Featured Releases—February

Happy almost February! And, happy blog relaunch day for me! This is my very first ever blog post on the new blog, and I am so excited to be sharing this new journey with you! I felt like it would be fitting for my first ever post to be something that I’ve brought with me from the old blog, so today I’m writing all about my featured releases for February! I’ve written must-have releases posts for years, and then that morphed into these featured releases posts less than a year ago, and that’s something I cannot imagine not continuing as I relaunch. I love doing the research, finding which authors are releasing what new books when, and I absolutely love sharing what I’ve found with you, my lovely readers. So, here are the fantastic-sounding new novels I’ve found for the month of February!

Featured Releases: September

How is it already almost September? Somehow, this summer has flown by, and now school has started up again, I’m getting back into my regular routine, and I’m not on my way towards finishing my final year of school. Ever. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about that. So, to celebrate, let’s talk about some amazing books that are going to release over the next month! As I started doing last month, I have my 6 or so Featured Releases listed first, and those are the books that I absolutely cannot wait to read and highly recommend. Then, at the bottom of the list, I have some other books that I have discovered by some authors that have either been on my radar for a while, or even some new authors I’ve stumbled upon as I’ve worked on this list! Let’s get to them!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Have Been on My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read

Happy Tuesday! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about books that I would mash together, but I just don’t really think about books that way. Although that is a very interesting topic and I wish I had something more along those lines, I just can’t think of any books I would mash with another. So, even though this technically isn’t in the rules, I’m doing a throwback post instead. Since I took a break from my blog and Top Ten Tuesday awhile back, I missed some really interesting topics. I’m sharing one of those today instead, because I really wanted to be a part of it, though I am quite a few weeks behind. So, today I’m actually talking about some books that have been on my TBR list for a really long time, but I somehow still haven’t read them!

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.

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I’ve Given Up On

 

It’s Tuesday again! And I must say, I am really glad to be back to writing Top Ten Tuesday posts once more. Plus, this is a really good Tuesday for me, since I am currently laid back with my feet up enjoying a week by the lake. There is no better way to spend the summer, except by the beach. Especially since I brought enough books that I could almost read a book a day if I wanted to, and that makes for the perfect vacation. This week for Top Ten Tuesday, however, we are talking about books—or rather series—that we are actually not planning on reading. So, here are some series I have decided I just can’t finish.

Must-Have July Releases

It’s July already? How is that possible? But, I can’t really complain, because there are SO many fantastic books coming out this month! I think this is my longest list this year, and that is always a happy thing because I love finding out about new books that I can read. So I hope that you can find something from this list that piques your interest!

Must-Have June Releases

How is it already June?! This summer is already flying by and I am NOT happy about it. But, I am glad that means more and more summer reads are coming out that I can hopefully add to my growing reading list (it’s gotten so bad that now I have my TBR—to be read—list, and an actual reading list to keep track of what I’m reading when). This month has some great reads that are releasing, contemporary, historical, and even Amish, and here are the ones that I am really looking forward to! Check them out below!

Must-Have May Releases

May is finally here! I cannot tell you how much I have been looking forward to this month. First, it’s summer! Finally! This is my last summer before I graduate and am done with school forever, so I am planning on enjoying every minute of it. Also, this month has so many fantastic books that are being released! I cannot wait to catch up on my reading so that I can finally get to some of these. I highly recommend everything on this list, they all sound like wonderful novels! Plus, just look at these covers! They’re gorgeous!

Must-Have April Releases

It’s almost April! I’m so glad, that means only one more month until it’s finally summer break! Plus, there are so many fantastic novels coming out over the next few months that I just cannot wait to read. And hopefully, I’ll actually have the time to read some of them! Anyway, here are this month’s wonderful releases, I hope you have some time to check them out and maybe read some of them for yourself! You’re sure to love them!

Must-Have March Releases

How is it already March? Although I’m definitely not complaining, because that means that next week is spring break and then summer is right around the corner. Besides, there are so many fantastic novels coming out over the next few months, and I am super excited for all of them. The ones on this list are just a taste of all that is to come, so get ready to do a lot of reading over the summer! I know I am!

Must-Have February Releases

I really cannot believe it’s already February! I know that I say that every month, but really, this month went by so very quickly! I cannot believe how quickly it has flown by, especially since the school months tend to be a little bit slower for me. Either way, I am happy about it, because that means there are more books to read, and I’m even closer to summer! February brings with it Valentine’s Day as well, so here is a great list of things to ask for from your sweetheart!

Must-Have November Releases

Fall is definitely here! Already, the semester is halfway over, and so is the college football season, and I can’t believe how quickly the time is flying by. I am glad, however, because two more of my favorite things are coming up: Thanksgiving and Christmas. I absolutely love the season of Christmas—I’ve honestly already started listening to a little bit of Christmas music—and there are so many good books that are releasing in the next two months!

My Bookshelf: Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall

Finally back in the Old Order Amish world she loves, will Ariana’s new perspectives draw her family closer together—or completely rip them apart?

