Starlight Haven: A He Always Loved Her Holiday Romance (Christmas House Romances Book 7), book #1

 

Well, here I am, always finishing up my last Christmas book in January! 😊Seems like that always happens, but I'm not sad about it.  

What I am sad about is that this is the end of this series of books I have thoroughly enjoyed these last two months!  I would highly recommend them if you get the chance to read them.

Their first Christmas kiss—on a high school stage—was their last. He intends to change that.  It’s Christmastime, and Olivia Olsen has returned to her hometown of Mendon with the goal of giving back. Years ago, she sped away in a cloud of humiliation—at the insistence of her overprotective family. The last person she wants to see in Mendon is the person who not only remembers her embarrassment but who caused it: Cody Haught.  What's Cody Haught doing in her hospital? And why is he even better-looking now?  Dr. Cody Haught, bachelor surgeon at Mendon Regional Hospital, can't believe his eyes. Is the new hospital administrator actually Olivia Olsen, the best kiss of his life? The kiss that ruined all subsequent kisses for him?  Is this holiday season the perfect chance for Cody to see whether he imagined the intensity and perfection of the kiss he stole from Olivia on the high school stage, or will he mess up and send her running before Christmas once again?  Starlight Haven is a sweet dose of flutter-filled, snowy holiday romance, healing, and family Christmas traditions, all set in a small-town hospital.  (picture and description at Amazon)

So what now?  I'm still debating whether it will be a non-fiction book yet, but I'll decide soon!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible, books #50-113

 

Ok, so this generic picture from Amazon doesn't do this much justice, but  MY Bible like this is well worn, marked up, prayed over, cried over, highlighted in several colors, etc.  This book -- and my Jesus -- has lived some life with me this past year.  Since this was "encouraged" by our church, the pastors would preach a sermon over the passages we just read the week before.  I learned SO MUCH than I ever have in reading the Bible, between the words of God themselves, the additional notes from George Guthrie, the organization of it, and the sermons.  

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features a narrative approach to the Bible, arranging the full text into a clear chronological reading plan with daily readings guided by Dr. George Guthrie.  In this unique plan, the books, chapters, and verses of the Bible are organized for readers in three main acts to track the story of Scripture from beginning to end. This format is designed to draw readers into the biblical narrative, helping them apply it in their own lives. Unlike most other chronological Bibles, this arrangement is not date-specific (e.g. “January 1”), so you can jump into the plan at any point in the calendar year.

FEATURES

52 weeks of readings (six readings per week) in chronological order

Scripture presented in three main acts (God’s Plan for All People; God’s Covenant People; God’s New Covenant People) and seventeen total scenes

An introduction for each act and scene to provide context for the story

Durable Smyth-sewn lay-flat binding 

Single-column text format with wide margins for notes

The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others. (picture and description at Amazon)

While I started one last Christmas book in December, since I will not finish it until January I'll count it there.  

So, my totals?

113 books (including the 66 in the Bible)

16,981 pages

My goal for 2025?  I have lots of goals and dreams and plans for 2025 that are easy to make when you are home over break laying the sofa, but I am hoping I can make progress with some of them. 😉 

For a reading goal, I see it two-fold:

1. Read at least one non-fiction for every two fiction books, if not every fiction book.  (lofty, I know!)

2. Read all the actual books I have sitting around that I haven't read yet.

I'm going to try and put myself on a Kindle buying ban, but if Tamara Alexander comes out with a new book she keeps talking about, it is for sure going on my Paperwhite.

Happy New Year and New Books!

Melissa