Time marches on… and this is not a joke. Happy April Fool’s Day!

This month felt long. I felt like the books I finished at the beginning of the month was so long ago. It was a fun filled month whether reading or spending time with the fam. Even in the chaotic weather Oklahoma has been experiencing and enduring.

I hope you were able to escape into a good book this month like I have! Let’s go over what I was able to read this month since it’s a mile long as usual.

(Apologies in advance for some more wonderful and 5 star reads imo)

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A Christmas Secret by Hailey Gardiner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Super cute 20 page short story. Teenagers finding love through friendship. Loved it!

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Sidelined by Love by Liz Johnson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Such a cute read! I’m not always a big fan of actors/actresses being main characters, but this was good.

A touch of faith blended in nicely.

Looks like this may be the start of a new series so looking forward to what comes next from Liz Johnson!

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The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I don’t know what I thought. This book has come up in books (I can’t remember the reference though), it’s a classic (why?) and then I found this cool looking edition, so I read it to say I read it (why else?).

Again, I don’t know what I thought this was about. Guess who didn’t read a synopsis before diving in? Lol!

That didn’t really give a whole lot away. I mean, PEOPLE DIED. Mainly though, this book seemed to deal about infidelity and lust. Why? There was nothing repentant or redeeming about the characters, except Nick who seemed to be the only mostly sane one and he was the NARRATOR who went along with these crazy people.

I don’t understand the book, so it might require another read I don’t really feel like enduring.

If you have insight, please enlighten me in the comments.

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The Serendipity by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

What a way to start off this multi-author series! 👏🏻

I LOVED this. There’s just something about Archer the grump and Willa the sunshine that really gave me the best vibes.

Archer was the sweetest underneath all the grumpy pants and figuring out how to deal with relationships and feelings thanks to Willa the person. ❤️🫶🏻

The incidents that pushed them together in the beginning was hilarious, especially Archibald and the opossum.

This is book one in the multi-author Only Magic in the Building series. These can be read in any order, but since I can’t handle waiting, I’m reading them as they release.

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Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Warning: grab the tissues.

This was so much deeper, sad and simply heartfelt than I anticipated. From the start, Abigail’s story alone of past hurts and cynical view of love was relatable and enough. But then Jacob’s story. Whole other level and layer to this story that kept building until the reveal near the end that nearly broke them.

I thought it was interesting that his name was Jacob and he reminded me a bit of Jacob from the Bible, wrestling with God and working through tough situations we either get placed in or get ourselves into. I felt like he was a little bit of both in this story.

I loved this story because I forgot that earlier books by Courtney Walsh were more faith filled and them leaning on that faith in the day to day. This story deals with grief and forgiving oneself along with trying to understand how God’s plan fits into all that.

While occasionally there is humor, this is a more serious read and will not fulfill a desire for a romcom.

This is book one of two of the Loves Park series. I got this book one because of the cute new cover. I’ll have to get book two soon because it also sounds really good.

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The Cupid Chronicles by Courtney Walsh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this one so much more than anticipated! Matteo and Iris were so complimentary and at times down right hilarious.

I loved the depth on both sides for them and how they talked through those things (Iris is a talker and Matteo took a little longer).

Found family is always a bonus – the feeling of belonging and things just feeling right. Like this is where you’re supposed to be. I loved that for Iris 🫶🏻

Now I kind of want an epilogue of them years from now.

Book two in the Only Magic in the Building, multi-author series.

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Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I love a good grumpy/sunshine book. I loved how much Trent changed and opened up as the story progressed. Trent and Sydney’s shared moments were cute and endearing.

This is book one in the Kitt’s Harbor series that I realize now is a spin-off from the other series by Hailey Gardiner that I plan on reading after this one. 🙂

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All’s Fair in Love and Blackmail by Gracie Ruth Mitchell

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Okay, so a new unexpected series from Gracie Ruth Mitchell! When she very first shared a snippet of a new book she was writing, I WAS SO EXCITED. Then she shared more and I was already hooked. Before even reading it. Before having said book in my hands.

Felix was (fire emoji that won’t populate on here)

India was so freaking cool.

I loved their banter and chemistry. It was so easy and the not too deep depth that propelled the story – loved.

The sibling banter on India’s side of the story was hilarious. So many chats and antics from that family 😂

If you want an older brother’s best friend, almost enemies to lovers-ish in the beginning rom-com, this is IT. Like this is it. Don’t look any further.

This is book one in the Lucky in Love series. I can’t wait for Juliet’s story to come next!!

