November/December Confessions

Whoa! I feel like November just started and here we are at the end of the year. It truly flew by (Good Riddance, 2020!) and although the holiday season was a bit different this year, I really enjoyed the down time. How about you guys?

 

Books Read in November and December:

1.  The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (Adult Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars 

2.  Just the Nine of Us by Jean Kennedy Smith (Audio Book/Memoir) - 4 out of 5 stars 

3.  Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory (Adult Historical Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars 

4.  The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (Audio Book/Adult Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars 

5.  The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante (Adult Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars  (Review to come)

6.  Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit by Chris Matthews (Audio Book/Biography) - 4 out of 5 stars 

7.  Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words by Andrew Morton - (Audio Book/Biography) - 4 out of 5 stars (Review to come)

8.  In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (Adult Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars  

9.  Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand (Adult Fiction) - 4 out of 5 stars

10.  Red Sky in Hawaii by Sara Ackerman (Audio Book/Adult Historical Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars  (Review to come)

11.  The Awakening by Nora Roberts (Adult Fiction) - 3.5 out of 5 stars (Review to come)

12.  Everything Beautiful in its Time by Jenna Bush Hager (Biography/Memoir) - 4 out of 5 stars  (Review to come)

 

November & December Top Five:

1. Favorite Book:  The Midnight Library is definitely my favorite of both months. It is such a good read that really made me think, too!

2.  Biggest Surprise: The Awakening was a bit of a surprise for me, because I didn't expect it to have so many fantasy elements. It also read like a young adult novel at times. This didn't bother me, but it was unexpected, especially since it's written by Nora Roberts. 

3.  Biggest Disappointment: The Lying Life of Adults was beautifully written, but I didn't love it as much as My Brilliant Friend.

 
4.  Favorite Post: If You Like the Kennedys

5.  Favorite Part of November and December: I had a much slower holiday, just like many other people. It was a nice change to relax a bit more and take a step back from the usual holiday fanfare. I love watching the holiday magic unfold through my sons' eyes.

 

I hope everyone had a nice holiday and is ready to start a new year.  Let me know your favorite book of the month in the comments below.  

My Favorite Books of the Year

2020....one for the books, right? I didn't read as many *important* and noteworthy books this year as I would have liked, because, well, 2020. I found myself gravitating towards more comforting and lighthearted reads. 

 

I also listened to a lot more non-fiction this year and enjoyed way more audio books than previous years.  So, without further ado, here are my favorite books of the year. If you are interested in reading my thoughts on these books, most of them have been already reviewed and you can find them in my review archive. 

Adult Fiction:

 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Romance:

 

You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

 

 

 

Adult Historical Fiction:

 

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

Dark Tides by Philippa Gregory

 

And They Called it Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

 

 

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner 

All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

 

 

Audio Books:

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Non Fiction:

Everything Beautiful in its Time by Jenna Bush Hager

The House of Kennedy by James Patterson and Cynthia Fagen

 

 

Beach Reads:

 28 Summers  by Elin Hilderbrand

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Young Adult:

 

Majesty by Katharine McGee

Backlist:

 

 

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Check out my favorite books from 2018 and 2019. So, what are some of your favorite books of the year? Let me know in the comments below. 

Book Review: Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand

Pages: 246

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: October 4, 2016

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Library

Other Books By Author: Winter Street, Winter Stroll,

 28 Summers, Summer of '69, and Winter in Paradise  

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn's old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there's hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan.   That doesn't mean there aren't a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can't quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can't decide between the two lovers that she's been juggling with limited success. However, if there's one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it's Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place--and the people--they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again."

What have the beloved Quinn family of Nantucket been up to?  Well, Kelley has been dealing with some health issues and Mitzi is back, which is a good thing, because Kelley needs a lot of support right now.  Their hearts still ache though, because they haven't had any news about their son, Bart, who has been captured in Afghanistan.  This might change though as another solider escaped and may have information!  On the bright side, Kevin has opened up a new restaurant on the island and it's a hit; plus, he is finally marrying Isabelle.  Her family is coming over from France and they are planning on a gorgeous wedding over the Christmas holidays.  Patrick is finally out of jail and Jennifer can now breathe a sigh of relief. However, there's still some personal demons she has to face.  Lastly, there's Ava, who is still tremendously confused about her love life.  All of the Quinn family will be coming together for Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at the inn. What could go wrong? Elin Hilderbrand's Winter Storms is holiday perfection. I am absolutely in love with the Winter Street series.

