Child of Hope, book #114

 

 

Aah, the last book of the We Three Kings trilogy.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them and highly recommend you read them.

Love has brought growth to the King family over the past few years, and it has helped to heal the wound that grief had inflicted on their lives. Though their father will always be missed, Hunter and Heather have tried to move forward in a way that brings honor to their dad’s memory.  Hayden King carries a burden that he feels is his alone, and the weight of it is crushing the life out of him. After his last surgery failed to achieve what he’d hoped it would, he rarely leaves his apartment, spending most his days immersed in movies and television.  Paige Cantor has returned to Minneapolis because her life has fallen apart, and she has nowhere else to go. Determined to take care of her disabled son as best she can, she agrees to take on the job of housekeeper to Hayden King, replacing her mom in the position. For several months, she’s watched the man struggle with the turn of events that have left him without the lower portion of his left leg.  When she has no option one day but to take her son to work with her, Paige hopes that Hayden will stay in his room as he does most days. Unfortunately, Hayden walks into the kitchen to find Rylan sitting in his wheelchair at the table.  Meeting Rylan opens Hayden’s eyes, and he finds himself drawn to the young boy and his mom. Though she has cooked and cleaned for Hayden for months, it is only as he interacts with Rylan that Paige begins to see a different side to the wounded man.  Both Paige and Hayden have experienced dashed hopes and discouragement, and neither of them are looking forward to the holidays. But a cheerful little boy helps them to remember the real reason for the season, opening their hearts to the possibility of love and hope for the future… if they’re willing to let go of the hurts and fears of the past. (picture and description from Amazon)

I have one Christmas book left to read fast to make it before 2024, and the, after reading Tamara Alexander's new book, I have to think of a reading plan to work through my VERY LONG "Books to be Read" list!  Any ideas?

Never stop reading ...

Melissa

Child of Love, book # 113

 

Book in the great new series I found by Kimberly Rae Jordan.  In this book, Heather finds love with a car repair man, of all people!  

Christmas joy has been a little easier to find this year for Heather King and her loved ones. But while their grief over the loss of her father has ebbed to some degree, his absence is still a huge hole in their lives that they do their best to fill by carrying on his legacy of love and caring for those who cross their paths.  Heather’s heart and mind finally feel in sync, and she’s ready to focus on the future, which she really hopes includes a love of her own. Unfortunately, while their wealth has been a blessing, it’s definitely a curse when trying to date. Previous experience has shown her that a man’s focus is more likely to be on her money than on who she is.  When Asher Larson stopped to help a motorist on the side of the highway, he had no idea what he was getting into. Already struggling to adjust to the unexpected arrival of his young niece, Ash isn’t sure that he has the time or energy to deal with a wealthy woman who seems determined to be a part of their lives.  Though Heather sees much in the reserved man to be admired, Ash doesn’t seem to be as enamored of her. His niece is adorable but also struggling to find her place in this new life she’s ended up with. All Heather wants is to make things easier for the pair, which means exposing them to the King wealth—clearly something that Ash struggles with.  Ash wants Isla to have a memorable Christmas, different from the kind he had as a kid. However, he’s kind of clueless on how to do that since his own experiences with the holiday have always been of a more bare bones variety. When Heather offers him the help he needs, Ash knows he’d be a fool to turn her down, even though he knows it’s a risk for his heart and the feelings for her that he doesn’t want to flourish.  Will Ash be able to see what they have in common? Or will the differences in their lives keep them from exploring what could blossom between them? Ash comes to understand that Christmas is a time for love as they celebrate the love God showed in sending His Son to the world.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Below is a screenshot from my Kindle that completely sums up the Gospel:

I am well over half done with the third and final book in the series and it is going a little different way than the others so I'm excited to see how it ends up!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

Child of Joy, book #112

 

Finally!  A Christmas book I can really get into!  I should have known I could rely on Kimberly Rae Jordan to step it up for me.  I absolutely loved this and can't wait to read the next two in the series!

