Sara and Melissa Talk About...Holiday Entertainment

We've been running a column series to get more personal with our readers. While we're in the midst of the holiday season, we've decided to keep it light and talk about our favorite holiday themed books, movies, and TV show episodes.

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them.

Melissa Amster:                                                                                                        I don't really watch holiday movies all that often. Just a handful of them here and there. My all-time favorites are Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, While You Were Sleeping, and Love, Actually. I saw Last Christmas a while ago and while some parts were cute, I felt like it dragged a bit until it got to the climax, and then I needed a lot of tissues. There are some holiday movies I'd like to see this year, like Single All the Way, A Castle for Christmas, and 8-Bit Christmas. There aren't really any Hanukkah movies except for the occasional one tossed onto the Hallmark Channel, which I do not have anyway. I found this list of Christmas movies and saw Mixed Nuts on there. I still remember seeing that in college and laughing so hard the whole time. I think it was the first time I saw Adam Sandler in anything and he was so funny with his songs.

Two of my favorite TV shows have great Christmas episodes: Schitt's Creek and Ted Lasso. I've seen both more than once and they're really cute and funny. Last winter, I watched Dash & Lily on Netflix and that whole show is Christmas themed. I'm sad to hear that it's not getting a second season. Back in the day, I enjoyed the South Park Christmas episodes, especially the first one they ever did with Mr. Hanky. Full House and Friends had some fun Christmas episodes too.

I've only read a few holiday books this year and enjoyed them all: The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (review), The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (review), and The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman. The latter wasn't really about the winter holidays, but it had that feel with the constant snowy weather and overall cozy feeling. I also don't read a lot of holiday books in general. Just a few every now and then. I'm trying to remember books of holidays past and keep landing on Wrapped Up in You by Carole Matthews (review), which I think of because of 90 Day Fiancé. Another great holiday book of hers is The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas (review). I love that whole series though. I also enjoyed Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (review). Sara will be sharing her review of Mistle Text by Whitney Dineen and Melanie Summers tomorrow, but I read it a while ago and really enjoyed it. Everything she says is exactly what I would have said. Finally, I want to give a shout-out to The Holiday Detour by Jane Kolven (review), which was also a sweet read and even had some Jewish aspects. 

Sara Steven:                                                                                                                                         I can still remember when television station TBS would have their 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story. Having Ralphie on in the background during Christmas day festivities became part of our holiday routine, as much as anything else we’d do on December 25th. It certainly contributed to our yearly traditions. When asked what my favorite holiday-themed movies, tv shows, and books might be, it was the first thing I’d thought of. When I think of Christmas, I think of: "I want an Official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle."

For me, this time of year wouldn’t be complete without A Christmas Story, and:

Love Actually

Watching Hugh Grant dance to The Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For My Love)” will forever live in infamy. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I imagine many of us will still refer to scant, wispy trees as “Charlie Brown trees.” I know I have at times. And I still hold out hope that with a lot of love, commitment, and faith, we can turn the downtrodden tree into something beautiful. 

The Santa Clause

When my kids were little, they were convinced The Santa Clause was truly about Santa himself. They believed in the spirit of the holidays back then, and I feel like there’s so little magic left in the world nowadays. It encouraged me to leave presents under the tree wrapped up in special Kris Kringle wrapping paper, and they were convinced it really had come from Santa.  

Home Alone

I added this one primarily for my boys. I think we’ve seen it twice this month, so far. It’s not a favorite of mine, but I know it means a lot to them, and I don’t mind hanging out and watching it too.

Books:

Mistle Text, by Whitney Dineen

I recently finished this holiday masterpiece, and it was well worth the read! It was a little bit Scrooged, mixed in with Pretty in Pink–two characters who come from opposite sides of the track, finding their way despite their own viewpoints and the viewpoints from others. (Stay tuned for my review and a giveaway!)

All the Lonely People, by Jess Riley

I read All the Lonely People many years back, but it has still stuck with me, even now. I loved the unique premise–if you don’t like who you’re related to, find people you actually want to spend the holidays with!

Murder at Mistletoe Manor, by Holly Tierney-Bedord

There’s nothing like a good murder mystery. Throw in some holiday accents, and you’ve got a murdery mystery that keeps you guessing, every step of the way.

Miracle on 5th Avenue, by Sarah Morgan

A woman who loves everything about Christmas. A man who is a bestselling crime writer. It seems their personalities would be too conflicting, yet in this story, opposites attract.

Fool Me Twice at Christmas, by Camilla Isley

I had so much fun with this one. A once loving couple go home and put on an act for their families around the holidays. Could life begin to imitate art? 

White Wedding, by Carla Luna

It took me all of one day to read White Wedding. There were remnants of love from the wrong side of the tracks in this one, too, with an extension of family members who get in on the debate. 

What are your favorite holiday movies, TV shows, and books?

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Book Review: The Lucky Escape

By Cindy Roesel

One cancelled wedding

When the day finally comes for Annie to marry Alexander, the last thing she expects is to be left standing at the altar. She was so sure he was Mr Right. Now, she has no idea how she could have got it so wrong.

