Sarah Holman's Blog, page 39

Top five...so far

There's nothing quite like finishing off a cool autumn day with a bonfire and some smores. So I think it is fitting that we are ending Five Fall Favorites with Bonfires and going over my favorite books of the year, so far.
1. Beloved by Rachel Starr Thomson This whole series was not only amazingly written, but impactful. This last book made me so happy with its inspiring ending. I couldn't read anything else for a couple of days because they seemed so pale in comparison. 
2. A Holy Passion by Alicia G. Ruggieri This book is the perfect mix of history and fiction. I love how real this story is about emotions and desires, yet handled in a godly way. I've never liked books that pretended that girls could choose not to have feelings almost as much as I disliked books that acted as if we have no control over them. I knew a little bit about David Brainard and quite ad bit about Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, but this book made me want to read more about their lives.  
3. Monster by Mirriam Neal I've wanted to read this book since the day it came out. I finally read it on Kindle Unlimited and will probably be buying the paperback early next year because it was so good. This is a deep look at the sanctity of life and what that really means. This book isn't easy to get through, but it is powerful.
4. Letters to Julia by Meredith Allady I loved the first book in this series but I think I enjoyed this one even more. I feel in love with this family in the first book and it was so fun to see them again and continue their story. If you like Jane Austen, only you want something with more faith in it, this book is for you.
5. The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White White is a masterful storyteller. While I love many authors, there are a few that just stand out, and she is one of them. This story gripped my heart and didn't let go. I was a puddle of emotion during the whole book (as my sisters will attest too).
 

Nothing like a man in uniform

There is nothing like the feeling of curling up among my books with a fall candle burning and a cup of pumpkin spice tea in my hand. It helps to offset the sadness when I'm reading books about war. Yes, today, I'm hosting the book room! Scroll down to see what is free!

1. Brothers at Arms by Jack Lewis Baillot
This is the heartbreaking and powerful story of a Jewish boy and his German friend. This is my all-time favorite book set during World War Two.

2. With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin
This is the first of three Sarah Sundin books on my list. She has impacted me a lot, but this is my favorite story she has written. This is about a girl learning about friendship, a young man learning about leadership, and both finding love through letters.

3. A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin
This book isn't for young readers (because of the topic of rape) but this story touched me deeply. Jack's discovers that he is a prideful person. I saw myself reflected in his story and God used this story in my life.

4. A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin
This was the first Sundin book I read and I still love it. It isn't just a romance -- it's about a young woman discovering a real a thriving faith.

5. Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer
Several soldiers enter and exit Rebekah's life as she learns about life and love. This is a story set at the end of World War One and the Spanish Flu epidemic. It is one of my favorite books ever.
Click on the image to get the whole series. For the next two days, you can buy them all for less than a cup of coffee!
It's the last day to enter to win the awesome giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Modern Day Gems

Doesn't fall making you want to get outside? You just want to run to the park and then...find a nice bench on which to curl up with a good book. It is a great time to curl up with a book set in your world and time.  Here are five of my favorite contemporary books


1. Atonement for Emily Adams by Susan R. Lawrence
I'm always working through all those free books I get on Kindle. I've found good books and bad books. This book was a stellar book. This was the story of how different people handle the death of one little boy. It was very realistically done and Christ shone through the story.

2. October by J. Grace Pennington
This wasn't an easy story to read, but it was so powerful. I think a lot of young people need to read it and know they aren't alone in their struggles. This book is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

3. Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliott 
 From two very serious books, this one is just plain fun! Okay, there are some serious themes but this is a lighthearted sibling story that I enjoyed a lot.

4. Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay
This story was fun but also tugged at my heartstrings. It connected to my beloved Jane Austen, had a powerful message, and memorable characters.

5. Family Reunion by Kelsey Bryant This story has an old-style feel but connects with real issues of today. I liked seeing how the six cousins work together (sometimes not) to get a prize. This is full of realistic issues in dealing with relatives, solving problems, and living out your faith.

You know what else is contemporary? This awesome giveaway! Go ahead and enter to win!
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Books to read to others

Is there any sight more delightful to a homeschooler then backpacks on sale. I know to this day, I'm thrilled when school is back in session. It isn't that I don't like children, but I do love that my favorite haunts are less busy. Besides, backpacks are great for stuffing books into...right? Especially if you are going to carry them somewhere to read aloud. Here are some books that I have, or thing would be great to read aloud.
1. Little Woman
Some of my favorite memories are of my sisters and me carrying water bottles and craft projects up to a special place on our land and reading Little Woman aloud under a big tree. It took us a few months to get through the book, but those are memories I treasure.

2. In Grandma's Attic
I don't know how many times we read this book and the others in the series aloud to each other. I know my Mom did a unit study with my siblings based on this book and she read it aloud. Since each chapter is a story, it was perfect for such things.

