Today I am sharing two holiday novellas from the Kelley Armstrong’s A Stitch in Time series. These were the perfect novellas to kick off the Ho-Ho-Ho readathon this year. Grab some hot cocoa and see why I enjoyed them….

Kelley Armstrong is an auto-buy for me, but I truly love her Stitch in Time series. These time slip romances are perfection. I read her novella, Snowstorms & Sleigh Bells last Christmas, and when I pre-ordered Ghosts & Garlands, I realized I had missed Ballgowns & Butterflies.

Ballgowns & Butterflies
by Kelley Armstrong
Series: A Stitch in Time #1.5
Genres: Historical Romance, Time Travel
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:

The North Yorkshire moors are always a magical place, but they’re particularly enchanting at the holidays…especially if one gets to travel back in time to a Victorian Christmas. For Bronwyn Dale, it is the stuff of dreams. Fancy-dress balls, quirky small-town traditions, even that classic one-horse open sleigh, complete with jingle bells. There’s just the tiny problem of the Butterfly Effect. How does a time-traveler make a difference without disrupting the future forever?

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Ballgowns & Butterflies is the first holiday novella in the series and events take place between the full-length novels A Stitch in Time & A Twist of Fate. It shares a Victorian Christmas as Bronwyn Dale embraces the magic of ballgowns, and sleigh rides, all while worrying about the butterfly effect.

I loved the follow-up story from A Stitch in Time. The story is an epilogue of sorts as we get updates on William and Bronwyn as they manage the time slip. It was magical to see a Victorian Christmas through Bronwyn’s eyes.

If you haven’t yet read A Twist of Fate, this tale offers some foreshadowing of things to come. It also addresses concerns Bronwyn has about the impact the time slip and her actions hold for the future. I thought it was well done.

Lots of holiday cheer left me smiling. It’s the perfect read for a snowy December night.

Amazon | Audible

Ghosts & Garlands
by Kelley Armstrong
Series: A Stitch in Time #3.5
Genres: Historical Romance, Time Travel
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate

Rating:

Victorian novelist Miranda Hastings is in London for a modern-day Christmas with the man she loves, and they want to see everything. Luckily, they have friends who are going to make sure they get their wish. They’re sent on a whirlwind holiday adventure, following their friends’ mysterious messages…until an encounter with a ghost who was part of an infamous gang of highwaymen. Murder, mystery, and a ghost in need? Now that’s Miranda’s idea of a holiday treat.

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The events in Ghosts & Garlands take place after the novel, A Turn of the Tide, and take place in modern day London. Miranda Hastings and Nico are on a vacation of sorts after their latest time slips. It seems they’ve been quite busy.

It was absolutely delightful seeing them navigate the city and, of course, August, Rosalind and William and Bronwyn aided them from clothing to clever adventures. Along the way, they meet a ghost and offer aid.

Bakeries, books, museums and libraries await you in this magical adventure. It was delightful from learning details about the future to tales of Dick Turpin, the highwayman. It was a blast watching these two navigate the modern world and learning about their plans for the future.

While this works as a standalone story, there are spoilers for at least two of the full-length novels. It also sets up the next full-length novel and I cannot wait for news of its release date.

Amazon

Ballgowns & Butterflies and Ghosts & Garlands by Kelley Armstrong are the perfect holiday novellas for fans of A Stitch In Time. #timeslip #historcalromance #holidaybooks
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If you haven’t yet read these, you can now purchase a compilation of three holiday novellas in the “Stitch in Time” series.

Christmas At Thorne Manor

Source

Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/12/ballgowns-butterflies-and-ghosts-garlands-by-kelley-armstrong.html

When Evie returns to her idyllic hometown for her grandfather’s funeral, the last thing she expects is to be dragged into a decades-old mystery. Instead, she finds various sinister clues aInstead, among her grandfather’s possessions, such as a haunting photograph and a bloody knitting needle. Teaming up with figures from her past, such as an old flame, Luke, and a friend from school, Azlinn, she uncovers a deep and twisted conspiracy. The closer they get to the truth, the more sinister and expansive it becomes – and the nearer the threats come to the home.

Hidden in the Shadows by A. D. Vancise is a tale of conspiracy and power. Told through interweaving storylines that slowly connect, the novel explores themes such as greed, lust, and belief in the supernatural. In this book, Vancise skilfully intertwines the magic of cozy small-town charm with the horrific acts those in power can do.

A. D. Vancise makes a sharp delineation between good and evil in her portrayals. Many of the characters, Evie included, are relatable, and the reader can empathize strongly with their journey. The story is filled with heartwarming portrayals of people with nothing but good intentions. On the other hand, the book also depicts people committing heinous acts with no remorse. The author does a beautiful job of depicting both sides of the spectrum and presenting the extremes of human intention.

Hidden in the Shadows by A. D. Vancise is a thrilling mystery that keeps readers in suspense from the first clue until the end. Vancise manages to tell a compelling and imaginative story with a tense and coherent plot within a very atmospheric setting, keeping the reader hooked until the end. The prose is well-written and a joy to read. However, the book contains some very distressing and graphic scenes that are unsuitable for children or the weak of heart. Overall, I would strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery and horror novels.

