E.G. Bella's Blog

Top 5 Books I’ve Reread (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome back to day five of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

It’s so hard to believe we only have two more days! If you’ve read my previous posts (Day #1, Day #2, Day #3, & Day #4) this week, feel free to skip on down to today’s theme. And if not, here’s a brief recap.

Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers are sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

Today’s theme is all about books I can’t stop rereading! There are so many books I make sure to read every year or two, simply because I have good memories of them and they’re comfort books. It was honestly difficult to pick just five, so a couple of these are favorite entire series that I’ve been working through again lately… I’m excited to share them!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

Beyond the Bright Sea

Author: Lauren Wolk

Genre: Historical Mystery

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I don’t know how to describe this book other than beautiful. Although the prose is very simple, the themes and truths explored, the glimpses into the characters’ hearts and how real they were, are far from it. The simplistic prose actually helps shine a brighter light on the content itself. I’m rereading this right now, and am continually struck by how honestly and effortlessly hard truths are addressed. It’s refreshing.

I absolutely love the characters I’m meant to love, detest the ones I’m meant to detest, and the book as a whole is so hard to put down. I’m very glad I found another middle-grade that feels very real and allows a deeper glimpse into complicated people.

The setting itself is also so charming, with islands, sailing, and small village life on the coast. The descriptions are precise and vivid, and I could almost smell the sea and feel the wind on my face. I also absolutely loved the themes of adoption, family not always being blood-related, and unconditional love, even in the hard times. Definitely one I’ll keep coming back to.

Tricky Content: Leprosy and illness, ostracization and themes of prejudice, some violence and fighting, sad recollections, a character struggling with feeling like she doesn’t belong and wanting a family

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and older that enjoy slow, sweet tales of belonging, acceptance, and love, written in a charmingly simple and honest style. Bonus points if you like adoption stories and island settings.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

Genre: Children’s Historical

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve yet to know how to voice my true thoughts about this book, because it’s the story I’ve read the most times throughout my life, starting from a young age, and it means a lot to me. I’m not even entirely sure why it hits so deeply.

I recently reread this, and watched the movie, and I think I finally realized that at least the heart of my love for this book is in its raw honesty and hope. It’s a crushing book – exploring grief, loss, and dysfunction through the lens of a young and struggling boy – and I always gravitate toward books that feel real in its portrayal of hard emotions and complicated people. It’s a snapshot of real life.

This by no means has a happy ending, but there’s beauty in the character growth we see by the final pages. Where there was once dysfunction and a boy struggling to see/experience the joy in life, we see a family realize their lack of affection, a boy realize it’s okay to be creative and silly and enjoy imagination, and we also see him pass that hard-earned lesson to someone else. We see the wide-spread impact of a girl unafraid to live life to the fullest and see the beauty and possibility in everything. It’s so hard to compress all my thoughts, but something about those themes has always stuck with me and I love it.

Tricky Content: some language (including several instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain), death of a child (not shown), grief, characters wrestle with the idea of God and church and what they mean

I’d Recommend It To: Readers (maybe 10+?) that enjoy bittersweet, middle-grade, “glimpse of real life” stories that stick to your heart and make you think. (My mom still thinks I’m crazy for liking it, haha)

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Harry Potter Series

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I greatly enjoyed rereading this series this year, listening to the audiobooks this time! This is one of my all-time favorite series, and I enjoy working through the books every couple of years. The world-building, attention to detail, lovable characters, and uniqueness are always so fun to me, and an inspiration for my own stories.

I know these books are controversial (and totally respect each person’s stance on them ), but in my most recent read-through, I’ve been fascinated by some of the deep themes and unintentionally Christian themes weaving their way through the plots and character growth. It’s always a pleasant surprise to find deep truths in books that aren’t necessarily trying to place them in there. These books are a lot of fun, gripping in their mystery and tension, and I love that I can finish them smiling, stressed, and feeling like I learned something all at the same time, haha.

Tricky Content: The books start off much more middle-grade, and gradually become “older” and darker. There is a magic system (“witches and wizards”, spells, wands, mystical beings like goblins, trolls, etc.), possession element in the first book, and – especially in the later books – violence, fighting, and deaths. Several kisses (nothing more), typical teenage drama and crushes, injuries and sicknesses, and lightly-described torture. Frequent uses of mild British swears, and some slurs/insults unique to the world.

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of vividly-described and unique fantasy worlds – especially centered around a magical academy, strong friendships, adventurous vibes, and constant mystery and intrigue.

Here’s the link to add book #1 on Goodreads!

The Hunger Games Series

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: This series is one of my go-to rereads (just referring to the main three books for this review). While the writing style isn’t my usual cup of tea – often more juvenile and jarring – I can’t put these books down once I start, despite knowing the story in and out at this point.

They’re written so well, so evocatively, showing flaws with human nature, morality, the need for entertainment, and broken societies so clearly, that I have no trouble believing it could be an extremely accurate depiction of what life would be like in a Hunger Games world. And that’s scary, which I believe is the point. It’s very thought-provoking!

In addition to the vivid settings and fascinating themes, the characters feel very real and nuanced. Katniss isn’t the typical heroine I expect from modern YA dystopians. She’s angry, irrational, illogical, emotional, brash, and bad with people. She’s far too blunt, doesn’t think carefully enough, and struggles with love. But she’s relatable, honest, and real. She’s not always the most likable, but her unapologetic humanity makes me care. And that’s the case with every other character. They all have backstories and valid reasons to get involved (or not). I care about them, which keeps me coming back to these books again and again.

Tricky Content: Deaths, violence (fights, poisoning, etc.), injuries, manipulation & emotional distress, non-described kisses, characters laying together, intent to commit su*cide, drunkenness

I’d Recommend It To: Readers (probably 16+) that enjoy mostly fast-paced dystopian action books that also dive into romance, political intrigue, and mental health/PTSD exploration and representation.

Here’s the link to add book #1 on Goodreads!

Wishtress

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: Christian Fantasy Romance

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: First of all, THAT COVER. Second, this remains my favorite book by Nadine Brandes, and I love every story she writes. I’m currently reading this one again and loving it!

As always, the prose is absolutely beautiful, and I was hooked from the very beginning. I love all of the characters, except for the ones I’m meant to hate, haha. Myrthe, Bastiaan, Runt, Anouk…the cast is so fascinating and realistic, and I really like all the interweaving among relationships and past events. How everything ultimately connected by the end was stunning. There were many times when I actually stopped and gaped at the book because I couldn’t believe how a connection worked out.

Though I tend to be picky, the romance was a thumbs up from me too! This was very sweet, and I enjoyed watching the two protagonists grow together. And gracious, that ending… it wraps up far better than I thought it would and I like the bittersweet hopefulness. The worldbuilding was so intricate and unique, and there were many times I could practically feel the frostbite and howling winds, the descriptions were so vivid. And as always, the themes are powerful — subtle but hard-hitting.

Tricky Content: Brief non-detailed kisses, deaths, illness, magical elements (more so the world vs spells, etc.), references to a girl being sold as a prostitute, violence and fighting, tension

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy rich and vibrant fantasy worlds, lovely character growth, adventures/journeys, wintery settings, and deep themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared? Do you have any favorite stories you return to again and again? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #6 — the final day!

Don’t forget to enter that giveaway HERE!

Top 5 Books I’ve Reread (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Books From Genres I Don’t Usually Read (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Non-Fiction Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Top 5 Books From Genres I Don’t Usually Read (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome back to day four of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

If you’ve read my previous three posts (Day #1, Day #2, & Day #3) this week, feel free to skip on down to today’s theme. And if not, here’s a brief recap!

Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers are sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

Today I get to share five books I’ve recently enjoyed that are steps outside my usual genres! These genres today include westerns, middle-grade classics, historical women’s fiction, and mystery. Although I have my usual favorite genres (typically fantasy in some capacity), I absolutely love reading from a wide variety and try to do it often. We can learn so much and find so many new favorites by branching out!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

A Little Princess

Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Genre: Children’s Classic Fiction

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m so glad I finally read this precious little gem of a story – it’s now easily one of my favorite classics. While I was familiar with the general tale (Veggietales version, anyone?), I wasn’t prepared for how deep and introspective the book is. And yet, at the same time, it’s written in a simple and charming style that helps make such difficult life lessons easier to swallow. I would be a much better person if I approached life with the same faithful outlook as young Sara Crewe.

I’ll definitely be re-reading this one, and purchasing a hard copy to keep around!

Tricky Content: The only reason I can’t rate this a full five stars is for some wording that I’d omit if I were reading this book to my children (ex. “fat”, “stupid”, etc. used liberally as adjectives for other children). I know language has changed since the writing of this book, but there were a few phrases every now and again that made me uncomfortable.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers roughly aged 10+ that enjoy charming writing styles, happy endings, lessons of grace, courage, and perseverance through deep grief, and inspiring characters.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because of Winn-Dixie

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Genre: Children’s Classic Fiction

Target Audience: MG (Middle-Grade)+

What Stuck Out to Me: I dove into this completely clueless besides having heard the name before. I assumed it was a simple, lighthearted “dog” book for children, but instead, I’m astounded by the depth and emotion packed into this little story. It’s complicated, it tugs at the heart, it’s charming, and it’s very honestly real. It reminded me of Bridge to Terabithia, but more wholesome and heartwarming, and a lot less tragic (yay, haha!).

I’d personally wait until my kids are a bit older to read this one, due to some of the heavier themes and wording used, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tricky Content: Sparing use of the word r****d, which I didn’t appreciate. Mentions of drunkenness, prison and crimes, a mother leaving her child, kids calling an elderly woman a “witch” until they meet her.

I’d Recommend It To:

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Like the Air After the Rain

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Historical Romance

Target Audience: I’d consider it an Adult-oriented novel (for deep themes, rather than content)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is officially my new favorite book by Kellyn Roth! Victorian era romance novels have never been a genre I seek out, but I’m realizing that if they’re written by Kellyn, I’ll probably enjoy them. It’s been a long time since a book has touched my heart so deeply.

Lorelai was fascinating, and felt extremely real and nuanced. In many ways, we’re different, but particularly in her struggles with family, I deeply related. There was something so healing about watching Lorelai wrestle with God, and finally reach a place where she could rest in Him. The story was enjoyable, the themes unique and powerful, and the messages so convicting.

Once again, the setting was vivid and interesting. And as is typical with this genre, the plot isn’t action-packed, but introspective and rich with internal conflict, wrestling with God, and family dynamics/healing. The pacing carried well, and I was never bored. Ultimately, the themes are what set this book apart. The messages of resting in the Lord, of trusting His timing, and finding meaning and value only in Him were prominent and powerful. Kellyn writes strong Christian stories unabashedly and I love her for it.

Tricky Content: Multiple non-described kisses, references to intimacy between a married couple, references of trying for a child/heir, childbirth (vaguely described), miscarriage and monthly menses are mentioned, a minor character is hinted to be promiscuous but is handled in a godly manner, discussions of parental abuse/neglect, depression, a character feels life is meaningless and is borderline suicidal

I’d Recommend It To: Mature readers who enjoy sweet and thoughtful Victorian-era romances centered around Christ and family (mature not because of inappropriate content, but due to the depth and raw look at family struggles). Because of the focus on marriage and children, I would probably recommend it to readers 18+, but there’s ultimately nothing to prevent mature younger teens from reading it too.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Outlaw Blood

Author: Noah J. Matthews

Genre: Fantasy Western

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: Such an impressive debut! The author clearly spent a lot of time fleshing out his story world. From the start, I was engrossed and could practically feel the sun and sand as the protagonist traveled. The creatures, towns, mountains, names, cultures, religions, traditions, sayings, etc…it was incredibly immersive and I would love to read more books in this world!

The prose itself was also excellent — clear and precise, but also poetic at the same time. I found it very engaging, and enjoyed much of the description and dialogue. I’m not overly familiar with westerns, but the story felt accurate to the genre. Very gritty, intense, thought-provoking, and adventurous.

In addition, what a fun variety of side characters! While I liked very few of them, I enjoyed the mix of professions, ages, and life experiences featured. Each character felt real, and like they had families, lives, and goals all their own – not just for the sake of the plot. I struggled with the implications of the ending, and it’s not a happy book, but it was fascinating and well-done enough that I’m glad I gave it a shot!

Tricky Content: Action and violence (sword fights, gun fights), mentions of alcohol and “sand”/drug-like substances, sand magic (reminded me of the Force from Star Wars), lightly-described injuries, several semi-detailed mentions of a corpse hanging from the gallows, hangings, undetailed deaths, overall heavy themes, repeated fictional swears, dysfunctional friendships and parental relationships, one kiss between a married couple (side characters).

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of gritty westerns, immersive and creative worldbuilding, masterful prose, and thought-provoking Christian themes (and not necessarily happy endings).

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Gray Poet

Author: Caitlin Miller

Genre: Historical Romance Short Story

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)+

What Stuck Out to Me: What a powerful gut punch of a story – and in so few words! Miller has a beautiful writing voice and as per the norm with her books, I was hooked from the start. I don’t know how she was able to make me care so much about her characters in so short a time, but I couldn’t stop reading, and although it wasn’t a happy ending necessarily, it felt very real. Hard and heavy, but with a solid dose of hope. Such a beautiful little story about community and helping one another find the light in the darkness.

Tricky Content: Mentions of abuse and a (non-graphic) suicide attempt. I’m sensitive to these, but they were handled with enough tact and grace that I was able to read it without regret.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy quick reads that stick to your heart, deep themes, hope in hardship, and tender romance in a historical setting.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Sign up for the author’s newsletter and read it FREE here!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared, or tried any new genres recently? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #5!

Don’t forget to enter that giveaway HERE!

Top 5 Books From Genres I Don’t Usually Read (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Non-Fiction Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Indie Books (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Top 5 Non-Fiction Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome back to day three of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

If you’ve read my previous two posts (Day #1 and Day #2) this week, feel free to skip on down to today’s theme. And if not, here’s a brief recap!

Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers are sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

Today’s theme allows me to share five of my favorite non-fiction books! I’ve read a fair few non-fiction books so far this year, many of them either Christian living or writing/publishing-related, so you’ll definitely see that reflected in my round-up. I’m so excited to share these stellar finds with you!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

Adorning the Dark

Author: Andrew Peterson

Genre/Topic: Christian Memoir

Target Audience: Christian creatives

What Stuck Out to Me: This book touched me deeply. (Thank you to Kate for buddy-reading this with me!) I’ve read good books on faith, and good books on creativity, writing, and publishing, but this is one of the only great books I’ve read that combines all of those elements, and does it so effectively!

Peterson writes in a relatable, honest, and humble style, giving us a bit of everything (part autobiography, part writing advice, part Christian encouragement). I enjoyed reading about his life and how God’s used various hardships and events to fashion him into the person he is today, and especially loved his examples of how Christians can create with the Lord on a personal, daily basis.

This book is an encouragement, a calling, and a reminder of why I write — and Who I write for! I think my favorite parts were his analogies, and I’ll be thinking of my books as berry bushes for a long time. It’s so easy to get swept up in the hectic creative process; this book is a moving reminder to continue growing and glorifying God. If you’ve ever considered reading this, here’s your push!

I’d Recommend It To: Any Christian seeking encouragement, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of what it means to create meaningful art with the Lord.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Business for Authors

Author: Joanna Penn

Genre/Topic: Indie Publishing

Target Audience: Indie/Self-Published authors seeking to make a career of publishing

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve found very few helpful, in-depth books regarding the business side of being an indie author, but this book is such a valuable resource.

