My Year in Books...

In 2023, I read a total of 52 books and so my goal for 2024 was to reach that and squeeze in a few more. 

I am happy to report, that I came in with 65 books!! I even finished a day early and had an entire day to spare! I often get asked how I can read so many books, and besides the obvious answer, that I literally always have a book in hand or in my face,  I listen to my books! I spend so much time in the car driving children around,  that being able listen while I drive or fold laundry takes my multitasking to a whole new bookish level! I'd say on average, each book I read is about 50% physically read and 50% audio. 

Now, to get to my Top Books of 2024:

1. The Wish, Nicholas Sparks

2. The Last Letter, Rebecca Yarros

3. Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon

4. Once There Were Wolves, Charolette McConaghy

5. Comfort & Joy, Kristen Hannah

Honorable Mentions- would read again and recommend:

*The Sign of the Beaver, Elizabeth George Speare (Children's Lit)

*Love and Other Words, Christina Lauren

*The Housemaid, Frieda McFadden

*Holly, Stephen King

*Chronicles of a Lost Boy on Christmas, AF Presson

*A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

I am a total sucker for Christmas books, Fantasy, Spooky and Children's literature, so don't be surprised when you see Sign of the Beaver or A Christmas Carol right beside a Stephen King book on my noteworthy list. I have a passion for books that doesn't discriminate in length or genre.

As I think about 2025 in regards to books- and lets be honest, books are a huge part of my every day life, I am so excited and have so many Fun Goals...

1. Finish reading every Kristin Hannah book (my favorite author)

2. Start chipping away at the Nicholas Sparks book list

3. Read 75 books

4. Read the entire bible

5. Find a brand-new (to me) author that I can call a favorite

6. And lastly, I want to be better about revisiting my favorites. I have so many incredible books on my 'Favorites Shelf' and they definitely deserve a re-read

As always, I wish you all many days of Happy Reading this year!

2023 BOOKS

This year, I read a total of 52 books... that evens out to a book a week! 

I didn't necessarily put a number on my reading goal this year, because in the end, the books I read are something to savor, not a chore on a check-list.  However, I did want to read more than last year, which I accomplished (in 2022 I read 43).  As 2024 gets going, I will continue my bookworm habits with the hopes of squeezing in just a few more books than last year. 

You can't imagine the level of excitement I feel when I start thinking about all the books 2024 holds! It's like my own little book journey, walking into my library after finishing a book, looking at my shelves, deciding what to read next! I was that girl who read The Hobbit and Little Women in middle school... that bookworm got a hold of me early on, and the pages I read continue to be one of my favorite places to land!

Cheers, to the books of twenty twenty-four!

Top 5 Books of 2023:

1. The Book of Lost Names

2. Night Road 

3. In Five Years

4. Winter Garden

5. Call of the Wild

A Year Without TV...

Last year, instead of any resolutions, I set a personal goal. I wanted to be intentional with my personal time, choosing to do something I love daily, instead of creating gaps of mindless time.  

There was a time when Netflix was one of my favorite things to fill my time with. I had about 4-5 shows I would watch, always anticipating new seasons. However, 'just one more episode' always turned into, late night watching and me having to force myself to turn off the TV.  As much as I loved all my shows, I realized it was dominating my free time. 

So, I decided 2022 was the year I was going to actively pursue immersing myself in my love for reading, and I set a goal to read 50 books in one year. In doing this, I unintentionally let go of TV. Instead of scrolling through social media at school pick-up, I read, instead of listening to music in the car, I listened to my books, instead of falling asleep to the TV, I fell asleep to my stories. 

My books are my treasures and there isn't much I love as much as reading, so, when I say 2022 was filled so much good, a big portion of that was me redirecting priorities. The 43 books I read, were gifts to myself. Time I allowed myself to just sit and read, soaking up the quiet, allowing morning porch sitting and discovering some of the best books I've ever read!!

This is by far my most favorite New Year goal I've ever set, so much so, that I intend to make it a tradition, a new way of life for myself. This year, I am not giving myself  a number to reach, but rather, I just want to read more books than last year. That may mean 50 and that may mean 44, but regardless, my TBR shelf is waiting, full of literary treasures, and this little bookworm has already started book number 1!

*A good amount of these are children's books. I often read books that my boys have read- almost always it's books Remi asks me to read after he finishes it. Remi can immerse himself in a book, much like I do and the fact that he will do 'book talk' with me, is heaven to my book-loving heart! Want to open up yourself to awesome conversations with your kiddo? Read books with them, talk characters, discuss the sad parts, pick apart what you disliked... these type of conversations often lead to deeper topics and things that can otherwise be harder to talk about. 

 

November & December Reading...

The Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
This book will definitely be one of my all time favorites. What a beautiful story about a little rabbit named Edward. His journey begins in the most elegant state, him having the finest of everything but lacking in love for anyone but himself. This sweet little rabbit, is taken upon the most heartbreaking of journeys that molds him into the most beautiful soul. I cried through the whole last half of his story and when the end rolled around, my tears were of happiness, love and getting to witness the remarkable transformation in who Edward was and who he became. This book is so applicable to the ups and downs we all face in life. It is about the hope we harbor, the love we give and the feelings we let ourselves feel. I will without a doubt be reading this again one day and it is most defintely worth mentioning that the illustrations in this book are as good as the words. What a little treasure of a book this is!

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar
This book started a bit slow but picked up speed, stole my heart and ended with me in tears page after page. What a beautiful debut novel by Eagar! This book is about a 12 year old girl who meets her grandpa for the first time. He is in the midst of dementia and his mind wanders keeping you on the brink of reality and pieces of magic. The grandpa tell Caroleena story after story, capturing her heart and creating a rooted bond that had me missing and reminiscing my own Pa. The impact grandparents have in our lives is truly magical, and this story captures that in the most beautiful, heartbreaking way. Hour of the Bees will always remind me a bit of my own Pa, the stories he told and the unbreakable bond we shared.

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
This was a classic 'who dun it' murder mystery- and a good one! This book had me guessing all over the place, never really trusting any character and second guessing every scenario I came up with. I was wrong in the end, and never would have guessed who the culprit was. Such a good book- loved the characters, loved the setting and loved all the little twisty turns throughout!

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Oh, what a wonderful little story this was. It warmed my heart in so many ways. This book is pretty small, but it actually took me a bit to get through. It is not a 'can't put it down' type of book. Rather, you can pick it up anytime, read at your own pace, truly enjoying every little piece of these wonderful characters. This book centers around a man who has reached the end. He has maybe a few months left in a life that has not been so great to him. Being born an orphan, he has no family besides his ex-wife and dying seems to be almost a relief for him. However, when his doctor prescribes a climate a less bit harsh than Chicago, his life seems finally start. He finds himself in the middle of community full of magical people who end up transforming his life. This is a book about hope, about finding someone to love, family and never being too old to go out and create your happy ending. This story was magical!

A Christmas In Vermont by Anita Hughes
I loved this book so much! The setting was in a cozy Inn right in the heart of a Vermont winter wonderland, the characters were instantly lovable and the whole story is only over about week's worth of time. It was so satisfying to see Emma trust in fate and be brave enough to seek out a love she has dreamed of. It starts when she finds her old college boyfriend's watch at a pawn shop and from there, everything starts falling into place. From the get go, I was rooting for Emma to find love and when she finally does, it is in the most wonderful way! This is a feel-good love story that I couldn't put down!

A Mrs.Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber
This story was magical! It has so many heartwarming layers; a grandmother who loves her granddaughter like mine did me, a marriage that won't be broken, an angel who changes the life of a dying dementia patient, infertility that ends with an answered prayer of adoption, Christmas miracles at the turn of every page. This book tackles some pretty hard topics and does it so very gracefully. I fell in love with the character of Mrs. Miracle and as I finished the last page I had happy tears and the desire for my very own angel companion. This might be a book I read every December- it's that good!

Spooky Reading...

Every October, I dive into my stack of spooky, ghostly reads. I look forward to October every single year- not only because it's my favorite holiday, but because there is nothing better than a good ole ghost story!

This year, I had 6 books I dedicated to read during October...



The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
I started off with this little classic. It is a hand-me-down from my mom's classroom collection and published the same year I was born. Last time she came to visit, she brought this with her and to me, this old, worn book is a great treasure! I had to make myself finish the book I was reading and the one I had planned next before I would let myself devour this one. I could have easily read it in one day, but selfishly, I strung it out over two because it was that good and I was that sad it was ending so soon! If you haven't read this, you need to! It is one of my favorite ghost stories ever! And plus, who doesn't love a beautiful dollhouse full of beautiful miniatures!

Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright
I enjoyed The Dollhouse Murders so much, that I bought this book as one of my October reads. It was a short ghost story based in an old abandoned lake cottage. I was able to read this in one sitting and it had me turning page after page to get see how this angry ghost would be put to rest. A great little read for sure!

When by Victoria Laurie
I LOVED this book! This was a murder mystery that centers around a teenager and her supernatural ability to see death. We get to meet her alcoholic mother who mourns her dad's death, her uncle who would do anything for her and Stubby, her best friend who you will love! I was guessing all over the place trying to figure out who would end up being the serial killer and their motives. I was guessing until the very end and never was able to pieces together myself- I absolutely love a book that catches me off guard!

