E.G. Bella's Blog, page 5

The Spotify Wrapped Tag

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I’ve done this fun musical tag for the past two years, and am so happy to be doing it again! The original post can be found on Maribeth Barber’s site, (click the name), and I encourage you to join in if you’d like to share your musical tastes this year!

As I write this, I’ve got Christmas music playing (current song: O Holy Night by Straight No Chaser), and funny enough, that’s what I was listening to last year at this time, participating in this same tag. I’m nothing if not consistent in my music choices.

And it’s worth noting that I have adjusted the questions slightly this year, to match the stats that Spotify gave me. If you decide to join in, feel free to do the same!

The RulesLink back to THIS post on A Writer’s TaleShare the image below at the top of your post…Link to your Spotify so your readers can follow you (here’s my profile!)Tag a few friends…or your entire blog audience, if you prefer!The QuestionsWhat was your #1 song of the year?

Unsurprisingly, my top song was Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by One Audience Piano.

Starting on January 2nd, I listened to this song 129 times! It’s such a beautiful piano instrumental, and I have it at the top of my instrumental playlist.

Though I’ve been listening to more songs with lyrics lately, most of the year has been instrumentals while I’m falling asleep, sick, or just needing some peaceful atmospheric tunes to unwind.

It’s amazing how much peace piano Christian songs bring me.

What were your other top songs of the year?

1. Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by One Audience Piano
2. Who You Say I Am by YoungMin You
3. Oceans by YoungMin You
4. Build My Life/Jesus Messiah by YoungMin You
5. My Jesus I Love Thee by Kendra Logozar

Once again, all Christian instrumentals!

These were on repeat earlier this year, particularly when I was trying to relax before we were married, and when I was sick or feeling unwell afterward.

Who was your top artist?

YoungMin You, which you probably could have guessed by looking at my top songs, haha.

I listened to 13,405 minutes of his music, which apparently puts me in the top 0.05% of his listeners worldwide!

He plays piano so beautifully, and has really brought some of my favorite hymns to life in unique ways. I would love to be able to play as well as he does!

Who are your top 5 artists?

In order:
1. YoungMin You (peak listening month: April)
2. Chillout Avenue (peak listening month: January)
3. silver grace (peak listening month: April)
4. Brian Tyler (peak listening month: August)
5. Jesus Raymond (peak listening month: January)

I find it amusing that all of the artists, except for Brian Tyler, play calm Christian instrumentals and that they were mostly peak listening months before I got married and was sick. Then came August – my huge Cabin Girl editing month – and my listening focus switched to rousing instrumentals for motivation!

What were your top podcasts?

So, I didn’t have any top podcasts this year. I’m still getting into them and haven’t found any that I’ve been hooked on yet. However, I have quite a few on my list that I’m sure are fantastic (by author friends), and I’m hoping to start listening more in 2024.

How many minutes did you spend listening to Spotify?

Looks like 57,657 minutes! Just slightly less than last year. That puts me in the top 4% of listeners worldwide, which is fun.

My listening peaked on April 26, with 724 minutes – about half a day! That doesn’t surprise me, as that was one of the days that I had mono, and I was miserable. Listening to instrumentals helped a lot.

What kind of listener are you?

Well, apparently I’m a vampire!

My description: “When it comes to your listening, you like to embrace a little…darkness. You listen to emotional, atmospheric music more than most.”

That absolutely sums me up, haha. Not necessarily depressing or dark in topic music, but definitely emotional and moving. I love music that makes me feel. Especially while writing!

What is your sound town?

Apparently my sound town is Provo, USA (which is a town in Utah), because of an increased amount of Marvin Goldstein, Steven Kapp Perry, and BYU Vocal Point listeners.

I’ve never been to Provo, but if you’re from that town, feel free to say hi!

What are your top genres?

In order:
1. Broadway
2. Piano Worship
3. Soundtrack
4. CCM (Christian contemporary music)
5. Shanty

This. This right here sums up my entire listening personality, haha.

I always enjoy discovering my musical stats, and would love to hear your answers! If you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged (and feel free to adapt the questions for your situation)!

So, what have YOU been listening to this year? What are some of your favorite songs? I’d love to hear from you (even if you don’t use Spotify for your listening), so let me know your thoughts on your own blog, or in the comments below!

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The Spotify Wrapped TagNovember Updates, Giveaways, and Sales!When NaNoWriMo Doesn’t Work Out

November Updates, Giveaways, and Sales!

Happy day before Thanksgiving!

This is going to be a very short post, but it’s packed with some exciting events that I want you to know about. Read on to learn about some awesome things happening in the next few days!

Christmas in November Giveaway

Would you like to win a copy of Cabin Girl? Well, now’s your chance!

As part of Madisyn Carlin’s Christmas in November Giveaway, I’m giving away a signed paperback of Cabin Girl today! This giveaway is being run by Madisyn on her blog (right here), and over the course of twelve days, there are twelve books being given away to twelve winners. Today’s spotlighted giveaway is my Christian pirate novel, Cabin Girl, and I would love for you to win it!

To enter, just head to Madi’s Musings blog, where you’ll find the information, the link to the giveaway itself, an opportunity to win extra points, and all of the other books participating in this giveaway. (Clicking on the picture should also take you to her site.)

This is such a fantastic opportunity to win some cozy holiday reading material (each and every one of these books is amazing!), so I encourage you to go enter before time’s up! And please, share this with anyone you think might be interested! 

Black Friday Book Sale

I’m also so excited to be part of Perry Kirkpatrick’s annual Black Friday Book Sale! 

Starting November 24th through November 28th, both Cabin Girl and The Toymaker’s Doll are going to be $0.99 on Amazon! If you haven’t gotten to read either one of my books yet, but have wanted to, now is the time to go snag them (the cheapest they’ll ever be, with the exception of The Toymaker’s Doll. You should have received a free copy of that one for being on my newsletter, so if you haven’t, let me know!)

But it’s not just my books that will be on sale! Last year’s sale included around six-hundred $0.99 or free books, and this year looks like it’s gearing up to be very similar. You can find indie books in all kinds of genres, and all with content ratings attached. I encourage you to check it out by going to this site starting Black Friday! 

(Here is the link). Again, please share this with your friends! This is the biggest indie book sale to happen annually, and I can pretty much guarantee there’s something for everyone!

