It’s been one crazy week for me. There’s been a lot going on in the news, so my (night) job has been really busy. I don’t work Fridays and Saturdays, so I’m looking forward to getting in some good cozy reading time. I’ve also taken on a project for Lent where I get rid of (donate/toss) one (kitchen-sized) garbage bag full of clutter in my house each day. I’m a bit behind, but plan to catch up some this weekend. There’s a lot going on in the book world too, and I wanted to share some of that with you. Have a great weekend!
Goodreads has this convenient list that includes the first book in many popular cozy mystery series.
Looking for an inspirational image/quote related to reading? This Pinterest page includes over 200!
I love a bookish candle and am dying to try this Little Women inspired one from the Classic Literature collection from Rose and Adder.
I am behind the times, but finally bought the first three books (find the first one here) in the Bridgerton series. (Am I the only one who hasn’t binged the Netflix series?)
It’s supposed to be sunny but cold up here in the mountains of Colorado this weekend. Perfect for a nice walk, followed by snuggling by the fire with a A Deadly Inside Scoop and an e-galley of Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner. Share below in the comments if you’ve got something fun to read this weekend.
Happy reading!
–Amy
**Want to support indie bookstores (and me)? Use one of my book affiliate links to purchase to benefit your favorite indie. Anytime you use these book links, I get a small amount at no extra cost to you. I only feature what I love. Thanks for your support!**
How’s your week going? I’ve been trying to get things done around my house, but haven’t made much progress so far (see clothing-covered chair). But I have been making progress in my reading life. I just finished this Killer Content (watch for a review at the beginning of March) and am in the middle of listening to The Midnight Library (find the hardback here and the audio version here to support indie bookstores). I have five more audiobooks on hold through the Libby app at my local library. So I thought I’d kick off this new feature on the blog with..
What’s up with…audiobooks?
For a long time, I didn’t have the patience to listen to audiobooks. Some can be ten hours long or even longer (President Obama’s new book is 29 hours and 10 minutes long!). Then I started working nights. And I had eight hours at night where I had nothing to listen to while I worked besides TV (I work from home, so that would wake my husband up), music (distracting), podcasts (a good choice, but requires keeping up with a list of episodes) and audiobooks (also distracting sometimes, but…). Audiobooks tend to be my favorite choice.
Double your productivity with an audiobook
A lot of (uncited, but real) research is showing that audiobooks have become more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are at home more and have found themselves listening to audiobooks while they declutter, do laundry, bake sourdough bread, or engage in hobbies. An audiobook also makes for good background sound while working. And, many of us audiobook listeners are finding that we can squeeze in more “reading” time while getting other things done. And there’s nothing I like more than increased productivity.
Consume more books
Audiobooks give you a chance to consume more books when you don’t have a lot of time to sit and dedicate to reading. Just as it adds to your productivity in getting other things done, it can help you check more titles off your list. So many books come out each week (even with the erratic publishing schedules during the COVID era), way more than anyone can fit on a TBR. Anything that helps you consume more books in less time helps readers to meet those lofty reading goals we all seem to be setting.
More audiobook choices
It used to be, if you wanted to access an audiobook, you could either get the CDs (or further back, tapes) from a bookstore (at an exorbitant price) or the library and lug them home. The they became available digitally through Audible.com on Amazon. But that was your only choice. Now, audiobooks are available through loads of sources, such as Apple Books, Libro.fm (a personal fave because you can support indie bookstores), and even using the Libby app through your local library (nothing beats free, which often makes it worth the waitlist). More competition means better prices that are closer to the price of a hardcover.
It’s all about that narrator
The quality of a narrator can make or break your audiobook experience. I am starting to have favorite narrators for fiction choices, and some books have a full cast of narrators that can really add to the experience (especially if the book has multiple points of view). Many, if not most, memoirs (a favorite audio choice of mine) are read by the author, so you get that person’s story read in their own voice, which creates a more intimate experience.
Some of recent my favorite audiobooks: The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark; Why Not Me? by Mindy Kahling; American Royals and Majesty by Katharine McGee; 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand; The If I Run series by Terri Blackstock; Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, and The Guest List by Lucy Foley.
Have you tried any good audiobooks lately? What have been your favorites? Share your recommendations in the comments below.
Happy reading!
–Amy
**This post includes some affiliate links, so using them may earn me a small commission at no cost to you. I only feature what I really love and all opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!**
Love is still in the air, even though Valentine’s Day was two days ago (and Galentine’s was three days ago). Whether you celebrate the Hallmark holiday of romantic love (based on a story with Christian roots), or are through with relationships, there’s a romance for you. Some are steamy, others tame, and still others take the hate-to-love trope VERY seriously, but all of them have happy endings. If you’ve found your happy ending with someone else, or are happy all by yourself, thank you very much, here are seven books that will make you say “what if…”
Steam level ratings:
1-No love scenes; 2-Closed door love scenes; 3. Semi open door but not overtly specific love scenes; 4. Open door love scenes; 5. Steamy, specific open door love scenes.
If You Believe In Long Lost Love…
Out of the Storm by B.J. Daniels
Kate Jackson never believed her husband died in the Texas refinery explosion 20-some years ago. But she’s moved on with fiancé Collin, and takes a trip with him to Montana to see the snow for the first time. Their rental breaks down in the small town of Buckhorn, where she meets a man she swears is her long lost husband Danny. Except his “real” name is Justin and he’s got a secret of his own. Collin is thrown by this turn of events and the trip goes south. As Collin and Kate head into danger, can “Justin” save the woman he’s falling in love with, without getting himself killed in the process? First in.a series.
Steam level: One level three scene
If You Have A Steamy Secret Crush…
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
When Mama Strong dies, leaving behind her failing knitting shop, serial heartbreaker Jesse tries to convince the other Strong foster brothers to save the business. The cozy knitting shop has a strong sense of community, and Jesse doesn’t want to see that lost.
Part-time employee Kerry has grown up with the boys and has always harbored a secret crush on Jesse. As they spend time together, their chemistry is undeniable. But can it last?
Steam level: Definitely a four.
If You’re a Single Mom With Faith and Dreams…
The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
Single mom Tandi Jo Reese finds herself going through the belongings of a late, long-time resident of Hatteras Island while trying to raise a rebellious daughter and a withdrawn son. As she begins to clean out the house, she learns more about the life and love story of the woman who lived there. Tandi Jo is currently in a relationship with a wealthy but demanding man, but begins to put roots down on the island and starts a growing friendship with her son’s science teacher as she regains her independence. The house is threatened with a forced sale and her neglected children’s lives begin to go off the rails, she must save her son and daughter, save the house she’s grown to love, and decide whether or not to open her heart.
Steam level: One, this is a Christian fiction story (not strictly romance, but has romantic themes)
For Fans Of Jane Austen And The Bachelor…
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
A modern day retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice set in modern day Cincinnati. Liz and her older sister Jane return to their family home after her father has a health scare. Studious Mary and their younger sisters Kitty and Lydia (who are way into CrossFit) also live there.
Enter new doctor-in-town Chip Bingley, fresh off a stint on the reality dating show Eligible and his reserved and cranky friend Fitzwilliam Darcy. Chip and Jane hit it off immediately, Liz and Darcy, not so much. But in this combination story of true love and hate-to-love, first impressions can be deceiving.
Steam level: Definitely a four, leaning toward five. Not your mother’s Pride and Prejudice.
If You Believe True Love Can Conquer All…
The Return by Nicholas Sparks
It doesn’t get more traditionally mushy, and dramatically romantic than Nicholas Sparks. Trevor Benson is a veteran and surgeon with PTSD moving back to New Bern, North Carolina. He was injured and can’t perform surgery anymore and struggles with demons from his time in Afghanistan. When his grandfather dies and leaves Trevor his home, he must decide what to do with the place.
Then he falls in love at first sight with town sheriff Natalie Masterson. But she has a secret that’s keeping them apart. Can their love overcome it? I think we all know the answer.
Steam level: One, maybe two if I remember right, but could just be one.
If You’re Staunchly Single, But Love A Meet Cute…
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
The first in a series of interconnected romances, The Wedding Date begins when happily single Alexa Monroe meets Drew Nichols when the two are stuck in an elevator. Drew asks Alexa to be his date to his ex’s wedding and she accepts. They have more fun than they can imagine, but have to return to their high-powered careers, Alexa as the mayor’s chief of staff in Berkeley, and Drew as a doctor in Los Angeles. Can this long-distance romance work, or are they headed for a disaster? What happens when what you think you need doesn’t always match up with what you truly want?
Vision In White by Nora Roberts (First in Bride Quartet series)
Nora Roberts is one of the queens of romance fiction and can’t be forgotten in this list. The first installment of the series focuses on Mackenzie “Mac” Elliot, who is an experienced photographer who owns a successful wedding planning business with three close friends. She has a rocky relationship with her parents and is skeptical about romance. Then she runs into Carter, an old high school classmate, and a relationship is sparked. Their journey is endearing, with some steamy love scenes and a satisfying ending.
Steam factor: Four or five depending on the scene.
As the Valentine’s candy in stores is replaced with Easter candy, its easy to feel some whiplash after weeks of buildup to a romantic day-of-all-days. But romance remains strong long after the boxes of chocolate are empty and the conversation hearts go stale(r). I’m a big believer in the escape that romantic fiction can provide. My first love will always be the cozy mystery, but a close second is a good, mushy or sassy, and smart romance novel.
Do you have a favorite romance? Or do you hate all romantic fiction? Somewhere in between? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
I got off to a great reading start this year. January is a pretty quiet month for me, and I got to celebrate my birthday, which meant more self-care stuff and more BOOKS! I almost like it better than Christmas. Lots of cold, snowy days here in Colorado left time for cozy reading afternoons. And, my (night) job writing news summaries for a radio media company allows me to listen to audiobooks while I’m working. I’ll admit, sometimes I have to turn them off because they get distracting (still trying to finish 28 Summers by Elin Hildebrand). But most of the time, they are a nice background to my work.
I read (and listened to) seven books in January, so let’s get to it:
Fierce by Aly Raisman
My family has a membership to the Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, and that’s where I picked this up. (Awesome museum, you should totally go!) I wish I’d had this book when I was 8…or 10… or 13. All through those years when I was so insecure about how I looked and so unconfident. While I was never going to be an Olympic athlete, or any kind of athlete, I would have really taken inspiration from this book. I was one of those girls who watched gymnastics (especially Olympic gymnastics) and admired all the gymnasts and felt like I knew what the sport was all about. I still watch, loving how the gymnasts get to see the results of their hard work (or feeling for them when they have deductions that kick them out of the medals). Aly has a body positive and inspiring tone to her book. More than just a behind-the-scenes look at the world of Olympic gymnastics (though there’s plenty of that), its a look into the mind of an ambitious young woman where ambition isn’t always rewarded as it should be.
I loved how open she was about her life while still maintaining her privacy (especially about the sexual abuse she suffered, something I wrote about for my job as a news writer when the Larry Nassar scandal broke). She maintains her dignity while still speaking out for survivors and for young girls who could find themselves in a difficult situation. She’s a great role model for young women, especially, but also for boys on how to relate well to girls and women.
I highly recommend this book, even if you’re not huge into sports, but especially if you are into the Olympics and/or gymnastics.
Rating: 5 stars
Killer Kung Pao by Vivian Chien
I’ve got several of the books in this series, but this was the first one I read. I loved it. It’s a unique approach to the cozy mystery that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Asian characters are rarely represented in cozy mysteries, so that was great to see. The mystery was twisty and I really liked amateur detective and manager of her family’s restaurant Lana Lee. She was likable without be perfect and she was appropriately nosy. All of her interactions flowed naturally and it was easy to keep up with the characters without having read the other books.
I wasn’t excited about the ending. It was interesting and unexpected, but I’m not sure it felt natural.
I recommend this series. It’s a fresh take on the cozy mystery. It’s probably not the best one in this popular series, though.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook preview copy. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3+
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kahling
I listened to the audiobook version of this and I highly recommend it. Hearing the essays in Kahling’s voice added another layer to the book. Her stories are entertaining and touch on culture, dating, Hollywood, and a writer’s life. I’m going to listen to her other book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? next.
Rating: Four stars
The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark
This is an amazing inter-generational story that provides an interesting look at the role of race in the South dating back to the days of slavery. It tells the story of bi-racial Millie, whose Black mother sends her from Charleston as a young woman to Alabama to pass as white. She meets Franklin on the train, setting off a chain of events that provides a rich family history.
The story is told in alternating time periods that explain Millie’s family story and the story of a satchel of heirlooms (which is based on a real life satchel) first given to a nine-year-old slave who is sold away from her mother. The story also revolves around Millie’s dream to own a dress shop.
I love stories that alternate between time periods and those that connect different people into one big story. I listened to this on audio. My favorite book so far this year, and may end up being a perennial favorite.
Rating: 5 stars
The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller
This is a sweet story about two sisters living completely different lives who inherit land from an elderly woman who was their neighbor growing up. One stayed with the family dinner and helped raise her sister after their mother died, then took over the diner after their father died following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The other sister seemingly flits from place to place and project to project, chasing her dreams. Cue the friction
A big-box store is interested in building a store on the land, which threatens to up end the small Vermont town. The sisters disagree on whether to sell and the situation is complicated when the responsible sister begins to have feelings for the big-box store consultant sent to sell the town on the new store.
The story is nice, and there are some twists, but it has a rather predictable ending. I liked it and I like how the author wrapped things up, but it almost seemed a little too neat. Just a personal preference thing.
I’ve previously read the City Baker’s Guide To Country Living and loved it, so not sure where the disconnect is here. I will definitely read the author’s next book.
The book is well-written and interesting and the characters and town are well drawn. It just wasn’t for me. I listened to it on audio, so maybe it didn’t translate as well for me.
Rating: Three stars
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
I read a lot of books on organizing and time management, but this one felt unique. I liked the idea of the “lazy genius,” who lands somewhere between a perfectionist approach and a lazy, not productive approach. To me, this is the sweet spot of operation where you can get things done without worrying about being perfect. It’s an ode to the “good enough” life, one where happiness can be found without the stress of perfectionism.
It’s not really a system, per say, but does have techniques described for how to approach things in life. The techniques were pretty simple to use and I’ve tried to integrate them into my everyday way of being.
The book has a humorous tone and is not written as information given from on high. I highly recommend this for anyone who’s looking for a unique way to approach life.
Rating: Five stars
Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle by Sarah Graves
This cozy mystery is set in Maine and centers around Jake (Jacobia) and Ellie who run a chocolate dessert shop in a Maine tourist town. The two occasionally get involved in mysteries that happen in the town and this book focuses on the killing of a reclusive elderly man who frequently changes his will. Jake’s son is business partners with suspect Billy, who was apparently the beneficiary of one of the wills.
Billy previously had to kill his father to save his two sisters from abuse. Now a dowdy aunt is threatening to take custody of the girls and make them into dainty ladies (they like to go fishing and are saving for their own boat).
Also, Jake and Ellie are trying to perfect a chocolate snickerdoodle for the town’s cookie contest to bring publicity to their shop.
The book starts out a little slow, possibly because I’m jumping into the series on the fourth book. But once the action gets going, I couldn’t put it down. The end is a real thriller, and I didn’t predict the twists that happened. Highly recommend this series, though I’d probably start at the beginning because Jake’s family alone has a lot of characters in it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary e-book preview copy. All opinions are my own.
Rating: Four stars
I am seven books closer to my goal of reading (listening to) 60 books in 2021. Howdid your January reading plans go? Share your goals and successes (as well as your challenges) in the comments below.
I spend most of each January setting goals for the coming year. I feel like January is a month for planning, rather than instant resolutions made New Year’s Day. It seems to me that quick resolutions tend to fizzle out before month’s end. I just like to take my time setting up my plan for the coming months.
There are lots of ways to set goals, and reading goals are no different. Why set a reading goal? I’ve found that having some kind of structure in place leads to more enjoyment when I read. (And, it’s part of my job as a reviewer to organize my reading life.) Check out some different approaches to reading goals.
Reading a certain number of books: This is one of the most common goals out there. So what’s the magic number? That has to do with how much time you want to dedicate to reading, how fast you read, what type of books you want to read, and many other factors. One person’s 12 books-in–year goal could take as much effort as reading 50 books would be for someone else.
Reading a Specific Genre: Maybe you have a specific genre of books that you really want to get into in a deeper way. I love cozy mysteries and could read them all day. Maybe you want to get a survey of a genre to get to know what it’s all about. Or, you could choose a genre you’re less familiar with and want to learn more about.
Completing a Series: Some authors have lengthy series’ that can take awhile to work through. I have several series I want to get through at some point (Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen, and Sue Grafton’s Alphabet series).
An Author’s Complete Works: Some authors are more prolific than others (Terry Pratchett, Sue Grafton, Stephen King, most romance writers), so this may be a more lofty goal depending on who you want to focus on. This goal could be a fun way to check out a relatively new author with a smaller catalog.
Debut Authors Only: Who doesn’t like a shiny new author? This goal would give you the chance to get in on the ground floor with a variety of authors in as many genre’s as you like.
Book Club Picks: There are lots of book clubs out there, from your neighborhood or church group to online groups (Modern Mrs. Darcy, Reese’s Book Club, and of course the grandmother of them all, Oprah’s Book Club). This can direct you to a lot of new and interesting books.
Read What You Own: As the owner of many bookshelves full of works I haven’t read yet, I considered this as my goal for this year, but chickened out. I hate the idea of a year of no new books. But for some people, this could be a relief, shopping your own home bookstore.
and finally…
All Paper/Digital/Audio: The format of a book changes how you take in the story. With paper books, you have the joy of turning pages, enjoying the cover image and jacket copy, and having something to hold in your hand. Digital books offer convenience (hundreds of books in one compact container), the ability to read in the dark (I know, weird, but this is what sold me on e-readers), and font/size adjustments. Audiobooks bring back the joy of being read to (like when you were a kid). The narrator can bring a lot to a story, and you attend to general tasks or exercise while you listen.
Since I review books for this blog, my goals have an interesting combination. Overall, I want to read at least 60 books this year, divided up each month in the following way:
Church book club selection
Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club selection
NetGalley review book (3 to 4 of these)
Home/Organization/Non-fiction book
Audiobooks (2 to 3 of these, could fulfill a book club selection)
For January, I’ve read:
The Dress Shop on King Street (audio, church book club)
The Late Bloomer’s Club (audio, MMD book club)
Killer Kung Pao (NetGalley)
Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle (NetGalley)
Paw and Order (NetGalley)
The Lazy Genius Way (non-fiction)
Welcome Home (non-fiction)
Why Not Me? (audio)
I feel like I’m off to a good start, and I work nights as a news writer for a media company, so I can listen to audiobooks while I work. I have three other audiobooks lined up, but I won’t finish them until early next month. My favorite audiobook sources are the Libby app from my local library and Libro.fm, where you choose your favorite indy bookstore to support.
Do you set any yearly reading goals? Are yours similar to the ones listed here? Or are they something else all together? Share in the comments below. We’ll be checking in with this topic every month.
Blog Tour and Giveaway: Stories and Songs of Faith by Alexis Goring
About the Book
Book: Stories and Songs of Faith
Author: Alexis Goring
Genre: Christian Devotional
Release Date: April 25, 2020
Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God is a 52-week devotional that will bless your heart, soothe your soul, encourage your mind, and strengthen your God-given spirit.
Join author Alexis A. Goring on an inspirational journey. Each devotional builds from real-life experiences that impart many faith lessons learned along the way.
Each day is built on the foundation of a Bible verse or edifying quote, followed by Goring’s personal story and reflection questions for a personalized experience.
