September 2025 Books

 Personal Reading

How to Plot a Payback

by Melissa Ferguson

From the Amazon blurb: Successful screenwriter Finn Masters just landed his dream job writing for Neighbors, one of Hollywood's highest-rated, longest-running sitcoms. The only downside? It will put him back in proximity of the show’s universally adored, optimistic, altruistic star, Lavender Rhodes, who has been inadvertently ruining his life since they were school chums in England. But she doesn't even know she destroyed his acting career and wrecked his relationship with the love of his life. He's not about to let this woman yank yet another dream out from under his feet. In fact, he realizes he's been given the ideal opportunity to plot his payback: spinning her character in shocking new directions. What could go wrong? Only everything.

"Hilarious and heartwarming tale of revenge, redemption, and unexpected romance". This subtitle pretty much sums up this story for me. The author makes the characters come alive to me, the dialog and banter are great, and the redemptive story arc is refreshing. I enjoyed the dual point of view and getting a glimpse into the world of writing and producing a TV sitcom. The audiobook was excellently narrated with dual voices.

The Dating Charade

by Melissa Ferguson

From the Amazon blurb: Cassie is fed up with online dating, but just when she’s finally decided to give up, firefighter Jett Bentley takes her on an amazing first date. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Another funny, but poignant rom-com by Melissa Ferguson. (This was actually her debut novel, but not the first one I read.) Heartbreaking and hilarious, as the two protagonists deal with sudden, unexpected parenthood, as well as the foster care system and loved ones with addictions. I almost needed the tissues toward the end. Audiobook was good.

The Cul-de-Sac War

by Melissa Ferguson

From the Amazon blurb: Actress Bree Leake doesn't want to be tied down, but just when it's time to move on again, Bree's parents make her an offer; hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she's always wanted—her grandmother's house. Her dreams are coming true . . . until life throws her some curve balls. And then there's her new neighbor. Chip McBride.  For the first time in her life, she's met the person who could match her free-spirited air—and it's driving her to the ledge of sanity. She would move heaven and earth to have him out of her life, but according to the bargain she's struck, she cannot move out of her house and away from the man who's making her life miserable. So begins Bree's obsessive new mission: to drive Chip out of the neighborhood—and fast.  Bree isn't the only one who's a wee bit competitive, and as Chip registers what Bree's up to, he's more than willing to fight fire with fire. But as their pranks escalate, the line between love and hate starts to blur.

It is a standalone, but features some of the same characters as The Dating Charade, so I'd recommend reading that one first. Just like all the other rom-coms by this author, I love the characters, the banter, the growth and redemptive story arc. Sweet, clean romance.  I couldn't put this one down.

The Princess Bride

by William Goldman

Subtitle is "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Blurb from the cover:  A tale of true love and high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts. From the Amazon blurb: As Florin and Guilder teeter on the verge of war, the reluctant Princess Buttercup is devastated by the loss of her true love, kidnapped by a mercenary and his henchman, rescued by a pirate, forced to marry Prince Humperdinck, and rescued once again by the very crew who absconded with her in the first place.

I read this because it was referenced in another book I like (Plays by the Book by Carolyn Miller) and I wanted to see what the fuss was all about.  It's a good thing I had read that it's a "meta-story" and satire, or I would have abandoned it near the beginning.  The characters are flat, and the plot is so stupid that it's funny. I guess that was the point.  Content considerations: in the introduction and first chapter, there are men ogling women who aren't their wives and a father putting down his son for being fat; there are also a few uses of s*** and b****; plus the torture scenes could be disturbing to sensitive readers.  Those who take things literally and who can't appreciate satire would probably not enjoy this book.

A Whisper of Peace

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Library blurb: Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separate her from her tribe. Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athbascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal...until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.  But Lizzie is clearly not part of the tribe, and befriending her might have dire consequences for his mission. Will Clay be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart?

I had trouble suspending disbelief on several aspects of this story. It seemed unrealistic that the village would welcome the white missionaries as openly they did. It was also strange that the missionary would think that he had to build his mission building before he could preach the gospel to the villagers.  And the gospel he shared was not very clear or Biblical -- it focused only on God's love for people and failed to mention man's sin and need for repentance.

