Category: Book Reviews

This post is a continuation of my post from yesterday which you can find here. I'm doing short reviews of all the audiobooks I've listened to since Thanksgiving. Let's get started with the rest of the group (listed in order of listening).

Title: Memory Man
Author: David Baldacci, Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy (narrators)
Published: April 21, 2015 by Hachette Audio
Length: 13 hours 17 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own a harcover
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

My review:

I admit that this was my first foray into any of Baldacci's books. He was speaking at my local Indie bookstore, so I decided it was time to see what his popularity was all about. While the book was well written, and fast paced, it just wasn't really my kind of book. I'm not a fan of any of those crime shows on tv, and this book would be way more popular amongst those who love the mystery/crime genre. It was engaging enough that I wanted to find out "who dunnit", but I probably won't go out of my way to secure any more books of this type. Narrators were fine, I had no issue with them.

Title: The Lowland
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri, Sunil Malhotra (narrator)
Published: September 24, 2013 by Random House Audio
Length: 13 hours 4 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own a hardcover
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

It's easy to see why this was nominated and received so many awards. I have had this on my shelf for such a long time, and I'm so glad that the opportunity to listen to it came about. A fabulous story about two brothers and their family. Part takes place in India, and part in the US (Rhode Island). Beautifully written, with gorgeous dialog and descriptions of life in the poorer sections of India where unrest is ever present. The narrator was also part of my love for this book, with a soothing Indian accent that flowed effortlessly and was a joy to listen to. The only thing that caused me to bring it down to four stars is that I felt that it dragged just a bit in some places, and I wasn't as interested in all the revolution talk. Despite these minor qualms, it is well worth the read!

Title: We Are Not Ourselves
Author: Matthew Thomas, Mare Winningham (narrator)
Published: August 19, 2014 by Simon and Schuster Audio
Length: 20 hours 51 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own a hardcover
Rating: 5/5
Goodreads

My review:

When a book is almost 21 hours long on audio, it's got to be good to receive the coveted 5 stars (only about 10% or less of my books get this in a given year). This book is not going to be fast paced, it's not going to be highly uplifting, and it's not going to make you laugh. It will make you think about many things....the will to better one's station in life, the effect of early Alzheimer's, the relationship between a son and each of his parents, the day to day struggles of a family. This character based novel is wonderfully crafted! My emotions for each of the family members changed many times throughout the course of the novel. Kudos to Mr. Thomas for all the accolades given to this book! I was thrilled with the narrator, I loved Mare Winningham back in her acting days (most notably St. Elmo's Fire!).

Title: The Beach Trees
Author: Karen White, Ki Gottberg and Gin Hammond (narrators)
Published: May 24, 2011 by Listen and Live Audio
Length: 15 hours 10 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own paperpack
Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

Good story, even better setting. Two women, one in present time, and one telling her story from the past. I felt maybe this was a bit long, and I wasn't convinced about Monica's reasons for avoiding her family for so many years. I thought there was going to be more made of a certain romance, and although it was hinted at, I was very happy that this did not become a focus of the book. A solid read, but not one that I will probably remember down the road. Narration was good, I enjoyed the narrator of Aimee more than Julie.

Title: A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty
Author: Joshilyn Jackson, Joshilyn Jackson (narrator)
Published: September 25, 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
Length: 12 hours 25 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own paperback
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

Wow, what a difference having the author narrate makes! I've met Ms. Jackson, and she is a spitfire, which is exactly what she brings to this great story! Three generations of women in Alabama with a boatload of secrets, the most notable of which rests with the woman who, due to a stroke, can no longer speak. I loved the Southern charm of this book, the characters were wonderful, and it was a delight to listen to. Quirky southern novel is what Jackson does best, and this one is my favorite of hers so far.

Title: If You Were Here
Author: Jen Lancaster, Jamie Heinlein (narrator)
Published: May 3, 2011 by Penguin Audio
Length: 8 hours 28 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

My review:

I loved the premise of this novel, and there were many, many laugh out loud moments while listening. However, the home repair gone wrong did start to get old toward the end of the book, and the ending felt rather flat after all the setup to get there. I love Jen Lancaster, but this is my first foray into her novels that are not based on her life. I could definitely see her humor infused into this, but I think the plot just got a bit carried away. Still a winner if you love home repair shows, and need some side splitting laughs. I had no issues with the narration.

