Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
I’m on maternity leave! During this time, a few of my favorite authors offered to step up and write guest posts so that this blog would remain active while I adjust to my new role as a mother. I may also be a bit slower to respond. Thanks for understanding and for being so supportive of me, my family, and my blog. Want to donate a few dollars to keep this blog running or perhaps contribute to my diaper fund? You can do so on Venmo or Paypal.
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
I've had a wonderful year of books, and I plan to finish 2022 strong. The following are the books in which I plan to round out the year, with a mixture of historical fiction, rom coms, and a dash of magic. Anyone else have these books on their TBR? Or have you already checked them off your list?
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
1) Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Victorian London comes to life as an intrepid female sleuth wades through a murky world of collectors and criminals to recover a remarkable child.
This thrilling-sounding book has been on my bookshelf since 2020. And, it's happening. It's getting read. It's been called "Utterly Magical" by A.J. Finn and "Miraculous and thrilling" by Diane Setterfield. I absolutely love a Victorian world and I've been excited for quite some time to read this one.
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
2) The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox
A feel-good, holiday rom com about identical twins who swap lives twelve days before Christmas.
Dating back to my love of Full House and the Olsen Twins, give me anything related to twins, especially the "twins who swap places" trope, and I'll eat it up any day of the week. I'm really looking forward to reading this light-hearted Christmas-themed novel as the holiday approaches.
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
3) The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable
Inspired by a real-life female spy, a WWII-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.
Releasing at the end of December, I'm lucky to get my hands on an advance reader's copy of The Lipstick Bureau. If you've ever read any of my books you know I am drawn to real-life stories, and this one sounds great. Kelly Rimmer calls it “a gripping, fascinating read” and I'm eager to read about the ladies of The Lipstick Bureau, a secret OSS operative that's "tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers."
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
4) Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
An unforgettably romantic novel that spans four Christmases (1914-1918), Last Christmas in Paris explores the ruins of war, the strength of love, and the enduring hope of the Christmas season.
I am a big fan of Hazel Gaynor. I'm a big fan of Heather Webb. And I love that, together, these two women have written some of my favorite historical fiction books. When the Great War started, so many believed it'd be over by Christmas. In the novel, the main characters agree to meet in Paris at that time. Alas, that doesn't happen. But what do have are letters and telegrams exchanged thereafter that stretches the entirety of the war. I can't wait to see what transpires.
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
5) Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
The holidays were never her thing, until she accidentally conjures the Holiday Spirit...before her very eyes.
I love a good rom com and this one sounds like a lot of fun. The premise: When Bettie plays a vinyl record of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” backward and accidentally conjures up Hall, the Holiday Spirit, in the form of a charming and handsome man, she receives the greatest gift: a chance to make all her holiday wishes come true. "With over-the-top antics, lovable characters, and a romance sure to melt even the coldest of hearts (Sarah Grunder Ruiz)," I'm definitely excited to snuggle up with this book by the fire.
Jenni L. Walsh worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.
Jenni is the author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, and The Call of the Wrens, which released November 15th and “chronicles two volunteers in the Women’s Royal Navy Service during the First and Second World Wars. Spanning decades in a story that is both epic and intimate, The Call of the Wrens is an original and compelling tale of sisterhood and strength (Pam Jenoff)."
Jenni also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, and Over and Out. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.
Five Books I'm Ending the Year With: A Guest Post by Jenni L. Walsh
