Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Summer Heat Wave (June 22, 2025)

It has been a rather warm week in the Geriatric Ward and the forecast does not suggest much relief in the foreseeable future. What has that meant for me? Plenty of time to read as long as I find the quiet spots in the house before the patients take them over and blare every television in the place!

What I Finished This Week

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. It was 947 pages. It took almost a month of my life to get through this first #BigBookSummer read and I thoroughly loved it. This is the second volume in Gabaldon’s Outlander series. While I’m not normally one who enjoys time travel in my fiction, Gabaldon’s characters are so beautifully crafted that I can accept the impossible and focus on the amazing story. Dragonfly has a bit of something for everyone. There’s romance, magic, political intrigue, and thrills around every corner. I was a little concerned that I would not remember much of the storyline coming back to the series after a year away from Claire and Jaime’s story, but I was sucked back in quickly. Gabaldon gives enough backstory to events to trigger the reader’s memory when necessary without feeling as though you are re-reading past events. Because of their size, I am planning to read one of these books each summer. Was it a perfect read? No….there were times that I found things getting sluggish and I simply wanted to move on. But overall, this was another outstanding read. There are trigger warnings to consider for domestic violence, miscarriages, and war. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (p. 106 of 321). After Dragonfly in Amber, I needed something different and not so massive. I decided to take a detour from my plan and dive into the recently published book I had received from The Book of the Month Club. The Summer We Ran follows Tess, the Democratic candidate for the governor of Virginia. She was raised by a single mother who worked for powerful people in Virginian society in the 1990s. Tess’ opponent in the gubernatorial race is Grant, a man who has lived a privileged life in DC society. Tess and Grant share a secret past that they are keeping from their families, their constituents, and their staff. When the truth ultimately comes out, it promises to be destructive and life-changing. Written in an alternating timeline, Ingram is revealing events in the summer of 1996 and then showing how it is impacting both Tess and Grant in their current lives. This is proving to be a fast-paced page turner that I simply don’t want to put down. The Summer We Ran will fulfill the prompt for a book published in 2025 for The 52 Book Club 2025 challenge.

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The Sound of 880 Piano Keys All At Once (June 16, 2025)

I have returned from the Texas Music Teachers’ Convention in Houston and lived to tell the tale! I was there to staff the Wayland booth in the exhibit hall — talking to teachers, alumni, and potential students about our programs. Held in the Hyatt Downtown, the exhibit hall was on the bottom floor on Friday and Saturday. Vendors from all over were in the hall. Our booth sat just across the aisle from the piano vendors — who had about 10 pianos on the floor to be played throughout the day. I’m not talking about digital instruments or consoles. No….these were grand pianos with their lids fully opened! What do 10 large pianos sound like when they are all playing different pieces at the same time? Imagine 20 toddlers in your kitchen floor with wooden spoons that they are banging on large metal pans. Yeah….it was a hot mess!

I planned to spend my time on the exhibit floor reading. That didn’t happen at all. I did manage to make a little progress once I retired to my room on the top floor of the hotel, but my head wasn’t going to cooperate too long in my effort to concentrate on the story.

What I Finished This Week

…..I had to at least make you look.

What I’m Currently Reading

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 672 of 947). Most of the 150+ pages I read this week were completed on Thursday’s flight to Houston. Once I encountered Claire’s miscarriage, I found it really difficult to push through that section. I thought Gabaldon handled a tragic event in any woman’s life with such grace that I didn’t want to rush through the storyline and savored the way she handled the text. I almost felt as though Claire’s grief as well as that felt by her husband could not be rushed. Now that I am in the ultimate battle scenes of the novel, the pace is picking up again and I *think* I will finish this Big Book of Summer this week. (At least, that’s the goal.)

What’s Coming Next?

I think I’m going to depart from my plan and insert a book that arrived last week from the Book of the Month club. The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram sounds very interesting. Two teens meet and fall in love during a summer trip. Fast forward to their adult lives, and the two former loves find themselves on opposing sides of a political campaign. It will definitely meet a need on my reading challenge since it was published in 2025. But first, I have to finish my current installment in the Outlander series and find out what happens to Claire and Jaime.