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Petals & Plot Twists by Jenny Proctor

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I didn’t enjoy the magic in this one as well and Sophie’s insistence on this flower’s magic was too much at times.

What I did love was Peter’s patience throughout the whole story. Waiting for Sophie for years and then waiting some more for her to come around to the idea – to make sure she wanted their relationship and not just because a flower declared them soulmates.

This is the third book released in the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series.

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Misfortune and Mr. Right by Savannah Scott

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Another one I was so excited to read and it undeniably delivered! 🫶🏻 Absolutely cannot go wrong with a Savannah Scott book. This may just be my favorite of this series so far.

Olivia and Logan’s rivalry spanned many years and ran deep. If only they’d had conversations about it years before 🥹

Also, this book gives Pride & Prejudice vibes 🥰

Them working through their rivalry and finding out how much they cared for each other was so, so sweet to read. *a literal puddle*

Adorable side characters that gave even more life to this cute read!

This is the fourth book in the Only Magic in the Building multi-author series.

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I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Shoutout to Spotify because I listened to this as an audiobook. Started on 2/26 and then ya girl ran out of listening hours 🥲

I got back to audiobook listening and man! This book had some plot twists at the end. The beginning was active, then there was a span of no action and then some crazy stuff towards the end. It was engaging, but maybe not as thrilling as some other books with Coble. I don’t know a whole lot about AI so I found that aspect interesting, although I don’t know how accurate it would be. Can you really hold a conversation with a bot about who murdered someone? Made for a great story regardless.

This is a standalone novel.

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The Unbound Bookshop by Rachael Bloome

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this so much 😭 I would have had this read in one day it was so amazing had I not needed sleep and work.

This book followed life with Abby and Logan, and Sage and Flynn. Each character went through challenges and discovered things about themselves and even God’s mercies.

Such a beautiful read and one of my favorite books by Rachael Bloome! I’m late to the game on reading it, but it’s been on my shelf since its release. 😂

This is book three in the Blessings Bay series.

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Rediscovering Jonah by Timothy Keller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. While so convicting, Timothy Keller also explained the two sides of Jonah in a way I had never heard before.

After going verse by verse through the story of Jonah, he then went by topic and related it directly to modern times.

I thought this book was a bit older actually, but it’s from the last decade and very relevant to today’s times.

This book was so much more than I thought it was going to be and I am so glad I picked this up, unsurprisingly at an estate sale one day many months ago. Worth the read if you have not already and one to keep on your shelf to come back to (not to sit and collect dust, Lol).

Also, not a large book at all and I meant to finish it within a month and it didn’t happen. 🙃

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Clean Out of Luck by Carina Taylor

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Ahh!! One of my favorites from this series if not MY FAVORITE. Might be a tie with Savannah Scott’s 😂

The older brother’s best friend trope, YES, PLEASE.

Wade was amazing. He was everything perfect for Scarlett. I laughed out loud a few times, but even just the storyyyyy. He was always there in the little and big ways for her 🥹 and annoying her, but only because HE CARES 😂

The banter was top tier.

This is book five in the multi-author Only Magic in the Building series.

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That Fine Line by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

If you’re looking for pranking, banter, childhood frenemies, family dynamics, ranch life, tractor moments, ponds, the wide open spaces and cowboys… this is for you.

And even if that’s not what you’re looking for, you should still read it 😂

I loved Kelsey’s and Cade’s heated banter. The switch from enemies to lovers 😍 Cade was your good ol boy worth the wait and I just 🫠🫠🫠

This is book one in the Pride & Pranks series.

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Stranded Ranch by Cindy Steel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was a quick and cute read. Old friends reconnecting and sparks fly. Snowed in with her grandparents on a ranch. mild innuendo throughout.

This is the novella between books one and two.

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The One Who Risked It All by Tara Grace Ericson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Another second chance story of a firefighter and the girl who stole his heart in high school.

Eli has a reputation as somewhat of a playboy, a charmer and not taking life seriously. Carla is on the straight and narrow and not ready to give her heart up to anyone, let alone Eli, again.

I loved the deeper dynamic and the feud that caused tension. Rising above all that and making amends was a great theme in this book.

Light faith elements included.

This is book four in the Second Chance Fire Station series. I thought this would be the last book, but the series continues! The next book will be out soon so watch for that. 🙂

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Feel free to comment what stood out to you and/or what you read in March!

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Books read this month: 17

Books read this year: 45

Book goal for the year: 100

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You can check out my online bookstore here:

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131896341