What We’ve Been Reading – June 2021

What We’ve Been Reading – June 2021

by | Jun 25, 2021 | What We're Reading

School’s out! Summer is officially here! And there are so many great books out there…Where should you start? We have a couple of recommendations for you today. 🙂

Roseanna’s Reads

With the Kids

Half Magic by Edward Eager

We all dream of finding a magic charm to bring adventure into our lives when we’re kids right? Well it happens one summer to four siblings…but not exactly as they would have hoped. Their charm only grants a wish halfway…which leads to very complete fun in this story. It was another reread, but I enjoyed it just as much the second time through! And it was the last book I’ll ever have to read to my son for school, so bittersweet…

Amazon

On Audio

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
We’ve had this book since it came out, but I’d yet to snatch it from my daughter’s shelves, so when I saw it was available in Overdrive, I thought, “Eh, why not?” And oh my gracious! I adored the Hunger Games books so figured this would be good, but it went beyond good. Collins does a remarkable job at that very hardest of characterizations–she made me both root for the kid I knew would grow into a villain (President Snow), want him to win, and yet also see exactly what would make him a villain. Brilliantly done!!
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For the Edit

Home Sweet Tiny Home by Melody Carlson
Most of what we publish of Melody’s is historical, but she wanted to squeeze a contemporary in this summer, and it was a real treat for me to read! In the style of her wildly popular Happy Camper, this is story about downsizing and second chances that will appeal to anyone who ever looks around and thinks, “Where did all this stuff come from??” I loved the glimpse into the ingenuity of tiny homes…but mostly I loved how the main character embarked on a fresh start and a big adventure.
Amazon

Real Life Research

Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner
Yeah, so…this probably won’t make it onto any of your reading stacks, unless you are or live with a diabetic, LOL. But I’d been hearing great things about this book so figured it was time I give it a read. It’s all about truly understanding diabetes and how to live with and manage it with insulin, so I honestly was expecting it to be educational but boring–on the contrary! Scheiner is hilarious, and I’ve been loving his voice and sense of humor as I read. Plus, I’m learning a ton. I still have a few chapters to go, but I’m really loving this book!
Amazon

For With the Kids

In Search of the Source by Neil Anderson and Hyatt Moore

Our second-to-last book of the school year was a non-fiction about a missionary and his family, and an amazing book for a word-nerd! All about the miracles of translating the Bible into an obscure New Guinean dialect and how God had prepared this remote tribe to receive it…amazing stuff!

Amazon

On Audio

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

I’ve never read anything by John Green, but this was another one I saw was available in Overdrive, so I grabbed it just to give it a try…and I ended up listening to the whole thing in about 24 hours. This book did something I’d never personally read before and showed us the very broken mind of someone with mental illness in a way that was approaching, captivating, heartbreaking, and also victorious. I was riveted, thoroughly engrossed in the world of this teen girl, and love the story Green chose to tell. There’s some language (this isn’t a Christian book, after all), but I deem this one definitely worth it!

 

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For the Edit

Hearing Lies by Olivia Smit

Olivia’s sophomore novel takes us back to Golden Sound and into the world of Skylar Brady, a teenager who lost her hearing in a car accident the year before. This time we also get her brother’s perspective as they work not only to save the town library…but to undo past mistakes and try to find healing for the places still broken inside. A really great read!

 

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Rachel’s Reads

The start of summer vacation has thrown our whole house into chaos! Ok, that isn’t entirely true. But I DO need to get our summer schedule organized. The boys are loving the longer days and playing in the pool. We’re supposed to be hitting 109°F by Tuesday…That is quite warm for us. Especially this early in the season. I anticipate a lot of quiet reading time in front of the A/C!

The Husband's Read

The Druid of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara #2) by Terry Brooks

I got lucky y’all…The husband reads…A LOT. We spend most of our evenings quietly reading. His current read is part of the Shannara saga by Terry Brooks. Magic, dwarves, gnomes, and adventure can be found in this epic fantasy. *This is a general market book.

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For Fun

Fable by Adrienne Young

Oh this book! I had been looking forward to this read for months. (And the husband surprised me with Namesake this week! Eeep) It was the perfect quick and easy read. Fantasy with a slow burn romance (there is brief mature content), adventure, peril, and a pretty compelling cliffhanger! *This is a general market book. 

Amazon

With the Kids

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

This was our last school read this year. I’ve enjoyed the movie, but never realized that the book was so short. Seventy-six pages. I’m looking forward to introducing my kiddos to the movie this week for movie night.

Amazon

On Audio

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

It had been YEARS since I read Darcy and Elizabeth’s story. I absolutely adore it. The wit. The sweet romance. The wild sisters lol! If you’re a fan of the Colin Firth movie version (the only one worth watching in my opinion) you will be pleased to know that the movie is almost word-for-word from the pages of the book. 🙂 While I did listen to this on audio, I included the cover of one of the editions I own. From the Seasons Editions from Thomas Nelson.

Amazon

With the Kids

Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman by Marguerite Henry

One of our final reads for the school year. It was very interesting to learn about the early life and inventions of Robert Fulton. My son was truly invested in this story.

Goodreads

What We’ve Been Reading – May 2021

What We’ve Been Reading – May 2021

by | May 28, 2021 | Holidays, What We're Reading

I don’t know about you, but where did this month go?! The end of the school year is upon us, summer is just around the corner (or has arrived for some of you), and my TBR is growing by the minute! My next read is On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you! If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can do so HERE.

Roseanna’s Reads

With the Kids

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord

This little book, telling the story of a young girl who moves from China to New York, is utterly charming. It captures the beauty of the ancient society from which she came, but also the hope and community of immigrants…and what it’s like for a kid to be tossed head-first into a new school whose language she doesn’t even speak. I loved rereading this one!

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For Fun

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate
This is by no means a new release, but it was featured prominently in the awesome little bookstore in Ocracoke, since it’s set on nearby Hatteras Island, and I couldn’t resist. Glad I didn’t! This is a beautiful story of second chances and finding family and community in the most unexpected of places. I love that the main character, Tandi, was a total, realistic mess…with an ugly past and plenty of screw-ups. She had no huge, enormous, split-second epiphany–instead, her life was quietly changed by the legacy a faithful woman of God left behind. If you haven’t read this one yet, GO GET IT NOW!
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For Fun

Stay with Me by Becky Wade

Somehow I’ve managed to go all this time without having read anything by Becky Wade! GASP! I don’t know how I managed that, but I’m glad I finally remedied the situation. This first book in her Misty River Romance series was beautifully done and did a great job handling not only the main theme of addiction recovery, but also teased out a theme that’s even bigger–the American church’s tendency to never reveal our faults until we’re either discovered or victorious over the struggle. Which means we never actually have the chance to support each other. Wonderful romance, and I can’t wait to read more from Becky!

Amazon

On Audio

To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden
Okay, I’ll confess: I didn’t finish this one, but it’s not because I wasn’t absolutely enjoying the story–I very much was! I’d borrowed it from the library, though, and my loan ran out…and I decided I’d rather read it in paper or even ebook, because (ahem…sorry!) the narrator was driving me nuts. 😉 I listened to enough to know I definitely want to finish the story though. Such an interesting premise and setting! We don’t have much set during (or around) the Spanish-American war, so it’s been fascinating to learn more about that time.
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Rachel’s Reads

I’ve managed to fit in quite a few reads this month! Yay! I’m highlighting only a couple of my favorites. My Spring TBR theme has been Young Adult/Fantasy/Magical Realism…But I managed to sneak in one of my ALL-TIME favorite Historical Romances!

For Fun

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
*This is a general market, adult, magical realism book. There is some language and hard topics addressed* That being said, I absolutely loved this book! Strong female roles. Mystery. Murder. Revenge. This was a quick read and very engaging. Timeslip between modern day and eighteenth-century London, you will find yourself swept away to another world in this story.

Amazon

My Kiddo's Favorite

The Missing Ace by Cosentino and Jack Heath

It was a happy day when I realized that my son (8) LOVED reading. He’s been going through books like crazy. So thankful that our library is open again and we can browse the shelves. His current favorite book is The Missing Ace book 1 of the Cosentino series. We found ours through Usborne, but they are available on Amazon as well. 🙂 Cosentino is real escape artist/illusionist that performed on Australia’s Got Talent. We’ve enjoyed watching a few of his videos as well.

Amazon

On Audio

The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof
If you haven’t read this book….Go.read.it.now! Carrie (Reading is my SuperPower) told me this, and I kept putting it off until I finally caved to her badgering…Y’ALL….This is my most reread fiction book….EVER. I love the audio version as well. I was in the mood for it this month and so I’ve been listening to it on the way to my workout classes.

Amazon

With the Kids

The Lewis and Clark Expedition by Richard L. Neuberger

I’ve always loved learning about the Lewis and Clark Expedition! Maybe because I was born and raised close to where their path went and have seen some of the amazing places they saw. I’m a sucker for historical locations. I love to soak up the history and the emotions of the place. So reading this book with the kids was a really fun way to explore their path once again.

Amazon
What We’ve Been Reading – April 2021

What We’ve Been Reading – April 2021

by | Apr 30, 2021 | Holidays, What We're Reading

April showers bring May flowers…And a whole lot of good books! What are you reading this Spring? Don’t forget that The Nature of a Lady releases on Tuesday!

Roseanna’s Reads

With the Kids

The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum

This middle grade set in Holland during the closing days of World War II is one of my favorites from the school year! I love the view of the war from a young boy’s eyes, the adventure, the danger, and all I learned about Holland through this great novel.

Amazon

On Audio

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Okay, I totally borrowed this one from my library solely because it was available, I’d heard people talking about it forever, and thought, “Sure, why not?” And I found it totally charming. I loved the brightness and innocence of the main character–and the audio narrator was FANTASTIC. I hear the other books in the series aren’t so bright-and-innocent so I’ll probably stop here, but I’m glad I listened!
Amazon

For the Edit

The Rock by Cara Grandle
WhiteFire’s May release made it into my work schedule in April too! The Rock takes readers from Missouri to Oregon, though the Trail portion is skipped over…which is great, because we all REALLY just want to see heroine Rebecca actually meet hero Clark. 😉 This is a totally charming historical romance, reminiscent of the “sweet spot” Christian historicals I grew up on. So glad there are more in the series!
Amazon

For Book Club

Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright
I’ve been wanting to read this one so finally plugged it into my book club’s lineup. 😉 And I’m glad I did! As usual, Jaime proves herself a master of the timeslip novel. In this one it’s a family mystery the heroine is trying to solve, and gracious, there were some twists I didn’t see coming!

Amazon

For Fun

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
I’ve been slowly working my way through the Harry Potter series and finally broke down and bought the paperbacks after listening to several and then getting one from the library on Kindle. And good grief, this thing’s so big it hurts my wrist if I try to hold it one-handed! LOL. But I’m definitely loving the series more and more as I go along!
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Rachel’s Reads

As the school year starts to wind down, I’m finding more time to read again, and I’m so excited! I have been all over the board this month from Magical Realism to Contemporary Romance to some Classics!

For Fun

A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy
Escape to India in this lovely adventure! Although I’m not a huge fan of insects and other crawlers…I did find this story very interesting and engaging. I loved learning about India and entomology (specifically the butterflies). A new-to-me author who I can’t wait to read more from and you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting.

Amazon

Buddy Read

Seasons of the Storm by Elle Cosimano
While I’m not currently in an active Book Club, my bestie and I decided to read this one together. We both got it from The Bookish Box last year and finally got around to reading it. This is a General Market Young Adult (some language and kissing) book that combines elemental magic with a little sci-fi. Very intriguing and I read it in 3 days….that doesn’t usually happen to me anymore.

Amazon

On Audio

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
I absolutely LOVE Jane Austen’s books. And it has been quite a while since I’ve read any of them, that I decided to listen to a couple this year as I drive back and forth from workout classes. I love Elinor Dashwood. She is definitely one of my favorites of Austen.

Amazon

With the Kids

Om-Kas-Toe by Kenneth Thomasma
We read this book as part of school and I really enjoyed the (fictional) glimpse into the Blackeet experience with horses (Elkdogs) being introduced to their people.

Amazon
What We’ve Been Reading – March 2021

What We’ve Been Reading – March 2021

by | Mar 26, 2021 | Holidays, What We're Reading

Where has February gone? In my opinion, it’s just too short. 😉 Although I didn’t get very much reading done this month, there are some really good books I recommend on this list. 🙂 Happy Reading!

Roseanna’s Reads

With the Kids

A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt by C. Coco De Young
A Depression-era set small novel, this one is set close to home in Johnstown, PA, and is based on the author’s family’s experience of nearly losing their family home in the 1920s…until a brave letter to the president’s wife changes everything.

Amazon

For Bookclub

Everywhere to Hide by Siri Mitchell
SO GOOD. This one was packed with tension, little-known facts, danger, and just enough romance. I’m really loving Siri Mitchell’s contemporary suspense!
Amazon

With the Kids

The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden
This is a story with a really unique telling…that I really love. It’s about two siblings in London who go way out of their way to give their cook what she most desires: a small picture of Madonna and Child for the kitchen. So sweet and touching!

Amazon

For Bookclub Too

To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette
I love all of Conni’s books, and this one was no exception! And intriguing view of what might have happened when the Ark was sent back into Hebrew territory by the plague-struck Philistines, this novel is thrilling, romantic, and deep.
Amazon

Rachel’s Reads

For Fun

Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski
My turn to list this one. WOW! I loved this story. A brooding Scottish Laird, the middle of WWI, mysterious “accidents”…Oh and a Scottish war cry preceeding a kiss….Most definitely recommend!

Amazon

Tackling the TBR

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Do you have any movies that you refuse to watch until you’ve read the book? This is one for me. I’m happy to say that I’m half way through this book and absolutely loving it! I was a bit hesitant on the format (all in letters), but it is really well done!

Amazon

Also for Fun

A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen
Stories by Julie Klassen are my cozy go-to reads. Opening one of her books is like drinking a soothing cup of tea while wrapped in a cozy blanket. Don’t get me wrong…There is plenty of action and bad guys, as well as sweet romance. But I think because Julie’s books are what got me back into reading 7 years ago…They are comforting.

Amazon

With the Kids

Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw (A Sam London Adventure)
I’ve had this one on my shelf for a while and we decided to give it a go. It is a fun adventure with magical creatures. We aren’t very far into it yet. I’d be grateful for book recommendations to read-aloud with my 7 and 8 year old boys.

Amazon
Cover Reveal! Shiloh by Lori Benton

Cover Reveal! Shiloh by Lori Benton

by | Feb 22, 2021 | Uncategorized

About the Book

Shiloh (Kindred #2)

Release date: 10/5/21

Available for pre-order: 3/1/21

It’s cover reveal time for Shiloh, the second installment in Lori Benton’s Kindred duology. If you haven’t yet read Mountain Laurel (Kindred #1) be sure to grab a copy before Shiloh releases this autumn (10/5/21). Shiloh also revisits several key characters from Lori’s debut novel, Burning Sky. If you’ve yet to make their acquaintance, good news! There’s plenty of time to meet the frontier denizens of Shiloh, New York in the pages of Burning Sky before Shiloh’s October release. 

Award-winning author Lori Benton delivers a rich historical novel of faith, hope, and second chances.

DECEMBER 1795

A year has passed since Ian Cameron reluctantly sent his uncle’s former slave, Seona, and their son, Gabriel, north to his kin in Boston. Determined to fully release them, Ian strives to make a life at Mountain Laurel, his inherited plantation, along with Judith, the wife he’s vowed to love and cherish. But when tragedy leaves him alone with his daughter, Mandy, and his three remaining slaves, he decides to return north. An act of kindness on the journey provides Ian the chance to obtain land near the frontier settlement of Shiloh, New York. Perhaps even the hope for a new life with those he still holds dear.

In Boston, Seona has taken her first tentative steps as a freewoman, while trying to banish Ian from her heart. The Cameron family thinks she and Gabriel should remain under their protection. Seona’s mother, Lily, thinks it’s time they strike out on their own. Then Ian arrives, offering a second chance Seona hadn’t dared imagine. But the wide-open frontier of Shiloh feels as boundless and terrifying as her newfound freedom—a place of new friends and new enemies, where deep bonds are renewed but old hurts stand ready to rear their heads. It will take every ounce of faith and courage Ian and Seona can muster to fight for their family and their future . . . together.

About the Author

LORI BENTON was raised in Maryland, with southern Virginia and Appalachian frontier roots generations deep. Her historical novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she expertly brings to life the colonial and early federal periods of American history. Her books have received the Christy Award and the Inspy Award, and have been honored as finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year. Lori is most at home surrounded by mountains, currently those of the Pacific Northwest where, when she isn’t writing, she’s likely to be found in wild places behind a camera. LoriBenton.com

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Isn’t this simply stunning? I for one can’t wait to have this beautiful book in my hands! Mark your calendar for the March 1st preorder date!

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