OK, my 20-year-old son demanded that I read this book! I told him that I needed to recover with a few romcoms after finally making it through Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. Which was fabulous, but had like 33 viewpoint characters! He kept hounding me. You guys! Wow, what a book!!! It feels a bit like Hunger Games but with a huge dose of Ancient Rome and some young spy vibes. Twisty and surprising, the story had me messaging my son at university every time something insane happened. So well-written. The author was fabulous with plot before but with this series, he’s dug down deep to make his characters really shine! For parents: there is some language and violence, no sex scenes. An astounding general market YA novel!

It didn’t take me long to jump into book #2! Even though it is a fairly hefty tome, I did not rest with a romcom. No, I snatched it out of my sons grubby paws! So, so good!!!

This story is sooooo fun! Written by my critique partner, Becca Wierwille, this Christian kid’s book is set at a Bible camp! I myself live at a Bible camp and it was really fun to be part of Becca’s team as she created this fun story! This is a delightful mystery for kiddos who want a short, fun, chapter book to sink their teeth into. And they wouldn’t be the only ones. Barnaby, a dog of mysterious heritage and monstrous size, sinks his teeth into ten-year-old Scout’s favorite dictionary. Eating all those words, transforms him into a dog who can understand English! Scout and Barnaby team up to solve the mystery of where he came from and earn a place to call their own. Highly recommend!

In book #2 of the Scout and Barnaby Mystery Series, Scout finally gets to be a camper herself. The only problem, someone is stealing items from the girls in her tent! Can she and Barnaby solve the case or will her love of mysteries and confidence in their abilities be proven wrong before the entire camp and the camp director himself? And this one is extra special. Nessie Grace Karu has her picture in the back of this book! Each story highlights a different dog breed, as Barnaby is something of a mystery himself. Could Barnaby be part Newfoundland? You should read yourself to find out!

Book #3 in the Scout and Barnaby Mysteries Series is just as fun as the previous two but with an even stickier situation than before! When someone’s amazing duct tape dress is stolen, Scout and Barnaby must find the thief and the gown, before the saboteur wins!

A fabulous middle grade mystery by an amazing Christian author! Somehow, Taryn Souders manages to package murder in a way that is both thrilling to read and not too scary for kids. I’m so impressed! A favorite middle grade read, for sure!

This story springs out of the real events of a group of formerly-enslaved people who left Mississippi and bought property in the Appalachian mountains to form their own kingdom where equality and compassion were upheld in their own mountain sanctuary! So amazing!!!

Skillful storytelling that kids will devour and thoughtful messages that are threaded naturally throughout the action with a high level of craft. This series just thrilled my book-lover’s soul as well as my momma’s heart. I highly recommend!!!

This was such a fabulous book! As a mom of three sons, this book is perfect for the rough and rowdy kiddo in your life who has a hard time sitting still. Loads of action, cool bug facts, and fun characters who have built a bunch of traps to save the museum (and bugs) that they love! I highly recommend!!!

When my young adult son saw the title of this book he thought it was a pretty arrogant move on the author’s part. I laughed because this is such an ironic name for an incredibly fun story. The author needs out of her terrible publishing contract . . . and to do so, she must write the perfect romcom all while dealing with her incredibly difficult literary agent! It is hilarious and oh so fun. If you are a writer, there are even more layers. So great!

Nicole Deese writes with so much depth and beauty and you can tell that she understands both the value of and the cost of being in a ministry family! There are two common ways that PKs and MKs react to growing up in full-time Christian ministry. Our heroine goes one route (flee) and her brother goes the other (dig in and overachieve). This is her story!

Nicole Deese writes with so much depth and beauty and you can tell that she understands both the value of and the cost of being in a ministry family! There are two common ways that PKs and MKs react to growing up in full-time Christian ministry. Our hero goes one route (dig in and overachieve) and his sister goes goes the other route (flee all things church). This is his story!

Winter’s Chill by Morgan Busse is probably my favorite book by this author! And I have loved all of her books! This is book 2 in her Nordic Wars series and is just so good. While reading some books, I’ll find myself only interested in one of the viewpoint characters but this is not the case with Winter’s Chill. Both the hero and the heroine were engaging characters that I was rooting for the whole time. Ms. Busse paints the fantasy landscape beautifully and the different people groups feel vital and alive. There are bear riders people! Need I say more? Folks are riding bears and I love it! She does a wonderful job of making both the defending army and attacking army sympathetic as we recognize that powerful beings are oppressing and using the Nordic forces for their own nefarious plans. The tension is so high in this book! You want both sides to win and you want the truth to be revealed! You want the strange dreams that each character is plagued with to result in an against all odds romance! What will happen? Well, I guess I’ll have to wait until book 3! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle!!!! I read to relax and I usually have an audio book (for when I’m in the kitchen), a paperback from the library, and sometimes an eBook going all at once. I enjoy reading and some books are better than others, but there’s nothing like opening up a REALLY good book to thrill the soul! This is that kind of book. I bought it for my 17-year-old son on a whim and borrowed it because the cover was so amazing. OH MY GOODNESS! This author is a true master of his art!!! Best known for The Last Unicorn, not only is he still alive (yay!) but Peter S. Beagle made me remember what it is like when a story truly sweeps you away. Beautiful writing, sarcastic and self-aware fantasy, and yet also a story that is able to make the reader feel deeply in ways I didn’t expect. This book is absolutely fabulous! I was left scouring my brain for who to recommend it to next and who would love it for Christmas. For parents: This general market YA novel has a handful of swear words (about like Ranger’s Apprentice) and a small amount of romantic tension between characters as they learn the difference between basic attraction and love. So so good!