Pages: 353 | ASIN : B0BNCHMFBP

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/22/hidden-in-the-shadows/

A young girl wakes up to the sweetest of dreams. She is in a forest with talking animals and smells like peppermint sticks. There is a gingerbread woman decorating cupcakes nearby that is waving her over to join them. Davina realizes she is not in a dream and this magical world she is exploring is real. She has arrived in the magical Christmas Land that her mother has told her stories about all her life. What her mother hasn’t told her, though, was Christmas Land is currently ruled by an evil knight. Can Davina remember the things her mom told her and use that information to save Christmas Land?

Authors Amber and Davina Bernardi-Kim have written a magical children’s story. Christmas Land takes children on an adventure to save the kingdom from evil and does so in a surprising way. The settings are well written, and readers can imagine themself in each new scene even without the amazing illustrations of Eleonora Cali. The characters have depth, which was surprising to find in a children’s book. It is not so deep that smaller children will miss the message; rather, it is presented in a way that accentuates their personality traits.

Christmas Land is a magical children’s book that teaches children about honesty, perseverance, and standing up for what is right. This storybook would make a great holiday addition to read with families or classes to prepare for the holiday season.

Pages: 46 | ASIN : B0BLTJ7M9D

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/22/christmas-land/

The ISSA Manuscript: An American Public Policy Statement is a well written book that discusses every critical aspect of Social Security. The author, who at the start of the book says he did not intend to write a book, did an impeccable job explaining Social Security, how it worked for Millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers, and how it should be for future generations. Scott A Ginn is articulate in his discussion, focusing on the vital details and giving comprehensive conversations with just a few words. Everyone knows that Social Security is a federal government-run program whereby Americans are provided with a source of income when they retire or are unable to work due to disability. Scott A Ginn, in his book, is here to tell readers that there is much more that the general public is unaware of.

Within the first few pages, the reader is introduced to the Independent Social Security Administration (ISSA), how one can enroll and how various demographics of people benefit from it. While reading this informative book, the reader is introduced to multiple terms and social security jargon. Scott A Ginn defines and clearly clarifies what unfamiliar terms mean and how they are used.

Tax and taxation are some of the major topics in this book. The author enlightens readers on how tax is calculated and how contributions are made. I also got to learn about terms of trading, equity funds, investments, retirement, and pension. Even for someone with no financial background, this book becomes easy to read thanks to the dozens of definitions given by the author and his explanations when expounding on a new topic.

Two features of The ISSA Manuscript: An American Public Policy Statement make the book worth reading; the tables and illustrations shared by the author when he is discussing complex topics and how articulate his points are. I enjoyed going through the tables. Scott A Ginn simplifies everything for the average reader, making his book interesting. It would take a lot of effort for a book whose main subject is social security to be enjoyable, but for Scott A Ginn, everything is flawless and, thus, easy to read.

The intricate nature of Social Security and related policies appears smooth, simple, and even fascinating for curious minds. I applaud Scott A Ginn for the solutions he offered and the letters to the US Senate, House of Representatives, and the Federal Reserve Board chairman. His letters give the reader a clear perspective of the status quo.

The ISSA Manuscript: An American Public Policy Statement is the perfect reference book for all things social security. The author uses statistics and research to back his facts while explaining every theory logically. As a result, this book has the ideal financial blueprint that is quick to read.

Pages: 62 | ASIN : B0B8Q8D8HN

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/22/the-issa-manuscript/

The Last Polar Bear by Dana Rodney is a story about the impending doom of the polar bear and climate change. It might be a venture into the mind of the unknown, but it raises important questions regarding our ways of dealing with climate change. There is a combination of facts, fiction, and mysticism in this book. It begins with the story of Anuk, the polar bear, and continues to explore the effects of climate change and further changes through his point of view and others.

The writing style of the book is engaging and fast-paced. The beginning with the struggle of survival keeps the readers hooked and curious throughout the story. The author has also explored the Inupiaq culture and how they are closer to nature in their understanding. The author has also tried to explore the human world and human actions through the eyes of a polar bear. This new point of view provides a very enthralling experience for the readers. I was amazed to read about the simplest of things being described in a new light. It somehow drew attention to the natural and the man-made in our lives. The number of changes brought about on earth due to human advancements is infinite. The impact is now visible even on the big picture. We need to be aware of the challenges, or we will lose everything we cherish.

Overall, this book is a peek into the current condition of the earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The polar bear’s point of view, the myths and stories connecting the Inua to them, the voice of the earth, the Inupiaq culture explored through layers in the story, and much more. This book takes us into the ways of people in polar regions and shows us the strength of nature. Humans need to read this to decenter themselves and look at the earth. This is also the story of the few passionate people who are hell-bent on saving these species even in the face of denial by others. I recommend this book to people who are aware of climate change and want to understand the drastic impact our activities have on other lives.

Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0BLQ596MH

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/22/the-last-polar-bear/

Two authors, who have struggled with mental illness, tell their stories of recovery in dialogue fashion. Amelia Willows and Rick McVicar display hope and humor as they weave short stories of finding their way past hardship and trauma. Their recovery stories include deep faith in God as well as appreciation for nature.

As the two authors share their stories, they find plenty in common, even though they have been given different mental health diagnoses. Amelia is a person with borderline personality disorder while Rick is in recovery from schizoaffective disorder. While Amelia takes the lead role in telling her story, Rick serves as the editor as well as writing responses to Amelia’s columns. The two authors have developed a strong friendship from sharing their stories

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/22/healing-the-mind-with-words-book-trailer/

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Five editors’ picks available now in Kindle Unlimited

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Our picks for the best teen & young adult books of 2022

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