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
This book was awesome. I would hands down, give it five stars! It was a bit on the longer side, so I wasn't sure how long it would take to finish (I'm a slow reader), but I could not put it down. I wanted to tell everyone I ran into about this book, I read any chance I got and even though it was creepy and a bit scary at times, I even read it into the late hours of night, when Micah was out of town. After I finish up my October To Reads, I am going to check out some of McMahon's other novels! It was murder mystery, sorcery and ghost story all rolled into one. The reader is taken from present to the early 1900's, through three different story lines and into Sara Shea's very own journal entries. If you like a good spook, this book is a must!

The House Next Door by Darcy Coates
I really wanted this book to be scarier than it was. As expected from the back cover summary and front cover image, this book is about a haunted house. However, this book is a bit different because the house is not the home of the protagonist. The ghost haunts the house next door. Jo, befriends Anna, when she moves into the Marwick house and unintentionally involves herself in the dangerous afflictions of the hauntings. From posseion, to hallucinations, this book has all the ingredients for an absolute terror of a story, but it just didn't get me there. If you want to read a ghost story that will not scare you to death, then this is the book for you!

The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics
This book was seriously creepy. Though I read it pretty quickly, it was in a lot of short little reads. I never really got to sit down and read for hours and because of that, I don't think it was as scary as it could have been. However, it was definitely the most gory of this group, the most far-fetched and the hardest to figure out- I was a huge fan of this book. The ending was far from tied up in perfection, and in this type of book, I love the thought of the creapy living on!


My favorite of this group was The Dollhouse Murders and The Winter People

Fall Reading...

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase
I snagged up this book after I read One Night At The Lake by the same author. I loved that book so much, that I immediately got on Amazon and got this one. This book did not grab me right away like her previous novel did. In fact, it wans't until exactly page 187 that I got the 'I can't put this down' feeling. From there on out I loved this book to pieces! In fact, I actually loved the two main characters better in this book- the storyline just didn't grab me as quickly! A slow start, but a great read!

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
Very rarely do I ever come across a book that I just don't really like. Well, this was one of those rare occassions. I have read quite a few books by this author and loved them! This is one of her most recent novels and I couldn't wait to pick it up. Overall, the story just brought me down. I hated the things that were happening and I really didn't like the ending. Though, there honestly wasn't a way for the book to be finished up in a way that I would have liked. It took on serious topics, threw them all into one storyline- almost in a flippant way- and then nothing was resolved in the end. I was pretty disappointed in this book- I just needed more feel good.

Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey
This book was a gift for my birthday from my sister. Although this is actually #3 in a series, it did just fine to read it as a stand alone. The author's style took a bit getting used to for me- she felt a bit all over the place at times and I would find myself flipping back to make sure I hadn't skipped a page. However, this story was so so good. The story centers around 3 sisters and their mother. We get to journey through tragedy, long-lost loves, marriage, children, parenting with these southern gems. The story is told from the mother's and the youngest daughter's perspective. I fell in love with all of these women. What a wonderful job the author did of not making things to 'pretty', instead giving this story a realistic take on relationships between mother, daughter and sister. I loved this book and at some point, I'd love to go back and read the first two in this series as well.

Summer Reading...

I just finished up the last of these four books! I started the first of this group later this summer and I have to say, I loved every single one of these books!



Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn
This little book is one I ordered off of Remi's book order last year. Yes, I order books for myself from their Scholastic Book Orders- I just can't help myself! This book was so wonderful. It is about a tween girl who has a younger autistic brother. Their father has recently died, putting them in a single mother situation. The money is tight, the mother has to work non-stop and little Caterpillar feels big burdens on her shoulders for such a young girl. But the story is so beautiful and watching these characters grow into better versions of themselves is so satisfying. The grandparents reminded me of my own and makes you realize what a huge role they place in their grandchildren's lives. The mother is an illustrator for children's books, so I immediately wanted to love her, and although she made me very angry, in the end, no one is perfect and just like Caterpillar, the reader is able to finally forgive her shortcomings.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
I have read this book before. Way back about 12 years ago before we had children. It has the honor of being on my 'favorites shelf' and will continue to remain there. In all of the reading I have done, there has never been a book as life changing as this- even the second time around. Being a mother changes your perspective on life in a million different ways and because of that, reading this book held new meaning for me. It is heartbreaking, disgusting, infuriating and beautifully real. Both times I have read this, I fell in love with the main character, Michael. For me, there are many parallels between Michael and Christ, which stands to reason why my human heart is so drawn to him. I think every woman craves a love like Michael gives Sarah, and that is a love only God can give. I cried all through this book- even the very last sentence had me dripping with tears. It's a close call with a handful, but this might just be my all-time favorite book!

One Night at the Lake by Bethany Chase
I saw this book and there was no way I wasn't getting it. One, because it is based on the lake and two because a good mysterious novel is right up my alley! This book takes you from past to present, flipping back and forth between different perspectives. You read up and up and finally, you get to the tip top where you literally cannot put it down. You are on pins and needles, predicting and having to know how this book will end. I read this along with 4 other people and seeing how they all felt about how things ended up was an absolute blast!