Where Christmas once brought joy and happiness for the King family, in recent years, it has been overshadowed by sorrow. As they endeavor to carry on their father’s legacy, the King triplets meet people who impact their lives in ways they never expected.  Since his father tragically passed away four years ago, Hunter King has done his best to step into his shoes. That has included being a support for his triplet siblings, Hayden and Heather, and their mom. Christmas is the hardest time of year for the family since it was their dad’s favorite holiday, and he always threw himself into the festivities, both for his family and for people around them, especially those in need.  As Christmas nears once again, Hunter comes across a single mom and her young daughter, who are tenants in a rundown building that has been earmarked for demolition. Hunter feels responsible for their situation since he had bought the building specifically to tear down, so he and his family try to do what they can to help them.  Carissa Jenkins is near rock bottom and desperate to find a new place for her and her daughter, Rachel, to live. When she finds herself with the attention of Hunter King, owner of the building and uber-rich businessman, she isn’t sure what to think. However, her circumstances mean that she has no choice but to accept the help that the King family offers.  As she and Hunter are drawn into each other’s lives, they discover a shared grief. Though Carissa isn’t convinced that she and Rachel are anything but a charity for the Christmas season for the King family, she finds herself falling for the man. Carissa struggles with her feelings because she feels indebted to Hunter and his family after everything they’ve done for her and Rachel and thinks a relationship would be unequal.  Christmas brings healing and a renewed joy for both families. Will it also bring an unexpected chance at love as they discover that not every gift is wrapped beneath the Christmas tree? (picture and description at Amazon)

Hope you all are reaching your reading goals as 2023 comes to a close.  I have blown mine out of the water, but that happens when I read the Bible through.  Even if you haven't don't let that stop you from reading!

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” Mortimer J. Adler

Happy Reading!

Melissa

The Wedding Planner's Christmas Wish, book #111

 

Again, an ok Christmas book, but still not exactly what I was looking for.  Surely there are Christmas books that aren't just Hallmark movie material?

Her Christmas wish? ... the perfect family!  In this Wedding in New York story, wedding planner Alexandra makes every bride’s dream come true! If only she could magic her own fairy-tale ending… After a devastating loss, Alexandra has kept everyone at a distance. Until Drew, owner of New York’s ultimate wedding venue, and his four-year-old daughter come along and steal her heart. This Christmas, will Alexandra let her guard down and accept the happy-ever-after she never dared dream of?  (picture and description from Amazon)

I'm going to go ahead and start our Christmas book for Book Club and hope for the best ...

Keep reading!

Melissa

The Christmas Letters, book #110

 

The reading of Christmas books is taking longer this year, but I finished another one.  Since I can't run to  my local LifeWay store anymore, I've had trouble finding good Christian Christmas books, so I've just been hoping the ones I pick on Amazon are ok.  I started one and said, Nope! so luckily it wasn't too expensive.  We don't even have a local Books-a-Million anymore, only a Barnes & Noble about 30 minutes away and they don't have a Christian fiction section at all (boooo!) So, Amazon it is.

This one wasn't too bad, at least there was no foul language in it and not even too much drinking, but no mention of God or Jesus. I'd probably recommend it if you are looking for a Hallmark Movie type book.

Elizabeth Holloway's sparkling world comes crashing down around her when her boyfriend of seven years drops the bomb that he’s leaving her—at Christmas. In an attempt to piece her life back together, she suddenly finds herself seven hundred miles from her New York City home, trudging through the snow, back at her childhood farm in the Great Smoky Mountains.  And she isn’t expecting to meet visitor Paul Dawson with his dazzlingly blue eyes and warm smile, chipping away at her resolve to focus on figuring out who she is and what she really wants in life.  Just when she starts to think things are moving in the right direction, a stack of letters from Elizabeth’s grandmother will change everything she thought she knew about her family and cause a divide between her and Paul that she never saw coming.  Under the glitter of Christmas trees and bundles of mistletoe, Elizabeth uncovers more than she’d ever imagined. Will the Christmas letters strip her of everything she holds dear? Or will they be the biggest gift of the season? (picture and description from Amazon)

I can probably read about one or two more before I start my Book Club Christmas book!

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Christmas at the Amish Bake Shop, book #109

 

As the most joyful holiday draws near, three couples discover the recipe for love includes faith, hope, and the sweetest blessings . . .

A CHRISTMAS CAKE FOR REBECCA by Shelley Shepard Gray

When carpenter Aden returns to Lancaster after twenty years away, bakeshop owner Rebecca is dismayed to find he’s still as handsome and kind as ever. He broke her heart when he left the community back then. Will a holiday emergency provide a second chance at love, this time forever?

 BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER by Rachel J. Good

When a lonely widower with a sick daughter and a new cake decorator meet at the bakeshop, they discover they were once childhood playmates. But as each of them helps the other care for family, their neighborly kindness inspires a gift that only love could make possible . . .

 THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE by Loree Lough

A builder who never learned to read believes he must hide his fond feelings for a kind schoolteacher. But after they run into each other at the bakeshop, she offers to teach him—and as Christmas approaches, each of them learns a lesson about the great gift of love (picture and description from Amazon)

More Christmas books coming soon, even a non-fiction one!

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Dear Santa, book #108

 

My first Christmas book read!  It was a little cheesy, classical Hallmark movie material, but you gotta start somewhere!

Lindy Carmichael isn’t feeling particularly joyful when she returns home to Wenatchee, Washington, for Christmas. The man she thought was “the one” has cheated on her with her best friend, and she feels completely devoid of creativity in her graphic-design job. Not even carolers or Christmas cookies can cheer her up—but Lindy’s mother, Ellen, remembers an old tradition that might lift her daughter’s spirits.  Reading through a box of childhood letters to Santa and reminiscing about what she’d wished for as a young girl may be just the inspiration Lindy needs. With Ellen’s encouragement, she decides to write a new letter to Santa, one that will encourage her to have faith and believe just as she’d done all those years ago. Little does Lindy know that this exercise in gratitude will cause her wishes to unfold before her in miraculous ways. And, thanks to some fateful twists of Christmas magic—especially an unexpected connection with a handsome former classmate—Lindy ultimately realizes that there is truly no place like home for the holidays.  (Picture and description at Amazon)

What are reading this Christmas?

Melissa

The Rebel of Fox Hill, Chosen, and MY LAST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE (for now!), books 99-107

Was in between books and found this quick read to hold me over.  It was ok, but certainly not one I will recommend, except maybe to Hallmark to make a movie of it.

Falling for the enemy is dangerous business...Hannah Hawkins has a problem—or two. When a pair of Union soldiers make camp at her coastal Virginia farm, she comes face to face with the enemy. And while one of the soldiers proves to be a scoundrel, the other—Corporal Peter Anderson—is quite the opposite. As their unexpected friendship grows, so do her feelings for the handsome Yankee. But the last thing she needs is to fall for a man on the other side of the war, especially when she's already struggling to keep her and her mother alive.  Peter Anderson didn’t enlist in the war to fall in love with beautiful Rebel girls, but that’s just what happened when he met Hannah. But a battle is brewing on Hannah's farm, and it's one that doesn’t involve cannons and iron-plated ships. Will true love prevail and triumph over the force that threatens to rip Hannah and Peter apart?  (picture and description from Amazon)

Next up was one I wasn't sure I would like or not.  I'm not particularly a fan of historical fiction from Bible Times, because sometimes the author's poetic justice makes me nervous.  But this one is pretty good, in general.  I know this author has other books in this series, but I doubt I will read them. I'd probably recommend this if you like this genre.

