This month was pretty average for me, reading-wise. I read 7 books. A total of 2,159 pages. An average of 70 pages a day. Not my best, not my worst. But let's getting into the books, shall we?
Reign by K.A. Riley (312 pages). The fifth and final book in the series. Ash and Finn's battle is still not over. The Bishop has left New York and is heading towards the Arc to take control there. But Ash and her friends are not willing to let him win. And they will do anything they can to defeat him. And anyone else who stands in their way. Because they WILL bring peace to their world. It was a pretty good ending to the series. I finished in 3 days.
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (366 pages). It's Christmas time in 1968 and Thomas Harding is visiting Paris one last time. As he visits, he rereads letters that were written during World War I between him and his best friend's sister, Evelyn Elliott. What had been just a sibling-based friendship blossomed into more as years of letter writing was exchanged between Tom and Evie. Their plans for Christmas in Paris in 1914 were dashed as the war raged on. But now Tom has one last letter to read. And he promised to read it in Paris at Christmas. The book was told through letters and telegrams, which I loved. I read a lot of WWII historical fictions but not as much WWI. I really loved this! I finished in 4 days.
The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere (130 pages). This was my gym book club book. Not ashamed to admit that I cried quite a bit during this read. Robert is a successful attorney who has everything a person could want. But has lost his wife and daughters in his quest for money and success. Their home is full of things, but love seems to be missing. 8-year-old Nathan comes from a far less monetarily successful family, but one that is surrounded by love. However, his mother is dying. On Christmas Eve, Robert and Nathan's paths cross. And both lives are changed forever. This book was so sweet and pure. I finished in 1 day.
Christmas at the Ranch by Julia McKay (304 pages). This was my Once Upon a Book Club Christmas box. The Christmas of her senior year, 18-year-old Emory Oakes falls in love. Tate Wilder was perfect. He lived on the ranch next door to their rented vacation home. But she lives in Toronto, and he lives hours away in cottage country. 10 years later, Emory is working as a freelance journalist when her father is arrested for embezzling clients out of millions. And Emory flees the city and returns to the one place that felt like home, cottage country. Something about Evergreen will always feel like home. As she and Tate keep running into each other, Emory wonders what might have been. And as the town begins to welcome her, she wonders what could be. It was so sweet. And the gifties were so cute! I finished in 2 days.
The Glovemaker's Daughter by Shari J. Ryan (341 pages). In June 1942, leather goods shop owner Raya learns that her best friend is going to be forced into a Jewish ghetto in Paris. So, she hides Charlette and her parents in her home. One day, by the newspaper stand, she meets Nicholas. Nicholas is a newspaper reporter. He is also involved in the Resistance. By October 1943, Raya is en route to Ravensbruck as a political prisoner. By April 1944, Nicholas is still frantically searching for any sign of where Raya was taken, even harder when France finally takes back their country and he can openly search. But in March 1945, the last death march from Ravensbruck begins. And the toll of deaths was high. Y'all know I love a WWII historical fiction. I finished in 4 days.
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (372 pages). Solene Marchand is a 39-year-old divorcee, art gallery owner and mother of 13-year-old Isabelle. When her ex-husband bails on taking Izzie and her friends to see their favorite boy band, August Moon, Solene takes them. And meets 20-year-old Hayes Campbell, one of the members of the band. Thus begins a whirlwind romance that spans the globe. At first, their relationship is very secretive. But once the news breaks, Solene's whole world changes. She's not just a mom and gallery owner. She's famous by extension. And pretty unpopular to the fans. It eventually becomes too much for her. Then I watched the movie. And boy- did they change things! Hayes is 24. Izzie is 16 (and no longer an August Moon fan). And the backstories are different- Hayes' relationship with his parents, his relationship with his bandmates, Solene's relationship with her ex. Honestly, the changes pissed me off. Because the book was great. The ending was sad and perfect. And the boy band fan in me will always have this fantasy (although maybe not with a boy bander I could have birthed and definitely not cheating on my husband!). I finished in 4 days.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden (334 pages). Tricia and her new husband Ethan are house hunting for their forever home. When they learn of a gorgeous house outside the city, they decide to go look. But a blizzard traps them there for a few nights. The house belonged to author and psychiatrist Adrienne Hale. A woman who has been missing and presumed murdered for 3 years. When Tricia finds Dr Hale's hidden room, containing all the tapes of her patient sessions, she listens to several of them. Most compelling? EJ, a narcissistic blond man who probably killed his parents and is blackmailing Dr Hale. And PL, a young woman who barely survived a murderous rampage at a cabin that left her fiancé and two of their friends dead. But there's more to this house than either Tricia or Ethan realize. And the truth about Dr Hale's disappearance needs to come to light. McFadden always has a twist. I thought I'd guessed this one. I guessed wrong. I finished in 3 days.
This month's favorite was......Last Christmas in Paris.
But it's also the end of 2025. So, here's a rundown of what I read this year.
95 total books
33,777 total pages read
An average of 92.5 pages a day
This year's favorite was the Beartown series.
