December Book Review
December! Can you believe it’s almost over?! 🙁
I have read some of the BEST books this month – and I discovered two new authors that I really enjoyed! Apparently I was on a little “Christmas” theme kick, so you may not want to read these immediately. I do suspect they will go on SALE right after Christmas. The perfect time to buy! Also, they are just great stories to read throughout the year to keep you in the Christmas spirit.
First up was David Baldacci’s The Christmas Train. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about this one. I’ve never read any David Baldacci before, but now I am sold! He is a great storyteller. I can’t wait to pick up some more of his crime/suspense novels next! Amazon states: Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington, D.C., to L.A. in time for Christmas. Forced travel by train, he begins a journey of rude awakenings, thrilling adventures, and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people’s essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost.
I’ve been a huge fan of Hallmark’s Debbie Macomber movies, but I have never read one of her books. I was expecting a sappy romance novel (not a huge fan of those…), but this was great! Very well written and it encouraged the holiday spirit within. If you’re a believer in angels, this book is for you! Amazon states: Macomber’s Christmas novels are always something to cherish. Mr. Miracle is a sweet and innocent story that will lift your spirits during the holidays and throughout the year. Celebrating the comforts of home, family traditions, forgiveness and love, this is the perfect, quick Christmas read.
*Should I read any other Debbie Macombers? Are they all romance, or is there one you would suggest? Let me know in the comments!
Yes, yes, yes! I love Elin Hilderbrand! Winter Stroll is book 2 in the Winter Street series, and it was just as good as the first. I’m going to pick up book 3 (the final book) and read it even though Christmas is over. I have to see how it ends! Amazon states: Christmas on Nantucket finds Winter Street Inn owner Kelley Quinn and his family busily preparing for the holiday season. Though the year has brought tragedy, the Quinns have much to celebrate: Kelley has reunited with his first wife Margaret, Kevin and Isabelle have a new baby; and Ava is finally dating a nice guy. But when Kelley’s wife Mitzi shows up on the island, along with Kevin’s devious ex-wife Norah and a dangerously irresistible old fling of Ava’s, the Inn is suddenly overrun with romantic feuds, not to mention guests. With jealousy, passion, and eggnog consumption at an all-time high, it’s going to take a whole lot more than a Christmas miracle to get the Quinns–and the Inn–through the holidays intact.
I’ve been a long time fan of Karen Kingsbury, and this book did not disappoint! Not to mention I love books about books and bookstores. If you love to read, you’ll love this book. And it includes Christmas! Amazon states: #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury has written a modern-day classic with this unforgettable love story set against the struggle of the American bookstore. Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but she left her heart back in Tennessee when she walked away from Ryan five years ago. They had a rare sort of love she hasn’t found since. For over four decades, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing customers with coffee, conversation, and shelves of classics—even through dismal sales and the rise of digital books. Then the hundred-year flood sweeps through Franklin and destroys everything. The bank is about to pull the store’s lease when tragedy strikes. Can two generations of readers rally together to save The Bridge? And is it possible that an unforgettable love might lead to the miracle of a second chance?
A Christmas Carol (and Other Christmas Writings)
I figured after having seen the movie in untold tellings (Looney Tunes, The Muppets, and real people) that I should at least read the Dickens novel. I have several of the classic Penguin cloth-bound hardbacks, including this one, so I had no excuse not to have read it. A Christmas Carol has become one of the most beloved stories in the English language. As much a part of the holiday season as holly, mistletoe, and evergreen wreaths, this perennial favorite continues to delight new readers and rekindle thoughts of charity and goodwill.
I picked up Shay’s Cakes book to find new recipes for the holiday season. I follow Shay’s blog regularly, and I feel like I know her and trust her. Plus, I’ve used several of her recipes and both Jud and I enjoy them! I also love supporting a fellow Christian blogger from the Deep South.
**********
That’s it for my 2016 Book Review!
55 BOOKS!
I hope you enjoy my Book Reviews as much as I enjoy reading and writing them. Please sound off in the comments with any books I need to read in the new year. I’ve purchased three new ones so far that I can’t wait to devour. (Not to mention the other 10,000 on my shelf/in the closet/under the bed I still need to read!)
*To see the complete list of books read in 2015, click here.
*If you are interested in following me on Goodreads, you can find my page here.
