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Top 5 Books About Kindness (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Happy Friday and welcome to day five of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about Five Fall Favorites by reading my first post this week (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, every day this week, a group of bloggers (me included) are sharing our five favorite books in a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to enjoy great new reads and cozy fall vibes!

This year’s theme is all about books that remind us of the Fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and so on! You’ve probably seen a little variation of those fruits between bloggers each day (since there are more fruits than days in the week and we can pick and choose), so you should find plenty of good recs to add to your TBR!

Today’s prompt is all about kindness!

Surprisingly, this one was pretty tricky for me, as many of the books that I wanted to highlight for the kindness that they feature could also have worked for the Monday prompt of books that feature love. The kindness in these books is mostly deep and driven from a place of genuine love – very lovely books.

Let’s dive in!

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

Ophelia Brown and the Unseen

Author: Julia Witmer

Genre: Middle-grade contemporary fantasy

Target Audience: MG and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This is the cutest story and I finished it in one sitting! From the first page, the quaint and inviting writing style drew me and the settings felt both magical and nostalgic. The characters are one of the strongest points in this story too, as the cast is such a fun and diverse group. Each character feels real – with goals, feels, personalities, manners of speaking, and senses of humor all their own.

The plot is nothing crazy, nothing too deep. But it was a classic children’s fairy tale adventure, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. It was packed full of action – from goblin attacks, to castles, to a suspicious fairy inn – with frequent sweet moments woven throughout. The themes included having hope, being courageous, true friendship, kindness, and faith – learning to believe in things we may not see.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Witmer has a way with touching middle-grade fantasies, and this is my favorite of hers so far. This is a very fun story that I can’t wait to read to my younger siblings sometime, and if it sounds like your kind of read, I absolutely recommend diving into a copy of your own!

Tricky Content: Occasional very mild language (one usage of h*ck, d*rn, and g*sh), mild violence (references to the protagonist punching others and knocking others unconscious, as well as mention of a knife being drawn out during a fight), several arguments between friends (including several instances of name-calling: “stupid”), one mention of a small line of blood on the MC’s hand, and light fantasy elements (goblins, fairies, spells, frequent mention of magic).

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys feel-good middle-grade fantasy, with fun settings, unique characters, and sweet themes. Even better if you love bittersweet happy endings!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Crown of Chains

Author: Erin Phillips

Genre: Christian fantasy biblical “Esther” retelling

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: The writing quality of this is spectacular. I was hooked from the start, and finished it in just a couple of days – and only because I didn’t have time to let myself read it in one. Phillip’s writing is very well-done, and her worldbuilding is excellent. Immediately, I felt drawn into the story and characters, and loved how she incorporated so many of the biblical elements with a fantasy twist. It felt seamless, natural, and very clever.

The biblical story of Esther is one of my very favorites. I’ve always been inspired by her courage and strength, and especially by her faith through so many horrible situations. And Phillip’s did an amazing job of showing just how dark her situation likely was. Sometimes it’s easy to gloss over Bible stories because we’ve heard them so often, and it doesn’t always go into details of day to day life. I appreciated the illustrations of how that may have looked.

I chose this for the kindness theme today because I loved the side characters in this story. The palace servants that were Roxana’s friends were the best parts of the story for me. They deserved so much better than what happened to them, and I really did love them. So all of that to say, if you’ve read this far, and this sounds like something you’d enjoy, definitely give it a try! Just realize that it’s definitely a dark fantasy. And maybe use it as an example of just how much God loves us and pursues us. Truly inspiring!

Tricky Content: Emotional and physical abuse, fantasy creatures (fairies, wyverns, griffins, satyrs), frequent instances of fantasy racism and sexual assault (tactfully covered but prominent), infidelity, kisses, allusions to sexual intimacy (before and after marriage), beatings, disfigurement, death and grief, concubines, protagonist is not a believer for most of story (and her character reflects it), dysfunctional family dynamics, political turmoil, references to hangings and torture.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers that enjoy dark fantasies with deep characters, intricate and well-explored fantasy worlds, tales of royalty, and biblical retellings that explore the nitty gritty of morality.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Mandy

Author: Julie (Andrews) Edwards

Genre: MG/juvenile historical

Target Audience: Children and older

What Stuck Out to Me: This was one of my favorite little books when I was younger, and it’s stood the test of time. I love the cute and quaint writing style, the many different characters and how likeable they are (mostly), the ‘Boxcar children’ vibe of Mandy and her cottage, and the growth that happens in several of the characters.

There’s really no villain, only unhappy circumstances, and even those are resolved quickly, leaving a feel-good, cute little story about a plucky orphan that finds families where she didn’t realize she had them.

This book fits the kindness prompt for me largely because of all of the side characters. Although Mandy doesn’t always realize it, she is treated so kindly by those that are taking care of her, and it warms my heart to read about. She also learns some valuable lessons about treating others kindly, even when it’s hard. Definitely still one of my favorite middle-grade books!

Tricky Content: A young girl gets sick and spends a night alone in the woods. Mild peril.

I’d Recommend It To: Children probably 8+ (this would also make a good read-aloud book for parents) or anyone who enjoys quick, charming, and intriguing middle-grade stories.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Dream of Home

Author: Kate Willis

Genre: Sci-fi Jewish novella

Target Audience: Young teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I didn’t know what to expect from this sweet short story, especially as I don’t read much sci-fi outside of Star Wars novels, haha. But I really enjoyed it! It’s so unique and I was drawn in from the very first page. I cared about the protagonist and her growing child and was really rooting for them.

I love the setting and how well the author created such a vivid atmosphere in a very short story. I got the sense that the universe was very large and well-developed, and it was neat to see all of the planet and people names and gather hints about each. The Jewish influences woven throughout were very cool too! Especially the prayers and customs sprinkled in.

The kindness of Adrian to the protagonist was very sweet, and I liked him immediately. I know this novella is a prequel to another story and this definitely makes me want to read more, so hopefully I can learn more about these characters! The protagonist’s love for her unborn child was also extremely refreshing and inspiring. I loved her drive and determination to reach a better life. And the story ended with just the right amount of hope and longing. Such a beautiful little story, and I’m so glad I got to read it!

Tricky Content: Protagonist is a newly pregnant refugee, mentions of vomit and nausea/motion sickness, references to slavery, mild peril and prejudice.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers who enjoy quick-read sci-fi stories with interesting and vivid characters, space travel, sweet themes, and Jewish influences!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Kisses From Katie

Author: Katie Davis

Genre: Christian Autobiography

Target Audience: Young adults and older

What Stuck Out to Me: I’ve always enjoyed autobiographies and biographies about missionaries and other Christian individuals who dedicated their lives to serving God and others. This is one that inspired me! The story of Katie really resonated with me, as someone who wanted (and would still love) to serve in Africa.

Katie’s story is passionate, and her heart for the orphans is so admirable. The journey she embarks on, the challenges she overcomes, and the lessons God teaches her and her companions over the course of the book’s timespan inspires me to live as faithfully as she does. It fits the theme of kindness so well today, as she was kind and so much more than that, thanks to God working through her. I dream of being a blessing like that.

The book details many hardships that the people around Katie went through, and she herself has to overcome physical discomforts and illnesses, emotional distress and misery, and times of spiritual wrestling. But through it all, we see God at work, weaving story lines, creating plot twists, and ensuring that His children are cared for and know that they’re loved. I was inspired, and I think you might be too.

Tricky Content: Frequent mentions of wounds, injuries, sicknesses, and accidents, murders and death, wars and fighting, abandonment, references to prostitution and unsavory intentions, child abductions and slavery. All describing the situations and setting around Katie during her time in Uganda.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys reading inspiring Christian autobiographies, especially if you have a heart for foreign missions.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve come to the end of day five of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite books featuring kindness? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to find out!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here for extra information, even more book recommendations, and to enter the special giveaway!

I’ll see you tomorrow for day six of bookish fun! (The very last day!)

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Books About Kindness (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Faithfulness (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Peace (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Top 5 Books About Faithfulness (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Happy Thursday and welcome to day four of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about Five Fall Favorites by reading my first post this week (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, every day this week, a group of bloggers (me included) are sharing our five favorite books in a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to enjoy great new reads and cozy fall vibes!

This year’s theme is all about books that remind us of the Fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and so on! You’ll see a little variation of those fruits between bloggers each day (since there are more fruits than days in the week and we can pick and choose), so you should find plenty of good recs to add to your TBR!

