It’s time for my last book review post for what I read in 2013! I ended the year reading 102 books. My highest reading month was August, when I read 13 books (also, coincidentally, the month I took a break from blogging and social media), while my lowest reading month was April when I read just five books. I’m not shooting to read as many books this year (I set a goal for 75 on Goodreads), because I want to focus on quality over quantity, and also not disregard some of my other hobbies for reading.

Anyway, here we go! December book reviews. My favorite book this month was Tempted Into Danger and my least favorite was Save As Draft.

95. My Wicked Little Lies by Victoria Alexander (4 stars)

This was a fun, quick read. I haven’t read too many historical romance novels this year, but this was a “free” paperback I picked up from my library (free meaning I didn’t check it out and can return it anytime I want) that I dived into one lazy weekend and couldn’t put down. It had a really interesting premise, great characters, and a fast-moving plot. I loved it!

96. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (4 stars)

This book is all kinds of wonderful. I love the way Strayed writes, and she was just as honest and blunt and real in her advice column. I found myself tearing through this book, so interested in each new column and feeling so deeply the pain and tragedy the people who wrote to her went through. In some ways, it was a trigger for my anxiety (since my anxiety as a whole, mainly comes when I get freaked out about tragedy happening), but mostly, it was just a blessing to read. Life is pain and heartache and trials… but it is also joy and excitement and happiness. I ended this book wishing I could write my own letter to Sugar because her advice is always so spot-on and based in truth. A must read!

97. Tempted Into Danger by Melissa Cutler (5 stars)

I devoured this novel. It was a simple Harlequin romantic thriller, but it was so good. It was so well-written, so filled with action and character drama and excitement and I could not put it down. I’m not typically one to want to read the next book in the series when it’s Harlequin, but I actually pre-ordered the next book because this one was so amazing. She definitely ranks up there with the better romantic suspense authors!

98. On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah (4 stars)

This was the first novel of Kristin Hannah’s that I’ve read, and I really, really enjoyed it! It involved a lot of hard things – cheating, mental illness, and death – but Hannah weaved together a wonderful story of hope, life, and the power of love. There were times when the main character annoyed me and I just wanted her to grow a backbone, but I suppose it was necessary for the character development throughout the story. I can’t wait to read more from her!

99. Fools Rush In by Kristan Higgins (3 stars)

This was a cute chick-lit novel, though a bit cheesy and there were times when the main character felt a bit far-fetched. I liked the natural pace of the love story, though, and there were some great characters in the novel. All in all, not one of the best chick-lit novels I’ve read, but an easy read.

100. Save as Draft by Cavanaugh Leigh (2 stars)

This book was okay, but I didn’t love it. I saw it had good reviews, so that interested me enough to pick it up. It’s told through emails, as the main character is searching for love. She tries Match.com, then ends up falling for her best friend, right after going on a great first date with a wonderful guy she met through the dating site. It felt a bit dated to me (because who really conducts all their conversations through emails?!) and I just didn’t like the main character all that much. None of the characters felt consistent throughout the story, and I was very confused by the ending. Never a good thing! Not a book I would recommend.

101. The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani (3 stars)

You’ll see my review for this book on Wednesday!

102. Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

My last book of 2013! Another stellar book from Suzanne Brockmann, as always. It was filled with action, character drama, and a wayward love story. It brought back some much-loved characters from Brockmann’s other novels and I flew through this book in a matter of days. As long as she keeps putting out books, I’ll keep reading them!

Books read in December: 8
Books read in 2013: 102

How many books did you read in 2013?

Let’s dig into some reviews for the books I read in November, shall we? Favorite book this month was Wanderlove, while my least favorite was probably Almost Perfect.

85. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery (2 stars)

I just didn’t enjoy this book at all. The story premise felt a bit weak and I couldn’t relate to the main character (I found her very whiny). The story involves a woman who comes back to her hometown after being away for many years. She has to come face-to-face with her past, which involves letting an old high school flame know he is a father. This is such an overused plotline in romance novels and I am really over it. It’s just not okay! I found little to like about the main character because of this. I was left wanting more.

86. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (4 stars)

This was a really, really good read. The writing is a bit simplistic, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Donald Miller writes directly from the heart, he doesn’t need big, eloquent paragraphs or pretty phrases. It’s just the bare bones. He’s vulnerable and honest and I felt such a kindred spirit in him. I felt like I understood God just a little bit better after reading this book. It’s just a really great read about Christianity and spirituality and the struggles we face. It’s a book for anyone, really.