Two quotes I loved from this book:

"My hands were outstretched as if I could catch any drop of mercy from heaven ... " p.218

"It is one thing to believe a scripture is true, it is another thing entirely to trust in it and act." p.223

Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living.  Quick of mind and strong in spirit, Esther refuses to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him as queen. While conspiracy spins its diabolical web, Esther's mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future–and thus an entire nation. (picture and description from Amazon)

And in conclusion, I FINALLY FINISHED THE 500 DAY READING PLAN (but really only 250 days and really in ~780 days 🤣)  You can see a post about this on my Facebook page, or here.  To round out finishing off, I read Luke, Zechariah, Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Esther, Romans and last but certainly not least, Malachi!

If you have never read the Bible through, I highly recommend it!  There are so many different ways you can go about it and you will not be disappointed.  As my good buddy Lisa Harper says, Anyone who says the Bible is boring has never read it!

It's almost time for Christmas books!  I hope I have enough on my Kindle!

Melissa

I Did It! I Did It! I really really finally did it!!

Well, I never thought this day would come, and indeed it did. Let me explain.

Back in May 2017 while I was inbetween jobs (story of my life from 2013-2021)  I decided to read my Bible through again.  I had done it at least 3 other times by this point, but I was ready to start again.  Previously I had read it straight through, then I read it chronologically, then I read it in 90 days (not for the faint of heart, but I've always said it's hard to tell Leighann McCoy no).  I was ready for a new and different way, and I had new CSB Bible just for this.  

After searching the internets I came across Professor Horner's Reading plan.  It sounded a little sketchy at first, and pretty ambitious, but I was game.  Using this plan you read 10 chapters a day, hopping back and forth between the Old and New Testament.  Yes, 10 chapters a day is pretty insane, but the kick is you are just supposed to read it and move on, not really go back and study it, research questions you have, etc.  That was the sketchy part to me, but after a while I didn't mind it.  Since I was reading in a new Bible nothing had been highlighted or marked or anything, so it was fun seeing the familiar verses with fresh eyes.  Also, having been reading and studying the Bible for over 50 years now, it was interesting to see little snippets that had perhaps not caught my eye before.

When I started all those years ago, it was before I had a laptop and started making notes in the trusty colorful composition book hidden underneath everything in the picture.  I kept that up for several years, although sadly I did not date every day I wrote something, which still irks me to this day.  Then, several years ago I decided my handwriting was getting really sloppy and I wanted to make notes on my laptop.  The organized side of me got all out of control, but I made this amazing spreadsheet to keep my notes in.  

I also kept track of where I was with a spreads in my Bullet Journal.  However, Acts and Proverbs I had to make new squares for since those two books you read over and over.  (I read both of them 8+ times).  

In full disclosure, his plan has a 500 day checklist, but in all honesty it only takes 250 days to work through all the books of the Bible, which is what I did.  It is divided into 10 lists where you have certain sets of books you read for that list.  When you finish that list, you just start over on that list again.  For example, one list is simply reading Proverbs.  So every time I finished reading Proverbs 31, I would start over the next day on Proverbs 1.  Another list simply had the Gospels, so every time I finished John 21, I'd start over on Matthew 1, and so on.  The lists all have varying amount of days it takes to complete them, so you never end up reading the same 10 books besides Day 1 and Day 251 if you do it again.

Also in my picture below is my ever important list of kings in the Divided Kingdom.  When reading a Bible, I always use to different colors to mark whether the king was over Judah or Israel.  My list helps me keep track to that and I always make notes about if they were a good king or a bad king.  (Spoiler alert, most are bad)

Finally I have my bookmarks.  These are VITAL when doing this plan.  When I started, the ones I made were the only option, now others have jumped on the ship with this and made cuter I ones I probably would have chosen.  These bookmarks have the list you are reading from on them and they hold your place.  I liked to keep the number side up so I can know where to go after I read one chapter, then go to the next.  Honestly, though, after a while you know where you are going because you have done it so many times!

