Live on Purpose

I am a sucker for a good devotional and I really enjoyed reading my first Sadie Robertson Huff book as well. It was very inspirational and packed a punch. This is definitely geared towards younger women, but as a woman in her thirties I really enjoyed her messaging and prayers. I started every morning reading a devotion and it was an excellent way to start my day! I was very sad when I finished up my 100th devotional today and the book was over. I am saving this and will read it again in a year or two. Excellent content and a wonderful start to every day! 

Lost and Lassoed

I ate this one UP! Honestly this might be my favorite of the series. I am a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trop and Gus and Teddy have been simmering for a while. I am SO GLAD they finally freaking got together. The slow burn was great and I loved how this also revolved around a child as well. Delicious and sexy. You don't have to read the first two in the series before this one, but I highly, highly recommend it! Cannot wait for the fourth book in this series, I love Rebel Blue Ranch!

The Mistletoe Murder

Four short holiday murder mysteries written by the masterful PD James. I thought the first two mysteries were quite good, but the latter two weren't as strong. All the short stories are set in the UK and involve some sort of murder around the holidays. The audiobook is only three ours long, so the stories are quite compact. Fun, festive, and daring - I enjoyed them. The British narrators really help set the scene for me. I believe I will have to give one of her full length mystery novels a try as I really enjoyed the way James had with words. 

The Christmas Tree Farm

Super quick and fluffy seasonal read. I finished this in one day. A grumpy meet cute about second chances and improving oneself. Kira North buys a Christmas tree farm sight unseen because she was influenced by people homesteading on social media. She finds out it is a lot more work then she anticipated and is loathe to ask for help. She wants to fix everything herself and in waltzes Bennet, an out of towner who loves a damsel in distress. It's hardly love at first sight, but she adores his dogs and he admires his gumption. The two find themselves thrown together time and again. Maybe a Christmas miracle will give them what they both want? Fluffy, steamy, and charming. Give me more! 

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Cute, a light romance with a little bit of steam. This is the second in the series but could easily be read as a standalone. Set in the charming town of Dream Harbor, this romance features, you guessed it, a bookseller, and a tour guide. Hazel is getting ready to turn 30 and she hasn't done much with her life. She follows the rules to a T and hasn't lived much. When weird clues start showing up at the bookstore she decides to follow them and in the process recruits the sexy boat guy. Maybe this summer will be fun after all? Noah is known as a player and he doesn't date locals, but he really starts to fall for prim and proper Hazel, too bad she thinks what they have is just a summer fling. Full of misunderstandings and second chances. This was a cute follow up and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first one in the series!

The Mediterranean Caper

Wow - you can definitely tell this was written in the seventies. Chock full of adventure, big dick energy, and blatant sexism; the second Dirk Pitt novel was a gollywhopper. The plot of it was quite interesting, but the way Dirk Pitt treats women (he literally slaps one across the face because he is disgusted that she hasn't been with a man in ten years since her lover died) is... not great. The way he refers to Black people also leaves a lot to be desired. I know, I know - it's a product of it's time but man! Dirk Pitt is basically an American James Bond, and I guess I'm into that? I'll keep going with the series, I'm assuming it will get less exist the closer we get to the twenty first century?

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Cute and fluffy - although not nearly as steamy as TikTok led me to believe. This is like a PG-13 Hallmark movie (ok maybe rated R in a few parts) about a big city girl who moves to a cute and cozy little town and falls in love with a hunky farmer in flannel.... And that's it. That's the whole story, lol. There is more nuance than that and clearly some of the characters mentioned will be getting their own books. It's fun and a super, easy, and quick read. I'll definitely check out the rest in the series! 

