September & October 2023 Reading Recap, + November 2023 TBR

My September 2023 Reads: 

1. Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Iris by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I wish Iris and Hudson's story had been completely in this book instead of part of it being in "Ned." It took awhile for things to come back to me even though I read "Ned" only a few months ago. Overall, a good story that held my attention and had me rooting for the good guys.


3. The Evangelical Imagination by Karen Swallow Prior - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


4. Creed by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐½  - Read my review.


5. A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - Read my review.

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My October 2023 Reads: 

1. The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky - ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.

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Expected November 2023 Reads:

1. He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox.


2. The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox. - My local book club's selection for November.


3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain - Currently reading. Similar to a dictionary, but with less words and an aim for fun.


5. Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin. - Currently reading.


6. Suing Cinderella by Stephanie Mack.

What will you read this month?

Book Review: A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson

About the Book:

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school, and she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she is a direct descendant of King Maximillian Konig V, the ruler of a small European principality called Montovia.

What? No. That's the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Still, curiosity gets the best of her, leading to a Christmas break trip chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament, and the chance at a real-life fairy tale romance.

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My Thoughts:

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson invites readers to Montovia, a small country with friendly citizens, Christmas spirit, and a dying king.  Law student Adelaide Smith receives a “Princess Diaries” experience when a DNA test identifies her as a close relation to King Max of Montovia. She agrees to meet King Max, who warmly embraces her, but she finds opposition in the form of a wicked stepmother and cunning step-sibling. The novella felt like a mashup of The Princess Diaries and Cinderella wrapped in Christmas festivities. There’s a mystery and a small twist at the end, but the story seemed predictable and mostly unoriginal. I wished for greater character development or more emotional depth, but readers who desire a light, Christmasy tale to pass a few hours with might enjoy this novella more than I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.