Totals:

2472 chapters read

2275 Pages

~780 days to complete

If you have any questions, let me know!

Always keep reading the Bible!

Melissa

PS: In between all this we also read the Bible through in 2020 as a church, so techinally I've read it through 5+ times now.  And the good news is:  The Church at Station Hill, in fact, all the Brentwood Baptist campuses, are reading the Bible through AGAIN next year church wide!  I'm so excited!!

Remembered and some more, books #89-97

 

Sigh, the last book in the series and the last unread Tamara Alexander book.  I love that this book took a different spin, but still included the people of Willow Springs.  

The threat of war--and a final request--send Veronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood--her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Veronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.  His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans... and his life.  (picture and description at Amazon)

I am also rounding the corner on my Bible Reading Plan.  I finished Hebrews, 1-2-3 John, Genesis, Jude, Nehemiah & Ecclesiasties.  Literally by the time I finish my next fiction I will be DONE with this!!! (but then we are reading the Bible through together again at church next year!)

Happy Reading!  It's almost time to start Christmas books!

Melissa

Revealed and two more, books #88-91

 

Again -- and as always! -- Tamara got me.  I still can't believe this series was first one ever written!  

Annabelle Grayson has been given a second chance at life, but she can't claim it with the cloud of her past hanging over her in Willow Springs. After her husband dies, she advertises for a trail guide to accompany her to land waiting for her in Idaho--and a most unlikely candidate applies for the job.  Matthew Taylor is a man on the run, with consequences of past mistakes pursuing him at every turn. Meeting Annabelle Grayson the first time was unpleasant enough, but when she crosses his path again, her presence in his life--and what she reveals--is devastating. If given a single wish, Matthew would turn back time and right a grievous wrong. If given a second wish, he would make Annabelle Grayson pay.  (picture & description at Amazon)

There is one final book in this series and then I will have officially read every book she has written. 😢  Here new book cant come out soon enough.

Worked through two more books of the Bible, Zephaniah & Haggai.  Only sixteen days of readings left.  I can"t believe I'm almost done after 6 years (off & on)!! 

Keep Reading!

MeLissa

Criss Cross, and more books of the Bible, books 82-87

 

Just finished reading this weirdly creepy book for Book Club.  Not sure how I even slept at night, except to know its not my real life. (As compared to when I watched Last of the Mohicans while home by myself in college and I WAS scared there were indians creeping up the stairs to get me!😆)

Safety is just an illusion...

An illusion shattered by the whisper of footsteps in the darkness behind her.  Holly has drifted from one place to the next for as long as she can remember, never settling long enough to build a life. It's the only way she knows how to survive in a world that has no place for someone like her. But when mysterious footsteps follow her home, and she finds a cryptic note taped to her door, she realizes she's stayed too long.  The man she's hiding from has found her. But how?  When people start dying and old, forgotten memories begin to surface, Holly finds herself wrapped up in a terrifying mystery with God, a pushy Southern detective, and a killer with one thing on his mind: her.  (picture and description from Amazon)

Deanie did say she realized later this was a series & hoped it wasn't one that left us hanging.  Well, it did but it didn't ... but i wasn't that impressed with the book style of writing to keep going.

I also finished 1 Peter, Acts (I've lost track how many times now!), Ezra, Nahum & Habakkuk!

Keep reading,

Melissa

Rekindled, and a bunch of books in the Bible, books #74-81

Tamara Alexander, you slay me.  It has been a while since I have read any of hers and I thought I had already read everything she has out so far, but lo and behold, I found I had not read the Fountain Creek Series, her first set of books she wrote! I know some writers have to ease into awesomeness, but she just hits it right out of the park in the first book!  

