A new year, more books to read! Already off to a good start, with one of my favorite reads of the year potentially being in this group! If you’re curious about what I read last year, check out my Books tab for all of my 2023 posts, or my Year End Review for 2023 to see the highlights!
“Outlive” was a fabulous book to start the year off with. I listened to this one, and while there is a ton of information in this book, it was so helpful and practical for the most part. It really encouraged me to look at my reasons for checking in with my health, and really really encouraged me to keep at strength training, amongst other things. I get discouraged on that front quite often because I haven’t seen the progress I would hope to see, but it’s definitely an important one to keep working at to help with just having a better quality of life as you age. I loved how this book addressed a lot of proactive things regarding health, rather than addressing problems as they arise.
I have enjoyed reading Catherine Walsh lately, and “The Rebound” was a cute read. Abby, recently dumped by her fiance, has headed home to Ireland. The first person she runs into, who gives her a lift home, is a super cute guy named Luke. Luke actually ends up being a childhood friend, all grown up, and knew exactly who she was from the start, even though she didn’t recognize him. Abby struggles to admit that she has lost everything, her love and her job, and is very conflicted about where to go next in life. It was an entertaining read for the most part, fun and distracting. 🙂
I listened to “The Husbands” this year, a very interesting read haha…I was quite speechless after this one because it was a little bizarre, but in an entertaining way. And obviously written by someone who was quite unhappy with her husband I think! Every wife just wants a little help around the house right? What if you could go to counseling with your husband, and come out with a seemingly “perfect” husband, who sees everything and does everything that needs to be done without being asked?! Add a little murder on the side, and someone threatening this whole brainwashing situation to unravel, and you get this book. I really didn’t know what to say or think by the end of it, except wow, moving right along haha…
I’ve enjoyed these Countess of Harleigh mysteries the last couple of years… “A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder” was also a cute read. While George is busy with a project for the British Museum, Frances busies herself with her own project, sponsoring her friend, the Viscountess Wingate’s niece in her presentation to Queen Victoria. Kate’s aunt becomes increasingly ill, and Frances then has a new mystery on her hands to solve. With Kate’s background, not as squeaky clean as first thought, and her Aunt’s step children’s money issues, there are plenty of suspects who might be making her ill on purpose. George’s project and Frances’ situation intertwine, and once again, they solve the case together. I always enjoy the settings of these books, just the time period and culture are interesting to me.
I really enjoyed “The Things We Cannot Say,” so I pick up Kelly Rimmer from time to time. I really enjoyed “The Paris Agent,” I just cannot imagine living through that time in life and say that every time I read a WW2 historical fiction novel. Charlotte decides to help her father, Noah, sort out some of his past, as he can’t remember all of the details due to a head injury he sustained during the war. Looking into his past stirs up stories of women who were double agents with code names, and connects them with a new historian friend, Theo, who specializes in the war history, especially people who participated as spies. It was all super interesting, and even solved another mystery of Theo’s parents, as he was an orphan from the war.
I grew up reading Agatha Christi novels, so every now and then it’s just nice to read one. I listened to “Murder on the Orient Express” this month, and really enjoyed listening to Mr. Hercule Poirot solve the mysterious murder on the train. The train is slowed and stopped by a snow drift during the night, and once morning comes, a rich man named Mr. Ratchett is found dead in his compartment. How could this be considering his compartment was locked from the inside? Because of the snow, it has to be someone on the train, but who? Mr. Poirot goes through all of the passengers, narrowing it down and solving the crime.
I also listened to “Code Name Sapphire” this month. While a pretty good read overall, it wasn’t my absolute favorite WW2 historical fiction novel. Hannah has come seeking out her cousin Lily in Brussels, after her fiance was murdered by Nazis in Germany and her ship bound for America is turned away. She gets involved with the resistance network, while trying to find a way to leave the country, but then mistakes lead to Lily’s family being arrested and deported. Hannah then tries to rescue them with the resistance, and at this point in the book, I really started questioning some of her decisions. I think the end was just not quite what I was expecting or hoping for, so while the book was interesting to listen to, but the ending just wasn’t the greatest.
“Divine Rivals.” This book. This book is definitely one of my top favorites for the year, I could tell immediately I would enjoy reading this one. Iris and Roman are competing for a job at the Oath newspaper, and Iris has a million worries, from her mother’s addictions, to her brother leaving for war. The gods that have been sleeping for hundreds of years have awoken, and are warring in distant cities. Iris and Roman have magical typewriters, that are connected, so they can send messages to each other…although Iris doesn’t know it’s Roman who is writing to her. Loved the time period and setting this one was written in, as well as the love story between these rivals.
I love Sarah Adams, so when I saw that she has a couple of “1800s, British rom-coms,” I had to check them out. I listened to “To Con a Gentleman” this month too…apparently January is the longest month of the year haha…and really liked it! It starts off with Rose trying to con Carver, (which can we address the irony of two books in a row having the main character’s name as Carver?! What are the odds?!) and accidentally goes to the wrong house, accusing the man of taking advantage of her when she was a housemaid. She tries to convince him to pay her for her silence. It was quite hilarious, because the gentleman immediately knew something was amiss, and rather than sending her on her way, he ends up convincing her to accompany him to his family’s home, as he hasn’t returned since his fiance’s death. Pretending to be engaged, they end up getting to know each other better, and that pretend relationship turns into something more. Really enjoyed this one and plan on reading the sequel!
Ok LAST one, whew! I have loved reading the Finlay Donovan series, so when this little short story “Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank” came out, I knew I wanted to read that too! I really liked reading about Veronica’s back story and the details about what brought her into contact with Finlay Donovan. It probably wasn’t my favorite book out of this series, but I appreciated the info all the same. 🙂
That is January for you! I am waaayy behind on my book posts for 2024, but hopefully I will catch up soon haha!
If you’re interested in seeing what I read the last year, you can click on my Books tab above! If you want to follow along with me on Goodreads, check out my profile! I keep track of the books I’m reading, what I’ve read and the reviews on books I’ve made there! Thanks for stopping by!
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