General Life Update

This is definitely a shorter post than normal, but I wanted it to be short, sweet, and highlighting all of the most important information for you! Those would be the two events above. That said, just to give you a short glimpse into the rest of my life right now, the rest of this month will include:

Celebrating Thanksgiving with my family (and with my husband’s family another day).Packing! Lots and lots of packing. (the apartment looks like a tornado went through it!)Moving out of our apartment (our lease ends on November 30th)Closing on and moving into our house! (At the time of writing this, we still don’t know the exact date that closing will be, but most likely anywhere from November 29th to December 6th…it will be an adventure to see where we go in the meantime, and how everything works out! But I’m so excited to move in just in time to make the place all cozy and twinkly for Christmas. Definitely feeling thankful for all of it.)Brainstorming and beginning to outline a new novel for an upcoming announcement (…)Hopefully finishing a short story to submit to an anthology, but we’ll see. (brainpower for writing has been severely lacking with everything going on, haha)

And this Thanksgiving, I just wanted to say that I am SO THANKFUL for you! I’m so glad that you stop by my little corner of the internet and take the time to be involved with my journey. You are a blessing, and I’m so grateful. Have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and remember you are loved! 

What books do you have your eye on in that Black Friday sale? There are so many great ones!

P.S. Don’t forget to go enter the Cabin Girl giveaway!

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When NaNoWriMo Doesn’t Work Out

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today is the fifteenth, making it officially halfway through the month of November. For those participating in NaNoWriMo, that’s a big milestone. It’s also typically where the most burn-out and exhaustion happens, so if you’re an author participating in National Novel Writing Month, I pray you receive a second burst of energy, inspiration, and joy in your novel. You’ve got this!

And if, like me, you’re an author not participating in NaNoWriMo this year but would have liked to, this can also be a difficult time. We’re solidly in the midst of other author’s growing wordcounts and posts about how much progress they’ve made in such a short amount of time. Although, it’s very exciting to cheer for everyone, it can feel a bit discouraging not to be making that same kind of progress.

I hoped, planned, and wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. However, with the timing of Cabin Girl‘s launch and wanting to take some creative rest afterward, to now the thick of buying a house and moving from our current apartment (and all the many, many details that entails of!), it just isn’t happening this year.

And that’s okay! It really is. Obviously God has other plans and it wasn’t meant to happen this year. I just need to align my expectations and plans with God’s…which is easier said than done sometimes.

I enjoy NaNoWriMo (and when I refer to it, I’m referring to National Novel Writing Month, not the website or organization in particular). I work best on tight deadlines that don’t leave me time to procrastinate, and I appreciate all of the community and accountability surrounding the event. Knowing I have to give a report of my wordcount, whether that’s to other people or a website, is motivating.

(Even this post is only on time because I mentioned it to my street team beforehand. When life is crazy, it’s tempting for me to skip things I needed or wanted to get done for my writing, but knowing that if I don’t get it done, I have to provide an answer to others gives me the drive I need to do it anyway.)

The last time that I did NaNoWriMo was in 2021, when I wrote Cabin Girl‘s sequel, Gills. That was a 65,000 word rough draft and it was completely drafted by the end of November. I loved that experience. It was super challenging, but the feeling of accomplishment that came from finishing made it all worth it. And I was pumped to do it again this year.

But obviously, that hasn’t happened. And maybe you’re in the same place. Maybe you have a project you’d like to devote solid hours to, finish quickly, and be able to announce to your community as finished. Maybe you were hoping or planning to do NaNoWriMo but life threw you a curveball and now you feel left out. Or maybe you just feel too exhausted to contemplate something like that, even if you want to.

I wanted to reach out today with a virtual hug. It’s okay that you’re not doing NaNoWriMo this year, or if you are and aren’t making the progress you want to, that’s okay too. It’s okay to prioritize other areas of your life when you need to. And it’s okay to take care of yourself properly. More than okay, it’s good.

NaNoWriMo is a great opportunity, a fantastic resource and motivator, and an encouraging source of community, there’s no denying it. But it’s not everything, and missing it one year doesn’t make you any less of an author. It’s only one month of the year. You as an author get to arrange your writing around your life, and if NaNoWriMo doesn’t fit in that mold some years…you guessed it. It’s okay!

Be An Author Your Way

Remember that no matter what, you are still an author, and still capable of accomplishing many great things. I know it can be discouraging to not be in the midst of our friends’ growing wordcounts and tight-knit writing groups, and if we’re not careful we can start to think we’re less because of it. But in truth, you are just on a different writing schedule right now, and that’s nothing to regret.

And you and I are not at all alone in having a schedule that rules out NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo is a tool, to be used as its helpful to us. Don’t feel guilty for not using a tool that isn’t serving you or your author journey right now. Being an author has its stages, and some require fast drafting, some require slow and steady work, and some require rest. Honor the stage that you’re on, and don’t feel bad about it.

Work On Your Own Time

Maybe November doesn’t work for you to write a novel in a month, but what’s stopping you from doing the same challenge another month that fits your schedule better? I’m greatly considering writing a novel in a month next spring, when life has settled a little more for me, and I am prepared to draft again. Why not consider the same thing? And if you want community and/or accountability while you do it, I guarantee that there are always others who would be interested in joining you.

Maybe that would mean doing writing sprints together, sharing wordcounts daily or weekly, brainstorming when you’re stuck, or just an agreement to check in with each other every so often to remind one another that you’re in this together. Or maybe you don’t aim for a full novel in a month. For some, that’s just not manageable any month of the year. So set a different goal that motivates you, and aim for that! The sky is the limit in how you decide to write.

And if you’re still trying to write this month, but not able to reach 50,000, take joy in what you are able to accomplish. Showing up and getting words down is an achievement at any point, no matter how quickly you write them or how many there are. You’re showing up for yourself and your writing, and taking steps to accomplish your goals – that should be celebrated. Hype yourself up! You’re doing an amazing job.

Not Writing Can Be Productive Too

And if you’re just not in a place to write at all right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t still make progress on your projects! Some of my most productive time is when I’m on ‘creative rest’ or not actively writing one of my books, but am still allowing my brain to work through details and ideas. If your life and schedule aren’t allowing you to draft right now, use this time to be prepared for when you can.

For example, as I’ve been packing boxes lately, I’ve been thinking through the plot of the story I want to write next. Brainstorming characters, thinking up better dialogue, mulling over plot holes and tricky aspects of the story that I need to fix… And this has been serving two benefits for me. For one, I’m prepping the story in my mind, and two, I’m getting more and more excited about this story. Both will help the story flow easier when I do get to sit down and write it.

So even if you’re not in a stage that allows you to draft right now, don’t feel discouraged. By just allowing your brain to work through your story while you’re going through the rest of your life, you’re preparing for when you do have time. And your story and mindset is going to be all the better for it. It’s said that “writers are always writing, even when they’re not,” and I think that’s very true!

