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Friday, January 11, 2019

Book Blogger Hop No. 158: My First Book of the Year



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!
For more information, and 
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.


This Week's Question

What is your first book
of the year?


(Submitted  by Elizabeth  @ 
Silver's Reviews)



My Answer

I started a Christmas-themed book, titled A Magical Christmas Present, toward the end of December, and finished it on January 7th. So this collection actually counts as my first book of the year.

A Magical Christmas Present is an anthology of short Christmas romance stories by three different authors, and they were ALL lovely! I won't say much about them now, though, as I do intend to review this collection. However, I can say that each story has a fantasy/paranormal angle to it. There's one story involving a ghost, another involving magical spectacles, and two involving time travel (the ghost story has this ingredient, as well). I LOVE romance stories that include time travel!

 This is the book I'm referring to. Click on the cover for the Goodreads page, if you're interested in learning more about it.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5461908-a-magical-christmas-present?ac=1&from_search=true




I'm also going to be reading The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, pretty soon. But A Magical Christmas Present is really the very first book of 2019, even though I began it before New Year's.




What are your thoughts on
this topic?
Please leave a comment! 
If you're participating in this meme,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!! 




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20 comments:

  1. Erica RobynJanuary 11, 2019 at 6:43 AM

    I love reading holiday books over the holidays! :) Happy 2019!

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    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:24 PM

      Hi, Erica!

      Me, too!! Happy 2019 to you, as well!!

      Sorry for the late reply.... :(

      Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)

      Delete
  2. Louise @ Foxes and Fairy TalesJanuary 11, 2019 at 7:37 AM

    I hope you enjoy The Hate You Give. I've yet to read it, but hear noting but good things.
    My Book Blogger Hop

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    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:26 PM

      Hi, Louise!

      So sorry for the late reply.... :( I've been doing some class preparation at home, and that has put a dent in my blogging!

      I'm currently reading "The Hate U Give", and yes, it's an AWESOME book! The story is sad, but it's an important one, especially in our current political climate.

      Thanks for commenting!! Happy New Year!! <3 :)

      Delete
  3. Brian JosephJanuary 11, 2019 at 8:17 AM

    A great choice to start the year Maria. I run into the issue of what to call the first book of the year myself. This year I started two books right at the beginning of the year and I am moving slowly through them. It looks like my first book finished will be Harry Potter and the Gobet of Fire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:34 PM

      Hi, Brian!

      So sorry for the late reply..... :( I've been getting bogged down with class preparation. I feel really bad about it, too, because I've gotten REALLY behind this time! But I do have to put work first....

      I had been wanting to read "The Hate U Give" for some time now, and I FINALLY got started on it! It's a GREAT story, too, if a sad one. But this is a very important book, indeed!

      Well, I've just taken a look at your blog, and see that your first book of the year is a nonfiction book titled "Colonialism/Postcolonialism", by Ania Loomba. Looks very interesting! I'll go over and comment as soon as I possibly can!

      Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)

      Delete
  4. Reese K JonesJanuary 11, 2019 at 10:47 AM

    Ooooh, cool; I'm intrigued about the fantasy/paranormal angle.
    Me, my 1st read of the year was Beneath the Citadel (it was very awesome).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:38 PM

      Hi, Reese!

      So sorry for the late reply.....:( Work has been taking up some much-needed blogging time.

      I LOVE books -- whether anthologies or novels -- with a fantasy and/or paranormal angle! This one is FABULOUS!!

      Oh, I haven't heard of "Beneath the Citadel". Gotta check it out on Goodreads! Thanks for letting me know about it!! :)

      Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)

      Delete
  5. Literary FelineJanuary 11, 2019 at 2:11 PM

    A collection of Christmas stories sounds like a very nice way to bring in the new year, Maria. I actually had started my first book on the 31st of December, but am counting it as my first read--a historical murder mystery, This Side of Murder. I really enjoyed it and am eager to read the next in the series. I am glad you are going to read The Hate U Give. It's amazing. I haven't seen the movie yet. I hope you and your husband have a Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:45 PM

      Hi, Wendy!

      First of all, sorry for the late reply.....:( I've been doing a lot of class preparation lately, and that's been cutting into my blogging time....