All of the devotionals are tied to a song in order to go a little deeper into the heart of the message. A song directory at the end of the book connects the reader with music online to further enhance the study experience and glorify God.
Spend a year on a journey growing closer to the Lord through Stories and Songs of Faith, and discover personal transformation as time with Jesus Christ changes your heart to look a little more like His.
Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.
More from Alexis
Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God was published in April 2020.
However, the idea for this devotional wasn’t a thought in my head until around the beginning of last year. It’s interesting because though I have been writing devotions since recovering from a health crisis at age 16, and have had my devotionals published in books, on blogs and on websites since then, I never thought of putting together a book filled with my original devotions until January 2019.
It’s amazing how God works! Because at the time that God inspired this project, I was actually still trying to recover from writer’s block and work on another fiction book which I planned to have published before the end of that year. But God had other plans.
And His plans were (and always are) perfect!
God put this devotional on my heart and I went to it! First, I gathered all of the devotions that I’d written over the years that were published on other blogs. Since they didn’t pay me to publish my work, I still had the rights to each one. So that meant I now had about 25 percent of the content for my book! Next, I reached out to the women’s devotional book editorial team who had published several of my devotions over the span of about 14 years. I planned to ask permission to re-publish those devotions that I wrote, this time in my own devotional. But later, I decided that it would be a better idea to simply write new material for my book. And so I did! But it wasn’t easy.
At first, I was barely writing more than one devotion every two or three weeks. It was then that I realized that as a trained journalist, I thrive on deadlines (never missed one). So I decided that it would help motivate me to write consistently if I gave myself a deadline for each new devotion. Around that time, I had been writing a few times a month for a friend’s blog called Whispers in Purple. I decided to sign up to write a new devotion for her blog every week until I was done putting my devotional together. So I booked myself for one of my new devotions to be published every Friday from around February 2019 through Summer 2019.
By Summer 2019, I had a total of 44 devotions and thought I was done. However, God knew I was not and He let me know that through two professionals in the publishing industry. The first was a popular book editor who told me, “You know, Alexis, if you wrote 52 devotions then it could be a weekly devotional because there are 52 weeks in a year.” I gave her a nod but wasn’t convinced that was the best idea for me as the author. Not soon after, a literary agent gave me the final push by simply saying, “You need to keep going.” And so I, reluctantly then but gratefully now, did keep writing more devotions. I booked myself to be a guest on Whispers in Purple blog every Friday through the rest of that year and then finally by the end of February 2020 (the next year), I wrote devotional number 52. I was so relieved to be done writing my book!
Not only does God have perfect timing; He positions you perfectly for success! Long story short: My publisher had hired a new editor who has decades of professional experience in editing devotionals and she (Patty) was the editor who my publisher assigned to me! Patty had a wonderful idea that really shaped my book by giving it the perfect title and bonus idea. The title of my devotional, as you can see, is about my real-life stories and faith-based songs that guided me on my journey with God. And the fun bonus idea was to have links to the songs that I mentioned in each devotion. These links were made available for the reader in a song directory at the end of my devotional in both the print and e-book versions. Even better, the link is live if you are using a Kindle to read my book meaning that the reader can just click on the hyperlink and hear the song via YouTube while using their Kindle app or Kindle device, without having to look it up first online. Patty said that there’s really not another book on the market yet with this kind of idea and format. She told me that it may help a lot of people, especially music lovers. As a music lover myself, I loved this idea!
But God wasn’t done directing my steps (praise the Lord!): He allowed 20 professionals from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences to agree to read an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of my book and write an endorsement. We’re talking actresses, journalists, pastors, doctors, teachers, authors, bloggers, singers and a Christian radio show host … a wonderful variety of people who were all behind my book!
The final part of this amazing experience that brings joy to my heart is the fact that this is the first book I wrote where all of the first few reviews were each 5-stars on Amazon.com! That has never happened to me before (I have three other books published though they are all fiction stories but this devotional is my first nonfiction work).
Several of the people who have endorsed and/or reviewed my book have said that it was timely and needed for such a time as this (the Coronavirus pandemic, intense politics, increased racial tensions, and everything else that’s been hitting us hard this year on and off the news). Only God can do that so I give all the glory to Him!
In closing, I’d like to share words from my friend Morgan’s endorsement.
She said: “God has profoundly touched my life through Alexis A. Goring’s uplifting and personable weekly devotional book sharing God’s love through her own experiences and insights. It is so well-written and in a voice that feels as if a close friend is having coffee with you and talking of God. Every entry is backed by Scripture, as well as highlights meaningful songs that God has used to touch the author’s heart. As a fellow journalist, I love how the author uses her talent of observation to see God at work all around her as well as the use of thought-provoking questions at each devotional’s end to further connect our lives to that entry’s theme and the Scripture truth it has been based on. If you are looking for a devotional that is short but powerful, this is it. It would be a perfect gift for a special person in your life.”
Morgan’s words about how reading my devotional made her feel like she was having coffee with a close friend and talking about God is how I want every person who reads my book to feel. And if you don’t like coffee then we can have tea or ice water! At the end of the day, I hope and pray that God uses my devotional to touch your heart and bring you closer to Him.
My Review
This 52-week devotional includes a weekly personal story from the author, lessons learned, scripture, reflections, and a song to accompany the topic. I enjoyed the format of each week’s study and found the devotions inspirational. I plan to return to this in January and go more in-depth with each week for the coming year.
As a devotional, I found it to be useful for learning and growing in faith. It provides a personal connection not only with the author, but also with others who are experiencing similar issues.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book. All opinions are my own.
To celebrate her tour, Alexis is giving away the grand prize package of a $10 Starbucks gift card, an eBook copy of “Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories”, and a signed copy of Alexis’ devotional book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Book Review and Giveaway – Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions Author: Chautona Havig On Tour with Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions
Author: Chautona Havig
Genre: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Holiday
Release Date: January 29, 2017 and December 31, 2016
Christmas Stalkings
If her life had to transform into a TV movie, couldn’t it have been a sweet romance instead of a creepy suspense?
Wendy Nabity has redefined “crazy cat lady,” and she’s just fine with that. She’s got a tree and a stocking for reach of them, too.
All that festivity turns ominous when things begin turning up in odd places—places her fur babies couldn’t move them. The local police? They think she’s as crazy as the fleas jumping from cat to cat—or something like that.
Her neighbors aren’t much help. The nice one won’t come near her, despite his obvious interest, and the other hates her enough to torment her every chance he can. Seriously, if Neal Kirkpatrick makes one more rude demand of her, she might just start dumping the litter box on his front porch!
However, when a threatening note appears in one of the stockings, even Fairbury’s police officers have to admit no cat could have written it, and one officer takes it upon himself to do something.
Who knew Christmastime could feel so sinister?
____________________________________
New Year’s Revolutions
His life is spinning out of control, and his heart isn’t far behind!
Neal Kirkpatrick: project manager, staunch atheist, and town grump. Aside from an apparent soft spot for a neighborhood boy, the man has nothing to recommend him.
So when he overhears criticism from a neighbor he secretly respects, Neal decides maybe it’s time for professional help. With the same straightforward tenacity he uses in his job, Neal goes on a hunt for a therapist to help him unravel the mystery of himself.
His therapist says he’s in love, but Neal Kirkpatrick does not do relationships.
Discover what happens when the town curmudgeon steps out of his comfort zone and into a psychologist’s office to learn what’s up with his heart.
Click here to get your copy of Christmas Stalkings!
Click here to get your copy of New Year's Revolutions!
About the Author
Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
More from Chautona
SOMETIMES, YOU JUST CAN’T LET A CHARACTER GO
I met him in my book, A Bird Died. Neal Kirkpatrick. Grumpy, snappish, the man just seemed to look for something to grouse about. Except when it comes to a little boy in the town, and then a soft side came out that no one expected.
A few years later, I got the idea for a Christmas comedic suspense “noella” (Christmas novella), and the minute I knew what I wanted to write, I knew I’d be writing about him, too. He’d be the main character’s neighbor and always on her case about something. Instant conflict and subplot. Oh, yeah!
Something unexpected happened as I wrote the story, though. I fell in love with the cranky guy and didn’t want to let him go. Did I have time to write a book for New Year’s, too? I mean, how cool would that be? After much deliberation, I decided to go for it.
I’m kind of glad I didn’t know what kind of Christmas our family would have that year or I would never have decided to do it, and I doubt Neal’s story would still be languishing in the slush-pile of my mind (for the story of our family’s Christmas that year, you might want to check out Sand & Mistletoe).
That story turned into something unexpected.
First, there was more to his story than I’d ever imagined. A dysfunctional family, a past that he didn’t even choose himself, and a rather immoral life I wouldn’t usually care to consider. But reality made me admit that a man with no concern for what the Lord says about things wouldn’t necessarily live the kind of life I think people should! Don’t worry, I didn’t do deep into those kinds of details! My prudish streak got pushed, but not pushed aside.
More than just “his side of the story,” New Year’s Revolutions tells the story of a man who sees himself through the lens of someone he respects and goes on a journey to see why he is as he is and if there is something inherently wrong with it or if the trouble lies with others (as he suspects).
Both a personal and a spiritual journey ensued that made me dig deep into Scripture to discover what it had to say about Jesus, relationships, and honesty. Neal’s discovery of what the Word says about things drove me to study and restudy things that I believed. We didn’t always come to the same conclusions, but it was interesting and I learned more than I would have expected to.
I hope you love Neal as much as I do. I know one thing for sure… this isn’t the last we’ll see of him.
My Review
I first encountered Chautona as an author when I read Sand and Mistletoe. I enjoyed her then and I love these followups.
Christmas Stalkings
I love a good Christmas mystery and this one doesn’t disappoint. It is quirky and fun. Wendy is a hoot as a “crazy cat lady.” Neal is interesting too. He has a rough exterior, but you kind of know something else is there (spoiler second book!) Overall this is a fun and enjoyable mystery to read.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for my e-book copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4
New Year’s Revolutions
This book follows Neal’s story as he searches for a way to become happy. I realizes he’s in love with Wendy, and must reconcile their differences (he is n atheist and she is a Christian). It’s interesting to see the growth Neal goes through and the ending is satisfying.
Chautona weaves a faith theme through this book in an easy and natural way. It never seems forced.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the e-book review copy of this. All thoughts are my own.
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of each book, Christmas Stalkings & New Year’s Revolutions!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Book Review and Giveaway – Something Borrowed Authors: Weaver, Dawn, Boyd, Tysinger, Shiloh On Tour with Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: Something Borrowed
Author: Weaver, Dawn, Boyd, Tysinger, Shiloh
Genre: Christian/Contemporary/ Romance / Holiday
Release Date: October 20
Old friends, new loves, and a borrowed tiara.
Always Been Yours — Hanady’s planning her dream wedding, but her injured best friend Keenan isn’t the groom. If she can’t see she’s marrying the wrong guy soon, his leg won’t be the only thing broken.
All the Moore — Leilah Anderson has been living behind the screen to hide her disability, then she meets Reggie Moore face-to-face. Can their relationship survive the truth and distance between them?
A Holly, Bolly Christmas — A dream wedding venue at Christmas? Sign Chahna Kapoor up. Even if her fiancé doesn’t know it…
Somehow, This Christmas — When not-so-merry mishaps threaten wedding planner Cate Forsyth’s holiday wedding and reputation, will her own happily ever after with sweetheart Noah Bennett melt away?
A Promise So Sweet — Lydia Osborn hasn’t heard from her ex in ten years, so imagine her surprise when he shows up proposing marriage. Tis the season for love?
Jaycee Weaver Author Lover of Jesus, family, books, coffee, music, and crafting (in that order), Jaycee Weaver is perpetually pursuing at least one of her passions. She writes contemporary Christian romance with realistic characters in everyday situations where they always find a happy ending. Visit her at www.jayceeweaver.com.
Toni Shiloh Author Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. Visit her at www.tonishiloh.com.
Mikal Dawn Author Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast, and military (retired) wife. When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand!) for wedding ideas for her characters.
Mikal lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two of their three children. Visit her at www.mikaldawn.com.
Teresa Tysinger Author Teresa Tysinger is a wife, mother, and communications director for a national non-profit. She writes charming Christian romance, inspired by grace. Teresa now resides in Texas, though part of her heart remains in North Carolina. She loves Jesus, coffee, and happy endings. Visit Teresa at www.teresatysinger.com.
Andrea Boyd Author Each of Andrea Boyd’s series represents a different genre but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God. Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible. Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC. Visit her at www.andreaboyd11.com.
More from the Something Borrowed Authors
Dear Readers,
Thank you for stopping by the Celebrate Lit blog tour of Something Borrowed. Before we share our excitement for the collection, we’d like to give a brief history of how it came to be.
Last year, the five of us crafted the Once Upon a Christmas collection, but Teresa needed to step down and we were blessed to have Angela Ruth Strong join us in her stead. Early this year, we rejoiced as Teresa was able to resume her place, and then our hearts broke as we learned of Angela’s breast cancer battle. Through all life has thrown our way, we’ve formed a beautiful friendship and have plans to write more collections together!
In January, we decided on a Christmas weddings theme, but we wanted it to be different and unique. Ideas sprang to life and six college roommates emerged, each from a different walk of life but bound by friendship. And then, we found ourselves missing our sixth. With prayers and a blessing over Angela’s health and a writing endeavor that’s been a dream for years (read her story on Facebook!), we found a way to include her in the form of a sixth roommate who no longer needed a love story.
Enter Ruth Ann. Married right out of college, she’s been busy cranking out babies like nobody’s business. And when the next bride, Jaycee’s character Hanady, brings them together for a girls’ reunion weekend, it’s Ruth Ann who produces the perfect something borrowed for this circle of friends.
Hanady’s planning a wedding to the wrong groom—just ask Keenan, the injured best friend who’s loved her for years. Wheelchair-bound Leilah doubts she’ll wear the tiara, but her online gaming friend might be too wonderful to resist. Chahna “Ana” Kapoor just knows she’s going to wear the tiara, so she books her dream venue—she just needs her boyfriend to propose and her parents to tone down the drama. After being engaged to Noah for years, Cate is more than ready for the tiara to be hers, but not-so-merry mishaps the week of the wedding threaten a happily ever after. And finally, having watched all of her friends marry and start their families, when Lydia’s ex shows up on her doorstep with an outrageous proposal, she finds it hard to believe her turn might finally have come.
We are so happy to present to you this collection of five interconnected stories where friendship and faith take center stage. For some, it’s new love. For others, it’s finally sealing an old one. Each tale is unique and yet together they weave one overarching message of love, joy, hope, and peace through the Christmas season.
As you read these stories, we pray they touch your heart. We pray they entertain you and maybe even make you laugh a time or two. And lastly, we pray the Christmas truths bless you this holiday season.
Blessings,
Jaycee, Toni, Mikal, Teresa, and Andrea
My Review
I love story collections–and weddings–and Christmas. What a joy to find all three in one place. Each author brought her own style to the collection, but the interconnectedness of the stories (five brides all sharing a borrowed tiara) shows through in a cohesive way. I’ve never read these authors before, but I’m sure I’ll pick up their collection next year.
I really can’t pick a favorite among any of the novellas. Each main character had her own spark. I suppose if I had to, my favorite character is Ana Kapoor. I liked her hopefulness and vibrancy.
I’ll be looking for works by each of these authors. I enjoyed the style and voice in each of the offerings and want to explore more from these authors.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book copy of this. All impressions are my own.
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a reading round up so this is Part One – August/September. So hearken back with me to late summer/early fall, when the the sun was still blazing before the breeze picked up too much. When we made the switch from flip flops and sandals to sneakers and (some days up here in the mountains) boots. When everything moves from soft and breezy to cozy and crisp. Now that you’re there with me, here are some books I read during that time:
Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
What a fun book set in a great location (Santa Barbara)) for a summer read. Robbie is on vacation For her ten year high school reunion and comes across information that her mother, who died of a brain aneurysm, might have been murdered instead. Before she knows it, she’s trying to sort out a feud with a high school nemesis, a toxic chemical, and an old friend trying to get her life together. This has a few twist and turns with no shortage of clues. I liked the ending but kept expecting one more twist that left me feeling a little unsettled. Would definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Review copy of the book. All opinions are my own. Rating: Four stars
Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman
I love this book! I’m not usually a big fan of World War II books, but this one really grabbed me from the very first line. The characters of Charlotte, Horace, And Julian have strong depth. I felt like I was right there for every raid, every kiss. The tension was palpable and the choices Charlotte has to make are wrenching. Charlotte’s daughter Vivi was a bright light and I liked the journey of her character. Very compelling! Not an easy read, but it pulls you in and won’t let you go. I highly recommend it! Rating: Five stars
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin Press and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
Leaning Out: An Alternative Perspective for the Modern Corporate Woman by Monica E. Pierce (Audiobook)
This was an interesting perspective on the corporate work world for women. It explores the question: what about women who want to foster a balance in their lives and don’t want to go for the corner office. Leaning out is not giving up on any ambition, but is a balance of ambition and family/personal life.
I’m one who has always leaned out so I could relate. It agues strongly for choice in the work world. A good read, but dragged in some spots. (listen- I listened on audio).
Thank you to NetGalley for the review audiobook. All opinions are my own. Rating: Three stars
Christmas Carol Society by Rebekah Jones
I LOVE Christmas stories. This one was an especially fun one. A riff on the Dickens story, the author did a good job of taking the twist and creating an inspiring story full of faith. Charlie’s story was compelling and kept me reading. This would be a great addition to anyone’s Christmas reading list. Start the season early when this one comes out.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: Four stars
September
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (Audiobook)
Bourdain provided a deep dive behind the scenes of some of New York City’s famous (Rainbow Room) and not so famous restaurant kitchens. A gritty (and foul-mouthed) look at what it’s like in the militaristic hierarchy on the kitchen line, Bourdain shows the interesting, and sometimes ugly, side of where upscale food is made. He minces no words about his own experiences starting as a dishwasher and working his way up to chef in various restaurants. The book was written while he was chef at Les Halles, before he went on to host his own travel-food show on CNN. He outlines his successes, his many failures, and the inner workings of restaurants. The book is filled with colorful characters (many pseudonyms are used) unique insights into human character, especially his own.
Some parts of the book unappealingly gritty or revealing, but anyone who’s ever thought that they wanted to be a chef (not me, especially not now) needs to read this book. It also a good book for restaurant patrons who want to be “in the know” about the origins and etiquette surrounding their food.
I listened to the audiobook version of this, which is narrated by Bourdain whose own voice adds more life to his words. I recommend it. Rating: Four stars
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
I chose this book for my church book group (Faith Fiction Fans-woo!) because it had a bookish theme and a thread of a faith story that wound through it. The book follows five people who get mysterious invitations to a story society at a book shop on Fifth Avenue: a professor who is trying to finish his dissertation on a famous writer, his ex-wife who is struggling to get the recognition she deserves at her job, a cosmetics company owner who almost became a princess, an Uber driver trying to reconnect with his kids, and an older gentleman who wants to write the story of his ideal marriage.
As the group continues to meet weekly, secrets are shared and each person grows in unexpected ways. The faith storyline is deftly thread into the story without being overbearing. The characters are likable and unlikeable in turn and every time you think you know what’s going to happen, a twist gets thrown in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the characters of the professor and the cosmetics company owner. The bond the group forms is realistic and close and reflects the same connection I have with my book group.
Rating: Four stars
Girl Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis (Audiobook)
I listened to this on audio, which I recommend as the way to consume this book. It was a great motivational book that helps you to let go of excuses and to train your behaviors for success. It’s about dreaming big and setting big goals. I felt like some of it applied to my life, while some of it was focused on creating a business that is scaled way up (which is not my goal). Still, she shares her experiences and has some good advice for anyone who has some ambition to build a business or just expand your experiences in life.
