So April showers brought … May showers. Had a lot of rain this past month so I actually stayed in and read more because of that I think. My state was hit hard this season by tornadoes, nothing super close, but close to people I know and love. I’ll take the rain over severe weather, thanks.
With all the reading that was had, I noticed most are 5 star reads… 👀 I’m sorry not sorry about all the recommendations that may come out of this because I just had some really good reading experiences.
I keep thinking about slowing down since I’m ahead of schedule on my reading goal so I can focus on other things like writing, but as you can see…
Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
One of my favorite Colleen Coble books!! Which I say that about most of her work. I don’t know why it took me so long to get back to her.
Carly and Lucas… I loved them. Lucas didn’t like Carly from years ago and didn’t trust she was innocent in past events. Through the murder mystery and all their time together, I enjoyed their romance blossoming and the truth coming out in little pieces along the way. There were some serious twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
This is a standalone if you’re looking for a quick Colleen Coble read.
Forgiven by the Hero by Tara Grace Ericson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
I was actually trying to get deeper into Rocky Road by Becky Wade… which I did technically, but then I went to my room to look at some other books to see what I had, and then spotted this series I needed to come back to. This was a small one and I thought I bet I could read this today entirely.
Then, I did. 😏
I loved this one, which made it easy to finish quickly! I’m also a big fan of Tara Grace Ericson since I found here months ago.
Derek and Megan were likable characters and their backstories with the present day challenges had me flipping the pages.
Book six in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series (but can be read in any order).
Rocky Road by Becky Wade
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
It surprisingly took me way too long to finish this. It was right about the time I started too many books at the same time.
I loved Gemma and Jude. They had an instant connection that lingered and intensified. I enjoyed the mystery in the background as well with Gemma’s great grandmother.
This is the second book in the Sons of Scandal series. Curious to find out more about Max in book three!
100 Days of Life-Changing Confidence by Amanda Pittman
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
I picked up this book in early February. Confidence is something I’ve struggled with forever, but the past few years I’ve felt like anything I did have had been depleted. Why not give a devotional a try? So I started this a day after I turned 28 because this year is going to be different.
I can’t tell you how good this was… but here I am trying anyway.
Each day has a passage or multiple passages (most days) of scripture to read. I loved this because it wasn’t just a verse and then a whoooole devotion of someone’s own words. Most of the time spent each day is in His Word.
Through this, as I mentioned in a blog post before, I learned that my confidence isn’t just something I have, but my confidence is found in Him.
I love how Amanda Pittman point it all back to Jesus and our walk with Him, that without Him, none of this is worth it.
I’m so thankful that this stood out to me one day on an aisle I pass frequently at Mardel. 🫶🏻
Cabin Crush by Kasey Stockton
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
I was surprised to learn this didn’t have great reviews because I loved it. It was hilarious and sweet.
Max and Rachael 🫶🏻 they were adorable and so blind. 😂 Mostly Max, though.
A nice cozy read with heart for the holidays.
From the Gift-Wrapped Romance, multi-author series.
Falling for your Enemy by Emma St Clair
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
Shook that this is the fifth and final book in the Love Cliches series by Emma St Clair. I love a good enemies to lovers trope. This one was so good. Fighting to stay annoyed with Sam was Grandpa Gosling, aka Rhys Jackson’s big problem for the first half of the story.
All the banter and the friendships throughout this book and this whole series was spot on. Hilarious and cute.
If there were more love cliches to be written, I’d read them.
Guarded by the Hero by Mandi Blake
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
Pretty sure I’ve said this before about every single book by Mandi Blake… but this is why I love Mandi Blake. Her books are so full of heart, faith and a gripping storyline. I picked this one up for a few reasons off my stacks.
1) It was next in line in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series.
2) It happened to Mandi Blake which made me extra excited to choose this over other options.
3) Related to 2) is that because of that, I knew I could finish it the same day if I tried. And I did!
Fast, faith filled read with plenty of romance. It’s about balance.
Book 7 in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series.
Trusting the Hero by Hannah Jo Abbott
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
This was such a great story filled with faith! I loved the suspense and mystery of Addison’s past and Ty’s hero complex. Partner (dog) was a cute addition to the whole story.
I’ve only read one other book by Hannah Jo Abbott before (which was also a great book), but this one makes me want to read more by her.
This is book eight in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series.
Be Still My Soul by Elisabeth Elliot
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating explained:
Feels weird rating Elisabeth Elliot because when is it ever not 5 stars? Elisabeth Elliot did and continues to impact so many readers through her ministry and writing.
Such a great book on the Christian life. Highly recommend, especially if you’ve never read her books before. She highlights some topics here so you can get a feel for her kind and eloquent writing. She has several books on suffering and servant hood and she touches on that so well in a concise form here.
Many times in my life God has asked me to wait when I wanted to move forward. He has kept me in the dark when I asked for light. I like to see progress. I look for evidence that God is at least doing something. If the Shepherd leads us beside still waters when we were hoping for whitewater excitement, it is hard to believe anything really vital is taking place. God is silent. The house is silent. The phone doesn’t ring. The mailbox is empty. The stillness is hard to bear— and God knows that. He knows our frame and remembers we are made of dust. He is very patient with us when we are trying to be patient with Him.
The secret is Christ in me, not in a different set of circumstances.
Although He healed every imaginable sickness and is still capable of doing so, He didn’t promise to fix everything in this world. Instead, He equipped us to persevere through trials and to bear our scars with dauntless faith. And He helps us understand why suffering is necessary.
Book reading goal for 2024: 75
Books reads this month: 9
Books read this year so far: 44
Feel free to share what you read in May in the comments!!
Not Your Season: Summer's Blog 
I feel like it had been a while, too! But I also kept wanting to post, but then I’d get sidetracked and I didn’t really blog this month.
It was such a great month, for both us it looked like! You definitely need to check out these new authors, so good!! I’ll have to check those out that I haven’t already read. The only two looks like I haven’t read that you mentioned were the Osteen and Coker books. 🤗
Hope you’re doing well! Thanks for stopping by 😄
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Is it just me, or does it feel like forever since your last Chronicles of a Bookworm post? 😱 All of these books sounds so good! And all of them 5 stars except for 1. I really love that the Colleen Coble book is a standalone. I will have to add that to my list! 📚 I have not read Tara Grace Ericson yet, but I need to because I know you have always given her books good reviews! 🌟 I have the Becky Wade book, but I am waiting to read the whole series together. I assume it will be three books total? 🤔 The Amanda Pittman devotional sounds so good! Adding that to my wish list! 😍 I believe I have the Kasey Stockton book and the Emma St. Clair book, but have not read them yet! 😬 I haven’t read anything by Mandi Blake or Hannah Jo Abbott, but these sound really good! 🤍 And I haven’t read anything by Elisabeth Elliott! Adding to my wish list! 📝
In May, I read the following:
– Can’t Help Falling by Courtney Walsh. This was from the Sweater Weather series. Of course I loved it, because it’s Courtney Walsh!
– The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen. I don’t know why it took me so long to read this one. A great Klassen book!
– Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair. Also from the Sweater Weather series and the first Emma St. Clair book that I read. It was so good. And like one of the books on your list, I was surprised it had negative reviews.
– Speak the Blessing by Joel Osteen. A very encouraging book about choosing the right words. I need to remember this.
– My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade. I think this could be Becky Wade’s first book? And hockey plays a part in it! A really great read.
– Practicing the away by John Mark Comer. This is about becoming more like Jesus. A good book!
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