Ah, January. Hunkering down on cold days and reading in front of the fire or cuddled up beneath the covers in bed. And some good books filled those warm reading times! (Be aware that not all of these are Christian fiction.)
Reforming Lord Neil by Sally Britton
This is the final book in the Inglewood series, and I loved it! It might actually be my favorite of the five. But maybe that’s because over the course of the series Lord Neil goes from irritating to endearing as you get to know him. Honestly, though, I enjoyed all the books in this series.
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
A much anticipated read in our house! It takes place over the course of 10 days, so I tried to read through 1 day everyday for ten days in order to savor the story. (I stole this idea from another friend who read it this way.) As always, unique characters and lovely writing. And while I realize it had to end the way it did, I was very conflicted about that, which means it did not displace A Gentleman from Moscow as my favorite Towles book.
Can’t Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson
This is book #2 in the Deep Haven Collection series. Such a delight to (yet again!) return to Deep Haven, the home of so many Susan May Warren characters through the years. I loved the connections between these two characters, even if they didn’t start off on the best footing.
Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson
Deep Haven Collection #3, and another great story. I loved this story about finding the balance between leading with love and leading with truth.
A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy
It’s always a joy to get to visit a more “exotic” historical locale, like India. I do confess, however, that the pacing of this one was, for me, a bit slow at the beginning and a bit quick at the end. But it’s still a story very much worth reading.
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
A novel based on the life of Clementine Churchill, from her marriage to Winston to the end of World War II. A fascinating read. So much I didn’t know of her, which is, of course, the point. Makes me want to read an actual biography, if there is one.
Anxious People by Frederik Backman
You never quite know what you’ll get in a Backman story, and yet again, you know exactly what you’ll get! You’ll get quirky characters, a crazy situation, and a deeper layer beneath it all. This is a story of, well, anxious people. Each character anxious about their own lives—past, present and/or future. It is also the story of the deepest of all anxieties—that which leads a person to take their own life. It’s a funny and a serious book. Didn’t displace my favorite Backman (Britt-Marie Was Here) but definitely worth the read.
And so we head into February, already reading a couple of books and wanting to get to so many more. It will be interesting to see which ones rise to the top of the To Read pile.