E.G. Bella's Blog, page 4
January 31, 2024
“Collector: Phoenix Edition” Cover Reveal
Hello and happy Wednesday!
I’m popping on today to share a short but exciting bookish announcement!
A very talented author and dear friend, Elizabeth Mae Wolfram, is releasing the new cover edition of her Christian dystopian novel, Collector, February 7th and today you…yes, you get to see the brand new cover!
First, some information about the book, to give you a taste of what it’s about!
The Story BlurbIt’s 2156 A.D.
America Has Long Since Fallen
And History Is Being Hunted.
The country of Imperialis has risen from the ashes of the United States, and is determined to become the “Matrix of the Perfect World.” To accomplish this, they must destroy all remnants of faulty history and religion – all sources of conflict. The past must be dismissed; the future must be determined.
For over a hundred years, Imperialis has chipped away at the zealous few who still believe – aided by the secretive men and women who put themselves between the terrorists and the people.
These agents are called, “Collectors.”
But what happens when Collector Intern, Haylen Alter, decides to illegally keep the mysterious book she finds on her first assignment? And what happens when she starts to believe?
Collector is a clean Christian dystopian, and features powerful themes like redemption, finding salvation, and from darkness to light.
About the AuthorOnce upon a time, there lived a little girl who loved to scribble stories on scrap pieces of paper. Well, she grew up, forgot her love of words as Life took an unexpected turn, and didn’t find it again until she was thirteen years old. Two years later, after several failed attempts to finish her work-in-progress, she was inspired to completely change her story… and actually commit to writing. Thus, after seven long years, her debut novel, “Collector,” was born.
Her name is Elizabeth Mae Wolfram, an entrepreneur by day and an author/blogger by night. You can find out more by visiting: http://www.wolframwriting.com where Elizabeth offers a glimpse into the wonderfully difficult and exciting life of an author. She hopes to encourage readers and writers alike to not just chase, but catch their dreams… one sentence at a time!
CONNECT: www.wolframwriting.com | www.dhkcreations.com
What’s new in this edition?I’m so glad you asked!
While Collector has been published for a while now (I have an ebook of the previous edition already, and you might too), this new edition brings:
– a shiny new cover!
– new and improved interior formatting
– some further edits
– a new blurb
– and two small but new scenes (that don’t change the story, but help prep for book two!)
So if you’ve already read the book, don’t worry, the story hasn’t been overhauled. But if you’re looking to snag the shiny new edition, there will be enough new changes to make it worthwhile!
What’s the content rating?If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I like to provide content ratings and info about what’s in each book I promote. I want to be sure this is a book you’ll feel comfortable reading!
CONTENT RATING FOR COLLECTOR:| VIOLENCE |
~Violence (including both acts and mentions) is rated as a 4/5
~ Mentions: E*thanasia, Mu*der, Su*cide, De*th, Labor Camps/Prison Farms.
~ Actions: E*thanasia, De*th, Brief Physical Ab*se, General V*olence
~ Graphic Scenes: Injury-Related Description
|LANGUAGE |
~ Language is rated as a 1/5 For sparse use of non-cursing insults and/or statements.
|EXPLICIT SCENES|
~ Explicit Scenes are rated as 0/5
~ Se*ual Mentions/Implications/Actions: None
*All romance/romantic interactions are cleanly portrayed between married couples.*
RECOMMENDED AGE: 18+
Collector faces several dark and difficult subjects, such as de*th, su*cide, e*thanasia, and v*olence of different natures. These subjects are addressed and mentioned due to the setting of the story. However, while the author addresses and portrays these subjects, they are never glorified, endorsed, or made light of. DHK Creations & Publications and Elizabeth Mae Wolfram aim to provide clean fiction devoid of explicit or graphic content.
The Cover Reveal!Alright, I’ve kept you waiting long enough (or be honest, you skipped to the end to see it, which is exactly what I would have done in this circumstance).
Here is the fiery new cover!
Isn’t it pretty?
Again, Collector releases on February 7th (only one week from today!), and will be available at both Amazon (in paperback, case-laminate hardcover, and e-ebook formats) and Barnes & Noble (in paperback and dust-jacketed hardcover formats)!
Mark it on your calendars!
Have you read Collector? If so, what was your favorite element? And if not, does it sound like your kind of story? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and keep your eyes peeled on February 7th!
Check back here that day too! We’ll have a fun interview with the author, and even more special info!
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January 24, 2024
2023 In Review: My Blogging Recap
Hello and happy Wednesday!
I’m a bit later to this post than I wanted to be, but it’s still before the end of January, so…close enough to 2023, right?
2023 marked three years since I launched this website and started blogging. At this point, it’s been about three and a half years. It’s hard to believe! I’ve learned so much in that time, and will hopefully continue to grow more and more as time carries on.
As I did back in 2021 when I wrote this post (What I’ve Learned in One Year of Blogging), I enjoy looking back each year and seeing what happened on this site. How many posts did I write, which ones did the best, how many people are following my posts, what have I learned… you get the idea. It’s super helpful to see patterns and make connections that I might not have without taking the time to reflect.
And since there’s been so many exciting things that happened in the author journey this year, I thought this would be a great chance to look at some stats!
Caveat that I don’t share these for comparison to anyone other than my past self though. To a lot of people, these are rookie numbers, and that’s okay! There have been ups and downs, and everyone’s blogging journey is uniquely their own. That said, sometimes it helps me to see the changes in others’ numbers, so hopefully if that’s you too, you find this helpful!
And if you’re just starting off, be encouraged! Three years ago, I would have never thought I’d even be at this point. It takes so much prayer, time, and effort, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Thank you to everyone who’s been following my journey – whether this is the first post of mine you’re reading, or whether you’ve been here since the very start. I appreciate each and every person here today!
The Stats/RecapsNumber of posts in 2023: 55
Words written in 2023: 67,100 words
Total number of posts: 256 (starting in September of 2020 to today!)
All-time words written: about 356,000 words!
