Kristen McKanaghRecensioni

I really enjoyed this book! The story is unique and engaging!

Faith is someone I'd like to emulate! She's loving, hardworking, resourceful, and resilient! Daniel is quiet and prefers to spend time with his bees. When their paths keep crossing, love soon blossoms!

There is a recurring theme of hope throughout the book. It's evident in each of the characters' lives. It was encouraging and satisfying that even if one person gave up, another would come alongside them and offer hope.

This is a definite must read! I look forward to the rest of the books in the series!!

This is a fantastic book! It is based in an Amish community. The story is unique and is engaging from the beginning.
My heart linked immediately with Faith. She's just an all-around good person. She's devoted to her faith and her family. I like that Daniel is shy. He prefers the company of his bees!

Forgiveness, redemption, and restoration are key themes.

The love stories are sweet and romantic.

This is a definite must read! I can't wait to read more books by this author!

Snowball Unwrapped is a light romantic read set in a perfect Christmas backdrop.

There are earlier books about Snowball and her matchmaking. I haven’t read them but this one is certainly a standalone story.

Ilse is the host of a TV show called Home and Hearth that features cooking and craft segments. Her fiancé is double timing her, so she convinces her identical twin sister Jocelyn to stand in for her while she sorts her personal problems.

Not only do they have vastly different personalities, but Jocelyn also lacks the craft and culinary skills of Ilse.

The episodes are to be filmed in the grand Victorian building Weber Haus that has been converted to a up market B&B.

Ilse is always at odds with her male co-host, Ben, who she thinks is trying to take over the show. Whereas there is a romantic spark between Ben and Jocelyn. Snowball recognises the signs and sets out on her matchmaking endeavours.

Ilse’s career is on the line but will Jocelyn’s lack of talent and friendship with Ben completely destroy Ilse’s future.

Many amusing moments threaten to expose the secret Jocelyn is trying to hide and foil Snowball’s matchmaking between Jocelyn and Ben, all set in a picture-perfect winter wonderland.

The story is so much fun it is easy to forget you are reading a romance novel. I loved the intrigue surrounding Jocelyn’s deception and the comical moments it produced.

Living in Australia we don’t get to experience the perfect white Christmas (or even a cold one) but we can dream. The Christmas themed setting with snow falling Christmas lights and holiday shopping is beautifully portrayed around the Victorian.

The story line moves along smoothly with no slow patches. The dialogue is believable. For the most it is told in the 3rd person with a scattering of 1st person paragraphs by Snowball.

Characters are relatable and well portrayed. The nice ones are fun and easy to like, and the nasty ones perfectly depicted.

Snowball, the resident cat is very sweet and makes you want to pick her up for a cuddle but be warned there is an evil look alike lurking.

I rarely read romance these days but love animal stories. It is a book I was happy to relax and ignore problems around me while being transported to a Christmassy winter wonderland.

I loved the characters and the delightfully different storyline.

Highly recommended for romance readers.

Even though I’m not a great romance reader I’ll be keeping an eye open for books by this author.

My rating 4* as a light holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance reader copy.

#netgalley #kensingtonpublishing

The Gift of Faith is a gift that kept giving throughout this read! It became a page turner for me, knowing what I wanted to happen! This is a story of sweet romance, often from afar, but it is also a story of forgiveness and going home.
I loved the faith shown by some of the characters, while others were not living their faith, as we are immersed in Amish culture.
The old you can't go home again, when a wayward sister comes back, can she conform to the requirements her faith requires? This is actually her twin sister's story, a young woman who has been there her whole life for her sister, including taking care and raising her infant.
Faith renews her aquaintance with Daniel, and soon there is an attraction blooming, but will Faith sacrifice her happiness for her sister? Well, you will soon be looking for answers, and they come, but will they be what you were hoping for?
When the last page was turned, I wanted more!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review

If you are looking for a sweet romantic comedy that includes a white furball kitty, you have found your novel! Several romances begin in this book, including elderly Aunt Tilly and her courtly gentleman. Throw in the spirit of Christmas and get ready to relax with this delightful novel.

The story is set in the town of Braunfels, with its cute shops and Christmas market going on. When Lara moves into the condo nextdoor to Peter, the sparks fly in more ways than one! Peter manages his parents' bookstore, and planned to relocate the shops associated with the Weber Haus inn. However, Lara managed to outbid him for the spot, and plans to open her toyshop there. The rivalry turns into attraction, when Lara ends up with more on her plate than she bargained for and Peter steps in to help.

