2026 - Second Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the second quarter of 2026 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2026, found through the search bar):

The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano - Merryn suffers from amnesia and hopes her new husband A.J. can help her reclaim lost memories. But when she remembers images from another wedding, she is concerned. Historical Fiction. 358 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Triumphs of the Heart: The Promise of Joyful Living by Cheryl Ford - Each mini-biography focuses on a woman of the Bible whom God used in mighty ways. Great addition to my morning devotional time. Christian Living. 222 pages, 📃📃📃📃

The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander - Author of The Littlest Library offers up another book about getting books into the hands of readers, full of obstacles and romance. British Romance. 352 pages, 📃📃📃

Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy by Julia Ubbenga - If you're a Christian and want to go all in for minimalism as a dedication to focus on God more and things less, this is a motivating book. Christian Self-Help. 256 pages, 📃📃📃

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt - Sobering exploration of the fallout from our dependence on devices. How I wish this book had come out a decade ago, when I was stumbling through the parenting portal of a technological age. Nonfiction. 400 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand - A delightful consideration of a life, after mistakenly being presumed dead. I'm rethinking my own life after watching Ray's. British General Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams by Karen Hawkins - A little bit of magical realism in this story of a researcher seeking answers to Dove Pond's pressing mystery and falling in love in the process. Romance. 366 pages, 📃📃-1/2

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave - This sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me keeps you turning pages, in hopes of finding out what happened to the husband, and if the wife and daughter will ever be safe. Thriller/Mystery. 288 pages, 📃📃📃📃

The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith by Gretchen Saffles - God has repeatedly brought the woman at the well into my line of sight, now again, through this book. Excellent tips and encouragements for living a life tapped into God's living water, to grow and be fruitful. Christian Living. 304 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 7 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay - My first by this author, but won't be my last. Compulsively readable. This novel slowly uncovers the truth about an alleged, forged Picasso painting. Mystery. 286 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci - Two very different teenagers, Molly Wakefield and Charlie Matters, find friendship and support with the owner of a London bookshop during WWII. Historical Fiction. 433 pages, 📃📃📃📃 

Between the Mountain and the Sky: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope by Maggie Doyne - A young girl takes a gap year and ends up rearing over 50 children in Nepal. A fascinating and heart-rending story. Memoir. 272 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew by Ruth Myers with Warren Myers - Great devotional resource for exploring praise during morning quiet time with God. Devotional. 158 pages, 📃📃📃

The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz - Amid political rebellion in 1837 Canada, a lawyer marries a laundress to provide care for his ailing daughter. Christian Historical Romance. 368 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 📃📃📃

Marked by Prayer: Five Traits of People Who Pray by G. Dwayne McCrary - Small book that outlines five distinguishing traits of people who spend time communicating with God. Christian Living. 84 pages, 📃📃📃

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy - The unlikely connection between an elderly woman and a mouse. Delightful story! Novel. 226 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Wings of Faith: The Remarkable Life of Harry Read by Dawn Volz - I encountered Commissioner Harry Read's poetry on Facebook several years ago. Then, I thrilled at the story of his parachute jump at 95-years-old. Biography. 232 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao - Two individuals board the Elsewhere Express, a philosophical train built from people's daydreams wishing they were somewhere else. Fantasy. 416 pages, 📃📃📃

Tupelo Grove series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker - What We Hide, Where Secrets Lie, and When Justice Comes. Savannah Webster and her ex-husband Hez try to track down the criminals framing her sister for murder while trying to save the Tupelo Grove University. All 3 books are fast-paced and compulsively readable. Christian Thriller/Romantic Suspense. 1088 page, total (Read 368 pages, listened on Hoopla, 20-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Humankind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time by Brad Aronson - This is a beautiful book about the opportunity to speak into the life of another through small acts of kindness. Would that everyone read and implemented the truths in this book! Inspirational/Self-Help. 256 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

💖This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page - Absolutely amazing trip through a year of books as Tilly Nightingale learns to read and live again after her beloved husband's death. I loved this book! I wish I could read it again for the first time. Fiction. 403 pages, 📃📃📃📃📃

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline - From early 19th-century London to Australia, this story follows the hardships of two transported convicts and an Aboriginal girl. The bonds of friendship hold women's lives together. Historical Fiction. 400 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon - Hayley Holt is trapped in Turkey Grove until a rockslide can be excavated and her bookmobile repaired. Theological insights flow naturally from this story. Christian Rom-com. 279 pages, 📃📃📃📃

💖God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew - What an impressive story of faithfulness, both by Brother Andrew and by God! It is sure to ignite a fire of faith among anyone whose embers are fading! Christian Autobiography. 240 pages, 📃📃📃📃📃

2026 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2026 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2026, found through the search bar at the right):

A Bramble House Christmas by C. J. Carmichael - Sent to investigate the recipient of his father's bequest, Finn finds a young mother and son enjoying a holiday at Bramble House. Finn's opinion of his father and this nurse change. Christmas Romance. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5 hours), 📃📃📃

Once Again to Zelda: The Stories Behind Literature's Most Intriguing Dedications by Marlene Wagman-Geller - A compilation of 50 stories about the dedications authors wrote in the front of their books. Interesting, informative, and well-researched. Nonfiction. 336 pages, 📃📃📃

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate - A dual-timeline novel about the historical practice of stealing land from orphans. Well-researched, but a bit long to get to the point. Historical Fiction. 368 pages (I listened in audio form, 11 CDs, 14 hours), 📃📃📃

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter - An enemies to lovers, second-chance romance set in an inherited bookstore. Shelby wonders why her grandmother left the shop to both Shelby and her ex-boyfriend. Can they work together to make it profitable again? Clean Contemporary Romance. 368 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - Sybil van Antwerp is losing her sight. This is a scary threat to someone who has spent her life sending and receiving letters. Among letters to her brother, her friends, authors, and young people, she also keeps up one unsent letter. The explanation will gut you! Epistolary Novel. 304 pages, 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Answers to Prayer from George Muller's Narratives by George Muller - This great man of prayer outlines his intense prayer efforts and God's consistent faithfulness. We must pray boldly, depending only on prayer, and believing He is capable of meeting our needs. Christian Living. 70 pages (I read the e-book on Hoopla, 76 pages), 📃📃📃