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Morning Spent in the Service Center (June 10, 2025)

Good morning, fellow readers! I’m a day late on this post, but things have not necessarily gone as planned this week. A nagging cough led to a diagnosis of bronchitis brought on by allergy issues has me moving a little more slowly and breathing rather intentionally.

Last week, the check engine light popped on while driving into Memphis. An initial check at Auto Zone listed the problem as something with the exhaust system. Not something too difficult to fix and should be covered by warranty. So I called to schedule a service visit at the dealership. Only available appointment was this morning (Tuesday) at 7:30am. We all know how much I hated that option, but needed to get things fixed. So I’m spending the morning in the customer wait center — against the advice of the service consultant! — with my computer to get some work done and my copy of Dragonfly in Amber. We will just have to see which one gets finished first — my car or Dragonfly!

What I Finished This Week

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone. I finally made it through this short ebook this week. As I have continued to reflect on Stone’s work, I think there are a few issues that I immediately recognize. First, Stone simply offers a variety of time management techniques from various leaders in a single place. He does not present any new ideas. Second (and probably more annoying to this reader), the audience is not clearly defined. Stone addresses business leaders, creatives, and students throughout the book. Personally, I would much rather he focus on one audience and allow the others to examine the concepts and decide if the principles are applicable to them. It’s impossible to effectively be everything to everyone. Focus your writing, sir!

What I DNF’d This Week

Emma by Jane Austen. If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you have probably seen this one coming. After several weeks of trying to find my way into Austen’s Regency era society, I finally admitted to myself that this was just not going to happen. My interest was leading me elsewhere. I have to admit that DNFing this classic does upset me a bit. It makes me question my intelligence and ability. Even though I have moved on from these negative thoughts and returned to my reading life, I must admit that they do rear their head from time to time. With a few more classics on my TBR in the coming weeks, I’ll get a chance to restore my confidence in reading important works of literature….just not British literature. (That has long been my nemesis!)

What I Am Currently Reading

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 509 of 947). I really am enjoying this novel! Just over halfway through this first Big Book of Summer 2025, I am finding myself pulled into the drama of Parisian society as the exiled Scotsman plots to stop the attempt to overthrow the throne. Dragonfly is a perfect fit for me. Historical fiction with a hint of romance, intrigue, and political espionage. I’m in Heaven.

Uncertain How to Proceed….

Later this week, I will travel to Houston for the Texas Music Teachers’ Convention. This will be a busy time as I work the WBU recruitment table. I need to have some reading materials that I can jump in and out of without appearing as though people are interrupting me if they have questions. I’m not sure if I will take Dragonfly or something shorter that can possibly be completed during my travels to and from the conference. Maybe an ebook? I just don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but I still have a few days to decide. Hmmm….decisions, decisions!

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A Busy Start to Summer Break (June 2, 2025)

Greetings from the Geriatric Ward! I arrived in eastern Arkansas Sunday afternoon and I am really looking forward to a slightly different pace for a few weeks.

This past week was busy in an unusual way. As you will recall, I was in Austin for the Memorial Day weekend to play for the Texas UIL Solo and Ensemble state contest. I returned to Plainview on Tuesday to begin packing up my apartment for summer. Somehow, I got the schedule wrong in my mind for the week. So Wednesday turned into a flurry of activity as I ran errands, cleaned, packed, and prepared to leave for Stillwater, Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Music Teachers’ Conference on Thursday. The conference was great and ran through Saturday afternoon. Rather than begin the drive home, I stayed the night in Oklahoma City and drove home on Sunday.

All of that to say that I was able to do some significant listening in my car, but not as much physical reading as I would have liked. I didn’t meet my finish goals for the week, but I’m very close to another finish. Let’s just take a look at where things stand at the moment.

