What's On My Nightstand (July Edition)

My Instagram algorithm has been picking up on a few things about me over the last month. 

1. I have been sucked into the World Cup (specifically Scotland, Cape Verde, and Norway). 
2. I'm solidly in perimenopause and content about symptoms makes me stop scrolling.
3. Fall is coming and I'm here for all of it.
4. Despite my doomscrolling tendencies, I feel a pull toward slower traditional life.

The last one is the one I want to focus on at the moment. It's the idea that turning pages of a paper book and forcing my brain to focus on something for longer than 5-20 seconds is a good thing. The idea that doing something with my hands (this month it has been baking pies) is better than scrolling through pictures of other people doing things. Remembering that taking the time to travel and see things in person, stopping to read the content at places like Kennedy Space Center, and making an effort to (re)connect with people that we normally keep up with through texting or social media is superior to "liking" someone's post or hurrying through an experience to get the picture-perfect shot. 

I've been thinking a lot about the fact that if I live to be 84, like my mother did, I'm over halfway there. I've been considering what I've done with the first 44 years of my life, and what I might want to do with the final 40...assuming I get that many. I'm asking myself what have I wasted time on (Instagram), and what do I want to spend time on (investing in people). My mom had 84 years on this earth, which sounds like a lot when you're young, and feels like not enough when the timeline is starting to slide down instead of up. 

This month I went to the funeral of the parent of a childhood friend, someone who drove me around in their family station wagon, took me camping, and welcomed me into their home. Strangely, I was somehow more prepared for my own parent to die than I was to see the parents of my friends start to go. Maybe because I've been actively watching my parents age, whereas, in my mind, my friends' parents are all perpetually younger because I haven't seen them since they were...my age.  

I'm in the sandwich season - still raising teenagers and while simultaneously caring for aging parents and in-laws. Receiving graduation announcements and wedding invitations for the children of my friends... while also responding to funeral notices. And in the meantime, trying to figure out who I am now, and actively preparing for whatever God calls me to in the future. I don't know what's next, but I think it's safe to say it's not passively scrolling on Instagram. 

Photos by C.G. Koens, onethousandpens.blogspot.com

In the meantime...I read. Although I was sucked into the World Cup, some of the games were...less intense. That's a nice way to say "slow," right? So when some of the games were 0-0 for a solid 45 minutes to an hour, I brought a book (and booklight) and relied on the Hubs to shout when something actually got interesting. Here's what got checked off the list in July, and yes, you might notice it's a lot of cozy mysteries, but that's what the brain said it wanted, so that's what it was fed. 

1. The Great Hippopotamus Hotel by Alexander McCall Smith -⭐⭐⭐⭐ It took 25 books, but Mma Makutsi finally came through on her own this time, with a little help from her talkative fancy shoes and a willingness to admit her tendency to assume the worst of a certain person who barely made the 50% cut at the Botswana Secretarial College. As someone who has read this series almost from the original release, it was fun to see her character develop beyond flying off the handle. I was glad that McCall Smith allowed Grace to show some growing maturity and self-awareness, and also to see Mma Ramotswe as a secondary character who was able to display a softer, gentle presence in the lives of two men who have been worn down and discouraged. All in all, another lovely addition to a beloved series. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 7 (Audiobook) by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes, I read this in April. And no, I don't normally include books that are a re-read (especially when I just read them the same year!), but I got a free trial of Amazon Music for four months, and it included four audiobooks (something I don't normally do - my mind drifts and I don't focus on the book, so I'm not an audiobook fan). Since I knew I loved the Emma series, I decided to listen to Vol. 7 again, and the narrator did a great job with voices and the like. I still prefer reading Emma M. Lion to listening to it, but if you are a fan of listening, then by all means, give this one a shot! I enjoyed it just as much the second time through. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. Rest You Merry (A Peter Shandy Mystery) by Charlotte MacLeod - ⭐⭐⭐ I'd probably give this three-and-a-half stars if I could. It's not quite to the four-star level, but it was highly enjoyable and surprising. I got it for free as part of the Amazon Prime First Reads program for the month of June (it was the bonus book for the month, which they do at times) and enjoyed it more than I was expecting. Peter Shandy is a likable enough character, a slightly reclusive New England professor, who gains a sidekick along the way in Helen Marsh (who conveniently becomes Helen Marsh Shandy by book #2). The Christmas holidays are upon them, but the holiday cheer doesn't stop murder from happening. Nothing gruesome, enjoyable characters, decent plot, fun setting (college town/campus), I'd read another one. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie -   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five stars for the book cover binding and the end papers (daisies) on this special hardcover edition, and for being a fantastic, eye-catching addition to my bookshelf. Four-and-a-half stars for the stories within, nothing new, of course, just a collection of some of Christie's classics. Some more or less favorite, but still a great selection from the master storyteller. A wonderful summer read, and also not to be confused with Midsomer Murders (the delightful BBC mystery show). {Amazon Associates Link}
5. The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The newest addition to "The Marlow Murder Club" series ties up a lot of loose ends. Although there were a number of plotlines happening in this book, threading themselves throughout, some with origins that started in Book #1 (like Judith's mysterious past), but, as always, Thorogood does a great job of linking them together in ways that make you say, "Ah, how did I not see that?" For example, I didn't see the killer coming at all, so that was a bit of a twist. I did feel that Judith's primary/secondary (it was hard to tell which was more important at times) plot was a bit of a stretch (i.e., the photograph and old paper, the ties to her former in-laws, etc.), but not enough to make me not enjoy the book. I don't know if the author will write another book in this series (and this one does wrap everything up nicely), but I'm here for it if he continues. {Amazon Associates Link}
6. Theo of Golden (Audiobook) by Allen Levi - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'm honestly still processing this one. I had several friends recommend it, and I'm not usually one to jump on the bandwagon of books that everyone says "you must read," especially when it is found on celebrity book lists. But, much like I did with the Emma M. Lion series, I was willing to give it a shot when enough people I actually knew started raving about it. And I'm glad I did. The author has created a unique and beautiful story, weaving together the lives of characters from wide and varied backgrounds, incorporating Christian ideas and beliefs (primarily through the main character, Theo), but not in a threatening or overpowering way. Levi doesn't shy away from using profanity or incorporating the harsh realities life in the stories of his characters, but he does allow many of them to be impacted by the life of one man, who knows how to see people and loves them well. The ending was...totally unexpected. I mean, it's an old man, so I was prepared for his...exit, shall we say, but the events surrounding that (both right before, during, and after) were a gut punch. You have been warned. It is...a delightful book, one that I would recommend (the audiobook was actually fantastic - love the narrator!), but also, as I started out by saying, there's a lot to process. I almost feel bereft coming to the end of it. So there's that. {Amazon Associates Link}

