Can you believe this is the last ‘books in progress’ list of 2022? It seems like the year has flown by, an overused saying that I’m given to understand means I’m getting old. Nevertheless, it’s true and I think it’s better than the alternative where life is dragging by, slow as cold molasses as we say in the south.
But you aren’t here for colloquialisms, you’re here for the books! I have several books I’m excited about on my TBR for the last few weeks of the year, and plenty of great ones that I’ve already finished over the last few weeks. As usual, you’ll find a mixture of genres, though almost all of them contain elements of romance. What can I say, I like a good love story.
There are also a couple of bonus Christmas stories that I read after publishing my 2022 Christmas Book Guide, so there’s also that.
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Just Finished:
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door
Five stars for this holiday rom-com! Anthropology professor Henry Hill isn’t thrilled with when a single mom and her ebullient offspring move in next door and disrupt his quiet existence. Despite their holiday-hating neighbor, Paige is determined that Evie will enjoy every ounce of her first Christmas in their own home, including decorating every inch of their yard. Paige and Henry butt heads, but come around to a truce. Could it lead to more? You betcha. I loved this story about not judging by appearances and reserving the right to change your mind. The characters are all so loveable, even Scrooge!
Do I write mysteries? Nope, but that didn’t stop me from grabbing this non-fiction gem from my library. I enjoyed reading different authors’ takes on a variety of topics, like explaining genre rules and when to break them, as well as general writing advice about characters and plotting that are valuable for any type of writer. There is so much covered in this book, and while it’s geared toward authors, I think many readers would enjoy a peek behind the curtain as well.
Dr. Barnabus Milligan is involved in several pursuits that aid the poor and abused, which is how he wound up in a marriage of convenience several years earlier. He hasn’t seen his wife Gemma in three years, but now he needs her help. Using the knowledge she gained growing up in a disreputable family, Barnabus and the other members of the Dread Penny Society race to solve a mystery and bring down one of London’s most dangerous villains before anyone else gets hurt. Gemma hopes that he called her home to profess that he returns her devotion, but that doesn’t seem to be the case…at first. I went into this book thinking it was the final installment in the Dread Penny Society series, but I hope that’s not the case. It ends on a major cliffhanger after a much-anticipated reveal, so my fingers are crossed that there is another book coming. I loved this series of historical romances! They are filled with humor and heart as the characters try to help the less fortunate and keep the secret of their society.
I’ve been following Pastor Michael Todd on social media for a while and love what he’s doing, so I was pumped to read his book. In it, he outlines a few different types of faith with illustrations from the Bible and examples of how that faith looks today. He also recounts the faith journey his church has been on in recent years. His story, the church’s story, and the encouragement he brings to followers of Jesus are truly inspiring.
In Progress:
I’m so close to reaching my goal of finishing Denise Hunter’s backlist this year. One of her earlier books, Seaside Letters is about a waitress who does research on the side and is hired by one of her regular customers to find the women he’s been communicating with online. The problem? She’s the mystery woman, and she’s determined not to let him find out.
“Dad always said if things get desperate, it’s okay to drink the water in the toilet bowl. I never thought it would come to that.” This middle-grade novel had me hooked from the very first page. The day before John and Stewart Lockwood are expecting their dad to return from a work trip, a massive blackout occurs. Jim Lockwood is a survivalist, so the boys have everything they need to survive until their supplies are stolen and they are forced to travel across the open desert in search of help. So far this story is propulsive and inspiring, although reading it as an adult is also horrifying because you have a much better understanding of how daunting the odds are for these boys. I was so angry when their supplies were stolen! I think this book will end up being a hit for me, and I plan to have my 4th grader read it as well.
It is 1876 when spoiled Yale student William Johnson travels west with a paleontology professor on a dare, encountering adventure and danger beyond his wildest dreams. I don’t have many comments about the book at this point. I will say, it’s not like any other Michael Crichton book I’ve read to date. The attention to historical detail is impressive, but so far (I’m at about 33%) it doesn’t have the level of scientific discussion that I’ve come to expect. What is in keeping with his style, though, is that I have no idea where this story is headed. I’m ready for some surprises.
Up Next:
I’m a huge admirer of the way Kristy Cambron weaves two (sometimes three!) timelines together to make a beautiful, sweeping novel. This book is about a present-day who finds herself connected to a young violinist from 1942 through a painting. It’s on my kindle at this very moment and I can’t wait to read it!
My hold is about to come in for the final installment in the Inheritance Games series and I can’t wait! I hope it is as thrilling and propulsive as the first two, and I also hope it wraps up the story nicely. I expect there to be some unanswered questions due to the nature of the story, but I hope it concludes in a way that satisfies the reader.
In the interest of full transparency, I’ll let you know upfront that I have no idea what this book is about. All I know is that I love Christmas stories and I adore Emma St. Clair, so I downloaded this novella to my Kindle the day it became available and I’m going to eat it up as soon as I finish 96 Miles.
For more great book recommendations, check out Modern Mrs. Darcy’s quick lit post, including the comment section where other bloggers chime in as well!
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