Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Aug 24

Claiming Every Moment (August 24, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

School started this week and things got BUSY quickly! Whether it was trying to track down scholarship students, making a recording with an ensemble, or getting technology to actually work properly, I have been running most of the week. I don’t mean to imply that I’m not enjoying the work — I am! There is life and excitement in the music wing once again and I am all for it. My reading life, however, has taken a bit of a hit as a result of the new schedule.

Now I find myself looking for any available moment to get in a few pages throughout the day. Graded essays for 90 minutes? I deserve a 15 minute reading break. Taking a walk around the indoor track? I’ll listen to a few chapters of an audio book. Some of my current reads are easy to insert into my day — especially ebooks. Others provide more of a challenge.

What I Finished This Week

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. If you follow me on social media, you probably saw that I asked for book recommendations from my friends recently. I got a LOT of really good recommendations that have been added to my TBR. The reason for the post, however, was to fulfill a prompt for the Summer Beach Reads challenge. I took the first 6 recommendations I received, assigned a number to each, and rolled the die. This musical enemies-to-lovers was the selected book. It is the story of Xander and Gwen, two musicians who find each other despite many obstacles. While I did enjoy the story itself, I found myself distracted and reflecting on the manipulation of the characters by family, agents, and colleagues. While my heart broke for the musicians, I found myself thinking about how the industry needs to change and wondering how I can begin to prepare my own students for the cut-throat world they will probably face after graduation. 3.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim (2:56 of 8:09). This is my current book for when I’m on the move — either in the car for a drive or walking around the track. It is the story of four British women who rent an Italian castle for a glorious vacation away from all responsibility for the month of April. The premise is intriguing. The narrator, however, is a real challenge for me, but I’ve decided I’m going to push through. Here’s hoping that things begin to get better with this read now that the women have arrived at the castle and are experiencing their first conflict.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 427 of 870). I’m struggling with this read at the moment. I think it is all about the size of the book, honestly. I’m just not at a place where diving into a massive read is enticing to me. I’m trying to convince myself that since there are only 443 pages remaining in the book that it is just like a normal weekly read at this point. The story is great. The writing is outstanding. It’s just big! This is the final read for the 2026 Big Book Summer challenge for me; that means I technically just need to finish by Labor Day, but I’d really like to get it off of my plate sooner. Here’s hoping….

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Aug 17

Back on the Carousel (August 17, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Sometimes, it feels as though I am meeting myself coming and going. As the semester gets rolling again, that’s the atmosphere in my world. I get up, frantically try to get things done between all of the other crises that arise around me, get a quick bit of food, crawl in bed and do it all again. In the midst of the constant shuffle, I still managed to get some reading done!

What I Finished This Week

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. I adored this book! It was such a fun, informative read. This piece of historical fiction centers around the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune as together they work to improve the lives of women and African-Americans. I was entertained. I was educated. I was inspired by the reading. This novel inspired one of my personal studies for this fall; I’m going to explore the life and presidency of FDR. 4.75 stars.

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall. Valentine is a wealthy duke who has been promised to Arabella. There’s only one problem — Arabella doesn’t love him and intends to run away to avoid a life of marital servitude. Her twin brother, Bonny, joins Valentine in pursuit of Arabella. Things become complicated as Bonny and Valentine develop feelings for each other. The novel explores the stereotypes of MM relationships and the desire of all people to find authentic love. The first in a series that I don’t anticipate completing. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 362 of 870). With all of the meetings that had happened this week, I didn’t manage to get much done in this behemoth this week. Still, I got through roughly 100 more pages. Now that the story is heating up as young Ian fears that he may have murdered a man unintentionally and there is a possibility that political tracks printed by Jamie may be circulating among his enemies, the story is much more compelling. I’m hoping to get very close to a finish this week. We shall just have to see how that goes though.

Getting Things Done by David Allen (p, 53 of 125). Every few years, I return to this productivity work. Published in 2001, the book is starting to show some age, but the basic concept presented continues to assist me in my personal management. (I think there may be an updated edition that I should probably check out.) I’ve been feeling as though my world is a little out of control, so this is the perfect time to revisit the book and see if I can find ways to help tame the craziness.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto (p. 76 of 365). Earlier this week, I asked friends for book recommendations. While I am always thrilled to hear what others are reading, this request was part of the Summer Beach Read challenge over on The 52 Book Club. I took the first 6 books recommended, assigned each a number, and rolled a die. That’s how I got started on this Julie Soto novel. It’s a romance featuring two musicians. I’m far too early in the reading to tell you much more than that. I’m very happy that it is a rather light read that is perfect at the end of the day.