And there we have it. Another month down, six more books checked off the list. I've actually increased my reading goal for the year (on Goodreads) because I didn't hit the normal slump this summer that I've encountered in the past (I'm not homeschooling year-round, for one thing, and I'm not processing the recent death of a parent for another). I've also recognized that I have an obscene amount of books in my personal library that I have not yet read for myself, so it's time to get serious and start working through those stacks and shelves, bins and baskets. 

What about you? 

How's your reading motivation been this summer? 

What was your favorite read in July? 

What's On My Nightstand (June 2026)

The Hubs and I spent almost the entire month of June in Florida, visiting family, seeing friends, dropping kids off for summer trips, even taking a couple of days to do Disney. Thanks to a family friend and an affordable house, we found ourselves based out of Orlando for most of the time, with a few day trips to both coasts. Since it's been almost a decade since it was just the two of us, we looked forward to some downtime sans kids. I optimistically packed a whole bag of books, thinking of all the time I would spend lounging around, reading through the stack that I brought. 

The reality was quite different. 

During the one week of actual vacation we allowed ourselves (the rest of the time I was working - the perks of a remote contracting job), I couldn't focus on any of the books (a mixture of being mentally fatigued and physically tired), and so I allowed myself to veg out screens. We watched old TV shows, we watched the YouTube live streams from the nightly rallies where our kids were, we watched the World Cup, we rented movies from Amazon, I turned off my phone timers for Facebook and Instagram and scrolled and scrolled and scrolled. Very few physical or digital pages were turned. And here's what I realized after a week of this...

I felt icky. 

My brain was more tired than when we started. My mind was more fractured. Rather than being rested and refreshed, I found myself craving normalcy and routine. It's like when you binge-eat junk food and your body begins to crave real food (fruits, veggies, grains, meat, etc.), that's the way my brain and body were crying out for real purpose and real substance. Binge-watching television shows I grew up on (Columbo; Murder, She Wrote; Home Improvement; Walker, Texas Ranger) ended up being less exciting than I remembered them being as a kid. In fact, I kept being struck by how "soap opera-esque" they actually were. I remember loving these shows once upon a time...but what I realized this week is that I've changed. 

I found myself desiring a reset. 

With one week remaining in Florida, I got back to work. While we still spent time in the evenings watching a movie or a World Cup match, during the days I focused more on my online work (proofreading and editing). I set up the timers on my phone again to fight the urge to doomscroll. I listened to music and took the paper books I brought out of the bag and had them easily at hand for moments when I felt like turning a page rather than changing a channel. 

Figuring out that who you once were and how you once used your time is no longer who you are or how you want to use the time that you have...now that's magical. 

Photo by C.G. Koens, onethousandpens.blogspot.com

So what did I end up reading in June? The answer is not as much as I would have liked, but I took advantage of a four months free trial for Amazon Music Unlimited, which included four free audiobooks as well. I have never been a fan of audiobooks, but free is free, and as I've been in the mood to re-read Emma M. Lions (yes, already!) and I'd heard good things about the narration of the EML audiobooks, I decided to give Vol. 7 an Audible try. I'm not counting it as another read for the year, but unofficially, it's another book. In addition to that, here are the other two that I ended up finishing during the last week of the month. 

