February reads

It’s been a month! How I managed a couple of extra books in fewer days includes several factors: 

1. We’ve been home a good bit.
2. I was first-drafting a book, which means quick, intense spurts of writing each day, then rest.
3. I was almost finished with three of them at the end of January. 

The most fun thing is that so many of them have been such good reads. And—hold on to your hat!—FIVE non-fiction in February! 

Let’s start with the non-fiction. 

God Has a Name by John Mark Comer

I gave this book to my husband for Christmas. In January, I joined a local Bible study going through the names of God. I like reading different authors on similar subjects to get different perspectives. What I loved about this book most of all is that the way Comer describes God as He describes Himself through scripture is very much the God I’ve come to know in my many years of Bible study and a walk of faith. A God of grace and love but also justice. 

No Greater Love by Rebecca McLaughlin

The ladies in my community group chose this for our first “unofficial” book club read. My overwhelming emotion as I read was gratitude, for I have indeed had deep and loving Biblical friendships—more than I ever imagined I’d have. I loved her use of scripture to define the role of friendship in a Christ-follower’s life and her assertion that strong friendships nurture marriage instead of detracting from that special relationship. (Because I’ve experienced that, too!) An excellent book for anyone who has a friend or wants to be a better friend. 

Chasing Beauty by Natalie Dykstra

This is a biography of a fascinating woman who lived in the late 19th and early 20th century in Boston. Isabella Stewart Gardiner is most famous today for the art museum she built and curated before her death. It is one of my favorite museums! But there is so much more to her story. Absolutely fascinating. I couldn’t stop listening! 

The Irrational Season by Madeleine L’Engle

This is the third of four Crosswicks Journals that I have listened to. (I should finish the fourth by the weekend!) This book is more theological/faith memoir, and while I found much to agree with and think about, I will confess that there were two or three points she made that I found contradictory to scripture. So while I enjoyed this peek into her mind and heart, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to someone not grounded in their faith.

Two-Part Invention by Madeleine L’Engle

The final book of the Crosswicks Journals, and all about her marriage from beginning to end. So lovely and funny and sad, yet her view of life and death and grief is honestly so refreshing. I’m so glad I listened to all of these books. Now to get the physical copies to keep in my library . . .

On to fiction . . . 

Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

The final book in the Sons of Scandal series did not disappoint! I loved how this story combined friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and grump and sunshine–all with a couple of mysteries to solve as well! Can’t wait to see what Becky has for us next!

To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer

A new Texas fairy-tale retelling of—yep, Beauty and the Beast. It’s not out yet, but it’s up for pre-order and will release on June 10, 2025. (I got a sneak peek!) And as with all her recent Texas fairy tale books, it was great! 

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

The 1770s, a marriage of convenience, and Glasgow, Scotland? Yes, please! And it didn’t disappoint! Loved both the history and the fiction woven together with Laura’s beautiful words. 

Conrad by Susan May Warren

Book 2 in the Minnesota Kingstons! I devoured it, as usual! I love how each story wraps up, but there is one storyline that moves throughout the series. You can purchase this one now from Susan’s website or wait until March 7 and get it on Amazon. 

A Heart Devoted by Nichole Van

I loved this book that picks up after a marriage of convenience becomes a love match in the previous book in this series. These kinds of after-they-fall-in love books are rare, and this one was so lovely! I raced through it. And did I mention Scotland? And London? Sigh. Can’t wait to see what Nichole has up next! 

When Stars Light the Sky by Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth always does a great job highlighting history I either don’t know well or at all. This peek into the US-German diplomacy leading up to World War I was fascinating. But the fictional characters were great, too. It got a bit tedious at the end, but the happily-ever-after made it all worthwhile. 

Virginia Company Bride by Gabrielle Meyer

I needed a book with “bride” in the title for a reading challenge I’m doing, so I picked this one! It’s a novella, so a quick read, but so good! 

The Divine Proverb of Steusel by Sara Brunsvold

I enjoyed this book very, very much. I need to tell you that first, because it is a great story. It’s just that for me it didn’t rise above Sara’s fabulous debut The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. However, I liked it so much that I’m looking forward to reading her new book which comes out this summer. 

So there you are. Quite a list! I’m diving into revisions on my book and we have travel and family in March, so I’m assuming I won’t get as much read. And yet every time I say that, the number of books I finish doesn’t seem to diminish! 

Have you read any of these? Which was your favorite?