3. Home on Stony Creek
This was my absolute favorite series in from ages 11 to 15. I read it aloud twice to my siblings and about four or five times to myself. Set in Colonial America, it fueled my love for history, good stories, and even my own writing.

4. A Year with the Potters by Rebekah Jones
I never read this book aloud, but when I read it, I know that it would be perfect for that. I have a copy on my shelf to read to my future children.

5. Aunt Crete's Emancipation by Grace Livingston Hill
I remember my Dad reading this aloud to our family a couple of times. It always makes me think of family. It is a sweet Cinderella story of sorts. A story of love between an aunt and her nephew.

Don't waste any time, enter to win our giveaway! 
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Books that make you laugh

Chilly days were made for grabbing a blanket, curling up with a book...and laughing hard. Yes, these are some of those books that have made me laugh. Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction.

1. Tales of the Heartily Homeschooled by Rachel Starr Thomson
No book has made me laugh harder. I loved this story about two homeschool families and their adventures.

2.  To be Perfectly Honest by Phill Callaway 
This book had me laughing so hard and thinking through what it means to truly not lie. While I don't agree with everything he does, it did make me think and laugh.

3. Miss Matched by Erynn Mangum 
This book feels like a modern Emma if Emma were obsessed with coffee and sweets. While the next two books don't keep with Emma, I laughed hard all the way through.

4. The Case of the Tabloid Tattler by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick 
I laughed and enjoyed not only this book but the others as well. Kirkpatrick does an awesome job creating a cozy mystery that is safe for kids, as well as captures cat behavior.

5. Northanger Abby by Jane Austen
My sister, Rose, and I recently listened to the audiobook. It had been years since I'd read this book and I had forgotten how funny the story was. This has all the Jane Austen whit mixed with a girl with an overactive imagination. 
Make sure to enter the giveaway!
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Five Fall Favorites

Yes, that's right, it's time to have bushels and bushels of fun again! I'm taking part again in the Five Fall Favorites event where you will find bushels of great books. With the harvest rolling in and all those lovely fall smells, its a great time to curl up with a new book.
Many of the lovely blogs are talking about their top five pro-life books. I couldn't think of five books that spoke on this subject, so I've decided to join my sister, Mikayla, in talking about my five favorite inspirational non-fiction.
1. Connecting by Larry Crabb This is a  book that I highly recommend to every believer. It is a powerful book about having deep, meaningful relationships with people. It is also about helping those who are hurting. 
2. Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George I read this book in my late teen years and it was transformative and has helped in the years since. I recently listened through the audiobook and was again reminded of the powerful truths. This book has helped me through depression, dealing with wrong thinking, and periods of worried. It had reminded me of powerful, important, biblical truths. 
3. Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murry  I read this book last year right before a difficult time in my life. I needed it so desperately. I bought myself a hardback and reread parts of it and have underlined others. It is a powerful book about being totally surrendered to God. 
4. How to Listen So People Will Talk by Becky Harling  This is one of the last books I requested for review. and I was so blessed by it. I did all but one of the exercises and it really helped some areas I needed to work on, and some of my strengths. I loved that it was not only about how to listen to others but also how to listen to God. 
5. The Remarkable Women of the Bible by Elizabeth George This book touched me deeply. I loved this study on what some of the notable women of the Bible got right. I've underlined sections in it because I loved it so much.

Perseverance

I went to Branson

My review of Waiting for Isaac by Jessica GreysonGet your copy of Kate's Conundrum

Choose Your Own Story

 Welcome to The Destiny of One. Today I’m hosting a, Choose Your Own Story, event. This is to celebrate the release of my latest book, Escape and Endurance. In this event, you get to pick the outcome of the story by making choices. A lot of different things can happen. What are you waiting for? Start your adventure!


Welcome To Taelis. My name is Zale. I’ve told many of the Tales of Taelis stories to you, but now, I am going to allow you to choose how this tale takes shape. You hold the destiny of a few in your hands.
“Sir Andrew!”The tone of worry drew Andrew’s attention from his horse, Valiant, to the captain of his retainers.“What is wrong?”Philip struggled for breath. “It is the princess. She’s just been carried off by Lord Burn.”The knight jumped to his feet. “Are you sure she has been kidnapped?” He hated to ask the question, but Princess Gail had caused him no end of trouble.“Aye, Sir, I know that she has been kidnapped. What are we going to do?”


                        Are you interested in reading about a knight, a tower, a princess, and a servant? Pick up a copy of Escape and Endurance! Haven’t read the other books in the Tales of Taelis series? Not to worry. Each book can stand alone.

Defined

I apologize that these posts have not been going up. Internet issues and personal laziness are about equally due. I'm very excited to announce a new short story! Available now!


Click HERE or on the image to get a copy.

Also, Dreams and Devotion is on sale right now!