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom - The lives of four individuals intersect during World War II. This is a tale of atrocities filtered through the narration of Truth. Inspirational/Historical Fiction. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 7-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Light in the Darkness by Roy McKay - BBC Talks pamphlet from the late 1950's. No idea where or when I got it, but bolstered by the encouraging words. Broadcast Religious Talks. 16 pages, 📃📃📃

The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson - A very old pamphlet (purchased in Edinburgh many years ago) of a famous, meaningful poem. Beautiful copy. Poetry. 25 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen J. Nichols - Excellent biography of a seminal thinker and preacher in early American history. 247 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson - A British story of a woman who, at 16, gave up her baby for adoption. She is on a journey to find family. Feel-good, British Women's Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney - A hilarious, yet meaningful, consideration of life, death, and second chances. This was worth overlooking mild unsavory aspects to reach the laughter and the lessons. Humorous Fiction. 304 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry - A brief foray into what it took to see the classic "Back to the Future" make it to the big screen. Michael J. Fox's endurance and vision are inspiring. Hollywood Memoir. 156 pages, 📃📃📃📃

💖When Life Feels Empty: 7 Ancient Practices to Cultivate Meaning by Isaac Serrano - Materialism causes us to live horizontally. These 7 practices help us to look up and live vertically, which in turn fills our lives with meaning. Christian Living. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer - A time-travel book set in Jack-the-Ripper's 1888 London and 1938 London on the cusp of World War II. Interesting premise. A bit heavy on the spiritual applications. Christian Historical Fiction. 339 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks With Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker - On this 7-week sabbatical from his phone, Whittaker learns to value savoring, walking, community, and intentionality. Interesting experiment. Convicting commentary. Christian Self-Help. 210 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Uneasy Street by Becky Wade - Part 3 of the Sons of Scandal trilogy. A friends to enemies to lovers story. Sloane and Max have history, but can hurt on both sides be overcome to start anew? Christian Romance. 386 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-1/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Companions in the Darkness: Seven Saints Who Struggled with Depression and Doubt by Diana Gruver - Focusing on greats like Spurgeon, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther, who dealt with chronic depression in spite of their intense faith. Battling depression does not mean you are a lesser Christian, or faithless; it means God, and his children, will walk with you through the darkness. Christian Living. 157 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

2025 - Fourth Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the fourth quarter of 2025 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2025, found through the search bar at the right):

Quiet Places: A Woman's Guide to Personal Retreat by Jane Rubietta - When busyness of life overtakes, it is imperative to set aside some time to get away and contemplate life's problems and purpose. Christian Living. 178 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls - This novel, based on the lives of Jeannette Walls' mother and grandmother, was a romp of a read. All kinds of outlandish characters and events. Novel. 270 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

💖The Deconstruction of Christianity: What it is, Why it's Destructive, and How to Respond by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett - I loved this clearly articulated, soundly supported, and desperately important book. So many are turning from Christianity to create a religious framework on their own terms, rejecting the authority of God's Word, and embracing a view of Christianity that aligns with societal perspectives. Like the Bereans, I want to scour scripture and use it as my guide for interpreting this world and Satan's agenda. Apologetics/Christian Living. 304 pages (I listened in audio form on Hoopla, 7 hours, then studied the ebook and study guide, also available on Hoopla), 📃📃📃📃📃

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst - When their yacht sinks, a British couple survive 118 days at sea on a life-raft and dinghy. Can they survive the attention swarming around them after they are rescued? Survival Biography. 256 pages, 📃📃📃📃-1/2

The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash - Dennis' opinionated instruction rubs Nancy wrong, but perhaps her feelings can change toward him as he helps her make her dream bookshop a success. Romantic Comedy. 290 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6 hours), 📃📃📃

Still Waters: Finding the Place Where God Restores Your Soul by Jane Rubietta - Like in Jane's earlier book, Still Waters encourages women to get away from life's demands and focus on time with the Lord. I loved the chapter on hospitality, even though that is not my spiritual gift at all. Christian Living. 175 pages, 📃📃📃

💖Five Mere Christians: Binge-Worthy Biographies That Show You How to Glorify God in Your Work by Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox - Five brief biographies of a television personality, civil rights activist, Lego founder, abolitionist poet, and famed apologist. These bite-size bios are interesting and inspirational. Raynor proves, once again, that God intends to use those who are not in dedicated Christian service positions. Biography/Christian Living. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

The Harmony Within: The Spiritual Vision of George MacDonald by Rolland Hein - I picked this book because it was written by my former professor at Wheaton College. C. S. Lewis was impacted by George MacDonald's writing. I'm not familiar enough with MacDonald's writing to grasp this book well. Christian Biography/Literary Criticism. 155 pages, 📃📃📃

The Things We Cherished by Pam Jenoff - Two lawyers work together on a WWII war crimes case and fall tentatively in love with one another. Held interest, but not really my cup of tea. Historical Fiction. 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 9 hours), 📃📃

Lenten Lands: My Childhood With Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis by Douglas H. Gresham - Although C. S. Lewis plays a role, this is Douglas' story of his life. It was especially fun to revisit this book because I spent time getting to know the author while he was doing research at the Wade Center. Memoir. 213 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Stories from the River of Mercy: The True Journey of Two Women Who Find Grace and Mercy in Deep Blue Waters by Sheila Walsh - A difficult relationship between a daughter and mother-in-law grows an deepens when cancer looms. Memoir/Christian Living. 144 pages, 📃📃📃

A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer - Travel nurse Ivy West is intent on matchmaking her current patient Beau Wall with her friend, Lucy. However, others hatch plans as well, leading to a hilarious comedy of errors. Christmas Rom-com. 184 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Christmas by Accident by Camron Wright - An accident throws insurance adjuster into the life of a bookstore worker named Abby. Everyone wants a miracle for Christmas. Christmas Romance. 240 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5 hours), 📃📃📃

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham - Travel media sensation, Katie Campbell, is known for her "misadventures." During an Edwardian Experience in Scotland, her insecurities come to the forefront as she falls for a "Hot Scot." Christian Rom-Com. 345 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh - Can Lauren Richmond survive a lengthy ride home for Christmas with Will Sinclair, the man who broke her heart? Will holiday magic bring second chances for both? Christmas Romance. 254 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh - Olive and Liam were next door neighbor sweethearts as pre-teens but distance has grown between them. Liam's mother enlists Olive's help to create a final extravaganza on their tree farm. Will Olive win over grumpy Liam? Christmas Romance. 364 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning - God loves you, period. Stop trying to present a perfect life. "To think that the natural and proper state is to be without wounds is an illusion. Those who wear bulletproof vests protecting themselves from failure, shipwreck, and heartbreak will never know what love is. The unwounded life bears no resemblance to the Rabbi." Christian Living. 171 pages, 📃📃📃

