Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

Blogmas 2022: Book Review: Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}

Oh was I excited for this book to be released! I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Alison Cochrun’s previous book, The Charm Offensive and I couldn’t WAIT to get my hands on a copy of her newest book, Kiss Her Once for Me!

***And if you haven’t yet read The Charm Offensive….READ. THE. CHARM. OFFENSIVE. I absolutely DEVOURED that book, it’s so amazing.***

Goodreads Synopsis of Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}:

One year ago, recent Portland transplant Ellie Oliver had her dream job in animation and a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. But after a betrayal the next morning and the loss of her job soon after, she finds herself adrift, alone, and desperate for money.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she’s just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop’s landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate Ellie’s financial woes and isolation. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover it’s Jack—the mysterious woman she fell for over the course of one magical Christmas Eve the year before. Now, Ellie must choose between the safety of a fake relationship and the risk of something real.

My Review of Kiss Her Once For Me {Alison Cochrun}:

Aaaaaaand exactly as expected…I loved it 🙂

It’s wonderful! I LOVED the characters…each so intricate, so complicated, and so beautifully written. I loved the humor and found myself smiling while reading at many different points. I loved the overall messages and takeaways from this book (which I won’t say because I would never spoil a book for you)!

**Side Note: I think the name Ellie Oliver might be the cutest character name I’ve read.**

Alison Cochrun has such a gift and whatever she writes, I will absolutely read. Her writing just flows so well…does that even make sense?! I adore her!

Kiss Her Once for Me is such a delightful holiday book and as someone who LOVES the snow, all of the beautiful snowy scenes made my heart so happy 🙂

Bottom Line:

Loved it.

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

Blogmas 2022 Posts:

12/1 Welcome to Blogmas 2022 {Video)!!

12/2 BLOGMAS 2022: Happy Birthday to ME {Target Gift Card Giveaway}

12/3 Blogmas 2022: Book Review: The Holiday Swap {Maggie Knox}

12/4 Blogmas 2022: The Bookish Gift I Bought For Myself

12/5 Blogmas 2022: Winter Wonderland Book Tag

12/6 Blogmas 2022: 6 Books I Want To Read in 2023

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!*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

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Book Review: Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}

Book Review: Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}

Goodreads Synopsis of Hostage {Clare Macintosh):

You can save hundreds of lives. Or the one that matters most.

A claustrophobic thriller set over twenty hours on one airplane flight, with the heart-stopping tension of The Last Flight and the wrenching emotional intensity of Room, Hostage takes us on board the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney.

Mina is trying to focus on her job as a flight attendant, not the problems of her five-year-old daughter back home, or the fissures in her marriage. But the plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.

It’s twenty hours to landing. A lot can happen in twenty hours.

My Review of Hostage {Clare Mackintosh}:

Do you remember when I was deciding which to read of 2 books that had similar sounding stories (you can read that post HERE)? I ended up choosing the other book and absolutely LOVED IT (you can read my review of that amazing book HERE).

The subject of plane hijacking is obviously quite a heavy one and most definitely NOT one that I wanted to read back to back books about. I let a few months pass and then when I saw Hostage on the library shelf, I decided that enough time had passed between reading the 2 and I was ready to dig in!

My thoughts?

I liked the other book more. A lot more.

Hostage is good….very good. The other book is incredible.

Hostage had some interesting storylines and plot twists but none that completely grabbed me in the ways in which the other book did. I couldn’t put the other book down! I could (and did) put this one down. Often.

I WILL say that the actual way in which this story was told from the various perspectives and timelines was VERY interesting.

There was a ridiculous number of characters in this book and it was hard to keep everyone and all of their backstories straight. Shocking storylines weren’t nearly as shocking as they should have been because I didn’t know who anyone was and kept confusing the characters. I found myself flipping back to different parts of the book to refresh my memory of who everyone was. I can only imagine how frustrating listening to this as an audiobook would be.

On a side note…the editing. I must start by saying that I’m absolutely sure that editing a book is a VERY, VERY tough job. That being said, the editing in this book was…how can I say this…I’ll just give an example instead. There was a paragraph that clearly was rewritten to include more description. How do I know this? Because BOTH paragraphs made it into the final printed version of the book one right under the other. In all of my years of reading many, many, MANY books that was indeed a first for me. Yikes.

Bottom Line:

Read the other book. It’s AMAZING.