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Aug 9

Will It Ever End? (August 10, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Just when I thought the summer of Geriatric Health Care was going to end smoothly, I was hit with other plans. Dad ended up going back to the ER on Thursday and remains there as of the writing of this post. The doctor is not yet entirely sure what we are fighting, but we know that his blood markers are all over the place. Since the end of the week was spent transporting Mom to the hospital, cancelling appointments, and trying to prepare for my departure without any unnecessary bloodshed, my reading took a bit of a nose dive. I managed to read my minimum goal of pages each day, but that didn’t get me to the week’s planned finish line.

What I Finished This Week

Nothing to see here. Not a single book was finished this week. Hopefully that will mean a good number of finishes for next week.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 270 of 870). With all of the running this week, my reading of this monster only happened at home. It’s too heavy to drag around! So I got through another 100 pages. I will probably try to make this a focus of the week so I can make significant progress in the coming days. I’m enjoying the story, but I’m ready to get things moving forward again.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 280 of 370). I have fallen absolutely in love with this book and the two female characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or you are interested in exploring the plight of the African-American community in 20th century America, you should DEFINITELY add this book to your TBR! Fascinating situations with wonderful storytelling. Once again, fiction has inspired my next personal study. (I’m going to dive into the presidency of FDR for a couple of months and see what I can discover there.)

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (4:13 of 10:53). I needed an audiobook for my drive to Texas. Alas, I didn’t have an available credit in my Audible account and didn’t have enough direction to search for something on Libby. This charming, witty period piece was in my library and I had not listened yet. it probably won’t turn out to be one of my favorite reading experiences, but it is keeping my attention as the miles click along.

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Aug 3

Stress Reading (August 3, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

Summer break is beginning to wind down and that means my return to west Texas is imminent. That revelation has increased my stress level significantly as I attempt to tie up as many loose ends in the Geriatric Ward as possible before leaving. I’ll do anything to try to keep as much of this stress off of Mom as possible.

As the stress has climbed, reading has been a welcome escape. Reading a novel about death during the Black Plague was probably not the best choice for this season of my life, but I got through the book and enjoyed the read — despite the tears! Here’s a look at what I finished, what I’m reading, and how things went in the month of July.

What I Finished This Week

Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan. Bookstore on the Bay was a charming romance about two older adults who find a second chance at love. Isabel and her three friends first met as teens at a summer camp in Sapphire Bay. Many years later, she returns to the Bay to start again after the death of her husband. Frank made his way to the small town after leaving a lucrative job in Seattle. When he found that a security company was acting deceitfully and putting people in danger, he sounded the alarm. Now they are out to stop him from testifying at any cost. After losing his daughter and her husband in a tragic car accident, Frank decides that Sapphire Bay is the perfect place for him and his grandson Thomas to find stability and safety while the lawsuit calms down. When Frank crosses paths with Isabel, the two know that they have found something they were not expecting. Leeanna Morgan creates a cute story that kept me turning the page to see what was going to happen to these loveable characters. 4 stars.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. I was a bit skeptical going into my reading of this novel. So often, I find that many of the blockbuster novels don’t live up to the hype. O’Farrell’s novel was certainly worthy of the praise it received. I found it fascinating to watch the relationship between Shakespeare and Agnes grow and falter as they faced unimaginable tragedy in the face of the Black Death. The novel was poignant; I found myself marking several especially beautiful passages about death, grief, and the artistic process to revisit later. I’m definitely planning to investigate more of O’Farrell’s novels later. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 170 of 870). Progress in the latest volume of the Outlander series was stunted this week. With lots of other projects demanding my attention as I prepare to leave the Geriatric Ward later this week and getting pulled into Hamnet, I made less progress here than I had hoped. Still, the story is great! I’ve enjoyed watching Jamie’s leadership in prison as Claire learns more about what happened to her husband from another century. I’m just getting into Jamie’s indentured servitude and how he is being blackmailed by the young Lady of the estate. This will be the final Big Book of Summer for me this year, so I’m happy as long as I am steadily making progress.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (p. 42 of 370). On a visit to the Memphis library last week, I presented one of the librarians with a challenge that he admitted was one of the more interesting he had heard this year. As part of the Summer Beach Read challenge, I needed to find a work of historical fiction that had a six-letter word as the first word of the text. He furrowed his brow and asked if I meant the first word of the title. No, the prompt clearly says the first word in the book is to be six letters long. (I know! This is crazy, right?) I had decided to be very literal in my interpretation of the prompt and use the first word of the text as opposed to any introductory material. So we decided to begin our search by looking at authors who wrote multiple works of historical fiction that came highly recommended by library patrons. Then, it was just going to be a scavenger hunt. I was really lucky that the second author on the list he provided led me to two books that would fit the prompt: The Other Einstein and The First Ladies. The second novel sounded the most interesting to me in the moment, so that’s the one I have chosen to begin reading. (In case you are wondering, the novel begins with the sentence “Nearly fifty blocks whir past my cab window as I ride through the upper reaches of Manhattan from the Hotel Olga in Harlem.” This one is going to be about the unlikely relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune. I’m looking forward to getting further into this novel this week.

