Before January is over I better share my book talk from last month. I closed the year with a few more books and barely crossing of my book goal. And I might have DNFed one book if it wasn’t for the challenge. So here is the final round up of 2025.
The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox | ★★★✶☆
Book Blurb: When chef Charlie Goodwin gets hit on the head on the L.A. set of her reality baking show, she loses a lot more than consciousness; she also loses her ability to taste and smell–both critical to her success as show judge. Meanwhile, Charlie’s identical twin, Cass, is frantically trying to hold her own life together back in their quaint mountain hometown while running the family’s bustling bakery and dealing with her ex, who won’t get the memo that they’re over.
First Sentence: Charlie Goodwin drew a shaky breath and tapped furiously on her phone, the screen illuminating her face in the otherwise dark store room.
What I thought: I really enjoyed this one. The main focus is on two twin sisters and not a couple. Of course we get some love story stuff too but overall it was more n how those two sisters where handling there life challenges.
Elevate count: none as it was an audiobook
Characters: Charlie Goodwin – chef and tv host, Cass – baker and shop owner
Setting: Hollywood & small town
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited, library | audiobook through library | paperback | hardcover
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title none found
Recommend to: Everyone enjoying sweet holiday cheer with a touch of romance.
Author’s Origin: born in Canada | author duo
Am Rande der gefrorenen Welt by Nicola Vollkommer | ★★★✶☆
Book Blurb: He is a hunter, sled driver, pastor, and later bishop of the Arctic. John Sperry lives with his family among the Inuit north of the Arctic Circle for 19 years. He shares their hardship, their hunger, and temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees. And he translates the Bible into their language, which has no words for tree, sheep, or field—and none for love. The moving biography of a man who left behind everything he knew.
First Sentence: Wenn du einem Kind etwas über Gott beibringen möchtest, dann liest du ihm Bibelgeschichten vor oder nimmst es in einen Kindergottestdienst mit. | If you want to teach a child about God, you read Bible stories to them or take them to a children’s church service.
What I thought: This was an interesting tale of a missionary family in the Canadian wilderness in the 1950’s. I felt like the life was portrait well – as much as I can testify to that. However I do have my issues with the missionary approach of going into different cultures, beliefs and changing culture and traditions.
Elevate count: none as it was German
Characters: John Sperry – pastor, Betty Sperry – wife
Setting:Canadian arctic
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited, library | audiobook through library | paperback | hardcover
Original Language and Title: German
Publications: no translations found
Recommend to: Everyone interested in missionary work in the arctic.
Author’s Origin: born in Leicester, U.K. | April 1959
The Scientist’s Christmas Signal by Orion Vega | ★★✶☆☆
Book Blurb: Alex Gray, a sharp-witted but decidedly cynical astrophysicist, has no time for Christmas cheer. He prefers the solitude of his observatory to the chaos of holiday festivities, opting for cold coffee and data streams over mince pies and mistletoe. For Alex, the universe holds more intrigue than tinsel-wrapped traditions—until an unexpected signal shakes up his carefully curated isolation.
First Sentence: Alex Gray sat alone in his chilly observatory, staring at the faint glow of his computer screen.
What I thought: I wanted to read something different besides romance with holiday cheer. Well, it was ok but it was also a bit weird. However I think I like looking into holiday books that are outside of romance for the coming season.
Elevate count: none
Characters: Alex Gray – scientist
Setting: Observatory
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited, library | audiobook through library | paperback | hardcover
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title none found
Recommend to: Everyone who needs a quirky short story to slip in-between.
Author’s Origin: born in unknown| unknown
Christmas in Quincey by Devney Perry | ★★★☆☆
Book Blurb: Cleo Hillcrest would rather cancel Christmas than endure another one of her father’s pretentious holiday parties, making small talk with his rich colleagues and her stepmother’s shallow friends. She’s leaving home to spend three peaceful and quiet days in Quincy, Montana, trading gifts and grandeur for room service and slippers.
First Sentence: Welcome to The Eloise Inn.
What I thought: This was nice enough to read during the Holidays but as with all romance it is entertainment nothing that sticks around long enough. I wasn’t quite sure if I liked the bossiness of the security guy.
Elevate count: didnt count
Characters: Cleo Hillcrest – business woman on a retreat, Austin Myles – security detail, Ray – Cleos father
Setting: Eloise Inn, Montana
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title not found
Recommend to: Everyone who likes holiday romance and Devney Perry.
Author’s Origin: born in Montana, U.S.A. | unknown
The Holiday Brothers by Willa Nash aka Devney Perry | ★★✶☆☆
Book Blurb: The complete Holiday Brothers series. Three small-town romance novellas about three brothers and the women who make their holiday dreams come true. This collection features The Naughty, The Nice and The Nanny,Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother’s Best Friend, and A Partridge and a Pregnancy.
