The Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen

I love Fulton Sheen's writing; it has a more artistic style, and I love that he ties Catholic teachings to the events in the scripture.
Also chronological order. I know that's a duh, but having all four Gospels together in order. And tying in the Old Testament. *Angel choir noises*
658 Pages

The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa

Kenzie is BA.
Salt hula hoop. Million dollar invention. Seriously..would be so helpful.
My otp. Kenzie and Ethan. Heart eyes.
....And Puck wonders why he's single.
Ash my baby.
Wolfie...crying.
352 Pages

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Editor Beth Newman)

Just like Jane Eyre, I read this book for a course (but I didn't actually read all of it...hahaha), and I kind of forgot what happened....so yeah.
Heathcliff is too extra and needs to calm down....and I think he has BPD....
Isabell...come on.
Baby Cathy deserves the world. I now want to go rewrite my essay and talk about Heathcliff's life choices.
400 Pages

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I loved the characters in this book; I loved the familial relationships. I loved that everything was personal; it was about being a part of a community. I loved that it showed people in their humanity, because often times people are in bad situations to protect the people around them. I love that it talked about the importance of having and using your voice.
I like to think that I'm close to the situation, because I'm from Missouri, and I went to Mizzou during the 2015 protests, but I won't ever truly understand what it's like; so, I loved having the perspective of someone who was in those situations.
(I'm also just a giant shipper, so Starr and Chris were killing me)
464 Pages

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma and her book lists...saaaaame.
Mr Knightley is so snarky and I love him.
Let's be honest, Mr. Knightley is the ultimate matchmaker.
544 Pages

The Kissing Game. By Marie Harte.

The Kissing Game. By Marie Harte. 2020. Sourcebooks Casablanca. (ARC eBook).

Yeesh, this was all over the place and more disappointing than the previous stand-alone I read by Harte.

320 pages

Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10). By Lorelei James.

Spun Out (Blacktop Cowboys #10). By Lorelei James. 2019. Berkley Books (ARC eBook).

Cattle rancher Streeter Hale is a widower raising his 5-year-old girl, Olivia, on his own. He only has time for two things: Olivia, who has recently run through six babysitters in the past 18 months, and ranching, which is divided between the Split Rock guest ranch and his startup, All Hale Ranch, with his younger brother Tobin. But all that begins to change when tough Army Sgt. Bailey Masterson moves in next door on the Split Rock while on leave and begins a summer boot camp for kids.

I’ve read James before but this is the first I’ve read in the Blacktop Cowboys and it was a treat. The chemistry between Streeter and Bailey is great and the two, with their broken hearts and struggles, are very good for each other. Spun Out will have you rooting for Streeter, Bailey and Olivia as they grow stronger and heal.

448 pages

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

Varin is a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected. He is too good for this world. Too pure. I love him. He's such a dweeb.
People bringing out the best in each other... *crying*
Time-jump tomfoolery.


Vaguely spoilery:
So my brain just likes to think of quotes from other stuff..References include: Titanic (and painting), Star Wars (help me Obi Wan Kenobi), Jane Eyre (like the last few chapters of Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester), and Wicked (For Good).


432 Pages

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

I love Carrie Fisher. I love her sense of humor. She's so sassy.
I love the stream of consciousness style, and how she literally says what she's thinking, no matter how anxiety-ish it is.
Gosh her diary reads like a Bronte novel sometimes... I just love her writing style, ok? She's hilarious.
Gosh she's a Slytherin, and I love her.

267 Pages

One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus

So much drama
Catholic things. I'm fine.
So am I the only one getting Heathers vibes.... And of course the obligatory Breakfast Club vibes.
Ok but I'm rooting for Nate. I love Nate my baby
I am a Stan stan.
I love Nonny. She is so sassy and she needs to be protected.
I would die for all of the main characters.

379 Pages

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus

Plot twists are fun.
My ships. All of my ships. Boys who emote love in any way (inside and outside their head) are great.
Mal deserves the world, and I'm not taking criticism.
336 Pages

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

I loved listening to the parts when Seth Meyers and Michael Schur sat in while Amy read chapters about them. I loved listening to her talk about Parks and Rec.
352 Pages

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

 So I read this back in like sixth grade, and I've known for a while that it's a series, but I'm just now getting around to reading it, and I'm so excited to read it... It was one of those times where you could remember the cover and the basic premise and parts of the title... I might have actually remembered the title, and tracking it down was fun.
I love a writer who includes a list of sources and research in their books... That's my kind of writer doing their homework.
Soooo  I forgot some things happened....and that 12 year-olds are basically miniature teenagers with feelings....it's been ten years since I was 12, ok? I can barely remember last month..
459 Pages

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Will someone please tell people to stop cutting into their palms when they need blood for stuff. Come on!
Sigh. I love relationships.. Chemistry
Three words.. They killed me (to specify, the three words weren't "They killed me" the words (yeah those words, like those three words) killed me, Christine)
My adult babies. My preciouses
The cinnamon rolls must be protected.