Today’s prompt is all about faithfulness!

I’m varying from the original prompt for today (which was patience) as I struggled to find good books that centered around the theme of patience. If you have any recommendations let me know! Instead, I pivoted to books that feature faithfulness, in character, action, and inspiration. Let’s explore them!

And stay tuned to the end for a fun freebie!

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

A Noble Purpose

Author: Laurie Lucking

Genre: Christian non-magical fantasy “Hans, Who Made the Princess Laugh” retelling

Target Audience: YA/NA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This is such a short and sweet story – a fun, heartwarming tale with a refreshing spin on the classic Hans, Who Made the Princess Laugh.

The characters were so fun! The protagonist is so kind-hearted and bubbly and I really admired her drive to make her sister happy. I also really loved the approach to the eldest sister’s melancholy, specifically one line about it being how the Holy One shaped her heart. The love interests balanced both sisters out so well, and were some of my favorite characters. I loved all of their dynamics.

I also appreciated that the adventure part of the story was lowkey. There was action and some danger, but it was all on a very small scale. I was never on the edge of my seat, stressed. Instead, the entire book felt cozy.

As far as themes go, mentions of The Holy One and prayers were not pushy or in-your-face, they were naturally woven in and I enjoyed their presence. I also loved how faithful the little sister was to her elder sister and how genuinely she wanted to help, going out of her way. They had a sweet relationship, and it was very rewarding to watch them both get happy endings. I absolutely recommend this one!

Tricky Content: A couple of kisses, a woman rests in her love’s arms and with her head against his shoulders while asleep, mentions of the Holy One, someone is hit in the head with a rock and passes out, attempted kidnapping.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys short and sweet fairy tale romances with cozy vibes, chipper humor, and fun characters!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!
(I read an ARC for this, but it releases October 1st! You can pre-order now to receive it on release day!)

To Bind Fire

Author: D. E. Carlson

Genre: Christian Fantasy Romance

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I’m in the process of rereading this again, as there’s so much to it and I can’t remember everything! I have really enjoyed it though. The author has a beautiful writing style and a knack for crafting immersive, interesting worlds. She also features prominent Christian themes, one of which being faithfulness to her goals and beliefs.

The characters have so much learning and growing to do, and I’ve appreciated watching each of them as they weave through the storyline. I was caught off guard by a lot of the story twists, which is good, and despite this being a pretty long book, I read the whole thing in just a couple of days. I didn’t want to put it down!

Overall, this book has a slower pace so I’m interested to see where the series goes (the second book is released now too!) and get to see where some of this tense build-up will lead. I care about the characters, am intrigued by the romance elements, and the villain is honestly very intimidating. It’s been fun to travel through this epic fantasy world with the characters as they journey. If this sounds like your kind of book, I say give it a try!

Tricky Content: Violence and fighting, mentions of blood and injuries, death, loss and grief, kisses and attraction, a couple sleeps side by side, a magic system that includes songs (I don’t completely understand the magic yet, but it is there).

I’d Recommend It To: Readers that enjoy epic fantasy adventure stories with classic journeys, multiple POVs, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and sprawling worlds.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Becoming Hook

Author: Mary Mecham

Genre: Fantasy Peter Pan retelling

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I really enjoyed this Peter Pan retelling and could hardly make myself put it down! This was such a fun journey, with neat tie-ins to both the original tale of Peter Pan and the Disney version. And even though so much of the world was familiar, the new world-building elements were done very well.

I’m a sucker for a good villain-is-actually-the-hero retelling. I loved the backstory that was provided, and he was a character I could root for and respect. The love interests had a cute relationship, and their romance was really sweet – I was rooting for them! I admired their faithfulness toward each other, even in hardships.

Overall, I’m definitely going to continue on in the series. Mecham has such a refreshing take on fairy tale retellings and I have yet to read one of her books that I haven’t really enjoyed. Especially as many of her themes are ones that I hold close in my life. Hopefully some of the plot twists and loose ends will be tied up in the next books – and I want to see more of the villain! – but I do recommend this one as is.

Tricky Content: Some kisses (clean but passionate), a woman wraps her legs around a man’s waist while kissing him, brief mentions of a woman’s curves and finding her attractive, a hand is cut off, mental health struggles/depression, kidnapping, “drugging” with Pixie dust, violence in battles, a character recounts her people being tortured and “experimented on”, loss.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings with sweet romance, interesting characters, fun spins on familiar classics, and a bit of banter, especially if you’re a fan of Disney’s Peter Pan and/or Disney’s Tinkerbell movies. I’d probably recommend 14+ for this one.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Befriending the Beast

Author: Amanda Tero

Genre: Christian Fantasy Beauty and the Beast retelling

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I need to reread this one soon! I loved the twist on Beauty the Beast – not a romance story, but one of redemption, perseverance, love, and family. Faith and prayer were very strong themes, and the ending was tactfully handled. It made me smile.

I would love an even longer story about these characters, their world, and their situations. The characters are vivid, with goals, dreams, and backstories of their own, and I could relate to all of them. I enjoyed seeing the character growth that happened, even in such a short story. Even without a “villain”, tension was strong.

The main character was surprisingly likable, even without knowing her for long. I admired her faith and her love for her father, even when it was difficult. I also absolutely loved the mentor character in this story. He was so good for her, and I liked any time he entered the scene. I was touched by the resolution at the end – my favorite part – and the tie-ins to the original fairy tales were fun. Overall, a very solid story!

Tricky Content: Mention of a beheading, pain, emotional distress, estranged family relationships, mention of a death, suspense and tension.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys stories with fresh twists on a medieval Beauty and the Beast story, featuring an emphasis on (Christian) faith, redemption, and family.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

God’s Smuggler

Author: Brother Andrew

Genre: Christian Biography

Target Audience: Teens and older

What Stuck Out to Me: My mom recommended I read this book in my teens, as it was one of the first ones she read after becoming a Christian that really stuck with her. I’m so glad I did. This is such an inspiring, convicting story of a missionary who gave absolutely everything for God.

Andrew’s story is one of sacrifice, danger, faith, and complete and total surrender to the Lord. I stayed on the edge of my seat while reading, knowing that it must work out okay but also not seeing how. And everything didn’t always turn out like I thought it should. He lost much. But in the end, God always provided in amazing ways. That has been very encouraging for me to remember.

As with any story like this, sometimes I don’t agree with every belief they hold. But it’s absolutely worth a read. Andrew’s commitment to his mission of spreading the gospel through war-territory Asia is a powerful one, and I don’t know who could watch God provide over and over again in such dire circumstances and not feel some encouragement that God must be providing for us too. If you enjoy Christian biographies about missions, love, and courage, this might be one you’ll love!

Tricky Content: Death, loss and grief, war, fighting, danger and suspense, alcohol consumption, animal abuse, and persecution.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys gripping real-life stories of courage and passion. Especially Christians seeking to be inspired by an example of someone who gave everything for Christ, despite fears.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve come to the end of day four of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite books featuring faithfulness? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to find out!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here for extra information, even more book recommendations, and to enter the special giveaway!

ALSO, today’s freebie happens to be Cabin Girl!

To download your free copy of Cabin Girl on Amazon (only through the end of today – 9/26/24), click RIGHT HERE or on the graphic itself! I’m so happy to be sharing it again, and I hope you enjoy it!

With that, I’ll see you tomorrow for day five of bookish fun! (So close to the end already, wow!)

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Books About Faithfulness (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Peace (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Joy (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Top 5 Books About Peace (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Happy Wednesday and welcome to day three of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about Five Fall Favorites by reading my first post this week (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, every day this week, a group of bloggers (me included) are sharing our five favorite books in a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to enjoy great new reads and cozy fall vibes!

This year’s theme is all about books that remind us of the Fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and so on! You’ll see a little variation of those fruits between bloggers each day (since there are more fruits than days in the week and we can pick and choose), so you should find plenty of good recs to add to your TBR!

Today’s prompt is all about peace!

I love reading books that have a peaceful feel. Whether that means peaceful characters, peaceful settings, generally peaceful vibes that I feel while reading, or messages that encourage me to be peaceful, they can be some of the most comforting books. Many middle-grade stories are perfect for this, so let’s read on!