July 2026 in Review

July turned out to be my most productive reading month of 2026 thus far! I have to admit that I’m a little surprised at how much was accomplished given all that has been going on in the Geriatric Ward. Audio books and e-books certainly helped me out a lot.

  • Books I read in July: 12 (up 3 from June)
  • Pages read in July: 2,874 (up 224 from June)
  • Highest rated book: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (4.75 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2.75 stars)

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

With the end of July, I managed to cross the halfway point of the 2026 challenge. That’s a month later than I would have liked, but I think I’m still in a fairly good place to finish on track. I have plans for several of the prompts that remain and only two of those are really worrying me at this point — the stand alone science fiction novel and the genre defining book. I had planned to read Dune for genre defining, but I’m starting to get cold feet about that selection. I may shelf that one for the 2027 challenge and find another option for this year. At this point, I just need books that I am really excited about reading that will keep me moving forward.

The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge

Five of July’s reads moved me around the game board in the summer challenge. If you look closely, you will see First Ladies just before the start space. So I’m getting ready to make my second lap of the board! The game element getting added into the challenge has really made this one addictive and something I want to play through.

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Jul 27

Roller Coaster Summer (July 27, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was full of ups and downs. As the week began, things were running smoothly and everyone was getting along. As the week progressed, more challenges were encountered and stress levels went through the roof! In those moments when things got tense, I found myself turning into my reading. What can I say? It’s great therapy! So I guess you can say that there was a silver lining in that I got a lot of reading done this week. Hoping that the reading pace continues without the additional drama though. If this roller coaster keeps going, I may be looking for the barf bag.

What I Finished This Week

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. This is my second Neil Gaiman novel. I’ll share the unpopular opinion; I don’t like his writing at all! It’s not just that I don’t enjoy fantasy. I find the writing convoluted. I think the problem is that I also can’t really tell who the intended audience is supposed to be. If you want to write for children, do it. If you want to write a fairy tale for adults, do it. Don’t try to mix the two. It just doesn’t work. 2.75 stars (and that’s generous…..)