This book is aimed at women, so many men may not be able to relate to some of the advice. Not the end-all, be-all of self help books, but some great motivational tips and ways to set yourself up for success.
Rating: Four stars
Spies and Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett
I love a good spy story, and this was a fun one. Throw in romance and the World War Two era, and you’ve got a great suspense novel. The author did a great job making the setting come to life and really breathed life into the characters. They were interesting and I really cared about their story. The suspense was just right, put you on the edge of your seat without going overboard. It’s the tried and true hate-to-love trope without being tired and worn. This is book one of a trilogy, and I intend to come back for the next two installments.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review ebook copy. All opinions are my own.
Rating: Four stars
Cost Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith
I loved the style in this book. I’ve been looking for a way to describe my aesthetic and this is it. It was also nice to learn some decorating techniques that I can use with what I have. Definitely getting her next book.
Rating: Five stars
If I Run (If I Run #1) by Terri Blackstock
What a thriller! Terri Blackstock really knows how to move the plot along in this Christian thriller. This is the first of the three book series where we follow Casey, who is on the run because she is a suspect in her best friend Brent’s murder, and Dylan, the victim’s childhood friend who is hired to find Casey and bring her back to the police.
As Casey starts on a journey to discover who is responsible for Brent’s murder and for framing her, she also begins a journey toward faith. Childhood pain, the loneliness of being on the run, and Casey’s good heart will help the reader start putting the pieces together. Dylan’s is also suspicious of the evidence that sets Casey up as a suspect and starts to discover the real truth behind the murder. As he works to manage his PTSD and to find Casey, he relies on his faith to get him to the truth.
Be sure you have the second two books queued up so you can read (or listen to- I took it in as an audiobook) them right after you finish this one. You won’t want to wait.
Rating: Five stars
Stay tuned tomorrow for my October-November reads, followed Friday by a special Holiday Gift Guide edition of Weekend Reading on Friday.
I can’t decide my favorite way to read. There’s the appeal (and wonderful smell) of paper books (and with a book light, you can read in the dark). E-books offer a compact way to carry hundreds of books (and you can read in the dark!). Audiobooks offer a personal way to experience a story through the voice of the narrator (and you can listen in the dark! — can you tell that’s a biggie for me?). But which way is best? Not a question I can answer.
When e-books were new, I started out as a die-hard paper book person. I didn’t see how anything could beat having books on shelves and stacked on my nightstand. Who wanted to be stuck to a screen that may run out of juice before you’re done reading? One of my brothers passed down an early Kindle to me, but we lived in a rural area and downloading books was difficult. It was intriguing, but I never thought I’d convert. Then I discovered an all important fact a few years later…
You can use an e-reader in the dark.
Sure, there are booklights, but they’re awkward and can still keep your partner up if you have one. I got a Nook e-reader for Christmas when they were a new thing and was fascinated. It had a cool Tiffany blue cover, it was (kind of) a tablet that could be used for Kindle books too. And I could carry tons of books in a compact device. I also love magazines, and could get cheap magazine subscriptions and read them on my color screen. And I could read it in the dark without disturbing anyone or getting a crick in my neck. I was hooked.
Maybe a little too hooked. The downloading capabilities had improved, and all it took was a card on file and a click and I had a new book or magazine to read instantly. My collection grew quickly and so did my reading costs. I quickly got ahold of that (hello, book budget), but it was a whole new world for someone who lived hours from the nearest Barnes and Noble. I’m a book collector by nature, so being able to amass a collection that I didn’t have to find shelves for was awesome.
Then we moved from rural Kansas to a suburb of Detroit. Paper book purchases were easier and I had a (large) built in bookshelf in my basement. I bought a balance of e-books and paper books during this time and my collections of both grew (a lot!).
Five years later, we moved to a rural area of the Colorado mountains. No more Barnes and Noble, though we do have a small bookstore that will order books. I continue to read paper books during the day and usually have a regular book and an e-book going at once. Online ordering makes it easy to get paper books and e-books. I also discovered NetGalley, where bloggers and others who write about books can get e-book early copies, and Celebrate Lit, where I can get early copies of electronic copies of Christian books (I always disclose in my reviews when a book was received through NetGalley or Celebrate Lit). The Libby app makes it easy to access library e-books. So e-books are a major part of my reading life.
I didn’t get into audiobooks until recently. I’ve worked nights from home for the last four years and it’s kind of quiet. I used to listen to music or watch TV, but discovered audiobooks are a great way to up my book total (audiobooks count as reading). I listen as I work and can knock out most books in two to three nights. I access my audiobooks through the Libby app and I’m not afraid to wait for books I really want. I just received audiobook copies of Mexican Gothic and Majesty, and have 28 Summers and Last Train To Key West on hold that should come in the next few weeks. I’ve recently been listening to a Christian mystery series by Terri Blackstock and found the first two at my library, but had to buy my first audiobook to get ahold of the third in the series when my library didn’t have the audio version.
I don’t think I’ll ever settle on a favorite style of reading (I can do all three in the dark!), and I think that’s ok. Each type fills a different need for me. Now if I could just get through my TBR lists for each, I’d really get somewhere.
Do you have a favorite way to consume books? Comment below on your approach to reading and whether you’ve got a stance on the book/e-book/audiobook debate.
Happy reading/listening!
— Amy
Are you a traditionalist like Grommet? Or do you lean toward e-books and/or audiobooks?
Fall is well underway now (had over a foot of snow in Colorado earlier this week!) and it’s time for sweaters and blankets and tea and a cozy nook to read a book (see what I did there?). I love pumpkin and made a two ingredient pumpkin cake (see link to recipe below) last week, but I’ve traded my PSL for salted caramel creamer in my coffee (pretty good!). I’ve always enjoyed the changing colors and crisp air that fall brings. And this year, with so many publication delays, fall is bringing a wealth of new books! This weekend I’m finishing up some fall yard work and then snuggling into my glide rocker (in a sweater and under a fluffy blanket with some tea) with a cozy mystery (Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss). What’s on your weekend agenda? Comment below and check out these links for some fun thoughts and ideas.
It’s Halloween weekend, and I hope you have something fun (and COVID-safe) planned. So in honor of my favorite superhero, here’s some cool Wonder Woman stuff here, here, and here.
Broadview is attired for Christmas. Oklahoma heiress, Adelaide Fitzgerald, is hosting two young girls who have chosen to celebrate Christmas with Auntie Addie rather than their family in Colorado.
Adelaide must give these girls a Christmas like no other. Has she thought of everything? What would top off this holiday in an extraordinary way?
The answer lies just the other side of Rock Creek. But what will it take for her to realize it is the Christmas topper she’s been seeking?
It’s 1912, and Adelaide Fitzgerald’s view of Christmas is about to emerge as a tale for a lifetime.
This Christmas story is written as a prequel for Little Women, a book I loved as a young girl. The characters are richly drawn and reflect those created in the classic. The atmosphere of the 1912 setting is brought out clearly and adds to the joy of the book. The theme is uplifting and shows the joy of faith.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Linda Brooks Davis is a lifelong Texan who devoted 40 years to special education as a therapist, teacher, and administrator. She retired in 2008 and now writes full time.
Linda’s debut novel, Amazon best-selling The Calling of Ella McFarland,Book One in the Women of Rock Creekseries, is set in 1905Indian Territory prior to Oklahoma statehood. It won Jerry Jenkins Operation First Novel in 2014 and subsequently, ACFW’s Carol award for debut novel 2016. The sequel novella, A Christmas to Remember, is set in 1908Oklahoma. A second novella, A Christmas Measure of Love, is set in 1910 and is the prequel to Linda’s second full-length novel, which is set in 1914, Amazon best-selling The Mending of Lillian Cathleen, Book Two. The third novella, A Christmas Tale for Little Women, releases in 2020 and is set in 1912. It is a prequel to Book 3in The Women of Rock Creek series, The Awakening of Miss Adelaide, which is set in 1918.
Linda and her beloved husband Al worship and minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio and dote on six grandchildren. Readers may contact Linda through her website, www.lindabrooksdavis.com.
More from Linda
Everyone worked at my home on a South Texas farm near the U.S. border with Mexico.
My playmates were children of Hispanic laborers. Language never hindered playing la casa, making mud pies, or rocking los bebés. Frijolesand tamalesserved from stewpots over open fires tasted deliciosoin either language. I learned outside their homes a broom works great on hardened soil.
Daddy paid workers on Saturdays, some by the hour, others by production. Lining up, they extended their hands, and he laid cash across their open palms. They checked the figures they had scribbled on paper scraps, trusting el patrónto correct discrepancies. Humble, grateful people, they showed respect.
My father verified immigration paperwork for those whom he housed. Others lived in the shadows, arriving around sunup and disappearing before sundown. Each evening a car or truck would rattle alongside the field, and the shadowworker would slip inside. Then the vehicle would clatter toward the horizon. And returned another day.
Occasionally, however, an alarm shouted in Spanish would sound across the field. Dropping his cotton sack, a worker would dash toward the cotton trailer in the turn row. Like hounds burrowing under a house, he and a compadrewould leap over the trailer’s sides and dig a hole in the freshly picked cotton. The first crawled in, and the other covered him.
The immigration officer making his rounds would walk into the field and occasionally stomp around inside the trailer, searching for man-sized lumps. I never witnessed the discovery of a shadow worker, but I heard about them on other farms. Worst of all, I heard about tragedies. With very little oxygen between tightly packed fluffs of cotton, a man could suffocate and occasionally would. I wondered what would lead a man to take such chances and how my law-abiding, God-loving father justified his complicity. So, I asked, and he answered, “Desperation, sugar. All they want is work. A man wants to provide for his family wherever or however he can. I can’t turn them away.”
Sounded like work was a gift. Huh? my ten-year-old brain asked itself.
Years later, I understood this principle. The second chapter of Genesis shows us that God created man not to laze around all day, but to work.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.Genesis 2:15
Therefore, not only in “the beginning,” but on our farm in 1956, a man’s strength to work was God’s gift. The opportunity to work was Daddy’s gift to the men. The fruit of each man’s labor was the gift he sent home each week and the fulfillment of his need to provide for his family.
At Christmas we enjoyed preparing bushel baskets of meats, fruits and vegetables, candy and nuts, and toys for each family. I wondered about those who stayed around for a single day. Would their children find fruits, nuts, or even a piece of candy on Christmas morning?
Answers evaded me then—-as they do now—-but as a writer in my eighth decade of life, one truth I hold onto is that the strength for each day of writing and less pain in my arthritic hands and back are gifts from God. Each opportunity to write is an opportunity not only to entertain but to inspire readers to seek God in their everyday lives. Each word, unique turn of a phrase, or plot idea . . . is my gift to Him.
Protecting our safety is a far more complicated endeavor in 2020 than it was in 1956. Threats arise like none presented five decades ago, but work is still a gift. God wired it into our DNA. Come to think of it, the ideas for A Christmas Tale for Little Women and the subsequent novel—one set in the southern tip of Texas, a story about a loving, destitute man who wants only to provide for his family—are gifts.
Those diligent workers of 1956 and other years deserve a story that honors them. My gift to them and to Him is A Christmas Tale for Little Women.
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of all 6 eBooks in the The Women of Rock Creek Series!! (The Calling of Ella McFarland, A Christmas to Remember, A Christmas Measure of Love, The Mending of Lillian Cathleen, A Christmas Tale for Little Women, and The Awakening of Miss Adelaide)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
What’s Christmas without family drama, an accident, and mistletoe?
If you ask Portia Spears, it’s a horror movie—especially since she’s never the one caught under that mistletoe. And who thought it was a good idea to spend the last Christmas as a family unit away from their family home?
Her bossy older sisters, that’s who.
Christmas at his parents’ house with his son—just the way Reese Whitaker likes it. But a chance encounter on the beach might just change everything. How often do you meet someone who loves kids and knows American Sign Language?
Not often. Trust him.
However, with just two weeks to get to know each other and two families that couldn’t be more different vying for their time, will they even have a chance to test out that mistletoe they found?
I absolutely loved this book! I found Portia endearing, without being sappy or unrealistic. Despite the somewhat unrealistic way Portia meets Reese and Duncan, it somehow works. It was nice to see interaction between Portia and young Duncan, who is a member of the Deaf community. It’s something that’s rarely featured in novels, especially contemporary Christian romance.
I like how faith is weaved naturally into the story. It never feels forced. I think Portia’s family is a hoot and I love their Shakespearean names.
The story’s complications are realistic and the ending is satisfying. A great, feel-good holiday tale. Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Rating: Four stars
About the Author
Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.
More from Chautona
What Happens When an Author Rewrites History
To be fair, almost none of us wanted to be there.
And really, that wasn’t fair. Two of our daughters planned as a “destination Christmas” bash for the whole family—just a nice getaway in San Diego for the “last” Christmas we’d probably all be in the same place on the same days. The kids were getting older, getting married, and even moving out of state. It was a beautiful thing for them to try to do for us.
But Havigs are homebodies who like their traditions, and most of us left in Ridgecrest weren’t too thrilled being “dragged” four hours south to celebrate Christmas in a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the San Diego countryside. It had everything, game room, lots of space, yards, hiking trails, an infinity pool, a hot tub…
Yeah. That hot tub kicked off the weekend with a splash all right. With no lighting around it, and no railing either, my husband stepped out of it and right off the ledge—down a hill (at least fifteen feet), bouncing off boulders and thankfully, stopped by a fence. Otherwise, he’d have rolled for a LONG way.
Get this. He broke nothing. Don’t even ask me how (because we all know Who took care of that, right?
Still, I spent my Christmas Eve sitting in an ER waiting for someone to tell us the damage (superficial scrapes and deep bruising). The whole time I thought, “This has got to be a book.”
Two years later, it was.
I say this at the end of the book, but I need to say it again.
People who know our family will recognize some of my kids (I left four of them out of the story). They will also say, “Wait, she’s not like that!”
And that’s the point. I put just enough of real people in it to really capture the feel of the personalities, meshed some quirks (including the ones that got left out), and then set them in a stressful situation and really way over-exaggerated actual responses. I want to say this here again. None of us acted just like I portrayed us in Sand & Mistletoe (although, frankly, I wouldn’t have blamed a couple of them if they’d wanted to). Unlike A Bird Died, I didn’t even try to stick to facts.
Instead of San Diego hill country, I put us at my favorite beach—Ventura. I stuck our rented beach house where the Pierpont Inn is/used to be (don’t even know if it exists anymore). Reese’s parents live in the house I lived in when I was nine—right there on Pierpont just a block from the beach. And where they went to get mistletoe… one of my favorite places in the world.
So, here’s my version of the tale—the one I wrote instead of told. Just like Francie Nolan learned from her teacher in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. When I tell the story, I tell it exactly how it happened. However… I wrote what should (not) have happened! (this is much more interesting than the real story).
A secret mission. A fake bride. A run for their lives.
According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off.
The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away—a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.
Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey?
And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.
I love a good spy story, and this was a fun one. Throw in romance and the World War Two era, and you’ve got a great suspense novel. The author did a great job making the setting come to life and really breathed life into the characters. They were interesting and I really cared about their story. The suspense was just right, put you on the edge of your seat without going overboard. It’s the tried and true hate-to-love trope without being tired and worn. This is book one of a trilogy, and I intend to come back for the next two installments.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review ebook. All opinions are my own.
About the Author of Spies & Sweethearts
Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a trustee for her local public library. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
More from Linda
Dear Reader,
Take a moment to travel back to an era when ordinary women did extraordinary things. After the attack at Pearl Harbor, stalwart American gals stepped out of their comfort zone to take jobs never before held by women…sometimes dangerous jobs. Jobs in which they could lose their lives.
As a docent at the Wright Museum of WWII, I meet people from all walks of life who lived and served during the second “war to end all wars.” Many of these people haven’t shared their stories with loved ones for myriad reasons, but when they arrive at the museum, the floodgates of memories open, and words begin to pour out.
I’ve listened as ladies shared the stress of working outside the home, and juggling finances and childcare issues while their husbands were away in the armed forces. I’ve heard some speak about the excitement of learning new skills and gaining confidence. However, others were not as forthcoming because what they did was not only perilous but secret. Fortunately, in the last few years, documents have been declassified to shed light on the undercover work and projects performed during the war.
It is my hope that Spies & Sweethearts, book one in my Sisters in Service trilogy, will honor these brave women in some small way.
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of an autographed copy of Spies & Sweethearts, an autographed copy of WWII Word Find, hand-cut wood fleur de Lis earrings, pewter Eiffel tower ring holder, and a fleur de Lis Coaster!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!
Today is a unique day in American history as we remember the victims of (and heroes who responded to) the 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, as well as the passengers in the failed hijacking of Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Our son was three and our daughter was not quite one when the attacks happened. Still, we felt the implications even in the small Kansas town where we lived at the time. As the daughter and sister of military veterans (including my father who once worked in the Pentagon and an older brother who deployed to Afghanistan and later Kuwait), I especially think of the soldiers who have fought against terrorism and have seen the way this became a turning point for our country.
Learn more here about opportunities available for today’s National Day of Service and Remembrance. No matter where you live, use the database on the site to find a way to serve in your community. Our family has a tradition of taking cookies to our local fire department or law enforcement office wherever we have lived each September 11th (send them with someone the department knows, or they might not be able to eat them). A small gesture of thanks, but it has always been appreciated and it is our way to give back to some of those who risk their lives for ours.
And now, for something completely different… (thank you Monty Python)
This library scented candle is a great way to ring in the fall season
Why we like reading about plagues and disasters (even as they are happening around us)
Check out this interview with Louise Penny about her latest Inspector Gamache installment.
Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel has released its schedule of cozy mystery movies for September.
Check out this book about women’s fight for the right to vote. Look here for a feature of a book that focuses on women of color’s struggle for the vote.
Looking for some book rec’s? This list features 25 of the best books for fall.
This interview with Morgan Jenkins about her new memoir dealing with Black identity and culture as she traces her ancestry is an interesting read.
I’m starting in on some new cozy mysteries and holiday romances (yup, they’re already starting to come out for the year) this weekend. What are you up to? Share in the comments below.
I’m trying a new feature on the blog. Each Thursday, I’m going to dig into my reading archives to feature a relevant backlist title. As students are heading back to the classroom (or onto their computers for distance learning), I thought it would be good to look back on a title that focuses on what schooling really means.
I listened to Educated by Tara Westover as an audiobook and found that to be a great way to take in the story. While not narrated by the author, I think the audiobook provides good insight into the memoir. This book was a hard listen. It reveals the difficult upbringing and educational transformation of Westover. That upbringing involved mental and emotional abuse by a mentally ill, survivalist father and physical and emotional abuse by a sibling. Submission by her mother to her father’s will added insult to injury, leaving Tara and her siblings at the mercy of their unstable father. The memoir looks at the issue of reality and whose reality is accurate. It also shows the eye-opening growth of Tara from an unschooled mountain child to a well educated and “whole” woman with a Ph.D from Harvard.
The book is also a good investigation into the relationship between learning and schooling. Westover shows that her education wasn’t just in a classroom, but in the mountains and fields of her hometown, a hardscrabble learning experience that formed her character and her ambitions to gain a traditional education that helped transform her outlook on truth and the wider world.
I can’t say the book was enjoyable, but it was a fascinating look at the psychological mind games and emotional manipulation Tara says she endured. Her story seems fantastical, but credible; something you don’t realize happens in modern society. It looks at a unique pocket of America that relies on home cures, home schooling, and extreme versions of Mormon faith to create what they think is a self-sufficient, off-the-grid lifestyle. Tara is sure in the introduction to say that the book is not an indictment of Mormonism or Mormons, but is her experience with her family within an extreme version of that faith. It is a gritty tale, difficult to hear but arresting in its honesty.
