BLOGMAS Book Review: The Christmas Wedding {James Patterson}

BLOGMAS Book Review: Christmas Wedding {James Patterson}

I read this book last December while our family was on vacation in Tennessee. You might remember how I was stuck on a mountain during a blizzard with no power and low food supply? If not, you can read that crazy story HERE 🙂 While on that mountain, I read a very long, dramatic, and HEAVY book (review of that wonderful book HERE) and when I finished, I knew that my next read needed to be something much lighter. The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson (and Richard DiLallo!) was a perfect selection to read starting on the last day of our trip and review once I came back home!

The only issue was that I literally finished reading this book on December 31, 2020 and by December 31st…who wants to read a Christmas book?! I figured that I would wait and review this one during the appropriate holiday season, even if my review had to wait a year before I published it!

Goodreads Synopsis of The Christmas Wedding {James Patterson}:

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill’s wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby’s four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven’t celebrated Christmas together since their father’s death, but when Gaby announces that she’s getting married–and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day–she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn’t Gaby’s only surprise–she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

My Review of The Christmas Wedding {James Patterson}:

This book is EXACTLY what I was hoping it would be. Light, quick, easy to read, nothing too deep. After just finishing my previous book, I NEEDED something LIGHT. This book was perfect.

My only complaint…how is this not a book series??? This book follows the lives of a big family and each has chapters dedicated to their stories. It reminded me SO MUCH of Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter series (if you haven’t read those books, READ. THOSE. BOOKS. You can check out my review of them HERE). The Christmas Wedding feels so little like a standalone novel…this family really should be a series.

I read this book over a few days but honestly could have easily read it in one sitting. It’s only 266 pages long (short like Winter Street) and composed of 64 teeny tiny chapters…my favorite!

And it has a cheat sheet with all of the characters! WHY DON’T ALL BOOKS DO THIS?!?!? First 3 pages of the book. I probably looked back at this “cheat sheet” 20 times while reading the rest of the book. There were a lot of characters in this book but this basic summary made it so easy to keep everyone straight. LOVE. I so wish every single book had something like this. You can read more about why I hate when books have too many characters HERE.

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for an easy holiday read, this book is great! I actually enjoyed it way more than I was expecting to.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2021 Posts:

12/1: Welcome to Blogmas 2021 {Video}!

12:2: BLOGMAS: Birthday Giveaway {Amazon Gift Card}!

12/3: BLOGMAS Book Review: One Day in December {Josie Silver}

12/4: BLOGMAS: My Birthday Visit to Barnes and Noble!

12/5: BLOGMAS: 3 Library Books I Recently Returned Without Reading

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

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The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

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BLOGMAS: 3 Library Books I Recently Returned Without Reading

Blogmas: 3 Library Books I Recently Returned Without Reading

I recently saw this bookshelf while shopping at a craft mall. How beautiful is this display??

Is there anything worse than returning a library book without reading it??? Yes…returning THREE of them!

Once mid November hit, I made the switch to reading ONLY holiday books for the remainder of the year. More specifically, feel good, Christmas spirit type holiday books. No genre better this time of year!

Unfortunatly I had a stack of NON holiday library books waiting for me to read. And they were due back to the library. STAT. So…back they went.

It hurts my heart when I have to return library books without reading them first! These 3 books look GREAT and I absolutely plan on reading them…but only during the non holiday season 😉

***All photos taken from the front seat of my car as I was parked in the library parking lot about to slide each into the return slot on the side of the building, lol. All shadows, angles, backgrounds, reflections, etc. are courtesy of my extremely last minute thought to turn this library excursion into a blog post, lol **

Returned Library Book #1: Yes Daddy {Jonathan Parks-Ramage}

This book synopsis somehow gives me the same vibe as THIS BOOK which I loved!

Goodreads Synopsis of Yes Daddy {Jonathan Parks-Ramage}:

A propulsive, scorching modern gothic, Yes, Daddy follows an ambitious young man who is lured by an older, successful playwright into a dizzying world of wealth and an idyllic Hamptons home where things take a nightmarish turn.