Unforgotten

While technically a standalone, Unforgotten is set in the same community as a few other novels by Shelley Shepard Gray and there are a few familiar Amish faces. There are two major storylines and four points of view. Bethann Hostetler is ready to move on with her life after nearly being raped years ago. Although she is looking forward, she has a hard time looking at Jay because he used to be friends with the man that tried to force himself on her. It's really a shame though, because Jay is a good man and has never had eyes for anyone else. Bethann's Englisher (non-Amish) cousin, Candace has just been crowned Miss Crittenden County, and is enjoying traveling around the county as an ambassador and inspiring young girls. The only problem is that someone is starting to stalk her and won't leave her alone online. The police send their newest recruit, Officer Ryan Murphy to escort Candace to her events. Ryan really admires Candace and soon he's catching feelings for her. Two besotted men, two women with trouble in their lives. What on earth could happen? Love that's what. Predictable and wholesome in the best ways.

Homebody

A quick and joyous graphic novel about one individual's journey to discover their true identity. Theo Parish never felt like they truly fit in. It was hard to verbalize and make sense of their feelings towards gender and sexuality. An eye opening look at one person's courageous adventure into discovering their true self as nonbinary. A great book for those looking to understand for themselves or for those around them. Great illustrations and analogies! 

Lore Olympus v. 7

I will keep reading this, but man are they really drawing it out! We FINALLY make it to the trial but of course it ends right as they are in the middle of it. Come on, throw me a bone! I love this series and I need more already!

Melania

.... an embarrassment to all the first lady memoirs. First off.. there is no way Melania wrote this, she can't even write her own speeches. This was 100% written by a ghostwriter or AI. This is a vapid, no depth look at Melania's life that focuses solely on her fashion, love for Barron, and doubling down on her hatred of the media. There is no substance whatsoever to this, it doesn't even humanize her, in fact it does the opposite. The writing is banal and boring. "I wore Chanel to this event. Later I went to this event. It was such an honor." It just shows how little she did during her term as first lady. A full third of this book is dedicated to photos of herself and all the renovations she did on the White House (she talks more about that then her relationship to Donald). She addresses her plagiarized speech (of which she takes no blame), swatting away her husbands hand (protocol!), her infamous jacket (they took it out of context!), and many other faux paux she committed (but which blames the media for). Dry and boring, I cannot believe this vapid book was "written" by a first lady. What a joke. 

The Women

OMG THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! Why is Kristin Hannah the literal best?! Solid gold. EVERY. TIME. Don't believe people when they tell you there were no women serving in the Vietnam War, because they were and my goodness were they overlooked and undervalued. The Women follows Frankie McGrath, an affluent young woman who decides to enlist as a nurse in the war so she can join her big brother overseas. Frankie has no idea what she signed up for. The war will overhaul her entire life. The first half of the book focuses on her service and the second half focuses on her transition back to civilian life and the awful treatment she received from both her country and her family. Heartbreaking and eye opening. I had no idea. What an impactful and resilient book!

A Healing Touch

I will read anything by Suzanne Woods Fisher and I am never disappointed!  A Healing Touch is a standalone that is set in Stoney Ridge and has some familiar characters in it. A Healing Touch has three main storylines and chapters alternate between the two. Dok Stoltzfus is the town's doctor, she serves Amish and Englishers and is beloved by both. Having grown up plain she knows how to connect with her community. When an abandoned baby is found on her office doorstep, she and her husband find themselves as temporary foster parents. Her husband is enamored with the idea but she is not, she feels that she is well past that stage in her life and wants to focus on being there for her community. Will a baby get in the way? Annie is Dok's trusty assistant. Even though she is plain she LOVES helping people and learning everything medical. When she discovers an Amish EMT she feels called to become one as well - but how to convince her family and her boss? Finally there is Bee. She is recently widowed and is undergoing chemo for breast cancer.  To top is off, her meddling doctor (Dok) has forced her to have grief sessions with an Amish widow down the road and has found a man to help her take care of her horses, the same man that sabotaged Bee's career early on. These three storylines are heartfelt and will tug at reader's hearts. Another wonderful inspirational read from Fisher! 

