What I've Been Reading - December 2017

Welcome to What I've Been Reading, where I share my (quick and personal) thoughts on what I've been reading this past month. For specifics (plot summary, etc.) about each book, click on the provided links or book images.

I read a lot this month! Due to how much I read, and how busy this season is, my shared thoughts this month will be shortened quite a bit. Happy reading!

Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest by L.M. Montgomery (5 stars)


I read the first book in this series, Emily of New Moon, last month and loved it. I loved these two books equally as well. If you love Anne of Green Gables and haven't read Emily of New Moon, please do.

Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor (4 stars)

I love books based around war. This book was no exception.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry (4 stars)

This book was probably my favorite "fluffy" read this month. Based in England, it's full of quirky characters, books and heart. I recommend it.

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz (2 stars)

Loved the cover. Hated the book. The names were right. That's about it. Jane Austen was nowhere to be found in this book.

Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand (3 stars)

Full of family drama and family love.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie (3 stars)

No one does it better than Agatha Christie. Not my favorite book of hers, but still good.

The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman (3 stars)

Interesting novella from one of my new favorite authors.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (5 stars)

One of the best books I've read this year. I can't describe it. Just read it.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (4.5 stars)

A story of love, loss, weakness, strength, faith, perseverance and healing. It was beautiful.

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (4 stars)

I really enjoyed The War That Saved My Life. The War I Finally Won is the follow up and I may have loved it even more.

A few things I'm loving these days

I follow quite a few bloggers that periodically share things they are loving, things that are making them happy. I love these types of lists. Does anyone else? I love that they give me a peek into some of my favorite blogger's personal lives and I almost always find something new to love myself. So, today, I'm sharing a few things I'm loving these days.

GOOD CHAPSTICK
Winter is definitely here and it is dry. I always forget just how dry winters are. My lips take the brunt of it and I seem to be constantly reaching for my chapstick. I have tried quite a few brands over the years, but I always come back to my favorite. It's simple and does its job.

GOOD LOTION
Have I mentioned it's dry here. Not only are my lips taking a beating, but my hands and feet and everything else are as well. Right now I am loving this lotion. Again, it's simple and does its job.

FUZZY SOCKS
I'm sure fuzzy socks are not new to anyone else, but this is my first winter wearing these type of socks and I am loving them. My favorite pair are these from Target. They keep my feet so warm, a must when most of our house has hardwood floors.

BLANKET SCARVES
Blanket scarves have been around for awhile now, but I am just discovering them for myself this year. I currently have my eye on this one from Amazon. These scarves truly keep me warm.

BROWN PAPER AND RED AND WHITE TWINE
I am busy wrapping gifts around here, and while I'm still using regular wrapping paper for most of my gifts, the really special gifts are being wrapped with this and this. I love the simple yet beautiful presentation this creates.

2017 MMD Reading Challenge - December edtion

I'm participating in MMD's Reading Challenge this year. (If you don't know what that is, click here and here.) Below are my December picks. (Book images are linked!)

READING FOR GROWTH: Stretch yourself in 2017

a Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner

My pick

READING FOR FUN: Put the oomph back in your reading life

a book about a topic or subject you already love

My pick

What I've Been Reading - November 2017

Welcome to What I've Been Reading, where I share my (quick and personal) thoughts on what I've been reading this past month. For specifics (plot summary, etc.) about each book, click on the provided links.

I had hoped to read a little deeper this month (in comparison to last month) and I absolutely did. It was a great month for books.

Maisie Dobbsby Jacqueline Winspear (4 stars)

I am still reeling over this book. What a surprise! I'd had Maisie Dobbs on my TBR list for a long time, but was waiting for the right time to read it. I was waiting for the time I needed a fun, snappy mystery. Now was the time, but this was no fun, snappy mystery. What a deceiving cover! This book may not be fun or snappy, but it is pretty darn perfect. Maisie Dobbs is part mystery, part historical fiction, part jaunt into the world of psychological. It is a story-within-a-story, sensitive and full of wisdom, introducing a character so self-reliant, yet so vulnerable. I particularly loved the setting (pre and post WWI England) and the backstory. The ending was probably my favorite part of all, but I won't give it away! Let's just say, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.