1. An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey - ⭐⭐⭐ I've read most of the books in this series and while I cannot say the outcome was a total surprise, I will say that I liked Lady Hardcastle and Flo getting the jump on those who assumed they would be easy to fob off because they were female. There was a delightful chemistry between the characters, as always, and it's always enjoyable when Lady Hardcastle's brother shows up. The sibling interaction never fails to be a fun addition to the stories. If you're looking for a light summer read about two British ladies (well, technically one British lady and her Welsh maid) saving the world from war (at least for another few months) and throwing the world of men into a tizzy by breaking out of their box, I recommend you give this series a try. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. Sinister Spring by Agatha Christie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This collection of short stories gets at least 4 stars, simply because it's Agatha Christie, and she's a standard 4-star storyteller. These are all selected stories from other books or short-story collections, so don't expect anything new, but still enjoyable. However, much like the Midwinter Murder collection, I would give this particular version five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ solely based on the the binding and interior paper...visually, it's a beautiful book and a gorgeous addition to any bookshelf. I'm stoked to add this to my bookshelf and am looking forward to giving Midsummer Mysteries a go in July. {Amazon Associates Link}

Farewell June, Hello July! 

Happy Reading, everyone!

What's On My Nightstand (May 2026)

This month has been a bit of a slump in the reading department (though I'm still ahead of schedule, thanks to last month) as we prepare to graduate a child and send four kids off to the ends of the earth for the summer. I also blame Emma M. Lion. If you know, you know. Once you get started on that series, there is no casual reading, it's like a mad rush to the end, and there's no stopping it. In fact, I'm seriously considering re-reading them, that's how much I enjoyed them. If you haven't joined the Emma fan club, I must either ask you what you're waiting for, or I must warn you...I've seen rumors that there are a total of 25 books planned. We are on book #8 and it's been almost 2 years since that was released. Book #9 is scheduled to be released this year. So if you hate waiting...maybe it's best if you leave Emma to those of us for whom it is too late. We're already sucked in and invested in either Team Pierce, Team Hawkes, or Team Islington. Save yourself. 

Photo by Benjamin Cheng on Unsplash

In the meantime, after the letdown of finding, devouring, and finishing what has been written so far of Emma and The Alchemy's exploits, here's what I've managed to finish this month. I warn you, it is sad, indeed, in comparison. I remember now why I have a love/hate relationship with discovering a new book series that sucks me in so quickly...the book hangover is real. 

1. The Saint Mary's Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐ My complaint with many of the books in the "Homefront Sleuths" series is that the authors get in a phrase or word rut and then kill it with overuse. Two books ago, more women had "hair severely pulled back" than you could shake a stick at! For this book, their word of choice was "prickled." Things "prickled" at the back of throats, skin and senses "prickled," and so on. To the point that I started laughing when I got to another use of the word. People...get yourselves a good copy editor!! Apart from that, the story wasn't bad. Sending Evie and Nigel to France was a twist, though that felt like a side story that wasn't, perhaps, quite needed or finalized. The woman they rescued, in the end, had very little to do with the story. And some of the assumptions made by Harry and Co. were a little obviously obtuse. It's not a bad little series, but it is losing its attraction a bit with each book, sadly. The first couple of books held so much promise. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Beast of Littleton Woods by T.E. Kinsey - ⭐⭐⭐ I've read this series for a while now, and I honestly don't mind them as fun little mysteries, but I'd have to say that this was one of my least favorite so far. I suppose it's to be expected...I mean, how many murders can you explain away in such a small village (a fact that the author even included in the plot)? The exotic animals were a twist, though the villains were not much of a surprise (saw one of them coming a mile away). It would have been nice for it all to wrap up with knowing what happened to the animals, or perhaps with Daisy keeping the "giant rat" as a bar pet...but such is life. The writing is still good, the plot was just a little thin this time. But, it was included on Kindle Unlimited, so I won't complain too loudly. {Amazon Associates Link}

And that's it. Just the two completed last month. I have two more in process, but neither of them made the cut for May, sadly. However, I'm still ahead of schedule, and with plans to be away from home at times this summer, I'm hoping that I'll not get into the summer reading slump that I experienced last year. Only time will tell. But I've also reached the point that as long as I'm reading something every day, I'm satisfied. How about you? What's your book 📚 status for May?

What's on My Nightstand (April 2026)

At this point last year, my mom had finally been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (of uncertain origin) and we were scrambling to figure out how long she had left (as it turns out, she had about six weeks) and how to make the most of our time together. From last Easter celebrations to early Mother's Day memories before the cancer really took her down, one year ago I was in no brain space to read. I would sit in waiting rooms, holding a book or staring at the Kindle on my phone, but my brain couldn't process words on a page. I would read and re-read the same page, only to close the cover or exit the app and just stare into space. 

Fast-forward twelve months and I've managed to knock out over 60% of my reading goal for the entire year in the first four months. What a difference a year makes. While my dad continues to age and we discuss what (if anything) we need to do to help him more during this season, it's not taking the mental toll that watching my mom waste away from cancer did. And for that, I am grateful. Reading continues to be my happy place, my way to step back from the stresses of aging parents, almost-adult teens, college paperwork, and so much more. I am grateful for the opportunity sneak moments throughout the day to read a few pages or move forward a couple of percentage points in an ebook before the world, once again, reclaims my attention. Here's to reading more.