Bad Dreams in the Night

LOVED this graphic novel short story collection! They were all *chef's kiss* As a kid I loved short horror story and this was such a fun, genuinely creepy collection. Every story was great. This is one I enjoyed so much I might actually buy. This collection is perfect for teens and adults - I hope Adam Ellis makes another collection in the future! The art was great too! 

The Color of Home

An inspirational novel brimming with heart and passion. Audrey Needham is a talented interior designer in California, she is on the brink of making it big. but she feels called to go out to Oregon to help her aging aunt and uncle. It's a place she's put off going for a long time, there are memories there and not all of them are good. Her Aunt Daisy needs help fixing up her house and putting it on the market so she and her husband can move into an assisted living facility. Uncle Dean is suffering from Alzheimer's and is going to eventually need more care than Aunt Daisy can provide. While helping tame the yard and paint fences, Audrey finds out that her boss has taken a leave of absence. Her job in California is no longer waiting on her. She is understandably distraught, but... this trip hasn't been bad, Oregon is more calming and refreshing than she remembered. Audrey decides to extend her trip from a few weeks to a few months. She befriends a shy ten year old named Paige and gets on the wrong side of a studly rancher with piercing eyes. What is God calling her to do? Audrey is at a crossroads in her life and she needs to find out where her true passions really lie. Uplifting and filled with wonderful characters. I hope this is the start of a series so we can see more stories from people in this charming town! 

Holly

I am so glad Holly Gibney is back. She is one of my favorite Stephen King characters and I love that she has a whole book of her own to shine in. This was trippy to read as it was very much a pandemic book and covid (and politics) plays a huge part in it. Stephen King was definitely on his soapbox about mask mandates, vaccinations, and Trump fanatics. I didn't disagree with him, but it was weird reading it in a novel. Holly Gibney's mother has just died and rather than focusing on her grief and anger she decides to take on a missing person's case. Chapters and timelines alternate between Holly and the victims. She soon discovers that her missing person could uncover something greater and much more sinister. I liked this book, but it was weird because you know who the villains are the whole time. You are just waiting for Holly to pick up all the pieces and take the trail as far as she can. Creepy and great. Love me some Stephen King!

Sonny Boy

An extraordinary memoir by one of the Hollywood elite, Sonny Boy is an enthralling biography from octogenarian, Al Pacino as he reflects on his life and his award-winning career. From the streets of the South Bronx to the Godfather and Scarface, Pacino's life story is enthralling. It's a peak behind the curtain behind his long and storied career. Sonny Boy covers growing up with a single mother, childhood friendships, collaborations, romances, films, and theater; it is an endearingly honest and open recounting of a life lived to the fullest. He is open about his struggles with alcohol, disappointments in his life and career, bad performances on the stage and the screen, and the sheer good luck he was blessed with. Pacino gives an impassioned and enthusiastic narration filled with singing, laughter, and so much emotion. He is a gifted storyteller and orator; this biography makes the listener feel as if they are sitting down with an old friend. His intelligence, wit, compassion, and self-deprecation shine throughout. A life well lived, with an absolutely beautiful ending. Pacino still seems stunned and humbled at all he’s accomplished in his life and career. Verdict - a must listen and not just for movie fans. – Erin Cataldi

Mad Honey

MY HEART! This book was amazing. Christmas card worthy. I devoured it in two days. I had magically glossed over the synopsis and not heard and spoilers and ..... I'm glad I didn't it was so damn good and heartbreaking. Jodi Picoult always does an amazing job bringing important and "divisive" topics and humanizing them. I don't want to give any spoilers, just suffice it to say that this is a must read book that will pull at your heartstrings. Told in dual storylines Mad Honey is about what we leave in the past and how we face the future. Olivia was a battered wife but now she is an independent woman, a single mother, and a beekeeper. She is proud of her son Asher and she adores his girlfriend Lily. Lily is a talented young woman who has been on the move a lot with her mother. She is excited for a fresh chance and can't wait to go to a new school and make new friends. Chapters alternate between Olivia and Lily and.... AH THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Just read it. And read the afterward as well!