Covering topics such as motivation and mindset, determining products and services, crafting a business plan, navigating employees and members of your author team, finding ideal customers, sales and distribution channels, marketing, financial advice, and long appendixes of helpful books and tools, Penn gives direct, clear, and actionable steps for starting an author business.

I appreciated her emphasis that there isn’t one right way to run an author business, just the right way for YOU in that moment. Businesses and their plans can change, and her recommendation to revisit your plans and strategies every six months or so is smart and encouraging. While I would have loved for this book to be even longer and more in-depth, I understand why it can’t hold ALL the details, particularly in the financial and legal sections. I’ll definitely be revisiting this one over time, as my business grows!

I’d Recommend It To: Indie/Self-Published authors seeking tips, strategies, and helpful business advice from an established author already managing it well.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Full Time Author

Author/s: Eileen Cook & Crystal Hunt

Genre/Topic: Writing/Publishing

Target Audience: Authors (directed more heavily at indie, but also applicable to traditional writers!)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is the best overall guide that I’ve read for authors seeking to write for a career!

With 450+ pages, this book visited everything from setting goals, choosing business models and planning for taxes, which publication path best suits you, identifying the best strategies for your books, marketing plans and methods, product price points and distribution channels, author branding and pen names, budgeting, re-branding and re-releasing old books, applying for an agent and publisher, indie publishing processes, other ways to bring in writing-related income, what to do when things go poorly, and appendixes of resources.

Each section was clear and easy to understand, at least as someone semi-familiar with many of the topics they discussed. Some of the sections were very short, and I’d have loved even more details in many of them, but they always provided other suggestions for where to go for more information. There was very little information that didn’t apply to me in some way or another, and what I can’t implement now, I anticipate revisiting in the future. I wish that I’d read this book at the start of my indie author journey!

I’d Recommend It To: Any author looking to write for a living, whether traditional or independently publishing, and seeking a handy, in-depth starter guide for figuring out all the aspects involved.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Story Genius

Author: Lisa Cron

Genre/Topic: Writing Craft

Target Audience: Writers/authors

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m just finishing this book, and it’s been extremely insightful as I’m outlining my most recent novel! I intend to go back and experiment with Cron’s suggestions/strategies on my other books in the editing stages.

As a character-oriented author, I love the deep focus on creating characters that feel real, and whose actions lead to a natural and moving story. Cron gives a very practical framework for developing characters and even recruited an author friend of hers to write out extremely helpful examples for her process!. While none of the information is groundbreaking, I’ve finished every chapter inspired to work on my own characters, and with new ideas on how to tackle story issues.

My only qualms with this are some uses of language, and a slight general sense of “this is the only correct way to outline a novel”, which I of course don’t agree with. But overall, this is a solidly helpful book when it comes to really knowing your characters and their motivations. Especially if you struggle with developing realistic characters, and/or connecting them cohesively to your plots, this is a great resource! I’ve never heard anyone else describe a character-creating process quite like this one, and it’s been fun.

I’d Recommend It To: Authors looking for help developing stronger characters and ensuring that they work together with their plots in tight-knit and interesting ways.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The God of Story

Author: Daniel Schwabauer

Genre/Topic: Christian Writing

Target Audience: Christian storytellers

What Stuck Out to Me: This is one of the best books about story I’ve ever read, and the only one I’ve found to cover story from a deep and engaging biblical perspective. I’m so glad I picked this one up!

In particular, the chapters on Job, were revolutionary to me. Schwabauer’s points and illustrative scenes were so helpful, and I lost track of how many times I had to stop reading to think through and pray about what he’d just written. I’d never thought about Job and his trials in that light, and the truths Schwabauer pulled from the biblical story hit me hard — in the best ways.

This book gave me a burning desire to go read my Bible again, and that’s perhaps the highest praise I can give it. Sometimes, having grown up Christian and knowing the biblical stories, just being able to see the familiar with fresh eyes and an eager mind can make all the difference. Overall, this book is enlightening, healing, vividly written, and full of valuable insight, the right smattering of humor, and plenty of heart.

I’d Recommend It To: Any Christian creative seeking an honest, deeper understanding of story, and how the Bible can give us a clearer picture of what story really is.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared? Do you have any favorite non-fiction books? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #4!

Don’t forget to enter that giveaway HERE!

Top 5 Non-Fiction Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Indie Books (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Books I Wish Had a Sequel (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Top 5 Indie Books (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome back to day two of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

If you read yesterday’s post (right HERE), feel free to skip on down to today’s theme. And if not, here’s a brief recap!

Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers are sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

Today’s theme is one of my absolute favorites, where I get to share five of my favorite indie books (books published by independent authors)! I adore far too many indie books to share in one blog post, but somehow I’ve managed to compile a few that have really stuck with me throughout this last year. There are so many good ones out there!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

A Noble Match (Cornerstone Series, #2)

Author: Kirsten Fichter

Genre: Nonmagical Christian Fantasy Fairy tale retelling (“Thumbelina”)

Target Audience: NA (New Adult)

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve never read a Thumbelina retelling before, but this one was cleverly done. Very unique and engaging, with just enough tie-backs to the original tale that I couldn’t help but smile as I caught them. I absolutely loved this story!

As always, the characters in this book have my heart. The protagonist is so sweet and optimistic, and her joy even in the midst of grief was convicting. I loved the “grumpy x sunshine” dynamic with her love interest, and that they both had things to teach one another. Their care for one another, and the way they both valued duty and responsibility was inspiring.

The faith element was also masterfully woven in. I never felt it was pushy or cheesy, but it was prominent enough to believe that the characters truly believed what they were saying when they spoke of their Lord and Creator. The themes of grief, love, duty, and hope were powerful. And a final honorable mention to the world-building in this story! What a fun twist on a typical medieval fantasy setting (flying suits!).

Tricky Content: Mild peril, fighting, talks of war, political tension, non-described injuries/burns, betrayal, mentions of characters swearing but no specific words, brief mention of a possible hanging, themes of grief and loss, discussions of a pre-story family death

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy Thumbelina retellings or medieval fantasy in general, Christian themes, sweet love stories, tension and intrigue, and an absolutely beautiful writing style.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Noble Protector (Cornerstone Series, #8)

Author: Madisyn Carlin

Genre: Nonmagical Christian Fantasy Fairy tale retelling (“Wild Swans”)

Target Audience: NA (New Adult)

What Stuck Out to Me: As I went to add this Goodreads link to my post, I realized that I never reviewed it…and now that it’s been about a year, I don’t trust myself to recall exact details, so I guess it’s time for a reread! Honestly, I’m so excited to do so! This is such a gripping story.

This was my first read from Madisyn and what a great introduction! From the first page, I was hooked, and I remember reading it all in one sitting. The feel of the story itself is serious but hopeful, tense but heartwarming. The world itself drew me in with the vivid descriptions and its intriguing customs/details.

And as always, my favorite elements were the characters. They felt so real and I could relate to both protagonists as they struggled to protect the people around them and wrestle with their own hurts and fears. The slow-burn romance was extremely sweet, and I’d love to see more of their relationship if the author ever wants to continue their story… The deep and meaningful themes were the icing on the cake.

Tricky Content: Fighting, death, poisoning and illness, a non-detailed kiss, peril

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy wintery medieval settings, deep Christian themes that make you think, sweet slow-burn romance, strong (of character) protagonists, and tense plots.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Assassin of Fire and Sacrifice

Author: Mary Mecham

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)

What Stuck Out to Me: This might be my favorite Mary Mecham book so far. It was a step outside my recent genres, but I’m so glad I gave it a shot. What a fun, fast-paced story!

I usually don’t care for self-proclaimed hardened assassins being the story “heroes”, but this one was well done! I could understand the reasoning behind her actions, and root for her as she learned better. And the male protagonist is my favorite. I might be biased, since he reminds me of my husband, but I adored him. His scenes were my favorites, and I really enjoyed seeing him soften and grow throughout the story.