Christian middle grade that is well-written and full of fine art, adventure, and important life lessons! A lovely story that takes the reader on a journey literally through the world of fine art (they travel in paintings) and into the bravery required to embrace the things you love that are difficult. Highly recommend!

I adore Karen Barnett’s national park books and this newest one is absolutely fabulous. Her previous vintage national park romances were wonderful, but her last three have taken a deeper turn with twisty dual timeline plots, more complicated themes, and relationships that truly show the author’s skills as a storyteller. Through Water and Stone kept me flipping pages quickly and wondering about both the plot and the characters throughout the day when I wasn’t reading. Add to that, her stunning descriptions of Zion National Park and this novel managed to hit that golden sweet spot between genre fiction and literary. It was exactly what I was looking for, a perfect read with both depth, beauty, and a plot that sent me galloping through the pages. It also made me want to visit Zion National Park! For those who don’t hike, this feels like a vacation in story form. For those of us who do, it inspires the next trip. A marvelous read all around!

Such a funny book! This hilarious romcom travels the high seas with a pack of scheming granny matchmakers and an enemies-to-lovers romance that is thwarting their very best efforts! Just what I needed to lighten my mood and bring me a bit of cheer on a hard day. Loved it!

With rich writing that you can sink into and enjoy, Robin W. Pearson weaves a story that makes you so incredibly angry at the characters . . . and then breaks your heart and puts it back together again. I would compare her writing to Kristin Hannah’s but with a swirl of Southern charm and hope at the end of the story. I don’t actually like Kristin Hannah’s books, but I love Robin W. Pearson’s stories so much! Because in The Stories We Carry I get the skillful writing, the charming setting, the deeply thoughtful characterization, but then this author does something special. She takes her characters to dark places and she heals them and when I put the book down my heart is just thrumming with that warm golden feeling of hope at the end of a hard battle. And isn’t that just the picture of us, broken and hurting, healed and glorious, stepping forward with our Lord into something more lovely than we imagined possible. Such a great book, folks! Honest, broken, and beautiful. So lovely to behold!

This book was absolutely amazing! One of my favorite reads of the year. I tend to shy away from WWII reads as they can begin to feel all the same but this author brought the unique history of the library of banned books to life in a way that is not to be missed. The characters were real. The tension was high. The spiritual thread was honest and true and the characters grew and changed. So lovely! Beyond five stars!!!

A beautiful Bible story book that follows Jesus and the grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus! Gorgeous artwork and Jesus Himself telling Bible stories that speak of His mission to live among us and rescue humanity from ourselves. So lovely!

The Chicken Who Loved Books by Angela Hunt

Tuggs on the Heartstrings of Anyone Who Longs for Quality Time With a Loved One!

I knew just by looking at the cover that I was going to love this book! It ticks all my boxes. First off, my three sons had pet chickens and seeing pet chickens in a book was pretty exciting. Second, our family LOVES reading! Third, my love language is quality time and this poor chicken’s desire for time with her boy just broke my heart. But don’t worry folks, it has a happy ending!!!

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer

Thoughtful Storytelling Combined With Pirate Treasure! 

This book had it all. Deep spiritual truths as the heroine struggles with her past as a trafficked woman and learning to trust and the hero battles unjust judgement from his small town. But combine these tough subjects with a charming bookstore, small town setting, and hidden pirate treasure and you’ve got a book I couldn’t put down. So so good!

Ophelia Starcluck and the Rebel Prince by Kristen Gwen

Hilarious Middle Grade Adventure!

If you love Star Trek, Chickens, and great values, this book is written exactly for you. Our family had pet chickens and I have been a Star Trek fan since childhood and so this charming middle grade adventure was a perfect fit. For kiddos who love a strong hero or heroine, space adventures, wacky villains who attack with dangerous candy, and a heartwarming ending! Loved it!!!

The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer

Fascinating History Blended With A Heart-Tugging Second Chance Romance!

It was so fascinating to read about Viking history, illuminated manuscripts, and the way that ancient books are preserved. Add a realistic romance where the characters own hidden trauma leads them to seek divorce, but a mystery and lost manuscript unexpectedly brings them back together and I was zipping through this wonderful book! I loved the main characters (who were incredibly realistic) and was rooting for them the whole time.

