Hey friends! The last month has been NUTS to say the least, and I’m trying to get back into the swing of things. After single parenting for weeks over the holidays, and my husband returning home with the dreaded C-19 in his back pocket, we have taken a ride on the struggle bus for sure! I hope you’re all staying safe and healthy out there.
I spent November and December reading mostly holiday books which were the perfect blend of light and fluffy that I needed to keep me reading during such a hectic time of the year. I know we’re well into the new year, but maybe this will help you add some holiday spirit to your wish list for next year. Come see what I’ve been reading and tell me what I need to add to my never-ending TBR.
All The King’s Men Duet: 5 Stars!
If you like your romance with a side of suspense and drama, then you’ll want to read this duet. The Kingmaker ends on a cliffhanger, so make sure you have The Rebel King handy.
We start out with seventeen year old Lennix Hunter protesting an oil pipeline that is about to be laid over her tribes land. Maxim Cade is discovering first hand how his father deals with problems that stand in the way of his oil business. When they meet their connection is instant, but the timing is all wrong. Lennix is too young and they are both eager to change the world.
Oh man… these characters are on fire! Lennix is a headstrong and fierce heroine ready to fight for indigenous women, and Maxim is a dominant and determined hero that will win you over from the first scene.
Now don’t let this scare you off, but politics are fairly heavy in these books (I promise that the steam is more than hot enough to compensate). They also covered some major current world issues including marginalized individuals, indigenous people, and environmental impact. There were definitely some rich people “money talks” situations, but both characters are relatable and their story is powerful. If you’re still unsure, go read Becca’s review here.
Kennedy Ryan… I see you, I hear you, and girl, you are ON MY RADAR!
Other books I’ve read with romantic suspense/drama:
Savage Trilogy by Meghan March – level 5 steam, you’ve been warned!
Burying Water Series by K.A. Tucker (each book is a standalone)
Seeing Red by Sandra Brown
Merry and Bright: 3 stars!
Looking for a clean, classic Hallmark channel style Christmas book? Look no further.
Merry is busy getting ready for the holidays and working overtime at her temp job with a boss she loathes, so her social life takes a major backseat. Her mom and brother decide to sign her up for an online dating site in hopes that she will find someone that will love her as much as they do. After chatting with someone special, she realizes that love may be closer than she thought possible.
I thought the story was pretty cliché and I rolled my eyes a lot, but it was still cute. However, kissing is as far as the romance goes in this one.
In A Holidaze: 4 Stars!
This book was SO fun! I was nervous to try it, because I have a very hit or miss relationship with Christina Lauren. (LOVED Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating and HATED The Unhoneymooners) And when I heard that there was a time loop plot line in this one, I figured it could go either way.
Driving away from their beloved cabin for the last time, Maelyn Jones is miserable and her life is falling apart. Although this is her favorite time of year, this vacation ended terribly. She throws up a silent prayer for the universe to show her what will make her happy and next thing we know she’s back on the airplane at the start of the vacation.
The story was charming and magical. The snowy Utah setting was perfect and the characters were fun to get to know throughout the book. The romance was behind closed doors, but it was still sweet and kept a smile on my face.
Miracle on 5th Avenue: 3.5 Stars!
This was my second Sarah Morgan book and I feel like she is a solid cozy Christmas author. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for more of her books.
Eva Jordan is a hopeless romantic that loves everything about Christmas! When she’s given the opportunity to house-sit and decorate a penthouse in Manhattan for the holidays, it feels like her dreams have come true. Much to her surprise, it’s still being occupied by the very gorgeous and grumbly owner – Lucas Blade. Lucas is a bestselling crime writer coming up on a deadline and is struggling to write his next book. When Eva shows up at his penthouse, his own nightmares are beginning to come true.
This was a sweet fairytale Christmas story! I enjoyed the banter with the main characters as well as the touch of foodie fiction. I thought it was slightly repetitive at times, but it didn’t bother me too much. The romance was open door, but it wasn’t too detailed (I would have been happy with a little bit more).
Christmas books I hope to read next year:
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan
Love People, Use Things: No Rating
This is a really hard one for me. I have been following Millburn and Nicodemus for a year (maybe two, I can’t remember) and I’ve really learned a lot from them. I took a lot from their documentary Minimalism, and I’ve also read both of their books Minimalism and Everything that Remains.
A lot of their writings overlap. You’ll hear the same stories, dialogue, and antidotes throughout their teachings. That’s okay, that doesn’t bother me that much. But one thing I’ve really struggled with is Millburn’s highly pretentious way of talking. You know, where it feels like he sat with the dictionary and thesaurus and tried to find every million dollar word he could? And this book finally wore me down. It felt like he was preaching at us, instead of walking the journey among us.
Overall I would not recommend this book. If you’re looking for books on living with less, I would rather point you to their documentary – Minimalism or Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver.
The Sugar Queen: 3.5 Stars!
I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen’s writing in Garden Spells – one of my all-time favorite books to recommend. She roped me into her magic so easily and I felt like I was finally home.
The Sugar Queen was a very light and easy wintery read. It was fun and enjoyable, but it was very forgettable.
If you’re looking for a magical winter story with quirky characters that you can root for, then give this one a try!
Other wintery books I’ve read:
The Mountain Between Us – 4 stars
Beartown/Us Against You – 5 stars
The Snow Child – 4 stars (also magical realism)
Looking for more book recommendations? Check out all of my book posts here!
What was your last 5-star read? Do you have any that you would recommend I add to my Christmas wish list for next year?
Leave a Reply