It's officially February guys! And I'm pretty shocked with how many books I was able to finish last month.
January was a month that I spent a lot of time at home with my books, and as such, I was able to check quite a few books off my TBR list.
If you'd noticed, I haven't been doing wrap ups the last few months, and the reason for that was simply the fact that the way I was doing them before was way too time consuming, and left me with a post that was so long I'm sure no one would ever actually want to read it.
So instead of organizing all my wrap ups by how many stars I gave each book, and including a detailed description of each book and why or why not I didn't like it, I'm going to simply list the books randomly, and give only a couple thoughts on each.
By doing this, I hope to save myself several hours of editing, and also, I hope it will make it easier and more interesting to everyone reading it.
So without further adieu, here's all the books I finished in January 2017!
The Christmas Mail Order Bride by Kit Morgan: I gave this Christmas novella two stars. While I enjoyed the overall idea of it, I found the plot to be extremely unbelievable, and I couldn't make myself like either of the main characters. As well, the "villain" of the story was ridiculous, and I found her honestly cringe worthy. This was definitely not one of my favorites that I read this month.
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: I gave this one four stars. While this series is definitely not one that I would ever recommend as a serious read, it's always great for a light hearted read that is guaranteed to make me laugh. This one in particular I found amusing, watching Becky and Luke's parenting struggles, and how Becky is basically raising a mini version of herself.
Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman, and Sarah Rees Brennan: Overall, I gave this anthology four stars. There were definitely stories I preferred over other ones, and I found the ending to be extremely disappointing. Simon was always one of my favorite characters in The Mortal Instruments however, and I enjoyed getting to read about his adventures on his way to ascending. Overall, I definitely preferred this anthology to The Bane Chronicles.
Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber: I gave this Blossom Street Christmas story four stars. I'd previously read this a couple of years ago, thinking it was a stand alone, and after I learned it was part of the Blossom Street series, I wanted to reread it in it's place in the series. I find this story hysterically funny, and I love the chemistry that exists in the lead character's strange relationship.
Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one four stars, and it's probably my favorite in The Glenbrooke series. I loved Jessica's strong character, and the way her drastic life change has her discovering faith, and a strength in herself she never knew she had.
Bluff by Julie Dill: I gave this one three stars, and did a full review on it on my blog earlier in the month. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and it's unique topic. I just had a few problems with the story line, but I really liked the way she chose to end the story.
The Girl In The Picture by Alexandra Monir: I gave this one four stars, and I adore Alexandra Monir's writing style. This was a murder mystery that had me guessing right until the last page, and it's a definite recommended read from me.
Whispers by Robin Jones Gunn: This was definitely not my favorite of the Glenbrooke books. I really enjoyed Teri's character in Secrets, but I found her overall obsession in this one with finding a husband to be a tad monotonous. I gave this one three stars, as I still enjoyed it overall, but probably won't ever be a reread for me.
Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey: I gave this one five stars, and Dani Pettrey proved once again why she's one of my all time favorite authors. There's just something about her suspense novels that always keep me glued to the page, and I also really liked how all her characters seem like a big family working together for the greater good. The plot of this one being about a sniper, and the law enforcement agents working together to stop him was a brilliant read, although I definitely don't recommend reading it right before you go to bed.
Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one three stars, and overall found myself really enjoying this third novel in the Glenbrooke series. Lauren and K.C. falling for each other through emails was obviously slightly unbelievable, but it was also endearing, and I definitely preferred this one to Whispers.
The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere: I gave this one four stars, and I've come to really look forward each year to Donna's new holiday themed book release. This one was no exception, and it was exciting as always to be back in Grandon for the holidays. This one mainly focuses on Lauren Gabriel, who's feeling all alone in the world and decides to put out an online ad for someone to spend the holidays with. Of course, it wouldn't be Grandon without a heartfelt welcome from a bunch of quirky characters, and this is definitely going to be a book I need to purchase a copy of as I see it becoming an annual Christmas read for me.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: Sigh, I had such high hopes for this one, especially since I loved the Delirium trilogy, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I ended up rating it three stars, because I did enjoy certain parts of it, but overall, I was left highly underwhelmed. I didn't like Sam's character at all, or the three "meanish" girls she chooses to spend her time with, and I thought the ending was highly problematic and left way too many things unresolved. In fact, I had to reread the epilogue several times to actually make sure I'd interpreted what was happening properly. While I will definitely still continue to read Lauren's books in the future, I don't foresee myself personally recommending this one.
