December 2024 Reading Recap & January 2025 TBR

 My December 2024 Reads: 

1. The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - One of my favorite books by this author!


2. One Prayer Away: Healing Words to Speak Over Your Day by Lauren Fortenberry - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This book of thoughts and prayers has been my companion for most of this year. Read my review.


3. Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A dual timeline novel that was part fictional biography and part literary tribute to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.


4. A Confirmed Rake by Martha Keyes - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Fun, delightful, classic Martha Keyes. A sweet (not Christian) romance.


5. The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham - ⭐⭐⭐ - Okay to read once, but wouldn't read it again. Grace was a unique, but sometimes annoying, female lead.


6. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐ - My local book club's December selection that we used as the theme for our annual Christmas party. - Read my review.


7. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva - ⭐⭐⭐ - A well-written Christmas story, but I couldn't get past my dislike of Dickens' attitude and emotional unfaithfulness.


8. The Warmth of Snow by Heidi Eljarbo - ⭐⭐ 

---

Expected January 2025 Reads:

1. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - My local book club's January selection. Read my review from earlier this year.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White - Currently reading!


5. Nourishing Narratives: The Power of Story to Shape Our Faith by Jennifer L. Holberg - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

November 2024 Reading Recap & December 2024 TBR

 My November 2024 Reads: 

1. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A fascinating look at the history of IVP. Read my review.


2. A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A comical Victorian romance with influences from The Nutcracker and Around the World in 80 Days. Read my review.


3. Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Book four in this unique time travel series. Read my review.


4. A Proper Scoundrel by Esther Hatch - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Fun and entertaining, but not without some heartbreak and obstacles to a budding romance. A keeper for my bookshelf.


5. Plotting Summer by Jess Heileman- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Entertaining and fun, but a bit overhyped.


6. Pretty Little Pieces by Carmen Schober - ⭐⭐½ - After enjoying this author's debut novel, I expected to like this one, but for a number of reasons, it was a miss for me. 

---

Expected December 2024 Reads:

1. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White - My local book club's December selection. Read my review from earlier this year.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Nourishing Narratives: The Power of Story to Shape Our Faith by Jennifer L. Holberg. - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

Book Review: Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White

About the Book:

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family's misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

---

Advance Praise:

"So many delightful layers to this tale, along with intriguing characters and beautiful descriptions...It really puts you in the mood for Christmas."— Melody Carlson, author of The Christmas Tree Farm and A Royal Christmas

"Sugar plums, gingerbread, and all the Christmasy feels go into this charming holiday romance."— Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

---

My Thoughts:

In Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor, Roseanna M. White offers readers a sweet story of childhood friends rekindling their relationship and becoming more during an enchanted Christmas season. With a children’s play, sugar plums, and nutcrackers, the novella’s tone felt light and merry. The novella touched gently on forgiveness, hope, and the true miracle of Christmas – the Christ-child born to dwell with mankind. Although a bit convenient, misunderstandings were easily explained and missteps were freely pardoned. Overall, the story was less impactful than the author’s full-length novels, but still a nice read.

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor is a stand-alone novella by Roseanna M. White with an inspirational message of Christmas cheer and hope.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

---

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White (RoseannaMWhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.

---