December Reading Recap & January TBR

My December 2020 Reads:

The first part of my December 2020 abounded with busyness. Then COVID hit our little family. 😷 My husband, myself, and our two daughters all came down with the illness. I spent many hours in bed and finished several books. 📚 Did I like having COVID? Absolutely not! 🙅 But I spent more time reading than I have in a long time.📖

In December, I finished:

1. To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. All That We Carried by Erin Bartels. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


4. Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery - ⭐⭐⭐⭐


5. A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review coming soon!


6. Discipline Your Kids with Positive Parenting by Nicole Libin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. Make Life Beautiful by Syd & Shea McGee. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


8. A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


9. Almost a Bride by Jody Hedlund - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

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Expected January 2021 Reads:

In January, I hope to read:

1. The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fischer.


2. Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green. - This will be a reread for me. It's my local book club's January selection and we plan to tour Historic Spanish Point, Bertha Palmer's Florida residence. Read my original review here.


3. Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery. - I'm slowing making my way through this classic series!


4. The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall. - A new-to-me author.


5. What We Inherit by Jessica Pearce Rotondi - A step out of my normal genres, but it sounds so interesting to me!


6. Occasional Moments of Happiness by Shana Donyaei. - Currently reading!


7. The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark.


8. The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren. - This one has been on my TBR for a long time... I've enjoyed the other two in the series and hope I can get to this one in January.

What will you read this month?

Book Review: To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

 About the Book:

As they fight for the soul of Israel, will they find healing for their own?

Eight years ago, after the Philistines surrendered the stolen Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora and her brother left their Philistine homeland to follow it to the community of Kiryat-Yearim. Though they both were lovingly enfolded into a Levite family that guards the Ark, Eliora can't stop feeling like she doesn't belong.

Meanwhile, a faction of discontent Hebrews finds Kiryat-Yearim to be an unfit resting place and believes that the sacred vessel should be in the hands of the priests who mean to restore the Holy of Holies in a new location. Under the guise of gathering Hebrews to worship together for the festivals, Levite musician Ronen has been sent by his uncle to find where the Ark has been hidden and steal it back. But Ronen never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he's tasked to deceive.

Ronen's attempts to charm Eliora into revealing the location of the Ark lead them in unexpected directions, as they must battle betrayal and fear to help establish Israel's leadership for a better future.

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My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed Connilyn Cossette’s newest novel, To Dwell Among Cedars. Arisa/Eliora captured my imagination at the beginning and I quickly became invested in her story.  Eliora’s devotion to Yahweh and the Ark of the Covenant undergirds all that she does. Such dedication set an encouraging example to those around her and for the reader. I loved journeying with her as she learned her true value and I rooted for her as arose in boldness when necessary.

While Eliora shines in To Dwell Among Cedars, the story has a substantial romance thread between her and Ronen. Ronen’s quest to move the Ark of the Covenant to a different location besets their blossoming love. This difficulty added a layer of tension to their unexpected and beautiful love story.

To Dwell Among Cedars is the first installment in The Covenant House series by Connilyn Cossette. I am eager for book two. Five stars!

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.

November Reading Recap & December TBR

My November 2020 Reads:

 In November, I finished:

1. The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. The Anne of Green Gables Devotional by Rachel Dodge - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


4. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


5. A World Full of Poems: Inspiring Poetry for Children selected by Sylvia M. Vardell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


6. Resisting Dylan by Sophia Summers - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. Cupcakes & Crumbs by Melissa McClone - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


8. When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


9. Panning for Love by Meg Cross Wenig - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


10. Marriage, Melodies, and Rewritten Conclusions by V. Joy Palmer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


11. The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.

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Expected December 2020 Reads:

In December, I hope to read:

1. Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep - This will be a reread for me. My local book club chose it as the December selection and I'm looking forward to revising it. Read my original review here.


2. To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette - I'm so excited for a new book by Connilyn Cossette. When I think of Biblical-era fiction, she's at the top of my author list!


3. Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery.


4. Discipline Your Kids with Positive Parenting by Nicole Libin.


5. Make Life Beautiful by Syd & Shea McGee.


6. The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark.


7. The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren.

What will you read this month?