Belle Calhoune

Returning to Moose Falls, Alaska, we're reunited with the charismatic Stone brothers, whose distinct personalities shine brighter than ever. Xavier, the athlete, Caleb, the aspiring Hollywood star, and Landon, the lovable nerd, each bring their unique spirit to the story. In Flirting With Alaska, we delve deeper into Caleb's character, discovering a rich complexity that's both captivating and relatable. The author skillfully reveals the authentic Caleb, beneath the surface, in a beautiful show more portrayal of self-discovery. This narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of authenticity in a world where reality TV often blurs the lines. As Caleb forms genuine connections with Sophia and her adorable daughter Lily, we witness a heartwarming transformation. Sophia, a multifaceted and inspiring character, brings depth and nuance to the story, alongside her daughter Lily. Their chance meeting serves as a powerful metaphor for the paradox of reality versus authenticity. The blossoming romance between Sophia and Caleb is a masterful blend of sweetness, respect, and playfulness, as they challenge each other to grow and overcome their insecurities. Caleb's charms will undoubtedly captivate you, and the beauty of his heart, as revealed in Flirting With Alaska, will leave you enchanted. Thanks to Belle Calhoune's exceptional character development, you'll be swept away by the vibrant personalities of the Stones, the captivating town of Moose Falls, and the unforgettable Sophia Brand and her daughter Lily. This talented ensemble cast of characters delivers a story that will uplift, inspire, and leave you feeling hopeful and empowered.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC. show less

A friend sent me this in a box of Love Inspired Books. I think I've read at least one of the others in the "Alaskan Grooms" subseries--only because Love, Alaska having Operation Love where they invited single women to come find husbands sounds familiar.

The pluses:
*Paige and Cameron have a history--which makes it more believable to me that they'd get engaged and married in the time frame covered by this book.

*Paige and Cameron have worked through several issues by the time they get to the show more point of engagement, which makes me think they'd continue to do so in the future. And they do both seem to be looking out for what's best for their daughter.

The minuses:
*These types of books make it seem like you can have a child whose existence you hide from the baby's father, then just reveal it one day and the baby's father will A) Accept the baby without reservation and B) fall in love with you and the two of you will live happily ever after. Please do not plan to do this in real life and expect the same results. Could it happen? Yes. Will it happen? Unfortunately, I can more likely see the baby's father wanting a DNA test to prove paternity.

*The issues seem to get cleared up awfully easily. Cameron reads the letter from Paige's father and suddenly he's ready to follow her to Seattle if that's what it takes--never mind all the soul-searching he's done about loving Paige again up to that point. Cameron hears that Paige got a trust fund from her mother and that's why she was spending money at that crucial juncture (does she have no sense? The town thinks she was in on the embezzlement and she's spending money on a Hawaiian vacation? No, no one's going to question that at all.) and he just believes her and all is forgiven that he doubted her? show less

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

For those of you missing the holidays already, here is a lovely Christmas novella with a surprising amount of character development. There wasn’t space to really delve into their transformations, but the author did a wonderful job of showing what had gone wrong before, and how Brenna and Luke had matured. I would have liked to see the resolution in the brother as well, but it’s a minor quibble in a lively story of second chances and show more forgiveness.

There is a scene later in the story that felt like it came a bit out of nowhere right up until the end when it resolved something about what happened eight years before in a beautiful way. Though the writing got rough at points, the characters were strong and believable, making me want to know them better. That’s true for most of the secondary characters as well.

The biggest strength I found, though, was in how the change wasn’t all one-sided. They’d been childhood sweethearts, and Brenna destroyed all that in the way she went about pursuing her love of acting. It could easily have turned into a story about her coming crawling back, having failed miserably. That’s there in part, but what makes the story strong is how she comes to realize the dream was not the problem but rather the choices she made in her pursuit. Most importantly, Luke wakes up to the choices he made as well. He wasn’t as much of the victim he’d thought himself, and he has to face the consequences of his decisions as well before moving forward.

For such a short work, there’s a lot of real meat here about relationships and what it takes to earn that happy ending.

P.S. I read this novella as part of the Love’s Gift box set. show less

Author Belle Calhoune knows how to write romance, and she definitely reeled me in with this delightful new book that follows librarian Lucy Marshall and the other residents of Mistletoe, Maine, as they get ready for an exciting event. Their town has been chosen as the setting for a new movie, and the star is none other than a former resident who's now a Hollywood star. Dante West is back in town, and he's the same Dante who left Lucy with a broken heart so many years ago! What will happen show more when they see each other again?

There are so many reasons that I enjoyed this book. Mistletoe, Maine seems very special, and I loved reading about the annual tradition of lighting a big Christmas tree in the town square, and all of the other preparations that go along with the holidays. There are several intriguing characters, including a librarian and a movie star who's made some wrong choices. Dante has a lot of fences to mend, but it's apparent that he sincerely wants to repair his fractured relationships with both Lucy and his brother Troy. Lucy is sweet, stubborn, and she's held on to her hurts, but she's smart enough to realize that she still has romantic feelings for Dante. Their chemistry is strong, the kisses are certainly swoon-worthy, but can a movie star be content to remain in a small town in Maine? If Lucy lets down her guard, will she be hurt again?

As I read No Ordinary Christmas, I could envision this as a Hallmark holiday movie, and I tried to cast the right actors to portray Lucy and Dante! If you enjoy Hallmark movies, second-chance romances, and small town dynamics, you will certainly want to read No Ordinary Christmas. It's a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review, and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts. show less