What Does it Feel Like?

A heartbreaking and deeply personal book by Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series about what it really means to live in the moment. Eve is a bestselling novelist, with five beautiful children, a doting husband, and a book that's getting turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. She has all the luck in the world, that is, until she wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. She is told she has just undergone brain surgery and they've removed a large tumor from her brain. She’ll need to relearn how to walk, regain her balance, and try to stay calm and collected in the face of the unknowable. Her faithful husband never leaves her side as she struggles to come to term with her diagnosis and what that means for her and her family. Radiantly narrated by Sally Phillips and Sophie Kinsella herself; Sally effuses emotion, heartbreak, and hope into every syllable. What Does it Feel Like? mirrors Sophie Kinsella’s experience battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Although heartbreaking, the way that this short novel is told through anecdotes and vignettes is extremely powerful and hopeful; listeners will ride a rollercoaster of emotions. A must listen. 

Mothballs

A coming of age graphic novel that explores family trauma and the legacy it leaves on it. It also bravely explores, forgiveness, sexual identity, jealousy, and forging your own path. Set in Argentina in the early 2000's, Mothballs follows nineteen year old Rocio as she moves into her estranged grandmother's house following her death. She has been feeling suffocated by her family's insistence she do well on her upcoming exams and just needs space. While wallowing around she starts to understand her family and her complicated history. Interesting and heartbreaking. 

Phantasma

A spicy romantasy set at the the turn of the century in New Orleans. When Ophelia's younger sister runs away after their mother's sudden death - it's up to Ophelia to find her and keep her safe. When she discovers that Genevieve has entered the deadly Phantasma contest, she has no choice but to go in after her. Phantasma is a travelling nightmare; contestants have to endure ten nights of competition, each level more deadly than the last. The whole thing is run be devils, ghosts, and phantoms. The sole winner is granted whatever their wish. Ophelia has a slight edge being a necromancer but Genevieve is just a mortal. With death on the line you wouldn't think there would be time for romance or sex, but the heart could also be easily lost. Despite it's large size this was quite a quick read. A little repetitive at times and I spotted the twist right at the beginning but it was still enjoyable. I will definitely read the next installment. 

Best Hex Ever

Deliciously cozy and spicy, this romantic comedy by debut author, Nadia El-Fassi, is a triumph. Dina Whitlock delights in running her London café, whipping up magic infused tea blends, coffees, and pastries for unassuming customers. Dina is a kitchen witch with a lot on her plate, she’s got a business to run, a needy cat, and wonderful friends, one of whom is about to get married; what more could a witch want? When curator, Scott Mason, stumbles into her café and bumps an evil eye off the wall she knows she is in trouble. He’s handsome and charming, and little does she know that she is about to be spending a lot more time with him (who knew he would be the best man at her best friend’s wedding?). There is only one problem, and it’s a doozy. The hex. Years prior, Dina was hexed by an ex so that anytime she started to fall for someone, her lover would constantly be in harm’s way, it would be a never-ending streak of bad luck. Should she push Scott away to keep him safe or can she find a way to break the hex? Narrated brilliantly by Ferne Marks and Owen Hall; their chemistry makes this book a scorching hot listen. Verdict: steamy, delightful and perfectly cozy, this debut romance is definitely worth a listen. Anxiously looking forward to the next in the series. – Erin Cataldi 

The Heir

This teen fantasy by local author, Claudia Klein (Nineveh, Ind.) is fast paced and full of intrigue. When  the country of Arbinad falls, princesses Kat and Lucy are separated and their father, the king, is killed. Lucy flees to an allied island country and Kat is taken prisoner when Erlingue soldiers mistake her for a soldier. Over the course of one day the sisters' lives are upended forever. 

