August 2025 Reading Recap & September 2025 TBR

    My August 2025 Reads: 

1. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A story of life and suffering with a fascinating, admirable heroine. An excellent example of classical literature with the exception of the too abrupt ending.


2. The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer  - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An entertaining romcom that held space for serious issues. Read my review.

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Expected September 2025 Reads:

1. With God in Every Breath: A Guide to Drawing Closer to Jesus Through Your Senses by Whitney R. Simpson - Currently reading. It has already made me rethink the way I view my body and exposed lies I grew up believing.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White - Read this book earlier in the summer, but it's the September selection for my local book club, so I'll be rereading it. Read my review.


4. Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles - My local book club's August selection. I missed reading it, but the discussion made it sound so good, that I still want to read it.

What will you read this month? 

February 2025 Reading Recap & March 2025 TBR

  My February 2025 Reads: 

1. Darkness Calls the Tiger by Janyre Tromp - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A potent story of loss and revenge. It held flowing prose, a fresh setting, and a daring heroine. Read my review.


2. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - ⭐⭐⭐½ - A bedtime devotional designed to calm the reader and encourage her to trust in God.


3. An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon - ⭐⭐⭐ - A light, bookish read with alopecia representation. Read my review.


4. A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander - ⭐⭐ - Written well-enough, but mixed/unhealthy messages about boundaries, patriarchy, victim shaming, and handling infidelity. Affiliated with Focus on the Family.

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Expected March 2025 Reads:

1. The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell by Kelly Flanagan.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet.


4. Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow - My local book club's March selection.

What will you read this month? 

October 2024 Reading Recap & November 2024 TBR

 My October 2024 Reads: 

1. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Classic Tessa Afshar: witty, entertaining, and lots of spiritual themes. Read my review.


2. Tell Her Story by Nijay K. Gupta - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Academic in tone and thorough in research, the author illuminated the lives of women in the early Christian church. Read my review.


3. A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey - ⭐⭐⭐½ - More adventure than romance as a would-be couple seeks to help King Alfred regain the Saxon throne. Not bad, but I wouldn't reread it.

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Expected November 2024 Reads:

1. A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell - My local book club's November selection. Read my review from earlier this year.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll.

What will you read this month? 

September 2024 Reading Recap & October 2024 TBR

 My September 2024 Reads: 

Wow! I read more in September than any other month this year! Two were novellas and one was a nonfiction I'd been reading for months, but the others were full length novels. 

1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved this book... right up until I didn't. I knew the *thing* was coming, but I surely cried when it happened. An excellent debut novel. Review to come.


2. The One with the Kiss Cam - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Absolutely loved the romance in this one. Read my review. 


3. Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 10/08/24.


4. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A self-help read with lots to consider. Read my review.


5. To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An average Regency romance that was a fun way to spend a few hours. Read my review.


6. Her Surprise Vacation Date by Liwen Y. Ho - ⭐⭐⭐½ - An easy, fun romcom with bookish vibes. 


7. The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Review to come.


8. The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - A second chance romance set amid the Christmas season. Short enough to read in an afternoon, but also short on character depth and plot build up that the story needed.

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Expected October 2024 Reads:

1. The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese - My local book club's October selection.


2. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - Can't wait for this one!
 
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


5. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


6. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll.

What will you read this month? 

August 2024 Reading Recap & September 2024 TBR

 My August 2024 Reads: 

1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An all-around excellent novel and my local book club's August selection.


2. For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A little of everything: sisterhood, time travel, drama, hope, and romance. - Read my review.


3. The Last Exchange by Charles Martin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A gritty novel with a dedicated hero, truth bombs, and an intense plot that wouldn't let me go. - Read my review.


4. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐ - A sweet Christmas story that suffered the typical constraints of the novella form. Review to come.

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Expected September 2024 Reads:

1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - My local book club's September selection.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

July 2024 Reading Recap & August 2024 TBR

 My July 2024 Reads: 

1. Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Romance, romance, and romance! - Read my review.


2. The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A deep, probing novel about multigenerational relationships. Also, my local book club's July selection. We used it as an opportunity to discuss each person's heritage and bring/eat a favorite childhood food.


3. Treason Trail by Kit Hawthorne - ⭐⭐⭐½ - A shorter novel set a the end of America's War for Independence. I liked the characters and found the encryption/decoding element interesting. I enjoyed the story while I was reading it, but I don't think I would reread it.

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Expected August 2024 Reads:

1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - My local book club's August selection.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

April 2024 Reading Recap & May 2024 TBR

My April 2024 Reads: 

1. Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I enjoyed this authentic, interesting Christian living book. Read my review.


2. Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin - ⭐⭐⭐½ - My local book club's selection for April. It generated lots of good discussion.


3. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano - ⭐⭐⭐ - Not my favorite book by this author, but it had an interesting combination of depth, mystery, and whimsy. Read my review.


4. These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas - ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.

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Expected May 2024 Reads:

1. Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes.
 

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


3. The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese. - My local book club's selection for May. Read my original review here.


4. The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green.


5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month?

March 2024 Reading Recap & April 2024 TBR

My March 2024 Reads: 

1. The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This time around, I read the novel with my local book club, and it seemed that everyone loved it! Read my review from last year. 


2. Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A wonderfully encouraging book for moms with kids at home. Read my review.


3. Running to You by Robin Patchen - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Gripping and romantic. Just what I wanted the fourth weekend in March. Review to come.


4. Up from the Dust by Heather Kaufmann - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A richly-layered story filled with grief, difficulty, and beautiful spiritual truths. Read my review. 

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Expected April 2024 Reads:

1. These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas.


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


3. Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin - My local book club's selection for April.


4. The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green.


5. The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano - Currently reading.


6. Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie. - Currently reading.

What will you read this month?

February 2024 Reading Recap and March 2024 TBR

My February 2024 Reads: 

1. Ladies of the Lake by Cathy Gohlke - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review.


3. While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review. 


4. Manor for Sale, Baron Included by Esther Hatch - ⭐⭐⭐ - This novella had a likeable heroine, swoony moments, and great potential. Had it been a full-length novel with more character development and certain story elements flushed out, this could have been a five star novel.

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Expected March 2024 Reads:

1. Up From the Dust by Heather Kaufmann.


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


3. The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar - My local book club's March selection. Read my review.


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


5. Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie.

What will you read this month?

November 2023 Reading Recap & December 2023 TBR

My November 2023 Reads: 

1. The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.

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Expected December 2023 Reads:

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


2. Suing Cinderella by Stephanie Mack.


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. An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti. - My local book club's December selection.

What will you read this month?