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Kiwiria's November Novels
Nov. 29th, 2024 01:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kiwiriaI know it's only the 29th today, but I literally JUST finished a book on my way to work, and am going out all evening and most of tomorrow, so really doubt I'll be able to finish anything :-P
The Paradise Problem - Christina Lauren, 3/5, Audiobook ~12 hrs
I mostly liked it. I loved the setting. I liked Reagan and the crazy sister-in-law (Beatrice? I listened to the audiobook version, and can't remember her name, other than that it started with B). I appreciated that the third act breakup was decently handled (even if I hated the fact that they decided to include it at all - the external conflict would have been more than enough to add suspense to the book. Chick-lit authors, this is a plea to JUST STOP ADDING THAT ALREADY!!! *Cough* Anyways ... I digress ...).
However - and this is a rather big deal - I did not buy the romance at all. Sure, there was lust - but love? No, I just didn't see it. Liam and Anna acted like friends who decided to have sex - not as two people falling in love with each other.
The lack of communication between Liam and his siblings frustrated me. I kinda get Alex as they were at odds, but Jack? Charlie? It seemed pointless.
And finally, it annoyed me that Ray had no redeeming features. He was just cartoonishly evil.
Unfortunately not Christina Lauren's best work. I still enjoyed reading it - but I didn't love it, the way had expected to.
The Book Club Hotel - Sarah Morgan, 4.5/5, 330 pages
Rounded up on goodreads because of the sheer delight it brought me to read. I would have read this in a single setting if it hadn't been for that pesky sleep getting in the way! As it was, I started it Sunday evening and finished it Monday morning before work X-D
More a "December-book" than a "Christmas-book", so not too christmassy to read in the start of November, but an excellent way to kick off the season. I actually hadn't realized it was christmassy at all when I picked it up, as neither the Danish title ("The Book Club in Vermont") nor the back blurb gave it away. It wasn't until I went to add it on goodreads, and discovered I already owned a kindle version called "The Christmas Book Club" that I realized I had once again been foiled by two different titles to the same book!
Fortunately it was an absolutely delightful book, so I really don't mind owning both an e-copy and a physical copy. Of course I had seen the ending a mile away, but I enjoyed seeing how the characters got there, and loved that there was no pesky "third act break-up" and no miscommunication. Instead what I got was a group of friends who'd clearly go through fire for each other, an established couple who made mistakes but TALKED about them, an adorable and precocious 5-year-old, and the most charming setting I could have wished for.
My only complaint is that I can't go visit Maple Sugar Inn myself now! This could easily become a Christmas stable for me.
Twelve Days of Christmas - Trisha Ashley*, 4.5/5, 402 pages
It had everything I'd like in a Christmas story - lots of details about Christmas preparations, engaging characters, a child to experience Christmas through, and of course a suitable romance to tie it all up in a nice little bow :)
It was sweet without being sugary and had me wanting to celebrate Christmas together with Holly, Jess and all the others... although I guess I could do without Coco and Guy!
I'd forgotten how sudden the ending was though! From 0 to proposal in no time! Ah well - I still love it :-D
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~6hrs
By The Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~6hrs
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, Audiobook ~7 hrs
I felt like rereading these, and was fortunate enough to find audiobook versions that included fiddle playing and singing! I loved finally hearing how all of Pa's songs went :-D And as always, they are wonderful comfort reads :-D
The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan*, 4.5/5, 328 pages
Reread to get me into the proper mood for my Edinburgh Christmas trip. Worked like a charm too! :-D Even if Carmen did annoy me from time to time - the setting couldn't be beat!
Books Read: 112
Book of the Month: "The Christmas Book Club" / "The Book Club Hotel" - absolutely delightful!
The Paradise Problem - Christina Lauren, 3/5, Audiobook ~12 hrs
I mostly liked it. I loved the setting. I liked Reagan and the crazy sister-in-law (Beatrice? I listened to the audiobook version, and can't remember her name, other than that it started with B). I appreciated that the third act breakup was decently handled (even if I hated the fact that they decided to include it at all - the external conflict would have been more than enough to add suspense to the book. Chick-lit authors, this is a plea to JUST STOP ADDING THAT ALREADY!!! *Cough* Anyways ... I digress ...).
However - and this is a rather big deal - I did not buy the romance at all. Sure, there was lust - but love? No, I just didn't see it. Liam and Anna acted like friends who decided to have sex - not as two people falling in love with each other.
The lack of communication between Liam and his siblings frustrated me. I kinda get Alex as they were at odds, but Jack? Charlie? It seemed pointless.
And finally, it annoyed me that Ray had no redeeming features. He was just cartoonishly evil.
Unfortunately not Christina Lauren's best work. I still enjoyed reading it - but I didn't love it, the way had expected to.
The Book Club Hotel - Sarah Morgan, 4.5/5, 330 pages
Rounded up on goodreads because of the sheer delight it brought me to read. I would have read this in a single setting if it hadn't been for that pesky sleep getting in the way! As it was, I started it Sunday evening and finished it Monday morning before work X-D
More a "December-book" than a "Christmas-book", so not too christmassy to read in the start of November, but an excellent way to kick off the season. I actually hadn't realized it was christmassy at all when I picked it up, as neither the Danish title ("The Book Club in Vermont") nor the back blurb gave it away. It wasn't until I went to add it on goodreads, and discovered I already owned a kindle version called "The Christmas Book Club" that I realized I had once again been foiled by two different titles to the same book!
Fortunately it was an absolutely delightful book, so I really don't mind owning both an e-copy and a physical copy. Of course I had seen the ending a mile away, but I enjoyed seeing how the characters got there, and loved that there was no pesky "third act break-up" and no miscommunication. Instead what I got was a group of friends who'd clearly go through fire for each other, an established couple who made mistakes but TALKED about them, an adorable and precocious 5-year-old, and the most charming setting I could have wished for.
My only complaint is that I can't go visit Maple Sugar Inn myself now! This could easily become a Christmas stable for me.
Twelve Days of Christmas - Trisha Ashley*, 4.5/5, 402 pages
It had everything I'd like in a Christmas story - lots of details about Christmas preparations, engaging characters, a child to experience Christmas through, and of course a suitable romance to tie it all up in a nice little bow :)
It was sweet without being sugary and had me wanting to celebrate Christmas together with Holly, Jess and all the others... although I guess I could do without Coco and Guy!
I'd forgotten how sudden the ending was though! From 0 to proposal in no time! Ah well - I still love it :-D
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~6hrs
By The Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~6hrs
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 4.5/5, Audiobook ~7hrs
These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder*, 5/5, Audiobook ~7 hrs
I felt like rereading these, and was fortunate enough to find audiobook versions that included fiddle playing and singing! I loved finally hearing how all of Pa's songs went :-D And as always, they are wonderful comfort reads :-D
The Christmas Bookshop - Jenny Colgan*, 4.5/5, 328 pages
Reread to get me into the proper mood for my Edinburgh Christmas trip. Worked like a charm too! :-D Even if Carmen did annoy me from time to time - the setting couldn't be beat!
Books Read: 112
Book of the Month: "The Christmas Book Club" / "The Book Club Hotel" - absolutely delightful!