Drums of Change

by Janette Oke

From the Amazon blurb: Running Fawn loved her place of birth, the site of the Blackfoot tribe's winter camp, more than words could express.  But the coming of white men with their guns and diseases, the prairie fires that swept the grazing lands, and the quick slaughter of the vast buffalo herds leave her Blackfoot tribe with little choice but to take up residence on the assigned Reserve. All too soon, the world that Running Fawn has cherished is left behind. The chief's son, Silver Fox, and Running Fawn are chosen to attend classes at the Mission Boarding School in Calgary. How can she adjust to the strange new world? To the loneliness in this place far from her home and family? And how should she respond when Silver Fox shows more than a passing interest in the white man's God--and in her?

A thoughtful treatment of the experience of the native peoples of North America as white settlers moved in and changed their way of life.  An accurate and compassionate presentation of the gospel by a missionary who truly cares for the people he works with and lives among. I haven't been excited by many of the author's books in this "Women of the West" series, but this one was particularly good -- on par with her excellent books in the Love Comes Softly and When Calls the Hearts series.

Classics

Dombey and Son

by Charles Dickens

Mr. Dombey is the proud proprietor of the prosperous "Dombey & Son" business in London.  It was passed down to him from his father, and his pins all his hopes and dreams on passing it down to his own son.  He has no affection for his firstborn child because she is a girl.  But his second-born, a boy, is weak and sickly and has no interest in money except in using it to help a friend who is in trouble. Mr. Dombey has even less use for his daughter after his son dies. He remarries, but his new wife (who was pressured to marry him) despises him and his wealth and refuses to submit herself to his prideful demands.  When he forbids her to show affection to his daughter, he sets in motion a chain of events that leads to his ruin, which eventually leads to his redemption. Like all Dickens books, this is a long, wandering tale filled with many characters (some colorful, some villainous, and some too good to be true), dry humor, and social commentary.  The villain meets his end, the others find some measure of redemption, and most live happily ever after. An audiobook is helpful in getting through it. I listened to one narrated by Mel Nicholson.

Young Adult Fiction

Fortune's Call (Gold Rush Odyssey Book 1)

by Frank Nissen

Amazon blurb: What begins as a high-spirited jaunt west to claim easy riches becomes a grim race for survival. Pegg is only 13 when he and his father set off for the gold fields of California. But by the standards of the 1840's, he's on the verge of manhood. Unfortunately, the third person in their party, Fred Hoyt, is a city slicker who is of little help on the trail. Worse, he proves to be unreliable, with a dangerous habit of making rash decisions. Even as Pegg struggles to fulfill his father's dream of a better life for their family, Hoyt's every move jeopardizes his chances. Can Pegg muster the courage and perseverance to not just survive, but to succeed in the lawless frontier?

A well-written, fascinating, historical novel. Clean adventure book that I would recommend to anyone, but especially teenage boys. Content consideration: there is some non-explicit references to Mr. Hoyt's dealings with women, and there might be a few mild curse words or using the Lord's name in vain.  Be sure to have book 2 "Fortune's Price" on hand when you finish this one.

Non-fiction

Homegrown

Edited by Amber O'Neal Johnston

This is a collection of essays and articles by homeschooling moms and dads from many different backgrounds, ethnicities, and educational philosophies. They all have the purpose of giving the reader "guidance and inspiration for navigating your homeschool journey."  I had heard of a few of the contributors (such as Sally Clarkson and Jennifer Pepito) but most were unknown to me. Some write from a Black perspective, some from an Asian perspective; some are fathers, most are mothers; some with neurotypical children, some with special needs; some with many kids, some with just one or two.  In the first 68 pages, I marked more than a dozen quotes that resonated with me.  Then I misplaced my sticky notes, and I didn't mark much in the rest of the book. Some of the essays are down to earth and practical; others are full of flowery language and buzzwords that remind me of a high schooler (or college student or an adult) trying to sound scholarly and sophisticated but end up sounding pompous and unrelatable. I do recommend this to book to homeschoolers or those considering homeschooling with one caveat: the short bios of each contributor indicate that, in addition to homeschooling, they are all authors, bloggers, speakers, entrepreneurs, business owners, or leaders of some thing or another.   This could make someone like me (just a homeschooler) feel like I'm not doing enough because all I do is homeschool by kids. I don't think that's the intent, but it could be an unintended consequence.  I received this book as a giveaway in exchange for a review.