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
This is Francine Rivers' most recent book and since she was the author of Redeeming Love, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I feel like nothing will ever measure up to RL so it feels a bit unfair to review this book. But, I will. I really liked this book- a lot! It was another beautiful story of how God works for the best in the worst of us. It is a messy love story about two people with very sad childhoods. I got to a point where I couldn't put it down because I just knew she would give her characters the ending they deserved, and I was not disappointed. I have gotten to where I look forward to her epilogues because the future she gives her characters is always the perfect finishing touch to a beautiful story.

Summer Reading...

I chose to start the summer off with some children's literature. I wanted a genre that was quick and light since I knew our summer days were starting out busy. I have a little rolling library cart that holds all my 'to read' books and it is about half full of children's books- I am sucker for them!



Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
This is my first book to read by Kate DiCamillo. She is most famous for her book Because of Winn-Dixie and though I have read many of her books from the Mercy Watson series to the boys, this was a book I bought and read specifically for myself. It is a children's book, so it was an easy and quick read. However, the simplicity held so many sweet moments and deep messages within the story. This book made me appreciate the smell of baking cake, a mom in the kitchen, the sweet charm of southern people and the brave spirit of the feisty Louisiana!

The Cricket in Times Square by Garth Williams
This is a book my mom read to her 4th Graders year after year and has been quoting forever! I figured it was time I read this book that she so dearly loved! What a sweet little story of friendship. I loved the little relationships between Harry Cat, Chester Cricket and Tucker Mouse- I could see my boys in each of their personalities. Mario is the main human character and he reminded me a little bit of my Remi. This sweet story that centers on friendship, home, and saying goodbye is definitely a book I will be reading to my boys.

Charlotte's Web by EB White
Why in the world did I wait until I was 35 to read this book!? Oh, this book was absolutely magical! I loved little Fern- the main human character, and I adore Wilbur, but Charlotte- well she just stole my heart! This book has so many little messages hidden throughout! It is about friendship, change, saying goodbye, seeing the good, trusting and believing. The ending was so beautifully heartbreaking and fulfilling in the most simplistic way that only a child's book can be! After finishing the last page, wiping my tears and flipping through the pages one more time, I realized that the forward to this book was by none other than Kate DiCamillo (the author of the first book on this post). I took the time to read it, and I have to say, her words spoke so truthfully to my heart, I cried again! It was just icing on the cake to this wonderful little read!

I included a picture, because it is just to perfect not to share...



Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
This was a sweet little book that took no time at all to read. The chapters were short and the type big. It was based on the the life of and old wise Wish Tree and all it's animal occupants. The story makes you appreciate the nature around us and the animals we are often too busy to notice. It centers around hope and friendship. I was happy that Samar- the main human character was able to find friendship with an unlikely boy. Simple, sweet and a happy ending!

FrostBlood Saga...

I finished this trilogy quite some time ago. I read the first book way back in October and then later realized there were two more- what a pleasant surprise!

This trilogy is based on supernatural humans who at war with each other. As the story unfolds, we are webbed into a love triangle where the main character has to choose between her own kind or the enemy- all while fighting for her life and the souls of not only her people but the souls of every living being. The second book was by far my favorite and though I personally didn't like who she chose for herself, the books were such a good read! I am a sucker for the love triangle- it gets me everytime!

Winter Reading...

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
This book was absolutely amazing- best book I have read in a very long time. This book was very dear to my heart for lots of reasons, but the first thing that grabbed my heart was that one of the main characters was from Africa. As he described his life, his work, and the places he lived and visited, I relived so many of my own African memories. There were so many places mentioned that I have been and it took me to the places I will always treasure.

This story also tugged at my heart because it is based on a true story and the two main characters are still living to this day. The thought of the two people who I came to love, still walking the shores in North Carolina, is almost just too much for my book-loving heart to handle. This love story will pull at your heartstrings, break it, break it again and then when you can't take it anymore, you will find deep happiness... only to find your heart broken still. This is a beautiful love story that I think everyone should read!

Fish In A Tree by Lynda Hunt
This book was also amazing. And although it was a very quick, easy read, it is a book that I related to on a very personal level. This is a book that I cried all through. This little gem of a book, is about a girl named Ally. As I read page after page, there were so many times I saw my sweet Remi in Ally's story. There were so many times I saw Remi's teacher in Ally's teacher, Mr. Daniels. This story starts with a girl who thinks she is dumb and hates school. She can't read, write or spell and unbeknownst to her, has Dyslexia. However, under all her behavior problems her teacher sees something amazing in her mind. As the story unfolds, we get to watch little Ally bloom into a person who learns that despite her learning differences, she is absolutely brilliant.