I continued utilizing my three-month Kindle Unlimited trial ($0.99) and reading all the ebooks (which, honestly, are not my favorite form of literature, I honestly do prefer a paper book, but needs must!). This included finishing the entire Emma M. Lion journal series (at least, up to the most recent book), and now I would love to get my hands on the paperback versions of those for my physical shelves. So good! 

Books #1-7 of the month...don't ask, just read them. It's like a mix of Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society all rolled into one delightful story, written in journal entries from the point of view of one Emma M. Lion, so far covering the years of 1883 and 1884. It struck a chord with me as it reminded me, in many ways, of my own unique friend group in my teen years (younger me...plus a handful of older college guys, all of them, but one, dear as brothers, and one who became much more). May there be more to come, because these were so incredibly easy to read...it took me less than a week to start and finish seven books, and I laughed out loud, repeatedly. {Amazon Associates Link}

1. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 2 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love. Read in a day. Highly recommend.
2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 3 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love more. Also read in a day. Actually, stunned by how much I'm enjoying this series. 
3. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 4 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved even more. Hard to believe they just keep getting better.
4. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 5 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sad to think I'm already half-way through the series. This is a must read. 
5. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 6 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loving the growth in the various relationships and looking forward to seeing where this is going.
6. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 7 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yes, but how can there only be one more book! This is killing me. Also...read it in a day.
7. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol 8 by Beth Brower - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not sure how I'm going to wait for book #9 to come out, and no idea where the author is going with this. The real question at this point (especially if you've read them): are you Team Pierce, Team Duke, or Team Hawkes? I started out favoring one, but I think I've slowly changed as the series has continued. I'll let you guess which one I'm favoring now... 
8. At Home by Bill Bryson - ⭐⭐⭐ Having read several of Bryson's other books and thoroughly enjoying them, this one was...confusing. Perhaps it was because I was expecting something entirely different based on the title of the book and the premise. When I saw that it went through the history of each room, I had a different idea in mind than where we ended up. There were times when we would get to the end of a room and the story we ended on was so far out of the context of the room that I closed the book, unsure of how we got there. I might have enjoyed it more if the title was, "Random Oddities and Other Strange Tales from History." The book gets three stars because it felt disjointed to me. If I took my preconceived ideas out of it and just rated the writing, I'd probably give it four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
9. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am not, in general, a fan of "fan fiction," but this was well done. Poor Mary, so overlooked and sad in Austen's original work (Pride and Prejudice), really blossoms in this story. To observe her begin to learn things about herself, to make mistakes and recover, rings true to life. This was one of my favorite passages, because it resonated with how I have often felt about myself in life: “But good things don’t need to be showy or gaudy, you know. Sometimes the very best stuff can seem quite plain, until one examines it closely. It is only then that one sees its true quality.” As a bonus, this book is currently available through Kindle Unlimited (if you have a subscription). I'm making the most of my $0.99 three-month trial! Side Note: If the BBC version (coming to BritBox on May 6!) maintains even half of the book, I think it will be a delightful addition to the Austen film genre. {Amazon Associates Link}

If I'm being technical, I finished the last 13% of the final book on the morning of May 1st, but since the majority of it was read in April, I'm still counting it for the month. That puts me up to 28 books total for the year and 15 books ahead of schedule, which is good, since summer usually tend to be my slower time for reading (for various reasons). This month has been primarily full of thoroughly enjoyable reads, nothing too deep, however, but it kept the pace going and sometimes that's all I'm looking for. 

There are seasons of reading, and when life events keep the brain constantly in "on" mode and the calendar so full, reading doesn't need to be another task to wade through. So if you're afraid of looking silly by the things you read but you still want to read, cut yourself some slack and read what keeps you interested. There will be a season for the deeper stuff, too. 

What was on your nightstand (or Kindle) in April?

And if you've read Emma M. Lions...which team are you on??

What's On My Nightstand (February Edition)

So here's something I don't love as a reader: finding a new series and getting sucked in, only to have the writing go downhill after a few books. I think we might see this more and more as authors start to rely on AI a little too much (yes, I, too, just heard Dickens, Austen, Christie, and a plethora of past writers roll over in their respective graves). I've had two series now that started strong and then lost steam around book three or four. Because of the stronger starts, I continued to push through until I just couldn't take it anymore. From repetitive phrases to ever weakening plots, eventually you wear out your audience. 

And yes, I recognize that the very authors I referenced earlier (Charlie, Jane, and Agatha) could also be accused of being stuck in a rut (oh look, a poor urchin, hungry, in a dirty city, or yet another woman of no fortune who happens to find a love match with a wealthy gentleman, or oh my goodness, another murder in a small village or foreign location?!), and yet, for a variety of reasons, their works stands the test of time. ChatGPT has not advanced to the stage of providing the depth of human emotion that we find in Ebeneezer Scrooge, or the complicated character of little Fanny Price, or the mustachioed confidence of Hercule Poirot. Rather, they were dreamed up, developed, and eventually saved, loved, or (in the case of poor Poirot) killed off, totally evolved out of the minds and imaginations of creatives who understood the necessity of relatable humanity in their characters, which is something that a soulless AI writing aid cannot give. 

