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Lifestyle & Family

A Spooky and Colourful Kids Halloween Party

November 2, 2021

A Spooky and Colourful Kids Halloween Party

I haven’t always been a big halloween person but my littlest guy is a lover of all things ‘smooky’ as he calls them. So it was the perfect year to throw a halloween themed party for the kids. I wanted it to be a bit creepy but definitely not scary and I think we pulled it off. We used blue and pink to help keep it colourful and fun and not too scary.

I hung these bat garlands across the room and added cobwebs to the windows and chairs. I used my Cricut to cut out pink spiders that I arranged on the wall in a line creepily walking up the wall. I used tall birch trees in the corners and draped them with more cobwebs and spiders. My favourite 5 foot skeletons sat on both the end chairs just waiting to party.

I draped the table in cobwebs and a black netting down the middle. I added all the creepy objects I could think of: black roses, tiny white pumpkins, black and gray rats, even a bowl of black snakes and a few black crows.

I used my Cricut to cut out blue spiderwebs to act as a sort of placemat and printed other small items to act like confetti around the table and keep it playful – the word boo, blue bats, glitter stars, a pumpkin for each plate and a cute white ghost. I finished the place settings off with a sparkly bat napkin and cute wood cutlery with playful black doodles on each piece. Each kid got a glass drink bottle fitted with a paper straw with a playful bat attached.

The food was so much fun to create. First up, my daughter loves cheesies so these skeleton shaped ones were the perfect snack food to add – festive and a kid fav! I placed them in a cauldron shaped bowl and added a skeleton arm as a spoon.

Next I got some basic doughnuts and added candy eyes, vampire teeth and a bit of blood icing for a fun monster treat.

Popcorn is a favourite around here too… I added some eyeballs to the bowl to make it instantly spooky.

I then did some classic cheese string ghosts and orange jack-o-lanterns for a healthy addition – I just drew the faces on with a marker… so easy! The Rice Krispie treats were my favourite snack – I just added candy eyes and drew a variety of mouths on them… I think they turned out so cute.

My little guy specifically requested a chocolate bat cake… he thinks every party needs a cake and I cant really argue with that. I found this cake at my local grocery store – how perfect right?! It was exactly what he asked for! The spiderweb cake stand was a great find too!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! I think we need to make this Halloween party an annual thing… it was so much fun!

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bats on wall | cauldron bowls (similar) | table | endchairs | chairs | chandelier | sconces | birch trees

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Lifestyle & Family

20 brand new Rom-Coms to read this holiday season

October 23, 2021

20 brand new Rom-Coms to read this holiday season

If you follow my bookish instagram account (@anoblelibrary) or have read any of the book themed posts on this blog, you’ll know I love a good romantic comedy read. Pair a rom-com with a holiday theme and I’m basically guaranteed to read it! There are so many new holiday themed books releasing this season too so I’ve curated a list of the 20 books that I’m most interested in reading this year. I hope you find a book or two (or all 20 haha) to read this season.

Nick and Noels Christmas Playlist by Codi Hall – “Curl up this Christmas with a sparkling romance filled with: irresistible friends-to-lovers romance, the kiss that changed everything, warm nights on the family Christmas tree farm, all your favorite Christmas songs! Nick Winter is just out of the military, and his Christmas homecoming is not going as planned. What was supposed to be a memorable holiday with his long-time girlfriend goes sour when he learns she cheated on him while he was stationed overseas. At least Nick can rely on his usual shift at the family Christmas tree farm with his best friend, Noel Carter, and her endless supply of Christmas tunes to lift his spirits. A night of fun together is just what he needs to forget about his ex. But then they kiss. And it feels…so right”

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson – “Two people. One month to fall in love. Belle Wilde loves December. Yes, she’s just lost her job and Christmas is not a good time to find yourself ‘financially challenged’. And yes, her parents are still going on about the fact that she really should have it all together by now. But Belle believes that in December, magic can happen. Rory Walters hates December. Whilst it looks like his life is together, he’s still reeling from a winter’s night five years ago when his life changed forever. Now back at home, he’s certain that this will be yet another Christmas to endure rather than enjoy. But as midnight on December 31st draws closer, Belle and Rory’s time together is coming to an end. With a little help from a Christmas miracle could Belle find the one thing she really wants underneath the mistletoe?” I read this one earlier this year and really enjoyed it. It was a super clean romance but I didn’t miss the steam.

