Book Review: Caitlyn's Christmas Wish by Laura L. Walker

This is a quick, enjoyable, sweet Christmas romance.
Caitlyn's Christmas Wish
by Laura L. Walker

File Size: 4127 KB
Print Length: 122 pages
Publication Date: November 15, 2016
ASIN: B01M2CD0G3
Genre: Romance, Christmas
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Right Family, Wrong Brother - Just when former model and single mother Caitlyn Drevier Reel has finally put her life on track after a divorce and a six-month stint in rehab, her ex-in-laws extend an invitation to spend Christmas with the family. After all, she reasons, her ex-husband Grant is constantly on the road with his band and it's only fair to allow them to get to know her young son. What Caitlyn isn't prepared for, however, is the spark of attraction she feels for Ridge, Grant's older brother, or the wonderful sense of belonging to their family once again. Ridge, who is recovering from his own personal heartache, seems to feel the same way. As they work together to ensure the success of the Winter Festival his parents have organized for their small Wyoming town, Caitlyn begins to envision a bright future. But will Grant's unexpected arrival at this family get-together keep her Christmas wish from coming true? Caitlyn's Christmas Wish is an inspirational romance novella that will have you reaching for a mug of hot cocoa as you get into the holiday mood.

Review:
Caitlyn was a child model ‘managed’ by her determined mother. Caitlyn was prone to eating disorders in her attempt to stay thin enough to suit her mother and the camera. She was excited to get a break from her parents when she married Grant, an up and coming music star. But it didn’t take long for the romance to wear thin while he was on the road with his band. He partied hard and was caught in unfaithful situations. Caitlyn chose divorce and, with the warm, steady support of her ex-in-laws, she went into rehab to get her own life on track.

Caitlyn was pregnant when she and Grant separated and he has taken no time to be with her or their son. She has accepted the invitation from her ex-in-laws to spend Christmas with their family (minus Grant). The small town is in full festival mode with seasonal events organized by her ex-mother-in-law and ex-father-in-law, who is the Mayor. Caitlyn is warmly greeted by Grant’s older brother, Ridge.

Ridge has had his own marital troubles with an ex-wife who battered his ego. He is thrilled to help Caitlyn and her eight-month-old son. His affections grow as they spend time together and he becomes even more protective of mother and son when Grant shows up unexpectedly. Grant is clearly up to something, putting suspicions in Caitlyn’s mind and making it clear he is interested in winning her back, even if she comes with a small creature that he has no idea how to handle.

The story-line may not be new but it is nicely handled with the Christmas events making a busy backdrop. The story is told in third person pov but alternates with some scenes focused on Ridge, although most are with Caitlyn. This read very quickly and I liked the little bit of mystery the author built into Grant’s presence. I particularly enjoyed how she revealed and resolved his issues with a bit of light religious reminders. There is a nice blend of the true focus of Christmas with some sweet Christmas magic.

This is a light, enjoyable romance that I recommend, especially to those who enjoy a “Hallmark” like story. I liked the cover a lot too. I would like to try more titles by Ms. Walker, especially when I am in the mood for a clean, sweet romance.

I received this title from the author.

Book Review and Giveaway Link: Merry Mary by Ashley Farley

This presents a soft-hearted dilemma for an infant and a wanna-be mother.

Merry Mary
by Ashley Farley

• File Size: 930 KB
• Print Length: 92 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Leisure Time Books; 1 edition (October 15, 2015)
• ASIN: B01434AX6E
• Genre: Christmas Novella, Holidays
• My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

A young woman longing for a child stumbles upon a Christmas miracle.
Investigative journalist Scottie Darden is photographing the homeless for her Lost Souls series when she makes a discovery that could change her life forever. Under a makeshift tent in subzero temperatures in a downtown city park, she finds a woman's dead body with her infant child. Without her cell phone to call for help, Scottie makes the split-second decision to take the baby home. Her initial instinct is to provide the baby with food and shelter until her family can be located. But as her fondness for the baby grows, she finds herself facing a life on the run or worse—prison time for abduction.
Curl up with Merry Mary this holiday season. A heartwarming story of the powerful connection between a caring soul and an innocent child in need.

Review:
Scottie is a photojournalist who takes pictures of the homeless in the park. She plans to do a galley presentation of her “Lost Souls” images. One morning the week before Christmas, while delivering food to the homeless, Scottie finds a dead woman with a crying infant. She doesn’t have a cell phone and the Lost Souls all disappear. Scottie’s primary thought is to get the child to a warm spot, to clean and feed her, until family can be located.

Scottie is reluctant to turn the child over to services where she may end up in foster care. One day leads to another and a few days later one of the Lost Souls appears at Scottie’s home to check up on the child.

The police have found the body and located family. But Scottie is afraid that family will harm the baby. Scottie has her own reasons to be vulnerable about infants and now she has to decide if she will flee with Merry Mary or accept the responsibility for her actions.

I have mixed feelings about this story. I admit I cringed each time Scottie failed to report that she had found the child. I enjoyed how Scottie’s family, her ‘Irish Twin’ brother, her formal mother, and her lawyer father, all gather to help her even if they didn’t support her decisions. I loved Scottie’s compassion for the Lost Souls and especially for the infant. I disliked her leach of a husband - she deserves better.

The writing style is direct and easy to read. It moves well with a natural sense of events and dialogue. I was satisfied with the story’s ending and think that I might enjoy following Scottie in the next book. I recommend this to readers who are interested in a quick Christmas read that offers an interesting balance of compassion and realism.

I received this for review tour through Kim at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Link to Merry Mary Tour: http://wp.me/p3vHcl-if

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26122667-merry-mary

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Mary-Ashley-Farley-ebook/dp/B01434AX6E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1445102083&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merry-mary-ashley-farley/1122576823?ean=2940152110548

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/merry-mary/id1033638269?mt=11

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/merry-mary

About the Author:

Ashley Farley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. SAVING BEN is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.

HER SISTER'S SHOES—June 24, 2015—is a women's novel that proves the healing power of family.

Look for MERRY MARY this holiday season, a heartwarming story of the powerful connection between a caring soul and an innocent child in need.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.ashleyfarley.net/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AshleyWFarley

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916019.Ashley_Farley

Excerpt from Merry Mary

    “Shh, don’t cry,” she said, rubbing the baby’s tummy.
    What would become of the baby? Scottie didn’t think the Commonwealth had the authority to place the baby up for adoption without permission of next of kin, which meant the baby would be placed in a foster home until the police could track down the father. If the father even wanted the child. If the father even knew he was the father.
    The baby began to wail, presumably with hunger. “Don’t worry, little one.” She picked the baby up and held her tight. “We’ll get it all sorted out. In the meantime, I have plenty of formula and diapers to keep you comfortable.”
    By the time Scottie got the baby inside, and mixed up a bottle from the supplies in her baby cabinet in the kitchen, the little girl was screaming, flailing her arms and legs in hunger. Scottie plopped down on the leather sofa in the adjoining family room, propped her snow boots up on the coffee table, and brought the bottle’s nipple to the baby’s mouth. The infant took the nipple between her lips, then thrust it back out with her tongue. Scottie turned the bottle upside down on her arm, letting a few drops of formula leak from the hole in the nipple, before returning the nipple to the baby’s lips. When she tasted the formula, the baby began to suck greedily.
    “Careful now, baby girl. Don’t drink too fast or you’ll upset your tummy.” The baby stared up at Scottie with bright eyes. “We need to give you a name, don’t we?”
    Scottie had been in the process of picking out names for her baby when her daughter was stillborn at thirty-one weeks. She’d been torn between Kate and Liza, after her grandmothers Katherine and Elizabeth. She ended up calling the baby Angel, which seemed appropriate for an innocent child who never drew her first breath.
    Scottie’s eyes traveled the room, coming to rest on the nativity scene on the mantle above the fireplace. “Why don’t we call you Mary after the Virgin Mary?” She caught sight of the needlepoint pillow Brad had brought down from the attic—a green background with Merry Christmas in curlicue script in red across the front. “Or Merry, which seems appropriate for a spunky little girl like you.”
    The baby stopped sucking and smiled up at her.
    “I agree,” Scottie said. “I like them both as well. Merry Mary it is, then.

Tour Giveaway:

Ashley is giving away $50 gift card (INT) choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Paypal.
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