Best Books of 2025

 

As I looked back over the books I read last year I scrolled through from the beginning of the year until the end and wrote down the books that I remember well and know I loved as I was reading them. These are ones that if I don't already own a copy I want to add a copy to my shelves. 

The Roads We Follow - Nicole Deese

Such a good book. I just love how the author gives us such big topics and does them so well. Her books are so well rounded and deep. Faith plays an integral role and I honestly have loved every book I have read of hers. 

A Lady's Guide to Marvels & Misadventures - Angela Bell

Adored this book! Such a good read. It was full of depth, quirky characters, adventure, and a blossoming relationship which developed slowly, and the friendship was built first. I am looking forward to Angela's next book which release in July of 2026. I may not have a lot of words for this book, but my adoration of it runs deep. 

Lightraider Academy Trilogy - James R. Hannibal

I'm only showing the first one but the whole trilogy was soooo good. I read this with my middle child and we made good time through the books. I loved the world and the distinctions between light and darkness. The choices the characters had to make had real consequences and sometimes they realized the error of their ways but still had to live with the consequences. We definitely yelled at the book a few times. Any book that connects me with my boys is already on the right track, but this one I will definitely reread on my own. 

Proclaimer - Megan Schaulis

Top notch! Second in the series and as such I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was completely invested in the characters and what would happen to them. Such a good conclusion. So many emotions. I love when a book can make me feel all the things in the best way possible!! I have a full review on my site already so I won't gush too much more here. 

The Matchmakers Series - Jen Turano

Jen's books always make me laugh out loud. This series in particular was a hoot. I absolutely enjoyed each of these books. I can count on hijinks and chaos but also a good solid romance. One of my go to authors when I'm in a slump for sure. I think I made it through two of her trilogies last year.  

Christy Miller Series - Robin Jones Gunn

My daughter and I read these books and then talked about them. It was such a fun experience and we both adored these books. I love that Robin didn't shy away from hard topics but there was always a clear right and wrong or biblical approach taken to the topics. We are reading through the Sierra series now and then we will move onto Christy in the College Years. 

The Four Kingdoms Books - Melanie Cellier

I am devouring this series. I never knew how much I needed fairy tale retellings until I started reading this books. I have made it through the first two and I think a novella that comes in between them. Everything is interetwined which means we get to see previous characters and I always enjoy that. 

If I Run series- Terri Blackstock

Such a good series and the faith content grew with the characters. As a reader I could clearly see God's hands. I just finished the third and the series was full of suspense. I love me a good thriller without all the details, gore and psychological elements which give me nightmares and this fit the bill perfectly. I was definitely in suspense but never felt overwhelmed by it, which can happen to me when reading a thriller. I like that we follow the same characters in all three books because it really gives us the chance to get to know them well. 

To Love a Beast - Karen Witemeyer

So I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan so when I find a retelling I am here for it. This was probably my favorite retelling I have ever read. The setting was a lot of fun. The heart of the story was there, but how it was executed was so unique. I truly loved that Belle worked with rebinding books. It was such an interesting process to learn a little more about. This is going to be a strange love, but she did the Gaston character so very well that I absolutely loathed him and he made my skin crawl. Such a good read. Definitely adding this to my library and encouraging my daughter to read it, because she loves Beauty and the Beast as I do, well maybe not as much as me. 

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue - Jamie Jo Wright

Ya'll when I say I was nervous to read a Jami Jo Wright book, it would have been an understatement. I have never liked spooky, creepy or scary things. Since giving my life to the Lord I am even more cautious. However, this book was good. I didn't find myself creeeped out at all to be honest, which was perfect. The twist got me, I definitely didn't see either timeline twist coming. So interesting to see how the mystery was solved and what played out. I will be picking up another book by this author because I love a good mystery and history, and this combined both. 

Love in the Castle Library - Ann Swindell

This was book two and I really enjoyed picking up where we left off in solving the historical mystery. I love that we still get to interact with the characters from the first book. The faith content was amazing in both books. I anticipate a third book because we have one section of the mystery left, but as I said in my more in depth review, only time will tell. 

      

Terms and Traditions - Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht

This was the only Christmas book I truly enjoyed in my Christmas book reading at the end of 2025. The rest were just okay, but this one stood out to me and I loved it. I loved both characters and how they slowly got to know one another at a deeper level. There definitely was some moments of irritation with her family members but it is no different than what can happen in real life. The grandma was definitely a favorite character of mine, she was a hoot and a half. 

That wraps up my favorite reads from last year. It took me a while to finish the post, but better late than never. What were your top reads from the year? 

