Friday Fun - September 29, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have two books to share with you. 

I just finished reading Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal. I read it for a few of my reading challenges. It was one of twelve books recommended for me to read this year. It is a book that is weather themed, though most of the book is in preparation for the upcoming storms and flood. Plus the book was published in 2012.

I am currently reading The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. This book is also for a few reading challenges. I needed a book published before 2000 plus a book that was a classic I have never read. Additionally, this book works for the Read Your Bookshelf challenge as I needed a book where one of the words from page 50 of last month's challenge was in the title. That word was "horse."

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my Book Beginnings for Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal:

"Denah hoisted her bridal garments and sidestepped a manure pile."

Bridal and manure pile don't really seem to fit together. So, I was wondering where Denah was headed.

And here is my Book Beginnings for The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis:

"This is the story of an adventure that happened in Narnia and Calormen and the lands between, in the Golden Age when Peter was High King in Narnia and his brother and his two sisters were King and Queens under him."

I hadn't realized this book took place when the kids from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe were reigning as kings and queens. Cool. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal:
 

"The woman kept hold of Eran's hand, her jowls oscillating as she shook her head. 'You shame your husband with your empty womb. How soon will he tire of you and take another wife to bring him heirs?'"

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis:

"At every turn Shasta hoped they were getting out of the crowd, but they never did. This made their progress very slow, and every now and then they had to stop altogether."

Reviews:

Last week I shared two books in my Friday Fun post. If you'd like to read the reviews of those books, I invite you to click on the links below:

The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse Review

King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo Review

The Secrets Beneath by Kimberely Woodhouse Review

I was thrilled to be able to read The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse. I’ve read a couple of her books prior to reading this newest book, and I really enjoyed them. When I learned she was writing a book about a woman in paleontology in the late 1800’s, I was quite excited. Not only is this about the Bone Wars though, it is a second-chance romance, and there is also a mystery involved.

Anna Lakeman and Joshua Ziegler have been apart for a few years, having parted after a horrid argument, though they had been engaged to be married. They hadn’t talked to each other in the time that Joshua was away. This is now a chance to possibly work out their relationship.

Anna had been helping her paleontologist father for years by drawing detailed, wonderful sketches of his work. They now had an opportunity to dig near their home. However, different obstacles and dangers keep popping up and put a damper on things.

And then there is Julian, the man whose land they are digging on. Something isn’t quite right with this man, but Anna is sure she can help him by showing him kindness. As the reader we get to see things from his point of view at times which really added to the tension and even a bit to the confusion.

There is a good deal of suspense and mystery in this story. There were things I did see coming, but there were definitely times the author took me by surprise. I appreciated the way the characters leaned on the Lord and grew in their relationships with him. I found the information on the Bone Wars quite intriguing, and loved the way it was mentioned more than once that the fossils would have been buried during the great catastrophe of the flood in Noah’s day.

I really appreciated this passage from the story,

“Over the last three years, he’d learned about the leaps and bounds they were making in scientific discovery. It was changing the face of medicine. Which was a good thing. Healing people always needed a boost when ailments seemed to crop up overnight.
If only faith and science could be reconciled. Why couldn’t the two come together?
It didn’t make sense. They went hand in hand.”

I also loved seeing the relationship between Anna and Joshua develop. They definitely had some things to work through and I was left wondering more than once if they would be able to work it out or not.

The author brought this story to a great conclusion, with some added surprises, but the story wasn’t left on any cliffhangers, which I had worried about, knowing it is the first in a series. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next one.

I received this book for free as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo Review

 

Wow, what an awesome book. King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo has fairy tale vibes along with being a kind of Esther retelling. The story opens with a prologue that takes place a decade prior to the time of the rest of the story. We see Esther Cross hiding while her parents are murdered and then she is whisked to safety by her cousin.

Fast forward ten years to 1993. Vivienne has come to the fictitious island country of Ancoria to be an intern for her best friend Stasi. When she arrives she discovers her best friend is nobility and related to the crown prince of the country, Prince Philip. Through a series of events, Vivienne becomes the fake fiance of the prince, all as a diversion. As the prince deals with more serious matters, Vivienne needs to focus on getting ready to be an acceptable queen.

