It has been a whirlwind week! Lots of activity early in the week, a trip to Dallas for the weekend, and lots of baseball to watch. It’s been a great week and I got to spend much of the weekend with my nose in a book. Still…..
What I Finished This Week
NADA! My goal was to finish reading my non-fiction book while in Dallas. I got very close, but the draw of a gentle afternoon nap, watching the birds outside my window, and deciding what new restaurant to try meant that I didn’t quite reach my goal. Oh well! I’ll get there soon and should have another finish in the coming week.
As a personal triumph, this is the first week that hasn’t seen the completion of a book since September 8, 2025! That’s 33 weeks of consistent reading. (Trust me, I counted.) This week I will reach the milestone of 300 days of reading a minimum of 20 pages per day….and I intend to run that number up much higher. So I won’t be too upset that I didn’t have a finish this week because reading is still happening every day in my little corner of the world.
What I’m Currently Reading
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 393 of 439). As I am nearing the end of this read, I am encountering familiar figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Abraham Lincoln. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my reading pace is much slower in this work than when I’m working my way through a novel. There’s just more detail and information that I need to navigate.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (p. 105 of 434). Set in the fascinating world of competitive ice dance, this novel has it all. There is first love, an abusive alcoholic guardian, dishonest judges, and competitive enemies. It’s a fun, fast-paced read. While I’m not sure whether it is loosely based on some of the accusations made around the sport in the most recent Winter Olympics, it definitely seems timely.
How to Date a Prince by Hayden Stone (6:50 of 10:41). I needed an audiobook for my drive to Dallas this week. I also needed a “How to” book for one of my reading challenge prompts. Of all the novels that popped up when I entered “How to…” this one seemed the most entertaining. A closeted gay prince has been signed up to appear in a reality television show by his father after an awkward photo appeared in the press. That’s all I know at this point in the read. There are some very funny images — the Prince’s attempt to bake ginger snaps has been my favorite scene thus far — and some poignant, heartwarming moments as he attempts to balance his personal and royal persona.
Probably like most people, I get the majority of my reading done over the weekend. The pace of the daily grind slows considerably and I am able to lose myself in the pages of a book. During the week, I am ecstatic if I am able to read for an hour over the course of the day. With my reading pace, that generally comes in around 40 pages per day. That’s almost enough to finish a novel, but not quite! So I lean in over the weekend to catch up and get some finishes.
This weekend, I had a busy weekend. Board meetings, church service, rehearsals, accompanying a voice competition, and taking in a show were all good things that I wanted to do…..but they all ate into my reading time. Sadly, that means my weekend did not see a lot of progress made in my reading pursuits. Next weekend should make up for it though. I’ve scheduled another mini-vacation to recharge and prepare for the end of the term. Yeah!
What I Finished This Week
The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest. I went to the library to find some options for the April mini-challenge prompts. These three prompts stumped me initially, so I haven’t made a ton of progress toward meeting that short-term goal yet. I wandered over to the books on My Library Shelf and found that The Partner Plot also featured an author photo that included a toothy smile. (Kristina Forest’s photo on the inside cover is absolutely charming.) I could read a book from My Book Shelf and fulfill a prompt for the mini-challenge? Sounds like a win-win to me! The Partner Plot was rather funny. Violet is a stylist to the stars. Xavier is her high-school sweetheart who now teaches English in their hometown. Nine years ago, Xavier broke Violet’s heart. While working in Vegas, the two are reunited and the chemistry is clearly still present. After spending a few hours catching up, they drunkenly decide to have a “pretend marriage.” When Violet is featured in an industry journal, she alludes to her recent marriage to avoid discussing a nasty breakup. When Xavier learns of the white lie, he decides to use it as well to advance his own career. Thus begins the deception that will spin out of control in a humorous way. While this wasn’t high literature, it was an enjoyable read. 3 stars.
What I DNF’d This Week
East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I just couldn’t do it right now! In some ways, it is a very sad DNF. I adore Steinbeck’s writing. I’ve read almost everything he published. East of Eden is by far my favorite of his works. But at this moment, in this season of life, I just can’t devote the energy to make my way through this grandiose novel. Rather than living with the guilt of not making progress, I decided to shelf it instead.
