The holidays always seem to go by so fast! In the midst of promoting my own book – The Cookie Connection – I found time to settle down with a few fun holiday reads, too. A road trip to New York City also let me finish an audio book and do some more reading. I ended the year with 129 books read. I’ll compile my top 2023 reads in a different post. Here’s what I read in December:
Vivian gets to tag along with her daughter to work with a princess in England as her designer. While there, she meets a handsome British man who works for the Queen. A holiday romance kicks off, but when she returns to California, she can’t forget about him as much as she tries. Is he worth the hassle of a long-distance relationship? Royal Holiday has a cute storyline, but very descriptive romance scenes.
Piper gets lost in the snow looking for some hunters who are booked at her family cabin in Alaska. When she’s found, she finds herself back in time and making friends with her own grandmother. As she feigns amnesia, she gets to know her family history and sees a new path forward for the family business. However, she doesn’t know when, or if, she’ll go back to the future – or if she even wants to after meeting the man of her dreams in Home for Christmas.
Camryn is “stuck” in Wishing Tree running the family wrapping paper business and raising her twin sisters after both of her parents passed away. A rich well-known bachelor also lives in the town and his mother is making a list of all eligible women to give her the grandchildren she deserves. Camryn makes the list and refuses. However, she keeps running into Jake and they actually start to hit it off. But, Camryn has plans to return to her life in Chicago and wants nothing to tie her down. Home Sweet Christmas also has some great sub-plots, but also has descriptive romance.
I read The Imitation of Christ over several weeks, bit by bit, and slowly. There’s a lot to take in and I underlined many passages. I think it’s a book I will re-read several times during my devotional times. I highly recommend it as a religious read for anyone looking to deepen their faith.
Cassie Hayward has never liked Christmas. She grew up trying to sober up her mother and there never was a Christmas for her. Her mother’s mother, though, has left her a house on one condition – she follow a daily Christmas calendar for 25 days in the small town of Poppy Creek. The town lawyer Luke helps her find her way – in more ways than one. She may end up liking Christmas after all in The Clause in Christmas.
Brea is a local weather reporter who stays connected to her audience. Over the holidays, she has a chance to interview for a national job, but it means missing part of the family Christmas that she’s already missed most years. A long-time family friend, Henry, helps her get to the interview and she learns there’s more to him than the geeky boy who was outshined by her musician boyfriend. Let it Snow is a very cute story about family and second chances.
The Sound of Sleighbells has a complicated storyline and is more for readers who like action and suspense. Ruth is back in town with her children after her now-ex-husband blew up their house and landed in jail. She’s always on her toes, because the father of her son is close by and nobody knows he’s the father and she’d like to keep it that way. However, small towns never give a lot of breathing room and soon their lives become tangled up again.
The Reed of God is another religious book that I will be re-reading many times. There’s a depth to the writing that forces one to ponder God. I read it on Kindle and want to buy a copy so I can underline passages the next time I read it. It would make a great book study for a women’s religious group.
Richard is determined to stay a bachelor until, while staying at the family home at Christmas, he starts to see the world outside of himself. He is paired up to meet an eligible woman, but puts her off until he notices how much she helps others. He starts to want to be in her company and even help put baskets together for the people in town. He even wants to help a young apprentice living in horrible conditions. A change of heart brings Richards world in focus in An Ivy Hill Christmas.
Beth is content to be a single mother after her husband passes away. He was not nice to her and could always find fault with what she was doing, along with his brother and mother. Finally back home, while her heart grows a bit soft toward Tyler, she keeps him at arm’s length. She has to grow and learn before she can trust again in Huckleberry Christmas.
The Little Liar is another great book from Mitch Albom. I pre-ordered it knowing it would be worth owning. It’s set during and after WW2, starting in Greece. Nico is “recruited” by a Nazi to tell the people at the train station that they are going to homes and jobs. At 11, he had never told a lie before and even though these lies weren’t his fault, he can’t shake the guilt when his family is sent away instead of being kept safe. The book follows him in the years after as he tries to find himself and a way to atone and find justice. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary is a fascinating study that looks at the Catholic teachings on Mary, not only through the Bible, but how a Jewish culture would see her in her own time. I learned a lot listening to this book and plan to read more by this author.
Jennifer Fulwiler recommended The War of Art on one of her podcasts so I checked it out from my local library. It focuses on following your life’s calling. While mainly talking about creative paths, especially writing, his lessons can be applied to anyone trying to go after a dream. Chapters are very short and powerful and the book can be read quickly. I highly recommend it.
What book did you enjoy reading lately? Share with me in the comments!
