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It’s the second Tuesday of the month and time to share my November Reads with Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Books link up. November was a slow reading month for me, with only five books read. None of them were horrible reads, so I can’t complain. I am disappointed though that I didn’t get to read a non-fiction book this month, which I was trying to do. Here is what I read last month:
3 stars:
As the Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz – Erin Murphy works at Murphy’s Mercantile, a gourmet specialty food store. In seems that she also likes to help solve murder investigations on the side. This is a Christmas-themed cozy mystery that I found to be just okay. This is number five in the Food Lovers’ Village Mystery series. I normally don’t like to read books in a series out of order, but I read this one because I wanted a Christmas read. I didn’t enjoy this book enough to read more in the series.
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult – Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy that she brings attention to controversial topics and writes from different perspectives. A Spark of Light is her newest book that deals with abortion and gun control. While the topics are big ones and will never be solved from a book, I think they are important ones that need to be discussed. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the book. I didn’t like the format, as it’s told going back in time the same day. I also felt like it was unfinished, with so many story lines and questions left unanswered.
4 stars:
Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren – Carter and Evie meet at a Halloween party. They hit it off and are attracted to each other. But after their companies merge, they discover that they will be competing against each other for a spot in the new company. This is my second Christina Lauren book and I enjoyed it a lot! I thought that this was a cute contemporary romance and found it interesting to see how cutthroat the Hollywood agent business is. I can’t wait to read more of this duo’s books!
Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison – Teenager Mindy Wright is a competitive skier with hopes of making it on the Olympic team. But during surgery after a skiing accident, doctors discover that she has a rare form of leukemia. A stem cell transplant is needed to help save Mindy’s life. But when her parents are tested and neither is a match, they learn that Mindy is not their biological daughter. This is a suspense/thriller read which had a bunch of surprises.
The White Christmas Inn by Colleen Wright – Jeanne and Tim are owners of The White Christmas Inn but are facing financial difficulties and are not sure how much longer they will be able to keep the Inn open. Due to a big snowstorm, there possible last Christmas at least results in a full house at the Inn, when travelers get stranded. Each guest has his/her own issue that they are dealing with, which because this is a Christmas story, results in a happy ending for all. I enjoy reading Christmas stories around the holidays. While this was of course a feel-good, story with Hallmark Movie potential, I didn’t think it was overly sappy.
I haven’t read Christina Lauren before but sounds like a fun book! If you enjoyed it, you might like The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Another office romance with competing coworkers!
I highly recommend Christina Lauren if you like contemporary romance. So far, the two books I’ve read I really enjoy. I have read The Hating Game and thought it was okay.
I felt the same about Spark of Light – I wish it was told forward, it did not work like that at all.
Yeah, a bit of a disappointing read.
i agree about a spark of light, i was very disappointed. glad you liked dating you/hating you. i’ve only read their newer stuff and have not ventured to their older stuff yet (the beautiful series) as i’ve heard it’s not as good. tear me apart sounds super interesting.
Yes, A Spark of Light was disappointing. I normally love Picoult. I only recently started reading Christina Lauren, so only two books read, but I’ve enjoyed them both!
Ive seen a few reviews of Spark of Light and they all have similar sentiments!
Yeah, if you’ve never read a Jodi Picoult book, I don’t recommend starting with this one.
I still have to read a spak of light but I get overdosed on Picoult if I read too much of her in a row. I read one last month so Ill wait till the new year 🙂 TFS these.
Yeah, I don’t even recommend reading this Picoult book. If you haven’t read some of her others, I’d go with those.
I love Picoult too but I overdose on her when I read too much of her in rapid succession. Ill pick up spark of light next year. TFS
I just put The White Christmas on my list. Thanks for the wonderful views. Enjoy your week.
It’s a cute Christmas read.
Ooh Tear Me Apart sounds like an intriguing one. And I really need to start reading my holiday books – I have a few that I’d like to get to, but I can always read them after Christmas as well.
-Lauren
Yes, Tear Me Apart had me guessing. I don’t think I have enough time to read anymore Christmas reads this year.
Tear Me Apart is on my radar. Glad to see it’s worth reading.
Yeah, I thought it was a decent suspense read.
Tear Me Apart sounds really good, adding it to my TBR. I’m trying to find a good holiday book to read. Normally, they don’t overly appeal to me but hoping one might put me in more of a holiday spirit. 😀
Holiday reads are always happy, feel-good reads. I like to read a couple to get in the holiday spirit!
I read Josh and Hazel last month and I think I’m all full on rom-com books, especially ones by that author.
I have been waiting for what feels like forever for A Spark of Light. That sentence reads weird.
I want to read Josh and Hazel! I almost recommend passing on A Spark of Light, but everyone has their own opinions.
Tear Me Apart sounds like a really interesting read! I’m always looking to add more thrillers to my list, so hopefully I’ll be able to add it soon!
Yeah, it’s been hard to find good thrillers recently and I found this one to be decent.
On in agreement with spark of light. I love Jodi, just not this book.
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Yes, I love her too. So this book was such a disappointment.
The White Christmas Inn sounds pretty decent. Adding it to my list for next year : )
It’s a cute holiday read.
Ooh, Tear Me Apart sounds interesting! I know I’ve read one other by JT Ellison but I honestly can’t remember how much I liked/didn’t like it! Might have to go back and check my blog reviews. Dating You/Hating you sounds like a cute and fun pick-me-up kind of book!
Dating You/Hating You is a light, contemporary romance. I’ve really become a fan of Christina Lauren.
Whoa! Tear Me Apart sounds like a good one! I’m intrigued!
Yes, it was a decent thriller, which is hard to find nowadays!
I really enjoyed White Christmas Inn. Just the right balance of cheesy hopefulness but not too saccharine. I looooove Christina Lauren. Josh and Hazel is hands down my favorite of the 4 I’ve read so far! 🙂 Here from SUYB! XO – Alexandra
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