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. Alexis is a ER doctor in a prestigious Minneapolis hospital. Her family has a long history of making significant contributions in the medical field. She is constantly trying to live up to expectations. While driving home from a family funeral, Alexis swerves to avoid striking a raccoon and lands in the ditch. This is where she meets Daniel, a simple small town guy who is a jack-of-all-trades and runs the local Bed and Breakfast. The two immediately find chemistry, but realize that they come from two different worlds. Jimenez weaves a lovely story that examines challenging family relationships, the importance of social structure, and navigating personal preferences when they conflict with high expectations. Definitely worth a read, but you should know that the book deals prominently with domestic abuse (mostly of a verbal nature, although physical abuse is also present). 4.75 stars.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon. I was having difficulty settling on a book that would meet the prompt of a read with a diacritical mark on the cover. Nothing that I found really grabbed my attention. I selected this book on a whim on a recent trip to Barnes and Noble. It turned out to be a very enjoyable read. Frida and Gabriel were raised in a cult and became best friends. After escaping, the two pursue lives on the outside. Gabriel marries a vibrant young woman who tragically dies shortly afterwards; Gabriel is accused of her murder. Nearly a decade later, Frida and Gabriel find themselves once again entwined in the tragic death of a young woman. Michallon writes a fascinating story of family, abuse, and unconditional love. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Bookstore on the Bay by Leeanna Morgan (p. 167 of 244). As part of the summer Beach challenge, I had to select 6 books on my reading list and allow fate (via the roll of a die) to determine my next read. I selected some of the free books that I have loaded onto my Kindle and ended up being very pleased with the results. Morgan tells the story of a widow, Isabella, who returns to the quaint town of Sapphire Bay to reunite with childhood friends. While there, she meets Frank and his young grandson, Tommy. The two become friends as Isabella purchases the town’s bookstore and decides to begin a new chapter in her life. However, developing feelings for Frank and Tommy may come with challenges. Frank relocated to Sapphire Bay to escape the danger brought on by providing evidence to the FBI against a powerful security firm. A quick, fascinating read with a charming love story featuring older adults looking for a second chance.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (p. 38 of 870). Ever since first participating in Big Book Summer in 2024, the Outlander series has been part of the annual plans. With Dad’s health complications this summer, there just wasn’t a convenient time to start the book earlier. Since I have a couple of weeks left before my life returns to full swing, I decided this was the time to hit the third volume in the saga. Although I just started the book yesterday afternoon, it has been easy to fall back into the story of Jamie and Claire. I won’t get through this behemoth this week, but I’m hoping to make a significant dent in it.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (p. 38 of 305). One prompt for the 2026 challenge has a tendency to sneak up on me — a book that I started reading on the 26th! As I made plans to start new books for the week after Saturday’s finish, I realized I could delay a day and plug something in for this prompt to get it off my plate. Yeah! Hamnet has long been of interest to me. All I really know (at least, what I think I know) is that it is the story of the son of Shakespeare who will ultimately inspire the character Hamlet. I could be completely wrong, but I’m enjoying the early pages of this novel so far.

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Jul 6

Celebrating 250! (July 6, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was rather normal here in the Geriatric Ward. Lots of doctor’s appointments, caring for my parents, making dinners, and preparing for the family to gather and celebrate the July 4th holiday together. Somehow, I also managed to get some reading done along the way. (It sort of helps when you don’t have to do a regular job at the moment as well…..taking care of the patients is enough of a full time job!) It’s been a really good week and I’m please with the results.

What I Finished This Week

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly. For some reason lately, I’m reading all of the books about loved ones who have passed and the awkward ways of saying goodbye. While I hope that the Universe is not trying to prepare me for something upcoming, I will admit that the stories have been lovely and somewhat comforting. In Connolly’s novel, Maddie has lost her brother to cancer. At the funeral, she receives instructions that she is to visit the 8 states that her brother did not get to during life and spread his ashes in beautiful locations. There is a catch though — she is to be accompanied by Dominic. Dominic was her brother’s best friend and the guy that broke her heart. In the typical enemy-to-lovers fashion, the adventures are filled with anger and lots of sexual tension. Overall, this was a charming look at the idea of a chosen family and the importance of building relationships while balancing our moral responsibilities. 4 stars.

The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham. Published in 1919, this classic novel is an exploration of the line between focusing on material wealth and security and following our passions. Charles Strickland was a successful stock broker in London who had it all — wealth, success, and a loving family. Despite it all, he was not happy. Strickland announces that he is done, packs up and moves to Paris to pursue the life of an aspiring artist, leaving his wife, children, and job behind without a second glance. Strickland does not find success and continues to run, making his way to Tahiti. There the artist will live in poverty and ultimately succumb to a horrific disease that will take his life. After his death, Strickland is finally appreciated as a genius and master of his craft. Maugham presents a tale that teaches that moderation is more important than total devotion to either extreme. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (8:57 of 12:33). A romance set in the cut-throat world of academia? Yes, please! I’m really enjoying this story of the grumpy experimental physicist who falls for the lovely theorist who has been posing as his brother’s “fake date.” Confused? It’s a fun puzzle to unravel.

