hello, loves!
Thanks to Anissa @ The Bookworm Central for introducing me to this tag! I wasn’t tagged, but when searching for winter-y tags, I found this and had to do it!
Winter and I have a tumultuous relationship. I’m not a huge fan of the chill that cuts through my bones, and I definitely don’t like having to dress like the Marshmallow man to walk to my car. Buttttt it’s kind of a magical time? I love the cozy vibes and the sweaters and all the reading I get done!!
Falling Snow
The colors of winter are muted. Choose a book that has whites, light blues, and greys on the cover.
Crackling Fire
Colder weather makes for the perfect time to sit by a crackling fire in the fireplace. What book is the best to curl up next to a warm fire with?
I don’t know about “best,” but at the moment, I’m loving being cozy in front of a fire and reading Serpent and Dove! It’s taken me months to finally pick this one up, and I’m loving the hell out of it! It’s a YA marriage-of-convenience (What? Unheard of, right? So happy Shelby decided to explore this!) between a witch and a witch-hunter.
Ice Storm
Winter storms can be brutal. What book do you love that takes the characters through a brutal season?
I feel like this is just a round-about way of asking me for books where characters get snowed in together. However, talk about brutal season, and we’re talking about The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (my review). The opening line says it all, a line you may have seen all over bookstagram on Nov. 1: “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” Every November, see, Puck’s town is run over by savage and bloodthirsty water horses. They only vaguely resemble horses, but they come from the sea, desperate to run down people and livelihoods for blood. Talk about a brutal season! The seaside setting was so vivid, wrought with an underlying tension and suspense that nearly broke me. Except I loved this soft story too much ???
If you want a mystery/thriller option, that would surely be A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh, which takes place in small-town New Zealand after a serial killer, through the slippery, dangerous months for the coastal town.
The romance was so subtle in this one, but still extremely well-done. Nalini Singh IS one of my favorite authors, and not for no reason! The weather made this read so incredibly atmospheric! I plan to reread this one this winter <3
Winter Wishes
Spending more time indoors allows more time to dream and wish. What character is living a life that you dream about?
Uh so many of them LOL I meannnn, I’ll take just about any happily ever after. Feyre, magical, respected, loved by Rhysand a tight-knit circle of friends in the City of Starlight?? YES.
But she also went through hell to get that. So in the interest of keeping it “comfortable,” I’m going to go with Marriage for One by Ella Maise.
This was one of my favorite reads of the year, and I just read it last week! It was a marriage-of-convenience that was SUCH a slow burn, oh my gosh! Jack and Rose started off as strangers, but slowly grew to rely on each other and be friends… then more. Rose, in particular, has a great life. She’s a coffee shop owner with two employees, and her cute little shop has a great small-town feel with a host of regulars. She’s just living her dream, chatting, baking, and making money. Her delicious, sweet husband is part of the draw, too, I have to admit <3 He loves her so much. Their connection is quite enviable, and one that was so intense, I rarely believe it this much in romance books.
Hot Cocoa
There is nothing like a hot cup of cocoa during the winter, as adults we often underestimate it. What book do you think should be the next big thing?
I read some absolutely incredible reads this year (more on that later), so I have several answers for this question. I looked at just the KU books I read this year… and I feel like all the really good ones tend to have a niche following. So this is hard, because I really feel like most of these are relatively popular in their own right. But here are some “less popular” KU reads…
Lip Balm & Lotion
Soothing dry skin is part of the winter for many. What book is full of soothing and comforting words?
Is this basic? I don’t think I care. There’s a reason this is the most quotable book in fiction the last few years. I have such an intense emotional pull for Rhysand, he’s absolutely soothing and comforting ? Everything about A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas makes it one of my favorite comfort rereads, from Rhysand himself, Feyre’s journey and struggle with PTSD and depression, the emphasis of friends as family, and the city of starlight itself. I feel peace when I read this book, at home amongst the dreams, stars and fierce friendships. I love a group of friends that make each other strong and happy, and that perfect describes Rhys’s inner circle… his Court of Dreams ✨
Peppermint Mocha
What is your go-to winter food or drink for those reading marathons of winter?
Honestly I just drink water most of the time. If I jazz it up, it’s with a hot chocolate or maybe a margarita if I’m feeling spicy :)
I’ll be adding Marriage for One because you mentioned it a lot and besides it sounds like something I’d love so it’s a win-win situation!
ITS SO GOOD you will love it :)