I wish I had bought this book for Kindle because I spent a lot of time transcribing quotes to my iPhone’s Notes app. This one was my favorite: “I will love God because he first loved me. I will obey God because I love God. But if I cannot accept God’s love, I cannot love Him in return, and I cannot obey Him. Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God’s love will. The ability to accept God’s unconditional grace and ferocious love is the fuel we need to obey Him in return.” (pg 86)

87. Baby-Sitters on Board! by Ann M. Martin (4 stars)

If I were to rate this as an adult, I would probably give it a generous two stars. But it’s not written for adults, it’s written for kids. I think I was in third or fourth grade the first time I read this book, actually! So, on an elementary-grade reading level, it’s a solid four stars. It’s very outdated and some of the things that happened made me itchy (like 13-year-old Claudia roaming alone in the Bahamas…) and quite frankly, it bored me a little because there were so many different plots happening at once and I didn’t find myself fully invested in any of them. But it was still fun to read and experience.

88. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard (5 stars)

I am quickly becoming a believer in the YA genre. At least in the YA romance genre. This was a really well-written novel that included a lot of depth and character development. All of the characters were just very real, with honest emotions and feelings and problems and triumphs. I loved them all, but I loved the main character, Bria, the most. It’s a bit of a travel adventure story, of Bria trying to get over a breakup and do something completely out of the realm of the ordinary. There isn’t anything I can say that I didn’t love about this novel! It’s more than just a cute romance, it’s also a story about self-discovery and getting out of your own way to do things that scare you.

89. Someone’s Baby by Dani Sinclair (4 stars)

I read this in the space of 24 hours – an actually well-written Harlequin romance novel! Imagine that! The premise was a bit far-fetched, but the story still gripped me from beginning to end. I felt so invested in the characters and their love story.

90. Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani (3 stars)

I have such a writer-crush on Adriana Trigiani and the way she writes. She has a true talent, and she draws you into her world. This book was set in 1950s New York and it was the perfect setting. I loved Lucia because she was brash and brave and easily likable. She made some stupid decisions, fell for the wrong boy, but throughout it all, she was discovering herself and just exactly what she wanted from her life. It was an easy book to set down, though, and it never fully grabbed my attention like I wanted it to. I think that’s just me personally because it’s not a bad book by any means. I think most people would enjoy it because the writing is phenomenal and the characters are wonderfully written.

91. Single: The Art of Being Satisfied, Fulfilled, and Independent by Judy Ford (2 stars)

I was really hoping I would get more out of this book, but it just didn’t do it for me. I don’t think I was the target demographic, it seemed to be more suited towards older previously married women. I bought the book on Kindle and it was almost $9 so I forced myself to read the entire thing, though I’m sure I would have abandoned it if I had gotten it from the library. There were some interesting tidbits that made me think and I do love the message that singleness is not a condition to be cured. There were a few quotes that really spoke to me:

“Wasting energy wishing for something you don’t have while ignoring all that you do is a vicious mental trap.” (pg. 67)

“It’s a leap of faith to face the full reality of our single situation and being able to take it all in. We leap like that when we live with the precariousness of being single, the heartache, the uncertainty, and the loneliness, and we take the leap from doubting that love is coming to trusting with all our heart and soul that is is. Doubting that love is coming makes us uneasy and nervous. Knowing that love is coming fills us with joy.” (pg. 187)

“A wonderful life doesn’t hinge on whether or not you have a mate; it depends on your attitude toward what’s possible.” (pg. 195)

92. Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacy (3 stars)

This was a pretty cute contemporary romance, about a one-night stand that ends in pregnancy. It had the perfect amount of humor, seriousness, and that hint of ridiculity that happens in romance novels. My only problem was that the main character, Beth, got on my nerves with her incessant need to keep Kevin, her baby’s father, at arm’s length, even though he hasn’t done anything to show he’s nothing but all in with her. I feel like I didn’t understand why Beth was the way she was… perhaps a stronger back story was needed. Still, a wonderful light read and I’ll probably check out the other books in the series.

93. These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen (4.5 stars)

Sarah Pekkanen found herself a new fan with this novel! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic, the characters had depth and believability, and I could barely put this book down for anything. It followed the stories of three girls: Cate, Renee, and Abby, roommates who live in New York and are all going through something different and life-changing. Abby’s story really gripped me the most, though I know it might turn some people away. I just felt like it was very honest and raw. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I wouldn’t have minded another 50 or so pages to dig deeper into it, but all in all, a great read!