Jonah Keller moved to New York City with dreams of becoming a successful playwright, but, for the time being, lives in a rundown sublet in Bushwick, working extra hours at a restaurant only to barely make rent. When he stumbles upon a photo of Richard Shriver—the glamorous Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and quite possibly the stepping stone to the fame he craves—Jonah orchestrates their meeting. The two begin a hungry, passionate affair.

When summer arrives, Richard invites his young lover for a spell at his sprawling estate in the Hamptons. A tall iron fence surrounds the idyllic compound where Richard and a few of his close artist friends entertain, have lavish dinners, and—Jonah can’t help but notice—employ a waitstaff of young, attractive gay men, many of whom sport ugly bruises. Soon, Jonah is cast out of Richard’s good graces and a sinister underlay begins to emerge. As a series of transgressions lead inexorably to a violent climax, Jonah hurtles toward a decisive revenge that will shape the rest of his life.

Riveting, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, Yes, Daddy is an exploration of class, power dynamics, and the nuances of victimhood and complicity. It burns with weight and clarity—and offers hope that stories may hold the key to our healing.

Returned Library Book #2: The Sanatorium {Sarah Pearse}

I have had this book on my to read list for months. I just wish it didn’t have a Reese’s Book Club sticker on it! As you are well aware, I love Reese…but I do NOT always love her book selections. UGH.

This book already makes me think of THIS BOOK which I loved!

Goodreads Synopsis of The Sanatorium {Sarah Pearse}:

Ummm…that’s not a language that I speak. Huh. Hey Goodreads? Might want to fix that…

Let’s try this again.

Here is the Amazon.com Synopsis instead, lol:

Half-hidden by forest and overshadowed by threatening peaks, Le Sommet has always been a sinister place. Long plagued by troubling rumors, the former abandoned sanatorium has since been renovated into a five-star minimalist hotel.

An imposing, isolated getaway spot high up in the Swiss Alps is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But Elin’s taken time off from her job as a detective, so when her estranged brother, Isaac, and his fiancée, Laure, invite her to celebrate their engagement at the hotel, Elin really has no reason not to accept.

Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge–there’s something about the hotel that makes her nervous. And when they wake the following morning to discover Laure is missing, Elin must trust her instincts if they hope to find her. With the storm closing off all access to the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.

Elin is under pressure to find Laure, but no one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she’s the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they are all in. . .

Returned Library Book #3: Survive the Night {Riley Sager}

The only book I have ever read by Riley Sager was THIS ONE and it was great! Makes me excited to read Survive the Night!

Goodreads Synopsis of Survive the Night {Riley Sager}:

Charlie Jordan is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe.

Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news – the Campus Killer, who’s tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again.

Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh’s story.

As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she’s thinking.

Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.

Have you read any of these 3 books? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2021 Posts:

12/1: Welcome to Blogmas 2021 {Video}!

12:2: BLOGMAS: Birthday Giveaway {Amazon Gift Card}!

12/3: BLOGMAS Book Review: One Day in December {Josie Silver}

12/4: BLOGMAS: My Birthday Visit to Barnes and Noble!

Xo,

Jenny

Click the images below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

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*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

BLOGMAS: My Birthday Visit to Barnes and Noble!

BLOGMAS: My Birthday Visit to Barnes and Noble!

I had a few hours smack in the middle of the day on my birthday all to myself. I debated what to do with my time. Manicure? Maybe. Pedicure? Perhaps. Bookstore? Ummmm YES PLEASE. What a glorious way to spend my special afternoon! Barnes and Noble, here I come!

I drove straight to Barnes and Noble and found…drumroll please…IT. WAS. GONE. Ummm whaaaaat? Has it been THAT long since I last visited??? It’s not a secret that I would rather check out a library book than buy a book aaaaaaany day but still…how did this massive store just GO AWAY and I had no idea???

I found myself doing a Google search for “bookstores near me” (NERD ALERT) and found the closest Barnes and Noble was only 15 minutes away. Phew. I drove straight there, singing Christmas songs aloud in my car the entire time. Glorious.

