I read 11 books in December and finished another two that I slowly read through the year. A lot of them were short, holiday books. I really enjoy ending the year reading books set around Christmastime. Here’s what I read in December:
Trouble Island by Sharon Short
Trouble Island is a historical fiction book set on an island in the middle of Lake Erie during Prohibition time. Aurelia is on the island serving as a maid to Rosita, the wife of a rum-running gangster. Aurelia’s story is much deeper, though, as she’s in hiding from killing her abusive husband who worked for Rosita’s husband. After Rosita’s son was killed by a rival gangster, she fled to the island, away from her husband. But then, one night both he and her son’s killer show up demanding she sell the island. Two murders happen, the power goes out and everyone on the island is a suspect. An interesting thriller based on true events.
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
I slowly read through Introduction to the Devout Life over the entire year. It has very short chapters on different topics of spiritual life. It is a book I will pick up again and again for advice on living a holy life. I highly recommend it.
Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
Silent Night is a short holiday read with a touching message. A young boy is in New York City with his mother and younger brother because his father is in the hospital getting cancer treatment. He sees someone steal his father’s wallet from his mother’s purse and follows the woman home. However, right after they arrive, her ex-boyfriend shows up after being released from jail and takes Brian with him to ensure his escape. As his mother and the police try to track Brian down, miracles are taking place behind the scenes.
The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy by Dennis Prager
I slowly read through Prager’s commentary on Deuteronomy this year. It’s always interesting to spend some in-depth time studying a book of the Bible. Written from a Jewish perspective adds some context that helps with understanding some parts of the story.
Snowball’s Christmas by Kristen McKanagh
A holiday read where one of the point of views is from a tiny, white kitten? Yes, please! Snowball is convinced her owner and the new man visiting the B&B must get together. She sees it before they do – and they take a long road to admitting they have feelings for each other. Snowball’s antics sometimes help and sometimes hurt. I enjoyed Snowball’s Christmas a lot.
Forever Under the Mistletoe by Debbie Macomber
Forever Under the Mistletoe is actually two short novels – When Christmas Comes and Christmas Letters. (I didn’t realize this until I finished the first book and realized I had read the second one years ago.) When Christmas Comes is a story about trading places. Emily goes to Boston to surprise her daughter for Christmas, only to find her daughter has gone to Florida with friends. She switches places with Charles, who goes to Washington to escape from Christmas festivities. Well, then Emily’s friend comes to surprise her in Washington and Charle’s brother comes to check on him in Boston and since it’s the holidays, everyone gives each other a little bit more grace and romances start. It’s a fun story.
Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot
Celia is a young widow with a baby who is running a boarding house by herself. She knows she’ll do fine if she can just get enough boarders. Her friend thinks she should remarry so her child will have a father, but she doesn’t just want companionship, she wants romance. When a young carpenter comes to town on a mission to find his long-lost father, she realizes she shouldn’t settle. However, her hope diminishes when he firmly declares he will be moving on. Time can change all hearts, though, and it does in Christmas Roses.
The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine
After a serial killer is released from jail, Detective James Walker and his wife decide to move to her quiet hometown to get away from the killer and London. However, James finds an early Christmas present on their porch and it has a note from someone promises 12 Days of Murders … and then people start dying. While I guessed who The Christmas Killer was, it was a surprising twist.
Forever Christmas by Robert Tate Miller
Andrew and Beth have known each other forever, but their marriage is starting to fall apart. Andrew is chasing money and working too many hours while leaving Beth “behind.” She can feel his annoyance with her not wanting more things and more money. However, when a tragedy strikes them, Andrew gets a chance to try and really love his wife with all his heart. Forever Christmas is a lesson in focusing on relationships over work and money.
Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan
Murder for Christmas is a murder mystery set at a large estate during Christmastime. The owner of the estate always invites people to come spend the holidays with him. This year, a detective is invited and “conveniently” a man dressed up as Santa is found dead under the Christmas tree. They all must stay until the police can sort out who the killer is among them. I did not guess the killer correctly for this book.
My Son Carlo by Antonia Salzano Acutis
I read My Son Carlo on our way home from Rome, Italy, where we saw Carlo’s resting place in Assisi. The book is written by his mother and tells a great bit about how Carlo lived his life. She puts in a lot of his own writing from his notes and he had great spiritual insight for his age. (He’s now a canonized saint.) Some of the book is repetitive and I wish it had been arranged chronological instead of topical, but it was still very insightful.
A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft by Shelly Shepard Gray
Beverly runs an inn in Pinecraft for Eric. The Orange Blossom Inn is broken into one night while she’s away shopping and no one is staying at the inn. Only the lockbox and a TV is stolen, but there’s broken windows, lamps and lots of destruction. Beverly calls Eric and he flies in the very next day to help with clean up and to calm Beverly’s nerves. She cancels all reservations for a week and wants to cancel more, but he assures her that they can get everything back in order in time. As they work together, sparks fly and a romance begins. A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft is an easy, feel-good holiday read.
The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan
Mirren gets hired for a job to find a book. She and Theo had worked together a year ago to track down a lost book and are now famous for doing so. However, this job is in a Scottish castle with no heat and involves solving a puzzle. Oh, and Theo hasn’t called her for over a year and yet he’s hired for the job as well. It’s a crazy puzzle to solve, but a man’s future hangs in the balance in The Secret Christmas Library.
What books did you enjoy recently? Share in the comments!