Sunsets by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this fourth book in the Glenbrooke series four stars, and it's the one I was anxiously awaiting reading when I started this series. Ever since Alissa's character was introduced in the Christy Miller series, I'd been curious about what happened to her, and so this was such a pleasant surprise when I found out about it. While I didn't care for Brad's character, I really enjoyed Alissa, and the charming elderly couple she meets who teaches her much about faith, love and relationships.
The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski: I rated this beautiful YA contemporary four stars, and it was one of my favorite books I read this month. Set at the Jersey Shore a little while after Hurricane Sandy, not only was the romance swoon worthy, and the character's exactly what I was looking for, but it also brought attention to the devastation that the storm brought to this area, and it's marine life. I highly recommend giving this one a chance if you're like me and love contemporaries.
My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade: Ever since I read my first novel by Becky Wade in January of 2015, she's become an author that can't write books fast enough for me to gobble up. This one was definitely no exception, and I loved how Kate and Matt's characters were originally hiding from everyone due to the grief they'd both recently been dealt, but not only does their friendship bring them closer to each other, but it also opens their eyes to what they've been missing out on all around them. As well, I love how Becky Wade is an inspirational author that doesn't strictly write about "perfect" people. Everyone makes mistakes, and I love how she doesn't sugarcoat this fact.
Still Life by Dani Pettrey: I did a full review of this one on my blog already, but I gave it four stars and really enjoyed it, although I did feel some of the content went a little too graphic for my personal liking.
Pivot Point by Kasie West: Sigh, I swear Kasie West could publish her grocery list, and I would still cherish every single word. I have yet to read a bad book by this author, and instead each and every one I pick up has me falling more in love with her writing style, and the characters that literally come to feel like family. Pivot Point and it's sequel Split Second are Kasie's only non contemporary books, but I was definitely not disappointed. I gave Pivot Point a five star rating, and I loved how unique the plot line was, and the way the reader got to feel like part of both scenario's portrayed throughout the book. I can't wait to read her new book, and I'm hoping I'll get to it in February.
Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn: This is probably my other favorite in the Glenbrooke series, and I gave it four stars. I love how it deals with past love, and second chances, and Shelly is probably my favorite of all of Glenbrooke's citizens.
A Season For Fireflies by Rebecca Maizel: I gave this contemporary two stars, and it was definitely one of my least favorite reads of the month. I found the synopsis about it being about a girl who's struck by lightning and wakes up not remembering the last year or so of her life. Why is she now friends with the popular crowd, why did she turn away from her childhood friends, and why is the theater no longer part of her life? A great premise, but I didn't care for the actual novel. I didn't personally like Penny's character, in the before or the after, and I didn't think the novel resolved the issues surrounding Penny's alcoholic mother decently either. I know in real life these situations often go unresolved, and that's understandable, but I didn't think it was handled properly, and the overall ending had me feeling really discontent with how everything was wrapped up.
Split Second by Kasie West: I gave this sequel to Pivot Point four stars, and I loved it. Very rarely does the sequel ever compare to the first book for me, but this one came really close. I also loved how it was told in the viewpoints of both Addie and Laila, and I definitely hope Kasie West chooses to write more books like in the future.
Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn: I gave this one three stars as I loved the first half of the novel, and how original I thought the plot line was. Unfortunately the second half of the book went in a direction I wasn't expecting, and I didn't find myself enjoying, and I haven't decided if I'll be picking up the second book or not. I do really enjoy Pintip Dunn's writing style though, so I'll definitely be continuing on with her books whether I read the second in this series or not.
Waterfalls by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this novel three stars, as I didn't honestly care for either of the main characters that much. My favorite part of it was actually getting the glimpses at other characters in Glenbrooke.
Woodlands by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this novel in the Glenbrooke series four stars, and I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Leah and Seth. Leah's always struggled with feeling like "the ugly duckling" and the outsider thanks to how her family has treated her, and Seth's able to help her overcome this with God's help. This was one of the few books in this series that I'd actually read before, and I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did back then.