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and I am praying you have a blessed day. 

Melanie

The Royal Nanny - Melody Carlson

 

    This book was such a fun read. I absolutely adored both of the children, so cute! The story line was unique to me which is always a bonus. I have never read a book with a nanny before, nevermind a nanny sort of thrown into the position. Due to the nanny factor there was a lot of interaction with the main character and the children. So as a reader I got to know all of those characters really well. However, what was a little bit lacking for me was the actual relationship between the nanny and the dad. In all honesty it kind of felt like a blip. Even once we discover they might like each other I feel like I never really got to know the dad or even really see their relationship change and grow. The faith content was pretty solid, which is slowly becoming a big factor in my star ratings because I naturally enjoy a book which has more faith content.  Overall a good quick read. I am going to try more books by this author, because it was an enjoyable read. 

    One of the quotes which stuck out to me was short and sweet:

"Do your best and trust God with the rest."

    It seems so simple yet it can be challenging. However, the reason the quote stuck out to me is because it speaks to the act of being obedient to God by doing my best in whatever He has called me to do, while also trusting Him with all things. 

    If you are interested you can find out more information about the book here: The Royal Nanny

    

As always here is author info: 

Melody Carlson:

She has written more than 250 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors, etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including RT's Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been made into movies. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. 

If you are interested in learning more about the author here are the places you can find her: 

                                            Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

I want to thank the publishers for a copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to post a positive review. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. I am praying you have a blessed day. 

Melanie

2025 Reflection

 

    I have been reflecting through prayer about the words God gave me for 2025. Not only how they played a role in my life throughout the year, but also how God used them to teach me. Last year my words were joy and beauty. At the beginning of the year I had in my mind how I thought they would play out, but of course it didn't go how I anticipated. Honestly, instead of using them more, God took the year to define them for me. There was a lot stripped away so I can truly understand what joy and beauty mean. 

    I will begin with beauty. I realized for me the beauty is important to a peaceful environment and a calm place to be quiet enough to hear from the Lord. The best analogy I have is that when I am surrounded by a lot of things/disorganization/clutter my mind has a more difficult time calming and quieting. So I have begun a slow journey to reduce the clutter and create spaces which are beautiful. Spaces which enocurage creativity, and bring joy. It was also realizing how much beauty is in the world around us in things both big and small. My time outside in the mornings watching the birds and enjoying the quiet have truly given me a greater appreciation for God's beauty which he engrained into our world. This time allows me to gain confidence in God because I jumpstart each morning seeing the evidence of Him in His creation.  

    Defining joy was a more ardurous journey. So coming off of 2024 in which my word was peace, I knew that joy would be my word of 2025. Yet the journey God took me on, was one I didn't see coming. He stripped everything I was attempting to put my joy in away. Part of this stripping involved me learning some hard lessons about being careful with my words, and losing things was a consequence. Yet God used those situations to show me how my priorities were misaligned. I had friendships, community groups, and Bible studies stripped away. Yes, I said Bible studies. Some of of the ones I was partaking in were robbing me of the joy in pursuing a relationship with the Lord. They felt like homework assignments I was obligated to complete, which was sucking the joy out of the Bible. In fact, I was struggling to approach the Bible at all. Once these were stripped from me, I began again longing to be with the Lord in His Word and to dive deep into the Bible so I can become closer to Him. 

     The joy in my calling of being a wife and mother was also missing. I realized this was because I felt inadequate in those areas, as though I wanted God to choose someone else because clearly I was not good enough. Yet, He chose me to be a wife and mother, as well as a homeschooler so He has equipped me to do so. I was relying on my own strength instead of His which is why I was struggling. He showed me that while I had a surface level understanding of my joy coming from the Lord, I did not truly see what joy was. He has given me a deeper understanding of the joy which does come from Him, and Him alone. As I have surrendered my homeschool to Him this year, my joy for homeschooling is coming back, because it stems from trusting Him. 

    It was an interesting year full of challenges, but through it all I had the peace He had instilled in me in 2024. It's interesting going through so much and yet feeling so much peace. Reflecting on the past year I have realized what it means to have relationships and priorities in the right order to honor and glorify God. There is no greater joy than knowing He is my rock and my salvation, and obeying what He asks me to do. It's not easy but it allows me to show up as He wants me to, not as I desire to. From experience His ways are always greater than mine, so I am so thankful for the correction and the way He moves in my life. I have no desire to go back to who I was, because even the hardest day with Him is more peaceful and joyful than the best day without Him. 

