November Recap & Expected December Reads

My November 2019 Reads:

November was a crazy reading month for me. It took me two weeks to finish one book! Then, I started The Memory House later than expected and ended up going to book club not having finished it. Thankfully, I remembered the general plot from my first reading of it back in March.

In November, I finished:

1. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


2. The Memory House by Rachel Hauck - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my original review. I'm happy to say I enjoyed it just as much the second time around!


3. God's Hostage by Andrew Brunson. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon.


4. Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


5. Stories Behind the Songs and Hymns About Heaven by Ace Collins. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


6. 100 Extraordinary Stories of Prayer for Courageous Girls by Jean Fischer ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear. - ⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon.


8. The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson - ⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 12/02/19.

Expected December 2019 Reads:

In December, I expect to read:

1. Above the Fold by Rachel McDaniel - I've been looking forward to this book for months!


2. The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson - I love the cover of this book and I'm looking forward to reading it.


3. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis - Still in progress! It's not a review book and has slid to the bottom of my stack.


4. Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander - My local book club's December selection!


5. Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Andrews - Both my husband and I will read this one. He loves Mesu Andrews' books!


6. Praying With Jane by Rachel Dodge - Currently reading. I read Pride & Prejudice back in October, so it's been fun to see the author tie together the novels and the devotional thoughts.

 What will you read this month?

Book Review: Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep

About the Book:

Three Delightful Christmas Tales from Beloved Storyteller Michelle Griep.

Pour yourself a cuppa, get lost in the merriment of the season, and enjoy a Dickensian Christmas in three stories from fan favorite Michelle Griep:

12 Days a Bleakly Manor: Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle’s inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable—too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance?

The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.


My Thoughts:

Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep boasts a beautiful cover, deckled pages, and the pleasing thickness afforded by three novellas. Included in this collection are: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, A Tale of Two Hearts, and The Old Lace Shop. Of the three, The Old Lace Shop was my favorite.

All three novellas had highly interesting plots, themes about second chances, and brief cameos by Charles Dickens. The mystery in 12 Days at Bleakly Manor was particularly well-done. I enjoyed the romantic tension in A Tale of Two Hearts. Nearly all the characters in The Old Lace Shop have an intriguing struggle to deal with. I think each of the stories would have made amazing full-length novels. However, as they were constrained by the novella length, the plots progressed quickly and offered limited character development.

Overall, the novellas were entertaining and I'm glad I tried Once Upon a Dickens Christmas. I’m a fan of Michelle Griep’s full-length novels and I’m happy to add this to my collection of her works even though it’s not my favorite from her.  I recommend to readers who enjoy shorter historical romances with Christian themes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.