We made it to the end of 2022 and I am happy to report I crushed my reading goal for the year. I had set myself the goal of 90 books and I ended up with 113, the highest number read in a year I’ve reached yet. I love challenging myself to read more every year but it doesn’t have to be about a “number” for you as long as you are enjoying what you are reading. I always like to end the year with holiday themed books so this last stack is a mix of November/December reads. Did you have a feel good read you enjoyed over the holidays? I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I will see you all in 2023 with new goals and lots of new recommendations/reviews.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins

The dawn of the reaping for the tenth Hunger Games has arrived. Unlike years past this year students have been given the honor of mentoring a tribute and Coriolanus Snow is determined to have its victor. The Snow family legacy runs deep but in recent times, thanks to the war, it’s getting harder and harder for Coriolanus to keep up the facade that their status hasn’t slipped and the Snows are still as mighty as they once were. With his future on the line he can only hope that his tribute with the help of a Snow worthy strategy will be the last one standing. But when he is assigned to the District 12 girl, a slight, terrified looking thing, all of Coriolanus’ dreams of success come crashing down. Determined to win at all costs the two must rely on each other, each decision having life or death consequences not only for Lucy Gray but for Coriolanus, too. With 24 tributes entering the arena only one will come out alive. May the odds be ever in your favor. I really enjoyed the Hunger Games series, whether it was the books or the movies so I was very interested in seeing how this prequel would measure up. In spite of some slower moments and one too many lyric filled pages for my taste I really enjoyed seeing how the past influenced the Katniss era games and how they evolved into what they became. I am really looking forward to the movie release in 2023. If you enjoyed the trilogy the first time around, take a chance on this prequel.

“The Bookshop of Yesterdays” by Amy Meyerson

Growing up Miranda idolized her Uncle Billy. Secreting her away on adventures and creating scavenger hunts for the two of them to decipher together made Billy’s visits all the more special even if they were few and far between, bookended by earthquakes. After an epic twelfth birthday surprise, however, Billy was never heard from again. Miranda knew his absence had something to do with an argument he had with her mother but for the next sixteen years it wasn’t talked about again. Now living on the East coast with her boyfriend settled into a career of teaching middle school history Miranda’s thrown back into her childhood drama once again when the news of Billy’s passing reaches her. Even more surprising is that he has left her his beloved bookstore with one more mysterious scavenger hunt to undo. Though I appreciated the story, “The Bookshop of Yesterdays” was such a slow read for me. It felt as though the drama dragged on and left me feeling impatient for the characters to get it together! I can see why so many enjoyed this one but for me the pacing was just off.

“Waypoints: My Scottish Journey” by Sam Heughan

Calling all Outlander fans! Star of the hit series, Sam Heughan takes readers behind the scenes of his life while bringing us on a ninety-six mile hike along Scotland’s West Highland Way. As Sam treks the challenging terrain he shares stories of his early life, years in and out of audition rooms, projects that are passionate to him as well as glimpses of the early days of Outlander casting. The audiobook version is narrated by Heughan himself and adds just that little bit more to the story to hear him tell these tales himself as well as getting to hear some recordings that he made on his phone while on his journey. I found this to be a really enjoyable read and highly recommend adding this to your TBR list for all fans of Heughan…and Jamie Fraser.

“The Prisoner” by B.A. Paris

Amelie has not had an easy life. Losing her mother as a young girl and then her father as a teenager leaving her alone in the world, she has had to fend for herself for years, so when a handsome billionaire makes her a business proposition that could fund her way through school, she finds it impossible to refuse. Now, married to Ned Hawthorne, Amelie begins to learn who the man she agreed to be tethered to for the next month truly is. When dangerous people come in the middle of the night kidnapping the newlyweds, Amelie can only hope she can outwit her captors and not only escape whoever is holding her prisoner but her husband as well. I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of “The Prisoner” as some of B.A. Paris’ previous books I would consider stellar thriller reads and at the start of this book I thought for sure we were onto another hit. Then we hit mid-way and the entire plot crashed and burned to the point that I even questioned whether or not the same person wrote this. The entire second half could have been condensed and do not get me started on the ending. I thought for sure my ARC was missing a chapter as the ending could not have been…that. I would highly recommend checking out this author’s earlier titles but as for “The Prisoner” it’s a solid no from me.

“Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story” by Bono

For most of his life Paul David Hewson has been known as Bono, a nickname given to him by a childhood friend. Growing up in Dublin, Ireland surrounded by the people who would build with him the life and career that has carried him all over the world through U2’s music as well as his global activism efforts. I discovered a love for U2’s music in high school, “Achtung Baby” always on heavy rotation, a constant in my CD player (next to another Irish band and another of Island Records artists). In “Surrender” Bono shares the stories behind some of their most famous songs, the band’s history, the unbelievable places they have been, the people they have connected but also takes you through his work with the many organizations he has helped create over the years. U2’s music has been profound for many reasons for the last four decades but hearing about Bono’s charity work and all of the change he has made on the world brings about a greater respect for the artist. If you are a fan of U2, you have to listen to the audio version. Not only does Bono narrate the book himself but there are songs included to enhance the story. This is a long listen at 20 hours so set aside some time but in my opinion (as a fan) it was a great listen.

“Meet Me on Love Lane” by Nina Bocci

After hitting rock bottom and her life falling apart in New York, Charlotte is forced to return to the small town of Hope Lake that her mother forced her to leave as a child. With little to no memory remaining of her time in the town Charlotte lands on her grandmother’s doorstep in what she hopes is only a pitstop on her way back up. She’s not planning on making new ties or rekindling old friendships, just staying long enough to earn enough money to rebuild her life back in the city. But the more time she spends in Hope Lake she can’t figure out why her mother never wanted to return and poisoned her memories of this magical town. As Charlotte tries to recover her past she realizes she just might be building a future. “Meet Me on Love Lane” is a Hallmark movie just waiting to be made. Though the story was a bit predictable (let’s face it, they all are) I loved visiting Hope Lake for this quick, but enjoyable, read. I wasn’t aware that this was a part of a series (Love Lane being the second) but you can definitely read it without any confusion. Give this one a try if you are in need of a pick me up.

“There’s Something About Merry” by Codi Hall

When you live in a small town the dating pool can feel even smaller and now that Merry is ready to get back out there she is caught off guard when someone on her dating app catches her attention. She finds herself looking forward to each new message even though the new foreman at their family’s Christmas Tree Farm seems like he would be quite the catch. Encouraged by his son, Clark decides it’s time to add someone else to their dynamic duo and signs up for a dating app. Messages begin to fly back and forth between Clark and his mystery woman but he also can’t seem to get his boss’s daughter out of his mind. When KnottyGirl25 and Woodsman27 finally get around to meeting they realize they may just get everything on their wishlists. “There’s Something About Merry” is the second book in a series by Codi Hall. Even though this is book two you could pick it up and wouldn’t be confused. Though this is your typical holiday romance read there are some heavier undertones. Both stories in the Mistletoe Romance series are a fun way to kick off your holiday reading season.

“A Merry Little Meet Cute” by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

Bee & Nolan need their newest project, a Christmas movie for the wholesome Hope Channel, to be a hit both for different reasons. Nolan, a former member of a boy band is desperately trying to rebuild his image from the labeled bad boy to a serious actor and Bee has just been handed the keys to her first mainstream acting gig but the two have secrets they are hiding that could derail not only the movie but their careers going forward if anyone were to find out. Both vow to be on their best behaviors but when they arrive in Christmas Notch, Vermont sparks begin to fly as fast and as furious as the snowflakes. Soon enough the two are steaming up set but the arrival of a notorious gossip columnist has Bee and Nolan on edge. One wrong step could ruin it all. I went into “A Merry Little Meet Cute” blind having just been sent the galley and saw the cute cover and thought it would be a typical sugar-coated Christmas read. Boy, was I wrong! I’m not a steamy romance reader on the regular so I was a little thrown off at first by the content in this book but considering the premise it didn’t feel out of place. I’m sure a certain holiday movie channel would have stellar ratings if Bee & Nolan’s Hope Channel movie was actually made. Who doesn’t love a time traveling Christmas Duke? If (very) steamy romance books are your thing, give this one a try for your next holiday read. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“So, This is Christmas” by Tracy Andreen

After a disastrous semester at boarding school, Finley can’t wait to get back to her hometown, possibly for good but when she arrives back in Christmas, Oklahoma things aren’t much better there. Her best friend is dating her ex, her parents are separated with her mother left town and now her father is living at her Grandmother’s inn where her arch-nemesis now works. So much for a break from the drama. Just when she thought things couldn’t get much worse the newest guests at the Inn happen to be in Christmas because of some slight embellishment Finley might have done to the town tourism page. Arthur, a classmate of Finley’s, and his aunt have flown all the way to Christmas to have a big, traditional holiday thanks to some creative marketing and are now expecting big parades, reindeer and snow. Now it’s up to Finley to make sure that their trip isn’t wasted and hopefully find some Christmas magic of her own along the way. “So, This is Christmas” is a sweet YA read that is perfect for the Christmas loving teen in your life. Finley & Arthur’s story only begins in “So, This is Christmas” and continues on in Andreen’s second book “So, This is Love”. A great TBR for the YA audience.

