I’m starting 2023 off strong. 10 books. 3,329 pages. An average of 107 pages a day. If I can keep up this pace, I’ll get soooo many books read this year! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Never Name the Dead by D.M. Rowell (325 pages). This was my November Once Upon a Book Club box. When Mae receives a message from her beloved grandfather that asks her to come home, she leaves her company in California and rushes home to Oklahoma. Home, where her name is Mud and her Kiowa brethren are losing their land and their heritage- their land to frackers and their heritage to a greedy art dealer. Mud and her cousin Denny team up to help their missing grandfather, solve a murder, and return artifacts to their people. I liked the gifts; I didn’t love the books. I finished in 4 days.
Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith (373 pages). Princess Aurelia of Renalt lives in a country where magic is illegal. Unfortunately, the princess possesses magic. And when a failed assassination attempt forces her to use her magic, she must flee to neighboring Achleva. She is befriended by Zan, a lord of the city. And joins forces with him to stop the black magic that is threatening them all. I finished in 5 days.
To Sir Phillip With Love by Julia Quinn (390 pages). Book 5 of the Bridgerton series and part of a special edition box from Once Upon a Book Club. So hoorah for gifts AND fun books! This book focused on Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth of the eight siblings. Eloise was the boldest of the Bridgertons-she spoke her mind and had no problem turning down a perfectly acceptable marriage proposal. But when her cousin Marina dies, Eloise finds herself in a year long correspondence with Marina’s widower, Sir Phillip Crane. And when Sir Phillip suggests a visit that could culminate in marriage, Eloise decides to sneak away from London. She finds herself quickly enthralled with Sir Phillip and his twins, Amanda and Oliver. Their whirlwind courtship leads to marriage (this is a Bridgerton novel after all). There were times that I found myself disappointed in Eloise for choosing a man who was distant and unavailable (and a bit of a misogynist). But I do think that she managed to wrangle a decent husband and father out of him eventually. I finished in 4 days.
Chasing Vines by Beth Moore (285 pages). Beth Moore is a dynamic Bible study teacher. I’ve done 3 of her studies and loved them. This was a different approach for me, as it wasn’t a weekly study. This one focused on us as the vines and God as the vine dresser. Beth studied viticulture voraciously after traveling to Italy with her daughters. And she shared that knowledge in this book. I enjoyed learning about vines and truly showing how God is the ultimate vine dresser for our own good. I just think I prefer watching Beth in action rather than reading her words. She’s so dynamic in person and that just doesn’t translate to the page (at least for me). I finished in 5 days.
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (421 pages). Book 6 in the series and another of the special edition box. This book focused on Francesca Bridgerton, sixth of the eight siblings. After nearly two years of blissful marriage, Francesca finds herself widowed at age 22. Her husband’s cousin and best friend Michael becomes the new Earl of Kilmartin. But his love for Francesca causes him to flee to India for 4 years. Upon his return, he learns that Francesca is finally ready to marry again. Only this time, she will not marry for love. It will be to have children. But little does she know that she can have both. This one might have been one of my favorites of the Bridgerton novels! I finished in 3 days.
It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn (406 pages). Book 7 in the series. This book focused on Hyacinth Bridgerton, the youngest of the eight siblings. Hyacinth is Lady Danbury (the Duke of book 1’s godmother) reincarnated. Witty, charming and sure of herself, she finally meets her match in Gareth St Clair, Lady Danbury’s grandson. While their families wish to see them wed, these two perfectly compatible people must first team up to solve the mystery of Gareth’s St Clair grandmother’s hidden jewels. Along the way, they fall madly in love (as Bridgertons do). But this couple has a rather lengthy engagement period (2 whole months!) before their happy ever after, unlike most of Hyacinth’s siblings. I loved this one too! I finished in 2 days.
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn (469 pages). Book 8, the final book in the series. This book focused on Gregory Bridgerton, seventh of the eight siblings. Gregory, unlike most young men of his acquaintance, believes in true love. He’s seen it in 7 marriages (8 if you count his parents, even though he was 2 when his father died). So he is not going to marry for anything less than the perfect love. And that love seems to be Hermione Watson. At least that what love at first sight is telling him. Hermione’ s best friend Lucy is convinced that Gregory would make an excellent match. But first, Hermione has to be convinced that love at first sight does NOT exist (she fancies herself in love with another man). Along the way, Gregory realizes that Lucy is the one he loves. But Lucy is engaged to another man, with a wedding planned. Arguably the most dramatic of the books (blackmail, betrayal, a broken engagement), I found Gregory and Lucy to be delightful. I finished in 4 days.
After by Anna Todd (164 pages). I do not typically read graphic novels, but I’m doing the Once Upon a Book Club 40 book challenge. And graphic novel was on the list. This one was basically a YA rom com. Prudish Tessa goes to college, leaving behind her equally prudish high school sweetheart. But her wild roomie introduces her to Hardin, the bad boy who she just can’t stop thinking about. I finished in about an hour.
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (137 pages). For some reason, I had never read this classic novel. Griffin is a former medical student/physics obsessed albino who has learned how to make things, including himself, invisible. The only problem? He can’t make them visible again. So he travels to a small inn in a small town to continue his research. Upon realizing that he is invisible (he goes around covered in bandages and masks), the town erupts. And he flees, happening upon a former classmate, to whom he tells the whole tale. He has resorted to theft and even murder to continue on. By losing his visibility, he has begun to lose his humanity. I finished in 1 day.
Before I Do by Sophie Cousens (359 pages). Audrey is very head in the stars. Josh is very rooted. Despite their polar opposite natures, they seem a perfect fit. But at their rehearsal dinner, Josh’s sister shows up with an unexpected plus one. A plus one who is Audrey’s what-if guy. They spent one beautiful, amazing day together 6 years ago. And his appearance sets everything off at the wedding. As disaster after disaster occurs, Audrey begins to wonder if fate is telling her something. But what? Is your what-if better than you what-is? Such a super cute chick lit- I wish I’d been poolside reading it! I finished in 3 days.
This month’s favorite was…..the darn Bridgerton books!