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

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!*

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

Long Time, No Blog

Warning: This blog post is going to be alllll over the place 😉

Oh MAN have I been busy! My family took a 4 day mini vacation over Spring Break, I have been planning a massive PTO fundraiser, and day to day life has just been insane in all of the very best ways. Busy and happy over here 🙂

In book news, I’m still reading this gem and am loving it!

At the waterpark while on our family’s mini vacation!

I’ll post my full review once I finish but in the meantime, I’ll just say to preorder this one STAT (link to preorder HERE)! It officially releases 5/17 and I know it’s going to be HUGE! I adore Rochelle Weinstein (both as a person and as an author) and I absolutely love her books and writing style (you can read my reviews of 2 of her other books HERE and HERE).

Goodreads Synopsis of When We Let Go {Rochelle B. Weinstein}:

When Avery Beckett is proposed to by Jude Masters, a widowed father and the man she loves, it should be a time of great joy. Instead, Avery is on edge. She’s wary of the idea of family, doubtful of happy endings, and too afraid to take the leap. It’s the kind of fear that comes from having secrets.

Before Avery commits to a new life, she must reconcile with the one she left behind.

When Avery returns to her childhood farm in the North Carolina mountains, she’s surprised to be saddled with a companion: Jude’s teenage daughter, Elle, who’s grappling with the loss of her mother and the complicated emotions of first love. On a path of mending wounds and breaking down walls, Avery and Elle form an unexpected alliance. It’s giving them the courage to move forward. And for Avery, everything she needs to confront the past.

An emotional tale of mothers and daughters, loss and acceptance, When We Let Go is about the lessons that come from heartbreak and the healing it takes to embrace the joy of a second chance.

In other book news, I returned these books to the library a few days ago without even cracking open the covers because I wasn’t able to renew them for any longer. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. Have you read any of these? I think they all sound great!

I’m currently listening to this audiobook which has been on my TBR for years. I’ll post my review once I finish listening!

Goodreads Synopsis of The Flat Share {Beth O’Leary}:

Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

In coffee news, a brand new and beaaaaautiful Dunkin’ opened literally walking distance from my house with a drive thru. It’s an actual dream come true! It officially opened 4 days ago and I’ve already gone twice. Welcome to the neighborhood, new friend 😉

And because this blog post isn’t random enough, here is the 750 calorie Crumbl Cookie that I inhaled last night and the STUNNING candle holder that I recently bought from Bath and Body Works.

I’m currently working on a wonderful giveaway coming soon for SUPER interesting book! Stay tuned…

I told you that this was going to be a VERY random blog post! How are you? What are you currently reading? I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

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:

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The 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

Sprained Ankle.

Well that was quite the unintentional break that I took from blogging! Ugh. It’s been…well it’s been a bit stressful for me over here and unfortunately blogging just kind of took a back burner for the past few weeks. I’m so sorry! The catalyst for all of the stress is that I sprained my ankle last month and it’s made me quite sad. I wish I had some big elaborate story of how it happened but alas, I do not. I was walking towards a book (always) and I fell down a stair. In my own house. A stair that has been there since we bought the house 12 years ago. I was so laser focused on the book (again, always) that I simply forgot about the stair. I flew across the room and absolutely nothing about the scenario was graceful or feminine. So for the past 4 weeks, I’ve been elevating and icing my poor ankle 3 times a day. It’s SO much better but still very much healing. I’m totally ok! I’ve still been out and about, working, etc. just trying not to overdo it.

Although I have most definitely been out and about, pretty much anytime I’ve been home I’ve been doing the good ol’ icing and elevating (I’m still doing this 3 times each day). Here are some glamorous scenes from the past month, lol:

**NOTE: The above pictures were all taken within the first two weeks of my injury and I was using frozen peas like a boss. However, I have since ordered an AMAZING little contraption off of Amazon and I highly recommend it! Much better and fancier than the peas! I tried to link it for you but Amazon says it’s now unavailable. Aaaaand now my book blog has turned into a medical device discussion. Lovely.**

If you are new blog reader, you should know that this definitely happens to me more often that it should. Since I have started blogging, I have broken my elbow (story HERE) and broken my toe (story HERE). One miiiiiiiight call me clumsy. That’s not true….EVERYONE calls me clumsy. Lord.

