December 2019 Book Reviews and Recommendations

We’re finishing up another year of book reviews and recommendations on a high note. This month I read four good books (I even gave one four stars!). Any of these books I would recommend. With the holidays coming up I hope you have some time to relax and pick up a good new book. Consider these for your next great read.

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Rabbit Cake

In Rabbit Cake, a young girl (Elvis) is trying to navigate life after her mother passes away. You’d think it would be a depressing story but I found it delightful and funny.

Her mother passed away while sleep-swimming and now her older sister is sleep-eating. It’s starting to be a huge problem, especially when the sister starts eating raw eggs out of the neighbor’s chicken coop.

Throughout the book, Elvis tries to come to terms with her mother dying. From trying to ascertain if the death was suicide, an accident, or caused by a brain tumor, to keeping her mother’s affair a secret, Elvis has a lot on her mind for such a young girl.

I absolutely would recommend this book. The entire story is told from the viewpoint of an intelligent young girl who thrives despite all the craziness surrounding her.

The Last House Guest

This book had the potential to be so good but I felt it ended very abruptly. Also, at times I felt a little confused but the plot of the story is a good one.

The Last House Guest is about a young woman who lives in the guest house of a very wealthy family. Not only is she best friends with the family’s daughter but she also manages their coastal rental properties. Life is on the upswing until her best friend dies by suicide.

A year later, strange occurrences start at the rental properties and she begins to question whether her friend’s death was truly self-inflicted.

The mystery was interesting, I just wish it had a more substantial ending.

Things You Save in a Fire

After reading many long and historical novels lately (clearly I don’t review everything I read) I needed an easy book to breeze through. Things You Save in a Fire is that book.

A woman is a rockstar firefighter and is receiving a big award when something occurs that forces her to leave her position. At the same time, her estranged mother reaches out and asks for her to come live with her in a different state.

Being accepted into a brand new squad won’t be easy, especially for a female. The worst part is she is attracted to the new rookie and rule #1 is you don’t date other firefighters. As time goes on, it’s clear someone wants her gone from her new job.

While trying to renew her relationship with her mother and avoiding the hottie newbie at all costs, proving her worth to her new squad is what’s most important.

I quite enjoyed this book because it was simple, predictable, and made me smile. I read it in two days. If you need an easy, breezy book for upcoming holiday travels this is the one for you.

This Tender Land

The author of this book is becoming one of my favorites. I become emotional and attached to the characters when reading his novels. For instance, I would read this book at night and have so much anxiety about what was going to happen to the characters next I couldn’t fall asleep.

This Tender Land tells the story of two orphaned brothers. After their father dies the two end up at a school for Native American children even though they themselves are white. The school is run by a horrible woman and the children living there suffer from many atrocities.

The brothers get the opportunity to escape. They have to keep a very low profile as the school has accused them of kidnapping a young girl. Along their journey, they meet a number of people who will play a big part in whether they succeed in reaching St. Louis where their aunt lives.

Let’s just say anything this author writes next I am definitely reading.