Wildflowers by Robin Jones Gunn: The final story in the Glenbrooke series was really different from the others, and I gave it four stars. Instead of the focus being on a new relationship, Wildflowers focuses on a woman falling back in love with her husband. It was a really refreshing plot line, and I found myself really enjoying each and every page.
Slammed by Colleen Hoover: I gave this New Adult romance novel four stars, as I adore Colleen's writing style, and the fact that she's not afraid to write about harsh circumstances, and real life situations. As well, I adored Lake's character, and Kel, Cayden, Eddie and Gavin. My only real issue with this novel was with Will's character. While overall I really enjoyed the relationship between the two of them, there were certain moments where he seemed controlling and slightly emotionally abusive, and I really didn't like that part of the novel at all.
Holding Court by K.C. Held: I gave this hysterically funny YA paranormal/contemporary novel four stars, and if K.C.'s debut was this amazing, I can't wait to see what else this author has up her sleeves. Sixteen year old Jules has a blessed curse of being able to tell the future. Unfortunately for her, this talent comes in the form of her blurting out random prophetic messages, that never seem to make sense to either herself or the people she tells them too. And unfortunately this summer, another talent is going to show it's face; all of sudden Jules seems to have developed the habit of discovering dead bodies at her place of employment: a medieval castle where she plays a nun who has the gift of seeing the future. This summer's definitely not shaping up the way Jules hoped, but at least Grayson (her longtime crush) is also working at the castle, and she can occupy herself by staring longingly at his abs. This story was everything I was looking for and more, and I honestly loved every single page!
Interference by Kay Honeyman: I stumbled across this one from a Bookstagram photo, and I was instantly intrigued when I found it's a modern "retelling" of Jane Austen's Emma. I thought it was overall a pretty cute contemporary, and I ended up giving it three stars. I'm fairly certain it won't be a reread for me, but I'm definitely glad I took a chance on it.
Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell: I rated this one four stars, and did a full review of it on my blog last week. It was a really enjoyable New Adult Romance, and I really really liked it.
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery: This is the first book in the Fool's Gold series, and tells the story of a young city planner who comes to the town to help solve their biggest issue: why their town has a shortage of me. All in all it was a really sweet buy sassy adult contemporary, and was exactly what I've come to expect from Susan Mallery. I gave this one three stars, and I look forward to continuing on with these series soon.
Take One by Karen Kingsbury: The first book in the Above The Line series, and a series I'm reading primarily so I can finally read the Bailey Flannigan series. This book tells the story of two film producers who've felt called by God to produce inspirational movies that could inspire the world. Of course, nothing is ever easy when you're attempting such a feat, and the producers soon find themselves swimming in problems they have no easy solution for. I rated this one four stars, and found myself really enjoying it for the most part.
Take Two by Karen Kingsbury: This is the second book about in the Above The Line series, and I gave it a rating of three stars. Unfortunately, this one reinforced for me why I had taken a break from Karen's books in the first place. While I absolutely admire the fact that Karen Kingsbury has stuck with being a Christian author, I don't enjoy the fact that lately it seems all of her books are about rich and/or famous people, and seem to give off the message that money can solve all your problems. While I still enjoy her stories and her characters, I'd just like to see a little less of the rich and famous influence in her novels. I will definitely still be continuing on with this series, and the Bailey Flannigan series, and A Baxter Family Christmas, but after that I'm not sure if I will continue reading her books or not as their are a lot of inspirational authors I think I'd rather read like Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, or Rachel Hauck.
Sisterchicks On The Loose by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one four stars, and found myself really enjoying this story of two middle age friends who decide to take a once in a lifetime vacation together to Finland.
Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas: I gave this one three stars, and found myself outright laughing at the hijinks that play out over the course of Christmas Eve at a local grocery store when the main character is one of only six teens the store employs. After an issue with money going missing from the Christmas charity box, the six teens are the suspected culprits, and it will take all of them setting aside their differences and working together to clear their names, and finally be set free of their grocery store prison. While I did find this to be a tad on the juvenile side compared to the YA novels I usually read, I also found it was witty, hilarious, and a refreshing change of pace. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
And that's all the books I read in January 2017 guys! I thank you all so much for reading, and I hope to see you again on Wednesday for a new Top 5 Wednesday post!! :)
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
January was a month that I spent a lot of time at home with my books, and as such, I was able to check quite a few books off my TBR list.
