The 6 Books to Read Winter 2019 Edition From What I Read Recently

*This 6 Books to Read Winter 2019 Edition themed article includes Amazon Affiliate links. If clicked for purchasing, I will make a small commission off these purchases.

It is a brand new year of reading. I know I shared here and here what I was reading very briefly. But today, I thought I would give a more detailed review of these books plus a few more.

Here is the thing, each year for the last few years I have joined the Goodreads Challenge. I was actually contemplating not joining this year. Not because I don’t plan on reading, but I hate setting limits on the amount of reading I plan on doing for the year.

But certain times of the year I tend to read more than others. So, I didn’t want the challenge to put more pressure on me to read during those times that may generally read less. I also don’t love that the challenge is an added pressure of sorts. See I love reading. But I don’t want it to become something I have to do instead of it something I want to do.

Yet in the end, I did join the 2019 challenge. That said, if I feel it isn’t working for me at any point during 2019, I might just stop updating on Goodreads. But fear not, I still love updating here as I know many of my readers comment still have much love and appreciate these book reviews on my blog. Plus, I also enjoy sharing my thoughts on my reading. See this helps me once I finish a book put into words my overall thoughts after having read a book. I guess it is sort of my own version of a book report.

If you belong to Goodreads, please feel free to let me know what you think of their annual reading challenge. Also, feel free to keep scrolling to find out what I have been reading, as well as my reviews now. 

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The 6 Books to Read Winter 2019 Edition

1. Bitter Orange, by Claire Fuller

Thanks to Meredith from The Mom of The Year as I won a copy of this novel from her. I honestly didn’t know much other than what Meredith has shared in her giveaway for this book. But I was excited to win and get to read. Having read Meredith’s review while I was in the middle of reading this one made me feel a bit better. See the story of Peter and Cara welcoming Frances into their lives dragged on for me, especially the first 100 or so pages.

Meredith actually commented on this, as well. Plus, I think the symbolic nature of the tale at hand also found me struggling to stay immersed in the story at hand. That said, I hate not finishing a book, especially one I won a free copy of from a fellow book-loving friend.

While I did finish this story, I will say the second half picked up a bit. I still was left feeling like I was missing the big draw to this one. See don’t get me wrong, I did get the “Rebecca” vibes having read this classic book in the past, as well. But I wasn’t sure if it was Cara or Frances who could be considered crazier. Cara most definitely liked to tell stories that truthful about her life. Her upbringing suggested issues with her mother, as well as ling with the fact that her father died while her mother was in childbirth. Where Frances also seemed unhinged, especially having been her mother’s caregiver before her death. She also had father issues as her father left when she was a young girl to be with her aunt, which she blamed herself for this happening. Plus, Peter didn’t seem all that stable, as well.

Also, I started it before Halloween, and while it was a bit on the creepy side and perfect for that time of the year, I still couldn’t bring myself to finish up before Halloween occurred. Honestly, this book is one I would say that you had to read to see your take on it, I suppose.

My Good Reads Winter 2019 Books Rating: 

2. Faking It, by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

So, I downloaded this book for Free from a Bookbub deal for iBooks. What can I say, but during the colder months, I genuinely enjoy reading a good romance novel. And that is just what I got here with the story of Max Sterling Hailey Elison.

See Max is a real estate mogul, who has been helping Hailey find the perfect location for her business office. Hailey happens to be a professional matchmaker. As spot on as Hailey is on matching other couples, she can’t seem o find a way to happiness for herself romantically speaking. Why? Because Hailey was once overweight and still is very self-conscious of her past. So, she made up a story about a fake fiancé to throw her clients off from learning that she is unlucky in love herself.

But deep down Hailey has been crushing on Max. But she doesn’t think that Max would be interested in her. However, Max is indeed interested but is a gentleman who wouldn’t get involved with Hailey because she is already spoken for or so he thinks.

When it comes out that Hailey made up the pretend fiancé story and even used Max for this purpose, Max is all in for acting with her client. Why? Because again Max has it bad for Hailey. But now, he has to take this opportunity to convince Hailey she is worthy of his love and so much more.

This book was such a fun and easy read. I read it in over two evenings and highly recommend for those looking for a sexy and sweet romance story.

My Good Reads Winter 2019 Books Rating: 

3. Some Like It Sinful, by Robbie Terman

This book was yet another I downloaded free from a Bookbub deal. After finishing and thoroughly enjoying Faking It, I couldn’t resist yet another free romance download. This one found new bakery owner Chloe Nelson struggling to get her business off the ground. When a chain competition threatens to open up right across the street from Chloe’s bakery, she panics calling her older sister, Sylvia for help.

