This is a Free Week at Four Foxes, One Hound, and I had a few things in mind to write about, but since I’m composing this at the last minute I decided to continue sharing my Goodreads challenge books. Here are the books I’ve enjoyed since my last free week post:
That Christmas Feeling by Karyn Gerard
I purchased this book when it was promoted as a Seasoned Romance, but like another book from this promotion I felt neither of the characters is that mature in age. The hero is a television star and the heroine runs a wilderness lodge with her parents. Connall is trying to avoid his family holiday, so he goes on a retreat in Ontario with his old friend and a few others. He discovers he has nothing in common with the young party-going crowd, so he finds the manager to ask for other accomodations, and ends up enjoying old movies and other treats with her. Despite the younger-than-expected characters, it was a nice read.
Mr. Right, Mr. Wrong, Mr. Alien by Cheryl Sterling.
Cheryl is a long-distance member of one of my local writers groups. I bought this short story because it had an interesting, though popular premise: Earth girl meets alien man. The way they meet is unique: he finds her on an online dating site. She’s reluctant to meet him because she’s recently widowed and feeling guilty for having registered on that site while her husband was alive. Somehow he convinces her to take a chance on him. I’m hoping the story is continued, because I’d like to find out if the alien really is Mr. Right.
Christmas at Brentwood Abbey by Kristin Vayden, Nadine Millard, and Kay Springsteen.
The same event is described from the point of view of three different people living at Brentwood Abbey. Having read books by both Kristin and Kay, I decided to purchase and read this anthology and am so glad I did. Two stories deal with nobility (the Earl of Brentwood and his sister) while the third is about two of the servants. The three stories intertwined nicely but contrasted enough to keep me reading until the end.
Young Teacher by Bobbi Ruggiero
This is yet another book purchased during the Seasoned Romance promotion, and again I was disappointed at how young the main characters are. Julia is an urban professional in her mid-30s and Matthew is ten years younger. To me, Julia hardly qualifies as an “older woman.” Other than that, the story is entertaining. I find it a bit hard to believe that a twenty-something young man would have the passion for teaching guitar and arrange recitals for them, while working full-time in a sandwich shop AND performing in a rock band. But the romance itself is nicely done.
So there’s my list! A family emergency has caused a huge shift in my daily routine, so my list might be smaller next month. I hope not. Guess I’ll just have to keep looking for ways to get my reading in.
Have you completed anything from your 2017 TBR list?
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Some good recommendations. I am finding that I prefer the characters in contemporary romances to be a bit older–at least thirty, but find it rare to find characters much older than that. I know so many couples in real life that found love (or love again) in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. I want to read about them too.
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I agree, Joselyn. It’s getting harder and harder for me to relate to main characters who are under thirty, unless it’s a YA or maybe a NA. And in a lot of the NA books I tend to get irritated at the poor choices they make – although us older folks make plenty of poor choices as well!
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great list. I especially am drawn to the one with the alien.
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It’s a quick read, Jeff, so you could probably squeeze it in during a writing break.
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how is your hubby doing?
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Two steps forward, one step back. It’s going to be a long road ahead.
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hoping for the best
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Yes, I think maybe we should look into creating older characters, because there is a dearth of them.Life does not end at 40 by a long shot!
These look good.I don’t think I have a problem with the guitar teacher who works at a sandwich shop and plays in a band.I know a lot of fellows who work a great deal and rock out with bands. When one works in a sandwich shop, you don;t have anything to think about before or after the job, (unless you are the owner or manager). Men have a lot of energy and time when it comes to things they are passionate about. We use up more energy on more concerns.
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In the ms. I recently completed, the hero and heroine are both in their late twenties, which is about as young as I like to go. Except in historical S I don’t mind younger characters, as I think people were forced to mature earlier in years past. A few Christmas novellas I finished: Mistletoe at Moonglow by Deborah Garner; A Cowboy’s Christmas Eve by R.C. Ryan; Once Upon a Christmas by Curtiss Ann Matlock, all fun holiday reads that didn’t require a lot of time to read. Getting back to reading full length novels now.
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This all sound like wonderful stories and I think two of those could work with my reading challenge this year.
The first book on my reading challenge is a book that has been banned so I decided to go with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Praying for your husband.
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