The Last Days Collection

by Keith Green

This is a collection of articles by various authors, published by Last Days Ministries (founded by Keith & Melody Green). It addresses topics such as repentance, revival, forgiveness, modesty, gossip, evolution, love vs romance, "what's wrong with the gospel" (what's been taken away and what's been added to the Biblical gospel).  All as relevant today as they were when they were written in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Arts: A Practical Approach

by Ivan Kushnir

I was intrigued by the title description of this book in LibraryThing.com's giveaway program, hoping it might be something I could add to either my homeschool library, or the homeschool library at my church.  It claims to "cover all forms of art from ornament to ballet, from henna to 3D graphics, from folk dances to cinema." And it does, in a way...in very short, numbered paragraphs. A 219-page book cannot possibly cover all these topics in any depth. It does not "deliver knowledge in a vivid, engaging way," and it is not "an encyclopedia of inspiration for any child." It certainly will not "transform childhood for many."

As a homeschooler who is not of the artistic bent, I hoped this book would be a helpful resource (or in the words of the subtitle "a practical approach"). Sadly, it utterly fails. As other reviewers noted, there is no introduction or explanatory text as to the goal or intent of the author or how to use it with children.  Although it may have some helpful step-by-step instructions, it needs more step-by-step pictures to go with the text.  There are a lot of pictures, but there are no captions to explain what the pictures are or what they are supposed to illustrate. The overall feel is boring and impractical.  I tried to read through it from the beginning, then just skimmed through it.  No child of mine would find this book interesting or helpful. There are also a number of pictures of immodestly dressed women. I would not give this to children to use. I would not recommend it to anyone, and I definitely would not spend any money on it.

My thoughts on Newbery Awards

 

I used to think that a Newbery Award meant a book would be an excellent read.  After having gone through all 103 Newbery Award books (from 1922 to 2025), I've changed my mind. 

Here are the stats from my evaluations.

50 -- abandoned or did not read or would not recommend because of objectionable content (sexual content, crude language, witches, glorifying pagan gods)

8 -- Uninteresting (to me), and there are some caveats (not enough to count as objectionable)

3 -- Uninteresting (to me) but no caveats

10 -- OK, but with some caveats

13 -- OK, with no caveats, but not outstanding

19 -- Outstanding, truly worth of the award, enjoyed by kids & adults

You are probably asking yourself which ones I think are outstanding?

In chronological order:

(1923) The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

(1936) Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Brink 

(1943) Adam of the Road by Janet Gray 

(1944) Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes 

(1948) The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène Du Bois 

(1949) King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry 

(1950) The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli 

(1951) Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

(1955) The Wheel on the School by Meindert De Jong 

(1956) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Latham 

(1959) The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

(1972) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien 

(1987) The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman 

(1990) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 

(2002) A Single Shard by Linda Park 

(2003) Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

(2004) The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo 

(2011) Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool 

Guest Post: Christian Fiction and Homeschooling by Erica Vetsch

 In recent months, I have raved about a set of Regency-era mystery/clean romance books written by Erica Vetsch.  I had the privilege of being on the launch team for her latest book.  And now I have the honor of having her write a guest post for you!  Enjoy! -- Amy

Christian Fiction and Homeschooling

I began my writing journey when I brought my kids home to homeschool. I had been a middle school and high school history teacher, and my children attended the Christian school where I taught, but the time came when we felt it best for our family to teach our kids at home.

At first, I was resistant. I knew almost nothing about homeschooling, and what I had heard involved some pretty odd (to me) behavior. But after about two weeks, I was running around like I invented homeschooling. Have you heard of it? Do you know how great it is? Do you want to try it? Like a homeschooling evangelist. 😊

What I also found was that I had more time on my hands than when I was teaching. Our schooling was mostly done by noon each day. My kids were fairly little, so there weren’t a lot of extra curriculars that would have us in the car running hither and yon.

That’s when I started writing fiction and pursuing publication. As I learned more about writing, I was able to evaluate literature better and be more mindful of what my children were reading.

Which is one of the reasons I highly recommend Christian fiction for homeschooled children. Stories from trusted authors and publishers allow parents to introduce tough topics to their children in a way that reflects both reality and the spiritual implications behind what is happening in the story.

In my latest book, A Scheming in Parliament, I did not set out to write an “issue” book. But the story does deal with human trafficking and political corruption. But it also has strong stances on sin, the need for salvation, the problem with situational ethics based upon feelings, and the knowledge that God is both sovereign and good. Tough topics are handled without shirking the realities, but not graphically or gratuitously treated.