  

Joy

Beauty 

Reading Wrap-Up 2025

 

    As I look back at my reading life this past year, I realize it has been a year of trying to regain my joy with reading and the habit of daily reading. With those I feel I was successful. I love the fact that the majority of my reads were higher star ratings. I believe this is due to learning what types of books I enjoy and don't enjoy. I also have become a lot pickier in what I choose to pick up because I don't want to rate a book lower. I am not afraid to DNF a book anymore, I would rather not finish than continue a book I'm not enjoying. 

    When choosing a book I begin by looking at reviews (without trying to spoil the book), to discover what kind of content might be in the book. If I am picking up a book I want it to have absolutely no open door spicy content, and barely even closed door. If the physical attraction plays too prominent of a role I will DNF. I also expect the book to have minimal violence and language, although I prefer none. If those requirements makes me seem snobby I am completely okay with that. I have learned who I can trust to give recommendations which meet these standards and when I have to be more cautious. Life is too short and the amount of books too many for me to waste time on something which will detract from my joy of reading, or make me uncomfortable as I'm reading. 

    Now for some my nerdy side and some actual statistics from my reading last year. 

    Total Books Read: 56 this number is up from 34 in 2024. I am taking that as a huge win. 

    Format: Print: 21% and Digital 79% - this is not surprising at all as I read most of my books via my Kindle. I read a few fiction paperback, but the majority of print books I read were read alouds or nonfiction. I also had no audiobooks because I struggle with audiobooks. 

Here is my graph of the year: 

    

     It is always interesting to see how my year flowed in reading. I can see when I started to make it a habit and a priority again. I can also see the time frame when I was reading amazing books I couldn't put down. Slight lull as we wrapped up our homeschool year and I began planning for the next one, and then I tried to finish strong. 

    Overall I am very happy where the reading year went and how I increased my reading from the previous year. I think for me that's the biggest indication that I am getting my joy of reading back, and making it a habbit again. I will be sharing my favorites from the year, but I am seeing progress in my reading life and that is the biggest win coming out of a few year slump. 

Let's Catch Up

 

    Hello All,

    I thought I would give an update because it's been pretty quiet around here. 

    At the end of 2023 I found out a loved one had stage four cancer. In the beginning of 2024 there was a broken femur, and three surgeries, after which we weren't sure how much longer we would have with this person. However, God stepped in sending a few doctors to have conversations which resulted in pain management and cancer treatments. These things have kept my loved one here. We are now at the point where having changed between several different chemotherapy courses, treatments are no longer working. Yet, this person is feeling the best they have felt in a long time. So while no more treatments will be happening, and hospice is now in view, I am amazed at the way God has worked. He has kept their pain minimal and their nausea non existent through all treatments. He has sent people to have conversations when needed and continues to show Himself throughout this entire process. At the beginning of 2024 He gave me a tremendous amount of peace, and that peace has not left me for even a second. I am so grateful I don't have to go through any part of life without Him. That was the biggest news making everything else seem minor in comparison, but I am going to share other changes because God doesn't just dwell in the big things, He is in every area of my life. 

    Onward we go, the next area of growth deals with relationships. God has really been showing me what Biblical friendship looks like and unfortunately what it doesn't. Over the past few years friendships have come and gone. The going is the hardest part for me, but I know some people are only in my life for a season. I think my struggle has been it seems as though almost everyone has only been there for a season and I long for fruitful, close-knit Biblical friendships. In the past few years I have lost several friendships and within the past few months a group I had been a part of for a few years is no longer in my life. While it was time for many reasons for me to leave, I still feel a bit sad about the loss. God has shown me there is a difference with coming to someone in love because we want what is best for them, and coming to someone with condemnation. He has shown me I was depending on others first instead of Him first, which never results in joy and fruitfulness. I still have quite a few selfish habits to surrender to Him so I can truly have a servant's heart, and love others the way He wants us to love. I have learned a lot through the hurt, and God knows what is best for me way more than I do. The work He is doing is challenging but always worth it because it glorifies Him and draws me into deeper relationship with Him. I am trusting that when it is time He will bring me the community He wants me to have.

    As I have been thinking about community He has helped me realize that it begins with my husband and children. If I can't love them well, then I definitely can't love those outside my family well. I am learning how to love them better and He is stretching me in regards to homeschooling. This past year my second child came up to me and asked to graduated early with his brother next year. I agreed that we could try to make that happen, and while it will be a rigorous year full of growth for all of us, I do anticipate graduating both my oldest two children in November of 2026. Just saying those words brings a touch of sadness, because it reminds me I have only a year left teaching my boys and it is throwing me for a loop emotionally. Yet, God is good and I know He will guide me through. He has them in His hands, even when my role changes after they graduate. 