What I Finished This Week

Beach Read by Emily Henry. This audiobook got me through many miles of driving this week. The story centers around two authors who hated each other in graduate school. When they find themselves living next door to each other, the old rivalry is reignited. In the heat of battle, the two issue a challenge to each other — she must write a story that doesn’t resolve everything in the end with a neat “happily ever after” tied up in a bow; he must write a romance with a happy ending. Henry’s writing is entertaining and filled with heart. Beach Read is about writer’s block, family difficulties, and the challenges of falling in love. 4 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 133 of 148). I’m so close to another finish, but I couldn’t quite get there this week. I just have the final chapter and the epilogue to read, so it will definitely get done this week. Just another reminder that non-fiction is not my typical jam.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 241 of 947). I’ve read another 100 pages this week. The slow pace is only because of the little amount of time I have been able to devote to the novel. Truthfully, most of the week’s progress has happened in the Geriatric Ward. I’m not worried about getting this done quickly now that I am in a position where I can regularly read. Not sure that I’ll get finished this week, but I anticipate sizable progress ahead.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). My plan to make this the focus piece of the week fell by the wayside when I realized that I didn’t have as many days in Plainview as I thought. I plan to slowly work my way through the remaining 220 pages this week to get a finish. (Somehow, I remember this very point in the story being the challenge for me when was first assigned the novel in my undergraduate studies. Just have to push through!)

May in Review

May was not a good month in my reading life. I’m still ahead of schedule in my reading goal, but I have to have good months in June and July to get back on track with my reading. Here’s the shameful numbers to report for the month.

  • Books read in May: 3 books (down 2 books from April)
    • 1 physical
    • 1 ebook
    • 1 audio
    • 3 fiction
  • Pages read in May: 1,249 pages (down 87 pages from April)
  • Highest rated book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (4 stars)
  • Lowest rated book: Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (1 star)

Plans for June

May clearly did not go as I had hoped, so I still have some loose ends to tie up there. I need to finish both Dragonfly in Amber and Emma. I was also scheduled to read The Summer We Started Over and Lady Chatterly’s Lover last month. For June, these are the new additions that I have slated to read:

  • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
  • Moby Dick
  • The Quiet Librarian
  • Eruption

Thankfully, most of June’s novels are shorter than those I encountered in May. I hate to think about it, but it may be the month that I begin to reassess my plans for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge and pivot in order to reach my goal.

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A Week of Travel, Different Time Zones, and Lots of Work (May 26, 2025)

The rain is falling outside my Austin hotel room. Thankfully, the storm held off until the end of my activity here for Solo & Ensemble this year. As I prepare to pack things up here and return to Plainview for a few days, it is time to reflect on my reading life for the past week. It might be better to refer to my lack of a reading life instead.

There’s not much new to report this week, but I’m not at all upset about it. As you will see, there were no finishes this week. Additionally, there was no progress in two of my “current reads.” Instead, I met new people, explored Oahu, dreamed about the future of music in Hawaii, and returned to the mainland to play a couple of days of the Texas UIL All-State Solo & Ensemble contest. That’s my kind of living.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 63 of 148). Not a single page read since last week’s post. I just need to set aside time each day for this read and get it done….or else I need to DNF it. This week will be decision time.

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). Again, not a single page read since last Monday. This one isn’t really surprising. Austen’s writing doesn’t feel like a good pairing with the Hawaiian beach. If I had looked at the cover during Thursday’s overnight flight, I would have been asleep in just a few moments. I think I may make this the priority this week to see if I can either get a finish or make a really significant dent in it.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 144 of 947). I managed to read 124 pages here this week. It is not significant progress, but this was the one book that I could actually sit down with for a few minutes and read a small chuck without too much effort or without feeling that I was missing out on the beauty of Paradise. I’m also finding myself once again deep into the story with Jamie and Claire. If I can limit my reading of this one, I think I can make some real progress in the other books this week.

What’s Ahead?