After months away in the Englisch world, Ariana Brenneman is overjoyed to be in the Old Order Amish home where she was raised. Yet her excitement is mixed with an unexpected apprehension as she reconciles all she’s learned from her biological parents with the uncompromising teachings of her Plain community. Although her childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, hopes to help her navigate her new role among her people, Ariana’s Daed doesn’t understand why his sweet daughter is suddenly questioning his authority. Will she sow seeds of unrest and rebellion in the entire family?

Meanwhile, Skylar Nash has finally found her place among the large Brenneman family, but Ariana’s arrival threatens to unravel Skylar’s new identity—and her sobriety. Both Ariana and Skylar must discover the true cords that bind a family and community together and grasp tight the One who holds their authentic identities close to His heart.

 

Gathering the Threads is the third book in Cindy Woodsmall’s Amish of Summer Grove series, coming after Ties That Bind and Fraying at the Edge. Although I didn’t get the chance to read Fraying at the Edge, I did read Ties That Bind and I really enjoyed it! However, I am unfortunately not as pleased with this final book in the series. While I did like the story and was glad to finally know how everything was going to end, there were just a few things that really bothered me about this novel. There were some minor plotlines that were somewhat glossed over and I felt like were never fully resolved, and that is something that really bothers me. Along with that, some interactions between the characters felt a little forced, and I felt that some of the other minor plotlines were somewhat unnecessary.

Despite all of that, I still loved Ariana. Although her now-constant feministic attitudes grated on my nerves quite a bit, I have noticed throughout the years of reading Amish novels that it does seem as if Amish women are very held back by their fathers and then eventually their husbands. While I do agree that this issue is something that needed to be addressed, it felt a little bit forced coming from sweet, obedient Ariana, though she did undergo some changes after spending time with her Englisch family. I also wasn’t really pleased with the way that things played out with her and Rudy, because it just made him seem a little like he had two different personalities.

As for Quill, I have finally decided that I do in fact like him. Before I wrote this review, I went back and read my review for Ties That Bind, and I had to laugh at my original opinion of Quill. While I do still believe he tends to unintentionally hurt Ariana far too often, I did realize he really is just a sweetheart. He has such a heart for people and genuinely loves helping them escape injustice, and I did love the way he constantly proved he was happy for Rudy and Ariana even though he was in love with her himself.

All in all, I did enjoy reading this novel, even though there were those few things that bothered me. I was so glad to finally know the rest of the story, especially with regards to Frieda, and I was also desperate to find out what would happen with the bishop, whom I definitely hated. So, I think I can confidently give this story four out of five bookshelves, and I am looking forward to hopefully reading more of Cindy’s books in the future!

Happy reading!

I received a copy of this book through the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for only my honest review.

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Cindy Woodsmall and Waterbrook Publishing.

Must-Have September Releases

September is somehow already here, and for me, that means one thing. FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!! Football season is finally here, and I couldn’t be happier. Also, September means quite a few new books that I am dying to read, so I am getting ready to be fairly busy! Here are my must-have novels for the month!

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi by Vannetta Chapman

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is the second book in Vannetta’s The Amish Bishop Mysteries series, coming after What the Bishop Saw.

Must-Have August Releases

How is it already August? I feel as if this summer just started, and yet it’s somehow already almost over and I haven’t accomplished even half of the things that I wanted to. But, I have enjoyed myself, and that’s what matters! That being said, here are some new books I can’t wait to enjoy!

Chasing Secrets by Lynette Eason

Chasing Secrets is the fourth book in Lynette’s Elite Guardians series, coming after Always Watching, Without Warning, and Moving Target.

Must-Have July Releases

How is it already almost July? This summer is flying by, and I am not happy about it because that means school is right around the corner. However, there are so many wonderful novels releasing over the next few months, so I am excited about that! Here are some new reads you should definitely check out!

Must-Have May Releases

I’m back!!! I know, I have been sorrowfully absent over the past few months, but I am finally out of school for the summer so I thought it was time to come back to my blog. I honestly haven’t read a single book—other than textbooks of course—since I finished The Elusive Miss Ellison back in March, so I haven’t even had much to write about! But now I will be reading again, and I will have more time to write about whatever is on my mind, so I am back for at least the summer! And I thought I would kick it off with one of my favorite types of posts to write: my must-have releases! Here are my books for this month.

Must-Have March Releases

So, this is actually kind of late, but my must-have releases posts are some of my absolute favorites, so I still wanted to post my list for March! Even though it’s definitely already March, I figured this wasn’t too late to share the books I can’t wait for this month!

My Bookshelf: Finding Margo + A Linkup

Off the charts and on the run.

International pop star Margo Harman could use a night off. A grueling tour and overbearing entourage have sent her over the edge. It’s time for this diva to disappear. And who would think to look for the superstar in a small Dutch town in Ohio?

Sheriff’s deputy Brock Moore is undercover as well. He knows Margo isn’t who she appears to be, but her uncanny resemblance to a local Amish woman is raising all sorts of questions…the kind that make her a target for a killer.

Both are determined to find answers, but their mutual attraction stands in the way of either of them doing it alone.

Is finding Margo the solution to Brock’s problems or just the beginning…?

Top Ten Tuesday: More Books to Read

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about books that I have lately added to my TBR list. I’m constantly adding books to my list, so this was a super fun post for me! These are listed in order from the absolute most recent book to the later recent books, so you know exactly what I’ve been adding lately!