If you'd noticed, I haven't been doing wrap ups the last few months, and the reason for that was simply the fact that the way I was doing them before was way too time consuming, and left me with a post that was so long I'm sure no one would ever actually want to read it.
So instead of organizing all my wrap ups by how many stars I gave each book, and including a detailed description of each book and why or why not I didn't like it, I'm going to simply list the books randomly, and give only a couple thoughts on each.
By doing this, I hope to save myself several hours of editing, and also, I hope it will make it easier and more interesting to everyone reading it.
So without further adieu, here's all the books I finished in January 2017!
The Christmas Mail Order Bride by Kit Morgan: I gave this Christmas novella two stars. While I enjoyed the overall idea of it, I found the plot to be extremely unbelievable, and I couldn't make myself like either of the main characters. As well, the "villain" of the story was ridiculous, and I found her honestly cringe worthy. This was definitely not one of my favorites that I read this month.
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella: I gave this one four stars. While this series is definitely not one that I would ever recommend as a serious read, it's always great for a light hearted read that is guaranteed to make me laugh. This one in particular I found amusing, watching Becky and Luke's parenting struggles, and how Becky is basically raising a mini version of herself.
Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman, and Sarah Rees Brennan: Overall, I gave this anthology four stars. There were definitely stories I preferred over other ones, and I found the ending to be extremely disappointing. Simon was always one of my favorite characters in The Mortal Instruments however, and I enjoyed getting to read about his adventures on his way to ascending. Overall, I definitely preferred this anthology to The Bane Chronicles.
Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber: I gave this Blossom Street Christmas story four stars. I'd previously read this a couple of years ago, thinking it was a stand alone, and after I learned it was part of the Blossom Street series, I wanted to reread it in it's place in the series. I find this story hysterically funny, and I love the chemistry that exists in the lead character's strange relationship.
Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one four stars, and it's probably my favorite in The Glenbrooke series. I loved Jessica's strong character, and the way her drastic life change has her discovering faith, and a strength in herself she never knew she had.
Bluff by Julie Dill: I gave this one three stars, and did a full review on it on my blog earlier in the month. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and it's unique topic. I just had a few problems with the story line, but I really liked the way she chose to end the story.
The Girl In The Picture by Alexandra Monir: I gave this one four stars, and I adore Alexandra Monir's writing style. This was a murder mystery that had me guessing right until the last page, and it's a definite recommended read from me.
Whispers by Robin Jones Gunn: This was definitely not my favorite of the Glenbrooke books. I really enjoyed Teri's character in Secrets, but I found her overall obsession in this one with finding a husband to be a tad monotonous. I gave this one three stars, as I still enjoyed it overall, but probably won't ever be a reread for me.
Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey: I gave this one five stars, and Dani Pettrey proved once again why she's one of my all time favorite authors. There's just something about her suspense novels that always keep me glued to the page, and I also really liked how all her characters seem like a big family working together for the greater good. The plot of this one being about a sniper, and the law enforcement agents working together to stop him was a brilliant read, although I definitely don't recommend reading it right before you go to bed.
Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one three stars, and overall found myself really enjoying this third novel in the Glenbrooke series. Lauren and K.C. falling for each other through emails was obviously slightly unbelievable, but it was also endearing, and I definitely preferred this one to Whispers.
The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere: I gave this one four stars, and I've come to really look forward each year to Donna's new holiday themed book release. This one was no exception, and it was exciting as always to be back in Grandon for the holidays. This one mainly focuses on Lauren Gabriel, who's feeling all alone in the world and decides to put out an online ad for someone to spend the holidays with. Of course, it wouldn't be Grandon without a heartfelt welcome from a bunch of quirky characters, and this is definitely going to be a book I need to purchase a copy of as I see it becoming an annual Christmas read for me.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: Sigh, I had such high hopes for this one, especially since I loved the Delirium trilogy, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I ended up rating it three stars, because I did enjoy certain parts of it, but overall, I was left highly underwhelmed. I didn't like Sam's character at all, or the three "meanish" girls she chooses to spend her time with, and I thought the ending was highly problematic and left way too many things unresolved. In fact, I had to reread the epilogue several times to actually make sure I'd interpreted what was happening properly. While I will definitely still continue to read Lauren's books in the future, I don't foresee myself personally recommending this one.