The world was much more complex than I expected from a fiery, fairy tale romance! Particularly the phoenixes, their healing processes, and small things such as the shoulder tattoos and the wedding traditions. It felt very cohesive and well-thought out. I also appreciated that the romance was clean, and that any physical affection was wholesome, sparing, and fit the scene. And wow, that ending! I wasn’t expecting nearly ANY of the twists, and I love when books can do that for me. I finished the book smiling.

Tricky Content: death/killing, main characters are hardened assassins, betrayal, several brief kisses, flirtatious dialogue, married characters make several joking comments about wedding night (nothing more happens), and one mention of a low-cut blouse and the protagonist’s curves

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy clean and engaging fantasy romances — particularly with lots of banter, a protective male protagonist (“touch her and die”), and a unique phoenix world.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Ophelia Brown and the Mythical Menagerie

Author: Julia Witmer

Genre: Portal Fantasy

Target Audience: MG (middle-grade) and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I absolutely loved the first book in this series last year (then loaned it to my younger siblings who also really enjoyed it), so this was a highly anticipated sequel. It didn’t disappoint! If anything, I actually enjoyed this one even more.

 I really enjoyed the sheer variety of characters, many mythical beings, and all with vivid personalities, fascinating backstories, and fun quirks. The descriptions were also beautiful, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to explore a lot more of the story world. Every chapter held new aspects and it was fun wondering what might be next.

My other favorite element was the character growth! The protagonist wrestled with very relatable and crucial struggles, including managing her anger, feeling left out, overcoming fear, and trusting after hardship. Overall, I absolutely loved this story and eagerly await book #3!

Tricky Content: One usage of “shut up”, some mild violence, a few vaguely-described injuries, peril, the protagonist suffers from non-described nightmares, and wrestles with loss of trust, feeling betrayed and angry, and guilt

I’d Recommend It To: Readers (maybe 10+?) who enjoy adventurous middle-grade portal fantasy stories with plenty of heart, clean and meaningful themes, and a healthy dose of action/suspense. Bonus points if you enjoy books in a series!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Stolen Kingdom

Author: Bethany Atazadeh

Genre: Fantasy Romance (loosely retelling “Aladdin”)

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult)

What Stuck Out to Me: I haven’t been so engrossed in a long time! The world-building in this story is excellent. I could tell it was an Aladdin retelling, but not in a forced or obnoxious way. Instead, I had great fun stumbling across a slightly familiar story aspect and realizing that it was a cleverly twisted element of the fairy tale.

And of course, I love that it’s clean! The romance is sweet, language is appropriate, and heavier subjects are handled with tact, without shying away from the hardship. Overall, the story has a lighter feel, while still keeping me on my toes with tension.

Best of all is the nuanced, lovable, fascinating cast of characters – from the protagonists to the minor appearances. Gideon is my favorite HANDS DOWN, but the spunky main characters, chilling villain/s, misguided allies, and bumbling and loyal band of outcasts all drew me in. I enjoyed the “heist” elements, and the fact that each and every character felt like they were there for a reason, not just to advance the plot, but because they had goals, dreams, aspirations, and motives of their own. It’s such a fun read!

Tricky Content: a couple of subtle references to men’s inappropriate intentions, mentions of the protagonist’s beauty, the protagonist kisses (non-detailed) a man she doesn’t love and a man she DOES love, magic system centered around the Jinn (genies) and magical objects, a villain loses his tongue, memory of a child’s death

I’d Recommend It To:

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared? Do you have any favorite indie books? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #3!

Don’t forget to enter that giveaway HERE!

Top 5 Indie Books (Five Fall Favorites 2025)Top 5 Books I Wish Had a Sequel (Five Fall Favorites 2025)The Goodreads Blog Tag

Top 5 Books I Wish Had a Sequel (Five Fall Favorites 2025)

Welcome to day one of Five Fall Favorites — the annual autumn celebration of all things bookish!

I’m so happy to be participating in this blog event again. It’s my fourth time taking part, but 2025 is actually the tenth year that Five Fall Favorites has happened, which is so neat! An entire decade of book recommendations and cozy vibes, and it’s still going strong.

If you’re new to the event, here’s how it works. Every day this week (6 days in all), I and a large group of other book bloggers will each be sharing posts centered around certain bookish themes, and packed full with some of our favorite book recommendations from the past year. I’ll link to a number of those blogs at the end of this post, but for even more links and information, you should check out our hosts’ sites!

Five Fall Favorites is once again hosted by Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah at Read Another Page (click on their blog names, or the graphics below to visit their blogs). Thank you both so much!

Giveaway

In addition to book recommendations, there is also a giveaway this year!

Two winners will be drawn, and they will each receive a collection of free e-books and audiobooks (plus a gift-card for the first-place winner). Check out the prize graphics below to see what you could win!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is click HERE!

Today’s Theme

I’ve decided to start off on a different note today. You’ll probably see many of the other bloggers sharing their top five book recommendations from previous Five Fall Favorites, but as I don’t have as many years of participation to choose from, I opted to go with one of the alternate themes.

That theme, as you can already see, is Five Books I Wish Had a Sequel.

And as a bonus, I’ve shared several of these in previous years, so it still sort of works for both!

All the books I share this week are ones that I’ve either read in the past year, or are currently reading/re-reading, so please feel free to leave any questions you might have about the books below, and I’ll do my best to answer.

Also, I’ve reviewed many of these more thoroughly on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or other reviews – you can find the Goodreads link under each book, or by clicking on each book’s title.

Let’s hop in!

A Curse of Gold and Beauty

Author: Mary Mecham

Genre: Fantasy Fairy-tale (Rumpelstiltskin) retelling

Target Audience: YA (Young Adult) and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I didn’t expect this story to impact me as much as it did. Story-wise, this is a cute, light read, with heartfelt romance and immersive worldbuilding. I enjoyed how the Rumpelstiltskin tale was woven into the story without feeling forced or cheesy. It was very fun to read!

Most of all, I loved that one of the protagonist’s disability wasn’t something to be fixed, but simply part of him. I teared up at many of the things he said – especially that his pain didn’t define him, and that he can still make his own choices. I was also extremely convicted by how optimistic and joyful he was all of the time! He didn’t feel sorry for himself or wallow in hardship. Instead, he was inspiring and selfless.

In addition, the other protagonist was one of the rare first-person leads I felt like I could really relate to. She was well-written, strong, and capable, and her romance with the other lead was wholesome and sweet. For these reasons, I’d love to read a sequel with these characters! They felt like such real people, and I was so intrigued and inspired by them that I’d enjoy getting to see them on another adventure.

Tricky Content: Mentions of one of the characters laying with her head on a love interest’s shoulder (“cuddling”), brief kisses, mild descriptions of injury and blood, kidnapping, mild peril

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of creative fairy tale retellings, quick and easy reads, stories with disability/chronic pain representation, and sweet friends-to-lovers romance!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Sign up for the author’s newsletter and read it FREE here!

Fairest

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Genre: Fairy Tale Fantasy

Target Audience: MG (middle grade) and above

What Stuck Out to Me: Since childhood, this has always been one of those books that I just can’t put down. Maybe it’s partially nostalgia, but I adore the enchanting fairy tale setting, the creative twist on a familiar Snow White-esque tale, and the timeless themes of courage and inner beauty.

The world itself is immersive, the magical elements intriguing, and the characters (always my favorite part) are interesting and likable. I enjoy watching as the protagonist especially learns and grows. The writing style too is simple, but very charming.

There are other books in the same world/series as Fairest (Ella Enchanted being one of them), but no direct sequel, and I would love for that to change! Although I’m not sure where a sequel might take the characters, I enjoy them enough that I would definitely be up for going on another journey with them!

