Welcome to my favorite post of the month - BOOK REVIEW!
Going forward this post will be the first Wednesday of the month. This month was different because of the word of the year post last week.
In December I technically read 5 books. However, the books in the Asheville series were short and quick reads. Honestly, they could have been combined to make one long book. So, without any more chatter, below are the books I read in December.
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
My Rating: 3.5 / 5
Back of book:
The night before her wedding, in the middle of an oh-so-smart rehearsal dinner, interior decorator Keeley Murdock chances upon her fiancé and maid of honor in flaming flagrante delicto. Keeley throws the hissy fit to end all hissy fits, storms out and earns herself instant notoriety in her tiny hometown of Madison, GA.
The next day, though, she has to deal not only with a broken engagement but also with her business being shut out by folks in a town financially obligated to her ex. Rescue comes in the form of the new owner of the local bra plant. A hunk of a guy, Keeley can’t decide if he’s a hopeless romantic or hopelessly weird. Either way, he’s hired her to redo the broken-down antebellum mansion he’s bought for the woman of his dreams. The woman—now here’s the weird part—that he’s never met. Or maybe he just has.
Asheville Christmas Cabin, Asheville Christmas Gift, Asheville Wedding (3 book series) By: Hope Holloway and Cecila Scott
My Rating: All 4/5
Back of book - Book 1
When the Chambers sisters receive an invitation from their jet-setting aunt to spend the entire month of December at the family’s cabin in Asheville, North Carolina, they have one question -- why? The retreat, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, may be the site of many happy childhood holidays and summers but it also holds sad memories. The sisters, and their aunt, have spent twenty-five years avoiding the cabin and renting it to strangers. Why would Aunt Elizabeth want her “dearest darling” nieces to put their busy lives in three different states on hold and spend a month in the mountains?
Eve, Angie, and Noelle, triplets born on Christmas Day, owe their very lives to their aunt, and they agree they must go. Once there, not only do they learn to let go of the past and embrace a bright future, they all start to see their lives in a new way.
Big city girl Noelle comes face-to-face with her first love...and feelings for this single dad are strong, tempting her with a small town lifestyle that she never imagined she’d embrace. Eve, a stressed-out mother of three, revels in the change of scenery and begins to learn the art of letting go of complete control. And when Angie’s rocky marriage truly cracks, she finds a new kind of joy with a connection to the past and a reconnection with her daughter.
Can one Christmas in Asheville change everything? Join these strong, funny, and loving women as the holiday spirit lifts them as high as the Blue Ridge Mountains, and promises a whole new life ahead.
Falling Stars by Fern Michaels
My Rating: 3.5 / 5
Cute and entertaining story, but not believable.
Back of first book in series:
Emily Ammerman has always felt at home amid the ski runs and slopes of Snowdrift Summit, the Colorado resort her family has operated for decades. Snow is her element, and she doesn’t hesitate when a new client asks her to train him to ski The Plunge, one of Colorado’s most treacherous runs.
But Zach Ryder is no regular client. On screen, he’s famous for starring as a daring CIA officer who always saves the day. In real life, he’s just as handsome and charming as his alter ego, though not everyone is impressed. Some are concerned about what kind of impact these slick showbiz types will have on their town.
As for Emily—she’s got a secret, and it’s one she can’t reveal to anyone, especially not to Zach: she’s his biggest fan. But she’s also a professional. She’ll train him till he’s ready to tackle any slope, but she won’t fall in love with him, the way so many others have.
Still, not everything in life can be planned, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t help but fall . . .
In December I read great book but none of them made the top 3 of the year. The top 3 are.....................
Top 3 Books from 2023
#3 Maybe In Another Life By Taylor Jenkin Reid
#2 Same Time Next Year By Annabel Monaghan
#1 November 9 by Collen Hoover
Below is a summary of all the books I read and quick notes from my phone. I hope you are able to find a few new books and authors!
2023 Book List and Ratings:
January
Nora goes off Script 2/5..... Ehhhh wanted to love it. Way too farfetched for me and I think too hyped up
Not Bored. Aurora Darknight. 4/5. Easy quick read. Kindle Unlimited
Not Hidden. Aurora Darknight. 4/5
Not Running Aurora Darknight. 4/5. Easy, Kindle Unlimited
Not Aware 4/5
Not Alone 4/5. Author needs to spell check
Not resigned. 3/5. Strictly due to the spell checking and grammer. It also appears I skipped a book. It wasn't brutally obvious when I was reading besides, they kept referencing another character that I didn't know but they made it seem like I should.
Feb
Deep Dish. Mary Kay Andrews 3/5
Maybe in another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 4.5/5. Loved it
#no filter by Maxine Morrey. 4.5/5. Loved it. Easy, fun and great read. Loved that she was blogger
March
Things are Looking Up by Maxine Morrey 3/5. Slow start but was cute
Someone Else's Shoes by JoJo Moyes 3/5. Just alright. I wanted it to be better but I felt like parts dragged. However, it didn't stop me from staying up past midnight to finish
Midnight Library - 3/5. Interesting concept and made me think.
April
Beach House on Amelia Island 4/5. I love her. Great family book about life happenings and great characters
Return of Carrie Soto - 2.... Boring but got such great reviews I felt like I had to finish. Book dragged
May
Save the Date - Mary Kay Andrews. 4/5 - loved it but maybe coming off Return of Carrie Soto. Light and fun.
Here to Stay - 6 book Amazon series 4/5. Fun, easy, entertaining Grace Meyers
June
Cafe on Amelia Island by Hope Holloway 4/5
Beach Sisters books 1-6 by Grace Meyers 3.5/5
Coco Beach Cottage by Cecelia Scott 3.5/5
Coco Beach Boardwalk by Cecelia Scott 3.5/5
July
Coco Beach Reunion by Cecelia Scott 3.5/5
August
Must love flowers by Debbie Macomber 1/5. Unbelievably boring and slow
Same time next year by Annabel Monaghan -4.5 loved it!!
Bookstore in Amelia Island 4/5
Sept
All the days of Summer by Nancy Thayer 3/5.... just ok
Worthy Opponent 3.5 / 5 - entertaining, easy read
Five Star Weekend - Elin Hildebrand 4/5. Great story, easy read and entertaining
October
Meet me at the Lake by Carley Fortune. 3/5..... slow for me... liked the ending
Florist on Amelia Island. 4/5 love this series!
The One Night Meghan Quinn 4/5 - rated R
The Reunion Meghan Quinn 4.5/5 - rated R for some parts. Loved the story and characters!
Right man, right time By Meghan Quinn- loved the story but RR
The Gift at Sugar Sands Inn. 4/5
The Secret at Sugar Sands Inn 4/5
November
Cafe at Sugar Sands Inn 4/5
November 9. Colleen Hoover. 4.5/5
The Reunion at Sugar Sands Inn 4/5
Christmas at Sugar Sands Inn 3.5 /5. Love the characters but not as much of a story as others. Glad I read so I can see how the story ends. Will read more by her
December
Hissy Fit - Mary Kay Andrews. 3.5 /5
Asheville Christmas Cabin 4/5
Asheville Christmas Gift 4/5
Asheville Christmas Wedding 4/5
*******************
Wow.. I read 43 books in 2023!
I absolutely love to read! I read a lot of really great books and found a handful of new authors. I love reading series and I was able to find a few great ones as well. I have found a ton of great books on Kindle Unlimited. Kindle Unlimited is a "subscription" series that Amazon offers. If gives you access to a HUGE library of book with no due dates. You can borrow up to 20 books at a time. You must have an Amazon account to sign up. I would definitely recommend it!
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