The book is a great motivator in this challenging back-to-school season. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a unique perspective on what it means to be educated. Just be sure to follow it up with something light.
Christmas Carol Society – How Do You Impersonate a Christmas Ghost?
The Christmas season has arrived. The members of the newly-formed Christmas Carol Society are beginning their weekly meetings. Charlie Baker finds the first meeting odd enough, but when the assignments start, he has to wonder why he allowed himself to get roped into attending. Miss Dartmoor tells her members to impersonate the Ghost of Christmas Past for their own personal Scrooge.
Just how does a mere human accomplish such an absurd task? Charlie tries to figure it out, but begins to see the Lord might plan for the assignments to have a deeper impact on him than he expected.
An impact that Charlie isn’t sure he wants to face.
I LOVE Christmas stories. This one was an especially fun one. A riff on the Dickens story, the author did a good job of taking the twist and creating an inspiring story full of faith. Charlie’s story was compelling and kept me reading. This would be a great addition to anyone’s Christmas reading list. Start the season early when this one comes out.
My rating: 4 stars
About the Author
Rebekah Jones is first and foremost a follower of the Living God. She started writing as a little girl, seeking to glorify her King with her books and stories. Rebekah is an old soul in a young body (she’s not 12 —honest!) While her exact age is classified, her interests are not. Among them are reading a variety of books, singing, playing, and composing music, studying all manner of subjects, nannying an adventurous group of youngsters, and, of course, writing her books, poems, articles, and short stories. She writes a wide range of books from gentle children’s adventures to family sagas to murder mysteries.
More from Rebekah Jones
Christmas Carol Society is a book very near and dear to my heart. Partly because of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which is among my favorites, and partly due to my characters. Especially, Charlie Baker.
Charlie is very special to me. He wants to hide in his tiny corner of the world, and give up. He wants to give up on a world that has hurt him tremendously or taken people he loved. He wants to push away any possibility of repeating the past; he doesn’t want to be hurt again.
Charlie doesn’t want to join the Christmas Carol Society. He doesn’t want to find a “Scrooge.” He doesn’t want to make new friends. He doesn’t want to do any of it.
He joins because he loves his cousin. He doesn’t do it for any other reason.
His father encourages him to do it right, if he’s going to do it at all. His cousin calls him out, when his Christianity is at odds with his behavior. And Albert, his would-be friend, just doesn’t give up on him.
In a sense, Charlie is a Scrooge – and yet, he’s not. He has to find a Scrooge of his own. And through it, he finds himself doing all the things that he really doesn’t want to do at all – and it’s a good thing. Painful sometimes, but good. Scary at times, but good.
The characters that the LORD uses to teach me the most, end up being particularly special to me. Charlie is one of them. In some ways, I relate to Charlie rather a lot, and writing this story drove me to prayer often, so I would know what to do next. I frequently wasn’t sure where the story would go. But I learned along with Charlie.
I hope that my readers will love Charlie Baker as much as I do, and that his story, along with the others in this book, will in some way bless and encourage my readers for the LORD’s glory.
To celebrate her tour, Rebekah is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Christmas Carol Society, a copy of A Christmas Carol, and an ornament!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
NOBODY SAID growing up is easy. For Danielle, the safe suburbs of Kansas City always felt warm. Inviting. But one day, everything changed. Not only did she hate what puberty was doing to her body, she had spotted a few scary specks of blood after going number two. Gross. As an insecure tween who blushed during “the talk,” one who refused to buy toilet paper at the store, nobody could know her little secret. So she hid it from everyone—Mom, Dad, her brother, and her friends. This went on … for years.
Busted. Eventually, her secret came out. Danielle was rushed to the doctor and into a colonoscopy. Shock took over when she was diagnosed with a rare colon cancer (something the internet called an “old man’s disease”) just a few weeks after her seventeenth birthday. Seriously!?
High school mornings in classrooms morphed into nightmare days in cancer-center waiting rooms. Yet Danielle stayed hopeful, even grateful, for her illness. The way she saw it, fighting cancer spiced up her otherwise-boring testimony. And it brought her true love. Not until she heard the dreaded “It’s cancer” again at age twenty-five did she start to resent so much suffering and question her faith. Yet Danielle wasn’t about to stop. From Times Square to the White House, she became an outspoken survivor by starting a blog, as well as a young wife and a mom. Eventually, she found the self-acceptance she’d been looking for—it was guided by a still, small voice that had been with her all along.
In this soul-baring memoir, Blush: How I Barely Survived 17, Danielle reminds us that growing up is never easy, and she shows us how to go head to head with God. With out-of-body wisdom beyond its years, Blush beautifully inspires us to accept our imperfections and embrace every season of life.
This is a touching memoir that follows Danielle’s ups and downs through surgeries and recovery and learning to live a new type of life after her initial diagnosis. She is an outspoken advocate and I admired that in her words. Her faith in God throughout it all is inspirational. I think this is a must read for young people, but really is a good story for anyone.
My rating: 4 stars
Thank you Celebrate Lit for the electronic review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Danielle Ripley-Burgess is a two-time colon cancer survivor first diagnosed at age seventeen and an award-winning communications professional. She writes and speaks to encourage those facing trials, under a motto of “faith that survives.” She’s the author of Blush: How I Barely Survived 17(Redemption Press, 2020), The Holiday Girls (Little Lights Studio, 2018), and Unexpected: 25 Advent Devotionals. Her story has been told around the world through outlets like The Today Show, BBC’s World Have Your Say, Sirius Radio’s Doctor Radio, the Chicago Tribune, the Huffington Post, among others. Home is in Kansas City with her husband, Mike, and daughter, Mae. When she’s not writing, she can be found baking her favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. It’s a good one. Follow her blog at DanielleRipleyBurgess.com or connect on social media at @DanielleisB.
More from Danielle
I walked into the classroom, hung my backpack on a designated hook and glanced at the chalkboard as I took my seat. Sigh. It was spelling bee day. I’d dreaded it for weeks.
Most people probably didn’t realize I loathed the spelling bee, especially my teacher. As a book-loving student who aced nearly all English exams, anyone could have rightly assumed I would be jazzed about the competition. I was a great candidate to represent our class. But there was one little problem: it sounded like a nightmare. I wanted nothing to do with it. The idea of the whole school looking at me on stage—the chance of people noticing the zits on my face, seeing a bra underneath my shirt, or calling me a nerd because I was a strong speller—sounded awful. No thanks.
“Riiinnngggg”
A buzzer echoing throughout the hallways kicked off our school day. My teacher, dressed in a popular floral dress from the 1990s, walked to the chalkboard to take control of our classroom. The pledge of allegiance, math worksheets and recess distracted me from the schedule until the dreaded hour came.
“Everyone please stand up, push in your chairs and join the circle,” my teacher insisted as she waved her hands to gather us. It was time.
Fortunately, I had a plan: I was going to cheat.
If my spelling test grades were any indicator, I had a good chance of making the spelling bee. So, I decided to purposely spell my word wrong. I would use a wrong vowel toward the end of the word and pause to hear, “I’m sorry but that’s incorrect.”
Let’s just say my plan worked like a charm. Relief flooded my chest when I was asked to sit down and join the others who were knocked out of the competition. A few weeks later during the school-wide spelling bee, I deeply exhaled and smiled widely as I watched my classmates compete on stage from the gymnasium floor. I was so glad it was them and not me.
Today, 25 years later, this memory is both a victory and a tragedy. I can’t help but see my younger self, a tween girl who felt embarrassed about her body, and feel proud of her for identifying what she did and didn’t want. That moment in fifth grade helped her find her voice. Yet her empowerment came at a high cost.
Convinced that hiding her true self—her body, her smarts and her opinions—was the only way, this thinking led to her nearly losing her life. If I could go back and chat with her today, I’d affirm her fears yet encourage her to see God gave her the smarts—being a strong speller and a good writer is a gift and not a bad thing. I’d challenge her to accept herself and say that dominating the school-wide spelling bee could actually be a great thing.
Blush is a memoir that tells many other stories like my fifth grade spelling bee. The book is dedicated to my daughter, who is just now becoming a tween. As I’ve relived my life by writing this book, I’ve not only found nuggets of truth to pass on to her as she navigates adolescence, but also confidence and redemption in my story.
Many of us have believed the lie that to be accepted, we must hide. I wrote Blush not only for my daughter, but for anyone looking for inspiration and hope. It’s a book especially for those who are ready to finally face their insecurities and consider how to stop sitting it out and instead take the stage.
Danielle Ripley-Burgess is a two-time colon cancer survivor first diagnosed at age 17, an award-winning communications professional and author of Blush: How I barely survived 17. Follow her blog at DanielleRipleyBurgess.com or connect on social media at @Danielleis
To celebrate her tour, Danielle is giving away the grand prize package of Danielle’s favorite local coffee, Betty’s Recipe from the Roasterie in Kansas City & a signed copy of the book!! (here’s a link to the coffee: https://theroasterie.com/product/bettys-recipe/)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Book: Glimpses of God: A Summer Devotional for Women Author: Shirley Crowder & Harriet Michael Genre: Devotional Release Date: April 29, 2020
Creator God made the world in which we live. He placed the moon and stars in the sky, the rivers and ocean on the earth. He also created seasons throughout the year. Each season is defined by specific features/attributes that are common although the degree varies depending on where a person lives. In winter we think of cold weather; in spring, blooming flowers; in summer, warm weather; and in the fall, beautifully colored leaves.
As Christ-followers we also experience spiritual seasons. These seasons do not come in order like seasons in nature, which come regularly without fail. Each spiritual season we experience is defined by certain features also. In spiritual winter we think of the coldness of our relationship with God; in spring, new
This devotional is focused on summer—both calendar and spiritual. Our spiritual summer is a time of growth, hard work, and relaxation as we nurture and care for the new things that were planted in our spiritual spring and allow them to ripen or mature. Click here to get your copy! My Review
This collection of 65 devotions, with five devotions on each topic. It covers a range of ideas fitting for the summer season. I enjoyed working my way through each devotion and found myself looking forward to the next day’s topic. All of the devotions are uplifting, though not all deal with “happy” subjects.
This is a great companion for the summer and there is a focus on citizenship that would make this particularly aimed at an American audience. The devotional is aimed at women, but I think there are truths that men could benefit from as well. I am looking forward to the fall devotional.
My rating: 4 stars
Thank you Celebrate Lit for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Authors
Shirley Crowder was born in a mission guest house under the shade of a mango tree in Nigeria, West Africa, where her parents served as missionaries. She and co-author Harriet E. Michael grew up together on the mission field and have been life-long friends. Shirley is passionate about disciple-making, which is manifested in and through a myriad of ministry opportunities: biblical counseling, teaching Bible studies, writing, and music. She is a biblical counselor and is commissioned by and serves on the national Advisory Team for The Addiction Connection. She is an award-winning writer who has had several of her articles appear in “Paper Pulpit” inthe Faith section of The Gadsden Times, and in a David C. Cook publication. She also writes articles for Life Bible Study, Woman’s Missionary Union, The Addiction Connection and Inspired Prompt. She has authored, co-authored, or contributed to eight books. Shirley has spiritual children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren serving the Lord in various ministry and secular positions throughout the world.
Harriet E. Michael was born in Joinkrama, Nigeria, deep in the African jungle in the Niger River delta, where her father served as the only missionary doctor at that station. A few years later, the mission moved the family to a larger hospital in Ogbomoso. Co-author Shirley Crowder and her family lived right across the dirt road. The two children became constant playmates. Today they continue to enjoy their lifelong friendship. Harriet is a multi-published, award-winning writer and speaker. She has authored or co-authored seven books (six nonfiction and one novel) with several more under contract for future release. She is also a prolific freelance writer, having penned over 200 articles, devotions, and stories. Her work has appeared in publications by Focus on the Family, David C. Cook, Lifeway, Standard Publishing, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, Judson Press, Bethany House, and more. When not writing, she loves speaking to women’s groups and teaching workshops on freelance writing. She and her husband of more than 40 years have four children and two grandchildren. When not writing, she enjoys substituting at a Christian school near her home, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
More from Shirley
In the same way that nature’s seasons serve a purpose on earth, so do the seasons in our spiritual lives. God provides, cares for, and sustains the earth, and in His faithfulness, He does the same for us. Our responsibility is to be obedient to God’s commands in the Bible and to cling to the truth that God is in control.Our “Glimpses of God” series consist of:
Glimpses of God: a winter devotional for women
Glimpses of God: a summer devotional for women
Glimpses of God: a spring devotional for women (due out in early 2021)
Glimpses of God: an autumn devotional for women (due out in late summer 2021)
We pray that as readers meditate upon the Bible passages and truths in each devotional, they will catch glimpses of God in and through everything around them. How has He provided for you? How is He protecting you? How is He teaching you?
To celebrate their tour, Shirley and Harriet are giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of Glimpses of God: A Summer Devotional for Women and a $25 Amazon gift card!!Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/fee5/glimpses-of-god-a-summer-devotional-for-women-celebration-tour-giveaway I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.
If you spend any time in the reading blog or bookstagram worlds, you’ll find that everyone seems to have a reading goal. I’m not alone in having monthly, quarterly, and annual goals for how many books I want to read. Some people exceed lofty goals, while many of us struggle with modest targets. During August, for instance, I set a goal of reading NINE books. (Am I crazy? Spoiler- probably not going to make it)
But, how important are these goals? Is reading really a race to see how many books you can cram into a certain period of time? I admire the people who are able to read and enjoy 100 books a year, but I don’t think that will ever be me. But there’s a certain caché that people earn when they read enormous amounts of books in a set period of time. And if you’re in the book world, it seems like everyone is reading at lightening pace. So where does that leave the average reader?
My name is Amy, and I’m a slow reader with a huge TBR pile (plus all my e-books waiting). I want to be able to read tons of books a month, and I even set aside reading time, but I read slowly. Probably a realistic goal for me would be more like four or five, not the nine I was convinced I could smoosh into this month. It’s already the last week of the month and I’m on books three and four of the month, and one I finished was an audiobook and not even on my original list. (Note: I consider audiobooks real reading, not cheating, because you invest a lot of time into an audiobook.)
There are a lot of bragging rights if you’re one of the people who can zoom through books. I’m married to one of those people and it irritates me to no end. He’s always rereading books because I just can’t keep him in new books that interest him because he reads so fast. Any of us slow readers would change places with his reading pace. Imagine actually getting through your TBR in record time. That would be pretty awesome…I guess.
So where does quality fit into the equation? Should you read a lot of short books to bump up your totals, or do only Harry Potter-length books count? In the end, unless you’re in school, there’s no one keeping track of what or how many books you read each year.
In the rat race that is competitive reading, us slowbies can say we definitely get our money’s worth out of our books. Some books go at a faster pace, but I can definitely take a week (or even two) to get through some books. The end of books seems to go at a fever pace, one where I’ll rearrange anything I can to finish a book that’s grabbed me. So I get my money’s worth, but I always feel behind. Add to that some deadlines for reviewing books, and I feel pressured to find extra time to read. Occasionally that takes a little bit of fun out of reading. Deadlines mean pressure for some, motivation for others.
I am nothing if not organized about my reading life. I schedule reading time each day (mostly so I can get other stuff done and read guilt free), and I have a Trello board (It’s a free list making app; see here) with all the books I’ve read/want to read and when. If I have a book set for one month and don’t get to it, I shift it to the following month. For September, I’ve got 12 listed and that doesn’t even include the new ones I have for review. (Definitely some shifting going to happen).
My reading goals are sort of like New Year’s resolutions. I start the month will grand dreams and a lot of gusto, then get bogged down in a long book and a busy schedule. Maybe that’s part of the reason I love cozy mysteries–they move quickly.
Reading is having a renaissance during the COVID-19 pandemic. More people have more time to read and book sales are skyrocketing. So whether you read quickly or slowly, you have lots of company. The ultimate purposes of reading are to learn something and to enjoy a good story. Racking up big numbers on your total board can be fun and rewarding, but I think not at the expense of enjoyment. Able to do both? You are Wonder Woman and my idol.
When you read a book just to check it off your list, where’s the fun in that? Now, I’m a completist. I like reading every book of a series, in order, until I’m caught up with the author and anticipating the next installment. But I have so many series going that I don’t know if I’ll ever complete the task. But then again, who wants to be “done” reading? It would leave life pretty hollow. Thank goodness people keep writing more books.
How do you approach reading? Are you a zoomer or a slowbie or somewhere in between? Do you set reading goals? How does it feel when you don’t reach those goals? Comment below with your thoughts.
It’s almost halfway through August and I realized yesterday that I hadn’t posted my August Reading Challenge. I have an ambitious list this month that includes a lot of my favorite genre, cozy mysteries. Most of these are NetGalley books I’m set to review (I’ve got some serious catching up to do, but it’s so hard not to just click request on one more book, then another…). So, starting at the top:
Paris Never Leaves You by Ellen Feldman
Just finished this book a few days ago about a Parisienne woman who becomes an American citizen after WWII along with her daughter. She’s got secrets and has to reconcile them to move on with life.
Can’t wait to share about it next month!
Courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin
Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
I just downloaded this ebook from the library yesterday after watching a book tour talk with the author about her latest Jane Austen inspired book Recipe For Persuasion. I’m a completist, so I’m starting with the first book in the series.
Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard
The first of several cozy mysteries this month, this one set in Georgia, where an actor at the local Shakespeare Festival is murdered. Should be a juicy one (see what I did there? Huh? Ok, never mind. Mom joke.)
Courtesy of NetGalley
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
This is the perfect summer read, but I just keep getting distracted by shiny new ebooks. But it sits on my nightstand as my “daytime read” about three women who discover they’re sisters and meet at a Lake Tahoe vacation home to discover their history and their next steps.
The Waffle House on the Pier by Tilly Tennant
This summer read centers around Sadie, who moves home to Sea Salt Bay to help run her grandparents’ waffle house after her grandfather dies. Will she find love with newcomer, Luke?
Courtesy of NetGalley
A Fatal Fiction by Kaitlynn Dunnett
This cozy mystery centers around Mikki, who is seen arguing with a deceptive developer shortly before he’s found murdered at the demolition site of Catskill Resort Hotel. Mikki is a book editor who must uncover the truth before she ends up locked up.
Courtesy of NetGalley
Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany
This first book in the Tea By the Sea Mystery series centers around the owner of a traditional English tea room whose grandmother is accused of murdering a developer who had been trying to rezone nearby land for a golf course that would have driven them out of business. Lily must get to the bottom of things before it gets too sticky.
Courtesy of NetGalley
From Beer To Eternity by Sherry Harris
The final cozy mystery for this month is the first in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries series. Chloe moves to Emerald Cove, Florida after she promises to help her late friend’s grandmother run the Sea Glass Saloon. Soon, grandma Vivi is in hot water after a cranky regular is found dead. Chloe must find out the truth before Vivi is served up in court.
Courtesy of NetGalley
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
I’m reading this book (and Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors) as part of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club’s Austen in August selections. I love all things Jane Austen, and this book is set just after WWII in the English village of Clawton, where Austen’s final home is. A group that forms The Jane Austen Society must come together to save Austen’s crumbling home and her legacy while dealing with loss and trauma of their own as a result of the war. Austen’s writings affect each character and, in this quiet story, redemption is possible.
So, there ya have it. Nine books in one month, with only half the month left to read. I’ve got some down time through the weekend, so I’m going to try to get through three or four by Sunday. That’ll only leave four or five for the two weeks after this. The cozy books are usually pretty quick reads, so hopefully that will speed things along. Hoping I can get through my entire list this month. That would be a feat for me. And, I would catch up (mostly) on my NetGalley reads.