I Loved You First by Cate Beauman (p. 50 of 330). Another romance for my summer challenge. This one features Cam, a single father who has never left his quaint New England hometown. After her mother’s car accident, Fiona returns home for the first time since Cam broke her heart, announcing that he was going to marry her rival who was now pregnant with his child. Fiona intends to avoid Cam at all cost, but once she meets his precocious 5-year-old son…all bets are off. I’m certain this is going to be very predictable, but it’s proving to be an enjoyable read so far.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman (p. 60 of 415). A murder in a small town obsessed with hockey. That’s all I really know at the moment. Reading this one because of the many rave reviews it has received. At this point, the jury is still out for me.

June 2026 in Review

June has been a very productive reading month for me. Reading was my escape during long days visiting hospitals and rehab centers. For the most part, I didn’t read “hard-hitting” literature, but it was what I needed in the moment. Here is the month by the numbers.

  • Books read in June: 9 (up 1 from May)
    • 2 physical
    • 3 audio
    • 4 ebooks
  • Pages read in June: 2,650 (up 795 from May)
  • Highest rated book: This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page – 5 stars
  • Lowest rated book: Protected by the Biker by Logan Chance – 2 stars

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

I made six additions to the main challenge this month, bringing me to the 40% mark with 21 finished books. I would like to be a little closer to the halfway point, but I think I can continue to make some serious progress toward my goal in the remaining few months of summer vacation. I’m not worried (yet!) about completing the challenge by the end of the year, but I am certainly reading with a little more focus now.

The 52 Book Club Summer Beach Read Challenge

The summer reading challenge began this month and I’ve had a lot of fun with the board game element. I’m currently reading my 5th book for the challenge and about to make my way along the bottom border of the board. As you can see, my reading has been dominated with romances with a bit of historical fiction and classics thrown in. Realistically, this challenge will extend past Labor Day for me, but I’m not too upset about that. I’d like to get done early in the Fall, but my focus will remain on the main challenge…until a new batch of mini-challenges begin to appear, at least!

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Jun 29

A Little More Normal (June 29, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

My world has gradually returned to a version of normalcy this week. On Wednesday afternoon, we brought Dad home from rehab. (He promptly had a fall that evening; we always have to have drama in the Geriatric Ward.) So the end of the week has not had the insanity of constant drives and has allowed for a bit of much needed rest. That has also meant that I was able to settle down and finish several books that were in progress.

What I Finished This Week

The Godfather by Mario Puzo. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this American classic despite my initial trepidation. The story of Michael Corleone and the struggles to maintain power within the Five Families in New York was fascinating. I anticipated lots of violence and bloodshed on the page. While it was definitely present, the accounts were not gruesome or overly descriptive. In truth, the violence was used to propel the story telling. I especially found the afterward to be interesting; taken in light of what was happening in American society in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Puzo’s novel holds an important role in the American literary tradition. I now have to find 3 hours in my life to watch the film adaptation. 4.75 stars.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. This week’s audio book was about getting over the perfectionism that plagues so many of our lives and learning to simply be present in the moment. With lots of emphasis on making sure that we are saying “yes” to the right things and managing our professional, personal, and spiritual lives healthily, I found the book incredibly encouraging and challenging. I must admit that this was probably not the best book to listen to in the current season of my life. With everything going on right now, feelings of being overwhelmed are a reality for me. That’s a topic that is very prevalent in Niequist’s writing. It was hard at times to focus in and really hear the message. That doesn’t mean it was not wonderfully written; it just suggests that it wasn’t the right book for this moment. The format (audio) was also not right for me. I plan to keep this book on my TBR so I can pick up a copy of the physical book and really dive into the truths that are there. 3 stars.