    I will be sharing more of our journey throughout the year, because as I follow His lead, He has asked me to be more consistent in sharing here. It's terrifying which is probably why I haven't been obedient as I should, but it's time. He is showing me how to realign my priorities, and to be disciplined in my obedience, so that is what I am going to do. I am going to trust and follow even though I feel ill equipped for all the things He is calling me to do. I know He has my back and there is fruit to be had when I obey, so the emotions don't get to drive the bus, instead they get surrendered at the Lord's feet. 

    The most wonderful thing is the knowledge that there is so much freedom in my obedience. Even when people I considered friends keep falling away, even when there is pain or heartache, even when the enemy tries to keep me focused on my past or my feelings, God never leaves my side. Not only is He always with me, His ways are far superior to mine. This past year has taught me I have no desire to be a lukewarm Christian, I am seeking the same fire I had when He first found me, and I know it will look different because I have already grown and changed so much since first being saved, but I also know having Him in my life is worth so much more than this world could ever offer me. 

    Welcome to this new chapter and let's see what the Lord has in store because I'm just following the path He wants me to. I may stumble and trip along the way, but when I repent I am always forgiven. Here's to trust, faith and love. 

    Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this update. I hope you are having a blessed day. 

With Love,

Melanie

A Daughter's Choice by Kelly Irvin is on Tour with Celebrate Lit

 

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction           Release Date: November 2025

    This is one of the books in The Heart of the Amish series which is a multi authored series. This book is the only one in the series that I have read. 

    I was drawn to this book because it does center on the Amish and I always have found it interesting to learn about a different way of living. I find a lot of their ways so peaceful and fruitful. I think we can learn a lot from Amish ways. This story pulled me in and I did enjoy getting to know the characters.  

    Henrietta absolutely loves everything outdoors and animal related, the last place she wants to be is indoors cooking or cleaning. This of course does not necessarily sit well with her father who happens to be the bishop. When she is not able to to get the vet assistant job she wanted, she is not happy nor is she necessarily kind to Nicholas who does get the position. Nicholas took the job for his own reasons, and is not too fond of Henrietta at first either. 

    I enjoyed watching their friendship grow as a result of them growing and maturing. They are both struggling with different areas of their faith and contentment. I think as they come to realize that God has a plan for their lives, and it may not be how they imagined it, they are able to really see that God's path is always the better one. I do appreciate the amount of wrestling we get to see, and that the characters learn and grow from their mistakes. They also garner wisdom from those who are older. Overall it was written well and a good story. 

    One of the quotes which really stood out to me is the following:

"Start thinking about it from the perspective of what you can do, what is allowed, the blessing you can be to the people you love and who love you. Contentment is learned. It's not always easy, but it's always possible. Believe me. I know."

    I think so many times we strive for things we think we want or even things of this world thinking they will bring us happiness. Yet often they just keep us in bondage. When we lean into God's path for us and realize how much freedom we have in Christ we can truly find joy. The boundaries He puts in place are meant to protect us, that change of mindset is truly the way God wants us to see things and to live. 

    I enjoy when books are deep enough that I get nuggets of wisdom which allow me to grow as well.  

    If you are interesting in learning morning about the book you can head here: A Daughter's Choice

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Here is some information about the author and all the places you can find her: 

Kelly Irvin is an award winning author who has published more than 30 novels and a dozen novellas. She worked as a newspaper reporter before spending 22 years in public relations. She now writes fiction full time. She and her husband live in Texas. They are parents of two kids, four grandkids and an ornery senior cat. 

You can find more information about her and her books in the following places: 

Author's Website  |  Instagram |  Facebook

    One of the fun things Celebrate Lit Blog tours includes is some extra information from the author about the story. So here is what Kelly shared with us about A Daughter's Choice:

