Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Feb 3

The Long January is Over (February 3, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

Was it just me or did it feel as though January started about 3 months ago? Maybe that explains why it has been such a good month for my reading life. This week saw a 5 star read and a classic American novel that I’ve always avoided finally making its way into my reading stack — although I don’t know why I was frightened now that I’ve started reading it.

What I Finished This Week

The Princess Bride by William Golden. This book was my final book for my January goals for The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge. I was using it to fulfill the “Adventure story” challenge (prompt #38). Having seen bits and pieces of the movie based on the novel, I found myself visualizing many of the key scenes of the book and smiling along the way. However, I also found myself confused and just ready for the book to end. The final 100 pages of the novel were especially unsatisfying to me. I don’t think I’ve ever said this before — but watch the movie and just skip the book. 2.75 stars.

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner. I’m not going to bore you with a plot synopsis because that suggests that I somewhat recommend the book. While it had some cute moments and I thought that having a character that might be on the spectrum as a leading man in a romance was interesting, this book isn’t going to be a good fit for most readers. It was my end of the month audiobook, so I listened through to the end. 2 stars.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover. I cannot sing this novel’s praises enough! What an absolutely incredible book! Reminders of Him had been stashed in my Kindle library for quite a while, but I never got around to picking it up. Now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Although it is only early February, I anticipate this novel will contend for the best book of 2025.

What’s the book about, you ask? Kenna has served 5 years in prison for the death of her boyfriend, Scotty. It was actually a car accident. But Kenna was driving the car….and she left Scotty alone. At the time of the accident and through the trial, Kenna didn’t know that she was pregnant. Once she gave birth early in her sentence, the pre-mature child was taken from her immediately to be raised by Scotty’s parents. Now that Kenna has been released, she returns to the scene of the crime in the hopes of obtaining forgiveness and connecting with the daughter she has never met. Although I haven’t read many of Hoover’s novels, I have enjoyed all that I have experienced so far. Reminders of Him had me laughing and sobbing as I explored ideas of grief, forgiveness, and loss with an amazingly lovable cast of characters. 5 stars!

What I’m Currently Reading

Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong (p. 72 of 357). February is here and it is time to begin reading more books to fulfill prompts of the 2025 challenge. I borrowed this book from my local library to read for the “Pun in the Title” challenge (prompt #1). I’m not very far into the book, but I’m finding it really cute so far.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (p. 43 of 227). As though the 2025 challenge wasn’t going to keep me busy enough, I found myself sucked into the February mini challenge too! This Lunar New Year challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore some authors I’ve not read before. For the prompt “features a wise character,” I’m finally going to read this 1937 American novel and I’ve already fallen in love with the rhythm of the language and the story itself.

Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working by Dan Heath (1:12 of 6:17). I wanted to take a brief foray into self-help audiobooks. As soon as I read the description of Reset, I knew that it was a book that would be beneficial. I’m hoping to pick up some tips to help correct some broken systems in my personal and professional life.

January Stats

It’s time to look at the numbers. I’m actually very pleased with the reading that I got done in the first month of 2025.

  • Books read this month: 12
  • Highest rated: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated: Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (2 stars)

February is going to bring some unique challenges with it — specifically 2 trips and opera rehearsals beginning — but I’m hopeful that I will be able to maintain my process and make continued progress to my goal for 2025.

2025 Reading Challenge American author audio leadership The 52 Book Club Young Adult

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Jan 27

A Chill in the Air (January 27, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I hate cold weather! I look as though I should retain plenty of heat, but I rarely get warm during the winter months. My dad always shakes his head when both Mom and I are snuggled under blankets in the middle of the summer heat. Frigid temperatures made their way into the Texas Panhandle and I was not a happy camper! That should have been a perfect formula for getting some reading done.

And it was….sort of. This chilly week also marked my first week in the office for the new semester. It’s not a good feeling to feel behind before even getting started! So my attention was fully devoted to survival mode while in the office. By the time I got home, I was tired and just wanted to close my eyes. I managed to maintain my 35 day streak of reading at least 20 pages per day, but I haven’t seen the heights of 150-200 pages per day that were happening earlier in the month. Now reality is returning to my world and I’m in the process of figuring out how to balance my work and reading lives.

What I Finished This Week

The Do-Over by T.L. Swan. This was the final installment (I thought) of the Miles High Club series. In this installment, Christopher, the youngest of the Miles brothers, decides that he needs to go backpacking through Europe in order to find himself. He leaves his money and connections behind and sets out for Spain. Staying in a hostel, he connects with a group of friends that grow to appreciate who he is — not what he is worth. Most interesting among these new acquaintances is Hayden, a country girl with dreams of farming. Christopher and Hayden’s friendship quickly grows and they fall deeply in love. Sadly, when it is time for them to return to their lives in the U.S., Christopher has not revealed his true identity. The Do-Over was a fascinating exploration of how love can survive extreme differences, especially when those differences are influenced by social standing and money. 4 stars.

Disappointing Affirmations by Dave Tarnowski. A colleague loaned me this short book for a quick read on Tuesday evening because she said I would enjoy the humor. The short affirmations on the lovely photographs are filled with sarcasm and insult. Hey….that’s speaking my language! A few of the statements hit a little close to home and made me take a quick look in the mirror. Several of the pages made me laugh out loud. One of my favorite quotes from this book was “This too shall pass. And then some other bulls*!# will come and take its place. It never f&#*!$@ ends!” (I wondered why Sarah asked if I was offended by crude language before handing over the book.) This was a nice departure from my normal reading. 3 stars.

Miles Ever After by T.L. Swan. It turned out that there was a fifth installment in the Miles High Club. This shorter book was a collection of epilogues for each of the four preceding books. I had a mixed reaction to this book. I was thrilled to see that there was more to the story of the Miles family. However, because I so thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters, I hated to see their stories come to such final endings. I really do wish there were more books to read in this series! I have a feeling that I will revisit these stories again in the future. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (p. 211 of 308). While I have enjoyed this read so far, I have discovered that I struggle with long chapters that are not broken up with subheadings. I think my brain just needs the moment of rest in the midst of the story. This is my final book to read to complete my January goals for The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge. I’m going to make it, but I’m going to have to kick things back into gear this week.

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner (7:54 of 13:30). This week has seen less driving, so I haven’t made a ton of progress in the story. I’m not overly invested in this storyline, so I don’t feel the rush to listen at every moment in the car. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cute story….it just hasn’t grabbed me by the throat and said that it simply has to be finished.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (p. 46 of 320). I have had this downloaded on my Kindle for some time and simply forgot about it. While searching for a new read at lunch one day this week, I stumbled on it and decided to dive in. Not surprisingly, I’m really into the story. Hoover’s storytelling has always grabbed my attention. Now I just have to get back into my reading schedule to make it all fit into my life again.

Looking Ahead

It’s time to begin thinking about what books I have selected to read for the challenge in the month of February. Here’s what is ahead for me as well as the prompts that they will fulfill.

  • Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong (A pun in the title)
  • Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton (Plot includes a heist)
  • Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah (Author’s last name is also a first name)
  • Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (Direction in the title)

As you can see, I’m rather light in content this month. Rehearsals for the upcoming children’s opera will dominate much of my time as well as two recruiting conferences in San Antonio and Wichita. I wanted to make sure that this busy season continues to be successful in my pursuit of reading 52 books this year. The first month has gone quite well! Now, forward into February…

2025 Reading Challenge audio romance The 52 Book Club Young Adult

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Jan 20

Driving and More Driving (January 20, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As you will see, I’m reading lots of fluff and audiobooks at the moment. Why? Left eastern Arkansas on Sunday and arrived in west Texas at noon Monday. Unpacked that evening and packed for a business trip on Tuesday. Drove to Tulsa on Wednesday to attend a conference through Saturday. Returned to Plainview on Sunday. Now I’m looking forward to spending a few weeks at home in my own bed and out of the car!

What I Finished This Week

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer. I forgot to plan my reading for my drive back to Texas, so I just picked something that popped up in my recommendation list. I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun this book was. Let’s sum it up this way. Guy settles into a small New England town while his uncle is away on a “fishing trip.” He is picked up mysteriously and placed in protective custody, although he is certain that it must be a case of mistaken identity. Once the safe house is discovered, the two must take refuge at an apple orchard where they are posing as newlyweds on their honeymoon. While I wasn’t looking for a MM romance, I found the story charming and laugh-out-loud funny. 4 stars

The Casanova by T.L. Swan. Book 3 in the Miles High Club was not as enjoyable as the previous two. This story centered around Eliot, the playboy of the quartet of brothers. It turns out that he is finally tamed by the director of IT at Miles Media. Only problem? Kate absolutely HATES Eliot. Once we got out of the “hate” narrative, the story began to pick up and find the charm of the previous Miles brothers’ tales. 3 stars

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding. I selected this book in order to fulfill prompt #32 of The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge – contains a diary entry. Actually, the entire book was written as diary entries over the course of a year. Bridget is obsessed with her physical appearance and her inability to attract men. She is frustrated by her parents’ failing marriage and her friends’ constant inquiries about when she will actually get married. Published in 1996, this book has not aged well. I struggled to finish the book, but persevered in order to add another completed read to the challenge. 2 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner (5:02 of 13:30). Another road trip required another audiobook. Since I didn’t really know where I was going on the drive up, I found that I had to concentrate on the road and couldn’t follow the book. Once I learned the route from the conference center to my hotel, I got a little reading done. Most of this was part of my journey home on Sunday. Now this will just be part of my commute reads, so it might be around for a few weeks.

