It's time for the first BOOK RECAP of 2024!
January had a few heavy books with a light read mixed in for fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed them all, some more than others though.
Before I recap, don't forget that this year I am hosting on Online BOOK CLUB!!!
As a reminder, I will have a dedicated blog post for our monthly BOOK CLUB selection on the 17th of each month. Check back on the February 17th and join in on our chat on our very first book SAM. I will also be announcing our next book on this day too!
On to the January 2024 Book Recap!
Before I begin, I rank books on a scale of one-five stars. I reserve FIVE star books for the books I absolutely couldn't put down. The ones I looked forward to all day to pick up and continue reading. So if I give a book FOUR stars, just know I really, really liked it and would highly recommend it. Okay, on to book one of the year.
Cabin Fever by Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin
This book started off my year. It was a gift from my son for Christmas. It is the true story of the of the cruise ship Zaandam at the brink of the Covid-19 lock downs. The ship set sail on March 6, 2020 from Argentina headed on a 14 day journey around the tip of South America. At the time of departure an outbreak on the ship seemed low risk and Holland America declared the trip would be safe. Within days, though, passengers and crew begin feeling unwell, and as a global lock down began, the Zaandam had nowhere to go. The ship wandered the oceans desperate for a port to accommodate their growing needs aboard the ship. With only two doctors on board, few medical supplies to treat this outbreak, and dwindling food and water, the ship became desperate for help. Will anyone be brave enough to help this ship and the people onboard before it is too late?
It is an intense story of survival that toggles between the lives of several of the passengers and crew. It was a good solid read and keep me interested. I gave this one FOUR ⭐s out of five.
Book #2
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Another amazing Kristin Hannah read! This book was a gift from a dear friend, Kim, for Christmas.
13-year old Leni Allbright knows her family is chaotic, but she never expected what would happen when her father inherits property in Alaska when a fellow Vietnam soldier he fought with dies.
The family packs their meager belongings into a VW bus and heads north to the last frontier. Little did they know the harsh realities of living off the grid, and their first winter proves dangerous. The dangers they face are not only found in the wilderness outside their cabin walls, but also lurks within. There is no one to save them; Leni and her mom must make decisions based on survival, not love.
Kristin Hannah is such a great story teller. She captures images beautifully of the Alaskan landscape. At times, though, I wanted her to hurry up and tell the story. I found myself getting impatient with her imagery often, especially toward the end. I also found a few action scenes lacking in detail (I know, a total contradiction). Again this was more toward the end of the book. Finally, a few times I was questioning the actions of the characters - would anyone really do that? So for these reasons I rated this book FOUR ⭐s.
Book #3
Drowning by T.J. Newman
A good thriller, but overall I liked her first book, Falling, better.
Will is escorting his pre-teen daughter to camp on a flight from Hawaii to the main land. After losing their oldest daughter in a tragic accident a few years earlier, he couldn’t stand allowing her to travel alone.
Only six minutes after takeoff, the flight experiences problems and is forced to land in the ocean. While everyone onboard tries to escape, fire from an exploding engine threatens to kill them all. Desperate, those still inside shut the emergency doors as the plane sinks 200 feet below the surface with 12 people trapped inside.
Will they survive and be rescued? Working against the clock, Chris, Will’s soon to be ex-wife, fights to save Will and their daughter.
This book had scenes that once again made me ask - Would someone really do that? There were some sad moments when characters made hard decisions. Overall I rated this book THREE ⭐s.
Book #4
Birthday twins Alix (a popular podcaster) and Josie (a quiet homemaker) meet on their 45th birthday at posh restaurant. A few days later they bump into each other again and Josie suggests that Alix make her the subject of a new podcast series. Feeling dubious about this suggestion, Alix goes along with Josie’s idea. As Josie begins detailing her life for Alix, things begin getting stranger and stranger. Is everything Josie is telling Alix true? Is Josie beginning to cross a line between a working relationship and friendship? Who will get hurt in the end?
Wow! Just wow! I couldn’t put this down toward the end. A great thriller that was my first FIVE ⭐ book for 2024
Book #5
The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Samantha Sweeting is a workaholic. She is aiming to become partner in one of London’s biggest and best law firms. That is until she makes a mistake so huge that she is faced with never practicing law again. Feeling distraught and confused, she boards a train and ends up in the middle of nowhere. While trying to ask for directions, she is mistaken for a candidate interviewing for a job as a housekeeper. In her daze, Samantha now has to figure out how to cook and clean as she puts her past behind her.
She make new friendships and begins to really feel at home in this sleepy little village until she one day figures out the truth behind her mistake. Will she avenge her reputation as a top lawyer or fade away from the stressful life she was living and live a simpler, easier life as the help?
This is sweet story reminiscent of Sophie Kinsella’s Shopiholic series. A good, fun chick lit book. I rated this book THREE ⭐s
Book #6
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Alicia is a brilliant painter until one evening she becomes unhinged and murders her husband.
Sentenced to a high security psychiatric unit, Alicia becomes known as the silent patient. Since her husband’s murder, she has not spoken a word. In walks criminal psychotherapist, Theo, eager for the opportunity to work with such a high profile patient. He is determined (and even obsessed) to unravel the mystery and get her talking again.
Will he succeed or will this intensive work be the undoing of life as he knows it?
I wasn’t sure why everyone was loving this book so much…until I got to about the last 50 pages or so. Whoa, I wasn’t expecting it to end like that! I gave this book FOUR ⭐s.
Book #7
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
In the decades leading up to the Civil War, seven-year-old Lavinia becomes orphaned as her Irish family is immigrating to the United States. Sent to live and work as an indentured servant, Lavinia learns to cook, clean and serve under the guidance of the slaves whom raise her in the Kitchen House. Although her skin color sets her apart from everyone else, she learns the true meaning of love and family and the tragedies that anyone, regardless of skin color, can face. Lavinia struggles to navigate the world of the kitchen house and big house. What will her future hold and which side will she ultimately end up living?
This historical fiction book was near perfection! A MUST READ!!
FIVE ⭐s.
Happy Reading xoxo
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