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parklandmom's reviews
773 reviews
All Is Bright by Colleen Coble
4.0
Read: December 2024
Series: Hope Beach
Format: audiobook from Everand but I own the 4-in-1 novella collection on Kindle
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan; very blasé)
Book #151 of 2024: This is the last of the 4 Christmas novellas. This one is associated with the Hope Beach series. I enjoyed the story and the community of people. It's nice to see someone above their twenties in a book. It needs to happen more often in the book world.
Series: Hope Beach
Format: audiobook from Everand but I own the 4-in-1 novella collection on Kindle
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan; very blasé)
Book #151 of 2024: This is the last of the 4 Christmas novellas. This one is associated with the Hope Beach series. I enjoyed the story and the community of people. It's nice to see someone above their twenties in a book. It needs to happen more often in the book world.
All Is Calm by Colleen Coble
4.25
Read: December 2024
Series: Lonestar, #4.5
Format: audiobook from Everand but I own the 4-in-1 Christmas collection on Kindle.
Narrator: Devon O'Day - not a fan, too blasé
Book #150 of 2024: This is my favourite of the four Christmas novellas... so far. I have the fourth/last left in this Christmas collection. This novella is associated with the Lonestar series. I haven't yet read that series.
I love the idea of this ranch for kids. The main character was there for a part of her childhood and comes full circle to work there. I enjoyed how they befriended the main character, helped her, and believed in her.
Series: Lonestar, #4.5
Format: audiobook from Everand but I own the 4-in-1 Christmas collection on Kindle.
Narrator: Devon O'Day - not a fan, too blasé
Book #150 of 2024: This is my favourite of the four Christmas novellas... so far. I have the fourth/last left in this Christmas collection. This novella is associated with the Lonestar series. I haven't yet read that series.
I love the idea of this ranch for kids. The main character was there for a part of her childhood and comes full circle to work there. I enjoyed how they befriended the main character, helped her, and believed in her.
Holy Night by Colleen Coble
3.0
Read: December 2024
Series: Aloha Reef, 4.5
Format: audiobook borrow from Everand but I own the Christmas collection Kindle e-Book
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan, too blasé)
Book #149 of 2024: I've read most everything that Colleen Coble has written. The Aloha Reef series is the one series that I didn't continue after the first book. It just didn't click for me. This Christmas novella associated with that series is the same. I do love that one of the minor characters has Down Syndrome because I have a heart for Down's kids and adults.
Series: Aloha Reef, 4.5
Format: audiobook borrow from Everand but I own the Christmas collection Kindle e-Book
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan, too blasé)
Book #149 of 2024: I've read most everything that Colleen Coble has written. The Aloha Reef series is the one series that I didn't continue after the first book. It just didn't click for me. This Christmas novella associated with that series is the same. I do love that one of the minor characters has Down Syndrome because I have a heart for Down's kids and adults.
Silent Night by Colleen Coble
4.0
Read: December 2024
Series: Rock Harbor, #5.5
Format: audiobook borrow from Everand but I own the Christmas collection Kindle e-book
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan; too blasé)
Book #148 of 2024: I really like the Rock Harbor series but never read this Christmas novella. It was nice to visit again and have such a happy ending.
Series: Rock Harbor, #5.5
Format: audiobook borrow from Everand but I own the Christmas collection Kindle e-book
Narrator: Devon O'Day (not a fan; too blasé)
Book #148 of 2024: I really like the Rock Harbor series but never read this Christmas novella. It was nice to visit again and have such a happy ending.
Christmas Witness Pursuit by Lisa Harris
4.0
Read: December 2024
Series: O'Callahan, #2
Format: Kindle e-Book
Book #147 of 2024: I didn't realize this was part of a series until I was part way in. I sensed the brothers each had a book so I checked and verified.
This book has a lot of suspense and action. I am also thankful for quieter moments when the two lead characters would talk. I like balance. It adds depth to a book. The interesting premise of a witness to a high-profile case and temporary amnesia added a lot of mystery.
I've read many books by this author and I always enjoy them.
Series: O'Callahan, #2
Format: Kindle e-Book
Book #147 of 2024: I didn't realize this was part of a series until I was part way in. I sensed the brothers each had a book so I checked and verified.
This book has a lot of suspense and action. I am also thankful for quieter moments when the two lead characters would talk. I like balance. It adds depth to a book. The interesting premise of a witness to a high-profile case and temporary amnesia added a lot of mystery.
I've read many books by this author and I always enjoy them.