The princes of Erlingue couldn't be more different. Eric wants to become king and conquer the continent, while Thomas just wants to keep the peace and let his father rule. When Eric murders his father and ascends the throne he wants to enslave more people and wage war; he will stop anyone who gets in his way, even if it's his own brother. Prince Thomas soon finds himself in a dungeon cell with none other than Princess Kat. She has every reason to hate him as his family and countrymen razed her country and killed her people, but they form an uneasy alliance. Can they escape? Can she get her country back? Most importantly, can she trust a prince who just waged war on her homeland? The Heir is told through multiple perspectives and is the first in a trilogy.

Sleep Psalms

I read this before bed over a span of a few months and it was a great way to unwind and get ready for bed. I definitely want to keep in the habit and will need to find another similar book soon. There were 100 psalms in this book and each psalm had a small introduction to it, the psalm itself, a prayer, meditation, and adoration. Just two small pages and one big impact. Wonderful book, I'll definitely use it again in a few months! 

The Lightning Circle

This book made me so sad that I didn't go to summer camp. Seriously. It's so nostalgic and magic and so heartfelt. This teen novel written in verse is loosely based off the author's experiences being a teen counselor at a summer camp and it's so charming. Fraught with teenage emotion and wonder - it's ode to growing up and to female friendship. Filled with little illustrations, this novel in verse is a quick read. Loved it. Sign me up for working at a sleepaway camp next summer please! 

Meddling with Mistletoe

Whitney is at a crossroads in her life. Her parents have moved away from Prince Edward Island and will no longer serve as her safety net. Whitney has lots of big ideas but no DREAM so she flits from one idea to the next. Without her parents help she has to figure out her next steps and she doesn't want to disappoint them. She is determined to save up the money for culinary school and she needs to sell some pies to raise the remaining funds but she still might be short and to make matters worse her oven has stopped working. She asks her friend at the Red Door Inn if she can use her oven over the holidays, her friend agrees on the condition that she make breakfast for the Inn's two guests each day and that she help babysit her children. Whitney readily agrees. She doesn't realize how one guest in particular will start to change her outlook on life and on the future. But to fall for him means to go back on some promises she made. Meddling with Mistletoe is about second chances and following your heart. I wanted it to like it more but it was a little slow and the characters could have been a little more developed. It was a quick holiday read though. Very clean with some light kissing.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

This book had a lot of moving pieces but was such a rich and compelling read. All of the characters had flaws of some sort, but the majority of them were good decent people. The heart of this historical novel is about secrets, why people keep them, and the unintended long term consequences of them. It's at times rip roaringly funny and other times heartbreakingly sad. There are a wide variety of poor people living on Chicken Hill, but by and large they are either Black or Jewish (with a few enterprising Italians thrown in for good measure). They are both rejected by the community of Pottstown but they form an uneasy alliance - mostly because of the work of Chona, a Jewess who extends credit to any on the hill who need it. Her generosity and happy spirit help bond the Jew and the Black folx together - which is good because soon they will face a challenge neither party ever expected. 

Middle of the Night

I love everything Riley Sager puts out and this was no exception! Middle of the Night grabs you from the first page and the premise is truly terrifying. Two ten year old boys are camping out in the backyard. In the morning Ethan notices a long cut gash in the tent and realizes his best friend Billy is gone. Where did he go? Who took him? Why? It's a question that has haunted Ethan for decades and it's something that has never left him. Where is Billy? Is he alive? After a few decades Ethan finds himself back at his childhood home when his parents downsize and move away. But some weird things start happening when he is back at the house and Ethan is sure it has to do with Billy. Creepy and filled with lots of twists (I only guessed one!). I am already ready for the next Riley Sager book! 

Wild Dreamers

A young adult novel in verse that touches on so many important and heartfelt issues. Ana and Leandro are both immigrants to California. Ana has been unhoused for a while but she dreams of living in a home with her mother some day. Leandro and his therapy dog work at a bakery, but he dreams of overcoming his fears someday and being hopeful for the future. When the two teenagers meet is is electric and they find themselves filled with hope and joy. They work through fears, realize how much they care about their environment and work together to start a rewilding club at their high school. But will things from their past come back to haunt them and the future they have started to build together? Touching and well written. It's a quick read and pages alternate between the two lovebirds. 

