Books I Plan to Read November 1-7 and last week's results

 

Hallo (German), Ciao (Italian), Bonjour (French), Allegra (Romansh),

I found it interesting that Switzerland has such a mix of languages within its borders. I didn't want to pick just one as you would not know I had picked Switzerland. I do the different greetings so I can learn them myself.

How are you this week? I am doing fine. The moving is coming along. We actually had a POD delivered and a moving company pack it for us. It will take a second POD (hopefully), and my household items will be all packed. That one packing day threw off my entire week, including my reading time, and I never caught up so my reading this week was off. I only finished one ebook and one audiobook, though I did start a second ebook.

Here are my results:

Ebook: 

The Duke's Indecent Desires by Golden Angel - 5 stars

Audiobook:

Fake It Under the Mistletoe by Claudia Burgoa - 5 stars

Planned reading for November 1-7:

Ebooks:

(finish) Guarded by Eden Sloane

Audiobook: 

I hope to get caught up on my reading while still getting the last of our belongings packed up. Then comes the unknown step of selling the house before we can move. I pray things go the right way for us and go well for us. The reading always helps me relax, taking a step back from the packing, in order for me to decrease my stress.

Take the time for yourselves to relax, whether by reading, gardening, playing a sport you love, or what makes you happy. Life has its tough days, and it makes it easier to move forward.

For now - Tschuss (German), arrivederci (Italian), au revoir (French), buna (Romansh).

 

Blitz: The Night Before Christmas by Julie Hansen with a giveaway

 

The Night Before Christmas

by Julie Hansen

Children's Christmas Christian/Religious

Date Published: 11-01-2026

Publisher: 100X Publishing

The greatest gift came in the smallest of ways. 

On a quiet night in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph searched for a place to welcome their precious baby. What they found was a humble stable, and what happened there would change the world forever.

This heartwarming, faith-based children’s book celebrates the story of Jesus’ birth for readers young and old. May it become a cherished family favorite and a beloved Christmas tradition to share around the Christmas tree year after year.

Through gentle rhyme and beautiful storytelling, The Night Before Christmas: A Savior Is Born invites children and families to experience the wonder of that very first Christmas: the star in the sky, the angels’ song, the shepherds who came to see, and the wise men who came bearing gifts.

But above all, it is the story of a tiny baby who was so much more than an ordinary child.

Jesus. Our Savior. Our King, and the reason we celebrate Christmas.

About the Author

 

 Julie Hansen is a Christian, wife, and mother of four who has always cherished the wonder and joy of Christmas. Her journey as an author began many years ago, while she was pregnant with her first child, a son.

As Julie prepared to become a mother for the first time, she found herself thinking about Mary in a way she never had before. Through her own anticipation, excitement, and love for the little life growing inside her, she began to imagine what Mary’s heart must have felt like as she awaited the birth of Jesus—the Son she would love as a mother and the Savior she would one day watch give His life for the world.

From those thoughts came a story written from a mother's heart, with the hope of helping children experience the wonder of that very first Christmas.

Years later, that story has become Julie's first published children's book. Her greatest hope is that as families read these pages together, they will be reminded of the beautiful truth at the heart of Christmas: Jesus is God's greatest gift to the world.

Julie is grateful for the opportunity to share this story with families and hopes it will become a cherished part of their Christmas traditions for years to come.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Purchase Today

Audiobook Review: Fake It Under the Mistletoe (Faking the Holidays #3) by Claudia Burgoa, narrators Stacy Gonzalez and Jason Clarke

 

Blurb: 

There are three things people should know before letting me near an injured professional athlete.

One, I am very good at my job.
Two, my bedside manner has been described as "aggressively cheerful in a way that feels humanly questionable."
Three, I will absolutely threaten a grown man with resistance bands if he lies to me about his pain level.

Crew Wolfcraft lies about his pain level. Constantly.

He also has a hip that's one bad twist from ending his career, a charity weekend he'd rather die than attend, and the conversational range of a man being held hostage. I've been hired to keep him upright through Christmas. That's the job.

Then a reporter asks a question under the mistletoe, Crew opens his mouth, and my grandmother's ring—the one on my hand, the one being resized, the one I am absolutely not engaged with—becomes a headline.

I don't correct him.
In my defense: my Tía Marta has lined up a dentist, an architect, and a firefighter for me to meet before Christmas Eve.
Now there's a tamalada, four aunts with a group chat and no fear of God, a cat named Don Gato Corleone who has chosen him over me, and a man who was supposed to leave in January learning my grandmother's recipes like he's planning to stay.