I am so thrilled with this! 250+ is an awesome number of posts to have up right now, and even though 2023 was my year with the fewest posts so far, that was intentional. I’m transitioning from the “post as often as I can for growth and visibility” stage to finding a sustainable schedule and posting when I truly have something I want to share. I want to maintain things here, while also taking some of that extra time and putting it toward more writing fiction and growing other on platforms too (such as Instagram)!
Current number of subscribers: 177 (165 via WordPress, and 17 via email)
I don’t have a clue how this compares to other blogs that have been going for three years, but I’m honestly super happy with this number. The people who consistently read this blog are the absolute sweetest and so supportive. And while I receive some interaction here, I’ve noticed it tends to travel to my social profiles and that’s where most of the in-depth conversations get started. So that’s been fun!
Views in 2023: 25,046
Visitors in 2023: 18,503
Comments in 2023: 274
Likes in 2023: 400
All-time views: 47,155
All-time visitors: 30,327
All-time comments: 1,453
All-time likes: 1,973
It’s so fun to see what portion of the total interactions and posts for this site happened in 2023!
Most popular day (all-time): September 17th, 2023 (for Cabin Girl‘s release!), with 229 views
Most popular day of the week (all-time): Sunday, with 8% of views
Most popular time of day (all-time): 8:00 AM, with 5% of views
Most popular post (all-time): 10 Quotes About Putting God First (click here to read), with 15.3k views
I always find it so interesting to see what the most popular posts are, and what days and times people tend to visit this blog the most. I don’t think I’d ever guess correctly for any of them, which makes it very fun to see the real stats! The only one I’m not surprised by is that September of 2023 was much busier. Between Cabin Girl‘s release and Five Fall Favorites, there was so much happening!
Most monthly views (all-time): September of 2023, with about 4,000 views
Average views per day: 115 views
It’s been really fun to see the change since last September! Ever since Cabin Girl‘s release, the average monthly views have skyrocketed from where they were, and we’re staying consistently around 3.5k now. That’s a huge jump from the 1.5k or so before that. It’s been so fun meeting so many new people, and, again, I’ve seen a lot of that interaction travel over to my Instagram profile and newsletter lists.
What I’ve LearnedWhen I shared five of the most important lessons I’d learned in blogging back in 2021 (see this post), I shared how important consistency is, that we shouldn’t be afraid to genuine, that finding a balance helps, that blogging should be fun, and that the community here truly is amazing. And all of those lessons are still extremely true! More than ever, I’m trying to keep those truths in mind.
I really don’t have any other huge revelations that have occurred since then, but boy have I received practice in remembering those truths. Consistency really does matter. Whether I’m posting six times in a month or six times in a week, I find the absolute best interaction when I’m consistent. That doesn’t mean I can’t and don’t throw in random posts sometimes, but usually I try to plan ahead and schedule regularly.
Speaking of planning ahead, I write many of my posts ahead of time and schedule them. This has made a huge difference in my stress levels. If I can write posts that aren’t time-sensitive when I have extra time and have them set aside for busy weeks, it makes the process so much smoother. I can’t always do this, and sometimes (like today…), I’m frantically writing a post in the middle of the night or halfway through the day to get it out on time, but when I can avoid that, I definitely try to.
And when I can’t get a post out when I want to, I’m working to forgive myself and be okay with that. Ultimately, we decide when we post, what we write about, and how often we put out content. As long as we haven’t promised a post to someone on a specific day and time (think cover reveals, guest posts, etc.), we have the freedom to move things around according with our schedule. Sometimes life hits hard, health isn’t great, unexpected events come up…and it’s such a huge blessing to be able to be flexible.
Besides, blogging should be fun! It can be difficult and stressful and time-consuming, sure. But at the end of the day, this is something I want to enjoy. And I do enjoy it. So when I’m feeling extra stressed out by all of the deadlines I put on myself, and all of the posts I feel like I should write, I try to give myself extra grace and remind myself of why I’m blogging in the first place. I want to enjoy sharing my heart and what I’m learning, spreading the word about my projects and other fellow authors, and meeting so many awesome people. When I take the time to refocus myself on those goals, it makes a big difference.
And lastly, the blogging community really is amazing. This goes hand and hand with being genuine, because no matter who you are, what you enjoy, what your interests and beliefs are, and what your goals are for your blog, there are others looking for content like yours! I’ve met so many incredible people through this site, and it’s honestly my favorite part. I love receiving messages from you all, and still can hardly believe that you choose to spend some of your time to read my posts and reach out to me.
You all make this so worth it, and I’m extremely grateful for you. Thank you for all of your support, help, feedback, encouragement, and kindness. You are blessings, and I appreciate each and every one of you!
And now…some questions for you! What kind of content would you like to see more of on the blog in 2024? Are there topics you’d like to see discussed? Subjects you want me to find good quotes on? Contents, giveaways, activities, or blog tags you think would be fun? Anything you think I should change?
I want to write content that you actually want to read, so please don’t hesitate to reply in the comments (or by reaching out via my contact page if you’d like to be more anonymous) and let me know your thoughts! I welcome your feedback, and look forward to many more fun posts with you all in 2024!
I thank my God every time I remember you.
(Philippians 1:3 NIV)
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New Year’s Resolution Book Tag
Happy Friday!
By now, you can probably guess exactly where I found this blog tag. That’s right – KristinKravesBooks has an entire list of bookish blog tags, and when in doubt, I love scrolling through and picking one that fits my current stage of life. This tag is courtesy of her excellent compilation. Thanks, Kristin!
Since it’s somehow the start of 2024 already, I figured this one would be a great tag to start the year with.
Let’s jump in!
An author you’d like to read that you’ve never read
I’ve never read any books by Paula Hawkins before, but her novel The Girl On The Train intrigues me! I enjoy fast-paced books with mystery and character drama, so it sounds like one I just might enjoy. And now I have a copy from my local thrift shop, so why not give her writing a try, right?
A book you’d like to read
There are so many books I want to read! But one in particular that I’m thrilled to be about to read is Aliferous by Alissa J. Zavalianos. I discovered Alissa and her writing on Instagram over the past year, and she is such a sweetheart. Aliferous releases March 7th, but I’m so excited to have received an ARC, and am planning on finishing it by the end of January. I can’t wait to share this collection with you guys!