Where the Sidewalk Ends

I've read this poetry collection multiple times as a kid and adult - but let me tell you I felt like I was reading it for the first time when I listened to the audiobook of Shel Silverstein narrating it himself. Equal parts terrifying and hilarious - his voices are next level. I legit thought I was on drugs listening to this. But wow - what a new way to appreciate this masterpiece. I can't wait to read it to Pia someday. Or maybe I'll traumatize her and make her listen to the audiobook as well!

Becoming Free Indeed

I'm on a Duggar kick. I recently finished Jill's memoir and watched the Shiny Happy People documentary so I was all in on reading another kid's perspective on growing up Duggar. Jinger doesn't spill the beans or trash talk her family. She doesn't trash talk anyone. She talks about her faith journey and her decision to leave IBLP and turn away from Bill Gottherd's harmful teachings. She talks about how and why his teachings are harmful and the process she took to read and understand the Bible herself. This is very much a faith based book about disentangling bad beliefs from good religion. Interesting and good for her. She seems and sounds happy which is great!

Into the Sunken City

An action packed teen novel that explores what would happen if it never stopped raining. For Jin and Thara, it's not a hypothetical, it's the world they were raised in. They live on a small sliver of land and try to keep their father's Inn open. He died a few years back while on a dive and Jin still hasn't forgiven herself. Since then she has done nothing but sacrifice so her younger sister can get through school. When a wary traveler shows up with some real gold and a fantastic tale - Jin doesn't believe her at all, but her younger sister is easily swayed by stories of pirates and adventure. Fast paced, but meh. 

Bride

Loved it. Slow burn, snarky paranormal creatures, marriage of convenience, steamy sex, and laugh out loud humor - made this a total win for me. Ali Hazelwood keeps proving, time and time again that she really can write romcoms. I have yet to read anything of hers that I haven't loved. Brid is about a vampyre forced to "marry" a were and stay in were land for a year. It's the beginning of a new alliance and Misery Lark always gets thrown to the wolves by her people (in this case, quite literally). Lowe Moreland is trying to do what is best for his people and if hat means he needs to wed a blood sucking leech then so be it. Little do they know how that they might actually enjoy being wedded to each other. Lots of fun. A quick and delightful read. 

The Rom-Commers

OMG! This book was amazing. Katherine Center knows how to get all the feels into her books. I legit laughed and cried. The characters were perfect and wonderfully flawed. The execution was top tier. When two screen writers find themselves working together on a romantic comedy will they get more than they bargained for? Yes, yes, and yes. Sweet, compelling, fantastic. Don't read any spoilers - just do yourself a favor and read this. It truly might be my favorite Katherine Center book ever!

Light Years From Home

It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I did I got pretty invested. I enjoyed how the story was told between the three viewpoints of the different siblings and the book really kept me guessing. Three siblings go camping with their father, their father and brother disappear under extremely weird circumstances. Their father reappears later - convinced his son was taken by aliens. It slowly tears their family apart. Years later the gang is reunited but there is bad blood. Was their brother really taken by aliens or not? And what is going on with their mother. The relationship and dynamics were so interesting and the sci-fi element was interesting. I actually quite liked it. People that like family dramas will definitely enjoy this!

Pacific Vortex

I listened to and enjoyed the Fargo Adventures by Clive Cussler - but maybe I went too far back in time for this one. Pacific Vortex is the first of the Dirk Pitt series. I've seen the movie Sahara, but that is all I know about Dirk and his exploits. The first novel was ok - but the old narration was not great and the story was not that thrilling. Very meh for me. I might continue with the series (only if the narrator changes though!). 

