Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Was Really Excited for That Didn’t Disappoint

Happy Tuesday! This week, Top Ten Tuesday is all about popular books that have lived up to the hype, but that topic didn’t really resonate with me all that much. Since I mostly just read Christian fiction, I knew I didn’t have anything to add to the list that would be considered “popular” in the way this topic is suggesting, and while there are definitely books that are popular in the Christian fiction scene, I don’t typically read books because they are popular. So instead, I decided to give this topic a little bit of a twist, and feature ten books that I was super excited for that didn’t disappoint, but rather lived up to my expectations and more. Check them out!

Featured Releases: August

Happy almost August! Those of you who consistently follow my blog know that at the end of every month I share a post about the books I’m most looking forward to in the upcoming month. While I will be continuing to do that, I’ve decided to give it a little bit of a facelift. Since I hear about so many different books and authors as I do my research for these posts, I could have ridiculously long posts some months if I tried to talk about all of them, and some of them I’m not actually sure I will ever read, which makes me question if I should really recommend them. Therefore, I’ve decided to change my Must-Have posts into Featured Releases posts, where I will feature up to six books that I am personally really excited for and highly recommend. Then, at the end of these posts, I will also list any other Christian fiction novels that I have heard about that are also releasing in that month, but just aren’t very high on my own personal list. That way you can see what books I really recommend, and you can also find out about other novels that I might not personally read but might just be perfect for you!

Unfortunately, this month is a dry month in the book world, as I only have a few books to share, between both my featured releases and the additional ones I have found. So, this will give you a bit of a taste of my new direction, but you’ll have to come back next month to see the real thing in full. Either way, let’s get started talking about books!

My Bookshelf: All This Time by Melissa Tagg

Bear’s past refuses to let go.

Ten years ago, Bear McKinley gave up everything—his freedom and his reputation—for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life…until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly, he finds himself charged with the care of his missing brother’s children, convinced he’s out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he’s been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother’s activities—and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it’s clear he can’t run away this time.

Fear holds Raegan’s future captive.

Raegan Walker is fine. She’s happy working part-time jobs and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that’s what she tells everyone…and herself. But she can’t help wondering what might’ve happened if she hadn’t abandoned her art so many years ago—and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she’s commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it’s time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she’s kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?

Do You Have a "Shut Down" Heart?

As those of you who actively follow my blog know, last week I shared a post about the way that we live not-so-loving lives, how we treat others in not-so-loving ways, and how we need to live with “open hearts.” If you haven’t read that post, you’re going to want to go back and read it, because that was just the beginning of everything I have to say about that particular topic. This post is just the first of many that will come after the one I shared last week, so if you read that one first it will give you a little bit of context.

Last week, I shared that I had just finished a book that I loved, and that taught me a lot about what it means to love, but what I didn’t share as much about is that it also taught me a lot about what it means to live alive. That’s something I want to talk about today. In Secrets Over Sweet Tea, Denise Hildreth Jones writes about being alive. Really alive. And ever since I read that book, that’s something I truly want to be, and that something that will help us to really love.

My Bookshelf: Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

Working as a paid companion may be quite commonplace, but Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s eccentric employer makes her job unpredictable, to say the least. She finds herself carrying out an array of highly unusual tasks, including wearing peculiar outfits and returning items the woman pilfered. But when the wealthy Mrs. Sinclair catches Gertrude sneaking around the Sinclair yacht with some of the missing items in her possession, she immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding between his mother and Gertrude, but he can’t help coming to his friend’s defense. Even as he hopes their friendship might become something more, Harrison is unprepared for the outlandish escapades that seem to follow the lovely, anything-but-ordinary Gertrude at every turn.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Distinctly Remember Reading

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about my top ten books with sensory reading memories. However, when I’m reading, I’m not really paying much attention to anything going on around me. Even if I’m eating as I read. I just dive straight into the story, and I don’t really notice, much less remember, anything else but that novel. So, I’m giving this topic a little bit of a twist, and talking about novels that I distinctly remember reading. In other words, I can actually remember where I was or what was going on when I read these novels. Which is a pretty big accomplishment for me. Let’s get to these books!

My Bookshelf: Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano

After spending the last six years banished to the wallflower section of the ballroom, Miss Permilia Griswold has finally figured out a way to pass the time at all the New York high-society events she attends. Under the pseudonym “Miss Quill,” she is the author of society gossip columns filled with tidbits only an insider in society—albeit one on the fringes—would know.

When she overhears a threat against Mr. Asher Rutherford, the owner of one of the most up-and-coming department stores in the city, she’s determined to warn him. But the irritatingly handsome man doesn’t believe her, leaving her no choice but to take matters into her own hands. What she doesn’t anticipate is that she’ll end up putting herself at risk in the process—or that she and Mr. Rutherford, a man with secrets of his own, just might end up joining forces after all.

This Isn't Love

Can I ask a serious question this morning? I’m hoping it’s not too early for what I have to say, because I have been thinking about this a lot in my life, and I am sure there are some people who need to hear it. I know I need to hear it, and I’m the one writing it. I just hope people will take the time to open their hearts to what I have to say instead of shutting them down with the familiar “Everything is fine just the way that it is” and “I’m fine, I don’t need to change.” I just recently read a book that I know is going to stick with me for quite some time, and when it doesn’t anymore I am going to read it again so that it does. This book, this fictional story at that, has taught me more about loving others and living my life than many sermons and Bible lessons ever have. So I’m working on an a series about not living with “shut down” hearts, and I think this is my first step, though this one is more my own and has a lot less to do with what I read about in that book (the review of which will come at some point, when I’ve finally stopped being behind on all my reviews).

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Novellas

Happy Tuesday! This Top Ten Tuesday is about favorite books again—which if you know me you love talking about my favorite books—but with a little bit of a different twist. Today we’re talking about our favorite novellas which is something I haven’t really written much about on the blog before. However, I have read quite a few novellas in the past, many of which were part of some of my favorite series, so I’m so glad I have the chance to share them with you today!

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I’ve Read in 2018

Happy Tuesday! First, before I get to this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, let me say that if it seems like I have been somewhat absent on my blog for the past few days, that’s because I have been, though not by choice. My laptop apparently decided it was time to stop being the trusty little laptop it usually is, and completely stopped charging, no matter what I did to it. Fortunately, my dad knows everything about computers and was able to identify quickly what the problem was, but we had to order the new part it needed which meant I was without a computer for most of the week. But now my laptop is charging beautifully again, and I’m back just in time for one of my favorite Top Ten Tuesday posts. Today we’re talking all about some of the best books we have read so far this year, and since I have read quite a few phenomenal ones, the only hard part about this list was figuring out how to keep it to only ten! Check out these fantastic novels! Oh, and if anything sounds interesting to you, you can check out my full reviews just by clicking on the coral-colored titles!

Currently—July

Happy July! This is another linkup post that I haven’t done in quite some time, but I am so excited to be back to writing Currently posts once again! I’ve been up to so many things lately, but for today I’ll just keep it to the recommended topics. This month I am currently…

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Red, White, and Blue Covers

It’s Tuesday again! And, since it is the day before our nations Independence Day, today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is a special one to honor the holiday. Although I haven’t participated in many Top Ten Tuesday topics that have focused on covers in the past, I do love a good cover, and that has been what has helped me to pick out some books that I might not have read otherwise. Besides that, this is such a fun way to begin the celebration a day early, so I am excited to be a part of this post all about red, white, and/or blue book covers! Here are some books I found on my lists that fit that description.