I believe it is also why the series I read recently started strong, but then fell off. My theory is that the authors had good ideas, and they wrote without pressure. But then when the ideas took off, the push for more stories, faster, cause them to lose their creativity and rely on technology to help them churn out tales a little too quickly. The end result was that, in addition to losing their creative juices, they also lose readers who would be willing to wait longer between books if it meant having something worth reading. I am no indiscriminate novel reader. The mere trash of the common circulating library I hold in the highest contempt. ~ Jane Austen

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

On that note, here's what I read in Feburary. As you can see, there are decidedly fewer books than January (which is why when I do get into a reading binge I just go with it, because at least I haven't fallen behind schedule this way), and they are both in the category of, "Please stop using AI to help you write." I have several other books in progress at the moment, but didn't manage to complete any of them before the month's end. However, I'm still reading something every day, so I'll take that!

1. Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah Eden - ⭐⭐ In short: repetitive and predictable. I loved the unpredictable nature of the author's writing in Book #1. Book #2 was still different enough to make it enjoyable. By book #3 the plot was obvious and the ending inevitable. The only difference in Book #4 is that it's Linus Lancaster, rather than one of his sisters, whose time it is to quickly fall in love. But when the books are centered around romances, it's not really a surprise for predictability to come into play. And while I still appreciate the purity of the relationships (nothing more than stolen glances, hand holding, and towards the end, a light kiss), it just feels more and more like the books I would have wanted to read in junior high. After four books I've grown weary of love at first sight or infatuation in two weeks. I'll probably read book #5, just to close out the series, and I'll add this caveat: if these were cheaply available in paper format, I would definitely let my younger teenagers read them. {Amazon Associates Link}
   
2. The Valentine Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐ Honestly, more like a 3.5 star, and a decided improvement on the previous book in the series. There were still some repetitive phrases and women with "hair pulled back into severe buns," but overall, it was slightly less Nancy Drew-esque, and who did it wasn't immediately obvious. However, I'm pretty sure Merriweather was British army, and they put him in an American uniform, and towards the end, bad guys were coming out of the woodwork. 😏 It might have been a little excessive. Plus, for Pete's sake, please don't have Nigel or Evie get kidnapped in the next one!! That plot line is getting a little old now. This was one of those "final chance" books before I wrote the series off, and it passed well enough that I'll give the next book a try when it's released. A basic, semi-cozy mystery. {Amazon Associates Link}

What are your feelings about authors who use AI to help them write? Yea or nay? 

What's On My Nightstand (January)

January is the month of restarts. Refocusing on our goals (simple or complex), refocusing on our health, refocusing on what we want to change by the time December rolls around again. Our houses get a refresh as we remove all the tinsel and trappings and put away the sparkle for the next eleven months. Our Instagram feeds are full of inspiration and ways to renovate ourselves this year, with a healthy dose of "cozy" vibes to keep us firmly in winter mode. It's easy to think that January is the only month that this can take place, and while it's true that it comes most naturally this time of year, I like to look at each day in the same way most of us look at the first of January. Every day is a new opportunity to try something new, made a different choice, eat better, move more, gripe less, and learn from yesterday's mistakes. So whether you stuck with all of your goals for the last 31 days or not, remember: tomorrow is another new start and it's never too late! 

My Simple Goal list included reading 24 books this year. As I said then, I would love to push that to 36 or 48 or even my original 2025 goal of 60, but we're going to start small and work up and if we go beyond that, I'll give myself an overachieving high five. January was a pretty strong start (as it usually is - winter being my best time for reading), and here are the books I checked off my list over the last 31 days...

1. Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson & Jay Cooper - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was on my wish list for a while, and then (without knowing it was one my wish list) a friend gave it to me for my birthday last month and I absolutely loved it. Yes, I still just gave it four stars (because, come on, five star books need to really be five stars!), but for a little graphic/short paragraph book, this was pretty fantastic. I wasn't actually sure what to expect, but from page one I found myself snorting. If you've read any Agatha Christie mysteries or other similar British murder series, you'll recognize many of the seemingly innocent yet surprisingly sinister characters and locations, bound to be full of murderous intentions (beware all village fêtes, for example, and stay away from the church bell tower!). If you, or someone you know well, love a cozy British murder, this should definitely be on your list for next year's stocking (along with a cute bookmark - another friend gave me a tea bag bookmark, similar to this one, which you could actually make with scraps!). {Amazon Associates Link}
2. From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I always love a trip to Botswana to visit Mma Ramotswe. The stories are simple and yet, surprisingly, complex, involving regular life and common troubles that makes the characters relatable, even if you've never left your mid-west hometown. In this particular book I was getting a little concerned at how he was going to wrap up all the loose threads of the story. And even though McCall Smith waited until the very last chapter to wrap up every story line...he did so, beautifully, as always. When the world appears to grow more insane by the day, I encourage you to take a trip over to Zebra Lane or make a stop at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and have a cup of red bush tea with Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. Always a pleasure. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. Let the Biscuits Burn by Abby Kuykendall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ If I were just viewing this through the lens of what I got out of it, I would give it two stars and say that it offered nothing earth shattering (hospitality was a normal thing in my family). However, if you're new to it this is a good starting point because we are all called to "practice hospitality," not just those who have the gift of it. Kuykendall offers real life examples of how she first practiced hospitality as a single woman, and now as a relative newlywed and new mom. This is also where she lost me a bit because I chuckled over her being "so busy," but the things she shares are still valid and good, food for thought and encouraging to those who didn't grow up in a hospitality-rich environment. In a world where opening your home to others is a lost art...people are just happy to be invited. Personal Note: Making people feel at home in your house follows learning how to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, because only then you will learn how to love your neighbor as yourself...and your door should begin to open because all you're really doing is loving your neighbor. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. The Missing Pets Mystery by Rachel Ward ⭐⭐ I actually have this as a set of five books for Kindle, but each one is a full book (and can be purchased separately), so even though Kindle will mark it as having read one book, I'm counting it as five. Now that that's out of the way, here's the nitty gritty: This was a definite improvement from the first book (in no way was it clean, mind you, still f-bombs and innuendo, but at least no graphic sex scenes this time), and it feels like the author is settling in a bit. However, it is a reality stretch because how many mysteries can a supermarket employee be involved with that involve the same supermarket staff? Although, to be fair, I guess it's no different than the number of murders per capita in Cabot Cove, Maine, where Jessica Fletcher lived (Murder, She Wrote). Here's the only thing you really need to know: Would I recommend the series? No, I still would not. That hasn't changed from Book 1. I'm only continuing on because I already own Books 1-5 (the $2.99 special for all five). Had Book 2 taken after Book 1, I would have shut it down. Even so, my recommendation is: Pass.
5. Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon by Greg Laurie & Marshall Terrill ⭐⭐⭐ In the introduction, Laurie says he's never written fiction before, clarifying that the "fiction" part of this story is his road trip in his classic car, though not saying whether he actually met up with the people he talked to about McQueen (getting there by plane and rental car instead of an epic road trip) or if he used the phone or if it was all research from his co-author. He said the road trip itself was a "literary story-telling device," but he could have done without it and I wouldn't have been left guessing what was fact and what was fiction. That aside, as much as I appreciated how Laurie intertwined his life story and its similarities with McQueen's formative years...there were times when his own self-importance-through-survival rubbed me the wrong way. Is this about Steve McQueen or Greg Laurie? Did both Laurie and McQueen have difficult childhoods? Yes. Did God save them both? Yes. Although, on that count, we didn't get there until the very end of the book (just as McQueen didn't get there until the end of his life). Laurie does a decent job wrapping it up in the closing chapters, and because this was one of the last books (if not the last) that my mom read before she died, I am willing to say it's an okay book (and one that spoke to her during her own final weeks battling cancer). Even though it wasn't a favorite book of mine, it could be an encouraging read for others, as it was for my mom.{Amazon Associates Link}
6. Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read this in a day, practically in one sitting! Such a sweet story, with a total lack of impropriety, unnecessary crassness, foul language, uncomfortable bedroom scenes, or anything else that makes so many other books these days something that I am totally uncomfortable handing my teenage girls. But this is like taking Beauty and the Beast and mixing it up with Jane Austen (but with some hand holding, a couple of marital kisses, and some longing looks). My only complaint is that it's only on Kindle, but at least there are several books in the series. I also saw a trailer for a movie they are making from the book (done with a kickstarter compaign) which I'm looking forward to seeing whenever it's finally released (this year, according to their website). {Amazon Associates Link}
7. Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a really lovely follow-up to book #1 (Seeking Persephone). Although the plot line and inevitable ending were obvious from page 1, that didn't stop me from enjoying the book or the progression of Miss Lancaster's relationship with a certain family friend. Sweet, clean, and the ultimate happy ending for all. My biggest complaint about this series is that it's Kindle-only, and I would love to have these books in paperback for my girls (who don't do ebooks), but otherwise, a really lovely set of sweet, innocent romance stories (something I'm not typically a fan of, so this has come as a bit of a surprise). {Amazon Associates Link}
8. Midwinter Murder: Fireside Mysteries from the Queen of Crime by Agatha Christie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I think I was around 13 or 14-years-old when I first picked up an Agatha Christie mystery (I believe it might have been Murder on the Orient Express), and I was hooked. It's been a few years since I have re-read any of her detective stories (though I did read her autobiography in October 2024), but I love Christie's writing. I love her short stories (though not as much as I love her longer tales). But mostly, I adored the cover and interior of this (Hardcover from the UK) book (absolutely beautiful - my copy is pictured above). If you want the beautiful cover, you have to cough up for the hardback, because the U.S. paperback just isn't the same. My one complaint was that there wasn't necessarily a winter theme to all of the stories, but that's not enough to make me give it less than 5 stars. Perfect January read. ❄️ {Amazon Associates Link}
   