Like I said, I am feeling SO much better and I even wore high heels for the first time since all of this happened! Saturday night was the best night filled with love and support for the beautiful Lisa Barr. I feel so honored that I was invited to her amazing book launch party! I will definately elaborate on this party and all of it’s amazingness in a future blog post but for now, here’s a photo of me from the party (wearing big girl high heels with a bum ankle, lol):

(If you haven’t yet read Lisa’s newest book, it’s a MUST READ. Here is a link to my blog post all about it: Book Review: Woman On Fire {Lisa Barr})

The GOOD news is that being off of my feet has given me PLENTY of time to read! I’ve read 3 books and have listened to 3 audiobooks since I fell! I will work on writing and getting those reviews posted ASAP.

Book I’m Currently Reading:

Goodreads Synopsis of The Paris Apartment {Lucy Foley}:

Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.

The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.

The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge

Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.

Audiobook I’m Currently Listening To:

Goodreads Synopsis of The Woman Next Door {Natasha Boydell}:

Sophie is a happily married mum of two who considers herself lucky—until her beautiful and highly successful new neighbour Angie moves in along with her charming husband and four talented children. The two women couldn’t be more different, but after a storm brings them together, an unlikely friendship develops. As their children grow closer, so does their bond.

But the alliance between the families is a wake-up call for both women. Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.

But their decisions may not lead where they expect, in this absorbing novel about risks and relationships by the author of The Missing Husband that explores whether the grass is always greener on the other side of the garden fence . . .

I’ll let you know how both of these books are once I finish reading and listening!

And because this post isn’t all over the place enough, here is a photo of the most delicious candle that is lit next to me as I’m typing. I randomly bought it from Charming Charlie’s in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue a few months ago but am lighting it for the first time right now! It’s truly divine (see what I did there?!)

Happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

Click the images below to order the books through my Amazon affiliate links. 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)*

*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 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

Book Review: Woman On Fire {Lisa Barr}

Book Review: Woman On Fire {Lisa Barr}

Months ago, I was sent an advance reader’s copy of Lisa Barr’s newest book and I was EXCITED! I absolutely LOVED The Unbreakables (you can read my review HERE). I loved that book so much that I had VERY high expectations for this one…and I’m very pleased to say that I loved it just as much as I hoped that I would 🙂

Goodreads Synopsis of Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}:

After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual–and very secret–assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying.

Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.

A thrilling tale of secrets, love, and sacrifice that illuminates the destructive cruelty of war and greed and the triumphant power of beauty and love, Woman on Fire tells the story of a remarkable woman and an exquisite work of art that burns bright, moving through hands, hearts, and history.

My Review of Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}:

Lisa Barr, I absolutely adore you and your books.

Woman on Fire is so interesting, fascinating, and wonderful. The characters were fantastic (Ellis was my favorite) and the storylines were complicated and all woven together flawlessly.

I learned SO MUCH from reading this book. I had no idea about the topic of stolen art during this time period and I found the details FASCINATING. Combine that fascinating story with absolutely brilliant writing and this book is just wonderful.

The last 100ish pages were AMAZING. My favorite part of the entire book! I don’t think I took a single breath while reading those pages, omg. I was allllll in. Heart pounding, tears streaming. Awesome. Unforgettable.

Unrelated Side Note: I want a pair of Anika Baums. Badly.

Lisa, I LOVE YOU! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful book with me. I’m so happy to be able to spread the word and to be a member of the select bunch who has been able to be the first to read this amazing story. You have such a wonderful gift with words and storytelling. I’m a huge fan both of you as an author as well as you as a person! HUGS!

Evidence of my love. This book came evvvvverywhere with me for days so I could sneak in a bit of reading wherever I was! Couldn’t put it down!

Have you preordered your copy yet (link to order below)? Something tells me that this one will be FLYING off the shelves…I would highly suggest getting your order in NOW!

Xo,

Jenny

Bottom Line:

This book is FASCINATING.

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

Xo,

Jenny

Click the image below to preorder 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)*

*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 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 most viewed posts of 2021 can be found HERE

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 Most Viewed Posts of 2021

Book Coffee Happy’s 12 Most Viewed Posts of 2021

Oh man, Blogmas. I tried!!! The official Blogmas goal is to post every single day in December from December 1st until Christmas. I made it to the 21st before life and a magical staycation in downtown Chicago got in the way of completing the goal. I’m super proud that I was able to post as much as I did and I’m already planning next year’s Blogmas schedule! Such a fun thing for bloggers to do. I actually really loved doing it which is quite surprising considering my reservations about it (you can watch the video of me sharing my thoughts on that HERE). So until next year, Blogmas…it’s been fun!