Reckless at Heart by Zoe York. The story of Owen and Kerry is a cute novel. Owen is a single father who struggles with relationships after becoming a father as a teenager. Now pregnant herself, Owen’s daughter turns to Kerry to serve as her midwife. Despite their initial feelings toward each other, Owen and Kerry fall in love. However, they both know that the relationship is destined to be only temporary because Kerry desperately wants children of her own; Owen has moved far away from that part of his life and has taken steps to avoid having children again. Both are faced with deciding which is more important — having the person they love or holding on to the dreams they held for their future. Will love win out? 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly (p. 50 of 418). In a lot of ways, this books feels very similar in theme to This Book Made Me Think of You that I just finished a few weeks ago. In Connolly’s novel, a brother has passed away. At his memorial service, the deceased has left his sister and best friend with the task of visiting the eight states he didn’t get to during life. Each location is indicated by an envelope with coordinates. Once the pair arrives at the location, they are to open the letter, follow the instructions, and leave a portion of his ashes behind. I just started reading this novel last night, but it is quickly proving to be a very enjoyable read.

The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham (p. 40 of 280). For my next prompt in the summer beach read challenge, I am tasked with reading a classic novel featuring a character with an unusual career. Thanks to an AI search, I found this 1919 novel that features a stockbroker who leaves his life behind to pursue his newly discovered passion as an artist in Paris. (For this musician, a career as a visual artist is FAR from unusual; however, I’m taking the POV of most of society and counting it. Plus, it seems like a situation I would like to explore, so I’m reading the book.) I haven’t encountered Maugham’s writing before and I struggled a bit when I first started reading — because it was an unfamiliar voice. Now I’m finding that the reading is much easier and moves at a relatively easy pace.

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Jun 22

Waving the White Flag (June 22, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

My plan was to write a witty introduction to this week’s reading summary this morning before heading to Jonesboro to see Dad. Right now, life has a way of looking at my plans, laughing, and throwing a curve ball my way. I’m still standing, but I’ve prepared the white flag of surrender so I can yell “Uncle!” to end this current round of the karmic game. How’s that for an intro? Luckily, I had written the rest of the weekly update last night. Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.

What I Finished This Week

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom. As part of the Summer Beach Read Challenge, I needed to read a book with something you would expect to find at the beach on the cover. My assigned genre was historical fiction. I am thrilled that I found The House of Hidden Letters! Told in alternating time lines, the novel traces the story of Skye, a modern woman who has left her British home and career to flee her abusive husband. When she lands in Greece, she finds a community of friends and an unexpected mystery. Hidden in the chimney of her restoration house, Skye discovers a pack of love letters written by Katerina, a young woman trying to survive the Italian invasion of the Greek isles during World War II. Katerina’s story is one of love and murder. The young woman is traumatized by the Nazi general living next door in the occupied land. If you have followed my reading journey for very long, you probably know by now that I love this era of history and Broom’s story was engaging while presenting a portion of the Great War with which I was not familiar. I found the novel to be a fairly quick read and I was always excited to see how the story would progress (much to the chagrin of the other novels I was reading at the time). 4 stars.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey. For this week’s audio book, I borrowed Fix Her Up from my local library using the Libby app. That means that the book didn’t cost me anything and would fulfill that prompt for The 52 Book Club Challenge. This Tessa Bailey book tells the story of Georgie and Travis. Georgie is the youngest child who chose to launch her own business rather than working with the family. Her chosen career is that of a children’s entertainer — specifically, a clown. Obviously she receives no respect for her choice from her siblings or parents. They view her as an immature failure who simply needs to be tolerated and not respected. Travis has returned to his childhood home after injury ended his promising career in Major League Baseball. Despite his success, the only voice that Travis hears is that of his alcoholic father who repeatedly proclaimed that Travis would never amount to anything. Georgie wants the respect of her family; Travis needs to land a new job as a sports commentator. In order to help each other reach their goals, the two decide to masquerade as a couple. This cute romance was a really fun book to listen to. The narration by Charlotte North was exceptional. Be warned though — in typically Bailey fashion, the spicy scenes are off the charts! I would normally listen to an audio book on my commute; since my mother was in the car with me most of the week, this was definitely not a book that was going to get much airplay. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Godfather by Mario Puzo (p. 315 of 428). I have put off reading this book for much of the year. The prompt was to read a book inspired by the top grossing movie from the year that you were born. In 1972, that film would have been Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. I wasn’t really that interested in reading something about the mafia and the thoughts of exploring the lives of Coppola or Brando didn’t appeal to me either. So I decided to bite the bullet and read the novel that inspired the film. Since I’ve not watched the movie before, I had an erroneous idea of what the story was about. I was expecting lots of murders gruesomely described. While the mob wars are certainly present, the focus of the story is about the Don and his children. It’s a story about loyalty, betrayal, and revenge set against a sprawling family saga. I’m really enjoying the read much more than I expected and plan to watch the movie later this week.

