*The Gospel Comes With A Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield - I enjoyed this book for encouragement on being more hospitable. Butterfield is very inspiring in how she handles hospitality. I didn't quite like how she worded some things, and I also thought that some of her points and stories started to feel repetitive by the end. But overall, it was good!
Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center - I listened to this one after trying it once before, and I enjoyed it this time. This is about a female firefighter who ends up falling in love with a Rookie. I was afraid it would be a little too feminist for me, but I actually liked how the author somewhat allowed the character to be a woman - acknowledging that she may not be as physically strong as a man, but she had other ways of doing her job well. Can't totally remember, there may have been one inappropriate scene that I skipped past, and other references to adult things, some bad language.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - Oh man, I read this book in one day when we were snowed in this spring, and it was a perfect snowy day read - mysterious, a little creepy, fast-paced. I thought the ending was a little dark, kind of twisting things around in a morally ambiguous way, which I don't love. But it was a quick suspense read, and I enjoyed it for that.
How To Walk Away by Katherine Center - This story is about a woman who becomes paralyzed and has to try to rebuild her life, and of course she falls for her physical therapist. I remember really enjoying the character's personality in this one, I just can't remember why! That's what I get for waiting too long to write a review. I think there was one drawn-out kissing scene, and "adult" situations referenced, some bad language.
*The Last Train To Key West by Chanel Klassen - This story follows three (I think) different couples in Key West in the 1930's, before a devastating hurricane hits the islands. There were also some mob-related plots mixed in, and alot of Cuban culture since some of the characters (and the author I believe) are Cuban American. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Cuban culture, and the story kept me interested! One of the couples is on their honeymoon, so there are some references to that sort of thing, but nothing explicit.
The Dry by Jane Harper - Even though Jane Harper's suspense books can be a little on the darker side, she paints the atmosphere of the Australian outback like no one else. The atmospheric elements of her books are what I enjoy most! This story ended pretty sad, and there was bad language, plot elements involving domestic abuse, etc. But I enjoyed it for the setting.
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks - I listened to this one, and wish I could remember more about this book. Maybe that gives you an idea of how much of an impression it made on me. I looked it up to jog my memory, and I do remember the creepy methods the main character ( a therapist) uses to try to "help" her clients. But I'm pretty sure the over-reaching therapist ends up not being the bad guy! Major opportunity missed there. Sorry this is a little vague, I can't remember it very well. Not sure I'd recommend it.
*Suffering Is Never For Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot - This book was so wonderful. Elliot is acquainted with suffering, having famously lost her first husband Jim Elliot, as well as her second husband to cancer. But I love how she recognizes even the milder sufferings of life and gives us a way to view them through the eye of bringing more glory to God. Highly recommend for anyone who is currently suffering or will suffer in the future - meaning everyone.
The Last Anniversary by Lianne Moriarty - I enjoy Moriarty's novels as lighthearted suspense - she has a way of putting a fun spin on even serious plot elements. I thought I'd pick up one from her backlist. I have mixed feelings about this book. It was racier than some of her books and involved she infidelity, so I didn't love that. I loved the setting of the story though, which was a remote tourist island run by two little old ladies, with a mystery attached to it. But I also did not like how the book ended for the main character at all. Meh. Bad language, adult content in this one.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper - Once again, loved Harper's book for the setting, but the ending was once again pretty dark. Plot involves domestic abuse. Some "adult" scenes, not explicit. Why do I keep coming back to Harper's books? Maybe I'm just a sucker for novels set in Australia.
*The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - This book was absolutely charming. Mma Ramotswe is a single African woman, once widowed, who is left alone after her father dies. She takes her inheritance and starts the Number One Ladies Detective Agency in her hometown, solving mysteries large and small (mostly small). It's a fun peek into what African village life might be like, and the characters are so lovable. It's basically a cozy mystery series set in Africa, but with alot more character development and interest. Content notes: As Mma Ramotswe thinks back on her life, she recalls her first time being intimate with her husband, which he imposed on her when they weren't married yet. Not explicit, and that's the only real content note.