A Study In Scarlet Women (The Lady Sherlock Series)by Sherry Thomas (3.5 stars)

I had seen A Study in Scarlet all over Bookstagram and had to check it out. I am so glad I did. It was a lot of fun and so well done. How Sherry Thomas flips the sex of Sherlock Holmes is clever. Even more clever is how she weaves all the other Sherlock characters into her book. It's so good. I must admit, the beginning was a little rough for me. I am glad I pushed through though, because the beginning ended up being no indicator of what the rest of the book was like. Now, I can't wait to read the next in this series.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cakeby Amy E. Reichert (3.5 stars)

This book completely reminded me of You've Got Mail, but instead of a bookstore, a restaurant was involved. Since I adore You've Got Mail, I was sure to love The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. I did. It was a lot of fun. It was the perfect fluffy read. And the cover is delightful!

Angle of Reposeby Wallace Stegner (4 stars)

Wallace Stegner has decidedly become a favorite author of mine. In September, I read his book, Crossing to Safety, and loved it. This month I read his Pulitzer Prize winning book, Angle of Repose. I didn't love Angle of Repose quite as much as I loved Crossing to Safety. The writing was just as beautiful and the sense of place, storyline and characters were just as well developed. I believe where it fell short for me was in its actual characters. They were not very likeable. I don't have to have likeable characters, but I really like to. Anyway, I can't wait to get my hands on more Wallace Stegner. I may try Wendell Berry first though. I've been told I will love him if I love Wallace Stegner.

Little Fires Everywhereby Celeste Ng (4 stars)

It seems like everyone is talking about Little Fires Everywhere, so I knew I had to get my hands on it. I am glad I did. It was a great read. I can't say I loved it as everyone else has seemed to, but I really enjoyed it. It was a fast read that kept me turning the pages, trying to find out where the story was going. This was my first Celeste Ng novel. I am looking forward to going back and reading her debut novel and to seeing what she will write next.

Emily of New Moon (The Emily Books, Book 1)by L.M. Montgomery (5 stars)

How have I made it all these years without reading Emily of New Moon? I adore Anne of Green Gables and have read it countless times. Why I didn't think to see what else L.M. Montgomery had written is beyond me. Emily of New Moon was beautiful and funny and so relatable. It is the first in a series of three books. I've already started book two, Emily Climbs. I need to know what happens to Emily! The big question is...Emily or Anne? I think its too early to say, but I've loved Anne since I was a young child. She is going to be pretty hard to beat out.

A few things I'm loving these days

I follow quite a few bloggers that periodically share things they are loving, things that are making them happy. I love these types of lists. Does anyone else? I love that they give me a peek into some of my favorite blogger's personal lives and I almost always find something new to love myself. So, today, I'm sharing a few things I'm loving these days.

MY NEW BOOTIES

I have finally found the perfect pair of booties. I had been looking for two years! Yes, two years! I knew exactly what I wanted, but couldn't seem to find them. I wanted something classic, on trend, but not too trendy, that was real leather, so they would stand the test of time. I also wanted something that didn't have much of a heel, so I could wear them comfortably all day. Well, I finally found them and I couldn't be happier with them. (I sized up a half size which was perfect for my wider, high-arched feet.) 

ESSIE NAIL POLISH

This is my current favorite color.  I've been wearing it since September 1st. It is the perfect Fall/Winter color. I've got my eye on this color right now and might just have to pick it up today. I've never been a huge nail polish kind of girl. Mainly because it always seemed to go on terribly and then look terrible. On a whim one day, I picked up Essie nail polish because its specific color caught my eye. I quickly fell in love. It went on smoothly and looked great. Essie isn't terribly expensive, but compared to the $1 bottles of nail polish I usually bought, it felt like a splurge. It turned out to be a great splurge. Perhaps I just needed to buy a better quality nail polish all along! I'm sure there are other great brands out there, but for now, I'm all about Essie.

MY NEW WATER BOTTLE

I finally found the perfect water bottle. It took buying one too many imperfect water bottles to finally decide what I really wanted in one. I wanted a water bottle that would keep my water cold, wouldn't sweat, would fit in my car's cup holder and was dishwasher safe. This one has it all and isn't bad looking either.

MY LIBRARY

I have always loved my library, but this past week my love grew even more. It now has a shelf called "Too Hot To Hold". This is a shelf dedicated solely to books that are in high demand and have long wait lists. I've heard these types of shelves most often called "Lucky Day" shelves, because you may be #111 on a wait list for a specific book, yet one day you could walk into the library and find it sitting on the "Lucky Day" shelf, truly making it your lucky day. By the way, #111 is not a random number. That is my number on the wait list for a certain book at my library right now. I am hoping to have a lucky day here soon!

