Reading Adventures
My first books of 2025!
I finished Amy's Christmas Wish by Seralynn Lewis. I started this one early in December, but just couldn't get through it. I finally skim read the last several chapters and finished it today.
The story follows Amy, a baker who owns a B&B, her brother Bryan and Zeke, a childhood friend of the two. Zeke loses his home and has to go home to Worthy, Texas. He hasn't spoken with Amy or Bryan since their other brother Charlie died while the two were serving in Afghanistan. Zeke blames himself for Charlie's death, as Charlie had a lung condition and refused to go to the doctor for it, despite Zeke's begging. Zeke finally gave up asking and right after that, Charlie died.
Zeke has never told anyone what happened, and he was discharged from the Army with hearing loss.
Amy hears rumors of a new boutique hotel opening in their town soon, and worries the new business will negatively affect her B&B. Once Zeke returns, she renews her friendship with him and begins to fall for him. He holds back, feeling too much guilt over her brother's death and his supposed involvement.
The conflict over the "big secret" was way overstated and unnecessary. Survivor's guilt is a real thing, I understand that, but this was way too much, and Amy's overreaction was stupid. The resolution over the boutique hotel was interesting, but the dropped plot line over the arson of the carriage house bothered me a lot.
I gave it three stars. I didn't really like it.
I read Deadly New Year by Helen Golden all in one sitting. It was quite a short book, and the plot moved quickly. This book details the murder of Jasmine Curslon during the New Year's Eve party Lady Beatrice is holding. Jasmine's sister, boyfriend, and chef are all suspects, as each of them have a motive and opportunity.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I was surprised by how quickly the book flew by. I kept detailed notes of the mystery, trying to solve it before the characters did, but it was solved too quickly, and the murderer just confessed when pressed too hard. So that was disappointing, but I loved the book. I enjoy books and movies set during that weird post-Christmas, New Year week.