💖Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Advent Reflections to Bring Joy to the World by Hannah Anderson - A marvelous assortment of essays on the natural elements of Christ's birth. I wish I owned this book! I will return to this again next year, if possible. Christmas Essays. 176 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly - Charles Dickens' wife, Catherine, struggles to find joy in the holidays after the death of her infant. Three memory visitations restore her joy in the season. Christmas Novella. 176 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃

2025 - Third Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the third quarter of 2025 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2025, found through the search bar at the right):

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - A tight mother-daughter bond is broken upon the death of Katy's mother, Carol. In the throes of grief, Katy heads off on their planned trip to Italy only to run into a younger version of Carol there in the town of Positano. Women's Fiction. 245 pages, 📃📃📃📃

E. M. Bounds: Man of Prayer - His Life and Selected Writings by Lyle W. Dorsett - What an insightful read when attempting to incorporate more prayer and fasting into my life! E. M. Bounds provides loads of wisdom on the topic of prayer and Lyle is just the author to organize and present Bounds' life and lessons. Christian Living/Biography. 253 pages, 📃📃📃📃-1/2

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - First written (and the best introduction) in the Narnia series, this is a great allegorical study of the story of salvation. It may be my 3rd reading of it, but it was well worth visiting again. Christian Children's Fiction. 208 pages (I listened in audio form, 4 CDs, 4 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - A Reese's Book Club choice selected by my local book club for May's read. Laid up by cancer, Lana Rubicon, with her daughter, Beth, and her granddaughter, Jack, work on solving a murder. Sometimes mother-daughter relationships are difficult. Debut Fiction/Mystery. 354 pages, 📃📃📃

First Love, Second Draft by Becca Kinzer - Her ex-husband Noah is the last person Gracie wants to help her after she sustains a back injury. But nobody else can help and he's available. Can their love be rekindled and can old hurts heal? Inspirational Rom-Com. 320 pages, 📃📃📃📃

The Book of Last Letters by Kerry Barrett - Elsie Watson hopes to inspire others with a book she creates to capture last messages to loved ones during the ravages of the Blitz. She cannot anticipate that one message, one request, will alter her life forever. Historical Fiction. 384 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2

Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C. S. Lewis by Lyle W. Dorsett - Excellent explanation for how C. S. Lewis grew in his spiritual life over the years. Christian Living/Biography. 165 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones - A short collection of essays from a bookstore owner in a small southern town. Memoir/Essays. 240 pages, 📃📃📃📃

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K. C. Davis - Outstanding motivation for when you feel like you just can't keep up with the endless care tasks of living. Depression and trauma can pose severe challenges to what others view as straightforward tasks. Do what you can and give yourself grace. Avoid shame-based cleaning. Make your tasks function for you, rather than against you. Self-help. 144 pages, 📃📃📃📃

A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge - Tilda's small act of kindness to homeless Milo sets in motion healing, friendship, and reconciliation. Uplifting story. Women's Fiction. 290 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/4 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2

The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis - This book covers the theological issues that stem from the presence of pain in a world with an omniscient and omnipotent God. Christian Apologetics. 141 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn - Enduring the loss of her 5-year-old daughter, Steven Curtis Chapman's wife expresses her anguish and faith. Memoir. 288 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6 hours), 📃📃📃📃

💖Coming Clean: A Story of Faith by Seth Haines - A powerful and poetic journal across 90 days of seeking sobriety from alcoholism. The honest expressions of pain and doubt hit home but don't leave readers in despair. Rather, they give rise to faith and forgiveness. Memoir/Christian Living. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold - A mother and 2 daughters head off on a literary road trip in America's heartland exploring sites of various Mid-west authors. Contemporary Women's Fiction. 352 pages, 📃📃📃📃 

The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis - This is the 6th written and 1st in chronological order of the renowned Chronicles of Narnia series. It is a prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I'm glad I read that LWW first. Children's Fiction. 221 pages (I listened in audio form, 4 CDs, 4 hours), 📃📃📃

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning - This book articulates the clear call to trust in God's grace rather than the self-sufficiency of your continued obedient faith. Forgiveness precedes repentance. Christian Living. 233 pages, 📃📃📃📃

He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox - Beckett Walsh bears the responsibility of letting the bees know their beekeeper, her father, is gone. Given her social anxiety, she is unsure how she will survive without him, until a neighbor child and her father's will rattle her world, pushing her out of her comfort zone. Christian Women's Fiction. 326 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2 

Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin's Path to God by Brennan Manning - When life throws us for a loop, we cling to God's trustworthiness, no matter the outcome. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust." Christian Living. 190 pages, 📃📃📃📃 

Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh - Rosie Waterman never expected to be directing a play in a retirement center. Nor did she have a clue how much this could impact her life and her dreams. Rom-com. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 11 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

2025 - Second Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the second quarter of 2025 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2025, found through the search bar at the right):

💖Saving the Saved: How Jesus Saves Us from Try-Harder Christianity into Performance-Free Love by Bryan Loritts - Loritts argues against spiritual meritocracy (using our performance to gain God's approval) and teaches readers how to rest in God's performance-free love. Christian Living. 208 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

The Olive Farm: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of France by Carol Drinkwater - An actress finds love and a new life in France on a ten-acre olive farm. Memoir. 336 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 11-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn - First in a 2-part biography, this volume focuses on the early years of Elliot's life. It explores her upbringing, her courtship, her brief marriage, and her missionary work. It was so good, I sought a physical copy of the book to take notes. Christian Biography. 320 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

💖The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry - Clara Harrington attempts to piece together fragments to solve the mystery behind her mother's disappearance twenty-five years before, when Clara was eight. Based on a real author who disappeared without a trace, this tale stirs longing for family and communication. Historical Fiction. 331 pages, 📃📃📃📃📃

Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle With Stuff by Dana K. White - Overcome the paralysis and begin to purge your life from all that is taking up physical and emotional space in your home. Self-Help. 218 pages, 📃📃📃