What I’m Currently Reading
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 201 of 439). This is the book that suffered the most from this week’s schedule. I am continuing my study into the Underground Railroad, but I got stalled on the tracks this week. Time to set a study schedule for my week and see if I can get things moving towards freedom (and learning) again.
I had to travel to Wichita for work this week. Leaving town always makes for a hectic week. Insane teaching schedules. Long rehearsals. Extra sessions for rehearsals I will miss. Gathering all of the materials for the trip. It is a lot. Then once I get to the destination, there is work to be done. A lot of work and not a lot of downtime for quiet activities like reading. I was able to read this week’s fluff piece while manning the recruiting booth, so there was something accomplished toward my reading goals. Here’s hoping that this week will get me back into a normal routine and reading rhythm.
What I Finished This Week
Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin. The title of this cute book really tells you everything you need to know about it. A woman returns to her Ohio home after a disastrous relationship in Los Angeles ends. Once there, she crosses paths with the man who broke her heart in high school. They hate each other. Or do they? Not a deep plot at all, but actually a really fun read and something that I could manage to get through while on the road in Kansas this week. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough (p. 142 of 317). The novel has proven to be a challenging read for me this week. Many of the patients in Ward X suffer from some form of sexual deviance, at least what was considered deviance in the 1980s. It seems that McCullough’s use of euphemism is intended to allow her readers to tolerate and explore the issues she presents, specifically homosexuality. While the novel is not graphic, it is a challenging read as I try to determine what she is actually attempting to portray in the action. This is one of those times where attempting to avoid any level of discomfort ends up making the novel less powerful and much more difficult to read. Hopefully, this book becomes less muddied as I continue to make my way through it.
February in Review
February proved to be a tough month. Two work trips, an illness that knocked me flat, and rehearsals for UIL and children’s opera meant that I had very little time in life for anything else. Somehow, I managed to still read at least a book each week. I’ll take that as a win.
Books read in February: 6 books (down 4 from January)
3 physical
2 ebooks
1 audio
Pages read in February: 2,126 (down 166 from January)
Highest rated book: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros – 5 stars
Lowest rated book: The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe – 3 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
February saw the first mini-challenge of 2026. I decided that this year I was going to try to complete the minis as they were presented rather than saving them until the end. I had fun with the challenge, but it didn’t do wonders for my progress in the overall challenge.
The mini was called “This or That?” We were given the titles of three famous books (The Scarlet Letter, Crime & Punishment, and Fourth Wing) and were to read a book that was inspired by one of the words. I wasn’t super excited about Fourth Wing by the time I got to that prompt, but I really enjoyed the other two books.
I only added three books to the overall challenge this month, but I really enjoyed all three books. That is what is most important to me. I have now read 7 of the 52 books. This is the beginning of week 10 of 2026, so I’m a little behind my goal of a book a week for the year, but I’m still in an okay position. I know that I have Spring Break and summer vacation coming up; both of those have traditionally been really good times for my reading life.
It has been an exhausting, incredibly busy week. I felt like I was constantly running to meet deadlines and wasn’t sure that everything was going to get taken care of. Thankfully, when the dust settled, I had survived and the projects were successfully completed. In the midst of the craziness, I found myself running to my reading chair as often as possible in order to get my mind a moment of rest in the comfort of a story. That meant a very successful week in my reading life!
What I Finished This Week
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I have to admit that when I first encountered the premise of this 2025 novel, I was not very impressed. An old woman reflects on her life through the daily letters she writes to friends and family. As the book garnered more and more acclaim and was long listed for the 2026 PEN Award, I knew that I was going to have to see what all of the hype was about. Now I fully understand what all the fuss is about. This is an exceptional novel! Sybil is an octogenarian who has written letters religiously since her childhood. Correspondence between family, friends, business associates, authors whose writing has moved her, and a young boy on the spectrum have filled her days and contain Sybil’s story. As she comes to terms with her rapidly declining eyesight and her own mortality, Sybil faces feelings of abandonment, regret, and betrayal as she examines her professional and personal life. Written entirely in letters, Evans provides an exquisite look into a professional life well lived that has been marred by personal tragedy and failures. 5 stars.