July Challenge Results
I originally set out to read Rodham, Hello, Summer, One Perfect Summer, Summer by the Tides, Nacho Average Murder, and Peachy Scream. I set aside Rodham for the murder mystery The Guest List. I finished that, along with Hello, Summer, Summer by the Tides, and Nacho Average Murder. One Perfect Summer is in progress Peachy Scream is on this month’s list. Four out of six isn’t too bad.
What are you reading this month? Still working on those summer reads or are you moving on to something else? Let me know in the comments.
Author Bio ELLEN FELDMAN, a 2009 Guggenheim fellow, is the author of Terrible Virtue, The Unwitting, Next to Love, Scottsboro (shortlisted for the Orange Prize), The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank (translated into nine languages), and Lucy. Her novel Terrible Virtue was optioned by Black Bicycle for a feature film.
PARIS NEVER LEAVES YOU Book Summary “Masterful. Magnificent. A passionate story of survival and a real page turner. This story will stay with me for a long time.” —Heather Morris, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey Living through World War II working in a Paris bookstore with her young daughter, Vivi, and fighting for her life, Charlotte is no victim, she is a survivor. But can she survive the next chapter of her life? Alternating between wartime Paris and 1950s New York publishing, Ellen Feldman’s Paris Never Leaves You is an extraordinary story of resilience, love, and impossible choices, exploring how survival never comes without a cost. The war is over, but the past is never past.
MY REVIEW
I love this book! I’m not usually a big fan of World War II books, but this one really grabbed me from the very first line. The characters of Charlotte, Horace, And Julian have strong depth. I felt like I was right there for every raid, every kiss. The tension was palpable and the choices Charlotte has to make are wrenching. Charlotte’s daughter Vivi was a bright light and I liked the journey of her character. Very compelling! Not an easy read, but it pulls you in and won’t let you go. I highly recommend it! Rating: A+
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin Press and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
It was a busy summer reading season between mid-June and July. This month’s selections included a variety of genres and books that were great summertime reads. Check out the books below:
The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
Lisa Wingate paints a vivid picture of beach community Hatteras Island, located in the Carolinas and draws you into the story of Tandee Jo, who is charged with cleaning out the home of her recently deceased landlord. During the cleaning process, the single mom comes across shoe boxes filled with prayers that takes her on a journey of self-discovery that changes the lives of herself and her two children. Love blooms, and a life of responsibility and spiritual devotion blossoms as she learns the history of the woman who lived in the home and she and her friends work to preserve the landmark.
This was not always a comfortable read. Tandee Jo doesn’t start off as the most responsible mother, which is difficult to get through. But her journey is inspiring and the ending is satisfying. The book is filled with colorful characters, secrets, and redemption in more ways than one. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series. Rating: A-
Deadly Sweet Tooth by Kaye George
I really liked the premise of this book. The sweet shop setting in Texas opens up a lot of possibilities. However, I had a hard time investing in the characters. The main character always seemed stressed and that made me stressed. Some of the plot elements seemed to come together too easily or not at all. The mystery was compelling and even though I figured out the mystery about 2/3rds of the way through, I was wrong about some of the circumstances. A fine book, just not for me. Rating: B-
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an electronic review copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley
Andre Leon Talley is a pillar in the last 40 years of the fashion industry. An insider, first at Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, then at Women’s Wear Daily and W, and finally at Vogue, Talley has all the scoop on those in the know of the fashion industry. This dishy book names names and gives an inside look at Talley’s 40 year friendship with Chanel’s late Karl Lagerfeld and a unique look at his on-and-off friendship with Vogue editor Anna Wintour. He name checks throughout the book, with talk of YSL, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, even a bit about Alexander McQueen. The book also focuses on his experiences as a black, gay man in fashion and his continuing battle with his weight. He serves up the scoop with manners in line with his Southern heritage. It’s a great ride for anyone with an interest in fashion, but could feel a little dense for those who don’t know all the names (especially the early ones). This is definitely aimed at fashion fans, not fashion beginners. Rating: A
Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews
Loved this book! It follows reporter Conley Hawkins as she returns to her small town and is set up by her Grandmother to work at the family’s small weekly temporarily with her sister (with whom she doesn’t really get along) who is editor in chief. Right away Conley starts ruffling feathers with the story of a local Congressman eho dies in a mysterious car crash. She also reconnects with her childhood crush who broke her heat and live two doors down from where she grew up.
Family drama ensues and Conley and her sister fight blowback on the stories and find new ways to save to paper. Political shenanigans I. The Congressman’s family also tear up as truths come out.
Lots of good twists and turns. I love a good mystery/romance/political drama. Conley is a strong character with being overly abrasive. Other stories are well interwoven. A joy of a book and a great summer read! Rating: A
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic review copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Summer By the Tides by Denise Hunter
This Christian family drama-romance is the epitome of a summer read. Three sisters, Maddy, Nora, and Emma are called to their grandmother’s beachside North Carolina cottage when she is reported missing by neighbor Connor. Turns out the whole this was a set up by grandma to get the sisters to settle their differences. Nora and Emma have been feuding for 20 years since Nora stole and married Emma’s fiancé. But each of the sisters is bringing secrets and baggage to the cottage and as Gram returns and a storm brews, the sisters begin to untangle the web of anger and betrayal that has affected them all. During the whole process Maddy and Connor strike up a growing attraction. The fallout from the stormy weekend will change all of their lives.
The conflicts in this book were a little uncomfortable, but they were well drawn and each of the characters was sincere in their beliefs and crafty with their secret keeping. The ending is far from pat and shows the journey each of the women and Connor went on throughout the story. Highly recommend to fans of Christian fiction. Rating: A-
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
What a fun book set in a great location (Santa Barbara)) for a summer read. Robbie is on vacation For her ten year high school reunion and comes across information that her mother, who died of a brain aneurysm, might have been murdered instead. Before she knows it, she’s trying to sort out a feud with a high school nemesis, a toxic chemical, and an old friend trying to get her life together. This has a few twist and turns with no shortage of clues. I liked the ending but kept expecting one more twist that left me feeling a little unsettled. Would definitely recommend. Rating: A
Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
What a fun book set in a great location (Santa Barbara)) for a summer read. Robbie is on vacation For her ten year high school reunion and comes across information that her mother, who died of a brain aneurysm, might have been murdered instead. Before she knows it, she’s trying to sort out a feud with a high school nemesis, a toxic chemical, and an old friend trying to get her life together. This has a few twist and turns with no shortage of clues. I liked the ending but kept expecting one more twist that left me feeling a little unsettled. Would definitely recommend. Rating: A-
Thank you to NetGalley providing me with an electronic eview copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
July Reading Challenge Review
As with many plans, my reading challenge choices changed as the month went on. I originally planned on reading Rodham, Hello, Summer, One Perfect Summer, Summer by the Tides, Nacho Average Murder, and Peachy Scream. Rodham is a very long book, and I only had a short hold on it, so I set it aside for The Guest List. I finished Hello, Summer, Summer by the Tides, and Nacho Average Murder. One Perfect Summer is in progress and Peachy Scream will be early on my August reading challenge. (All other books on this list were read in late June.)
Count: Books in Challenge completed: 3; Extra Books completed: 1; Books in progress: 1, Books held over: 1; for a total score of 4/6 for books read in July. August’s challenge (posting tomorrow) includes a higher number of shorter books, but is a bit ambitious. We’ll see how it goes.
How has your summer reading been going? Have you been able to read at a pace that is enjoyable? Any books still on your list that you want to get read before summer officially ends in September? Let me know in the comments below.
I’m a huge Jeopardy fan (“I was born to be on Jeopardy!” — Thanks White Men Can’t Jump for one of my favorite movie lines). So I had to pick Alex Trebek’s new book for our final July Release Spotlight. The Answer is… will be next on my TBR.
The writing of this memoir from America’s favorite game show host was motivated by the outpouring of support he received after being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer last year.
Trebek recently retired as host of Jeopardy! after being at the helm of the show since 1984. The book includes anecdotes, along with his thoughts on marriage, parenthood, and a range of other topics.
This book has really piqued my curiosity about someone I’ve always admired. He rarely speaks publicly about his life, so this book is decades in coming.
Is this a book you’re looking forward to? (Pick up a copy at Bookshop.org and support your favorite indie bookstore.)
See other July Spotlight books here and here. Happy reading!
–Amy
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. I only link to products I believe in.
How has your week been? I’ve been busy getting my house in order as we have company coming this weekend. And I’ve been doing a TON of reading. I’m working my way through our July Reading Challenge (two down, four to go) and continuously adding more to my TBR. Latest addition is Miracle Creek, which came out awhile back but never made it on my list.
WEEKEND ROUNDUP 7.17.20
A sad loss for the children’s book world. Joanna Cole, the author of the Magic School Bus series has died. Read here about her legacy.
Miss traveling? Here’s a list of great travel memoirs to take you around the world from the comfort of your own couch.
Book lover boxes delivered to your door? Yes, please! . Here’s a round up of some of the most popular.
Summertime is a fun time to wear anklets. Check out these cool choices on Etsy, including a cute cookbook anklet.
I have an eye on this hammock for my backyard reading.
We’re having a beautiful summer here in the mountains. I’m sneaking in reading time as I work on my mystery novel, try to add yoga to my daily routine, and work on training our new dog, Zoe. Hope you’re able to have some (safe, healthy) fun despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The summer reading season is in full swing, and my TBR seems to keep getting longer and longer. I’m not a fast reader naturally, but if something grabs my attention, I’m squirreling myself away to get any spare moment of reading time I can find. Our dog likes to sunbathe, but it’s actually been in the 90s here in the mountains, so I haven’t been able to do a lot of outdoor reading except in the evenings. Even after doing a Summer Reading Preview series, I still keep adding books to my list. I’m going to need a good hiding place.
This week’s spotlight is on a book I previewed last month:
Mitchell’s novel follows the meteoric rise and fall of fictional psychedelic 60s British band Utopia Avenue. The book has drawn some comparisons to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six and has been named one of the most anticipated books of the year by a host of media outlets. It’s definitely on my TBR for the month (I’m squeezing it in after I gave up on Rodham…for now).
Looking for more books? Check out my shop at Bookshop.org and support indie book stores.
Is this the next hit on your TBR? What other books are you reading this summer? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Happy reading!
–Amy
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. I only link to products I believe in.
I wanted to come up with something special on Monday’s to start your week off on a good note. What’s more fun than looking forward to a book that comes out this week? So each Monday, I’m going to spotlight a book that’s coming out in the current month.
Preorders are big for authors, so knowing what’s coming out helps you to know what you want to add to your cart (or get a jump on your library waitlist). I’m starting out with my favorite genre, the cozy mystery, but I’m going to try to vary the genres of the books I feature and to promote diversity in your reading life.
July’s first featured book:
Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany (Release Date 7/28/20)
This is the first in what will be the Tea By the Sea Mysteries series. The series will focus on the owner of the Tea By the Sea tea shop, New York-expat and pastry chef Lily Roberts. When a real estate developer who had been trying to drive Lily and her grandmother Rose (who owns a Victorian B&B) out of business is found dead near Rose’s property, Lily must try to solve the mystery to help Rose get out of trouble.
There are several new cozy mystery series’ starting, so this particular book is a great way to get in on the ground floor. Vicki Delany is a prolific writer, so you can expect regular doses of Lily Roberts and her tea shop.
I have loved tea shop mysteries since I read (most of; still working on) the books in the Laura Childs tea shop series.
Pour your own cup of tea and see if this book fits your taste.
It doesn’t get really hot in the mountains of Colorado, where I live, but the sun does start to beat down during July. It’s the time of year that I divide between the necessary (work, cleaning, writing) and reading (the focus of my life whenever I can steal a moment). My husband is refurbishing our deck in August, so I’m going to try to spend as much time out there as possible in July (accompanied by some kind of fruity drink-ok, I’m not great with mixology, so it’s probably just lemonade or iced tea). Our new dog loves to sunbathe, so that should be an hour or so of quiet, sunshiny reading time most afternoons.
Starting July 1st, I’m holding my first reading challenge on the blog ever. It’s summer reading time, so I’m focusing on books with summer themes or that came out this summer. So the challenge is to read six summer books in July.
MyChoices:
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld – Not a summer themed book, but came out at the beginning of summer and my library hold just came through so it’s a must read. The fictionalized story of what Hillary Clinton’s life would have been like if she had never married Bill. Released May 19th.
Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews (got this on NetGalley) – A reporter returns to her hometown in Florida and must look after her grandmother, help save the family newspaper, and unravel a political mystery (and maybe find love? who knows). Released May 5th.
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak — One of my favorite romance authors. The story of a woman who discovers through a commercial DNA test that she has two sisters. The sisters meet at the woman’s family lake house in Lake Tahoe and discover things in common and may even find love on the way. Released April 7th.
Summer by the Tidesby Denise Hunter (my church book club pick) — A Christian novel that is a story of family secrets, forgiveness, and romance. Released May 21st.
Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day (got from NetGalley)– Robbie Jordan returns to California for her high school reunion and has to unravel her late mother’s death, that was apparently not from natural causes. The seventh book in the Country Store mystery series. Release date is today (June 30th).
Peachy Screamby Anna Gerard (got from NetGalley) — A Georgia B&B owner turns to amateur theater to find the killer of a Shakespearean actor. Release date August 11th.
Six books may be a lot to read in July, but many summer books are short, light reads that will keep you engrossed in a summer paradise while you’re social distancing and probably getting mask tan lines.
Looking for more books? Check out my shop at Bookshop.org and support indie bookstores with your purchase.
So what’s your Summer Six? Are you planning to read them all in July or spreading them out for the rest of summer? Let me know what your Summer Six is in the comments. Happy reading!
–Amy
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. I only link to products I believe in.
Protests and social unrest have brought the issue of racial injustice and police violence toward people of color to the forefront after the death of George Floyd while he was being detained by Minneapolis Police and the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville after a no-knock raid on her apartment. It brought the idea home to me that it is no longer enough to not be racist; we must actively be anti-racist. As a white woman, I want to become more educated about the cultural conditions that people of color live with. So I am sharing some links to books I’ve seen recommended about racial justice and anti-racism, some books by people of color, several resources, as well as an incomplete list of black-owned businesses to support.
Here are some great choices for contemporary literature by black authors (left off the list are one of my favorite authors, Jasmine Guillory, the book Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and my current read, the non-fiction The Pretty One by Keah Brown).
Mysteries by black authors (love, love, love Walter Mosely).
Meaningful ways to support social justice organizations.
Standing up and being heard is a key to a functioning democracy and a strong society. Silence is no longer an option, on the issue of racial justice, police violence, and many other issues. Exercise your Constitutional right to peaceable assembly and to freedom of speech to make a change now on issues you care about.
I’ve been trying to diversify my reading list, both racially and genre-wise and I think this set of reads is a good start. This was a pretty good month for books, and each one was a hit in its own way.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
This was a fascinating tale of the love story between Joy Davidson and C.S. Lewis. Told from the point of view of Joy, it follows the disintegration of her first marriage and her friendship that grows into love, with “Jack” (C.S. Lewis). Davidson was a writer and began writing Lewis in the later stages of her marriage, curious about Christianity.
The book was clearly well researched and is a good assumption of what Joy’s point of view would have been during those times. There is an accompanying podcast that includes an interview with one of her sons, who curates her collection of papers at Wheaton College.
This was at times hard to read, and Joy isn’t always the most lovable character, but it tells of a great love between two outstanding writers. Rating: A
The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren
This romp follows the assistants to America’s favorite (fictional) home renovation couple Melissa and Rusty Tripp as they set off on a book tour that is leading up to the premiere of their new HGTV show. The Tripps are pushing their new book on marriage, but the public doesn’t know that they can’t stand each other. Melissa is a control freak and Rusty plays the goofy sidekick to her supposedly sensible approach. As the tension mounts, sparks start to fly between assistants Carey and James.
This book was stressful to read, but at the same time engrossing. It’s like watching a train wreck and not being able to look away. The story is compelling and it’s easy to get invested in all the characters. The ending was a complete surprise, but fit well with the rest of the book. Rating: A- (only because it was a bit stressful to read).
Cozy Case Files, A Cozy Mystery Sampler, Volume 9
What a fun compilation, I enjoyed all the previews and will be picking some of them up. I especially enjoyed Nothing Bundt Trouble, The Secretof the Bones, The Art of Deception, and A Royal Affair. I will also definitely choose the next volume of this series. It’s a great way to find some good reads,
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free review copy.
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker
Jen Hatmaker takes a stand in this book for standing in your truth. A former speaker in the Evangelical Christian sphere, Hatmaker shares her journey to what she calls the freedom to be who she is. Hatmaker recently called for the complete inclusion of the LGBTQ community in the Christian community and was ostracized for her stance, losing much of her career. This book is the result of what she learned from the struggle to find her truth and what others need to know to honor their own truth. This is not a memoir or a self-help book, but more the result of self-discovery and research into social psychology. Rating: B+
The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love With Me by Keah Brown
I listened to this book on audio and I’m glad I did. I think it added to the experience of the memoir to hear the author’s own voice. Brown shares the intimate details of her experience with being disabled and coming to an acceptance of herself. She takes the reader (listener) on a journey with her through the ups and downs of being a black, disabled woman journalist. Her writing style is earnest and enjoyable, though your heart breaks during some of the really tough parts. Rating: A
This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche
This work of Christian fiction tells the story of how geography teacher Keira Knudsen finds a home. After turning down a proposal from her longtime boyfriend and principal of the school, Keira dons her alternative identity of travel blogger Kat Wanderfull and takes a trip. She is offered the travel opportunity of a lifetime. Meanwhile, her first love Robbie faces a challenge when the mother of his daughter reappears and wants custody. Keira and Robbie form a partnership to get them each what they want. But secrets threaten to tear their growing relationship apart.
I loved the unique angle of this story. Kat isn’t just a damsel in need of a man and Robbie’s not just the ruggedly handsome man she left behind. They each have depth that carries the story forward. The ending is satisfying and not totally predictable. Each faces realistic obstacles that can be truly heart wrenching. The plot kept me reading and interested until the very end. Definitely one I’d recommend.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review copy.
I’ve got several books I’m reading this month: The Prayer Box, Hello, Summer, One Perfect Summer, Deadly Sweet Tooth, Nacho Average Murder, The Chiffon Trenches
Book: This Wandering Heart Author: Janine Rosche Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance Release Date: May 5, 2020
In the first entry in the Madison River Romance series, Keira Knudsen gets the traveling opportunity of a lifetime, but when she reunites with her first love, Robbie, she learns that even a wandering heart needs a home….
No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana, knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.
But Robbie has another problem: the mother of his daughter, Anabelle, has resurfaced after a three-year absence determined to rip Anabelle away from him. Robbie needs a steady paycheck for a chance at custody, and now, on the eve of a grand adventure that could give Keira a chance to flee her old, troubled life once and for all, she is in need of assistance.
With so much broken trust between them, Keira and Robbie must keep an arms-length away to make this partnership work. But the more time they spend together, exploring majestic places and sharing new experiences, the closer they get–until their secrets and dreams threaten to cost them everything.
This work of Christian fiction tells the story of how geography teacher Keira Knudsen finds a home. After turning down a proposal from her longtime boyfriend and principal of the school, Keira dons her alternative identity of travel blogger Kat Wanderfull and takes a trip. She is offered the travel opportunity of a lifetime. Meanwhile, her first love Robbie faces a challenge when the mother of his daughter reappears and wants custody. Keira and Robbie form a partnership to get them each what they want. But secrets threaten to tear their growing relationship apart.