So today is 12/29 and although I was thinking I would take this time off from blogging, I thought I would share a little recap of Book Coffee Happy’s most viewed posts from the past year! Seems weird to post something like this in January, lol.

I love writing my little hobby so much and it warms my heart that so many of you love reading it! Thank you for all of your kind words and support throughout the years. Book Coffee Happy is just getting started…I’ve got some big plans for this little blog in 2022!

I always find my analytics so interesting and I love to see which posts are the most viewed by you. Most of the highly viewed posts on my blog make perfect sense to me but some….do NOT, lol.

Here in order from the 12th most viewed post of 2021 to the #1 most viewed post of 2021

#12

Sex. Hot, Steamy Sex. And so Much More…This Book is AWESOME.

I’m so glad that so many of you have read this post because I LOVE THAT BOOK SO MUCH! Aaaaaaand now I’m wondering if starting blog posts that start with the word “Sex” might just be a wonderful attention grabber, lol…???

#11

I was Wrong. So Very Wrong. This Book is AMAZING.

I wrote this post in 2020 and I’m so glad that so many of you are still reading it in 2021. This book is beautiful! I spent waaaaaaay too long resisting it and I’m so glad I finally read it. Highly, highly recommend this gorgeous book.

#10

My Top Book Recommendations

The fact that this is one of my most visited posts of 2021 comes as zero surprise. It’s a book blog…obviously people want to know my top book recommendations! I actually wrote that post back in 2019! I’m thinking an updated post should be on the 2022 agenda…

#9

One of the Best Books I’ve Ever Read

Oh I love this book so much. I’m so glad so many of you have read this post and have read this book as a result.

#8

The Best Book I Have Ever Read.

I mean….with a title like that, I’m not surprised that this post is so popular. I’m so glad it is…READ THAT BOOK.

#7

Book Review: The Housekeeper {Natalie Barelli}

I honestly have NO IDEA why this post is so highly visited. I can barely even remember the book let alone the post? For some reason, this post continuously gets so much traffic and it blows my mind.

#6

Book Review (Unpopular Opinion): Then She Was Gone {Lisa Jewell}

I’m honestly not sure why people love this book OR this blog post, lol???

#5

**DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK** Book Review: Tampa {Alissa Nutting}

Oh god I hate that I’m even including this VILE book on here because the very last thing I want to do is to draw attention to it. This book is DISGUSTING. I’ve never, ever said this about a book before but please don’t buy it.

#4

The 12 Best Books I Read in 2020

YES. I still stand by every single one!

#3

Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea {TJ Klune}…But You Shouldn’t!

Eh this book. I just couldn’t do it.

#2

Why I Stopped Reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo {Taylor Jenkins Reid}…But You Shouldn’t!

So this blog post has an insane amount of traffic to it EVERY SINGLE DAY from alllll around the globe. I honestly don’t know why but it literally has had so many thousands of page views and that kind of blows my mind.

#1

I Was Stuck On A Mountain in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Well this comes at NO SURPRISE considering this post went viral last winter when Google put it on their homepage! It was super exciting and thanks to Google, thousands and thousands and THOUSANDS of new readers have since found my little blog. You can read the insane and awesome story of when it was on Google’s homepage HERE! This week is the 1 year anniversary of being stuck on that mountain….what a craaaaaazy vacation that was!

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

12/6: BLOGMAS Book Review: The Christmas Wedding {James Patterson}

12/7: BLOGMAS: (Non Holiday) Book Review: Other People’s Children {R.J. Hoffmann}

12/8: BLOGMAS: I Bought 5 New Books!

12/9: BLOGMAS: 8 Holiday Books I Want To Read

12/10: BLOGMAS: Must Have Book Accessory #4

12/11: BLOGMAS: The Holiday Drinks Book Tag

12/12: BLOGMAS: Book Review (Non Holiday): The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend {Katrina Bivald}

12/13: BLOGMAS: Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, I Thing Currently Making me HAPPY!