Sunsets by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this fourth book in the Glenbrooke series four stars, and it's the one I was anxiously awaiting reading when I started this series. Ever since Alissa's character was introduced in the Christy Miller series, I'd been curious about what happened to her, and so this was such a pleasant surprise when I found out about it. While I didn't care for Brad's character, I really enjoyed Alissa, and the charming elderly couple she meets who teaches her much about faith, love and relationships.
The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski: I rated this beautiful YA contemporary four stars, and it was one of my favorite books I read this month. Set at the Jersey Shore a little while after Hurricane Sandy, not only was the romance swoon worthy, and the character's exactly what I was looking for, but it also brought attention to the devastation that the storm brought to this area, and it's marine life. I highly recommend giving this one a chance if you're like me and love contemporaries.
My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade: Ever since I read my first novel by Becky Wade in January of 2015, she's become an author that can't write books fast enough for me to gobble up. This one was definitely no exception, and I loved how Kate and Matt's characters were originally hiding from everyone due to the grief they'd both recently been dealt, but not only does their friendship bring them closer to each other, but it also opens their eyes to what they've been missing out on all around them. As well, I love how Becky Wade is an inspirational author that doesn't strictly write about "perfect" people. Everyone makes mistakes, and I love how she doesn't sugarcoat this fact.
Still Life by Dani Pettrey: I did a full review of this one on my blog already, but I gave it four stars and really enjoyed it, although I did feel some of the content went a little too graphic for my personal liking.
Pivot Point by Kasie West: Sigh, I swear Kasie West could publish her grocery list, and I would still cherish every single word. I have yet to read a bad book by this author, and instead each and every one I pick up has me falling more in love with her writing style, and the characters that literally come to feel like family. Pivot Point and it's sequel Split Second are Kasie's only non contemporary books, but I was definitely not disappointed. I gave Pivot Point a five star rating, and I loved how unique the plot line was, and the way the reader got to feel like part of both scenario's portrayed throughout the book. I can't wait to read her new book, and I'm hoping I'll get to it in February.
Clouds by Robin Jones Gunn: This is probably my other favorite in the Glenbrooke series, and I gave it four stars. I love how it deals with past love, and second chances, and Shelly is probably my favorite of all of Glenbrooke's citizens.
A Season For Fireflies by Rebecca Maizel: I gave this contemporary two stars, and it was definitely one of my least favorite reads of the month. I found the synopsis about it being about a girl who's struck by lightning and wakes up not remembering the last year or so of her life. Why is she now friends with the popular crowd, why did she turn away from her childhood friends, and why is the theater no longer part of her life? A great premise, but I didn't care for the actual novel. I didn't personally like Penny's character, in the before or the after, and I didn't think the novel resolved the issues surrounding Penny's alcoholic mother decently either. I know in real life these situations often go unresolved, and that's understandable, but I didn't think it was handled properly, and the overall ending had me feeling really discontent with how everything was wrapped up.
Split Second by Kasie West: I gave this sequel to Pivot Point four stars, and I loved it. Very rarely does the sequel ever compare to the first book for me, but this one came really close. I also loved how it was told in the viewpoints of both Addie and Laila, and I definitely hope Kasie West chooses to write more books like in the future.
Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn: I gave this one three stars as I loved the first half of the novel, and how original I thought the plot line was. Unfortunately the second half of the book went in a direction I wasn't expecting, and I didn't find myself enjoying, and I haven't decided if I'll be picking up the second book or not. I do really enjoy Pintip Dunn's writing style though, so I'll definitely be continuing on with her books whether I read the second in this series or not.
Waterfalls by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this novel three stars, as I didn't honestly care for either of the main characters that much. My favorite part of it was actually getting the glimpses at other characters in Glenbrooke.
Woodlands by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this novel in the Glenbrooke series four stars, and I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Leah and Seth. Leah's always struggled with feeling like "the ugly duckling" and the outsider thanks to how her family has treated her, and Seth's able to help her overcome this with God's help. This was one of the few books in this series that I'd actually read before, and I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did back then.
