Sorry I Have Been Absent

Sorry I've been Away for So Long

This school year has definitely been different.  Shortly after school started for teachers, Tropical Storm Debbie came through Florida and we were flooded in for several days.  I was so glad to get back to school just to feel normal.  I soon learned that there is nothing normal about this year.  We were hit by back to back Hurricanes, Helene and then Milton. Between playing catch up at school and getting things cleared up at home it has been hectic.  I have talked books with students and my TBR list has grown by leaps and bounds.  My students set my school reading goal at 95 books. I am 42 books in so far.  I have had weekends where I have not been able to read a single book. My students on the other hand are talking to me about books they have read.  I seem to have a large number of students reading Stephen King.  I have one young lady who reads books her mom and sister have recommended to her.   She popped in last week to share a list of books she got to purchase for her birthday.

Here is a list of some of my favorites since school started in September:

A Christmas Wish by Engy Neville

Thirty Seconds at a Time by Tracy Bilen

The One and Only Ruby and The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate

In a Deep Dark Magic Wood by Scott Peters

The Tears of the Empress by Alfred M. Struthers

Tethered by Shawn Inmon

Today I talked with a student about the book Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key.  She said it was so interesting that she wanted to crawl into the book.  I will be writing my review of that book this weekend.  I actually read it while we were going through hurricane Milton.  Very appropriate since the main character is doing the very same thing.

My goal is to do nothing much but read during our Christmas Break.  I will be able to return to School much more relaxed.

Student Saturday: If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Student Reviewer:  Sofia L.

Two best friends that both had feelings for each other, and they never said anything about it. They have known each other since they were little. Finny is quiet and does not share his feelings. Autum is the same, but she is a little more outgoing. They were both in relationships with other people. Autum and Finny live in Ferguson, Missouri, they are next door neighbors, their moms are best friends and always together so that means that Autum and Finny are always together, "The Mothers" as Autum calls them go on a vacation. Will Finny and Autum find out how they feel about each other, or will it be too late? 

A Christmas Wish by Engy Neville

 

Genre: Adult, Romance

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own

Romance novels are not usually my go to genre. I have certain requirements. I don’t want a mushy, gushy romance.  There has to be other conflicts that must be solved for me to truly enjoy it. This is my first book by this author and will not be my last. As a teacher of teens,  I have been reading middle grade and young adult books for so long that I had put a lot of adult books on the back burner.

Amy is a young woman who moved from California to take another job, her dream job in New York. She left behind a cheating boyfriend and a job where her boss was out to get her. On a vacation to the Hamptons with  her best friend from California and her new best friend from New York, she meets Richie, a gorgeous looking man. He seems to have fallen head over heals in love with her. She meets his family at Thanksgiving and loves them.  Then things begin to fall apart. Her former boss is back in her life in New York. They have the same position. She is getting ready to spend Christmas with her boyfriend and his family. It seems that things are going downhill fast.

Things aren’t always what they seem to be.  There are many things we learn as we read the book that adds quite a bit of tension to this story. That is what made me really enjoy this book.  I will stop at this point because I don’t want to give anything away. I will say, if you love a feel good romance or you are like me, sitting on the fence when it comes to romance novels, then you most definitely need to read this one.