Tricky Content: Brief kisses, bullying, violence and fighting, fairy tale magical elements/objects, fairy tale beings (gnomes, ogres), peril

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of enchanting and creative fairy tale twists, sweet romance, and wholesome themes of love, courage, and true beauty.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Romanov

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: Historical Fantasy (very loosely based on Anastasia Romanov & her family)

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve long been intrigued by the tragic story of the Romanov family and the mystery and legends surrounding them, so this fantasy twist was right up my alley. It’s an intriguing, emotional, and well-developed take on their tale, adding in a fascinating and creative magic system!

Best of all are the characters. Relatable, fascinating, and strong, but still imperfect in very real ways. Their relationships, especially the close-knit family during their biggest hardships, inspired me and made me appreciate my own family more. And the romance was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

While the story started slowly, the plot grew more mysterious and intense as the story progressed, and by the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down! Strong themes of courage, family, and sacrifice were the cherries on top. There’s really no way there could be a legitimate sequel to this story, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting one! The best stories leave us desperately longing for more, and that’s this book for me.

Tricky Content: A magic system with spells, violence and death, some intense/disturbing scenes, brief kisses, and drunkenness (portrayed negatively).

I’d Recommend It To: Readers intrigued by the Romanov family, historical fantasy with creative magic systems, and/or Russian-inspired fiction with heart-tugging romance.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Princess Bride

Author: William Goldman

Genre: Fantasy Adventure Romance

Target Audience: Readers roughly 12+

What Stuck Out to Me: After growing up with this movie on repeat, I finally read the book this year, and it was such a fun experience! While I’m biased and think I still prefer the movie, I’m so glad I finally dove into this fun adventure. What a ride!

This is such a fun, quirky, and classic tale, and I smiled during most of it. The constant adventurous nature of the story, the unique and memorable characters (which are fascinating if not likable), the upstanding themes, and of course, the humor and dry writing style. I absolutely love this story.

In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t want a sequel to this story, simply because I don’t know how a continuation could ever hold up to the original! But, indulge me, if we knew that the sequel would be just as good as the first story, I’d absolutely be up for more adventures of Buttercup and Wesley and all the rest. Those kinds of books are some of my absolute favorites, and I think the world needs more of them.

Tricky Content: Peril and sword-fighting, mildly-described torture, deaths, brief kissing, one fleeting mention of a woman’s breast, alcohol/drunkenness (portrayed in a negative light), some coarse language

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of quirky, wholesome, and adventurous fantasy stories with memorable characters, witty humor, and charming themes of romance and nobility.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m just starting to re-read this one, as it’s been a couple of years and specific memories are fuzzy, but this has been one of my favorites! I love the descriptive world-building, the unique and creative story premise (a dangerous November race with mythical water horses), the realistic and likable characters, and even the romance threads woven through.

Most of all, I love Stiefvater’s narrative voice. It’s beautiful, lyrical, and flowing, and yet relatable and clear. I aspire to write like she does.

I would love to read a sequel of this book as it’s just one of those stories that sticks with you. Every fall I think of it, and the world itself is so unique and vivid that I would like to dive into it again. It’s probably a selfish request, as the ending is satisfying and I’m not sure where a sequel could go that’d possibly live up to the first book, but I would enjoy getting to adventure with those characters again.

Tricky Content: Brief suggestive references, some language (including using the Lord’s name in vain), references to gods and goddesses, mildly descriptive brutality during the races in particular.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens/adults that enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy with vivid characters, intriguing plots, and creative settings.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Because there are so many bloggers participating in Five Fall Favorites this year, we’ve been split into teams! There’s no competition – only the opportunity to ensure everyone’s posts are shared.

I’m part of Team Aspen (see the graphic below), and I highly encourage you to check out the rest of my teammates’ posts for their recommended books today. That’s where I’m headed!

Here’s the list of bloggers in Team Aspen (click each name to visit that site):

Lydia @ Beyond History’s PagesHannah @ H. S. Kilian’s blogVirginia @ Books By VirginiaErika @ Resting LifeGabriella @ her SubstackFaith @ Faith on the Farm

Thank you so much for joining me today! Have you read any of the books I shared? Are there any that stick out to you? I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment below, and we’ll meet again tomorrow for Five Fall Favorites day #2!

Remember to go enter that giveaway HERE!

Top 5 Books I Wish Had a Sequel (Five Fall Favorites 2025)The Goodreads Blog TagThe Sunshine Blogger Award (2025)

The Goodreads Blog Tag

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I’m breaking my unintentional blogging hiatus with this short, book-filled blog tag that I discovered on the faithful bibliophile Katja H. Labonté’s site (go check out her post HERE)! Focused on Goodreads and our latest reads, I thought this would be a fun way to hop back into posting here.

If you’re not familiar with Goodreads, it’s a website and social platform dedicated to logging the books you’ve read, leaving ratings/reviews, and connecting with other like-minded readers. I started using it in 2021 and have greatly enjoyed having a place to both share my thoughts about the books I read, and see the reviews of others! And of course, as an author, receiving reviews on my own books there absolutely makes my day. I’ve also enjoyed setting yearly reading goals for myself and tracking my progress on the site. It helps me stay motivated when in uncomfortable reading slumps!

You can check it out HERE (not sponsored, I just enjoy using it haha).

Okay, let’s check out some bookish stats!

The Questions1) What was the last book you marked as “read”?

That would be Ophelia Brown and the Mythical Menagerie by Julia Witmer! I had the honor of reading an ARC for this one (although I bought a physical copy now too, it was so good). Such a lovely, adventurous middle-grade tale with very sweet themes. I plan to loan it to my little siblings – they really enjoyed book #1 – but recommend it to anyone who enjoys sweet, easy-to-read, and heartfelt portal fantasies.

You can read my full review on Goodreads HERE.

2) What are you currently reading?

I can never read just one book at a time, so here are the ones I’m currently working through:

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (mixed feelings on this series because its one of the best fantasy series I’ve read in a long time, but has some content that makes me too uncomfy to recommend it without caveats.)Of the Curse or the Crown by V. B. Lacey (another ARC – book #2 of the series – and another one that’s not 100% my cup of tea, but it’s well-written and I am enjoying many parts of it.)The Eternity Gate by Katherine Briggs (just started this one and am so excited to read further! I had the honor of meeting the author last month and she was the absolute sweetest person.) The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (confession: I’ve never read Lord of the Rings before! I tried in middle school and could never get through them, but now that I’m listening to the audiobooks, I can’t believe I waited so long! I highly recommend the ones narrated by Andy Serkis!)3) What was the last book you marked as “to-read”?

Great question! Let’s see…looks like it was Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. I don’t actually know much about this book, but I’ve enjoyed John Green’s writing in the past and have heard good things about this, even though it’s non-fiction rather than his usual fiction. I obviously can’t vouch for the content in any way yet.

4) Do you use the star system?

Reluctantly, yes. It’s an imperfect system, but I don’t have a better alternative, haha. I typically rate with fewer stars on Goodreads than if I’m rating a book on Amazon because Goodreads is a bit more excitable with their stars (5 stars = amazing), but if I’m conflicted, I’ll usually rate higher (ex. 5 stars if my rating is a 4.5) and note my reasoning in the review itself.

5) Are you doing the 2025 Reading Challenge?

Yes! My goal this year is 75 books, and considering I’m already at 45 (more than I read last year), I’m making pretty good progress. I’ve discovered the fastest way to creative burn out is for me to stop reading and watching movies, so even though it feels counterintuitive to take time away from writing, I’m making a real effort to keep filling my creative well with stories. It’s definitely helping!

6) Do you have a wishlist?

Not an official one, but scattered among several lists, yes. I keep track of books that I would like to snag in paperback/hardcover at some point, and also have a list of short writing-related craft books that I grab on Kindle every now and again too. Sales and thrift stores are my very best friends when it comes to book purchases, and most of my new books are either by fellow indie authors or authors I know personally and/or have read and loved the rest of their books.