I loved the unique angle of this story. Kat isn’t just a damsel in need of a man and Robbie’s not just the ruggedly handsome man she left behind. They each have depth that carries the story forward. The ending is satisfying and not totally predictable. Each faces realistic obstacles that can be truly heart wrenching. The plot kept me reading and interested until the very end. Definitely one I’d recommend.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.
More from Janine
Do you remember that weird kid who would sit at their desk in elementary school and stare into space for minutes at a time? If you don’t, then chances are, you were that weird kid. Welcome to the club—you know, the club for people who believe that what could be is worth imagining.
“If you imagine it, then it will never happen,” my junior high friends said.
“You’re setting yourself up for disappointment,” my high school mentor advised.
“Close your mouth, or you’ll catch a fly,” my second grade teacher warned.
While that last one scared me into buttoning my lips while staring blankly at the chalkboard, those early naysayers didn’t keep me from daydreaming. I couldn’t help it. I loved imagining a world far more exciting, awe-inspiring, and romantic than my own. Even when I’d finish books or movies, I would happily dream myself into the story where courage abounds and heroes are truly larger-than-life.
Of course, through the years, disappointment did come, and so did reality. In love, my heart was broken. In my career aspirations, my confidence was shattered. My daydreams almost stopped entirely.
People often ask me if it was a lifelong dream of mine to publish a book. The answer to that is yes…and no. It had been once, but holding on too tightly to that while also believing it was too far out of reach for someone like me created such an overwhelming ache in my heart. And so, I buried it. However, that dream, along with the storylines and characters in my mind weren’t content to stay buried. For eight years they awakened me at night and distracted me by day, until finally, I chose to spit out the words in a blank spiral notebook. I’d hoped that by writing down the story that had festered, I’d finally have peace, but then the next story came, and the next.
“I’ve learned that courage isn’t something we’re born with. It’s a choice.” That line of dialogue comes from a key moment in my debut novel, This Wandering Heart. In the story, my heroine, Keira, rises above an awful childhood to live a life of adventure. The line was quite autobiographical. I could have chosen to keep believing the naysayers. That would have been easy. It took no courage–no risk at all—to believe the lies, the criticism, and the discouragingly low probability statistics of publication.
Pursuing your dream, though, requires a lot of courage. Courage to be laughed at, to fail, to be rejected. Courage to be terrible at this new thing you’re trying. Certainly more courage than I carried in my spirit. So I prayed. I climbed onto that metaphorical rope dangling from the hand of God, and swung.
It was a choice. To be completely honest, it still is a choice to believe these daydreams of mine. Each day, it takes faith to chase this dream of writing novels and to imagine what could be. I guess you could say that I’ve found my way into the story after all. And it truly is exciting, awe-inspiring, and—dare I say?—romantic.
I’m honored to have you all join me on this incredible journey! But it’s not all about me. What daydream are you tempted to believe in your life?
Everyone is eligible to receive a free subscription to the Love Wander Read Journal, a quarterly digital magazine from Janine Rosche that aims to provide inspiration for a life well-lived. Link: http://janinerosche.com/the-love-wander-read-journal/ Blog Stops
To celebrate her tour, Janine is giving away the grand prize package of a set of GelConnie leather bracelets, a 2020 National Geographic Road Atlas, and a $50 Visa gift card!!
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
**Various issues led to this not being posted when intended. Here it is now.**
I love all the new books that come out in the summer, but I also love going back to books I have on my TBR shelf (or electronic device). I have a Trello page that outlines my reading goals for each month. I’m constantly tweaking it to include a mix of new books I’ve already got, backlist and series favs, and upcoming titles. Today I want to share some of my book goals involving backlist books and new books that came out earlier this year.
Backlist
Joanne Fluke Hannah Swensen Series
Cookie Shop owner Hannah Swensen seems to keep finding dead bodies in her small Minnesota town. Drawn to both a sexy detective and a safe but alluring family friend, romantic tension is somewhat tame but definitely there. I’ve read through about the fifth book, then read the three most recent. I need to get caught up. Start at the beginning with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.
Leslie Meier Lucy Stone Books
Wife, mother, and part-time reporter Lucy Stone runs into adventure and murder in a small Maine town. Another where I’ve read both ends of the series and need to connect the middle. All of the books are holiday or special milestone related, so start at the beginning with Mistletoe Murder, or choose the book with the nearest holiday. Some of the details will be out of order, but the mysteries are the same.
Murder Likes It Hot (Downward Dog Mystery) by Tracy Weber
I received a review copy of this sixth book in the series. I need to go back and read the first five. It follows a married yoga instructor who deals with infertility, running a business, and murder.
Picnic In Provence by Elizabeth Bard
This one has been on my TBR for a long time. It’s a memoir with recipes. I think it would be a perfect summer read. I love anything set in Provence.
Fly Away (Firefly Lane #2) by Kristin Hannah
This is the sequel to Firefly Lane, which I loved. I would love to follow what happens next with the characters.
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Got this in a Christmas Book Secret Santa. It’d be interesting to see how the comedian got her start. I like to have at least one memoir going at all times.
New (Potential) Favs
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Edward is sole survivor of a plane crash.
Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Chloe is trying to get her life back on track after nearly dying. Will she find love along the way?
Startup by Doree Shafrir
Follows the lives of people surrounding a startup tech company. Complications and humor ensue. I got introduced to this book after listening to the author’s podcast with Kate Spencer, Forever 35.
Things In Jars by Jess Kidd
A mystery with a supernatural twist.
Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
This follows a woman getting her life on track after losing her fiancé.
A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
Conflicts and racial tensions ensue between black family who are long time residents of a neighborhood and their white neighbors who are part of the gentrification of the area. A budding relationship between the families’ teen children complicates matters.
I got this book as a review copy from the publisher.
Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
This is the first in a new cozy series set around an ice cream shop owner who discovers a murder while trying to get the struggling business back to it’s former glory. You know how I love a good cozy.
What’s lurking on your TBR that you’d like to move to the top of the pile? I’m a huge book collector, and am always buying, or borrowing from the library, different books I’ve heard about, even though I’ve got plenty already that could take me through at least two years of intense reading. Still, the siren song of the new, the call of series’ I’ve started but never finished, and all those Book of the Month Club selections that keep piling up, give me a little zing every time I think about another reading option. Time to adjust the Trello reading schedule!
**Due to various issues, this did not post when originally intended. Sorry for any inconvenience**
Welcome to the Get Cozy Book Nook Summer Reading Preview! Throughout the week, you’ll find a look at some of the books coming out this summer that I’m interested in reading. **I have not read these books, unless otherwise indicated.** These are simply upcoming books that I’m drawn to and think you might like. Publication dates are accurate as of this writing.
Monday focused on mysteries and thrillers, while Tuesday covered Beach Reads. Wednesday was all about Contemporary Fiction and today focuses on Christian Fiction.
Here are some Christian Fiction books I’m looking forward to this summer:
Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay
Pub Date: Available Now
Alyssa Harrison is broke and under FBI investigation when she returns to her hometown to regroup. Jeremy Mitchell owns a failing coffee shop and asks for Alyssa’s help. Will romance bloom? Full of quirky characters. Love the premise and will put this high on my TBR.
If I Were You by Lynn Austin
Pub Date: June 8
A British widowed war bride finds herself moving to America to be with her in-laws only to find that another woman has be impersonating her for the past four years. Secrets and complicated history are sorted out. Great for historical fiction fans.
The Summer House
Pub Date: June 2
An unlikely friendship forms when a woman takes a hairstylist position at a retirement community. Lily and Rose’s husbands have both left them and they find strength together. This looks like a great story of redemption, and I love those.
Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter
Pub Date: July 7th
Part of the Blue Ridge Romance Series, Brady is fighting with his son’s grandparents for custody, and finds a solution in an impending marriage with friend Hope. But when Hope is offered a job out of town, she has a tough choice to make.
Piecing It All Together by Leslie Gould
Pub Date: August 4th
No Christian fiction roundup is complete without an Amish themed book. A woman jilted by her fiancé returns to her Amish grandmother’s farm in Indiana and finds herself caught up in the search for a missing Amish girl. Stakes are raised when her childhood friend becomes a suspect. The first in a series and high on my TBR.
Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman
Pub Date: August 4th
This thriller pits and FBI agent and an ICE agent against a terror cell in the United States. Add in the tension that one believes the other is responsible for her former partner’s death. The second in a series, a must read for me (after I go back and read the first book, of course). I love a good mystery/thriller (my favorite genre) so this book should be a slam dunk.
What Christian Fiction are you looking forward to? Do any of these books appeal? What books should have been included on the list that didn’t make it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Welcome to the Get Cozy Book Nook Summer Reading Preview! Throughout the week, you’ll find a look at some of the books coming out this summer that I’m interested in reading. **I have not read these books, unless otherwise indicated.** These are simply upcoming books that I’m drawn to and think you might like. Publication dates are accurate as of this writing.
Monday’s focus was on mysteries and thrillers. Yesterday covered beach reads. Today we tackle literary fiction. I have a pretty loose definition of literary fiction, so you may not agree that all of these fit in that category. Still, they’re all highly anticipated books, by many critics and by me!
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Pub Date: May 26th
A group in the English village of Chawton gets together to fight a developer wanting to raze Jane Austen’s final home shortly after the 2nd World War. I’m a Janeite, so this book grabbed my attention. It has also appeared on many other summer reading lists.
Recipe for Persuasion: A Novel by Sonali Dev
Pub date: May 26th
Another Jane Austen offshoot (yay!), this one is a twist on Persuasion featuring a struggling chef and the man who once ghosted her who is now a soccer star. They are paired together on a reality cooking show and the audience becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The push-pull of their story is sure to engage Austen fans (like this one!)
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennet
Pub Date: June 2
The story of the divergent lives of twin sisters over from the 1950s to the 1990s. This one deals with family relationships and racial issues. It has been well-recommended on many lists.
The Daughters Of Erietown by Connie Schultz
Pub Date: June 9
This story focuses on a couple in 1957 that finds themselves pregnant, changing all their plans for college and a different life. A knock at the door threatens their new forming family. The book shows the evolution of women’s lives over the second half of the 20th century. I predict it will be the sleeper hit of the summer.
Last Train To Key West by Chanel Cleeton
Pub date: June 16
It’s 1935 and three women’s lives are forever changed by an approaching hurricane. Separate from other Cleeton novels, this still has a storyline the focuses on Cuban-American issues. I listened to the first on audio, read the second. Looking forward to this stand alone.
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Pub Date: July 7
A woman inherits a bookshop from her mother after she’s suffered a personal tragedy and must take over care of her cantankerous, medically failing father. Her grandfather owns the building and won’t sell, so she’s forced into a journey that will take her from sorrow to unexpected discoveries and truths.
Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
Pub Date: July 14th
The story of a fictional British 60s psychedelic era band reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, but completely different. Expect all the hedonism of the 60s rock-and-roll scene. Should be fun.
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
Pub Date: July 21st
A great tale for book lovers follows a three generations of a family: one that lived in the New York Public Library in 1913, daughter Laura’s rebellion against women’s roles, and granddaughter Sadie Donavan in 1993 who gets a position as a curator for the NYPL. Add in the theft of rare manuscripts, and the story ramps to new levels. High on my TBR.
This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger
Pub date: Sept 3rd
Four kids escape a school in 1932 and embark on a Huckleberry Finn-esque adventure down the Mississippi River. I studied Huck Finn in depth in grad school, so I’m interested to see if there are any parallels. Another one that’s making all the summer reading lists.
This group of book provides an interesting mix to choose from. I’m not sure where I’ll start. Tomorrow is the last day of our preview, which focuses on upcoming Christian fiction. We’ll finish off the week Friday with a bonus post on some of the backlist books on my TBR, along with my First Picks from the summer preview.
So what did I leave off today’s list? Are you looking forward to any of these picks? Let me know in the comments.
Welcome to the Get Cozy Book Nook Summer Reading Preview! Over the next five days, you’ll find a look at some of the books coming out this summer that I’m interested in reading. **I have not read these books, unless otherwise indicated.** These are simply upcoming books that I’m drawn to and think you might like. Publication dates are accurate as of this writing.
Yesterday’s focus was mysteries and thrillers. Today’s books are all Beach Reads– mostly aimed at women and sporting frothy covers– that I think would be a fun escape from our current troubles. Some of them are steamy, some not (I try to let you know when I have enough information). I’ll be sitting in a comfy chair on my deck, cocktail by my side, pretending that my mountain home is really in Nantucket.
(I am an affiliate, so if you use this link to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!)
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Pub date: Out now
When a romance writer who no longer believes in romance crosses paths in a beach town with a literary writer stuck in a rut, they decide to each take on a summer project in each other’s genres. Steamy scenes ensue. I picked this one up early from Book of the Month and its high on my list.
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Pub. Date: Out now
Jennifer Weiner is back again with a tale of plus-sized influencer Daphne who gets invited to be a part of her frenemy’s Drue’s society wedding. It’s a story about friendship, resilience, and learning to be who you really are. I’ve already got my copy, how about you?
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Pub date: Out now
A woman discovers through a 23andMe DNA test that she has two half sisters. The women meet in Lake Tahoe and spend the summer unpacking the emotional baggage they each brought with them. I attended the online launch party for this book and ordered an autographed copy from the author, so this one’s bound to be a fav of mine.
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Pub date: June 16
From the queen of summer beach reads, Hilderbrand brings us a story of 28 summers spent between a woman and the man who became husband to the 2020 frontrunner for the first female President of the United States. Based on the movie Same Time Next Year.
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
Pub date: June 23
A chance meeting leads to a whirlwind romance between a woman and a hotshot junior senator. When the go public, the scrutiny threatens their budding romance. This is Jasmine Guillory, so count on some open door scenes. Tried to get an early copy, but couldn’t manage it, so the wait until June 23rd will be a long one.
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
Pub date: June 30
The newest from the author of the Crazy Rich Asians series, this is definitely and open door book. A young woman finds herself falling in love with a man she thinks she can’t stand and that her WASP family thinks is wrong for her. And she already has a fiancé. It starts in Capri and winds up in the Hamptons; perfect for a glittering summertime read.
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
Pub date: July 14
I’m a big fan of Katherine Center book, so this one’s third down on my TBR (after Becoming Mrs. Lewis for book club, and The Honey-Don’t List, which I have to return to the library in two weeks.) The story centers on the lives of a school librarian, Sam, and a new school principal, Duncan. Sam and Duncan knew each other at a previous school, but she was invisible to him. She’s made a new life for herself. As they each find their way, will the come together or drift apart. Supposed to have Center’s usual snappy dialogue. She has had some semi-open door scenes in past books, so this may be the same.
A Star is Bored by Byron Lane
Pub Date: July 28
A man finds himself becoming the assistant to a huge female Hollywood star and adventures ensure. The author spent time as Carrie Fisher’s assistant, so some of the book is likely to show this influence. Not set on a beach, but a fun, glittery Hollywood read.
Where do I start? I’ve got so many choices just with these books that it threatens to totally upend my TBR. Which books intrigue you? Which authors should have made the list? Let me know in the comments.
Welcome to the Get Cozy Book Nook Summer Reading Preview! Over the next five days, you’ll find a look at some of the books coming out this summer that I’m interested in reading. **I have not read these books, unless otherwise indicated.** These are simply upcoming books that I’m drawn to and think you might like.
A word about content warnings: I don’t include content warnings with the exception of pretty gruesome murders or the steaminess level of romantic scenes. I don’t guarantee that I catch everything, so beware. When it comes to cozies, the category itself is tame and accessible.
Today’s preview covers mysteries (especially cozies) and thrillers. This is my favorite category (because I’m a prospective mystery writer) so let’s get started!
(I am an affiliate, so if you use this link to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!)
Cozy Corner (Where puns rule the day)
Furmidable Foes by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
(29th book in Mrs. Murphy series) Pub date: May 19
“Harry” Harristeen is back on the case, this time hunting for a killer with a knack for deadly plants. She and her feline companions Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with Tee Tucker the corgi and Pirate the puppy must stop a killer at St. Luke’s Lutheran before they strike again. To start at the beginning, check out Wish You Were Here. This is a much anticipated release.
The Grim Reader by Kate Carlisle
(14th in the Bibliophile Mystery Series) Pub date: June 2
Brooklyn Wainright is set to do rare book proposals at Dharma’s first ever Book Festival. A member of the committee is murdered and the funds for the festival have vanished. She and her husband Derek are on the case to find the killer before they end up at their own funerals. New to the series? Start off with book one, Homicide in Hardcover. Anxious to continue this series.
Booked For Death by Victoria Gilbert
(First in the new Book Lover’s B&B series!) Pub date: June 9
A rare book dealer turns up dead in the carriage house of a Beaufort, North Carolina B&B. The victim’s daughter accuses owner Charlotte Reed, who inherited the place from her Aunt Isabella. The dealer has voiced suspicions about Isabella’s past, and Charlotte must get to the bottom things before she ends up in jail–or the killer’s next victim. This looks like a fun new series.
Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany
(First in the Tea by the Sea series!) Pub date: July 28
Cape Cod tea shop owner Lily Roberts must help her grandmother out of a jam after a local real estate developer is murdered. I’ve got an advanced copy of this (thanks NetGalley!) and it’s high on my list.
Paw and Order by V.M. Burns
(4th in the Dog Club mysteries) Pub date: Aug 11
Dog-loving amateur sleuth Lilly Echosby takes in a foster poodle from eccentric billionaire Archibald Lowry, who is murdered at her friend’s fundraising event. A series of attempted dog-nappings, puts Lilly and her friend’s dog training class on the scent of a killer. Start at the beginning with In the Dog House. I just got a new dog, so I’m really into dog mysteries.
Killer Kung Pao by Vivien Chien
(6th in the Noodle Shop Mysteries series) Pub date: August 25
I’m still on the first book, Death by Dumpling, but I intend to move through the series to get to this one by the time it comes out. Lana Lee is busy updating her family’s Chinese restaurant when (grumpy) nearby tea shop owner June Yi rear-ends mahjong player Mildred Mao. Mildred threatens to sue and ends up dead. June’s twin asks Lana to clear her sister. Can’t wait to read this!
Mysteries and Thrillers
The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
Pub date: June 8
Seven grisly murders happen in a dilapidated crash pad shake up a small seaside town. Suspects include a group of Army Rangers, so the military sends Major Jeremiah Cook and his elite team to help out the sheriff. Secrets are uncovered in this twisty thriller. Haven’t read Patterson before, but he’s supposed to be a master at this, so I thought I’d give it a try.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Pub date: June 2
I tried to get my hands on an advanced copy of this one, but didn’t manage it. This book seems to on everyone’s summer TBR and has great reviews. Nothing ruins a perfectly planned wedding like guests, and the bridal party, and a murder. This twisty mystery is my top go-to for the summer!
Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb
Pub date: September 8
Call this a late-Labor Day pick to end the summer with. This is the 51st(!) book in the Lt. Eve Dallas series as she delves into her husband’s dangerous past. Not much in the way of plot summary out there, but it is highly anticipated. I’m starting at the beginning with Naked in Death, but know there are lots of fans out there looking for the latest book in this series, so I wanted to include it.
Publication dates for all books are correct as of this writing, but the publishing world is spinning because of COVID-19. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what’s coming out this summer for mysteries. So, tell me in the comments, what did I miss? What are you most looking forward to reading?
You’ll find me deciphering the latest cozy or thriller in my lawn chair on my deck. That’s my summer book nook.
This month’s reads ran the gamut, from Christian fiction to heartfelt, agonizing poetry. April was the height of the stay-at-home order in Colorado, so it made finding reading time much easier. Still, I found myself distracted from my reading, drifting some amidst the tension of the time. Eventually, I got back into a groove and began enjoying my reading life even more. Has the quarantine had the same effect on any of you? Let me know in the comments.