Ten years ago Kathryn Jennings made a vow. For better or worse. And that promise still holds true, even though her marriage has not turned out as she expected. When her husband fails to return home one stormy winter night, she struggles to keep their ranch, but her efforts are blocked at every turn. After a shocking glimpse into her husband's past, Kathryn uncovers a hidden truth. What she wouldn't give to turn back time and be able to love her husband for the man that he was, not for the man she always wanted him to be. Larson Jennings has spent his entire life running from a broken past, unable to trust, reluctant to try again. One fateful night, his life takes an unexpected twist, and soon he is forced to make a choice. Whatever he chooses, his decision may cost him his life.  (picture and descriptions at Amazon)

I gotta tell you, this book right off made me go "Wait, what?!?" and left you wondering what was going on.  And it took a turn I did not see coming.  But I just absolutely LOVE the way she kept tying everything back to Jesus and forgiveness ~ forgiving yourself and forgiving others.  Needless to say, it's a 5 star must read from me!

The exciting news is she has a new book coming out in November which will be be set in modern times, which is new to her.  I'm certain, however, that it will still be amazing and I can't WAIT to read it!

In other news. I have been back at reading on my BIble plan and have worked through Mark, James, Colossians, Proverbs (for the 8th time!), Micah, Nahum and Acts (also for the 8th time!).  I believe I am down to 25 days!!

Happy reading!

Melissa

 

Memories of Glass, book #73

 

1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese’s son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid their resistance work, Josie and Eliese’s dangerous secrets could derail their friendship and their entire mission. When the enemy finds these women, only one will escape.  Seventy-five years later, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather William Kingston was not the World War II hero he claimed to be. Her work as director of the prestigious Kingston Family Foundation leads her to Landon West’s Ugandan coffee plantation, and Ava and Landon soon discover a connection between their families. As Landon’s great-grandmother shares the broken pieces of her story, Ava must confront the greatest loss in her own life―and powerful members of the Kingston family who will do anything to keep the truth buried. (picture and description on Amazon)

Keep reading, even when they are hard books like this.

Melissa

The Engagment Plot and a few Bible books, books 70-72

 

Well, it's been a crazy few weeks with my work best friend being out and having to do both of our jobs (not easy!) and a quick trip to DC to visit Rebecca, but I am glad for a small slow period for a change.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the fun part is that the author is a local mom!  I think I met her once when she came to book club when we read her first book. Sandwich with a side of Romance.  She's just regulor mom doing regular things with a regular job, then popping out awesome books AND THIS ONE IS A HALLMARK MOVIE!!  Is that crazy or what?!?

Can Hanna and Will Find True Love Amid the Bright Lights of Reality TV? Six months ago, William stole Hanna’s heart and shattered it in front of millions of people on a reality TV dating show. Now he’s asking for forgiveness, but she refuses. When the media erupts with even worse accusations, teaming up and pretending to be engaged seems to be the only way to salvage their reputations. But scandal and rumors follow them, causing Will to lose his job and Hanna to return home, more wounded than before. When all seems lost, it’s only with help from above that Hanna and Will may find their happily-ever-after. (photo and description at Amazon)

I have not been as faithful in all the craziness about my Bible reading, but I did work through Philemon and Philippians.  

For Book Club this month we are going to get together at my house and watch the movie.  And probably tear it all part about how different it is from the book  😄 

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Murder Simply Brewed, book #69

 

It's been awhile since we've read an Amish book and this was a fun one to read.  The only thing tricky was trying to remember who was Amish and who wasn't, as there were both Englischers and Amish working together.  But it comes highly recommended ~ I can't wait to read the rest in the series!

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.  When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced.  Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them. (picture and description from Amazon)

I am sure I also read some more books of the Bible, but that will have to wait for next time to update.

Keep Reading!

Melissa

Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton and more Bible Books, books #62-68

 

Many years ago I found a funny mama on Facebook called Whoa Susannah and I followed her for a very long time (I still do!)  After some life events she changed her Facebook page to just Susannah B. Lewis, but her website still has the throwback charm of Whoa Susannah.

