January Favorites
The Sons of Scandal series: 1. Memory Lane 2. Rocky Road 3. Uneasy Street
The books in this trilogy were my top reads of the month. I loved the writing, the characters, and the way the stories combined mystery and romance with healing and reconciliation. I listened to them all on audio and the narration was excellent. I really can't say enough good things about these.
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
I bought this years ago and finally read it, and it was so, so good. The Close Reads podcast helped me understand it, but truly, there is nothing I like more than a 20th century American novel. I will read this again, possibly every year the way I do Brideshead Revisited.
You Like it Darker by Stephen King
A surprise favorite - Stephen King short stories and novellas! I loved most of these. They weren't scary, but they were very thought-provoking and the writing was excellent. My favorite was the short story that was an homage to "A Good Man is Hard to Find."
Merritt and Her Childhood Crush by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor
I read this whole trilogy (but not the connected novella yet) and enjoyed them all, but this was my clear favorite. I loved both main characters and just really enjoyed seeing how they got together.
Review Copies
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (Netgalley - 4 stars)
This novel is about grief and family ties, regrets and reconciliation, small town life and a little bit of hockey. It was similar to the other book I've read by this author, We Are the Brennans, and it made me want to go back and pick up her second book, The Connellys of County Down. There is child loss at the center of this book, which normally I would avoid, but the writing was so good, and there is one scene in particular that was so touching I'm glad I didn't miss it.
The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson (from publisher)
I had this in hardcover from the publisher but listened to the audiobook. As she has in other books (especially Save the Date) Matson does a great job of introducing a lot of characters and making them all feel real and believable. I also always love her writing.
The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer (Netgalley - 4 stars)
This audiobook is based on Marissa Meyer's (now-defunct) podcast about being optimistic in the writing life. Some of what is in this book was a little new age and "woo woo" for me, but on the whole, I found Meyer's outlook refreshing and some of the advice, especially about beta readers, very helpful. I wasn't familiar with the podcast before the book, but I listened to an episode and plan to listen to more, even though it came to an end when the book was published.
Uneasy Street by Becky Wade (Netgalley - 5 stars)
*releases February 14
This third book in the Sons of Scandal series was an enemies-to-lovers romance with depth and substance. I loved seeing Max and Sloane fall in love and also watching all the pieces of the overarching story of the series fall into place. I loved Sloane's relationship with her niece, Ivy, and her niece's quest to find a long-lost biological family member her deceased mom kept from her. That was my favorite side plot of the whole series. I also loved Max's interactions with Ivy and how those interactions fueled his relationship with Sloane.
Read-Alouds
These read-alouds were all re-reads for me.- Amahl and the Night Visitors by Frances Frost (5 stars)
- Francie on the Run by Hilda van Stockum (4 stars)
- Winter Holiday by Arthur Ransome (5 stars)
Series and Sequels
- Where There's Smoke (The Men of Engine 17 Book 4) by Ash Keller (3 stars)
- The Princess and the Pizza Man (Frostville Book 1) by Cassie Mae (3 stars)
- Cinder Luna (Once Upon a RomCom Book 1) by Marie Soleil (4 stars)
- Snowbound Heart (Sweetly Contemporary Collection Book 6) by Jennifer Blake (4 stars)
- Five Little Pigs (Hercule Poirot Book 25) by Agatha Christie (4 stars)
- Just Friends Forever (Sheppards in Love Book 2) (4 stars)
- Eloise and the Grump Next Door (Oakley Island Book 1) (4 stars)
- Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire (Oakley Island Book 3) (4 stars)
Stand-alone Books
- Writing Flash Fiction: How to Write Very Short Stories and Get Them Published by Carly Berg (3 stars)
- Writing Between the Sexes by Leight Michaels (5 stars)
- Frankenstein (1831 edition) by Mary Shelley (4 stars)
*The newest Simon & Schuster edition has been edited by sensitivity readers, and I do not recommend it. - The Long Shot by Laura Abbott (4 stars)
- A Hundred Million Francs by Paul Berna (4 stars)
- Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (4 stars)
Family Reading Lists
All the kids are reading independently on some level now, so for the sake of brevity, I will only be sharing the books they read on their own this year.
M. (girl, 11 years, 2 months)
- The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetus and Steve Sheinkin
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- Sands of Time by Michael Hoeye
C. (girl, 9 years, 4 months)
- Kathleen's Shaken Dreams by Tracy Leininger Craven
- Kathleen's Unforgettable Winter by Tracy Leininger Craven
- Kathleen's Abiding Hope by Tracy Leininger Craven
- Kathleen's Enduring Faith by Tracy Leininger Craven
- The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy
- Emma on Thin Icing by Coco Simon
- Alexis and the Perfect Recipe by Coco Simon
- Mary-Mary Stories by Joan G. Robinson (read to A.)
E. (girl, 7 years, 3 months)
- Fox's Feud by Colin Dann
- Dr Dolittle's Circus by Hugh Lofting
- The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
- A Brother for the Orphelines by Natalie Savage Carlson
R. (boy, 4 years, 10 months)
- Eddie and the Fire Engine by Carolyn Haywood
- Meet Benjamin Franklin by Maggie Scarf
- Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Cary
- Meet George Washington by Joan Heilbroner
- All About Sam by Lois Lowry (read to him by me, M., C., and E., as well as himself)
A. (girl, 4 years, 10 months)
- Pig Wig Can Hit
- Tag
- Sam and the Mitt
My husband
- The Fourteenth of October by Bryher
- Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
- A Hundred Million Francs by Paul Berna
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