I have a few long drives ahead as I push to the end of May. Tomorrow, I head back to Plainview for a few days to close up shop there for the summer. On Thursday, I’ll head to Stillwater, Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Music Teachers’ Conference before driving to the Geriatric Ward on Saturday or Sunday to begin the summer holiday there. Since I’ve only had three finishes so far this month, it may be time to pull in some more audio books. But I could also use the quiet drive to wrap my head around a few of my upcoming projects. I just don’t know what the ultimate choice will be. One thing is certain — you can find out all about it in next Monday’s post!

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Aloha from Honolulu (May 19, 2025)

Staring out at the Pacific Ocean while lounging in a hotel room near Waikiki, I’m doing a little reflecting on the past week of my reading life. (I promise I’ll share more about my adventures on the island in coming posts.)

Last week was finals week at Wayland. Honestly, I can never predict what the week will look like. Some semesters come to a quiet end as things wrap up and the week is very relaxing. That was not the case this week. It seemed that every moment was filled with activity and I was just trying to hang on and survive.

That level of activity ate into my productive reading time. So I don’t have a finish this week. I did, however, continue to make progress — even if it was slower — in my current reads.

What I’m Currently Reading

Emma by Jane Austen (p. 116 of 335). I managed to complete the first volume in the novel this week. I have found that I have to read this one in absolute silence. I am continuing to enjoy the story and look forward to more of Emma’s adventures and social errors.

The Modern Guide to Time Mastery by Morgan Ellis Stone (p. 63 of 148). When I first cracked this one open, I really thought I had made a mistake. The writing is stilted and awkward. However, as I have kept reading, I am pleasantly surprised to see that Stone has brought together some of the best aspects of multiple time management approaches and revised them for modern creatives. It’s definitely a good diversion from the Jane Austen novel right now.

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (p. 20 of 947). I read one chapter before packing my bags for Hawaii. My plan was to get lost in the story while high in the air. Instead, I got enmeshed in the Cubs v. White Sox game during the afternoon leg and then got some progress done in Emma. This is my first book of Big Book Summer that will actually start on Memorial Day.

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Happy Labor Day! (September 2, 2024)

Ah….the joy of a long weekend at the very beginning of the semester. After getting things up and running and beginning to get into the groove of how things are going to go, I get a day off. That’s the perfect time for my allergies to begin causing problems and congestion to settle into my chest. Just what I had hoped for!

The week has been pretty good overall. Lots of things accomplished in the office, practicing again with some regularity as my arm continues to heal, and still managing to do some reading. At the moment, I’m fighting through a bit of a reading slump after powering through the final book of #BigBookSummer. Let me tell you what I’ve finished, what I thought, and what I’m reading now.

What I Finished

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. I am conflicted about this book. It was an interesting premise — Did Shakespeare actually write all of those plays and poems or were they purchased from other individuals, including women? The plight of women to receive equal footing and respect in modern society is certainly an issue worthy of discussion. Sadly, this book did not arouse the type of response in this reader that I expect when I come to one of Picoult’s books. I expect to have to think critically about important issues from perspectives that may challenge me and make me uncomfortable. By Any Other Name felt like a history lesson about a little-known female author fighting against a system that simply wasn’t going to change. I get that Picoult was pointing out how women have been fighting the same battle for centuries, but the historical fiction almost made the plight seem hopeless. When reading about the modern playwright who was deceptive, manipulative, and dishonest in order to get her play read — and then pouted when her plot blew up in her face — I was not cheering for her. Honestly, I was rather pleased that she got what she deserved. Dishonesty is never the way to bring about societal change. So, I’ve put this book on a low shelf of my bookcase and don’t plan to recommend it to other readers. I’ll just pretend that Picoult didn’t write it and continue to enjoy most of her other works.

What I’m Currently Reading

Plans changed this week and I didn’t pick up the Sue Grafton novel I mentioned last week. I also didn’t finish reading my office book….because work was BUSY! Here’s where things stand at the moment.