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

Aliferous

Author: Alissa J. Zavalianos

Genre: Christian fantasy, romance, contemporary & poetry

Target Audience: MG and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I can’t say enough good things about this beautiful collection of short stories and poems. It’s comprised of four sections: fairy tales, adventure, romance, & whimsy/poetry. I honestly enjoyed every section. Each one held strong stories, inspiring lessons, and charming prose, and I’d feel comfortable loaning this to anyone, thanks to it being completely clean.

In the Fairy Tales section, my absolute favorite story was Coal of Smith-Harrow. It was such a fun spin on the Cinderella story, but delivered in a charming new setting, with likable and mysterious new characters, and again, precious and inspiring themes. All of the fairy tales were excellent.

Each story held its own special lesson, theme, and meaning. The adventures had so many deep questions and themes packed inside, and were delivered with lots of heart. I admire how the author explored the nuances of both good and bad in people. In the Romance section, I enjoyed all of the stories that the author included – each clean, sweet and engaging.

The poems in the last section were so sweet and beautiful. They’re hopeful, cute, full of good reminders, inspirational, and TRUE. Some of the poems were lighthearted and made me smile, others made me tear up, and still others just left me feeling motivated to be a better person – which is something I admire in writing. The author has a beautiful style of poetry. Overall, this is a book I can 100% recommend!

Tricky Content: G-rated. Rare use of d*rn and h*ck, and one use of h*ll (to describe a situation), non-described kisses, mention of a drunk and of a character that smokes, fairy tale magic, loss, grief, fighting, and mentions of characters dying in the past.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone looking for a comfort read full of fun, quick, hopeful, and thought-provoking stories.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Treasure Hunt

Author: Kate Willis

Genre: Contemporary short story

Target Audience: MG and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This is absolutely adorable. Such a cute, quick read with light and wholesome feels. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the setting honestly took me back to my own childhood. The running around our large yard, playing outside, time with siblings, and making our own adventures especially. I enjoyed the warm, calm summer aesthetic of the entire story.

The younger, adventuring children were cute and likeable and I enjoyed their antics. The parents made brief cameos as a loving mom and dad working their own lives, while also doing a great job of caring for their kids. And the older sisters were sweet to take some time from their pursuits to make an adventure for the youngers.

The plot was fast-paced, but light and wholesome. Overall, it was a cute mystery, and something I would have loved to experience when I was that age. Themes of family and sibling bonds were strong, as well as working together and supporting one another. I had a lot of fun with this one, and you might too!

Tricky Content: Nothing! This was completely clean. I’d read this to my younger siblings.

I’d Recommend It To: Children approximately 10+ that enjoy light mystery stories, quick reads, and fun summery vibes!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Daughter of Kings

Author: Isabella Auer

Genre: Portal Fantasy

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: The depth of this book amazes me. Though the cover may not portray how expansive the fantasy realm and story is, I compare it to the Lord of the Rings. The cast of characters is vast, relatable, and fascinating, the world is well-explored and conveyed through creative descriptions, and the writing style is flowing and beautiful, with subtle wit woven in.

Most of all, the themes explored are powerful. Themes of family, belonging, love, sacrifice, hope, perseverance, strength, and beauty. I was touched by them all, and it astounds me that this came from a new, young author.

I was blessed to know the author before she passed and am so thankful for this beautiful piece that she left behind. It really shouldn’t surprise me that this book has so much beauty and depth, because she had beauty, wisdom and faith behind her years. I wish there could have been more done to this, but it’s still definitely worth a read in my opinion.

Tricky Content: It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but from what I can remember, a couple of kisses, some peril, war and fighting, fantasy creatures and enchanted objects, death, grief, imprisonment.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone searching for a thought-provoking, character-rich, and interesting fantasy read, especially if you enjoy Lord of the Rings vibes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Beyond the Bright Sea

Author: Lauren Wolk

Genre: MG Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Children 10+

What Stuck Out to Me: I don’t know how to describe this book other than beautiful. When I picked it up (thanks to that gorgeous cover!), I didn’t realize that it’s considered middle-grade. However, the themes and truths explored, the glimpses into the characters’ hearts and how real they were, those were far from simple.

I enjoyed this book, and was struck by how effortlessly and beautifully hard truths were addressed. I absolutely loved the characters I was meant to love, detested the ones I was meant to detest, and – while the first few chapters were slow – the book gripped me after that.

The setting was so vivid I could practically feel it, and I really loved the primary mentor character to the plucky protagonist. Overall, it really comes down to the themes for me. Themes of hope, family, belonging, perseverance, and honesty. Painful at times, and healing at others. I’m so glad I read this one.

Tricky Content: Brief mention of alcohol and cigarettes, mild peril and suspense, loss, mention of stillborn baby in the past, (non-described) mentions of blood, people are bound and gagged, fighting, pictured prejudice (presented as bad).

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who enjoys heartwarming and deeper-than-expected middle-grade stories with plucky characters, beautiful themes and descriptions, and a unique mystery plot.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

How to Handle Adversity

Author: Charles Stanley

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Target Audience: Teens and older

What Stuck Out to Me: This is one of the best books on adversity that I’ve ever read. As always, Stanley offers sound teaching and timely reassurances, and his writing style was conversational, succinct, and engaging.

I especially appreciated his reminders that it’s far more important not to ask why adversity is happening to us, but what can we learn from it? What is God trying to teach us through the trials? How does He want to work in others’ lives because of the pain we experience?
We all struggle with adversity. What changes is how we respond to it. Will we respond to troubles with whining, anger, and resentment? Or with faith, peace, and joy?

Far too often I forget that God has a plan through my pain, and this quick read is a reminder to pray and seek God more often, even if I’m struggling. Funny how when I remember and apply that advice, my life goes so much better (or at the very least, I feel much more at peace). It’s a read I keep coming back to!

Tricky Content: None that I can think of, though we should always read books like these with discretion and prayer.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone seeking biblical encouragement and wondering how to deal with the hardships in their lives.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve come to the end of day three of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite peaceful books? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to find out!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here for extra information, even more book recommendations, and to enter the special giveaway!

I’ll see you tomorrow for day four of bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Books About Peace (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Joy (Five Fall Favorites 2024)Top 5 Books About Love (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Top 5 Books About Joy (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Happy Tuesday and welcome to day two of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about Five Fall Favorites by reading my first post this week (click HERE), or by going to our wonderful host, Kate Willis’s, site (click HERE).

For a quick recap, every day this week, a group of bloggers (me included) are sharing our five favorite books in a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to enjoy great new reads and cozy fall vibes!

This year’s theme is all about books that remind us of the Fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and so on! You’ll see a little variation of those fruits between bloggers each day (since there are more fruits than days in the week and we can pick and choose), so you should find plenty of good recs to add to your TBR!

Today’s prompt is all about joy!

This was a surprisingly difficult theme to find recommendations for, and it’s made me realize that I don’t read many lighthearted or comedic stories. So today you’ll see my round-up of humorous books I have read, books that inspire joy in myself, and books featuring characters with joy in difficult circumstances.

Let’s dive in!

(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.)

A Curse of Gold and Beauty

Author: Mary Mecham

Genre: Rumpelstiltskin fantasy retelling

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I didn’t want this story to stop! First, I loved that Rhys’ disability wasn’t something to be fixed. It was just part of him and I teared up at many of the things he said – especially reminding the other protagonist that his pain didn’t define him and that he can make his own choices. He wasn’t defined by his body. I was also convicted by how optimistic and joyful he was! He didn’t feel sorry for himself or wallow in hardship, instead, he was inspiring and selfless.

Story-wise, this is a cute and light read, with heartfelt romance and immersive worldbuilding. I enjoyed how the author wove the Rumpelstiltskin tale into the story without it feeling forced or cheesy. It was just subtle enough to not notice all of the connections right away, but once I did, it felt so obvious. It was very fun to read!

The father was a sympathetic and ultimately likable character. Even if he was misguided and frustrating for the first part, he redeemed himself by the end. And the villain was…disgusting (and well-written). I couldn’t wait to be rid of him. The other protagonist was one of the rare first-person protagonists that I could really relate to. She was strong and capable, but not overly-masculine or fake, and not embarrassingly head over heels for Rhys.

Their romance was well-established early on, and I rooted for them to get their happily ever after. They make a very wholesome couple. Overall, I loved this book, and will be reading it again, as I really can’t overstate how convicted and encouraged I was by Rhys. Highly recommend this one!

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!