A classic you’d like to read
I’ve heard both favorable and non-favorable things about Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, but after finding a free copy at my local thrift store, I decided to pick it up and see for myself. I really don’t know anything about it, so I’ll be going in blind when I do decide to dive in!
A book you’d like to re-read
It’s been several years now since I’ve read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, and I’m eager to read it again! I remember the general plot and characters still, but the biggest takeaway I got from the book at the time (other than the fact that I enjoyed it) was that she writes in a style very much like mine, and that was encouraging. I’d love to go back and read the book again, purely focusing on the story itself.
A book you’ve had for ages and want to read
I’ve had The Giver by Lois Lowry for years! Every year I say I’m going to read it, and then one way or another, I just don’t get to it. 2024 is going to be the year that I finally just sit down and read it, as I’m going to prioritize it early on. I’ve heard so many great things about the series, and I really don’t know why I haven’t read it yet. Dystopian is my guilty-pleasure genre.
A big book you’d like to read
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is such a beautiful – but huge – book, and I have yet to work up the courage to dive into it. The longer I wait, the more I keep hearing about it though, and I am beyond ready to finally see what everyone is talking about. It sounds so interesting! It may take me a while to read through, but in the end, I imagine it will be worthwhile.
An author you’ve previously read and would like to read more of
I’m using Wishtress as a place-holder here, as it’s my favorite book that Nadine Brandes has written so far – and that’s saying a lot! I love all of her books, and am beyond excited for her new novel, The Nightmare Virus, that’s set to release in July of 2024! The cover reveal hasn’t happened yet, though we’re getting close. Nadine has said that this novel is going to be a big step away from her typical genres, but I don’t think I’ll mind one bit, haha.
A book you got for Christmas and would like to read
I received Atomic Habits by James Clear for Christmas, and couldn’t wait to start reading it. I remember when this book came out, and I’ve been hearing good things about it for years. Learning about how our brains work, and the psychology behind our habits, is fascinating to me, so I’m enjoying it so far!
A series you want to read from start to finish
I’ve been interested in reading the Tales of Nottingham series by Savanna Roberts since she first started releasing the books. I enjoy Robin Hood spin-off stories, and always have, so when they were on sale over Black Friday, I purchased all three ebooks (a gamble for me, but I figure it’s worth it). Now I’m looking forward to immersing myself in her story world.
A series you want to finish that you’ve already started
I would love to finish reading the Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke! I’ve read Inkheart and own Inkspell (and am pretty sure I could find Inkdeath pretty easily). The series is so imaginative and quirky, and I’d like to finish the entire thing. Sometimes I’m okay with not finishing an entire series, but this one is interesting enough to me that I don’t want to stop after just the first book!
Do you set reading goals? If so, how many books do you want to read in 2024?I do! I never used to, but when I discovered Goodreads a few years ago, I’ve enjoyed the motivation that comes from setting a yearly goal. Last year, I aimed high (one-hundred books) and only ended up reading fifty. So this year, I have a more realistic goal that still allows me to push myself. I’m aiming to read seventy-five books in 2024!
Do you have a goal for how many books you want to read in 2024? Which books are on that list? And have you read any of the books I mentioned above?
If you want to do this tag on your own blog, or answer the comments in the questions, please do! I would absolutely love to read your answers and fan-girl over books with you!
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15 Encouraging Quotes About Change
We’re already halfway through January 2024.
I don’t know about you, but that statement sounds crazy to me. 2024 just started. I’m still in my start-of-the-new-year mode, with tons of goals, plans, hopes, dreams, and ideas that I wanted to implement.
Even if you’re not the type of person to do New Year’s resolutions (I’m not either!), I think that most of us enter new years with hopes and expectations of change. Usually positive, but we’d be foolish to think that other kinds of change won’t happen at some point. Hard change. Possibly necessary change.
Change can happen at any time. It doesn’t need to start in January. It usually won’t.
And, at least for me, change can be both exciting and scary.
I long for it, but at the same time, avoid it. I’m so glad that in the end, it’s God who’s in charge. I just need to be open for the changes that He wants to make in my life, and trust His process. It’s infinitely better than mine!
Of course I have hopes for change in 2024, some of which I’ve already started implementing, and some that I don’t plan to start for a few months yet. Changes to my schedule, to my health, to my work patterns, and to my meals…so many things. And I plan to keep consulting with God as I work on them.
Something else that I like to do, besides pray, when I’m contemplating a certain subject – in this case, change – is to see what other people that I respect have to say about it. So here are fifteen of my favorite Christian quotes that I’ve found on the subject of change. If you’re contemplating change this year as well, I hope these reminders bring you some encouragement and clarity!
(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. “We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.”
(Chuck Swindoll)
2. “Will power does not change men. Time does not change men. Christ does.”
(Henry Drummond)
3. “Wherever the Bible has been consistently applied, it has dramatically changed the civilization and culture of those who have accepted its teaching. No other book has ever so dramatically changed the individual lives and society in general.”
(John F. Walvoord)
4. “Sociologists have a theory of the looking-glass self: you become what the most important person in your life (wife, father, boss, etc.) thinks you are. How would my life change if I truly believed the Bible’s astounding words about God’s love for me, if I looked in the mirror and saw what God sees?”
(Phillip Yancey)
5. “Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act.”
(Rick Warren)
6. “For you who wonder if you’ve played too long to change, take courage from Jacob’s legacy. No man is too bad for God. To transform a riverboat gambler into a man of faith would be no easy task. But for God, it was all in a night’s work.”
(Max Lucado)
7. “Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.”
(Warren Wierbse)
8. “We can create as magnificent an environment as we like, but unless we change the heart it’s all a waste of time.”
(John Hagee)
9. “Often times God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive. He does not change our painful circumstances. He sustains us through them.”
(Charles Stanley)
10. “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. It doesn’t change God – it changes me.”
(C. S. Lewis)
11. “All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out the changes that understanding creates in your heart.”
