Elisabeth van der Wilt 
Welcome to this month’s December Reads. This month was more than I had originally planned for. But a lot was happening, I’m surprised I even got this much done.
First off, a little WARNING… this will have a bit of spoilers… I will try to put a disclaimer before I do them… and make it so you don’t have to worry, but if you like to read a book and don’t know anything… I suggest you go somewhere else.
Secondly, what I choose to read is something for my own entertainment or the support of another author. If you choose to leave negative feedback, and judgement in the way of who I am as a person because of it, then we have problems. This blog is to share what I enjoyed or didn’t and help spread the word for other authors.
ABBREVIATIONS & THEIR MEANINGS
ARC = Advanced Review Copy
SD = Start Date
FD = Finish Date
HEA = Happily Ever After
Here is the list of books I read for the month.
Toy Shop || SD: 11/30/2022 FD: 12/01/2022
Stuck Under the Mistletoe || SD: 12/02/2022 FD: 12/02/2022
Unexpected Christmas || SD: 12/03/2022 FD: 12/04/2022
Merry Christmas, Soldier || SD: 12/04/2022 FD: 12/04/2022
Wood Girl Gone Bad || SD: 12/05/2022 FD: 12/05/2022
Owned by Santa || SD: 12/06/2022 FD: 12/07/2022
Entry Level || SD: 12/06/2022 FD: 12/07/2022
Rockin Around the Christmas Tree || SD: 12/07/2022 FD: 12/08/2022
Nailed || SD: 12/09/2022 FD: 12/09/2022
Psychos Love Forever || SD: 12/10/2022 FD: 12/11/2022
Run Run Rudolph || SD: 12/12/2022 FD: 12/13/2022
Ruthless Temptation || SD: 12/14/2022 FD: 12/15/2022
In His Web || SD: 12/15/2022 FD: 12/16/2022
Mafia Captive || SD: 12/16/2022 FD: 12/18/2022
Wildest Dreams || SD: 12/16/2022 FD: 12/24/2022
A New Year’s Toy || SD: 12/24/2022 FD: 12/26/2022
Puppy Love || SD: 12/27/2022 FD: 12/29/2022
Stuck Under The Mistletoe by Georgia Coffman
#ARC #HEA #4star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed Georgia’s book Stuck Under the Mistletoe. The story explains the woes of an art teacher. (personally, in my opinion, she did nothing wrong. Art is subjective)
It kind of comes off like a slow burn as the couple doesn’t actually get any action or get together until the third quarter of the book and I enjoyed it.
Tropes include
-best friends’ brother
-enemies to lovers (partially)
-medium burnGreat story (even though in the beginning I was wondering if romance was going to happen!)
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Unexpected Christmas by Eliza Peake
#ARC #HEA #5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An Unexpected Christmas was an exciting tale and after reading many of these Naughty List contenders, I was beyond fascinated. I enjoyed this one a lot.
Like the idea of Santa’s village in the town coming to life, man, my town is literally one of the biggest Christmas towns and I don’t believe they do it like that.
The characters were interesting and I could see myself reading an extended, more drawn out book in this way. As well my favourite part was the epilogue… it was an interesting ending to this short and sweet Romance Christmas Novel.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Wood Girl Gone Bad by Mae Harden
#ARC #HEA #5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a quick read, and gone in almost an hour. This was a juicy tidbit of love that made my heart swell.
Personally, I could stand to read this book full fleshed out in a novel style. Our main heroine is deaf and when one year she meets Gabe he talks, but she can’t hear him. When he leaves the vendor show, he comes back next year determined, including learning sign language.
During that year she had an operation to enhance her hearing. So when they meet again, she swoons at his sudden knowledge of ASL.
I just loved this story and thought it was so sweet, you know someone cares when they try to learn something like that! Awesome story.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Owned by Santa by Imani Jay
#ARC #3star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐
The author had the story going for her. The plot on its own was a fun concept, including the enjoyment of having them known each other since they were young. The story was even past faced for a romance novel.
I just felt it skipped a few steps, and missed the slight edge. I personally thought it wasn’t a home run but I am so glad I got to read it and see what this writer has accomplished!
I am excited to see what other stories are out there!
