A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

About the Book:

All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home.

Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame.

When the secret of their shared history is revealed, will it leave them tangled in a knot of regret? Or might their past hold the threads that will bind their future together?

As warm as a woolen scarf on a cold winter’s eve, A Wreath of Snow is a tender story of love and forgiveness, wrapped in a celebration of all things Scottish, all things Victorian, and, especially, all things Christmas.

My Review:

4 Stars

To start of with I just have to comment on how lovely this book looks. The cover is breathtaking, the fact that it is hardcover makes it so much better. This is on of those books that is great to read but also would make a great decoration for Christmas time. I received this book this afternoon and quickly jumped right into it. I was drawn in the setting, which is described in such wonderful detail, and the story so quickly that I knew I would finish it this evening . This is a short Christmas novella that will be cherished by many. I loved the the theme of forgiveness, both giving it and receiving it, and the sweet subtle romance that starts to bud at the end. In conclusion, this is a sweet story that will warm you heart during this Christmas season and many to come.

* I received this book through Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review. Thank you!

The Girl in Glass by Susan Meissner

About the Book:

Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.

Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.

When her dad finally tells Meg to book the trip, she prays that the experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’ divorce. But when Meg arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be found, leaving aspiring memoir-writer Sophia Borelli to introduce Meg to the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

When Sophia, Meg, and Nora’s stories intersect, their lives will be indelibly changed as they each answer the question: What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is isn’t what has to be?

My Review:

After reading A Sound Among the Trees last year I just knew I could not wait to read Susan Meissnerr's next book and while the wait was not fun it was definitely worth it. I love Susan's ability to blend a contemporary story with a historical story, some authors try but do not succeed, but Susan has figured it out. I absolutely loved the setting of Florence, Italy, but who wouldn't in all reality. While I have been to Italy, I have not been to Florence but reading this book makes me want to go all the more.

I really enjoyed the stories of each of the women and how they all intersected. It really made it hard for me to put the book down since I just wanted to know more and more. I was almost a little sad when the story ended, but journey was so worth it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who like contemporary, historical or both since the book has something for all. If you are looking for a strict romance this book may not be for you, but you should still give it a try.

* I received this book through Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review.