Thursday, December 26, 2024

2024 - Fourth Quarter Review


To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the fourth quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

💖Catching Foxes: A Gospel-Guided Journey to Marriage by John Henderson - A pre-marital workbook with value to all pre-married and married couples. Nonfiction - Christian Living. 296 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh - Two women embark upon a road trip that challenges their life decisions and solidifies an unlikely friendship. Christian Fiction. 370 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeeles - Book 1 in the Heaven's Cove series features Rosie Merchant's return to her childhood home after the death of her mother. She once fled the small Devon village; she now longs to retain her home and her memories. Women's Fiction. 330 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis - This YA book outlines a teen athlete's descent into opioid addiction after an injury. Hit very close to home, but it is such an important topic for young people. Young Adult. 448 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell by Shana Novak - 100 vignettes about treasured items with sentimental value. Great photos. Fun stories. Nonfiction, 256 pages, 👍👍👍

Be Not Far from Me by Mindy McGinnis - Yet another McGinnis teen read about a girl lost in the Smoky Mountains. A riveting survival story. Young Adult. 240 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons - Widowed bookstore owner, Gertie Bingham, takes in a headstrong German Jewish girl and discovers the power of books and found family. Historical Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Funny Story by Emily Henry - Two opposites, with a harsh shared past, attract in this very funny and romantic story. Instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Romantic Comedy. 544 pages (I listened in audio form, CDs, 11-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox - Sarah Ashby just wants to return home to help her grandmother save the family store. Yet, her mother is determined to keep her from settling for life in a small town. Christian Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Lettie Starcross arrives in Heaven's Cove with a key and a letter and a desperate desire to unravel their mysteries. Book 2 in the Heaven's Cove series. Women's Fiction. 314 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

💖Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life by Mark Vroegop - An exploration on biblical themes of waiting including why it is important, what it teaches, and how to do it well. Christian Living. 152 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3 hours, and then skimmed the Hoopla e-book), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Christmas Pact by Meg Easton - Jack (a Christmas Grinch) and Noelle (Christmas personified, but mired in grief) attempt to overcome their hesitations in order to bring Christmas to life for Jack's nephew. Christmas Romance. 218 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - In Maine, 1789, mid-wife Martha Ballard documents and attempts to solve a rape and mysterious murder. Thanks to Ballard's literacy, the historical documents of her diary gave way to a fabulous fictional tale from her life. Historical Fiction. 448 pages (I listened in audio form, 12 CDs, 15 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers - Erin Connolly is relieved to retrieve a favorite novel she accidentally donated to a Little Free Library. She is sure it is her copy because she finds her notes in the margins. Indeed, she finds someone else's notes in the margins and they are addressed to her. A mystery is afoot. Romance. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway - Claire Frost is infuriated when a stranger accosts her in the London airport accusing her of taking his bag. Who knew, hours later, he'd be accusing her of taking his bed? Or that she'd be stuck dealing with him on a daily basis. Christmas Romance, 302 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - 12-year-old CeeCee is sent to live with her great-aunt Tootie in Savannah where she is embraced and comforted by several unique and colorful women. Women's Fiction. 336 pages, 👍👍-1/2

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig - Young women from Smith College travel to France to assist the poor in World War I. Historical Fiction. 544 pages (I listened in audio form, 13 CDs, 16 hours), 👍👍👍👍

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