Christian fiction can open doors of conversation with your homeschooled child/teen so you can prepare them for the harsh realities of the world, underpinned with the foundation of Godly principles and faith.

If you haven’t looked into Christian fiction as part of your curriculum, I urge you to take a peek. Stories written from a Biblical worldview that aren’t afraid to tackle real-life issues without glorifying sin can be excellent teaching tools, not to mention fun to read!

 

About A Scheming in Parliament

"Vetsch keeps the stakes high and the plot twists frequent . . . Readers will have a hard time putting this down."
—Publishers Weekly

Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Scheming-Parliament-Cloaks-Daggers/dp/0825448638

About Erica Vetsch

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com and you can find her on Facebook at The Inspirational Regency Readers Group where she spends way too much time!

 

 

 

 

August 2025 Books

 Personal Reading

A Scheming in Parliament

by Erica Vetsch

Amazon blurb: Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he’s quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club.

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.

This is the second book in the author's "Cloaks & Daggers" series and her eighth Recency/Mystery/Christian Fiction book.  I have thoroughly enjoyed them all.  The author writes the characters so well that I feel like they are my friends.  The dialog and interactions between characters is realistic and at times makes me laugh out loud while reading (which is not an easy feat). If you like Regency-era fiction (i.e. Jane Austen) and if you like mysteries with a little bit of clean romance sprinkled in, give this author a try!  You could read this book as a standalone, but you'll get even more out of it if you read "A Thieving at Carlton House" first. This one ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, so while you're waiting for the third book to come out next August, go back and read the rest of her Regency books, starting with the "Serendipity & Secrets" series, then the "Thorndike & Swann" series.  They are all worth reading multiple times.  One content consideration: this series deal with the issue of prostitution and sex-trafficking. It is handled in a sensitive and compassionate way, but if that subject bothers you, this book might not be for you.

Two of my favorite quotes from "A Scheming in Parliament": 

"...like many a politician, he is accomplished at talking a lot while saying almost nothing."

"You are not defined by what you once were, but who you are now in Christ.  That is the message we give to every woman who comes through our gates. We both need to embrace that truth every day."

Meet Me in the Margins

by Melissa Ferguson

The subtitle "A Rom-Com [romantic comedy] for people who love books" is what hooked me into trying this book.  The witty banter, relatable characters, and glimpse into the world of a publishing house kept me devouring the story into the wee hours of the night. I listened to the audiobook from the library, then decided to buy it from libro.fm to keep and listen to again. I will be trying out some of this author's other books.

Savanah Cade is an aspiring romance author, working as an editor for a small publishing house whose CEO thinks "only highbrow works are worth printing and romance should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante's inferno." She drops her secret manuscript in a staff meeting one morning and the new boss (the CEO's son) discovers and reads one page.  In desperation, she hides the manuscript in a hidden room of the company, only to come back later and finds that someone has begun reading it and made notes in the margins -- quite critical ones.  She resists these comments at first but then begins to appreciate their value. As their notes in the margins fly back and forth, she realizes she is falling in love with her mystery editor.  The reader can quickly guess who the mystery editor is, though the author makes you doubt your guess at one point. A sweet, clean, adult story.

My favorite quote: "Romance isn't just about attraction; it's about companionship.  You don't see old married couples who've been through two world wars and five babies together making out on a bench when they're 90 and think to yourself, "Now, that's what it's all about!"  You see the way they hold hands, the way they serve each other scrambled eggs on plates they got on their wedding day, the way the shuffle through the paper in the mornings together without needing to fill the space with empty conversation because they are happy, just happy, together."

Famous for a Living

by Melissa Ferguson

From the Amazon blurb: When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Des­perate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi docu­menting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana. About as far as possible from life as she’s known it....Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.

A laugh-out-loud rom-com, with a serious theme -- social media addiction. I loved the characters, their interactions, and the dialog. Clean romance. The audiobook was well-narrated.

Pride and Pemberly

by Dee Garretson

From the Amazon blurb: A single woman in possession of a dilapidated mansion needs more than pride to keep it from falling down.  Imagine if Jane Austen's characters had descendants living today....American Libby Darcy, a modern-day descendant of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, wants to renovate the rundown estate of Pemberley in England she’s inherited, but she’s faced with renovating her life at the same time. After failing the bar exam and breaking off her engagement with an overbearing fiancé, she’s riddled with self-doubt, not sure she can even fix a plumbing leak, much less restore a massive estate. To save the place, she has a plan to rent it out as a wedding venue, but she’ll have to keep it out of the hands of a devious hotel developer while trying not to go broke with a money pit of a house. But she's determined to make it a success, something she will eventually be able to view with pride.