9. Romancing Daphne by Sarah M. Eden ⭐⭐⭐ So far, this has been my least favorite of the series, but it was still enjoyable and I read it in a day. While the first two books received four stars from me, this one, however, was just a three star. For one thing, there were some inconsistencies (like Adam's clear threat not to physically touch Daphne, and yet it was ignored almost immediately), and the ending with the Lancaster's father wasn't tied up. However, it was still delightful to see another sister married off, and I look forward to giving the next book in the series a go. {Amazon Associates Link}
10. Out to Canaan (Mitford #4) by Jan Karon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I have lost track of the number of times I have read through this series, but it never gets old. The perfect cozy series for hard times, crazy seasons, dark winters, or just because. Father Tim seems to get better with each reading, mostly because as I age I begin to understand him more. I can see things in his character that I couldn't understand before, ways of looking at the world and at people, feelings that resonate as they just didn't when I was 20 years younger. And yet, there's something for everyone in this story and series, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. I'm quite excited that she's coming out with a final book in the series and look forward to getting my hands on it later this year! {Amazon Associates Link}

One month in, ten books finishes. I'm quite pleased with that start! We'll see what February holds, but I've been working to develop some habits that will hopefully help me to continue to making reading a priority in 2026. In the mean time, hit me up with the best book you read in January! 

Happy Reading!

Year's End (December Reads and Favorite Books)

Twenty twenty-five was one of the best years -- and one of the most challenging -- of my forty-four years of life. Goal setting in January didn't include walking with my mom through six short weeks of cancer and death, and yet I wouldn't have it any other way. Caring for her was one of the greatest privileges of my life, and the gift of losing my mom when she still remembered me (unlike her mom, who didn't know any of us when she passed away in her 90's) is something I can genuinely give thanks for. Watching my dad figure out life without his sweetheart of 64 years has been incredibly heart-wrenching, but also given me moments of pride (along the same lines of how I feel as I watch my 21-year old figure out her life). From giving Mom's eulogy on a balmy June evening to sending three of my teenagers overseas for the summer the following morning, God's goodness was manifest to me. Whether saying an earthly farewell to my mom or a temporary goodbye to my kids, I can say with certainty that the Lord is good, His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness is, indeed, great.

So many of my goals for the year changed when we found out Mom wasn't long for this world. Originally I had planned to read five books a month -- and was on track to do so -- but when Mom got sick, all ability to read went out the window. Even though I had a lot of time on my hands as I sat in waiting rooms or sat with her, my brain was unable to focus on words. After she passed and I was down to one kid in the house for the summer, I thought I would be able to catch up. Instead, I often found myself sitting in stillness, sometimes crying, as I processed everything that had taken place over the previous months, still unable to pick up a book. By August I realized I needed to revise my goal from 60 books to a mere 36. Life happened. And along with embracing the goodness of God, I also began to embrace contentment. Contentment in the seasons. Contentment in the goals. Contentment in doing what I could and letting go of the rest because, in the end, it really didn't matter as much as I thought it did in January. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Even though I had to lower my 2025 reading goal, a few days before the end of the year I still managed to tick that goal box and discovered a rather enjoyable series towards the end of the year. Below you can see both my reviews of what I read in December, as well as my top five books/series of 2025. 

1. The Murders at Clarion Castle by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overall, I would say that this one was more intense than previous books in the series, it definitely kept my heart rate a little elevated (though I never thought any of the gang would die... it's too Nancy Drew-esque for that!). Evie's realization that {SPOILER} someone she thought long dead was, in fact, not, was not a surprise (saw that one coming from a couple of books ago), however, it didn't dim my enjoyment of the story. The way each of the characters are growing and becoming more confident and working together is enjoyable, and even though I would call this one less "cozy mystery" and more action, it was still a good addition to the series. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Harvest Festival Murders by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐ The authors have been cranking out these books and you can really tell with this one. Lots of loose, dangling ends and the main plot kept getting run over by all the half-finished side stories. Just as Katherine is preparing to unload her story about Greta (the German Land Army girl who disappears from the story and wasn't central to anything!) with Harry and Nigel, the next chapter opens with her standing in the village hall being fitted for a wedding dress. Um, how did we get here? What happened to Greta? One moment Evie is sneaking around a suspicious Spitfire crash site with a gun in her hand, but an hour later she's back at the hospital and kicking herself for not being armed. And if one more woman's hair was described as "Pulled back severely" in a bun, or one more "scared face" with "darting eyes" showed up in the story, I was going to scream. I'm all about getting more books out, but don't sacrifice the editorial portions of the writing. This definitely needed some help and made it far less enjoyable than previous stories in the series. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. The Scrooge Conspiracy by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐ I would probably give this one 2.5 stars, but it really needs a good line edit. This series started out strong, and don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying it, but there are more and more redundancies and explanations of things we already know (that last bit is what makes it feel like a Nancy Drew). I also noticed more loose ends or quickly tied up ends (for example, Lyle's quick summary of what happened with the villain of the story and the leader of the Black Briers). The writing feels rushed (they're cranking out a new book every 2 months or so!), and they fall back on a lot of cliches. All the style critiques aside...it was fun to read this one at Christmas and enjoy the twist of the play (even though the hyper focus on the oil was a bit much for something that was then quickly explained). I'll keep reading, because they're clean and they're fun, and when I just want an easy, mindless read, this absolutely fits the bill and keeps me reading, but I'm still a bit disappointed that rather than getting better (as they did in the earlier books), they've settled into quick writing and pumping them out (a la Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys). {Amazon Associates Link}