This story shows how one single person can make a true difference in the life of a child. One teacher who decides to look a little deeper, who chooses to see past initial judgements to bring out the very best in their student. I cannot put into words how deeply this book touched my heart.

If you are a teacher- buy this book today. If you are a parent with school age children, read this book. In this book Ally is made fun of because of her inability to read. The kids are heartless and it is downright heartbreaking. This has happened to my Remi in and out of school on several occurrences, and as sad as it is, it is so very simple to solve. Talk to you kids. Teach them different is ok. Teach them that making fun of others is a weak state of mind. Teach them that standing up for others makes you a leader. Teach them to be kind with their words, because at the end of the day there is no worse place to be than in bed, crying yourself to sleep because you feel ashamed of the way your mind processes. We are better than this and so are our children.

I could go on and on about this book, but I want you to see for yourself. It is most definetly worth your time.

Wonder by RJ Palacio
This book was great. Each chapter was told by a different character's perspective- and within each chapter, were tiny little sections that made reading this book quick and fun. This story centers on August, a character who was born with abnormal facial features. He gets made fun of, kids are scared to touch him, he suffers on a daily basis with awful reactions to the way he looks. After years of homeschool, he enters public school at the start of 5th grade. This is both scary and exciting, but to Auggie it is mostly scary. The way this sweet boy is treated is just shameful. The way people exclude him is disgusting. This book shows the very worst in the way our youth sometimes treat each other.

But, it also shows the very best. This book gives hope in mankind. That despite us all making bad decisions, in us is the opportunity to make it right, to stand up for the weak, to be a leader that makes the world a better place. The book ends in a such a wonderful way, that my eyes spilled with tears. I was happy that August finally felt loved and that he belonged. I was happy that the parents got to see their child embraced by his peers. But I felt the deepest happiness from the students in this book, that changed their hearts and made the world a better place by simply being kind.

PS I Like You by Kasie West
What an adorably romantic little read. This book started off a little slow and a little bit forced, but as I got further into the story, I couldn't help but fall in love with the story and characters. The heroine of this book, Lily is such a inspiring character. She is different, artsy, marches to the beat of a different drum, and ends up finding love in the most mysterious way. I found myself rooting for her through the whole book and at the end when everything is laid out on the table, I just smiled thinking what a perfect little love story I had just read. This was my Valentine read and it was the perfect book celebrating the journey to finding those our hearts love most.

Fall Reading...

I always get so excited about Fall and Halloween and pumpkins and cardigans, that I can hardly wait to get my stash of spooky books out! Here are the books I have read so far from my spooky stash, but because I have so many good ones to choose from, I will keep on going with the genre for the time being.



What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott
I picked this little book up at last year's book fair. I have been saving it for a year now! This was a quick read that held my attention until I could figure out 'who dun it'. There is one more book that is along the same lines called, 'What Waits in the Woods'. If I ever get through my 'to read' basket- which has now turned into a three self cart, I may pick this one up too. These books could easily be read in a day and sometimes there is something quite satisfying about opening a new book and finishing that night!

The End of Alice by A.M. Homes
This is by far, the most disturbing and disgusting book I have ever read. There has only been one book that I have ever read that would even be a close contender (The Girl Next Door) and even that seems like child's play compared to this. There were so many times I almost closed this book and just threw it away. I think I was hoping for the ending that would make everything else ok- that just didn't come. By the end I was so numb to the grotesque scenes and descriptions that I was almost just waiting for it at the turn of every page. Further research has led me to believe that the author's real purpose in writing this book was to get a reaction from the readers. In that, I can say without a doubt, he does 100%. Do yourself a favor- skip this book- no one needs the filth taking up space in their heads.

One For Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn
I just love this author. Last year, I read 'Took' by Hahn and liked that book as much of this one. She writes short, simplified ghost stories. If you go to a quiet room while everyone else is sleeping and read her books, you might find your self just spooked enough for fun, but other than that, these are just fun little ghost stories. I will say out of the books I have read I think 'Took' has been the spookiest.

The Girl in the Locked Room by Mary Downing Hahn
This was a sweet little ghost story. It wasn't scary- just a lost little ghost soul who finally finds peace thanks to two sweet girls!

Summer Reading...

These are some books I have read over the summer. Most of them are either based on fairy tales or magic. Actually, all but one, I bought at the book fair last year. We all know how much I love children's literature, so the book fair is the perfect opportunity for me to stock up for the year!

Hunted by Meagan Spooner
This was not a book fair book. This book was sent to me as part of my Uppercase YA subscription. It is inspired by Beauty and the Beast and is a more creative take on the story, but a great read nonetheless. There were parts I liked and parts I did not and overall I felt the story moved at a slower pace than I prefer, but I appreciated the story and characters.

