Welcome to the first book blog post of 2024! Did you guess the series title correctly??

The series this year is “12 Chronicles of a Bookworm” so each month will be the month’s chronicle. I don’t know how clever this is, but that took me too long to formulate. 😂 I was like how will I title each month with this kind of series title???? My Gma was like that’s all you, you’ll figure it out, LOL.

Also, welcome to another extremely long post because I can’t control myself apparently. I read a LOT this month. It’s like I’m getting faster somehow.

Yeah… I would if I knew how.

Let’s not waste anymore time here and get into the heart of things: the (amazing) books.

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The One She Can’t Forget by Tara Grace Ericson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This one played out differently than expected, but I really loved it anyway. The connection between Monica and Jake was cute and I loved how they learned things along the way. I felt like they were depending on God and then they weren’t, but I think that’s like everyone – we depend on Him more times than others and aren’t always consistent. Didn’t take away from the story.

I still enjoyed the way books one and three played into this one still. I’m really enjoying Tara Grace Ericson as an author.

This is book two in the Second Chance Fire Station series.

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The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️x5000

Rating explained:

Favorite book of the year. I do not care if this JANUARY. This is it. This is the book.

If you want a solid rom-com? This is it.

If you want a laugh out loud multiple times you have to put the book down to BREATHE FOR A MINUTE? This is it.

I loved loved loved the story. This was so much more than I ever thought it would be. I knew it would be good because of all the other rave reviews I had seen, but WOW.

I loved the meet-cute at the basketball game. It was just fate and timing. Bad, maybe, but so so good in the end.

You never know when you’ll meet someone and how that moment that seems like such a blip in the grand scheme of things ends up setting you on a totally different trajectory.

I would love to have a book or edition with Duke’s point of view as this is solely told from Nora’s point of view, but at the same time, that single POV and the mystery of what Duke was doing and what he would do next kept me turning the pages.

I would have read this in one day. I wanted to. I so so wanted to. But now that’s it’s over, this is why I took so long. I didn’t want it to end.

Insert book hangover.

This book, and so many others like it, but definitely this book, is why I believe there’s guys like this out there, that true love is out there and they keep me dreaming. Mostly dreaming.

If this is part of a series, sign me up. I don’t know if it is or not, but you can guarantee.. I will be watching and I will be waiting for the next book by Cindy Steel.

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The Golden Goal by Annah Conwell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Okay!! Highly anticipated book here.

Banter. Hilarious moments. Heart. Ugh! There’s so much I could say! Plus, hello, HOCKEY. 🙂

our flirting looks a whole lot like fighting.

“How do you know my favorite color?”

I swallow, trying to come up with something other than I’ve memorized every detail about you because I’m in love with you.

Yeah, I need to get a grip, or else she’s going to find out before she’s ready that I’m hopelessly in love with her.

I LOVED how Shaw knows her so well and cares about her readiness to pursue a relationship – even though it’s what he wants, he makes sure she is ready and wants it, too.

“Come on, Jones, it’ll be just like old times. Me, being my hilarious, charming self. You, throwing daggers at me with those pretty brown eyes.”

A little enemies to lovers (mostly one sided, because Shaw’s never considered Sutton an enemy), brother’s best friend, and alllllll the feels.

This is book one in the More than a Game series. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE OTHERS. If you don’t follow Annah, you should. She is the sweetest!!

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That Time I Kissed My Brother’s Best Friend by Julie Christianson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Ughhhhh, I love when they’re “enemies” and I love when “he falls fast and hard” even when they were in the feels way back when… so it’s kind of a second chance romance. Kasey and Beau were just 😍😍😍 !!

Oh my goodness was this one funny!! The quirky characters were so good. I recognize just from blurbs and reviews that Kasey’s cousins are the McCoys and there’s another series for them! I have the first book ready to read.✌🏻

This was the first book (novella) in the Time of Your Life series. So looking forward to the next ones!!

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(Not So) Alone for Christmas by Jenny Proctor

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was cute story!! It wasn’t a favorite, but it was an easy, quick Christmas read. MFC seemed kind of entitled to me, but that’s just my opinion from the beginning of the story. A little fast in the emotions department.

Again, not bad if you’re looking for a quick Christmas read. 🙂

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Falling For Your Beat Friend’s Twin by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This book, even though not a five star read from me, has me hooked on this series and so glad I started it!! I’ve heard great things about Emma St Clair so this is really my first real dive into her work after reading the one book from the Sweater Weather series.

This was cute and there were some hilarious moments, LOL. I enjoyed getting to know the dynamics of the friends that will be introduced and playing MCs in the series.

Book one in the Love Clichés series.

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Only a Night with a Billionaire by Ellie Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

It’s the royalty that gets me here I think. I’m just not that interested. This was a really well done book though! I enjoyed the characters and the story. I did get kind of bored just because it’s all the royal talk and I’m not going to marry blah blah blah.

I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

This was book three in the Only Us Billionaire Romance series.

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Finding You by Tanya Eavenson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

The meet cute was interesting in this one. I didn’t find it to be that believable and for that, I gave it 4 stars. It was a well done story though otherwise.