The Artist as Citizen by Joseph Polizi (p. 54 of 178). I chose this book for my office read because it is a compilation of speeches given about the role of the arts in American society and the artist’s responsibility as a member of society. What I failed to realize is that the quickly changing conversations in these speeches left me not necessarily wanting to dive back into the reading. So I am not making much progress through it. I’m hoping that I can force myself to continue reading the speeches this week and get closer to a conclusion. That’s also why I didn’t choose to begin another novel this week.

The Rookie by Jim Morris and Joel Engel (p. 59 of 276). A baseball memoir should be an obvious choice for me. I am finding myself drawn into the story of a west Texas boy drafted into the Big Leagues despite the obstacles, but as I have struggled with my allergies at the end of the week and needed to take care of a few things around the apartment, I haven’t done as much reading as I had hoped. Thankfully, this is a really fast read and not requiring a ton of effort to make progress. After reading several dense, big books recently, this short memoir will be a nice change of pace.

There you have it! Happy reading this week, y’all.

~Kennith

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A New Semester is Under Way (Aug 26, 2024)

Last week, the WBU music building was a hub of activity. Students were everywhere it seemed. New music students were finding their way through the halls. Athletes were meeting with my next door colleague for individual conferences to determine eligibility. The school year got off to a start without too much stress.

I also got back to playing this week. After dealing with an injury for most of the summer that effected my right arm and shut me down, it felt good to start playing again. My chiropractor is taking good care of me and gave the all clear to begin playing again — just with the instruction to make sure that I stretch at the beginning of each session and that I listen to my body. The first big test came on Thursday with the fall retreat of the Singing Men of Texas. It was a lot of playing to be sure. By the end of the day, I knew that I had used muscles that had been dormant for a while because I was tired. Thankfully, there was no pain to report — and that’s very good news!

I’m also happy to tell you that I am on a successful reading streak at the moment. At the beginning of the year, my goal was to read at least 10 pages per day. While that sounds like a really small goal, this wasn’t about quantity, but consistency. I especially struggle during the academic year — and the beginning of the semester is often treacherous for my reading. As of today, I have met my daily goal for 29 consecutive days and fully plan to keep it going!

What I Finished

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers. On Tuesday, I finished the second volume of the Mark of the Lion trilogy. As I have already mentioned, this volume was darker in tone and dealt largely with sickness, pain, and healing. There were moments of tears and moments of pleasure as the book reached its conclusion. In many ways, it felt as though a lot of loose ends have already been tied up. I’ve decided to step aside from Mark of the Lion for a bit to read something a little different for a while.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Artist as Citizen by Joseph w. Polisi (p. 20 of 178). Polisi was president of the Juilliard School for 20 years. This volume is a collection of articles and speeches from his term. While I have read the book before, it felt like a good time to return and turn my attention to arts’ advocacy for a few days.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult (p. 195 of 483). Anyone who knows much about my reading life is aware of my love for the novels of Jodi Picoult. I think I have read every book she has published at least once. Every year, I look for the announcement of her latest book and rush to the store as soon as it drops to begin my reading. This year, I pre-ordered the book and it arrived in the mail on Tuesday!

What I enjoy about Picoult’s novels is the way she takes contemporary issues and turns them on their ear, forcing the reader to think about things from another perspective and face their own biases. By Any Other Name is falling a little short for me so far. Here’s why. There is definitely a contemporary issue on the page — the plight of women to have their voices heard in the arts, specifically as a playwright. Where things are failing for me is in the historical fiction set in Elizabethan England. I can tell that it is Picoult’s voice. I understand why she chose this storyline and how it connects to the contemporary story. It just falls flat for me and I don’t think historical writing is where Picoult best shines. I hope that my opinion of the work changes as I continue through the pages. (Let there be no doubt…..I plan to read the novel in its entirety. I’m enjoying the story — I’m just not so captivated by the book that I cannot put it down as I normally am when I encounter Picoult’s writing.)

What’s the Plan?

I hope to finish the Polisi this week. I might get done with the Picoult, but it will all depend on how busy things are in the office this week. I have a Sue Grafton novel on the table to try out next and anticipate having some piano pedagogy resources arriving in the coming week. One of those will probably be my next office read.

