Reading for Me

The Books I Have Read…..Just for Me

Jan 27

A Chill in the Air (January 27, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

I hate cold weather! I look as though I should retain plenty of heat, but I rarely get warm during the winter months. My dad always shakes his head when both Mom and I are snuggled under blankets in the middle of the summer heat. Frigid temperatures made their way into the Texas Panhandle and I was not a happy camper! That should have been a perfect formula for getting some reading done.

And it was….sort of. This chilly week also marked my first week in the office for the new semester. It’s not a good feeling to feel behind before even getting started! So my attention was fully devoted to survival mode while in the office. By the time I got home, I was tired and just wanted to close my eyes. I managed to maintain my 35 day streak of reading at least 20 pages per day, but I haven’t seen the heights of 150-200 pages per day that were happening earlier in the month. Now reality is returning to my world and I’m in the process of figuring out how to balance my work and reading lives.

What I Finished This Week

The Do-Over by T.L. Swan. This was the final installment (I thought) of the Miles High Club series. In this installment, Christopher, the youngest of the Miles brothers, decides that he needs to go backpacking through Europe in order to find himself. He leaves his money and connections behind and sets out for Spain. Staying in a hostel, he connects with a group of friends that grow to appreciate who he is — not what he is worth. Most interesting among these new acquaintances is Hayden, a country girl with dreams of farming. Christopher and Hayden’s friendship quickly grows and they fall deeply in love. Sadly, when it is time for them to return to their lives in the U.S., Christopher has not revealed his true identity. The Do-Over was a fascinating exploration of how love can survive extreme differences, especially when those differences are influenced by social standing and money. 4 stars.

Disappointing Affirmations by Dave Tarnowski. A colleague loaned me this short book for a quick read on Tuesday evening because she said I would enjoy the humor. The short affirmations on the lovely photographs are filled with sarcasm and insult. Hey….that’s speaking my language! A few of the statements hit a little close to home and made me take a quick look in the mirror. Several of the pages made me laugh out loud. One of my favorite quotes from this book was “This too shall pass. And then some other bulls*!# will come and take its place. It never f&#*!$@ ends!” (I wondered why Sarah asked if I was offended by crude language before handing over the book.) This was a nice departure from my normal reading. 3 stars.

Miles Ever After by T.L. Swan. It turned out that there was a fifth installment in the Miles High Club. This shorter book was a collection of epilogues for each of the four preceding books. I had a mixed reaction to this book. I was thrilled to see that there was more to the story of the Miles family. However, because I so thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters, I hated to see their stories come to such final endings. I really do wish there were more books to read in this series! I have a feeling that I will revisit these stories again in the future. 3.75 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (p. 211 of 308). While I have enjoyed this read so far, I have discovered that I struggle with long chapters that are not broken up with subheadings. I think my brain just needs the moment of rest in the midst of the story. This is my final book to read to complete my January goals for The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge. I’m going to make it, but I’m going to have to kick things back into gear this week.

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner (7:54 of 13:30). This week has seen less driving, so I haven’t made a ton of progress in the story. I’m not overly invested in this storyline, so I don’t feel the rush to listen at every moment in the car. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cute story….it just hasn’t grabbed me by the throat and said that it simply has to be finished.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (p. 46 of 320). I have had this downloaded on my Kindle for some time and simply forgot about it. While searching for a new read at lunch one day this week, I stumbled on it and decided to dive in. Not surprisingly, I’m really into the story. Hoover’s storytelling has always grabbed my attention. Now I just have to get back into my reading schedule to make it all fit into my life again.

Looking Ahead

It’s time to begin thinking about what books I have selected to read for the challenge in the month of February. Here’s what is ahead for me as well as the prompts that they will fulfill.

  • Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong (A pun in the title)
  • Diamonds Aren’t Forever by Connie Shelton (Plot includes a heist)
  • Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah (Author’s last name is also a first name)
  • Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (Direction in the title)

As you can see, I’m rather light in content this month. Rehearsals for the upcoming children’s opera will dominate much of my time as well as two recruiting conferences in San Antonio and Wichita. I wanted to make sure that this busy season continues to be successful in my pursuit of reading 52 books this year. The first month has gone quite well! Now, forward into February…

2025 Reading Challenge audio romance The 52 Book Club Young Adult

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Jan 20

Driving and More Driving (January 20, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

As you will see, I’m reading lots of fluff and audiobooks at the moment. Why? Left eastern Arkansas on Sunday and arrived in west Texas at noon Monday. Unpacked that evening and packed for a business trip on Tuesday. Drove to Tulsa on Wednesday to attend a conference through Saturday. Returned to Plainview on Sunday. Now I’m looking forward to spending a few weeks at home in my own bed and out of the car!

What I Finished This Week

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer. I forgot to plan my reading for my drive back to Texas, so I just picked something that popped up in my recommendation list. I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun this book was. Let’s sum it up this way. Guy settles into a small New England town while his uncle is away on a “fishing trip.” He is picked up mysteriously and placed in protective custody, although he is certain that it must be a case of mistaken identity. Once the safe house is discovered, the two must take refuge at an apple orchard where they are posing as newlyweds on their honeymoon. While I wasn’t looking for a MM romance, I found the story charming and laugh-out-loud funny. 4 stars

The Casanova by T.L. Swan. Book 3 in the Miles High Club was not as enjoyable as the previous two. This story centered around Eliot, the playboy of the quartet of brothers. It turns out that he is finally tamed by the director of IT at Miles Media. Only problem? Kate absolutely HATES Eliot. Once we got out of the “hate” narrative, the story began to pick up and find the charm of the previous Miles brothers’ tales. 3 stars

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding. I selected this book in order to fulfill prompt #32 of The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge – contains a diary entry. Actually, the entire book was written as diary entries over the course of a year. Bridget is obsessed with her physical appearance and her inability to attract men. She is frustrated by her parents’ failing marriage and her friends’ constant inquiries about when she will actually get married. Published in 1996, this book has not aged well. I struggled to finish the book, but persevered in order to add another completed read to the challenge. 2 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

Mr. Picture Perfect by Daryl Banner (5:02 of 13:30). Another road trip required another audiobook. Since I didn’t really know where I was going on the drive up, I found that I had to concentrate on the road and couldn’t follow the book. Once I learned the route from the conference center to my hotel, I got a little reading done. Most of this was part of my journey home on Sunday. Now this will just be part of my commute reads, so it might be around for a few weeks.

The Do-Over by T.L. Swan (p. 505 of 526). Since I’ve read three of The Miles High books, it seemed appropriate to read the last of the Miles brothers’ stories. Almost got a finish before time to write this post, but not quite.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman (p. 32 of 308). This was a late start in the week as soon as I finished reading Diary. I’ve read Goldman’s prologue (or is it an introduction to the abridged version of S. Morgenstern’s class?) and have really enjoyed the humor. I have been surprised at the amount of sexual innuendo in this work written for a younger audience. Perhaps, my assumption is wrong that this is considered YA literature. Anyway, this is my last selected book for a prompt to be read in January. I’m using it for prompt #38 – An Adventure Story.

What’s Coming Next?

2025 Reading Challenge audio ebook romance Series The 52 Book Club Young Adult

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Jan 13

Tons of Snow! (January 13, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

It happens every year, it seems. Mother Nature decides that I should stay in Arkansas a few days longer than planned. This year was no exception as 7 inches of snow fell on the Geriatric Ward on Friday. Thankfully, this was not an ice event so we didn’t have to worry about losing power. Through all the cold temps, I maintained my reading pace. Once classes begin for the term, I anticipate that I’ll have to hit the brakes. Until then, I’m going to continue enjoying all of this “Reading for Me!”