So whether you’re not able to do NaNoWriMo this year, aren’t doing it out of choice but feel left out, or aren’t making the progress you want to this month, don’t stress about it. Don’t allow yourself to feel like you’re any less of a writer. Just do what you can, when you can, as God brings the chances into your schedule. Your journey is unique and wonderful, and I hope you’re able to find renewed joy in it.

What does your writing journey look like this month? What are you up to, and what is your next project? I’d love to hear from you, so let me know in the comments below!

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If the Stars Awaken: Book Review

Hello and happy Friday!

Today, I’m so excited to share about Kate Willis Hoppman’s latest book! If the Stars Awaken released yesterday, and in celebration of her launch, I want to take a moment and share all of the book’s information and my review! I was honored to receive an ARC of this beautiful book, and have loved reading and learning about the story. I can’t wait for all of you to dive in as well!

To start, you can find If The Stars Awaken by going to Amazon here (click these words).

Look at that beautiful cover!

The Blurb

“Hush, little one, and you will see a starlit web of mystery.”

Queen Marinne awaits a sign from the Maker about her unborn child, but the heavens are worryingly quiet about everything except the new star taking over the sky.

Others look to the stars as well, but none more than the Starreader’s loyal apprentice, Dynast, who finds himself cast aside and left to search the skies for answers on his own.

Elite guard Arrow has no time to wonder about the star as he protects the royal family, a task that becomes harder when the Starreader interrupts the christening to prophesy the end of days.

Fear and confusion unsettle the kingdom, and a bid for survival turns into a desperate search for truth and hope.

If it’s any indication of how much I was drawn in by this book, I finished the entire thing in one sitting!

Usually, epic, more-detailed fantasies like this tend to give me pause. Not because I don’t like fantasy, but because they’re usually so focused on all of the details of the majestic world, intricate magic systems, and wide-spanning plot that they don’t give as much time to the characters as I prefer. I’m a very character-focused reader. However, this book had exactly the balance I hoped.

It had such an incredibly interesting world, with lots of details and a captivating plot, but it followed the characters closely, with a narrow and more intimate storytelling lens. And I loved that. I really got to connect and empathize with each character, and even the minor characters seemed very real.

Speaking of characters, they were extremely well-written. I greatly admired the Queen in particular. I liked her, related to her, and look up to her for her example of strength, grace, and love even in the midst of hardship. She was one of those characters that I wish I knew in real life. And each of the other characters around her were unique and likable, as well. They each seemed to have lives and goals of their own. I rooted for all of them, except for the ones I wasn’t supposed to…

The entire world and their system of reading the stars was super detailed and intriguing, and I was drawn into it quickly. And even though it wasn’t explicitly Christian, the allegorical elements expertly woven throughout the story were beautiful. Not out of place at all, and very powerful. Although it might be compared to astrology on first read of the blurb, I didn’t see that at all. Instead, I felt it held a lot of biblical elements, and appreciated each of them.

If I have any complaint, it’s just that I wanted more. From start to finish, I was invested, and I would have loved to learn more about the characters, their backstories, the world itself, what happened to them at the end, and exactly why some of the story events happened. I’m not sure if I just didn’t understand a few things, or if the author is saving explanations for another book…? Either way, I didn’t want it to end, and thoroughly enjoyed the read!

I would recommend this book to mature middle-grade readers and up that enjoy fantasy stories with inspirational characters, allegorical elements, family love, and journeys.

Content Warning: Loss, grief, references to child loss, injuries, fights, and violence.

** I was given an e-ARC copy, but was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions.**

About the Author

Kate (Willis) Hoppman is a follower of Jesus and lover of words. She enjoys quiet afternoons reading or watching movies with her nerdy husband, baking tall cakes, and hanging out with her family.

Her website: https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/

If the Stars Awaken: https://www.amazon.com/If-Stars-Awaken-Kate-Willis-ebook/dp/B0CJ7GXPW1/

Congratulations on your release, Kate!

Have you read If the Stars Awaken? If so, what was your favorite part? And if not, does it sound like your kind of book? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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15 Inspirational Quotes About Stories

I love stories.

If you’ve known me for long, you’ve probably seen me say that before – over and over again. And it’s true. I believe stories are powerful, and that they can influence people strongly, for good and bad.

That’s one huge reason that I love telling stories and being an author. Getting to spread hope and truth through books is a blessing, and I hope to continue for a very long time.

Right now, I’m in an in-between space in my writing. I just published Cabin Girl and am trying to give myself a creative break for a little bit before I dive whole-heartedly into the next book. I’ve found I need that time between big projects to let my mind and body get refreshed and ready to tackle the next thing.

Part of that creative break is taking in as much motivation and material as I can. Refilling my well, so to speak. I’ve been reading a lot more books, my husband and I have been watching a few well-done movies that I’ve been meaning to get to, I’ve been putting together playlists and Pinterest boards for my next story (visual and auditory inspiration!), and I’m generally just getting excited about stories all over again.

That includes reading blog posts and other materials about writing from other authors. To me, reading their experiences and advice is extremely motivating. If they can do it, so can I, right? God willing, of course. So today, I thought I’d take a minute to share fifteen of my favorite quotes about telling stories.

I hope that if you’re in a similar place in your writing journey, where you’re seeking new inspiration, that these quotes help get you excited to write again! And I’d love to know how you inspire yourself to write!

1. “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”
~ Brandon Sanderson

2. “Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.”
~ Robert McKee

3. “Stories are our primary tools of learning and teaching, the repositories of our lore and legends. They bring order into our confusing world. Think about how many times a day you use stories to pass along data, insights, memories or common-sense advice.”
~ Edward Miller

4. “Stories create community, enable us to see through the eyes of other people, and open us to the claims of others.”
~ Peter Forbes

5. “Tell the story that’s been growing in your heart, the characters you can’t keep out of your head, the tale story that speaks to you, that pops into your head during your daily commute, that wakes you up in the morning.”
~ Jennifer Weiner

6. “I think the best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event, which is to say character-driven.”
~ Stephen King

7. “Stories you read when you’re the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them or what the story was called. Sometimes you’ll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit.”
~ Neil Gaiman

8. “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.”
~ J. K. Rowling

9. “Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There’s magic in that. It’s in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.“
~ Erin Morgenstern

10. “A good story should make you laugh, and a moment later break your heart.”
~ Chuck Palahniuk

11. “We who make stories know that we tell lies for a living. But they are good lies that say true things, and we owe it to our readers to build them as best we can. Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will grow up with a different landscape, who without that story will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write.”
~ Neil Gaiman

12. “Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.”
~ Madeleine L’Engle

13. “People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around.”
~ Terry Pratchett

14. “Create those things where human protagonists relate to us, where the stakes and conflict grip us, and where the emotions move us. Craft those simple things, those glorious things, those things so often forgotten but so desperately needed. There’s no hidden or corporate meaning behind the word ‘story.’ We know what they are. And we need to start telling them.”
~ Jay Acunzo

15. “I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”
~ Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings

Did any of these quotes speak to you today? Go ahead and let me know your favorites in the comments, as well as if there is a certain topic you’d like to see more quotes about. While you’re there, I’d love to hear some of your favorite quotes about stories!

