5 Books You Should Read This December
As the clock ticks closer to midnight on New Year’s Eve and the end of 2020, it’s time to look back at what you’ve accomplished on your reading list this year. December is a great time to take stock of everything you’ve read over the last twelve months and all of the books you want to read.
A Very Blizzard Christmas (Alaska Blizzard #6.5) by Kat Mizera
She has a new baby with the love of her life and Christmas is almost here. It should be the best time of her life.... right? But when Danielle Petrov welcomes her new bundle of joy just in time for the holidays, everything isn’t as magical as it should have been. She’s trying to plan a surprise for their first Christmas as a family of four while dealing with a touch of postpartum depression and a six-year-old who wants nothing to do with his new sibling.
Sergei is completely smitten with his wife, his son, and the new baby, but he knows something is bothering Dani. Between being on the road with the Blizzard and trying to spend time with the kids, he’s not there for her the way he wants to be. As the holiday barrels down on them, nothing is going according to plan. Sergei is determined to salvage what he can of a complicated holiday season. Will an unexpected storm be what brings everyone together?
Hers to Take by Avery Samson
The universe is definitely trying to tell me something. It’s saying that tall, dark, handsome Marcus Johnson is not the man for me. But if that’s true, why does fate keep throwing us together? For four years now, he has appeared and just as quickly disappeared from my life. No one can say that I don’t have my life together. I know exactly where my life is going and I don’t need some wishy-washy man slowing me down. Even if he has the most knee-weakening deep brown eyes or a voice that sends shivers down my spine every time he speaks. Oh, and did I mention he’s going to be a doctor?
I was raised to be a good man, respect my elders, respect women, work hard, study even harder. It’s how I’ve lived my life so far. Up until the fateful basketball game when she bounced on to the court with her short skirt and pom-poms. Suddenly all I can think about is being bad, very bad. I have all of the moves too, well on the basketball court anyway. Because when it comes to the cheerleader of my fantasies, Dia Price, I’m a complete disaster. I can’t seem to stop messing everything up when I’m with her, I just hope I can fix it before it’s too late.
Riding The Edge (KTS #1) by Elise Faber
Sharp words. Luscious curves. Killer sniper skills. I had been in lust with Ava from the moment she'd taken my ass to the mat in a training session. I had been in love with her since she single-handedly saved a mission that had gone FUBAR, getting herself and her team out unscathed. She, meanwhile, had been in hate with me the entire time I'd known her. All the sharp words. All the dark glares. All the-- Hot, secret kisses.
But KTS, the secret military agency I worked for, the group that existed by oftentimes walking the line of legality, was in utter disarray. We had a traitor in our midst. One that put our mission in jeopardy. One made us forget all about that mission . . . Because suddenly we were in a fight for our lives.
His Pretty Kitty (Planets Apart #3) by Sinistre Ange
Convicted of embezzlement and facing prison planet exile, Katherine Beck must choose where to serve her sentence. While most destinations within the Allied World are less than hospitable, on Seirios she will enjoy the life of a pampered pet while she's paying her debt to society. But upon her arrival she's shocked to discover that she now belongs not to one new owner, but two. And she's not the only pet in the Martin household. Falsely accused and wrongly convicted, Brutus has learned to enjoy his life as guard dog and plaything for the Martins. He finds it so pleasurable, in fact, that he chose to stay even after his innocence was proven. When his masters decide to adopt a new pet for the entire house to share, Brutus is looking forward to enjoying a sweet kitty girl too... but he has no idea his past is about to collide with his present.
Christmas Kisses in Holly Wreath (A Sweet Christmas Billionaire Romance Book 2) by Rachael Eliker
She’s still not over her heartbreak. He’s healing from his painful past…but nobody should be lonely for Christmas. It’s not Piper Woodhull’s first Christmas alone, but living in a small-town where she can’t escape the heartache of her past is its own kind of torture. Seeing her ex-best friend with her perfect family is a reminder of everything Piper almost had, and maybe never will. Rudger Pierce moved to Holly Wreath looking for a fresh start by leaving his painful past where it belongs. He’s sure it’s ruined his chances for a new relationship, but when he keeps crossing paths with Piper, he finds himself wanting her.
As they spend more time together, they feel they need each other—both to heal from their pasts, and create hope for their futures. Piper believes Rudger might be the one until she discovers a secret of Rudger’s that might be too much to forgive.
Peppermint Bark Recipe
INGREDIENTS
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
12 oz. white chocolate, chopped
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
8 candy canes, crushed
DIRECTIONS
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill the bottom of a large pot with 3” water and bring to simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, then place a large heatproof bowl on top. Add semi-sweet chocolate and stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted. Stir in extract. Pour into the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes. Over the same pot of barely simmering water, place another large heatproof bowl. Add white chocolate and stir until melted. Pour over set semi-sweet chocolate then top immediately with candy canes. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.