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.

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

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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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"In heaven, the great God will judge me, but here on earth I must leave it to you."

This time of the year, I'm craving any and everything that puts me in the holiday spirit. Christmas was a much more subdued affair last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but this year (thanks in large part to vaccinations) I'm making up for the lost time. The house is fully decorated, I've made Christmas cookies, cocktails, and I've finished with all of my holiday shopping. As I settle into the season and try to embrace the spirit of this time as much as possible, I've been drawn to reading books that do the same. Enter Andrew Klavan's novella When Christmas Comes, a holiday-themed mystery that seemed like just the book to bring the festivities into my reading.

The setup is simple enough. A local teacher has been murdered and her boyfriend has confessed to the crime. The only problem is that no one wants to believe that he is the culprit. You see, he is a decorated soldier who the entire town has embraced as a hero, a symbol of the best things to come out of the city. Moreso, the couple seemed to have had the perfect relationship. Something simply isn't adding up. The town's authorities seem hesitant to investigate the crime, especially when all the evidence points to someone they revere. It is up to Cameron Winter, an English professor of all things, to step in and ensure that justice is served. As he takes on the unenviable task of investigating a war hero, he must also face the demons of his past.

Some of the best Christmas stories have seeped in the things that haunt us. From Krampus to Dicken's ghosts, connecting with the spirit of the holiday often requires us to face the things that we fear. Klavan draws on this literary tradition by haunting his own characters. Each person we encounter in the short work is grappling with the implications of their pasts while working to embrace a brighter future. The mystery at the center of the narrative helps to drive the plot through each of the character beats, never letting the pace slow. The writing is at times a bit saccharine, a characteristic that I'd normally scoff at. Here, amongst the idyllic setting and Christmas theme, it gets a pass. When Christmas Comes concludes with an emotional swell that delivers on each of the moments that precede it while promising more for the characters even beyond the final page.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2021, 51)

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20 Comments

Comments

KarenDecember 14, 2021 at 5:56 PM
Ohh not exactly a festive seasonal but still a holiday read!

I always find it interesting when some can't fathom certain people as having done bad things. I never trust anyone lol I've known really heroic seeming people (a firefighter for example) to have done horrific things to his family behind closed doors.

On that note, hope you're having a fun season Ethan! lol

Karen @For What It's Worth
Rajani RehanaDecember 15, 2021 at 8:10 AM
Please read my post
SusanDecember 15, 2021 at 9:25 AM
Oooh, this sounds like a good one! I'd never heard of it before, so thanks for the heads-up.
Shooting Stars MagDecember 15, 2021 at 9:28 AM
Sounds like an intriguing one! I do love Christmas-themed or Christmas-set mysteries. :)

Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Mary KirklandDecember 15, 2021 at 1:33 PM
I like the premise for this one. Sounds like a good story.
BlodeueddDecember 15, 2021 at 3:28 PM
Holiday mystery, I like it, and I do like books like this for the season
EthanDecember 15, 2021 at 4:47 PM
Thanks you!
Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksDecember 16, 2021 at 11:32 AM
A holiday mystery is an interesting concept. And I like the message of never truly knowing what those around you are going through. How true that is. I'm always willing to forgive a little saccharine writing in holiday-themed reads. :)
Lark December 16, 2021 at 3:23 PM
So I'm curious what kind of Christmas cookies you made! :)
Samantha@WLABBDecember 17, 2021 at 5:54 PM
Nothing says Christmas like a murder. This amuses me. Though it sounds like an interesting way to force the characters' introspection. My eye just drifted to ginger molasses cookies. They sound amazing.

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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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