Title: Flame Tree Road
Author: Shona Patel, Neil Shah (narrator)
Published: June 10, 2015 by Harlequin Audio
Length: 10 hours 27 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own paperback
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

Another book about India (see The Lowland above), and this one was just as engaging. I love reading about Indian culture, particularly of interest in this book was what happens to women who are widows. The story starts around a family, but then gravitates more to the elder son Biren. The scene descriptions were wonderful, and there were many heart breaking moments amidst the hope for a better future for the young girls of India. Lovely narration, this is a book not to be missed.

And there you have it, I've clearly been listening up a storm for the past couple months. I've discovered how much more I can read when I can listen while doing mundane tasks around the house 🙂

 

I've been traveling a lot since Thanksgiving, and have listened to a ton of audiobooks that I borrowed from my library's Overdrive service. I picked books that I already had on my tbr, so I'm excited to be able to clear some books off my overflowing shelves! Since I know I will never get around to reviewing each one separately, I'm going to do an abbreviated review here. Links to each book on Goodreads will be provided. So.......here we go (in the order that I listened to each):

Title: Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good
Author: Jan Karon, John McDonough (narrator)
Published: September 2, 2014 by Penguin Audio
Length: 17 hours 23 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

I really enjoyed this continuing story of Father Tim Cavanaugh in the fictional NC town of Mitford. The story flowed well, but was a tad long in places. I loved going back and catching up with all the characters in Mitford, but enough information was given that I think one could read it without reading the previous novels in the series. I loved this narrator, his portrayal of The Turkey Club men's meetings was particularly memorable. Well worth the listen, I'm excited to read the next in the series when my favorite character Dooley will be getting married!

Title: Some Luck
Author: Jane Smiley, Lorelei King (narrator)
Published: October 7, 2014 by Random House Audio
Length: 14 hours 48 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

Great family saga that is part of a trilogy. This part takes place over the years 1920-1953, each chapter encompasses a year in the lives of the Langdon family. This is not a fast moving story, but a realistic portrayal of a family in the midwest as they navigate life during this time period. I liked it, but it was a bit slow in places. If you like a lot of action or a defined plot, you will not find it in this series. I enjoyed some character stories more than others, but found it left me wanting to continue the series to follow their lives. The narration was good, although there were a lot of characters to voice so many of them did end up sounding the same.

Title: Life After Life
Author: Kate Atkinson, Fenella Woolgar (narrator)
Published: April 2, 2013 by Hachette Audio
Length: 15 hours 34 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

My review:

Absolutely beautiful writing, but this one was hard for me to follow, especially toward the end. This plot is not really in my wheelhouse, but I'm glad that I read it. The writing was wonderful. I think this would make a great bookclub selection as some people may get different aspects of the plot to help people such as me who were a bit confused 🙂 Liked the narration, lovely accent and very soothing voice.

Title: Early Warning
Author: Jane Smiley, Lorelei King (narrator)
Published: April 28, 2015 by Random House Audio
Length: 18 hours 11 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

The next installment in the Langdon family trilogy. This book takes us from 1953-1986. My thoughts on this book are pretty similar to the first volume. I like some characters more than others, thankfully there is a family tree at the front of the book because as the years go by, the family expands and there are more people to keep track of. I was born in the late 50's so I enjoyed that a lot of this book brought up news events that I remember. At over 18 hours long, this is not a book for the faint of heart. This was narrated by the same person as the first book, so I appreciated that continuity.

Title: Royal Wedding
Author: Meg Cabot, Arielle DeLisle (narrator)
Published: June 2, 2015 by Blackstone Audiobooks
Length: 9 hours 21 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and paperback via publisher at BEA
Rating: 4.5/5
Goodreads

My review:

What a delight to read this adult sequel to the young adult series The Princess Diaries. Princess Mia is all grown up and planning a wedding, along with all the other shenanigans that are going on while she leads her country of Genovia. I was completely captivated by this very humorous (without being too silly or slapstick) peek into Mia's days and nights leading up to her marriage to long time beau Michael. This was a royal hit in my book!! Great narration, I was completely on board with this funny tale!

Title: A Spool of Blue Thread
Author: Anne Tyler, Kimberly Farr (narrator)
Published: February 10, 2015 by Random House Audio
Length: 13 hours 23 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own the hardcover
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

Another lovely family saga, this time it's the Witshank family of Baltimore. Beautifully written characters, plenty of family drama, but yet this is not a fast paced novel, it meanders along with lovely writing, and wonderful exploration of the dynamics within a family unit. The book is divided into two major sections, and this was my only fault with it. The second half of the book was the story leading up to the one that we found in the beginning. I'm sure there was a valid reason why the author did this, but the juxtaposition wasn't my favorite, even though both sections were wonderful reads. I had no issues with the narration.