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly. Since I started watching the Netflix series, I decided this was the perfect time to begin reading the novel of the same name. It also filled the need for a novel about either crime or punishment for the February mini-challenge. How about both topics in a single novel? The Lincoln Lawyer was the typical legal thriller. It was fast-paced with lots of interesting, shady characters. I probably won’t read the entire series (it feels a little dated now), but I enjoyed plowing through the story. 3.5 stars.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. As I searched for something that would work for the “Fourth Wing” prompt of this month’s “This or That” challenge, I really was struggling to make a selection. I wasn’t ready for the fourth installment of any of the series I am currently reading and I really wasn’t in the mood for fantasy and flying beasts. That’s when I thought about reading something about being in fourth grade. It has been many years since I read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and didn’t remember much about it. Now that I’ve finished reading it again, I know why I didn’t remember much about it. There really isn’t a plot here. It’s just a series of vignettes about Peter and Fudge. Thankfully, it didn’t take very long to work my way through this classic of children’s literature. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough (p. 61 of 317). The February prompt for the 2026 Read Good Challenge is “Feb-roo-ary.” I am to read a novel by an Australian author. While I had found several very interesting options, the thought of reading something else by Colleen McCullough sounded like a wonderful choice. I remember enjoying The Thorn Birds immensely (although I was probably far too young to read it at the time!) and headed to the library to check out the other options. An Indecent Obsession had an interesting plot and has been a wonderful read so far. Set in the closing days of World War II, the story is set in a military hospital and focuses on the patients of Ward X — a psychiatric ward — and the nurse who cares for them. Written in 1981, this is an exploration of mental health from an era when these types of illnesses were taboo and unfamiliar to the majority of people. It appears that sexuality will also be a major theme in the novel as one of the patients was sent to Ward X because of a supposed homosexual affair. I’m enjoying the writing style and finding the plot extremely engaging.
Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin (p. 29 of 337). As I prepare for another recruiting trip this week, I wanted to have something on my Kindle that was quick and would be easy to slip in and out of while sitting in the booth. The title of this work sums up the general plot point. Collins has returned to her childhood home after an embarrassing video went viral as she broke up with her Los Angeles boyfriend. Now back in Ohio, things go from bad to worse when she runs into her archenemy from high school, Nathaniel Adams. The banter is light and funny. The plot seems predictable so far. It isn’t going to be world class literature, but it is a fun read.
We survived another week, my reading friends! It wasn’t necessarily easy or pretty, but we made it to the end. Wowzers! When February arrived, I think someone sent out a memo telling people to put ALL the tasks into a single month for me. I felt like I was constantly running a massive marathon that almost took me out. Reading was a luxury. These are the times that led me to making reading appointments in my daily to-do list. If the reminder to allot 30 minutes to read wasn’t there, I probably wouldn’t have spent time in the pages of a story while I just caught my breath. I’m thankful this level of insanity is only for a season…..but I’m ready for this season to pass (even though it is just beginning).
What I Finished This Week
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas. This was the typical story of a girl from the right side of the track falling for the bad boys. It was scandalous as she flirted and toyed with each of the brothers. However, what set this book apart from other romances was the way it dealt with issues. The discussions about suicide and depression were so lovingly handled that I found myself forgetting that this was really a romance novel. I was invested in the relationship that grew between Macon and Krisjen. 4.75 stars.
What I DNF’d This Week
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Despite my intentions and my best efforts, I had to admit to myself this week that another reading of Hugo’s classic was just not in the cards for me right now. The text required me to read really slowly. Life is too hectic at the moment to make the progress that I wanted to and reading the novel felt more like a chore than something that was bringing me joy. So I gave myself permission to shelf this read for another time. I enjoyed what I did complete and don’t regret a moment that I spent in the pages with Valjean. I’m just not in a place where finishing it is in my best interest at the moment.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe (3:30 of 7:55). I hit a bit of a road block with this book this week. While I am enjoying the short vignettes, this week my drive time was frantic as I raced to rehearsals and I needed quiet to calm my mind. So I did not make much progress here. With a couple of longer drives ahead this week, I anticipate finishing this book before my next post.