 

As mentioned, there's a lot going on with the Quinns in Winter Storms. Hilderbrand masterfully weaves all the characters' stories and does it so well that I wasn't gravitating towards one character over another in Winter Storms. I genuinely cared about each Quinn family member.  I was probably the most happy for Kevin as he has had a difficult road and I was glad to see him become the successful person he always hoped to be and to be in a good place with Isabelle.  Ava's romance was over-the-top, but in the best way possible.  Jennifer's story was heartbreaking, but very real in that many people find themselves in this trap and have to face issues of addiction. Kelley's story in particular was a tough pill to swallow, but it was worth it, because I love the Winter Street series. I am invested in the Quinn family, so I didn't want to see it end.

 

Winter Storms and Winter Street series is perfect for the holidays. Obviously the beautiful coastal setting of Nantucket is like a Hallmark Christmas movie and it's a feel-good read, but there's enough family drama in it to make it relatable and feel like real-life--- not just some fairy tale where all things always end well.  I have to say it's my favorite holiday series, so much so that I am putting off the last book in the series, Winter Solstice, because I don't want it to end.   Do yourself a favor and if you haven't read the Winter Street series yet, pick it up over the holidays.

Are you a fan of Elin Hilderbrand and/or this series? Have you read Winter Storms?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Book Review: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: October 6, 2020

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love and Other Words,

The Unhoneymooners, and Twice in a Blue Moon

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

 

 

Goodreads says, "One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners..  It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.  But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.  The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.  Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays."

 

Maelyn Jones is twenty six and she's not living the life she imagined.  She doesn't love her job, she has no boyfriend, and she lives at home with her parents.  Every year she looks forward to spending the holidays at a cabin in Park City along with her family and a group family friends.  While in Utah, she makes out with family friend, Theo, despite having a crush on his brother, Andrew, for years. Cue the drama.  To complicate matters further, Maelyn finds out that Andrew's family is going to sell the cabin. This is devastating to Maelyn, but she looks forward to this every year and its the one time her divorced parents are together without bickering. While heading to the airport with her family, they get into a horrific car accident.  Maelyn wakes up, but not in the hospital. She's back on the plane en route to Park City. It's a do-over in the most Groundhog Day of ways.  What will she do differently this time? Christina Lauren's In a Holidaze is a fun holiday tale that has it all: holiday touches, romance, and a major romantic comedy vibe.

Maelyn is pretty much all of us at twenty-six just trying to find her way and dealing with the pressures of the holiday season.  Every year, she looks forward to her family escaping to Utah with her parents' college friends and their families. She has harbored a secret crush on Andrew for years, but hasn't said anything to him and things get even more complicated when she drunkenly makes out with his brother, Theo.  Once Maelyn gets her Groundhog Day re-do in In a Holidaze, she tries to figure out what will make her happy. Can she finally tell Andrew how she feels? Will that make everything in her life better? More importantly, how does she get out of re-living the same day over and over again?

One reason I really enjoy Christina Lauren's novels is for the snarky humor. The brilliant writing duo can make me laugh out loud like no other author(s) out there.  The witty banter feels authentic in In a Holidaze and it feels like you are watching your favorite romantic comedy.  Plus, the romance between her characters is always smoldering. Who doesn't need a holiday pick-me-up at this point?

So, if you are looking for a laugh-out-loud and swoon-worthy holiday romance, look no further. Christina Lauren never disappoints! 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Our Woman in Moscow

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

 

 

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams

Pub. Date: June 1, 2021

 

 

Goodreads says, "In the autumn of 1948, Iris Digby vanishes from her London home with her American diplomat husband and their two children. The world is shocked by the family’s sensational disappearance. Were they eliminated by the Soviet intelligence service? Or have the Digbys defected to Moscow with a trove of the West’s most vital secrets?  Four years later, Ruth Macallister receives a postcard from the twin sister she hasn’t seen since their catastrophic parting in Rome in the summer of 1940, as war engulfed the continent and Iris fell desperately in love with an enigmatic United States Embassy official named Sasha Digby. Within days, Ruth is on her way to Moscow, posing as the wife of counterintelligence agent Sumner Fox in a precarious plot to extract the Digbys from behind the Iron Curtain.  But the complex truth behind Iris’s marriage defies Ruth’s understanding, and as the sisters race toward safety, a dogged Soviet KGB officer forces them to make a heartbreaking choice between two irreconcilable loyalties."