My heart overflows with a good theme;
I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
(Psalm 45:1)

1. I shared more of my quote collection in many previous posts, which you can find here.

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An Introduction Post

Hello there and welcome to my little corner of the internet!

If you’re new here, I’m E. G. Bella, but please, call me Bella! That’s my pen name, and at this point, I answer to it just as quickly as my given name.

Who I Am

I’m a Christian author, wife, blogger, and bookworm, obsessed with meaningful stories, family, tea, and dad jokes. And if I could somehow be an author, pianist, missionary, theatre/voice actress, and stay-at-home mom all at the same time, I absolutely would.

On April 1st, 2023 (for real – not an April Fool’s Day joke), I married the love of my life. You won’t see much of him here, as we value his privacy, but his patience, support, and advice allows me to accomplish all of this.

I’m not great at introductions, but to give you a better picture of the kind of person I am, here are some random facts…

I accepted Jesus at four years old.I started this website in 2020 and have been blogging consistently since.I come from a large family, with over fifty first cousins.I was entirely homeschooled and graduated in 2020 (woot woot).I’m an indie author.When I was younger, I desperately wanted a horse.Some of my favorite books tropes are grumpy (secretly soft) mentors, characters with amnesia, sunshine-y protagonists, and heroic journeys.My favorite movies include Treasure Planet, Emperor’s New Groove, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and Lord of the Rings.Favorite shows would be Psych and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.I’m mildly color-blind and have trouble distinguishing between some shades of red and green.My favorite music includes Celtic/Irish, Broadway, classical, sea shanties, and soundtracks.I can’t have dairy or gluten.My favorite colors are blue and yellow (the two I can reliably see!)The first series I wrote was about Star Wars and I still love it to pieces.My craziest writing dream would be for that series to become a show.My favorite scents are vanilla, lavender, citrus, and spearmint.I may be introverted but few things make me happier than getting to know new people! (hint, hint)What I Write

I started telling stories before I could even write. My first tales were created with crayon and stapled paper, and usually included The Little Mermaid characters. As I learned to write, my stories evolved into parables and tales of pre-teen girls with horses.

When I was eleven, I wrote my first novels – parts of a Star Wars companion series that I still dream of publishing one day. I worked endlessly on those books, never really finishing them, until I was sixteen and took a novel writing course for school (the One Year Adventure Novel course, which I highly recommend).

For the course, I was required to write a new full-length novel. When brainstorming, a story idea about pirates came to mind. And the rest, as they say, is history.

That course made all the difference in my writing! After finishing the pirate novel, I wrote two more novels, three short stories, a screenplay, and several full outlines within the next couple of years. I started this website in September of 2020 and have consistently blogged here since, sharing reflections on life, writing updates, and more.

And I’ve embarked whole-heartedly on my indie author journey, now having published one “short” story, and one full-length novel – that pirate story I mentioned earlier.

In general, you can expect to find in my books clean, character-focused adventures with meaningful themes, a dash of humor, and enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Not all of my books are explicitly Christian (some are!), but all of them contain truth and powerful themes. You’ll never find gore, sexual material, language, or excessive violence here.

In terms of genres so far, I write historical fiction (namely pirate or medieval), dystopian, fantasy, fairytale retellings, and a little bit of contemporary. I rarely write romance, but when I do, you can be sure it’s something your kids, grandkids, or younger siblings could read.

You can find my published books here on my website and on Amazon, and there are free short stories here on my site as well. You can even sign up for my newsletter to receive a free copy of The Toymaker’s Doll!

Why I Write

I believe that stories are powerful.

Stories have the power to make us think, feel, and experience things that we may not otherwise. We have a chance to witness other perspectives and “see inside others’ heads.” They can be educational, inspiring, healing, motivational, and an escape.

They can also be used for unsavory purposes. Just as stories can portray good themes and meanings, they can spread harmful ideas and beliefs. We can be exposed to mental scenes we don’t want, and they can be extremely damaging, leaving hard-to-shake thoughts and emotions.

I’ve been reading and writing since I was very young, and have always loved stories because of where they can take us. I’ve heard it said that we can “live a thousand lives” through books, and I love that.

After my brother – and best friend – passed away when I was eleven, I clung to stories even more than before, as a means of distraction and comfort. And I found out very quickly that not all stories were helpful to me. I read a lot of things that made my life more difficult. Stories that led to some hard battles with purity and keeping my thoughts focused on what’s right, beautiful, and true.

That’s also when writing became more than just a hobby, but a passion. I spent a lot of time with my characters and story worlds, and it was extremely healing. Pressing my experiences, hurts, and questions into my stories gave me a space to explore them. And as my characters learned, so did I. God met me in those pages.

I’m passionate about stories because I believe God can use them in huge, incredible, and impactful ways. The world needs more of those stories.

I write because I want people to read my writing and know that they aren’t alone in whatever they’re facing. That there’s hope and light hidden in the darkness, and that God cares.

I write to give people an alternative to the many damaging and disturbing stories out there, and to instead point people back to the never-ending love, grace, and provision of God.

I write because I can’t imagine anything else I’d rather do.

Thank you so much for being here! I hope this quick introduction gave you a helpful glimpse into who I am, my writing, and the heart behind my writing. Feel free to explore the rest of my site for even more information and links to all of my shared works so far. I hope to see you around!

What do we have in common? If you’re a writer, what do you write, and why? If you’re a reader, what do you like to read, and why? Please share a little bit about yourself in the comments – I’d love to meet you!

Recent Posts:

An Introduction Post2023 Quarter #3 Wrap-UpTop 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

2023 Quarter #3 Wrap-Up

Hello and happy first day of October!