The Magic Mirror by Susan Hill Long
This is a sweet little read I scooped up at the book fair 100% based on the cover- because even though they say you shouldn't do that, I love unique cover art. When I started this book, I fully expected an interesting children's story about a magic mirror. That is exactly what this is. A silly, fun little story that takes you on a journey through a fictional land. The magic mirror was the hub of what makes all the quirky characters fit together in the end. There was really nothing profound or deep about this story, but the inner child in me ate it up!

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol
I really really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with the young witch named Arianwyn. I rooted for her throughout her journey as an inexperienced witch and loved when she became the heroine at the end. This was a very short, quick read and the only thing I wish was that the author had made this into a series- I definitely would have bought them all!

The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange
Out of this set of books, this one is by far my most favorite. It is also a book fair book and though it is intended for a younger audience, I truly fell in love with this book. When I finished the last page, I hugged the book close, smiled and though what a beautiful story I had just read. This book hits some pretty deep issues and the main character, Henry- a pre-teen girl full of determination and fire, stole my heart. This is a book that I would have a very hard time lending to anyone, because books like this never really leave my mind. Go grab a copy- the book itself is covered with beautiful art!

Girl, Wash Your Face...

I just finished reading this book while I was traveling to the Dominican. I started it with two friends in hopes of it hitting the spots in each of ours lives that could use a pep talk. For me, this book was great! The chapters were broken up into different lies we believe about ourselves. From there Rachel talks about personal expierences that have helped her see the light in these areas. This is not the type of book I typically pick up, but it was a quick, hard-to-put-down read, and I am so glad I did. If you were to open my personal copy of this book, you would see passage after passage of words I have underlined- that's when you know it's good stuff!

Catching-Up on Reading...

It has been forever since I have updated my reading! Early this Fall, I started a series (which I still have not finished) and then I started a local book club which took me away from my series. Right around that time, I started watching Parenthood on Netflix, which really took me away from any reading at all!

Here are some books I have just finished up...



Magpie Murders: This was the first book our book club chose to read. It took me longer than normal to finish this book, and because of that I don't think I liked it as much as I could have. This murder mystery was very interesting, as it was divided into two stories- the second, in which was a book inside of a book and then at the end it all got tied up in a pretty bow to make sense of it all. I was a bit dissappointed in the in ending-- it felt to plain and simple for the lead-up and there were tons of characters to keep track of. I think overall, it felt like a little too much work to truly enjoy.

Town In A Blueberry Jam: This murder mystery was the second book our book club read. This book was just ok. There were so many parts that felt a little too basic and simple. The characters seemed a bit shallow and honestly, the entire story was just too easy to forget.

Sweet Tea Tuesdays: Right off the bat, this story stirred up my emotions. There were almost too many ways I identified with the characters and not in ways that I really liked. I plunged through though and about halfway through, I decided I liked the book. This was a quick read, not only because it is fairly short, but because it was hard to put down. I found myself loving characters I started off not liking at all and by the end I was in tears. This book represented real people and the fact that everyone has their flaws. It was about making choices to be true to yourself and finding the lemonade in a pile of lemons. I truly did enjoy this book!

The Wish Granter: This a YA book that I got through my subscription from Uppercase- all books from Uppercase are new releases and signed by the author- a detail I love! This book is based on the fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin. I love fairytales and I loved this dark take on the story. This book was very hard to put down and if I can ever make it to the bottom of my 'to read' basket, I have every intention of buying more books by Redwine.

A Series Complete...

Well, I just finished up some pretty amazing books!

For Christmas, Micah got me the Little House on the Prairie book set. I could hardly wait to get my hands on these beautiful books! I love long series like this because it gives me so much more time with the characters.

I remember reading Little House in the Big Woods as a young girl and loving it. I am always on the hunt for beautiful sets that spark my reading interest. When I stumbled on this set, it instantly went on my Christmas list.

These books take you to another place and time where things are simple, hard, dirty and pure. I found myself wishing I was a prairie girl back in time with Laura time after time. I love that I got to follow her from a young child all the way up to her very own motherhood. Though each book captured my heart in different ways, my favorite of the series was book 3, 6, 7 and 8.

I think what I loved most about these books though, was Laura's dad, Pa. From the very first book, he reminded me so much of Micah. From his calm nature to the way that he always found a way to provide for his family, to the way he interacted with Laura and her sisters- Pa was one of my favorite characters. There were so many times I wanted to underline his words and didn't have a pencil!

I will admit, that when I finished the very last book, I cried. In the last book, I also found out some exciting information! Laura and Almanzo's house still stands today, and it is a museum full of special items she writes about in her books. Micah has promised he will take me up to the Ozarks to visit what has become a very special place in my book heart.