The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel) by Jordan Raynor - I'm becoming less and less of Raynor's target audience, yet I still enjoy hearing what he has to say. Could do without so many pop culture illustrations, but this is amply supported with scripture. Christian Living. 224 pages (I listened on Libby, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride by Joe Siple - When 100-year-old Murray McBride realizes his motivation for living has dried up, he embarks on a quest to help a young heart patient fulfill his dying wishes. A heart-warming, life-affirming tale well worth the read. Literary Fiction. 235 pages, 📃📃📃📃

The Paper Bracelet by Rachael English - Katie has always tried to put behind her the time she spent working as a nurse in a home for unwed mothers in the early 1970s. After her husband's death, she pulls out her long-kept box full of paper infant identity bracelets hoping to reunite as many of the mothers and children as she can. Historical Fiction. 384 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Minister Rogers' Neighborhood: How Fred Rogers Glorified God in His Work--and How You Can Do the Same by Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox - Very brief biography of Fred Rogers. This takes a larger-than-life personality and whittles it down to a soundbite for the message that "all work is God's work." Christian Biography. 68 Kindle pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

How to Pray by R. A. Torrey - Classic discussion on the importance, the nature, and the practice of prayer. Christian Living. 107 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer by Andrew Murray - Another classic on prayer. Final section of a month-long school of prayer. Christian Living. 155 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

Being Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn - In this second part of the biography, Vaughn traces more of Elisabeth's shortcomings in her drive for relationships. Elisabeth endured suffering in her final two marriages. Her voice on suffering is a balm to any who face hardship and trial in life. Christian Biography. 320 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan - Historical fiction accounting of the life of Joy Davidman. After reading this, I want to return to my copy of Dr. Lyle Dorsett's book on Joy Davidman, And God Came In. Historical Fiction. 405 pages, 📃📃📃📃-1/2

And God Came In: The Extraordinary Story of Joy Davidman by Lyle W. Dorsett - Follow-up to reading the previous book, I decided to dig out this older biography written by my former boss and beloved professor. Christian Biography. 149 pages, 📃📃📃📃

💖Good Catastrophe: The Tide-Turning Power of Hope by Benjamin Windle - What a powerful book outlining how good comes from bad in our lives and how to cling to our best source of hope, Jesus! Christian Living. 208 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave - Hannah's husband disappears and leaves behind a cryptic note, "Protect her." As she attempts to protect his daughter, Bailey, she confronts what she didn't know about her husband and their past. Mystery Thriller. 336 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 9 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2 

The Garden of Memories by Amanda James - Several women, each facing particular losses, establish a garden of memories and develop friendships. Sweet but slow. Women's Fiction. 378 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 11 hours), 📃📃📃

2025 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2025 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2025, found through the search bar at the right):

💖The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston - When the deceased body of Bernard Greer falls into the river, Fred (an elderly, isolated homeless man), who bears an uncanny resemblance, is mistaken for Bernard and returned to Bernard's nursing home. While it certainly requires extensive "willful suspension of disbelief," this tender, redemptive story explores dementia, loneliness, found family, and kindness. Humorous Fiction. 320 pages, 📃📃📃📃📃

Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham - After loving Authentically, Izzy, I eagerly jumped into this second installment (possible stand-alone). What great spunk and enthusiasm! Hard not to fall in love with Penelope, her love interest, and the island of Skymar. Rom-com. 416 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

💖The Wright Brothers by David McCullough - Wilbur and Orville Wright had a dream they pursued with confidence and abandon. Fascinating history. Inspiration to stick with whatever you feel God is calling you to accomplish. Biography/History. 336 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 10 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley - A group of senior citizens sets out to save a child-care facility and the young single dad relying on the facility. Humorous Fiction. 358 pages, 📃📃-1/2

This Must Be the Place: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Discover Your Purpose Today by Jami Nato - Every single thing that has happened to you, every place your heart aches or sings, every planned step and unplanned fall... all are breadcrumbs you can use to trace your place in this world and God's purpose for your life. Memoir/Christian Living. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

A Christmas Spark by Cindy Steel - Stuck in a cabin in a snow storm, love begins to blossom. Rom-com. 116 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃

Brightly Shining by Ingvild Rishoi - Depressing tale of two young girls struggling to survive their father's alcoholism and muster Christmas spirit where there is none. Maybe others found it, but I found little redemption in the tale. Christmas Fiction. 182 pages, 📃

The Intentional Year: Simple Rhythms for Finding Freedom, Peace, and Purpose by Glenn and Holly Packiam - Encouragement for intentionality in redeeming your time for God's glory, others' good, and your joy. Christian Nonfiction. 209 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly - A time-traveller interrupts life for a tween and teen in 1999, teaching them to appreciate "the first state of being," the present. Middle Grade Fiction. 272 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5 hours), 📃📃📃

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - An elderly woman walks across Manhattan. You'd think there would be no story. Alas, you'd think wrong! With spunk and vigor, Lillian weaves an entrancing tale. Historical Fiction. 284 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Joe Egan  & Donn Fendler - A middle grade book sharing the story of Donn's experience when he was lost for 9 days on Mount Kathadin as a twelve-year-old. Middle Grade Nonfiction. 128 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 2-1/4 hours), 📃📃📃

Holy Habits: 10 Small Decisions That Lead to a Big Life by Noah Herrin - This 28-year-old author offers 10 habits to deepen your walk with God. Fairly standard stuff. Christian Living. 176 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3-1/2 hours), 📃📃-1/2

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig - Haig opens up about his debilitating bout with anxiety and depression and reminds readers that there are multitudes of reasons to stay alive. Memoir/Novel. 264 pages, 📃📃📃

Happy & Sad & Everything True by Alex Thayer - Dee Diller is dealing with a lot: loss of a best friend, mortified by her mother, and unsure why her father abandoned them. Her sanctuary in the school bathroom opens doors to heal her own inner wounds and the wounds of others. Middle Grade Fiction. 288 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃

💖Letters from the Mountain by Ben Palpant - Outstanding epistle from a Christian dad to his daughter on writing and working as a lantern for God's light to shine into the world. Wanted to buy it for myself after listening to the first hour of the audio book. So much to highlight and underline. Christian Writing Memoir. 201 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃 