7) Who are your favorite authors?

Oh no, why does this have to be a question? I have so many, and keep discovering more as I branch out. A few of my auto-buy authors (I’ve read all/most their books, enjoyed all that I’ve read, and/or anxiously await their new releases) right now:

Daniel SchwabauerNadine BrandesAlissa J. ZavalianosJulia WitmerSuzanne CollinsBethany AtazadehJ. K. RowlingAndrew Peterson8) Have you joined any groups?

Just a couple, although I’m not active in any of them, haha. One Goodreads librarians group, one for Christian book reviews, and one for the writing community I’ve been part of since high school.

9) How many Goodreads shelves do you have?

Well, after checking (I had no idea!), it looks like I have 48. I’m not as organized with them as I’d like to be, but have yet to go through and clean up. I mostly just shelf books by genre and some light adjectives (ex. “favorites”, “romance”, “cute”, “authors-I-know”, etc.). One day I’ll be a bit more structured with them.

This was very fun! Such a short and simple way to recap the year’s reading so far. If you have a Goodreads account and want to either answer the questions in the comments below or join the blog tag on your own site, please consider this your invitation!

And if you don’t have a Goodreads account, I’d still love to know what you’re reading right now! Even better, drop me a comment below and tell me the best book you’ve read so far this year.

Lastly, if you’d like to connect with me on Goodreads, click HERE to check out my profile and reviews!

Until next time!

Recent Posts:

The Goodreads Blog TagThe Sunshine Blogger Award (2025)“Tell a Fairy Tale Day” Book Sale!

The Sunshine Blogger Award (2025)

Happy Friday!

I’ve done this tag before, twice if memory serves, and each time it’s just as fun. This time in particular, the questions are so unique and nostalgic! I’m looking forward to diving in.

I was tagged for this by the wonderful Katja (you can find her post HERE). Thank you, Katja!

The RulesDisplay the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog. (see below)Thank the person who nominated you. (Thank you again, Katja!)Provide a link to your nominator’s blog. (HERE’s the link to her blog again!)Answer your nominators’ questions.Nominate up to 11 bloggers. Ask your nominees 11 questions. Notify your nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts.The QuestionsWhat was your dream job(s) as a kid? Do you still want that, or do you love what you do now better?

I wanted to do so many things as a kid. On the list were professions like overseas missionary, nurse, ballerina, stage and film actress, opera singer (any kind of singer honestly), mother, professional equestrian, and of course, an author. My interests are still varied at this point in my life, but I’m definitely settling into a rhythm of some job/s I enjoy more than others, and getting to follow some passions.

Working on growing my career as an author, while preparing for a life of motherhood and companionship with my husband, following the Lord’s guidance all the while is a dream come true. I get temporarily sidetracked with other fun projects on occasion, but I absolutely love what I’m doing now. The little girl inside me is also very happy.

What have you learned about God over the years?

Oh, I could write a book on this question alone. I’ve learned so much. If I had to try and boil it down to one predominant lesson though, I’d say that God is faithful.

He’s faithful when life is going well, dreams are coming true, and you see His blessings every minute of every day. He’s faithful when life falls apart, friendships end, and He’s the only light you can begin to make out in the darkness. He’s faithful in hard decisions, difficult diagnoses, complex relationships, and seasons of uncertainty and despair. He’s faithful to teach the lessons you need right when you need them, and in the only way you’ll actually absorb them – again and again until they stick.

It’s harder to remember sometimes when I’m in the thick of things, but it doesn’t take much time at all thinking back on previous instances of His faithfulness, and reading Scripture, before I’m wondering why I would ever allow myself to become so distraught. There’s not been a single moment of my life, or a single difficult situation, where God hasn’t proven Himself faithful. That’s such a joy and comfort.

Is there a book or series you wish you discovered younger so you could enjoy it for more years, or you think your younger self would have appreciated more?

Hmmm, this is a great question! I’ve been reading quite a few new-to-me middle grade books this year so far, and I think younger me would have liked to read Wish (by Barbara O’Connor), Because of Winn-Dixie (by Kate DiCamillo), A Little Princess (by Frances Hodgson Burnett), and The Princess Bride (by William Goldman – only the book was new to me, the movie has been a favorite for years). I’m not sure I would have appreciated all of the complexities of these books, but I’m sure I would have enjoyed them!

What special object that you’ve always wanted to own do you now have?

This is a huge one, but I’ll say our house. In December of 2023, my husband and I purchased our home in a tiny village about 10 minutes from the home I grew up in, and I adore it. Both the little house itself, and the fact that it’s ours. While it’s obviously a lot of work and cost, there’s something very special about maintaining and tweaking our home together. We were able to adopt two kitties last summer, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with kids in the future too. Home means a lot to me.

Is there a place you’ve been as a child/the past that you still go to and love? Explain why. 

Well, home is definitely one (see above, haha). We go to see my family at my childhood home nearly every week at this stage of life, and I’m very grateful for that ability. Otherwise…I’d have to say some of the nearby parks and walking trails in the town nearest us. We didn’t go very often since we had a large yard at home growing up, but I have very good memories of walking in those places with my family, and later my husband, for hours during warm weather months.

Are there any special experiences or accomplishments that you’ve gotten to cross off your bucket list?

I had to pull out my old bucket list for this one (and in doing so, realized that I should make an updated version, since the old one is from my early high-school years). Looks like I can cross off “singing a solo on stage”, “publish a book”, “write five books”, “travel to another state”, and “get married”. There are a lot of things on that list, many of which I’m okay with never doing at this point, but it’s fun to look back on what I wanted at that stage in life. Some things haven’t changed a bit!

What’s an activity from your teenage/younger years that you “gently mourn,” aka slightly wish you could still have/do? (ex. Pinterest surfing, necklace beading, reading…)

This is a fantastic question too! I actually still do a lot of the hobbies I did when I was younger, but more than anything, I think I gently mourn not having the sheer amount of time for them that I did then, haha. I still read, write stories, crochet, play the piano, walk outside, etc. Something I haven’t done in a while that I would love to do again is theatre. That one I do miss. Musical theatre in particular was a huge aspect of my high school years, and it’s not something that’s feasible to keep up with at this point in my life.

Name the Bible verse you’ve had memorized for the longest amount of time.

Revelation 4:11 ESV (“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”). I’m not sure why this one stuck with me so much from such a young age, but I remember repeating it to myself over and over again while doing chores, and it still comes to mind often now.

What was your first favourite book? What is your favourite now?

I don’t know if I can choose one first favorite…the Magic Treehouse series, the Mandie series, Bridge to Terabithia, the Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter…these were just some of the stories I read and re-read when I was younger. I can’t pick a favorite now either, haha. It’s only gotten harder, as I’ve discovered more and more stories that I love. Overall, gripping adventure stories with a lot of heart and plenty of lovable, real characters continue to be my favorite – both to read and write.

What’s one thing your younger self would be happy with you for? What’s one thing you wish you were more like your younger self in?

I think my younger self would be happy with me for following some of my dreams. In particular, getting married, and the ones that involve writing. She would also be very happy to know we have two cats inside the house. She would be absolutely in awe that we now have a blog, have traveled to other states published three books, and get to talk to and mentor other young writers on a regular basis.

Often, I miss the innocence and joy that younger me had. I know I would have driven myself crazy plenty of times, if I’d been able to meet myself at that age, but I do greatly miss the genuine excitement for everyday life that I remember experiencing. Not every day, of course, but the littlest things could inspire so much joy back then, and I pray I can reach that again at some point. Life became heavy all at once.

What food hits you with instant nostalgia?

Oh, great question! I’d probably say something as simple as Mac n’ Cheese – the Kraft box mix kind. For a bit of my childhood, a couple of my aunts would come over to watch my siblings and I once each week while our parents worked and we would often have mac n’ cheese (enough that we got sick of it at the time, haha). I can’t have it anymore, so that probably contributes to the nostalgia I feel when I see it.