 

Beatriz Williams has a new novel coming out this summer! I love the sound of this one. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Blog Tour: Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot

Do you have a young adult at home who loves historical fiction and stories of adventure and patriotism? If so, you are going to especially appreciate the giveaway I am sharing with you today. 

I've partnered with The Children's Book Review and Jeffrey McKenna to share with you guys a giveaway for Saving Dr Warren...A True Patriot by Jeffrey McKenna.  As a history lover, I really like that this book covers various important moments in the Revolutionary War and introduces young readers to Dr. Joseph Warren. This book would be a great resource in a middle school history classroom.  

Learn More About the Book:

Publisher’s Synopsis: "Patriotism Prevailed in… ✯ The American Revolution  ✯ WWII  ✯ 9-11  What About Today?  How do we share Patriotism with America’s Future?  The novel Saving Dr. Warren… A True Patriot answers that question through the eyes of a 14 year old boy.   Steve O’Dell loves to write and does it well. But as an eighth-grade student at Needham Middle School, his talent sometimes seems more an embarrassment than a blessing.  Then, on Veterans Day 2001, Steve’s award-winning essay propels him into an adventure twisting through Revolutionary battles and bloodshed. Thanks to the bizarre bequest of a manuscript and a musket ball from a long-lost family war hero, Steve’s journey with the Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren begins.  A time-traveling talisman missing from the archives of one of Boston’s oldest historical societies takes Steve through portals of history, where he walks side by side with a real Boston patriot. He makes house calls with Dr. Warren on March 5, 1770, and stumbles onto the bloodstained streets of the Boston Massacre. From the killings of March 5 to boarding tea ships in 1773, Steve’s history book explodes to life as he helps Dr. Warren and forges a friendship with Boston’s True Patriot. Steve watches Dr. Warren launch Paul Revere on his midnight ride, and he helps Dr. Warren dodge British musket balls in the first battles of the War for Independence. With each adventure, Steve tastes the light that ignites The Revolution.  Steve will eventually convince others that the Revolutionary relic he was given really does open portals through time, but he faces his most difficult quest alone—saving Dr. Warren from the onslaught at Bunker Hill. Can he do it? And if he fails, will he ever return to this century?  Saving Dr. Warren…A True Patriot rips through the pages of history. From the Revolutionary War to the vanishing veterans of World War II, to the ashes of September 11, 2001, Saving Dr. Warren demonstrates to both old and young that patriotism, standing like an old oak tree on a grandfather’s farm, has and will endure."

Ages 11-15 | 366 Pages | Publisher: Jeffery J. McKenna | ISBN-13: 978-0999901205

You can purchase the book at Amazon and learn more about Jeffrey McKenna by visiting his website.   

 

 

The Giveaway:

One grand prize winner will receive a copy of Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot, autographed by Jeffrey McKenna and a 1700s musket ball.  Two winners will receive a copy of Saving Dr. Warren...A True Patriot, autographed by Jeffrey McKenna.  The giveaway begins December 10, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends January 10, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.  

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Stacking the Shelves (133)

Audio Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Can't Wait Wednesday: People We Meet on Vacation 

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Holdiay Book Covers 

 

 

 

 

 I'm hosting a great giveaway coming up for middle grade and young adult readers who enjoy history and stories of patriotism. Keep your eye out for it! I'll also be sharing my thoughts on Christina Lauren's In a Holidaze, which was a fun holiday read filled with witty banter and romance. 

 

 

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly - Thanks to Gallery and NetGalley 

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley 

 

 

 

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery - Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley 

The War Widow by Tara Moss - Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley  

Sunkissed by Kasie West - Thanks to Delacorte and NetGalley

 

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Thanks for visiting!