Title: Shopaholic to the Stars
Author: Sophie Kinsella, Clare Corbett (narrator)
Published: October 21, 2014 by Random House Audio
Length: 12 hours 37 minutes
Source: Overdrive (library) and own a paperback copy
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

My review:

Becky Brandon Bloomwood strikes again! I know that there have been a million books in this series, and they all follow the same general pattern, but yet I thoroughly enjoy them.....still. I don't know how Kinsella does it, but she manages to make me laugh out loud at Becky's antics and predicaments she gets herself into. The narrator was fabulous with her English accent (which I could listen to all day!), and I would laugh out loud every time she voiced Minnie. If you like the previous books in this series, you will not be disappointed in Becky's next caper.

 

Not a bad book in the lot! Stay tuned for my next grouping (hopefully) tomorrow 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Things We Keep
Author: Sally Hepworth
Published: January 19, 2016 by St. Martin's Press
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

Anna Forster, in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease at only thirty-eight years old, knows that her family is doing what they believe to be best when they take her to Rosalind House, an assisted living facility. She also knows there's just one another resident her age, Luke. What she does not expect is the love that blossoms between her and Luke even as she resists her new life at Rosalind House. As her disease steals more and more of her memory, Anna fights to hold on to what she knows, including her relationship with Luke.

When Eve Bennett is suddenly thrust into the role of single mother she finds herself putting her culinary training to use at Rosalind house. When she meets Anna and Luke she is moved by the bond the pair has forged. But when a tragic incident leads Anna's and Luke's families to separate them, Eve finds herself questioning what she is willing to risk to help them.

My review:

I was excited to read this sophomore novel by Ms. Hepworth, her debut The Secrets of Midwives was a favorite of mine last year (review here). This was also a great read. The author knows how to keep the reader engaged and turning pages to find out what happens to her characters. There are two concurrent stories within this book, one being that of Anna (which actually progresses from an earlier time to the present) and Eve. While the focus of the story is on Anna, I have to say that for me, it was Eve (and her adorable daughter Clementine) who stole the book. While the love story between Anna and Luke was sweet and well written, I really never bought into it. I kept feeling that it was more born out of the circumstances that they were in, than any great love story. I also really liked the glimpses we got into the lives of the other residents of the facility, particularly Baldy and his growing connection with little Clem, and Laurie and Clara, whose love story had much greater resonance with me. The first person narrative of Anna amid the progression of her disease was very well depicted, but this novel was not as sad and gloomy as you might expect. There were several moments of happiness, as we followed and cheered for each of the characters to achieve milestones, and happiness.

A well depicted chronicle of the progression of early onset Alzheimer's. While I was not as invested in the love story as the author may have hoped, I found so many other parts of the book to satisfy me. Loved this quote, which sums up the title:

"In the end, you just remember the moments of joy.
When all is said and done, those are the things we keep."

Title: The Guest Room
Author: Chris Bohjalian
Published: January 5, 2016 by Doubleday
Pages: 336
Source: ARC via publisher
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

 When Richard Chapman offers to host his younger brother's bachelor party, he expects a certain amount of debauchery. He sends his wife, Kristin, and young daughter off to his mother-in-law's for the weekend, and he opens his Westchester home to his brother's friends and their hired entertainment. What he does not expect is this: bacchanalian drunkenness, a dangerously intimate moment in his guest bedroom, and two naked women stabbing and killing their Russian bodyguards before driving off into the night. In the aftermath, Richard's life rapidly spirals into a nightmare. The police throw him out of his home, now a crime scene; his investment banking firm puts him on indefinite leave; and his wife finds herself unable to forgive him for the moment he shared with a dark-haired girl in the guest room. But the dark-haired girl, Alexandra, faces a much graver danger. In one breathless, violent night, she is free, running to escape the police who will arrest her and the gangsters who will kill her in a heartbeat. A captivating, chilling story about shame and scandal, The Guest Room is a riveting novel from one of our greatest storytellers.