Gorgeous holiday display as soon as I walked in. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR SO MUCH!

So the entire reason (ok obvi not the ENTIRE reason) that I went to Barnes and Noble was to buy myself a birthday present. Do any of you do that? I do it every single year, lol.

This was last year’s birthday present to myself:

So this year I decided that I wanted to buy myself a book and not just any book…but this beautiful Christmas Book:

Considering I had to credit the above photo to Amazon should be a spoiler on what I did NOT buy myself for my birthday, lol. Ugh I cannot find this book! Amazon is sold out, Barnes and Noble is sold out, and my name on the library waitlist seems to be quite far from the top. Grrrr.

They had plenty of Jenny Colgan’s other books in stock! Have you read any? I have not but they all look wonderful!

I DID come across these 2 books which I considered buying but ultimately did not. They both look so good!

Random bookish finds as I wandered aimlessly and happily around the store:

I almost bought this until I decided that it resembled a Christmas tree just a bit too much for this Jew, lol 🙂 However, just looking at this picture makes me think that I made a mistake. It’s so cute! I may need to go back!

Birthday Girl by the pretty wall in the bathroom, lol 😉

Thank you, Barnes and Noble, for an absolutely lovely afternoon. Although I didn’t buy a thing, I so appreciated just being there surrounded by my favorite objects: BOOKS!

What did I end up buying myself for my birthday? Random holiday jammies from Old Navy! I was excited about them until I took them home to try on. They are cut SO WEIRD!!! I l just loved that holiday sweater mug so much that I never even took the time to unfold them in the store. Oops. Lesson learned! Old Navy is so hit or miss and these are most definitely a MISS (although I still do love that holiday sweater mug). Back to the store they will go. I clearly still owe myself a birthday present! Maybe that adorable mug from Barnes and Noble…

If you can’t tell from the above photos, I am 100 percent obsessed with this time of year! Holiday scented candles, Christmas station on Pandora, holiday books, sweaters, scarves. NOW IT JUST NEEDS TO SNOOOOOOOW! MY FAVORITE!!!!

Birthday Giveaway Winner Video:

**Video has been deleted**

Blogmas 2021 Posts:

12/1: Welcome to Blogmas 2021 {Video}!

12:2: BLOGMAS: Birthday Giveaway {Amazon Gift Card}!

12/3: BLOGMAS Book Review: One Day in December {Josie Silver}

Have you been to Barnes and Noble recently?

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

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The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

BLOGMAS Book Review: One Day in December {Josie Silver}

BLOGMAS Book Review: One Day in December {Josie Silver}

Ok first of all, OMG you guys left the kindest and most lovely comments on my LAST POST! I was overwhelmed by all of your sweet words, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love writing this little blog and I love that so many of you shared how much you love reading it! I promise to respond to all of your comments ASAP but in the meantime, please know how much they mean to me and how each one made me smile.

There is still time to enter the Amazon gift card giveaway! All entries must be made by 6:00 CDT tonight in order to qualify. All of the giveaway details can be found on yesterday’s post! Good luck!

Today I have a review for you of a book that I read LAST December:

Goodreads Synopsis of One Day in December {Josie Silver}:

Two people. Ten chances. One unforgettable love story.

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic… and then her bus drives away.

Certain they’re fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn’t find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they “reunite” at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It’s Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.

What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.

My Review of One Day in December {Josie Silver}:

I love Reese Witherspoon but MAN do I disagree with SO MANY of her book club picks!

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I REALLY wanted to love it but sadly…I really didn’t.

This book felt looooooong. I won’t sugar coat it…I was so bored. The entire time. Even the “big” events somehow lacked the ability to feel big and the whole book just dragged for me.

A big part of the reason that I didn’t like this book was the fact that I didn’t like ANY of the characters. Each was so unlikable and so completely unrelatable in their own way!

The relationships between the characters in this book were so BEYOND flawed and many of the situations were so unrealistic. Ugh.

I LOVE romance. I LOVE fate and destiny and I LOVE Serendipity! This book was absolutely none of those.