You Are a Tree: And Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer by Joy Clarkson - An excellent discussion on metaphors in the Bible. Christian Living. 208 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham - A blend of Romeo and Juliet with You've Got Mail. Laura and Isaac are kept apart by feuding families, but will a mysterious correspondence bring them together? Christian Fiction. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Tips on Staying Alive: Build Powerful Hope from a 10-year Cancer Survivor by L. Neal Pearcy - Part illness-battle-plan/ part resilience memoir. A quick and easy read packed with insights and information. I would have loved twice as many pages and a more in-depth look for the memoir section (proof again, that everyone's story matters!). Medical/Memoir. 45 pages, 📃📃📃

2024 - Fourth Quarter Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the fourth quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

💖Catching Foxes: A Gospel-Guided Journey to Marriage by John Henderson - A pre-marital workbook with value to all pre-married and married couples. Nonfiction - Christian Living. 296 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh - Two women embark upon a road trip that challenges their life decisions and solidifies an unlikely friendship. Christian Fiction. 370 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeeles - Book 1 in the Heaven's Cove series features Rosie Merchant's return to her childhood home after the death of her mother. She once fled the small Devon village; she now longs to retain her home and her memories. Women's Fiction. 330 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis - This YA book outlines a teen athlete's descent into opioid addiction after an injury. Hit very close to home, but it is such an important topic for young people. Young Adult. 448 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Heirloomist: 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell by Shana Novak - 100 vignettes about treasured items with sentimental value. Great photos. Fun stories. Nonfiction, 256 pages, 👍👍👍

Be Not Far from Me by Mindy McGinnis - Yet another McGinnis teen read about a girl lost in the Smoky Mountains. A riveting survival story. Young Adult. 240 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons - Widowed bookstore owner, Gertie Bingham, takes in a headstrong German Jewish girl and discovers the power of books and found family. Historical Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Funny Story by Emily Henry - Two opposites, with a harsh shared past, attract in this very funny and romantic story. Instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Romantic Comedy. 544 pages (I listened in audio form, CDs, 11-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox - Sarah Ashby just wants to return home to help her grandmother save the family store. Yet, her mother is determined to keep her from settling for life in a small town. Christian Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Lettie Starcross arrives in Heaven's Cove with a key and a letter and a desperate desire to unravel their mysteries. Book 2 in the Heaven's Cove series. Women's Fiction. 314 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

💖Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life by Mark Vroegop - An exploration on biblical themes of waiting including why it is important, what it teaches, and how to do it well. Christian Living. 152 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3 hours, and then skimmed the Hoopla e-book), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Christmas Pact by Meg Easton - Jack (a Christmas Grinch) and Noelle (Christmas personified, but mired in grief) attempt to overcome their hesitations in order to bring Christmas to life for Jack's nephew. Christmas Romance. 218 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - In Maine, 1789, mid-wife Martha Ballard documents and attempts to solve a rape and mysterious murder. Thanks to Ballard's literacy, the historical documents of her diary gave way to a fabulous fictional tale from her life. Historical Fiction. 448 pages (I listened in audio form, 12 CDs, 15 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers - Erin Connolly is relieved to retrieve a favorite novel she accidentally donated to a Little Free Library. She is sure it is her copy because she finds her notes in the margins. Indeed, she finds someone else's notes in the margins and they are addressed to her. A mystery is afoot. Romance. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway - Claire Frost is infuriated when a stranger accosts her in the London airport accusing her of taking his bag. Who knew, hours later, he'd be accusing her of taking his bed? Or that she'd be stuck dealing with him on a daily basis. Christmas Romance, 302 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman - 12-year-old CeeCee is sent to live with her great-aunt Tootie in Savannah where she is embraced and comforted by several unique and colorful women. Women's Fiction. 336 pages, 👍👍-1/2

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig - Young women from Smith College travel to France to assist the poor in World War I. Historical Fiction. 544 pages (I listened in audio form, 13 CDs, 16 hours), 👍👍👍👍

2024 - Third Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the third quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

Origins of a Story by Jake Grogan - 202 stories of the inspiration behind famous works of literature. Delightfully intriguing, even for the ones I didn't know. 320 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Getaway Girls by Dee MacDonald - 3 older women set off on a caravan adventure seeking escape, connection, and love. Light-hearted beach read. 340 pages, 👍👍👍

Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry - 11-year-old Sophie prods stories from her best friend, 88-year-old Sophie as they face down declining cognitive abilities. Sweet tale. 208 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

💖Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - A penniless child sent, by callous relatives, to boarding school trains and becomes a governess for a mysterious and magnetic master, Mr. Rochester. Such a well-written and executed novel. Deserves to be the classic it is! 480 pages (I listened in audio form, 16 CDs, 17-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Memory Library by Kate Storey - An estranged mother and daughter reconnect and reconcile through a shared love of books. 337 pages, 👍👍👍

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold - Rookie reporter Aidyn Kelly doesn't know what she's in for when asked to write an obituary for the remarkable, hospice patient, Mrs. Clara Kip. A tale of faith, friendship, and final moments. 368 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - Nikki Werner flees to her father's childhood home after her parents' divorce complicates her relationship with her boyfriend, Isaac. While there, she uncovers her German heritage and attempts to "do the next thing." 308 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard - A Christian romantic thriller set in Alaska. Will the mysterious Grier Brenner confess why he is in Shadow Gap and how he is perfectly prepared for helping the police chief deal with the current crime spate? 336 pages, 👍👍👍

What a Wave Must Be by Angela Hunt - A Christian novel about suicide. Very difficult listen. Not sure I'm glad I bit. 320 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - 3 lives intersect in a bookstore demonstrating regret, grief, and forgiveness. It is also about reading and the restorative nature of books. 273 pages, 👍👍👍👍

💖Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - What a remarkably bright debut novel weaving a tale of a widow, an octopus, and an abandoned young man. Each has dealt with loss, but when they connect it brings all the feels! Didn't want it to end! 368 pages (I listened in audio form, 11-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Year That Changed Us by Helen Rolfe - Best friends Emma and Lise head to Paris for a year of adventure. What transpires leads to fractures in the friendship that take years to surmount. 322 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍

A Thousand Times Yes: Two Doctors Who Answered God's Call by Wana Ann G. Fort with Kim P. Davis - An uplifting missionary story of a life of faith, family, and fortitude. 183 pages, 👍👍👍