There is mystery and intrigue and betrayal. There are secrets that need to be revealed at just the right time. There are people who need to be saved from genocide. There is threat of war. And of course, will Vivienne and Philip be able to keep up the charade? Will they be able to resist falling in love for real? And what is the best direction for the country and all involved?

I loved seeing the parallels to the book of Esther in the Bible. The majority of the characters were Christians who looked to God for guidance. The book gripped me from the beginning and drew me in. And there are maps. I love books with maps so I can picture where things are taking place. The author created a believable country that I can’t wait to visit again.

Definitely a book I recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - September 22, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have two books to share with you. 

I am reading an ARC of The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse as a member of her early launch team. This is the first book in her Treasures of the Earth series. The book releases next week on September 26th. 

I am also reading an ARC of King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo. This is her first in the Where the Lilies Wander series. It releases tomorrow.

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my Book Beginnings for The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse:

"The garden- his garden- was alive with color today, while the inside of him was black as death."

Well, that went from lovely to dark real fast. I needed to know what was causing such blackness inside him.

And here is my Book Beginnings for King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo:

"1983 - Their unfathomable hatred eclipsed the promise of morning light."

This is from the prologue which takes place 10 years before the remainder of the book. Sounded quite ominous. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse:
 

"What heavy weight was the man carrying? Not grief over the loss of his father, but what about his brother? It couldn't be easy to deal with the ranch, what with his mother gone to who knows where, his brother abandoning him, and his father dead."

King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo:

"After first noticing her existence in the room, it had taken Philip a considerable amount of willpower not to steal glances at her. It hadn't helped that her presence was a mystery in and of itself, nor did it alleviate his interest that the beautiful stranger's unobtrusive silence made him all the more aware that she was where she had no business being."

Redemption in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd Review

 

Redemption in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd is the second book in the Frontier Hearts series, but you do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this story. And let me tell you, I am a stickler for reading series in order. Though I admit I was hoping it would be a continuation of the characters’ stories from Rescue in the Wilderness, it was a wonderful stand alone story nonetheless.

We get to join Margaret and her sister Muireall, along with Iain Donegal as they struggle to survive during a journey to safety on the Kentucky frontier in the early 1780s. The story is one of a marriage of convenience as loner Iain, who has come to the young ladies' rescue in their home, is encouraged to “do the right thing” and marry one of the sisters due to propriety. They then begin a journey across the frontier to a safer home for them than the solitary family homestead where the sisters had been living since their parents passed away.

There are dangers along the way, and Iain is dealing with shortcomings in his past that he fears will ruin his relationship with his new wife. At the same time they are dealing with Muireall’s selfishness and seeming laziness. I admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of Murieall throughout most of the book as she definitely seemed self-centered.

There was adventure and peril, plus twists I didn't see coming. I did like that we got to know more people in this story than just Margaret, Murieall and Iain. There were friendships made and development of some side characters. I also appreciated the faith aspect of the story, and seeing the characters learn to trust more in God’s plan for their lives. All in all, a great historical romance and definitely a book I recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - September 15, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have two books to share with you. 

I just finished an eARC of Crossroads by C.C. Warrens as a member of her early reader team. This is the newest book in her Holly series. You can read my review here.

I am currently reading an ARC of the second book in the Frontier Hearts series by Andrea Byrd, Redemption in the Wilderness. I shared my review of the first book. Rescue in the Wilderness a few months ago. 

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my Book Beginnings for Crossroads by C.C. Warrens:

"Despite the warm May temperature, memories shivered through my bones-bones that had been bruised and broken under the roof of the two-story structure in front of me."

Oh no, what was Holly doing back at the foster home where she suffered such abuse?

And here is my Book Beginnings for Redemption in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd:

Margaret Blair's heart pounded in her ears as she aimed her father's rifle.

Why was Margaret in need of her father's rifle? Was there danger?