My review:

First let me say that I've read almost all of the 18 books Mr. Bohjalian has written, and I'm so impressed with how versatile he is as a writer. After that many books, you can come to expect the same type of story from a lot of authors (not that this is a bad thing, just an observation). I never know what to expect from Bohjalian, and it definitely keeps me coming back for more. There is always an underlying social theme to his books, and in this case it is the issue of sex trafficking. Alexandra's story is heartbreaking, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could to make sure she was safe in the end. Richard's story was a little harder to swallow, you would think that he would have been smarter than to go along with what was occurring in his home, but it's certainly not the first time I have rolled my eyes at the "boys will be boys"mentality. The book is well paced, the chapters alternate between Richard (and his family) and Alexandra. The only nugget of disappointment comes at the tail end where I thought things got a little unbelievable, but then there was the real ending which had me holding my head and screaming "NOOOOOO" (no spoilers :))!!

A page turner of a novel, which brings to light a subject not that prominent in the headlines, and speaks of the huge consequences that one night of "seemingly harmless fun" can have.

I had the pleasure of seeing Chris on the release night of the book, at my local Indie bookstore. As a former Vermonter, I always take pride in speaking with him. I asked him about his next novel, and it sounds fantastic, so keep your eyes out (he didn't say when it would be released).

 

Title: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard
Author: Susan Meissner
Published: January 5, 2016 by NAL
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind  ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie… 

Los Angeles, 1938.  Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her  dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide.  What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future. 

My review:

This book had two things going for it before I even cracked the cover (a figure of speech, I have an obsession with not breaking any spines on books 🙂 ). It has a gorgeous cover, and it is about old world Hollywood. I am happy to report that I was not disappointed in my choice, and I can't believe that this is my first book by Meissner! The story mostly occurs starting from the late 30's, with small snippets from present day. Eventually both stories come together as time progresses for Violet, Audrey, and Bert. I loved the descriptions of that time period in Hollywood, and the movie scenes from Gone with the Wind (you do not have to have read the book or seen the movie to enjoy this, but I think it does add to the charm if you have). I thought the characters stories were well written, and very interesting to follow. While some of their decisions were not always agreeable to me, I think they fit with their personalities. There is a bit of a mystery with the present day story, which is laid out fairly early, but it's still intriguing to figure out its progression. A great character novel, we get to see them grow and develop over the years.

A book that had me enthralled with the old world charm of a Hollywood movie, and the lives of those working in the studio during it's filming. This book has me going back through the previous titles by Ms. Meissner to see what else I've missed.

 

Title: This Is Where It Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Published: January 5, 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 292
Source: e-ARC via NetGalley
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

My review:

The premise of this book looked so inviting that I had to grab a copy and read it. It ended up being kind of a middle of the road novel for me. There was some things that I liked about it, and some that I didn't. What I liked was the subject matter, which is so prevalent in today's society that it needs to be talked (and read) about often. I loved that there were so many diverse characters in this novel, from ethnic diversity, a lesbian relationship, and physical disability. Bravo for that. I liked that the novel was very fast paced, it kept me flipping pages quickly to find out how it would end. The parts that I wasn't as keen on were equal in number to those I enjoyed. My biggest problem was how long it took for the authorities to get to the school and enter the building. In this day of social media with every student having a phone, why did it take so long to take down one gunman? Speaking of social media, there were places at the end of each chapter where student's (who were trapped in the auditorium) tweets were included. Totally unnecessary part of the book in my opinion. The biggest problem I had was that none of the characters were well developed enough to actually care that much about them. It seemed like every kid had tales of woe, a bit too many in your average population, and there were so many of them that none were really given justice. I should mention that one of my all-time favorite books, Nineteen Minutes, deals with this subject. Naturally I couldn't help but compare the books as I was reading, and this one fell way short of that one.

A fast paced read, with lots of diversity, but a little short on the characterization aspect.

Title: The Word Game
Author: Steena Holmes
Published: November 3, 2015 by Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 207
Source: Publisher via BookSparks
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?

My review:

This book has an interesting, thought provoking storyline. How much do you believe when dealing with a child who makes incriminatiing revelations against someone you know? How about if your past has resulted in false accusations before? Who should you tell, when do you confront, and how do you go about it without hurting those involved?  What about if there are conflicting stories? These are all questions that must be answered by Alyson, along with her sister Tricia. While I thought the plot of this book was excellent, it did lack depth in both writing and character development. It was a bit too simplistic to ever create a good flow, and while I did want to continue reading to find out how it ended, it got a bit boring as I waited for the resolution. It's a short book, and I'm wondering if perhaps a longer book would have necessitated better character development?