The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel - Two women attempt a marathon race to raise money in memory of their deceased adventurous husbands. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy and Other Massive Things by Dr. W. Lee Warren - After his son was stabbed to death, Dr. Warren sought to discern what keeps people from bouncing back after tragedy and traumatic events of life. He logically explains, with great personal illustrations, how important hope is in the process of healing. 260 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Telephone Box Library by Rachael Lucas - A frazzled history teacher turns up in a Cotswolds village and strikes up friendship and love, finding her place in the community. 391 pages, 👍👍👍

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko - Hank Hooperman hates making mistakes. He's made quite a few, but his worst one yet is the tenth one on his list: "Trusted my mother." 306 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

2024 - Second Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the second quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner - Fascinating, but unnerving, story of a family divided by the separation of East Germans by the Berlin Wall. 416 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin - Follow-up novella to If I Were You. I loved returning to the world of the If I Were You characters and enjoyed the message about the true meaning of Christmas. 304 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland - Positive affirmations of hidden talent when we tap into our true and authentic voices. Don't let criticism or self-doubt keep you from writing. Great pep talk for writers! 188 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 3-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg - How to be a better communicator and foster deeper connections. 320 pages, 👍👍👍

💖Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan - A young missionary daughter finds herself entangled in the schemes of her wicked neighbors and separated from the country and family she loves. 208 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel - Twin sisters travel around the world to fulfill the bucket list left by the previous owner of one sister's transplanted heart. A tale of sibling relationships, second chances, and spiritual insights. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan - I didn't like this book nearly as much as Listening for Lions. A young girl in India faces marriage to a sickly young man and a life of hardship. 212 pages, 👍👍

The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away my Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders - This book provides a pep-talk on mindful spending, possession purging, and intentional living. 179 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8 AM) by Hal Elrod - Elrod suggests 7 practices to observe each morning to jump-start your day, increase productivity in your week, and find purpose and fulfillment in your life. 227 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel - Three women, bound by the conflicted love of the men in their lives, seek freedom and purpose and a story worth sharing. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - The simple lives of two rural British families are upended when Mr. Earnshaw brings home a filthy foundling and sets out to raise him with the others. An enduring classic love story. 376 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 11 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore - A fictional tale of a forced life of isolation at the Carville National Leprosarium. 384 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Forever Gift by Brooke Harris - A tight-knit mother-daughter duo face down cancer and the complications it creates in interpersonal relationships. I didn't expect the ending to play out as it did. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go by Les Edgerton - A writer's guide to starting well right out of the gate. You must hook the reader in the first paragraph. 236 pages, 👍👍👍👍

New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn - 25-year-old Daisy May inherits a canal boat from a grandfather she never knew. Can she uncover her mother's reason for keeping her from her father and grandfather? Can she forgive for the lost years? 282 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer - Hoping to raise funds for her music program, Charlotte agrees to a tandem bike challenge with her ex-fiancé's brother. The challenges mount as opposites attract. 321 pages, 👍👍👍 

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz - Two women backpackers encounter trouble in foreign countries and cover up their actions. Returning to the states, they attempt to keep their secrets and their friendship. 300 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn - In book two of the Wildflower Lock series, Daisy May opens a coffee shop on her canal boat but must battle rival attractions to two men simultaneously. 290 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

2024 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). What a stellar quarter! 5 💖books I highly recommend. Of the rest, all were 4👍 or higher, except for 1 at 3👍. I read the following books during the first quarter of 2024 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2024, found through the search bar at the right):

You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza - A book that brings up so many discussion-worthy topics: race, motherhood, adoption, abuse, and love. True page-turner based on an unusual "what if" premise. 318 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobbie Brown (with Kathleen McGurl) - A novel retelling of the largest civilian loss during WWII, a devastating catastrophe of 173 crushed to death after one woman's fall down the stairs to the underground shelter during an air raid. 304 pages, 👍👍👍👍 

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer - Similar to You've Got Mail, a couple begin corresponding under false impressions. Will love win out? 384 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - A group of four boys, self-styled musketeers, set off on a journey heading on the Lincoln Highway, bound for California. However, two decide they must first make a trek to New York to retrieve something that belongs to them. With plenty of friction, conflict, and unique characters, the story is riveting and worthwhile. 592 pages (I listened in audio form, 13 CDs, 16-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

💖Do You Pray? by J. C. Ryle - This powerful treatise on the urgency, power, and purpose of prayer is a must-read for anyone interested in boosting their time in communion with God. It is too important to let slide! 72 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 1-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

💖Loving Him Well: Practical Advice on Influencing Your Husband by Gary Thomas - If you want to change your marriage, start by remodeling yourself. Loving your husband well may require sacrifice, but God's goal of honing your holiness is always worth whatever you invest. 288 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

💖A Lifelong Love: Discovering How Intimacy With God Breathes Passion into Your Marriage by Gary Thomas - Seek to address the pillars of a good marriage: spiritual intimacy, relational intimacy, and devotional intimacy. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-2/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

Reset: Powerful Habits to Own Your Thoughts, Understand Your Feelings & Change Your Life by Debra Fileta, M.A., LPC - 31 suggested practices to change your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and break patterns of dysfunction. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

💖Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner - A beautiful, though tragic, tale of innocence lost, differences scorned, and lives redeemed. 400 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan - Amazing how swimming with friends in the Irish Sea can make looming obstacles seem smaller! Loved the camaraderie, the colorful setting, and the interesting characters. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - This prequel to The Hunger Games series wasn't nearly as riveting or thought-provoking as the rest of the books. Glad to have given it a shot, but will not pick it up again, even if I re-read THG. 528 pages, 👍👍👍

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page - A debut novel that tugs heartstrings and reminds us that we all have a story to tell. 314 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham - A lovely epistolary novel about love, loss, and family. 432 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 12-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

💖If I Were You by Lynn Austin - Best Lynn Austin novel I've read yet! Such a riveting tale of two women whose lives intersect and come to a crossroads when one assumes the identity of the other. 464 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 13-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

The Soul of Prayer by P. T. Forsyth - The writing is not easily digestible, but bears consideration. He argues for the power and importunity of prayer! 108 pages, 👍👍👍👍

2023 - Fourth Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the fourth quarter of 2023 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2023, found through the search bar at the right):

