Linn B. Halton Archives

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (novels)!

November 22, 2017 by bubblebathbooks Leave a Comment

Bubby:

I know, I know. The turkey hasn’t even gone in the oven yet. But there are only hours left until the Christmas Season officially kicks off and we want you to be prepared! Just picture it: Thanksgiving dinner is over, the menfolk are gathered around the television gorging themselves on football, the kids are happily playing outside, your mother-in-law went to take a nap and you are alone with a slice of French Chocolate Silk Pie. And one or more of the novels pictured above. Isn’t it beautiful?

Sissy:

Totally unrealistic. Kids will be bugging us to play board games. We’ll be elbow deep in dishes. But we’ll be together! And that’s all that matters, right?

Bubby:

You know that our family will help with the dishes. They’re awesome that way. And there WILL be French Silk Pie, right?

Sissy:

Actually, I’ve been scanning Pinterest and have found a Chocolate Salted Caramel Peanut Butter pie that is calling my name.

Bubby:

No. No peanut butter in my chocolate. But we can argue about the menu later. Tell us about the Christmas Book selections we’ve curated for our beloved readers, Sissy.

Sissy:

It shall be done, sister mine. Our stories take you to many and varied locations, from small-town USA to the English, and even French countryside. We have holiday love stories, family dramas, mysteries and combinations thereof. There’s even a smidge of paranormal in one tale.

Bubby:

What they all have in common is a delightful Christmas setting and a heartwarming ending. We have 8 novels for you this year – 5 are new, 2 we reviewed recently, and one, The French for Christmas, is a favorite from the past. We are certain that you will find a new Christmas favorite out of this bunch.

Sissy:

So this year, let the Thanksgiving dishes soak for a while and go find a quiet corner to hide in and immerse yourself in Christmas! Or use paper products (I’m only saying that so that I can drive Bubby crazy – she is a “must use real dishes” snob and I’m enjoying seeing her throw a fit and foam at the mouth a little!) Anyway, check out the synopsis of each novel below, click on the title if you want to buy it, and enjoy!

The French for Christmas by Fiona Valpy: When her best friends offer the use of their cottage in the beautiful French countryside, Evie jumps at the chance. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband, celebrity chef Will Brooke, plastered over the news with his latest ‘love interest’, leaving the country seems like the perfect plan. Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, Evie is determined to ignore Christmas altogether and bake herself back to happiness.

And when Evie meets her next-door neighbour – the très gorgeous doctor Didier she finds a very willing taste-tester. But is it possible that he could be interested in more than just her Tarte Tatin? With snow falling, a special Réveillon dinner and a little Christmas magic in the air, could Didier even be the one to thaw Evie’s heart? Or will a visit from the ghost of Christmas past change everything?

We’ll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale: Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing…The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas. Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion.

As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson – the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington…In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?

Christmas At Bay Tree Cottage by Linn B. Halton: The countdown to Christmas is usually a magical time, but Elena James is fed up with living on a building site! The renovations on her beautiful cottage – like her heart – have been frozen in limbo ever since she was unexpectedly widowed. Elana calls in a professional, Luke Stevenson, to help finish the cottage, so her little girl can send letters to Santa up the newly-repaired chimney. Luke’s kind, capable and sexy – but he’s also ten years younger than Elana. So why has her heart decided it’s finally time for a thaw?

A Vicarage Christmas by Kate Hewitt: Welcome to Thornwaite, a quaint village tucked up in England’s beautiful but rainy Lake District… where homecomings happen and surprises are in store for the four Holley sisters…Anna Holley, the third of four sisters, has always felt a little bit forgotten. A family tragedy when she was a child had her retreating deep into shyness, and social anxiety kept her on the fringes of the cozy chaos of the busy vicarage. After several years away from home, Anna returns for Christmas… and an important announcement from her father. As much as she once loved the village, coming back is hard and puts Anna’s social capabilities to the test.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber: Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her–minus her photo–and the matches start rolling in.

Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl. Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects–or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

Do Not Open ‘Til Christmas by Sierra Donovan: Bret Radner once dreamed of being a hard-hitting journalist, exposing corruption and writing Pulitzer-winning pieces. But heart-tugging circumstances kept him at the Tall Pine Gazette, where small town life, new neighbors, and human interest stories are the news. In charge for the entire holiday season, Bret is determined to run the newsroom right. Yet with a too-pretty rookie reporter to train, he finds himself challenged on just about everything.