Each time I come up with a new story concept, I'm super excited about it. When a publisher lets me know the "pub" committee has approved a contract for the story, I get even more excited. Then I sit down at my computer, open a document, and zoom, my fingers take off on the keyboard . . . . nope. . . not exactly. 
    What really happens is that I suddenly realize this fabulous story idea will require a ton of research. In the case of A Daughter's Choice, featuring goat lover Henrietta "Hen" Miller, I needed to be an "expert" on raising goats and tending to a horse with colic and making candy from goat's milk, and delivering a foal that isn't positioned correctly (and treating a crochety cat!). The story also required a deep dive into several other kinds of livestock, veterinarians' clinics and vet assistants, and facets of the Amish faith that I wanted to make sure I addressed properly.
    Much of this information is easily available on the Internet and in the many reference books about the Amish I've acquired over the years. But on-line research doesn't allow me to get up close and personal with key characters in my story - the animals. I especially wanted to hang out with some goats. To my surprise, I had trouble finding a place int he San Antonio area where I could interact with these frolicking creatures. 
    Then my daughter-in-law came to the rescue. She found Cavalry Farm, a nonprofit organization that takes in and cares for all sort of livestock animals in little Adkins, Texas, just south of San Antonio. They have frequent open houses where - for a nominal fee - the public can visit, pet, feed, and yes, cuddle some of the animals. My response? ROAD TRIP!
    The farm is home to a small herd of pygmy goats as well as larger dairy goats. I have never been close to a goat, so I didn't know what to expect. They were as curious about me as I was about them. They crowded around me, climbed up my rollator, chewed on my purse strap, nibbled at the zipper on my shorts' pocket, and prodded my hands with their noses. I had a fabulous time! 
    The volunteer who stayed with us in the goat pen shared all sorts of tidbits about the care of goats. My grandson, who's two and a half, chatted with them. I took lots of photos for marketing purposes. Most importantly, I gained an understanding of why Hen is so enamored of goats. They're lively, friendly, and determined to learn all about their visitors. 
    Of course, Hen isn't simply a "goat whisperer." She also loves horses, which leads to her first encounter with vet assistant Nicholas Byler, a newcomer to Smicksburg, PA, and many other animals, including cats and dogs. At Cavalry Farm, I was also able to visit with horses, pigs, donkeys, alpacas, chickens, turkeys, and cows. I'm from Kansas so I've had my share of livestock sightings. However, I've never been offered an opportunity to snuggle a cow. Who knew that is a thing? My farmer family members will find it humorous, I'm sure. 
    The cows lounge on the grass just waiting for a visitor to come along, sit beside them, and snuggle up. It's so stinking cute! 
    No cow snuggling occurs in A Daughter's Choice. However, I can assure readers there is plenty of fun with a runaway puppy up for adoption, goats on the loose tearing through a wedding prep tent, and more. The story also moves beyond the humorous as Hen overcomes past losses and grief, allowing her to make important choices about her future. Nicholas too has to make hard choices about his occupation and his life as a faithful Amish believer. What they decide will determine if they find their happily-ever-after! 

    I loved getting that behind the scenes look at the book. It's so interesting to get a glimpse behind the curtain so to speak. 

    Two last things I want to share. First there is a giveaway for the book. In honor of the tour Kelly is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card as well as a print copy of the book! 

    Enter Giveaway Here  You can earn extra entries by commenting on the blog stops. 

    Second I wanted to share the other blogs which are participating in this tour: 

Texas Book-a-holic

Life on Chickadee Lane

Simple Harvest Reads

She Lives to Read

lakesidelivingsite

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy

Happily Managing a Household of Boys 

Stories by Gina (Author Interview) 

Nighttime Reading Center

For Him and My Family

Jeanette's Thoughts 

The Avid Reader 

Holly's Book Corner 

Vicky Sluiter

The Mommies Reviews 

Mary Hake 

    I hope you enjoyed blog hopping and seeing what other people thought of the book!

    I want to thank the publishers for a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to provide a positive review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts, I hope you have a blessed day. 

Melanie

Love in the Castle Library - Ann Swindell

 

    I loved this book just as much as the first book: Christmas in the Castle Library. All of what I mentioned in the first book still rings true here. Faith is integral and so much a part of their lives, there is no unnecessary drama in the conflicts, and the struggles and relationship building feel very natural. I loved getting to go back into this world, because the mystery from the first novel still needs some solving. 

    In this novel what stood out to me was the way God sometimes strips away what we think we need and want because we have attached it to our identity when our identity fully comes from Him and nothing else. There is much healing as well from old wounds, and learning that God is there and will help us and grow us from those. He doesn't want us believing lies but truth, and He can use our circumstances and other believers to help us tear down the lies and replace them with truth. I think I related to Ellie from the first book more than Delphine, but still thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

    I love the beauty of family history interwoven while we still try to uncover more of the Lost Queen's story. I also am excited because it seems we haven't quite fully uncovered the story of the Lost Queen, which may mean a book three in the future, and I have my guesses as to who it might focus on, but only time will tell. It's all speculation on my part. I definitely recommend this book and its predecessor. Both wonderful reads. 

One of my favorite quotes from this book is:

            "I try to obey when the Lord nudges me to share my faith with others, but I often feel clumsy and rather poor at it. Still, I figure it's better to be obedient and look ridiculous than not even try." He turned back to face her. "I think it's a lifelong journey, growing in the ability to talk about Jesus openly and honestly. We just keep trying, eh?"