If I had a daughter, this would be the very first set of books I bought her. There are lots of good series out there, but this has to be one of the very best!!


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Recent Reading...

Here is a little round-up of some recent reading I have done:

Ghost Story by Peter Straub
This book is really hard to critique. Originally, I had very high hopes for this story. I had done lots of research and had expected it to be one of the scariest books I had ever read. For me, it just didn't meet all the hype. It was a good book, creative story and though I always found myself wanting to know what happened next, it was also easy to put down. Maybe the building of the climax took too long. I will say, this book got stuck right in the middle of all kinds of Holiday craziness, so I was stuck on it for over a month. I like to finish my books within a week and more often than not, if it takes longer than that, then it almost goes stale for me. I feel certain that is part of what happened here.

The Third Twin by CJ Omololu
Micah got me this book for Christmas. It was very short, impossible to put down, and a great little thriller. In fact, I would have loved it even more if had been about 100 pages longer!

Shadow House: The Gathering & You Cant Hide by Dan Poblocki
I bought the first book at the elementary book fair this year. Shortly after buying it, the sequel came out. These two books, fall into each other seamlessly. They are very short, quick reads. I found them to be highly entertaining and a bit spooky. Of this group, I think these two little books might have been my favorite. Yes, they are little childish and sometimes a bit predictable, but they are creative and kept me reading. There is a third coming out at some point, and I can assure, I will be grabbing me a copy!



Now, I am moving on to several book sets I have had my heart set on reading. My 'to-read' stack has grown into a basket full of good reads, and I never seem to have enough time with my books, but that is the thing about reading.... it's always there waiting for the perfect time!

Spooky Reading...

Took
This was a little ghost story that I picked up from the book fair, so it is intended for a younger audience. However, I loved this book! It was short, but not too short, spooky but not really scary... just the book I would have also loved in grade school!! It centers around a family- mainly a brother and sister- who move into a an old rundown house in the woods. A doll, a witch, a kidnapping.... this was a great, little read!!

The Magpies
This book was a psychological thriller- which I think can sometimes be the scariest types of books! Although, I would not call this book 'scary' it was creepy and really had mind my going all over the place trying to figure things out. I am a very picky about endings to books- especially books like this because I want the ending to do the build-up justice... this one did. I was just itching to reach the ending to see what these crazy neighbors had up their sleeve!! Great read!

(I will note, that this book was pretty graphic) I also read his book, Follow You Home, last year. I definitely liked this one better!

Misery
This was my very first Stephen King novel to read. I absolutely loved this book. I wouldn't really call it 'scary' but there were many times that I literally had to force myself to read the next sentence because I was so afraid for the tortured Paul. It was like Annie was hiding in the corners of every page!

The Girl Next Door
This is the absolute most DISTURBING book I have every read.... by a long stretch!

Not scary, but just downright disturbing.

I honestly, almost couldn't even stomach finishing the book. It has a way of making you feel dirty and sick. I was not totally aware of what this book was when I bought it, but the sad thing is, it is based on a true story. I can't in good conscience recommend this book to anyone I know, but if you happen to pick it up, be warned, it will haunt you in the very worst ways.

I haven't gotten to read as much as I would have liked, but I still have several more books to share before I move onto a different genre. Say tuned!!

Happy Reading...

So, as I finished up my Back-To-School reading, we entered my most favorite reading of all!

Last year, I dedicated the entire month of October to reading scary books. I loved it so much that I decided to do it again... and I may have gone a bit overboard with the researching and purchasing of scary books! I am cracking open my first ghost story today and I will keep you updated as I read, for those of you who like a good scare. In this stack, I have classics, YA, ghost stories, thrillers, short books and one of them will be the longest book I have ever read at over 1,000 pages! Does anyone else get this excited about books!?



This last group of books I read is a mix of children, my vampire series and two of my favorite authors.... great variety!



Shade of Vampire 30-32
This highly addictive supernatural series continues on and I'm not sure I see it coming to an end anytime soon. I really hope they will just give in and turn it into a tv series one of the these days. These books are very quick reads and so I like to have at least three to read in a row. Since I am pretty well caught up, I have to read these in spurts in order for new books to be released. Still love them and will follow the series until the end! Bella has just released several new books and I can't wait read those as well!

Pete's Dragon
I loved this movie as a child and could not wait to take the boys to see it. When I saw the book in the airport this Summer, I grabbed a copy. However, this book is basically just the movie written out... there was no original book to the movie. I wish I would have know this, but it was still fun to compare the movie with the images I had already formed in my mind.

The Hatchet
I bought this book at the beginning of the Summer. I really really loved this book. It reminded me so much of my Remi being stranded out in the middle of nowhere and being able to survive. I remember while I was reading this, laying in bed with him one night telling him about all that had happened to this little boy. Remi was completely mesmerized by the story!! When Remi is old enough to read chapter books, I picture this book sitting on his night stand covered in dirt and mud!