Stand-alone novellas in the Whispers in Wyoming series and this is book 35. I received ebook free in a Christian fiction freebie thing.

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The One Who Promised Forever by Tara Grace Ericson

This is what happens when I have a holiday off and it’s snowy outside.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I wasn’t looking forward to this one because the MCs were already married and I was like… I dunno. Not feeling it. I was so wrong. This was SO good. We see them overcome their challenges and fight for their marriage. It was so important for them to turn back to God and see the work He was doing instead of letting their grief mold a future outside of His will.

Third book in the Second Chance Fire Station series. I look forward to book four!

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The Hart of Christmas by Latisha Sexton

I know, another one day read. 👀

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I read a review on this one that wasn’t that favorable and it made me hesitant to read it. Just goes to show that you can’t always go off of reviews!

I LOVED this one. Although there were no hockey games played or much talk about it, it was there and I love it. I liked that the characters talked and moved past their prior misunderstandings and communication issues. It was a second chance romance here. Cute read!!

This is the novella to kick off the Dating a Denver Dragon series – a series of sweet hockey romances by multiple authors. 🏒❤️

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The Earl Next Door by Ashtyn Newbold

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Omggggg Henrietta was hilarious, LOL. She was always getting herself into awkward or possibly compromising positions. I loved how laid back Charlie was throughout all this and accepted and loved her anyway.

I haven’t read too many laugh out loud regency books, but lately I’ve found some – Ashtyn Newbold is a new author to me after this book and Audra Wells has some hilarious books as well. I recommend. 🙂

This is the first book in the Noble Charades series. The next book releases next month!!!!! I can’t wait to dive into the story of Charlie’s sister and his best friend.

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Falling For Your Boss by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

As soon as I knew about the age gap…

Age gap romance. Gavin is 43 and Zoey turns 24 at the beginning part of the book.

I didn’t think I’d like it. It was hard to wrap my head around it. It’s just a bit much for me. But the overall story itself was good and well written. I felt like the characters acted within their age range.

Book two in the Love Clichés series.

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Falling For Your Fake Fiancé by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating: explained:

I think I originally gave this book 4 stars, but either way, it’s a 5. I mean, this is one of my favorite tropes. I love the marriage of convenience plot and then they fall in love anyway.

Anyway, I’m not sure what Delilah will think when she learns that I’m cooking my way through her Pinterest boards. It doesn’t make me a sneaky person. It makes me resourceful. Based on Delilah’s expressions, the noises she’s made throughout dinner, and how many times she’s asked for just a pinch more, I think she would agree.

Her eyes pop open, meeting mine, catching me staring. No point pretending that I wasn’t. So, I don’t. Here is a face I could catalogue for days. In sunlight, on cloudy days. I want to know what her eyes look like under different kinds of light. I have a sudden urge to order every kind of light bulb on Amazon just to see the blue of her eyes in them. Then I could make a spreadsheet to name each shade of blue, correlating them with the various wattage and brand. Not that I’m obsessive or anything. I happen to like spreadsheets. And Delilah’s eyes.

The scenes between Delilah and Thayden (which was a really cool and new to me name!) were both funny and sweet. It was like there was so much obvious tension, but Delilah played it off like Thayden was nothing but a charmer. He was, but he was so much more than that, especially as the story grew.

This is book three in the Love Clichés series.

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The Twelve Holidates of Christmas by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I’m never not going to love a good friends to lovers book.

This was SO sad at the beginning. I can’t believe Weston waited so long to tell Taylor how he felt!! I was so shook.

Super cute idea and loved the whole thing.

This is the novella wedged in between books three and four of the Love Clichés series. This is literally the entire reason I started this series. For this novella. It did not disappoint. Obviously.

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He’s So Not My Valentine by Savannah Scott

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I’m not even a fan of Valentine’s Day for obvious and unobvious reasons. But I loved this book.

he was so not her Valentine, but in a short amount of time, he ended up there anyway. 🙂

A super sweet and short story of love with a Frenchman. I’m not even a fan of the French (sorry, people in France) and this was endearing.

If you read A Not So Fictional Fall by Savannah Scott from the Sweater Weather series, you’ll recognize all the characters in this one.

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Revelation

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

A great commentary for reading Revelation. This is the first one I’ve completed since I’m done (obviously not forever) reading through Revelation with my friend. I’ll be completing John in a few months!

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Love Pact with the Hero by Liwen Y. Ho

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I was a little slow to get back into this series because I wasn’t ready for this story. Like I just wasn’t excited about it. I don’t know.

Man. Why did I wait? This was SO good. It was so much better than I thought it would be.

Jeremiah was such a changed man from when they talked about how he used to be at the end of high school. Haven had been through a lot and learned to open up to what God had in store for her and her dauhgter.

Cute read. 🙂

Second book in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series.

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Have you created your reading goal for the year yet? I’m being conservative. I read way too much last year, without any pressure even since I blew my goal out of the stratosphere. I’m starting with the same reading goal I started with last year of 75 books. We’ll see how that goes. I mean… look at this month…

Books finished this month/year: 17