Recent reads:
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
This is very different from my usual reading, but was recommended to me. Amazing poetry that expresses the pain of abuse, and the joy and agony of love won and lost. Kaur captures her feelings in a revealing way, with no filter. Illustrations that accompany the poems can be quite explicit. Her poetry is powerful and hard to read, but also very moving. Not for the faint of heart.
Rating: Four stars.
Desert Willow by Patricia Beal
In following Clara’s journey with Andrew, Beal tells a tender story of second chances in this Christian romance. Her portrayal of Clara is sweet as she slowly opens up after starting out so guarded. Both she and Andrew are compelling characters that tell a story that sucks you in and doesn’t let go. Read with a box of tissues!
Thank you to NetGalley and Celebrate Lit for the review copy of this book.
Rating: Four Stars
Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon
This is the first book in the Tourist Trap mystery series and follows Jill Gardner who runs a bookstore and coffee shop in South Cove, California. When her elderly friend Miss Emily is murdered, Jill inherits her dilapidated home that happens to be on prime property. While trying to figure out who killed Miss Emily, Jill is hounded by a greedy developer and threatened to sell or else by the mayor. Jill works to renovate her new home before a condemnation order by the city takes effect, and she’s assisted by the handsome Chief of Police, who is also on the case.
This was a fun book. I related well to Jill, who was slightly quirky but not in an annoying way. She is frazzled through most of the book, and you can feel the tension mounting as the city’s deadline nears and death threats start to come in. The suspense is really good, and though I had a good idea of whodunit, it was still a surprise ending and wrapped up in a satisfying way.
Rating: Four stars.
I love Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series. The mysteries are always engaging and I love to reconnect with the people from Lake Eden. This latest installment doesn’t disappoint. Hannah has to help clear her sister’s boyfriend and sheriff’s detective Lonnie of a murder he didn’t commit. The path through the book is familiar to readers of the series and can, for the most part, be read as a stand alone. You’d miss out on a lot of the backstory though. (I skipped a few books in the series and was at a loss for some of the storyline, but it didn’t affect solving the mystery).
The solution is a satisfying one, but there aren’t a whole lot of twists and turns. Should be another favorite for fans of the series. For those who haven’t met Hannah yet, I’d suggest starting at the beginning so you can really become familiar with the interrelated arcs of the characters. I’ll definitely keep reading (but I’m going to have to go back and catch up some).
Thank you to NetGalley for the electronic review copy of this book.
Rating: Five stars
I listened to this on audiobook, which I love to do with books of essays. It’s read by the author and the work comes through in a much more touching way through audio. The author shares about her life and work and family, all tied together with a quote from her son which makes the title of the book.
It’s not really a how-to, lessons on life type of book, but you certainly can learn from Philpott’s experiences. The essays give insight not only into her life, but into how we shape our lives as well. Never preachy, Philpott shares her experiences in a way that is relatable and gives you hope that your life is full of interesting experiences too.
Rating: Four stars
I listened to this on audio and I highly recommend that format.
This quirky book centers around a journal that a lonely, elderly man leaves in a coffee shop with an essay about his “authentic” life in the front. He goes on in the essay to challenge those who find it to write their authentic story and to leave the book for someone else. As the book finds new owners, a group of friends forms, betrayals and secrets are revealed, and lives are changed.
I thought the idea was original and interesting. Pooley ties the characters and storylines together well and comes up with some interesting twists. My favorite is the grandma in the art class. She’s not a main character, but her sassy nature adds some interesting spice to the book.
I rarely re-read books, but this is one I might take a look at in print or electronic form, just to see if the experience is different.
Really loved this book. Rating: Five stars
So what are you reading during this season of isolation? Has your reading life been altered in any way? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Writer Without a Space has a new name and a new focus! Welcome to the Get Cozy Book Nook. Because so many of my posts focused on books, book reviews, reading, and the reading life, I thought the name of the blog should reflect that content.
But it’s more than just a name change. Get Cozy Book Nook is a place where you can come for book reviews and news readers can use. In the coming months, you’ll find roundups of recent reads, seasonal book previews, updates on interesting news in the world of publishing, tips on making your reading life more enjoyable, and (hopefully) some author interviews.
Follow me on Instagram or Twitter: @getcozybooknook
A writing journal can be a key element to helping new, or even established, writers improve their craft. I am just setting up a new journal that I’m hoping will continue to help me organize my thoughts and ideas in a way that’s accessible. With these tips, you can create a journal that will make it easy for you to find those brilliant notes you’ve jotted down and put them to good use.
1. Know Your Purpose
There are lots of kinds of journals that writers keep. Some are meant to hold scraps of ideas and dialogue before they’re forgotten. Others use journals to outline portions of stories or novels. Still others used a journal as a book bible, compiling all the details of a series to be referred to when writing future books. For my journal, I organized it as a general catchall with a twist.
2. Choose the Right Size For Your Needs
Deciding on what size of a journal to keep really depends on where you’ll be writing in it. If you are constantly on the go, you may want a small journal to keep in a purse, backpack, or briefcase. A medium sized book affords more room for more information. For mine, I chose to use a full-sized notebook since I work from home and can keep it on my bedside table or wherever I’m working in the house. Here’s what it looks like (thanks Erin Condren!):
I am totally obsessed with Wonder Woman, so this is the perfect, inspirational choice for me. Also, I plan to put all kinds of information into this, so I wanted big pages. I also chose a lined notebook because that fit my needs more, but an unlined book may be more suited to your style if you like to draw or need room for different sizes of text.
3. Try Using Sections
I’ve had frustrations with journals I’ve had in the past because everything was just randomly jotted down. I had to flip through page after page to find an idea I was looking for. And if I did write down an idea that could be expanded on, usually I hadn’t left enough space to add more to the idea. It sounds romantic to have a jumbled notebook full of ideas, dialogue, and story planning, but as a practical measure, I added post-it tabs to my notebook. Spacing them fairly evenly apart in the notebook, I made sections for Ideas, Characters, World Building, Dialogue, and Plot Notes. Here’s what those look like:
I left a big space at the end of my notebook so that I could add other sections if I needed them. Now in the jumble, at least I have an idea of where to look for a jotted note.
4. Attach a Pen, Pencil, Marker…
Whatever inspires you. I have a pen pouch (also Wonder Woman) attached by a strap to the cover of my notebook, so I’m never without something to write with. Right now it has a funky pen, a pencil, and some colored markers in it. That gives me some flexibility when I’m trying to get the essence of an idea or piece of dialogue down. Or, if I want to color code elements of my plot, I can do so.
5. Attach It To Your Hip
Experts will tell you that you should take your writing notebook with you wherever you go. And they’re right. Choose a size that will go with you while you ride the bus and overhear some great dialogue. Or if you’re in the lobby of a doctor’s office and the idea for a great character comes to you. Now, I’m a fan of big purses, so I’m able to carry my larger notebook with me most places I go. But going back to choosing a size, you’ll want something portable. Now, I also cheat and have smaller notebooks to jot things down quickly, with the idea that they’ll be transferred into the “official notebook” as soon as I get to a stopping point. The main gist of this is to choose something you will use. Because even if it’s pretty and organized, if you don’t use it you lose great ideas and dialogue snippets and character descriptions that come to you at odd times.
Bonus Tip!
Don’t be afraid to get messy. Having your sections organized doesn’t mean that everything has to be written down in neat rows and paragraphs. Thoughts don’t always come to you fully formed (especially in the middle of the night), so give yourself some leeway to write messy blurbs and unfinished sentences if that’s how your thoughts come to you. The notebook isn’t meant to be a showpiece (you may keep its contents secret, who knows?), but a place where you can get creative and express yourself. It doesn’t always have to make sense. An organized approach can still be creative and spontaneous. Make it inspiring, make it fun, and most of all, make it your own.
Police Chief Jo Oliver needed a little time to herself. But when her escape to Wisconsin turns deadly, she teams up with FBI agent Nick Vitarello, hoping to catch the Bow Tie Killer. Their romantic past and complicated present leads them into uncharted territory as they match wits with a psychopath bent on destroying everything they hold dear. Click HERE to get your copy.
About the Author
Catherine Finger loves to dream, write, and tell stories. Retired from a wonderful career in public education, she celebrates the ability to choose how to spend her time in a new way during the second half of life. So far, she chooses to write books, ride horses, serve others, and generally find her way into and out of trouble both on the road and at home. She lives in the Midwest with a warm and wonderful combination of family and friends.
More from Catherine
Thank you for your interest in the Jo Oliver thriller series. Today we celebrate Anchored by Death—book three in the series. The basic plot for this book came as a result of an FBI workshop I attended on how profilers track killers. A particular method was presented that really stuck with me. As I thought it over, I had the idea to combine a map of Wisconsin with the tracking technique I had learned, and I actually built the crime scenes around the theory. I then created a killer who would do the sorts of things I had mapped out, and in that order. This was a satisfying challenge for Josie and I enjoyed my research jaunts throughout Wisconsin while writing the chase and takedown scenes. When Josie’s off the clock and spending time with family and friends, you can catch our heroine in the kitchen. Ever since her infamous Flourless Chocolate Cake appeared in Anchored by Death, fans have requested the recipe. For the epicurean readers, here is the recipe she used when preparing this special treat:Ingredients:12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips1 ½ sticks butter¼ salt6 eggs, room temp1 ½ cups sugar (white granulated or brown will do)Confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder for dusting top and cake standHow To:Heat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare springform or regular round pans with nonstick spray or butter and flour.Melt chocolate, butter, and salt—microwave will work in a pinch—or add all to heatproof bowl and place over small saucepan of simmering water to melt without burning. Set aside to cool.Beat eggs and sugar until light and thickened, around 6-8 minutes. Fold in melted chocolate mixture until completely combined.Pour batter into buttered and floured cake pan—springform or regular round—and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 90 minutes, until a toothpick comes out wet but relatively clean.Allow cake to cool completely before removing from pan. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and cocoa—Jo used a stencil for a quick and pretty design. Thanks again for celebrating Anchored by Death—and know that I appreciate you. Readers are a special breed. As a lover of the written word and an author, I invite you to enjoy the read.
My Review
Anchored By Death is the third book in the Jo Oliver thriller series. The combination of mystery and thriller with some romance thrown in made this a very compelling book. I came to this series with this book, so I missed out on some of the character and plot background, but the author gives enough information to keep you pretty much up-to-date on the storyline. But I’m definitely interested in reading the first two books.
This book is a little more intense that most Christian mystery/thrillers, and those who are more sensitive to sexy smooching and alcohol use should be aware that those elements are part of this novel. However, there is a strong faith message that is a part of this book that adds to the main character’s development and to the plot.
I highly recommend this book. It had me on the edge of my seat and had some good twists. Definitely four out of five stars.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Welcome to the Desert Willow Blog Tour! I’m glad you’re here. Hope everyone out there is staying healthy and staying safe. Patricia Beal’s Desert Willow is a great way to get lost in the beauty of El Paso while you’re staying at home during this quarantine. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
–Amy
ABOUT THE BOOK.
Book: Desert Willow
Author: Patricia Beal
Genre: Romance
Release Date: February 12, 2020
College graduate Clara Malone swore to never love anyone in the military again but when her dying grandmother asks her to deliver a love letter to the general who broke her heart decades ago, she agrees and finds herself escorted by a handsome Army captain whose kindness challenges her beliefs. Surrounded by desert willows that shower her path with pretty pink flowers and sing with the buzzing of hummingbirds, Clara enjoys the wild beauty of El Paso—and her time with Andrew—more than expected.
Can she deliver her grandmother’s last love letter without losing her heart to a man who represents everything she fears?
In following Clara’s journey with Andrew, Beal tells a tender story of second chances. Her portrayal of Clara is sweet as she slowly opens up after starting out so guarded. Both she and Andrew are compelling characters that tell a story that sucks you in and doesn’t let go. Read with a box of tissues!
I received a complimentary copy from Celebrate Lit for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patricia Beal is a 2015 Genesis semi-finalist and First Impressions finalist. A Season to Dance is her debut novel (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, May 2017). Her second novel comes out in February of 2020. Patricia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati in 1998 with a B.A. in English Literature and has worked for the U.S. Army as a writer and editor for many years. Patricia writes from Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband and two children. You can find more info about Patricia on her website here.
MORE FROM PATRICIA
Desert Willow: A Love Song to the City of El Paso, to Family, and to Prince Harry
I enjoy this story so much! It’s great to finally get to share it with you.
Desert Willow started as a NaNoWriMo project in 2015 and has a lot of my grandma’s history in it—life in the German colonies of the south of Brazil, the beginning of the shoe industry there, and the story of the most influential man her town has ever known, my great-grandfather.
And what does that have to do with El Paso and Prince Harry?
Well, my Prince Harry lookalike, a young Army captain named Andrew Lee James who lives in El Paso, is helping the protagonist deliver her grandmother’s last love letter, a letter she was urged to write all those years ago after what happened in Brazil.
The contemporary story of Clara (protagonist) and Andrew was fun to write too because I’ve been around the Army since the nineties. We moved to Fort Bliss/El Paso in 2012 and lived there for six years. I thought I was going to hate it, but I loved it, so I just had to write an El Paso story.
Now I think that what I enjoyed the most about writing this novel was making all the connections and showing how the actions of a distant past affect and inform the modern story so deeply.
Some of you have journeyed with me for a while and know that my debut, A Season to Dance, was my salvation process. What comes after salvation can be hard. What’s that? Well, looking at past mistakes through God’s eyes and realizing just how wrong we were, for starters.
We know how quickly God forgives us, but can we forgive ourselves and each other as quickly?
Desert Willow deals with all that. And with Prince Harry… 😊
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate her tour, Patricia is giving away the grand prize of a Kindle Fire 7 (https://amzn.to/37TEN21)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Flight Risk by Cara Putman! As well all work through the roller coaster of coronavirus shutdowns, join me in reading this Christian legal suspense novel. Hope you are all well and safe. Happy reading!
— Amy
ABOUT THE BOOK
Book: Flight Risk
Author: Cara Putman
Genre: Romantic Legal Suspense
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Bestselling author Cara Putman returns with a romantic legal thriller that will challenge the assumptions of truth tellers everywhere.
Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.
Jett Glover’s father committed suicide over a false newspaper report that ruined his reputation. Now a fierce champion of truth, Jett is writing the story of his journalism career—an international sex-trafficking exposé that will bring down a celebrity baseball player and the men closest to him, including Savannah’s ex-husband.
When Jett’s story breaks, tragedy ensues. Then a commercial airline crashes, and one of Savannah’s clients is implicated in the crash. Men connected to the scandal, including her ex, begin to die amid mysterious circumstances, and Savannah’s niece becomes an unwitting target.
Against their better instincts, Jett and Savannah join ranks to sort the facts from fiction. But can Savannah trust the reporter who threw her life into chaos? And can Jett face the possibility that he’s made the biggest mistake of his life?
This Christian-thriller was an interesting roller coaster ride. I became invested in the characters and their lives, truly fearing for them when they faced danger. The ending isn’t predictable, fits in with the rest of the book, and is realistic.
I really liked Savannah and found her arc to be really compelling. Her partnership with Jett was believable and created a strong and suspenseful plot for this book.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since the time she could read Nancy Drew, Cara has wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, was history. There she met a fellow Indiana writer Colleen Coble. With prompting from her husband, Cara shared her dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, Cara’s been writing award-winning books. She is currently writing book 33 and dreaming up future books, not hard when she sees what-ifs everywhere.
Cara Putman is an active member of ACFW and gives back to the writing community through her service on Executive Board. She has also been the Indiana ACFW chapter president and served as the Area Coordinator for Indiana.
Cara is also an attorney, full-time lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is. She graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. You can learn more about Cara at http://www.caraputman.com <http://www.caraputman.com/>.
Learn more about Flight Risk and Cara Putman here!
To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away the grand prize package of a Vera Bradley travel cosmetics set, a journal for capturing vacation memories, a copy of Flight Risk, and a bracelet!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
With all the “extra” time we all have while we’re sheltering in place, I have had a difficult time focusing on reading. I’ve heard the same thing from some other bloggers and people in my life. I’m not sure if I’m distracted because of all the COVID-19 news (I’m a news writer by night, so I write a lot about the virus), or if it’s just a reaction to being trapped inside for so much time. I’m still reading, but my pace has really slowed. If you’re looking for an escape from the current crisis, try one of these:
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker
I love Jen Hatmaker as an author. She has a great voice and a nice amount of snark (without being mean). The book was well written, and interesting. I also like the idea behind this project: to cut the excess from your life. And it was interesting to read through her experiences. It clearly took a lot of effort and hard work to put together this book.
What struck me with this book was the rhythm of it: summary of challenge, confession, good things, gripes, challenging information about how awful we all are in that area of our lives, final summary. Each of the chapters followed this rhythm and it got a bit repetitive and predictable.
I appreciated the information she shared, but it almost sounded like it came from a position of privilege. It’s easier to cut down to seven areas of spending when you have more than seven to begin with. It also would be difficult to meet some of these challenges in areas that don’t have organic markets or a lot of places to regularly buy local.
I think Ms. Hatmaker wrote this book from a place of good intention and performed each challenge with the best of everything in mind. I just think the execution of the book didn’t do justice to her efforts or translate well into other people’s experiences.
I will continue to read books by this author, because I really like her writing style and point of view. This one just didn’t click with me.
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? by Hope Callaghan
I love cozy mysteries, and this Christian cozy mystery doesn’t disappoint. The characters are interesting and the mystery is plotted pretty well. I liked getting to know the “garden girls club” and following their adventure together. This is the first in a series, so I would definitely read the next one. I will say the ending was not what I expected, and I’m not sure if I liked it or not. But the rest of the book was worth it and I’m guessing some questions will be answered and characters fleshed out in the next book.
Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel
I love Anne Bogel’s approach to life in this book. It may seem like a small thing, but overthinking can be really draining. Bogel offers practical tips that work for any lifestyle and budget. She includes helpful questions at the end of each chapter to prompt the reader to explore the topic in their lives more deeply (without overthinking it). I look forward to her next book and am a big fan of her blog Modern Mrs. Darcy and the What Should I Read Next? Podcast.
**Thank you to Netgalley and Anne Bogel for the review copy. I also bought a copy of the book.**
I’ve got plenty of books on my TBR, and plan to work through seven of them this month. What are your reading goals? How has your reading life been going? Comment below with your thoughts.
With most of us living and working in isolation, now could be a great time to catch up on your reading and writing. There are lots of online writing groups and book groups to join (the book group I lead just moved online for now). I’m trying to “shop my shelves” and am somewhat overwhelmed by the amount I’ve found for my TBR list.
Focusing on writing proving to be a challenge with so much unstructured time. I’m determined to use my trusty planner to make a schedule for myself. As much as I love to read away a day, my novel will never get finished if I do that. But, everyone needs a break too. If you’re looking for some distractions, try these:
Since we’re all staying home more because of COVID-19, it’s a good time to catch up on your TBR list. There are a lot of great new books coming out, but don’t forget those backlist picks. It’s also a great time to buy e-books or download them from the library (try Overdrive or Libby). Audiobooks are great choices for listening to while you’re working from home (support independent bookstores through Libro.fm).
Here are some of my recent reads (just a few this time):
This is a dark, but interesting story. The lead FBI agent Elsa Myers is on the case of the disappearance of Ruby. The case blows up into the hunt for a serial kidnapper and killer. The team Myers is working with sorts through the clues and information to try to find the man who has kidnapped and killed girls in sets of three. During this race against time, Elsa is triggered by her own past as she tries to care for and reconcile with her father, who is dying. As the case ramps up, the third kidnapping makes it personal.