Top 5 of 2025

1. The Homefront Sleuth's Mysteries* by father/daughter duo Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - If you are looking for a clean, British, historical mystery/spy/murder story, give this series a try. Aside from editing issues, I really don't have many complaints about any of the books I've read in it. Think Nancy Drew meets Miss Marple. 
2. Born Survivors by Wendy Holden - Absolutely incredible story of life and death and hope within the confines of Nazi concentration camps. This is history we should never forget or we will end up repeating it. Highly recommend.
3. Rocket Men by Robert Kurson - The story of the Apollo 8 crew, their mission, their personal lives, and their dedication to the mission many didn't think would (or should) happen, but ended up being key to helping the U.S. win the moon race. If you're at all interested in the NASA Apollo program, this is a must read. 
4. The Hawthorne and Horowitz series by Anthony Horowitz - I made my way through several of these books early on in the year and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them and even the quirky writing style. Relatively clean, interesting characters, I felt that the books continued to improve, so if you tried one and weren't a fan, try again.
5. The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman - Loved the first three in this series (a total surprise), but he almost lost me on book #4. There were aspects of the story I loved (and made me bawl, honestly), and parts that I really felt we could have done without. However, he redeemed himself in book #5 and I will definitely give book #6 a try when it comes out.

*Amazon Associates Links

Just as I did in 2024, I'm implementing a book buying freeze (unless I have free ebook credits or other credits) for 2026 as I have collected a substantial amount of TBR stacks again this year (and received more for my birthday and Christmas - no complaints!!!) and it's time to make a dent in the pile. #BookwormProblems And I'm aiming for that 60 book goal again, but holding it loosely, because you just never know what's around the next corner of life, right? Here's to a 2026 that is full of joy, laughter, growth, and, as always, lots of good books!

What's on your TBR list for 2026?

#iamthankful for BOOKS! (Or what I read in November)

Hard to believe we have just completed the eleventh month of 2025 and there remains just one month between us and a new year. So much has happened since this time last year, so much that was unforeseen (like my mom dying), and it makes me stop and wonder what I'll be saying at this time next year. Will I be adjusting to the loss of another family member? Will I be down to just three kids remaining in our house? Will I still be proofreading and trying to hit reading goals? Only time will tell, but what I know for sure is this...no matter what, God is good.

This was the first Thanksgiving without my mom being around, and we knew it would be different, but it was still good. We headed up to Virginia to spend the holiday with two of my siblings, a nephew and his family, my dad, and some family friends. In a year with so many changes, it was helpful to be somewhere entirely new. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

After our family time, we continued north, taking our school-aged kids to Williamsburg and Jamestown to enjoy the Christmas festivities. What that meant was that by the time Thanksgiving week rolled around, I was pretty much done with all of my reading for the month, but here's what I managed to sneak in around packing 146 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, visiting family, and exploring history with our kids.

1. The Spectre of Hawthorne Manor (Homefront Sleuths #2) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Let me just say that book 2 in this series did not disappoint. While there are some weak spots (Harry continually tripping up right before an attack comes to mind, or dangling plot lines - like what happened to the housekeeper?), this book proves that the series definitely has a lot of potential and I appreciate the lack of crude language or unnecessary lusty bits. They leave it on a nice cliff hanger, while still tying up the story for this book (reminds me a bit of the old Nancy Drew stories, honestly). The writing isn't at the level of Agatha Christie, but it's a really nice group of characters in a lovely little English village, fighting evil and figuring out life in a world continually changing due to the war. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link - FREE with Kindle Unlimited, or $3.99 to buy}
2. The Spitfire Murders (Homefront Sleuths #3) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another really nice addition to the series from Elliott and Veley, complete with character growth and historically-based plots. And I will add, again, that the series continues in the vein of a more grown up version of Nancy Drew, with a cohort of friends swooping in at the last minute to save the day. There were a couple of typos or plot details that were wonky (like, one minute the two hostages are bound and gagged, and the next minute they're no longer gagged), but overall, it was an enjoyable, easy read. The more I read these books the more I am sucked in, and luckily for me...they are writing and publishing the next books quickly. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
   
3. The Judas Monk Murders (Homefront Sleuths #3) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This series keeps improving with each book. The writing gets better, the plots become more detailed without becoming cluttered, the characters are developing at an appropriate pace, all in all, enjoyable writing. I will say that there are some plot lines that have not been a surprise...certain people turning up, for example. You can see where they're headed before you get there, but it hasn't made the stories any less enjoyable. Clean, lacking the sensationalism or modern (woke) twists that so many of these types of series have now, which is refreshing. This is the series I've been looking for for a while, just a bit of cozy British mystery, with a hint of romance, but not enough to really distract from the primary plot of the story. I almost gave this one five stars, but I reserve that for the very best of books and writing. But...for a clean, cozy mystery...five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

Only three books, but I thoroughly enjoyed them all and am about 50% of the way through the next book in the series, and recommended it to a friend over Thanksgiving as well. I still have a few books to go before I hit my (lowered) goal for the year, but I have every confidence that it will happen before the 31st. In the meantime, Happy December, Merry Christmas, and I'll see you in January with a review of what I read this month and my favorite books of 2025, along with some reading goals for 2026. 🎄📚🎯