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

Crossroads by C.C. Warrens:
 

"I popped onto my toes, nose brushing the edge of the window frame, and squinted through the grungy bottom of the screen. What was wrong with the people who built this church? Didn't they realize short people wanted to snoop too?"

Redemption in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd:

"Margaret grinned as she hovered over the spread of food on the table. Beef, carrots, green beans, and bread adorned the small wooden square. And she had not burned a single thing."

Crossroads by C.C. Warrens Review

 

I am absolutely in love with the Holly series. I was eagerly anticipating reading this newest book since I read Cross the Line last year. Crossroads did NOT disappoint. I mean, I finished it in 48 hours, would have been faster, but I guess taking care of the family is important.

Now that Holly is safe, she is desperate to find her foster sister who was just six years old the last time she saw her, when she told her to run to save her from Collin, their abusive foster brother. As Holly and Jordan search for clues, we also learn more details from Holly’s past, sadly as Holly is reliving the trauma. As they get closer to learning the truth, they find themselves in danger again, up on a mountain, without any way to contact help. Will they find Cassie? Is she even still alive? Will both Holly and Jordan get out of there alive? And what in the world is going on in the town they find themselves in? Will the author continue to put Holly through trauma? If you are a fan of the Holly books, you sadly know the answer to that question.

I loved seeing that Holly’s faith is strong and that she is leaning on the Lord. Which is quite important with what they go through. As with all the Holly books, you’ll find yourself on an emotional roller coaster. Lots of danger, and lots of Holly not always making smart decisions. And, I know I mentioned Holly and Jordan, but yes, don’t worry, there is plenty of Holly/Marx banter time. And Jordan/Marx tension time. Everything that makes these books AWESOME.

Definitely another 5 star book, and one I highly recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the early reader team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks Review

 

I was so excited to get to read Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. The first, A Battle Worth Fighting, was also a Sisters in Arms novel. The story is told in two different eras, during the Civil War and modern day.

The modern day story focuses on Amber Prichard, wife to pastor Mark Prichard and mom to twins Jordan and Victor. She tries to be the model pastor’s wife and servant to those in need, so much so that her focus gets a bit out of whack. She is measuring herself on what she does, instead of who she is in Christ. And focusing a bit much on reward from my point of view, instead of selflessly serving. Then she finds herself diagnosed with a delibitating chronic illness that she does not know how to deal with. No longer is she the one helping others, she finds herself the one in need of help, something she struggles greatly with.

In the modern day story there is also another narrator, Lily, a young lady stuck at home helping her mother with her special needs siblings, when she desires to be out on her own, not having to deal with all the stress. I admit, I didn’t realize there were going to be more than two points of view in the story, so I was confused at first when she was introduced. And I wasn’t exactly sure how her story was going to intersect with that of Amber and her family, though I had my suspicions. But even before that was made clear, I found myself enjoying her part of the story and learning more about her and her family, and her frustrations.

During the Civil War part of the story, we follow Willow Forester, a strong independent young woman who finds herself following her brother Milo to war in their state of Missouri. I have to say, I discovered there was a lot I did not know about the Civil War while reading Willow’s, or “Will’s” part of the story. Will found herself fighting for the opposite side she thought they would be on, not realizing her brother’s true loyalty. Like Amber, she was looking for her worth in the wrong places.

There was also another point of view the story was told from in the Civil War era, though exactly who the character was was not made clear right away.

There were some interesting twists in this story. And it was very emotional at times. I found myself in tears more than once. I had trouble putting this book down because I cared so much about these characters and needed to know what was going to happen. I loved seeing their relationship with the Lord grow through their struggles. Here is a quote that stuck with me:

Definitely a book I recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - September 8, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have one book to share with you. 

I just started an eARC of Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks as a member of the launch team. This is my second book by this author. I was also on the launch team for the first book in the A Sister in Arms series, A Battle Worth Fighting. You can read my review of that book here.

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my Book Beginnings for Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks:

"My two-inch heels crunch across the gravel as I meander from the bounce houses to the bustling game booths at Ascend Community Church's Labor Day carnival."

