Books I've Been Reading in December

 I set a goal last month to try and read 10 books this month so I could end my year with an even 116 books read.  It wasn't a hard goal to meet either with so many cute holiday novels to read.  I sprinkled in lots of non-holiday novels too and found lots of great books to wrap up my year with. 


1. American Royals II: Majesty by Katharine McGee-- I know many bloggers were disappointed in this second book of the royals series but I thought it was just as cute as the first.  So much drama and misunderstanding unfolding between all the characters from the first book just as Beatrice moves forwards towards her wedding date.  


2. Wings of Fire: Winter Turning by Tui T. Sutherland -- Alec convinced me to read the second book in the series I started last month and I thought it was equally adorable.  I really like how each book in the series focuses on a different dragon and is told from their perspective that way you really get to know their personalities.  The dragons are working together to find Winter's long lost brother and to stop a horrible prophecy from coming true. 


3.  Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany-- A little murder mystery in a town called Rudolph.  When Merry's parade float tractor breaks down it's a real disappointment but no one suspects any sort of foul play; until a reporter turns up dead in the park after the town's cookie party and an unexpected fire breaks out at one of the town's biggest nights of the year.  


4.  The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin-- This books reminded me a lot of Gray's Anatomy.  Two best friends Emma and Zadie went through medical school together.  They now practice medicine in the same town and their kids are growing up together.  When an old mentor of theirs begins working with Emma lots of old memories and secrets come bubbling up to the surface. 


5. Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb-- In the latest installment of the Eve Dallas series (book #51) Eve and her husband Roarke are up against one of his old enemies from the mean streets of Dublin.  This case is so big that Interpol is called in to consult.  I thought I had read all the books in the series but was really surprised to find that Roarke has family in Ireland that he seems rather close to; I'll have to look up a few of the older novels I guess and get caught up.  


6.  Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler-- When Haley's boss sends her to Christmas Camp to prepare for a big advertising campaign, Haley has every intention of finishing up the camp activities as quickly as possible so she can get back to her life.  But once at the Inn Ben, his son Jeff and all the other campers soon worm their way into Haley's heart.  It was such a cute and heartwarming story-- by far my favorite Christmas book I read this year. 


7.  Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber-- Josie worked in an Alaskan lodge the summer before starting a career changing job working as a sous chef at a brand new up and coming restaurant in Seattle.  While in Alaska she fell in love with Palmer and made some wonderful friends.  She was so reluctant to leave but knew her new job was waiting.  Promising herself and Palmer that she would give her new job a year and then re-evaluate her life she heads back to Seattle but the new job isn't all she dreamed it would be and she misses Palmer so much but he starts acting distant and their calls become fewer and fewer.  Will Josie lose everything she holds dear for a job she doesn't love? A cute and fairly predictable love story that takes place over the winter holidays. 


8. A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson-- A cute little story that I read in less than 24 hours.  Wendy and her son Jackson are heading to her old family seaside cottage in Maine that Wendy just inherited.  She hopes to fix it up in just a few weeks to sell and cover her debts.  Both Wendy and her son fall in love with life in Seaside and all the new friends they're making but as much as they might wish to stay, Wendy just can't see a way to make it work.  I thought this was a pretty cute story but, for me, the last chapter just wrapped things up a bit too neatly and a bit out of nowhere.  Reminds me of a cheesy Hallmark movie in book form-- which isn't a bad thing as it made for a nice and cute holiday feel good novel.  


9. The Coincidence of Cake by Amy E. Reichert-- I picked this book up after so many readers recommended it to me this fall when I read the Simplicity of Cider by the same author.  I just LOVED it!  I connected pretty quickly with Lou; the main character that often thinks in terms of food and recipes.  She has had her restaurant up and running for year when she has a real "off" night after finding her fiancé cheating on her.  Sadly, it's also the night a scathing food critic visits and just tears her to shreds with his review.  When the two bump into one another and become friends neither realizes who the other is and by the time they do 


10. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon-- A cute young adult novel that I zipped through in just a day or two.  Rowan and Neil have been bitter rivals all through high school.  On the night of Howl; a scavenger hunt that takes them all around the city the two reluctantly team up and discover that they might actually like one another and perhaps have a future together. 


Make sure you pop in tomorrow to read about my favorite books of the year! 

Linking up with:






















Comments

  1. I saw a few people say "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" is good!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the look of some of these books. I love the title Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman! I like a good thriller and a nice romance but I was disappointed that I didn't get to read any Christmas related books this year. I guess I was too busy indulging in Christmas films instead. #mmbc

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is hard to balance the Christmas books and movies! I found I often alternated days and times to try and get them both in.

      Delete
  3. Nice selections - they sound interesting! Thanks for sharing. #MMBC

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, you read so many books!! I am impressed. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love seeing what everyone else is reading! Foudn a few to add to my list

    ReplyDelete
  6. My mom loves Debbie Macomber books. I used to read them as well. I've been reading my soul searching books lately, but it has been taking me a week to get through one book. I think I need lighter reading! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie's books are always so uplifting and fun.

