It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

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A new year brings new triumphs and challenges to the ever-engaging Quinn family. Kelley, the patriarch of the family, has been reunited with his estranged wife Mitzi after she left him for the family's former Santa. Kelley has overcome a health scare and is happy to have his wife back by his side, running the family's Winter Street Inn like old times. Kelley's eldest son is about to be released from his prison term, his middle son is raising a family and opened a successful business, and recent revelations about his youngest son's missing military group provide hope that has been absent for the last two years.

All the good things aside, it wouldn't be a Quinn holiday without some drama. Kelley's daughter Ava is currently juggling relationships with two men, his daughter-in-law is dealing with a secret opioid addiction, and his former daughter-in-law is the drug dealer! If all that isn't enough, the Quinns are diligently preparing the inn to host a family wedding all as the holidays approach. When a huge winter storm threatens to derail all of their holiday plans, the Quinn's are forced to confront their personal tribulations and come together to make the season a success.

With Winter Storms, the third book in her Winter series, author Elin Hilderbrand recaptures some of the magic that made the first novel such a delight. The previous novel had a lot of plot to lay down, so there wasn't as much time devoted to the quieter character moments that made me fall in love with the characters in the first book. With a solid narrative foundation set, Hilderbrand is free to let her characters dictate the pace and tone of her story. She deftly combines the magic of the holiday season with the real-world struggles of an everyday family to craft a drama that is both emotionally engaging and narratively intriguing. Winter Stroll is the perfect reading companion for the holiday season.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2018, 46)

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Olivia's CatastropheJanuary 19, 2019 at 6:32 AM
I am glad that you're continuing to enjoy this series and could maybe love this one even more than the second book as it has less of the technical elements to get out of the way.

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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