The Do-Over by T.L. Swan (p. 505 of 526). Since I’ve read three of The Miles High books, it seemed appropriate to read the last of the Miles brothers’ stories. Almost got a finish before time to write this post, but not quite.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (p. 32 of 308). This was a late start in the week as soon as I finished reading Diary. I’ve read Goldman’s prologue (or is it an introduction to the abridged version of S. Morgenstern’s class?) and have really enjoyed the humor. I have been surprised at the amount of sexual innuendo in this work written for a younger audience. Perhaps, my assumption is wrong that this is considered YA literature. Anyway, this is my last selected book for a prompt to be read in January. I’m using it for prompt #38 – An Adventure Story.

What’s Coming Next?

2025 Reading Challenge audio ebook romance Series The 52 Book Club Young Adult

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Jan 13

Tons of Snow! (January 13, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It happens every year, it seems. Mother Nature decides that I should stay in Arkansas a few days longer than planned. This year was no exception as 7 inches of snow fell on the Geriatric Ward on Friday. Thankfully, this was not an ice event so we didn’t have to worry about losing power. Through all the cold temps, I maintained my reading pace. Once classes begin for the term, I anticipate that I’ll have to hit the brakes. Until then, I’m going to continue enjoying all of this “Reading for Me!”

What I Finished This Week

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Once again, Jeffrey Archer provides an excellent story. Two boys are born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. William Kane is raised in a wealthy Boston family, set to inherit his family’s fortune and position as the chairman of the bank. Abel Rosnovski is the illegitimate son of a Polish baron who finds himself watching his family die at the hands of the Russians, spending years in a work camp, before emigrating to the US. Abel inherits a hotel chain after the horror of the 1929 Crash, causing his path to finally cross with Kane. From this initial meeting, the two men’s hatred for each other grows daily. Archer weaves a powerful story of greed, hatred, misunderstandings, and love set against major events in American history. I used this read for prompt more than a million copies sold in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge. 4.75 of 5 stars.

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlet. I needed a prompt for A prequel and anticipated needing something short for the beginning of the Spring term of classes this month. (I had no idea that I would have such a productive beginning to my reading experience.) This was supposed to serve as the prequel to the American Gods series (never finished) about four young socialites at Yale University. It was a quick read and that was the best thing this romance had going for it. 3 stars.

The Takeover by T.L. Swan. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I read the first book in The Miles High series and really enjoyed it. I decided to continue through the series and found this novel even more enjoyable. This time, Tristan (another of the Miles brothers) develops feelings for a mother of three sons who is still grieving the loss of her husband nearly five years ago in a tragic car accident. Because of her responsibilities to her children and her husband’s memory, the woman has not allowed herself to consider dating. Tristan, however, cannot get her out of his mind. The two have a tryst while attending a conference in Paris. Their paths further entwine when the widow’s oldest son is awarded an internship with Tristan’s company. Full of twists and turns, this very spicy romance is a beautiful exploration of the definition of family, grief, adoption, and love. 4 stars.

D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. Returning to the 2025 Reading Challenge, I needed to read a book by an author who had received the Edgar Award. I planned this book for my January reads for a couple of reasons. 1) I despise mysteries and wanted to get this prompt off my plate as soon as possible. 2) I purchased a collection of Grafton’s mysteries on a whim during a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Since I didn’t have to invest any money and the book was close at hand, it was selected for the read. The plot is pretty much what I expected. A recently released convict engages our P.I. to deliver a sizable cashier’s check to the child of one of his victims. A few days after this meeting, the convict is found dead on the beach. The police have ruled the death accidental; but our heroine knows that something more is going on. She interviews possible suspects, finds herself in danger, and ultimately discovers the identity of the murderer. Meh. 2.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Casanova by T.L. Swan (p. 116 of 507). Book three in The Miles High series has not gotten off to a good start for this reader. I found the characters of Eliot and Kathryn to be annoying and petty. However, with a humorous turn of events, I’m now getting a little more invested in their story. Here’s hoping that it eventually reaches the same level of enjoyable reading as the previous books in the series.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (p. 19 of 271). I wanted to at least start this book before returning to Texas. It’s another selection for the 2025 Reading Challenge; I need to read a book with a diary entry. I’ve heard great things about the movie, so I wanted to see what the book would be like. I’m not far enough into the book to have formed an opinion.

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer (4:35 of 9:45). A long drive (and another one ahead later this week) means I need to add an audiobook to my reading. I didn’t really plan in advance, so I simply made a selection quickly — and it turned out to be pretty good. Chris needs protection while members of his family testify against a crime syndicate. After attacks on the safe house, he and his protector find themselves in the small town of Copper County. Their cover story? Newlyweds! It’s a hysterical story of what is the cover story and what are real feelings. I’m anxious to see how this one is going to turn out.

