What a month it’s been!

I hope your new year has been off to a good start. Somehow I’ve stayed busy but also getting ahead on reading. It’s been a great month!

Did you notice the new series for the year? I like the idea of diary entries because that’s basically what this is. Me blabbing about books once a month with notes and favorite things, recording important details.

If you had any notion that I’d slow down on reading this year, I’m sorry to disappoint. I will be giving you alllllll the book recommendations this year again because I read some really great reads this past month I can’t wait to tell you about!

This month I was able to read so much on my Kindle. Did I tell you I’m in love with it????

We have quite a few books, so we need to get started. 🙂

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Finding You This Christmas by Hazel Belle

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed this one just because it kind of reminded me of a Hallmark movie. The misunderstandings and funny shenanigans were good. It was a favorite, but definitely a good read.

Luna is an interior designer who gets recommended to Romulus who is a rookie football player who wants his condo furnished and designed.

This is a quick read and part of the Letters to Mrs. Claus multi-author series.

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The Christmas Reboot by Leah Busboom

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was a really cute sort-of second chance romance, workplace work romance (actors on same set).

Tucker and Ally were cute together and had great chemistry. It was interesting to see how their love story came to be (finally!!).

This is part of the Letters to Mrs. Claus multi-author series.

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Sincerely Not Yours by Brittney Joy

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like I couldn’t put my Kindle down!! I had to find out how they made this work.

The meet cute in this is hilarious.

Harris is her new boss and Gigi is SHOOK. They have great chemistry and honestly…. Harris seems really swoony. Let’s be real.

I loved all their Christmas activities that were work related events to promote their women’s products. This is a great Christmas read!

No cussing but there were some taking the Lord’s name in vain and alluding to cursing? Mostly just in the first half. The second half was great, really. And no spice! I had never read this author before so wasn’t completely sure – but I think I did find this author from a clean romance author….

Anyway 🙂

This is book one in the Knitted in Love series.

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Faking It With My Bossy Ex by Leah Blair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

A second chance romance? A swoony MMC? An artistic FMC who has to work with her ex?

I mean… COME ON. What more could you want at Christmas?

I loved this from start to finish. I loved all the moments Amy and Dylan were thrown together (even their first meeting again after several years) – to keep up their fake dating and working together to put together a fundraiser. There’s also some secret identity thrown in. MMMMM, my fave.

This is the first book I read from the Sweet Christmas Kisses multi-author series. They’re all standalones! 🙂

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Winging It With My Ex by Bree Livingston

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This is a series I found that’s FAST. Like I could have read this in under 2 hours but I got sleepy 🥲

Second chance romance for Jett Monroe and Hadley after years of separation. The characters seemed younger than they actually were to me (they’re actually 32).

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series. They are numbered, but you could totes read them as standalones.

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Sugar, Ice and Everything Nice by Kristen Iten

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Zane Hayes and Wren Penrose were soooo flirty from the get-go! This was so cute! Wren has a huge poodle that forces a meet-cute accident with Zane. She doesn’t know who he is but they do some flirting for a while and part ways. All their interactions were enjoyable.

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series.

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The Romance Playbook by Liwen Y Ho

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Dax is flirty, but promises his coach he’ll stay away from distractions – aka women. When his cousin asks him to help out her friend, he thinks that Charlie is a guy but he shows up and finds out Charlie is a girl. You know how this goes!! It was so sweet. Charlie would be me if I wasn’t already a hockey fan my whole life. LOL

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series.

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A Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was a cute story. It wasn’t a favorite, but it was enjoyable anyway.

This is a story of a family kind of in the pits. A lot unfolds for them around the holidays while they make decisions and mistakes along the way.

I did not like some of the language used or how they talked at times. That’s really my only complaint. Nothing was excessive, it’s just obvious this is not a Christian novel.

If you enjoy the holiday mishaps and family drama type stories, I think this would be a great option with multiple POV throughout.

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The Neighbor Renovation by Grace Worthington

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I know this is January!! Every year, I always end up reading something I love the rest of the year. Last year was The One With the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel and this year, I think it’s this one.

Backstory: I wasn’t thrilled to read this story (or the series) because I’m only reading it so I can get to her second series, LOL. So, I felt like I had to read it in this case. I wasn’t too excited either just based on the synopsis. BUT THERE I WAS MINDING MY OWN READING BUSINESS when…

I fell in love.