Ichabod Fly and the Great Newspaper Roundup

Author: Bree Pembrook

Genre: Middle-grade fantasy comedy

Target Audience: MG and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This is the funniest and craziest story that I’ve read in a long time, haha. I believe that the author has explained that the story was born through imaginings and childhood antics with her siblings (if I’m wrong on that, it certainly reminded me of my wild imaginations with my siblings!), and you can tell – in the best possible ways.

It’s a short story, filled with so many events I wasn’t expecting. You never know what’s next, and that’s the fun. The characters are larger than life, and man, that Ichabod Fly, he certainly gets into trouble! I was smiling throughout the entire book.

If you enjoy short and rambunctious stories that might just leave you laughing every other sentence, definitely give this one a try. It’s so far from my typical reading comfort zone, but I’m so glad I gave it a try. The author’s writing is fantastic. I’m interested to see what happens in further books in the series!

Tricky Content: You might just burst out laughing at the most random of sentences!

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and older that enjoy short and zany stories with constant humor, unexpected twists, and fun and unique characters!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Author: Lemony Snicket

Genre: MG Contemporary Mystery

Target Audience: Children 12+

What Stuck Out to Me: This may be controversial in a round-up of books about joy, but I decided to include it for the nostalgia and quirky writing style. My mom read these books to my siblings and I years ago and they prompted many evenings of laughter.

This entire series is such a unique and zany set of stories. Even the “author” is a character, a narrator that is just as much a part of the story as any of the featured protagonists. His writing style is incredibly odd, and while I won’t spoil it, the quirks he used even in his descriptions, made us laugh frequently.

There’s a lot peril and danger in these books, so they’re not for young children and may not be stereotypically joyful. But especially if you don’t take them too seriously (I’m not sure how you could, honestly), they have humor and nonsensical events that left me wanting to read more and more. In my opinion, they get better (deeper and less juvenile) as the series continues, so if at first they don’t click, maybe try a couple more of the books.

Tricky Content (for the series): Tongue-in-cheek darkness, peril, emotional & physical abuse, loss, grief, mention of drinking and revealing outfits, fights, mistreatment, death (murders, accidental, etc.)

I’d Recommend It To: Mature pre-teens and older who enjoy wacky and mysterious series with tongue-in-cheek humor, bizarre circumstances, intriguing characters, and a unique and quirky writing style.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Enjoy the Poodle Skirt

Author: Kate Willis

Genre: MG Contemporary

Target Audience: Older children and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was such an enjoyable little story, and it fits the joy theme to me because it was so much fun to read! Short and sweet, just like the goods in the 50’s-themed café the story is set in, I loved the atmosphere and the cute characters.

This book moved quickly, and featured a low-stakes mystery involving the plucky young protagonists, who work together to host a contest and find something important to them. All of the characters were kind and interesting, and I would love an even longer book with them!

I especially loved the themes of God working through the little things, even if they might not seem “big enough” for Him to care about. That’s so far from the truth, and this story did a great job of illustrating that, while providing a very cute, innocent, and fun story. I enjoyed the vibes and want to visit that café!

Tricky Content: None that I can remember! It was a very squeaky clean and sweet story.

I’d Recommend It To: Older children and older that enjoy fun, quirky stories about small mysteries, working together, and God weaving through even the little things of life. Older readers may enjoy the nostalgic feels!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

You’ll Get Through This

Author: Max Lucado

Genre: Christian Non-fiction

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: Max Lucado’s writing has a way of making familiar Scriptures come alive for me, and this book was no different. Reading it felt like strolling calmly with a dear friend, soaking up his wisdom.

If you’re in a tough place in your life right now, I definitely recommend this book for its encouragement and inspiring reminders that the same God that was with Joseph through all the trials and sufferings of His life is with us still today. There’s nothing going on that He can’t handle, or that He’s unaware of. No matter the pain, no matter the grief, or guilt, or uncertainty, we WILL get through this – with Christ.

I needed to be reminded of those things right now, and if you do too, reading this book is an excellent place to start. It’s inspired joy in me as I realize that life is bigger than the hardships of right now, and that God is always working through even the smallest stressors. It makes all the difference to know that there’s purpose, a Protector and Friend, and so many blessings in the midst of it all. Highly recommend this!

Tricky Content: None that I can think of. Lucado’s writing style is too flowery and poetic for some, which is one reason I enjoy it, but if that sounds frustrating to you, be aware.

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone seeking comfort and affirmation that God is unchanging, still just as faithful as He was in the days of Joseph, and that He will continue to see us through this crazy world.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve come to the end of day two of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite books featuring joy? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to find out!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here for extra information, even more book recommendations, and to enter the special giveaway!

I’ll see you tomorrow for day three of bookish fun!

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Top 5 Books About Love (Five Fall Favorites 2024)

Happy Monday, and welcome to the very first day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

I’m so excited to be participating in this creative and long-standing event again, organized by the wonderful Kate Willis (click on her name to head over to her blog)! This is the event’s 9th year in a row, and my third time joining in. It’s going to be a great week of bookish fun, so I hope you’re ready!

Whether you’re looking for book recommendations, enjoy admiring book covers, or just like reading book reviews, this is for you. Each day, starting today through September 28th, a group of bloggers (me included) will be sharing our top five favorite books that fit a variety of prompts.

This year’s theme centers around the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, and so forth! There are so many amazing books that fit these prompts, so be sure to explore all of the blogs to find some great reads! I’m looking forward to adding to my TBR!

And don’t forget to head over to Kate Willis’ blog each day (right HERE) to find the rest of the bloggers participating and additional information, including book deals and an awesome giveaway you could win!

Now onto today’s book recommendations!

Today’s prompt is all about love.

I’m approaching this prompt from a variety of angles, so below you’ll find books featuring romantic love, father/daughter love, God’s love for us, and love that doesn’t even end in a happily-ever-after.

So let’s jump in!

(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.)

Before Beauty

Author: Brittany Fichter

Genre: Beauty & the Beast fantasy retelling

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This is one of the best Beauty & the Beast retellings that I’ve read! I enjoyed the characters, the romance was sweet, and the worldbuilding had just enough depth to interest me without confusing me.

I empathized with the protagonists and watching them learn and grow together, despite challenges, was sweet. Their romance was slow, gentle, and very cute. The rest of the servants/family members were interesting and likable, and the villain was a terrifying antagonist. I’d say the characters were the strongest point of the novel.

I really enjoyed the way the author twisted the original fairy tales and created her own story, keeping it fresh and unique. The plot moved along steadily and balanced slower pace (time in the castle, getting to know one another, dancing) to high stakes action (impending war, running away, curses). I could follow along, and enjoyed the pacing.

There wasn’t a lot of explanation surrounding the central magic system (i.e. The Fortress) but as this series continues, I imagine it’s explained later and still felt that enough was explained for me to enjoy this book. Overall, I loved the themes of true love, finding strength, patience, working together, forgiveness, and trust (while there wasn’t any explicit Christian material, themes of trusting the higher power were strong).

Tricky Content: A magic system (the Fortress is characterized as able to trust, interact, and feel), the villain can enter people’s dreams, mild kisses, depiction of insanity, war, loss, light descriptions of injury.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers 13+ that enjoy sweet and slow romances, light magic systems, political intrigue, Beauty and the Beast retellings, and meaningful themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian Science Fiction

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This book kept me on my toes! I’ve read the other Hunger Games books (and watched the movies) so I’m very familiar with the typical violence, political intrigue, and drama that the series holds. This contained the same elements but from a villain’s perspective – which was interesting! (It’s a prequel.)

The tie-ins to the rest of the series were fun, but overall, it was the characters that made the story for me. Each of them had so much depth and I never knew who to trust or to feel sympathy for. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, or what a plot twist would be, I was surprised by how much more was actually happening behind the scenes. I couldn’t put this one down.

And I chose it for this love theme because of the heartbreaking romance between main characters. It’s certainly not your typical happily-ever-after, but it made me feel so many different emotions and was very thought-provoking. What would happen if lovers were on opposite sides? Is there any way things could work out? This isn’t a light book, so read at your own discretion, but I enjoyed the dive into a character’s perspective that I previously took for granted, and the exploration of right vs wrong. A solid read!