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Breanna Lynn
#ARC #HEA #5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is the lastest novel from Breanna Lynn and although its much shorter its got the wonderful romance I crave. Brought back to more rockstars from the pack we’re intrigued by Lilah and Evan’s chemistry.
The characters were well drawn out and it didn’t feel like a novella but it stole my heart, capturing it tenfold in its arms.
Another home run with this awesome story!
P.S. The Christmas Tree scene… man it was well described and perfect for anyone who wants a 🔥interaction.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Nailed by Claire Wilder
#ARC#HEA#5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Upon starting the book I was a bit hesitant by the title… what could it possibly mean, and how does it relate to Christmas but when reading the book and deciding a silver fox was just an amazing description. I loved Jamie and Sarah and their romance was so unique compared to the other age gap stories I’ve read.
Claire Wilder is genius and although it didn’t come off entirely Christmas-sy and the vibes I felt that the one scene behind a Christmas tree was perfect enough to fix my desire of a Christmas tale.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Merry Christmas Soldier by K.C. Bear
#ARC #HEA #5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was so disappointed when it just ended with nothing… an abyss to leave the black void… but the better knowledge is knowing that it will be expanded and heat my heart by giving me more.
The couple is based on a military brother coming home for Christmas and realizes how much he loves his adopted sister, in a way that he probably shouldn’t.
Such a huge twist at the end, let alone the fact the drama with his father that I want to know all the info of… like ASAP.
I wait for more from the author… hoping she can write and sleep making it happen faster!
Added Note: There is more to come and I can’t wait!
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Entry Level by Bella Michaels
#4star #ARC #HEA #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story was quite great, I’m glad they got an HEA, I didn’t think it would turn out like that, I had doubts but thankfully it was all good.
I enjoyed the fact that it was like the one that got away trope, along with a second chance. I appreciated the fact that they had not been open with each other and I think they learned the lesson. I really enjoyed the story and related to her large move.
Overall their romance was more than enticing.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Toy Shop by Eva Marks
#5star #ARC #HEA
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Toy Shop by Eva Marks had me enthralled from the first page. It had been a while since I read a spicy book in this manner. I enjoyed every single moment that was given.
Eva has a wonderful writing style, for even a short novella type of book, it had enough plot to feel like it wasn’t just smut on a platter.
But dang, that dish was sparkling. So much fun, and did this book live up to my expectations… No.
Exceeded them.Thanks for writing an AMAZING BOOK! Regardless of size, I want more just like it.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Psychos Love Forever by S.J. Ransom
#4star #ARC #HEA
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Psychos Love Forever… the trilogy series of our Psychos in Love has come to a conclusion and I don’t know what to think. Somehow this year has gone by so fast, but I loved the consistency of this story. Even though they were more novella style than novels, the book series was incredibly good.
If you like dark tales involving k!llers and other fun oddities, its awesome. Everything that went down from book one showed us these men might actually have a soul.
The HEA was also what I needed. I am giving away as few spoilers as I can for you, but if you read the first and haven’t continued yet, go pick them up and read them all. You won’t be disappointed by how their tale ends!
Added Note: I was really sad that it was over. Not my favourite book series I’ve read but it was really good! Quite dark and twisted.
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Run Run Rudolph by Chelle Sloan
#ARC #HEA #5star #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Run Run Run Rudolph is the book that ends the Naughty List, this year’s greatest Christmas set that involves a handful of authors combining one mission… #ClaimYourCoal which is led by this book’s main character, Hollie Berry.
The actress of a lifetime for a Christmas station. Doing something that’s a bit racy in terms of their contract… she is disowned and goes on the run, falling in love with the small-town golden retriever personality of Trent.
We all love Trent.
This story was so sweet and I truly cared for each page this book offered. It’s sad its over but this book truly captured my heart, and it got the HEA it deserved!
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Two Pink Lines for Christmas by Ember Davis
#5star #ARC #HEA #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Two Pink Lines for Christmas is for anyone who loves…
✅ Pregnancy
✅ Best-Friends-to-Lovers
✅ Hint of Christmas
✅ Spice & Everything NiceGod, this book was amazing, and I’m so sad that Ember Davis wrote this story as a Novella! It deserves to be a full fledged novel. The things she said at the climax of the story, my heart was breaking, I was so disappointed, but it was made up by two epilogues!