I heard about this book through LibraryThing.com's monthly giveaway program.  I didn't win it as a giveaway, but when I had enough "no rush reward" points from Amazon, I used them to get the e-book version on Kindle, figuring if I didn't like it, at least I wouldn't have wasted any money on it.

I enjoyed this spin on Pride and Prejudice; you know the two protagonists are going to fall for each other, but the author makes you second-guess yourself.  Another delightful rom-com by a new-to-me author.  I will probably check out some of her other books as well. There are no overt Christian references, but it is a relatively clean, sweet romance. The conclusion seemed a bit rushed, given the antagonism between the two that prevails for most of the book. 

Plays by the Book

by Carolyn Miller

So, I guess I'm a sucker for anything that appeals to the book-lover/librarian in me.  Kindle suggested this new release to me because I purchased a book of novellas that included this author (though I got the other book because of a different author).  I devoured it one rare evening when I had time to read for several uninterrupted hours.

From the Amazon blurb: Britta Johnson knows she’s ordinary, and she’s totally okay with that. She’s secure in God, in her purposes on the planet, and romance is something she finds between the pages of a book. She doesn’t need that in real life. So when a hockey player asks for advice on how to woo his long-distance girlfriend, she knows her heart is safe. Until it’s not.  Mitchell Reilly might be feared on the ice-rink, but even he’s intimidated by this little ninja librarian who can whip teenagers into line with a single look. She knows her books too, and seems the perfect candidate to help him find some romantic fictional heroes he can impress his girlfriend with. Until she’s not.

As always, I enjoyed the banter between characters, the realistic portrayal of the character's dilemmas and struggles, and the dual point of view.  I appreciated the Christian faith aspect of it, though it's a little fuzzy on exactly how to become a Christian.  I plan to read more of this author and this series.

Too Long a Stranger

by Janette Oke

This is part of Janette Oke's "Women of the West" series; each book is a standalone novel about a different woman living in an unspecified time and place, but generally in the almost-pioneer days of the "west."  Sarah Perry is widowed and left with a young daughter, Rebecca.  Sarah is determined to provide for her daughter and not let her grow up to be an uneducated, uncultured western woman.  She takes over her late husband's freight hauling business and denies herself all luxuries and many basic necessities to be able to pay for her daughter's boarding school in the east.  However, the daughter becomes a spoiled snob and the two of them have a hard time connecting after being apart for 10 years.  It's a bit of a slow pace, and I found myself getting annoyed with how Sarah kept refusing all help and trying to be so independent and blind to the lack of relationship she had with her daughter.  The audiobook narrator was adequate. I like Oke's "Love Comes Softly" and "When Calls the Heart" series better.

Room for Hope

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

From the Amazon blurb: Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.  When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”  Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?

My dad recommended this author, so I picked up a couple of her books from the library.  I enjoyed the multiple points of view, clearly labeled at the beginning of each chapter. The characters grow in their faith and relationship with God as they go through some incredibly difficult and traumatic situations.

Non-fiction

How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends

by Don Gabor

Contains some great practical ideas on how to, well, start conversations and make friends. Tips on how to open your body language, break the ice, remember names, and graciously end conversations.  In our family, we struggle with many of these issues, so I thought it might be helpful to read a book about it.  The first half was useful; the second half was more about networking in the business world, which was not as applicable to me/us right now, so I just skimmed/skipped that part.  There is also an abridged audiobook version that we listened to.

Middle Grade Fiction

The Chronicles of Prydain

Book 1: The Book of Three

Book 2: The Black Cauldron

Book 3: The Castle of Llyr

Book 4: Taran Wanderer

Book 5: The High King

The Foundling and other Tales of Prydain

by Lloyd Alexander

I was made aware of this series because book 5 was a Newbery Medal book and because I heard Andrew Peterson (author of the Wingfeather saga) mention it.  It is a fantasy/adventure/quest/coming of age story, with some vague similarities to Lord of the Rings.  It was an ok series, but it did not capture my interest or imagination like Wingfeather did. Although some of the characters are funny at times, overall, I found the protagonists to be whiny; they just did not endear themselves to me.  I had to force myself to finish these books.  I don't remember anything objectionable in it, although sensitive readers might find it a bit scary or violent.

Adventures Down Under 

Book 2: Captive at Kangaroo Springs

Book 3: Rescue at Boomerang Bend

Book 4: Dingo Creek Challenge

by Robert Elmer

The continuing story of Patrick McWaid and his family in Australia. See review of book 1 here. Decent Christian adventure fiction for middle grade readers.

The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson

by Glenn McCarty

From the Amazon blurb: For Eugene Appleton, the summer of 1876 in Rattlesnake Junction, Colorado promises to be just as sleepy as the ones before. Eugene's life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Tumbleweed Thompson, a gangly, red-haired boy with a knack for spinning yarns and finding trouble. Drawn into Tumbleweed's orbit, Eugene soon finds himself chasing smugglers, firing rifles, and competing for the attention of the lovely Charlotte Scoggins. The pair's innocent mischief takes a serious turn when they stumble across a sinister plot hatched by the infamous Clean Shave Gang.

A great read for middle grades. Light-hearted and fun, while also promoting upholding justice over personal convenience. If you like books from S. D. Smith, you'll probably enjoy this one.  There are more books by this author in the Tumbleweed Thompson world, which I'll be checking out soon.

July 2025 Books

 Personal Reading

Dakota Series Book 1: Dakota Dawn

Dakota Series Book 2: Dakota Dream

Dakota Series Book 3: Dakota Dusk

Dakota Series Book 4: Dakota December

Dakota Series Book 5: Dakota Destiny

by Lauraine Snelling

A series of 5 novellas that feature the intertwining lives of five women, all who live in the early 1900s in the mostly Norwegian farming community of Soldahl, North Dakota.  Each of them faces circumstances they didn't expect and each finds (or strengthens) their faith in God through trials.  And, of course, each finds their true love and gets married. The audiobooks were well done.  The theology is typical of this author ("we are all God's children").

Someday Home

by Lauraine Snelling

Three middle-age women in the midst of various life crises become housemates, navigating the challenges of new friendships, responsibilities, and roles while also dealing with grief and bitterness.  The audiobook was well-narrated, except it makes one of them sound like an old woman rather than the 50+ woman that she is.  Some of the ways the characters interacted seemed unrealistic. It was an OK book, but not one I'm likely to read again.

The Shoe Box

by Francine Rivers

A short story about a boy in foster care who carries around a shoebox full of "things."  He never elaborates on what "things," but he gives it as an offering to baby Jesus when he plays the part of a wise man in a Christmas play.

Team Burger Shed

by Tavin Dillard

The author describes a season of small-town adult-league softball.  The description of the team's misadventures on and off the field is laugh-out-loud funny sometimes. It sounds like the author is doing stand-up comedy.  There's no bad language, but there are guys pursuing girls and other stereotypical "macho" behavior that seems more appropriate for adults rather than the "8 years and up" reading level that it is listed as.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

This is an engaging historical fiction novel is written in epistolary style. Letters and telegrams between various characters tell the story of how resident of Guernsey (one of the Channel Islands between England and France) survived five years of German occupation during WWII.  I was in a reading slump (not excited by the books I'd been reading) when I picked this one up.  It was very enjoyable. Some favorite quotes: 

• Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.
• That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive -- all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.
• None of us had any experience of literary societies, so we made our own rules: we took turns to speak about the books we'd read. ... the purpose of the speakers was to goad the listeners into wanting to read the book themselves. Once two members had read the same book, they could argue, which was our great delight. We read books, talked books argued over books.
• Booksellers really are a special breed.  No one in their right mind would take up clerking in a bookstore for the salary, and no one in his right mind would want to own one -- the margin of profit is too small.  So, it has to be a love of readers and reading that makes them do it -- along with first dibs on new books.

Content considerations: some mild profanity and using God/Christ as exclamations; some descriptions of wartime atrocities; one character declares in a matter-of-fact way that he is homosexual.

Middle Grade Fiction

The Clock and the Boulder

by Karin Fisher-Golton

I received this book in a giveaway in exchanged for a review.  From the cover description: Sixth-grader Kerstin Bellini is so sick of moving around the USA that she avoids making friends so she won’t have to lose them. When her mom drops the bad news that their family of two is about to move again, Kerstin is devastated. But the next morning, when she wakes up in a forest she doesn’t recognize, things are definitely worse. Now Kerstin must break her loner habits to accept the help of Maja, a clever farm girl who longs to experience life beyond her tiny village. How can Kerstin find her way back to Minnesota in 2016 when no one even has a phone? And why does Maja think the answer might be found in the woods? Kerstin draws on her love of animals and interest in sewing crafts as she deepens her trust in herself and others—and finds that some things are timeless.

I found this to be a somewhat strange time-travel novel, similar to "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly, but not as engaging to me.  The writing style seemed a bit choppy to me. The book contains not-so-veiled references to an agenda of "tolerance", "that must be your truth," and "I'm my own best friend."  There were also unnecessary references to bras and urinating. The main character also talks about being "donor-conceived." I have nothing against children conceived in such a way, but parents should be aware that this is discussed in the book and should be prepared to discuss this with their children if they choose to let their children read this book.

Read-Aloud

The Monster in the Hollows

by Andrew Peterson

Book 3 of the Wingfeather Saga. See my original review of the series.

June 2025 Books

Personal Reading

The English Masterpiece

by Katherine Reay

From the Amazon description: Set in the art world of 1970s London, The English Masterpiece is a fast-paced read to the end, full of glamour and secrets, tensions and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece. Told from the dual points of view of Lily (first person) and her boss/mentor, Diana (third person).  Like all of the author's books, this one features a woman in her upper 20s who has to deal with a lot of emotional baggage from her childhood.  In addition to solving the Picasso forgery, she learns how to be herself and she learns that she truly does have a supportive family and friend who care about her.

Blood in the Snow

by Sarah Pennington

A combination of the fairy tales "Goose Girl" and "Snow White" in an Asian setting. A fun, quick read.

Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection

by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch

Three novellas by three authors who have other books set in the regency era. I bought it for the story by Erica Vetsch, because I loved Erica's Serendipity & Secrets and Thorndike & Swann series, and this included a story about one of her characters in those series. I loved all three of the stories in this collection and may investigate other works by the other two authors.

Dakota Treasures Book 1: Ruby

by Lauraine Snelling

The first of 4 books in the Dakotah Treasures series. Ruby and her younger sister Opal move from New York to North Dakota at their dying father's request, only to find that their "inheritance" is a brothel in a tiny town called "Little Missouri." Against much opposition, she turns it into a respectable hotel and fulfills her promise to her father to take care of the "girls" who worked there. I enjoyed the author's "Song of Blessing" series, also about Norwegian immigrants in North Dakota, but the writing quality in this series was not as well done as that other series. Each book ends with too many loose ends, and the resolutions to conflicts don't feel realistic.

Dakota Treasures Book 2: Pearl
by Lauraine Snelling

The second of 4 books in the Dakotah Treasures series. Pearl runs away from a marriage arranged by her father and goes to Little Missouri, North Dakota, where she becomes part of the community at Dove House (continuing the story of Ruby Torvald from the first book in the series.

Dakota Treasures Book 3: Opal
by Lauraine Snelling

The third of 4 books in the Dakotah Treasures series. Opal is Ruby's 14 year old sister who loves the ranch she lives on with her sister and brother-in-law. She loves to ride and train horses, and hunt and fish. She is bored with school and has no desire to be a "lady." But an innocent decision to go swimming in the river leads to a series of serious consequences for people she loves and she blames herself. Meanwhile, a young pastor's past sin of passion catches up to him, and he runs away from it, also blaming himself for the bad things that happen to those around him. 

Dakota Treasures Book 4: Amethyst

by Lauraine Snelling

Amethyst comes to Little Missouri on orders from her controlling and alcoholic father to find her nephew Joel and bring him back to inherit the family farm.  She meets up with many of the characters from the previous 3 books in the series as she finds a true home and true love in this small North Dakota town.  This book ties up most of the loose ends left in the previous 3 books to bring a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Heaven Sent Rain

by Lauraine Snelling

Dinah is a successful career woman who started her own company to produce food supplements to help people live more healthy lives.  She has her life exactly as she wants it -- neat and controlled.  But as she launches a new product, she comes under attack from the media and big Pharma.  Meanwhile, she befriends a young boy and his dog whom she sees every day on her way to work. Her life takes a unexpected turn when the boy's dog is injured and his mom passes away, naming her as the boy's legal guardian.  The author dribbles out bits of Dinah's past that explain why she never intended to get married or have children and why she thinks God is fairy-tale.  The vet who treats the boy's dog also has issues from hurts in his past, but he also has a strong Christian faith and is able to help both Dinah and the boy through their struggles.  Most of what I've read from Lauraine Snelling is historical fiction about Norwegian immigrants in North Dakota, so this was different, but good.  Reminded me of Francine Rivers.  The theology is bit off -- saying that Jesus comes to us on our terms.  I would say, he meets us where we are (he doesn't expect us to get our lives cleaned up and figured out before he saves us), but the Bible is clear that we must come to God on his terms (which are repent and believe).

