Hello, friends! I hope the new year is treating you well and that you find yourself with many new and marvelous books to read. This is certainly the case for me as you will see in a moment. I have been doing quite a bit of reading and have several more titles in my near future that I am very excited about.
January has generally perfect reading weather, which is all it has to recommend it in my opinion. I’m a warm weather girl myself, but if I must be bundled up in sweaters and blankets, then a good book makes it more pleasant. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that many of you would agree that a warm beverage compliments that situation as well – my current favorite for that is this Skinny Vanilla Chai Latte.
What is your favorite hot drink this time of year? If you have a recipe send it my way! In the meantime, here’s what I’ve been reading:
This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some fancy coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.
Just Finished:
A debut novel by author Kaitlin Covel, this story follows Josie as she marries for security, thinking a union with neighboring gentleman Charles is the only way to save her family’s fortune and honor. But both of them bring baggage into this marriage of convenience, and between that and an ever more dangerous mystery, they will have a tough time making this marriage work. It’s available for pre-order now, releasing next month and I highly suggest you add it to your cart! I’ll be publishing a more detailed review next month, so check back in then if you are interested in learning more.
More about this book soon, but if you love well-researched, thoughtfully written historical fiction then you will love this book. I read in the afterword that Julie Klassen spent over a year researching and writing this novel and it shows. With This Pledge highlights the Battle of Franklin near the end of the Civil War and follows the story of governess Lizzie Clouston as she cares for wounded Confederate soldiers in her employer’s home. Among the wounded is Captain Roland Jones, a sharpshooter who is immediately drawn to Lizzie’s kindness, faith, and honor.
In Progress:
I’m only a few pages into this one, but so far there has been plenty of baking and a handsome stranger, so I see lots of promise. As someone who likes to cook and bake almost as much as I like to read, I think this book is going to be the perfect intersection of those two interests.
Once I finish this book I will be done with my quest to read all of Jane Austen’s novels – which means I’ll probably start over again on some of the first ones I read a long time ago. I really enjoy listening to Austen on audio, and this book is no exception. Mr. Tilney’s minute knowledge of muslin and other yard goods is quite entertaining.
This book is by one of my favorite authors, Melissa Jagears. It’s the last in her Teaville Moral Society series and it’s every bit as good as the other two so far. I really admire her ability to really get to the heart of issues that should matter to everyone and make her characters wrestle with those issues. I’m also really looking forward to reading her newest book, Romancing the Bride, as soon as it comes up on my library holds list.
Up Next:
I didn’t know anything about this book when I requested it other than the author. I love Colleen Coble for good clean mystery/suspense with a little romance sprinkled in so I can’t wait to dive into this one soon!
What are you reading right now? If you need even more book recommendations, hop on over to Modern Mrs. Darcy’s monthly Quick Lit link up to see what she and other book bloggers are reading.
I’ve only read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and I’ve been hoping to read more of her books hopefully this year.
That Skinny Vanilla Chai Latte looks good. I know what you mean about the coziness of January weather. I love cold weathers with hot drinks as well.
Happy Reading, Jordan!
Pride & Prejudice is the first one I read many years ago and I’d like to go back and reread it after I finish Northanger Abbey. Thanks for stopping by!
Still need to read Mansfield Park to complete Austen for me.
No recipe to share, my favorite Chai is Dunkin’s Vanilla Chai!
Great reviews ~ thanks!
Mansfield Park was one of my favorites! I’ve never had Dunkin’s chai, next time I’m there I’ll give it a try!
This comment alone “but so far there has been plenty of baking and a handsome stranger, so I see lots of promise” makes me want to read this one!!
Catherine
Ha ha I thought that was a pretty good hook. It would make me want to read it too!
I’m going to be better about reading this year, Jordan! The Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe looks like it would suit me well.
Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe sounds like my kind of fun – love the food part of it, especially 🙂
That’s what drew me to this book as well 🙂
Northanger Abbey is the only Austen novel I haven’t read yet too, it’s weird that I haven’t considering P & P is my favorite book of all time. I need to read Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe too since it sounds right up my alley.
Hope you get a chance to round out your Austen list soon! I barely remember Pride & Prejudice, though many people say it is their favorite. I’m hoping to read it again soon to refresh my memory.
These all sound like wonderful reads, I am ALWAYS looking for new books to add to my collection <3 as for the hot drink, I am all about my herbal teas, especially ones with peach!
‘Too many books’ is definitely not a thing, is it? I like good herbal tea too, sweetened with extra honey 🙂
I love reading, especially in the winter. Sounds like you have a great lineup!
Reading is fun all year long, but it really helps make winter bearable 🙂