This can be a hard book to read at times, because of the dark subject matter. Elsa is a well-developed, complex character who is hardly predictable. The supporting cast on the team as well as her sister and niece play pivotal roles that lead Elsa down a twisted road to solve the case and resolve her feelings about her past.
I can’t say this book was enjoyable, because of the focus on child kidnapping and abuse. But it was interesting and a good read. I would recommend the author’s future books. Just follow it up with something light.
**Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book review copy in exchange for an honest review.**
This is the third book in the St. Caroline series. I haven’t read the others, but this can be read as a stand alone. Cassidy Trevor is off limits to Matt Wolfe, but when the two are thrown together the chair a holiday event. Their experience becomes a secret friendship that blossoms into love.
In this somewhat spicy book, the author creates clearly drawn characters that are interesting and fun. The reason they’re “off limits” to each other seems a bit contrived, but the storyline is generally believable. You find yourself rooting for Matt and Cassidy as the story comes to a satisfying end.
I’m guessing I would have understood all the relationships in the book a lot more easily in I’d read the first two books.
This is a good, fun, enjoyable escape with some spice for those who like that.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the e-book in exchange for an honest review.
I love a great cozy mystery, and this one didn’t disappoint. Sammy runs a community crafting store and must involve her cousin Heidi and sister Ellie (who together make up the S.H.E.s) when a woman dies while posing as a live mannequin in Sammy’s window display during the Fire and Ice festival in Hartford, WI.
This book kept me guessing. I’m usually pretty good at guessing the killer by about halfway through, but this one took a little longer. There are some good suspenseful scenes that turn the plot on its head and were great ways to speed along the story through the middle. (No saggy middle here!)
The ending left me with a few questions, but overall it was satisfying. This is the third book in the series, and while it wasn’t hard to read as a standalone, I think some of the characterization would have been easier to understand if you have read the first two books.
A delightful author. I’d love to read more by her.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
COVID-19 has a lot of people scared. We’re being advised by the CDC, the President, and other elected officials to work from home, practice social distancing, and avoid any unnecessary trips out of the house (as if there were anywhere to go!).
These changes can upend your routine, big time. Even if you already work at home, you may now have young kids there with you during the day that need you, or college kids that are studying from home for awhile (that’s us!). In many places, libraries and coffee shops are closed, taking away writing sanctuaries for those on the go.
Still, before you turn to Netflix to fill your non-working hours, consider the opportunity to squeeze in some extra writing time. After all, you can’t really go out on Friday night, or you may not have to commute to your job for awhile, so little pockets of time are opening up that could be used to help you get further along on that novel or freelance project.
A few tips:
Rethink Your Routine — You may have to create an entirely new routine based on your new “normal.” See if new time slots have opened up that you could squeeze in some writing. Our college kids are home right now, and seem to want food regularly (and can’t go out to eat right now in our small mountain town), so that takes extra grocery shopping and meal planning.
Try Sprints Instead of Marathons — Your style may be to sit for extended periods of time working on a writing project, but your circumstances might make it possible to only work in short bursts. Fit in what you can when time is available. This is where reworking your routine comes in handy. I normally work from home, but am using my planner to schedule writing sessions during my off hours when I may have been out doing something else in other circumstances.
Preplan Your Sessions — Try to plan the night before for what you want to accomplish during your sprints or marathons. Outline an article while the kids are working on homework. Write a scene during what used to be your morning commute. As those opportunities arise, you’ll be able to maximize your efforts. This is where my planner is coming in again. I try to set word deadlines for my novel for each block of time I’ve set aside for the next day, along with some time for freelance projects.
Don’t Overload — Not every pocket of time has to be filled with writing projects. Leave time to let your mind wander. Dump some ideas into your writing journal (more on organizing that to come). Color, hang out with your kids, plan a romantic indoor picnic with your significant other (may do that this week!), or (yes) binge-watch some Netflix. Your brain is most effective when it has some downtime to recharge, making your writing sessions more effective too. And you’ll be happier for it.
Chat With Other WritersOnline — Social isolation can lead to depression, which inhibits every area of your life, including your writing and productivity. Now may be a good time to join that freelancing Facebook group, or to put together a Zoom meeting with some of your writer friends. Instead of getting lost in a sea of social media, use technology to your advantage and reach out to others who are also home and looking for someone to talk to. A group of mystery writers that I’m a part of has chat groups that give me a line to the outside world as I try to make progress on my novel.
We’re living in a unique time. Since you’re stuck at home anyway, you might as well try to find some time to tackle those writing projects you’ve been putting off for “when you have some extra time.”
It’s been a busy week here. My kids have been home with one of their friends on Spring Break, and my daughter cheered at the MVC men’s basketball tournament (last of the season; all others were cancelled!) while my husband, son, and his friend attended the games (So close to being champions, Valpo!).
I’ve been getting some freelance queries out and have done some planning for my next big push on my cozy mystery. Also got some good reading done (Recent reads post coming Monday).
Hope you’re all safe and taking precautions in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. We’re safe so far here in our little mountain town. While you’re practicing social distancing and staying in more, here are some things to keep your mind occupied. Have a great weekend!
CDC information about symptoms of COVID-19 here. CDC travel recommendations here.
What’s the future of book blogging? This article gives some good insight.
I’ve covered a lot of ground recently, reading and listening to about six books a month. Here are some of my recent favorites:
I listened to this as an audiobook and found that to be a great way to take in the story. While not narrated by the author, I think the audiobook provides good insight into the text. This book was a hard listen. It reveals the difficult upbringing and educational transformation of Tara Westover, but that upbringing involved mental and emotional abuse by a mentally ill survivalist father and physical and emotional abuse by a sibling. Submission by the mother to the father’s will adds insult to injury, leaving Tara and her siblings at the mercy of their unstable father. The memoir looks at the issue of reality and whose reality is accurate. It also shows the eye-opening growth of Tara from an unschooled mountain child to an well educated and “whole” woman with a PhD from Harvard.
I can’t say the book was enjoyable, but it was a fascinating look at the psychological mind games and emotional manipulation Tara says she endured. Her story seems fantastical, but credible; something you don’t realize happens in modern society. It looks at a unique pocket of America that relies on home cures, home schooling, and extreme versions of Mormon faith to create what they think is a self-sufficient, off-the-grid lifestyle. Tara is sure in the introduction to say that the book is not an indictment of Mormonism or Mormons, but her experience with her family within an extreme version of that faith. It is a gritty tale, difficult to hear but arresting in its honesty. Highly recommend (but follow it up with something light!).
A newer book in the Lucy Stone series, this one focuses on two things: the Silver Anniversary wedding weekend planned by a local Tinker’s Cove wedding shop owner and the death of one of Lucy’s friends from her days in New York City. Authorities say Lucy’s friend Beth committed suicide by jumping off the balcony of the apartment she shared with her billionaire fourth husband. Lucy doesn’t believe this conclusion and spends a week in New York City to prove it was actually murder. She focuses on Beth’s current husband and her three ex-husbands: the first a religious cult leader with whom she had a son, the second a troubled artist, and the third a seemingly mild-mannered chiropractor.
As her investigation proceeds, the danger level increase and Lucy finds herself in a sticky situation. The backdrop of the wedding weekend lightens things up and involves a couple where the wife is verbally abusive to the husband, but wants to celebrate their Silver Anniversary with the whole town as a way to promote her wedding shop and her husband’s limo business.
This is one of Stone’s better books. I love the change of scenery and Lucy striking out on her own. The author throws in some political commentary, which she has in several of the later books, and I find it distracting and preachy. Otherwise, a solid mystery where I suspected the murder, but never saw the end coming. A great read! **Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ebook.**
This book provides an interesting look at Iranian history using the backdrop of a coup in 1953. It follows the story of two young people who are separated on the eve of their wedding and go on to live separate lives in America, neither knowing about the other’s lives as 60 years pass. They are reunited as friends while he is dying in a nursing facility and new information comes to light that may have changed the course of their lives.
I liked the main characters in the book and the connection to the stationary shop where the two meet. I also love stories that span many years and involve lost love. The story also provides a good look at how women and, in America, women of color are treated in the 50s and ensuing years. Another great read and I would highly recommend it.
I read this book in two days, which is pretty quick for me. I always take on too many Christmas romances, but got this one finished near the beginning of January 2020. I loved the reunification of Zeb and Ivy in this Amish romance and her grandfather was an interesting character. It was interesting to see the push and pull between Zeb and Ivy who take on new opportunities that throw them together at Christmas time for a magical romance. It was a great and emotional story of love and forgiveness. I felt very invested in the characters and it was heartwarming in every sense of the word. **Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ebook**
What a fun book! Renowned pastry chef Olivia Rawlings moves from Boston to the idyllic town of Guthrie, Vermont (where her best friend lives) after she sets fire to the private club she had worked in. There she meets with an array of characters who become family to her, and one man who could restore her faith in love. Olivia is not pure as the driven snow (she was having an affair with a married man back in Boston), but she is quirky and compassionate and trying to find her place. There is humor, tragedy, music, and an apple pie baking contest to beat them all. It gives you all the feels and keeps you guessing what’s going to happen next. Well written, it breaks the trope of the “big-city girl makes it big in a small town” while providing a satisfying story. I would definitely read this again.
I always love Janet Dailey books, especially around Christmas time. This was a sweet story that had the right amount of romance and tension to keep you reading Throw in a touch of suspense and you’ve got the whole picture. A fun light read to get you in the Christmas spirit.
**Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ebook.**
A fun and refreshing story about two middle aged adults falling in love. I liked the characters with all their flaws and foibles. They we very realistic and young and fresh, not stodgy.
The ending is satisfying without being too predictable. Some spicy scenes but nothing over the top.
I enjoy the connections between Guillory’s books and look forward to more.
What have you been reading? Comment some of your favorites below.
Are you setting new reading and writing goals for the new year? As January pushes forward, it can seem like the pressure is on to achieve new things. After all, there are only 357 (leap year, yeah!) days left in the year and there is so much to accomplish.
Planning goals for the next 12 month can be a great practice. When you’re a writer and an avid reader, thoughts turn to goals in those areas. It’s a great time to think about what writing projects you want to tackle and how many books you want to try to read (or what kind). But are those goals encouraging or restraining?
I’m all for goals. I have plans to finish my book, continue to improve my blog, and read at least 60 books. I’ve broken down those large goals into smaller chunks, as experts recommend, and am using my planner to set smaller tasks that should lead to the accomplishment of the finished mystery novel, successful blog, and pored-over pile of books. But breaking big dreams down into small tasks can sometimes make the days ahead feel like a slog toward some big, disembodied dream. Yes, it’s important to narrow dreams into tasks so that you can accomplish big things. But I have to wonder, does having a goal of finishing two books a week take all the joy out of reading? Does it start to feel like a relentless march that leads to something that is abstract to the point of being nonsensical?
I’m not arguing against goals and planning and chunks and tasks. They have their place. But I thinks it’s important to not lose the forest for the trees. We as writers can focus so much on putting out pages that we lose the big picture and end up with a collection of words that don’t pull together into a cohesive work. As readers, it’s easy to become attached to a list of the types of books you want to read or the quantity of books you want to finish. There is validity to this type of goal-setting, but not at the expense of the joy of losing yourself in a novel for hours. The weight of constant tasks can be overwhelming for some, as much as they are encouraging for others.
I thinks it’s all about balance. This year I’m trying a new approach. I’m setting goals (finish that novel!) and breaking them down into smaller tasks.(Pages make chapters, chapters make books) But I’m also trying to take joy in each task, keeping in mind how they fit in with my bigger dreams. I picture the potential cover for my published mystery while working out the suspects who appear in each chapter. I read books that fit some general criteria (upcoming books to review, some mysteries, a little non-fiction, Christian fiction, and some romance novels for flavor), while staying open to other books that show up on my radar. Being excited about what you’re doing is as important to productivity as churning out chapters (written or read).
How do you view annual goals? Are they encouraging or confining? Does breaking down a dream into small tasks feel helpful or like drudgery? Comment below and share your thoughts.
Still working on your holiday shopping? Here are a few last minute gifts you can feel good about, from books to bookish goods. No links are included for the books, so be sure to support your local independent bookstore. Many of the bookish gifts come from small businesses, always a good way to shop. Time’s a-wasting, so use this guide to get shopping for your favorite book lover!
Another fun cozy mystery featuring Cookie Jar owner and baker Hannah Swensen who’s trying to find time to frost cupcakes while she works to solve a deadly puzzle involving a befuddled homeless man with an unusual gift for restoring antiques.
Bestselling authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Peggy Ehrhart come together for a collection of cozy Christmas capers.
It’s fun to dream of a picture-perfect small-town Christmas, but when murder is in the cards, some holiday greetings are addressed to kill…
Ten days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest and the arrest of Nolan Sorrento, Wade Watts is informed about a new technology that Halliday created and never released to the general public.
The highly acclaimed novel is a portrait of a family of Ghanaian immigrants ravaged by depression and addiction and grief in this piece about faith, science, religion, love.
The Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten’s newest cookbook filled with stories and recipes perfect for pandemic times.
“The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah’s story of his life growing up as a mixed-race child under his home country South Africa’s Apartheid.
(Top Left) — Literary Candles from Uncommon Goods. Try scents like 221B Baker Street and A Mad Tea Party. Available here.
(Top Right) — A cute book keychain that supports a small business. Available here.
(Bottom Left) — A fun option for book lovers with reading goals. The 100 Book Scratch Off Poster covers a range of books that your book-loving friend or family member can scratch off the one’s they’ve read. Another one from Uncommon Goods, available here.
(Bottom Middle) — Know someone who lends a lot of books and needs something to help them keep track of them all? A personalized library stamp could be just the thing they need. Another small business! Find it here.
(Bottom Right) — A great gift for bookworms who love some tea while they read. Small business Literary Tea Company offers individual tins of bookish-themed teas to accompany almost any work. A subscription service is also available. Try them out here.
More Choices:
There are several stores with similar names, but this small business is located in Breckenridge, Colorado (just down the road from me!). This is one of my favorite stores. They don’t offer things online, but if you click here and call the owner she can send you pics and recommendations for all you socks, pajamas, and assorted goods needs. Support a struggling business and tell them Erin’s friend Amy from Get Cozy Book Nook sent you. Stay tuned! I’m in contact with the owner to see if I can offer a discount code. Should be up by Tuesday.
This vintage bookish t-shirt and many others are available at Dreameris. It’s hard to go wrong with a good shirt, and this vintage-look tee can work for guys and gals. Find it here.
This round up includes some of my favorite choices for book lovers. There are no affiliate links, I just love these products. Try express shipping to get your gifts by Christmas Eve!
It’s been so long since I’ve written a Reading Roundup, that I’m dividing this one into two installments. Today’s covers books I read in October and November, which includes a nod back to summer and a look forward (at the time) to the Christmas season. I’m not a fast reader, so there aren’t too many books on the list, but most of them were hits.
October
Sand and Mistletoe by Chautona Havig
I absolutely loved this book! I found Portia endearing, without being sappy or unrealistic. Despite the somewhat unrealistic way Portia meets Reese and Duncan, it somehow works. It was nice to see interaction between Portia and young Duncan, who is a member of the Deaf community. It’s something that’s rarely featured in novels, especially contemporary Christian romance.
I like how faith is weaved naturally into the story. It never feels forced. I think Portia’s family is a hoot and I love their Shakespearean names.
The story’s complications are realistic and the ending is satisfying. A great, feel-good holiday tale. Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Rating: 4 stars
Tea and Treachery by Vicki Delany
This was a compelling cozy. I loved the Maine setting and the tea shop that Lily owns. The author must really have a love for tea.
Lily owns a tea shop and cooks breakfast for her grandmother’s B and B next door. When a neighbor want to redone and sell their house to a developer to build a golf resort, Rose (grandma) threatens the developer. Then the developer ends up dead and Rose is a prime suspect. Lily and her friends work with Rose to clear her name. This is a twisty mystery with lots of good suspects. I only figured it out just ahead of the reveal and that’s unusual for a cozy reader like me.
The characters are realistic and fun. Rose is feisty but not stereotypical. I loved this. It’s the first in a series but I’m looking forward to the next. I only gave it for stars because it’s just the first in the series and who knows how awesome the next one will be.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review ebook. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4 stars
A Christmas Tale for Little Women: A Miss Adelaide Christmas Novella by Linda Brooks Davis
This Christmas story is written as a prequel for Little Women, a book I loved as a young girl. The characters are richly drawn and reflect those created in the classic. The atmosphere of the 1912 setting is brought out clearly and adds to the joy of the book. The theme is uplifting and shows the joy of faith.
I felt a little let down by this novella. I (probably unfairly) compared it to the original and just didn’t get the same feeling. It was a nice story, and I enjoyed it, but it didn’t make my heart sing.
Thank you to Celebrate Lit for the review e-book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3 stars
Gourd to Death (Pie Town Mystery #5) by Kirsten Weiss
This was a fun mystery. It is not the first book in the Pie Town mysteries series, but I enjoyed coming in at this point. There’s a hint of humor in this fall pumpkin festival-focused book, starting with the body being found squashed (had to go there) by a giant pumpkin. The main character owns a pie shop and is part of a mystery-solving club that includes her sidekick, the shop’s pie crust dough maker. The two investigate the murder of one of the town’s optometrists and wind up in wacky situations. Add to it that another town has a competing pumpkin festival, and the hijinks get really next level.
The ending was satisfying and the characters are likeable (or wonderfully unlikeable) and interesting. There’s depth to them. The plot moves swiftly for a cozy and it is a great fall read, especially just before Halloween.
Rating: 4 stars
November
If I’m Found by Terri Blackstock
Wow! The second book in the If I Run series, it really gets your heart beating. At first it seems it will follow the same pattern as the first book, but events don’t follow exactly the same way. Casey is still on the run and Dylan is starting to believe her story of a conspiracy led by Detective Gordon Keegan. The cat and mouse game continues and leads to a thrilling peak at the end that leads into the third book.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and really liked the narrator. Her voices for the men aren’t always as easily distinguishable as I’d like, but she does an excellent job. I highly recommend this on audio because it seems to add to the thrilling nature of the story. Have the final book ready. Just like with the previous book, you’ll want to get to the end of the series without delay.
Rating: Five stars
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
I thought this story would be a retread of the movie Groundhog Day, but it really had its own unique flavor. The main character finds herself reliving the same Christmas vacation with her family and friends at a Utah cabin. The first few times are bumpy, but then she decides to be herself.
She has always had a crush on Andrew, whose family is like family to hers. Their parents and friend Benny all met in college and gather together each year at the cabin and go through a series of traditions. As our main character relives these traditions (over and over) she gets a different perspective.
This has a little bit of suspense to it. You never know when the next jump happens or which one will be the last. The character complications are believable and the characters are a lovable, quirky bunch but still realistic.
I loved this book. It’s a bit “open door” so be prepared, but mostly its a sweet story about the value of family, being yourself, and having a unique perspective on tradition.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Rating: Five stars
How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind” Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets by Dana K. White
I’m usually not much for house cleaning or books on the subject, but this one caught my eye after I watched a virtual presentation of hers on organizing. The book reflects what many of us feel, that house cleaning is a chore, and not very much fun, as opposed to the latest craze in organizing and blessing your home.
White’s book is based on her blog A Slob Comes Clean and is very down to earth about taking the job of cleaning your house a little at a time. She starts with doing the dishes as a main focus to get into a routine and builds from there. She focuses more on decluttering than organizing, with the motto of “do the easy stuff first.”
I found this book to be very relatable (I struggle with keeping an ideally-spotless, perfectly decluttered home). White shows the reader that you don’t have to be perfect, just persistent.
Rating: 4 Stars
I’m reading a load of holiday books right now, so look for a half-month review session coming soon. Also upcoming is the Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers, as well as a free resource for followers. Lots going on this month.