      Yes, reading a collection of Christmas stories is, indeed, a GREAT way to bring in the new year! Glad you agree!! And I started this one about a week before the end of 2018, finishing it on January 7th. So this was really my first book of 2019. And I HIGHLY recommend this book to you!! :) :)

      Well, I'm going to check out "This Side of Murder" on Goodreads. I do like historical fiction! Thanks for the rec!!

      I've already started on "The Hate U Give"!! I'm doing a buddy read with Barb @ Booker T's Farm, and it's been GREAT so far!! Yes, this book is AMAZING!! Don't know if I'll be able to watch the movie, though.... I've already some over the book....

      Since I'm late with this reply, I'll tell you that yes, hubby and I had a very nice New Year's Eve. Hope you and your family did, too!!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! I'll be over to your blog soon!!

      HUGS TO YOU AND MOUSE!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  6. Nicki J. Markus / Asta IdoneaJanuary 11, 2019 at 7:11 PM

    Glad you enjoyed your Xmas stories. Hope you like the new book as much.

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    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:47 PM

      Hi, Nicki!

      First off, sorry for the late reply..... :( As I've mentioned in the comments above, work has been cutting into my blogging time....

      Yes, I GREATLY enjoyed the Christmas stories! I hope to review them soon!!

      As for "The Hate U Give", it's just AWESOME!! I totally recommend it to you!! The movie is already out, too!!

      Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)

      Delete
  7. Billy BurgessJanuary 11, 2019 at 10:15 PM

    A Magical Christmas Present sounds like an interesting read. I had several Christmas themed books I wanted to read last month, but due to my grandma being in the hospital, I just didn't get around to reading any of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:52 PM

      Hi, Billy!

      First off, so sorry for the late reply..... :( As you will see if you read my replies to the comments above, work has been taking up a lot of my time lately.....

      "A Magical Christmas Present" DEFINITELY was an interesting read!! I especially enjoyed the paranormal elements!! I highly recommend this book to you, especially since you enjoy reading romance.

      I'm so sorry your grandma has been in the hospital......:( Of course you couldn't possibly have read that much, considering the circumstances. I'm glad you were there for her! Hope she's already recovered, and that you and your family had a Happy New Year!!

      Thanks for the sweet comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  8. The Book CoveJanuary 12, 2019 at 1:10 PM

    This sounds like a fun Christmas read. I didn't read any Christmas themed or holiday themed books this year...which is odd now that I think of it!

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    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:55 PM

      Hi, there!

      First of all, so sorry for the late reply.....:( Work has been taking up too much of my time at home recently....class preparation has been taking me away from blogging....

      Yes, this was indeed a fun Christmas read! I especially enjoyed the paranormal elements in this collection!! I HIGHLY recommend it to you!!

      Gee, it's too bad you didn't get to read any Christmas-themed books this year....Hope you're able to in 2019!!

      Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)

      Delete
  9. Heather's Reading HideawayJanuary 12, 2019 at 2:51 PM

    Ooooh I will have to save this book for my holiday reads next year! I love anthologies when it has a theme like Christmas! Thank you for the recommendation. I hope your upcoming books are all great as well! :)

    My Book Blogger Hop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 18, 2019 at 11:59 PM

      Hi, Heather!

      I'd like to first apologize for the late reply..... :( Class preparation has been taking up my blogging time.....

      Yes, you should DEFINITELY save this book for your holiday reads next Christmas!! I think you'll really enjoy the paranormal elements in these stories, just like I did!! You're very welcome for the recommendation!! :) :)

      I'm currently reading "The Hate U Give", and it's absolutely AWESOME!! It's a sad story, but such an important one!!

      Hope your upcoming books are also great!! <3

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 :)


      Delete
  10. AmeliaJanuary 17, 2019 at 2:56 PM

    I didn't get around to reading any holiday books over Christmas, I was trying to finish some reading challenges. I did read a Christmas book as my second book of the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria BeharJanuary 19, 2019 at 12:13 AM

      Hi, Amelia!

      Oh, it's too bad you didn't get to read any holiday books last Christmas season...... :( I know how it is when you're trying to finish reading challenges! This coming Christmas season, I want to participate in a Christmas reading challenge! It's hosted by Katie @ Just Another Girl and Her Books.

      How nice that you read a Christmas book as your second book of the year!! Actually, I could read Christmas-themed books ALL YEAR LONG!! Lol.

      Thanks for commenting!! Happy New Year!! <3 :)

      Delete

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