The most annoying part? I waited for SUCH A LONG TIME to read this book because people say it’s a “holiday book” so obviously I had to read it in December. It’s NOT! Yes, the holidays are mentioned but overall I would NOT say this is a holiday book by any means. If you still want to read this book despite my scathing review, feel free to read it at any time throughout the year 🙂 If you are looking for an amazing holiday read, I highly recommend THESE BOOKS.

I was nervous to post the best books that I read in 2020 a few weeks before the year’s end in fear that I would read another book that should have been included in my list! Thankfully after reading this book, my list still stands firm, lol. I read this book at the very end of 2020! I have waited an entire year to post my review because…who wants to read a book called One Day in December during any other month? Not I!

Bottom Line:

392 pages….of nothing happening.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Blogmas 2021 Posts:

12/1: Welcome to Blogmas 2021 {Video}!

12/2: BLOGMAS: Birthday Giveaway {Amazon Gift Card}!

Xo,

Jenny

Clearly this book was not for me…but you might love it! Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

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*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The 12 Best Books I Read in 2020 can be found HERE

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

Welcome to Blogmas 2021 {Video}!

Blogmas 2021 is HERE and Book Coffee Happy is officially participating! Watch this short video which explains what Blogmas is, how Blogmas works, and why I’m so excited to finally be able for Book Coffee Happy to partake in the Blogmas fun:

Here’s to a fun month! Let’s do this!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

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*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

Autumnal Book Blog Tag

Ooooh I do love a good book blog tag! As soon as I saw this one on A Little But Alot, I knew I wanted to participate! I absolutely LOVE autumn…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Candles, pumpkins, scarves, creepiness, all of it! Today is the official first day of fall (!!!) so when is a better time to post this? HAPPY FALL, YA’LL!!!

The Autumnal Book Blog Tag

Are there any books you plan on reading over the autumn season?

OH YES. Snuggled under a warm blanket, coffee in hand, and with leaves falling around me. YES PLEASE. I have a bunch sitting here just waiting for me to read! I’ll keep you posted on titles as I read them!

September brings back to school memories: what book did you most enjoy studying? And what were your favourite and least favourite school subjects?

I absolutely LOVED reading The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger when I was in high school. I will always and forever have a copy of this book on my bookshelf!

Favorite Subject: Reading/Language Arts/English

Least Favorite Subject: Math

October means Halloween: do you enjoy scary books and films? If so what are some of your favourites?

YES! Scary books are AWESOME! HERE is a link to one that I absolutely loved reading. Highly recommend!

As for movies, I’m really not a big movie girl. Give me a book over a movie any day! However, I finally watched Hocus Pocus last year for the very first time (I know, I know) and I absolutely loved it. I’m thinking I might need to rewatch it each fall! So good!

With November it’s time for bonfire night and firework displays. What’s the most exciting book you’ve read that really kept you gripped?

I read THIS BOOK a few weeks ago and I was literally gripped from page 1. AWESOME BOOK. My heart is still pounding.

What book is your favourite cosy comfort read?

I VERY rarely reread books once I’ve read them. As far as favorite cozy comfort reads…I think just the ACT of reading is cozy and a comfort to me :).

Curled up with a good book, what is your hot drink of choice?

I mean, if you have ever read my blog AT ALL or even are just familiar my blog’s name….I really don’t need to answer this. Moving on…

Any plans you’re looking forward to over the next few months?

YES! Book Coffee Happy will be participating in Blogmas this year!

Whoo hoo!!!! I’ve been wanting to participate in this for 3 years and finally feel like I’m ready to commit! The definition of Blogmas according to Google:

Throughout December, many bloggers take part in a tradition called Blogmas, in which they post on their blog every day in December up until Christmas Day.

I will fill you in on allllll of the details (and specifically how Book Coffee Happy will be participating) as the time gets closer. I’m so excited to finally be able to participate! Stay tuned 🙂

If you have a blog and would like to complete this book tag, please tag me so I can see your answers! If you don’t have a blog but would like to participate, I’d love to read your answers in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE