Happy New Year!

December 31, 2025

Happy New Year!

I pray that this year is one that is filled with joy.

I'm very thankful to be able to blog and review, and even more thankful that you’ve chosen to join me on this journey. These past few years have been a rollercoaster. Thank you for sticking it out with me.

This year marks Year 15 of this little corner of the internet, and I can’t wait to see what stories and moments 2026 brings. I’m excited to discover new books with you, talk about the ones that touch our hearts, and grow together as readers.

Have you decided on a reading goal for the year? Let me know in the comments.

I have! I’m keeping mine similar to last year. Since I’ll be heading back to college, my time may look a little wonky, so I’m aiming for 30 books in 2026.

A slow and steady reading year, filled with good stories and grace for myself along the way...

I hope this year if a lovely, reading filled year for you.

I can't wait jump into this bookish year with you.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelves

December 30, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Most Recent Additions to My Bookshelves

With having a Kindle now, thanks to the hubby, I have so many books I can add to my shelves at a drop of the hat. The books featured here are ones I've gotten and some read for December, while hoping to finish reading very soon.

Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon

This is a cute Christmas novella

Awakened by Roseanna M. White

Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden

Sweet historical fiction Christmas Novella

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

Sweet Victorian Christmas novella.

The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White

Sweet, Christmas novella set during WW2 at a publishing house

Christmas With A Crank by Courtney Walsh

The Christmas Promise by Gabrielle Meyer

A sweet historical fiction Christmas novella.

Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella

A Cinderella retelling with a bit of magic and fantasy.

A December Bride by Denise Hunter

A sweet contemporary Christmas novella, a Hallmark movie is based of it.

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basha

Oathbound by Victoria McCombs

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

What books have you recently added to your shelves? Have you read them yet? If so, what would you recommend?

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Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2025

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone reading this has a joyous and wonderful day, whether you’re spending it with friends, family, or in a quiet moment of rest.

May your day be filled with love, hope, peace, and memories that warm your heart long after the season has passed.

I also know that while this time of year brings joy and excitement for many, it can be difficult for others. If this season is heavy for you, I hope today offers comfort and peace.

As we celebrate Christmas, may we all pause to remember the true meaning of this day — the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. “For to us a child is born to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). His arrival brought hope into a weary world, and that same hope is still reaching us today.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

And I hope you are able to enjoy a little bit of reading during this festive time.

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A Holiday By Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

December 24, 2025

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Christmas List

December 23, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Books on my Christmas List

Oh, goodness. Books I want on my Christmas list. This could easily go over the asked for 10, or it could be well below the 10, since I can't make up my mind.

I think I would like these books, but I also think just getting a couple of gift cards to pick what I want when the time comes would be nice too, not going to like.

Listed in no particular order, these are some books I would like to add to my shelves. Either because I've read them on the Kindle and want a physical copy or they are ones I have seen and want to read some time.

Glass Across the Sea by Sara Ella

Brimstone by Callie Hart

Winter's Maiden by Morgan L. Busse

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon

Oathbound by Victoria McCombs

Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron

Ignite by Sara Swanson

Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh

What are you hoping to find under the tree for you this year?

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The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White

December 17, 2025

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Top Ten Tuesday: My Winter TBR

December 16, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Books on my Winter TBR

Winter TBR's are fun for me. I start to really dive in to reading over Thanksgiving Break and then really dive in over Christmas Break. I hope I can knock a few of these reads over the next couple of weeks. Each one has caught my attention in someway. Whether it be escaping to a new world, having those Christmassy feels, or it's an author I know that will bring an amazing story.

Christmas with A Crank by Courtney Walsh

A December Bride by Denise Hunter

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

Oathbound by Victoria McCombs

Brimstone by Callie Hart

Sense & Suitability by Pepper Basham

Rune by Victoria McCombs

Embergold by Rachelle Nelson

Evergreen Academy by Heather Schneider

What are you hoping to read over this Winter?

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A December Bride by Denise Hunter

December 10, 2025

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Top Ten Tuesday: Snowy Settings

December 9, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Snowy Settings

Ahh, snow, something that is not prominent in the south, and when it is, snow day! Lots of things close and it's a day to stay home and read...yes, a day, because it usually melts quickly. There are the rare occasions where it lasts longer then a day...2021 for instance and it got to -3* and all my planets died, but I had the week off, and thankfully only one day of rolling blackouts, in my area. The water dripping made my eye twitch because of the water bill afterwards. :shudder:

When I lived in Alaska, I had 8 months out of the year in snow. In the 3 years that I lived there, 2 years totaled winter. You could go see Ice sculptors from December to March. Nothing dripped. It would stay at -60* for the month of January, you could get a white out in February. One thing is for certain, once you hit -20* and beyond, it stopped snowing and the cold would start compacting it to a lovely ball of ice.

I've lived in both extremes and both are ridiculous.

Moving on, snowy settings, it's lovely to read about snowy settings. I don't have to live in it, or clear my sidewalks or wait for my car to defrost and clean it all off. I love reading about the pretty settings, from the comfort of my couch and fuzzy blanket and hot cocoa in hand.

Winter's Maiden by Morgan L. Busse

Winter's Chill by Morgan L. Busse

Shiver by Maggie Stievfater

Falling Life Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

Treasure of the North by Tracie Peterson

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Love Finds You in North Pole Alaska by Loree Lough

Christmas with a Crank by Courtney Walsh

What snowy based reads have you enjoyed or found you want to read?

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Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden

December 3, 2025

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Top Ten Tuesday: Christmassy Reads

December 2, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Artsy Read Girl.

Each week features a book related topic to spotlight your Top Ten.

Topic:

Christmassy Reads

This is a freebie week, so I figured it would be a good time to feature some Christmassy style books to read. And instead of 10 books, I have 15.

If you want to feel in the Christmas spirit, I think these are the ones to do it. They offer the right vibe for the season. That cozy, happy, warm firelight glow of cheerfulness while cookies bake. You know you are in for a delightful story that will bring a smile to your face and leave you feeling warm and toasty as you curl up under your favorite fuzzy blanket on the couch by your sparkling Christmas tree and your favorite Christmas song is playing in the background or you have Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas on in the background.