First Sentence: She’s an angel. | Jitters danced through my fingertips as I smoothed the fabric of my sweater. | I am pregnant.
What I thought: Not much to say here. Entertaining holiday romance. What I needed in that moment but it’s all fluff and not very deep.
Elevate count: none besides elevator.
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title none found
Recommend to: Everyone enjoying holiday romance that is short and easy to read.
Author’s Origin: born in Montana, U.S.A. | unknown
Merry ever After by Tessa Bailey | ★★✶☆☆
Book Blurb: A single mother working in a thrift store. A gentle giant farmer who can’t find jeans that fit. When opposites attract, they find themselves making alterations in more ways than one in this smoking-hot short story
First Sentence: The farmer is back.
What I thought: Well, it was a quick read. It had smut. I liked the characters and wanted to know more about their story outside the bedroom.
Elevate count: none
Setting: Texas, thrift store, farm
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title none found
Recommend to: People who like spicy stuff.
Author’s Origin: born in Carlsbad, U.S.A. | February 5th, 1984
Das Weihnachtshaus by Zsuzsa Bánk | ★★✶☆☆
Book Blurb: Two friends run a café in Frankfurt. It’s Christmas time, Advent. One is the mother of two children; she lost her husband years ago. Her friend Lilli became a mother at an early age and had a rather difficult past. With a good sense of humor and wisdom, the two women master their everyday lives—as mothers, as friends, as businesswomen, and as homeowners. Some time ago, they bought a weekend house together in the Odenwald, which is still uninhabitable, with an open roof and no windows. But their thoughts and dreams keep returning to the same place: someday, they would love to celebrate Christmas in this house, all together.
First Sentence: Ich liege auf dem Bett, das ich früher mit Clemens geteilt habe, und denke an die Namen unser Kinder. | I lie on the bed I used to share with Clemens and think about the names of our children.
What I thought: This was so so disappointing. I wanted tot read this book for years. I even asked for it multiple times as gift. Never been more glad to not receive it. It was boring. It was terribly written. It didnt spark any holiday cheer. Overall it was a pain to get through and if this wouldn’t have been book 80 and my ticket to check my reading goal I would have DNFed it. Sad.
Elevate count: none, read in German
Characters: two friends
Setting: Frankfurt, café, cabin
Medium: hardcover from library
Original Language and Title: German
Publications: none found
Recommend to: I don’t know. Not sure I would recommend but lots of people like it.
Author’s Origin: born in Frankfurt/Main, Germany | October 24th, 1965
Back home for Christmas by Amber Reed | ☆☆☆☆☆
Book Blurb: Cat didn’t think anything could be worse than going back home for Christmas, until she wakes to find Jay, her brother’s best friend—her high school nemesis— casually sipping coffee in the kitchen.
First Sentence: What the …?
What I thought: What the …? Yep. Well written, easy enough to read and keep me entertained.
BUT the story was always on tipping point to being unbearable because of the childish characters. No development really just holding grudges, stupid fights, terrible family, there was just no one to root for or like. And the main character was supposed to be a phsycholigust with all her angst and judgmental behavior?
The downfall however, was the sex scene. The FMC slept and woke to the guy pressing into her and touching. THIS IS NOT CUTE! Not even in relationships. I do not want to read this shit in 2025. We do not need to carry on this narrative just because many generations before us have been condition that this is cute, not problem and just the way to do it. Just NO.
Elevate count: none
Setting: Cape Shore Beath town somewhere in Jersey
Medium: eBook through Kindle unlimited
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: none found
Recommend to: NO ONE. Do not read.
Author’s Origin: born in unknown | unknown
Book Stats for December 2025
Books I couldn’t finish
Keeping track of the books that weren’t right for me. This month it was:
- Christmas at Applemore by Rachael Lucas – didn’t hold my interest, stopped at 21 percent, I enjoyed a Christmas book by this author two years back though…
- Together by Christmas by Karen Swan – library loan ran out at 17% – this was a different Holiday book having a war reporter and photographer as main characters but I just didnt have the brain space to stay with the story.
- Christmas Curse by Annie Wayne – stopped at 37% – writing was not very good and the story couldn’t carry it.
New books on the shelves
Always buying books even though I am trying to reduce my TBR pile. Here is this month purchases. Please hold me accountable and ask if I read them or just piled them up.
- Die Erinnerungsfotografen by Sanaka Hiiragi– bought with a book voucher I received from church as a thank you for volunteering
- Stille by Erling Kagge – bought with a book voucher I received from church as a thank you for volunteering
- Signalfeuer by Dani Shapiro – a gift from my secret book Santa
How many Christmas themed books did you read in December? Is there one I should bookmark for next season? How many DNFed books in December for you? Is there a time you are so far in that you wouldn’t DNF a book? Any new books for you in December?