One unexpected encounter

After a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend who reminds her of who she used to be, Annie takes a vow of her own: she’ll say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on.

One spare ticket for the honeymoon

Could a spontaneous trip with Patrick be the way to mend Annie’s heart? She’s about to find out as she embarks on her honeymoon – with a man who’s not her husband… (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I can’t imagine anything worse than being left alone at the altar on my wedding day. Well, I can think of a few, but being jilted is certainly up there. In Laura Jane Williams’ novel, THE LUCKY ESCAPE (HarperCollins) this is what happens to Annie, but she uses it as a reason to take stock of her life.

The wedding may be off, but the honeymoon to Australia is still on and she needs a travel partner. Annie joins a gym and gets in touch with old friends, like Patrick. It isn’t long after until she invites him on her trip.

It’s a really good premise, but it takes too long to set up the core story and the ending is obvious. I would have liked to spend more time in Australia. Personally, I was there for three weeks several years ago, and it wasn’t enough time.

Bottom line: An amusing romcom during these challenging times and let’s face it, we could all use a little light-hearted fun in our lives. 

Thanks to Harper 360 for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Check out Cindy's review of The Love Square, also by Laura Jane Williams.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Why She Left

Today we are celebrating the publication of Leah Mercer's latest novel, Why She Left. Thanks to Leah, we have TWO copies to give away!

Fifteen years ago, her daughter vanished. Now, she’s back.

Ruth has spent every day of the last fifteen years grieving for her daughter Isobel who left the family home as a teenager and completely disappeared. Walking around the school to which she has given her life, every child she sees reminds her of her daughter’s bright future and of a happy family destroyed in an instant

So when Ruth opens the door to find Isobel and a grandson she never knew existed, she feels a rush of joy. Isobel tells her that they need a safe place to stay whilst she gets back on her feet. Having lost her daughter once, Ruth is determined to keep her family together and enrolls her grandson at the school, in the hope that they stay for good.

But as mother and daughter begin to heal the wounds of the past, a violent attack brings old secrets to the surface once more. It is clear that someone is prepared to destroy everything Ruth holds dear. Can Isobel confront her darkest secret before it is too late?

An absolutely unputdownable and emotional page-turner about devastating family secrets and the ties that bind. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult and Imogen Clark. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a master’s in journalism, she soon realized she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing… fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running, and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.

Visit Leah online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.

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Giveaway ends December 19th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Mom Walks: Catching Up

By Melissa Amster

Can a mom preserve her tween's authenticity under the pressure of middle school? Maybe, but first she has to prove she can stay true to herself.

Parenting through the middle school years can test any mom. And Dawn's wealthy community and its pressure-cooker atmosphere don't make it easier. She cringes watching her sixth-grade daughter, Kayli, cave to superficial trends and disregard what's important to her just to fit in. Overwhelmed and underinformed in navigating this minefield, Dawn jumps at the chance to volunteer with some parenting insiders. But the role quickly consumes Dawn and inserts her into the very mom drama she detests. Worse yet, Dawn's still failing to prevent Kayli from succumbing to her peer influencers. In fact, Dawn starts doing the same. With her work-life balance and her daughter's character at stake, Dawn must learn to stand up for what she believes in before it's too late to show her daughter how it's done. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Mom Walks: Catching Up is my favorite of this series so far. I could really relate to Dawn and sympathize with her a lot. Dawn's conversations with Kayli were so similar to my conversations with my daughter that I was worried the author was spying on me. I totally know how Dawn feels with overextending herself to please everyone else. The mom gossip and cattiness was so similar to middle school and I'm glad that I don't usually get caught up in such drama. Then again, I have yet to join a PTA or get involved. I got annoyed with how Meg was pushing Dawn into that whole situation, as well. While I sometimes got so frustrated on Dawn's behalf, there were also parts of the story where I just laughed out loud. I know there's supposed to be another book in this series and I am already looking forward to it!

Movie (or TV series) casting suggestions:

Dawn: Courtney Henggeler

Naomi: Gillian Jacobs

Meg: Nora Zehetner

Ben: Niall Matter

Amy: Zoe Saldana

Natalie: Jodi Lyn O'Keefe

Gwen: Ashley Williams

Brenda: Anne Dudek

Kayli: Victoria Paige Watkins

Thanks to Rebecca Prenevost for the book in exchange for an honest review.

See my reviews of Starting in 5th and Getting Crushed.

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Book Review: My Lucky Night

By Sara Steven

Cassie isn’t a fan of Christmas. After a string of unlucky incidents during the festive season—including getting dumped—this year she decides to spend the day at home. Alone. No men. No complications.

But then her nightmare boss demands she track down this year’s most coveted Christmas gift—and the only person who can help is an annoyingly sexy Frenchman she’s just met.

Nicolas might look hot, but Cassie can tell he’s also arrogant, irritating and in love with himself. Exactly the kind of guy she hates. Plus, he’ll only help her find the gift if she helps him with something in return...

