July 2025 Reading Recap & August 2025 TBR

   My July 2025 Reads: 

1. The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A sobering, timely, well-written novel. Read my review.


2. Religious Rebels: Finding Jesus in the Awkward Middle Way by Christy Lynne Wood  - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I read this book last month, but it was so good that I read it again.


3. The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An excellent story of romance, struggle, and speaking hard truth. 


4. Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Thoroughly entertaining and edifying. I read it in one long sitting. Read my review.


5. To Belong Together by Emily Conrad - ⭐⭐⭐½ - I liked the main characters on an individual level, but I didn’t love their romance. The novel had a great faith element that I enjoyed. Definitely want to finish this series!


6. Awake by Jen Hatmaker - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Intriguing and entertaining... but also a bit disappointing.


7. A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Historical fiction with a slow-burn romance and family ties. Read my review.


8. Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis - ⭐⭐⭐ - Hard to rate because I thoroughly enjoyed some portions of the book while I found other sections nauseating, tedious, and slow.

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Expected August 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. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. - A classic that I wanted to read after seeing the movie.


4. Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles - My local book club's August selection. 

 

What will you read this month? 

Book Review: Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette

About the Book: 

Gavriel, a soldier in the elite company of Yonatan--son of King Saul--dreams of forging his destiny through crafting weapons with his own hands. Despite earning his place among Israel's finest, he is haunted by a dark past that no distraction can dispel. When his reckless behavior crosses a line, Yonatan gives him one last mission to prove his worth: help persuade a distant Kenite tribe to sever their ties with the Amalekites.

Zahava, a gifted goldsmith hidden behind her father's legacy, lives in the shadows due to her physical affliction. Her unmatched and unrecognized talent is a closely guarded secret within her family. Disheartened by a future that seems unattainable, she resigns herself to a life of obscurity. However, when Gavriel arrives in her village, they're tangled together in ways neither could have imagined. As they navigate unforeseen dangers and enemy threats, Gavriel must confront his past and either bend his knee to the One True King or lose the woman he loves forever.

"A triumphant story in which flawed characters face real choices and must rely on a real God to save them."--MESU ANDREWS, bestselling and award-winning author.

Read an excerpt from Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

I read Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette in one long sitting that spanned Sunday afternoon, evening, and into the night. The story captured my attention with the characters, but held my interest with the character growth, danger, and romance. I especially enjoyed the way certain plot events played out through fresh, not formulaic, happenings. I also appreciated the disability representation. The author skillfully mixed all the story elements together to create an entertaining and edifying novel.

While reading Splendor of the Land, I was fully engaged with Zahava and Gavriel’s personal journeys and character growth. Zahava, gifted in metalworking and able to create red-gold, has a physical disability that causes her to limp. To some, Zahava’s worth derived from her goldsmithing while her family continually affirmed the worth given to her by her Creator. The juxtaposition of ability and disability hovered over Zahava’s journey, but I cheered as she grew to walk in confidence. Gavriel, Zahava’s new husband, had a steep climb out of self-destructive behaviors. Most of the time I don’t like badly-behaved main characters, but I did like Gavriel, especially once he started to change. Their love story was beautiful.

Splendor of the Land stands as book three in The King’s Men series by Connilyn Cossette. I read book one (Voice of the Ancient), but missed book two (Shield of the Mighty). In reading Splendor of the Land, I could recognize that some of the characters came from other books, but it still read well as a standalone novel. I’m excited for book four. Five stars for Splendor of the Land!

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.