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Beth Garrod – “Elle is a social medial star with the #DreamLife…or so it seems. Determined to shake up her content and gain new followers, she’s on a mission: can she find a British fan to swap with for Christmas? Holly loves everything about Christmas. But after a mortifying mistletoe disaster with her ex, her perfect plans unravel like a bad Christmas sweater. Can Holly save the holidays when she switches places with favorite social media influencer? Elle gets more than she bargained for when she meets the cute boy from across the street. And Holly wasn’t expecting Elle to have a handsome twin brother. This holiday is full of surprises.” This book reminds me of a spin on the movie The Holiday and I am here for it!

The Holiday Switch by Tia Marcelo – A YA romance about “a bookish Filipino-American girl who crosses paths with the innkeeper’s aggravating nephew–but when they accidentally switch phones, their newly discovered secrets draw them together.”

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox – “When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell–both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over.  With only days until Christmas, a desperate Charlie asks Cass to do something they haven’t done since they were kids: switch places. Looking for her own escape from reality, Cass agrees. But temporarily trading lives proves more complicated than they imagined, especially when rugged firefighter Jake Greenman and gorgeous physician’s assistant Miguel Rodriguez are thrown into the mix. Will the twins’ identity swap be a recipe for disaster, or does it have all the right ingredients for getting their lives back on track?”

So This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen – Another YA romance I’m excited to read. “When Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn’t changed much in her sixteen years. But instead she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother’s inn. And she certainly didn’t expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother’s doorstep. It’s up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley’s Christmas. It’s about home and family and friends and finding her place, and along the way she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.”

I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas by Tiffany Schmidt – “Noelle Partridge is known for three things: being the best ballet dancer, babysitter, and person with the most Christmas spirit in her small town. But lately she’s bored by the lessons at her dance school, and her friends and father are more bah humbug than Hallmark movie marathon. So when her favorite babysitting clients ask her to accompany them on a ski trip over winter break, she packs her bags for the slopes. It helps that they’re offering double her rate—she’ll need the money for Beacon, an elite ballet academy that’s granted her an audition. Noelle is ready to “Deck the Halls” and have fa la la la fun, until Wyatt, the older half-brother of her babysitting charges, decides to surprise his family for the holiday. He’s one of the best dancers at Beacon, and makes Noelle’s head spin faster than pirouettes. Unfortunately, she also manages to step on his toes—spoiling his surprise and complicating his secret plans. After a few missteps, Noelle and Wyatt begin to thaw toward each other and bond over the big decisions looming in each of their lives. With enough Christmas magic, Noelle might just start the New Year with lots of babysitting cash in her pocket and a chance with the pas de deux partner of her dreams.” Ballet dancers, Christmas holidays and YA love – what an adorable combination.

Duke Actually by Jenny Holiday – This will definitely be a popular book this holiday season. “Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is trapped. Under pressure from his domineering father, he must marry a suitable bride before he inherits a title that feels like a prison sentence. In New York to meet a prospective wife, he ditches his responsibilities and appears on Dani Martinez’s doorstep. He’s been intrigued by the no-nonsense professor since he met her at the Eldovian royal wedding and is determined to befriend her. Newly single Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s trying to escape relationships, and she’s resolved to avoid them at all costs. All they want from each other is friendship and a distraction from their messy lives. As their bond begins to deepen, so does their attraction, until they end up in bed together. Falling in love was never part of the plan—Max’s family doesn’t see Dani as a perfect match, even as his heart tells him she’s the one, and Dani isn’t sure she can make it in Max’s world. Can they find the courage to live they life they desire, even if it means risking everything?”

Christmas by the Coast by Maggie Baggot – “What would you give for a second chance with the one that got away?
After a terrible heartbreak, Harriet Cookson worked hard to build her life back up. Now she has a dependable boyfriend, a great job and a decent flatshare. But when her beloved grandmother passes away, Harriet drops everything to fly out to the Hamptons to comfort her grieving grandpa. Christmas is coming and as she arrives on the sandy beaches of her childhood in Montauk, Long Island, Harriet spots someone she never expected to see again – her ‘one that got away’, ex-soldier Mack Wyatt. Now, Mack is determined to win Harriet back and show her that the life she’s been living might be the wrong happily-ever-after. This Christmas, find out if love letters from the past can pave the way to a brand-new future.”

