I’m BACK!!!!!!!!! And, I’m back with my very favorite post . . . a book review! WOOHOO!

2022 has been great but taking on some new work challenges/ventures has given me less time to read! I just have had a minute trying to figure out how to fit it all in.

SO . . . I am PUMPED to be back and to share with you FIVE books that I read over January and February!! I read two EASY chick lit books, one deeper chick lit, and two suspense. I LOVED four of them and was fine with the fifth. All, however, are great for your upcoming Spring Break. Whether that is on the beach, a ski mountain, or in your backyard eating takeout. Fun books for your month.

A gentle warning that this is a long one, so grab your coffee, your tea, or your wine, and let’s hit it. Also, on the mention of wine . . . I don’t really drink it anymore, but I have given up wine and red meat for Lent. Pray for me!

Here we go . . .

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Full disclosure on this one, y’all! I opened it up on December 22nd, read two chapters, and then put it down until mid-January. That’s how much it grabbed me. The holidays were busy, and January was crazy, but it is still very unlike me to not WANT to finish a book. Especially a chick-lit book! I can say, however, that once I forced myself to crack it back open, it was quick, easy, and pretty cute.

This Time Next Year follows Minnie Cooper (yes, bless her for her name). Minnie was born on January 1st, and HATES New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with a passion. She appears to have horrible luck each year during this time, and has a massive chip on her shoulder about it. Kind of annoying, really. Quinn, also born on January 1st, LOVES his birthday and finds a fun way to celebrate when he is able. A chance meeting at his birthday party starts a unique friendship that takes on a life of its own. Very much a story of just because you think someone is lucky doesn’t mean that they aren’t struggling behind the scenes.

I can’t write too much about this one. I mean, it took me almost a month to read. It was cute. The main characters are flawed – as we all are – but I had a hard time not reaching into the pages and knocking Minnie upside the head to knock the chip off of her shoulder. I still cheered for her, so she had my vote in the end. Anyone else read this one?

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Oh, my heart! If you have read my book reviews over the years, you know that I am trying to get Colleen to make me president of her fan club. I love her. I don’t think she has ever written a book that I didn’t love. She writes chick lit books that have a massive amount of depth and a nice side of steaminess. When people ask me for recommendations, I usually start by sharing something from her. She is SO, so talented and makes me feel all the things when I read her books.

Reminders of Him is her newest book, and I LOOOOOOVED it. The books starts with Kenna getting out of prison after serving five years for a tragic mistake. She gave birth shortly after being sentenced and has never seen her daughter. She is desperate to build a relationship with her now four-year-old daughter, but the tragic mistake that put Kenna behind bars has left ugly, emotional scars on those that she hurt. Ledger, a local bar owner and one of her daughter’s care givers, becomes the only connection that Kenna can hold onto.

Y’all. As a mom, this story tore at my heart strings. One moment, one tragedy . . . and Kenna lost her daughter. Yes, she was reckless in that moment. Yes, she made a mistake. But, as a mom, her heart is only for her daughter and trying to rebuild her life. But, for those that are scarred from her mistake, I get their feelings as well. Ugh! A beautiful, raw story about forgiveness and love. I HIGHLY recommend this one. Precious!

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

Ok, so y’all know that I love a good thriller. Nothing too anxiety-inducing, but one that keeps me guessing. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Big time!

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife takes place at the 10-year college reunion over Homecoming weekend. Six best friends from college reunite, and there is some DRAMA! Apparently, the 7th best friend was brutally murdered February of their senior year, and the killer has never been found. You know, minor details.

This story is told by all of the characters and jumps from present day at the reunion back to different times while they were in college. The story is built around trying to find the killer and unmask the monster that has been living among them for ten years.

I loved college at SMU in Dallas, and this book took me back. My imagination is very creative, and SMU was the backdrop of this story for me. LOVED this one. I thought I had the answer every few chapters, but then it would change. So much fun, and a great one for this Spring Break!

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

I really felt like I needed a little chick-lit, easy breezy book after that suspense novel I just read. This book was recommended to me by a few of you last fall and has been sitting on my desk since then. I should have read this back in Halloween season because the backdrop of the story is spooky, but I am just so happy that I finally cracked it open. This book has everything I love in an easy read . . . two main characters that I love and cheer for, a sweet town that I want to visit, and a cast of characters that make me laugh in tense moments. So fun!

The Ex Hex takes place in Graves Glen, Georgia. While it appears to be a normal town, it was actually founded by a powerful witch. Nine years ago, Vivi and Rhys fell in love while he was traveling to attend classes at the local college that his family had created when they built the town. A fast and furious romance ended in heartbreak when he left town, and over a bit too much vodka, Vivi and her cousin did a little joking around and may have accidentally cursed Rhys. I mean, we’ve all done that right? 😉

When Rhys returns to town for a special Founder’s Day celebration, the nine-year old curse takes effect, and everything starts to go nuts. Vivi and Rhys have to work together to save Rhys, save the town, and keep the magic intact. Yes, this sounds like something on a kid’s channel. I get it. But think of it as a Halloween Hallmark movie, with a healthy dose of steaminess. Rated R, my friends. SUPER CUTE! If you want to just escape for a minute this month, grab this book. Cute!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

I am a big Lucy Foley fan! I loved reading both The Hunting Party and The Guest List. Both great books, with similar writing patterns. Someone dies in the first chapter, but you don’t know who it is or killed them until the end of the book. Super fun.

The Paris Apartment, her newest book, changes up her regular pattern just a bit and I LOVED it! Jess is heading to visit her brother, Ben, at his posh apartment in Paris. Upon arriving late at night, he isn’t answering her calls and it looks like he has completely disappeared into thin air. As she moves into his place and starts searching for him, she begins to notice that everyone else that lives in this building is CRAZY! All different in their crazy, but still . . . CRAZY!

This is SUCH a fun book that is told from each of the main characters, so you get to see the story unfolding and all of their versions of the truth. This book will keep you flying through the pages just to find out where in the world did Ben go! Is he alive? Is he hurt? Who hurt him? Is Jess now in danger? Oh, y’all! This is a fun and easy read for your Spring Break.

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Whew! That was a long one today. I promise to try and pull it together for an actual March Book Review rather than an “every other month” situation! Let me know your thoughts on the books above, if you have read them! And, as always, please send me your recommendations! I love hearing from y’all! XO