    Definitely sums up my journey, I'm still working on listening for Holy Spirit's prompting in those moments so I can be obedient. 

    Here is more information about the book if you are interested: Love in the Castle Library

Also, as always I love sharing information about the author. 

About the Author

Ann Swindell is the owner of Writing with Grace, where she teaches Christ-centered writing courses for women across the globe. She lives in West Michigan with her family and writes for many ministries, including Well-Watered Women, Risen Motherhood, and The Gospel Coalition. She has authored Path to Peace and Still Waiting, and her first novel, Christmas in the Castle Library, released with WhiteCrown in 2024. 

Author Links

Instagram | Facebook| Website

I want to thank the publishers for a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to provide a positive review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

I hope you enjoyed reading my review and thank you for taking time out of your day to do so. I hope you have a blessed day. 

Melanie

Mid-Year Reading Wrap-Up

It has been a rought start to the reading year. I am nowhere near where I want to be for reading. It's been a struggle for a few years now, but I finally feel like I am getting back into my groove and it's wonderful. However, because it has been such a slow start to the year I am going to do a quick run down of the books I have read so far this year. I will say while I haven't read much, most of the books I read have been four or five stars which for me is pretty amazing. I attribute that to both choosing authors I already love and really doing my research on books and using trusted sources so I am not choosing books with content I don't want to consume. So without further ado here are the books I have read from January through the end of June. 

January:

Giver of Wonders - Roseanna M. White

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't even realize as I was reading who the book was truly about and how it ties into Christmas. Yet I always enjoy books by this author and this one was no different. It had good faith content. I think the sisters in the story and their faith which causes a boldness in them was inspirational. Wonderful read. 

The Roads We Follow - Nicole Deese

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ya'll this book was so good. I really have enjoyed everything I have read by this author. She quickly has become a new favorite. I fell in love with the characters and was fully invested in everything happening. I think we can all relate to the struggles and miscommunication. The desire to be seen and heard for who we are, and relying on Holy Spirit to help us communicate with love. Even letting fear dictate our actions which never ends well. Great story that I couldn't put down. 

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure - Angela Bell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another amazing read. This one had so many quirky characters and I was here for it. The faith content was strong which is always a huge bonus. I thought the storyline and the romance was intriguing and kept me captivated. Seeing 

Clara's loyalty to her family and her defense of them was noble, but I also loved the journey she goes on in realizing she can't be in control. Just such a fun and enjoyable read! Definitely adding this one to my physical shelves. 

February: 

You Make It Feel like Christmas - Toni Shiloh 

⭐⭐⭐

I know the only book I read in February and it was a Christmas book, this is how my year has been. From what I remember of this book it was good. I enjoyed the book overall. I can't recall much of it, but that's okay, it was still good. 

March: 

Wolf Soldier - James R. Hannibal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am reading this series aloud to my middle son and we are both completely enthralled. My oldest has already finished it. This first book really built the world well and starts us right into some action. I do struggle reading the old language they speak to the Rescuer aloud, but my middle son tolerates my pronunciations well enough. I was proud of myself that I did not cry while reading aloud. I love the allegory and the faith content. So much good stuff. I also appreciate that it's a book where listening to God matters most in everything and that actions have consequences as sometimes that is not the case in books with young protagonists. 

April: 

Radical - David Platt

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read this book with a friend and there was so much conviction. The emphasis was ensuring we look at the world through the lens of Scripture and compare everything to how God calls us to live, love and move in this world. As I was reading either he asked questions or Holy Spirit would provide the questions to ask myself as I reflect on what I was reading. There was a lot of looking at Acts and how the first church behaved and are we behaving similarly or have we let the comfortableness of life in America cloud our behavior so we are focused on ourselves and not God. Definitely a book my children will be reading before graduating, as it emphasizes a boldness in our Faith with a focus on glorifying God not ourselves.  

Radical Together - David Platt

⭐⭐⭐

This was the next book my friend and I read. This book looked at discipleship and how to really build the church. This one was good as well. Definitely had me comparing what he was saying to what I see in my church and even how I disciple my children. I think my biggest take away was when he stated that real faith always produces fruit. Looking at my life and saying okay can others see the fruit of my faith. How am I spreading the gospel, and using my gifts to build up the church? A focus on working together, living together, and sharing God's Good News with the world. 