GOODREADS

I have been using Goodreads for a long time, but it hasn't been until this past year that I have really felt like I've been using it to its fullest potential. I use it to track what I've read, but where I really use it most is to track what I want to read next. I'm going to be sharing exactly how here on the blog soon, because I'm loving it so much!

2017 MMD Reading Challenge - November edition

I'm participating in MMD's Reading Challenge this year. (If you don't know what that is, click here and here.) Below are my November picks. (Book images are linked!)

READING FOR GROWTH: Stretch yourself in 2017

a book nominated for an award in 2017

My pick

READING FOR FUN: Put the oomph back in your reading life

a book you were excited to buy or borrow but haven't read yet

My pick

What I've Been Reading - October 2017

Welcome to What I've Been Reading, where I share my (quick and personal) thoughts on what I've been reading this past month. For specifics (plot summary, etc.) about each book, click on the provided links.

After compiling the books I read this month, I may have laughed out loud. Amongst the eight books I read, six were Historical Romances! That might be a record. I learned something about myself through this observation: When I am stressed, I go for simple and sweet. This month is always stressful due to some larger responsibilities I have every October, hence, six Historical Romances. I'm hoping to read a little deeper in November, but for now...

Lily of the Manor by Anita Stansfield (2 stars)

I really didn't like Lily of the Manor. Its mechanical storytelling and undeveloped characters left me bored. If you'd like to read my in depth review, check it out here.

Searching for Irene by Marlene Bateman (2 stars)

I really didn't like Searching for Irene as well. Unlike Lily of the Manor, it had a good beginning and  ending, but the middle felt like a chore to get through. Again, if you'd like to read my in depth review, check it out here.

Glass Houses (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #13) by Louise Penny (4 stars)

This is the perfect October read. Once you read it, you'll know why. After two terrible Historical Romances, I needed a book I knew would deliver. Glass Houses did just that. Glass Houses is the most recent installment (#13 to be exact!) in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, (a wonderfully and thoughtfully written literary murder mystery series, that is so much more about the characters and their human hearts and minds, than it is about the murders,) being just released on August 29. Having preordered it, it was delivered to my front door on August 29, yet I found myself not picking it up right away. I wasn't ready to be done with the series! (That is, until the next installment is released!) Finally, this month, I couldn't hold out any longer. It didn't disappoint. I have fallen in love with Armand Gamache and the many quirky characters in this series and hope (can't wait!) to return to Three Pines very, very soon. (*Some language)

All That Makes Life Bright: The Life and Love of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Josi S. Kilpack (3 stars)

Josi S. Kilpack writes Culinary Mysteries and Proper Romances, but I am enjoying her Historical Proper Romances most of all. All That Makes Life Bright is her third installment amongst her Historical Proper Romances, this time writing about Harriet Beecher Stowe. She's also written about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Sir Walter Scott. Each book has been well researched and well written. I learn a lot and fall in love with falling in love a little bit more. (Plus, the covers are gorgeous!) I recommend them. Here are links to her first two Historical Proper Romances:

Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton by Josi S. Kilpack

The Lady of the Lakes: The True Love Story of Sir Walter Scott by Josi S. Kilpack

For Love or Honor (The Jonquil Brothers #5) by Sarah M. Eden (5 stars)

I am definitely a little biased when it comes to anything written by Sarah M. Eden, hence, the five stars, but I simply love her and her Regency Romances. For Love or Honor is the fifth (or sixth, depending how you look at it,) installment in The Jonquil Brothers series and it didn't disappoint. If you are looking for a new-to-you author in this genre, I highly recommend her. She writes with so much wit and love. I haven't found anyone I like more. Here are links to the first two books in this series:

The Kiss of a Stranger (The Jonquil Brothers #0) by Sarah M. Eden

Though The Kiss of a Stranger isn't technically a book about the Jonquil brothers, they are mentioned in it.
Friends and Foes (The Jonquil Brothers #1) by Sarah M. Eden

Friends & Foes might just be my favorite of all time.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva (3.5 stars)

If you are looking for a good read this Christmas season, this might just be the perfect one. Mr. Dickens and His Carol is the fictional tale about the real Charles Dickens and the real story behind his most famous book. I enjoyed this one a lot. It is well researched, well written, a lot of fun and very poignant. It releases today! If you'd like to read my in depth review, check it out here.

Miss Leslie's Secret by Jennifer Moore (3 stars)

I don't have a lot to say about Miss Leslie's Secret other than it was simple and sweet and it was set in Scotland, which I loved. My in depth review is here.

