I started this month with 7 December hopefuls to read. Three of these were on my holiday reading list and four were from my winter tbr.
Of the 7 books I read so far this month only 3 were off my hopefuls list.
My reading has been a little all over the place! But since my reading tends to slow down at the end of the year, I’m just leaning into whatever keeps it going strong.
Right now that seems to be holiday romances and buddy reads. I squeezed in a couple extra holiday short stories and novellas so far this month and at least one additional buddy read.
Here’s what I read in the first half of December.
Mid December Reading Recap:
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
Rating: 4 stars
Steam Level: 0
When Charlie Goodwin, chef and host of a reality baking competition, loses her sense of taste and smell in an accident she turns to her twin sister, Cass, for help. Meanwhile Cass’s life in chaos while she tries to keep the family bakery running during the busy holiday season and break up with her longtime boyfriend.
The two do something they haven’t since they were kids, they switch places! Charlie hopes to save her career and Cass is looking to get a break from her reality.
When a handsome firefighter and a stunning physician’s assistant enter the picture, their switch gets complicated!
I missed out on this one last year so it was top of my list to check out this holiday season. I listened to it on audio.
The Holiday Swap was right out of a hallmark movie! This story was cute and enjoyable but definitely not realistic. The steam level was hallmark too as in squeaky spiceless but I still really enjoyed it.
There was a lot of Christmas magic to enjoy in this book. I loved the baking show, the family bakery with their traditional sourdough starter, and the fun dessert competitions one of the families does every weekend.
The town setting was perfect and the side characters were really fun. I especially liked Faye. Her wisdom “Loss is the human condition, they say, and no amount of medicine can change that” stuck with me.
Charlie’s ditzy moments could be explained away by her concussion but there were a lot of them. The sisters’ relationship was sweet though as were their romances.
I look forward to checking out Maggie Knox’s new Christmas read, All I Want for Christmas. If not this year then next!
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Rating: 4 stars
Adam and Amelia’s marriage is in trouble so when they win a weekend away to a remote part of Scotland, they know it’s their last chance to fix things.
But it soon becomes clear they’re both hiding something and perhaps this chance prize was something more orchestrated and more sinister.
This was another fable buddy read and I’m really glad I had someone to discuss this book with.
This was my second book from Alice Feeney and while I might pick up another, I’m not rushing to it. She definitely has a particular style with her twists and I’m not sure it’s one I love. We both felt that there were pacing issues with the story.
The entire first half of the book is one random fact, disturbing thought, and creepy occurrence after another. She wants to utterly confuse the reader.
Also trigger warnings for some awful animal abuse stories which I can’t stand. Amelia works at a dog rescue and recounts some stories. They were thankfully short but I didn’t think they added anything to the story and seemed unnecessary.
The setting was interesting enough and the chapters short enough that the slow beginning didn’t bother me. I kept making guesses and trying to put anything together that made sense. I loved the way the couple gave each other traditional gifts on every anniversary.
Around the middle things take a turn (or some might say a cheap trick) and it’s reveal after reveal after reveal all the way up to the very last chapter. Very propulsive but it also felt like too much. I remember feeling the same way about all the final twists in the other book of hers I’ve read, Sometimes I Lie, though I liked this one more.
Overall the best parts of this book for me were the interesting insights in the human mind, marriage, and being a writer rather than the twists.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam Level: 2
Best friends having to fake a relationship to save a Christmas Tree Farm? I’m here for it!
Stella Bloom is the new owner of Lovelight Farm but it is not turning out to be the dream she hoped. When she wins an entry into a contest with a famous influencer, it just might turn things around. The only problem is she lied on her application saying she bought the farm with her boyfriend… but there is no boyfriend.
Luckily her best friend, Luka Peters is up to the job. Brace yourself for the festive shenanigans!
This book was on my holiday TBR but it also wound up being my first bookstagram book club experience. Basically that’s a large group message with readers chatting all month long. I’ll see how the discussion at the end of the month goes but to be honest, I’m pretty sure I prefer smaller group buddy reads. Still it’s fun to try new things!
The beginning of this book features lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs! I did not put the lovelight part together until I saw that.
I loved the magical Christmas farm, Stella’s determination to save it, the fake dating trope, and all of the side characters! This book started out so strong.
It wasn’t 5 stars due to Stella’s infuriating inability to see what was in front of her! That got on my nerves and the conflict in the end did not work for me.
This is a series and I’ve heard the other books are even better! Since I loved the side characters so much, I plan to continue reading – possibly even later this month!
As of this posting the ebooks are on Kindle Unlimited and all of the audiobooks are available (at least through my library) on hoopla.
Scandalized by Ivy Owens
Rating: 4 stars
Steam Level: 3.5
A cancelled flight leads to a chance encounter between long lost childhood friends!