(Tim Keller)
12. “When we wrap our minds and hearts around God’s gracious work in the gospel and root ourselves in Jesus, we find the strength and power to change, because the power to change comes from him alone.“
(Matt Eachus)
13. “God is unchanging. The weather changes. Fashion changes. Even change changes. God has not changed and cannot and will not ever change.“
(Max Lucado)
14. “We need God’s guidance whether we are at a certain crossroad, making life changing, path altering decisions, or as we go through the day.“
(Shannon Scott)
15. “God changes people in a way that no one else can. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, or what sins you have committed. God washes away all of it.“
(K. J. Bryen)
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).
“See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
(Isaiah 43:19 NIV)
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My 2024 Goals (& 2023 Recap)
Welcome to 2024!
I can’t believe we’re ten days into the new year already. The holidays and end of 2023 absolutely flew by, and my brain still hasn’t caught up!
The start of a new year is always exciting to me. I love the newness of it – the feel of a fresh start, a reset, and a chance to look back at what worked best and what didn’t work well for me in the past year. It’s also very encouraging to take some intentional time and reflect on what God has accomplished in the past year – the lessons He’s taught me, the trials He’s walked me through, and the growth He’s worked in me.
2023 was one of the busiest and most eventful years I’ve ever had. Every month held some kind of big change. From getting married, to moving into our apartment, leaving my nannying job, increasing hours at my office job, applying for a house loan, moving out of our apartment, closing on and moving into our house, publishing my first full-length novel, our first holidays as a married couple, and all of the many, many details involved in all of the above, it’s been a year of learning and relying closely on God’s leading!
This year doesn’t look as though it will have quite as many big changes, but there will still be a lot of newness. With trying to learn about owning and maintaining a house and the changes I’m hoping to make in both my office work and my writing journey, I anticipate lots of trial and error and prayer.
And as I’ve been looking ahead to the rest of 2024, I’ve been contemplating my goals for the year.
I have a love-hate relationship with goals. I think they’re good to have, and especially knowing my personality type, I need to have concrete ideas to aim for. They motivate me and keep me working, even when I don’t feel like it. But I can also get so wrapped up in my goals and with my plans that I don’t take the time to listen to God and consider what He’s saying. And that only leads to frustration.
So as usual, although I’m setting goals for myself, I’m sharing them with the intent of being flexible. If something doesn’t happen this year, or if it looks different than I’m picturing (which is very likely), I will hopefully not get bent out of shape about it. I need to remember to take it to God and trust that His vision for the year is infinitely better than mine. Ultimately, I’m very glad my life’s plan isn’t up to me!
Remembering that, here is a recap of how my 2023 goals went, and my list of new goals for 2024.
How did my 2023 goals go?Let’s look back, shall we?
Read Through The BibleThis one didn’t quite happen. I didn’t read through the entire Bible as I would have liked, but I did read a lot more of it. This year, I’m not sure if I’ll attempt to read through the entire thing, or if I’ll go the route of really studying certain books that are especially relevant during my current stage of life. Either way, I plan to continue diving into God’s Word a lot more!
Get Married!Hey, this one went wonderfully! On April 1, 2023, my husband and I were married, and we just passed the nine month mark. The planning process had its ups and downs, and the days before were full with decorating, last-minute fixes, tornado watches, no power, and little sleep, but we did it!
My husband and I braved the freezing cold for our pictures after the ceremony, and in an unexpected blessing, the chilly air stopped my migraines from getting too bad before the festivities were done. God really took care of us, and we can hardly believe we’re approaching our first anniversary! (This was definitely the 2023 highlight.)
Move, Sort, and Settle InThis one also happened…twice! I moved into my husband’s apartment with him after we got back from our honeymoon, and we settled in there together for about seven months. Then, as of last month, we moved again – into our very first house together!
As anyone who’s bought a house before can guess, things went far from smoothly, and we ended up moving our things into storage and staying with family for a week in between our lease ending and our closing date. But it all worked out. God’s provision was very obvious throughout the entire process, and we absolutely love our little home in a small village near where I grew up. We feel so blessed to be here.
Publish Cabin Girl (. . . finally . . . )We’re on a roll! Cabin Girl was released September 18th of 2023, and I’ve been blown away by the positive reception! I had so much incredible support and help during the launch, and every month, I hear from more people who have discovered the book and want to share their thoughts. It’s been so much fun to see others enjoy the story as much as I do. And of course, it feels great to finally have published it, after so many years of it being in the works. Now I have the green light to work on other projects too!
Read 100 BooksThis one was only half-accomplished. My goal of one-hundred books was ambitious and unrealistic for me, but I kind of meant it to be. As I hoped, the huge goal spurred me on, and I read exactly half of it. Fifty books is a lot more than the twenty-seven I read the year before, so I’m happy! Many of those were amazing new discoveries from other Christian and/or indie authors, so I found some new favorites!
Better My HealthI don’t have much to report here, but I did succeed somewhat. There’s always more that I can learn and do, and I hope to continue improving this year, but there’ve been positive changes. Namely, my migraines are very much still here, but I haven’t had any full-blown, stay-in-bed ones since last spring. I count that an enormous blessing! And when I do have days where I really can’t do much, my husband and I are finding more and more things to either help the headache, or to at least manage the symptoms better. I’ve discovered stress is a huge factor, and leaving one of my previous jobs last spring definitely helped.
Tweak My WebsiteIf you’re here and have been around my site long, you’ll notice that this one happened too! Shortly after Cabin Girl‘s release, I redid the look of my entire site, added a shop where you can purchase signed paperbacks of my published books, updated my contact page, and started tweaking my blog to look more cohesive. I also developed a logo! I’m sure I’ll continue updating and changing it this year, but I’m so happy with how it’s turned out so far. And if you have any feedback or suggestions for me, please let me know!
My 2024 GoalsPublish GillsThis is one of the biggest goals I have, but I don’t have a set timeline for it yet. With the positive reception for Cabin Girl, I’ve had lots of people asking about Gills, which is its prequel novel. And I do already have it written. It just needs a rewrite, lots of editing, and some quality feedback before I feel ready to hit publish. I’m looking forward to diving into that pirate-y atmosphere again!
Publish secret novelI’m so excited to share this project…but I can’t give details…yet! Just know that there is going to be another fun novel published this autumn! I have my work cut out for me with this one, too. There have already been lots of lessons learned, and I’m looking forward to growing even more through it.
