read "A Rose In Winter" La Vie En Rose series By Laura Florand
A contemporary romance with a dash of Red Riding Hood to it.
As always the author knows how to make things work! You may start with the dream, but real life is just waiting to join in this actually makes sense once you read the book oO
Full review to come.
Just the Florandto the Laura Florand novella Great Christmas stories
Each story had a great Christmas message! The Christmas miracle romance in each is so heartwarming and pure! I couldnt put it down! I liked all the stories except for the last one.
It was out of place, being set in the aftermath of the Civil War, whereas the others were contemporary, It was dated and in some ways a very simplistic whitewashing of a long era in our history that will be forever a stain on this country.
Almost as bad as the people who romantacize the Civil War as the "Lost Cause, " There's nothing more festive than a winter romance, and in these heartwarming stories, love is a gift that can take you by surprise.
. .
"TheDays Of Christmas" by Linda Lael Miller
A matchbox advent calendar first brought Frank Rayner and Addie Hutton together.
But that was years ago, There's no way the miracles of Christmasand the magic of true lovecould possibly be hidden under one of its tiny flaps, Or could they
"Christmas Angel" by Kat Martin
When Angel Summers' first love, Josh Coltraine, joined the Army, she vowed to hate him forever.
But now he's back in Savannah for the holidayswishing for a miracle that could heal both their hearts,
"The Christmas Carousel" by Mary Carter
Single mom Georgia Bradley can't afford to fight the developers who want to tear down her beloved Rhode Island auction houseespecially Adam Cavalier.
But when she receives a mysterious gift, Adam becomes intrigued with its originand with Georgia, . .
"A Rose In Winter" By Laura Florand
Allegra Caldron knew the rule never to talk to strangers, But on a cold winter night in Provence, she breaks that ruleand morewith an irresistible man, Raoul Rosier seems thrillingly dangerous, yet why does Allegra feel so safe with himeven when she believes he's a thief Stars for A Rose in Winter by Laura Florand.
I didn't read the other stories, but I loved Raoul and Allegra's story! Just what I needed to pick my mood up!Reading my comments on earlier reads, I realize I've changed my mind a bit.
I actually sought out and bought this book, solely for Florand's entry, I really don't care that much for the rest of the authors' stories, but I decided that Florand's is worth the cost for the whole.
I love having it available to me for rereading whenever I feel the need, I've bumped my rating up tostars, I still resent having to pay for mediocre other books just to get the jewel that I wanted to keep,
PLEASE NOTE: Thisstar is for Florand's "Rose in Winter" ONLY, The others aretofor me,
Reread: For a happy boost, and because it is a perfect holiday season read, I reread Laura Florand's "Rose in Winter".
I love this story and this couple is great together, I love they way they talk things out and communicate, If you are getting ready to start Florand's "Vie en Roses" series, I strongly encourage you to get your hands on this novella because it sets you up for the series and is a great introduction to the family, their history, and their dynamics.
Don't miss this one.
EARLIER REVIEWS: Contains readerly/consumer opinions, Please skip if you don't like that kind of thing,
nd warning: This is more of a reader opinion than a review, I loved Florand's novella, and recommend it to you highly IF what I'm going to rant about now will not bother you,
Before reading: I feel stupid wasting interlibrary loan on a paperback romance anthology, But my library doesn't have this, I really want to read the Florand story, and I don't want to pay for this overpriced book particularly since reviews aren't terribly great.
I'll post a review once I've received amp read the book,
Upon reading: First of all, I need to warn you if you've read this far that mystar vote is for Florand's "A Rose in Winter" only.
I also read Linda Lael Miller's "TheDays of Christmas" which was sweet, oldfashioned and forgettable, I'd give it I skipped the other novellas as I'm not a fan of Christmasthemes or very short novellas, No offense to other authors involved is intended,
So . the love story between Raoul and Allegra is very sweet, They are a great couple, I really wish I could have spent MORE time with them, But what really bugged me about the book was that Florand put in all this backstory and plot elements that were never resolved.
THAT was frustrating! I'm still peeved, Added later: Oops, I didn't realize at the time that these storylines were set ups for the entire "La Vie en Roses" series.
We have: See why I say Argh!!
So, as a reader I'm PISSED, This was too good of a story hook to just be thrown out as bait,
Also, If it was intended to eitherattract new Florand readers, orserve as a taster to the La Vie en Roses series, it just doesn't work well for READERS either way.
This type of anthology is rarely a keeper, few are going to go back and order it, and we readers still have no continuance of the series available to us.
Except for Lea's story, which other than her being a cousin of Raoul has nothing to do with the plot introduced here,
So, here's hoping that since Florand has decided to move to selfpublishing, we readers will eventually get to continue on with the series hopefully in full book length, and several of them at that.
