Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Books I Read in 2025
January 6, 2026 By 70 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Here are my top ten books I read and reviewed for Long and Short Reviews last year. They all received five star ratings, and the links below will take you to my reviews of them.
1. The Pits: Life Literally Bit Me in the Ass (a memoir) by Cheryl Edwards
Genre: Memoir
2. Hauntings and Hoarfrost by Rhonda Parrish (editor)
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
3. Being Broken – Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse by Geoffrey R. Jonas
Genre: Memoir
4. Black as Hell, Strong as Death, Sweet as Love – A Coffee Travel Guide by Steven P. Unger
Genre: Non-Fiction
5. Bright Green Futures: 2024 by Susan Kaye Quinn, Editor
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
6. When the Squirrel Sings by Shana Hollowell
Genre: Children’s
7. Yes, I Am a Vampire by Stephen Kozeniewski
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
8. Menagerie in the Dark-Stories by Chris Kauzlarich
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
9. Hotel Spacious by J.S. Frankel
Genre: Young Adult
10. The Spiral’s Edge by Michael Boss
Genre: Non-Fiction (Poetry)
MOVIE REVIEW: Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox
January 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment
Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox
Writers: Jenni Bayliss, Erin Rodman, Davah Avena, Zac Hug, Lynn Sternberger
Starring: Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, Toby Sandeman
Distributed by: Hallmark Studios
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by DicentraKate, a textile pattern designer, cares for her separated father Mac in Blexford, England. Laura introduces her to The 12 Dates of Christmas, a matchmaking program that rekindles her life and leads her to new adventures.
Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas, the new Hallmark mini series starring Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, and Toby Sandeman, was a chaotic yet fun movie for rom-com fans approaching the Christmas holidays. An entirely different format than Hallmark’s more stereotypical films, I enjoyed the novelty of the format as well as the relationships that are carried through multiple episodes.
Kate’s (Mae Whitman) a textile designer who hasn’t gone on a date in a while and spends her time taking care of her father. Wanting her friend to be less lonely and find some magic in the season, Laura (Lucy Eaton) signs Kate up for the “Twelve Dates of Christmas”. Lots of shenanigans ensue, from Christmas rage rooms, escape rooms, and even coordinating crazy hats. The organizer of the event, Drew (Eimear Morissey), was quite fun and did an excellent job in her role as “Christmas cupid”.
While some of the date partners were not particularly memorable (as one might expect from a show that is set to feature 12 dates), I appreciated how they helped move Kate towards her happily ever after. Said happily ever after is definitely predictable, but it makes it no less heartwarming. Don’t want to say too much about Richard (Tobey Sandeman) and Callum’s (Julian Morris) characters, as that very much spoils how things end up. While Kate’s relationships are the focus, it was also nice to see so many other characters in the mini series get their happily ever after too. The storyline between Kate’s dad Mac (Nathaniel Parker) and Evelyn (Jane Seymour) was quite funny, and to see Delilah (Mary McDonnell) running around and meddling towards the end of things was both entertaining and cringe-inducing (I felt for Mac during the book club scene). Make sure you catch the Independence Day actor reunion though!
Overall, this was a great mini-series and I’m so glad I took the time to watch it. Highly recommend this series to those who enjoy rom-coms with guaranteed happily ever afters and large ensemble casts of actors. As a note for book lovers, this is based on the novel of the same name by Jenny Bayliss.
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for December 17, 2025
December 17, 2025 By 2 Comments
NOTE: The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge will be taking its annual two-week break for the holidays, but we’ll be back on January 7th with a whole new year’s worth of topics (which should be posted here by January 1). We hope to see you all then, and we wish you a very happy holiday season!!
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Something I Wish I Were Better at Doing
Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Winter 2025-2026 to-Read List
December 16, 2025 By 58 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
I don’t know about all of you, but I get so much more reading done when the weather is unpleasant than when it is warm and dry outside.
Winter is the perfect time to chip away at my TBR list as well as explore some new titles, too.
Here are ten books I’m looking forward to this winter.
If no release date is included, that book is already available to buy or maybe even to borrow from your local library depending on where you live.
1. The Word for World by Ursula K. Le Guin
Why I Want to Read It: There’s nothing like exploring maps in books.
2. Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann
Why I Want to Read It: While I’m not a fan of country music, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Dolly Parton and would like to learn more about her life.
3. Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
Release Date: January 13
Why I Want to Read It: The plot sounds fast-paced and exciting.
4. Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra
Release Date: January 20
Why I Want to Read It: Anne Shirley is one of those characters I can never get enough of.
5. Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean
Release Date: February 3
Why I Want to Read It: This has such a sweet and romantic premise.
6. The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride
Release Date: February 3
Why I Want to Read It: Time travel and climate change fiction? Sign me up!
