Well, June was a busy month for reading… read 11 books total! In the moment, it didn’t feel like I read that much (but really… I guess maybe it did…). And now I’ve decided to slow down in the month of July and make time for other things – like my Scentsy business for instance since it’s a big month in my world getting ready for a new catalog. I’ll try to finish some books I have started and read nonfiction, but I’m putting a pause on fiction for right now.

At the beginning of June, the summer reading program began and I had four books read (all an adult has to read to turn in their form and receive their prize) by like the first week or so. That doesn’t normally happen!

I’ve also made really good progress on my books-that-I-bought-but-never-read-shelf! I am currently 14 books ahead of schedule on my 50 book reading goal for the year – up to 38 books read total. I think I can afford to take a small break! I read fiction books in like a day (or three max at times!) and so if I ever get behind my goal (when will that happen?) I could probably just read a few fiction books real quick and be back on track.

Anyway!

Here’s what I read or finished in June.

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Signs Point To Yes by Sandy Hall

Pretty okay YA book. Not a huge fan of some dynamics and some social topics I do not agree with, but I did enjoy her writing style and the dialogue style. I don’t read much YA in general because I’ve kind of aged out of the genre I guess, but there’s just so much in them that I don’t agree with and can’t stand to read like I either used to or it wasn’t as prevalent in them. Just won’t buy any more books but the author. 🙂

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An Unforgettable Christmas by Ginny Baird

This was such a cute story! I should have read it sooner, it was an enjoyable read. It’s added to my Christmas book list (and shelf!).

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A Cross-Shaped Gospel: Reconciling Heaven and Earth by Bryan Loritts

I really liked this book! Loritts had some good points in this about how and why we should treat each other because of our relationship with God. The main thing is that if we have a vertical relationship with God, it should be reflected in our horizontal relationships with others in our day to day lives. It was broken up into different topics and things and covered quite a few bases! I’d recommend this one.

I talked a bit about his book here

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Finding You Again by Debbie Macomber

Typical Debbie Macomber book. I think I read one a month lol not much else to say really, I just love a sappy romance I guess!

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Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

I’m pretty sure I got this book at an estate sale for less than a dollar. I picked it up because I recognized it from the bookstore – it was used in a class I never took. It could very well still be used, but I haven’t checked! LOL

Now I can say I read it though. 🤓

It was pretty good. A woman goes and leaves her lifestyle to get a minimum wage job and has to survive only on like a security fund and whatever she makes from her job or multiple jobs if she had to get a second to get by. She talks to other people in her job and gets a feel for everything. It was almost like undercover boss to me, but it wasn’t the boss that went under cover, just someone who had money and was pretending to not have money… LOLS

She did have some numbers and quotes from articles as things because it was like a scientific research thing, but my point is that minimum wage jobs are temporary until you move up, gain more skills or education to move to a different job or position, not meant for you to stay there long term. What do I know though? 🙂

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Her Mother’s Hope (Marta’s Legacy #1) by Francine Rivers

I’ve talked about Francine Rivers before… her books never disappoint. If you haven’t picked up her work before, definitely a recommendation here!

I started this book a few years ago, actually, but I had stopped because it got me kind of depressed when I was already feeling that way with life (the main character went through hard times for quite a few chapters toward the beginning) and so I had to just put it down for a while BUT THEN I NEVER GOT BACK TO IT TIL JUNE 2021.

This book spend decades of time. I think she does such a good job providing enough detail of the story and moving it along to where it’s not boring or too summarized either.

This, along with the second book in Marta’s Legacy, are really about the maternal relationships between all the women in multiple generations. The familial dynamics were so relatable to me!

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The Meaning in Mistletoe by Rachael Bloome

The Faith in Flowers by Rachael Bloome

The Meaning in Mistletoe and The Faith in Flowers came by Amazon delivery the same day and I had them completely read a few short days later. LOL

Once I picked them up, I can’t put them down! Rachael is the sweetest author for clean, Christian romance. I would highly recommend her books. Find her on Amazon – Kindle or paperback.

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Her Daughter’s Dream (Marta’s Legacy, #2) by Francine Rivers

The second book, as I mentioned previously, spans generations and decades of time. It continues Marta’s legacy and continues building on the dynamics of the first book.

You can find these books as separate books or in a box set like I did. Highly recommend though!

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An Amish Kitchen: Three Amish Novellas

Was not the best written book in my opinion… I’ve read some Amish books before, but sometimes they just miss it for me. This one is one of those times. Still a cute book, but it wasn’t a favorite.

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Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

I had no idea what to expect with this book when I got it (I think at an estate sale or the thrift store…) and WOW! By the end I was like Oh Em Gee 🥲🥲

If you can get through the suspense of it, I think you might like it!

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If you’re interested in keeping up with what I’m reading on the daily, check me out at http://www.goodreads.com/notyourseason or search for me on the app, username is notyourseason.