LOVED this novella!
Give me more just like it!
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Ruthless Temptation by Raven Rage
#ARC #HFN #4star
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Raven Rage’s books are always fun to read. Ruthless Temptation follows after the teacher/student relationship of the friend from the big novels in Ruthless Society.
Regardless of who it is, this book was quite good. i really liked the mafia’s expectations of her and then how she fell in love with the “wrong” person… the ending was actually quite great to, seeing as I’ve read the other two books first in the series, and yes they have some correlation on the story of this character, even though it’s not the main focus.
Great job, and I await for the next book in the installments.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
In His Web by Rebecca Massey
#4star #ARC #HEA
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you like Spiderman, and always dreamt that he’d be a little bit more spider than man, and hoped some fun things would happen with webs and MJ then this is the book for you.
I wish it were longer, I love novella’s the short, sweet and sometimes sticky books can be excellent but I always crave a bit longer and with that, this book was over.
A girl goes to a carnival and before long is told to visit… Bishop who is a half spider and half man. Well, being not a huge fan of spiders, I was surprised to learn so much from monster corn….
Awesome story which has me excited to read more from this author.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Mafia Captive by Kitty Thomas
#5star #ARC #HEA #Christmas
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just finished the updated version of Mafia Captive by Kitty Thomas.
Like always I am encaptured by her work. For some reason, I can always tilt my brain off its axis with her stories!
Kitty Thomas writes dark romance, but unlike anything you ever saw. When Faith happens to witness a murder committed by a mob man, she is sent to live with the man’s twin brother. Which although he is unlike anything she has ever met before, it blooms attraction, although they couldn’t be more opposite.
Loving the fact the author brought in the Italian and Catholic sides, having Leo actually being a full (mainly) acting Catholic was a lot of fun. Something in stories I dislike is when they bring the faith into it. I’m Catholic and most times 9 out of 10 its just hard to stomach, but seeing as he struggled so much with his faith and his inner needs, man I could relate, it was beautiful.
So beautiful. I can’t wait for the day this one adorns my shelf, glistening with its beauty! Once again an amazing job from this author. Putting all her hard work and love into a story is something, as it takes a part of your soul with it. Although I’m sure she put a lot of her heart in this story, this one took a lot of my heart with it as well.
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Wildest Dreams by M.K. Loa
#4star #ARC
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wildest Dreams… I have no idea what to say and that isn’t like me. The story is beyond exceptional, and if you want fantastic writing, great and in-depth characters that have mental health issues and lots of other things… then this book is for you.
I personally wanted to rate it a bit lower, again ^ not because of the above… but the cliffhanger of an ending… I was so taken by surprise since the book was HUGE, but at the same time… the ending is kind of a letdown on all of what took place in the book.
Assuming the author will carry on the story for these characters to later get their HEA and I know, life’s a journey but I wanted more.
Regardless, I have nothing else to say bad…. if that came off that way… its just my feelings… also didn’t come too much off like a romance… especially dark though, especially dark I loved that though.
Great job on this release!
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
A New Year’s Toy by Eva Mark
#5star #ARC #HEA #New Years
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eva Marks hit the mark again with this adult game romance which is book two in the series. I was surprised to see Alistar and Nora back again and thought the series would follow different couples. But to my surprise, I was given that steamy novel!
It fit all my wants (except a baby) but oh well, who doesn’t love Paris?
What a wonderful happy ending as well! Can’t wait to learn more about Book 3!
Added Note: N/A
Link to Purchase: Amazon
Puppy Love by K.C. Bear
#4star #ARC
My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Puppy Love was a short and raunchy novel! I loved it! It was fxf but… when I heard puppy love I thought it would be more extreme, regardless the author had me shifting in my seat! Thanks for a lovely read!
Added Note: N/ALink to Purchase: Amazon
This brings my total for the Good Reads Challenge of 2022 Books to 129 books read of my 75 goal.
That brings the 2022 year to an end!
Wanting to read one of the books I wrote? Find them here.