Share another secret projectThis one isn’t exactly writing-related, but soon I get to help spread the word about another still-secret project coming up this spring. It’s been yet another huge learning experience, and I’m excited to share it!
Write and publish a short storyThis one is a flexible goal, but I’d really like to write, edit, and publish another “short” story. Or, just finish editing and share one of the short stories I already have sitting in my drafts. I struggle with writing truly short stories (all of mine seem to be either a few pages, or around 8,000-15,000 words) so it will probably either be a really short one put up for free on my site (like here), or a much longer one on Amazon.
Draft NaNoWriMo novelI haven’t participated in a NaNoWriMo since 2021 (when I wrote Gills), and I miss it! I have a novel I’ve been meaning to write for a couple of years now, and I would love to get that written this November. November is a long ways to go though, so I guess we’ll see what the year brings. If not the entire draft, I at least want to start writing it by the end of 2024.
Update author photos and biosThis is a small thing, so it should be doable. I haven’t taken any official author photos yet, and as the pictures I use are my senior pictures from high school, I think it’s about time for an update, haha. Especially as I’m getting more and more of my novels published. In addition, I’d like to make sure my bios reflect me clearly in this new stage of my life and writing journey.
Read 75 booksI’m not going to aim for one-hundred books this year, but I’d love to read seventy-five! My focus for 2024 is to read through the books I already have on my shelves, both physical and on my Kindle app. This includes any ARCs I’m signed up for. I found so many intriguing and well-reviewed books last year, and I’m really eager to get reading. I hope to be better about reviewing them consistently too.
Continue to better my healthLike last year, this is vague because I don’t know exactly what it’s going to entail of. But I’m hoping it results in more energy and strength, fewer aches and pains, and next to no full-blown migraines. Managing stress is also something I need to get better at, especially as I’m hoping to accomplish a lot this year. I see lots of experimenting with meals, routines, sleep schedules, and rest periods ahead.
Guest post/collaborate with other authorsI love writing and exchanging guest posts, and collaborating with other authors, but I rarely buckle down and actually set things up. This year, I’d love to start and share more projects that involve working with other authors. And with that, if you’re an author that would like to collaborate on something with me, please reach out and let me know! I’d love to figure something out!
Blog, post on social, and send out newsletters consistentlyI’m not setting a specific number on any of these goals, because I don’t know what my schedule is going to look like yet. But I do want to focus on consistency. Whether it’s posting once a month or seven, or sending out newsletters once a month or twice a year, I’d just like to figure out a more consistent routine, so that you know what to expect from me. I’ve been pretty awful about that so far, haha. And of course, I’m hoping for more growth and visibility all-around.
As usual, I can expect that this year will definitely not go as I think it will. But thankfully, I can also trust that God has everything under control, and He knows what’s best. Keeping that in mind, I’m excited to reach for my goals, and looking forward to seeing what 2024 brings!
Do you have any goals for 2024? If so, which one are you most excited to achieve? And if you’re not a goal-setting type of person (that’s okay!), is there anything you’re looking forward to, or think might happen this year? I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to share in the comments!
Recent Posts:
My 2024 Goals (& 2023 Recap)2023 Quarter #4 Wrap-UpWhat I Read in 2023December 29, 2023
2023 Quarter #4 Wrap-Up
Hello and happy Wednesday!
Today’s post is a recap of my most recent (and last!) three months of 2023 (October, November, and December) – complete with general life updates, writing achievements, reading progress, and goals. And as always, I’m looking forward to hearing how life has been going for you lately!
Let’s get started!
General UpdateEvery quarter this year has had at least one huge thing happen, taking up much of its time. First, it was planning a wedding and the festivities leading up to that. Second, it was our actual wedding, honeymoon, and settling into our apartment together. Third, I leaned into my writing again and published my first full length novel. And this last quarter, my husband and I have been kept crazy busy buying a house. I suppose that’s how it is all of the time, but I’m more aware of it this year. So much happens every month!
If you’ve been following my posts or socials recently, you might have heard about some of the craziness that my husband and I have been up to lately. Earlier this month, we closed on and moved into our house – finalizing a process that was started back at the end of May. In the midst of delays, our lease ran out, we moved out of our apartment, took our stuff to storage, and stayed with relatives of mine for a week.
Now however, we are so happy to be moved into our cute and cozy home! It’s in a tiny village near where I grew up, and I adore it. When we first saw it, both of our first reactions were that it felt like home, and I’m glad to say that’s still true. It’s been a lot of fun (and hard work) to get it set up, and I’ve enjoyed decorating it for Christmas. Between the home, gracious and generous relatives that helped us get here, and the reminders of the holiday season, we’re both feeling very thankful for God’s provision.
On the BlogAfter the crazy explosion of posts in September, thanks to Cabin Girl‘s release and Five Fall Favorites, I slowed down a bit in October and November. That was intentional, as I’ve been trying to take a creative rest and allow my brain to reenergize and be creative again. It’s been working wonderfully so far, and I’m growing more and more eager to write!
So October and November each featured three posts, and this month (December) has had six posts, including this one. That makes a grand-total of twelve posts to finish out 2023’s last quarter.
I’ve also been thrilled with the engagement I’ve seen on this site lately! September was my biggest month ever here, and since, we’ve held steadily just under those numbers. We’re averaging about one-hundred views every day, and the number of monthly visitors remains in the upper three-thousandths range. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but for me, after over three years of blogging, I’m super happy to know that more people are discovering things I’ve been working hard at. If you’re new here, welcome!
Here’s the list of blog posts from this quarter (just click on the titles to read them):
~ 2023 Quarter #3 Wrap-Up
~ An Introduction Post
~ 15 Inspirational Quotes About Stories
~ If the Stars Awaken: Book Review
~ When NaNoWriMo Doesn’t Work Out
~ November Updates, Giveaways, & Sales!
~ The Spotify Wrapped Tag
~ Like a Ship On the Sea: Book Review
~ Tis the Season Book Tag
~ Bookish Naughty or Nice Tag
~ What I Read in 2023
~ and of course, this one!