Today’s post is a recap of my most recent three months of 2023 (July, August, and September) – 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 Update

This past quarter has felt like the fastest one so far. I feel like July just started a couple of weeks ago! Life has continued to be busy, but a good busy. My husband and I secured an extra month in our apartment and don’t have to leave until the end of November, which is good, as house proceedings are taking much longer than we expected. God’s certainly been using every opportunity to teach me peace.

Now that we’re into autumn, some extra activities have started back up again, such as the weekly youth group meetings I help with, and I’m enjoying those. The weeks have been filled to the brim with those, work, both my husband’s and my birthdays, house hunting, typical household upkeep, a special project I’ll share more about next year, time with family, and writing.

I’ve been so blessed to have more time to devote to writing/publishing the past few months! In addition, I have a very supportive husband who’s been especially patient with me the past couple of weeks, as I’ve spent most of my free time working on publishing and blogging activities. It’s felt wonderful to write again, and finish some long overdue projects.

Fiction

Speaking of long overdue projects, I published Cabin Girl September 18th (if you somehow haven’t heard already!) It’s now available on Amazon as a paperback and ebook, as well as through my website as signed copies with bookmarks!

The reception has been so encouraging, and I’ve had quite a few people leaving reviews already, which makes my day every time. All of the feedback into what readers loved, didn’t like as much, and want more of is going to be very helpful as I continue to write The Secretive Seas Series. It’s great to move on to rewriting Book #2 (Gills…hint hint), and have the story out in the world!

In addition, we had a great launch week, with daily posts here on this blog, Instagram, Facebook, and on other’s feeds, as well as a fun giveaway! Our winners were announced and contacted directly, and their prizes are well on their way (if not with them already)! It’s been an exciting and rewarding past two weeks.

On the Blog

My blogging schedule has been pretty sporadic this past quarter, starting slow as I worked on finishing Cabin Girl and getting it ready for publication, and exploding during and after Cabin Girl‘s release.

So July had two posts, August had four, and September had a whopping twenty-one, making a grand total of twenty-seven blog posts in the second quarter of 2023!

You can tell when I released Cabin Girl, and participated in Five Fall Favorites. Those last two weeks of September were pretty crazy! And it shows in the stats for my website. September was this site’s biggest month for all kinds of engagement since I started it in 2020. Very fun!

Here’s the long list of blog posts from last quarter…just click on the titles to read them!

~ The Book Titles Tag
~ My Life in Books Tag
~ Anonymous Bookaholics Tag
~ Publishing News!
~ “What Makes Me Pick Up a Book” Tag
~ 21 Lessons I’ve Learned in 21 Years
~ Cabin Girl Release and Giveaway! (Launch Tour: Day 1)
~ Why You Should Read Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 2)
~ Bible Verses That Remind Me of Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 3)
~ What Readers Are Saying About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 4)
~ Fun and Random Facts About Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 5)
~ What I’ve Learned While Writing Cabin Girl (Launch Tour: Day 6)
~ The End…And the Beginning of Cabin Girl’s Release (Launch Tour: Day 7)
~ Top 5 Gifted Finds (Five Fall Favorites 2023)
~ Top 5 Secondhand Favorites (Five Fall Favorites 2023)
~ Top 5 Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)
~ Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)
~ Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)
~ Top 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Reading List

Again, as I’ve been busy with blogging and publishing, reading has fallen by the wayside. Most of the books I’ve read recently have either been ARCs of upcoming novels, related to projects I’m working on with others, and childhood middle-grade favorites that I’ve been revisiting.

I’m extremely behind in my original (unrealistic) reading goal for the year, but I expect to catch up some in the next month, as I want to take time and refuel creatively (i.e. read more books) before I dive into my next publishing project. Especially after doing Five Fall Favorites, I have so many books I’m eager to read!

Realistically, I know I won’t make my original reading goal, but I’m okay with that. I’ve made progress in a lot of different areas that I didn’t expect to this year, and that feels great!

Here are a few of my favorites from the past three months:
~ Lyddie by Katherine Paterson (historical middle-grade)
~ Mandy by Julie (Andrews) Edwards (historical middle-grade)
~ Generations 2: The DC Gambit by Kenny Sargent (Christian political thriller)
~ Like a Ship on the Sea by Kellyn Roth (Christian historical romance)
~ Cabin Girl by E. G. Bella…(Christian historical/pirate) (does this not count, haha?)

You can always keep up with my reading list (and reviews) on Goodreads.

Looking Forward

So what’s on the agenda for the next – and last – quarter of 2023? Well, the biggest thing will probably be moving right around Thanksgiving. Not sure where to yet, but I’m sure that will be figured out soon, haha. I will have moved twice this year then, and it will make about half a dozen times that my husband has moved in the last few years. It will be wonderful to find a place to settle in for a while and make our own.

Otherwise, I’m aiming to spend some extra time this quarter taking a bit better care of myself. I notice a big difference in how I’m feeling when I’m more intentional with my nutrition, sleep, and activity, but when life is crazy and there are a million other obligations, that’s hard to do well. While I take a mini hiatus from fiction writing this month, I’m hoping to jumpstart that process and make some good habits.

And on the writing side of things, though I’m not going to let myself write (much?) fiction in October, I aim to work on outlining next projects, continue to blog, keep up with people on social media, and read. I probably won’t be able to do NaNoWriMo in the traditional sense, but November may be when I hop back into some more intensive writing again. And then we’re into the holidays! Hard to believe 2023 is almost over…it’s been a whirlwind of a year.

What have these past 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 last quarter of the year? Do you have any holiday plans? I’d love to hear about what’s been going on in your life!

Recent Posts:

2023 Quarter #3 Wrap-UpTop 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Saturday, and welcome to the sixth – and last – day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! (As well as the last day of September!)

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

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today we’re looking at some of our favorite reads from the past year! That can mean in the last twelve months since the previous Five Fall Favorites party, or in the calendar year of 2023. Mine are all from the last twelve months, as I still haven’t read as many books as I’d like to in 2023 (that’s what autumn’s for, right?).

I will say that these aren’t my top picks from the last twelve months. Because I’ve already been using some recent favorites in my other posts from this week, today I decided to just share five more books that I’ve enjoyed recently. The past few months, I’ve done a lot of experimenting with new-to-me genres and re-reading childhood favorites, so many of today’s picks fit those categories.

Let’s take a look at them! (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).

Lyddie

Author: Katherine Paterson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is a small but surprisingly deep story that I read often in my youth. It took me far too long to realize that the author also wrote Bridge to Terabithia (another of my favorites during childhood), but I appreciate her approach to storytelling.