Northargyle Abbie - Janelle Leonard

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed this book, to see my full review go here: Northargyle Abbie

May:

Bear Knight - James R. Hannibal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We are definitely deeper into the world in this second book, and the action is definitely continuing to pick up. The commentary my son and I share as we are reading is bringing so much joy. In this book it is a lot of why are you making those choices, but that is to be expected on the journeys they are on. I love seeing the growth of the characters and the clear depiction of good and evil. Also the reliance on their faith, and the consequences when they choose to not rely on that faith as well. I can't really say much because as we are in book 2 it would all be a spoiler. The tactic of leaving one character on a cliff hanger while we jump to another character is frustrating yet well played by the author. Definitely keeps those pages turning at as quick of a speed as I can reading aloud. 

Proclaimer - Megan Schaulis

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved!!! So good!! Full review here: Proclaimer

My review for the first book in this duology is here: Protector

How to Pray - C.S. Lewis

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This compilation of snippets of C.S. Lewis's works pertaining to prayer was very helpful. It was inspiring and while it required more focus, it was well worth it. They had a good chunk from Screwtape Letters which is a favorite of mine so that was a great revisit. I now want to reread Screwtape. Such an inspirational book for how short it is. Highly recommend. 

Traitor in the Tower - Dave & Neta Jackson (Read Aloud)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a read aloud in our homeschool with all three children. It gave a good overview of who John Bunyan was and what life in prison was like for him. I loved it when maybe halfway through my daughter suddenly realized Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress and those are the stories we were hearing him tell. Those connections are what make homeschooling so much fun. Overall we enjoyed this one. 

June:

Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson (Read Aloud)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow! I had no idea going into this book how it would end and yep I barely held on while reading. I was doing okay until I looked up and saw tears streaming down my daughter's face. She was moved but said what kind of book is this? It was definitely a wonderful read despite the hard. I think watching a child deal with grief was helpful because it demonstrated we all deal with grief differently, and that's okay, there is no one right way. Yeah just wow, unexpected and glad I was able to experience it with my children and it wasn't one I handed to them on their own. 

Summer Island Book Club - Ciara Knight 

⭐⭐⭐

This book was okay. I read it fairly quickly, but I don't know for me there was just something missing. It took me a bit to even get into the book, but it was a typical contemporary romance. There may have been a bit of skipping I did for a more detailed kissing scene, but if I remember correctly there was nothing more than that. I am pretty sure I began skimming as I was approaching the end. It wasn't bad, I just didn't connect with it so it was an average read. 

Salvaged - Shanna M Heath

⭐⭐⭐.5

This book was a cute quick read. I would have given it four stars had it not had quite as much focus on physical attraction. While clean, I don't enjoy when characters seem to focus on thinking about the other person's physical appearance. However, despite that this book had some good faith content and growth. It also definitely hit close to home as my mother has cancer, and that is a topic in this book. Overall good read. 

To Steal a Heart - Jen Turano

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love me a Jen Turano book because they always make me laugh aloud. The hijinx her characters get up to are just so much fun. This was the first book in the trilogy and we are getting to know all the characters. While we get to know all the ladies who are starting this agency, this book focuses on Gabriella and Nicholas. The mystery is one of trying to clear someone's name. It's always so interesting to me how society works and there were plenty of surprises in this book. I love trying to figure out the mystery, although I'm not always great at it. 

To Write a Wrong - Jen Turano

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is the second of the trilogy and focuses on Daphne and Herman who are both authors. This book out of the three had me in stitches the most. Daphne is by far my favorite character. So quirky and I absolutely am here for it. Such a wonderful read and the setting changed a little bit as we were at Herman's house which was fun. I love watching the ladies get their agency off the ground.  

Helper by Design - Elyse Fitzpatrick

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was read with a friend, and really helped me to understand better what my role as a wife is according to Scripture. There was definitely some conviction happening as I read. She was clear in her writing and had Scripture to back up everything she was saying, which I believe is very important in books about how we should live Biblically, and unfortunately not all do. This was a good read and one I will probably have my daughter read when she gets older. 

To Disguise the Truth - Jen Turano

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The last of the trilogy. Man while Daphne is still my favorite this one was good as well. It was great that we finally get to know more about Eunice and her past. Her interactions with Arthur and the way they argue were great. The whole scene at the hospital was a riot, while also being very heartbreaking. I know a weird combo but Jen made it work. I love the reconciliation in this book. So good! This trilogy definitely propelled my reading in the right direction. 

I love that I was able to get some nonfiction in as well, I'm hoping to add some audiobooks but those are a challenge for me as I am a visual learner not an auditory one. I am determined to try though even if it's just one a month. 