What’s Ahead?

Later this week, I will be traveling to participate in the Oklahoma Music Educators’ Conference. I won’t be attending many of the sessions; instead, I’ll be sitting in a booth to share information about the school. Between the evenings and slow times in the booth, I anticipate having some time to read. My plan is to finish the Fielding book and get started on the last of the 2025 Reading Challenge books that I have selected for January – The Princess Bride. We will all find out how things went next Monday.

Until then, I bid you happy reading!

2025 Reading Challenge audio ebook family saga historical mystery romance Series

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Jan 6

Out with the Old, In with the New (January 6, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The end of the year was a bit of a whirlwind. My parents were both off work much of the week. (Indeed, the 85 and 88-year-olds still work full time!) While I adore the Geriatrics, having them home meant that there was constant activity and very little quiet in the house. Add in a health scare for my Dad on Sunday evening and you have the recipe for getting less reading in than I had hoped. Still, I’m happy to have made some progress and getting close to adding my first completed prompt to the 2025 challenge.

What I Finished This Week

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I managed to finish reading this cozy little mystery on New Year’s Eve as my final book of 2024, bringing my final tally to 45 books for the year. Murder mysteries are not usually a good fit for me, but I’m noticing that as I read more of them, I am getting more comfortable with the form and relaxing into the reading experience. Hannah is a baker in a small Minnesota town that is rocked when the beloved dairy delivery man is murdered. Since she was the one who discovered the body — and since her brother-in-law is on the police force — it is only natural that Hannah use her powers of observation to solve the crime and keep her customers safe! I found Hannah and her family charming. What I found a little bothersome as I read was when Fluke would insert mundane scenes into the plot to give Hannah some normalcy. While there were some elements of flirtation and possible romance included in the storytelling, it was not overt and did not distract from the story. Truthfully, it made for a very charming ending that also served as a great connection to the next book in this franchise. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was not the worst thing that I have ever read; it was the perfect kind of filler I needed while waiting to begin my next read. 2.5 stars

The Stopover by T.L. Swan. The first book of 2025 was not actually meant for any of the 52 Book Club prompts. Since I was reading a bit of a brick for my first prompt (see below), I thought it would be nice to have a fluff piece going on my Kindle to read at night. Once I got my nose into this spicy romance, I couldn’t put it down. After being upgraded to first class on her flight, Emily meets a handsome stranger. When their flight is diverted due to weather conditions, the two share a night that neither will forget. A year later, Emily begins a new job and discovers that the handsome stranger from her flight is the angry, wealthy CEO who is now her boss. Which one of these men is the real Jameson Miles? The charming man from the flight or the a**hole she now works for?

This was an incredibly spicy open-door romance that was exciting and intriguing from the start. I was visibly angry with many of Jameson’s choices while reading — what a total jerk! Unfortunately, the resolution as the novel came to its close felt rushed and a huge letdown after an emotional journey for this reader. 3.75 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (p. 545 of 637). I decided to knock out one of my larger books before returning to the classroom next week. Previously, I have read The Clifton Chronicles and thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Knowing that I enjoy Archer’s writing, I decided to read the book that began his career. I anticipate getting very close to finishing later today, but I didn’t want to delay getting my blog post written too long. I’ll have a full review for you in next week’s post. I’m using this for prompt # 26 – More than a million copies sold. (According to the book’s cover, over 30 million copies have been sold.)

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett (p. 37 of 168). I am very early in the reading of this short novel that I’m using to fulfill prompt #11 – A prequel. I selected this book because most of the other prequels I found were in the sci-fi realm that I really don’t enjoy. This book hasn’t grabbed my attention fully because I am so engrossed in the saga of William and Abel as told by Archer. I’ll definitely have more to say next week.

What’s Next?

I haven’t decided if I’m going to tackle D is for Deadbeat (Sue Grafton) or Bridget Jones’ Diary (Helen Fielding) next. I’m not always fond of mysteries, so I might get that one knocked out while I can. But there is also something enticing about enjoying a funny read before heading back to Texas for the semester. Decisions, decisions….

Until next Monday, I wish you all happy reading!

~Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge family saga fiction historical romance The 52 Book Club

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Dec 31

Reading Plans for 2025

by kennithfreeman

With the arrival of a new year, it has become a bit of a tradition for me to set annual goals for my reading. This year is no different and I’ve decided it is time to finally reach for the goal that has been the “real” one ever since finishing graduate school. It’s scary to say it out loud and commit to it, but the time has come. For 2025, my goal is to read 52 books.

