Another big reading month—and this one has it all!
Let’s start with my audiobook this month—a classic!
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
This is a re-read for me, but it’s been many years. And I’m finding I actually like it better listening to it. Why? The biggest reason for me is pronunciation! When I read the paperback, I would get pulled out of the story trying to figure out how to pronounce the names of people and places. I can’t just skip over them. My brain doesn’t work that way. So listening is a delight! As soon as I finished, I dove right into The Two Towers, so look for that next month!
I ended up reading two non-fiction books this month. Definitely more than my usual. But both of them captured my attention.
Katharine Barnwell by Jordon K. Monson
I learned so much in this biography, not only about Katie Barnwell, but about the history of Africa and of Bible translation. She is an inspiration in that not only has she accomplished amazing things which have led to many people hearing and reading the gospel in their Mother tongue, but in the humility in which she lived and worked, not seeking the great things, just seeking to do th right thing, the thing in which she obeys God’s call on her life. I’m so glad I know her story!
You Have a Calling by Karen Swallow Prior
A short but powerful book in which KSP discusses calling and vocation and how the two can be different or the same, big or ordinary. It’s a really necessary book in a time in which everyone wants to “make a difference” on a grand scale. But most of us “make a difference” in much smaller spheres. And that’s a good, true, and beautiful thing.
Ah, fiction. My favorite reading. There is a real mix this month, not just of genre but also of Christian fiction and general market fiction. I’ll let you know so you can make your own decisions on whether or not to read each one.
A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz
If you read The Seamstress of Acadie, you might remember Sylvie’s brother Bleu. We meet him again in this novella, where we travel from the wilds of western Virginia just after the French and Indian War to France, then back over the sea again to more civilized Virginia. The romance is precious. Such a sweet story of love and sacrifice.
What Brings Us Joy by Teresa Wells
A sweet romance and interesting history? Yes, please! I loved all the history of crazy quilts that Teresa wove through the story. I had no idea! A turn of the century (the 20th century!) Texas town, an independent-minded woman, and a crazy quilt. Oh, and a hero, of course!
The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by S.G. MacLean
We discovered this author when we read The Bookseller of Inverness. I’ve been meaning to get to this one (the first in a series) for a while. Now I wish I hadn’t put it off so long! Set in Scotland in the 1620s, the characters and the mystery pulled me in. Such a great story! Truly a redemption for the main character. She is such a good writer. (This is general market, but the redemption is truly a spiritual one and no objectionable material.)
The Governess and the Rogue by Mimi Matthews
Definitely a sweet and swoony romance! And a lovely end to the Somerset Stories series. Happy sigh.
A Tartan Love by Nichole Van
Book one of a new series, and I loved the premise! She writes swoony but clean Scottish historical romance (although there are mild curse words throughout). I hate to say too much more about the plot because there is a huge surprise at the end of chapter one that I didn’t see coming! And the plot twists kept rolling through the end!
Where Dreams Reside by Heidi Chiavaroli
Orchard House Bed and Breakfast #5—Bronson’s story. And what a wonderful story of redemption! A very poignant story of forgiveness and second chances for both the hero and heroine. I feel so at home in this series now that each book feels like visiting old friends.
Where Faith Belongs by Heidi Chiavaroli
Orchard House B&B #6! (Almost to the end of the series!) I’ve learned through the series that little sister Amie is a bit of a mess. As is August. But I loved seeing their messy selves and their messy relationship become something more because of the power of grace. Only one more in this series. I’ll be sad to finish it. But thankfully, Heidi has many other books!
The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen
We loved the first book in the Martini Club series, The Spy Coast. This was partly due to the Maine setting and partly due to the lovable but kind of crazy retired CIA agent friends who solve the mysteries. Those retirees return in this book, and despite being told repeatedly to stay out of it, they, of course, uncover the facts that lead to the solution. This is definitely suspense, though. And general market. No sex but a decent amount of language, some of which is of the more jolting variety. But if you can do language and you like mystery/suspense, give this series a try.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Retirees solving mysteries in England. Yep, right up my alley! This book has been on my wish list for a while. Not long ago, the ebook was on sale, so I bought it. Then I heard the cast of the Netflix movie that comes out next weekend, so I pushed it to the front! Of course, as I read, I pictured the wonderful actors who are playing roles in the movie: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Tom Ellis, Jonathon Pryce, and I’m sure others I will recognize from watching so much British TV/films. It is told from multiple points of view, so some people find the book a bit hard to get into, though I didn’t. And it is general market, so a little bit of language, too.
The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
Loved this book! Such a great story with great characters. Part women’s fiction, part romance. A perfect end of summer read.
The Seeker by S.G. MacLean
Book one of the Damian Seeker series was a doozy! If you like historical (England, 1650s, under Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate rule) spy thrillers and a good mystery, this is it! Great twist at the end. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I’m thinking September won’t have quite as many finished books, but then again, I’m at various points in six different books (why? 🤷♀️) right now, so you never know!
To my regret, I have not read as many books this month as you have! I do, however, have an Orchard House book or two in my Kindle, which will meet a reading group challenge for a title with a girl’s name in it. I also managed Laura Frantz’s The Indigo Heiress, which was fabulous, and I have her Bleu novella in the Almighty TBR. And if you like horses and some mystery, The Secrets of Emberwild pulled me in. Right now, for a change of pace, I’m reading Dolly Parton and James Patterson’s Run Rose Run. And yes, I peeked in the back already to make sure it all works out in the end. Bad habit, but I need to sleep!
I loved The Indigo Heiress! I’ll have to check out the others you mentioned.
A Fierce Devotion was great! Laura’s books always are, but I particularly enjoyed this one.
I think I read one of Tess Gerritsen’s many years ago, but now read almost strictly Christian fiction. I think she wrote the Rizzoli & Isles books? My husband and I enjoy the TV series based on them…
The Summer of Yes is in my TBR stack.
I’ve been mister more audio books lately, on PE I enjoyed recently was The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson.
A Fierce Devotion was so good. I looked up the R&I series. Yes, she wrote that. Probably won’t get to those. They seem way more intense than The Martini Club mysteries! Summer of Yes was fabulous. I’ll check out The Happy Camper!
Love perusing your reading list each month! I also loved The Orchard House Series. A Fierce Devotion is on my TBR.
I’m so glad you recommended the Orchard House series to me! I just need to read the last book, which I’m kind of hesitating to do because then it will be over. 🙁