Fool me Twice at Christmas by Camila Isley – “There are two types of relationships: fake and real. Chuck and Kate’s used to be real, oh-so-real. But after she broke his heart four months ago, leaving him, it became all just pretense for the sake of their entwined families. With parents who are best friends and business partners, it’s not easy for Chuck and Kate to announce they’ve split up. But with the holidays looming over them, they can no longer keep pretending. Chuck and Kate head home for Christmas, determined to tell the truth—and end up accidentally engaged instead. The more they try to pull apart, the more the Universe seems to push them back together, shortening the road to the altar. And when just-for-show kisses stir up forgotten feelings, things get even more complicated. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Chuck and Kate’s relationship turn out to be real or fake?”

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis – “On a snowy evening in March, 30-something Noelle Butterby is on her way back from an event at her old college when disaster strikes. With a blizzard closing off roads, she finds herself stranded, alone in her car, without food, drink, or a working charger for her phone. All seems lost until Sam Attwood, a handsome American stranger also trapped in a nearby car, knocks on her window and offers assistance. What follows is eight perfect hours together, until morning arrives and the roads finally clear.  The two strangers part, positive they’ll never see each other again, but fate, it seems, has a different plan. As the two keep serendipitously bumping into one another, they begin to realize that perhaps there truly is no such thing as coincidence.” This ones not exactly a Christmas read but it’s got a hazardous winter storm to give you all the winter cozy feels anyway.

A Magical New York Christmas by Anita Hughes – “It’s Christmas week when 26-year-old Sabrina Post knocks on the door of the Vanderbilt suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, ready to accept the ghostwriting position for the memoir of Grayson Westcott—a famous art dealer. A struggling journalist, Sabrina can’t believe her luck: a paycheck and six nights in her own suite at the Plaza. She feels like Eloise, the heroine from her favorite children’s books. To make the job even more exciting, Grayson recounts how he worked as a butler at the Plaza sixty years ago for none other than the author of the Eloise books, Kay Thompson. What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Wentworth, a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar. When Ian assumes Sabrina is another wealthy guest at the hotel, she doesn’t correct him —a decision she doesn’t regret after learning that Ian is a member of the British aristocracy. But, things are not what they seem. The truth is: Ian is not a wealthy lord; he’s actually the personal secretary of Lord Spencer Braxton. As the week unfolds, will Sabrina and Ian learn the truth about one another?”

The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett – “On Christmas Eve eight years ago Evie and Dan made a pact: if they weren’t married by thirty, they were going to marry each other. Of course, neither of them took it seriously, even if Dan has always been mesmerised by Evie’s beautiful smile, and Evie has always fancied Dan, her best-friend’s brother. But then “it” happens. They wake up on Christmas Eve, the night before Evie’s thirtieth birthday in Vegas… married. In a honeymoon suite filled with hundreds of heart-shaped pillows, they realise too late what they’ve done – just like Ross and Rachel. Surely if they just get a quickie divorce, they can go back to the way things used to be, right? If it wasn’t for the alcohol and Susan-with-the-huge-beehive-hairdo who just wouldn’t take no for an answer, none of this would have happened. They can just go back to being friends. Except moving on is easier said than done when you’ve secretly loved each other forever… but if one of them doesn’t admit that, what happens to their friendship? If they don’t get together this time, what happens to the pact? Are they really ready to let it go for good?”

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews – “When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn’t bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it’s a full-time job sorting through all of it.  At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it’s from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold? Ivy’s quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.”

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan – “When the department store she works in closes for good, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. She doesn’t want to move in with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered Edinburgh life. Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want Carmen there either. Her sister has always been sarcastic and difficult. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs a retail assistant for his ailing bookshop, so welcoming Carmen might still have some benefits for everyone. At Sofia’s behest, Carmen is thrown into the daily workings of old Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the streets of the old dark city. Can she use her design skills to revamp the store and bring it back to popularity in time to benefit from Christmas shopping traffic? Can she choose between bad boy literary rock star Blair and quiet Quaker student Oke? And will she heal the rift with the most important people of all: her family?”