Since I began keeping track of my annual reading, I have hovered in the mid 30s each year. Reading forty books in a year seemed like an impossible hurdle. At the end of 2024, I finally managed to get over that hump and decided it’s time to plan for the ultimate goal. For the past few years, I have used reading challenges to help guide my book selections, but I have not been fulfilled by the prompts. When I discovered The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Challenge, I was excited at the possibilities and intrigued by the books that I selected for the prompts. (If you want to see the full list of prompts for this year’s challenge, visit the website for yourself.)

Lessons Learned in 2024 (and previous years)

My work life greatly impacts my reading life. This shouldn’t be a surprise at all. March through May are insane times in my academic world. In 2024, I only read 4 books during this busy season — and two of those were audiobooks.

I do better when I know what my next book is. I struggle starting a new book. Once I am invested in the character’s lives, I can plow through a novel and enjoy the experience. Because I don’t always enjoy the beginning, I often find it challenging to make my next selection if I’m just winging it. It is also important that I already have the book in hand — whether as an ebook, a physical purchase, or a library loan. If I have to find time to make a trip to the library or the bookstore and THEN decide what I want to read, the effort involved becomes too much.

2025 Plans….

Once the 2025 reading prompts were released, I printed them out and made time to visit each Goodreads list. I perused the options there and consulted my own TBR and bookshelves and made an initial plan for each prompt.

Once almost all of the prompts were assigned a book, I began to sketch out what books I would plan to read in each month for the first half of the year. I looked at my calendar and made sure that I included a couple of easy reads for really busy seasons. I also assigned books that I am really excited to read during those tougher reading seasons. While I have a plan, I know that I have permission to make changes as inspiration and life comes my way. (To be honest, before writing this post there have already been changes made to the plan.). I also took into account some seasonal challenges that I plan to include — like Big Book Summer that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day — and planned my reading accordingly.

So what am I reading? I’m not going to include the full list of books here, but I will tell you that it is rather diverse. It includes some children’s literature (Anne of Green Gables and The Princess Bride) as well as classics (The Picture of Dorian Gray and Emma). There are also thrillers, fairytale retellings, romances, and mysteries. Since I’ve already referenced “Big Book Summer,” I will admit that I am being very ambitious; my list includes Anna Karenina, Moby Dick, and Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2). I’m either planning a really exciting year of reading or I will realize my insanity by May and do some restructuring. My bet is that there will be a bit of both!

On Deck in January

Without further ado, here are the five books that I plan to read in the month of January 2025 and their prompts from the challenge.

  • Prompt 11: A prequel – Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett
  • Prompt 16: Author has won an Edgar Award – D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
  • Prompt 26: More than a million copies sold – Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
  • Prompt 32: Includes a diary entry – Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding
  • Prompt 38: An adventure story – The Princess Bride by William Goldman

As you can see, I do not intend to complete the prompts in numerical order. I decided that January should include a wide range of reading, so we have a family saga as well as romance, mystery, and YA. I *think* I’ll begin the year with the Archer novel, but plans could definitely change.

Want to follow along on my reading adventure? Watch for a weekly blog post (normally on Mondays) to let you know what I finished, what I thought about the books, and what I’m reading at the moment. You’ll also get a little insight into what’s going on in my world and how it is impacting my reading life. I’ll try to keep the personal narrative to a minimum here so we can focus on the books and the reading experience.

Until next Monday…..I wish you happy reading!

~Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge plans The 52 Book Club

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Dec 30

Goodbye to 2024! (December 30, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The end is getting close and I’m honestly ready to turn the page on this year. 2024 hasn’t been the worst year ever, but the end has been challenging. Yesterday morning, I was pulled out of bed at 3:30am to the news that my dad was being transported to the hospital by ambulance with chest pains. While everything turned out to be okay and he was released, it made for a very long Sunday with lots of heavy eyes. That meant that I wouldn’t get to make as much progress in my current read as I had hoped and probably will not finish it before the calendar turns. Nevertheless, it has been another productive reading week and I am pleased with the final results for the year.

What I Finished This Week

The Thief Who Saved Christmas by Angela Casella. This was an absolutely charming read that I stumbled on while looking for another read for the year’s end. A reformed thief falls in love with a B and B owner who is on the spectrum. Simple love story, right? Throw in some lovable friends and the burglary of prized Christmas decorations for a read that you won’t be able to put down! The “sexy Santa” references and the inner thoughts of our unlikely lovers will also keep you chuckling throughout as well. (By the way, Casella settles the question once and for all….Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie!)

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter. A couple of mystery writers swept off to a mysterious English mansion just a few days before Christmas. Shortly after their arrival, their host — a revered author herself — goes strangely missing. With lots of twists and turns as well as poisonings, fires, and shots fired, our duo must discover what is going on before the holiday is over. As a reader who does not enjoy mysteries for the most part, I found this book quite entertaining with its mix of mystery, suspense, and romantic comedy. It was a nice final read for the holiday season for me.