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros (p. 141 of 423). When the February mini-challenge arrived from The 52 Book Club, I set out to find my first book. After starting a couple of other works, I finally settled into this beautiful story. Chaos is a member of special forces serving in a dangerous war zone. His friend, Mac, suggests that Chaos begins a pen pal relationship with Mac’s sister back in the States. When Mac is killed in action, Chaos receives the last letter from his buddy, asking him to return to Colorado and support his sister in one of the most challenging times of her life. The book took a back burner while I finished up Five Brothers this week, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with the story and I’m looking forward to getting back to it this week.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (p. 13 of 281). I have heard so many good things about this novel and have planned to read it for several weeks. It is a bit shorter than what I typically read, so I’m hoping to make decent progress on it while I’m in San Antonio this week. We shall see how that plan works out.
Happy Groundhog Day, readers! If Punxsutawney Phil was correct this morning, we have 6 more weeks of winter weather ahead. I have far too much to do to deal with more of this mess. But….if I were to get snowed in again, I might actually be able to get some more reading done. That wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.
After the snow weekend last week, I found myself hitting a bit of a wall in my personal reading this week. Now that I could get out of the house, I wanted to spend less time with my nose in a book and more time breathing in fresh air. So I only finished one book this week. That will probably be the trend for the next couple of months as my professional life and rehearsals fly into full swing. Let the insanity of the spring semester begin!
What I Finished This Week
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. This was such a great read despite the mixed reviews I have heard lately. It is hard to classify into a single genre. It is part suspenseful mystery, part romance, and part family drama. The novel opens with the death of a farmer and the question of whether it was an accident or murder. It is this image that the entire plot will propel the reader back to with lots of twists and turns along the way. The story centers around Beth, a farmer’s wife, and her first love from her teenage years, Gabriel. Beth and Gabriel come from two distinct worlds, yet they are drawn to each other. Beth has since married Frank and the couple mourn the death of their young son, Bobby. Beautifully written and enthralling, Broken Country is a novel that you will not soon forget. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (p. 625 of 1304). So I managed to read about 100 more pages of this huge book. I have to admit that I’m getting discouraged. Because the novel is so large, I find it very difficult to take around with me. That means I’m only reading it at home. When I’m in the recliner, there are always other things pulling my attention. It’s normally at the end of a long day and I’m not looking to be mentally challenged. I enjoyed the live chat Sunday afternoon with other members of The Active Mind Book Club, but I just don’t know that this is going to be a finish for me this month. February is too busy and I think I may just have to cut my losses. I’m not ready to make that call yet, but I’m getting close.
Five Brothers by Penelope Douglas (p. 67 of 516). This week’s first new read is off to an interesting start. The title refers to the five Jaeger brothers, without parents, living together in the large house on the wrong side of the tracks. Krisjen (that’s how she spells it!) is a bit of a princess from a seemingly wealthy family. However, with her parents’ impending divorce, her mother is on a terror and trying to marry her off in order to secure the family’s financial situation. This is definitely going to be a contemporary romance featuring the bad boys. The spice level has not been through the roof at the beginning of the novel, but there are definitely indications that things may heat up very fast. If you see me blushing, you’ll know…..
The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe (0:44 of 7:55). While driving to church on Sunday morning, I decided that I needed to start a new audiobook. I have always enjoyed Mike Rowe’s storytelling and thought this selection in the style of the classic Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story would be a relaxing option to move in and out of easily. Rowe tells the unheard portions of the biographies of famous people and manages to weave in anecdotes from his personal experiences. It is proving to be an enjoyable read thus far.
January in Review
January has been a successful month for my reading life, but the return to the reality of teaching has slightly dampened the amount of time I have to devote to the written word. It was really hard to select the highest rated book of the month since I had three contenders that earned 5 stars.
Books read in January: 10 books (down 3 from December)
6 physical
4 audio
Pages read in January: 2,292 (down 2,218 from December)
Highest rated book: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford – 5 stars
Lowest rated book: The Inferno by Dante Aligheiri – 2.5 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
I’ve been reading this month for several different purposes, so not all of my reads have been for prompts on the main reading challenge. Still, I’m ending the month on track — 4 books in 4 full weeks.
Traditionally, February is a challenging month for my reading life. This year doesn’t look as though it will be much different with trips to San Antonio and Wichita happening this month as well as a rather hectic rehearsal schedule for the children’s opera. I plan to set daily goals to get through at least one novel each week to keep me on track. I’ll probably be relying on audiobooks rather heavily this month as well.