All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door by Chelsea Bobulski – “It’s a Wonderful Life meets Wish Upon A Star in this Christmas-themed young adult contemporary romance. Graham Wallace has been in love with the girl next door for a decade. Unfortunately, she’s been dating his best friend for the past two years. Out of sheer desperation, Graham makes a wish on a shooting star—all he wants for Christmas is Sarah Clarke. When Graham wakes up the next morning, everything has changed, and he’s the one who’s been dating Sarah for the past two years, not his best friend. Graham assumes the wish would have only come true if he and Sarah were meant to be together, but as it becomes clear that he and Sarah bring out the worst in each other, not the best, and as he starts to fall for the new girl in town, Graham wonders if some wishes come true in order to show us what’s not meant to be.”

The Christmas Letters by Jenny Proctor – “Can an old letter spark a new flame? Yes, Dahlia Ravenel did manage to trap herself in a bathroom stall. And yes, the paramedic that talked her out of a panic attack was insanely hot. If only he was interested.  Connor McKay has a mysterious Christmas pen pal, a woman who replied to a newly found letter he sent to Santa back when he was a kid. After weeks of correspondence, it’s clear she’s funny, charming, interesting…and an awful lot like Dahlia Ravanel–the woman he already blew off for good reason.  Dahlia and Connor couldn’t be more different, but when their worlds collide, fate (and a mischievous grandma) set two people who have sworn each other off on a crash course for love.”

The Holiday Ex Files by Jennifer Peel – “Once upon a time people called me the holiday queen. But catching my husband under the Christmas tree with another woman kind of did something to me. Like make me digitally crop him out of all our wedding photos and post them online. Who knew that post would go viral? Thanks to all the requests I received to do the same for other jilted partners, I started a new business called, the Holiday Ex-Files. And I couldn’t be happier. Well . . . at least I’m not unhappy. Then along comes my ex-husband’s best friend, Noah Cullen. Yep, like the vampires. He’s extremely gorgeous like them too. He has a plan to help me believe in the magic of holidays again. But the more I’m around him, I begin to think he’s the magical one, and that perhaps I picked the wrong best friend to begin with. Maybe, just maybe, it will be a very merry Christmas after all.”

Twelve Days to Save Christmas by Elizabeth Neep – “On the first day of Christmas, my true love… dumped me.
Poppy loves Christmas and always goes all out to make this magical time of the year extra special for her boyfriend George. But George is strangely not in the spirit this year. As Poppy wrestles him into her Christmas jumper built for two for a holiday snapshot, she finds out why. He’s leaving her. And she only has twelve more days until he moves out. Poppy is heartbroken. But she’s not going to give up on their five-year relationship without a fight. George is the love of her life, and his warm and stable family are worlds away from her own chaotic upbringing. And she is sure he still loves her too – she just needs to remind him of all the reasons why. Twelve days: twelve chances to get her man back and save Christmas. But festive surprises aren’t only found under the tree. As Poppy’s twelve days count down and she goes to ever more ambitious lengths to prove to George she’s exactly the kind of girl he wants, she starts to realise that maybe the Christmas miracle she’s working towards is not the one she really needs. And that the person she’s truly meant to spend Christmas with is closer than she thought…”

Always, in December by Emily Stone – “It started with a letter. It ended with a love story. Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three words: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is knocked off course by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger–a stranger who will change the course of Josie’s life. Josie always thought she was the only one who avoided the Christmas season, but this year, Max has his own reasons for doing the same–and coincidence leads them to spending the holiday together. Aglow with new love, Josie thinks this might be the start of something special. Only for Max to disappear without saying goodbye. Over the course of the next year, Max and Josie will find that fate continues to bring them together in places they’d never expect. New York City. Edinburgh. The quiet English countryside. And it turns out, Max had every reason to leave and every reason to stay. But what does fate hold for Josie and Max as Christmas approaches again?”

Which ones are you looking forward too? Let me know in the comments!

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*all synopsis quoted from goodreads.com

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Lifestyle & Family

Halloween books for kids

October 8, 2021

Halloween books for kids

We love holiday themed books around this house. I store them away and bring them out about a month or two before each holiday and the kids love rediscovering some of their favourites. I’ve rounded up some of our current favourites and some books that I definitely think need to be added to our collection! I know my 8 year old will absolutely love the book about a creepy pair of underwear haha. All the books are linked below for your convenience.

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20 books to read this fall!

September 1, 2021

20 books to read this fall!

