Alright y’all. I’ve done it again. I started the month thinking I would cool it. I thought I was going to slack off on the reading and focus elsewhere. Like where? I don’t know. I lead a pretty boring life, mostly by choice, but I was thinking of channeling my writing abilities into a novel? I may or may not have gotten a lot of writing done (a lot for me) and I also still managed to have reading addict tendencies. Other things I wanted to do? I was hoping to get out more, but I picked the absolute worst month to even think that, because August in Oklahoma? Pretty sure that’s equivalent in the dictionary to the hottest month of the year. Contemplating moving to a cooler climate for half the year (it’ll never happen, for those two people worried).

Prepare yourself for yet another long blog post.

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From Blunder to Wonder by B.M. Baker

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this book by B.M. Baker! The meeting and funny encounters, not knowing who the other was, was so well done! I enjoyed the humor and development of the story. A good clean, Biblical read. I have book two to read soon!!

I also appreciated the worm example. Youuuu’ll just have to read it to find that one out. 🙂

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The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Like when I read When in Rome, it’s not a Christian read. I did like this one better which resulted in a 4 star read.

A pro football player with a best friend who’s making ends meet to help others through dance. They both hold feelings for each other and would want nothing more than to spend forever together, but the other has zero idea. It was so cute. I haven’t read too many of the best friends to lovers romances I don’t think. This was good. 🙂

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Even though it’s not Christian, I appreciated the clean romance and that they didn’t jump in and do certain things. I don’t like those types of books and makes me uncomfortable. Even though they talked about some stuff, it wasn’t much and didn’t take away from the romance between these two best friends. I’d recommend this to anyone who was looking for a cute, quick, swoony romance that’s not necessarily Christian.

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A Newport Christmess by Jess Heileman

I almost succeeded in reading this in just one day.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved the being set up trope and then trying not to play into it but playing into it anyway. Their backstories played into their struggles and I enjoyed their development. This was a hilarious read too.

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The Thinker’s Edge by John C. Maxwell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating Explained:

This was a great and pretty quick read. It would be a great resource book to go back to maybe if you’re needing to get back to a “thinking” or brainstorming mindset, or if you’re entering into a new group/project.

The main theme of the book was the 11 Practices for Getting Ahead in Business and Life

1. See Wider, Deeper, and Farther Than Others
2. Define Winning for Yourself and Others
3. Think Differently Than Others
4. Believe in Possibilities More Than Others
5. Stay Focused Longer Than Others
6. Face the Hard Truths Before Others
7. Reflect and Learn More Often Than Others
8. Connect Ideas Better Than Others
9. Harness the Teams Ideas More Than Others
10. Strategize Before Moving Forward with Others
11. Consider the Well-Being of Others

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The Promise in Poppies by Rachael Bloome

I feel like I waited so long for this book !!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Anytime we’re able to return to Poppy Creek, I’ll take it. Simply loved Bloome’s usual, sweet writing and all the characters, and seeing where things left off with some added sparks. 🙂

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One Little Lie by Colleen Coble

Knowing that pretty much all the other Colleen Coble books I’ve read I’ve read in a day, I was not sure I’d finish this one in a day… it’s been a while since I’ve read a Colleen Coble novel.

Here to prove things never change. 😎

It was a 24 hour period of reading for me.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed the mystery of this one, like I do all her books. I’m always shook by how it plays out, which is the appeal. She’s not predictable and I love the dash of romance thrown in. From what I gather from the other book covers, the romance is a slow burn with twists and turns spanning the series. I’m looking forward to the rest!! So much left unsaid in this book.

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Worst Neighbor Ever by Rachel John

This was a really cute read!! I was looking for a quick ebook read and stumbled upon this series so here we are!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Enemies to lovers for totally different reasons. This was a cute and quick read! I enjoyed the hilarious banter and misinterpretations. I laughed out loud a few times and got tears in my eyes. 🤣🤣🤣

It took me a while to understand the backstory for Melissa, but I got it by the end. 🙃 Only reason it’s not a 5 star read for me.

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A Not-So Holiday Paradise by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Maybe it’s because I don’t like beaches or the hype – but not my thing. Tbh, I don’t like bodies of water so I’ve never even been close to the ocean.

I don’t have much to say about this. 😞

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I couldn’t connect with the characters or the plot. A lot of it felt forced and choppy for me. I think there was potential – I was just hoping for something different.

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Now or Never by Emily Conrad

I thought I had heard of Emily Conrad or even read her books when a friend from church mentioned this was her friend from Wisconsin. I went home and looked her up and found out I HAD NOT. I ordered three of her books and this was the first I read. More to come.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed the very real struggles the characters faced and the coming to faith elements interspersed. I loved the characters and their likability right off. For me, if I could read this over again, I would wait til I had read her other series so some of the other character backgrounds would make more sense to me? All in all, a great Christian fiction romance. I’m sorry not sorry to add another must read author to the list.

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My Jesus by Anne Wilson

This is the story of Anne Wilson, her trials, hurts, struggles and the moments that led up to her career being launched out of the tragedy she endured with God’s faithfulness.

Here’s some quotes…

The truth was, everything had changed, including the trajectory of my life. I didn’t know where I was headed, but I knew the One who would get me there.

We can invite our God of grace into our pain and allow Him to perfect us, confirm us, strengthen us, and establish us in faith.

He calls us to a life of following Him over high mountains and through deep valleys. Not that we don’t feel comfort in this life – we absolutely do! But we are meant to find it first in God, not in our circumstances.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

1 Peter 5:10

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Anne Wilson comes off very genuine. Her story is so sad and I truly felt for her in her loss. As she talks about all her and her family went through, you can see how God was working it all out for good through His peace and provision.

An important takeaway through this was that her family allowed the suffering to make them stronger.

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A Cross-Country Wedding by Courtney Walsh

As I write this the day after finishing this, I’m still feeling a little dazed from the cuteness within these pages and also really tired because I stayed up til after 11pm to finish it.

The only thing I wish Courtney Walsh’s books had more of (or had at all, as the case may be) is a spiritual growth of the characters. Can’t complain with a good, clean romance though.

I was a three day book hangover with this one. THREE DAYS. I couldn’t get into any fiction. I barely picked up a book (besides the Bible, lets not let this hangover get between me and God, now) and I was just moody because WHAT WAS GOING ON. I wanted to know what these characters were up to. I also want to know if there’s another book in the works and if I have to wait two more years for a reintroduction to this cuteness.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

See above. Need I say more?

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I Hated You First by Rachel John

As you read above, I first picked up the novella to kick off the series so see if I’d like it. I enjoy when authors start a series with a novella to get toe in their fictional waters – especially for us noobs. SO obviously that worked out.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I LOVED the tropes in this one. Enemies to lovers? Friends to more? It was this somewhat complicated situation the whoooole way through, but it was adorable how they came to the realization that they were it for each other.

I greatly appreciate the clean romance. This was so well done that I can’t wait for the next book which is ordered, yes.

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This month brings me to 80 books read this year.

I thought I was going to get at least one more book read in the month of August, but alas, it did not happen.

Things I’m looking forward to reading though? The Sweater Weather series, some more Christmas reads, and hopefully… more nonfiction. I’m possibly going to be even more busy – more things on my plate, BSF starting and more goals. Will I have time to read??? I’ll have to. It’s nonnegotiable.

Thanks for reading and share what you read during August in the comments!!