It is hard to believe that January is half over already! Where did the time go? School started back up this week (both online and brick and mortar classes). That meant I actually had to start doing my real job instead of pretending I was getting paid to read all day. But I still managed to knock out two more books this week.
What I Finished This Week
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser. Mona experiences an unexplained episode of blindness as the novel opens. While this is a crucial story element, it wasn’t really the focus of the book. As part of her journey to mental health, Mona accompanies her grandfather every Wednesday afternoon for 52 weeks to see artistic masterpieces in the museums of Paris. Along the way, Mona becomes obsessed with her limited knowledge of her grandmother’s life. Mona’s Eyes is an exploration of beauty, maturity, personal growth, family ties, and man’s free will to choose. While I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the art, I left the novel uncertain how I wanted to respond. I’m still quite conflicted about what I have experienced and can’t decide if I’m truly ready to move on to another literary experience or not. I’m not sure if that is a sign of a great book or an abstract compilation of loosely connected ideas. 3.75 stars.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison. Lucie is a single mother raising her pre-teen daughter. Next door are her baby’s daddy and his partner. While life is good, her dating life is less than stellar. When she checks on her daughter late one evening, Lucie hears a conversation from under the covers with an adult man. Ripping back the covers, Lucie demands the cell phone be turned over and learns that her daughter has called Aiden, the host of a late night romance hotline talk show. Against her better judgment, Lucie and Aiden talk late into the night. And thus begins a fun story about self-worth, love and loss, and daring to risk in order to find love. While there were some spicy scenes, I found this romance relying more on chemistry and flirting to keep up the heat. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg (5:58 of 8:05). I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about a novel featuring wildfires after having lived through several of them while studying in Malibu in the 1990s. I decided that an audiobook was the way to go for this one so I could zone out if I needed to. The story is actually quite interesting. While fighting a wildfire, a criminal volunteer fire fighter dies due to negligence. The fire department denies any wrong doing. The fallen man’s fellow Penal Firefighters that witnessed the event know the truth and vow to take revenge. How? They plan to set fires along the wealthy coastal area and rob homes before everything burns.
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (p. 287 of 387). I didn’t read a word of this one this week. I only have 100 pages remaining. I really just need to finish it and move on. That may just become a secondary goal for the week.
Les Miserable by Victor Hugo (p. 355 of 1304). Not a lot of progress in this one either this week. Now I really am behind my reading schedule and need to give this work some serious attention. Who knew that reading a classic novel was going to be so demanding?
Greetings once again from West Texas. I returned to Plainview on Wednesday afternoon, just in time to begin professional development in preparation for another semester of teaching. As a result of driving from Arkansas over two days, I spent a lot of time in the car. That means much of my reading this week was in the form of audiobooks. I’m continuing to make progress in my physical reads…..well, sort of making progress. The current brick that is in my reading rotation may be the death of me!
What I Finished This Week
Mermaid Moon by Colleen Coble. This audiobook was with me through most of my drive back to West Texas this week. The story focuses on Mallory, a single mother who is trying to discover what happened on her father’s boat that ultimately led to his sudden death. This one is full of intrigue with lots of twists and turns. However, now that I had read Coble’s previous book in the Sunset Cove series, I saw things coming a little more clearly. Still, a fun read. 3.75 stars.
Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble. It seems that audiobooks are the only thing I can finish this week! The conclusion to the Sunset Cove series, Twilight focuses on Kate’s story. With her father, mother, and uncle all serving time, Kate is convinced that she is destined to be alone. However, it appears that she has a stalker who wants to take advantage of her loneliness. Enter Drake, the handsome Boston entrepreneur who finds himself falling in love with Kate. Can the two find their way through the obstacles of their relationship while keeping Kate and Drake’s nieces safe? I found the conclusion of the series to be very fulfilling and enjoyed how the loose ends were all tied up. 4 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser (p. 382 of 446). I thought I would finish this novel before I had to post my weekly update, but it didn’t quite happen. I have really enjoyed watching Mona learn more about herself, her family, and her place in the world as she and her grandfather explore the masterpieces housed in Paris. It’s a lovely read.
