Audiobook Review: A Married Little Christmas by Abby Jimenez

Author: Abby Jimenez
Narrator: Anthony Palmini, Patti Murin, Grayson Owens, Mollie Stark, Christine Lakin, & Zachary Webber

Title: A Married Little Christmas

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Anthology, Short Stories, Novella
Format: Audiobook

Published: October 20, 2026
Where I Got It: Library


Summary: 

Tis the season to fall in love in this three brilliant novellas from #1New York Times bestselling author of The Night We Met. Anna thought only the food would be a disaster at her Christmas dinner--until her high school ex shows up and they quickly have to hatch a fake-dating scheme to save face with their families. For Matty, the idea of sitting in a diner all day dressed as a zombie Santa after losing a bet has zero appeal. But his cute and funny server might just make him change his mind. And finally, will Lauren be able to convince her best friend that getting married after a three-day relationship is absolutely ridiculous? Or will the town called Little Christmas pull her in with its happily-ever-after magic once she meets the best man?

Review:

Awww, I adore this author, so I was excited to see this available at my library. 

This one has three short stories about love and Christmas. 

Sweater Weather - Anna and Jeremy

This was a 2nd chance that didn't piss me off. I felt they had a real conversation to get over the past "wrongs". The reason why they broke up in their youth was not bad. It was just misunderstandings and young, dumb kids being...well....young and dumb. 

I liked Anna and Jeremy. I loved their families. I especially loved Jeremy's spicy granny. Very fun and cute. 

The narrators did great.

5 stars. 

Stealing Christmas - Rhiannon and Matty

This was a weird take on a forced proximity romance, and I liked it. Poor Matty lost a bet and has to sit at the restaurant from open to close in a zombie Santa outfit. Weird. Embarrassing. Check and check. Rhiannon is the poor waitress who has to serve him, and she will be there from open to close. They talk. They laugh. They work together. And they track down her cat from an ex who stole it.

The banter. The chatting. The obvious perfection between these two was lovely. And that last scene before the epilogue was lovely. Awwww. PLUS Matty is Jeremy's brother, and we get to see a cameo of that spicy granny. Weeeee. 

Great narrators again!

5 stars. 

A Married Little Christmas - Lauren and William

Two people who do not believe in love are brought together because their respective BFFs are getting married after only knowing each other for 3 days. They work together to try and convince their friends not to do it. But will the magic of the Christmas town warm the heart of these two?

Awww, I liked Lauren and William a lot. They were grumpy and anti-love people. They both had been burned BAD by their exes, so it makes sense. I loved watching them meet and become allies and then friends and then more. It was so very warm and cheery. Sooooo Hallmark ;) 

Great narrators for this one too!

5 stars. 

Overall

What a fun collection for the holidays. Def 100% recommend. All three were great. I loved all the couples for different reasons. It was done well. 

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #49

- Library Love #34

Book Review: A Christmas Tragedy by Agatha Christie

Author: Agatha Christie

Title: A Christmas Tragedy

Series: Miss Marple #SS 10

Genre: Short story, Mystery, Classic

Format: ebook

Pages: 38

Published: January 1, 1930

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

At a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she meets is planning on murdering his wife. It's the Keston Spa Hydro just prior to Christmas where she sees a husband and wife couple, the Sanders, and senses that there's something wrong. Is she becoming desensitized to murder and crime? Or is there something to her concern?

Review:

I've really been eating up some Agatha Christie lately! Her stuff has just been tickling my fancy lately. 

Here we are again with Miss Maple. While at a health resort, Miss Marple becomes suspicious that a man she is meeting murdered his wife. Something is wrong, but she can't tell if there is actually something or not. 

Awww, I'm really like Miss Marple. She is a fun character. I love Hercule, but I am loving Marple too. 

This was a nice little gem. It's nearly Christmas, and Marple just knows something is wrong... but is there? 

Of course there is lol, but I liked watching Marple get to the conclusion. 

Def a nice short and fun read.

Great ending. 

5 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #34

B's Monday Review: The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

Series: The Cemeteries of Amalo (#1), The Chronicles of Osreth (#2)

Format: 320 pages, Paperback

Published: July 22, 2021 by Solaris

Fantasy/own

This was a standalone sequel to book 1, which I honestly do not remember much of anymore.

Thara Celehar is a witness for the dead and is in a new city. An unknown dead person is found, and he is the one that solves the mystery of who she is, and then who killed her. While solving that mystery he also witnesses for someone else. There are small sidequests while working out the main story.

It was all told in this calm manner. I enjoyed reading about Celehar, and I would love to dive into this world again.

Enjoyable murder mystery set in a fantasy world.

When the young half-goblin emperor Maia sought to learn who had killed his father and half-brothers, he turned to an obscure resident of his Court, a Prelate of Ulis and a Witness for the Dead. Thara Celehar found the truth, though it did him no good to discover it. He lost his place as a retainer of his cousin the former Empress, and made far too many enemies among the many factions vying for power in the new Court. The favor of the Emperor is a dangerous coin.

Now Celehar lives in the city of Amalo, far from the Court though not exactly in exile. He has not escaped from politics, but his position gives him the ability to serve the common people of the city, which is his preference. He lives modestly, but his decency and fundamental honesty will not permit him to live quietly. As a Witness for the Dead, he can, sometimes, speak to the recently dead: see the last thing they saw, know the last thought they had, experience the last thing they felt. it is his duty to use that ability to resolve disputes, to ascertain the intent of the dead, to find the killers of the murdered.

Celehar's skills now lead him out of the quiet and into a morass of treachery, murder, and injustice. No matter his own background with the imperial house, Celehar will stand with the commoners, and possibly find a light in the darkness.

Audiobook Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Narrator: Caitlin Davies

Title: The Spellshop

Series: Spellshop #1

Genre: Fantasy, Cozy, Romance
Format: Audiobook

Published: July 9, 2024
Where I Got It: Library


Summary: 

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Review:

Been itching to check this one out. Love a good cozy. Plus, I've been wanting some fantasy. 

Here we follow Kiela, who has lived a quiet life as a librarian. Her only friend has been her assistant and plant, Caz. Revolution breaks out, and they are forced to flee. Taking some books with her, she finds herself in her childhood home. Needing an income, she starts selling jam and a bit of illegal magic. She tries to keep her books and magic a secret, but it is hard with the nosy townsfolk and her handsome neighbor. 

This was a fun lil guy. Fantasy and cozy with just enough drama to keep it interesting. Kiela is just wants to be left alone with her books and Caz. But moving back to the small town of her youth...well...that isn't an option. 

There is a splash of romance here, but it wasn't the whole thing, and that made me happy. I liked seeing Kiela find friends, peace, and a place to call her own. 

I do want to learn more about this revolution tbf. It could make for a good not cozy read. 

Mmmmm what else? 

OH! That cover???? LOVE. 

Oh. The narrator did a good job. I liked her voices overall. Some were a little too similar that there was a time or two I had to backtrack because I lost who said what. But she did well!

Overall, this was a nice cozy listen. Loved the fantasy elements. The romance, cozy, and drama were well balanced. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #48

- Library Love #33