January Wrap Up

   I read or listened to a total of 16   books across 3686 pages and 41:22:25 hours . My average rating was 4.03 And my total of unread 104. DNF'd 5 books and 1 book that wasn't' for me. 

1. A New Year’s Kiss by Amy Renaud  (ebook kindle owned) 

2. Breakaway Hearts by Nikki Lawson (kindle Unlimited) 

3. Not in my Book by Katie Holt (audio)  

4. Only with me by Brooke Montomgery (kindle Unlimited)  

5. Never a SideKick by Tim Hanley (nonfiction) 

6. Harley Quinn:Redemption  by Rachel Alllen (owned)

7. Only in your Dreams by Madison Wright (audio) (Kindle Unlimted) 

8. Thunderbolts: Worldstrike by Collin Kelly 

9. Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman 

10. A Twist of Faith by Pepper D Basham (Kindle) 

11. Work in Progress by Kat MacKenzie 

12. Brooke Shields is not allowed to get old by Brooke Shields (audio) (nonfiction) 

13. A Pen Pal for Christmas by Jess Mastorakos (ebook) (review book) 

14. The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz (owned) (review book) 

15. When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor (Kindle Unlimited) (review book) 

16. The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afsher (audio) 

When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor review

Title:  When Alec Met Evie 

Author: Jenny Proctor 

Ch: 30 plus epilogue 

Pg: 331

Series: Appies 6 

Genre:Rom Com, Hockey Rom Com 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

Never thought a hockey rom com would make me cry but When Alec Met Evie but did. I didn’t think any Appie could replace Felix as my favorite, but Alec did. I mean what’s not to love about a hockey defenseman captain who’s a cinnamon roll off the ice and loves his family. And apparently I’m a sucker for a hockey player holding a baby. 

Alec has always seen Evie as his little sisters best friend until new in town and needed a place for her and her infant daughter to stay. Alec offers up his house and ends up falling hard.  

This one made me laugh and cry because both Alec and Evie are at a crossroads with choice that will change their future. I mean I got teary eyed throughout but it was chapter 29 that had me bawling. 

Alec and Evie’s story was sweet and this was one a great end to the Appies series.  The Appies aren’t just teammates their brothers. 

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz review

Title: The Indigo Heiress 

Author: Laura Frantz 

Ch: 66 plus epilogue 

Pg: 408

Series:

Genre:  Christian Historical fiction Christian historical romance 

Rating:5 stars 

Publisher: Revell

Not going to lie I’m not normally a fan of Scottish heroes it’s the accent, but I will read anything Frantz writes. But I ended up loving Leith Buchanan as a hero even if he’s Scottish. And while I loved the romance I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience and he falls first which Leith very much did. It was the faith content and the sibling relationship that drew me in.

Despite everything that Juliet is going through her Faith in God is evident on every page. Her love for her sister Loveday was what I related to the most as an older sister. You want to do everything in your power for that happiness especially when you’re in Juliet’s shoes. Juliet’s grief was another thing I related too, including doing whatever she could to help her dad run the household despite the toll it was taking on her. Her learning to let go and let God was a gentle reminder to me. 

The slow burn of Leith and Juliet’s romance was also a favorite and of course watching him fall first was chef’s kiss. But Cole and Bella stole my heart and the story. 

With The Indigo Heiress was a beautifully written story by Laura Frantz and I loved every bit of it. 

 

Troupes 

Marriage of convenience 

Grumpy Hero 

He falls first 

A Matter of Honor by Laura Frantz review

 

When I learned that my favorite secondary character from The Rose and the Thistle Orin was getting a novella I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed I was blessed with the sweetest romance of two childhood sweethearts and second chances

A Pen Pal for Christmas by Jess Mastorakos review

Title: A Pen Pal for Christmas 

Author: Jess Mastorakos 

Ch: 27 plus epilogue 

Pg: 267

Series: Christmas in Snow Hill

Genre:  Christmas Rom Com 

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Publisher: Indie 

I have to say this might be my favorite book in The Christmas in Snow Hill series. I loved Sophia since meeting her as a secondary character in Snowed in For Christmas. So, I was glad she was getting her own story. Hudson, I just love a Marine hero. And the pen pals writing back and forth gives it a bit of a you’ve got mail vibes with letters instead.  And Snow Hill always feels like a magical Christmas town every time I pick up one of the books. And I loved that this one had a bit of mystery with it. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the author I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Targeted Beirut by Jack Carr and James M Scott

 Targeted Beirut isn’t the first book written about Beirut but it is the first one that focues on the boots on the ground and the events leading up to it rather than the political leaders. It gives a voice to the victims and the survivors. As well as sharing possibly some of there last words. 

I know more about Beirut  than a lot of people my age even though I wasn’t alive when the bombing happened simply by being the daughter of Marine who had been in Beirut as part of the peacekeeping force. While he wasn’t there when the bombing happened he’d been there before. And he was part of the unit that was there after. So he saw the aftermath first hand. So in my life October 23 is a day of remembrance every year. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair review

Title:  Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Author: Emma St Clair

Chapters:30 Plus epilogue

Series: Appies # 5

Pages: 418

Genre: Hockey Rom Com, Rom Com, Sports Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie

There’s only one rule that hockey players are smart enough not to break don’t date the coach’s daughter unfortunately Van’s not that smart. Van ends up being the get away driver for Amelia the runaway bride and coach’s daughter. He might be the bad boy of the Appies but there’s more to him than meets the eye.  And in Runaway Bride and Prejudice you get to peel back the layers and find Robbie not Van. I have to say he’s replaced Felix as my favorite Appie