What I Finished This Week

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. Once again, Jeffrey Archer provides an excellent story. Two boys are born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. William Kane is raised in a wealthy Boston family, set to inherit his family’s fortune and position as the chairman of the bank. Abel Rosnovski is the illegitimate son of a Polish baron who finds himself watching his family die at the hands of the Russians, spending years in a work camp, before emigrating to the US. Abel inherits a hotel chain after the horror of the 1929 Crash, causing his path to finally cross with Kane. From this initial meeting, the two men’s hatred for each other grows daily. Archer weaves a powerful story of greed, hatred, misunderstandings, and love set against major events in American history. I used this read for prompt more than a million copies sold in The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge. 4.75 of 5 stars.

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlet. I needed a prompt for A prequel and anticipated needing something short for the beginning of the Spring term of classes this month. (I had no idea that I would have such a productive beginning to my reading experience.) This was supposed to serve as the prequel to the American Gods series (never finished) about four young socialites at Yale University. It was a quick read and that was the best thing this romance had going for it. 3 stars.

The Takeover by T.L. Swan. If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I read the first book in The Miles High series and really enjoyed it. I decided to continue through the series and found this novel even more enjoyable. This time, Tristan (another of the Miles brothers) develops feelings for a mother of three sons who is still grieving the loss of her husband nearly five years ago in a tragic car accident. Because of her responsibilities to her children and her husband’s memory, the woman has not allowed herself to consider dating. Tristan, however, cannot get her out of his mind. The two have a tryst while attending a conference in Paris. Their paths further entwine when the widow’s oldest son is awarded an internship with Tristan’s company. Full of twists and turns, this very spicy romance is a beautiful exploration of the definition of family, grief, adoption, and love. 4 stars.

D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton. Returning to the 2025 Reading Challenge, I needed to read a book by an author who had received the Edgar Award. I planned this book for my January reads for a couple of reasons. 1) I despise mysteries and wanted to get this prompt off my plate as soon as possible. 2) I purchased a collection of Grafton’s mysteries on a whim during a trip to Half Price Books in Oklahoma City. Since I didn’t have to invest any money and the book was close at hand, it was selected for the read. The plot is pretty much what I expected. A recently released convict engages our P.I. to deliver a sizable cashier’s check to the child of one of his victims. A few days after this meeting, the convict is found dead on the beach. The police have ruled the death accidental; but our heroine knows that something more is going on. She interviews possible suspects, finds herself in danger, and ultimately discovers the identity of the murderer. Meh. 2.5 stars.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Casanova by T.L. Swan (p. 116 of 507). Book three in The Miles High series has not gotten off to a good start for this reader. I found the characters of Eliot and Kathryn to be annoying and petty. However, with a humorous turn of events, I’m now getting a little more invested in their story. Here’s hoping that it eventually reaches the same level of enjoyable reading as the previous books in the series.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (p. 19 of 271). I wanted to at least start this book before returning to Texas. It’s another selection for the 2025 Reading Challenge; I need to read a book with a diary entry. I’ve heard great things about the movie, so I wanted to see what the book would be like. I’m not far enough into the book to have formed an opinion.

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer (4:35 of 9:45). A long drive (and another one ahead later this week) means I need to add an audiobook to my reading. I didn’t really plan in advance, so I simply made a selection quickly — and it turned out to be pretty good. Chris needs protection while members of his family testify against a crime syndicate. After attacks on the safe house, he and his protector find themselves in the small town of Copper County. Their cover story? Newlyweds! It’s a hysterical story of what is the cover story and what are real feelings. I’m anxious to see how this one is going to turn out.

What’s Ahead?

Later this week, I will be traveling to participate in the Oklahoma Music Educators’ Conference. I won’t be attending many of the sessions; instead, I’ll be sitting in a booth to share information about the school. Between the evenings and slow times in the booth, I anticipate having some time to read. My plan is to finish the Fielding book and get started on the last of the 2025 Reading Challenge books that I have selected for January – The Princess Bride. We will all find out how things went next Monday.