*The Princess Bellaheld by Julie Sutter - This is a story based on true events of the time period when the gospel came to the Germanic tribes. Princess Bellaheld is made to marry the prince of a germanic tribe, but she accepts it as God's will and is a great example of a loving and godly wife, eventually leading to the conversion of the prince to Christianity. This is a story with a great female role model, and I'm looking forward to reading it to my girls one of these days!
*Nova by Chuck Black - This book is basically a retelling of the calling of Moses, but set in a. futuristic world on a distant planet - I really got into it and have ordered the second book in the series! I think this is a good one for teens - exciting, with a love interest that has been very chaste and not physical so far.
*Out Of The Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis - This book was wild, and difficult to understand the first tie I tried to read it. I started it again after reading the correlating chapters in a book called Deeper Heaven, which explains Lewis's space trilogy, and the whole things made so much more sense! There is one scene in particular which has really stick with my from this book, which I'll probably write about sometime. I recommend it!
*Hostage Lands by Douglas Bond - This is a historical fiction book based on when Rome was invading Britain and fighting with the Celtic tribes - Marcus Rusticus befriends Cadwell, a man from one of the tribes who was pressed into the service of Rome and was changed when he witnessed Christians martyred int eh Roman coliseums. Together they are assigned to infiltrate one of the tribes as spies. But Marcus has no love for his Roman commander, and he wants to help the Celts. I'll leave it there, but I quite enjoyed this book. I would let Wyatt read it now, but there is one section where two evil Romans are mocking about forcing a girl...you know. Not explicit, but I'll wait until he's bigger.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I picked this up because I like how imaginative Crouch's science fiction is. This one was just okay. Basically the main character is subjected to an experimental shot that makes him super-human, and the whole book is about him trying to stop his sister from secretly injecting the whole world with this super-human gene alteration that works for some people, but causes other people to die. A good dash of climate extremism thrown in at the end ("the world is going to end" type stuff). It was just okay. Some bad language.
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center - Another Katherine Center book, this one about a female bodyguard that gets assigned to guard a famous actor. One extended kissing scene that was a little much, and I vaguely remember some political points in there I didn't quite agree with (probably about feminism or something), but overall, it was fun, and I enjoyed it alot.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han - I read this book because I was curious to watch the series on Amazon Prime. The book was okay, if a little maddening. The series on Amazon Prime pretty much ruined any elements I liked from the book. Typical young adult book drivel, talk about "bases" etc. Tried to listen to the second book, but couldn't stand Conrad anymore, so I won't continue it.
*The Harvest Raise by Katie Shuermann - I quite enjoyed this whole book series by Katie Schuermann, set around the lives of the congregants that attend Zion Lutheran Church. This is a quite book, but so charming, and we get to see the characters learn and grow more Christlike through the series. I really enjoyed it. I have doctrinal quibbles with the Lutherans (ie. transubstantiation, pedobaptism), but still enjoyed this series.
Two Truths and A Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore - I picked this book up as a beachy read. I weirdly like suspense books that are set around the often ridiculous cliquey drama of "school moms", and this one was kind of in that category at first. But then it ended up being more about one of the daughters who just graduated high school and has a fling with a guy...some mentions/plot elements of inappropriate behavior there. It ended up being really sad at the end, and I'm not sure I enjoyed it. I thought it was going to go in a whole different direction.
*The Bark Of The Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers - This is an imaginative retelling of the story of David and Goliath, set in a fictional swampy world of Corenwald. I loved this one! I'm going to let my 11 year old boy read it, it's a great story. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
*In The House Of Tom Bombadil by C. R. Wiley - This is a book analyzing the character of Tom Bombadil from the Lord Of The Rings, and it gave me so much to think about! Definitely recommend this one if you are a Lord Of The Rings fan at all.
*The Abolition Of Man by C. S. Lewis - I wrote two posts with my thoughts on this book, here and here. I can see why everyone recommends that those who are or will be teaching children at any point should read this book! It's all about the deeper meaning and morality that God has built into the universe, and how when we reject that fact all we are left with is chaos and ultimately, despair. Really good book.
What have you been reading lately? What are your best books of the year so far?
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