The Inferno by Dante Alighieri (p. 287 of 387). My descent into Hell took a back seat again this week. I’m finding myself looking forward to seeing the sinners frozen around Satan himself. So the cantos leading up to that momentous image are becoming a bit of a drudge to plow through. There are only so many times that I can imagine people tormented in rivers of various kinds.
Les Misérablesby Victor Hugo (p. 290 of 1304). Travel was not kind to my reading of this massive tome this week. I enjoyed seeing Valjean’s distress as he tried to decide if he should come forward so a falsely accused man would not have to face a life sentence he did not deserve. I was horrified as Fantine’s death occurred so suddenly. Repeatedly, I found myself recalling images from the stage productions I have seen over the years as I read the most visually stunning scenes. As I approach the passages describing the scenes of carnage in the wake of Waterloo, I am struggling to proceed. There are other works calling my name and I’m ready for some lighter reading in my world. Here’s hoping that I can get back on track this week.
It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost gone. It feels as though I was just spending the summer break in the Geriatric Ward. I can’t believe that it is almost time to load up again and head back for the spring term and the beginning of a new year. I’m pushing through for a strong finish in the final days of 2025 in my reading life and excited about plans for the new year ahead.
What I Finished This Week
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. This finish came at the very end of Christmas Day and it was such a fun read! Maelyn Jones and her family return to the cabin every year to celebrate Christmas with Mom’s college roommate and several of Dad’s fraternity buddies. It is a highlight of the year, seeing the people that she has essentially grown up with each Christmas. One of the regulars is Andrew, a childhood friend that Maelyn has had a crush on since she knew what love was. However, she has never actually told him how she feels. In an unexpected plot twist, Maelyn is involved in an automobile accident after leaving the cabin that throws her into a time-traveling scenario. Mae now repeats her week at the cabin after making a wish to the Universe to show her what would make her truly happy. After several failed attempts, Mae finally tells Andrew how she feels and the readers watch as things finally play out. The only question is will this result in Maelyn’s happily ever after or will she be forced to relive the holiday week now that she has confessed the truth. This was a great change of pace from the normal holiday romance. 4.5 stars.
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand. For some reason, I have steered clear of many of Hilderbrand’s novels. I think it has more to do with the fact that there were so many of them on the bookstore shelf than any real feelings about the writing. Before this exploration of Winter Street, I have only read one of her works — The Hotel Nantucket — which I also enjoyed. In this first volume of the Winter Street series, we are introduced to the Quinn family. Kelley and his four children are all experiencing challenges in love and life in various ways. Patrick has gotten sucked into some unethical business practices that threaten to cost him everything. Ava is in a relationship with a man who does not appreciate her at all. Kevin is the family loser who never feels as though he can live up to the expectations of being a Quinn. Bart recently joined the Marines and is now deployed to Afghanistan. Things are no better for Kelley, who walked in to see his wife in the arms of the man hired to play Santa. Now Kelley must decide whether or not to sell the Winter Street Inn (which also serves as home for him and two of his adult children) while navigating the challenges of parenting and maybe falling in love with his ex-wife again. 4 stars.
A Very Merry Mistake by Lyra Parish. This was a really entertaining audiobook that kept me laughing out loud. Claire is the daughter of a real estate mogul that is searching for the deal that will garner her father’s approval. She travels to Merryville, Texas….a small town that celebrates Christmas all year long. As she is driving into the quaint town, her car stalls and will not start. With no phone charger and no other way to call for a rescue, she begins to walk the last 10 miles into town. When Jack, a local tree farmer, offers to give her a lift into Merryville, Claire is hesitant and defensive. After finally accepting his hospitality, fate is not on Claire’s side. Her assistant made reservations in the wrong city and there are no rooms available anywhere. Jack offers Claire the use of his couch until she can find other accommodations. This begins a story of forced proximity and country vs. city living. The attraction between the two is palpable and things get heated quickly. This was a great ending to my holiday reading experience this year. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Inferno by Dante (p. 204 of 387). My slow journey through the circles of Hell continues. I’m in no real rush to get this work read since the online chat with fellow Pepperdine alumni doesn’t occur until January 21. There’s still plenty of time.