What I’m Currently Reading

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (p. 119 of 312). The last Saturday of the year rolled around and I had completed all of my planned reading, so I was looking for something simple that I could plow through before the end of the year. It really was about just getting in another book to add to my tally and not a search for high quality writing. Yep, it’s another mystery. (What is wrong with me?!) Yep, it’s as bad as you would imagine. (Again, do I have a fever?) I doubt I get through it before Wednesday, but I’m not going to fret about it too much. It can replace one of the books I selected to meet the 2025 reading prompt that I wasn’t terribly excited about.

2024 Reading in Review

So it’s time to tally the results of this year’s reading. By the numbers, I have read

  • 45 books
  • 16,851 pages

I’m really happy with those stats! Those are personal highs for me in both categories. December was a really productive month for me, adding 10 new reads to my overall list.

I like to break down stats a little more before going to my best of 2024 list. If you aren’t into all of the stats, feel free to jump to the next section.

  • 9 DNF’d (Did Not Finish) books
  • 37 novels
  • 1 classic (The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot)
  • 7 non-fiction titles
  • 5 audiobooks
  • 15 romances

As you can see, I tend to read a lot of fiction. Surprisingly, this turned out to be the year of the romance. I think that number got boosted slightly by my holiday reading. 9 of the 10 books I read in December were Christmas romances. Not typical, but I guess that was where my reading interests were taking me this year.

The Best of 2024

I decided to keep my list to only my top 3 reads of the year….well, I also had to throw in an honorable mention because it was such a fun read! Here they are for your consideration.

Honorable Mention: My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely. (447 pp)

Read Dec 14-20, 2024.

Romance, boss and employee, fake dating, humor

#3: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (525 pp)

Read July 28 – Aug 6, 2024.

Christian romance, historical fiction, trilogy

I read the entire Mark of the Lion trilogy this year and loved it. Highly recommended!

#2: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (627 pp)

Read June 10-30, 2024.

Time travel, romance, historical fiction

#1: The Women by Kristin Hannah (471 pp)

Read Feb 29 – Mar 27, 2024.

Historical fiction, love, loss, gripping read

From the first page, I knew this book would be one of my favorites of the year. Excellent! Allow time for reflection and tears.

What’s Ahead?

Look for a special post to appear tomorrow (December 31, 2024) that will outline my reading plans for 2025 and will include my scheduled reading list for January.

update Year in Review

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Dec 23

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (December 23, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s nearly Christmas, so this week has featured a little shopping, a little baking, and a lot of lazy reading on the couch! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season. My reading has taken the turn to holiday stories all week.

What I Finished This Week

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore. I decided to return to Dream Harbor since I had enjoyed the story of the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. Gilmore once again did not disappoint. The story centers around Kira, the new owner of the local Christmas tree farm. The residents of Dream Harbor are convinced that there are dead bodies — or buried treasure — hidden on the property, so they send in Bennett to get to the bottom of things. Only problem? Kira despises Bennett from first sight and wants nothing to do with him. Bennett’s past dating history has not done him any favors in his interactions with women. This is a cute rom-com that is sure to please most readers while putting them in the Christmas spirit.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely. I really enjoyed this read. After being betrayed by her boyfriend at Thanksgiving, Fable enlists the help of her billionaire boss, Wilder, to get them both through the holidays by being each other’s “fake date” for the season. Once their escapades take the couple to a small village for events leading up to Fable’s sister’s wedding, the line between “fake dating” and falling in love become blurred. I found myself laughing and rooting for this unlikely pair as their emotions became real. A little more spicy that what I normally enjoy in a romance, Lauren Blakely once again provides a fascinating story peopled with believable characters that readers are invested in. One of my favorite stories of the month!

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank. After finishing the other books, I was looking for something short and engaging that wasn’t a romance, but still a holiday story. This short novella fit the bill perfectly! Theodora is a 90-something woman who longs for the Christmases of yesteryear. Largely influenced by the housemaid of her childhood, Pearl, Theodora’s memories are associated with good food, laughter, respect, and worship of the Christ child. Sadly, Pearl passed away many years ago and there is no one who is able to fill her shoes. Now in the present day, the new housekeeper has to leave the home unexpectedly and will not return until after Christmas. She has spoken to her neighbor who has agreed to help the family out. Theodora is shocked when she greets the replacement and discovers it is Pearl! Part Ghost of Christmas Past and part Clarence Odbody from It’s a Wonderful Life, Pearl’s story is filled with warmth, magic, and love. I strongly encourage you to read this short work as a way to celebrate the holiday season.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (p. 56 of 293) This book came to me as part of the December Book of the Month Club. I was drawn to the pun in the title. I have seen people reading it all over social media with good responses. I am not typically a mystery reader, but I decided to take a chance and give this a read. Still early in the book, but I am enjoying the interactions and the writing style so far. Hopefully, I’ll have this finished by the end of the week without too much difficulty.