I can rehab a hip in eight weeks.
I have no idea what to do about the rest.

From USA Today Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa comes a grumpy-sunshine fake-engagement romance about a big, loud Mexican-American family, a hockey player with a bad hip and worse coping skills, and one very small lie that refuses to stay small.

• Fake Engagement
• Hockey Romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Big Loud Mexican Family
• Found Family
• Forced Proximity
• He Falls First
• Meddling Tías
• A cat with very strong opinions

Amazon: Amazon.com: Fake It Under the Mistletoe: A Fake Engagement Hockey Christmas Romance (Faking the Holidays Book 3) eBook : Burgoa, Claudia: Kindle Store

Audible: Fake It Under the Mistletoe Audiobook by Claudia Burgoa

B&N: Fake it Under the Mistletoe: A Fake Engagement Hockey Christmas Romance | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: Fake it Under the Mistletoe eBook by Claudia Burgoa - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Bookbub: Fake It Under the Mistletoe: A Fake Engagement Hockey Christmas Romance (Faking the Holidays Book 3) by Claudia Burgoa - BookBub

Goodreads: Fake It Under the Mistletoe: A Fake Engagement Hockey Christmas Romance by Claudia Burgoa | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I found this story to be addictive. The work relationship between Montserrat and Crew was supposed to be just that. The sparks kept flaring and made it a little harder to stay professional. Misinterpretation, family, teammates, and steam kept this story flowing. I loved how Montse's family welcomed him in almost immediately. Such a wonderful and entertaining story. The final epilogue was very cute.
Stacy Gonzalez and Jason Clarke were also wonderful in bringing these characters to life. They brought out all the emotions and fun for Montse and Crew. I enjoyed listening to them.

I received a copy of the audiobook, and this is my unsolicited review.

Ebook Review: The Duke's Indecent Desires (The Indecent Dukes #4) by Golden Angel

 

Blurb: 

A matchmaker creates the match; she does not become the bride...

When the arrogant Duke of Bolton secretly hires the most sought-after matchmaker of the ton, Lady Hu declines to advise him personally. Instead, she sends her granddaughter, Mei—a friend and confidant of the Duke's sister—to make a match for the man who once insisted his station alone should secure him a suitable bride. He needs her help more than ever now that his overbearing mother has returned to London to advise him on marital matters.

A house party, where Mei has chosen the attending debutantes, is the perfect place to show off her skills as matchmaker. But close quarters sparks an undeniable attraction between herself and the Duke. They can’t stay away from each other, and yet Mei can’t give in. To become the Duke’s mistress would mean giving up her career, her security, her entire future, all while he takes a proper debutante to be his wife.

The war between duty and desire has begun.


Indecent Dukes
1. The Duke's Indecent Scandal
2. The Duke's Indecent Match
3. The Duke's Indecent Purchase
4. The Duke's Indecent Desires
5. The Duke's Indecent Choice
6. The Duke's Indecent Secret
7. The Duke's Indecent Bride

Amazon: The Duke's Indecent Desires (Indecent Dukes Book 4) - Kindle edition by Angel, Golden. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: The Duke's Indecent Desires | Barnes & Noble®

Kobo: The Duke's Indecent Desires eBook by Golden Angel - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Bookbub: The Duke’s Indecent Desires (Indecent Dukes Book 4) by Golden Angel - BookBub

Goodreads: The Duke's Indecent Desires (Indecent Dukes #4) by Golden Angel | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I loved this story. I enjoyed Mei as she was determined to help Sebastian. Their connection didn't stop her from getting the other ladies to spend time with him, until she found her heart involved. Sebastian, with a little coaching, realized all he felt for her and chose to make her his. There was plenty of heat between them, and I also enjoyed all the clues and such that surfaced with regards to the ongoing story the Tragic Dukes were looking into. Look forward to the next.

I received a copy through 1852Media, and this is my unsolicited review.

Blitz: Safe in Sound (A Blue Spruce Hills Novella) by Ania Ray with an excerpt and a giveaway

Safe in Sound

Series: A Blue Spruce Hills Novella

by Ania Ray

Release date: October 29th 2026

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/260263381-safe-in-sound

Blurb:

She’s “happy,” but someone might say she’s “settled.” What happens when the life that makes you feel safe is also the one keeping you small?