As luck would have it, Sylvia is the assistant district attorney for Chicago. She uses her power to set up community service for hockey star and legend Griffin Lange at Chloe’s bakery. The two are like oil and vinegar from their first meeting. What starts as a mutual arrangement turns into a fake relationship. And then this fake relationship interestingly becomes real. But the two decide it would only be real temporarily as Griffin doesn’t think he can settle down for good and Chloe is looking for her real prince charming. What these two don’t realize is they may be falling for each other. Can their real love win out? You have to read to find out.

My Good Reads Winter 2019 Books Rating: 

4. One Night with A Stranger, by Linda Steinberg

OK, so I have been most definitely on a romance novel kick lately. But it seems that it is just this time of the year as when I look back on books I read last year at a similar time, I also read up on my fair share of romance novels.

That said, this time out twenty-something, Lisa Randall hooks up with Matt Owens who she met the same night at a bar out with her friend. Lisa is freshly rebounding from her recent breakup with Mr. Wrong. So, she thinks a one night stand is the trick to help her get over him.

Matt happens to be a true romantic at heart. He is also nursing a broken heart after his wife of nine years dumped him to get married again. Matt is the type to jump head first into relationships. So, his friend bets him that he couldn’t hook up and leave it at the one night stand. Lisa and Matt try their hardest to prove their instincts wrong. And yet the two go from one night stand to two to three and many more nights together. It is pretty clear to all but themselves that they are falling for the other.

So, how will their story play out? You have to read it to find out.

My Good Reads Back to School Books Rating: 

5. One Day in December, by Josie Silver

So, I had been toying with trying Audible out as my reading feel off for about a month or so. I also had been dying to check out Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. See I kept hearing such great things about her picks. But I honestly didn’t want to spend extra money if I couldn’t find time to read. However, I also just had gotten our family the Amazon Echo Show. So, Audible and reading seemed to be a logical choice for me.

I was offered a Free download on Audible when I uploaded the app, too. So, I caved and downloaded One Day in December, which is Reese’s December pick.

What can I say, but I was hooked to the novel and Audible, too. I listened and finished this book in less than 36 hours.

The Christmas love story of Laurie and Jack indeed was a winner. See these two are genuinely star crossed lovers, who laid eyes on each other for the first time right before Christmas 2008. Laurie is on a bus heading home from work when she spots Jack. Both seem smitten with each other from their first glance. But Laurie can’t get off the bus quickly enough nor can Jack get on before the bus takes off.

Laurie, then, spends a year looking all over for Jack. And the next time she sees him her best friend and roommate introduces her to him at their Christmas party the following year as the love of her life. From there, the two spend almost a decade of their lives longing to be together but never quite finding the right time to make it happen.

Without giving the ending away, I will say for the true romantics at heart this one doesn’t disappoint. Trust me; you need to see this through to the very last moment as the ending was pure delight.

My Good Reads Winter 2019 Books Rating: 

6. The Light We Lost, by Jill Santopolo

I struggled with what to read after One Day in December, by Josie Silver. I just recently got into Reese’s Sunshine Book Club. But wasn’t 100% sold on her January pick as I am not a non-fiction reader overall? But that is beside the point. So, I checked out a few Audible samples of Reese’s past book club choices. I kept coming back to The Light We lost. I think mostly because the book started during September 11th in NYC. See, I am a NY girl born and raised having lived through being in NY during 9/11. So, that initially drew me in. But also the ill-fated romance of Lucy and Gabe caught my reader’s eye as I also couldn’t resist finding out more about them.

While I did enjoy their romance, I wasn’t so pleased with Lucy’s decision to move on so quickly to marry the first man after their love affair ended so abruptly. Plus, the years of Lucy hanging in with her marriage when it honestly seemed like she wasn’t entirely in love with her husband was hard to swallow. But when Lucy and Gabe looked to get a second chance only to have that squelched so quickly by Lucy’s uncertainty was equally heartbreaking.

I will also say that I had a feeling that Lucy was talking to Gabe along through the whole novel. But I also figured out pretty quickly the state he was in or the lack thereof. Furthermore, I also surmised that Lucy would get pregnant for the third and final time the way she did, as well. Plus, the ending had me wiping my tears pretty fast and furiously.  Overall, I enjoyed this novel. But unlike One Day in December, by Josie Silver, the ending indeed left me shattered for what could have been.

My Good Reads Winter 2019 Books Rating: 

Well, that wraps up my books read since last time out. I hope out of The 6 Books For Winter 2019 that I have given some great reading suggestions. Stay tuned for more books reviews soon!

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