For my more serious side

Please visit my other blog for my more serious side:

http://evysbooks.blogspot.com/

I started my own challenge and hope I can read all those books by the end of the year!

Once upon a Valentine by Holly Jacobs

So, here is Holly's final book in the Trilogy (though I hope she finds a mate for Judge Bradley). Could Heidi be that person?

Ok, lets get down to business. Carly is newly divorced from her husband since she caught him cheating with his secretary on their couch.......a couch she bought. We won the infamous couch in the divorce settlement and decided to torch it. Well, that didn't go too well as she ended up burning up her shed and the neighbor's shed and got arrested for arson. She was ordered to do community service by Judge Bradley (Alan) who as it turns out, is the brother-in-law of Chuck, the officer that Carly has to work with.

Chuck is oh so nice but has a rule that he won't date a woman after 6 weeks. He did want to go out with Carly (though she has a wild side). Carly is also a bit wary of men after the drama with her ex.

I liked Carly and found her to be strong, witty, compassionate. She spent all her life jumping through hoops for her husband and I liked that Holly "allowed" her some time to find herself or her "color" as she mentioned in the novel. With kids around my kids age, I know it had to be tough and the ex (whom I won't even mention his name) is such a hard as.. for not wanting to spend time with his kids.

Here is where Chuck steps in. Clever Chuck. He totally wins Carly over as he is patient and kind and totally likes spending time with her kids. I love a man who will take the kids to a game so mom can study for her boards.

Friendship: Carly, Michelle and Samantha formed a strong bond of friendship which I totally enjoyed. Being married with kids is a sure recipe for being frazzled and sometimes missing out on friendships with other women. We need that to stay sane.......kudos to Holly for penning this lovely trilogy and I do hope I get to read about Andy and Heidi real soon.

Once upon a Christmas by Holly Jacobs

Book 2 in the Holly Jacobs Trilogy.

Are three people about to get their Christmas wish?

When her nephew announces he's going to find his father, Michelle Hamilton never dreams the man's actually going to show up at her door! Only a paternity test will determine whether Daniel McLean has a legitimate claim. But that doesn't stop the much-too-appealing potential dad from throwing Michelle's well-ordered world into upheaval.............

My thoughts are that Michelle is so very uptight! Well, I guess I would be too if some guy suddenly appears in my nephew's life and saying he will play the role of "Dad". First order of the day would be a background check then I would do my own snooping around. In any case, Daniel is a courageous human being for taking on Michelle and Brandon without knowing whether or not he is Brandon's dad. I liked him immediately.

Brandon is more than a typical teen --- I like that he respects his Aunt enough to do what she asks but makes his own decision on a very important topic. I was happy that Michelle found the love that was seemingly lacking from her life at such a young age and hopes that she will have children with Daniele.....that would be a whole 'nother story.

I enjoyed this book as the characters are warm and inviting and shows the ever growing friendship between Michelle, Samantha and Carly.

Once upon a Thanksgiving by Holly Jacobs

Three women from Erie Elementary were thrown together on the social committee because they missed the first PTA Meeting. As it turns out, there worked well together and would become great friends.

This book centers around Samantha. Divorced with 4 kids, three of whom are boys, missing the attention of their dad. Dad.....well he had to go find himself and after he found girlfriend Lois, she helps him rekindle the relationship with his kids. Typical of some guys to be able to take time out to find themselves when times re tough.

In any case, they got in trouble at school and had to go to the principal's office. Mom (Samantha) was called in to discuss her boys behavior and found she was attracted to Principal Remington. Turns out they both went to Erie Elementary school (Sami as she was called) was about 2 years behind Harry.

Theirs was a relationship seemingly doomed from the start as Harry vowed not to get involved with a woman with kids yet he cannot stay away from Samantha. Sami on ther other hand knew that Harry was just the interim Principal and would be returning to Columbus after the Thanksgiving Holidays.

Without re-writing the entire book, Stan (Samantha's older son) got over himself and even their dad is doing much better thanks to his new love Lois. Samantha and Harry got their happy ending with Harry staying on as the new principal at Erie Elementary and Samantha finally accepting herself, extra weight and all.

Its a heart warming book deserving 3.5 stars.