5 Holiday Romances to Read This Season

by Donna Huber

Today we are kicking off our 25 Days of Christmas Reading. We did this last year and it was a lot of fun. Each day we will feature reading recommendations, free ebooks, or some other festive goodies. If you aren't into reading Christmas books, we will still have reviews of new and recent releases throughout the month. 

As we have been reviewing Christmas books since September, today is a round-up of some of them since you might not have been thinking of Christmas at the time.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Christmas in Aspen by Anita Hughes ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Editor Caroline Holt is on her way to her late mother’s upstate cabin in Hudson to spend the holidays. She was supposed to be in London, having a holiday romance. But this Christmas, she isn’t in the mood to get her heart broken again. Caroline loves being an editor, but in the last year burnout has taken over. She has been mourning her mother, and she is looking to get that spark back.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

4 Christmas Novels for Your Holiday Reading

by Donna Huber

I've been on vacation this week and between baking batches of Christmas cookies I've done a lot of reading. If you aren't quite ready to wrap up your Christmas reading, then you should pick up one or more of these books. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Get Started on Your Christmas Reading with These 4 Books

by Donna Huber

Don't panic but there are less than 90 days until Christmas and there are so many great Christmas books to read. They started hitting shelves this month and today I have 4 books that you are going to want to add to your Christmas reading list.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Emma strolled through the East Village and admired the lamposts wrapped in red bows and the shop windows littered with fake snow and tinsel. Most of her friends fled New York City during Christmas, but Emma adored Manhattan during the holidays. Fifth Avenue flooded in lights was so romantic, and she could stare at the cashmere sweaters in the windows of Barney's for hours. (pg 1)

5 October Books You May Have Missed #MondayBlogs

by Susan Roberts

Even if you don't live in a part of the country where there are major season changes, October signals that the year is starting to come to an end. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, I love the change in weather and the beautiful colors that I see in North Carolina. It is not quite time to start getting ready for Christmas yet so you may have some additional time to read. Below are five books published in October that I've read and enjoyed.  Are there others that you're really looking forward to?

Good Summer Read: Monarch Beach

Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes
ARC from Netgalley.com
Published June 2012 by St. Martin's Press
ISBN13: 9780312643041
Read June 2012
Goodreads, IndieBound, Amazon

If you are looking for a quick vacation read, then look no further than Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes. It's available today: Everyone say HAPPY PUB DAY, Anita! (tweet this).  I read this book in about 3 or 4 days and the whole time wished I was sipping a Flirtini on the deck of a cruise ship (Cruises are my preferred vacation). 


I loved Anita's writing style. It just flowed so easily. As I've mentioned before I am no fashionista and so found the heavily label dropping of clothing designers a bit funny. However, they did play a part in developing the character of Amanda and setting of the story. 


Amanda had dreams of becoming a fashion designer until she was swept off her feet by a French chef who knew his way around a woman. Whether it was a culture difference or just his excuse, Andre saw nothing wrong with continuing his acquaintance with the various female staff at his restaurant. Fortunately for Amanda, she's the heiress and member of San Francisco high society. I'm sure every woman who has had to face a cheating husband and divorce wish the could whisk away to St. Regis Monarch Beach, where they are waited on hand and foot by a personal butler, daily 6pm cocktail hour, a party every evening, and a Kid's Club that entertains the children all day. 

photo credit: Bart Benjamin via photo pin cc

Amanda spends the summer getting fit, tan, and discovering what she wants in life. I have to admit I had a bit of trouble with the story itself. I didn't feel there was enough conflict with Andre and the divorce. I get that divorce may not be as messy or difficult when you have buckets of money, but since Andre doesn't want the divorce I figured there would still be more conflict about custody. I also did not feel there was really much internal conflict for Amanda either. 


Aside from wishing there was a bit more conflict in the plot, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next story from Anita Hughes (there's a sneak peek at the end of Monarch Beach). If you are a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous fan, on vacation, and like great writing, then pack a copy of Monarch Beach in your beach bag.


Your Turn: What/Who are some of your favorite vacation books/authors?

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Anita Hughes: My Writing Inspiration (guest post)

Today, I'm happy to welcome an author from "Down Under" to Girl Who Reads. Anita Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia. At the age of eight, she won first prize in a nationwide writing contest sponsored by THE AUSTRALIAN, Australia's most prestigious newspaper. She graduated from Bard College with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing, and attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing Program. She lives at The St. Regis Monarch Beach, where she is at work on her next novel. For more information please go to www.anitahughesbooks.com

My Writing Inspiration
  
I write for one main reason. I love to read. Ever since I was six or seven, nothing has thrilled me more than a good book. I remember spending the whole summer when I was twelve, eating carrots and reading Agatha Christie novels. (I believed really sharp eye sight would add to my enjoyment of reading). In my teenage years I loved reading books that were slightly taboo – Fear of Flying by Erica Jong, Looking for Mr. Goodbar by Judith Rossner, anything by Sydney Sheldon or Jackie Collins. In college I discovered great literature and swooned like a sorority girl on her first crush. I consumed Thomas Hardy, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot, George Sand, Anais Ninn, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Mary McCarthy. I couldn’t get enough.

In today’s world there are so many distractions. One pops on the Internet for a quick check of Facebook and ends up scrolling through countless interesting posts. Email, twitter, Youtube, the temptations are endless and the rewards fleeting but sweet. But reading! Getting lost in the newest Penny Vincenzi, Emily Giffin, Allison Winn Scotch is a pleasure that grows over a period of days. When the book is finished it leaves a lingering feeling of goodwill, like you’ve met new friends you won’t soon leave behind.

And writing I have discovered, is one step better than reading. When I write I completely immerse myself in the world I create. The characters become real, the locations (usually gorgeous and often exotic) are places I conjure up like a genie with a magic bottle. When I am in the midst of writing a novel, I carry the story around in my head. I can access it any time of day or night and immediately be wrapped up in the plot. It fills my thoughts when I’m walking the dog, sorting laundry, shopping at the grocery store – and it is much more entertaining than reading the tabloids at check-out.

Of course, my imaginary world is not perfect. Sometimes my characters refuse to do what I want them to. Sometimes I stare at the keyboard, willing them to guide me. On occasion writing can be so draining I am wrung out, without the energy to help with homework or clean up after dinner.

But I know I can step back, and attack the manuscript fresh in the morning. And I can always turn to my favorite authors – classic or modern – and lose myself in their stories. So maybe I have two loves – writing and reading. Together they make my life rich and I feel very fortunate to be able to be able to pursue them both.

Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes
Available June 19 from St. Martin's Press
Paperback (288 page) & ebook
Pre-order: IndieBound, Powell's Books, Amazon
Learn more: Goodreads

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