Happy Tuesday! I am linking up with Shooting Stars for a reading update and Joanne for Talking About It Tuesdays to show you the books I read this month.
Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint! When we were in NYC for Christmas last year, we saw a few Christmas tree lots and they sparked my curiousity. MKA’s story about the Tolliver family was heartwarming and funny, perfect for a Christmas read!
Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Melissa Stapley ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
This book was so good! I loved how the authors included traditions of three holidays. The characters learned so much about each other and themselves. I wasn’t surprised by the ending, but I did enjoy it!
12 Men for Christmas by Phillpa Ashley ☀️☀️☀️☀️
This was a fun, quick read. Emma leaves her high profile job in London to work for a small town in the countryside. As part of a fundraising effort for the local mountain rescue team, she proposes a mostly nude calendar with one team member per page. Will is vehemently against the idea, but goes along with it when the team votes in favor. Emma and Will keep running into each other and the attraction is there. However, rumors in town about Will keep Emma from committing. It ends exactly how you think it will, but that’s ok.
Christmas Cupid by Jennifer Joyce ☀️☀️☀️
In this book, Zoey falls in a Christmas Eve parade and almost dies. She is given a second chance at life but has to help six couples fall in love between December 1st and December 24th. I found myself liking Zoey and it seemed like a classic Hallmark movie type book. The book passed the time just fine.
Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce
I thought this was a great book! We were lucky to host Lincoln Peirce at my school this month and I was thrilled to read this book. The kids at my school and Luke love it, too!
Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn
I have been reading this book for a while and am so glad I decided to finish it. I think this is a great book for middle grade and middle school readers. Elliott is facing a lot of changes and has ADHD. He is very relateable and so likeable. I am hoping Luke reads it soon because I think he’ll love it!
The Year of Second Chances by Lara Avery ☀️☀️☀️
This book was not at all what I expected. It takes place one year after Robin’s husband passed away when she receives an email from him. He scheduled it before he died and has instructions for Robin to encourage her to keep on living and following her dreams. She has to navigate helping her family, her husband’s best friend, and her small town. I enjoyed it and found myself rooting for Robin to do what makes her the happiest.
Winter in New York by Josie Silver ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
I was excited to read this book because I have enjoyed most of Josie Silver’s other books. It was a great January read. Iris comes to New York to try to connect with her deceased mother. She discovers that she has been holding a secret gelato recipe. Gio and his family have been making gelato for years in New York City and the only person who knows the recipe can’t remember it. Iris realizes she has Gio’s family’s recipe but isn’t sure how to give it to him without betraying her mother and Gio’s uncle. It is a great family story and I flew through it.
Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
I’ve had this book on my shelf since May and it was just what I needed to read on a cold snowy day. Millicent Watts-Cohen is a former child actor who moved in with an elderly neighbor when she broke up with her jerk boyfriend. She befriends Mrs. Nash and takes on a mission when she passes away. Mrs. Nash has a beloved friend from her WWII days and Millie is determined to get Mrs. Nash’s ashes to her friend in Key West. It is a calamity of canceled flights, crashed cars, and small town broccoli festivals. Millie ends up getting a ride with Hollis, an aquaintance of her ex-boyfriend who the both destest. The chemistry between Millie and Hollis is fantastic and their chemistry is undeniable. This was a great story of friendship, love, and travel woes.
Off The map by Trish Doller ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
This is the third book by Trish Doller that I have read and the third book in the Beck Sisters series. In this book, Carla heads to Ireland for Anna’s wedding. Carla isn’t a Beck sister, but she and Anna are friends that are like sisters. Carla was raised by her single father and traveled all over the country every summer. This traveling has continued in her adult life, but her dad has dementia so Carla’s traveling solo. She uses that travel to avoid connections and relationships. When she gets to Ireland, Anna’s fiance’s brother Eamon picks her up at a pub. The plan is to go right to Tralee for the wedding, but always ready for an adventure Carla encourages Eamon to take the long way there. They have a few adventures, laughs, and some romance before finally making it to Anna’s wedding. Their connection is much deeper than Carla is used to or willing to accept. She heads back to the United States and tries to figure out what to do with her life. The story had me laughing and crying and I really enjoyed it.
Currently Reading: A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
Currently Reading: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Currently Reading: Studies at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan
You can always checkout what I’ve been reading on my Books 2024 page. I have all of my yearly reading pages linked here if you want to see what I’ve been reading for the last 5 years. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!
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