A+ for topic, but sub par writing brought this one down a bit for me. If you can overlook the lack of depth with this one, it does create a great "what would you do, and who would you believe" story.

This was part of the BookSparks Fall Reading Challenge. Click on the link to see what this program is about.

Title: Ask Him Why
Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
Published: December 15, 2015 by Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 346
Source: Publisher via BookSparks
Rating: 3.5/5
Goodreads

Ruth and her little brother, Aubrey, are just teenagers when their older brother ships off to Iraq. When Joseph returns, uninjured, only three and a half months later, Ruth is happy he is safe but also deeply worried. How can it be that her courageous big brother has been dishonorably discharged for refusing to go out on duty? Aubrey can’t believe that his hero doesn’t have very good reasons.

Yet as the horrifying details of the incident emerge, Joseph disappears. In their attempts to find him, Ruth and Aubrey discover he has a past far darker than either of them could imagine. But even as they learn more about their brother, important questions remain unanswered—why did he betray his unit, his country, and now his family? Joseph’s refusal to speak ignites a fire in young Aubrey that results in a disastrous, and public, act of rebellion.

The impact of Joseph’s fateful decision one night in Baghdad will echo for years to come, with his siblings caught between their love for him and the media’s engulfing frenzy of judgment. Will their family ever make their way back to each other and find a way to forgive?

My review:

This was an interesting book about a subject that I don't think I've ever read about before. What happens to a family when one of them gets dishonorably discharged, and subsequently court martialed? Especially pertinent is the fact that you are dealing with the ramifications on two members of the family who happen to be teens. The book alternates back and forth between Ruth and her brother Aubrey, and how they deal with the fallout when their beloved brother returns early from a tour of duty. Of course there are also secrets that come out as the story progresses, but most of all we see the struggle that occurs within each teen. We experience their ways of processing their confusion and anger at their brother, their parents, the town, the military, the world around them. Well written, and well paced, I think the only thing I would have liked added was a bit more about the parents. We do see glimpses of them through the teens, but I would have liked a bit more.

Interesting and solid family story about the effect of one sibling's choices on the rest of the family unit.

Thanks to BookSparks for providing a copy of this for my review.

 

Title: Put A Ring On It (Black Dog Bay #3)
Author: Beth Kendrick
Published: November 3rd 2015 by NAL
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher via BookSparks
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

Brighton Smith doesn’t do outrageous. As an insurance actuary, it’s her job to assess risk and avoid bad investments. But when her fiancé calls to confess he’s married someone else on a whim (“I looked at her and I just knew!”), she snaps…

That night, at a local bar, Jake Sorensen—hot, rich, and way out of her league—buys Brighton a cocktail. At midnight, she kisses him. And by dawn, they’re exchanging vows at a drive-through chapel.

Brighton knows Jake is a bad bet, but she doesn’t care. After a lifetime of playing it safe, she’s finally having fun. Until the whirlwind romance gives way to painful reality...and Brighton finds out the truth about why a guy like Jake married a girl like her. With her heart on the line and the odds stacked against them, Brighton must decide whether to cut her losses or take a leap of faith that this love affair is one in a million.

My review:

While this is the third book in a series, it can easily be a stand-a-lone novel. I've read the first book (but not the second), and while it was fun to catch up with characters from the earlier book, their parts are small, so the integrity of the book will not be affected if you don't know them. This book, in typical Beth Kendrick fashion, was a cute, playful read. Lots of humorous moments, but at the same time some serious issues come up that must be dealt with by its main characters. I didn't like the main character Brighton as much as I should have to give this book a higher rating. She was kind of all over the place with her emotions and her actions. Did she want this guy or not? I was much more enamored with Jake, but even he had some issues toward the end of the book that made the "happily ever after" feel just a tad forced. I love the setting for the books, and I am looking forward to more stories from the fictional town of Black Dog Bay.

This was a light-hearted entertaining read, as long as you take it as that. If you get too invested in the characters, you may not appreciate the humorous story.

This book was part of the fall reading challenge at BookSparks. Thank you for providing me a copy for review.

 

I'm going to give a short review of the 7 books that I read during the annual holiday read-a-thon back in November. I'll be adding the link to Goodreads for each book, please click the link to find out more info. If you are in the mood for a holiday novel, maybe one of these will catch your eye.

