Books I've Been Reading in December

 I set a goal last month to try and read 10 books this month so I could end my year with an even 116 books read.  It wasn't a hard goal to meet either with so many cute holiday novels to read.  I sprinkled in lots of non-holiday novels too and found lots of great books to wrap up my year with. 

1. American Royals II: Majesty by Katharine McGee-- I know many bloggers were disappointed in this second book of the royals series but I thought it was just as cute as the first.  So much drama and misunderstanding unfolding between all the characters from the first book just as Beatrice moves forwards towards her wedding date.  

2. Wings of Fire: Winter Turning by Tui T. Sutherland -- Alec convinced me to read the second book in the series I started last month and I thought it was equally adorable.  I really like how each book in the series focuses on a different dragon and is told from their perspective that way you really get to know their personalities.  The dragons are working together to find Winter's long lost brother and to stop a horrible prophecy from coming true. 

3.  Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany-- A little murder mystery in a town called Rudolph.  When Merry's parade float tractor breaks down it's a real disappointment but no one suspects any sort of foul play; until a reporter turns up dead in the park after the town's cookie party and an unexpected fire breaks out at one of the town's biggest nights of the year.  

4.  The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin-- This books reminded me a lot of Gray's Anatomy.  Two best friends Emma and Zadie went through medical school together.  They now practice medicine in the same town and their kids are growing up together.  When an old mentor of theirs begins working with Emma lots of old memories and secrets come bubbling up to the surface. 

5. Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb-- In the latest installment of the Eve Dallas series (book #51) Eve and her husband Roarke are up against one of his old enemies from the mean streets of Dublin.  This case is so big that Interpol is called in to consult.  I thought I had read all the books in the series but was really surprised to find that Roarke has family in Ireland that he seems rather close to; I'll have to look up a few of the older novels I guess and get caught up.  

6.  Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler-- When Haley's boss sends her to Christmas Camp to prepare for a big advertising campaign, Haley has every intention of finishing up the camp activities as quickly as possible so she can get back to her life.  But once at the Inn Ben, his son Jeff and all the other campers soon worm their way into Haley's heart.  It was such a cute and heartwarming story-- by far my favorite Christmas book I read this year. 

7.  Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber-- Josie worked in an Alaskan lodge the summer before starting a career changing job working as a sous chef at a brand new up and coming restaurant in Seattle.  While in Alaska she fell in love with Palmer and made some wonderful friends.  She was so reluctant to leave but knew her new job was waiting.  Promising herself and Palmer that she would give her new job a year and then re-evaluate her life she heads back to Seattle but the new job isn't all she dreamed it would be and she misses Palmer so much but he starts acting distant and their calls become fewer and fewer.  Will Josie lose everything she holds dear for a job she doesn't love? A cute and fairly predictable love story that takes place over the winter holidays. 

8. A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson-- A cute little story that I read in less than 24 hours.  Wendy and her son Jackson are heading to her old family seaside cottage in Maine that Wendy just inherited.  She hopes to fix it up in just a few weeks to sell and cover her debts.  Both Wendy and her son fall in love with life in Seaside and all the new friends they're making but as much as they might wish to stay, Wendy just can't see a way to make it work.  I thought this was a pretty cute story but, for me, the last chapter just wrapped things up a bit too neatly and a bit out of nowhere.  Reminds me of a cheesy Hallmark movie in book form-- which isn't a bad thing as it made for a nice and cute holiday feel good novel.  

9. The Coincidence of Cake by Amy E. Reichert-- I picked this book up after so many readers recommended it to me this fall when I read the Simplicity of Cider by the same author.  I just LOVED it!  I connected pretty quickly with Lou; the main character that often thinks in terms of food and recipes.  She has had her restaurant up and running for year when she has a real "off" night after finding her fiancé cheating on her.  Sadly, it's also the night a scathing food critic visits and just tears her to shreds with his review.  When the two bump into one another and become friends neither realizes who the other is and by the time they do 

10. Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon-- A cute young adult novel that I zipped through in just a day or two.  Rowan and Neil have been bitter rivals all through high school.  On the night of Howl; a scavenger hunt that takes them all around the city the two reluctantly team up and discover that they might actually like one another and perhaps have a future together. 

Make sure you pop in tomorrow to read about my favorite books of the year! 

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