I read five books in the last half of the month. That brings my total book count for the year to 109 books! I will post about my 2018 reading year with statistics next week. Three of these books were holiday themed which is always nice for getting into the holiday spirit.
The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
I listened to this book on audio after seeing it recommended in a few articles. I definitely have a thing for celebrity memoirs in my nonfiction reading. Even better, the audiobook was read by the author!
This book was amazing! I wasn’t familiar with Tiffany Haddish before reading this. She had me laughing out loud while listening. I even had to pause it to share a few of the stories with my husband when he caught me. Haddish had a difficult upbringing and some of her stories are on the outrageous side. She mixes it with enough humor to keep the reader or listener from being overcome with sadness or disbelief.
I will be on the lookout for other projects that she is involved in.
I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
I love Anne Bogel. I read her Modern Mrs Darcy blog religiously, listen to the What Should I Read Next podcast, and really enjoyed her first book that came out last year, Reading People. It renewed my interest in personality studies.
This book is a collection of short essays about Anne’s reading life. It was fun to get to know her better and learn about her beginning as a reader. I enjoying reading about her encounters with fellow readers and writers on her journey as a blogger and then as an author herself.
I almost read the whole book in one sitting and I wish I’d had the time to do that. This is a wonderful little book that any book nerd would appreciate.
A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods
This is the tenth book in Sherryl Woods’ Chesapeake Shores series. I previously reviewed The Inn at Eagle Point and Flowers on Main, Harbor Lights, A Chesapeake Shores Christmas and Driftwood Cottage, Moonlight Cove and Beach Lane, An O’Brien Family Christmas and The Summer Garden.
I was very excited that the next two books in the series were holiday ones and I could read them during December! It was wonderful timing! This story follows Jenny Collins (niece to Bree O’Brien Collins and step member of the family through her mother’s marriage to Thomas O’Brien) who has just returned home for the holidays after years spent in Nashville as a songwriter. This must be where all the Nashville and country music inspiration came from for the TV series.
There’s nothing better than a sexy musician, found in Caleb Green, and a second chance at love as he tries to win her back on her home turf during the Christmas season. I loved this addition to the series.
The Christmas Bouquet by Sherryl Woods
The eleventh book in the series is also a holiday one. It picks up shortly after the epilogue events of the previous one. This book follows Caitlyn Winters, the daughter of Abby O’Brien Winters whose story started it all!
I loved seeing the twins all grown up. Caitlyn is a medical student finishing up her internship at a Baltimore hospital when she discovers she is pregnant (no spoilers here, that’s literally the first page). This throws her for a big loop since she has very rigid plans for how to reach her goals. Falling in love wasn’t part of that so a baby and marriage definitely weren’t in the cards.
The baby is due in December and the story follows all of Caitlyn’s ups and downs with Noah McIlroy, a fellow doctor who is all too eager to marry her and begin their family. There is of course the usual O’Brien interference and meddling from Grandpa Mick throughout her pregnancy as Caitlyn tries to accept the change in her plans. This book was fun but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous one.
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand
This is the second book in Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter series. I previously reviewed the first book, Winter Street. I listened to this one as an audiobook too.
This book wasn’t as good as the first one. I’m not a fan of how Hilderbrand is dragging out the series. The first book ended on a cliffhanger and this one picks up with nothing resolved. Even though this story takes place a whole year later! This book ends with a similar question and nothing concluded in the original storyline from the first book. After reading this one, I imagine that is a theme that will continue through the series. There are at least 4 books.
I may listen to the third book if it is available during next year’s holiday season. Not enough happened with the characters in this one to have me rushing out to get the third book now. There were too many unanswered questions from the first story and not enough development in this sequel for me.
Here are my book stats for the month of December:
Total Books Read: 9
All Female Authors
Nationalities: 8 American and 1 Canadian
3 Nonfiction and 6 Fiction
Format: 4 Physical Books/ 4 Audiobooks/ 1 Ebook
Source: 5 Already Own/ 4 Libby Library Books
Total Pages Read: 1349
Total Hours Listened: 1 day and 5 minutes
What did you read during December?
