Hi everybody, and welcome to my December wrap up.
HOW ARE WE 2023 ALREADY? I could have sworn that 2022 just started like yesterday… But anyway, despite the time having gotten away from me, I’m also so ready for a new year! But first, let’s recap everything I read, listened to and watched in December, shall we?
Murder of Crows (The Others #2) by Anne Bishop
I’m finally continuing The Others series and so far, I’m loving it! It’s a slower fantasy with a lot of emphasis on the different characters and their growth and I love that. There’s also a wonderful found family aspect that I’m highly enjoying.
Rating: 4,5 stars
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
I’ve been wanting to read some holiday romances this year, and this was one that stood out to me because of it’s unique and spicy concept: a porn star being cast in a Christmas movie. This was quite the steamy read, but it was also fun and heartfelt and touched on so many important issues so I have to say I really enjoyed it!
Rating: 4 stars
A Light in the Flame (Flesh and Fire #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Though I enjoyed the Blood and Ash series so far, and A Shadow in the Ember (the first book in this series), I have to say I struggled to get through this one. The first 50-60% is really slow and not a lot happened (except sex and thoughts of sex, which can be fine, but for me personally it was a bit much here). Luckily, the last 40-50% really picked up and made me want to keep continuing with the series.
Rating: 3,5 stars
Ninth House (Alex Stern #) by Leigh Bardugo (Re-Read)
With Hell Bent releasing next month, I was due for a re-read of Ninth House. This was one of my favorite reads upon first read and I’m happy to say I still adored it! Now I’m even more excited for the sequel and hopefully finding out what happened to Darlington (please be okay).
Rating: 5 stars
Lovelight Farms (Lovelight #1) by B.K. Borison
This was an adorable romance that hit all the right spots for me: fake dating, friends-to-lovers, a Christmas tree farm and fun secondary characters (who are the main characters in the next books in this series). I highly enjoyed it!
Rating: 4 stars
More Than A Little Warped (The Guild Codex: Warped #3.5) by Annette Marie and Rob Jacobsen
Ending the year with an Annette Marie book seemed fitting for me. Now, normally I’m not really into novellas, and as such I was a bit hesitant about this one. But then I was reminded by how much I LOVE Kit and his humor from the very first page and I was drawn in once more. So excited for his next full-novel adventure now!
Rating: 4 stars
Top Ten Tuesday
The 10 Highest Rated Books On My TBR
Books on My Winter 2022-2023 To-Read List
Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year
The Most Recent Additions To My Book Collection
Can’t Wait Wednesday
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee {Can’t Wait Wednesday}
WWW Wednesday
WWW Wednesday: 14 December 2022
Quote It Wednesday
Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey {Quote It Wednesday}
Something Different Sunday
My 10 Favorite 2022 Songs (Part One)
My 10 Favorite 2022 Songs (Kpop Edition)
In December I mostly listened to these two girl-fronted power bands because both had new songs and both are amazing.
Against the Current – Blindfolded
Against the Current is on of my favorite bands and their new song was another bop.
Paramore – The News
Falling For Christmas
I was in the mood to watch a nice, cheesy, predictable Christmas movie and Falling For Christmas fit the bill perfectly! The story about a wealthy heiress losing her memory during an accident and being taken care off by a single dad in his cozy little hotel featured all of the Christmas tropes I needed and I highly enjoyed it. Also, I was really happy to watch Lindsay Lohan on the screen again.
The Holiday
STILL MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE! Yes, this was a rewatch because I saw the movie wouldn’t be available on Netflix for much longer (boo!) and I still loved everything about it so much.
Emily in Paris (Season 3)
I know this show gets a lot of hate, but honestly I love it! It’s filled with drama, yes. The characters make really terrible decisions all the time, yes. A lot of things are unbelievable, yes. BUT I CAN’T HELP IT, IT’S SO ADDICTIVE! And I’m still really, really invested in the Emily-Gabriel romance!
December was basically a big two-parter: the big stressy, blurry lead-up to the Holidays (work stress, rushing to get presents, preparing for the Holidays) and the big climax: the Holidays and a week off that was super relaxing. I’ve been struggling a bit the last few months (always do in the dark winter months), and I haven’t been reading as much as usual (always an indication something’s off for me), but my week off really helped (and most of the books read this month were actually read this week). Also, I of course had a great time with family during Christmas and I definitely enjoy that too.
Things that made me happy this month:
- We had a lovely team day at work to celebrate the end of the year: we did a chocolate workshop were we made our own pralines (I’m happy to say they tasted great), had a lovely lunch and did an escape room (I’m happy to say we got out with 3 minutes to spare).
- Had a nice dinner with my BFF.
- Celebrated Christmas with my family.
- A week off that was a little productive (got the car to the garage and passed the yearly control so I’m good for another year) but mostly very relaxing (lots of reading, blogging and TV)
THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:
- A new year!
- HELL BENT by Leigh Bardugo
- MYSTERIES OF THORN MANOR by Margaret Rogerson
How was your December? What did you read? What did you listen to and what did you watch? What are you looking forward to in January?
We are the same for A Light in the Ember Lindsay! And also about the other books in these two series (that I loved as well). And I should reread Ninth House before Hell Bent because it’s been so long!
I’m glad I’m not the only one about A Light in the Ember! I’m so excited for Hell Bent now 😀
I usually watch The Holiday and Love Actually over the holidays but this year I had zero watch/tv time and limited reading time as well. I did enjoy Lovelight Farms too though! I can’t wait for Mysteries of Thorn Manor this month as well 😍 I hope you’re able to get back into reading this month and enjoy all the books you pick up, Lindsey!
Aww I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have a lot of tv and reading time this past holiday season! Hope you’ll be able to spend some time doing just that in January 🙂
It was so fun to see Lindsay Lohan in a movie again! I’m glad you had a nice relaxing end to the year – I hear ya on the holidays being a stressful time, so it’s nice that you got that week to relax.
It really was! Thanks, I’m glad I had the week off too, it was definitely very welcome 🙂
If you enjoyed Lovelight Farms you have a lot to look forward to with the next two books. Beckett and those cats are going to make you so happy!
I am so looking forward to diving into the next two Lovelight Farms books! Beckett and the cats were already such a highlight of book one, I loved them <3
You are going to love them!
I can’t believe how long we’ve been waiting to find out if Darlington is okay. I need Hell Bent SO badly!
AHHH it is Hell Bent release day and I want to read now but I also want to finish my current read first!! #problems haha 😀
December is always such a busy month. Glad you enjoyed it! I watched some of those same movies as you, but haven’t started watching Season 3 of Emily in Paris yet. Looking forward to it, though!
December is such a busy month indeed. Oh, hope you’ll love Emily in Paris season 3!
I love Emily in Paris too. I had forgotten season 3 is out so thanks for the reminder. Looks like you had a busy month!
Hope you’ll love Emily in Paris season 3!