Havencross by Julie Daines (3.5 stars)

Julie Daines is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine amongst the Historical Romance genre. I really enjoyed Havencross. It had so many things I love in a story: mystery, scandal, death, smugglers, King Arthur and love. My in depth review is here.

I'd love to know what you read this month!

Review: Mr Dickens and His Carol

"For Charles Dickens, each Christmas has been better than the last. But when his newest book is an utter flop, his publishers offer an ultimatum: either he writes a Christmas book in a month, or they will call in his debts, and he could lose everything. Grudgingly, he accepts, but with relatives hounding him for loans, his wife planning an excessively lavish holiday party, and jealous critics moving in for the kill, he is hardly feeling the Christmas spirit. Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace and inspiration in London itself, his great palace of thinking. And on one of his long walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets a young woman who might be just the muse he needs. Over the next few weeks, Eleanor Lovejoy propels Dickens on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition--and Christmas. Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Dickens' life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is an irresistible new take on an adored classic."

Considering how much I enjoy Charles Dickens, I was surprised by how little I knew about him. I've read over a handful of his novels, enjoying every single one, yet I had never researched his personal life. Until now. When I saw the cover for Mr. Dickens and His Carol, and read its description, I knew I had to read it. It did not disappoint. It was perfectly enjoyable. It is well researched, well written, and simply fun, while also being poignant, as one would expect. I believe it to be the perfect read this Christmas season.

My personal rating: 3/5 stars

Title: Mr Dickens and His Carol
Author: Samantha Silva
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Hardcover
Price: $16.50 on Amazon Mr. Dickens and His Carol
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Havencross

Mystery, a scandal, death, smugglers, King Arthur and true love. Havencross has everything I love in a Historical Romance. Here is the description for this book:

"When a shocking scandal involving her father spreads through London society, Elaine Cardinham and her parents are forced to retreat to their country home in Cornwall for refuge. But Havencross is no sanctuary for Elaine. She is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her brother—and the heartbreak she left in her wake all those years ago.

"It has been five long years since Gareth Kemp last saw Elaine—when she rejected his marriage proposal. Her reappearance convinces him of one thing: he has never stopped loving her. To put his feelings for her aside, he focuses his attention on the dangerous smuggling plaguing the Cornish coast. As Elaine attempts to run from her past, she ventures ever closer to a dangerous truth—and Gareth may be the only one who can save her from a deadly finish."

There is not a whole lot I can say about Havencross, other than I really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a quick escape, filled with excitement and a little romance, I think you will really enjoy Havencross as well. 

My personal rating: 3.5/5 stars

Title: Havencross
Author: Julie Daines
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Format: Paperback
Price: $14.99 on Amazon Havencross
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Miss Leslie's Secret

"Decorated war hero Conall Stewart has spent ten years envisioning his return to his beloved Scottish Highlands. But now, with the days of battle finally behind him, it seems that his dreams of home have been in vain: the land of his youth lies in ruins and his family is gone. Though he will never stop searching for his kin, Conall knows he must begin again. But when he takes on a rented farm in a nearby town, he finds far more than the fresh start he was looking for.

"After catching a mischievous local lad stealing, Conall returns young Jamie to his mother, Aileen Leslie, and finds the woman's coddling of the child maddening. What Conall does not realize is that Aileen hides a frightening secret: her devoted protection of Jamie is all that shelters them from discovery by a dangerous man from their past. Drawn together by circumstance, Conall soon develops a fatherly relationship with Jamie as well as romantic feelings for Aileen. But even as the couple accepts their growing affection for one another, time runs out for Aileen and her son: after years of hiding, they have been found. Conall lost his family once. He will do all in his power not to let history repeat itself."

Jennifer Moore is good at what she does. She knows how to write simple, yet enjoyable Historical Romance. Miss Leslie's Secret was no different. I did enjoy the change in location however. Not a lot of the Historical Romance I read is set in Scotland and, more specifically, Jennifer Moore sets a lot of her books in the Caribbean. This change in location was a nice one. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that the epilogue felt out of place. It tied up a story that simply wasn't well developed in the book. If that story had been more fully developed, I think it would have been a perfectly fine epilogue. Besides that small complaint, I enjoyed this book. It was simple and sweet, just what I look for in a Historical Romance.

My personal rating: 3/5 stars

Title: Miss Leslie's Secret

Author: Jennifer Moore

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Format: Paperback

Price: $12.17 on Amazon Miss Leslie's Secret

Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.