Biography/History

No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green

by Melody Green & David Hazard

Keith Green has long been one of my favorite Christian musicians.  His music is powerful and passionate and resonates with my soul.  His lyrics are challenging and convicting and reflect my own heart's cry.  This memoir about Keith's life, written by his wife, was also powerful and convicting.  He had an intense personality and a passionate zeal for Jesus and the holiness of his church.  Though he was intense and opinionated, he also exhibited humility and a willingness to be taught and corrected.  His journals (excerpts are shared in the book) and many of his songs vulnerably express his awareness of how he fell short of God's standard of holiness and yet still desired to keep striving to be more like Jesus. Content considerations: includes descriptions of life in the 1960s and 1970s (drug culture and free love culture).

Young Adult Fiction

Navigating Early

by Clare Vanderpool

From the Amazon description: From the author of Newbery Medal winner Moon Over Manifest comes the odyssey-like adventure of two boys’ incredible quest on the Appalachian Trail. When Jack Baker’s father sends him from his home in Kansas to attend a boys’ boarding school in Maine, Jack doesn’t know what to expect. Certainly not Early Auden, the strangest of boys. Early keeps to himself, reads the number pi as a story, and refuses to accept truths others take for granted. Jack, feeling lonely and out of place, connects with Early, and the two become friends. During a break from school, the boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear. As Jack and Early travel deeper into the mountains, they meet peculiar and dangerous characters, and they make some shocking discoveries. But their adventure is only just beginning. Will Jack’s and Early’s friendship last the journey? Can the boys make it home alive?

An intriguing and redemptive story.  Early seems to be a high functioning autistic, though that term is never used because it wasn't in use during the time period in which the story is set.  It might be hard for younger readers to get into and understand, but teens might find it interesting.

Middle Grade Novels

Life Behind the Wall

by Robert Elmer

This book contains 3 books in a series that explores the life of a family in East Berlin through 3 different generations.  Candy Bombers takes place during the Berlin Airlift, just after WWII.  Beetle Bunker is set during the time the Berlin Wall was put into place.  Smuggler's Treasure concludes with the night the Wall was opened up. Each book is about 200 pages.  A great look into life behind the wall, for middle grade readers.

Newbery Award Books

Moon Over Manifest

by Clare Vanderpool

Oh my! This is such a good story.  This is what a Newbery Award book should be: powerful storytelling that kids would actually read and enjoy. Abilene Tucker is sent to spend the summer of 1936 in Manifest, Kansas with an old friend of her father's while her dad works a railroad job.  But she feels like her father is abandoning her; she has grown up riding the rails, moving from place to place with her father.  So why can't she still be with him now?  She is determined to find out about her father's past.  She finds a mysterious box of mementos and letters, makes friends with two girls with whom she goes on a "spy hunt," and hears stories about the town's past from a mysterious old neighbor lady.  No mention is made of her father, who supposedly grew up in the town.  But there is more to things than meets the eye. I can't tell anymore without spoiling the book, so you'll just have to read it for yourself. The audiobook was excellently done. Content considerations: a large part of the story revolves around illegal whiskey making during Prohibition, and there is a woman purported to be a diviner or fortune-teller (she's not really).

2011 Newbery Medal Winner

Freewater

by Amina Luqman-Dawson

A young slave boy and his little sister escape from a plantation in the south. But instead of heading north, they find refuge in a community of escaped slaves living in the swamp. A good story, told from multiple perspectives. Audiobook was well done. Content considerations: some description of violence against slaves (not too graphic); some characters pray to the swamp for protection or thanksgiving. 

2023 Newbery Award Winner

Holes 

by Louis Sachar

From the Amazon description: Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment —and redemption.

Interesting and redemptive.  The treatment of the boys at the camp could be construed as abusive.

1999 Newbery Award Winner

Read-Aloud

North! or Be Eaten

by Andrew Peterson

Book 2 of the Wingfeather Saga.  It's basically one long chase scene.  Excellently narrated by the author.