Another year of reading is over. I'm so excited about 2019, and all the possibilities it brings. Here are the books I read this last month of 2018. There are several Christmas titles, as I was really in the holiday spirit. I found myself reaching for cozier books to balance out some of the heavier reading I've been doing lately.
I enjoyed this short easy read as a start to the Christmas reading season. I was familiar with the story surrounding Longfellow's poem, but I really appreciated all the detail added by the author. The contemporary story was nice and wrapped up neatly at the end.
I started out reading the physical copy of this book. I enjoyed it at first but then got bogged down about halfway through. There were a lot of confusing plot lines, and I struggled to keep them all straight. I switched to the Audible version about 2/3 of the way through and had a much better reading experience. It's narrated by Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey fame. I highly recommend listening to the audio. I wish I had started out that way. Maybe I'll go back and listen from the beginning.
Lysa TerKeurst is one of my favorite Christian Living authors. This book is raw and emotional. She is so transparent and honest. I have struggled with some extended family issues over the past couple of years, and this book was so encouraging. Highly recommended.
This book was a delightful surprise. It's set in London during The Blitz. It's short and reads quickly, but it has some deep themes. It deals with women's friendships, love, grief, and trauma but it maintains a light, easy tone. I loved it. Recommended if you enjoy WW2 fiction.
The Bride of Ivy Green
I'm really not much of a series reader, but I love Julie Klassen's writing style. I have loved every minute I have spent in Ivy Hill. The characters and setting are charming. This series is the ultimate comfort reading for me. This entry wrapped everything up nicely. I would love to spend more time with these characters. I'm really sad to see them go. I would recommend this series to lovers of quiet, cozy novels and Regency era fiction. Make sure you start with the first book,
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill.
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.
The Bookshop on the Corner
I found this romancy, chick lit book fun and delightful. It was the Modern Mrs. Darcy December book club pick, and it was the perfect cozy holiday read that wasn't about the holidays. Recommended if you are looking for something light and easy.
A Red Bird Christmas
I was a little disappointed in this one. This was my first Fannie Flagg, and I was hoping for more. It was fine, but a little overly sweet. I didn't find the writing all that great, either. I'll probably try another one of her's in the future to see if her writing style is just a bad fit for me. Let me know if you have any recommendations in the comments.
We Hope for Better Things
I had never heard of this author before, and that I'm always a little nervous to review a book by an author I'm not familiar with. The premise of this novel sounded fascinating, though. I'm really glad I gave it a try. The story is told through three points of view by three different generations of women. This book gave me a lot to think about regarding race relations and interracial marriage. I thought it was really well done. Each of the story lines is distinct and easy to follow. They each tackle tough topics. I would recommend this book to readers who prefer edgy fiction. There are some hard themes, and the characters don't always make the right decisions. If you prefer very clean fiction, you might want to read this one with caution.
I received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley for review.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year. I'm excited about posting here in 2019. I'll be posting my favorites from 2018 soon as well as books I'm excited to read in the coming year. If you would like to see more of what I'm reading come follow me on Instagram. My handle is @daysathomereading. I have a couple of bookish adventures coming up that I'll be sharing over there. Happy New Year!