I believe this is the first month in a long time where I can say that I have nothing to report in this section, but I don’t feel bad about it. Finally having published Cabin Girl feels like such a huge accomplishment, and I’ve enjoyed having a full-length novel to market, share, and receive feedback on.
Since then, I decided to take a short break from writing fiction to 1) focus on closing on our house, moving, and all of the craziness that comes with that, and 2) give myself some creative rest. I know that I always do best after a book launch if I take a month or so to allow myself to breathe and refuel. During that time, along with crazy house stuff, I’ve been prioritizing reading more fiction. That’s truly one of the best and fastest ways that I’ve found to get back into the writing mindset. And it’s working well so far!
I’m so eager to get writing again, and have a whole slew of projects ready to receive outlines, solid editing, and more. I’ve been working on outlining when I’ve had time this month, but the main priority is to finish getting my office (and the rest of our new home) organized, and my social posts prepped (at least brainstormed), so that I can jump into January and make some solid fiction progress. I’m excited!
Reading ListAs I just talked about in my post from Wednesday, where I listed all of the books I’ve read in 2023, I didn’t quite make my original reading goal for 2023. Alright, I didn’t even get close. I read fifty books – exactly half of the original one-hundred. But I’m actually perfectly okay with that. Until a couple of months ago, I didn’t even think I’d make it to fifty.
And especially in these last couple of months, I’ve discovered a large number of new favorite books! Mostly Christian fantasy reads by fellow indie authors, thanks to a recent Black Friday sale (during which I loaded up my Kindle). I can’t believe I’ve put off reading some of this amazing stories for so long!
I’m still debating on what my reading goal for 2024 should be, but I do hope to do lots of reading. There are still so many great stories that I wasn’t able to get to this year! And if I can stop moving every few months, I should be able to access all of the books on my shelves much easier, which is a huge plus!
Here are a few of my favorites from the past three months:
~ Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber (Christian sci-fi)
~ Held Captive by Grace A. Johnson (historical pirate romance)
~ If the Stars Awaken by Kate Willis (allegorical fantasy)
~ Wayfarer by K. M. Weiland (Christian gaslamp fantasy)
~ To Bind Fire by D. E. Carlson (Christian fantasy)
~ The Guild of Thieves by Jaiden Phillips (Christian fantasy)
You can always keep up with my reading list (and reviews) on Goodreads.
Looking ForwardThe start of a new year always motivates me. I feel so excited for another year, and to see what 2024 brings! Of course, I know that it won’t all be sunshine and rainbows, but I know that the God who has been providing, teaching, guiding, and loving this year will continue into the next. And that reassurance allows me to be excited and look into 2024 with hope.
On the writing end of things, I’ve been having tons of fun planning posts and general timelines for the new year (I’m the kind of writer who enjoys planners way too much), and am so excited to share lots of bookish news over the next few months. My goal is to devote some solid time to re-writing and editing the Cabin Girl sequel, as well as finish outlining and write most of another project in the next quarter.
And in the rest of my life, I’m anticipating a focus on finishing house organization, random house projects, working more, reading quite a few books, continuing to help with youth group, time with family, completing several exciting still-secret projects, and hopefully an increased closeness with the Lord. I pray you have all been having a merry and peaceful holiday season, and that your 2024 starts out wonderfully!
What have these last three months of 2023 been like for you? Have you made progress on some of your goals, or learned some important lessons? What are you looking forward to in the new year? I’d love to hear about what’s been going on in your life, so please feel free to drop a comment and let me know!
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2023 Quarter #4 Wrap-UpWhat I Read in 2023Bookish Naughty or Nice TagDecember 27, 2023
What I Read in 2023
Hello and happy Wednesday!
I don’t know how it’s almost the end of 2023, but apparently it is. The year absolutely flew by! And with it, so did my hopes and dreams of reading more than ever, haha. I don’t know what I was thinking when I set my reading goal for the year, but let’s just say I didn’t quite reach it.
How has your reading gone this year? Are you someone who likes to read a lot? Just a book here and there?
I’ve always loved reading, and since being introduced to Goodreads a couple of years ago, where you can track the books that you read, review them (and read other reviews), add books to your to-read list, and even set yearly goals on how many books you want to read, I’ve been even more motivated to read.
In 2021, not knowing how many books I typically read in a year (before then, I never kept track!), I set a goal of 50 books. And to my surprise, I actually read 54! That success encouraged me enough that I set my goal for 2022 at 55 books, but ended the year with a grand total of only 27 books…
With that failed goal in mind, I entered 2023 with lofty hopes. I have so many books I want to read, and have really missed reading in general, so I was desperate to work through more of the stories and wisdom on my shelves. In fact, if you read my list of goals that I shared at the beginning of the year, you already know that my original goal for this year was to read 100 books!
Well, I’m here to report that I’m finishing 2023 with a total of 50 books read.
And I’m pretty thrilled with that! If you check my Goodreads profile, you’ll see that my reading challenge goal is set to 50, and so it looks as though I’ve been successful in my goal – even though it’s not 100. I changed it because, to me, I was successful this year.
I may not have read 100 books, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if I could anyway. I know my personality, and I know that oftentimes it takes a huge goal for me to really push myself. And then, even if I don’t meet the huge goal, I’m pleasantly surprised with the number I did reach while striving.
50 is halfway to 100! And it’s a lot more than 27.
I’m especially happy with what I’ve been able to read this year because I’ve discovered a bunch of new favorites – mostly by fellow Christian indie authors! I’d rather read fewer wonderful books than lots of mediocre ones, so I’m super glad for the chances I’ve had this year to read some really great books.
So today, as I have the past couple of years, I want to share the full list of the books I’ve read this year! I’d love to know if you’ve read any of them and what your opinion was! Are any of these books on your TBR?
The Books I Read in 2023( * = A favorite!)
(~ = A re-read!)
(DNR = do not recommend/will not be re-reading)
If you’d like to read my in-depth thoughts on any of these books, I’ve reviewed many of them on their Goodreads pages. Just click on the title to go to each book’s page!