I knew she was a very talented writer and that she had written several books, but for some reason I had never gotten around to reading them.  But now I have, and all I have to say is how sorry I have not started reading them sooner!  They are absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them.  

What I especially love about this book is that it hearkens back to what GOOD Christian fiction should be.  Of late, we are have great difficulty finding good Christian fiction books to read in our book club, even from our usual authors that we love.  It was so refreshing to see humor, tears, growth and Jesus just naturally mixed in.

When Rae Sutton's mama passes away and leaves her the house where she grew up, Rae can't imagine how the little old place might restore her broken life. Mourning the recent loss of her marriage, she takes the house and settles back into her tiny hometown with her fourteen-year-old daughter, Molly Margaret, and their overweight dog.  There she’s embraced by her mother's close-knit circle of friends, the Third Thursday ladies. Though almost half their age and far less confident of positive outcomes, Rae joins their ministry-slash-book-club-slash-gossip circle and allows the women to speak wry honesty and witty humor into her tired heart. As a new career and a new romance bring their own complications, Rae relies on the unlikely family she's found and begins to wonder if her future holds more hope than she ever could have imagined. (picture and description from Amazon)

There were so many amazing quotes in this book ~ funny and serious ~ I wish I could share them all, but this one really struck with me, as I see my aunts and uncles and parents and in-laws age:

"It's just sad to watch, isn't it? To watch our parents grow old and feeble? To watch their hands wrinkle and their eyesight fade and their steps slow? They're no longer young and vibrant and energetic.  No longer those young adults picking us up from elementary school with long, beautiful hair and bright eyes and stylish clothes.   And then they're gone.  Too soon.  And it means we're pushed right to the head of the line."

I am very anxious to now dig into her other books, but they will have to wait for later, as I just realized Book Club is next week and I need to hurry and read THAT book 😃

It has been hard to keep up with my Bible reading plan now that school has started, but I was able to knock out a few more books: Jonah, Ephesians, 1 & 2 TImothy, Titus and 2 Chronicles.

As always, keep reading!

Melissa

The Fifth Aveune Story Society and many more Bible books!, books #50-61

 

Trying out a new font on the blog, since I figured out how to add fonts to Blogger!  Be patient with me if they turn out funky, I'm a sucker for fun fonts.  It goes with my life saying, "Why be boring when you can be fun!!" 😊

This past month I got around to reading this book from my Paperwhite.  I didn't have to read my Book Club book since I had previously read it, so I decided to go with this one.  It was a really good book, as Rachel Hauck rarely disappoints.  

When five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.  Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.  Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.  Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.  Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.  Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.  Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Here are some amazing quotes that stuck out to me in the book:

p109: 

    Ed laughed.  "Nothing in the world like the spark between men and women.  What a marvelous and mysterious combination.  Two sides of the same coin, you know.  We both want the same thing, to give and receive love, to be cared for, respected.  We just come at it from a different point of view.  Points of view we both need, you know.'

p268: (note: Storm is Jett's brother who was creamated.  They are having a ceremony to scatter his ashes)

    As eerieness swept through him.  To a stranger, Storm's ashes would be no different from the wood ashes from the firepit.  It was as if he had never been flesh and bone, as if he'd never possessed a beating heart or breath in his lungs.

    ... As he dug into the polished urn, his emotions swelled.  The moment he touched his brother's soft dust, Storm's heartbeat pounded in Jett's chest.

And since I had a good 4-5 weeks off for my half summer break I read several books in my reading plan: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Matthew, Galatians, Obadiah, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and 2 Corinthians.  I can't believe I am actually down to just under 40 days left on this 250 day reading plan.  You know, that I started in 2018ish ..... 

Keep reading!