Title: Winter Stroll
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: October 13th 2015 by Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 272
Source: Publisher at BEA
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

This is the second book in a trilogy (Winter Street came out last year, and the final installment is due next fall) about the Quinn family of Nantucket. It is not necessary to read the first novel, since it had been a year I found it took me some time to remember everyone anyway.  I enjoyed this one more than the first book. I thought the story lines were more interesting, and I'm connecting more with the various family members. I'll definitely be picking up the conclusion next year. It made me want to visit Nantucket for the annual Winter Stroll weekend (me......who hates cold and snow.......that's saying something!).

Title: Blue Christmas
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Published: October 24th 2006 by HarperCollins
Pages: 194
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads

I'm pretty much going backwards with these books about friends Weezy and BeBe. I read Christmas Bliss last year, this one proceeds it, and I've yet to read the Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze series where these two are introduced. This one was cute, a typical Mary Kay Andrews read. I enjoy the antique business that Weezy owns, and I loved the characters who run the competing business across town. A bit of a mystery in this one, but not something that takes over the story. A light-hearted, quick read that you can enjoy without putting a lot of effort into.

Title: The Gift
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Published: October 26th 2010 by Harper
Pages: 302
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

Not your typical holiday story, this one is a "Scroogish" tale about an unlikable character that you still find yourself rooting for. Considering that I was reading many holiday stories within a short period of time, I appreciated that this one was not the happily ever after that is the norm for the seasonal offerings, and no romance (also the norm). I wasn't crazy about the magical aspect of the book, but it was necessary in the scheme of the story. Great line from this one: “Time can’t be given. But it can be shared.” Not one of the books that was a favorite, but it was a great statement about appreciating those around you while you still can.

Title: Wishin' and Hopin'
Author: Wally Lamb
Published: November 21st 2009 by HarperCollins
Pages: 268
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5/5
Goodreads

My favorite of the seven books I read this week. If you like the movie A Christmas Story (with Ralphie and the Red Rider beebee gun), I think you will find this highly enjoyable. It is not a holiday story per se, but takes place over the few months that include the holiday season. It's the story of a 10 year old boy, and takes place in the early 60's. Perhaps it was the era that made this so appealing, or the fact that childhood back then was just so vastly different than it is now, but I loved Felix's story! I found many laugh out loud moments, Felix's mother at the Pillsbury bake-off finals is the one that stands out, but there are several others. I'm not sure that this would have as much appeal to those of you in the younger generation, but if you are "old" like me, grab yourself a copy of this one.

Title: A Nantucket Christmas
Author: Nancy Thayer
Published: October 29th 2013 by Ballantine Books
Pages: 209
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3/5
Goodreads

This was an enjoyable read at the time, but I honestly had to go back and read the synopsis to remember anything about it. Therefore, I would put this in the good enough read at the time, but probably not memorable category. I did love the plot line involving the sweet dog, and that carried me through the novel. The snippy step daughter story was pretty predictable, and came to a rather forced ending. Good read, kept my interest, but nothing special.

Title: The Christmas Pearl
Author: Dorothea Benton Frank
Published: October 28th 2008 by William Morrow
Pages: 176
Source: Purchased
Rating: 2/5
Goodreads

I normally like Dorothea Frank's novels. They are not literary masterpieces by any means, but she always interjects some Southern charm and sass into her characters, which I enjoy immensely. This novel had a good message behind it, namely to appreciate the meaning of Christmas with traditions and family, but the angel was just too over the top for me. I rolled my eyes through a lot of it. If you are someone who doesn't mind magical realism in the form of an angel appearing among us, then you may like this, I'm just not a fan.

Title: A Christmas to Remember
Author: Jenny Hale
Published: October 10, 2014 by Bookouture
Pages: 316
Source: Purchased
Rating: 2/5
Goodreads

Such a cute holiday cover on this one, and the premise sounds sweet (a nanny tries to get a single dad to spend more time with his children), but that's pretty much the good things I have to say. I hated the protagonist in this book, if I had to read her whine about what she hadn't accomplished in her life one more time, I was going to throw the book across the room. The ending was so predictable, it was a foregone conclusion from the first few pages. I did enjoy the adorable children in this one, and so gave it a couple stars. If you don't mind Carrie, you will be fine with this one, but she was not my cup of tea. One of the few times that picking a book based on a great cover has let me down.

And there you have it. Hopefully something for everyone in this list. Has anyone read any of these? Thoughts?