A waitress at the Pine ‘n’ Dine restaurant, freelance reporter Chloe Davenport finally gets her big chance to work full-time for the Gazette. But proving herself to her handsome boss won’t be easy. He turns down all her holiday-themed stories and, in fact, doesn’t seem to like Christmas at all. Yet the closer Chloe works with Bret, the more she realizes that his tough exterior conceals a hidden hurt…and a heart she wants to fill with glad tidings of great joy–for many seasons to come.

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle: Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back.

But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away.

The Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys Bowen: Semi-retired private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan is suffering from depression after a miscarriage following her adventure in San Francisco during the earthquake of 1906. She and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season. Not long after they arrive, however, they start to feel the tension in the house’s atmosphere.

Then they learn that the host couple’s young daughter wandered out into the snow ten years ago and was never seen again. Molly can identify with the mother’s pain at never knowing what happened to her child and wants to help, but there is so little to go on. No ransom note. No body ever found. But Molly slowly begins to suspect that the occupants of the house know more than they are letting on.

Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage by Linn B. Halton

November 8, 2017 by bubblebathbooks 2 Comments

The countdown to Christmas is usually a magical time, but Elana James is fed up with living on a building site! The renovations on her beautiful cottage – like her heart – have been frozen in limbo ever since she was unexpectedly widowed. Elana calls in a professional, Luke Stevenson, to help finish the cottage, so her little girl can send letters to Santa up the newly-repaired chimney. Luke’s kind, capable and sexy – but he’s
also ten years younger than Elana. So why has her heart decided it’s finally time for a thaw?

Bubby:

My initial take away from Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage is that I am spoiled. I live in a completely finished, warm, cozy house and I take it for granted. Poor Elana has been living in a half-finished cottage for quite some time and, at least in the beginning of the story, there is no end to the renovations in sight. I have lived through 3 basement finishings, a kitchen remodel and lots of little home renovation projects and there is NO WAY I would choose to live in a house during a whole-home renovation. Nope. I’d go insane and my family would throw me out into the street. I’d have to go live with Sissy.

Sissy:

Yay! Free chef for me! The upside of the renovation is, of course, Luke the handyman, who after a nice loan from Elana’s parents is hired to do some jobs. Both Elana and Luke have gone through hard situations and Luke seems like an old soul. I kind of like the idea of their age difference, because Elana is no cougar, but rather a beautiful woman who can say, “Hey, girl! Still got it!” Kinda like me.

Bubby:

We won’t discuss the age difference between you and Elana, Sissy. Except to say that it’s larger than that of Elana and Luke… I loved the paranormal aspect of Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage. You see, Elana’s little girl Maya still sees and talks to her deceased father. No one believes her, but it’s real. He helps her heal from his death and be ready to move on. I wish that Linn Halton had included a bit more of this ghostly side story, but I loved what we got.

Sissy:

And there is a twist that you do not expect! A sad one. Not a death one, just a relationship thing. Maya has some specific Christmas wishes that she writes in letters and sticks in the chimney. These wishes seem unattainable and maybe they are and maybe they are not. You’ll have to read it to see. And things aren’t wrapped up in a nice fluffy bow like a lot of Christmas romances. Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage makes its characters work for their happily ever after.

Bubby:

But there is one, never fear. A happily ever after, I mean. We forgot to mention that Luke has a child too – an adorable little boy named Joe. The situation between Luke and Joe’s mother is a tricky one but there’s an HEA there, too. I mostly read this book whilst tucked up in my warm cozy bed, pretending that there was a raging snowstorm outside. It’s a perfect get-you-in-the-Christmas-mood novel.

Sissy:

You will want to put Luke’s ex, Anita, on a fast train to somewhere far away. She’s that annoying. But Luke and Elana are delightful, both in their own right and as a potential couple. In fact, the whole of Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage is a lovely, satisfying holiday read. Guaranteed to fill your heart with Christmas cheer.

Click HERE to buy Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage by Linn B. Halton

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The Secrets of Villa Rosso by Linn B. Halton

August 4, 2017 by bubblebathbooks 2 Comments

When Ellie Maddison is sent on a business trip to Southern Italy, she’s reminded why she loves her job – set amongst rolling vineyards and rich olive groves, the beautiful Villa Rosso is the perfect escape from her life back home. But what Ellie isn’t prepared for is the instant connection she feels to the estate’s director Max Johnson, or the secrets they share that are as intertwined as the rambling vines that cover Villa Rosso. It’s not long before Ellie finds herself entangled in the history of the place, trying to understand the undeniable effect Max is having on her. As their relationship grows, what will Ellie discover about this idyllic villa and those who have walked through its doors? What started as a simple work trip will change Ellie’s life forever.