Melissa 

Atomic Habits, A Novel Proposal, and many Bible books!, books #42-49

 

It has been a while since I have updated this, I have STILL been running crazy the last month!  I almost can't wait to go back to work for things to calm down! 😂

The first last book I read since the last time I updated is Atomic Habits by James Clear.  I didn't realize I had put it on my Amazon Book List but Katie saw it and when she was looking for a birthday present for me she got it.  Apparently everyone has heard of it, I just forgot how it ended up on my list! :)  Nonetheless, it was a good read, but I got behind on my reading time when I decided to eat lunch with my friends at work instead of hiding in my office to read.  And let's face it, even if it is a good non-fiction book, it's still going to take longer to read.  I will say, however, it gave me several good ideas to work on some GOOD habits and get rid of BAD habits!

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.  If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.  Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:

make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);

overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;

design your environment to make success easier;

get back on track when you fall off course;

...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal. (picture and description at Amazon)

The last book I read was A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter.  Luckily it was a fairly quick read as I had four days before Book Club to read it!  It had 40 short chapters, so my goal was to read 10 chapters every day.  Mission accomplished!

When novelist Sadie Goodwin is forced to stop writing westerns and charged with penning a contemporary romance novel to rescue her lackluster sales, there’s only one tiny problem: She’s never been in love.  Desperate to salvage her career, Sadie begins devouring romance novels. Knowing she must devote herself to this confounding genre, she accepts an invitation to hole up at her friend’s beach duplex for the summer. Where better to witness love in bloom than on the beautiful North Carolina shore?  However, once ensconced in the charming ocean-front home with her sweet maltipoo Rio, she finds many ways to procrastinate. First there’s the beach, right outside her backdoor, with all its interesting visitors (research). Then there’s the free library she decides to build and set up by the back deck (She has to do something with all those romance novels). To say nothing of Sam Ford, the grumpy neighbor on the other side of the duplex . . . who she can’t seem to stop annoying.  A social butterfly by nature, Sadie soon gets to know all the beach regulars—sunbathers, walkers, and surfers alike. The free books draw a crowd right up to the house for nice little book chats, which further irritates her reclusive neighbor, to break up her “writing.” But things take an unexpected turn when Sadie opens a recently-placed novel to find a secret compartment—and tucked inside is a beautiful engagement ring. To whom does the ring belong? Sadie is convinced she needs to find the owner and save the man’s proposal from certain doom.  She draws a reluctant Sam into the project, and slowly their connection begins to develop. Are these weird fluttery feelings the first stirrings of love? Has Sadie managed to stumble upon the very subject about which she must write—and wouldn’t Sam make the perfect alpha hero?  Will Sadie find the ring’s rightful owner? And will she manage to pen a career-saving romance novel by summer’s end? (picture and description at Amazon)

And of course we can't forget all the Bible books I've been reading as well!  I have worked through Songs of Solomon, Proverbs, Deuteronomy, 1 Corinthians, Revelations and Acts (once again!).

Keep reading!

Melissa

The Last Disciple and few more books of the Bible, books# 37-41

 

We had high hopes for this one, but alas the reviews tricked us.

From the Cross, Jesus entrusted John, the youngest disciple, with the welfare of his mother Mary. Over thirty years later, as Jerusalem explodes in rebellion and violence, John receives another calling. A calling he does not want.  Will he listen and follow?  And if he does, will it be too late?  In 62 AD, the Jewish high priest executes James, the brother of Jesus, triggering a bitter fight for power in Jerusalem that shatters the quiet life of John. The Jewish people he loves are making dangerous choices that could change the land of Israel forever.  Should he stay in Jerusalem and help hold off the Roman legions? Or is it time to reach out to those beyond Israel's borders?  If he chooses to leave, what will be his message to these foreign believers? What new words of comfort could he possibly share?  (picture and description from Amazon)

Although my Bible reading has slowed down significantly with all the April and May things, I was able to finish John, Ecclesiastes, 1 Chronicles and Daniel.

In other news, one of the things that kept us busy was this one:

Here's hoping I make it 18 more days until my last day of school!!

O:)

Melissa