 

Audio Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audio Book

Pub. Date: October 6, 2020

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

Goodreads says, "France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.  Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.  But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."

 

 

 

 

Adeline's life is planned out for her, but that is to be expected for women during in the 18th century.  She is forced into a marriage she doesn't want and then she's stuck living in the small town she longs to escape.  How can she get out of this smothering trap that will be her life? Adeline ends up making a horrible deal with the devil for more time and for her freedom, but she must give up her soul when she is done with this life.  But nothing is for free, right? After her deal, no one remembers her. Her family, her friends, and all the people she encounters as the many years go by don't remember her.  As hundreds of years go by this becomes even more pronounced. It's like she is living in the shadows and is ultimately she is forgotten.   But then something magical happens.  300 years later she finds someone who actually remembers her. He knows her name! V.E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a spellbinding and memorable audio book.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Is it a historical novel? A fantasy? A sci-fi? The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a genre-bending novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  When I first met Addie, I was desperate for her to escape her doomed life. I could completely understand why she would want to try to find a way out, but I didn't anticipate her deal with the devil. Obviously this wasn't going to go as planned and there are always consequences. As the years go by, she learns more about her "captor" and what her deal actually entails. It's not as simple as it seems. Readers also go through the various years with Addie and a lot of it is heartbreaking as she can never really love someone due to her curse.  That is until 300 years later she meets Henry and he remembers her! That's when everything changes for Addie; however, readers can't help but wonder why does Henry remember her? What does this all mean?

V.E. Schwab is an excellent writer. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the first book I've read by Schwab and I was very impressed.  She was able to incorporate characteristics of a romance, a suspense, a historical novel, and a fantasy quite well; it all blended together seamlessly.  My only issue was that there were a few parts that were slow moving and took awhile to unravel. Also, a few parts in the middle of the book felt repetitive at times.  Other than that, I really enjoyed this evocative audio book.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed the audio version of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was the fact that it was narrated by the wonderful Julia Whelan. She is just so good at what she does. I really loved her tone and I think she truly brought the story to life for me. I'd listen to just about anything she narrates.

So, if you love historical fantasies and are looking for an audio book with an incredible narrator, look no further.The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was very memorable!

 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: People We Meet on Vacation

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Pub. Date: May 11, 2021

 

 

Goodreads says, "Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She's a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart--she's in New York City, and he's in their small hometown--but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.  Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since.  Poppy has everything she should want, but she's stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together--lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.  Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?"

 

I loved Henry's Beach Read; it was one of my favorite books of the year. I can't wait for another fantastic summertime read. It may be almost winter, but you guys know I'm already thinking about summer. What do you guys think of this one?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Holiday Book Covers

I love a good holiday book cover, don't you? Today I am sharing some of my favorites; they definitely put you in the mood to cozy up with a good book. Most of these books I've read and I linked them to my reviews.

1.  Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer - I love a good holiday story set on the island of Nantucket. 

2.  Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand - This is such a good holiday series also set on Nantucket. I've seen a few different covers for this series, but I most definitely prefer this one. 

3.  Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand - This is the second book in the Winter Street series and I just love this cover. It truly captures a holiday on the coast.

 

 

4.  Christmas in London by Anita Hughes - Who wouldn't want to be at London at Christmas? Beautiful!

5.  10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston - This was such a fun YA holiday read and I think this cover captures it very well. I loved how this book focused on family despite it being a YA novel.

6.  Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz - Who doesn't love an Austen inspired tale at Christmas? This cover is so festive!

 

7.  One Day in December by Josie Silver - This was one of my favorite reads last year and I really like the cover too. It really illustrates the concept of a chance meeting and seeing someone from afar.

8.  The Lost Season of Love and Snow by Jennifer Laam - This book's cover just begs you to curl up with it by the fire. I love how the author included real people like Alexander Pushkin, Russia's prize poet.

9.  Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini - This book is on my TBR list. I would love to be transported to the cover. Absolutely beautiful! 

10.  An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer  - I've had my eye on this beachy holiday read for quite awhile. I love the simple beauty of the cover, but this story sounds like it includes a lot of family drama at a wedding.

What are some of your favorite holiday covers? Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments below. Let me know in the comments below.  This meme is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.