7. Everyday Movement by Gigi L. Leung
Release Date: February 10
Why I Want to Read It: My knowledge of Hong Kong’s history and social climate is limited, but maybe this will help fill in a few gaps even if it is fiction?
8. So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder
Release Date: February 17
Why I Want to Read It: Friendship can be such a complicated topic, and I love reading about it.
9. Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
Release Date: February 17
Why I Want to Read It: I’ve known a few people who were incarcerated and think this is a group that is not featured often enough in most modern fiction, especially when it comes to former inmates who are trying to make better choices after their release.
10.The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan
Release Date: February 24
Why I Want to Read It: This sounds like a lighthearted read which is something I enjoy now and then.
Movie Review: That Christmas
December 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment
That Christmas
Writers: Richard Curtis and Peter Souter
Director: Simon Otto
Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy
Publisher: Netflix
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by AstilbeIt’s an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone’s plans, including Santa’s.
Anything is possible when Santa comes to visit.
Wellington-on-Sea was such the perfect setting for this tale that I wished it were a real town. I loved the friendly relationships between many of the members of this small town as well as the many inside jokes about their community and lives that they shared with viewers. Their playful senses of humor worked beautifully for the Christmas season, especially when not everything necessarily went according to plan. Viewers who are already at least somewhat familiar with British culture will also find some great cultural references here, although understanding them is not required in order to understand the plot.
This movie would have been stronger if it had focused on a smaller number of storylines, and I’m saying this as someone who enjoyed all of the subplots. There simply wasn’t enough time to develop all of them fully, so I wasn’t quite satisfied with any of them in the end. A few plot lines were left dangling, and others were only able to briefly hold the audience’s attention as their most important moments were resolved.
I liked the modern spin on the holiday season that was shown here. It included characters from many different types of families as well as an exploration of who should and shouldn’t be counted as naughty for Santa’s purposes. That meant that a wide range of perspectives were included, from kids who knew they deserved to be on the good list to those who really struggled with the holidays and everything in-between.
That Christmas was a jolly ride.
CALLING ALL AUTHORS: *FREE* Author Promo!
December 14, 2025 By 1 Comment
Free Author Promo from Long and Short Reviews! Join our Winter Blogfest, running December 22-26, 2025!
Calling all authors who want to guest blog around the holidays! It doesn’t cost you anything but a prize (any prize you choose: can be an eBook, a GC, or anything else you’d like) – what could be better than free promo on a really busy site? NOTE: This promotion is limited to the first 50 authors who sign up (one post per author, please). Last day to submit your post will be December 19, 2025.
It’s easy to participate. Simply complete this form https://form.jotform.com/50622657191960 — but be prepared…the form requires a 250 – 500 word blog post that is holiday or winter themed (can be winter, Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, New Year’s, etc) and NOT pure promo (no posts that are only excerpts, for example.). They can be about family traditions, memories, a recipe, etc. Be creative! You’ll also be including a cover, blurb, author bio and links.
The posts will go up on our guest blog pages sometime between December 22-26, 2025 (we’ll email you your date when we schedule you) and each author will be responsible for doing a drawing for their prize on December 28, 2025 from the comments on their post and then posting the winner in the comments as well as contacting them (we will provide an email address to you upon request).
Questions? Email us at lasreviews@gmail.com!
Marianne and Judy
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for December 10, 2025
December 10, 2025 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
10 Gifts for People Who Love (your choice of subject)
Movie Review: Meet Me Next Christmas
December 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment
Meet Me Next Christmas
Writers: Camilla Rubis and Molly Haldeman
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Starring: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, and Kofi Siriboe
Publisher: Netflix
Genre: Romance, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by AstilbeIn pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.
True love makes everything a little better.
I adored the chemistry between Layla and her romantic interest. They shared similar playful personalities and were both incredibly kind and generous people as well. It was nice that they both had so many opportunities to shine as this film progressed as they weren’t the sort of people who would generally draw attention to themselves on purpose. They needed a little more time to open up to the viewers, but it was well worth the wait.
There was a plot hole involving Layla’s desperate need for a ticket to a Pentatonix concert that I did wish had been explored in greater depth. Couldn’t she have gone to the venue without the ticket and still looked for James in the lobby or left a message for him with the employees at the box office there? That’s what I would have done in her shoes, and I was a little puzzled by why this never came up as an option even though I otherwise enjoyed the storyline.
With that being said, this was still entertaining. As a fellow fan of Pentatonix’s music, I loved seeing Layla gush about their songs and try to use that as a way to connect with other people. She was so earnest about her interests that it only made me like her even more. There is definitely something to be said for characters who are this deeply invested in something that matters so much to them.
Meet Me Next Christmas was sweet and heartwarming.
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for December 3, 2025
December 3, 2025 By 1 Comment
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