Happy reading this week, everybody!

~Kennith

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Where’s the Thermostat? (Aug 19, 2024)

It’s hot! That’s all there is to it….it’s hot! This week, we have been soaring anywhere between 100-110 F and relief can’t come soon enough. So no one complained too much that we had tons of meetings that kept us in the same room for hours on end and out of this oppressive heat.

Combine the heat with lots of beginning of the semester meetings and my brain is officially fried. Trying to start an online class while getting ready for traditional classes that start in just a few days has me pulling my hair out a little bit. I know I’ll get there. I just might not “really” be ready for everything. One more day to try to put out the biggest fires before we welcome our students back.

Somehow, the heat and meetings didn’t completely stifle my reading this week. I’m feeling pretty comfortable with the progress I have made and look forward to what’s ahead this week in my reading chair.

What I Finished

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. It took longer than I had planned to finish Vance’s memoir, but I really enjoyed his insightful analysis of rural southern life. So much of what he said parallels my own experiences. I find his ideas about the roles of parents and teachers in education as well as his thoughts about the paths to higher education fascinating. I don’t know that I agree with everything he proposes, but I think there are some conversations that need to be had in our nation.

What I’m Currently Reading

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers (p. 328 of 432). The end of this second volume of Mark of the Lion is quickly winding down. Hadassah is now known by the name Rapha — Healer — to conceal her identity from those who would do her harm. That name gives us insight into what this novel is all about. Julia suffers from an illness resulting from her immoral choices. Phoebe’s illness comes on suddenly and without explanation. Marcus is simply lost and needs to be healed of his painful memories, guilt, and sin. As each of their stories progress, they again encounter Hadassah, and, more importantly, her God. While this installment of the trilogy has been darker in tone, I still find myself enjoying the movement of the Spirit across each page as the characters’ sagas unfold.

What’s On the Horizon

I need a break from 1st century Rome and my reprieve will arrive tomorrow in the form of Jodi Picoult’s newest novel, By Any Other Name. I know nothing about the story and really don’t care. It has become a tradition in my reading life to simply pick up everything Picoult publishes and inhale it. So I hope no one really needs much of my time this week…..I’m gonna have my nose in a book!

Happy reading, y’all! See you next Monday.

~Kennith

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Back in West Texas (August 12, 2024)

Greetings from the HOT plains of west Texas! I started the drive back to my normal life on Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Plainview on Thursday….just in time to do some work on Friday before online classes began. What a whirlwind! Thankfully, I was able to get back into a semblance of my normal routine without too much difficulty and my reading life continues on mostly uninterrupted.

What I Finished This Week

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. I was frantically reading this book in the Geriatric Ward throughout the day on Tuesday since it wasn’t my copy and it was so good that I wanted to make sure Mom had access to start reading it soon. I gushed about how much I enjoyed this read in last week’s post, so I’ll spare you a repeat. What I will say is that the ending TOTALLY surprised me and I was reading the last several pages through tears. Really phenomenal story telling that also tugged at my heart strings.

What I’m Currently Reading

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (p. 152 of 257). You will understand in a matter of moments why I’m still not finished with this book since the Rivers’ novel is completed. I’m still enjoying the memoir, but with all of the hatred that is being spewed on social media at the moment, I’m drawn to fiction over non-fiction at the moment.

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers (p. 124 of 432). Since I was driving through OKC this week, a stop at Half-Price Books was in order. That meant that I absolutely HAD to pick up the remaining two volumes in Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series because I’m desperate to know how Marcus, Julia, and Hadassah’s stories all play out! That also meant that I had to start reading the second volume — because clearly I have no self-restraint! I anticipate that this will be my last book of #BigBookSummer, but we will just have to wait and see how long it takes me to get through this one. This installment has a darker tone at the opening than A Voice in the Wind and the addition of some new characters have made for some minor challenges in getting my head wrapped around the storyline. But I’m moving forward.

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