“One Last Gift” by Emily Stone

After the death of their parents when they were children, Tom had always found a way to make the holidays special for Cassie. His signature scavenger hunts were the highlight of her Christmas, something she looked forward to every year, each clue leading her one step closer to her gift. Now as grown adults Tom has promised Cassie this year’s hunt will be the most epic one yet but when something unexpected rocks Cassie’s world she is unsure how she will carry on without him. Without Tom’s help to guide her through the clues, solving this year’s hunt seems impossible and Cassie is unsure she even wants to get to the end of this hunt, just one step further from Tom. But once she starts Cassie is put on a path to discover what dreams Tom had in store for her and just how much he believed in hers. Reader, Emily Stone books should come with a warning label. May rip your heart out, stomp on it and return it to you wrapped in a Christmas bow. This is the second book I’ve read by Stone and both of them are heartbreaking, beautiful and emotional. If you are looking for something festive to read but aren’t into the factory rom-com you sometimes get in a holiday read give “One Last Gift” a try. Here’s hoping for another Stone read this time next year.

“Christmas at the Cupcake Café” by Jenny Colgan

Issy has everything she ever dreamed of…a successful cafe, great friends and the love of her life, Austin. The cafe has been busier than ever and now that Christmas has arrived Issy is ready to get to work. Austin is in New York for a work trip leaving Issy to take care of his 11 year old brother, Darny and when tickets arrive for the two of them to join Austin in NYC for an all expenses paid trip for the weekend the two of them can’t wait to be reunited. But when things are set in motion for big changes in all of their lives, Issy is forced to evaluate what she loves most and where her home truly is. Every Jenny Colgan book I have read feels like a warm hug and is always set somewhere you wish you could jump through the pages to visit and “Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe” is no exception. I wasn’t aware that this was book two in a series when I started reading but I could follow along totally fine without any confusion. I loved the recipes included at the start of the chapters…now if only I could find someone to make them! Don’t miss out on Colgan’s collection.

“All I Want for Christmas” by Maggie Knox

After being chosen as a contestant on the popular reality singing show Starmaker, Sadie can feel her big break just beyond her fingertips. Though the competition is tough, her biggest rival will be Max Brody. Coming from a huge country music family Sadie can’t figure out why Max would need a show like Starmaker to get noticed. His father is practically Nashville royalty. So when the show pairs the two of them up for the duet round Sadie was determined to outshine Max and prove that she has what it takes to be a star. When their song is a major hit their agents come up with a plan to help both of them win…fake a relationship and fall in “love”. Only problem is Sadie and Max can’t stand each other. Not willing to let anything stand in her way of success Sadie agrees to deal with Max if it means her music will be heard but as she gets to know Max she realizes maybe she made a huge mistake. I loved Maggie Knox’s (pen name for the writing duo of Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley) Christmas book last season but this year’s was sadly a miss for me. The story felt disjointed, was full of miscommunication and just didn’t have a groove that I felt settled in while reading. I loved the different setting with the book being in Nashville but wish it had more than a sprinkling of Christmas and had more connected moments with Sadie and Max. Though this wasn’t my favorite I’m still looking forward to whatever this duo comes up with next holiday season.

“The Christmas Wish” by Lindsey Kelk

Gwen Baker’s life is falling apart. Recently single thanks to a cheating boyfriend and on leave from work Gwen must now survive Christmas back home with her family, including her horrible sister and even more horrible brother-in-law. Hoping that she can get through the holiday without anyone finding out about her job and avoiding a violent scene with her Carys, Gwen realizes that even this might be impossible as disasters continue to erupt around her. The only bright spot is finding her childhood crush of a neighbor home for Christmas as well. Dev, as handsome as ever and with his life sorted, makes Gwen wonder what might have been. Thankful that the awful day was finally over Gwen sets off to bed (aka the dining room) only to wake up the next morning back in her room on Christmas morning. Gwen is determined to figure out how she is stuck in this time loop and sets off trying to set right the things she thinks might help her grant her Christmas wish to wake up in tomorrow. I’ll read anything by Lindsey Kelk. Her feel good, rom-coms are filled with humor and heartwarming moments and “The Christmas Wish” is no exception. I would love to see this made into a the next great holiday movie. Don’t miss out on adding this to your TBD list and check out Kelk’s other titles.

Til next time,

The Booked Mama

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