Tricky Content: Brutal violence, bombings, war, scene hinting at cannibalism, death (beatings, poisoning, snake bites, hanging, weapons), character succumbs to rabies, brief kisses and references, mild language

I’d Recommend It To: Young adults and older that have read and enjoyed the previous Hunger Games books, can handle the violence and darkness of those books, and enjoy prequel stories with twisting and complicated character relationships, mystery, and plenty of political intrigue.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Meant to Bee

Author: Storm Shultz

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Target Audience: YA and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This story has such a cute setting! I love books set in England, and the descriptions of the quaint, charming little town made me want to visit. It was cozy, and I think that word describes this book well.

The cast was also fun and diverse! I liked both of the main characters, and their strength and determination, as well as their growing care for one another. Sweet little Poppy was such a cute addition to the story.

The rest of the characters were all memorable, with lives and personalities that felt real. The plot was easy-to-follow, and it never got too dark or depressing. There were also frequent doses of humor, and satisfying character changes, both of which I loved!

The romance was a bit on the nose sometimes, but their love felt genuine by the end. And I LOVED the emphasis on Poppy/babies in general being blessings, and being good no matter what the circumstance. Overall, this is a cozy, warm, quaint, and cute story – with a sweet and well-described setting, fun characters, and some heartfelt themes. If that sounds like your kind of story, you might love this one!

Tricky Content: Kissing and hugs between the love interests, out-of-wedlock pregnancy (baby is always treated like the blessing it is!), fights with an ex-lover, mild physical attraction between love interests, lies, harassment, complicated family relationships that improve throughout the story.

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of sweet small-town Hallmark contemporary romances, especially if you enjoy books set in England, and featuring healed relationships, bee-keeping, and/or goats!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Hinds’ Feet on High Places

Author: Hannah Hurnard

Genre: Fantasy Allegory

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: I think I’ve recommended this book in some capacity every year I’ve participated in Five Fall Favorites, so that might tell you something about how much I love this sweet allegory. The writing style is quaint and charming, and the journey that it takes you on, right alongside little Much-Afraid is a rewarding one.

I especially love how the Good Shepherd is portrayed, very much a loving teacher always ready to help Much-Afraid as she goes on her trek through the high places and endures hardships. With help, she grows and learns.

When I’m going through difficult situations in life, this allegory has consistently been an encouragement and blessing to me, reminding me of the Lord’s love for me and that He wants to help. It reminds me to put my trust in Him, even when I don’t see how things can get better. Overall, a very sweet, meaningful, and touching story with powerful themes, and if that sounds like your type of book, give it a read!

Tricky Content: Later in her life, the author swayed from her Christian beliefs to those resembling Hinduism, including re-incarnation and the belief that Jesus was a teacher, not a Redeemer. I don’t share those beliefs, and it saddens me, but I still believe God can reach us through imperfect resources. Hints of those beliefs may be too jarring, so use discretion. I’ve personally been able to look past them.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and older that are secure in their faith and would enjoy a sweet, challenging, and inspirational allegory in similar style to Pilgrim’s Progress and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Nova and the Lost Stars

Author: Lillian Keith

Genre: MG/juvenile fantasy

Target Audience: Children 6+

What Stuck Out to Me: This is the most adorable book! Short, sweet, and whimsical, I read it in one sitting and finished with a smile on my face. It’s aimed toward children 6 and above, and would make the PERFECT bedtime story.

The plot was simple, and that’s part of the charm! I loved the pure emphasis on Nova’s love for her papa and the wonder of it all made me think back to my childhood imaginations. Each character, though only briefly in the story, added to the fun. Also a cat named Luna? So cute.

And shoutout to the illustrator! The cover is so pretty (those colors!), and even reading this in e-book form, the illustrations were adorable and added more charm to this story. A great addition, even for someone who doesn’t usually pay much attention to illustrations. The style was perfect. I highly recommend this and look forward to ordering a physical copy to share with my young siblings!

Tricky Content: A ten year old up all night, missing her papa and worrying if he’ll come home – very tame!

I’d Recommend It To: Parents looking for a sweet bedtime story for their 6-9 year old, or anyone who enjoys cute, quick, and wholesome middle-grade stories!

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Well, that’s a wrap on day one of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite books about love? Have you read any of the books above? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here for extra information and to find even more book recommendations! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway while you’re there too!

I’ll see you tomorrow for day two of bookish fun!

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Cabin Girl’s One Year Anniversary Sale!

Hello and happy Monday!

I know I’ve been on an unintentional hiatus from the blog this summer, but today I wanted to quickly pop in and share something exciting with you!

We’re approaching Cabin Girl‘s one year anniversary since being released, and to celebrate, you can now download the e-book from Amazon for FREE! That’s right – $0.00! The sale runs today (September 2nd) through Friday, September 6th.

Here is the link to download it! CLICK HERE.

So if you’ve been waiting to read Cabin Girl, this is the perfect chance to snag it! And if you’ve already read it, this is a great opportunity to spread the word to friends and family you think would enjoy it. One day in and there have already been nearly thirty copies downloaded! I’m so thrilled to share this story!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Eight years ago, young Éirinn O’Connell’s papa disappeared at sea.

Many sleepless nights later, in the rolling hills of 1600’s Ireland, Éirinn has given up on his return – while her mama continues to watch the horizon, her grasp of reality slipping. Desperate to provide for her and her sister, Éirinn learns all she can of medicine and spends her days struggling to assist villagers wh•o shun her for her crooked back.

Then in one brutal night, Barbary pirates raid her village, and Éirinn is dragged from her family and the only home she’s ever known.

Set on a course to Morocco, and amidst a crew as turbulent as the ocean around her, Éirinn is forced to tend to the sick quartermaster. In addition, she must serve as cabin girl to the infamous Captain Gills, a hard-hearted man bent on thwarting her every attempt to return home…to the family she prays still lives.

As Éirinn searches for a way home, she soon finds that all is not what it seems aboard The Lonely Eye. Unrest brews and mutiny whispers. Allies appear in unexpected places. A cunning enemy plots. Who can she trust? Will her God carry her through the storms? And how can she survive the Captain’s constant torment?

The answers are unlike anything she expects.

I’ll be back later this month with a bunch more updates on life and writing (there are so many exciting things coming up that I’ve been too busy prepping to tell you about, haha), but for now — happy reading!

Don’t forget to download your copy right HERE!

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Aliferous Book Review (& Author Interview!)

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I am so excited to share this post with you today! Recently, I was blessed to read one of the best books I’ve read in a long time – and it releases tomorrow! That book is the collection of short stories, fairy tales, and poetry called Aliferous by Alissa J. Zavalianos.

So today, not only am I sharing some information about this beautiful book, but I’m going to be sharing my personal review AND an interview with the author herself! I can’t wait to share these with you, so let’s get started!

First, some info about the book!

The Story Blurb

Aliferous adj. winged; having wings

A starling calling songs in the middle of the night, owls taking a young girl on a journey, a swan charm bracelet holding more meaning than it appears, a steampunk aircraft on a harrowing misadventure, parched sands where a roadrunner keeps a grieving man alive…

In this collection of short stories and poems-both adventurous and bittersweet-you’ll find birds are everywhere. Whether mentioned outright or simply by themes of flight, hope, beauty, and freedom, this collection is for everyone who has ever had a dream or longs to spread wings of their own.

My Review

Several months ago, I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of this beautiful collection, and I can’t say enough good things about it. This is the first collection of short stories and poetry that I’ve read in years so I was a little worried that I might not enjoy it, just because of the change in style from my usual reads. But that wasn’t the case at all, and I’m definitely going to be snagging a paperback copy of this book for rereads!

This collection is comprised of four sections, as the title shares: Fairy tales, Adventure, Romance, & Whimsy/Poetry. Because of how it’s broken up, I’m going to review this a little differently than I typically do, but I can honestly say I enjoyed every section in the book. Each one held strong stories, inspiring lessons, and charming prose, and I would feel comfortable loaning this to absolutely anyone, thanks to it being 100% clean.

In the Fairy Tales section, my absolute FAVORITE story was Coal of Smith-Harrow. By the end, it nearly made me cry with the touching reminders of worth and belonging that I – and I’m sure many others – can relate to. It was such a fun spin on the Cinderella story, but delivered in a charming new setting, with likable and mysterious new characters, and again, precious and inspiring themes. The romance was sweet and completely clean. I would gladly read an entire series around those characters. I’ll continue with the rest of the review now, but I had to gush about that story first <33

As for the other stories in that section, each one held its own special lesson, theme, and meaning. Anna Belle and the Seed was immediately intriguing, and contained some thought-provoking questions amidst the cute and silly storytelling. Crescent was cute, imaginative, and whimsical, and left me wanting more. And The Legend of the Lighthouse Keeper hooked me from the start with its poetic and mythical style of storytelling.