I’ll admit it, I often choose what books to read based on the season haha. In the summer I was all about the tropical beach settings, vacation romances and bright fun covers. So of course for fall I’m thinking some spookier books, with fall coloured covers and a few witches, vampires and thrillers… with a healthy dose of romance too (my favourite). So whether you want a light fall themed contemporary romance, a Young Adult (YA) thriller or a serious fictional read…. I’ve got something for you in my fall book roundup! See below for a brief synopsis of each book and I’ve linked all these books further down for your convenience.

Witch, Please by Ann Aguirre is described as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls. A witch who is definitely not looking for a romantic relationship and a baker with a relationship curse that’s left him a virgin at 30+ years old and a chemistry that’s undeniable. Sounds like the perfect light, halloween-y rom-com for fall. This one releases September 7th.

Crave by Tracy Wolff – a 5 part series so far… (the 4th book in this series, “Court”, releases September 28th). It’s a YA book about a girl living in a world surrounded by vampires, werewolves and dragons. I’ve read the first book and am currently reading the second. I recommend this for anyone who’s a fan of Twilight and supernatural teenage fiction.

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus – This is a YA thriller described as “…the story of what happens when 5 strangers walk into detention and only 4 walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.” The 5 students are described as the brain, the beauty, the criminal, the athlete and the outcast – this description is giving me series Breakfast Club vibes – in a horror setting right?! It was first published in 2017 but the sequel – One of Us is Next – just released early last year.

They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman – This one’s described as a “fast paced thriller about two sisters vying for the top spot on their cross-country team — the only way out of their stifling small town. But their dreams are suddenly thrown into peril when a new girl threatens to take away everything they’ve worked for… until she disappears…” I bought this one to read this fall and I’ll be sure to post a review!

Wild Love by Lauren Accardo- This book released earlier this year but the cover just screams fall so I’ve been saving it to read. A girl heartbroken from a cheating boyfriend heads to the mountains to help run her mothers bookstore when she gets into a fender bender with the towns mechanic and well… sparks and spark plugs fly! All romance lovers should add this to their fall reading list. The sequel – Sweet Love releases October 5th too.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson – This is the first book in a trilogy. Here is the synopsis: “The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?”. I don’t usually read too many thrillers but this one has been getting a lot of attention and I’ve bought it to read this fall.

Someone You Love by Kristen Granata- I discovered this book from someone I follow on Instagram and this cozy and warm cover just pulled me in. It just screams nice, fall read to me. It’s a forced proximity romance about healing and taking chances. Charly made a bucket list with her mom when her mom had cancer and they never got to finish it but Charly is determined to finish it for her. She moves to Maine to do so and meets Bryce (the grumpy owner of her temporary living quarters). I think it’s safe to guess these two are going to fall in love… but I can’t wait to read their love story.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest – This book releases October 26th… just in time for Halloween! This ones for all the mystery book fans. A psychic travel agent combines forces with a Seattle PD detective (whom she stopped from getting on a plane that exploded) to solve 2 murders that have more in common than they think.

Holding Onto Everything by Dana LeCheminant – Another romance with a cover that’s perfect for fall! A CEO of a billion-dollar hotel company fulfills his fathers dying wish by pretending to be someone else and living with nothing when he gets hurt and meets a nurse who … you guessed it… he falls in love with. Problem is she thinks he’s someone else. So he has to choose between telling her the truth and potentially losing her (oh and did I mention she has a hatred for rich CEOs) or keeping up the charade… but how long can that last?!

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton – I read this book a few months ago and cannot stop singing its praises. It is a sweet romantic comedy about a party planner and a horror book writer. Its’ a super cute story with probably the funniest meet cute I’ve ever read with some halloween type settings – grave yards, spooky parties etc. A perfect fall read that’s not scary but still on theme.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman – I read another book by this author earlier this year ‘A Man Called One’ and absolutely loved it – one of my favourite books that I’ve ever read actually – so I’ve been saving his Beartown series to read this fall. It’s about a small town ice hockey team competing in the semi-finals and actually standing a good chance of winning. All the hopes and dreams of this small town rest on the shoulders of a few young men. But the semi- final match leads to a violent act which leaves a young girl traumatized and the entire town in turmoil. “Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain.”