This is very easy to get invested in. I appreciate the focus on family, hard work, difficulty fitting in, and the main character’s strong morals, even in atrocious circumstances. For a middle-grade book, it takes on and honestly tackles very tough topics.

It’s not a fairytale, feel-good story, but it is very real, and I like to read it every now and again for that reason. And although there isn’t a ‘happy’ ending, it’s a hopeful and very realistic one. I would hope that in similar situations, I could manage to conduct myself with as much strength, honor, and courage as the main character does. I feel this is a strong story for readers of any age.

Tricky Content: Slavery, harmful working conditions, death, tactful references to (and shown intent of) sexual assault, infidelity, pregnancy outside of marriage, and mental health struggles.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and above that enjoy compelling historical fiction stories with a strong protagonist, sibling ties, and themes of courage and determination.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads! (the cover is wrong, but it is the correct page)

Silver Sparrow

Author: Tayari Jones

Genre: Historical Literary Fiction

Target Audience: Adults

What Stuck Out to Me: I have such mixed feelings about this one, so in regards to recommending it, I’d say that if this sounds like one you’d find interesting, you probably will, and if it doesn’t, I wouldn’t suggest reading it due to the potentially problematic premise.

For me, the concept was fascinating and well-delivered. Though the content wasn’t my favorite, the author states that her goal in writing it was to spur empathy in readers for people in similar situations in real life. And I respect and appreciate that.

There are those kinds of situations that people deal with all over the world, and as I empathized with the characters, I could find myself understanding why others may act the way they do. I sympathized with those characters and found them relatable. So in that regard, the book was well-written. The setting was easy to picture, closer to contemporary than very historical, but still not modern-day. Overall, probably not one I’ll be re-reading but it was worth the read for me.

Tricky Content: Scattered uses of strong language, frequent references to sexual matters, dysfunctional family (understatement), bigamy, and I didn’t agree with the morals of the characters, as a Christian.

I’d Recommend It To: Adults seeking a unique, character-driven read that makes you think, and spurs you to empathize with real people in their kind of situation.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Safe In His Arms

Author: Colleen Coble

Genre: Christian Western Romance

Target Audience: Young Adult and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a huge venture outside my reading comfort zone, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. I think it was a good first look at the genre.

The story itself was compelling, the characters were interesting and relatable, and the setting felt true to the time period. The romance was also sweet, and I especially appreciated that it was clean.

I also appreciated the Christian elements and discussions of God inside, including the main character wrestling with how to accept God’s unconditional love. Thanks to the Christian elements, there wasn’t any content I was uncomfortable with.

The second half of the book really picked up the pace action-wise, which I enjoyed. Was it the most realistic? No, but it was interesting, and it kept me reading to find out what might be thrown at the characters next. If lack of realism bothers you in stories like this, you may not appreciate the second half as much, but I didn’t mind dispending belief for a while. Probably because I don’t read many slower romances. All in all, it was a solid story and I do love that I can recommend it thanks to its being clean.

Tricky Content: Kisses, references to physical attraction, mild injuries, kidnappings, deceit.

I’d Recommend It To: Fans of Christian novels, westerns, and clean romance stories with a good amount of action and interesting characters.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is my go-to series any time I want to get lost in an expansive and captivating story. I’ve read the series several times over, and am currently reading them yet again.

I’ve always enjoyed how immersive this series is. Between the vivid characters, the mystery woven through each storyline, and the sheer amount of details that Rowling somehow keeps track of from book to book, I get the sense that this is truly a real world, with real people, that I’m stepping into. The first time I read them, I didn’t see many of the plot twists coming at all, and they’re still fun every time.

I personally enjoy the later books more than the earlier ones, as the story progresses and the plot thickens, but they wouldn’t be the same without the earlier books. In a way it makes the series even more immersive, as you see the book plots grow and mature as the kids do.

Tricky Content: Kids disrespecting authority, violence, magic. Later books grow darker in tone, with some more romantic/mature elements mixed in, but nothing inappropriate. I know everyone has differing views on the magic elements, and you should follow your own convictions. I personally wasn’t allowed to read them until I was old enough to understand the distinction between demonic activity/ witchcraft that the Bible talks about, from the magic system in this series, and would do the same thing with my own kids.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-schoolers and above that enjoy fun, school-featuring fantasy stories with large casts of characters, some mystery, and lots of whimsical adventure.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

All Things For Good

Author: Thomas Watson

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction

Target Audience: Teens and above

What Stuck Out to Me: A cousin loaned me this book when I was going through a discouraging patch, and it was such a refreshing read.

Romans 8:28 has been one of my favorite Scriptures for years, and this book focuses almost entirely on it. It explores how joyful times and blessings, other people, even suffering and misfortune, all work together for our good and God’s glory. It’s surprisingly in-depth, and, though it’s written in older English, it was still written simply enough to understand and enjoy.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone needing encouragement and understanding for hard times, or just wanting to understand that passage of Scripture and biblical truth better.

Tricky Content: Nothing that I found, though, as always, books like this should be read with discretion and prayer.

I’d Recommend It To: Christians that enjoy deep, thought-provoking, and encouraging dives into Scripture, particularly Romans 8:28.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

It’s hard to believe (and kind of sad), but we’ve officially reached the very end of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What have been your favorite reads from the last year? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

If you haven’t already, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations! There are so many other amazing bloggers that have shared countless great reads this week, and I’d hate for you to miss out on them!

Thank you so much for joining us this week, and for celebrating in the midst of these bookish, fall vibes. It’s been a blast, and I appreciate you! I’m already looking forward to next year!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Books of the Year (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Happy Friday, and welcome to the fifth day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! We’re almost done!

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

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today, we get to share five upcoming releases that we’re most excited for!

I love this topic because there are a good number of books I’m looking forward to right now, by authors who I admire and would love to support! From fantasy, to contemporary, to retellings, there are some exciting releases coming up! And I realized after curating this list, that my list is entirely by indie authors, so that’s also fun.

Let’s get right into those books! (I encourage you to visit Goodreads by clicking on each book’s title or the link beneath the cover, and add the ones you’re interested in to your TBR. I’m sure the authors would appreciate your support!)

If the Stars Awaken

Author: Kate Willis

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Publication Date: November 9th, 2023

Target Audience: Teens and up, from what I can tell

What Sticks Out to Me: First of all, that cover and title! They’re both so pretty, and definitely scream fantasy to me. Knowing it’s Christian is also a huge factor, as I’m trying to find a lot more of those.

I also enjoy medieval-type fantasy, and at least judging by the synopsis, this looks like it may be that. The author is one that I admire, so I’m just excited to dive into this one and see what it’s about!