My favorite story in the Adventure section of the book would probably have to be The Tale of Markhus Roder. While short, there are so many deep questions and themes packed inside, and they’re delivered with lots of heart. I love Robin Hood themed stories anyway, and this one is one of my favorites now. I called one of the twists, but loved it all the same, and I admire how the author explored the nuances of both good and bad in people.

Enjoy this gorgeous line from that story <33
“Sunshine and talons. Joy and grief. Perhaps life was a mixture of the two.”

As for the many other stories in the Adventure section, I again enjoyed each and every one of them. Stories in the Dark got my attention right away because, well, pirates AND Irish influences? What’s not to love? Especially with a healthy dose of adorable children and vivid imagination. Storm-Crow was fast-paced with great foreshadowing, a clear and interesting setting, and a puzzling predicament for the protagonist. I also love the moral that the author included at the end.

Like Stars in the Sky started with an intriguing conflict, and ended with some truly touching character change, with fun connections, creative names, and sad backstories in between. I enjoyed the twist on Peter Pan, and how unique the elements that the author added were. This is another story I’d absolutely read an entire series about (hint hint). And lastly, Captain Maverick of Tarkin left me contemplating my life, but in a good way. The steampunk setting was fun and new to me, and the worldbuilding and backstories were both heartbreaking and well-written. I liked that, while not perfect for the characters, the ending still contained hope.

When I reached the Romance section, I was more hesitant. I love fairy tales and adventure, but I tend to be more picky with my fictional romances. If that’s you too, I’m happy to say that I enjoyed all of the romances that the author included in this section. They were clean, sweet, engaging, and reminded me of my husband, which is always a good thing, haha. <3

My favorite story in the Romance section would be The Swan and the Masquerade. I could relate to the protagonist from the start, and between the well-timed jumps in time (flashbacks to present), and the adorable end couple, I finished the story smiling. I disliked a couple of the characters that I was definitely supposed to dislike, but otherwise it was an all-around adorable story with good themes. The setting was also very fun, because who doesn’t like period masquerade balls?

The other two stories in that section were also cute. Second Chance Robin was a fun little glimpse into a story (that felt like it could easily be developed into a longer series) with an amusing ending, and fun, mostly likable characters. Parched Sands made my heart hurt for the main character and his family, but it ended with a much needed glimmer of hope. The worldbuilding for that story and the sad flashbacks kept me invested, and I would (again, this is a recurring theme) read an entire book about that storyworld.

And finally, for the Whimsey/Poetry section. Though I’ve written poetry and read a bunch of old poems, it’s been a long time since I read a significant amount of others’ poetry. I didn’t realize how much I missed it!

The poems in this section were so sweet and beautiful. I’m not going to go through them individually because there were quite a few and I have the same comments on nearly all of them: they’re hopeful, cute, full of good reminders, inspirational, and TRUE. Some of the poems were lighthearted and made me smile, others made me tear up, and still others just left me feeling motivated to be a better person – which is something I admire in writing. The author has a beautiful style of poetry.

So all of that to say, I highly recommend this collection. What expectations I had were blown away and I know this is going to be a comfort read when I’m looking for some fun, quick, and hopeful stories, and/or when I want to gift someone a book and be sure they’ll enjoy it. If you’re on the fence, go ahead and give it a try! I can guarantee you’ll find at least one story you love (if not more).

Themes: True love, family, hope, light overcoming darkness, friendship, forgiveness, humility, grace, strength in hard situations, trust, acceptance, and true beauty.

Content warning: G-rated. Rare use of d*rn and h*ck, and one use of h*ll (to describe a situation). Non-described kisses. Mention of a drunk and of a character that smokes. Fairy tale magic. Loss, grief, fighting, and mentions of characters dying in the past. In my opinion, everything was tactfully covered, and I would feel comfortable with my young siblings reading the material.

**I received a free copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a review and all thoughts are my own.**

And now, the special interview with the author herself! I’ve loved getting to know Alissa more over the past few months, and her consistent and peaceful content never ceases to make me smile. Her writing is so wholesome. Aliferous is such a sweet and beautifully-written collection, and I’m thrilled for you all to meet the author behind the stories. Let’s jump into it!

Interview With the Author

Bella: Hello and welcome to the blog, Alissa! Thank you so much for being here today, and congratulations on the upcoming release of your newest book, Aliferous! I’m so excited for you! First, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Alissa: Hi Bella, thank you so much for having me; this is a huge treat! Some things about me are that I’m on the quest to own at least 1,000 physical books to finally be classified as a library, I have a floofy cat named Moo who was also Rylla’s companion in my debut novel The Earth-Treader, and above all, I love Jesus and my family.

Bella: When did you start writing? Was it love at first paragraph, or did it take you a while to realize your fondness for writing stories?

Alissa: I started writing in the 4th grade, and my love for the fantasy genre really blossomed in the 7th grade. But it wasn’t until college where I really started taking my writing seriously. I began the first draft of The Earth-Treader my senior year of college back in 2016, and then I put it on hold for four years. In January 2020, I picked up the threads of that story and started from scratch, later publishing the novel in December of that same year. Since then, I haven’t looked back.

Bella: You’ve mentioned that Aliferous is a work that’s taken years to compile. Were there certain inspirations behind the stories in this book? If so, do you remember what they were?

Alissa: I remember many of these stories were written, or were simply just ideas at the time, even before The Earth-Treader ever came to be. I started writing short stories before full-length novels, and I think a lot of the inspiration for these tales stemmed from simply wanting to create and go on adventures. I’ve always had an active imagination, and I felt that writing these stories whisked me off to distant places in ways that I’ve always dreamed of. So I guess the desire to create was motivation enough to even begin.

Bella: Do you have a favorite story in this book? How about a favorite poem? Why?

Alissa: I have a soft spot for Coal of Smith-Harrow. This was one of the few stories I actually wrote while Unearth the Tides was undergoing edits, so it came later than the majority. I just think the story is really sweet, and I love the setting. And I think my favorite poem is the one about Cats (ironic since the collection is about birds haha); but Moo was largely an inspiration for that one.

Bella: That was my favorite story, too! It’s such a sweet tale. And the Cats poem is so fun as well. What are some of the main themes readers can expect to find in Aliferous?

Alissa: Readers can expect themes of flight, freedom, forgiveness, brokenness, healing, adventure, heartache and loss, hope, courage, and redemption.

Bella: Who would you say is the target audience for Aliferous? Are there types of readers you think will enjoy it most?

Alissa: My target audience is for young adults, but I think readers young and old can still find something meaningful within these pages. If you’re someone who loves adventures and deep themes, then I think this collection could be for you.

Bella: I’d definitely echo that! Where do you want your writing to take you? If you could choose where you’ll be in 10-15 years, what would your life look like?

Alissa: I am usually a pretty present-minded person, so thinking that far ahead overwhelms me or doesn’t usually cross my mind. I’m so thankful to have published what I have within these four years or so, and I’m just excited to see where the Lord will take me next. I do hope to keep writing and publishing, but I’m not worried about the timeline.

Bella: What’s one thing you want readers to take away from Aliferous?

Alissa: I hope readers walk away from Aliferous encouraged and inspired to dream a little deeper, fight for courage, and to cling to child-like wonder. Too often as adults, I feel we get bombarded by the harshness of reality, that sometimes it’s nice to retreat within the pages of adventurous storytelling, the kinds we grew up reading as children. There’s never a wrong time to go on an adventure.

And as for all the Biblical themes interwoven throughout the stories and poems, my prayer is that readers can see the heart of Christ a little clearer. That He is good. He is the Maker of all things. And He is why we can dream and create in the first place. All glory to Him.

Bella: That’s so beautiful. And I have to ask…do you have a favorite kind of bird? And if so, what is it?

Alissa: Yes! I have 6, in fact, and they are all listed in my poem titled “My Favorite Birds.” They are the Tufted Titmouse, Northern Flicker (yellow), Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, and Barred Owl.

Bella: That was such a fun poem! Lastly, and this is very important, what’s the next book on your TBR?

Alissa: I am currently reading and loving Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga, so I’m really excited to keep going and finish that series soon. Otherwise, I’m hopeful to get to Dave Barry’s Peter and the Starcatcher’s Series too!