      Delete
  7. What a great selection of books, they sound interesting x

    ReplyDelete
  8. The coconut cake book sounds great. I may recommend The Queen of Hearts to my book club. Thanks for all the wonderful recommendations.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I liked Majesty just as well as the first book, too! I can't wait for the third, assuming she's doing a third!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She'd better come out with a third! LOL. I hate when books just end mid- series.

      Delete
  10. I just ordered Today, Tonight, Tomorrow! It was on sale, so why not. I read Kimmery Martin's second book, but not the one you read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll really like Today, Tonight, Tomorrow. It was so cute.

      Delete
  11. How awesome is that you read so many books for the month of December. Now that the holidays are almost over I can't wait to get back to reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I plan to spend lots of time reading this week; my family gave me quite a few books for Christmas.

      Delete
  12. Thanks for the recommendations. Always good to hear about some good reads. #MMBC

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an awesome reading goal- good for you! That Christmas By The Sea Book looks right up my alley- love the cheesiness! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. These books look really interesting! I love all the holiday reads :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, 116 books! That's amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  16. 10 books last month and a total of 116. That is amazing. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was pretty amazed! I'm hoping to up it to 120 next year.

      Delete
  17. A couple of these look interesting! Thanks so much for linking up with me at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 20, open until January 26. Shared on social media.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well done on reading so many books this month! I have been reading a lot through the year but December has been so busy I've only read 3 books this month, I was hoping for more but I'm sure I'll catch up next year! :)

    Hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and you are enjoying this relaxing time between Christmas and new year :)

    Away From Blue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. I was afraid we'd be too busy for me to read much but I worked so hard in November to get a jump start on Christmas that I had lots of free time in December.

      Delete
  19. Yay, looks like some good ones to add to my list. Hoping to get in more reading time in January.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You read so many books! Is there a through line for your favorites, like author or genre? My favorite book that I read this year was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I imagine I'll be reading it again in the years to come, it was such a great one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I have pretty eclectic tastes and will read just about anything that holds my interest; though I do tend to like stories that deal with family dynamics.

      Delete
  21. I hope to find more time to read in 2021, Joanne. I've pinned or list of books so I have some good options! I'm also featuring this week on Sundays on Silverado. Thanks for linking up. :-)

    Niky @ The House on Silverado

    ReplyDelete
  22. So many beautiful and intriguing covers! I want to read several of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I almost always pick my books based on their cover (even though I know you're not supposed to).

      Delete
  23. I really loved The Queen of Hearts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did too! It was a last minute find and I was so glad to have found it.

      Delete
  24. This looks like such a fun reading month. I love how many ChristmassChristmassy books you fit in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too; I typically forget to read Christmassy books until the holiday has nearly passed!

      Delete
  25. I thought the drama of Majesty was just perfect too. As well as The Queen of Hearts - I wasn't a Gray's Anatomy watcher, but I loved how it totally felt like a soapy TV show in book form. Fun to have some juicy reads like that. And I don't think my 7-year-old has read any in the Wings of Fire series, but it might be up his alley - we'll have to check it out!

    Stopping by from Show Us Your Books :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My two younger boys have been obsessed with the Wings of Fire series for years!

      Delete
  26. I read Coconut Cake years ago. It was good. I love the title so much. Alliteration forever.

    It's nice when you can end the year on a good reading note.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the alliteration too! It's fun to say.

      Delete
  27. I read Alaskan Holiday, it was cute. I am adding Christmas Camp to my list! The Queen of Hearts sounds interesting too, I do love Greys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you'd really enjoy Queen of Hearts then.

      Delete
  28. Sounds like you had a great reading month! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think the first Wings of Fire book is part of my middle school daughter's battle of the books. Glad it's cute - wish I had time in my book schedule to read it with her. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your month :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm always intimidated when a series has a large number of books and I've read zero of them. Even if I want to read them, it's highly unlikely I will.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. I usually don't let that stop me since I am a voracious reader but I typically stumble upon the series by accident and usually have to go back and start at the beginning.

      Delete
  31. The Queen of Hearts and The Coincidence of Cake have been on my to read list. I read Christmas Camp a couple of years ago and really liked it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so cute and I have since seen that the author has another book out that takes place at Christmas Camp.

      Delete
  32. I also LOVED Coconut Cake. I listened to the audio like 4 years ago and still recommend it to people. It was great writing.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great job on meeting your reading goal. I love the cozy mystery series by Vick Delany. I have the most recent one that I need to read ASAP!

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  34. I read Alaskan Holiday as well and loved it. Totally predictable but cute nonetheless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Usually I really don't enjoy totally predictable books but somehow I don't mind that at all in a holiday story!

      Delete
  35. Adding some of the Christmas ones for the next holiday season. Good suggestions!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've started making a list of Christmas books for next season too!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Share Our Lives: 5 Items I Can't Live Without

Prime Purchases in February 2023

Let's Look At... Our Grocery haul