Reckless at Heart by Zoe York (p. 235 of 596). The novel’s opening line grabbed my attention: “Dad, I’m pregnant.” A single dad to a teenage daughter, Owen is not prepared to watch his daughter repeat the same mistakes he did as a young father. When the girl announces that she is going to use the services of a midwife, Owen is anything but pleased. Now Owen must come to terms with the fact that he finds himself attracted to the midwife that is caring for his daughter. Why did I pick this one up? The prompt for the summer challenge called for a romance that included the name “Rebecca” in the acknowledgements. (That was surprisingly more difficult to find than I had expected!) I’m not expecting a 5 star read here, but it has proven to be an easy read to pass the time while at the rehab center.

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist (0:28 of 4:15). On Sunday afternoon, I had a few minutes alone in my car while running some errands, so I decided to get an early start on my next audio book. The book appears to be about moving from exhaustion and burnout to peaceful living through simplicity. That’s definitely something that I need to hear right now. I’m reading this to fulfill the prompt of a comma in the subtitle.

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Jun 8

Reading at 35,000 Feet (June 8, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

This week was always going to be about travel and reading. Things did not go as planned however. On Saturday morning, I boarded flights to spend the rest of the summer in Honolulu to do some teaching and community relations. While over the Pacific, I received a text message from my brother informing me that my dad had suffered a stroke and was to undergo immediate emergency surgery. By the time I landed, the surgery was over and had been declared a success. There were still several obstacles to overcome.

I headed to housing and that’s when it hit me — all of the stress, uncertainty, and the tears. I called my dean (still sorry about the late call — blasted time zones!) and expressed how I was feeling. Thankfully, everyone involved was incredibly supportive and I was told to get back to Arkansas post haste and not worry about anything else. Just 7 hours after landing on the island, I was back in the air and retracing my steps in a roundabout way.

Books were my constant companion this week. For that, I am extremely grateful.

What I Finished This Week

Protected by the Biker by Logan Chance. When the summer reading challenge appeared from The 52 Book Club, I was intrigued and immediately wanted to start reading. My first prompt for this summer reading game was a book with a four-word title in the romance genre. Since I had some travel coming up later in the week, I didn’t want to start another physical book that would add to my baggage. So I checked out what had recently been added to my Kindle as free purchases. That’s where I found Protected by the Biker. The only thing I can positively say about this one is that it was short, didn’t cost me anything, and introduced me to a new author. At less than 80 pages in length, there was no time to really develop the story line fully. It felt more like an outline for a potential story rather than something fully developed. 2 stars.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page. What an outstanding book! It had me laughing, reflecting, and crying — sometimes without even turning a page. Tilly and Joe are a perfect love story. Living in London, they are setting out on their new life together. Then tragedy strikes. Joe is diagnosed with cancer and passes away. Tilly is left alone to grieve, survive, and somehow continue living. Six months after Joe’s death, Tilly receives a rather strange call from the local bookstore — they have a book ready for her to pick up; the book was ordered by her husband, Joe. When she hesitantly arrives in the shop to accept the gift, she learns that Joe has actually gifted her with a year of books — one book each month. What follows is one of the best stories I have encountered in a very long time. Join Tilly as she rediscovers her love of reading, boldly accepts challenges and embarks on exciting adventures — all inspired by the books that Joe gifted her. This was my first experience with Libby Page’s work, but it will certainly not be my last! Her writing is effortless and full of emotion. I’m definitely a new fan. 5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (p. 763 of 886). Lots of time on an airplane this weekend meant that I got a lot of this book read. I really thought I would have another finish before posting today, but my body decided it needed sleep far worse than mental stimulation. As always, Yarros delivers another great read. This installment feels a little more mature than Fourth Wing, especially the relationship between Xaden and Violet. As I get close to the end, I’m ready for the story to come to a major pausing point so I can get out of the realm of fantasy for a few days.