Investigative journalist Georgia Ross is dead on her feet when her flight home gets cancelled. And due to a convention in town all the hotels are booked. When she runs into her childhood crush, Alec Kim, he comes to her rescue or at least offers her a shower to use.
The two catch up with drinks and share a passionate night. The next day reality intrudes when Georgia realizes just who Alec Kim has grown up to be. They find they can’t stay away from one another even as it threatens each of their careers.
My best friend, Ashley, read this and told me to put a hold on it immediately and I’m so glad she did. She’s over at A Seed for the Soul where this book made her romance recommendation of the year! There’s a post with tons of other fun book recommendations from the two of us plus our friend Nicole and a great gift guide for book lovers.
I later discovered Scandalized is available on Kindle Unlimited (as of this posting) if anyone is looking for reads on there.
Ivy Owens is the new pen name for Lauren Billing, one of the authors behind Christina Lauren, a consistently good romance teller for me.
This book is definitely steamy and propulsive. I’ve realized this year that I have a thing for the celebrity/normal person trope so this was right up my alley!
It was a bit more angsty than I usually like my romance and it suffered from a little bit of instalove. At the same time I was invested in these two characters and the success of each of their careers!
It was a bit of a rollercoaster regarding the conflict but I’m definitely excited to see what else Ivy Owens may publish.
Resting Scrooge Face by Meghan Quinn
Rating: 4 stars
Steam Level: 0
I think this is my first bookstagram made me do it! Resting Scrooge Face was recommended to me when I was asking for more holiday reads and I’m so glad I gave it a try. It’s also my first Meghan Quinn!
A second chance romance with secret letters between two Christmas haters!
When Nola returns to her hometown after a bad break up she wants nothing to do with the Christmas celebrations in Bright Harbor, Maine. She’s also doing her best to avoid her first love, Caleb.
The only thing that lifts her spirits is a mysterious letter from a fellow Scrooge. They quickly begin writing back and forth to one another venting about the holiday season. But when the friendly notes take a flirty turn, Nola may be shocked to discover who she’s been writing to.
I listened on audio and highly recommend that format! The narrators, Aaron Shedlock and Carly Robins did a fantastic job.
This was the perfect cute, funny, and festive treat to enjoy for an hour or two while working in the kitchen or wrapping gifts.
It’s a short story which I usually don’t love but it felt so well done and complete. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
There was humor, a dose of Christmas magic, entertaining family members, and a sweet romance. No steam to be found here though for any spice lovers. I especially loved the grandparents!
I’m excited to pick up something else from Meghan Quinn in the new year!
Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam Level: 4
This novella was the exact opposite of my last read. Let’s put it this way – it’s been awhile since a book has made me blush but wow, this one did!
During a holiday baking competition in Edinburgh, Scotland, two women with a lot to prove find themselves unlikely partners in the challenge.
Kiskeya and Sully butt heads with their strong personalities but also find a deep attraction toward one another. They’ll have to figure out a way to deal with both if they’re going to win the challenge and save each of their careers.
This is a short and very spicy f/f romance. It might be my first one.
I enjoyed the Scottish setting, all the baking and flavor descriptions, and reading about two characters whose lives are different from my own. Kiskeya and Sully both have family ties to the Dominican Republic.
Despite the baking competition, this is not a cozy romance. Sparks fly between these two women in all ways possible. This is definitely one to listen to with headphones and maybe not in public 🤣 less you have any audio mishaps.
I’ve been curious about A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera and this novella just made me want to check it out more.
The Cloisters by Katy Hays
Rating: 3 stars
Ann Stilwell is desperate to escape her hometown with its painful memories since her father’s death. When she wins a summer associate position at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it seems like it’s finally her chance.
After her position falls through, she’s relieved to find herself reassigned to The Cloisters, a medieval museum known for its gothic architecture and gardens.
As Ann fully embraces helping research the history of divination, she finds herself drawn to each member of the team. Before long all become obsessed with the search for a 15th century deck of tarot cards and Ann realizes she’s stepped into a dangerous mystery.
I have mixed feelings on this book. First off, it was way too slow for me. The book explores some very interesting concepts like fate versus free will, but I felt they could have been presented in a much more exciting and entertaining way. There was a lot of telling in this book and not much showing.
I thought the characters are all very one-dimensional in their obsession with this potential discovery and what it meant for their careers. The setting was fantastic though as was the atmosphere Hays created and the descriptions of The Cloister museum.
This was a buddy read and honestly that’s probably the only reason I kept picking it up. The mystery didn’t feel like it was actually the main story at all. The way the “pay off” comes around wasn’t enough to offset the slow story for me.
What’s in your mid December reading recap? Are you indulging in all the holiday reads?