Fiction1. The Nine Lessons by Kevin Alan Milne
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (*,~)
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (*,~)
4. What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan
5. Safe In His Arms by Colleen Coble
6. The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
8. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
9. Seasons of the Storm by Elle Cossimano
10. Lyddie by Katherine Paterson (*,~)
11. Run Away Home by Patricia C. McKissack (~)
12. Steal Away by Jennifer Armstrong (~)
13. Frozen Summer by Mary Jane Auch (~)
14. Mandy by Julie (Andrews) Edwards (~)
15. Generations 2: The D.C. Gambit by Kenny Sargent (*)
16. Like a Ship On the Sea by Kellyn Roth (*)
17. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
18. Cabin Girl by E. G. Bella (* haha)
19. Orchidelirium by E. B. Roshan
20. Operation Lionhearted by Maribeth Barber (*)
21. Held Captive by Grace A. Johnson (*)
22. If the Stars Awaken by Kate Willis (*)
23. Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
24. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
25. Wayfarer by K. M. Weiland (*)
26. New Moon (Twilight #2) by Stephenie Meyer
27. Eclipse (Twilight #3) by Stephenie Meyer
28. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
29. Baby Mine by Kellyn Roth
30. To Bind Fire by D. E. Carlson (*)
31. Ichabod Fly and the Great Newspaper Roundup by Bree Pembrook
32. Quest For the Beast by Sarah Holman
33. Addie’s Mountain by Kate Willis
34. Enjoy the Poodle Skirt by Kate Willis
1. More Than Enough: The Ten Keys to Changing Your Financial Destiny by Dave Ramsey
2. Finding Time: Breathing Space for Women Who Do Too Much by Paula Peisner Coxe
3. All Things for Good by Thomas Watson (*)
4. The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel
5. Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat MD & Gaye Wheat
6. Sheet Music by Kevin Leman
7. Preparing For Marriage God’s Way by Wayne A. Mack
8. Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Phillip Hallie
9. The Act of Marriage by Tim LaHaye & Beverly LaHaye
10. 7 Things He’ll Never Tell You: …But You Need to Know by Kevin Leman
11. Intermittent Fasting for Women 101 by Jennifer Cook (DNR)
12. The Magnolia Story by Chip Gaines
13. Successful Self-Publishing by Joanna Penn (*)
14. Writing By Faith: Following God’s Calling to Be a Christian Author by Allyson Kennedy
15. Becoming Your Spouse’s Better Half by Rick Johnson
16. Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis Majors
To summarize, I started off the year with non-fiction before my husband and I got married, and really doubled down on my fiction reading near the end of this year. The non-fiction list contained books about marriage, finances, writing, publishing, and Christian living, and the fiction list held everything from dystopian to fantasy to middle-grade childhood favorites and more. It was a fun variety!
What did YOU read this year? What were some of your favorites? I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to comment below and let me know what reading adventures you were up to in 2023!
And while you’re there, feel free to ask questions about any of the books on this list! In addition, you can find my reviews for many of the books by following the Goodreads link (click on the book’s title).
Here’s hoping 2024 is full of many more great reads!
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What I Read in 2023Bookish Naughty or Nice TagTis the Season Book TagDecember 22, 2023
Bookish Naughty or Nice Tag
Happy Friday!
I’m popping in today with a super short but fun tag that I found on KristenKravesBooks (again!).Her list of blog tags never fails to yield some great finds, and I thought this would be a cute activity before the holidays.
I’d love for you to join me, so please feel free to leave your answers in the comments (and/or participate on your own blog)!
RulesTag & link the person who tagged you (I wasn’t tagged…I just stole it from Kristen, haha)Tag and link me/this post (I would love to read your answers!)Tick/cross off the ones you’ve doneTag another 10 people (or however many you’d like)The ListReceived an ARC and not reviewed it (not yet! I only apply for ARCs that I’m excited about.) Have less than 60% feedback rating on Netgalley (I don’t use Netgalley…)(so I guess I’m half-naughty, half-nice?)I Tag
All of you! I don’t like tagging people repeatedly when I do so many blog tag posts, so I am just going to leave this open for anyone and everyone who wants to share their answers.
So whether that means participating on your own blog, or just sharing your list down in the comments, I’d love to find out if you’re naughty or nice when it comes to books. Consider yourself tagged!
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Bookish Naughty or Nice TagTis the Season Book TagLike a Ship on the Sea: Book ReviewDecember 15, 2023
Tis the Season Book Tag
Happy Friday!
I always love looking through the list of blog tags on KristenKravesBooks (click here to find it!), and decided to make use of some of the Christmas-themed ones this month! I’d love for you to join, so please hop in if this looks like fun! You can share your answers on your own blog or down in the comments!
Do you have a favorite winter read?This is not a good start to this tag, but no. I can’t say I have any particular favorite winter reads, but in general, I feel much more like reading in the fall and winter. Something about bundling up all cozy with a warm drink and a good book is so appealing this time of year. I tend to do most of my reading during the cold months!
Find a book with blue on the cover.
Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg is a cute, high-school-centered romance that drew my attention solely because of the pretty (blue!) cover. It was out of my comfort zone and fairly predictable, but otherwise a fairly solid read. I’m sure that if that’s more your genre, you’d probably enjoy it more than me.
Find a book that you’d use as a star on a Christmas tree
If the Stars Awaken by Kate Willis would be a great option, for pretty obvious reasons. I love this cover, and it definitely hits the cozy, bright, “star-like” vibes that would make for a great Christmas star topper.
(On a side note, I absolutely recommend this book – which you can find here!)
Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a winter holiday
I’ve always thought visiting both Narnia and Hogwarts during Christmas time would be so neat! Narnia because it would be beautiful and plus, the allegorical side of it all would add a lot of significance. And Hogwarts because look at that picture! The lights are gorgeous, and I imagine it would be very peaceful to roam and explore the castle by candlelight, while most of the students are away.
Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your holidayCan I take my own characters? I would absolutely love to go on a trip with either Éirinn from Cabin Girl or even the Captain (boy, would that be an interesting trip!). If it can’t be my own characters though…I’d enjoy taking Cassie Bonham from Generations 2: The D.C. Gambit. I relate to her, and for other fun reasons I can’t share about yet, it would be a fascinating experience.
