Fern Michaels

FROM AMAZON: The Sisterhood: a group of women from all walks of life bound by friendship and a quest for justice. Armed with vast resources, top-notch expertise, and a loyal network of allies around the globe, the Sisterhood will not rest until every wrong is made right.

Through all their missions and adventures, the tightknit group of friends who make up the Sisterhood have learned one vital lesson: everybody has a weak spot. In the case of Yoko Wong's dear friend Garland Lee, the multimillion-selling performer known as America's beloved songbird, that weak spot was trusting her lawyer, Arthur Forrester. For years, he's taken advantage of her faith in him to amass a secret fortune. And now, in the deepest betrayal yet, he's dragged her into a lawsuit that could cost her home and everything she has left.

The Sisterhood know they can't let that happen. Forrester has some of the country's top judges in his pocket, and a list of influential and ruthless friends - not to mention knowledge of all the ways the law can be corrupted to work in his favor. But he doesn't have the Vigilantes' deep-seated loyalty and determination. And all his years of underhanded dealings won't prepare him for the type of creative payback that the Sisters have made their specialty....… (més)

Four friends reminisce at their 15-year reunion, finding that though many things have changed in their lives, they are still all single. They decide to go on a holiday singles cruise to hopefully fix that. Plans don’t go exactly as expected but they do end up with an unforgettable week.

SANTA CRUISE was a cute holiday read, though some things didn’t quite work for me. The premise centers on a singles cruise but it took an awfully long time to get to that part – almost halfway in. That made the lead up feel like it was dragging at points. The characters were written in a way that made me picture them as 50-year-olds, not the early 30s that they actually were. This felt awkward at times. I’ve never been on a cruise and don’t feel passionate about pursuing one so that likely affected some of my enthusiasm toward the story. Overall, this was still a good read to get into the holiday spirit.

SANTA CRUISE is the first book of Fern Michael’s Santa’s Crew series. I’ve also read the second book and would advise to read in order to not miss background info. I’d recommend to those looking for a quick and lighthearted holiday read.… (més)

A Christmas ski trip doesn’t go as planned for four friends.
SANTA & COMPANY is the second book of Fern Michael’s Santa’s Crew series. I enjoyed it more than the first, SANTA CRUISE. I liked the ski lodge setting and the themes of friendship and love that are explored. As with the first book, I still felt like the writing made me picture the characters as 50-year-olds, not the early 30s that they actually were. I’m glad that I began the series in order so that I had background information on the characters and their previous reunion from the first book. The pacing in SANTA & COMPANY was good and kept me turning pages right to the satisfying ending. I love holiday books so this one was a good pick.

I’d recommend SANTA & COMPANY to those looking for a holiday read, though I’d suggest reading the series in order.

Thank you to Kensington and Between the Chapters for the gifted ARC.… (més)

FROM AMAZON: Christmas is a time for remembering loved ones past and present. In this new novel by New York Times best-selling author Fern Michaels, the holidays are also the time to discover a future that, like the perfect gift, is as satisfying as it is surprising....

Joy Preston misses her beloved late grandmother dearly. But when she learns the terms of Nana's will, she's shocked - and more than a little irked. Joy moved to Colorado years ago and is now CEO of a successful nail polish company. Her life and career are in Denver. How can Nana have expected her to give that up, even temporarily, to take over a bed and breakfast in North Carolina for six months?

Yet there's no denying Heart and Soul's charm, especially at holiday time. The B&B is always elaborately decorated for the season, with themed guest rooms and dazzling lawn displays created for the annual Parade of Homes competition. The entire town takes part in the festivities, and soon Joy, too, is joining in the gingerbread house contest and letting her reservations melt away.

There's another special reason for Heart and Soul's popularity. Rumor has it that, during holiday season, guests can be reunited with the spirit of a loved one who's passed on. Joy's skeptical, yet she feels her beloved Nana's influence all around her...perhaps even indulging in a little matchmaking between Joy and handsome estate attorney Will Drake. A special homecoming and the glow of new beginnings will combine to make the holiday magical....… (més)