Where Is Your Bookmark? (I Caved. It's Time for Holiday Romance - Then and Now)

Time to dive into the holiday reads! I am just over half way through In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, a romantic comedy I had been wanting to read since I first heard about it. It may seem too early with Halloween coming up this weekend, but I need this desperately going into the week ahead. The more I can lose myself in happy endings and sweet nothings (the affectionate kind, not the snacks), the better.

One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions. 

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy. 

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe. 

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays. [Goodreads Summary]

 

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

Call me a harlot. Call me impulsive. Call me hungover. 

No one ever has before, but someone absolutely should this morning. Last night was a disaster. [opening from In a Holidaze]

My initial thoughts: Now I have to know what happened last night. What happened that was so bad?

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"For so long, you were just a kid," he says. "And then a couple years ago, you weren't."

I'm out of words. Instead, I just reach forward, running a finger down his neck to his collarbone. [excerpt from 56% of In a Holidaze]

My thoughts: Things are starting to heat up at this point in the book. But . . . given the Groundhog Day jumps in the book, I can't imagine it's that simple for our heroine. I could be wrong, of course. I'll have to keep reading to find out!

Have you read Holidaze? If so, what did you think? What are you reading today?

A weekly meme in which readers look at what they were reading 

last year at this time and compare it to what they are reading now.  

Hosted by the great Maria from ReadingMaria.

It seems that my reading this year and last year around this time falls in the Christmas-themed romance category. The biggest difference is that my current read, In a Holidaze, is a bit lighter and gives off more of a rom-com vibe than last year's book, RaeAnne Thayne's Coming Home for Christmas. The latter novel took a more serious tone, delving into such issues as brain injuries and post-partum depression. Click here for my review of Coming Home for Christmas.

I tend to go heavy this time of year into the romance more so than any other time of year, especially the holiday-themed romances. It was something I started doing a few years ago and have enjoyed. I still like to mix up my reading--the last thing I want to do is burn out on any particular genre or type of book--but there's something to be said for snuggling under a blanket, a cat cuddled on my lap, a mug of hot chocolate in hand, and a good Christmas happily ever after story.

What was the last book you read this past year around this time? How does it compare to what you are reading now? Have you read Coming Home for Christmas? If so, what did you think?

*                    *                    *

A glimpse into what I was reading 5 years ago: 

McKenzie, Catherine - Smoke by Catherine McKenzie

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

---

© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.