This book was just so… so good. I loved their chemistry and little moments. The way their feelings developed and only got stronger… and the DEPTH. Grant was so swoony and had such a big heart under his grumpy exterior.

I didn’t want this to end. I felt kind of let down by the ending – not that it wasn’t great because it definitely was – but I was so into it, that it ending was just sad to me.

I can’t recommend Grace Worthington enough after this novel. I can’t wait to read more!

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Love and Other Penalties by Laney Kate

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This is the story of Finn and Ivy. She’s a figure skater and he’s a hockey star. I loved their meet cute. I mean sharing the ice? Falling in love? Oh, did I ruin the romance novel???

Anyway, this one is a must read. It could probably be transformed into a full length novel, but I think it was a great story as a novella. They had to work through complications, but it was alright! Nothing beats the meet-cute for me with this one though.

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series.

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Checking All Her Notes by April K. Murdock

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Ooooooo, now this one! This one was a grumpy-sunshine story that was kind of hilarious. Sophie’s a music teacher and the daughter of the hockey team’s coach. When a star player, Jude. busts the music classroom’s window with the pump, he’s introduced to her for the first time. Soon they’re spending more time together. Did I mention he’s grumpy? 🙂

We know he’s a softie! A great read.

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series.

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The Mistletoe Power Player by Liwen Y. Ho

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I’m not always a fan of best friends to more stories I’ve realized. This one was done well in my opinion though. It was a quick reunion when Daisy returns to Briarwood, their hometown and where Hudson plays for on the hockey team. They’ve had feels for each other but Hudson finally puts it all on the line when her sister sets her up with a dating app.

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series.

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A Doctor’s Snowed In Christmas Wish by Daisy Flynn

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was an insta-love story between a local small island girl and a visiting doctor who was escaping scandal in the big city.

There’s also a 14 year age gap between Daniel and Rosalind.

This is the second book I read from the Sweet Christmas Kisses multi-author series.

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Friendshipped by Savannah Scott

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t love this one. It was a LOT of just not communicating their feelings as best friends and all these moments they’d had in the past that were messed up because again, lack of communication, or bad timing.

It was enjoyable, but it took me a long time to get through just because it dragged on and on.

While this story follows Trevor and Lexi, I’m looking forward to the next books in the series to meet more of the characters in the small town.

This is the first full length book in the Getting Shipped! series.

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Puckered Up with Slapshot Santa by Kristen Iten

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was super cute!! Older brother’s best friend and all the charm 😍 so much to love about this quick story.

Garrett was the sweetest and probably most attractive 🤣

Cassidy thought he was messing with her to fake date but it was real for him 🫶🏻

This is a book from the Meet Cute Match Ups multi-author novella series. (I’ve read them in published order so this is the last one!)

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My Grumpy Editor by Rachel Chamberlayne

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this one. From the moment I started reading it, I was laughing as Abi (Abigail) had to go pee as she waited for her meeting time with her new boss on her first day. So relatable. Their meet-hate was just superb! Phil (Philip) is a softie though for her.

Notes:

• Philip Adrian Baker – 29
• Abigail Louise Benson – 22, turns 23 in the story
• WHEN HE CALLS HER ABI LOU
• Homeschooled steroetype
• Workplace romance
• Discovering and growing in faith
• Relatable fears and family dynamics on both sides

Quotes:

His face brightens like he’s as pleased with my brilliant reply as I am. “Then I’ll treat you to dinner.” My heart flutters. I knew it. “Does next Friday work?”

“I’ll have to check my calendar …”

He side-eyes me. “You’re not busy on your birthday, but you might be next Friday?”

Flushing, I clear my throat. “Like I said, I’ll have to check.”

He chuckles like he can see right through me. “Okay. You do that, Abi Lou.”

Abi is a yellow daffodil poking through the frozen soil of my hibernating heart, pointing in the direction of the Son.

Laughing under my breath, I recall all the times I’ve jokingly said, “Jesus, take the wheel,” but kept my fist clasped firmly around the hand brake.

This is a standalone novel but I think there could be a chance to make a novel for Rose!!! Ahhh!!! We’ll see.