Seems like a fun start to the book.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here is my Friday 56 selection.

Fall Back and Find Me by Sarah Hanks:
 

"As soon as he leaves, I test my strength by lifting my arms over my head. Oh. My. Word. They are lead. They're far too heavy to lug around a zoo. Amputation is the only reasonable alternative. I bite my lip to stiffle a cry, and blood tinges my mouth. I must do this. There's no way I can let my family down. I'll push through."

The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer Review

 

I was thrilled to be on the launch team for The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer. I had recently read The Bookshop of Secrets and was so excited to read another book by this author. Additionally, my mother grew up in England, so that was another reason I was excited about the book, as that is where the majority of the story takes place. I loved the idea of the characters, Ellora and Alex, searching for a lost manuscript, so a treasure hunt, and that there was a connection to medieval times, Vikings, and castles.

At the beginning of the story, Ellora and Alex are on the verge of divorce, with Ellora living in the states and Alex working in his homeland of England. Ellora and her friend Lanae find themselves heading to England for different, yet connected reasons. They find themselves on the hunt for an illuminated manuscript that some say is just a myth, but Ellora’s grandmother believed was real. But they are also on the hunt for Ellora’s grandmother who has gone missing, possibly due to foul play.

They are met with danger as they follow the clues left by Ellora’s grandmother, and we are left with a mystery. Who exactly is it that is trying to stop them, who keeps jeopardizing their safety and even their lives? There are multiple suspects and twists I didn’t see coming. Though as we got close to the reveal, I had my suspicions and sort of wondered why Ellora and her friends weren’t seeing the signs. However, all wasn’t quite as it seemed and the author threw in even more twists, which was awesome.

Plus all through the story we are seeing Ellora and Alex’s relationship twist and turn as well. And I have to mention all the informative historical detail we learn through the book.

I really loved this story; however, I did find it a trifle difficult to get into, and at times found it hard to stay involved in the story. Thus the four stars. I do wonder if part of the problem were the typos and other mistakes in the ARC. I’m assuming those have been corrected for the published version, but it did affect my reading. Also, there were times I felt like I was given too much information all at once.

I very much DID appreciate the faith aspect in the story and the growth in the characters’ walk with the Lord.

Definitely a book I recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Reading Challenges 2023: August Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in August:

I plan to read The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

I read A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer. Awesome book! You can read my review here. I plan to read another of her books for the September Posse reading challenge. 

I read Break of Day by Colleen Coble for this challenge. It was the third and final book in the Annie Pederson trilogy. Here are my thoughts. 

I read Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar for this challenge. This was my first book by this author and I definitely want to read more. Here are my thoughts.

I just started A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano. As I mentioned, I'm a bit behind. I had three books out from the library that I just HAD to read. 

In January I read books that are set in the following states:

California: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard

Ohio: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill

Oregon: Innocent Lives and Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank

Pennsylvania: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis 

South Carolina: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason

Washington: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

In February I read books that are set in the following states:

Colorado: In the Midst of the Storm and In the Midst of the Darkest Hour by Latisha Sexton.

Indiana: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson

Texas: The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, and The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In March I read books that are set in the following states:

Illinois: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Michigan: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble

Tennessee: Her Darkest Secret by Jessica R. Patch

Utah: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Vermont: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read books that are set in the following states:

Florida: The Prayer Garden by Kelsey Bryant (one of the novellas in the A Very Bookish Easter collection)

Iowa: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

Montana: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black 

In May I read books that are set in the following states:

Alaska: In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Oklahoma: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (You can read my thoughts here.)

Washington DC: In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer (Not an actual state, but a game we play counts it as a state, so I thought I would include it.)

West Virginia: Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton 

Wisconsin: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

In June I read books that are set in the following states:

Kentucky: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles 

Maine: The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green (You can read my thoughts here.)

Virginia: Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd (You can read my thoughts here.)

In July I read books that are set in the following states:

Idaho: Over the Horizon by Penny Zeller (You can read my thoughts here.)