Our Secret Summer by R.S. Grey (6:57 of 10:11). After the death of her twin sister, Isabella decides to head to Ibiza as her sister had planned and complete her bucket list of activities. The list includes everything from swimming in the ocean, cliff diving, going skinny dipping, and falling in love with a sexy Spanish man. Charmingly written and full of personality and warmth, Our Secret Summer has been a very enjoyable read far.

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Jun 1

Reading Marathons! (June 1, 2026)

by kennithfreeman

With the first real week of summer vacation here, I have had tons of time to read — and I’ve taken advantage of every available moment. It has been so nice to spend quiet time on the couch in the Geriatric Ward while the patients are at work with my nose in a book. Nothing on the television. No noisy neighbors’ voices seeping through the apartment walls. Just me and the gentle rustling of the page. I’ve gotten a little spoiled to the stillness in just a few days to the point that I have found myself getting irritated when my peaceful reading times are interrupted. Oh, to have no distractions! (A guy can dream, can’t he?)

It also has meant that I’ve had a couple of books running at the same time. Thankfully, the story lines are all very different, so there is no chance of getting confused as I jump from story to story.

What I Finished This Week

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. What a great book! I anticipated reading about a road trip. While there is travel, the novel is really about a quartet of unlikely friends who are attempting to tie up loose ends in their personal stories and find the freedom to proceed into the next chapter of their life. Some act with integrity and strong values; some are looking for an easy pass at any cost. Filled with heart and amazing story telling, this novel has convinced me to add more of Towles’ works to my TBR. 5 stars.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I feel like a traitor saying this….but this book really did not resonate with me at all. I know it is revered by many and consider a major work that tells a loving story of the trials of Chinese-American immigrants. I want to have loved this book so badly. Instead, I’ll just settle for saying that I completed it. Perhaps the issue was that I read it as an audiobook. Perhaps I am not in a place to connect with characters searching for meaning as they reflect on their mothers’ lives. Whatever the reason, this was not a hit for me at all. 3 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (p. 381 of 886). Coming back to the Empyrean series was a lot less challenging than I feared. While I had forgotten some of the finer details from the first book, Yarros writes in such a way that you are quickly pulled back in and reminded of the important relationships and events you have already encountered. The spice level in this installment feels a bit higher (I just read the scene between Xanos and Violet in the shower……). Honestly, I’m all in for this adventure story. Who would have guessed that I would enjoy a little fantasy in my reading life?

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (p. 21 of 407). I received this book earlier this spring in a shipment from The Book of the Month club. I was drawn to it because of the cover and the title honestly. Now that I’ve actually read the first few pages, I’m completely hooked! A husband selects 12 books for his wife after receiving a terminal diagnosis. The woman, who has long been an avid reader, found herself unable to read at all as she faced the uncertainty of her husband’s illness. Now that he is gone, he is attempting to restore the joy of reading — and of living — to her through the pages of these books that reminded him of her. Anyone else preparing for the flood of tears ahead?

May 2026 in Review

Another month has come and gone. I’m happy with my reading progress this month. I’ve encountered some great reads and made some new friends on the page along the way.

  • Books read in May: 8 (up 3 from April)
  • Pages read in May: 1,855 (down 281 from April)
  • Highest rated book: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – 5 stars
  • Lowest rated book: Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jacqueline L. Tobin – 2.75 stars

The 52 Book Club Challenge Progress

In May, I finished up the April mini-challenge and completed the entire May mini just under the wire. Really enjoyed the pivot of the May challenge as I needed to read from different decades for each prompt.

The main 2026 challenge, however, is a different story. Putting so much focus on completing the mini-challenges as they appear has distracted me from the main challenge. With only 14 of the 52 prompts completed, I’m not feeling great about where I am as we approach the halfway point of the year. (When I look at my overall reading stats for the year, having read 35 books in 5 months is much better to my ears!)

The summer challenge is coming out in a few weeks and I am really excited to see what the “beach reads” prompts will be all about. I’m also finding it difficult to get excited about some of the prompts in the 2026 main challenge. In many ways, they are feeling so random that I’m not excited about the words inside their pages. So I’m wondering if I need to skip the summer challenge and put my attention on the main for a few months so I can make some progress there instead. Both of my current reads will fit one of the prompts that I’m missing, so that’s something. I think I need to sketch out a reading plan for myself to see what I’m going to need to do to complete the challenge by December 31.

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