Truly, Madly, Guilty
Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books and they are all great. She does a fantastic job of changing things up so that you never feel like you are reading the same book just with different names and places. This book will have you guessing all over the place as to what is going on. In the end, this book was about one of my biggest fears as a parent... you'll have to read it to find out!

After You
Jojo Moyes is also one of my favorite authors. I discovered her several years ago and have read 5 or 6 of her books- but she has a ton, so go grab one. This book is actually the follow-up to Me Before You- which was also made into a movie. Me Before You was amazing and After You gave me the closure that I think every reader craved after reading her first.

*My all time favorite book of hers (of the ones I have read) is The Girl You Left Behind... amazing story!

Last of My Summer Reading....

Well, I guess this finishes up my Summer reading. It really just feels like there are so many books I can't wait to get my hands on, and just never enough hours in the day to devour them!! I might have a bit of a book problem :)

Anyways, I read some pretty great things this Summer! Here is my last haul...



Shade of Vampire Series 28 &29, Bella Forrest
I continue to love this series. I think she might only have three more after this, but you never know, and I would be way excited if she kept this series going. However, Bella Forrest is coming out with a brand-new book in September (which I have already pre-oredered) that I cannot wait to get my hands on!

The Girls in the Garden, Lisa Jewell
This book was just ok for me. I had such high hopes for this book and really wanted to love it even before I opened the first page. I think sometimes I look at a cover, read about a book and just get so overly excited that I am often times let down. The storyline was there, but the author just didn't give me an ending that evenly matched the build-up. When a story builds and builds and builds, if the ending isn't an absolute explosion of suspense, then it just ends up sounding transparent, off- handed and a bit disconnected- that was this book for me.

BFG, Roald Dahl
I have loved Roald Dahl since I read James and the Giant Peach way back in the day! His stories are just so colorful and imaginative! I grabbed this book because I knew I would be taking the boys to see the movie and I just couldn't stand the thought of not knowing Roald's version first! The book was for sure better than the movie and I am so glad I read it! Just a cute, quick little read that made my inner child happy!

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
I think most people read this book as part of their high schook curriculum.... for some reason I did not. I don't know if I just didn't read what was assigned or if it was just not assigned at all. Either way, I'm so glad I read it now and not then. I don't think I would have fully appreciated the beauty of this book when I was a teen-ager. I loved this book. It was a book I put down, picked up, slow and steady, nothing crazy, but just good storytelling with lots of thought-provocing relationships. I fell in love with Atticus. He was just so full of wisdom... wisdom that had me underlining his words throughout the whole book!! A book that makes me get up, go get a pencil and start underlining... that's when I know I've found a jewel of a book!! This will be an all time favorite of mine!

This Savage Song, Victoria Schwab
This was part of my Uppercase Subscription. I really enjoyed this book. I think I read it in a couple of days, so it was for sure one of those books that you can't put down. However, as I got closer and closer to the end, I kept thinking, how can this be it?! In my opinion, this should not be a stand alone book. It needs at the very least, a sequel. In fact, I feel like the author could make quite an amazing series off this book. Great ideas, lots of interesting aspects but I really just want more!! I am crossing my fingers that she will continue this story!

Summer Reading...

Well, here is my first bunch of Summer Reading.

I have to say, every single book was fantastic!!

The first three books are part of the Shade of Vampire series that I love so much. These are books 25-27. Even though these books are simple and quick, I ALWAYS look forward to the next book release. The author, Bella Forrest, turns out these books so quickly- like almost one a month. I love this because I never have to wait long to get my hands on the next book!

The next book I read, was something very special that I hunted down. I love revisiting books that have made an impression on me. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is a book I read way back in 8th grade, right after one of best friends read it. I remember loving it so very, very much. So, I searched until I found the exact publication of the book I read in 8th grade. I love that this book is old, worn, reminds me of my childhood and now sits proudly on my library shelf. All these years later, this book still brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. Great books never tire!

The Obsession was a book recommended to my by my best friend. I knew going into it, that it would be a thriller, and we all know I love a good scary story, so I picked it up. This book was extremely addicting. I loved it!! After about the first 100 pages, I literally could not put it down!

The latest book I read, and my favorite, was also recommended by a friend. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. There really are no words to describe the beauty of this story. I cried my heart out as it came to an end and I don't think I will ever be able to forget these characters that seem to have made a home in my heart. The book centers around two sisters during the Holocaust. Oh, it heartbreaking, passionate, sickening and beautiful. It is a longer book, with smaller words so I took me longer to read, but please don't be discouraged. By the end of the book, it won't feel long enough, because part of the sadness is that it is over. If you have a sister, you need to read this. It is one of the most beautiful novels I have ever read!