Minnesota: The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer 

New York: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White (You can read my thoughts here)

In August I read book that are set in the folowing states:

Missouri: Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl

Nebraska: Falling Between the Pages  by A.M. Heath

In January I read books that are set in the following European Countries:

England: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

Switzerland: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

In May I read a book set in:

Denmark: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

In August I read a book set in:

Greece: The Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

I also decided I was going to read one Christmas book each month. 

In January I read The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson. 

In March I read The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans and The Mistletoe Inn also by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans 

In May I read A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

In July I read The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

Finally, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with a 55 book challenge:

In January I read 10 books for this challenge

In February I read 7 books for this challenge

In March I read 9 books for this challenge

In April I read 8 books for this challenge

In May I read 5 books for this challenge

In June I read 2 books for this challenge

In July I read 3 books for this challenge

In August I read 2 books for this challenge

Read a book...

1-With a pink spine

2- By an author whose name starts with an  A: Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson (my thoughts)

3- 450 pages or longer

4- Published in 2023: Remember Me by Tracie Peterson (my thoughts)

5- That has won a Christy award: A Portait of Loyalty by Roseanny M. White (my thoughts)

6- With multiple people on the cover: Lethal Intentions by Jennifer Chastain (my thoughts)

7- With a car or truck on the cover: Murder Goes Glamping by Malissa Chapin (my thoughts)

8- That is the third book in a series: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

9- That has a map inside: A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo (my thoughts)

10- A debut novel: In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

11- By an author you’ve never read before: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham (my thoughts)

12- That has food on the cover

13- Featuring a woman from the Bible: The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith (my thoughts)

14- With flowers on the cover: In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer (my thoughts)

15- Featuring a child or teen as the main character: Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

16- That you got for free: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

17- Featuring an athlete: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (my thoughts)

18- That you pick because of the cover: Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

19- Recommended by someone you know: Her Deepest Secret by Jessica R. Patch (my thoughts)

20- Set in a cool climate

21- Set during the Great Depression: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

22- Featuring friends to lovers: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynnette Eason (my thoughts)

23- Published the month you were born: The Game by Cali Black (my thoughts)

24- With a blue cover: Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (my thoughts)

25- With a main character with blonde hair: Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

26- Set on an island

27- Set in a different country than you: Heidi by Johanna Spyri (my thoughts)

28- That takes place more than 200 years ago: Stay With Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

29- That features a member of the military: A Battle Worth Fighting by Sarah Hanks (my thoughts)

30- Set in South or Central America

31- By a male author: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

32- Written in first person POV: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

33- Featuring a single parent: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

34- With a title that starts with B: Break of Day by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

35- That is a love inspired book: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

36- That involves a wedding: Wait for Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

37- With an L in the title: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson (my thoughts)

38- By an author from a different country than you

39- With a black cover

40- With a title that has 5 or more words: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (my thoughts)

41- With an illustrated cover: Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

42- From a genre outside your comfort zone: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

43- Written by multiple authors: Written by multiple authors: A Very Bookish Easter by Kelsey Bryant, Abigayle Clarie, Sarah Holman, and Kate Willis (my thoughts)

44- Set on a farm: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

45- By an author that has also written nonfiction: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles (my thoughts)

46- By an indie author: In the Midst of a Starry Night by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

47- Published in 2012

48- With a sunset on the cover

49- That has cowboys: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black (my thoughts)

50- Without any people on the cover: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (my thoughts)

51- By an author who uses a three part name (C.C. Warrens, Ann H. Gabhart): The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

52- That features a hobby or skill you’d like to learn: In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

53- With a nanny, babysitter, or governess: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson 

54- An author with the same two initials: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill (my thoughts)

55- With a pet that isn’t a dog: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

My Goodreads goal is to read 100 books this year. Last year I had set it at 75 and I ended up reading 115. I think I will be able to meet my 100 book goal. As of today I have read 74 books this year.

I know this seems like a lot, but like last year, I hope to be able to combine challenges where possible. And when I pick books for the monthly challenges, I will try to choose books that take place in different states or countries.