The Thief who Saved Christmas by Angela Casella (p. 20 of 391). First, let’s address my frustration with this reading. I am reading it as an ebook, but this edition does not have a page count on my Kindle. Therefore, I only know the percentage that I am through the entire book, but I have no way of knowing how much reading I’ve actually accomplished in each sitting. That is a bad recipe for me. Now….as far as the story goes, I’m fascinated and thoroughly engaged in what has been presented. Rather than tell you what I know of the plot thus far, I’ll just say that this is definitely one that you should look into reading if you are searching for a fun read to finish out the holiday season.

What’s Coming Up

As the year is winding down, I wanted to give you a glimpse into what you should expect from the blog next week. I will be back on Monday with my regular weekly update. On Tuesday, I’ll post a special 2024 in review. This post will include stats from the year — books completed, books that I DNF’d, and total pages read. I’ll also include my favorite selections from each month as well as naming my best read for the year. I’ll conclude with my plans and goals for the upcoming year. (I have some lofty goals and should be an entertaining journey in the year ahead. Above all, I plan to have my nose firmly planted in the pages of books.)

Book of the Month Christmas family saga mystery romance

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Dec 16

Let Christmas Vacation Begin (Dec 16, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Grades have been turned in. Holiday road trip is complete. Final performance of the season is behind me. I am officially on vacation! I started the change of pace before leaving Plainview and got quite a bit of reading done along the way.

What I Finished This Week

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore. Even though this wasn’t the Christmas novel that I thought I was going to be reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to the town of Dream Harbor. Hazel manages this cute bookstore in town. She is searching for adventure as she nears her 30th birthday at the end of the summer. Mysteriously, some books are being shelved backwards and have pages earmarked (the horror!). Each book seems to indicate a personal adventure for her to take. What fun are adventures alone? So Hazel enlists the help of Noah, Dream Harbor’s handsome fisherman. As any reader would expect, the adventures turn into romantic outings, our characters fall in love, and the outrageousness ensues. Is this series rather cheesy? Absolutely. Did I still enjoy it? Apparently, because I’m reading the next book in the series as part of the Christmas mini-challenge.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand. I’m not sure if this short novel qualifies as a cozy mystery, but it was a book that I struggled to read. The premise is simple enough — father of an eccentric family dies under questionable circumstances — and an amateur sleuth steps in to save the day. I suppose the book was well-written enough. I just didn’t find the plot or characters compelling. I think I need my mysteries to include a little more intrigue and suspense. I made it through because I just wouldn’t let myself pick up anything else until I had attempted to finish this mystery.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio. With large portions of four days spent in my car last week, I was able to devote significant time to finishing this 14 hour audiobook. Truly, the account of the life of John Kennedy, Jr. by those who knew him personally was fascinating. However, I think the book could have been shortened by a few hours without negative impact. After the reports about the plane crash, the public’s response, and John’s funeral, the biography should have ended. While Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s death is clearly linked to John’s story, the lengthy exploration of her memorial service and the family’s blame of John for her death was unnecessarily long. The coda included a final opportunity for each contributor to say one final thing about why JFK Jr. was so important to society. The reader already had a clear understanding about how much each cared for the man based upon their statements throughout the book. The coda simply felt like an unnecessary pissing match — an attempt to say “I knew him best.”

What I’m Currently Reading

I needed new books before heading to Nashville for a quick performance. I wasn’t ready for another mystery and I certainly did not want another biography. I wanted something fast-paced and still in the holiday spirit, so Christmas romances are the order of the day again. The plan is to head to the local library this week to see if I can find another holiday genre to clear my palette after reading these.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (p. 56 of 342). Another of the Dream Harbor books, I knew exactly what to expect when I started reading this short novel. Like Cinnamon Bun Book Store, I’m finding the book has a very slow start. Since the main characters were briefly introduced in the previous book, I’m not coming into this environment completely blind, but I’m still not invested in their relationship. I’m hoping that the pace will pick up as I get a little further into the book and the romance begins to bloom between our unlikely lovers.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely (p. 112 of 479). Talk about a cliche premise! Fable, our heroine, walks in on her boyfriend having a little too much fun with the caterer at her boss’ Thanksgiving dinner. When Fable’s sister announces at the same dinner that she is getting married at Christmas at the boss’ Christmas extravaganza and the two-timing ex-boyfriend is also in the wedding party, Fable has to come up with a plan to survive. That’s when she and her handsome billionaire boss concoct a scheme to “fake date” through the end of the holidays. Fable wants to stick it to her ex; her boss wants to show her how a woman should be treated….and maybe fall in love in the process. Blakely’s books are always for mature audiences and are mixed with lots of humor and innuendo. I’m really enjoying this read just because of how outrageous the situation is, but I’m also rooting for Fable to land the man who will treat her as she deserves.

audio Christmas mystery romance

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Dec 9

The End is in Sight (December 9, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The Fall semester is quickly winding down at Wayland. Classes are finished in Plainview and all that remains are finals and turning in grades. I cannot wait to be done! It’s been a long semester and I’m ready for some down time with family.