Could Cassie’s festive fortunes finally be about to change? Can she learn to love Christmas again? And will Cassie get lucky in more ways than one? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

While I’ve never had any inciting incidents that cause me to steer clear of Christmas cheer, I could relate with Cassie on her desire to spend her holidays at home, alone. After all of the horrible experiences she’d had around that time of year, she wants to let the day go by like it’s just another number on the calendar. 

When it comes down to it, she has a choice: to stay indoors away from everyone and everything, or to spend the holiday season with the most infuriating, yet most gorgeous man she’s ever met in her life. What to do, what to do….

My Lucky Night was a really cute and fun experience. Aside from her obnoxious boss, who made me grimace more than a time or two, I really enjoyed watching and seeing where things would end up for Cassie and Nicolas. He’s not at all Cassie’s type, but as the story unfolds, we get to see that not all is as it seems, for either character. The premise behind how the two meet, and how they find themselves “stuck” together was a really unique way to get things rolling, and I enjoyed going along for the ride. 

I was really surprised–and in a good way–about the steam level factor in this book! It did not deflect from the cuteness or the fun, adding another layer of extreme spiciness! Hello Nicolas! (The elevator scene) Letting down her hair so to speak, and releasing her inhibitions shows a good amount of character evolution for Cassie. This is the same person who had started out with the bah humbugs, and I felt the transition was done in a nice way, with good pacing. Even after a major bump in the road makes Cassie question everything she knows about Nicolas, you can tell that the growth she’d acquired over chapters is still there, enabling her to handle things head-on. 

If you’re looking for a holiday read that offers up a spicy kick, this one is it!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK * Amazon US

Olivia Spring is a British, London-based writer of contemporary women's fiction, sexy chick lit and romantic comedy. Her uplifting debut novel The Middle-Aged Virgin, which was released in 2018, deals with being newly single in your thirties and beyond, dating, relationships, love, sex and living life to the full.

In addition to The Middle-Aged Virgin, Olivia has published The Middle-Aged Virgin in Italy, Love Offline, Losing My Inhibitions, Only When It's Love, and the sequel When’s The Wedding? 

Olivia’s seventh novel, My Ten-Year Crush, was published in September 2021 and book two in the series, My Lucky Night followed in November 2021.

When she's not writing, Olivia can be found enjoying cupcakes and cocktails and of course, seeking inspiration for her next book!

Visit Olivia online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Visit the other stops on Olivia's blog tour:

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Book Review: Well Played

By Melissa Amster

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find "The One."

When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I enjoyed Well Played about as much as Well Met (reviewed here). It is a sweet story with a cozy feel. I could easily see myself being friends with Stacey and she reminds me of myself in some ways. I still love how the Ren Faire was used throughout the story and could picture everything really well. I had just gone to a local Ren Fest, so that helped. There were some great romantic and steamy moments that definitely kept my attention. The story was easygoing and engaging the entire time. 

My only issue is that the synopsis spoiled some of the surprise element. Some other aspects also made it easy to guess what was happening, but I'm glad the reveal happened early on instead of getting dragged out. It was great to have a follow up on the characters from Well Met, but read that book first! I'm excited to read Well Matched soon and hopefully there will be some updates on Stacey's life.

Movie casting suggestions:

Stacey: Samantha Hanratty (re-cast from the previous book since I didn't know her age)

Stacey's mom: Kathleen Turner

Dex: Chase Stokes

Daniel: Calum Worthy

Emily: Molly Gordon

Simon: Munro Chambers

Mitch: Graham Rogers

April: Gillian Jacobs

Caitlin: Caroline Grossman

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Jen DeLuca:

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Book Review: The Holiday Switch

By Sara Steven

Lila Castro is ready to take on her last winter break of high school. The snow is plentiful, the mood is full of holiday cheer, and she's earning extra cash working at the cozy local inn. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss's frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Veracruz, becomes her coworker. When they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, they both realize they've been hiding things from each other. Will their secrets--and a dash of holiday spirit--bring them closer to love?  (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

I don’t often dip into the YA genres, but I really loved The Holiday Switch! It reminded me of the sweet rom coms I used to watch when I was a teen or in my early 20s; Never Been Kissed, combined with the best Hallmark channel holiday movies. Charming and admirable, with a female protagonist who is on the brink of discovering what young love really can be.

I liked the opposing personalities between Lila and Teddy. She’s a lot more organized and cares so much more about making sure that everything she does is done to perfection, while Teddy always looks outside the box for answers. There are differences between them, yet there are plenty of areas where they discover just how much they have in common, particularly where secrets are involved. Lila has been keeping a major secret from her family, and the same could be said for Teddy. There comes a point where they both have to come to terms with what’s most important to them, and what would be best--for them. Not for anyone else. That can be tough to do when you’re young and on the brink of adulthood, skirting the line between trying to make your family proud, while doing what will ultimately make you happy.

I think one of my favorite aspects to The Holiday Switch was the location! Holly, NY--it spurred me to look into whether there really is a Holly in NY, and there is, but it goes by “Holley.” If there were such a place like Holly that showcased the festivities of the holiday season, I’d be there in a second! While I don’t often read YA books, I’m glad I read this one. It was a wonderful five-star read, particularly for this time of year!   

Thanks to Leo PR for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Tif Marcelo:

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