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy – “Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team of biologists tasked with reintroducing 14 gray wolves into the remote Highlands. She hopes to heal not only the dying landscape, but Aggie too, unmade by the terrible secrets that drove the sisters out of Alaska. Then a farmer is found dead and everyone will blame the wolves and Inti decides to protect her wolves… while wondering if they didn’t do it, who did? And could it be the man she’s falling for. A fictional book about wolves and murder… a spooky read for fall indeed.

As If On Cue by Marisa Kanter- This cute YA book releases September 21st and doesn’t this cover just look like an adorable back to school type book. It’s an enemies to lovers trope style story as “a pair of fierce foes are forced to work together to save the arts at their school in this swoony YA romance”. If you love YA and romance, I think its the perfect fall read for you.

Paybacks A Witch by Lana Harper- This ones described as Sabrina meets The L Word. A witch named Emmy returns to her hometown and quickly meets two witches scorned by the womanizing heir to the most powerful and magical family in town. The two witches want revenge, but Emmy kind of wants one of them. Magical witches, scorned lovers and a romance all in one. This one releases October 5th.

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin – A secret witch fleeing for her life meets and somehow marries a witch hunter. I mean that’s the only synopsis I need to know I want to read this one. It’s part of a series of 3 books as well with the 3rd just coming out this past summer.

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman – “A Murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive prep school on Long Island.” Fans of YA thrillers should add this to their reading list.

The Ivies by Alexa Donne – 5 girls with the same goal – get into the Ivies (you know the most coveted universities in the United States) by ANY MEANS NECESSARY. This ones another great sounding YA thriller perfect for fall. It released earlier this year.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling – 9 years ago Vivienne cursed her ex boyfriend while nursing a broken heart but now theyre both in town and realize that hex is still causing calamities for him. So these two exes have to work together to save the town and break the curse… and Im sure they’ll fall in love again along the way. A book with witches, hexes, a romance and a fall festival… sign me up! This one releases September 28th.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker – I read this series earlier this year (it’s 3 books and the author just announced a 4th spin off is releasing next year!). I would highly recommend this series for a nice fall romance read. Calla (Toronto native and city girl) heads to Alaska to visit her estranged and ailing father and when she arrives she meets Jonah – a pilot and everything her mother warned her to avoid). A girl who definitely doesn’t want to follow in the footsteps of her mother and a man who must prove he won’t let her.

Meet Me on Love Lane by Nina Bocci – This is actually the second book in this series but the cover of this one… I mean… so perfectly fall right! This one’s decscribed as “a romantic comedy about a woman who grudgingly returns home to small-town Pennsylvania, only the find herself falling in love – not only with the town, but with two of its citizens. A girl torn between 2 men and 2 cities. A nice feel good read for fall.

So witch books (see what I did there ha) are you adding to your fall reading list? Let me know in the comments.

xo,

Rachel

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Lifestyle & Family

Romance books to read to celebrate Pride month

June 1, 2021

Romance books to read to celebrate Pride month

Books with LGBTQ+ characters or storylines used to be hard to find. In fact, there was a store in Toronto that was basically one of the only places you could go to get one. The selection was limited and you left the store with your book in a brown paper bag – so no one could see what you bought. I’m happy to say the times have definitely changed! Now there are so many books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and they are very mainstream now – as they should be. If you’ve followed along on my book review posts or follow me on my instagram book account (@anoblelibrary), you know I love a good romance book so I’ve rounded up some of the most popular and new LGBTQ+ romance books that I’ve read or want to read. All the books are linked below for your convenience.

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by Rachel Noble - A Noble Home 
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Lifestyle & Family

All the books I read in April and my reviews.

May 27, 2021

All the books I read in April and my reviews.

It was a bit of a slow reading month for me. I’m not sure why but it happens right?! May has been super busy since there are a lot of new books that released! Stay tuned for that post and in the meantime here are all the books I read in April. Remember you can follow my book account on instagram @anoblelibrary.

A Waterfront Wedding – Leigh Duncan

“In Heart’s Landing, Evelyn wants to prove she’s a good manager of the Captain’s Cottage by the bay—a favorite place for weddings. Meanwhile, Ryan has invested his life savings to remodel the town’s old boatworks into a brand-new wedding venue.  When a Marine and his bride win the Wedding in a Week contest, they have seven days to put together a romantic, all-expenses-paid event. It’ll be written up in Weddings Today magazine. But will they choose Evelyn’s cottage or Ryan’s boatworks? The rival business owners cozy up to the bride and groom, helping them plan their military wedding. And even though Evelyn and Ryan both grew up in Heart’s Landing, they learn they never truly knew each other until now. But can they trust each other when only one of them can win?”

