Lynette Sowell

This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it. I read another one in this series earlier in the Christmas season - Christmas Belles of Georgia - but I enjoyed this one more. This one takes place over the course of four years at the Barncastle Inn where they have themed Christmases. The first book has a medieval theme, the second one WW2, the third a pirate theme and the last one is the first Christmas when Jesus was born.
I really liked the idea of different themed Christmases and it made the books interesting. Two of the stories have very fast romances which I don't really love but I still enjoyed the overall story. The second two stories the people already know each other which I found much more believable.
Overall though I found the stories enjoyable and completely clean which is nice. The writing was pretty good for the most part.… (more)

Kelly Frost is a textile conservator (don't think I have read a book where the main character held this position). She has been invited to New Bedford to restore a 100 year old Mariner's Compass quilt. The one stipulation is that she must live and work in Gray House, which has sat empty for quite some time, but was the home of the former whaling captain and his wife, Mary Gray (who originally made the quilt). As Kelly is working on this tedious process she wanders through the house and finds Mary Gray's journal. This journal is what will tie everything together at the end.

Tom Pereira is the outside caretaker of this house, working for the mysterious and absent owner of Gray House. Tom and Kelly will eventaully get to know each other and begin to care for one another. But when secrets are exposed and truths come out it could change everyone's life.

This was an interesting story, with a little bit of mystery and intrigue and some danger thrown in, with a lot of "take it to the Lord in prayer". I enjoyed getting to know both of these main characters, with their flaws and all.… (more)

Gwynn Michaud is a widow with a family waiting for her back in New Hampshire. She's only in New York to see the lighting of her honored Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. And her widowered host, Professor Theophilus Stellakis, has no intention of growing attached to this house guest his daughter invited over. But Gwynn and Theo may be in for some surprises in Comfort and Joy by author Lynette Sowell.

I found this novella to be warm, down to earth, and engaging, the story moving at a nice clip without rushing. The romance is well-developed, balancing attraction with the ease of Gwynn and Theo's dialogue. It also raises realistic points about finding new love later in life. The reading was like sitting down to watch a cozy Hallmark Christmas movie without commercials.

This was my first time ever reading this author, and this romantic and, well, comforting holiday tale has certainly put her writing on my radar.… (more)