I know we have just entered Autumn season, however I couldn’t resist in building my Winter book selection. French cuisine is delicious isn’t it? I see how many of you are loving it, I’m glad to see it. I’m a fraction French-Canadian and French, which is my heritage. My relatives are primarily from Northern France (Normandie – Normandy, Picardie – Picardy, Paris) with a few from Southern France (Poitou-Charentes – Poitier et Vienne et Saint Tropez) I love leeks. I have got other nationalities in my heritage, including English. I was raised on Italian cuisine cooking theses dishes to how they are made in Italy, to learning about this cuisine, along with French and English, as well. I thought in sharing some of these dishes you would all enjoy a bit of me and you have. Fashion and beauty history is a hit too. Oh, and let’s not forget this book suggestion list, too :). Enjoy this Winter book selection!! I know you guys don’t mind if I break it up in several parts, but let’s see if I can maintain one list. Yeah, there may be a book or two or so that I will have to pre-order. Check it out!!

1. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
   Set against the glittering yet unforgiving backdrop of 1938 New York, Rules of Civility follows Katey Kontent, a sharp, ambitious young woman whose life pivots after a chance encounter with the enigmatic Tinker Grey. Towles builds a world of smoky jazz clubs, martini‑bright evenings, and the ache of reinvention, capturing the intoxicating momentum of youth and the social choreography required to ascend in a city that never stops appraising you. It’s a novel about class, timing and the choices that shape a life — elegant, atmospheric, and ideal for a Winter read when you want to slip into something stylish and emotionally resonant.
2. The Hollow by Michael Connelly
   In The Hollow, Michael Connelly sends Harry Bosch back into the shadows of his own past when a long‑buried tragedy at MacLaren Children’s Centre resurfaces, forcing him to confront the trauma he thought he’d left behind. As Bosch digs into the suspicious death of a boy he once knew, he uncovers evidence that the predator responsible may have continued harming others for decades, weaving this personal reckoning into a larger investigation that is both chilling and relentless. Connelly balances emotional depth with taut procedural precision, delivering a winter‑perfect read that’s atmospheric, introspective, and driven by Bosch’s unwavering pursuit of justice.
3. All In by David Baldacci
   In All In, Baldacci drops FBI agents Jessica Reel and Will Robie into a high‑stakes investigation that begins with a seemingly simple murder in rural West Virginia and quickly unravels into a dangerous web of organized crime, political corruption, and personal reckoning. As Reel confronts ghosts from her past and Robie navigates the shifting loyalties of the case, the pair are pushed to their limits in a story that blends taut suspense with emotional undercurrents. Baldacci’s pacing is razor‑sharp, making this a compelling winter read — the kind you settle into with a blanket, knowing you’ll be pulled straight through to the final chapter.
4. The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves
   In The Dying Light, Ann Cleeves returns to the windswept Kent marshes with a mystery steeped in isolation, shifting loyalties, and the quiet menace of a landscape that never fully reveals its secrets. When Detective Matthew Venn is drawn into the investigation of a young woman’s death — a case tangled with local politics, hidden relationships, and the fragile dynamics of a tight‑knit community — he must navigate both the bleak terrain and the emotional undercurrents that threaten to obscure the truth. Cleeves blends atmosphere with psychological nuance, making this a compelling Winter read that feels moody, contemplative and perfectly suited to long, quiet evenings.
5. Peck and Peck by Bonnie Garmus
   In Peck and Peck, Bonnie Garmus brings her signature blend of wit, emotional clarity, and sharp observational humour to a story about reinvention, resilience, and the unexpected ways people find their footing after life knocks them sideways. Centred on a mother and daughter navigating the messy terrain of ambition, identity, and second chances, the novel unfolds with Garmus’s trademark charm — characters who feel instantly familiar, dialogue that snaps with intelligence, and moments of tenderness that linger long after the chapter ends. It’s a thoughtful, uplifting winter read, perfect for readers who appreciate stories that balance heart, humour, and the quiet triumphs of everyday life.
6. Sophie, Standing There by Bonnie Garmus
   In Sophie, Standing There, Bonnie Garmus turns her sharp, compassionate eye toward a young woman caught at the crossroads of identity, ambition, and the quiet ache of wanting more from life than the world seems willing to offer. As Sophie navigates the expectations placed upon her — from family, from work, from the unspoken rules that shape who women are allowed to be — she begins to uncover the strength that comes from standing her ground, even when the cost feels steep. Garmus blends humour, emotional insight, and crisp character work, creating a story that feels both intimate and universally resonant. It’s a thoughtful winter read, perfect for readers who gravitate toward character‑driven fiction with heart, intelligence, and a touch of defiance.
7. The Fire by Kristin Hannah
   In The Fire, Kristin Hannah delivers a gripping, emotionally charged story set against the backdrop of a catastrophic wildfire that forces a fractured family to confront long‑buried wounds and the fierce love that still binds them. As the flames close in, each character is pushed to reckon with past choices, unresolved grief, and the courage required to rebuild when everything familiar is threatened. Hannah’s gift for intimate character work and sweeping, cinematic tension makes this novel both heart‑rending and hopeful — a powerful winter read that lingers with you, reminding you of resilience, connection, and the strength found in the most vulnerable moments.
8. Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
   In Love and Ruin, Paula McLain traces the fierce, complicated love story between journalist Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway, capturing both the intoxicating pull of their relationship and the cost of loving a man whose legend often eclipsed everything around him. Set against the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Gellhorn’s own career, the novel explores ambition, independence, and the courage required for a woman to claim her voice in a world determined to silence it. McLain’s writing is vivid and emotionally resonant, making this a powerful winter read — sweeping, intimate, and steeped in the kind of historical atmosphere that lingers long after you close the book.
9. Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton
   In Beautiful Exiles, Meg Waite Clayton traces the electrifying and tumultuous relationship between journalist Martha Gellhorn and Ernest Hemingway, capturing the spark that drew them together and the ambition that ultimately pulled them apart. Set against the political and emotional upheaval of the 1930s and 40s, the novel follows Gellhorn as she fights to establish herself as a war correspondent in a world determined to sideline women, even as she becomes entangled with one of literature’s most commanding figures. Clayton’s portrayal of Gellhorn is vivid, determined, and deeply human, making this a compelling winter read — rich in atmosphere, driven by character, and steeped in the complexities of love, independence, and artistic identity.
10. Typewriter Beach
    Typewriter Beach unfolds as a quiet, evocative story about a writer who retreats to a windswept shoreline in search of clarity, only to discover that the solitude she craves brings its own complications. As she settles into the rhythm of the coast — the crash of waves, the hiss of sand, the steady clack of her typewriter — she begins to confront the memories, ambitions, and unresolved emotions that have shaped her life. The novel blends introspection with atmosphere, offering a gentle, contemplative Winter read that feels like stepping into a world where creativity, healing, and the natural landscape intertwine.
11. A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
    In Z, Therese Anne Fowler reimagines the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, capturing her brilliance, vulnerability, and the fierce desire to be seen beyond the shadow of her famous husband. From the glamour of the Jazz Age to the strain of artistic ambition and societal expectations, the novel traces Zelda’s journey as she fights to define herself in a world that often dismissed her talent and complexity. Fowler’s portrayal is vivid and empathetic, offering a richly textured Winter read that brings Zelda’s voice to the forefront — bold, yearning, and unforgettable.

Enjoy your next read and I will see you for part two!!

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?