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking by Dr. Caroline Leaf - I'm sure following these guidelines even half-heartedly would help your brain and mental function. Yet, I must admit to a bit of overwhelm. This sounds like a lot of mental work. And it sometimes smacks of "think yourself happy." 290 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

💖A Place to Land by Laura K. Denton - This tender, redemptive story will linger like a gentle kiss in your soul. Each page shimmers and taps all of the senses. I loved that it was well-written, clean, and wholesome. 337 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale - Cassandra Dankworth has just been dumped and fired. Can a bit of time-travel help her repair the damage so things will turn out better? Loved her quirkiness! 359 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton - When Mags wills her old bed and breakfast to her granddaughter Sara she stipulates that Sara must restore the house before she can dispose of it as she wishes. The restoration process reveals hidden truths and introduces love. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 8-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

💖The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh - Another unique character with deep longings despite social ineptitude. I adored this book! 353 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - When Hadley misses her flight to London for her father's wedding, she feels unlucky. After six hours on a plane next to a dashing and entertaining British boy, her estimations may change. Full of the magic of love and the mess of conflict. 256 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2 - movie beats book! - [💖👍👍👍👍👍 for the movie Love at First Sight]

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys - Set in Madrid after the Spanish Civil War, this book of historical fiction incorporates official documents (oral history, articles, and books) as it uncovers details of hidden scandal. 528 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend - Boundaries are so important. This is something I struggle with. I needed this guidance in how to find and be a safe person. 208 pages (I listened to an abridged version on Hoopla, 2-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity With the Gospel by Dean Inserra - Saved Christians are Christian by conviction rather than culture. Inserra's point is valid. Christianity with a weak understanding of Christ's role lacks the main essence. But, there is hope. Cultural Christians need to hear a clear articulation of the gospel. 208 pages, (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Sacrificial Lamb: A Reverend Margot Quade Cozy Mystery Novella #2 by S. E. Biglow - Barnes and Noble calls it a Christian Cozy Mystery. It is neither cozy nor Christian, really. Boys murdered. Passing generic terms of faith. 102 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 1-3/4 hour), 👎

Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache by Granger Smith - If you have ever experienced trauma or loss in some form, this book will resonate. 195 pages, 👍👍👍

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl - I took copious notes from this informative book on arguing for the faith. 284 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

12 Days at Bleakly Manor: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep - Danger lurks when an odd assortment of individuals all visit a manor in hopes of staying the 12 days of Christmas to win a final prize. Sure to appeal if you want a Christian, inspirational, Victorian holiday mystery. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍 

The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear - The 16th book in the (apparently well-known and well-regarded) Maisie Dobbs Series, opens with a murder and ends with a marriage and a massive assault. Interesting, but perhaps not enough to lure me in for the series. 352 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

A Christmas Prayer by Kimberla Lawson Roby - Alexis Fletcher is engaged, but can the joy of the prospect of marriage cancel out her grief, her struggles with her sister, and her challenges with her future mother-in-law? 209 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 4 hours), 👍👍👍

A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - Thinking deception will help his case, a law clerk asks an inn waitress to pose as his wife in order to attempt to secure an inheritance. Delightful references to the works of Charles Dickens and insightful comments about truth and faith. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Old Lace Shop by Michelle Griep - This is book 3 in Griep's lovely Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Another story of second chances, love lost and found, and God's provision. 192 pages? (I listened on Hoopla but only available in the full series set so guessing it was around 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

2023 - Third Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the third quarter of 2023 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2023, found through the search bar at the right):

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash - A sweeping, enchanting tale of the temporary displacement of a young girl sent from England to America during WWII. Loved the main character and exploring her dilemmas. 348 pages, 👍👍👍👍-3/4

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows - Not nearly as satisfying as The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, yet I stuck with it for the lengthy audio book. 512 pages (I listened in audio form, 15 CDs, 19 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel - Enjoyed more than her much-raved-about Station Eleven because of the clever play on time travel and its ramifications. 272 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 6 hours), 👍👍👍

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - Klara is a solar-powered artificial friend who hopes the sun will heal her owner, Josie. To what lengths would you go, in order to retain a loved one? My large print version had 403 pages, 👍👍👍

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann - Two separate factions return from a harrowing adventure at sea. Whose story should be believed? Gruesome, but fascinating. 257 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott - Two teens with Cystic Fibrosis fall in love despite the limiting restriction of remaining five feet apart for their own safety and health. 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese - Tag line: Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript. Christian fiction where the story drives the message - my favorite kind. 384 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Please Sorry Thanks by Mark Batterson - With his trademark well-crafted phrasing, Batterson writes of three magic words that can change the world. 140 pages, 👍👍👍👍

All My Knotted-up Life by Beth Moore - A vulnerable, honest look into the life of a woman celebrated for her ministry focusing women on the Word. 289 pages, 👍👍👍👍

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson - One of my favorite travel writers hilariously recounts his hike with a friend along the Appalachian Trail. 397 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte - Laconte outlines how their experiences in the Great War influenced Lewis and Tolkien's writing. 196 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. - Discussing the causes and consequences of trauma, Dr. van der Kolk suggests ways to heal after trauma has reshaped your brain and body. 356 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley - As Chandler Baker writes in her endorsement, "With wit, sass, and real emotion, Tanner and Louise, two unlikely fugitives, find connection, common ground, and true friendship across generations." 337 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Lost Airman: A True Story of Escape from Nazi-Occupied France by Seth Meyerowitz with Peter F. Stevens - Many men who return from war never speak of what transpired. Thankfully, Arthur Meyerowitz's tale was preserved through the research of his grandson. 320 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 9-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

💖On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble - Get out of bed and give God the glory with each day He gives, no matter how much mental affliction you battle. Do it for Him. Do it for others who watch. 84 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy - Listening is a lost art. In this digital age, our attention spans have shrunk and our ability to wait for what the other person is trying to communicate has suffered. Murphy hopes to improve your abilities and make the world a kinder place. 288 pages (I listened - truly - in audio form, 6 CDs, 6-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Sand Bucket List: Lessons for Living Life and Facing Death by Brad Fischer -  After a terminal cancer diagnosis, the author shares some of his life stories and the lessons his daughters can glean from them. 216 pages, 👍👍👍👍

To Be Told: God Invites You to Coauthor Your Future by Dan B. Allender, PhD - As someone who thinks in story all the time, this was a welcome reminder that our stories are important and God writes even the tragic bits to a purpose and plan. What does your story reveal about God? 215 pages, 👍👍👍

