"Invite me In" by JM Paquette

Sylvia's life has hardly been what one would call boring. She seems to have bad luck with men. And having recently broken up with her boyfriend, she winds up attending a dinner performance at Viking Times by herself. And that's when things get even stranger than ever. In the past, a witch had tried to sacrifice her to a demon, and now she finds herself with a handsome viking, who seems unusually drawn to her. But it turns out that he's more than just some guy looking for a fling… he's a vampire. And that's just the beginning.

This book was very well written and quite captivating. Sexy viking vampires, a demon who seems to also have feelings for Sylvia even though she doesn't recognize him as the young man who broke her heart years before, and a villain who is out to finish something he'd started long ago. What more could one look for in a paranormal romance novel? I very much enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to reading the third book in the trilogy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, stories involving vampires or demons, especially ones who are more caring than bloodthirsty (though obviously in a vampire or demon novel, there will be blood and some violence as part of the story.) There is also some sex, but not so graphically detailed as is often found in some romance books. And while maybe not the best for a younger audience, I don't believe it to be too much or too graphic. (Be warned though, that while not overly detailed, it is a bit more than just a "fade to black" scene. So if you don't want to read any of the sexy details, this might not be the best book for you. Otherwise, I think you'll enjoy it. I know that I did.)

"Carol: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas" by Darin Kennedy

There's no question that Carol has had a rough life. Born on Christmas day, her parents & sister were killed in a plane crash on Christmas Eve while trying to make it home to celebrate her birthday as a family. After that, all she had left were the aunt & uncle who took her in. And then years later, 3 days before Christmas her best friend drowned. So to describe Christmas as her least favorite day was putting it mildly. So is calling her bitter, sharp tongued, and often cruel.

Then, on the anniversary of her best friend's death, Carol finds herself face to face with Marnie's ghost. And in the manner of Charles Dickens' famous Christmas story, Carol  must face three spirits and attempt to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas, or face the consequences of that failure.

I absolutely loved this story. Yes, we all know the familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooze and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, but this book gives us a completely fresh look at an old favorite story. This version gives it a modern twist that does not lose any of the appeal of the original tale. Instead it makes it all the more relatable to this day and age. Parts of this book had me in tears, my heart aching for Carol , while others had me just wanting to talk some sense into a girl who had walled herself away from everyone who cared about her.

This is definitely a Holiday story that I would strongly recommend reading. It may be a retelling of a story you already know, but I don't think you'll regret reading it. Whether you loved the original classic version or not, this one will capture your attention and hold it. I know that I didn't want to put it down.

"Call Me Forth" by JM Paquette

Mr Pilkington  is a demon who is visiting the human realm on a mission for his master. He is meant to deliver a message, but on the way there and while wearing the form of a teenager, he meets and spends some time with a teenage girl that he finds himself becoming more and more intrigued by. After that, but before he can complete his mission, he is Summoned in a way that he cannot refuse by someone nearby who knows his true name. That means he must do as the summoner commands. And these things never end well for someone, do they?

This was a shorter story  book by an author with which I was previously unfamiliar.  I read this book in one sitting and found myself not wanting to put it down.  While I wasn't certain what to expect from this book as I don't tend to read many stories with a demon as the main character, I can honestly say that this was something completely different than what I first thought it would be. I found myself quite intrigued by the main character and wanting to know more. As the dedication says: "Because demons need love too." Just try and tell me that alone wouldn't leave you wanting to know more?

I very much enjoyed reading this book and expect that others will as well. I found it a very sweet tale about someone who found more than he expected or had even been looking for at the time. I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book in the series. If it's as good as this one was, the author has me hooked. I'd say give this one a shot if you enjoy stories that turn out to be a bit more than what you might expect, or ones where the main character grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

"Vandals and Yule Scandals" by Trixie Silvertale

Winter is in full swing in Pin Cherry Harbor and everyone is getting ready for the annual Winter Extravaganza, and based on the secrets that she can tell are being kept from her, Mitzi is expecting that Sheriff Harper will be proposing soon. But as always, there seems to be another crisis springing up, this time involving arson, a decades old curling scandal, and the son of a good friend. Can Mitzi and the others find the real arsonist and a missing solid gold trophy? Or will the blame fall on an innocent young man?

I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. There were quite a few unexpected twists that happened throughout the story that kept me guessing as to how it would end. And, hopefully without me spoiling anything, you will wind up agreeing that it was a perfect ending to this series, paving the way for the beginning of Mitzi & Erick's new adventures together.

This book is a must read for fans of the Mitzi Moon books, cozy mysteries, or those who have enjoyed any of Ms. Silvertale's other series. I would recommend having read the previous books in the series before reading this one. (Or at least having read some of them. I'm still working my way through some of the earlier books myself, but have read enough of the later ones that I didn't miss too many references to some of Mitzi's previous adventures.) But even if, like me, you haven't yet read the whole series, you will most likely still enjoy this book as much as I did. I do recommend giving this series a try if you haven't already done so.