Sweet Magik by Penny Watson

Book Description:
Oskar Klaus' job is killing him. Not even his favorite hobbies (extreme snowboarding and browsing old bookstores) are enough to snap him out of his funk. It's not easy living in the shadow of four successful older brothers and a father named Santa. Little does he know that a kiss on New Year's Eve is about to turn his life upside-down.

Kiana Grant's Manhattan life is a world away from her childhood in Oahu. She traded sunsets and surfing for a respectable career in library science, but Oskar Klaus is a temptation that's hard to resist. Before she knows it, she's in the midst of an outrageous adventure in the North Pole, dealing with mischievous elves, wicked demons, and a devastating attraction to Santa's youngest son.

There's just one problem...a bitter elf hell-bent on revenge threatens the future of everyone in the North Pole, even Santa himself...

Book Two of the Klaus Brother's Series that takes place in Glasdorf aka The North Pole.  This is a heartwarming holiday romance that pairs charming bad boy, green haired, snow boarding Oskar Klaus, the youngest of the Klaus boys, with the unlikely Kiana Grant, a staid librarian he meets at his brother's New Year's Eve party in Manhattan.

Oskar's having some job issues these days.  He feels like he's gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to his occupation.  His older brothers all seem to have really cool jobs supporting the family industry known as Santa Klaus - their father.  Oskar's job?  He's in charge of keeping Santa's elves in line.  Elves. They're an irascible lot, prone to overindulging in alcohol and magical pranks (winters are long at the North Pole). Somebody's got to make sure they get all their orders completed in time for Christmas Eve and Oskar has the honor of being in charge of all elves related matters in Glasdorf.  It's been an exhausting month getting the Christmas orders in and by the time Oskar makes it to his brother's party on New Year's Eve, he's ready for a break.  Sick and tired of his lacklustre job, he's going through a quasi mid-life crisis - even though he's way too young for one.   Vapid supermodels just don't seem to appeal to him any longer.  His yearning for something - but doesn't know what.  He's ready for something different, something... gray and wearing glasses.  Something that looks like a librarian?

As we soon learn appearances aren't always what they seem.  Oskar spies Kiana Grant, who is dressed to "repel" at his brother's party.  She's disguised as a frumpy wallflower - and likes it that way - or so she thinks.  Denial, baby.  Coming off a hard break up with a two timing boyfriend in her native Hawaii, Kiana  has relocated to New York City to live with her best friend Trish.  They just happen to live in the same building as Oskar's brother.  Oskar's instant curiosity with Kiana leads to a magikal kiss at the stroke of midnight that catches them both off guard.  Could this be that elusive thing called love - or is it all from a magikal spell cast by a disgruntled (and drunken) elf in Glasdorf?

Watson brings the world of Glasdorf to life as the story shifts to the North Pole where Oskar must find out who is wreaking havoc amidst the elven world.   A dark and evil magical force has been unleashed and, with Oskar in the lead, he and his brothers - as well as some helpful and (repentent) elves set out to capture the bad guy.  Little does Oskar know there's a stowaway on his high speed sleigh back to the North Pole.   Kiana has hitched a ride and Oskar has a lot of explaining to do!  As much as he's glad to have Kiana nearby, he also worries she may be in danger.  Although that doesn't stop them from getting to know each other better, involving a pretty steamy shower scene.  Hot. Kiana takes the whole Santa, North Pole phenomenon pretty well, considering how off the wall it is. I would too if I had an Oskar Klaus on my arm.   Having had almost no family to speak of in her childhood, she takes to the Klaus clan wholeheartedly - and the feeling is mutual.   All seems to be going great between them, until they find out their love for one another might be nothing more than a love spell - that will soon wear off!  Huh? Uh-oh.