Follow-up answers would be coffee cake with homemade jam, homemade bread (with wheat berries my mom ground herself), and a few other homey baked goods like that. I have very fond memories of all the warm, tasty, and healthy goodies my mom would make for me and my siblings on a near daily basis.

The Questions:What was your dream job(s) as a kid? Do you still want that, or do you love what you do now better?What have you learned about God over the years?Is there a book or series you wish you discovered younger so you could enjoy it for more years, or you think your younger self would have appreciated more?What special object that you’ve always wanted to own do you now have?Is there a place you’ve been as a child/the past that you still go to and love? Explain why. Are there any special experiences or accomplishments that you’ve gotten to cross off your bucket list?What’s an activity from your teenage/younger years that you “gently mourn,” aka slightly wish you could still have/do? (ex. Pinterest surfing, necklace beading, reading…)Name the Bible verse you’ve had memorized for the longest amount of time.What was your first favorite book? What is your favorite now?What’s one thing your younger self would be happy with you for? What’s one thing you wish you were more like your younger self in?What food hits you with instant nostalgia?

Thank you again for these lovely questions, Katja! I really enjoyed answering them!

I feel like such a cheater doing this, but because this tag has been making the rounds lately and I’m not sure who’s recently been tagged, I’m going to leave this an open nomination. And, I’m supposed to come up with eleven more questions to ask, but I honestly love these ones from Katja so much that I really just want to know your answers to these eleven!

So if you’re looking for a fun blog tag to do, please consider yourself nominated! I would absolutely love to read your answers, either on your blog if you have one, or below in the comments!

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you! (I promise next time, I’ll come up with some creative questions of my own, haha).

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“Tell a Fairy Tale Day” Book Sale!

Happy National “Tell a Fairy Tale Day”!

Every year I’ve wished that I had a fairy tale book to do something with for this fun little holiday, and now I’m thrilled that I finally do! So to celebrate, let’s have a book sale!

Through today ONLY (February 26th, 2025), A Noble Grace – my nonmagical Beauty and the Beast retelling – is on sale for just $0.99! You can find it on Amazon by clicking right HERE.

If you’ve been eyeballing it but didn’t want to risk a couple of dollars on an unfamiliar author/genre, I completely understand! This is a great, relatively inexpensive chance to snatch it up.

If you’re interested, here are what some readers have been saying:

“I would highly recommend this book for fans of sweet fairytale retellings, Beauty and the Beast stories, SISTER stories, and clean romances.”

~ Amazon Reviewer ~

“My favorite part of this retelling was the two sisters! The relationship between Annette and her sister felt so real!!! I enjoyed seeing how the two supported each other throughout the entire story.“

~ Amazon Reviewer ~

“This is a clean, uplifting, non-magical rendition of Beauty and the Beast with a well-placed variation in the sister. Good read, some fun characters, refreshing to see them actually asking God for help instead of relying entirely on their own wit and good intentions.“

~ Amazon Reviewer ~

“I found the story well written and thought through. It was truly a pleasure to read. Sweet, clean, a little sassy, and a whole lot of fun!”

~ Amazon Reviewer ~

About the Book:

A servant protecting her sister, a prince desperate to wed, and a reluctant union to save their kingdom.

For three long years after losing her home in the Crylmar attacks, twenty-two-year-old Annette Beaumont has worked hard to keep her family together. But when her papa’s debt to the crown is called into question, and she and her sister are sent to serve at the castle until it’s paid, she’s drawn into a plot that threatens everything she’s worked for.

Shunned and hated, Prince Laurent Villeneuve is running out of time to find a bride before he forfeits his right to the throne. But to stop his treacherous uncle from seizing power and aligning with the enemy, he must overcome his kingdom’s hatred, and somehow win the affections of the stubborn servant who becomes his last chance.

As tensions rise and threats loom, both must learn to work together, softening their hearts and setting aside their differences. When time runs out, what will they sacrifice to save their kingdom from ruin? And what if that sacrifice changes everything?

A Noble Grace is a New Adult non-magical Christian fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, book #3 in The Cornerstone Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.

I’ve absolutely loved watching readers’ reactions to A Noble Grace, and continue to be so grateful for the opportunities and learning lessons this book has brought me. If it sounds like your cup of tea, I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved creating it!

One more time, HERE’s that link (click anywhere on this line)!

And if you’ve read it already, I’d love to know what you thought! Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know (the good, the bad, and the ugly welcome)!

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Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Book Tag

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’ve never been one to get super into about Valentine’s Day, but it does provide a fun opportunity to do a love/Valentine’s themed book tag! This one was created by Pampered Pages and I discovered it on Between the Shelves. I love the bookish spin on some of the classic romance book questions!

Let’s dive in!

The Questions1. What is your favorite Valentine’s Day-themed candy?

I actually had to Google “Valentine’s Day candy” because I wasn’t sure what counted, haha. I’m always happy to snack on some dairy-free dark chocolate, but I’d say my top pick would be jellybeans. My husband and I had a special dish for jellybeans on our counter for a while after we got married (before we got cats!) and between the two of us, they never lasted as long as they should have…

2. Do you enjoy reading romance?

I’m usually pretty indifferent. I don’t seek out books with romance, and full-on romantic novels as a genre aren’t my cup of tea, but if sweet, clean romance is a subplot in an otherwise stellar book, I enjoy it! I think it’s hard to write well. That said, I’ve enjoyed finding some well-written fairy tale romance books lately (ex. The Cornerstone Series), and experimenting with slow romance threads in my own books.

3. Do you tend to read romance books throughout the Valentine’s Day season?

For the above reasons, not really. Time to read has been limited, so when I do get a chance, it’s usually just whatever I have around on my TBR – not typically romance books. I think it’s very fun when readers tailor their book intake around certain holidays and seasons though! I’m sure it helps get into that holiday’s spirit. Maybe in the future I’ll be more themed in my reading choices.

4. Your fictional sweetheart shows up at your door with a Valentine’s Day gift. What is it?

I’m glad it’s not asking who is it because I’m not sure what I’d answer, haha! As for the gift, probably a book I’ve been wanting to read, a movie I want to watch with that person, or a board game to play together. I’d be thrilled at anything creative or that allows a fun shared experience.

5. How many romance books do you have that are written by the same author?

Hmm, it looks like the most romance books I have by one author is eight by Mary Mecham. She writes (clean) romantic fairy tale retellings, and while I have yet to read all of them, I’ve greatly enjoyed the ones I have read!

In particular, her novella Of Gold and Beauty (a Rumplestiltskin retelling) really touched me. If you’re interested, you can receive it for free by clicking HERE.

6. What is a romance book that made you cry?

This feels very basic, but The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. That book was a wild ride, and while I can’t whole-heartedly recommend it due to a strong amount of content I didn’t care for, I can’t deny that the story gripped me. I distinctly remember staying up way too late reading, and finishing the book in tears.

7. If you could choose any place (fictional or real) to escape to for a Valentine’s Day date with your sweetheart, where would you like to go?

I love this question, but I don’t know how to answer it. I have so many ideas!

For a fictional place, I’d say the Shire. I would love to walk around the Shire with my husband on a lovely sunny day, with music, flowers, and laughter floating along the fresh air.

For a real place that’s not exactly realistic, I’d be thrilled to spend a day exploring a medieval Scottish castle, or hiking around Dursey Island in Ireland.

More realistically and something I also love is simply taking a long walk outside. Around town, on trails, through parks… my husband and I did this all the time when we were dating and I never grow tired of it!

8. DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER: What anticipated book release do you know in your heart you will absolutely love?

Ophelia Brown and the Mythical Menagerie (book #2 in the Ophelia Brown series) by Julia Witmer releases July 1st, and I’m really looking forward to it! I absolutely loved the first book in this charming middle-grade series last year, then loaned it to my younger siblings (ages eight and six) and they’re enjoying it as well. We’re all hyped for this release!