Thirty-four-year-old piano teacher Riley O’Connor believes her chance to become a world-class musician has sailed. She’s content-ish with her life in Blue Spruce Hills, a quaint mountain town that is safe, quiet, and predictable. Instead of performing on stages, she teaches the neighborhood kids, hangs out with her best friend Clara, reads books surrounded by her houseplants, and rehearses like she’s about to be called to join the London Philharmonic.

Though she’d be too scared to go. Grammy called her ’Fraidy Cat, after all.

When what Riley thinks is a break-in turns out to be a dog who won’t leave, she’s thrust into a series of events that challenge her to confront her anxiety. First, the social kind: the veterinarian is incredibly handsome. And kind. And grieving his wife. And looking for someone to give his son piano lessons.

She agrees.

Suddenly, Riley is on a winter hike with a man where bears, snakes, and fatal injury are possibilities. And when an opportunity arises to accompany renowned violist Albi Drechsler, the dream she’d long ago decided was out of reach is suddenly within it. To get what she wants, she must prove that fear doesn’t have the final word. But could she actually leave the safety of Blue Spruce Hills?

Safe in Sound is a story about overcoming fears, leaning into friendship, and trusting that even when the night feels darkest, love can hold you through. If you miss your loved ones a little extra during the holidays, you’ll love this redemptive story that proves those we miss most can still find a way to make us courageous.

Purchase:

Amazon:  https://link.amazon/B0a0ICrh9

Excerpt:

“Shall we begin?” Nathan asks.

And so I follow this practical stranger onto a trail with very dead leaves surrounding us—hopefully not foreshadowing—–and trees that are very much in hibernation mode. There’s a woodpecker somewhere in the distance, and the steady crunch, crunch, crunch of Simon and Max ahead of us. 

I’m right back in that awful place of not knowing what to say. But maybe I don’t need to say anything? What is hiking etiquette? Is it quiet like golf? I’ve done neither, so I’m truly outside my expertise here.

Instead, I stare at Nathan’s back as I match his steps. I appreciate the way the tight blue thermal hugs his muscles. I didn’t know he had muscles. Prior to today they were cozied up by a sweater or hidden by a white coat. But, no, they’re there, and hello, hills and valleys I’d like to sink my fingertips into. 

 

My fingers are strong. I bet massaging him would feel so… good. For both of us.

Mary and Martha, my mind is in the gutter. 

I’m on a hike with my piano student. Keep it innocent, O’Connor!

But just look at the way that thermal is tucked into his green hiking pants… The hiking boots give him an entirely different persona from work or his home. It’s like with each step, his shoulders drop a little more. He’s having a conversation with Simon and—

A loud crunch to my left nearly knocks me out of my boots. 

“What in the—”

More crunching and scurrying, moving so quickly I don’t even know what could be on its way to ruin my day, but I’m sure that whatever it is is about to. 

I run into Nathan’s back. He whips around, his hands instinctually hugging my arms. 

“Riley! What’s wrong?” The worry in his eyes whips any out of mine.

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT) ends November 5

• eBook copy of Safe in Sound

https://gleam.io/3oN76/safe-in-sound-blitz

AUTHOR BIO:

Hi, I’m Ania Ray, an author of women’s fiction that dives into the raw, transformative journeys of complex female characters. My books force each protagonist to confront the worst of herself before she evolves into the hero of her own story.

The Cromwell Rules trilogy features interconnected standalones, so you can enjoy each book individually or follow Lily Cromwell's entire arc from start to finish. In The Cromwell Rules and Breaking the Rules, I explore how boundaries can feel stifling or nonexistent, and how we each must find our sweet spot of self-respect.

When I’m not writing, I lead Quill & Cup, a writing community that helps authors finish the stories that matter to them. Outside of writing, I’m a wife, a mom to a toddler who’d live outdoors if she could, and a tea lover (Cinnamon Apple Spice is my favorite).

If you love reading novels with relatable, complex characters and emotionally gripping stories, you’re in the right place. 

Author links:

https://www.instagram.com/theaniassey

https://quillandcup.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d2807862c381c5b563e68e94d&id=e62a5efc1d 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19725025.Ania_Ray 

Book Tour: Guarded (Boston Renegades #1) by Eden Sloane with my review

Guarded

Series: Boston Renegades

by Eden Sloane

Release: October 20, 2026

Cover Design: Talina with Bookin’ It Designs

Promo Graphics Designer: @hercozybookshelf!

Goodreads: https://t.ly/6RZRJ

Bookbub: https://t.ly/JeiyQ

  

Genre/Tropes:

• Hockey Romance

• Fake Marriage

• Morally Grey Heroine

• Single Dad

• Bookish Hero

• Found Family

Blurb:

NHL goalie Sebastian Voss can stop a hundred-mile-an-hour slapshot. Convincing a judge he deserves custody of his daughter? That’s proving considerably harder.

His solution? A fake marriage to the woman he’s already falling for.

For three years, Sebastian has fought to keep the little girl who means everything to him. But a steady stream of headlines portraying him as hockey’s favorite womanizing disaster has left his reputation in tatters and his custody case hanging by a thread.

If Sebastian wants to prove he can offer his daughter the stable home she deserves, Kat Morrison is his best shot.

She’s smart, beautiful, inexplicably unimpressed by his charm, and the first woman in years who makes Sebastian want something for himself. Asking a woman he barely knows to become his wife is probably insane. Falling for her before she ever says yes is definitely worse.

But if putting a ring on Kat’s finger gives Sebastian a better chance at keeping his daughter, he’ll risk his heart without hesitation.

Kat knows saying yes is a mistake.

Not because she doesn’t love him.

Because she does.

For three years, Kat has been forced to write the lies destroying Sebastian’s reputation, blackmailed into obedience by the one man who holds her brother’s future in his hands.

But now Kat is living in his house, wearing his ring, loving his daughter, and falling deeper for the family she was supposed to help destroy. Somewhere between stolen kisses, tangled sheets, and building a life together, their fake marriage starts feeling dangerously like forever.

Except forever has an expiration date when it’s built on a secret.

And Kat knows that when Sebastian discovers the truth, she may lose the only man she’s ever loved.

Buys Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Universal: http://books2read.com/u/4NKgpG

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0HD9RGTKN

About the Author:

Eden Sloane believes the best love stories aren't about perfect people. They're about imperfect people who keep choosing each other, even after the truth changes everything.

She writes emotionally charged contemporary romance featuring devoted heroes, resilient heroines, impossible choices, and love worth risking everything for. Her stories celebrate the courage it takes to love completely.

When she's not plotting emotional damage (followed by well-earned happily ever afters), Eden can usually be found gardening, trying to win an ongoing battle with the weeds in her yard, drinking far too much caffeine, enjoying a nightcap while watching BBC crime dramas with her husband, and keeping tabs on her four children. 

And if you're reading this during the winter, please send warm thoughts. Eden is somewhere in the Midwest, questioning every life choice that led her to a place where the air hurts her face.

Author Social Media Links:

TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@edensloaneauthor

Facebook: http://facebook.com/edensloaneauthor

Instagram: http://instagram.com/edensloaneauthor

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eden-Sloane/author/B0HFT97Q4D

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71675058.Eden_Sloane

Website: https://www.edensloaneauthor.com/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://www.edensloaneauthor.com/Projects

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eden-sloane

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@edensloaneauthor

Twitter/X: https://x.com/ESloaneauthor

 

Preorder: Deputy's Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls Sweet Romance - Village Christmas #3) by Clara Pines

Deputy's Christmas Crush 

by Clara Pines 

Releases on November 3rd!

https://geni.us/DeputyChristmasCrush

Read With Kindle Unlimited

Can the deputy’s daughter help her dad finally win the heart of his best friend this Christmas?

Valerie Leighton has been putting rings on fingers and smiles on faces for years at her jewelry shop in small town Trinity Falls. The one thing she’ll never do is fall in love and get married herself.

But this Christmas, her best friend and his daughter are going to put that determination to the test.

Chad Stransky has just been tapped to become the county’s newest deputy sheriff. And he’s excited to be taking a bigger part in his daughter Mabel’s life. Now he just needs to win Valerie’s heart for all his dreams to come true.

So, when jewelry starts to go missing from Valerie’s shop, it’s all the excuse Chad needs to stop by more often and keep an eye on the place. It’s no secret that he’s in love with Valerie. But as they all start spending more time together, it looks like eight-year-old Mabel might just be the only one who’s ready to do something about it.

Can Valerie hold onto her independence this Christmas? Or will the handsome new deputy finally convince her that they should be more than friends?

If you’re craving a reverse grumpy-sunshine Christmas romance with a single dad, golden retriever boyfriend who falls hard for an independent shop girl with a mission, this is the one!

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance is all about finding family – one clean & wholesome romance at a time. The Trinity Falls Sweet Romance: Village Christmas inspirational series celebrates the people who live and work in a small Pennsylvania town at Christmastime, and find love and meaning in the season. If you love no spice books with cowboys, single dads, found family, caring community, and slow burn romance that makes you smile and sigh, this is the series for you!

 

Narrator Reveal: One Step Closer (Peachtree Lane #1) by Laura Pavlov, narrators Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow

Laura Pavlov has revealed the narrators for One Step Closer!

Narrated by: Andi Arndt & Aiden Snow

Releasing December 8, 2026

From USA Today bestselling author Laura Pavlov comes a searingly warm and witty romance between an NFL player looking for a second chance and the innkeeper who gives him one.

With a championship loss under his belt and an ex-girlfriend’s bad press on his heels, quarterback Maverick Storm just needs to lie low. He escapes to Peachtree to lick his wounds and reevaluate his life. But the owner of the local inn soon puts his heart in a twist.

Hazel Adams isn’t one to make rash decisions—with her inn or her emotions. Seeing your ex-boyfriend and former best friend together does something to a person, though. And kissing a sexy stranger turns out to be Hazel’s something.

That kiss inspires Hazel and Maverick to try fake dating as a temporary fix for all their problems. But when the paparazzi catches wind of the unexpected romance, they’re in for a more long-term arrangement.

As they grow closer, their guards begin to come down. But with their lifestyles at odds and their hearts at stake, they’ll have to decide whether to make their connection real—or keep pretending it’s not.

Pre-order today! 

Audible: https://bit.ly/4hZHO86 Amazon: https://bit.ly/4ic6Q2q  ALC Influencer Sign-up: https://bit.ly/4yBxRCO Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3VYuJDp

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Whisper My Name (The Last Best Place for Love #8) by Giulia Lagomarsino

Whisper My Name

Series: The Last Best Place for Love Book 8

by Giulia Lagomarsino

Release: November 9, 2026

Cover Design: Artscandare

Photography: Wander Aguiar

Goodreads: https://t.ly/1qjuV

Bookbub: https://t.ly/oyuj3

Genre/Tropes:

Small Town Romance

Opposites Attract

Alpha Hero

Emotional Scars

A Doozy of a Secret

Willing to risk everything for her

Blurb:

I’d risked a lot in my life because of my job.

Pedos? Eliminated.

Cheating spouses? They always seemed to have an accident.

People who couldn’t pay their dues? Well, they needed to be taught a lesson.

The list went on and on, and I’d never once cared about the sacrifice I was making.

Until her.

Feisty, funny as hell, cute as a button…

But that all changed the night of the fire.

The night I ran in and nearly died for her.

Hell, she nearly died.

It was sheer luck that she survived that night. By all accounts, she should have died.

And that should have been my wakeup call, my chance to turn it all around.

But my life was not my own, and if she ever found out, it would be the end of whatever this was between us.

I’m no good for her, but I never wanted to change my life as much as the night I heard her Whisper My Name.

PreOrder Links:

Universal: http://mybook.to/WhisperMyName

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HBCR4LTD

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0HBCR4LTD

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0HBCR4LTD

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0HBCR4LTD

In the Series (Kindle Unlimited):

Series Universal: https://mybook.to/LastBestPlaceLove_GL 

Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart

Universal: https://mybook.to/HardRockBottom

Real Good Man

Universal: https://mybook.to/RealGoodManTLBPFL

How Forever Feels

Universal: https://mybook.to/HowForeverFeels

Shut Up and Kiss Me

Universal:  https://mybook.to/ShutUpAndKissMe

Foolish Pride

Universal: https://mybook.to/FoolishPrideTLBPFL

Rumor Has It

Universal: https://mybook.to/RumorHasIt

If I Didn’t Have You

Universal: https://mybook.to/IfIDidntHaveYou

Author Bio:

I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

Social Media Links: 

Website: https://giulialagomarsinoauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crazybookladylover/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17110361.Giulia_Lagomarsino

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/crzybookladyluv

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/giulia-lagomarsino

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Giulia-Lagomarsino/e/B0779R1L7C

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giulialagomarsinoauthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1hJvcaUsEG5wQH_K_QDonQ

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giulialagomarsino