Mundie Moms

Friday, December 22, 2017

THE 12 DARES OF CHRISTA by Marissa Burt / Book Review #The12DaresofChrista


By: Marissa Burt
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Released on: September 26th, 2017
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: book from publisher exchange for my honest review 

Christa is a holiday junkie. What’s not to love? There’s decorations! Gifts! Caroling with friends! But thanks to her parents’ recent separation, Christa’s favorite time of year is now filled with heartache. And when her mom announces that she’s taking her on a mother-daughter trip to Europe over winter vacation, Christa knows she should be excited. She just can’t imagine spending the yuletide season without her dad.

However, waiting at her hotel in Italy is a special package from her father: the first of twelve dares that take Christa to landmarks in three beautiful countries and introduce her to people who will show her that hope is alive in the strangest of places.

Funny, genuine, and feel-good to the core, The 12 Dares of Christa is one fa-la-la-filled adventure that fans of Wendy Mass and Lisa Greenwald will love.


A cute, heartfelt Christmas read. What's not to love about Christmas in Europe? For Christa, this Christmas isn't going quite as planned. To help her adjust to a new normal, her father continues with their tradition for dares. These 12 dares take place in London, Paris, and Florence. In the process, she finds friendship, romance, and learns more about herself. With the right amount of humor, misunderstanding, and a touch of romance, this is a Hallmark Christmas movie come to life within the pages of this charming book. 


Exclusive Sneak Peek from Queen of Air and Darkness #Shadowhunters #QueenofAirandDarkness @CassieClare


Happy Holidays Shadowhunters fans! In this month's edition of her newsletter, Cassandra Clare gifted fans with an exclusive sneak peak from Queen of Air and Darkness. It's a good one too! You can read the entire snippet below.

EXCLUSIVE Queen of AIR AND DARKNESS SNIPPET FROM CASSIE


Emma had been halfway up the stairs on the way to Cristina’s room when she had seen Mark, leaning against the wall on the landing and looking dejected. “Dru won’t let me in to talk to her,” he said. “I am worried. It is like a faerie to grieve alone, but not, I understand, like a Shadowhunter.”
Emma hesitated. She was about to say that it wasn’t unlike Dru to lock herself in her room alone, but Dru had looked more than a little upset when she’d left the kitchen. “Keep trying,” she advised. “Sometimes you have to knock for twenty minutes or so. Or you could offer to watch a horror movie with her.”
Mark looked glum. “I do not think I would enjoy a horror movie.”
“You never know,” Emma said. 
He turned to head back up the stairs, and hesitated. “I am worried about you and Jules as well,” he said, more quietly. “I do not like the Inquisitor, or the idea of you being questioned by him. He reminds me of the King of Unseelie.”
Emma was startled. “He does?” 
“They give me the same feeling,” Mark said. “I cannot explain it, but —“
A door opened on the landing overhead: it was Cristina’s. She stepped out, glancing down. “Emma? I wondered if you were —“
She stopped when she saw Mark, and she and Mark stared at each other in a way that made Emma feel as if she had disappeared completely. 
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Cristina said, but she was still looking at Mark, and he was looking back as if their gazes were hopelessly tied together. 
Mark had shaken himself, as if he were casting off cobwebs or dreams. “It is all right — I must go speak with Drusilla.” He had bounded up the stairs and out of sight, disappearing around the bend in the corridor.
Cristina had snapped out of it and invited Emma in, and now it was as if the moment with Mark had never happened, though Emma was itching to ask about it. “Mark will need you,” she said again, and Cristina twisted her hands in her lap.
“Mark,” she said, and paused. “I don’t know what Mark is thinking. If he is angry at me.”
“Why would he be angry at you?”  
“Because of Kieran,” she said. “They did not end things well, and now Kieran is at the Scholomance, and far away, which was my doing.”
“You didn’t break him up with Kieran,” Emma protested. “If anything, you helped keep them together longer. Remember — hot faerie threesome.”
Cristina dropped her face into her hands. “Mrfuffhfhsh,” she said.
“What?”
“I said,” Cristina repeated, lifting her face, “that Kieran sent me a note.”
“He did? How? When?”
“This morning. In an acorn.” Cristina passed a small piece of paper to Emma. “It isn’t very illuminating.”

Lady of Roses,
Though the Scholomance is cold, and Diego is boring, I am still grateful that you found enough value in my life to save it. You are as kind as you are beautiful. My thoughts are with you.
Kieran

“Why did he send you this?” Emma handed the note back to Cristina, shaking her head. “It’s weird. He’s so weird!”
 “I think he just wanted to thank me for the escape plan,” Cristina protested. “That’s all.”
“Faeries don’t like thanking people,” said Emma. “This is a romantic note.”
Cristina blushed. “It’s just the way faeries talk. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“When it comes to faeries,” Emma said darkly, “everything means something.
** ** ** ** ** 

I can't wait to read this book! The positive thing is we have less than a year to wait for it's release. I may already have it ordered. I can't wait.

Along with the snippet, she also shared some beautiful pictures of her trip in New Zealand. Hobbit fans will love seeing the places she's visited. You can read December's entire newsletter hereDon't miss reading sneak peaks and more in Cassie's newsletters. Sign up via CassandraClare.com

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