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand (p. 92 of 260). I wasn’t ready to leave the Quinn family behind, so I’m diving into the second book in the Winter Street series. Kelley and Mitzi are still fighting and extremely nervous about Bart’s safety. Kevin is getting married. Patrick is serving his jail sentence for insider trading. Ava is confused as she has feelings for two men. In typical Hilderbrand fashion, the characters are continuing to grow and develop with each passing chapter. This will be another quick read.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (p. 96 of 285). According to my notes on Good Reads, I have read this novel once before and was not terribly fond of it. The cover is familiar to me, but I remember very little about the plot itself. What I do remember about the plot means it should be a good fit for me. I’m thinking that I probably tried to read this book during a particularly stressful time in graduate school….and that was never a formula for success. So far, I am fascinated by the story of a friendship between Kaiko, a young Japanese girl, and her Chinese schoolmate, Henry. The focus on the hardships of the Japanese-American citizens on the west coast during the War Years is fascinating and heartbreaking. I’m revisiting the work since it was housed on My Library Shelf along with several other works by Ford.
December 2025 Bingo Challenge Update
And just like that I have a blackout Bingo! I enjoyed working on the mini-challenge while patiently waiting for the 2026 challenge to kick off on January 1. Speaking of which, that brings me to….
2026 Plans
I have become obsessed with reading challenges and actually enjoying the process now that I have successfully completed my first 52 book reading challenge. Since I’ve figured out my stride and the process (I think), I’m upping the difficulty and adding additional challenges.
It should not be a surprise to know that I plan to participate in the 2026 challenge of The 52 Book Club. I’ve already started planning my reads for the year and have several options on hand so I can get a good start on January 1. I’ll try to be a little more active in completing the mini-challenges as they pop up now that I know I’ll be able to finish the main challenge, but I may have set myself up for not completing the minis since I have decided to add additional challenges to my life.
While checking out several book vloggers this year, I stumbled across the Read Good challenge hosted by @Benreadsgood on YouTube. This challenge is much smaller — only 1 book each month — with fairly general prompts that I think will be fun to connect with what I’m already reading. I was especially drawn to the challenge because of the prompts to read books nominated for the Women’s Prize as well as the Booker Prize shortlist. I also like that each prompt is associated with a specific month….cute puns guide our reading throughout the year. This is definitely a secondary challenge for me, but one that I think will be rewarding.
I am feeling drawn to classic literature again and want to read it in community without the pressure of a class. Back to the internet, where I found The Active Mind Book Club. It’s a paid community ($5/month on Patreon) that features chat and Zoom sessions to discuss the works with readers around the world. I’m going to give it a try and see how it goes. The year starts off with a reading of Les Miserables in January and February, 2026. Then we move into masterpieces like East of Eden and Madame Bovary as well as lesser known works such as Tolstoy’s Resurrection and Gaddis’ JR.
As though that isn’t enough, I’m also going to continue working my way through My Library Shelf. You may recall that I selected a new shelf in November, 2025 during a visit to the Unger Memorial Library in Plainview. In addition to my regular reading challenges, I’ll explore books shelved in the FORD-FORS section — 23 books in all. Some of these may be used to fulfill prompts for other challenges, but that isn’t the primary goal.
Am I crazy to add more reading challenges? Quite possibly. Am I going to have a blast trying to accomplish more? Absolutely! And I’ll be sure to share my progress, successes, and failures with all of you here as I begin another year of Reading for Me.
Even though the weather is unusual for December in Arkansas at the moment, there is still no place like home for Christmas. This has been my first full week resting in the Geriatric Ward for the holiday break and it has been wonderful! The patients worked most of the week, leaving me in a quiet house for much of the day to read and practice. Once Patient 1 came in each afternoon, I would shift to the comfortable recliner in the back (formerly, the home office) and continue reading as well as doing a little writing and crafting. While I wish there was a bit of a chill in the air (a forecasted high of 70 degrees on Christmas Day was not on my Bingo card!), I’m still enjoying the Christmas spirit….and I’ve managed to get some more reading done this week.
What I Finished This Week
The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews. This was such a cute read! Ivy moves to the Carolina mountains after a messy divorce, purchasing an old farmhouse. As she moves into the worn home and its vintage furnishings, she learns of the Christmas traditions of the former owners. Hidden in a drawer is the treasured Santa suit. In its pocket is a letter from a little girl asking Santa to bring her daddy home from the war so her mom can be happy again. What follows is a story filled with humor, friendship, love, discovery, and perseverance with lots of small town charm. 4.25 stars.
