Cottage, Light & Home

After reading book 1 a while back, I wanted to know what happened next in the story. Clean reads with good storylines. I liked learning a bit about dog sledding.

Melissa Storm has a way of telling a story that keeps the reader thoroughly entertained! There are three stories combined in this one book, and all of them are terrific–especially the last one, which had a truly original storyline! If you love stories of Alaska, snow dogs, or human nature in general, I guarantee you will enjoy this collection of wonderful stories!

LET THERE BE LOVE is the first book in the Sled Dog series. Each stands on their own. In fact, I read the second book first.

What a cute way to retell Beauty and the Beast in modern times. Our beast is an Alaskan musher who has been injured in training and Beauty is an optimistic orphan looking for information about her father’s past as a musher!

I loved that this was a clean romance. I read a lot of racy romance and love it too, but every once in a while it is refreshing to enjoy the purity of clean romance. That’s not to say that there isn’t conflict. Shane is over-the-top grumpy, and Lauren has to deal with mourning the loss of her father and the secrets she is uncovering about his past in Alaska.

I loved the slowly building relationship, friendship, and finally love between Shane and Lauren. I also loved the dogs. It made me giggle when they were referred to as “husky pucks” when they curled up after the first race.

One key to this book (and the series) is that the author’s husband was a trainer and musher at one time and has shared his knowledge with her to add as much realism as possible to her stories. There is nothing to compare to ready access to anecdotes and experience.

I’ve already read the second book, so I’ll be reading the third book next! I’ll start as soon as I finish writing this up.

LET THERE BE LIGHT is the second in the Sled Dogs series. Each stands on their own, but with heavy involvement with the characters from the other stories. I have not read the first book in this series and had no problem understanding who was whom and how they related to one another.

I love Scarlett. She is braver than I could ever be. She is taking a huge chance and going for it to be a musher – her big dream. She’s sweetness and fierceness. A firecracker wrapped in cotton candy. Then there is her rival – Henry – does she trust him or the rumors. Is he like his grandfather?

Then there are the real villains of the story – Mrs. Caputo and Vanessa Price. I have a few like that in my office – the ones who will stab you while pretending to assist – you can only hope that karma visits at a time when you are there to witness the results.

Besides the wonderful people in this story, there are the fur babies… including rescues from the Sled Dog Rescue Organization, along with Lolly Winston and Dr. Oscar Rockwell. Fred, Fantine, Cosette, and the others are just as necessary to the story. Where would a musher be without her dogs?!

The story is sweet and thoughtful. It brought sun and warmth to a cold day. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one day.

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

LET THERE BE LIFE is the third in the Sled Dogs series. Each stands on their own, but with heavy involvement with the characters from the other stories.

Liz’s story starts out as Cinderella, complete with a wicked stepmother and two horrible stepsisters. Then it becomes more Nancy Drew mystery.

I read this cover to cover in one day. I just could not put it down. I love mysteries and I needed to find out the answers to the questions Liz and Dorian were asking.

Though this book doesn’t have as much to do with the sled dogs, Liz does have her own Samson who loves and protects her. Instead, this book is about family and the real meaning of family.

Melissa Storm is a wonderful storyteller with a quick wit, but keeps it clean. These are stories you could share with your daughter and not cringe. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!

Note: While I received these books and the box set as gifted ARCs, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Let There Be Love****
Lauren is a great character, she is one of those with the mentality to deal with things head on. Shane is definitely a beast, I did feel sorry for him after he explained what he was going through but he still seemed a bit reserved or stand-offish. A case of opposites attract, their story flowed well but there was a lot going on at the end which changed the pace. The sled dogs were very interesting and I laughed out loud when she took her first ride. Very enjoyable & emotional read that tugs the heart strings.

Let There be Light****
Scarlett is attracted to the “enemy” lol. I felt sorry for Henry because he was being judged by his family name instead of the person he truly is yet he doesn’t let that discourage him, he has a kind heart. Scarlett is as stubborn as a mule, she has so much love to give and she shows that with her compassion for her dogs. Very exciting, adventurous and emotional ride.

Let There Be Life*****
For some reason I connected instantly with Liz so Dorian was the enemy, lol. I also thought Liz was a wimp and wanted to get to Anchorage to have a chat with the 3 V’s, lol. Very gripping, entertaining, interesting and realistic story. Her journey is an emotional one and not always pleasant but when push comes to shove, she quickly matures and takes care of her business, I like that about her.

Let There Be Love
I enjoyed the story. I love working dogs and the sled dogs are some of my favorites. But this book asked me to suspend my disbelief just a little too far for me to be completely into the story. I’ve been owned by a husky/malamute cross and while they’re wonderful, affectionate animals they are also some of the most stubborn, uncooperative breeds for a novice to handle. There is a little bit of Jane Eyre in the cruel dark hero redeemed by the love of the fair maiden, but this part of the plot happened too quickly and too easily for me to find it believable. I liked the plot thread of the mystery surrounding Lauren’s parents, but this too I thought was resolved too simply. And family legacy or not, I find it highly unlikely that someone who’s never raced before could be Iditarod ready in only part of one racing season. I felt Lauren was incredibly naïve and Shane too broken for their romance to work properly. Shane especially should have had professional help dealing with his numerous emotional traumas – in the real world those aren’t healed by True Love’s kiss.
Let There Be Light
I liked this book better than the previous one in the series. It still asked me to suspend my disbelief for a lot of very unbelievable things, but somehow these felt a little bit more like they could actually happen. I loved that Scarlett was willing to chase after a long-held dream. I just wish she’d been nicer to her hero. She spent a lot of time blaming Henry for things that aren’t even his fault. I liked Henry. He’s caught in an unfortunate situation and trying to make the best of it. I wish we’d been able to see the pair of them spend more time together building their romance. I thought the ending was quite adorable.
Let There Be Life
Definitely the best in the series. I really liked Liz and her search for herself. It was a unique and fascinating storyline. Dorian wasn’t always my favorite person, but it was usually pretty obvious he always thought he had Liz’s best interests at heart. The ending was a severe case of deus ex machina, and seriously simplified a very complex situation.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.

You will fall in love with Alaska and their people through Lauren, Scarlett and Liz’s love stories. Strong women in a difficult land and facing tough situations but sharing their passion for dogs, sled races and friendship.