Bella: I hope you enjoy both series! Thank you so much again for coming on the blog today, and congratulations on your upcoming release!

About the Author

Alissa J. Zavalianos grew up in New Hampshire and currently lives there with her wonderful husband and their adorable cat Moo. As a child, she always had a love for nature, books, and fairy tales, and as she grew older, that love bloomed all the more. Alissa loves Jesus and is inspired by birds, mountains, castles, Tolkien, Lewis, and the way a cold breath of wind feels on her bare toes.

Learn more and connect with her at her website (click here) or on her socials (click – Instagram & Facebook)!

Are you planning to read Aliferous? Does it sound like your kind of book? If so, don’t forget to look for Aliferous tomorrow (click here to find more information and purchase links)! Or if you’d prefer, you can even preorder it today so that it gets to you as soon as it possibly can!

Happy reading, and thank you so much for supporting Alissa’s release!

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15 Helpful Quotes About Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a funny thing.

It can be a blessing, and a curse, to paraphrase one of my favorite TV show protagonists, Mr. Monk.

Being a perfectionist, caring so much about making something as best as it can possibly be, can lead to some astounding projects. Perfectionists accomplish some of the most amazing things, and their creations can be some of the best that you ever find. Perfectionists are often sought out, hard workers.

But perfectionism can also slow a person down, cause them to second-guess, redo, and procrastinate to the point of never accomplishing anything at all. It can cause us to chicken out of sharing our talents and passions out of fear that we’ll never be good enough. It can keep us from doing what God calls us to.

A blessing and a curse.

I’ve wrestled with perfectionism over the years, and I’ve fluctuated between being thankful for it, and wishing that I could just send it away and never experience it again. It leads me to be detail-orientated, and to strive to do the best that I can, but it always slows me down and makes me insecure about every little thing that I do.

And what’s perhaps the hardest part for me is that I can never be perfect, even though I want so badly to be. No matter how hard I try, how long I work on something, it will never be entirely without flaws. That just isn’t possible this side of Heaven. Only God is completely perfect and flawless.

So as much as perfectionism may motivate me to do a great job on something, sooner or later I need to fight that urge and be willing to let go of my still imperfect creation, project, or goal. I need to accept that I can’t get that thing to perfection – but that it’s still worth sharing, doing, and accomplishing.

Do you struggle with this? Has perfectionism ever made life difficult for you? How do you cope with it?

I’m happy to say that I’ve made progress over the years, for the most part. This blog has been a great part of that. I know my posts aren’t perfect, and for a while, that made every post nerve-wracking. I wondered if it was even worth it. If the lack of perfection would humiliate me or make people hate this site.

But as I’ve continued to blog, I’ve been shown that even imperfect posts can positively influence someone’s life. They were still worth sharing. And that applies to every aspect of life.

A home-cooked meal doesn’t have to be perfection to lighten someone’s load. A kind note or word doesn’t have to be perfectly eloquent to comfort someone or to uplift their heart. A story doesn’t have to be flawless to have a powerful impact on someone and never be forgotten.

As they say, anything worth doing is worth doing well. And anything worth doing well is worth sharing.

Like I said, I’ve gotten better about remembering that God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He’s fully aware that we’re still imperfect beings. But sometimes I still need reminders that it’s okay to do and share things that aren’t going to be flawless. And I’ve heard from others that I’m not alone in this.

So today, I wanted to share fifteen of my favorite quotes that I’ve found about perfectionism. If you’re someone that has struggled or continues to struggle with perfectionism, I pray these reminders give you encouragement and hope today!

(Disclaimer: Me sharing these quotes doesn’t mean that I agree with everything that someone has said, or share 100% of their values. I do, however, agree and appreciate the quote.)

1. “Absolute perfection belongs not to man, nor to angels, but to God alone.”
(John Wesley)

2. “Perfectionism doesn’t believe in practice shots. It doesn’t believe in improvement. Perfectionism has never heard that anything worth doing is worth doing badly–and that if we allow ourselves to do something badly we might in time become quite good at it. Perfectionism measures our beginner’s work against the finished work of masters. Perfectionism thrives on comparison and competition. It doesn’t know how to say, “Good try,” or “Job well done.” The critic does not believe in creative glee–or any glee at all, for that matter. No, perfectionism is a serious matter.”
(Julia Cameron)

3. “Learning to let go is not giving up! It is simply passing the burden to a better fighter (God), so you can fight another day.”
(Shannon L. Arder)

4. “A pursuit for perfection is the most leading cause of procrastination in artists.”
(Neeraj Agnihotri)

5. “…No one ever told her it was okay to make mistakes. No one told her there was nothing wrong with needing help. No one told her it was normal to feel upset, or angry, or overwhelmed now and then. Everyone in her life took her perfectionism for granted and didn’t realize how suffocating it was. And because no one gave the young woman permission to be human, she thought she was a failure for being one.”
(Chris Colfer, Worlds Collide)

6. “Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.“
(Henry Van Dyke)

7. “Perfectionism is a dream killer, because it’s just fear disguised as trying to do your best.”
(Mastin Kipp)

8. “Perfectionism is a delusion that can rob one of a very successful, enriching life if not careful.”
(April Bryan)

9. “God who is eternally complete, who directs the stars, who is the master of fates, who elevates man from his lowliness to Himself, who speaks from the cosmos to every single human soul, is the most brilliant manifestation of the goal of perfection“
(Alfred Adler)

10. “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.”
(Harriet Braiker)

11. “Progress not perfection… you can’t be perfect at everything… but you can gain progress on a daily basis.”
(Court McGee)

12. “Have the courage to be imperfect.”
(Alfred Adler)

13. “Perfectionism doesn’t make you feel perfect, it makes you feel inadequate.”
(Maria Shriver)

14. “If I waited for perfection… I would never write a word.“
(Margaret Atwood)

15. “Redemption is not perfection. The redeemed must realize their imperfections.“
(John Piper)

Did any of these quotes speak to you today? Let me know your favorite/s in the comments below, and while you’re there, let me know if there’s a topic you’d like to see more quotes about!

You can find more of my quotes compilations by going to this page (click here).

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV)

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My Favorite Things About Being an Author

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a purely writer-focused post, but I’ve been doing writing-related things a lot lately. From plotting a new novel (to be published before too long!), to editing Gills, to developing a consistent posting schedule on my socials, and more. My brain has been in deep writer mode.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any official announcements (yet…), but I still wanted to take some time and focus on some elements of the writing life that I absolutely love. I’m not a full-time author. I don’t write every day. I don’t make much income from it yet, and my habits are a mess. But I’m still an author, and I’m so grateful for everything that I get to do right now.

Writing is hard. Publishing is hard. Being consistently online marketing is hard. And sometimes I can get far too sucked into how hard it all is and forget how awesome it is to be an author. And it is awesome! I love it.

So today, I wanted to take some time and share some of my very favorite things about being an author!

Writing Dialogue

Right off of the bat, let’s start with the writing process. One of my favorite parts of writing drafts is writing dialogue! I have always loved writing dialogue, and I imagine I always will. It’s still on my bucket list to one day write an entire novel with only dialogue, I enjoy it that much.

What a character says reveals so much about them, so it’s helpful and a lot of fun to get inside their heads like that. Writing banters, confessions, compliments, arguments, monologues…I’m never more excited about writing scenes than when they’re packed full of good, meaningful dialogue. And chances are, I’m acting the lines out as I write, just to make sure they feel realistic. It makes my inner actor happy.

Getting to Know My Characters

Speaking of characters, let’s take it back a step. Starting with the initial process of plotting and outlining my story idea and carrying all of the way through the writing process, I love getting to know my characters. I’m a very character-focused reader and writer, so characters are very important to me – above plot, prose, or worldbuilding. If the characters are relatable, inspirational, and well-written, chances are much higher of me enjoying a story. That applies to my own books too!

Writing characters feels like getting to know real-life friends, they can feel so alive. And I enjoy finding out all about them, from their backstories to their relationships to their fears and goals and motivations. By the time I’m done writing a story, I know the characters in and out, and I love that feeling. And I’ve noticed that I tend to learn right along with my characters. As they learn life lessons and explore hard truths, they’re typically ones that I’ve been wrestling with, and writing them gives me space to grow too.

