Books

Thanks to the holidays, I had a pretty good reading month! Linking up with Steph and Jana for another month of Show Us Your Books.

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

Marian Caldwell is living her dream in NYC until Kirby Rose shows up with a reminder of the secrets from her past. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves.

I really enjoyed this book! From the very beginning I was hooked and wanted to find out what was going to happen.  I went back and forth as to whether I really liked Marian or not, I felt at times that her character was a little shallow and disconnected. It didn’t take away from the story at all. Kirby and Conrad were my favorite characters.

Bottom Line: Just read it!

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past for stories about her teenage years, her family, relationships, and sex and shares the experiences that have shaped who she is – a woman with the courage to bare her soul to stand up for what she believes in, all while making us laugh.

Some of Amy’s stand up cracks me up and I have caught a few episodes of her show, so I thought I would check this out. I consumed this via audiobook since Amy herself reads it.

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of Amy’s, you will probably enjoy this.

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

Even though I predicted what was going to happen from the very beginning, I really enjoyed this story. You get to know both Tess and Valerie really well. I felt like I could relate to both characters circumstances, and I like to think I know what I would if I were on each side.

Bottom Line: This was a good read. It sort of plays to both sides of the story with the alternating points of view and allows you to “chose a side.”

Strike a Match by Lindzee Armstrong

When Kate’s abusive husband dies in a house fire, she only feels relief. Eighteen months later, she’s ready to move on and seeks the help of a matchmaking company. Only, they match her with someone that knows too much about her past. 

This was a super quick and cute read. I really enjoyed it. I read this in one evening, so that should tell you it definitely held my attention. If you are wanting a romance book without any of the dirty talk, then this would be a good one for you.

Bottom Line: Cute, quick read.

Sociable by Rebecca Harrington

I don’t know if it is because I read a few other books in the last few months about social media and the curated life vs real life or whatever…and I kept comparing those two books to Sociable, but I think I decided that Sociable was just not for me. I found the characters to be unlikable, they were superficial and ridiculous. I think it had a relevant and interesting concept, but it wasn’t executed well. It was a quick, easy read and there were a few humorous moments I enjoyed…but there was nothing really memorable about the book and I didn’t really care for the writing style.

Bottom Line: I cant really recommend this book. I gave it two stars, but very meh for me. I would recommend reading Hello, Sunshine or My Not So Perfect Life over this.

**I received a copy of Sociable from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Mooseletoe by Tiffinie Helmer

A matchmaking moose is determined to bring together an unlikely pair. Holly Noelle Snow loves Christmas so much she could be one of Santa’s elves, and Reese Sutton might as well be Scrooge. 

This was such a cute Christmas read! I read this in a span of about two days and it gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels.

Bottom Line: It is a little cheesy and predictable, but the perfect Christmas romance!

This Christmas by Jeannie Moon

Single mother Sabrina Gervais has built a happy life with her daughter Charlotte. Jake Killen’s career in professional hockey has brought him many rewards on and off the ice, but returning to New York brings back a flood of memories. When he sees Sabrina again, he discovers that he didn’t just away from her ten years ago, but also from their unborn child. 

I do love a good second chance romance. This was another quick read that I really enjoyed. Again, nothing mind blowing…but one of those feel good Christmas romance stories. I do like that it makes you think about what you would have done in Sabrina or Jake’s situation.

Bottom Line: Cute Christmas romance if you are in to those sorts of things.

The Trouble with Valentine’s Day by Rachel Gibson

Dumped by her boyfriend, stressed out by her job, Kate Hamilton needs to regroup and get back some self-esteem. Rob’s been more than burned by love and when Kate tries to seduce him in a bar, he completely rejects her. Little do they know they will meet again in a small town!

 This was a slow burn romance that really grew on me. You really get to know the main characters and see how first impressions might not always tell the whole story. I felt like the ending was a little anticlimactic, and sometimes I got a little frustrated with the misunderstands and miscommunication between Kate and Rob. I suppose that is what makes it a fun story though!

Bottom Line: Overall, a cute read and perfect since Valentine’s Day is coming up!

Currently Reading

Mean Streak by Sandra Brown