Favorite Books of 2020

 Favorite Book of the Year 

Historical Romance

Historical Fiction

Contemporary Romance  

 

Suspense

 

YA

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl 

Classic

 

Non Fiction

 

December Wrap Up

I started the month with (45) unread books. Brought () books.  Got my owlcrate book (1) Book of the month (1) Got (3) book for review Won a book in a giveaway () Got books for gifts (1) which brought my total to (). Read (3) owned books. Read () Kindle books I own  DNF’d () So I am ending the month at books (47) unread books and hoping to get back on track with the whole read 5 physical books before I buy anymore.  I read a total of () books across () pages.

Fortune and Glory by Janet Evanovich (library)

The-Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson (audio)(Netgalley)

Like a Christmas Dream by Lindsay Harrel (kindle)

 The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere

Winter Soldier: Second Chances by Kyle Higgins (library)

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein

Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan (Netgalley)

While it Was Snowing by Tari Faris (kindle)

Dust by Kara Swanson (owned)

Christmas in Three Quarter by Rachel McMillan (Kindle)

Candy Slain Murder in Maddie Day (netgalley)

Miracle on Ford Avenue by Natalie Walters (kindle)

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

Love & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch (owned)

Wrapped up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn (Kindle)

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson (owned)

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu (Kindle)

A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

Wild Bells to the Wild Sky by Laurie McBain

Marine Protector by Julie Anne Lindsey

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett review

 

Title:  Chasing Lucky

 Author: Jenn Bennett

 

Series:

 

Chapters: 26

 

Pages:416

 

Genre: YA contemporary

 

Rating: 4 stars

 

Publisher: Simon Pulse

I'm not going to lie Jenn Bennett's books have either been a hit or miss for me.  There's no in-between. And I have to say that with Chasing Lucky it was a hit. I loved both the characters of Josie and Lucky and in a teen rom com or teen contemporary that does happen often.  Chasing Lucky did give me  of Gilmore Girls vibes .  Though  Josie has more spunk than Rory had. This was a quick read that also served as a slight escape read. 

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.

A Deadly Edition review

 Title:  A Dealdy Edition 

 Author: Victoria Gilbert 

Series: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery book 5

Chapters:30

Pages:359

Genre: cozy mystery 

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

Publisher: Crooked Lane books

 

     A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert is the 5^th book in the A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. This was one of my favorites in the series. I loved that I didn’t figure out the who done it before the end. This one kept me guessing until the very end. And the sweet scene at the end really wrapped up the story.

 

 

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.

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein review

 Title:  The Enigma Game

Author:  Elizabeth Wein

Series: Code Name Verity book 2

Genre:  Historical fiction, YA Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for young readers

     The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein is the second book in the Code Name Verity series though it’s the newest in publication order. The events of this book take place before Code Name Verity but after The Pearl Thief. So if you’re like me and read the books as they came out you’ve read them Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, The Pearl Thief.  Which doesn’t take away from individual stories two much as they all are technically stand alones you’re just slightly spoiled for some events.  I don’t regret the way I read them as I fell in love with the history in each book.  So if you’re new to the new to the series and having read them yet start in order.

The Enigma Game while a standalone will make a little more sense if you read it after The Pearl Thief and your save yourself spoilers for the last two books. Though this book focuses on three teenagers Louisa, Jamie and Ellen they aren’t typical teenagers by modern day standards. They grew up quickly in the mist of WWII. But that adds to the story and keeps if from reading like a YA novel which makes it a good book for adults as well.

Dust by Kara Swanson review

Title:  Dust

 Author:  Kara Swanson

Ch: 38

Pg:  368

Series: Heirs of Neverland

Genre:  Retelling, Fantasy

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Enclave Escape

 

Dust by Kara Swanson is the first Peter Pan retelling that I’ve read that I actually enjoyed. I also didn’t mind that this retelling was a little dark because let’s face it the original book and play by J.M. Barrie was kind of dark.

I think to reason I enjoyed this one was because I was the kid who’s introduction to Peter Pan was from the original book not the Disney movie like most kids. So my view of Pan and Captain Hook are different and even at a young age it was easy to see that hero and villain wasn’t clear.

And with Dust there are times in which it isn’t quite whose the villain and who’s the heroes. It keeps you guessing until the end and then leaves a you with a cliff hanger but don’t worry there’s a sequel.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy review

Title:   Wrapped up in Christmas Joy

Author:   Janice Lynn

Ch: 18

Pg:  336

Genre:  Christmas Romance  

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Hallmark publishing

 

I loved this sweet Christmas book that read like a sweet Hallmark movie hint hint it would make a good movie. I loved the fact that the hero Cole a former Marine turned firefighter was a flawed hero because to me they make better heroes.

And also love that the heroine Sophie tries to understand what he’s been through and doesn’t run away. Add in a small Kentucky town a quilt shop a quilt and Christmas you have the ingredients for a sweet Christmas romance without the cheesiness of most hallmark moves and books.