Thankfully, the last week of classes aren’t insane for me. Mostly, I’m just making sure everyone knows what will be covered on their finals and scheduling piano juries. That means that I had lots of time to do some reading. So I was a very happy little bookworm until the respiratory infection made another appearance at week’s end.

What I Finished This Week

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber. On Tuesday, I took a quick trip to the local library to see what kind of Christmas themed book I could find that I could read fairly quickly to complete one of the prompts for the December mini-challenge on The 52 Book Club. I had seen Macomber’s name on shelves many times before, but I don’t think I have ever read any of her works. It seemed like the perfect time to give this short novel a try. Julia lives across the hall from Cain, a curmudgeon who is bringing down Julia’s joyful Christmas spirit. After describing her interactions with her personal “Ebenezer” to her best friend, she is given the advice to “kill him….with kindness.” As Julia launches her Kindness Project on Cain, she also decides to blog about the experience. Since it is a Macomber romance novel, of course the two will fall in love. Will their love be strong enough when Cain discovers what Julia has said about him in the blogosphere? This was a really cute book that warmed my heart without playing too hard on the romance.

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn. As I shared in my introduction to this book last week, this novel centers around a local contest to see which of the villagers has the most Christmas spirit. With clear references to Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the narrator speaks in rhyming couplets and regularly speaks directly to the characters. Quinn’s novel is humorous and filled with spirit. It is also very mature in its content. This is not an “open door romance”; that term does not adequately express the extremely spicy content. Reader, beware of your surroundings!

What I’m Currently Reading

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore (p. 186 of 347). When the December Mini Challenge arrived in my email on Monday evening, I made my way directly to Barnes and Noble to see what Christmas books were on display that might grab my interest and fulfill one of the prompts. I was disappointed to find that only holiday romances were prominently featured. (What does this say about our society? Do only those who read romance novels want to be in the holiday spirit? I digress….) Since one of the prompts has to do with seasonal treats, the title caught my eye; what I failed to notice is that the cover clearly indicates an autumnal setting. What’s most funny is that this novel’s opening is at the end of summer…so I completely missed the prompt. Anyway, I have the book so I’m reading it and must admit that it is cute. Hazel, the manager of the bookstore, will soon turn 30. She feels as though her 20s have slipped away and she hasn’t had much adventure in life. It seems as though she is being prompted to be more adventurous as she is finding books shelved in the wrong places with dog eared pages and highlighted passages. Hazel takes these as clues to her personal adventure (yeah…it’s as cheesy as it sounds). In a blueberry patch late one evening, Hazel has had too much to drink and tells the handsome fisherman, Noah, about the clues she has found. Noah agrees to follow the clues with Hazel to see where they may lead.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand (p. 66 of 317). My reading life began with mysteries. I spent many hours in the pages of books featuring Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Somewhere along the way, I ventured away from the mystery genre. It was partially because of the violence and the suspense. (In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m not a fan of things that go bump in the night!) Since I am on a bit of a romance overload at the moment, I decided this was a good time to try out a mystery. Set in an English manor during Christmas, Grand’s novel features the members of a large, wealthy family who are coming to the countryside to celebrate Christmas together. As I have forced myself to get started in the book, I am realizing why I tend to avoid this genre. The novel opens with the murder that must be solved before jumping back in time to slowly bring all of our parties together in the manor. I’m still in the “introductions” stage when what I really want to know is what happens to the corpse that has been discovered. It just feels that mystery writers take forever to fully develop their characters before moving forward with the plot. I’m hoping that this book gets better quickly and that I am mistaken in my assumptions about mysteries since I have a few of them on my reading plan for 2025. I guess I’ll just have to let you know how things turn out as I continue to plow ahead in A Christmas Murder.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio (6:18 of 14:54). I did a little more listening this week about JFK Jr. This week explored his entry into the spotlight, being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1988. From this point on, people were aware of his relationships with Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. It was also around this time that John made his entry into the political landscape, introducing his uncle at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. As I have said for several weeks now, my hope is to make significant progress in this audiobook while driving home to Arkansas later this week.

There you have it. Hope you all have a great week of reading!

~Kennith

Christmas Mini Challenge romance The 52 Book Club

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