Review: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection #1) by Richard Paul Evans

5 stars for The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection book 1) by Richard Paul Evans.

Richard Evans is my go-to author for good Christmas stories. I have no idea how he does it, but as usual, I am heartened by his telling of The Mistletoe Promise, a story about forgiveness and redemption.

If you can erase just one day from your life, will you know which day?

Review: The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne #1) by Tilly Tennant

2.5 stars for The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne book 1) by Tilly Tennant.

I thought it will be for a nice change to start reading Christmas-themed stories earlier this year instead of waiting it out until December. Well, that and it makes for a wonderful change from the horrors of my previous read.

As I scout for the book of my dreams, the two-book Honeybourne series grabs my attention and I decide to try out book 1.

The Little Village Bakery is a heartwarming story about second chance and kindred spirit.

The story starts out great and revolves around the heart of the sleepy village of Honeybourne and its old bakery of which the main character, Millie, plans to revamp and breathe life back into. However, I did not like the turn in events when the ghost of Millie's past makes an appearance and starts sprouting fibs about her.

There is much potential to be explored in this book where the magical and mystical aspects are concerned. Sadly, they are not well exploited and it disappoints me to no end when the truth is finally revealed.

All in all, it makes for a mediocre story of guy-girl relationships. That said, I am not sure if I should continue with book 2 Christmas at the Little Village Bakery or simply give it a miss.

Review: Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary #1) by Ira Levin

4 stars for Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary book 1) by Ira Levin.

I started reading this spellbinding suspense novel in the last week of October but am not able to finish it in time for a Halloween post. All things considered, I think three days past is not too bad either.

Rosemary's Baby is one of those creepy stories that tends to add stress and anxiety to the reading. It certainly makes me very uncomfortable and sick with worries as the story progresses and the plot thickens.

As the title goes, it is obvious who the damsel in distress is. Rosemary of course! Unfortunately, contrary to the saying, there is no hero coming to her rescue. Rosemary has to brave her way out of The Bramford, the prestigious Grand-Old-Apartment-House, a house that possesses far more than its share of ugly and unsavory happenings, a place that sensible people stay away from but where she adamantly chooses to stay in.

Moral of the story - do not judge books by their covers. In Rosemary's case, do not judge houses by their facades and do not judge characters by their faces. Secret coven aside, the more disturbing moments in the story actually have less to do with the supernatural, but more to do with the horrors of manipulation, isolation and someone battling to take back control of her life and her body.

A disturbing story with an equally freaky picture of a book cover, Rosemary's Baby makes a good wrap up of the Halloween season for me this year.