Forewarning, my list is neither extensive nor earth shattering. I have very little time to read these days and only manage to squeeze in a chapter or two before my eyes give up and close after a long day of juggling parenting, house chores and writing.
But if you are interested, these are the three books I managed to read in January.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Emily Bell
Blurb: "FATE PULLED THEM APART BUT NOT BEFORE THEY MADE A PROMISE.
TEN CHRISTMASES LATER, WILL THEIR WISH COME TRUE? . . .
As Norah battles through the bustling December crowds, she hears the notes of a song that transports her back to the most romantic week of her life.
After meeting on a blissful holiday, but knowing they had to part, a boy named Andrew made her a promise:
If they are both single on Christmas Eve in ten years' time, they will meet under the clock on Grafton Street, Dublin.
Norah has no idea if he will remember, but she has nothing to lose.
So, hoping for a Christmas miracle, she heads to Dublin. To that clock. And, maybe, to Andrew.
But it wouldn't be Christmas without a few surprises . . ."
I started this one before Christmas and although, yes it is a cute love story I didn't find it all that gripping. I like the travel/location part of it but I didn't really buy into the "one day I just thought I might like you". I like big gestures and huge romances, not just "oh you'll do". It was a pretty easy read and sure if there's nothing else in the pile why not but it wouldn't be a huge recommendation for me.
A Cosy Christmas at Bridget’s Bicycle Bakery – Alex Brown
Blurb: "Finding yourself without a home in the weeks before Christmas would break most people, but for Bridget Carrington it’s a chance to start again. Mulberry-On-Sea has always been her happy place and she’s hoping it can work its magic this festive season and heal her family after a difficult year.
Now, as the community wraps Bridget and her children in its warm embrace, she starts to feel like herself again. With a new business, kids who are starting to smile, and the promise of a second chance at love, Bridget’s holiday season might just be a happy ever after…"
This book made me rethink the whole cosy romance genre. Honestly, I don't think it's from me. I found this quite dull and the topic of spouse death was just hard to read for me (it's one of those things that would be my worse nightmare). I didn't really buy into the romance between Bridget and...I can't even remember his name it was that forgettable. It was just all a little flat for me.
The Love Hypothesis – Ali Hazelwood
Blurb: “When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos.
As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive on her way to a happily ever after was always going to be tough, scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting woman, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.
That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when he agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire and Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support (and his unyielding abs), their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion.
Olive soon discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.”
As this was on my blog post Five Books to Read this Valentine's Day, there will be no surprise here that I loved it. This is the quickest book I've read in a really long time and I am glad I picked it up. I loved Olive as a character and found her really relatable and Adam was very swoon worthy indeed. There's some heat in there too which was very....compelling. I would definitely recommend it, but caution when approaching something with a lot of praise as expectations can lead to disappointments.
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