Hi everyone! I have a stop on The Christmas Cookie Collection blog tour today. There is a review of the book and a giveaway for you all.
The Christmas Cookie Collection
By: Lori Wilde
Blurb
There’s a legend in Twilight, Texas. It says that if on Christmas you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny.
Carrie, Raylene, Christine, and Flynn are all members of the Christmas Cookie Club. Each has a story to tell, and each discovers the miracles of the season and the power of love.
Carrie: Reconnects with her high school sweetheart . . .the only man she’s ever loved.
Raylene: Discovers that the daughter she gave away at birth is living right in Twilight . . .
Christine: Has given up on love . . . until the man of her dreams walks through her shop door.
Grace: It’s Christmas Eve and Flynn and Jesse Calloway are thrilled to be expecting a new baby. Then Flynn’s car hits a patch of ice, and Jesse must move earth . . . and heaven . . .to save her and their unborn child.
My Review
Carrie
Carrie will do anything to keep the legend of her town alive. She doesn't care much for Christmas and she knows the legend isn't true but she will not let the myth busting tv show that is in town ruin the business that the town gets. She was married years ago to her high school sweetheart years ago but quickly annulled the marriage. Now she doesn't want her story to be the one to ruin the legend. It's hard to keep it a secret when the host is her ex husband. Mark has never forgot Carrie and seeing her again make him realize he still loves her. He just has to keep the show from ruining the town and show Carrie they still have a chance at a future.
I really liked this story as Carrie was kinda like the Grinch at first. Then as you go to know her you see she is lonely and lets that reflect on her personality. You see she really is a very caring and loving person who wants the best for everyone even if it;s her own happiness. She has to understand she is good enough for people and see her own self worth. Mark is also a great character as he has made it big but isn't happy. He never forgot Cassie and understands later on why she did some of the things she did. They both are the perfect couple and meant for each other.
Raylene
Raylene is the one that truly broke the town legend. She had a secret she kept from her husband that tore them apart. Earl left her and she hasn't heard from him since. Her secret daughter is now in town and even Raylene doesn't know who she is. She works hard to try to her feelings for Earl from overcoming her but she truly misses him and regrets her secrets.
This was like two peoples story in one. You have Raylene and her daughter Shannon's POV in this story. Raylene just wants her husband to come home but she doesn't even know if he is ok. She wants to reach out to her daughter but wonders if it's to late. She is really torn up inside and tries not to ruin everyone's mood around her. She feels guilty for hiding her daughter from Earl and wonders if she even did the right thing. She struggles through most of the book. Shannon has come to Twilight to confront her mother she never knew and to get over her ex husband who was a con artist. She feels stupid for believing his lies and is afraid to trust people/ She meets Nate and while attracted to him she knows she can't have anything with him if she is going to move on. I loved both these woman as they both have tons of mixed emotions and really need to get to know each other. Towards the end of this story I was worried about one of the characters I will say.
Christine
Christine had big dreams growing up only to have them all taken away because of an accident. Every man she has dated has walked away from her and she feels broken thinking no one will ever love her. That is until her high school crush Eli walks through the door. He has what she has always dreamed of but she wonders if he will walk away to.
Christine's story will break your heart. She has the worst luck of anyone and it seems everything bad happens to her. I kept hoping something good would happen and in walks Eli. He is a wonderful guy as you will see and shows Christine he isn't like the others she has known. He always wanted her in high school but he moved and never got the chance to let her know. They both have a few issues to work through but they have to take a chance with each other first. They have what the other needs to be happy.
Grace:
Flynn and Jesse want to make sure the children in town have a good Christmas. They may not have much but they can't wait to meet their new baby. They try to hurry and deliver gifts to the needy before an ice storm hits but Jesse's past comes back to haunt them. Now Flynn and their baby may be in danger. It is up to Jesse to find Flynn in time.
Jesse has a bad reputaion and was sent to jail for years for something he didnt do. Now he has to deal with cops never trusting him and harrassing him. Flynn loves Jesse so much and would do anything for him. They both care so much for each other. While the time for their baby is drawing closer Flynn begins to miss her mom more and I can understand and relate to her in many ways. There is an element of danger to this story that isnisn't in the others. You can see just how much of a bond these two have for each other and you quickly fall in love with both of them.
Overall
I will say I enjoyed each and every story in this book. It was like getting to see inside the lives of just not the characters but a whole town. I didn't want it to end even if it had a wonderful ending. I wanted to see more into their lives. That is just the mark of an excellent writer. This is a fantastic book full of love, happiness, some sadness and all around holiday cheer. The characters feel like a family to you by the end and each story has it's on charm to it. I would recommend this to anyone wanted stories about a fantastic town, friendship, love or a heart warming holiday read.
5 out of 5 Stars
Buy Links
Read an Excerpt: http://www.loriwilde.com/booklist/the-christmas-cookie-collection/
Author Info
LORI WILDE is the New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty books. A former RITA finalist, Lori has received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers’ Choice, and numerous other honors. She lives in Texas, with her husband and a wide assortment of pets. Lori teaches Romance Writing Secrets via the internet through colleges and universities worldwide at www.ed2g.com. Visit her at www.loriwilde.comor @LoriWilde on Twitter.
Lori’s Links:
twitter handle is @LoriWilde
Giveaway
Be sure to follow the rest of the tour.
Sugar cookies! They are so much fun to make and decorate with children.
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ReplyDeleteThis is a great book!! I'm not entering the draw since I already own it, but highly recommend it!! :) Loved it!
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