Synopsis:

“Hush, little one, and you will see a starlit web of mystery.”

Queen Marinne awaits a sign from the Maker about her unborn child, but the heavens are worryingly quiet about everything except the new star taking over the sky.

Others look to the stars as well, but none more than the Starreader’s loyal apprentice, Dynast, who finds himself cast aside and left to search the skies for answers on his own.

Elite guard Arrow has no time to wonder about the star as he protects the royal family, a task that becomes harder when the Starreader interrupts the christening to prophesy the end of days.

Fear and confusion unsettle the kingdom, and a bid for survival turns into a desperate search for truth and hope.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Unearth the Tides

Author: Alissa J. Zavalianos

Genre: Christian Fantasy Retelling

Publication Date: October 6th, 2023

Target Audience: Again, teens and up?

What Sticks Out to Me: I’ve been seeing this one around my Instagram for weeks now, and it intrigues me greatly. I always enjoy 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, retellings, nautical stories, and Christian themes, so all of them combined? Yes, please!

Again, the author is so sweet and the more she shares about this story, the more I want to read it. I’m looking forward to its release!

Synopsis:

𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Huxley Krew Gannon III always knew he would be a royal guard; defending the Crown is in his blood. And coming from a long line of Gannons, that means the job is to be taken seriously at all costs.

When tragedy strikes, Huxley is framed for treason, and his only option is to flee to Braka’s most feared place: The Wasteful Tides.

It’s rumored a monstrous beast haunts those waters, but what Huxley encounters is even worse: an elusive captain, magical herbs, a beautiful lady, and unearthed truths that could change the course of history.

Unearth the Tides is a fantasy retelling of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Filled with mystery, found family, and themes of truth and forgiveness, Unearth the Tides is perfect for those who love the coziness of the classics and the thrill of adventure.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Otherworld

Author: Abbie Emmons

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 19th, 2023 (yes this just released, but since it’s so close, I’m cheating, haha)

Target Audience: YA and above

What Sticks Out to Me: I’ve followed Abbie Emmons for years now, but have yet to read any of her stories, as I don’t know if they’re quite my genre. This one really interests me though! Again, it has prominent nautical themes, cute romance, mysterious vibes, and supposedly draws inspiration from Tangled (which is one of my favorite movies of all time). I’m going to give it a chance as soon as I can!

Synopsis:

Orca Monroe wants only one thing for her eighteenth birthday: to experience the Otherworld—the mysterious “mainland” across the sea that her father has forbidden her from visiting.

Growing up in a lighthouse on a remote island, Orca has lived isolated from the world… until one day when she finds a cell phone washed up on the beach. Orca has her first conversation with Jack Stevenson, a young man whose older brother, Adam, has gone missing after crashing his seaplane off the coast. Orca becomes Jack’s lifeline and his reason to hope that Adam is still alive. While her father is away, she scours the island for the missing pilot—determined to help Jack find his brother and prove to her father that she’s strong enough to take on the world.

One stormy night, Orca finds Adam Stevenson collapsed on her doorstep. As she nurses him back to health, she finds herself spellbound by his inquiring mind and rugged good looks. Simultaneously, Adam is captivated by her wild beauty and pure heart. But with a ten-year age gap between them—and her father’s determination to keep Orca protected from outsiders—Adam knows they can never be together.

Resigned to give Orca up, Adam returns to the mainland—but Jack refuses to leave her trapped at the lighthouse. Blind to the fact that his brother is in love with her, Jack offers to show Orca the world she’s always dreamed of. But when she leaves her island for the first time, Orca begins to realize that the mainland may hold more dark secrets than she ever imagined… and the two brothers she helped bring back together may be the very people she tears apart.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

A Bond of Briars

Author: Erin Phillips

Genre: Christian Fantasy Retelling

Publication Date: October 24th, 2023

Target Audience: Teens/YA and above, from what I see

What Sticks Out to Me: This is another book I’ve seen around Instagram countless times now, and I’m so intrigued! I’ve wanted to read her fantasy Esther retelling for a while now, and this one looks just as interesting. The biblical inspiration of Ruth is so strong in the synopsis, but with a creative and compelling magical twist. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this author, and am really looking forward to diving into her stories!

Synopsis:

She is bonded to a spirit who demands her blood.
She follows a mother-in-law who resents her power.
She meets a man who challenges everything she’s ever believed.

After a fatal illness takes newlywed Caitrin’s husband, she finds herself obligated by duty and oath to care for her mother-in-law, Meara, at any cost…even if it means traveling to Croìthe, where magic of any kind is outlawed. Burdened by Meara’s bitter grief and weighty demands, Caitrin struggles to keep all of her secrets hidden and make a new life in the foreign land.

However, when the charming and charitable Callen Lockhart, a wealthy lord who is at odds with the town, welcomes her to Croìthe without judging her past, Caitrin worries that his generosity will come at a cost she is unwilling to pay.

Bonded to a spirit who empowers her to create spells and curses, Caitrin must either become the powerful cairline her mother had always wanted her to be or suffer the consequences of breaking free.

A Bond of Briars is a YA dark fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Ruth, with fresh twists based on the original context and respun into a spooky cottagecore romance that is filled with dark magic and mysterious curses, sacrificial love and redemption.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Guild of Thieves

Author: Jaiden Phillips

Genre: Medieval Fantasy?

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2023

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adult (YA)

What Sticks Out to Me: I’d never heard of this one until a few days ago, and I instantly added it to my TBR. I get huge Aladdin vibes from the synopsis, and I really enjoy stories with a criminally misunderstood protagonist going on a journey and learning along the way. That seems like what might be happening in this story, and I’m going to be eagerly waiting for its release! Plus, the cover is super cute so bonus points.

Synopsis:

“Being a thief is easy, but getting caught…now, that’s when it gets tricky.”

Dice is a street boy in the poor district of Raheren, forced to be what he must to survive. A liar, a cheat, and a thief. But just like all thieves in Arkrindon he abides by the rules of thieves, stick with your unit, stay in your district, and don’t get caught.

When Dice is jumped by another group of thieves trespassing in pickpocket territory, things quickly escalate. These aren’t just any thieves, this is a whole new breed of thieves, ones who don’t play by the rules. Rogues, burglars, and pickpockets have come together, abandoning districts and uniting under one man, Azic, the master of The Guild of Thieves.