Wildfire

Summer smut that is sweet and ... wholesome? Aurora and Russ, two college kids who "accidentally" had a one night stand - find themselves thrown together as camp counselors at an exclusive summer camp for kids. Surprise! Aurora's home away from home is this camp - as a kid it's the safest she ever felt. She loved being a camper and she loves being a counselor even more. For Russ it's all a new experience, he needs the cash and to get away from his messed up family for the summer. Besides their hook up at college, Russ and Rory, find that they have lots in common (daddy issues!) and have to admit that their attraction goes deeper than just boning. Light, fluffy, and funny - this steamy romance is good for college kids (I felt so old reading this). 

Icebreaker

Smutty hockey romance. It was nice to see a healthy relationship portrayed - but I officially feel too old now to be reading college smut. I felt aged reading this even though it was pretty enjoyable. There was a lot of drama, a lot of sex, and a lot of over the top scenarios but it was a fun read. I suppose I will read the second in the series :)

Yours from the Tower

I absolutely adored this book! So much fun and I know younger me would have also loved it. Told through a series of letters between Sophia, Tirzah, and Polly in late nineteenth century England - Yours from the Tower is a celebration of female friendship. The letters are funny, heartfelt, sometimes sad, and all around wonderful. The girls couldn't be more different in temperament and in circumstance. They all met at a girl's finishing school - but now they are back at "home" they miss each other dearly. One girl is in the middle of her first (and only) season and she is hoping to catch a wealthy man to care for her and her younger sisters, another is stuck at home with her grandmother as a companion, and the third works at an orphanage. So much fun - I loved this novel from the very first page!

Target Acquired

This Christian thriller is the second in a series - but reads easily as a standalone. I had no issues following along and don't even know which characters were the focus of the first book. Target Acquired follows tenacious, Kenzie King as she tries to figure out if her SWAT team is being targeted or if it's just her that has a target on her back. She's proud to have been chosen as the SWAT medic even if she's the only girl on the team. Most of the guys don't seem to trust her, except for Cole that is. He is her brother's best friend and unless she's mistaken there might be something blossoming between the two of them. There's not much time for romance though because they need to figure out who is attacking them and why they seem to want Kenzie dead. Is it one of the guys on the team who has an axe to grind?! To make matters even more complicated her father (a disgraced former police chief) confesses that he thinks her mother's death a decade ago may have actually been murder. There is a LOT going on in this book with lots of loose threads. But like all inspirational reads everything does eventually get resolved. I wanted to like this more than I did - but there were aspects of the plot that were so wildly unbelievable and over the top that it seemed to distract from the story. I wish they had done more with the alternate storyline with Betsy as well.

45 Ways to Live Like an Italian

This was a fun little bathroom book to read through. As someone with Italian heritage it was fun to learn a little bit more about Italian lifestyles and tradition. Each section has a little illustration, info about a food, activity, way of life, saying, etc. and ends with some tips or ways you can incorporate it into your own life. It was fun and enjoyable. Not life changing, but had some good advice and interesting takes on happiness. Like I said, good bathroom reading. 

The House in the Pines

Ugh - I hate rating this book so low. It was well written but the main character was supremely unlikable and when you get to the end and discover the twist?! Man I just wanted to throw the book against the wall. Glad I just checked this one out from the library and didn't buy it. I like thrillers and I like thrillers with weird premises - but this one.... not good. 

Counting the Cost

WOW! Such an eye opening memoir about what really went on in the Duggar household. This isn't some tabloid fuel, scandalous account - this is a real, conflicted, raw, and emotional recounting about the highs and the lows. It's clear how much love Jill still has for her family but I am so proud of her for finally putting up boundaries and learning to be her authentic self rather than the version that her parents wanted her to be. It's narrated by Jill and captivated me from the start. AN excellent audiobook for anyone who knows anything about the Duggar family or people who want to read about others cutting off toxic family and toxic faith. 

Good Enough

I ADORED this book. I read a section every single morning and it helped set the tone for my whole day. Kate Bowler is an absolute gem and I so appreciated the analogies, the humor, and the heartfelt sentiment. I sincerely need to read all her other books and I CANNOT wait to reread this book again. The messages were so profound and so relatable. Do yourself a favor and read this book - you don't need to be overly spiritual or religious to benefit for this book - this book is for all women. 