I love a good Hallmark movie but this is the first Hallmark novel I’ve read. To sum up my feelings – I didn’t hate it but I just didn’t love it either. It was a bit too cheesy for me – a whole town obsessed with weddings that even the stores and streets had marital themed names. It was just too much for me. It was a cute, feel good story about second chances and I can see a lot of people loving this story but for me it just lacked the passion I love in a good love story and it felt a bit long and overly detailed. I could definitely see it being a good movie though.

Worlds Worst Boyfriend – Carina Taylor

This book is described as a romantic comedy adventure and that is such a perfect description. Although I loved the teasing, argumentative banter between the two main characters Saidy and Fletcher and their love story, this book was so much more than a typical rom-com. The story had mystery, action, adventure and little bit of danger too. Told in alternating perspectives – we get to know both characters better and understand why exactly Fletcher may or may not be the worlds worst boyfriend. I loved this witty, funny, clever and unique rom-com and I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends (like you).

How Not to Marry a Billionaire – Ashlee Mallory

“It’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is a poor man.” So why not seek out a billionaire and see if he can be the one…? This book follows Jane as she tries just that. While Jane is in Hawaii she meets two men and is forced to choose between them; Colin is an attractive, smart and nice billionaire and Mike who is an attractive, smart and poor bartender. So – is money what really matters? Find out in this cute, uncomplicated, fun and easy read. It was definitely a light summer read that you can’t take too seriously.

The House Swap – Jo Lovett

“He needs an escape. She needs an adventure. So why not swap lives?” You may think you’ve read books about house swaps before but this one is definitely different. Through their house swap James and Cassie (two very opposite people) are forced to become enveloped into each others lives and through their relationship they are able to tackle their past demons to make way for their futures.

I liked how this book tackled deeper topics like child loss, miscarriage, sibling loss, addiction and the influences those events can have on a persons life. I do have to admit though that I didn’t love the main character James – he’s a bit of a jerk from the start and although he evolves throughout the story (a bit too easily if I’m being honest)… I’m still not head over heels for him. I also did not find the chemistry between the two main characters that intense or believable. Apparently they fell in love with each other in the book but I wasn’t feeling it between them at all. I was excited to read this romance but in the end this book fell a bit flat for me.

The Temporary Roomie – Sarah Adams

I told you last month that I wanted to read more of Sarah Adams’ books and here we are. This is the second book in her It Happened in Nashville series. The first one is The Off Limits Rule which I read and reviewed last month.

Jessie is pregnant and needs a place to stay while her home is being renovated. Drew needs a fake girlfriend to attend a party with him. So these enemies team up to help each other and over the course of multiple pranks (so cute and funny!) they of course fall in love along the way.

I love a good enemies to lovers trope and I love how Sarah Adams writes – her books are funny and charming and just so sweet. I will definitely read more of her books. They are such fun, light feel good reads.

It Had to be You – Georgia Clark

This is one of the most anticipated books of the spring and for me it did not disappoint. It’s described as “a witty and heartfelt romantic comedy featuring a wedding planner, her unexpected business partner, and their coworkers in a series of linked love stories.”

I’ll start by saying I really liked this novel. It reminded me a lot of the movie Love Actually, where there are multiple love stories all intermixed and connected to each other… except in this novel they are all set around the wedding industry. This book truly has a love story for everyone – there was a mature couple, a few LGBTQ couples, an interracial couple, even a celebrity couple.

Sometimes books told with multiple characters and from various perspectives can be challenging for readers but this one wasn’t. I was interested in each characters story and was rooting for each of them. And it wasn’t just a novel about love stories, the novel also delved into issues like transgender marriages and relationships, family relations, LQBTQ issues, cheating, abusive relationships, spousal loss, familial demands and financial stresses.

It’s definitely a book I’ll be recommending to friends and a great read for this spring and summer season.

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A Waterfront Wedding | World’s Worst Boyfriend | How Not To Marry A Billionaire

The Temporary Roomie | It Had To Be You

This post contains affiliate links. Some of the books reviewed were gifted by the publishers and Netgalley. All opinions are my own as always. Thank you for supporting my blog.

See previous reviews here, here and here.

by Rachel Noble - A Noble Home 
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