For his freedom and the lives of his unit, the Guild presents a deal: Steal the King’s Jewel or watch everyone in his unit die. If Dice steals the jewel he’s dooming the kingdom but if he doesn’t everyone he cares about will pay the price.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We just finished day five of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! This week is flying by! What are some of the books you’re looking forward to? Have you heard of any of the books I mentioned? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

Top 5 Upcoming Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)Top Five Buddy-Read Books (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

Top 5 Indie Discoveries (Five Fall Favorites 2023)

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

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

For a quick recap, each day this week, bloggers (me included) are each sharing their five favorite books under a variety of prompts – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

This week’s theme is all about who and where we’ve gotten our books from.

Today’s prompt is another one that I’ve been looking forward to: indie books!

I’ve been notoriously bad at reading other indie books the past few years, as I’ve been writing my own, so I’m trying to pursue more of them. There are so many hidden gems waiting to be read! And in general, I find that the ratio of indie books that contain my values is higher than with traditionally published books. At least in the circle that I usually read in (I know that’s a huge generalization).

This year, I’ve been blessed to read several ARCs and free copies, and be introduced to a lot of new indie authors that I don’t think I would have looked into otherwise. It’s been a very rewarding adventure, and I can’t wait to share five of those new reads with you!

So let’s jump 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).

Like a Ship on the Sea

Author: Kellyn Roth

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Target Audience: Mature YA and above (16+)

What Stuck Out to Me:

This is the first book of Kellyn’s that I’ve read, as romance is a step outside my usual genres. I’m so glad I gave it a try! I was concerned that I wouldn’t understand everything, since this relates to her previous stories, but that wasn’t the case at all. This stands on its own.

Overall, the characters were my favorite part. They each had real and relatable passions, struggles, desires, thoughts, and dreams. I could relate to almost all of them, and quickly became attached. The romance was sweet and well-done, even for a rare romance reader.

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. The Christian themes were prominent from the very start of the story, but not obnoxiously so. I could respect and relate to the characters’ faiths without cringing at how it was portrayed, and she handled extremely difficult topics with tact and grace. I definitely recommend this one!

Tricky Content: infant loss/miscarriage, discussions of suicide, depression, kisses, one brief and vague discussion about physicality in marriage.

I’d Recommend It To: Older teens and above that like historical regency-style romances with fascinating characters and strong Christian themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Generations 2

Author: Kenny Sargent

Genre: Christian Political Thriller

Target Audience: Mature YA and above (16+)

What Stuck Out to Me: I don’t read many political thrillers (they usually go over my head), but while interacting with the author for a project, I read it through in one day, and was super impressed! I haven’t even read the first novel yet, but I didn’t need to in order to understand the story.

It had enough action to keep me interested, enough meaning and deep themes to leave an impact, and enough focus on the characters and their growth to make it memorable. I thought I knew where a certain plot twist at the end was headed, but turns out, I was completely wrong – and happily so!

The Christian themes were strong and well-done, without being too pushy or cringe-y, or the opposite, too vague to even call a Christian novel. It covered a large number of heavy and difficult topics with grace and truth, and even handled some controversial spiritual aspects carefully, and I felt they were portrayed biblically. I highly recommend it, and will be sharing more about it next year!

Tricky Content: One character intends to commit suicide and is stopped, vague discussions of a pre-marital event and past abortion, deaths, fights.

I’d Recommend It To: Young adults and older readers that enjoy fast-paced political novels that don’t shy away from the hardest topics, and champion strong Christian themes throughout.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Held Captive

Author: Grace A. Johnson

Genre: Christian Historical Pirate Romance

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: Caveat first: this is in the process of being completely re-written (something I’m excited to read!), but all of my thoughts are about the original version, read in 2023.

Obviously, I’m in a pirate-stories phase right now, and this was one I’ve wanted to read for a long time! Written by the sweet author when she was young, I was super impressed with how much depth it had! From the plot to the characters to the strong Christian themes, I enjoyed it, and am planning to continue on with the series.

I had a lot of fun reading about the protagonist, who started out so rough, and admirably grew a major amount over the course of the story. The characters in general were relatable and well-developed, and I did enjoy most of the romance elements as well. The plot moved along well, and kept me interested, and wow those themes. She did a wonderful job at portraying Christian struggles with heart and truth.

Tricky Content: Drinking/drunkenness, violence, typical pirate brutality, strong romance. The romance and physical attraction aspects were more than I’m used to reading, but would still be considered clean.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and above that enjoy strong characters, pirate stories, sweet romances, and prominent Christian messages.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Operation Lionhearted

Author: Maribeth Barber

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: Although I’m not usually a big science fiction reader, I’m a fan of this sweet author, and I’m so glad I gave this book a try!

It was very character-forward, which is great because the characters were my favorite part. They were interesting, sympathetic, and wrestled with a lot of real issues that helped me understand why they acted the way they did. The romance subplot was sweet and completely clean, which I really appreciated.

The world-building was also done well, where I could picture and follow along with everything. The author balanced the fast-paced action, political intrigue, and slower meaningful moments wonderfully, giving the story some naturally great pacing. There was never a point where I lost interest. And of course, the themes, while not explicitly Christian most of the time, were beautifully-written and powerful.

Tricky Content: It’s been a while, but war-type violence, some ethical dilemmas (as war tends to bring), several uses of the Lord’s name that are questionable.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and older that enjoy action-packed, political science fiction reads with strong characters and great themes.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Orchidelirium

Author: E. B. Roshan

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade and above

What Stuck Out to Me: This was a huge step outside my typical genres, but the author offered a complimentary copy and I was happy to give it a chance! And while it’s still not my preferred kind of story, I thought it was very cute, and worth the read!

First, the illustrations were a very fun addition to this little story (novella-length). They broke up the text well, and gave the story a middle-grade feel. Even the plot’s main mystery seemed to be on a smaller scale, something that younger readers could enjoy. That said, the characters’ dialogue wasn’t child-like. The setting was meant to be a Steampunk alternative to Victorian England, and the dialogue reflected that era, being older and more flowery.

The characters made for a fun cast of characters, with realistic sibling relationships, a villainous twist, and a lot of dry wit and humor from the protagonist. Even the bits of romance were short and sweet. In such a short story, the Steampunk elements of the worldbuilding didn’t show too much, but the setting worked and was easy to follow along with anyway. All in all, this was a quick, quirky, and entertaining read!

Tricky Content: I honestly can’t think of any. It was very clean.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle grade readers and up that enjoy short, illustrated historical reads with a fun cast of characters and a unique mystery plot.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

We’ve reached the end of day four of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite indie books? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host blog here, for additional information, an awesome giveaway, and so that you can find even more book recommendations!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

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