352 Pages

Almost Just Friends (Wildstone #4). By Jill Shalvis.

Almost Just Friends (Wildstone #4). By Jill Shalvis. 2020. William Morrow Paperbacks (ARC paperback).

Dedicated EMT and control freak sister of two, Piper Manning is ready to leave Wildstone behind for a new home and profession. She’s got this. It’s all in her journal and the first step is already checked off.

1. Get Gavin and Winnie raised, out of the house and settled on their own √

2. Apply to a Physician’s Assistant program far away from Wildstone--Colorado will work

3. Get the lake house and cottages in good enough order to land a buyer so that there is money to pay for said program and relocation

4. Don’t fall for the new hunk staying at the marina

She so doesn’t have this.

5. So Gavin and Winnie are back, surely this is temporary

6. Gavin has a secret

7. What’s this about turning the property into a B&B???

8. Winnie has a secret

9. Missed the deadline for classes, can apply again

10. Can totally handle a fling with the marina/Coast Guard/DEA hunk named Camden Hayes

Family, fun, forgiveness and finding someone to put down roots for. Shalvis hits all the right notes. The only confusion for me was the amount of the story spent on a secondary romance between Piper’s brother Gavin and Wildstone police officer CJ. It is easily a third of the book and not a setup for the next installment. My preference would have been to have Gavin and CJ’s story as a novella despite the overlapping events. This would have given some pages to see Cam on a mission and some shenanigans of the Mannings running the B&B before the epilogue. Final verdict though is that Shalvis writes such wonderful characters and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

358 pages

Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4). By Jennie Marts.

Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4). By Jennie Marts. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC eBook).

With the Christmas holiday around the corner, the local youth hockey team to coach, and a financial mistake looming over his head, Logan Rivers hasn’t a moment to spare away from his ranching duties. But his couple of attempts at hiring a housekeeper have backfire, with the women making plays for his affections instead of preparing meals.

Enter new arrival to the small town of Creedence, Colorado, Harper Evans. She’s a down-on-her-luck widow and single mom who has come to retrieve her son, Floyd, from the boy’s grandmother. But she needs to earn some money before she can afford to take Floyd back home to Kansas by Christmas. Harper’s hard work, delicious peach cobbler and endless supply of snark charm the boots right off Logan, and his generous nature and cheesy one-liners do the same for Harper. But they agreed on a professional relationship and Harper’s plan to soon leave. Surely they can resist a little while longer.

This was my first time reading anything by Jennie Marts. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter, friendship and oh boy, the heat. "Holy hot hunk of cowboy" indeed. But Marts also delivered a story that tugs on the heartstrings and celebrates the gift of Christmas wishes. I plan to read more of this series.

384 pages

The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5). By Jaci Burton.

The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets 0.5). By Jaci Burton. 2019. InterMix/Berkely Publishing Group (ARC eBook).

Alice Weatherford is a L.A.-based matchmaker who loves her job and believes strongly in her approach, which doesn’t put much stock in chemistry being an important precursor for a lasting-commitment. Acting as Maid of Honor for her best friend, Alice arrives at the Bellini’s Red Moss Winery in Oklahoma one week ahead of the wedding in order to help oversee the final preparations. What she hadn’t planned on however was the blizzard that strands her with the Bellini family and their sexy neighbor, Clay Henry.

Needing a project to keep her occupied she decides to put her professional skills to use and find the perfect woman for the single rancher. She just has to ignore the chemistry sparking between her and her new client. Clay, however, is more interested in seeing where the chemistry take him and Alice and sets out to win her heart.

A fun, engaging novella with a charming hero and a promising start to a new series by Burton.

154 pages

The One for You (The Ones Who Got Away #4). By Roni Loren.

The One for You (The Ones Who Got Away #4). By Roni Loren. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca (ARC ebook).

It’s been a few years since four unlikely friends, Olivia, Rebecca, Taryn and Kincaid, survivors of the Long Acre school shooting, reunited and read time capsule letters containing the dreams of their 18-year-old-selves and their promises to the Class of 2005. And Kincaid is now the only one still single, and happily so, so she tells herself. After all, she has always believed in the fairy tale of soulmates and since she had already found hers in Graham Lowell and lost him in the shooting over a decade ago, avoiding relationships has become as easy as breathing to her. But when Ashton Isaacs returns home to Long Acre and the Lowell’s enlist both his and Kincaid’s help with their bookstore, she realizes she can no longer ignore the hole their lost friendship has left in her life.