I especially liked the alternating sections in which Snowball the matchmaking cat puts in her two-cents worth of comment. She is working hard to bring Peter and Lara together. I had to admire the cat and Lara for their persistence. The characters are realistic, and the plot moves along well, with lots of fun and Christmas cheer. I read this as a standalone, although other books featuring Snowball precede this story.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is a fantastic Christmas time romance. If you like cats then you will love Snowball. I love Snowball as a matchmaker. Lara, Peter, Ben and Snowball are fantastic characters. I love that the story made me laugh and cry. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

The Gift of Joy by Kristen McKanagh is a charming Amish tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the second book in the Unexpected Gifts series. Each book can be read as a standalone (in case you have not had a chance to read The Gift of Hope). I like the author’s writing style. It is engaging and makes the story easy to read. I just loved Joy and Joshua. Joy is such a lively character who brings sunshine and happiness to others. Joy has a big heart. She truly cares about people and wants to help them. Her schemes, though, are often impetuous and land her in hot water. Joshua is usually the one who rescues Joy. However, there are times when Joshua finds himself in a predicament and needs a little assistance. I enjoyed getting to know Joshua and Joy’s families. I can see why Joy pushed the boundaries with the various rules her mother had in place. Joy’s younger brothers are comical. They get into more trouble. Joy and Joshua are kept on their toes with those two boys. I laughed often while reading The Gift of Joy. There are misadventures, miscommunication, mayhem, and marriage. Joy’s impetuous proposal takes these two friends down a different path. What follows is a heartwarming story. I like that we get to catch up with Hope and Aaron from The Gift of Hope. I loved the descriptions of Joy’s beautiful quilts (I wish I could quilt like Joy). The Gift of Joy is a roller coaster of a story. There is romance, friendship, frustration, humor, and so much more. I am glad the author included an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. I look forward to reading Kristen McKanagh’s next story. The Gift of Joy is a charming Amish tale with an impetuous proposal, two busy boys, a cute colt, matchmaking complications, miscommunication mayhem, a quilt quandary, benevolent bishop, and a caring community.

The title of this book resonates throughout the read, yes it really is a gift of joy!
Now this is the second book in this series, but it can be read alone!
I found myself quick immersed in this story, and had a feeling of loss when the last page was turned, but did love that an epilogue was included!
This is a sweet read to get lost in, and the Author Kristen McKanagh does a wonderful job of leading us in this page turner!
I’ll be looking for more by this author!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review.

I have not read the first book but after getting my first introduction to Snowball, I do want to go back and check out book one. Snowball does help to keep things entertaining in this book. I had to laugh that Daniel was so afraid of Snowball. He would timidly go into rooms on alert and even the other staff of Weber Haus would let Daniel know when the coast was clear of Snowball.

When it came to Sophie, I thought she was kind. Although, I did not warm up to her as quickly or as much as I did Snowball and Daniel. When it came to the romance between Daniel and Sophie, it was a slow and sweet.

I did get holiday vibes from this book. Which is what I was wanting and got. This was a quick read for me. Cat lovers will fall for Snowball.

Emily wants to have her own bakery, but that dream is in the future. For now, she is helping Tilley at Weber Haus, a B&B. Tilley is getting up in years, and Emily is a bit put out that Lukas, Tilly’s nephew, hasn’t been around in quite a while, to help out. His job as a photographer takes him out of the country, but still, she thinks he should be here at least some of the time. And then he shows for Christmas, and Emily slowly changes her mind about the handsome nephew. Though frosty at first, they gradually warm up to reach other, the relationship being helped along by one cute little white kitten, Snowball. Some of the book is narrated by Snowball, and readers get an interesting and enchanting kitten perspective. It’s a nice Christmas romance, and even though readers will guess how it ends, the journey there is a delightful one.

This book is a light, delightful Christmas romance. I am not normally a big fan of sweet romances (although I do have a couple of series I enjoy), but I am a sucker for cats. How could I not be drawn in by that adorable kitten on the cover!

The story is told in third person alternating chapters by Emily and Lukas. But popping in from time to time is a first-person perspective from Snowball who is the matchmaker in the story. In my opinion, those are the best parts of the book.

The characters are memorable – 80ish Aunt Tilly, world-renowned photographer Lukas, and cook extraordinaire Emily. Even Daniel, Lukas’ competition for Emily’s love, is likable. And the true star is, of course, mischievous little Snowball. Some of her antics had me chuckling.

From start to finish, this book is sure to keep a smile on your face.