December TBR
I know it’s the twelfth day of December. If you read my last post, my November Wrap-up, you’ll know that I started a new job. I’ve been working a lot and I haven’t quite made the mental adjustment. I haven’t had the mental capacity to open WordPress and start writing this post.
But today, I only worked one job. I spent a few hours playing a video game, and now I’m going to get this done.
December is going to be a harder month for me. I have a lot to do, so my TBR (to be read) is going to be shorter than it was last month. I’m only going to pick three books. And that’s okay. Read what you can, when you can, and enjoy doing what brings you comfort. Sometimes that isn’t reading and that’s alright.
But… Sometimes comfort means grabbing a book, wrapping myself in a blanket, and drinking tea, all while being awash in the warm glow of Christmas lights.
These are the books I’ll be reading in those moments.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Viv, a fierce orc who has lived a lifetime of bloodshed, has decided to hang her sword up and open a coffee shop in the city of Thune. In order to achieve success, she has to navigate new relationships, manage old rivals, and let go of her past.
This is a book in a genre I’ve never read before: cozy fantasy. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I’m a little nervous. I’m not sure it’ll have enough sustenance to keep me engaged. I’m used to high stakes and a lot of tension, but this is meant to be an easy read. In other words, I’m worried I’m not the target audience for this, but I want to try to read it, anyway.
The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score
When the town of Merry is wrecked by a late season hurricane, city manager Noah Yates has to inform the citizens the Christmas Festival is canceled. That is, until TV star Catalina King shows up with a TV crew and a budget big enough to put the pieces of the town back together. Noah, still holding a grudge because of the trouble she caused last time she was in town, resits. Cat, never one to back down from a fight, strives to prove him wrong and give Merry the Christmas festival they deserve.
I’m nervous about this one. I don’t really like female protagonists like Cat (Maybe I’ve been brainwashed by the patriarchy) and I’m scared Noah won’t be the sweet, soft-hearted man I’m hoping he’ll be. However, this is an enemies to lovers romance, so I’m excited about that.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Stella Bloom wants nothing more than to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid. She applies for a contest that has a one-hundred thousand dollar cash prize and tons of publicity. The problem is, she lies on the application to make it seem like a romantic destination and says she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. She asks her best friend, Luka, to fake date her.
I’m excited to read this book! I’ve never read a fake-dating romance novel and I’ve also never read a friends to lovers romance, only enemies to lovers. I think I may like it more, which I know puts me in the minority, but my… person… was my friend first. I’ll have a soft spot for it. I know I will.
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Like I said, it’s a short TBR. I know myself. I could put seven books on this list and I would read them all, but I also know that I would be exhausted and burnt out. Don’t burn yourself out trying to keep up with other people. It’ll never work.
I’m so excited to get further into the holidays and feel the holiday spirit with those last two Christmas reads. They’re both in a genre I haven’t read a lot of, and I’m eager to get a bigger taste of romance so I can broaden my horizons.
After the New Year, I plan on diving into the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson again. I miss Kaladin. Plus, I think Oathbringer will bring me a lot of comfort as I navigate the stresses of a new job.
What are you reading in December? Have you met your annual reading goal? Leave a comment and let me know!