Also, already in July I have finished four books and two of those are 3 in 1s, so I am feeling optimistic about how God is showing me to steward my time so I can partake in the love of reading He has given me. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Have you read any of these books and what did you think? Are there any books you would highly recommend I read? 

I pray you have a blessed day! 

With Love, 

Melanie

The Proclaimer - Megan Schaulis

 

Proclaimer by Megan Schaulis

Set Up: This is book 2 of the Susa Chronicles and concludes the reimagining of Esther that we began in the first book Protector. This book picks up very close to where the first book ended. The competition is over and we are now dealing with all the events which happened during the competition and the aftermath. We continue to follow Novalise and King Zadien, but we have Declan's perspective thrown into the mix as well. Declan is Novalise's brother. The heat towards the Alphanites is increasing as the King has pretty much declared the Alphanites are public enemy number one. Both Novalise and King Zadien continue to grow closer while their lives become more complicated by the minute. There are still so many truths to discover and secrets to shed light on. The action ramps up and there are moments we don't know who to trust. We see her struggle between her feelings, and the guiding voice she hears. We also see her struggle with the opinons and plans of those around her and her own control of the situations. It is a roller coaster start to finish.

My Thoughts: 

      Let me share the opening line or two with you because in my opinion it doesn't really give any spoilers: "Zadien's words knock through my brain like a loose boulder tearing down the mountain near our compound. If I'd looked at that boulder a few seconds earlier, I'd never have imagined the damage it was about to cause. Yet, with the slightest shift of earth, the massive force let loose, and with each rotation down the slope, momentum built until nothing in it's path was safe." 

    Yep that's how it started and ya'll Proclaimer did not disappoint. I absolutely adored Protector and was so excited to read this book. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. I don't even know where to begin because like the previous book I flew through this one. I definitely need to get them in physical copies STAT. My heart broke and was put back together about a million and one times throughout this story. There are twists and turns all over the place. While we know there are certain things which will happen because Esther is our base, I had no idea how we were getting there. There were so many intricate parts, and I was here for it. 

      Again the faith was on par, just like the last book. The theme of this book in my opinion was all about boldness and surrender. We all know that God will ask us to do things which push outside of our comfort zone and it's trusting that process. Trusting that even through the hard things, and the pain, obedience always has the greatest reward because He is the one guiding our steps and who can see the whole picture.  I also think the anguish Novalise feels and the battle between not wanting to feel pain and being obedient is so real. Picking up our cross is never easy, it wasn't meant to be, because we can only become more like Christ as we are refined and in order to be refined we often have to go through fire. Yet the way she bares her heart, is so inspiring because we can all relate in some way. 

    There were two scenes that really stood out to me, and which I saved quotes from. Both closer to the end of the book which means I can't really share either quote. There is so much love and forgiveness despite the pain, and freedom when we lean into God. The first scene is between Novalise, Declan and a prisoner. He is forgiven and she is reminded of how loved she is. The second scene is when she is crying out and feeling like she can't go any further, but is reminded about who God created her to be. Both had me in anguish yet they also had me seeing the beauty of God's ways in what He commands us to do. 

    There is so much I want to say, yet so much I won't because I don't want to spoil anything and being the second book everything I say would pretty much be a spoiler. I wish I could say more, but I really don't want to give anything away, so just go read it!!! So excuse the mediocreness of this post, because there is so much I want to gush about, but simply cannot. In my head though all the amazingness of the book with all the details is running rampant. So if you have read the book and want to talk about it, let's discuss, because I would love to dive into all the details. 

    I was excited that we were able to see the story come to a conclusion, and oh what heart pounding but satisfying conclusion it was. I am also really excited about what's to come. I can't wait for the next story as we follow another character whom I absolutely adore. I love staying in a world a bit longer especially when I fall in love with the whole band of characters. If we could have a book for all her Alphanite brothers and the Enhanced she came to be close to, I would simply adore it, just saying. :) 

About the Author

 After a year of traveling the country in a 100-square-foot camper with her husband, daughter, and dog, Megan Schaulis returned home and wrote her first novel.

 Megan has a B.A. in Journalism from Arizona State University and is a member of the ACFW. As a special education teacher, she helped young people fall in love with reading and writing. Today, when she's not spinning stories, Megan uses words in playful and creative ways at her branding agency. Her debut series is The Susa Chronicles, a YA dystopian reimagining of Esther, released with WhiteCrown publishing in 2024 . She lives in Abilene, Texas, where you’ll find her staying up way too late reading or hiking with her family.

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I want to thank the publisher and Band of Booksters for a copy of this book to read and review, all opinions expressed are most definitely my own. 

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say, and I hope you have a blessed day. 

With Love,

Melanie