A Valentine from Charleston by Ashley Clark
5.0
Read: December 2024
Series: Heirloom Secrets, #1.75
Format: Kindle e-Book novella
Book #146 of 2024: I loved the previous novella but this one is even better!! It was romantic and swoony without being too much. I loved these two characters and the entire storyline!
This novella is a great reminder about how eye candy doesn't always mean substance and that finding someone who sees you and gets you is far more valuable. This George reminds me of my own George, my husband of over 28 and a half years.
Ashley Clark sure shines at packing in a fabulous story into a short novella!
Series: Heirloom Secrets, #1.75
Format: Kindle e-Book novella
Book #146 of 2024: I loved the previous novella but this one is even better!! It was romantic and swoony without being too much. I loved these two characters and the entire storyline!
This novella is a great reminder about how eye candy doesn't always mean substance and that finding someone who sees you and gets you is far more valuable. This George reminds me of my own George, my husband of over 28 and a half years.
Ashley Clark sure shines at packing in a fabulous story into a short novella!
Christmas at the Inn by Ashley Clark
4.5
Read: December 2024
Series: Heriloom Secrets, #1.5
Format: Kindle eBook
Book #145 of 2024: This was such a fun novella and I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters. Sometimes we can meet people in such unexpected ways and God just continues the path forward.
I loved how they fit together and how their dreams merged and stretched together. I read book 1 in this series and knew I would continue on. I will now be following this novella with the next novella in this series! I am following the recommended reading order by the author.
Series: Heriloom Secrets, #1.5
Format: Kindle eBook
Book #145 of 2024: This was such a fun novella and I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters. Sometimes we can meet people in such unexpected ways and God just continues the path forward.
I loved how they fit together and how their dreams merged and stretched together. I read book 1 in this series and knew I would continue on. I will now be following this novella with the next novella in this series! I am following the recommended reading order by the author.
Once Upon a Summer by Janette Oke
4.25
Read: December 2024
Series: season of the Heart, #1
Format: audiobook from Audible Plus
Narrator: Johnny Heller (absolutely fantastic!)
Book #143 of 2024: I enjoyed this story a lot! The narrator couldn't have been better. A first person perspective from a young boy likely isn't easy but Oke did a wonderful job! I appreciate this family and they came together out of loss and heartache. They love one another and find joy in the every day. I'm particularly fond of stories between an individual and a grandparent figure.
Series: season of the Heart, #1
Format: audiobook from Audible Plus
Narrator: Johnny Heller (absolutely fantastic!)
Book #143 of 2024: I enjoyed this story a lot! The narrator couldn't have been better. A first person perspective from a young boy likely isn't easy but Oke did a wonderful job! I appreciate this family and they came together out of loss and heartache. They love one another and find joy in the every day. I'm particularly fond of stories between an individual and a grandparent figure.
How Her Ex Stole Christmas by Christy Barritt
2.25
Read: December 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Book #144 of 2024: I've enjoyed suspense books by this author but I didn't connect with this at all. Personally, I didn't find it believable or humorous. The mother-daughter relationship was the one aspect I appreciated as well as the one quote from 59% through:
"He’d discovered that when money was involved, men’s hearts could be changed entirely too easily. Most men could be bought."
Format: Kindle e-Book
Book #144 of 2024: I've enjoyed suspense books by this author but I didn't connect with this at all. Personally, I didn't find it believable or humorous. The mother-daughter relationship was the one aspect I appreciated as well as the one quote from 59% through:
"He’d discovered that when money was involved, men’s hearts could be changed entirely too easily. Most men could be bought."
Broken Noel by Brenda S. Anderson
4.0
Read: December 2024
Format: Kindle e-book
Book #142 of 2024: This is a short story but kind of a mini novella. It's from The Heart of Christmas anthology from The Mosaic Collection.
Losing a loved one at any time but during the holidays just seems extra difficult. I can understand why the main character is overwhelmed with the usual 'stuff' surrounding Christmas. How does one go on "as normal" when your wife is gone?
Noelle wants the opposite. She wants to do everything they always did. Everyone reacts differently in grief.
I love how supportive family and friends are. Even when it came time to give him some hard love and a kick, it's done with compassion and care.
Format: Kindle e-book
Book #142 of 2024: This is a short story but kind of a mini novella. It's from The Heart of Christmas anthology from The Mosaic Collection.
Losing a loved one at any time but during the holidays just seems extra difficult. I can understand why the main character is overwhelmed with the usual 'stuff' surrounding Christmas. How does one go on "as normal" when your wife is gone?
Noelle wants the opposite. She wants to do everything they always did. Everyone reacts differently in grief.
I love how supportive family and friends are. Even when it came time to give him some hard love and a kick, it's done with compassion and care.