I'll be watching for them, As well, I hope Florand will eventually selfpublish this novella or at least expand on it, I'd really like to add it to my collection, But, as stated below, I really don't want to pay for a bunch of fluff that I'm not interested in reading just to own this novella.
P. S. And, just to clarify, as a reader, I'm glad Florand's moving to selfpublishing, Again, as a reader, I owe no loyalty to publishers that I can see, Plus, they pull this kind of junk which I find aggravating,
I'm predicting Publishing is going to die sooner rather than later because this kind of business model just plain doesn't work for me the consumer.
Okay, enough ranting, If you happen to read this and want to comment, I'd enjoy seeing others thoughts,
P, S. I still feel this way so am leaving it in,
A Suggestion for Ebook publishers:
I really wish we could buy stories from anthologies individually, I'd payfor one of these stories, but really don't care to pay the whole price for the package,
Publishers Are you listening I bet there are more customers like me out there, As a follower of Laura Florand's La Vie en Roses series, I was looking forward to this short story and discovering some authors in this anthology.
Outside of the loose theme of trying to find a place that feels like home, thesestories could not be more divergent, I like anthologies because you get little gifts of sweet fun, however sometimes authors rush the details and leaves the reader trying to fill the gaps.
. . which was true for all the stories,
. Christmas Carousel by Mary Carter
Georgia has fond memories of riding a carousel with her father around Christmas, One year, she meets a dying girl named Cindy, Fast forward: Georgia's a widow with a son, runs an auction house in a sleepy old downtown which developers are trying to buy and make into a mall, then she receives a
carousel horse from her deceased father for Christmas in front of one of the developers, who is Cindy's brother, Ben.
Did you follow all that Ben and Georgia decide to track down who actually sent the horse and get stuck in some back water area in Rhode Island during a snow storm.
There was so much going on in this story, I couldn't feel any connection between Ben and Georgia outside of guilty gratitude that does not equate passion.
out ofstars.
. A Rose in Winter by Laura Florand
Allegra is in the south of France for Christmas while she is researching for her PHD.
Raoul is head of the African division of his Rosier family business but wants to come home, They have a one night stand, which leads them to a misunderstanding in the morning, As they confront each other, they both learn of each other's desire to feel at ease with themselves and their families, The beginning of this story was a bit stilted, but getting past all that, you see the heart of both Allegra and Raoul, along with some feisty Rosier family members who, hopefully with have books of their own.
Steamiest of thestories.out ofstars.
.Days of Christmas by Linda Lael Miller originally published in
Addie's world crashed down around her after an article she wrote had her fired and running away from LA to her home town on CO.
Calling on her former fiancé, Frank, who is now the town Chief of Police and widow, she is trying to start over, Then her ex husband dumps her step son on her while he is away on his honeymoon, This story was the BEST of theand really delved into what "home" means and if it can be found in a place or a person.
Each of the characters were sweet and flawed, It made you want I make your own advent calendar to follow along,stars!
. Christmas Angel by Kat Martin originally published in! Set is post Civil War Savannah, Angel never forgave her love, Josh for leaving her to fight for the North, Now he is back in his "blue belly Yank" uniform as a Dr, running the local, dilapidated hospital filled with wounded soldiers, I stopped reading this and couldn't finish, Southern Civil War settings are not my thing, but even so, I just couldn't get into the characters, I didn't care that she lost her plantation, or how they still felt tingly around each other, I am not sure how the publishers chose this story, but it was a DNF for me,stars.
Overall, I would have bought this book for Laura Florand, but was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reading Copy, I was pleasantly surprised by Ms, Miller's story, but the otherwere a waste of time, Can't believe I just spentfor only Laura's story, but was it worth ityes This Anthology haswonderful stories, from Linda Lael Miller, Kat Martin, Mary Carter, and Laura Florand.
I can't say I liked any one of the stories better than the others, because I really liked them all, They were all warm, lovely stories of people moving beyond their own pain to find something special together, They are all filled with hope and the joys of overcoming challenges, I really enjoyed them. december: only read raoul and allegra's romance once again and it's still the most christmassy and magical romance i've ever read
december: only reread raoul and allegra and it brought back all the laura florand feels combined with all the christmas feels
i only read raoul and allegra story but i'll pick this anthology up again in december this year which was absolutely F A B.
i really really REALLY want a full book about these two, i want more in depth telling of their relationship and their personalities, i want to know what will allegra do with her thesis and what is raoul place now in the family as well, i want to see them as parents SO DAMN BAD, and i just want to read a book about them thriving in to their life!!!!!!!.
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Linda Lael Miller