Name one book on your wish list this year
I’ve had my eye on this book for years now, but just haven’t justified purchasing it yet. That said, I keep hearing fantastic things about it, and I want to continue growing in my novel-writing skills… so I think I’m about ready to justify it, haha.
Have you read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel? If so, what did you think?
Favorite holiday drink, treat, and movie
This is so hard! I have so many favorites of all of these.
For drink, I love sparkling anything (not alcohol). I often drink plain sparkling water, as it settles my stomach, and these kinds of sparkling juices are a special thing I really only have around the holidays, so they’re a special treat.
The treat is so basic: peppermints. I enjoy lots of Christmas treats (fudge, gingerbread, etc.), but peppermints are small, tasty, and also help my stomach because of the mint.
And then, Arthur Christmas. If you’ve seen the movie, no more probably needs to be said. It’s such a gem, and my family and I watch it every year. So many brilliant jokes, talented cast members, and cute lessons.
I’m not going to tag anyone specific, because I want to tag everyone who wants to participate! So if that’s you, feel free to respond either on your blog, or down in the comments. I’d love to see how you’d answer these questions!
I hope you’re having a peaceful holiday season so far!
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Tis the Season Book TagLike a Ship on the Sea: Book ReviewThe Spotify Wrapped TagDecember 13, 2023
Like a Ship on the Sea: Book Review
Happy Wednesday!
I’ve been enjoying reading more fiction (and finally catching up on reviews) lately, and thought today would be a great chance to share one of the great new reads I’ve discovered in the past few months!
So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Like a Ship On the Sea by Kellyn Roth! I was honored to receive an ARC of this lovely book. While I didn’t know what to expect, as this was my first book of Kellyn’s and historical romance is not usually my genre of choice, I was so pleasantly surprised!
I can’t wait for you to learn more about it!
To start, you can find Like a Ship On the Sea (the first book in The Hilton Legacy series) by going to Amazon here (click these words).
Just look at this gorgeous cover! It was the first thing that drew me to this book. The BlurbIf God asks you to confront a storm, how dare you stay in the harbor?
Lady Mary Cassidy O’Connell has a dream that can be summed up in three connecting ideas: a loving husband, adorable children, and a home of her own. Her mother’s lack of care makes life difficult for Cassie, and an escape is necessary. The plan? Marry Aubrey Montgomery, the man her parents have chosen for her, and find the peace she craves.
Unfortunately, Cassie is uneasy about marrying Aubrey. Her apprehension grows as she witnesses her dearest friend’s loving marriage take place. At this wedding, she catches the eye of Patrick Hilton, son of a wealthy American. Like Cassie, he’s also set to marry a woman chosen by his parents—only, Patrick claims, he is content with this choice.
Torn between her desire for happiness and the knowledge that God is leading her in a different direction, Cassie confronts the impossible decision. Is a loveless marriage of obligation better than being alone, or will she set sail on a voyage without a safe harbor?
Like a Ship on the Sea is the first novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.
When I first received my ARC from Kellyn, I was not expecting to read this entire book in one sitting. However, once I started reading, thinking I’d just get a taste of it, several hours breezed by and I found myself at the end. That rarely happens for me if it’s not a fantasy or dystopian book, so I was shocked!
As I said, this is the first book of Kellyn’s that I’ve read, as most of her books are primarily romance, and that’s a large step outside my usual genres. However, between the Irish influences and all the good things I was hearing about it, I couldn’t resist giving it a try. I’m so glad I did – I loved it!
Without having read any of the other stories involving some of these characters, I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch everything in the story. But that wasn’t the case at all. I never felt like I was missing or couldn’t understand anything, and the story introduced all of the characters to me very well.
The characters were my favorite part, overall. I love how Kellyn gave each of them real and relatable passions, struggles, desires, thoughts, and dreams. There weren’t any that fell flat or didn’t seem real. I could relate to almost all of them, and quickly became attached, especially to the protagonists.
The settings were beautiful and precise, and I don’t have a clue how Kellyn kept all of the spot-on historical details straight, but they all made perfect sense to me. Her descriptions were vivid, and I could picture each of the locations easily. I enjoyed the change of ‘vibes’ and aesthetic that I could feel as I read. Each place felt different and interesting, which is a huge plus in my book.
As a rare romance reader, I can’t comment on how it compares to typical romance genre books, but I enjoyed it. There were a couple of decisions that the protagonist made early on that I admittedly didn’t agree with, but as the story continued on, I could see why that was actually the right choice, and admired her for it. I was more than ready when the true romance of the story came about, and found them extremely cute and well-made for each other.
Besides the characters and how real they are, my other favorite aspects of this book are the Christian themes. They were prominent from the very start of the story, but not obnoxiously so. As a Christian, I want to read more fiction that simply and unapologetically contains Christian themes and morals, without also trying to shove them onto the reader (even if they don’t fit the story). This story was wonderful about that, and I could respect and relate to the characters’ faiths without cringing at how it was portrayed.
I also appreciated the few deep and heavy topics that Kellyn covered in this story. They hit very close to home, personally, and I felt she portrayed them accurately and gracefully. Real life isn’t neat and easily resolved, and she did a great job communicating that, while also interlacing hope that comes from Christ.
Overall, I’m very glad I received the opportunity to read an early copy of this story, and will stay tuned for the future installments! If you’re a fan of historical, Christian, Irish, English, or romance fiction, I’d recommend checking this book out. You might just find a new favorite.
Content warning: Non-described kisses, one tactful discussion about marital intimacy, discussions about miscarriage, stillbirth, and port-partum depression, one minor character attempts suicide (off-screen) and has depression.
**I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.**
About the Author
Kellyn Roth writes Christian historical romance stories that shine hope without pretending darkness doesn’t exist. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.
When not building her author career or working with authors at her indie publisher, Wild Blue Wonder Press, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collies, or spending time with her husband.
Visit her website at https://kellynrothauthor.com/!
Have you ever read Like a Ship on the Sea, or any of Kellyn Roth’s books? If so, what do you like most about them? And if not, do they sound like your kind of books? I encourage you to check them out!
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Like a Ship on the Sea: Book ReviewThe Spotify Wrapped TagNovember Updates, Giveaways, and Sales!
