Christmas Fling by Lindsey Kelk: This book was lovely, and not only because it was Christmas themed and I read it over the holidays. Lindsey Kelk really knows how to structure a novel, and her main characters have depth and charisma. The secondary characters are just as well developed, and the book delivered on every level. The story of Laura and Callum unfolds in Scotland, a land that is very dear to my heart. It follows the popular fake boyfriend trope, yet it still felt fresh and entertaining to me. I loved every second of it, while it kept me up at night.
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan: A multi generational family story at its best, or rather two families coming together with a bang. Everyone has secrets. Some are told willingly, while others come out into the open without consent. It is the war, however, that changes everything for everyone. Each generation has to deal with its own conflict, and it impacts them all. There was so much to unpack in this book, so many issues to confront, yet it never felt forced or unrealistic. A wonderful story with much food for thought.
Calum’s Road by Roger Hutchinson: The book is exactly about what the title implies: one man’s determination to build a road. After one council after another either ignored or declined to construct a two mile road in Northern Raasay, Calum MacLeod took matters into his own hands. More than twelve years later, he had built a road that could be used by vehicles. A couple of years later, it was finally tarmacked. The lack of easy road access had changed the communities of Arnish, Fladda, and Rona, especially after the Clearances of the Highlands and Hebrides had already decimated the population. This book shines a light on a small but powerful chapter of Scottish history.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: Isn’t it marvelous when the first book in a new series already keeps you up at night? I may be a bit late to the ACOTAR craze, but better late than never. Feyre is quite an interesting character, a human who holds her own among the faeries. There are elements we already know from other fantasy series: a strong female protagonist, a desperate love story, and quite a bit of blood and gore. Her male counterpart did not convince me as much, but the secondary characters were excellent, especially her sister Nesta, Lucien, and Rhysand. I cannot wait to dive into book two. Perhaps a love triangle is waiting ahead.
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