December Book Review
Happy New Year’s Eve! Do you have any plans for tonight? My family will be hanging out at home with all the animals. Sweet Ellie has been sick, so we will be keeping a close eye on her. I will probably even have a book in my hand!
I read eleven books this month – the most ever in one month. And it’s been the busiest month of the year. I think I just really enjoy Christmas stories. I will be recapping ten of them below (the eleventh was a business building book that you’re not going to be interested in). Make sure you add these to your cart for next Christmas!
![The Christmas Promise: A Novel by [Donna VanLiere]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513yzbAXJPL._SY346_.jpg)
Such a sweet read! Gloria makes it her personal mission to care for all the homeless, struggling, or hungry families in her community. Her Christmas wish is to simply be reunited with her missing son, but she gets more than she could ever ask for when the community loves her back.
Since I loved the first VanLiere book so much, I dove right into a second. Gloria is back as a secondary character taking in a young woman who has no family – but gives her so much more. Another sweet blessing of a read.
I’ve always been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews. This story has a little more sass than sweet, but all’s well that ends well for Weezie. I loved the trips to estate sales, vintage stores, and a walk down memory lane. A fun Christmas read!
Of course, the purpose of Christmas is more serious than the fun, heartwarming books above. This book puts Christmas in perspective and reminds us of the true reason for the season.
This is a shorter, quick read for those of you who don’t like long books. However, each chapter tells you the story behind Christmas carols, old wives tales, and takes a deep look at many Christmas characters including the shepherds and wise men. Very interesting!
I read this book as my Advent devotional. It’s 25 days of longing for the Messiah’s birth and the expectation it brings. I would definitely recommend this book for it’s thought-provoking material, but I did not like the way the writer speaks. Be prepared for fractured sentences and odd metaphors that are hard to follow. The meat of the book is good though.
This was a shorter read that focuses on slowing down and enjoying the moments around you during the Christmas season. Very timely for what 2020 has brought many of us.
Pastries, baking, and London. Need I say more? Pastry chef Louise is whisked off to London to fill in for a celebrity chef and films a Christmas special she will never forget. I loved the London imagery built in. I felt like I was there!
I have never heard of this author before, but this book was a recommendation and so, so good! Understanding our purpose in life can be tricky if we don’t first find our identity in Christ. Jordon walks through her own identity crises and crises of faith in a way that you will reflect on your own. She writes like a girlfriend you are sitting down to coffee with, and you will instantly feel like a pal.
After this crazy year, I wanted (and needed) some clarity and peace. This book is okay for surface-level Q&A, but I highly recommend Randy Alcorn’s Heaven if you have deeper questions.
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I read 68 books in 2020, and I would give most a 4 star rating. A good year!
Remember, you can see a running list of all of the books I’ve read, including reviews, here.
If you are interested in following me on Goodreads, you can find my page here.
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I would love to hear what your favorite book of the year is! My favorite was this one. Kristin Hannah never disappoints! I hope you all have a fantastic holiday weekend, and I will see you in 2021!
