January reading is usually so much fun because I'm reading all the "best of" books from the year before! What a great month of reading...considering the darkness of the world around us right now, I'm grateful for the escape into fiction...
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan - this was on most of the "best of 2025" lists and it was a great first read of 2026. I loved this historical fiction that really swept through historical events as they came to this small Ohio town.
Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild - whew, this was not what I expected and I also couldn't put it down. After the shocking first chapter, I did think it was a little predictable but it ended just how I thought it would and should.
The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden - a sweet story about a young woman who has an internet cooking show and a family olive farm in Italy. It made me want to eat pasta, it kept my interest, but overall was mostly forgettable.
The Eights by Joanna Miller - Loved this story about some of the first women to be full-fledged students at Oxford. Each of the women has a war story background and it was fascinating. A little long but worth it!
Game Changer by Rachel Reid - I had to see what the fuss was all about and let's be real - I love romance novels and this was a fine example of that. I don't plan to read the rest of the series. (PS the cover that is in my goodreads is quite scandalous but I left it in)
The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony - Loved this look at a particular incident in Irish history. I honestly didn't need the modern story that alternated, I was totally taken with the historical element.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown - A really good one lifting up lots of good questions about technology and how technology impacts us and how family is chosen and loved. It wrapped up a little too neatly but I couldn't put it down!
Violet Thistlethwaite is Not A Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz - I am a sucker for stories about magical plants. A sweet and silly cozy fantasy/romance - perfect for a cold winter day!