12/14: BLOGMAS: (Non Holiday) Book Review: The Photographer {Mary Dixie Carter}

12/15: BLOGMAS: 6 Books I Want To Read in 2022

12/16: BLOGMAS: GIVEAWAY {Amazon Gift Card}! Book Coffee Happy Readers Are The KINDEST!

12/17: BLOGMAS: A Change In My December Reading Plans!

12/18: BLOGMAS: The 13 Best Books I Read in 2021

12/19: BLOGMAS: Books To Give As Gifts

12/20: BLOGMAS Book Series Review: The Winter Novels 1-3 {Joanne Demaio}

12/21: BLOGMAS: {Video} Favorite Reading Accessories #5 and #6

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 13 best books I read in 2021 can be found HERE

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:

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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:

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*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

Book Review (Unpopular Opinion): In My Dreams I Hold A Knife {Ashley Winstead}

Book Review (Unpopular Opinion): In My Dreams I Hold A Knife {Ashley Winstead}

I had said this in a blog post that I wrote a few weeks ago about In My Dreams I Hold A Knife {Ashley Winstead} and I still stand by these words today:

“It seems EVERYONE is reading this book right now and I’ve heard it’s AWESOME. I can’t wait to get started! If you are someone looking to read the latest book that EVERYONE will be reading and talking about…here you go :)”

Goodreads Synopsis of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife {Ashley Winstead}:

A college reunion turns dark and deadly in this chilling and propulsive suspense novel about six friends, one unsolved murder, and the dark secrets they’ve been hiding from each other—and themselves—for a decade.

Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent—not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year. Ten years ago, everything fell apart, including the dreams she worked for her whole life—and her relationship with the one person she wasn’t supposed to love.

But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.

Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is an addictive, propulsive read you won’t be able to put down.

My Review of In My Dreams I Hold A Knife {Ashley Winstead}:

I didn’t love it and it CERTAINLY isn’t worthy of the hype it has created.

Before I get into all of the reasons why this book wasn’t for me, I must say that it is SUPER popular right now and many other people LOVE it!

Now that I’ve cleared up that so many people love this book, I will indulge you with all of the reasons that I, in fact, did not.

I found each character more unlikeable, more immature, and more unrelatable than the next. These 20 somethings acted like children half the time! Some twists I found predictable, some I didn’t but overall I just didn’t love it. I found the entire book incredibly cliched and so, so cheesy.

The timelines in this book are allllllll over the place. Present, past, more recent past, back to present, more recent past, FAR away past, present, etc. I HATE WHEN BOOKS DO THIS. WHY DO BOOKS DO THIS????

Now all of that being said, it DID hold my interest long enough for me to actually finish reading it which is more than I can say for many of the other books I’ve been reading lately! So there’s that.

Bottom Line:

SO many people are loving this book! I am clearly not one of those people 😉

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

Xo,

Jenny

Clearly this book wasn’t 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)*

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*”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.*

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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

The Book That Got Me OUT Of My Book Rut!

SEE YA BOOK RUT!

My son bought me this coffee mug and I love it so, so much. It’s perfectly creepy.

So to those of you who have been following my STUPID book rut…it’s officially OVER.

I have finished reading a book. Let me repeat…I HAVE FINISHED READING A BOOK. It has been WEEKS since I’ve done that and it feels positively fantastic. Starting books and not finishing them is hell but sometimes it needs to be done. And MAN have I done that a lot recently.

The Book That Got Me Out of My Book Rut:

Goodreads Synopsis of Firsts {Laurie Elizabeth Flynn}:

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.

When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process.

My Review of Firsts {Laurie Elizabeth Flynn}:

Ok so I didn’t love it. Each character was more unlikable than the next (especially the main character which made it completely impossible to root for her). The storylines were so far fetched and unbelievable.

HOWEVER….

It held my interest enough for me to finish reading the entire book which is something that hasn’t happened in WAY TOO LONG (weeks!!!). If you haven’t been following my book rut, HERE is a link which explains the utter hell I have been going though. And HERE is a link to the book that I THOUGHT was going to get me out of the stupid rut buuuuuuut….did not. Ugh.

Did I love Firsts? No. Did it grab me in the way that I thought I needed a book to in order for my book rut to end? No. Was it well written with easy to read, short chapters (my favorite)? Sure was! I’ll take it! WINNER!

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a quick read, this book is good. Not great…but good enough for me to say SEE YA, BOOK RUT!

**If any of you are currently going through a book rut, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.**

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

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)*

*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