I won't go over the entire plot line, but this is a fun story with plenty of action, adventure and a cute little waif in need of a mother and father.  Did I mention there are some wicked love scenes too? The characterizations are right on target with depth and background, giving weight to the tender and bittersweet moments that crop up in the storyline.  It was a pleasure to read about how both Kiana and Oskar surprisingly evolve to find they are truly made for one another, reinforcing the "don't judge a book by its cover" theme*. This romance has everything!  If you enjoy contemporary holiday themed romances with bits of whimsical fantasy and magical elements thrown in - this is the book for you! I recommend it!

4/5

*Speaking of covers - this one is great! I simply love it and it fits with the story perfectly!

**This book was given to me by the author for review - thanks Penny!

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The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig (audio)

Book Description:
Arabella Dempsey’s dear friend Jane Austen warned her against teaching. But Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies seems the perfect place for Arabella to claim her independence while keeping an eye on her younger sisters nearby. Just before Christmas, she accepts a position at the quiet girls’ school in Bath, expecting to face nothing more exciting than conducting the annual Christmas recital. She hardly imagines coming face to face with French aristocrats and international spies…

Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh - often mistaken for the elusive spy known as the Pink Carnation - has blundered into danger before. But when he blunders into Miss Arabella Dempsey, it never occurs to him that she might be trouble.  When Turnip and Arabella stumble upon a beautifully wrapped Christmas pudding with a cryptic message written in French, “Meet me at Farley Castle”, the unlikely vehicle for intrigue launches the pair on a Yuletide adventure that ranges from the Austens’ modest drawing room to the awe-inspiring estate of the Dukes of Dovedale, where the Dowager Duchess is hosting the most anticipated event of the year: an elaborate 12-day Christmas celebration. Will they find poinsettias or peril, dancing or danger? And is it possible that the fate of the British Empire rests in Arabella and Turnip’s hands, in the form of a festive Christmas pudding?

When I heard that Lauren Willig was giving "Turnip" Fitzhugh his own book, I wondered.  How is she going to pull this off and turn him into a lusty and dashing Regency hero?  Well, now I know.  I can't exactly say he's lusty, though he's looked on a lot of women with lust ;)  Reginald "Turnip" Fitzhugh is a delight!  Bumbling, yet full of good intentions, he meets his match in Arabella Dempsey, a well brought up young lady, who must become a schoolteacher in an exclusive girl's academy to help out her family's finances. While there, she stumbles into Turnip - literally - as well as a valuable document that French spies are willing to kill her for. Guess who comes to her rescue? I laughed aloud and loved every bit of this delightful and oftentimes hilarious Christmas themed addition to Willig's Pink Carnation series.

If you have read the previous books in the series, you are already well acquainted with Turnip, as he is affectionately known as.  Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, Turnip is a wealthy aristocrat with a penchant for outlandish waistcoats - the more garish the better.   In the past books, he's been mistaken for the the Pink Carnation, a mysterious spy that has managed to foil many French agents under Bonaparte's regime.  Of course, we all know Turnip is definitely not the Pink Carnation, although he's tall, handsome, blond and not a bad kisser when he puts his mind to it.  But, a spy - no sir!

The year is 1803 and dutiful brother that he is, Turnip is visiting his younger sister at her boarding school in Bath, delivering her Christmas basket, full of assorted goodies and what not, despite the fact she'll be returning home within a week or two for the Christmas holidays anyway.  The "goodies" are used mostly for trading purposes among the girls at the school.  Turnip's sister Sally was a hoot, I really enjoyed her.  On audio, Kate Reading did a great job of conveying just the right tone of bratty teenager.  Willig is aces at describing the Regency version of sibling scorn that goes on between brothers and sisters.  Blackmail, bribery, snarky remarks and the usual sniping at each other - that sort of thing.  I loved it!   Since I'm the youngest of six, I could totally relate!  Not that Turnip isn't a gentleman, he is.  He manages to rise above most of his sister's petty complaints, though he does often fall prey to her schemes and desires.  The long and short of it is, he's a good brother, even if he's a soft touch.  Sally's lucky to have him.

Arabella Dempsey is a brand new schoolteacher at Miss Climpson's.  She bumps into Turnip and he takes to her immediately.  They've met before, since Arabella was, until recently, the companion of her wealthy aunt and frequented many balls and soirees amidst the upper classes.  Unfortunately, the aunt married a ne'er do well fortune hunter, a Captain Musgrave. Arabella's hopes of one day inheriting her aunt's wealth were crushed when Musgrave ensnared her aging aunt.  It didn't help that the captain kissed Arabella and led her on as well - before the engagement!  What a scoundrel!   Now Arabella must make ends meet and her chance meeting of Turnip makes her slightly uncomfortable, for it's a reminder of what she could of had, and what her life is now.  Turnip is oblivious to Arabella's life change.  All he knows is he's attracted to her and wants to bloody well see her again!  He invites her to join him on an excursion to Farley Castle.  This will also help solve the mystery of the errant Christmas pudding with the cryptic note - "Meet me at Farley Castle" that turned up at Miss Climpson's.  Turnip will be able to kill two birds with one stone.  See more of Miss Dempsey and find out if he's uncovered a secret spy ring!  Here we see my old favorites like Lord and Lady Vaughn. I loved their story from The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, although here they are terribly sarcastic and snobbish at Arabella and Turnip's expense. But, I think it's mostly an act, though their comments were deliciously on target - great job, Lauren!

After the excursion to the Castle, one thing leads to another and indeed the note in the pudding is related to French spies - and Arabella becomes their target.  They believe she has an important list of spies and they will stop at nothing to get it. There is plenty of intrigue and as a result, a great deal of shenanigans ensue.  Arabella and Turnip keep running into each other and naturally he develops a tendre for Arabella.  He also sees it as his duty to protect her from said spies.  After an hysterical midnight ruckus in the music room, capturing the music master sneaking into a window of Miss Climpson's, Turnip sneaks up to Arabella's bedroom at the school.  Just to make sure she's safe, of course.  One thing leads to another and they share a kiss - but this must stop.  Arabella is a schoolteacher who cannot afford to lose her job - or her reputation.  Turnip is not that easily dissuaded.  He likes Arabella!  He makes it a point to see her again at the hilarious Christmas Pageant put on by the school the next day.  Arabella spends much of the time avoiding Turnip, but he chases her down.  She doesn't realize his feelings are serious about her and she has to put an end to anything.  I really felt badly for both of them.  She tells him once and for all that she can no longer see him, it is folly.  At first he's hurt by her rejection, believing she's putting him off because of his well known reputation for acting like an idiot, but puddings, jam, spies, danger and love all succeed in throwing these two together!

Much of the book revolves around the school and then later at the Duchess of Dovedale's Christmas House Party.  Here we meet some of the characters from Willig's earlier book, Temptation of the Night Jasmine and if you're familiar with that book, you'll see how the stories run simultaneously, only we're now getting a different point of view.   I'm leaving tons out, but trust me, it's jam packed with great little touches and loads of humor, I think this is by far the funniest of all the books in the series.  I love humor in my romances and while listening to it on my iPod, this made peeling potatoes and emptying the dishwasher fun!  I'm in awe of Willig's comic genius!

Turnip is an endearing hero and much of his dialogue is simply hilarious.  The world according to Turnip can be most amusing!  Who would have thought kippers could be so funny?  "Rugby beating Rugby!"  There were numerous crazy Turnip-isms - I wish I had the book in print to remember them exactly, there are too many to list, but they had me cracking up!  Arabella's practicality and common sense counterbalances Turnip's joie de vivre!    I love it how he goes to bat for her and defends and rescues her at the house party.  He is honorable and gentlemanly with her - I'm so glad to see that they both find love at long last - and those lessons at Gentleman Jackson's sure did come in handy - I cheered at the results!

I highly recommend Mischief, it was a real treat and perfect for the holiday season.  I especially loved the music that broke up the parts of the audiobook, it put me in a real festive holiday mood as well!  This has become a new favorite in the series for me, Turnip and Arabella are adorable and refreshing.  They're good for each other!  I simply loved Turnip!  He is a true hero in the finest sense of the word.  I hope you enjoy this latest addition to the Pink Carnation Series as much as I did.  As an FYI, this is a "clean" romance, no sex, so it's entirely appropriate for pre-teens.  Also, there is no mention of the modern day story between Colin and Eloise that takes place in all the previous novels, so we'll just have to wait for Willig's next installment for more on that score. 

Happy Holidays!

4.5/5

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Sweet Inspiration by Penny Watson

Book Description:
What if the legend of Santa Claus is in fact, true? What if Santa has five big strapping sons who help him run his empire? Five single, sexy sons looking for romance...

Nicholas Klaus is a master pastry chef, a strict disciplinarian, and the eldest son of the legendary Santa Claus. One look at cafe owner Lucy Brewster sends him into an unexpected tailspin of lusty desires. When Lucy is injured, Nicholas makes a decision that catapults their lives into turmoil...

Lucy Brewster, the free-spirited proprietor of Sweet Inspiration, has a flair for concocting sugary confections but no time for adventure. She gets more than she bargained for when she awakens in the North Pole...rambunctious elves, a fitness-obsessed Santa, and the man of her dreams. Does she have what it takes to become the next Mrs. Klaus?

Now that Thanksgiving is over and we're officially into the Christmas season, amidst the hectic craziness of shopping, decorating, party going and party planning, there's nothing I love better than to take a break from the holiday frenzy and snuggle up before a roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book - or rather - a good romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this sinfully delicous, fantasy romance by debut author Penny Watson that was original, sexy, well written and ... inspiring in more ways than one! ;)

This is the story of Nicholas Sebastian Klaus, the eldest son of the Santa Claus, who will one day take over the "family business" as tradition dictates. But, not only is Nicholas the heir to his father's vast enterprises, he is an exceptional baker, who spends his time overseeing Klaus Küchen, the extraordinary North Pole bakery under the domain of magical elves and Santa. He travels the world searching out the best ingredients, recipes and food from all over. Will he be able to set aside his love for baking and assume the mantel of his father and become the next Santa Claus?

His travels bring him to Eston, New York, a small upstate town that has a small cafe, Sweet Inspiration. Following up on a tip that the cafe's sugar cookies are the best to be had, he goes to sample them. As soon as he meets the owner and chief baker of the cafe, Lucy Anne Brewster his world is turned upside down. Lucy, a petite redhead with a heart of gold and a loyal following is unexplainably drawn to Nicholas as well. Erotic thoughts of him pop into her head and she wonders who this quiet, good looking, large man with a beard is, and why has he been frequenting her store every day for the past two weeks? Little does she know that he's been having erotic dreams of her as well: pastry cream, red lacy bras and, erm, sugar cookies crumbled over her ... well you get the idea!

She and Nicholas eventually meet and he comes to her aid and helps her with a huge order of cookies that need to be made overnight. That's not all he does. He is falling for her hard and goes out of his way to endear himself to her. They lose no time in getting their first kiss out of the way - Nicholas knows what he wants.

“My God, you are a delectable treat. I want to eat you up.”

Aptly put.

I loved this scene, one of my favorites. Ms. Watson is adept at conveying her hero and heroine's loneliness, neither one has a special someone, they've been too busy with their lives. This is a great lead up to their kiss and discovery of each other - wham! Suddenly the dam has broken, this is what they've both been waiting for and they can't keep their hands off each other! After a delicious first kiss, amidst a kitchen full of apples, I loved it how they blurt out the fact that they've both been dreaming of each other for weeks! When she's too tired to barely stand on her own two feet from working most of the night on the cookie order, Nicholas makes her a sumptuous gourmet dinner and then sweeps her off those tired feet ending in a sizzling night of passion together. But, things don't exactly end up being happily ever after. The next morning, due to a series of unexpected events that befall Lucy, Nicholas has no choice and disobeys the cardinal rules of where he lives by using magic on her. She wakes up at the North Pole in his hometown of Glasdorf to find elves, four other strapping and good lookng Klaus brothers, an unexpectedly buff Santa Klaus and his hip wife, Alena. Will Lucy run away screaming or embrace this magical life that is both foreign and welcoming?

Not only was this story fun to read with it's whimsical touches of fantasy interspersed with reality, it left me craving Christmas cookies and pastries nonstop due to all the luscious descriptions throughout the story of Lucy and Nicholas' confections. They all sounded delicious and made my mouth water - it definitely got me in the mood to make some Chrismas cookies of my own! The story and background of Glasforf was endearing and the legend of Santa with it's German influences and elfin theme was both interesting and gave it an air of authenticity - although of course, we all know there's no such thing as Santa Claus in real life - don't we? Or do we... ;)

Give this heartwarming story a try, a quick read, it's available in ebook format through The Wild Rose Press here and is released today, just in time for the holidays! This is the first in a series in which each one of the five Klaus brothers get their own stories. Ms. Watson is already working on Oskar Klaus' story, Sweet Magik, which I can't wait to read, though Gregor is my favorite of the bunch (besides Nicholas, of course!) I'll also be interested in seeing what the covers look like - this one was to die for!

4/5

Click here to purchase Sweet Inspiration

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Penny's Website



A special thank you to Penny Watson and The Wild Rose Press for making this ebook available to me for review.

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A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas

Book Description:
The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searches for true love. Now happily married, they join together once again to help one of the world's most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe...

It's Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren't for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart. With her trademark charm, sensuality, and unforgettable characters, there's no one like Lisa Kleypas to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

This is a sequel to the Wallflower series, which I just finished a few days ago. I must admit, my timing worked out wonderfully to read this book at this time of year, only days before Christmas! I enjoyed this short novella (213 pages) and it was nice to catch up with the Wallflowers and their respective husbands and find they are all still blissfully in lust love with their husbands and vice versa! Lillian redeemed herself in this book for me, I was getting annoyed with her in the last 2 books, but she did a lot of good turns for Hannah, who was the star of this book.

Hannah is the wallflower companion to the incomparable Natalie Blandford who is being considered as a bride by the rakish and oh so good looking American Rafe Bowman, brother to Lillian and Daisy Bowman (now Lillian, Countess of Westcliff and Daisy Swift).

Rafe's father has ruled he must marry Natalie or forfeit his fortune and future inheritence of his father's soap factory. At first, Rafe arrives in London with the intention of going through with the courtship until he meets shy and unassuming Hannah. It's love at first sight. There is no other accounting for it. Rafe is instantly smitten by her (though, frankly, I don't see why). Hannah is sweet and demure, not overly attractive, so it's not clear what Rafe sees in her, so it must be something chemical or he just wants to see if he can seduce her within 20 minutes of first meeting her. He loses no time in kissing her - deeply - and she doesn't stop him. She knows it's wrong, but he's irresistible and this kissing business (and more) continues while they are together at Stony Cross Manor in Hampshire (where most of the Wallflower series takes place) for the Christmas holidays. Rafe is torn, does he obey his father, do the "right" thing and ask Natalie, who's vivacious and a beauty and a daughter of the peerage (as his father puts it) or throw cares to the wind and seduce, bed, and (maybe) marry Hannah instead and thus lose his father's money (which he doesn't really need anyway.)

Rafe certainly seems hell bent on seducing her and Hannah is just too defenseless to put him off. I kind of had a problem with this. At times I felt like he was forcing himself on her when he really shouldn't have been - it was ungentlemanly and unseemly. Yes, yes, I know, it's a romance! But, I have my standards and I felt sorry for Hannah. She wasn't gorgeous or rich and didn't know what to do. She was falling for Rafe (against her own good judgment) and because of that, she turned down an honest - albeit unromantic and in writing, no less - marriage proposal. She believes that Rafe may love her (based on an indiscreet love letter he wrote and then tried to burn unsuccesfully), or he may just want her for a mistress. What to do? Choose him and turn down the only marriage proposal she may ever get, or refuse to let him "do things" to her since he's probably going to marry Natalie (who I didn't like at all, btw - meow.) Rafe and Hannah seem to be kissing all over the place, it's a wonder they never get caught!

I felt because of the brevity of the book, things were rushed. Rafe and Hannah kiss way to soon, there is no build up. They get hot and heavy very soon too and I just kept thinking, "Hannah, you shouldn't be doing this with him!" Still, I give her credit, she kept her virginity intact until the end of the book, although they weren't married yet. That bachelor annex at the Manor has gotten a lot of mileage in these books!

Without spoiling the ending, I can assure you it all ends tidily and Lisa Kleypas throws in a couple of hot sex scenes with her new and her old characters from the past books to make everyone happy. This was a fun and feel good Christmasy romance that is a must to read for everyone who has read her Wallflower series. I hope she writes a few more!

4/5

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A Highlander for Christmas by Sandy Blair

Book Description:
Welcome To My World

'Tis the season to be jolly, but Boston antiques dealer Claire MacGregor isn't looking forward to a solo Christmas, or cocoa for one, or trimming the tree by herself. But company's coming. Claire is fooling around with an old puzzle box and when it opens...a gorgeous, studly laird appears. Thumbs down: Sir Cameron MacLeod is centuries old. Thumbs up: he doesn't look it. And Cameron is tall, dark, and lusty - very lusty.

Come Away To Mine

Who is this lovely lass? And where is he? Before awakening in the 21st century in Claire's bedroom, the last thing Sir Cameron MacLeod remembers was readying for war with a rival clan. Despite her strange clothes and odd ways, Claire is bonny and brave. He's about to find out that love is a many-splendored thing indeed...

I know, I know, this one looks really over the top as far as Highlander time traveler romances go, but the title really caught me and I like this author so I gave it a try. What a quick read, I read it one day! I've read one of the author's previous books, Man in a Kilt, which I really liked a lot. This one wasn't as good, but it wasn't bad either.

Cameron really is a studly guy! *sigh* This book was pretty amusing, he's constantly getting himself into trouble with the police. The whole thing is definitely lighthearted as he and Claire try and come to grips with the fact that he can't seem to find his way back to 1745, which is where he came from, only a few months before the Battle of Culloden. His loving aunt, who's a witch, spirits him away so that he won't die in the battle, and he winds up in 2008 as part of an inheritence that Claire received from a kindly older man that she had befriended. He moves in with her as they try to find a way to send him back in time. They fall in love, but do not admit it, since both think he's probably going to be leaving and they don't want to have broken hearts - but they do anyway. Eventually, they give in to their feelings, they begin sleeping together, but he's still holding back. Once he realizes he's not going back, he's disatisfied with his life and feels he must earn some money and get back to Scotland to see for himself whatever happened to his clan's lands. It's kind of bittersweet, but a surprise ending, and he winds up with a pretty cool career so they have some money to live on. A few nice sex scenes, but nothing outlandish as the cover of the book would indicate!

The book itself had a few loose ends (whatever happened to his joining the army? Did Tracy ever date the mailman and leave the Purple Pussycat?) and it's a bit disjointed in some parts but nothing major. It was cute how Christmas tied in, buying Christmas trees, drinking egg nog spiked with whiskey, Christmas gifts and shopping. I especially liked Cameron's idea of how to bring in new customers to Claire's antique shop.

I enjoyed this little bit of fluff with it's happy ending. It's not the greatest time traveler highlander romance I've ever read, but it's not the worst either. Cute.

3.5/5

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