Kincaid is as sassy and impulsive as ever, but now we finally get to see that there is more heartbreak
in her past then the loss of her boyfriend Graham Lowell. Ash and Kincaid were best friends during their teenage years, but Ash had always harbored stronger feelings for her than he let on. For him, Kincaid was always The One. But their shared grief over the shooting led to more hurt then either one knew how to handle and so Ash took off for New York to become a writer. He’s not back in town for long, but he’s no longer scared of taking another chance. If Kincaid will let him, he’ll be there for her in this emotional and sexy friends-to-lovers story.

As with the other three books in the series, The One For You is both a story about love and of personal healing, which adds wonderful depth to Kincaid and Ash’s Happily Ever After. And with it being the last, Loren delivers a very heartwarming closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one in the lives of her four strong women and the swoon-worthy men who love them. This entire series is a definite home run.

352 pages

The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away #3). By Roni Loren.

The One You Fight For (The Ones Who Got Away #3). By Roni Loren. 2019. Sourcebooks Casablanca. ISBN-13: 9781492651468 (Paperback).

When the world and everyone you know defines you by one catastrophic tragedy...
How do you find your happy ending?

Fourteen years ago, Long Acre High School Senior Taryn Landry was labeled one of the “The Ones Who Got Away.” Having survived but losing her younger sister that night, Taryn has devoted her life to researching and developing interventions to prevent violent school events. As a psychology professor, she is smart, driven and a complete workaholic drowning in her and her parent’s obsession to get her proposed programs implemented into schools.

Shaw Miller’s life was also irrevocably changed that night. He became a shadow of himself—having lost his chance at Olympic Gold, being ostracized from his imploded family, and almost losing his sanity under the constant media scrutiny labeling him as the “Brother of a Monster.” He’s come to Austin to help the only friend who has stuck with him start a new business. It’s a little too close to home, but he has no plans of stepping foot in Long Acre and as long as he stays under the radar, his identity will remain a secret.

When Taryn and Shaw meet, the connection is there, but once they realize who the other is, they know there is no hope for them. But the unexpected attraction is too hard to ignore. In each other they find a haven where they can drop their shields and just be themselves—to confide their long held secrets about that dreadful night. But will others absolve them of their heartbreaking guilt?

All along, Loren has offered a variety of perspectives about the shooting and the immediate actions leading up to and following it. But now we get Taryn’s story, whom among the rest of this series’ group of survivors, was the only one to lose a family member. And Shaw’s story explores yet another side; what happens to the sibling who was left behind in the ashes of the other’s infamy? It’s a hard and unique premise for any author to pull off, but Loren makes it look easy and her signature style for this series will easily pull you in. If you devoured the first two books, you’ll do the same with this one.

382 pages

The One You Can’t Forget (The Ones Who Got Away #2). By Roni Loren.

The One You Can’t Forget (The Ones Who Got Away #2). By Roni Loren. 2018. Sourcebooks Casablanca. ASIN: B076BWSBXM (Kindle).

Rebecca Lindt is a successful divorce attorney at her father’s firm. She’s worked tirelessly to earn her place to one day inherit the firm. And ever the dutiful daughter, she has recently taken on extra work helping her dad in his political campaign. And with the upcoming airing of the documentary about the Long Acre High School shooting, her father is banking on her status of survivor to resonate with the voters, despite Becca’s wishes to leave her past memories be. She’s tired, and with the exception of meeting her three best girlfriends for Sunday brunches, she’s lonely. She really didn’t see West, a smart, sexy, tatted chef with dreams, coming.

When West Garrett intervenes in a mugging and saves Becca’s life, his life suddenly becomes more complicated. Two years ago Becca was his ex-wife’s attorney, who in a vicious divorce took his dream of running his own restaurant, sending him into a downward drunken spiral. He’s just getting his feet underneath him, sober and teaching cooking in an after school program for disadvantaged kids who are just like he used to be. Losing his heart to this woman is rather inconvenient but worth the risk if he can earn hers in exchange.

West brings out a different side of Becca than was shown in the first book. Under his attention and overtures of friendship, she really comes to life, shedding the shell of bravado that has been exhausting her to maintain for her father’s approval.

She straightened and help up the bottle.

“Want some?”

“Not yet. But let me know if you see me getting red.”

“You mean watch your body very, very closely in the name of safety” I’m on it.”

He laughed. “You are such a thoughtful friend.”

Yep. She was thinking thoughts all right.

Once again, this book has banter, chemistry and the perfect partner for healing.

416 pages