her mother's disgrace and the judgment of an insular society she was born into but never chose, while Lena’s cherished friendship frays. Meanwhile, Maya's younger brother, Sameer, struggles with an addiction that reaches a devastating and very public turning point, upending his already tenuous future.

As the mother, daughter, and son are compromised by tragedy, secrets, and misconceptions, they each must determine what it will take to rebuild their bonds and salvage what’s left of their family.

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Print length: 335 pages

Purchase a copy of No Ordinary Thursday on

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/No-Ordinary-Thursday-Anoop-Judge/dp/1542037751/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-ordinary-thursday-anoop-judge/1140485124.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-ordinary-thursday-anoop-judge/17746161

You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61214404-no-ordinary-thursday

One (or more) Sentence Summary: I really enjoyed No Ordinary Tuesday. I really enjoyed the plot - not your ordinary plot. Starting out with a tragic accident and a surprised engagement set the tone of the story. The "scandalous" relationship between Maya and Veer was one that survived against all odds.  Without giving too much away.....it is a good read! Many plots with the story that made me want to continue turning the pages!

I loved learning about the culture of India. I loved the wedding traditions.  I found it so interesting the hierarchy of families. Loved the Aunties and their very strong bond, even during the struggling times.  In the end love and friendship win!

MY FIRST MEMORIES

 “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out,” was the mantra by which my Indian mother raised us. 

 Mornings in Delhi would begin with crows cawing outside the window. Loud, insistent, competing with the clanging of alarm clocks all over the house. An occasional “Please Mummy. Five more minutes to sleep” would merge with threats of buckets of cold water being emptied on a sleepyhead if he (one of my brothers) didn’t get out of bed, fatta-faat, this very moment. The damp smell of yawns would give way to the sharp scent of toothpaste. Then would come the thudding noise of fists on the bathroom door: “Hurry up. You’re not the only one living here. Your sister needs to go potty urgently. If you don’t come out now, I’ll break down this door, I swear to God.” 

 My mom was a force to be reckoned with when she was angry with my brothers and me, a frequently occurring event in our household. We often got into trouble . . . ‘just wait till we get home’ was an oft-repeated threat of hers. 

 It happened right in the neighborhood supermarket called Super Big Bazaar. My older brother and I got into a scrape over a bag of Cadbury’s chocolate eclairs. I pushed him, he pushed me back . . . smack-dab into a display of Haldiram cans. I went sprawling and so did the can of rasgullas, tumbling everywhere like the walls of an old haveli attacked by a bulldozer. I regained my upright position and disappeared into the shelves of food just as Mom’s eyes went wide with horror, her lips thin with anger. “Just you wait, Missy,” she shouted at me, cuffing the back of my brother’s head who was not so quick to escape.

 When she got heated about things, my mom didn’t mince words. Her most colorful phrases were reserved for the country that took all three of her children away from her—” Churail (witch) America” she would hiss, shaking her head in disdain. Her thinning plait, colored with henna and, softened with alma swung on her shoulders in sympathy. I would return to my mom’s home over and over again, but it would never be the same. As a visitor and a tourist, I would return with stories to show my Mom the stamps on my passport from the different places I had traveled with my newly minted husband, but she would not be impressed. 

 The only time I can remember my opinionated mom praising her kids’ adopted country was on a visit to the United States. Referring to the Sikh belief in reincarnation, I remember her telling Dimple Aunty, “I’ve committed many sins in my lifetime, so I don’t know if I will get the human life form again. But, I pray that if I’m to be reborn as a dog, then I want to be reborn a dog in America.” She cackled, laughter sprinkling like salt upon her tea and bhujiya.

 But before the currents of life would pull me away from my land of birth, I was a member of a large and affectionate family, born to a mother whose love saved me. My mom gave me the biggest gift of my teen years when she taught me how to fight back. I must have been twelve or thirteen. My brother, eleven years old, was younger than me in age, but taller, stocky, and able to pack a few punches. After a particularly aggressive fight involving bruises, scrapes, and fisticuffs, I went crying to my mom for help. She took me squarely by my shoulders and turned me around to face my brother who was cooling his heels in triumphant glee. 

 “Go hit him back, “ she said, her eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re going to live in a world of men. You need to know how to deal with them.” 

 I don’t recall how many blows my brother endured from me that day, but I do know that with a small gesture, and a big message my mom set me on a journey where no man was going to be able to mess with me again. 

 Not all heroes wear capes. 

 *My mom passed away on April 18, 2019. It was sudden, untimely, and left me with a gaping wound. One way I am honoring her memory is by writing about the life we shared and taking continuing joy in the reminiscences from the past. 

 The greatest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude - Thornton Wilder * 

Born and raised in New Delhi, Anoop is the author of four novels, The Rummy Club which won the

2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, The Awakening of Meena Rawat, an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, No Ordinary Thursday, and Mercy and Grace.

Her essays and short stories have appeared in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Rigorous Journal, Lumiere Review, DoubleBack Review, and the Ornament anthology, among others. 

 Anoop calls herself a “recovering litigator”—she worked in state and federal courts for many years before she replaced legal briefs with fictional tales. She holds an MFA from St. Mary’s College of California and was the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship. 

She lives in Pleasanton, California, with her husband, and is the mother of two admirable young adults.

You can follow the Anoop at:

Website: https://anoopjudge.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judgeanoop/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anoop-ahuja-judge-94396743/

Blog Tour Calendar - Check out what others have to say about No Ordinary Tuesday.

June 17th @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Anoop Judge's book No Ordinary Thursday. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

June 19th @ Writer Advice

Novelist Anoop Judge stops by with a guest post about Ways To Begin a Story.

https://www.writeradvice.com

June 21st @ A Wonderful World of Words

Let's have some fun with a book giveaway and a guest post from Anoop Judge tracing her journey through four novels.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

June 22nd @ A Storybook World

Make an addition to your TBR pile with this spotlight on No Ordinary Thursday.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

June 24th @ My Beauty My Books

Author Anoop Judge visits with advice to her twenty year old self and a chance to win a copy of her novel No Ordinary Thursday.

mybeautymybooks.com

June 25th @ Words by Webb

Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday at Words by Webb/

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

June 28th @ What Is this Book About

Stop by for a spotlight on a new book for a new month: No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop 

Judge.

www.whatisthatbookabout.com

June 30th @ Choices

Anoop Judges gives readers a peek at her writing life with today's guest post.

http://madelinesharples.com

July 2nd @ Boys' Mom Reads

Karen shares her review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel of love, friendship and family.

karensiddall.wordpress.com

 

July 3rd @ The Faerie Review

Want to enjoy the July 4th holiday with a great book? The Faerie Review is spotlighting No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com/

July 5th @ StoreyBook Reviews

Anoop Judge shares her thoughts on Crafting Dialogue: How Can You Best Give Voice to Your Characters?

https://www.storeybookreviews.com

July 9th @ Word Magic

Fiona welcomes novelist Anoop Judge sharing a few things you didn't know about her.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

July 11th @ Knotty Needle

Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel about family and friendship.

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/

July 12th @  Author Anthony Avina

Pop by the blog of Author Anthony Avina for a guest post about what inspires Anoop Judge.

https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

July 17th @ Chapter Break

Ready to head for the hammock (or your favorite reading spot) with an engrossing summer read? Learn more about No Ordinary Thursday and author Anoop Judge.

https://chapterbreak.net/

July 20th @ Seaside Book Nook

Jilleen shares her thoughts on No Ordinary Thursday and a guest post on first memories from the author Anoop Judge.

http://www.seasidebooknook.com/

Get new posts by email: