Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ Winter Solstice

Posted on November 19, 2017November 22, 2017 by Cindy

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand
Format: ARC, Hardcover
Published by Little, Brown and Company on October 3rd 2017
Pages: 304
Goodreads

*The USA Today Bestseller* Raise one last glass with the Quinn Family at the Winter Street Inn.
It's been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that's about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they've experienced in years. And Bart's safe return isn't the family's only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she's finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn't be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly. A celebration of everything we love--and some of the things we endure--about the holidays, WINTER SOLSTICE is Elin Hilderbrand at her festive best.

I quickly have to thank Little Brown and Company for sending me a advance readers copy of this fourth and probably final book in the Winter series. I would only hope that Elin decides to perhaps write a fifth book to kind of just tie up some loose ends as to what happens next and I could see that there could be another book but its always hard to tell in these cases.

I loved this series and I think it was a great introduction into Elin Hilderbrand’s writing and its peeked my interested that I decided in 2018 I need to do a Elin Hilderbrand reading challenge and read her other series. Is there a series I should start off with?

Like the previous books the Quinn family heads to Nantucket for the holiday season to be together as a family in what possibly could be the last one together.

In the previous book Kelly, the father has brain cancer and has decided to stop treatment so every day could possibly be the last day. He wants to be with his family and take it all in without being sick with chemicals in his body. He wants to go on his terms not anyone elses.

The book is told in alternating voices of the Quinn family like the previous ones. In my previous reviews I have always gone in order but this time I am going to start with Bart. He is finally home safe and sound but still dealing with the lingering affects of what he endured. He is secluded in his room dealing with the fact he watched his friends being killed. Mitzi is trying everything to help her son and things having a big birthday party is just the thing. He is against it the whole time but gives in because he wants to make his mother happy and I honestly think he is happy that he let her do it because he finally gets a happy ending and this is one of the reason I think Bart needs a series of his own or at least a book. I loved Bart.

Ava is now living in NYC and has a new boyfriend. She is teaching music at a private school and is loving it. She is on the right track with the new boyfriend but hits a road bump when his ex comes to town with her new boyfriend and his son. Things get off to a rocky start between everyone. I am happy that Ava didn’t give up and throw in the towel. I think this also could be another book.

Kevin and Isabelle are the happy little family and parents to two kids and their business is starting to take out.

Finally Patrick is trying to get his own business back up but is finding it hard. His wife, Jennifer is a interior decorator and trying her best to keep the family going but hits a road blog when a client is asking for more and puts her in a awkward position. Will she tell Patrick what really happens?

As I have mentioned throughout the review I think each of these characters could have a book or series of there own and I would clearly read them because I want to know more and what happens to them. As you can see I am invested in them.

I was reading that one of the characters in the book Eddie is actually a character in the book The Rumor so I think I will need to check that out because his character was tossed into the book and he had a shady past that I wanted to know more about because its like he came in from left field.

I hope that this is not the end of the characters. I really enjoyed these quick reads and so happy I read them.

Review/ Winter Storms

Posted on November 18, 2017November 20, 2017 by Cindy

Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand
Published by Back Bay Books on October 3rd 2017
Pages: 256
Goodreads

Are the skies clearing up at last for the Quinn family?
Some of the stormy weather of the last few years seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns, and if there's one holiday that lets them be grateful for the good times, it's Christmas. This year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as they prepare to host a family wedding at the Inn. As the special day approaches, a once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place, and the people, they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again.

This is the third and what was suppose to be the final book in the series as I am updating this post. Check back tomorrow for my review on Winter Solstice which I do believe is the final book but you never know.

This was another pretty quick read for me and read it within a night or two. Going into the book at the time I really want to jump in and find out what was going to happen in this last book. After reading this series I am really interested in reading her other series and perhaps I need to make that a reading challenge for 2018.

Winter Storm picks up several months after the previous book and unlike the previous books they don’t take place within several days of each but over the course Spring, Summer, Fall and winter holiday season. Its told in the same format as the Quinn family telling the story.

In this story Patrick is released from jail and his family is excited but if you think it would be all honky dory you are in for a surprise just like Patrick was when he came out. Patrick and his brother Kevin have discovered that Patrick’s wife, Jennifer has a pill addiction and her supplier is know to the family who has changed a lot since she was last seen by the family. Will Jennifer get the help she needs? Will she be able to kick the addiction?

Kevin and his soon to be wife have moved out of the Quinn’s into their own little cottage and are getting ready for their winter wedding and life seems good for them.

Ava is still in that love triangle from the last book with Scott and Nathanial. Scott is dating his colleague and Ava while Ava is dating Scott and Nathaniel. Its like she wants to have her cake and eat it too but can’t handle anyone else doing the same thing. We all know love triangles never work and eventually it will happen in this case. Thankfully Ava gets whisked away to the Caribbean and its there that she meets a handsome stranger. Could this be the start of something?

Bart is found and is coming home which makes the family happy. Everyone is excited to blessed knowing that he is safe and sound but is he really?

With a storm bearing down on the east coast can the Quinn family make it home for the holidays before its too late? Will Kelly tell his family about his newest health issues or will be keep it a secret for awhile yet?

After reading this I kept thinking there has to be another book because they can’t end like this, can they? I had to know more about Kelly and what would happen so trust me when I say this I had so many unanswered questions that I am actually hoping for a fourth book. Please let there be a fourth book.

Review/ Wheeler

Posted on November 17, 2017November 17, 2017 by Cindy

Wheeler
Sara Butler Zalesky
Publication date: July 4th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports, Suspense

Known as the Ice Queen of the peloton, pro cyclist Loren Mackenzie rarely shows emotion in the heat of competition; she leads her team with quiet strength and determination. But her successes have not come without suffering, and her tragic past is hidden inside tarnished armor.

While out on a training ride with her cycling team near Enfield, England, a chance meeting quickly develops into an unexpected whirlwind romance. But a relationship with an A-list celebrity brings with it the microscope of tabloid-media attention, which expose jealousy and rivalry that threaten to undermine Loren’s leadership of her team.

The new romance also reveals a dangerous obsession, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with someone from Loren’s past. Her injuries not only put her chances at the World Championship in jeopardy but also bring forth memories of a life she had long buried – for good reason.

Can Loren open her heart to the love she has held at a distance, or will her fear ultimately defeat her?

The follow up novel in the Wheeler series is coming soon.

Before beginning my review I just quickly have to thank Xpresso Book Tours for sending me a copy of the book to read and for allowing me to be a part of this book tour.

As a book blogger you tend to want to step outside your normal reading zone every now and then just to read something new and this year I made it a point that I really want to do more of this because I was noticing that I read a lot of the same genre and tend to find that after a while it just all sounds the same. The same story but just by a different author, if that makes sense?

Wheeler was definitely outside what I normal read and I have to say that I enjoyed it this. Its got a little bit of romance and suspense which I think make the book a great read. Its a roller coaster of emotions of highs and lows and I think that is what makes the book a great read. You could tell that this was a passion of Sara’s because she filled you in without over whelming you.

Our main character is Loren and she is a professional cyclist who competes and has earned the nick name Ice Queen because when she competes she shows no emotion what so ever. I have to admit that I don’t know anything about being a professional cyclist and I don’t watch the races so basically I know nothing about this sport but Sara does a fantastic job in bridging the gap so you can understand what is going on.

Loren’s life might seem like its perfect but only Loren knows that things don’t appear as they seem. Loren has a dark past and has endured horrific things but she uses that pain and suffering as her motivation to be the best she can be.

This is where the love interest comes in and that’s in the form of Graham who is a famous actor. At first Loren is weary of accepting his help but figures she has no other choice. You could tell the two hit it off but both walk away without giving each other their numbers. Graham not willing to accept his mistakes remembers Loren’s jersey logo and enlists the help of his agent to track her down and I thought that this was sweet that he just didn’t let this chance encounter pass him by that he actually went out of his way to track her down and so begins their relationship. But can this relationship stand the test of time? What will Loren do when someone else is jealous of this new budding romance?

As the story progresses Loren ends up in a horrific accident and is rushed to the hospital and you know that this is where things start to go wrong and where you are rooting for Loren. Loren is determined to not let anything stand in her way of competing even though she really should be resting and taking it easy.

Enter Loren’s former ex-boyfriend, Felix who is still basically obsessed with her and he will do anything to make her his again. How far will he go?

I am curious to read the follow up to see where they will go with it.

Book Spotlight/ Wheeler

Posted on November 17, 2017November 13, 2017 by Cindy

Wheeler
Sara Butler Zalesky
Publication date: July 4th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports, Suspense

Known as the Ice Queen of the peloton, pro cyclist Loren Mackenzie rarely shows emotion in the heat of competition; she leads her team with quiet strength and determination. But her successes have not come without suffering, and her tragic past is hidden inside tarnished armor.

While out on a training ride with her cycling team near Enfield, England, a chance meeting quickly develops into an unexpected whirlwind romance. But a relationship with an A-list celebrity brings with it the microscope of tabloid-media attention, which expose jealousy and rivalry that threaten to undermine Loren’s leadership of her team.

The new romance also reveals a dangerous obsession, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with someone from Loren’s past. Her injuries not only put her chances at the World Championship in jeopardy but also bring forth memories of a life she had long buried – for good reason.

Can Loren open her heart to the love she has held at a distance, or will her fear ultimately defeat her?

The follow up novel in the Wheeler series is coming soon.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Sara was born in the wee hours of a November night in New York City. When her family moved to a small borough in northwestern New Jersey, she had little choice but to move as well. Self-sufficiency is a tough thing for a toddler.

The dichotomy of being the middle child of three, but the only girl, was difficult, as typically no one really pays attention to a middle child. Mostly, Sara spent her time creating fanciful stories in her head when she should have been focused on other things, an issue that continues to this day.

Most of these stories have never been shared, let alone completed. This all changed in the spring of 2015, when Sara was encouraged by a friend to expand upon a short story she had accidentally emailed to him. The result is ‘Wheeler’, a romantic, women’s fiction/sport novel, which combines the author’s romantic inclinations and her passion for cycling.

Sara currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with her loving husband and their son. She is a paralegal for a boutique law firm in Chester County, Pa, an avid road cyclist and indoor cycling instructor at a national chain.

Follow the author’s blog at sarabutlerzalesky.wordpress.com or on Twitter @sarazalesky. She does a little dance every time someone ‘follows’ her on Twitter. Really.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Cover Reveal/ Right Kiss. Wrong Guy

Posted on November 17, 2017November 16, 2017 by Cindy

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Right Kiss. Wrong Guy. (Offsides #2)
by Natalie Decker

presented by Swoon Romance!

Be on the lookout for this upcoming title!

What do you think of the cover?

You’d think a girl with the most romantic name in the world would have her pick of boyfriends.

But Valentine’s Day sucks when you’re single. Just ask Juliet Valentine, whose last name happens to also be the name of the most dreaded made-up holiday ever.

A romantic at heart, this year is especially hard on Juliet. Her sister, Layla, is in a new relationship, her mom’s match-making business is doing great, and her school’s new fundraiser is “Love-Grams.”

Juliet’s miserable, a little jealous, and lonely.

Quarterback Jared Black is the most popular guy in school. A star athlete, Jared tops the most-eligible bachelor list year after year. But to Juliet Valentine, he’s all but invisible. She isn’t impressed.

Jared’s never had to work hard to get the attention of a girl before. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and he’s determined to ask Juliet out. After all, if Tyler can win over Layla, Jared ought to have a shot with Layla’s sister.

Unlike Tyler and Layla, charm, flattery and good looks won’t work on Juliet. So with the V-Day dance coming up, Jared uses the school’s Love-Grams to let Juliet know how he feels. Should be simple enough, right?

Wrong. Each attempt ends up either in the trash or thrown in someone’s face. Juliet won’t play his game.

Now, without a date to the dance Jared realizes it’s going to take a Hail Mary to win the girl of his dreams.

Right Kiss. Wrong Guy. (Offsides #2)
by Natalie Decker
Publication Date: January 23, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Romance

Available for Pre-order:
Amazon

Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Review/ Winter Stroll

Posted on November 16, 2017November 18, 2017 by Cindy

Winter Stroll (Winter #2) by Elin Hilderbrand
Published by Little, Brown and Company on October 13th 2015
Pages: 263
Goodreads

"Happy Holidays 2015! It has been a rough year for the Quinns, but I would like to start by saying thank you for all of the well wishes and positive missives sent our way."

Another Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn reflecting on the past year as he writes a holiday letter to friends and family. Though the year has had its share of misfortune and worry, the Quinns have much to celebrate. Kelley, now single, at least is on better terms with his first wife Margaret, who is using her celebrity to lure customers to the inn in record numbers. Their son Kevin has a beautiful new baby, Genevieve, with the Inn's French housekeeper, Isabelle; and their daughter, Ava, is finally dating a nice guy--her devoted colleague, Scott.
Now the Quinns are looking forward to celebrating Genevieve's baptism, welcoming Isabelle to the family, and enjoying the cheer of Nantucket's traditional Christmas Stroll. But just when a peaceful family gathering seems within reach, Kelley's estranged second wife, Mitzi, shows up on the island after souring on her relationship with the inn's former Santa Claus. Soon Kelley isn't the only Quinn entertaining a surprise guest from Christmases past as lovers old and new gather beneath the mistletoe. With jealousy, passion, and eggnog consumption at an all-time high, it's going to take a whole lot more than a Christmas miracle to get the Quinns--and the inn--through the holidays intact.

This is the second book in the Winter series by Elin Hilderbrand.

Winter Stroll picks up a year after where Winter Street left off. I am happy that I was able to pick up the books one of the other so that it felt like I was reading just one book if that makes sense?

Another holiday season is upon the Quinn family. Like the previous book its told within a few days and the chapters are alternated between the Quinn family like the previous one. Everyone basically fills in the blanks to what has happened in the previous year while still telling what is going on in the present day.

Just like the previous book it follows the same family drama. Kelly is still struggling with the break up of his marriage to Mitzi. His oldest son, Patrick is facing possibly going to jail. His second son, Kevin is struggling with dealing with his feelings from his first marriage that failed and doesn’t want to go down that same path with Isabelle. His daughter, Ava is dealing with the fact her boyfriend decided he would rather spend be alone and she has no idea where he is as he is not in contact with her. Finally Bart is still missing in action and no one knows where he is.

There is so much more but I am going to stop since this is the second book in the series.

This was another super quick read and I read it over the course of two nights. Like the previous book it does end abruptly and since I know there is a book three I wasn’t left hanging for too long. I do look forward to continuing with the next book in the series.

Review/ Winter Street

Posted on November 15, 2017November 16, 2017 by Cindy

Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
Published by Little, Brown and Company on October 14th 2014
Pages: 352
Goodreads

In bestseller Elin Hilderbrand's first Christmas novel, a family gathers on Nantucket for a holiday filled with surprises.
Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can't get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley's second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines.
As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who's playing Santa at the inn's annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley's ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn.
Before the mulled cider is gone, the delightfully dysfunctional Quinn family will survive a love triangle, an unplanned pregnancy, a federal crime, a small house fire, many shots of whiskey, and endless rounds of Christmas caroling, in this heart-warming novel about coming home for the holidays.

As I was doing some much needed computer work I realized I had a few reviews of books that I bought/borrowed that I never shared with you so I thought it was time to add them to my blog finally.

I remember picking up this book last year and reading it right away and I fell in love this this trilogy and had to read the other books in the series. The other books in the series are: Winter Stroll, Winter Storms and Winter Solstice. So in reality this is no longer a trilogy and I am so happy that I got to read this series.

This is Elin Hilderbrand’s first Christmas story. It takes place in Nantucket with the Quinn family. They run a family inn and every year they through a huge Christmas Eve party with a Santa and all. The house is decorated from top to bottom.

The hosts are Kelly (the dad) and his second wife, Mitzi. Kelly is looking forward to spending Christmas with his kids from his first marriage even though financial troubles are hanging over head. He is determined to make this a great Christmas until he catches his wife kissing Santa. But Kelly is shocked when he finds out its been actually going on for years and what he saw wasn’t the first time. Mitzi decides she would rather be with Santa then Kelly and packs up and leaves.

Everyone in this family has drama and it all unfolds within this book. Such as the oldest son, Patrick being investigated for unethical practices and his wife leaves taking the kids with her to go to her parents causing him to head down a downward spiral. If thats not bad enough Kevin is not happy and has a secret romance that he has been hiding from his family but decides he needs to come clean and finally the youngest child Ava who is struggling to hold onto her boyfriend and hopes that he will propose but little does she know that he doesn’t exactly feel the same way about her. Finally Bart, the son he had with Mitzi is currently in the Marines and deployed in Afganistan is missing. No one knows where he is.

As you read this you will probably think that this is going to be a Christmas to remember well in some ways it is going to a be Christmas to remember and not in a good way. This is the story if anything can go wrong it will go wrong.

The book is told in a basically a few days span with its told in several points of view from the Quinn family, Kelly, Mitzi, Margret, Ava, Kevin and Patrick. This was a great way to get to know the characters in a short amount of time.

I loved how even though Kelly and Margret are divorced she is still actively involved in and with the family and that she is still included in family events. I know sometimes divorces can be tricky but it was nice to see that yes they had issues in the past they were able to over come them.

I really enjoyed the book and it was such a fun and quick read just the thing to sort of get you into the holiday mood. Thankfully I was able to pick up the other books in the series quickly from the library so that I could continue this.

The one thing I have to say is going into the book I knew it was a trilogy so the way it ended so quickly I knew I had to read the next book right away. Reading it it honestly felt like the publisher just cut it to make a second book. So you were left hanging.

If you plan on reading this then I highly recommend you have all the books in the series before you begin.