This was Rachel’s debut novel that I read after her latest release. I can’t wait for more! She weaves fiction with relatable, flawed characters who are seeking and/or discovering Jesus.

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A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I don’t know if I was just me but I felt a little confused at one point in the story but it worked itself out. There were just many rumors and stories to keep straight. 😅

I did really love this slow burn romance. I mean Andrew Langford has loved Sophie Renard forever but… he thought she was married 😭 even I was shook when the truth came out.

They’re about 25-26. He’s a year older than her. She’s a mathematician and he’s a banker. I loved how they were both trying to make something of themselves for different societal reasons.

THE FRIEND GROUP OF GUYS 😂

Charles called Ambrose “Rosie” 🤣

Charles and Tristan are twins. I can’t wait for their books!!

Andrew’s declaration of love to Sophie 🥹🥹 we need a moment for this one.

Quotes:

“Careful, Sophie, or I may have to list out all your positive attributes to convince you otherwise. And that would only embarrass us both.” He needed to start sleeping better, or else he would never regain control over his tongue. It seemed to have a mind of its own at this point.

“If I had something, I would throw it at you.” Her hand hovered near her slippers for a moment, as if considering.

“So, you are to be a violent sort of wife?” he quipped, hands lifted, should he need to shield himself.

“Only when my husband provokes me,” she returned, settling back again. It would seem he was safe from her slippers for the moment.

“How quickly you lay the blame at my door.”

“One need not lay what was always there to begin with.” The pertness of her response made his grin widen.

He didn’t want a marriage in name only. He’d fancied himself in love with Sophie Renard years ago, and now he did not want to share only his name with her. He wanted to share her life. He wanted to be stressed over whether he was going to follow her to Durham and abandon his plans. He wanted her head to rest on him, not against the carriage.

Charles groaned, tapping his palms against the sides of his legs. “Agh.

Tell me, where might I find one of you?”

“Usually, we have our noses in books.”

“So that is why I have never met one. I am frequenting the wrong places. I thank you for your service, Mrs. Langford.”

This is a multi-author series and because of the whole idea behind the series and this wager, the books are being released in a surprise order!! It’s a race to the finish – who will be the last one to marry?

It’s the most fun series anticipation and release idea I’ve come across and I encourage you to grab these!!

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One Little Chance by Rebecca Jo Jackson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Loved this more than most and more than I thought at the beginning.

Sophie and Jordan were from book one (more so Jordan) and it took me a few chapters to remember that 😂

Jordan was Emma’s boyfriend she broke up with in book one and Sophie is Jordan’s ex best friend and girlfriend from like elementary through high school days. She broke up with him her first year of college when her life was falling apart. NOW SHE’S BACK IN SWEET RIVER. Which we knew from book one, but now we get her POV in this novella.

Notes:

• Second chance
• Running into exes
• She’s a teacher
• He’s in construction and coaches soccer
• He takes care of her
• She shows up for him

This is the novella in between books one and two in the Sweet River romance series. This could be a Christmas novella because most of it (through flashbacks and present) is set at Christmas time with festivities. Could also be read as a standalone, but I think everything makes more sense when you read it in order.

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Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was a well done best friends to more. 😍

He’s a pro hockey player and she’s a lawyer but she quits. Harlow wins a vacation for two as she’s newly single and jobless. Ted uses the make his decision to play in this charity tournament with other pro players and goes with her.

THE WAY HE’S ALWAYS THERE FOR HER. I’m here for it 🙂

Their forced proximity helps them seal the deal.

Funny enough, they’re from my city in Oklahoma!! What are the odds.

This is book 6 in the Love on Thin Ice multi-author series. Each book happens at the same time so they can be read as standalones. 🙂

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Feel free to let me know in the comments what you read this past month. Did we read any of the same books??

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Books read this month: 19

Book goal for the year: 96

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I did add more books to my online store! Feel free to check out or share with fellow readers so I can get them out of my house but also into good homes.

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

Follow my Instagram for mediocre content:

https://www.instagram.com/notyourseason?igsh=MW5kMnltOXJocTEyOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Follow my reading obsessions and updates on GoodReads! Let’s be book friends 🙂

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131896341-summer

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Have a great Sunday and week ahead!! Happy reading!