Bubby:

What could be better than a trip to Southern Italy? Italy is totally on my bucket list, you know. Vineyards and olive groves and romantic villas sound amazing! Unfortunately for our heroine, Ellie, her trip is, or should be, all about business. But then she meets Max…

Sissy:

But Josh is her soulmate! And her husband…so how can she have a connection with Max? That is a question that is answered in a few different ways in The Secrets of Villa Rosso. I’m not sure which one of those is the true answer, but the explanations are far more beyond the normal than you might expect. I loved the descriptions of Castrovillari, Italy and their contrast with Ellie and Josh’s typical English home. Do you choose lovely soulmate and staid England or beautiful Italy and hot Max? (Is Max hot?)

Bubby:

He sounded pretty handsome to me! Now before you get all concerned that Ellie does dumb things that will ruin her marriage, never fear. When she says that Josh is her soulmate, she means it. And she does everything she can to distance herself from Max. But there’s a twisty little secret about Max’s fiancee that Ellie happens to stumble upon and it really does change everything. This part of the plot was so interesting to me – I really enjoyed how Linn Halton wove it in amongst all the other threads of the story.

Sissy:

That was also my favorite part of the story. Max and Ellie’s otherwordly relationship made The Secrets of Villa Rosso unique amongst contemporary fiction. And although other reviewers found the ending to be poignant, I was mad at it.

Bubby:

Me too. I AM glad, however, that important relationships stay intact. I want to say more on this but Sissy says SPOILERS so I won’t. If you’re looking for a vividly descriptive, interesting and thought-provoking novel that is different from the usual women’s fiction fare, The Secrets of Villa Rosso is the book for you.

Sissy:

Linn B. Halton’s writing has a wealth of depth and dimension. She seamlessly combines romance and mystery with a touch of paranormal in the most eloquent way. I’m so glad we had a chance to force Bubby out of her usual fluffy brainless summer reads and into something that would make her think!

Bubby:

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Sissy:

No more writing. This blog post is finished. Now go and read The Secrets of Villa Rosso, y’all!

Click HERE to buy The Secrets of Villa Rosso by Linn B. Halton

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A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love by Linn B. Halton

February 19, 2016 by bubblebathbooks 4 Comments

Katie has had her fair share of bad luck, but when she finally realises her dream of opening a bakery it seems things can only get better.
But the reality of running a business hits Katie hard and whilst her partner, Steve, tries to help she begins to sense that the situation is driving them further apart. Could Katie be set to lose her relationship and her dream job? Then, one winter’s day, a man walks into her shop – and, in the space of that moment, the course of Katie’s life is changed. But nobody finds happiness in the blink of an eye. Sometimes it takes two Christmases, three birthdays and a whole lot of cake to get there …

Bubby: I’ve often thought of opening a bakery, just a little one. I do love baking and I’m told I’m good at it, but I’m afraid I’d run into the same situation as our girl Katie – I’d get bogged down in running a business and not be able to focus on the fun part of creating yummy food.

Sissy: And Katie so does lead with her heart. That is why it was hard for me to see her take so long to get rid of staid and stuffy Steve-

Bubby: SPOILERS!

Sissy: You know from the outset that she must deep-six the dud. The other frustrating thing was that the timeline for her to find new love is so long. I know that’s how it is in real life often but I’m afraid I am as impatient as my favorite character in A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love, Grandma Grace. Grace adds gentle down-home wisdom and a lovely paranormal aspect to the story. I personally believe in departed loved ones hanging about, so this really spoke to me.

Bubby: Our grandpa Les (yes, that’s who Sissy is named after) talked to his wife, our deceased grandma, every single night before bed. For two years. That’s true love! Pretty cool, I think. At any rate, it’s a good thing that Grace has a little help from beyond the grave because Katie and Adam are so very stubborn! They need all the help they can get!

Sissy: I loved the setting of Sweet Occasions Bakery and I appreciated the artistry and heart in Katie’s creations, plus I wanted to eat them. Katie’s relationship with Adam’s daughter Lily also added a special depth of feeling to the story.

Bubby: I think that the title, A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love, just describes my home and family so well (if I change out the “little” to “whole lotta” because there’s way too much sugar around my house). I’m going to steal it and make a sign out of it to post in my kitchen. I enjoyed this real-world relationship with all the associated ups and downs mixed with a dash of grandma sass and, of course, sugar.

Sissy: In the end of A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love, we get our required happy outcome sprinkled with much hope and happiness. Just what I like.

Click HERE to buy A Little Sugar, A Lot of Love by Linn B. Halton

We received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review