Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Thursday, January 8

Book Review: The Christmas Stocking by Fern Michaels

Author: Fern Michaels

Title: The Christmas Stocking

Genre: Chick Lit, Short story, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 85

Published: October 27, 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary:

Amy Baran is determined to raise money for a new seniors’ center by harvesting Christmas trees from the small-town Virginia farm she remembers from her childhood. Trouble is, Gus Moss has his own ideas about saving the farm his father has neglected. Neither wants to give up, but when attraction turns to romance, they just might have to give in . . .

Review:

Whoops. Meant to type this review a couple of days ago....whoopsies. We'll see how much I remember.

A nice short story set during Christmas. Amy is determined to raise money for a new seniors' center. She wants to do this by harvesting Christmas trees from the small-town Virginia farm from her childhood. Trouble walks in when Gus has his own ideas about saving the farm. It belongs to his family, and his father has neglected it. Neither wants to give up, but something is brewing in the air between them.

Honestly...I started this before the New Year and right before Christmas, but it fell away, and I forgot about it. And then I got the reminder that the book was due back soon. Eeek. Thank goodness this is a short story!

This was entertaining enough. I like this author, so I thought this would be lovely for the holidays. However, the story and characters felt...overplayed. Maybe I read too many Xmas books lately. Maybe the author just needs more time with the story and the characters to flesh it out a bit? Maybe I am a Grinch with the holidays being over?

So yeaaaaaa....eh. Not bad by any means, it just felt boring. Nothing took me by surprise.

2 stars from me.

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #1

Tuesday, January 6

Book Review: Marmee by Sarah Miller

Author: Sarah Miller

Title: Marmee

Genre: Historical Fiction, Retelling

Format: paperback

Pages: 423

Published: October 4, 2022

Where I got It: My shelf (An Xmas gift)

Summary:

In 1861, war is raging in the South, but in Concord, Massachusetts, Margaret March has her own battles to fight. With her husband serving as an army chaplain, the comfort and security of Margaret's four daughters-- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy--now rest on her shoulders alone. Money is tight and every month, her husband sends less and less of his salary with no explanation. Worst of all, Margaret harbors the secret that these financial hardships are largely her fault, thanks to a disastrous mistake made over a decade ago which wiped out her family's fortune and snatched away her daughters' chances for the education they deserve.

Yet even with all that weighs upon her, Margaret longs to do more--for the war effort, for the poor, for the cause of abolition, and most of all, for her daughters. Living by her watchwords, "Hope and keep busy," she fills her days with humdrum charity work to keep her worries at bay. All of that is interrupted when Margaret receives a telegram from the War Department, summoning her to her husband's bedside in Washington, D.C. While she is away, her daughter Beth falls dangerously ill, forcing Margaret to confront the possibility that the price of her own generosity toward others may be her daughter's life.

A stunning portrait of the paragon of virtue known as Marmee, a wife left behind, a mother pushed to the brink, a woman with secrets.

Review:

I started this book in December but I had to put it on the backburner. It was just so sad and I didn't need sad during the holidays. Buuuut I picked it back up and it is the first book of 2026.

I hate being lazy, but I'm feeling super meh today, so we'll divide and conquer this review.

The Good

- I loved reading Marmee's POV. It was nice reading her feelings.

- It was sad, but still enjoyable.

- The author did a great job capturing the vibe of the original book and bringing it to her version. I think the author would approve.

- Such a beautiful tale.

The Bad and the Ugly

- You will need a Kleenex because you will cry. Not necessarily a bad thing, but just a nice word of warning.

- The ending....you can't leave us like this. Will there be a book 2???????

Conclusion

Overall, I did enjoy this a lot. The ending...ugh. You can't just leave us like this. We need another book!!!!

I'll stamp this with 4 stars.

Monday, January 5

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: To Be Loved By You by Debbie Burns

Rescue Me, Book 6

By: Debbie Burns

Narrated by: Stina Nielsen

Series: Rescue Me, Book 6

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins

Release date: 01-13-26 by Tantor Media

Contemporary romance/to review

This was a cute romance with lots of rescue animals.

Jeremy has some trauma of his own, and because of that he has a therapy program for at risk kids.

Ava is a yoga teacher/realtor who he meets at a dog wash event. She has a short marriage behind her, but she at least is open.

They meet again at her dog yoga. They get friendly. He has an adorable dog, he wants to foster more dogs. There are rescue kittens. So many cute animals. Of course they have to fall in love when caring for so many animals.

The drama is the hurts of his past and if he can get over that.

Happily ever after with animals. Cute story. Good narration that made you follow along

Jeremy Washington couldn't be happier running his own therapy program for at-risk teens. Between weekend service projects and hanging out with his faithful rescue dog, Rolo, Jeremy doesn't have time to date--which is fine with him considering the mess his early marriage turned out to be. The only thing he needs now is a new project for the kids in his program, and the High Grove Animal Shelter has the perfect opportunity--a group of dogs and puppies needing foster care.

At the rescue site, Jeremy meets Ava Graham, a yoga teacher looking to expand her practice. Jeremy thinks the kids would really benefit from learning yoga, and Ava's the perfect person to help--maybe too perfect. Ava's beautiful, talented, and funny--and she has the biggest heart Jeremy has seen in a long time. But can Ava convince him that mixing business and pleasure could be the key to rescuing his heart?