December Book Review



Happy December! It is two days before Christmas and I'm finally sitting down to write a few book reviews. December has always been my busiest month but I'm proud to say that all of my Christmas stockings have been delivered. If you are interested in purchasing knitted stockings for 2025, please let me know as space is limited.

Furthermore, if you need some ideas for birthday gifts or Valentine's gifts (since Christmas is a few days away), here are a few books I recommend...

The Art of Us
Julie Wright


About:

"A sweet love story and a thoughtful exploration of timely social issues.” --Kirkus

Falling in love is complicated when you’re both keeping secrets.

On the surface, everything seems perfect for high school senior Ireland Raine. She’s intelligent and artistically talented, and her natural beauty and quiet charm are enviable. However, Ireland harbors a secret she’ll guard at any cost—she’s homeless.

When her crush, Kal Ellis, invites her on a date, she seizes the opportunity. Ireland has never had a boyfriend before, and Kal is not just a guitarist for the local band, he’s also an artist. Their connection is instantaneous, and he suggests they collaborate on the school mural. Working and laughing alongside Kal, Ireland can momentarily forget her problems.

However, when someone exposes her secret, Ireland ends up in a foster home alongside her most despised adversary, Mara Washington. To make matters worse, Ireland discovers it was Kal who revealed her secret.

Furious, Ireland must decide if she has the strength to forgive the boy who stole her heart or if she is better off alone.

In my opinion:

The Art of Us is a wonderfully written young adult novel about a homeless girl named Ireland. When her secret gets out, she ends up in a foster home with a girl she doesn't care for, Mara Washington. Now, she feels completely alone, and her best friend, whom she also has a crush on, betrays her—or so she thinks. This novel deals with communication, family issues, and falling in love in a G-rated form. Overall, it was a sweet reminder to accept everyone, be kind to everyone, and be mindful that everyone goes through hard times.

Lady Anna's Favor
Karen Tuft


About:

London, England, 1814

Lady Anna Clifton will stop at nothing to find her missing brother—even if it means working alongside the dashingly handsome but sometimes infuriating Mr. Jennings, who just might steal her heart.

Lady Anna Clifton has arrived in London with a purpose known only to a few. Her soldier brother has been reported wounded and missing in France, and if he is dead, his title and their family’s estate will go to a horrible distant cousin, and Lady Anna will be homeless. Desperate to find her brother alive, she contacts old family friends, the Bledsoes, who vow to help her in any way they can. However, Lord Bledsoe’s efforts come up empty, except from the Duke of Aylesham, who offers his yacht to carry her to France when Anna decides she must look for her brother there herself.

James cannot board the Duke of Aylesham’s yacht to take him to France fast enough. After his sister’s rushed marriage to the duke himself, James wants nothing more than to enjoy a relaxing journey back to Paris before rejoining England’s diplomatic war efforts against Napoleon. When he boards the ship, he cannot deny his instant attraction to the strikingly beautiful young woman who will be joining him across the sea. But when he receives only a cold reception from her, James dismisses her outright—until he learns the tragic reason she has set out on such a perilous journey. As infuriating as Lady Anna’s brash behavior and indifference to him is, her search seems much too dangerous for a young lady of the ton to undertake alone, so James reluctantly offers to assist her in her quest.

Together, they embark on a search that will take them across the sea and through France to uncover the truth all while trying to reconcile their differences and the preconceived notions they have about each other. With every step, they come closer to solving the mystery surrounding Lady Anna’s brother’s disappearance—but each step also pushes their hearts closer together.


In my opinion:


Lady Anna's Favor is a sweet proper romance about a woman named Anna who goes on a quest to find her brother. Will she ever find him? Will the dashing Mr. Jennings steal her heart and help her on her quest. I loved the unique historical perspective and the many plot twists. It kept me engaged as I read about a woman who would do anything to find her brother. Sweet, clean, and wholesome all the way through.


Write Fearless, Edit Smart, Get Published

Lisa Mangum




About:



"Enough nuggets of wisdom on editing and finding an agent to make it worth aspiring novelists’ time." --Publisher's Weekly

Wherever you are in your author’s journey, this book is like teaming up with a personal writing coach who has more than a quarter of a century of editorial and publishing advice.

Thousands of writers—from first-time authors to #1 New York Times best-selling authors—have learned from Lisa Mangum’s masterful literary advice and inspiration. Now she’s collected the best of her writing and editing tips in this helpful book that covers the entire writing and querying process, from nurturing a story idea all the way to submitting a polished manuscript.

In the first half of the book, Lisa guides readers through the various steps of the writing process, including starting the story in the right place, developing characters with high-stake goals, mapping character relationships for increased conflict, and introducing tension and plot twists. She also shares tips and tricks for nailing a satisfying ending as well as helping authors discover their own unique voice that can help them break through writer’s block.

With her decades of experience, Lisa then takes writers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the many levels of editing, including a handy flowchart that unravels the mystery of where the commas go in a sentence.

Finally, she helps writers prepare to “get published” by deconstructing what makes a query letter catch an editor’s eye and how to answer the all-important question: “What’s your book about?”

Packed with Lisa’s own personal stories of encouragement and inspiration, Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. is a literary adventure that’s as fun as it is informative.

In my opinion:

If you ever want to write a book, this is a great addition to your toolkit. Lisa provides explanations on how to create engaging stories as well as her own experiences and examples. I haven't read her other novels but I'm certainly intrigued. This was a quick and easy reference to help you along your writing journey. Well done Lisa! I look forward to reading The Hourglass Door trilogy. Thank you for your wisdom and advice.


Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog and offer an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


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