Find more information at Julia’s site HERE.

9. Do you have any favorite love-themed quotes from any of the books you have read?

Oh, that’s really hard… here are a couple good ones that come to mind:

“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – Arwen, The Lord of the Rings

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but your name, my love, is a melody to my soul.” – Cyrano de Bergerac

“Because that was love. Beyond infatuation. It was action. It was an action of the heart, of the mind. Of forgiveness and grace and seeing one another.” – Nadine Brandes, Wishtress

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

10. ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR: Do you have more books with red or pink spines?

Very few of either one, but it looks like I have more with red spines. I couldn’t actually find a single book on my shelves with a pink spine, and I assume it’s because I don’t read many contemporary romance novels – what looks like the predominate genre for pink spines. I’d love pink spine recommendations!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this fun little Valentine’s-themed tag! How would you answer these questions? I’d love to find out, so please leave your answers in the comments below (or on your own blog, if you’re a blogger)!

Until next time!

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My 2025 Goals (& 2024 Recap)

Welcome to February!

Every year, I enjoy sharing my goals for the upcoming months, and while I typically do that in January, I’m just now getting around to organizing my author side of 2025. The year has started off with a whirlwind, and I’m honestly thankful for it, even the hard. I tend to be overly ambitious in what I think I can accomplish in a year, and the reminder that life happens on God’s schedule – not mine – was very needed.

2024 was a lot. A lot of hard, a lot of good, and a lot of learning, as you’ll get a glimpse of in the recap below and in a post coming soon where I share more details of some of those lessons. I’m so grateful for new friends, close family, my dear husband, our sweet kitties, good coworkers, and of course, God’s guiding hand throughout it all. Life looks different than I expected it to by now, and that’s okay.

So with that in mind, as I look back over 2024’s goals, and share some of my hopes for 2025, I’m doing so with the knowledge that things can and will change. Of course I have dreams, and I’m going to do what’s in my power to accomplish these projects, but only the Lord knows what will be different by 2026! When I let go of my need for control, that’s honestly such an exciting thought.

And we know that for those who love God
all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose.
~ Romans 8:28 ESV

While I’m taking that verse to heart, let’s dive in!

How did my 2024 goals go?

Great question! Let’s review…

Publish Gills

Starting off with an obvious no, this did not happen. Like I said, 2024 hardly went as I planned, and with the writing/editing/publishing of A Noble Grace, I didn’t make much progress on this Cabin Girl prequel. I have started re-reading it and making some editing notes this month though! I’ve missed this story.

Publish secret novel

This secret novel was A Noble Grace! Obviously this one did happen, releasing on October 29th, 2024. The reception has been so much kinder than I anticipated, especially as this book was a huge struggle for me. I learned so much, and am so grateful for the opportunity, even though I didn’t handle it as I should’ve. It’s been 100% worth it. Thank you so much for the encouragement and support throughout!

Share another secret project

This one didn’t pan out, which has been another learning experience. I might share about it at some point, but for now, I can simply say that I attempted to branch out in my creative outlets before I was ready, and though I don’t currently have the skillset for it, I’m thankful to have had the chance to try.

Write and publish a short story

No, although I’m getting very close on this one! More information on this in my 2025 goals…

Draft NaNoWriMo novel

Again, no. After cranking out A Noble Grace between August and October, I didn’t have the mental energy to even attempt this, haha. I’m learning to be a bit more flexible with my writing schedule.

Update author photos and bios

“This is a small thing, so it should be doable,” 2023 Bella said. Haha, no again. I did revamp my website though, and am pretty happy with it for now! Hopefully this gets done in the next few months.

Read 75 books

No, but I read 40! I was so stressed by my procrastination and slow progress on A Noble Grace for most of the year, that I did possibly the worst thing for my creativity and basically stopped reading for a few months. Even so, I found many new favorites, and got to read a lot more indie books, which I loved!

Continue to better my health

This is vague, but I believe I did? Not as much as I would have liked – that never happens – but I’ve made conscious efforts to listen to my body. The Lord blessed me with a huge victory last June, when I attended a week-long conference in Kansas, and was able to manage my migraines well enough to truly enjoy it. Even with extremely long train travel days, lots of walking and driving around, long days, less sleep, different food… I’m so thankful, and while I know it was God holding back the worst of the migraines (the ones I did have were manageable), I was much more intentional about caring for them than I usually am, and it’s encouraging to know I can make a difference.

Guest post/collaborate with other authors

This…didn’t really happen unfortunately. As you probably noticed, I didn’t really blog at all last year, much less coordinate guest posts. I would still like to do this if the opportunity arises, but I think I know better now than to assume I’ll do a lot of these this year.

Blog, post on social, and send out newsletters consistently

Depending on the month, I did decently with this. Some months had near daily Instagram and Facebook posts/reels, some had more frequent blog posts, some had newsletters going out more frequently. It wasn’t nearly as often in any of them than I hoped for, but it was still better than 2023!

My 2025 GoalsPublish To Buy a Bike

Remember that short story from earlier? While I didn’t publish it in 2024 like I’d hoped, I’m getting very close to releasing this sweet little booklet – tentatively before the end of this first quarter… I had an amazing team of beta-readers go through it last month, and received a lot of great feedback that I’m currently working through. I’ll get to share the cover and more information soon!

Publish Gills

This is familiar, isn’t it? Hopefully this actually happens in 2024, haha. If all goes as planned, this won’t be the only installment added to the Cabin Girl series soon either. Only time will tell!

Write third draft of Forgotten

Forgotten is my YA medieval fantasy novel about hope, friendship, and found family, and I’m aiming to at least finish the third draft of it this year and send it off to some quality editors. This story is so important to me, and I’m realizing that I need to stop procrastinating work on it just because I’m scared to mess it up. I want to be able to share it, and it’s a story that I think will resonate with a lot of people.

Draft a secret project

All I can say about this project is that it’s another fairy tale retelling…and I’m really looking forward to it!

Audiobook!

I won’t say much about this one yet either, since so much still needs to be worked out, but I’m hoping for some exciting audiobook news still this year!

Send out monthly newsletters

More and more (Tiktok drama, anyone?), I’m reminded of just how important newsletters are to authors. Being able to communicate with readers, regardless of other platform’s rules or potential changes, is critical. So while I barely made January’s newsletter (sending it on the last day of the month), I did it! I aim to prioritize them each month. If you’d like to be on that receiving end of news and sneak peeks, sign up HERE!

Blog 2-4 times monthly

I missed blogging semi-regularly last year, and I think the practice of sitting down and cranking out words (even non-fiction ones) is so helpful to me. These posts help clear my head, motivate me, remind me of how important connection with other readers and writers is, and doesn’t hurt my online presence either! We’ll see how it goes, but I do have a rough plan outlined for blogging this year.

Read 75 books

I’m shooting for the same goal I’d originally planned last year, but this time I have high hopes! I’m already well ahead of schedule, so even if some months are slower, I think it should even out. If I learned anything from last year’s stress (and I learned a lot), it’s that I need to prioritize keeping my creative well filled. Reading is a huge part of that, as is watching good movies, playing story-based games, and giving myself “empty time” to brainstorm and throw around ideas. Not much good comes from a dry creative well!

Continue to better my health

This will probably be a reoccurring annual goal. I hope so! Every year I discover more helpful tips, and learn more about how my body works and responds to certain situations. Particular health goals this year include doing more weight training, taking more walks with my husband, and prioritizing protein.

Thank you so much for reading! I feel so blessed to be going on this journey with you, and look forward to sharing progress and updates as the year goes on. Your support is so motivating!

What are YOUR goals/hopes/desires for 2025? How are they going so far? What are you most excited for I would love to hear from you, so please feel free to share in the comments below!

Until next time!

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