Book Review: Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien

Author: JRR Tolkien

Title: Letters from Father Christmas

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Format: ebook

Pages: 209

Published: February 15, 2012

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R.Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in strange spidery handwriting and a beautiful coloured drawing or some sketches. The letters were from Father Christmas.

They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how all the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house into the dining-room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house!

Review:

This is just so wholesome. I wish it had been available near Xmas for me, but there was a long line for this little guy! It came precisely when it meant to, I guess. 

This is a compiled collection of Santa letters Tolkien wrote for his children over a span of many years. How freakin' adorable?

I honestly would love to purchase a physical version of this. Yes, the ebook was fine, but I do not think it did the drawings justice. They looked so cute and fun. Those kids were extremely blessed to have a dad do this for them. 

The stories were fun and creative. What else would you expect from the legend? 

The ending had me holding back tears. It was a lovely way to end the letters. I'm sure he was so upset that his kiddos were too old for the letters. You could sense it. 

I would read this again, but I really want the physical version. 

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

-  Library Love #2

Audiobook Review: Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Author: Kristy Boyce

Narrator: Abigail Reno
Title: Dating and Dragons

Series: Gaming and Romance #2

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published: December 31, 2024
Where I Got It: My shelf (gift)

Summary: 

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!

Review:

I was given this as a giftie because I had really loved book 1. It was so fun.

Here we have Quinn and Logan. Quinn is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to starting this new life with new friends. This sounds like a perfect plan when she notices that Logan is part of the group. He was nothing but smiles and kindness on her first day. This group has special and strict rules since they live stream their sessions: no phones and no dating other group members. She quickly learns the no-dating rule won't be a problem since Logan went from charming to insufferable as soon as he finds out she is joining the group. As their bickering and bantering intensify, Quinn can't help but wonder....is Logan's jerk behavior a smokescreen to hidden feelings? Would it be worth Quinn finding out?

This can be read as a standalone. This doesn't really tie into the other book. Different group and different school. There are some cameos, but you can read this one without the other one. Bummer, but oh well. 

This was very sweet, and I loved everyone. I especially loved Quinn's granny. She was hilarious and fun! She had me in stitches. I want to be her when I grow up!!!!!

Quinn was sweet. The girl needs some therapy, though. Her last group of friends was TOXIC with a capital T. 

Logan, once you see past the asshole-ness, is very sweet as well. Very charming. No wonder he plays a bard so well. 

There were a couple of little plot "twists" that were added. Sure, I get WHY...drama baby, drama...but it just bogged down the story a bit for my liking. I do not think it was necessary to add more fuel to the angst and pining for these two. Gah. Poor Quinn.

The narrator did a good job. All her teen boy voices were very similar, so you really have to focus and listen. But other than that - I liked her. She did well. 

In the end, I enjoyed this a lot. A nice new group of teens finding love in D&D and finding love at the table. The "live streaming" was a nice element. I hope we see them in the next book. Even a cameo would be nice. 

4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #1

Book Review: At First Spite by Olivia Dade

Author: Olivia Dade

Title: At First Spite

Series: Harlot's Bay #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 400

Published: February 13, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

When Athena Greydon’s fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. Which is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex’s home is literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her other side, only a four-foot alley away.

If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation. By, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with those windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?

Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he’s kind of…hot? Dammit.

Matthew may not regret ending his brother's engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He'll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?

Review:

Randomly stumbled upon this on Amazon while looking for something else. This sounded cute, and I love the cover. 

Here we follow Athena, who thought she had it all, but her fiancé leaves her at the instance of his brother. Now she is stuck with a tiny house squeezed in between theirs. If she is stuck with her ex-brother-in-law, she might as well have fun by messing with him. Matthew doesn't regret ending his brother's engagement, but he does feel terrible for Athena. But it was for the best. He will do what he can to help Athena, even if that means helping her find work, enduring her audiobooks, and seeing her too much. 

This was absolutely ridiculous, and the premise was chaotic at the best of times. BUT I had fun reading it. 

The dialogue was cheesy, but it was amusing. 

The characters were wild, and Athena was too much sometimes, but they were adorable. 

I had a lot of fun with this, but the ending? Ugh. He should've groveled and begged and pleaded. Athena is far too kind. 

All-in-all, I did enjoy this chaotic story. It was fun, and the characters were endearing, even though I think Athena needed to make Matthew earn her back. Grrr!

I'll give this 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

-  Reading Romance Challenge #1 (necktie)

Blodeuedd's Mondays: The Ritual by Adam Nevill

Format: 432 pages, Paperback

Published: February 14, 2012 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Horror/borrowed

Ok, I admit, I am not really a horror fan because I get scared, I have nightmares. I also do not want it bloody. But this book was so good! And really scary.

The first half is about 4 friends hiking through the Swedish wilderness. Two are out of shape and has had accidents so they decide to take what they believe is a shortcut through the woods.

Oh those woods were scary. I like when it is that creepy feeling that you never see anything, but something is out there. Something dangerous. And then they find creepy things. That intense uncomfortable feeling is growing.

But then after half the book the mood shifted, it was still good, but not as scary. Now it was more real and weird. I did prefer the first scary part, as the second part was never scary....I mean the threat of death is constant, but you would have to read it to see.

Great scary book

When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise. With limited experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn't possibly get any worse.

But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artifacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors. The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. As the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn't come easy among these ancient trees…