Phooey Kerflooey vs The Battle Squirrel by Kristen Joy Wilks

Yes, I finished reading my newest Phooey Tale for the final time before I launch it off into the world! I caught two errors, received my box of new books, and found one more mistake! Don’t worry, the next box of books will be absolutely perfect. But don’t they look adorable!!! Nessie was happy to be my book model as I enjoyed that priceless moment holding this newest finished book in my hands for the very first time. This one comes out June 3rd and I’m so excited to share it with all of you!

How To Plot A Payback by Melissa Ferguson

This RomCom Made Me Laugh Out Loud Sooooo Many Times!

I laughed so hard while reading this. Well, listening to it, rather. I listened while walking our 11-month-old Newfoundland puppy (she needs a 3-mile walk to keep her sane) and found myself laughing out loud, in the woods, as I walked alone, with only my dog to stare at me questioningly. So many great moments! We all know that person that just seems to get ahead in life and those that just seem to have trouble heaped in their laps, again and again. But making one the heroine and the other the hero was ingenious. And the payback plans! Really, this one is so good. Christian fiction at its most hilarious. You should definitely run to your bookstore or library to snap it up!

Please Return To The Lands of Luxury by Jon Tilton

Beautifully-Paced Middle Grade Novel With Heart!

OK, I know I’m a writer nerd, but seriously, the pacing in this book was just so fabulous!!! It was a joy to listen to. Never bored, no matter which characters the story followed, I was always engaged. The author develops both the trash pile world and the futuristic Lands of Luxury with depth and care. Twists and turns that will appeal to the young reader and have them biting their fingernails with worry, but also cared for young sensibilities with action that is tense but never graphic. This story is written from a Christian worldview but is never preachy. I absolutely love it!

Twelve Years A Slave by Solomon Northup

Just Wow!

This is not an easy read. But Holy Smokes, it is a powerful story. The true story of a free man who was kidnapped and taken away from his home and family in the north to become a slave in the south. My son read this for a college assignment and after he asked me to look through his paper for mistakes, I had to borrow the book! This one is a general market book. Painfully honest, full of violence, language, and pure horror, it is nonetheless unputdownable. Written before the Civil War, this account reveals the many ways that I was taught a sanitized version of our history of slavery. Oh, and I learned a bunch of new words besides. Folks had quite an eloquent vocabulary back then. I mean, not everyone, but Mr. Northup had such a lovely way with words, even about the terrible journey he lived. A first-hand account that is not to be missed!

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

Hilarious and Heartwarming!

Librarians and tattoo artists, what’s not to love? I laughed so many times, this is such a funny book. But also, the author pulled me deeply into the heroine’s perspective and I just ached for Evangeline and her fears to date because of her alopecia. The tension was high as I worried how the hero would find out but the way he responded was just gentle and swoony and wonderful. What a great read! This one is Christian fiction and has a lovely spiritual arch as well as a romantic one.

Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence! 

Fun Christian Fantasy for Middle Grade Readers!

This author weaves words well with strong descriptions, fun characters, and an intense battle against the darkness. The lovely language will delight fans of Anne of Green Gables and the fight against an encroaching evil will keep kiddos turning the pages. The characters were well-developed and engaging. Definitely an author to keep your eye on in the future!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

One of the best murder mysteries I have ever read!

Now, this is not a Christian read and does have the occasional swear word and of course, murder. However, it is richly written with a twisty plot and a charmingly quirky twelve-year-old protagonist who loves chemistry and poison! I marked so many quotes in this book so I could read them to my family. A remarkable novel!

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell!!!

The Perfect Combo of Rollicking Ridiculousness and Sweet Romance!

This is such a fun book! Christian Gearpunk that starts in London and takes you on a delightful adventure abroad. A wonderful read! An added bonus, while I laughed so much during this story, I also cried. This author can bring to light deep spiritual truths in the middle of the adventure and take the characters through truly difficult heartbreak and bring them out the other side stronger and ready to face some pretty ridiculous adventures with heads held high. Perfect for the teens in your life as well. So good!

Before I called You Mine by Nicole Deese

An Emotional Ride That Stretches the Heart!

Nicole Deese drove me crazy with this book! Argh! I fell madly in love with the hero and his goofy and wonderful ways. I LOVE the dinosaur shirt over the head, ha! But I was also in love with the heroine’s dream to adopt! Pitting these two loves against each other was masterfully done. Christian romance with heart and depth. Don’t worry folks, you will be smiling at the end, even if you pulled out some hairs during the read. Loved it!

My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade!

A Story with Both Swoon and Depth!

An oh-so-romantic closed door Christian romance by one of my favorite authors! Becky Wade knows how to elicit all the romance feels for a heart-thrumming read while keeping the door firmly shut. Swoony and delicious, her stories also have such a realistic spiritual journey for the characters that I am always strengthened in my faith. In this particular book, God asks a character for a difficult personal sacrifice and boy do you feel that struggle as they decide weather to obey! All the feels and hope at the end. Such a great read!