Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Book Reviews To Close Out 2020 by Kristy McCaffrey


Reviews by Kristy McCaffrey

I thought I'd share some great stories (and one non-fiction) I've finished recently. I've included an Amazon link for each, but many of them are available on other platforms as well.



In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

This romance uses the Groundhog Day trope (although this time the heroine, Mae, repeats several days at a time), and it's very well done. On a yearly family/friend Christmas vacation in Park City, Utah, Mae must decide what truly makes her happy. While she learns more about her parents and their friends, and her desire to save the cabin where they've always met for the holidays, she finally finds the courage to tell her one true love, Andrew, how she feels. This book is heartwarming, funny, and with plenty of steam between Mae and Andrew. A winner!


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Catawampus Christmas Carol by Ann Charles and Sam Lucky

This novella compliments the Deadwood Undertaker series, which currently includes three novels: Life at the Coffin Joint, A Long Way From Ordinary, and Can't Ride Around It. So it definitely helps if you're caught up. This Christmas tale is a warm and wonderful addition to the characters of Clementine, Boone, Rabbit, and Hank, and the historic old west town of Deadwood. This story gives all the holiday feels as Clem learns to let friendship, and possibly love, into her life. I loved it!


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Concrete Evidence by Rachel Grant

In this steamy romantic suspense, Erica Kesling is an underwater archaeologist who jeopardized her career when she took on the wrong job. Now, she’s trying to lay low and prove her innocence. When she’s saddled with a new intern, she’s annoyed, especially since he’s a complete slacker. But Lee Scott isn’t really an intern. He’s an undercover security expert looking for whomever is smuggling artifacts in an international ring reaching all the way to Iraq. Soon, the sparks start flying between Erica and Lee. Ms. Grant has crafted an intelligent plot with likeable characters, and if you like your love scenes on the page, she definitely delivers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest in this series.

Find Concrete Evidence at Amazon

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Rescued By The Ranger by Dixie Lee Scott

A story of danger and smoldering passion that will have you reading late into the night. Army Ranger Garrett Harding has come to Idaho to learn about the mother he never knew. As he uncovers secrets that involve his famous father, he falls for Rachel Maguire, who unbeknownst to him has been in hiding for years from a stalker. Ms. Brown has written a wonderful love story with gorgeous Idaho scenery and a dog named Cowboy, the most well-trained mutt you’ll ever meet. Really enjoyed it!

Find Rescued by the Ranger at Amazon

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Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

A must read for how to function in this highly digital world we live in today. This book doesn’t simply tell you to set down your phone and take a break from social media, but gives you concrete ways to change your habits, as well as the underlying science of how this technology is reshaping our brains, and not always for the better.

 Find Digital Minimalism at Amazon

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Relativity by G.S. Jennsen

This is Book 7 in Ms. Jennsen’s Amaranthe series and brings back favorite couple Caleb and Alex as they must steal critical intelligence from an alien species. Jennsen’s complex and layered worldbuilding is aided by another gripping storyline. This is so much more than space opera. Highly recommend! And if this series is new to you, start with Book 1, Starshine.

Find Relativity at Amazon

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His Unexpected Companion by Patti Sherry-Crews

Kit and Olivia are forced to travel to Leadville together in this well-drawn western romance. Both have secrets they’re hiding from each other, but it’s the yearning for something more that each instills in the other that propels them to question their life’s trajectory. Settle back and enjoy this compelling love story set against the backdrop of historical Leadville. Couldn’t put it down!

Find His Unexpected Companion at Amazon

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Shot Through The Heart by Andrea Downing

This old west romance has complex characters and realistic settings, so you're in for a great read! Shiloh is trying to leave his violent history behind, but circumstances compel him to one final showdown. He didn’t plan to fall for Sydney, a woman doctor struggling to establish her practice, and she is adamantly against his need for vengeance. As they both face their life choices and the consequences of those actions, they work to find a path toward each other. A beautifully written journey during the time of strong men and determined women. A great read!

Find Shot Through The Heart at Amazon

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Beach Read by Emily Henry

Augustus and January are both writers but with very different styles. He’s all angst and she’s a romance novelist. They’ll be neighbors for the summer when they reside in side-by-side beach houses. With likeable and realistic characters, tight pacing, and painful backstories to overcome, this story will draw you in. It’s also funny, very romantic, and definitely on the steamier side. A keeper!

Find Beach Read at Amazon

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The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow

This lyrical, layered, and surprisingly edgy novel is one of those slow-burn stories that will take hold of you by the end. Juniper, Agnes, and Bella are sisters playing the archetypal roles of maiden, mother, and crone in a fictionalized version of Salem in the late 1800’s. But Ms. Harrow doesn’t stick to the script, upending those roles at every turn, and weaving witchcraft into the tale in a very innovative way. You’ll never look at nursery rhymes the same again. She even manages to give the villain—Gideon Hill—purpose in his malevolence. I was enthralled with this story!

Find The Once and Future Witches at Amazon

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Battlestar Galactica: Armageddon by Richard Hatch and Christopher Golden

I recently re-watched the original Battlestar Galactica TV show, which I had loved when I was a kid. I was thrilled to find this novel, which takes up where the series left off. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It gave much greater depth to all the characters, especially my favorite—Athena. What a wonderful gift Richard Hatch left for his fans! (He played Apollo on the show.)

Find Battlestar Galactica: Armageddon at Amazon




6 comments:

  1. I love being included in this list! I've read a couple of them like Andrea's great historical western, and Beach Read with fun (loved the concept). I see more than a few new titles I want to read. Thanks, Kristy and wishing you happy writing in the new year and beyond!

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    1. Patti,
      I so enjoyed reading your book! Happy to include it. Here's to a great 2021!!

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  2. thanks so much for that great, incisive review, Kristy. It's greatly appreciated.

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    1. Andrea,
      I loved your book! Thanks for a great read!!

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  3. That’s a great bunch of books, Kristy. I just want to know... when do you ever have time to read??? Lol! You are so busy!! Now I’ve got a whole new bunch of books to grab and read when I can. I’ve read Patti’s, of course... so many books —so little time!!! These all look great!

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    1. It can be hard to find time to read. I do most of it in the evenings on my kindle. But I also read a hardcover with my breakfast instead of a newspaper. A chapter each morning. Take care and Happy New Year!!

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