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck - It was interesting to revisit this classic. I read it as a senior in high school and had no recollection of the promiscuity. Still, it was a great read. 392 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12 hours), 👍👍👍👍

2023 - Second Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the second quarter of 2023 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2023, found through the search bar at the right):

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - Now that Prince Harry and Megan Markle are living in America, he wishes to set the record straight and put forth his side of the story, countering the lies fabricated by the media for the purpose of sales. He joins the media in seeking profit from a story. 410 pages (I listened in audio form, 13 CDs, 15-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

💖Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer - A riveting story of the initial efforts to scale Mt. Everest. In Archer's signature style, the ending held great satisfaction and made me a little weepy. 448 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 11 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan - Retold many times over for adults and children, this epic tale of a pilgrim's journey on the path to heaven is full of spiritual application and allegorical truth. Every Christian should read this book! Various page counts and mediums, some more effective and enjoyable than others.

💖Maureen by Rachel Joyce - This is the 3rd book exploring the lives of characters introduced in her blockbuster hit, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Yet another pilgrimage I highly recommend to other readers! 132 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

Home Detox: Make Your Home a Healthier Place For Everyone Who Lives There by Daniella Chace  - Suggestions outlining the top ten toxic items in various rooms or areas of a house and acceptable replacements. In many ways, a terrifying book. 195 pages, 👍👍👍

Praying for My Life: Holding On to God's Promises, No Matter What by Marion Bond West - A powerful litany of life stories that demonstrate the importance of tenacious prayer, our only lifeline. 285 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky - Pregnant teen mom pulls herself up by the bootstraps to a prominent position of high school principal, only to possibly lose it all when her own teen becomes pregnant. Is she a bad mother like her own mother? What defines a good mother? 343 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍

Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight by J. I. Packer & Carolyn Nystrom - As Packer says, this is not a "how-to," as much as it is a "who-to" or "to whom" for prayer. Deep insights into the nature and struggle of prayer. Although the cover said, "unabridged," the introduction labelled this "selections" from Praying - and the page count for the hardback doesn't seem to match the time length of the audio - 319 pages (I listened, twice, in audio form, 2 CDs, 2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado - Lucado's is a more storied exploration on prayer than the deep thoughts offered in the previous book by Packer. He offers a recitable pocket prayer as guidance. 159 pages (I listened in audio form, 2 CDs, 2-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍

Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada - A series of short essays that highlight the presence of God in our lives. Honest, vulnerable, Christ-focused. 160 pages (I listened in audio form, 3 CDs, 3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy With the Spiritual Disciplines by Nathan Foster - Son of author of Celebration of Discipline outlines his own experience with trying to implement more spiritual discipline into his life. He is honest and vulnerable, but I found less meat than I had hoped. 194 pages, 👍👍👍

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado - Simple stories accompany principles for finding peace in times of trouble. 222 pages (I listened in audio form, 3 CDs, 3-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly: Life Wisdom from Someone Who Will (Probably) Die Before You by Margareta Magnusson - From the author of a book on Swedish "death-cleaning," comes a book on tips for aging well. 160 pages (I listened in audio form, 3 CDs, 3-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

Prayer: Does it Make a Difference? by Philip Yancey - A thorough journalistic investigation into the power and mysteries of prayer. 352 pages, 👍👍👍👍

💖Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop - Biblical lament pours out the agonies of life below to the sovereign God above and helps us live today with hope for tomorrow. 224 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

2023 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 thumbs up - highly recommend, 4 thumbs up - enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - good, 2 thumbs up - meh, and 1 thumb down - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2023 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2023, found through the search bar at the right):

Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber - Yet another simple, clean Christmas travel romance, this covering a vacation cruise down the Amazon. 272 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 5-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa Genova - I think this book's primary goal is to set minds at ease by differentiating between normal memory lapses and dementia-indicating memory lapses. 246 pages, 👍👍👍

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva - A fictional retelling of how Charles Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol. 271 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Down the Hatch by M. C. Beaton - Can Agatha Raisin identify the killer of a much-despised man who worked as a gardener at a bowling club? 240 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Intermittent Fasting for Women Over 60: The Ultimate Guide to Lose Weight, Boost Metabolism, and Increase Energy by Lauren Grant - A quick guide (not "ultimate," though) to intermittent fasting and keto diet approach to weight loss and rejuvenation. Helpful resources available with purchase. 205 pages, 👍👍👍

Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance - A book my book club read and I'm only getting to now. Rife with foul language, expected from hillbillies, but an articulate and insightful read. 288 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 6-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Diana, William, and Harry: The Most Heartbreaking Story of Our Time - Diana's Life as a Princess and a Mother by James Patterson and Chris Mooney - Feels like fiction, but sadly tells the true story of Diana's triumphs and trials. 448 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 10-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍 

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander - Delightful little tale of a woman who acquires a cottage with a defunct red telephone box that, as the books she places inside, opens up a whole new world to her. 318 pages, 👍👍👍👍

12 Weeks to a Sharper You: A Guided Program - Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Dr. Sanjay Gupta -  A weekly approach to establishing better habits for brain health. 208 pages (I listened in audio form, 4 CDs, 4-1/3 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Heaven Rules: Take Courage. Take Comfort. Our God is in Control by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth - Focusing on the book of Daniel, this author outlines how these two pithy words, "heaven rules," can address every temptation to worry that we face. - 256 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

Never Forget You by Fiona Lucas - After a spontaneous, romantic day together, Lili and Ben agree to meet one year later. Five years after Lili fails to show, a woman stumbles into his village with amnesia, wearing a necklace he recognizes. 400 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

Indiana Winter by Susan Neville - A collection of semi-true, semi-fictional essays about Indiana and its people. 249 pages, 👍👍👍

Inciting Joy: Essays by Ross Gay - An Indiana University writing professor and poet addresses the way both sorrows and pleasures of life incite joy. Beautiful writing, even if I do not share many of his perspectives on life and politics. 245 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C. S. Lewis - In a series of letters to a friend, Lewis covers the topic of prayer with intellectual curiosity and conversational ruminations. 124 pages, 👍👍👍👍

My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope by Anne Wilson - A Christian recording artist shares her testimony of God's grace in the midst of grief. 194 pages, 👍👍👍