Swift and Saddled

I love this series so much. You can read any of these as standalones but it is fun to read them in order so you understand some of the side characters backgrounds. Swift and Saddled follows Wes, the middle Ryder sibling and Ada, the interior designer he has hired. Wes has middle child syndrome bad - his older brother will inherit the Rebel Blue Ranch someday, his baby sister is a champion barrel horse rider and he needs to make his mark. He decides to renovate an old cabin on the property and turn it into a guest ranch. Enter Ada, she's pretty much friendless, loveless, and is desperately running away from San Francisco. There might be a chance that the best place she could run to would be into her sexy cowboy bosses arms. Delicious. I literally CANNOT WAIT for the next one - I have been DYING for Teddy and Gus to get together. 

Morning Gratitude

I started reading this devotional a few months ago and honestly it has been such an empowering and inspiring start to my day. I genuinely look forward to reading each day's passage and prayer and I think it has made a big impact on how I greet the day and has definitely grown my relationship with God. I am also reading an evening version at night - but that one is taking longer to complete because there are definitely some nights where I pass out to quick. Love starting and ending my day with a little spiritual reflection! 

Done and Dusted

This was such a fun sexy read. I am so jacked to start the next in the series. I love romances told in alternating perspectives. Done and Dusted is about Clementine - a barrel rider at the top of her game who after a terrifying fall from her horse comes back to her family's ranch with her tail between her legs and Logan - a sexy cowboy who is best friends with her brother and is a royal pain in the ass. The two grew up together in mutual dislike - but Luke hasn't seen Clementine in years and he is blown away by how sexy she has grown. How is this the same girl he up making fun of?! Clementine has never been impressed with Luke or his looks and she always thought he was an immature and vain man. But maybe there is more lurking beneath the surface? A fantastic, smutty western romance with unbelievable chemistry.  It's also a super quick read - I finished it in only two sittings! 

Moving Forward

While this is the second in a series - it easily reads as a standalone. Shelley Shepard Gray has penned another firefighter romance in a small Colorado mountain town and as one can expect - there is definitely a happy ending. Greg is veteran and current firefighter. Staying busy at work helps keep his mind off of the horrors he experienced over in Iraq and Afghanistan. While at work he goes on a run and helps rescue a gorgeous women having heart issues. The two hit it off, but they are keeping secrets from each other - will they learn to trust each other enough to open up fully? Or will they keep their hearts locked down. Sweet, sentimental, and chaste. 

Ross Poldark

I watched the first few seasons of the new tv adaptation and pretty quickly fell in love the show. I knew that I would have to read the book series as soon as I realized that was what the show was based on. This is the first in the series and it isn't bad - but it does ramble in some places, but the writing is beautiful. Ross Poldark comes back to England after fighting for Britain in the Revolutionary War. His father has passed and the estate is now his. It's a shabby house and the land is overgrown but he makes a go of it. He is sorely upset to find out that his beloved, Elizabeth, is betrothed to his cousin Francis. He is heartbroken but puts his mind off of it and puts all his focus into making the most out of his lot. When he rescues a dirty beaten child he has no idea how much his life will soon change for the better. I think I like the show better, but I still may try to read the second book in the series. 

Coming Home

A nice breezy romance there was very chaste and heavy on second chances. A small town in Colorado got even smaller when Anderson Kelly returned home from serving in the military. He broke up with his high school sweetheart, Chelsea, as soon as he enlisted and hasn't really seen her since. He thought their breakup would be temporary and that she would wait for him while he grew up, but she went to college and got pregnant and his heart never fully healed. Chelsea, has regrets, but her son Jack is not one of them. It's hard being a single mom but she has a job that she loves and wonderful friends and neighbors. When Anderson comes back to their hometown to work as a firefighter she is surprised that her heart still feels a pull to him even though he broke her heart. Wholesome, sweet, and a quick inspirational romance that is the first in a series!