Experiencing Other Stories and Worlds

Right along with that, I love experiencing all of the different stories and worlds in the books that I write. As they say, through books, you can live a thousand lives. That applies to reading books, obviously, but also to writing them. When I write a story, I’m diving into that world, and investing in all of its many aspects and elements. I’m journeying right along with the characters through that world, learning lessons right along with them, and feeling emotions as they do.

It’s amazing. One month I can be in ancient Egypt, and the next off in a fantasy world. I could be searching for buried treasure one day, and matchmaking friends the next. The limits are endless. Especially during times when real life is full of stress, venturing into a fictional world is a welcome escape and chance to work out my thoughts in a safe environment. And because I’m writing the story, I know it intimately – even better than when reading another author’s book (though that’s good too!).

Meeting Other Authors

As we mentioned other authors, that’s another wonderful part of being an author! I love meeting other storytellers. I talked about this on my socials recently, but I really don’t ever view other authors as competition. The world is big enough and readers’ appetites large and diverse enough that there are always going to be enough readers to go around. Readers are always looking for more good stories. We as fellow authors are on the same team!

And even though I tend to be introverted and awkward, meeting other authors really is a huge joy to me. I love learning from fellow authors, brainstorming together, fangirling over our characters and worlds, supporting one another and being encouraging when the other is struggling, and just getting to know another person that enjoys the storytelling process as much as I do. You really can’t go wrong with meeting people that share many of the same values, dreams, goals, and loves as you do!

Constantly Learning

Though for me it’s been mostly indie-focused, this applies to writing and publishing of any kind! Being an author means constantly learning and growing. Researching my story material, learning about the art of stories, how to craft good stories, how to write realistic characters and clear prose, how to self-edit, how to search out professionals to fill in where we fall short, how to publish and all of the many, many details that involves…there’s never a shortage of material to learn!

And I love it. While it can of course be overwhelming, I enjoy the process of learning new things, and being an author certainly gives me opportunity to do that. I’m also a lover of history and geography so story research is just a welcome excuse to go on all kinds of random tangents. And it’s extremely rewarding when I finally learn how to do something well after working on it for a long time. It’s just another aspect of being an author that I didn’t know whether I’d love, and I absolutely do.

Good Reviews

Of course, I have to throw this in here…how could I not? Ask any author, and we’ll all tell you that one of the best parts of sharing our works are good reviews. Of course that applies to published authors, but it also applies to authors that haven’t published yet, and have instead shared their writing with family or friends. Receiving good feedback makes us feel on top of the world! I never feel more motivated to keep writing than when I’m told that someone enjoys my stories.

And along with good reviews, just meeting readers that love our genre, stories, and characters is pure joy. I’ve met some of my sweetest and dearest friends simply because they have taken the time to read and eagerly support my writing. Every time I hear from someone who messages me with thoughts about one of my books, screams about one of my villains, gushes about a love interest, or threats because of a cliffhanger, it makes my day. I’m so thankful for each and every person I’ve met through my writing.

I could honestly go on and on and on…there’s just so much that I love about being an author. And every time that I’m struggling, or having a rough day, or aren’t sure whether it’s really for me, all I need to do is remind myself of a few of these things, and I’m encouraged again. Obviously it isn’t for everyone, and it’s hard work, but I think that when writing is your thing, you find out pretty quickly after giving it a try.

Fellow authors, what are your favorite parts of the process? Have your favorites changed over time? I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below! (Bonus points if you also share a little bit about yourself and your writing, and where we might connect with you!)

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Valentine Book Tag

Happy Friday!

If you can’t already guess, I found this tag on KristinKravesBooks (click here for the link to her blog tag collection post), and just like the tag a couple of weeks ago, I figured it’s a great opportunity to do a Valentine’s Day themed post.

I would love for you to share your answers to these questions! There are some pretty fun ones.

The Rules

1. Link back to this and mention Taiwo @ Stuffed Shelves as the creator of this tag.

2. Link back to the person who tagged you and thank them! (no one tagged me, but I stole this from KristinKravesBooks!)

3. Answer the questions (of course!)

The QuestionsWhat book(s) have you been given as a gift that you loved?

All of these books were gifts from family, and I absolutely loved them all! Wishtress was still in the preorder status when my birthday came around, so my parents printed off the preorder receipt and wrapped it for my birthday. That was such a fun gift to look forward to. Operation Lionhearted was a Secret Santa Christmas gift exchange from my aunt, and Dust (and the sequel, Shadow) were birthday gifts another year. I highly recommend each and every one of them!

What book(s) would you like to give as a gift to someone else?

Honestly, any of the ones I mentioned in the previous answer, as well as these ones! They’re all very different in terms of genre, but all of them are at least clean (if not with explicit Christian themes), and hooked me from the start. Depending on the preferred genre and age of the person I was gifting, I’d be comfortable and excited to give them any of these!

If you could gift a random person any bookish item, what would it be?

Ooh, this is tough. My first thought is a bookish-themed candle from Lamplighter Literary Candles. They are all-natural, beautiful, and hand-crafted candles from a Christian small business owner and author, and her candles are so unique! You can find certain scents for different genres, environment, and even some series. Regular chemically-scented candles give me migraines, so I’m looking forward to getting a few of these one day, and I think it would be a very fun gift for a fellow reader.

(Here’s a link to their site!)

If you could gift a random person any non-bookish item, what would it be?

Hmmm, that would really depend on the person, I think. In general though, my go-to gifts are either blankets or homemade crochet dish cloths. I make crochet dish cloths and have found that a lot of people appreciate the practicality of them. Otherwise, especially if the recipient doesn’t do many dishes, cozy blankets are always awesome. You can get so creative with them, and really, who doesn’t like being cozy?

What do you say when a person gives you a gift you don’t like?

I would never say anything other than “THANK YOU” (unless the gift was inappropriate or something, I guess?)! I’ve honestly yet to receive a gift that I can say I haven’t liked in at least some way. For me, while I will definitely appreciate the gift, it’s not so much about the gift itself but the fact that someone took the time to try and find something special for me. It’s sweet, and I will always, always appreciate it.

Mention a book based around Valentine’s Day.

You know, I don’t think I’ve read any books based around Valentine’s Day. Probably because I don’t read many contemporary romances, and I imagine that’s where you find them. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

Mention any two tips for blogging as a gift to other bloggers and to those who may want to start a blog.

I love this question! I could go into so much detail here, but for brevity’s sake, I’d say:

1. Write what you love
2. Find others who love the same things as you

If I could go back to little Bella when she was starting this blog, that’s what I’d tell her to focus on right away. The reasoning being that blogging is hard work. And the only way to stay motivated, to keep writing, is to ultimately love what you’re writing about. Why are you doing it? What do you want to share? What’s on your heart, and what unique perspective can you offer through your blog? Don’t try to force yourself into molds that you’re not comfortable with or excited about.

And as you write about what you love, search out other bloggers and readers that love the same things as you do. Community is so important with blogging, and the more tight-knit of a support system you have, the easier the process will be. When you’re feeling down, when you’re struggling, or when you’re just looking for some advice or encouragement, those people will be there to chat, brainstorm, and fangirl with you. The wonderful people I’ve met through this blog is one of my biggest reasons for continuing it.

Link to some posts by other bloggers that you loved or were very helpful.

Oh my goodness, I can’t even begin. Instead of going by individual posts, I’m just going to link a bunch of my favorite bloggers recently and let you explore. These are bloggers whose posts I never miss, and I highly recommend checking out all of their sites! You won’t regret it. (Click on their names to visit them.)

Liesl @ Quote, Unquote (she’s consistent, so sweet, and has such helpful posts)Kellyn @ Lilacs & Reveries (her content is so thought-provoking, and she’s very kind)Saraina Whitney’s site (her enthusiasm is contagious, her posts so fun, and she’s a good friend)Virginia @ Books by Virginia (such a friendly and fun person, and her reviews are great)Kate @ Once Upon an Ordinary (she writes wonderful books and is very supportive of authors)Bella Raine’s site (I just met her and she is such a talented and sweet writer)Grace @ Of Blades & Thorns (she doesn’t post very often, but when she does, they are pure quality)Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus (she’s so nice, and posts a lot of helpful book reviews)

And those are just the first few that come to mind! There are so many wonderful bloggers out there!

How would you answer these questions? Have you read any great blog posts lately? What are your go-to gifts for others? I’d love to read your answers, so please feel free to drop them in the comments below, or hop in on this tag on your own blog! Thank you!

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