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan. First, I must say that I probably would not recommend this as an audiobook. It was challenging to get into from the beginning and was not a great selection for driving. However, I found the book itself to be absolutely charming and a perfect story for the holidays! Carmen has a job in a bookshop in Edinburgh thanks to her sister’s connections. At first, Carmen thinks this is the worst possible scenario. The bookshop is dank and completely unorganized. Carmen’s relationship with her sister Sophia is horrible. Now that she is living in Sophia’s basement, Carmen must interact with three children and their vile, incredibly attractive nanny. On top of all of this, Carmen is alone at Christmas.
Things quickly begin to transform as Carmen meets two men — a bestselling self-help author and a Brazilian scholar interested in trees. The store finds its niche as a Christmas Bookshop and the sales go through the roof. Relationships between Carmen and her nieces and nephew improve, despite the interference of the nanny. Just when everything is beginning to look up, Carmen’s world begins to crash. The Christmas Bookshop is a wonderful story about finding love where you least expect it, the power of community, and family reconciliation. 4.25 stars.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison. Just when you think you cannot take another spin on A Christmas Carol, along comes Borison with a very inventive and satisfying novel. Nolan is a Ghost of Christmas Past assigned to haunt Harriet’s Christmas this year. Harriet is the owner of a charming antique shop in Annapolis, is full of Christmas spirit, and is generous to a fault. Why is she being haunted? As they journey back to her memories of prior Christmases, Nolan sees that Harriet’s biggest issue is that she does not stand up for herself — especially to her controlling mother. As Nolan finds himself drawn to Harriet in completely non-professional ways, his magic begins to lose focus. Now they are traveling through time into his own memories as well as Harriet’s. As the two fall in love, they know that their time together is limited as Nolan must go away by Christmas Eve. While I enjoyed the romance itself and the fantasy of a mortal falling for a ghost, the commentary about family relations and the need to speak truth even when it is uncomfortable resonated with me. The guilt one feels after speaking up for themselves after a long silence is also very real. I found myself hearing some of Nolan’s advice as though it was written specifically for me. This is a love story for the ages! Insurmountable odds, challenging family dynamics, and undeniable attraction makes Borison’s romance the best read of the Christmas season so far. 5 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
A Very Merry Mistake by Lyra Parish (1:24 of 10:59). I wanted to include one final Christmas audiobook to my readings for the year since I still have a few errands to run this week. So far, I’m really enjoying Parish’s writing style. It is witty and fast paced without sacrificing story. I’m finding that lighter audiobooks are also great accompaniments to my crafting time. I’m still quite early in the story and I doubt that I finish by Christmas Day, but I won’t object to allowing Christmas to linger a bit longer in my reading life.
The Inferno by Dante (p. 137 of 387). I didn’t make a ton of progress this week as my focus was on my Christmas reading. However, I’m still enjoying making my way through each ring of Hell slowly with Dante and Virgil. (That is just as incredibly awkward to write as it is for you to read, I’m sure.) I anticipate getting to push further into this classic read after the holidays.
Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand (p. 38 of 247). The story opens with Kelley, the owner of a Nantucket B&B, finding his second wife kissing the man playing Santa Claus in a closed bedroom. Without any commentary, Margaret announces that she will gather her things and leave. Now Kelley, his ex-wife, and their adult children must navigate the Christmas season and their individual brokenness. Hilderbrand’s writing has consistently been a good option for me and will help me glide into the Christmas celebrations on Thursday.
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (p. 25 of 304). This is the last of the physical Christmas books that I brought to the Geriatric Ward to read this season. I’ve seen it appear on several readers’ lists as a book they enjoyed, so I’m hoping to close out my Christmas reading on a high note. So far, the writing is funny and lighthearted. I know I’m in for a good read when the novel opens with this paragraph: “Call me harlot. Call me impulsive. Call me hungover. No one ever has before, but someone absolutely should this morning. Last night was a disaster.”
December 2025 Mini-Challenge Update
Last week, I made my required Bingo for the challenge from The 52 Book Club. As I have continued my reading (and with some reassignment of prompts), I’m very close to a black out card. Here’s hoping that one of my final reads includes a contest…..
Reading for Me 