94. The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski (3 stars)

This was the December pick for my book club and I think I gave it a very generous rating. One of the main problems I had with this novel was the fact that it needed a few more rounds of edits. There were so many grammatical errors that it took my focus away from the story. While I enjoyed the story for the most part, it got a little raunchy and the author threw in this weird climax that didn’t make much sense when coupled with the rest of the story. There was very little foreshadowing leading up to it, so it felt like writing whiplash. All that said, I did find myself invested in the characters and hoping they would find a happy ending somehow.

Books read in November: 10
Books read in 2013: 94

Have you recently found a new author whose writing you love? Please share! I’m always looking for new authors to check out.

78. Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

Every time I finish a Suzanne Brockmann novel, I experience a severe book hangover. I don’t want to read another book. I don’t care about other books. I just want to dive back into the world she created for me, again and again and again. This novel is one of my favorites from hers and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. This one is where Jules & Robin finally get their happy ending, though it’s fraught with a lot of issues. This book has drama, mystery, intrigue, humor, love, intensity, violence, and, as always, a happy ending. I love Brockmann’s books because her voice is so distinct and unique. Each character she creates seems completely real and alive and whole. She doesn’t follow the typical conventions of writing and it always feels more natural that way. This is the way characters talk and think and feel and do. It’s not stilted or cheesy or awkward. It’s honest and authentic. Another fabulous read from her. I never get tired of her books.

79. Cowboy Comes Back by Jeannie Watts (2 stars)

A very cheesy romance novel and I felt so apathetic about this novel that I actually hoped the characters wouldn’t get together at the end. The writing was fine, but I didn’t believe in the characters or them falling in love. I always have low expectations for my Harlequin romance novels, but this one just really fell flat.

80. The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (2 stars)

Oy. This review is not going to be pretty. I have really enjoyed the two novels I’ve read from Jio, but this one was a disappointment. I spent most of the book knowing the two characters weren’t going to get their happy ending (it’s quite apparent from the book synopsis), so I felt myself trying to not get attached to either character. I didn’t want to fall in love with them, or their story, because it was going to come to an end. And this isn’t the place where I say I did fall in love with them regardless, because I didn’t. I found the story a bit contrived, the characters a bit stilted, and the whole plot just ended up making me angry. All in all, not one of her better books.

81. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (5 stars)

This was the October pick for book club, due to a recommendation of one of our members. I had heard great things about the book and was really happy that I “had” to read it! In this novel, something terrible has happened to the main character (Nastya) but we, as the readers, don’t know what it is. But it has crushed her, broken her, and now she doesn’t talk. At all. She has moved in with her older sister and starts attending a new school. It’s here she meets Josh, who ends up being her savior, her rock, and the first person she deigns to speak to in over a year. Throughout the story, bits and pieces of what happened to Nastya are revealed, and as they are revealed, you see Nastya slowly start to repair herself. It’s part-mystery, part-love story, part-coming of age.

The writing is incredible, as is the character development. And the ending is just perfect. It’s not neat or tidy, but you can tell Nastya is going to be okay. A phenomenal read and one I highly recommend!

82. A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans (3 stars)

This book follows Rachel Held Evans for a year, as she attempts to live out biblical womanhood as literally as possible. I have had this book as “to be read” for a long time and finally had the chance to read it this month. I was intrigued by the concept and was interested in someone such as Evans – more liberal than most! – taking this on. I felt she would give a more honest take than someone who may be more conservative. There is a lot of criticism surrounding the book and I don’t think all of it is unfair or wrong, some people do make very valid arguments. But I’m not going to delve into those, as they get a little too deep into Christian theology for my tastes.

For me, this book was pretty good. It was engaging and Evans writes in a way that makes it easy to follow along. I even laughed out loud a few times – something that I rarely do! I do wish there was more practical application and more depth to the writing. I felt as if the author just stayed above the surface the whole time, without really digging into her emotions and her feelings. I also think I was at a disadvantage reading this, as a single girl, than as someone who is married because there was a lot I couldn’t relate to. All in all, though, an intriguing read on the role of womanhood throughout the Bible, and what it means to be a Christian woman today.

83. All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann (5 stars)

Oh, look. Another Suzanne Brockmann novel and another five stars. My reviews are getting boring because how many different ways can I talk about how much I love this series? Because I love it so, so much. This book was a bit different, more of a love story and less of a thriller. (The thriller parts felt a bit weak, to be honest. But I’m not holding it against her, because I still loved this book so much.) It was the story of Robin and Jules, their wedding, and everyone getting together to celebrate them. One of my favorites in the series!

84. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (2 stars)

This book was a waste of my time. I’m sorry to be so harsh but it’s just true. It is the sequel to Good in Bed, a book I reviewed over two years ago, and I held off on reading this book because I had heard it wasn’t good. But I was stubborn and still decided to read it. Bad decision. The plot was slow, the characters unlikeable, and a horrible ending that was unnecessary and made me visibly angry. I really can’t say much about it, because I don’t want to give away things that happen, but I really would not waste your time on this novel. This is not one of Weiner’s better books.

Books read in October: 7
Books read in 2013: 84

I had a very low reading month in September. Well, low for me. I read just five books, but mainly because I wasted time reading books I eventually abandoned. Oh, well. After the crazy reading spree I have been on for the past few months, I’m still ahead of my goal of reading 100 books this year. But the books I did read were (mostly) great and fantastic and made me supremely happy to be a bookworm.

73. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty (2 stars)

I was really excited to read this book because it’s been recommended to me by a few friends. And I always hate when I don’t love books I’ve been recommended. This one, though, was really just okay. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but it also didn’t engage me. I know Jessica Darling is a beloved literary character but she fell a bit flat for me. All the characters did, really. There didn’t seem to be much movement with the plot and it all seemed a bit contrived. Also, I think there was a distinct lack of continuity in the voice between Jessica’s journaling and her letters to Hope. (And Jessica was so whiny in those letters.) I found myself skimming it toward the end and I really just did not like the ending. At all. It felt very forced.

All in all, not a novel I enjoyed. And I don’t like that I didn’t like it because so many people loved it, but these are my feelings. I might pick up the second novel, but I’m not jumping up and down to read it.

74. Painted Hands by Jennifer Zobair (5 stars)

I just absolutely, positively, 100% loved this book. It captivated me from beginning to end. It was a book that met all my criteria for a perfect novel: great writing, characters to root for, conflict that made me keep turning the page, and an ending that made my heart happy. My full review of this wonderful novel is here. And now just go get this book!

75. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton (4.5 stars)

This was our book club pick for September and I was excited about it! I’ve had this bookmarked as to-read for forever on Goodreads and I’m not sure I would have gotten around to it if not for my book club. I just thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It wasn’t a page-turner, nor a quick read, but there was just something so wonderful about this novel. Maybe it was the time period, maybe it was the characters, maybe it was the writing. Maybe it was all of that. I was just swept into this world and into the lives of these women. It was heart-breaking and heart-warming, sad and cheerful. It was a book that reminded me why I love reading so darn much.

76. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (5 stars)

This is easily my new favorite YA romance novel. I love love stories. I love them. I love the hopeful ones. I love the ones with complex characters who are screwed up but also so lovable. I love the ones with a male character that makes you swoon and a female character that you could see yourself befriending.

This book followed the story of 17-year-olds Jase and Samantha, who have grown up next door to each other but know very little about one another, as they have gone to different schools. Jase’s family is big and loud, while Samantha’s is small and quiet. And almost every day, Samantha climbs up to her rooftop and sits and looks out at this big and loud family. And one day, out of the blue, there is Jase. Climbing up next to her, talking to her as if they’re friends. And so begins their love story. It was beautiful and sweet and so special. This is the kind of love I want.

It’s not a predictable romance story, at least not in my opinion. It’s filled with twists and turns I wasn’t expecting, an ending that is not neatly wrapped up, and some loose ends are left for you to figure out. But I loved that. Because life is just messy and sometimes loose ends get wrapped up and sometimes they don’t and that is okay.

I am so excited about this author. She completely stole my heart.

77. Brava Valentine by Adriana Trigiani (4 stars)

This is the second book in a trilogy by Adriana Trigiani, following the world of Valentine Roncalli as she watches her grandma get married in Italy and then has to go back to New York and learn to manage her family’s shoe business by herself. Throw in some crazy family dramatics and a sexy love interest who writes her love letters and you have all the markings for a fantastic read. I truly enjoyed this novel. I love the way Trigiani writes. It feels as if I am right there in the book. She places me right next to Valentine as this poor girl tries to figure out who she is and what she wants and why she’s so scared of happiness. Valentine is a character that I loved but also wanted to shake at times because she made some really poor decisions. It was definitely a book I had a hard time putting down.

I can’t wait to read the final book in this series – which I’ll actually be reviewing for TLC Book Tours in January. Yay!

Have you ever disliked a book that came highly recommended?