Wildflowers by Robin Jones Gunn: The final story in the Glenbrooke series was really different from the others, and I gave it four stars. Instead of the focus being on a new relationship, Wildflowers focuses on a woman falling back in love with her husband. It was a really refreshing plot line, and I found myself really enjoying each and every page.
Slammed by Colleen Hoover: I gave this New Adult romance novel four stars, as I adore Colleen's writing style, and the fact that she's not afraid to write about harsh circumstances, and real life situations. As well, I adored Lake's character, and Kel, Cayden, Eddie and Gavin. My only real issue with this novel was with Will's character. While overall I really enjoyed the relationship between the two of them, there were certain moments where he seemed controlling and slightly emotionally abusive, and I really didn't like that part of the novel at all.
Holding Court by K.C. Held: I gave this hysterically funny YA paranormal/contemporary novel four stars, and if K.C.'s debut was this amazing, I can't wait to see what else this author has up her sleeves. Sixteen year old Jules has a blessed curse of being able to tell the future. Unfortunately for her, this talent comes in the form of her blurting out random prophetic messages, that never seem to make sense to either herself or the people she tells them too. And unfortunately this summer, another talent is going to show it's face; all of sudden Jules seems to have developed the habit of discovering dead bodies at her place of employment: a medieval castle where she plays a nun who has the gift of seeing the future. This summer's definitely not shaping up the way Jules hoped, but at least Grayson (her longtime crush) is also working at the castle, and she can occupy herself by staring longingly at his abs. This story was everything I was looking for and more, and I honestly loved every single page!
Interference by Kay Honeyman: I stumbled across this one from a Bookstagram photo, and I was instantly intrigued when I found it's a modern "retelling" of Jane Austen's Emma. I thought it was overall a pretty cute contemporary, and I ended up giving it three stars. I'm fairly certain it won't be a reread for me, but I'm definitely glad I took a chance on it.
Melody's Key by Dallas Coryell: I rated this one four stars, and did a full review of it on my blog last week. It was a really enjoyable New Adult Romance, and I really really liked it.
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery: This is the first book in the Fool's Gold series, and tells the story of a young city planner who comes to the town to help solve their biggest issue: why their town has a shortage of me. All in all it was a really sweet buy sassy adult contemporary, and was exactly what I've come to expect from Susan Mallery. I gave this one three stars, and I look forward to continuing on with these series soon.
Take One by Karen Kingsbury: The first book in the Above The Line series, and a series I'm reading primarily so I can finally read the Bailey Flannigan series. This book tells the story of two film producers who've felt called by God to produce inspirational movies that could inspire the world. Of course, nothing is ever easy when you're attempting such a feat, and the producers soon find themselves swimming in problems they have no easy solution for. I rated this one four stars, and found myself really enjoying it for the most part.
Take Two by Karen Kingsbury: This is the second book about in the Above The Line series, and I gave it a rating of three stars. Unfortunately, this one reinforced for me why I had taken a break from Karen's books in the first place. While I absolutely admire the fact that Karen Kingsbury has stuck with being a Christian author, I don't enjoy the fact that lately it seems all of her books are about rich and/or famous people, and seem to give off the message that money can solve all your problems. While I still enjoy her stories and her characters, I'd just like to see a little less of the rich and famous influence in her novels. I will definitely still be continuing on with this series, and the Bailey Flannigan series, and A Baxter Family Christmas, but after that I'm not sure if I will continue reading her books or not as their are a lot of inspirational authors I think I'd rather read like Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, or Rachel Hauck.
Sisterchicks On The Loose by Robin Jones Gunn: I gave this one four stars, and found myself really enjoying this story of two middle age friends who decide to take a once in a lifetime vacation together to Finland.
Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas: I gave this one three stars, and found myself outright laughing at the hijinks that play out over the course of Christmas Eve at a local grocery store when the main character is one of only six teens the store employs. After an issue with money going missing from the Christmas charity box, the six teens are the suspected culprits, and it will take all of them setting aside their differences and working together to clear their names, and finally be set free of their grocery store prison. While I did find this to be a tad on the juvenile side compared to the YA novels I usually read, I also found it was witty, hilarious, and a refreshing change of pace. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
And that's all the books I read in January 2017 guys! I thank you all so much for reading, and I hope to see you again on Wednesday for a new Top 5 Wednesday post!! :)
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
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