Until then, I bid you happy reading!

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Jan 6

Out with the Old, In with the New (January 6, 2025)

by kennithfreeman

The end of the year was a bit of a whirlwind. My parents were both off work much of the week. (Indeed, the 85 and 88-year-olds still work full time!) While I adore the Geriatrics, having them home meant that there was constant activity and very little quiet in the house. Add in a health scare for my Dad on Sunday evening and you have the recipe for getting less reading in than I had hoped. Still, I’m happy to have made some progress and getting close to adding my first completed prompt to the 2025 challenge.

What I Finished This Week

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I managed to finish reading this cozy little mystery on New Year’s Eve as my final book of 2024, bringing my final tally to 45 books for the year. Murder mysteries are not usually a good fit for me, but I’m noticing that as I read more of them, I am getting more comfortable with the form and relaxing into the reading experience. Hannah is a baker in a small Minnesota town that is rocked when the beloved dairy delivery man is murdered. Since she was the one who discovered the body — and since her brother-in-law is on the police force — it is only natural that Hannah use her powers of observation to solve the crime and keep her customers safe! I found Hannah and her family charming. What I found a little bothersome as I read was when Fluke would insert mundane scenes into the plot to give Hannah some normalcy. While there were some elements of flirtation and possible romance included in the storytelling, it was not overt and did not distract from the story. Truthfully, it made for a very charming ending that also served as a great connection to the next book in this franchise. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was not the worst thing that I have ever read; it was the perfect kind of filler I needed while waiting to begin my next read. 2.5 stars

The Stopover by T.L. Swan. The first book of 2025 was not actually meant for any of the 52 Book Club prompts. Since I was reading a bit of a brick for my first prompt (see below), I thought it would be nice to have a fluff piece going on my Kindle to read at night. Once I got my nose into this spicy romance, I couldn’t put it down. After being upgraded to first class on her flight, Emily meets a handsome stranger. When their flight is diverted due to weather conditions, the two share a night that neither will forget. A year later, Emily begins a new job and discovers that the handsome stranger from her flight is the angry, wealthy CEO who is now her boss. Which one of these men is the real Jameson Miles? The charming man from the flight or the a**hole she now works for?

This was an incredibly spicy open-door romance that was exciting and intriguing from the start. I was visibly angry with many of Jameson’s choices while reading — what a total jerk! Unfortunately, the resolution as the novel came to its close felt rushed and a huge letdown after an emotional journey for this reader. 3.75 stars

What I’m Currently Reading

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer (p. 545 of 637). I decided to knock out one of my larger books before returning to the classroom next week. Previously, I have read The Clifton Chronicles and thoroughly enjoyed the entire series. Knowing that I enjoy Archer’s writing, I decided to read the book that began his career. I anticipate getting very close to finishing later today, but I didn’t want to delay getting my blog post written too long. I’ll have a full review for you in next week’s post. I’m using this for prompt # 26 – More than a million copies sold. (According to the book’s cover, over 30 million copies have been sold.)

Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett (p. 37 of 168). I am very early in the reading of this short novel that I’m using to fulfill prompt #11 – A prequel. I selected this book because most of the other prequels I found were in the sci-fi realm that I really don’t enjoy. This book hasn’t grabbed my attention fully because I am so engrossed in the saga of William and Abel as told by Archer. I’ll definitely have more to say next week.

What’s Next?

I haven’t decided if I’m going to tackle D is for Deadbeat (Sue Grafton) or Bridget Jones’ Diary (Helen Fielding) next. I’m not always fond of mysteries, so I might get that one knocked out while I can. But there is also something enticing about enjoying a funny read before heading back to Texas for the semester. Decisions, decisions….

Until next Monday, I wish you all happy reading!

~Kennith

2025 Reading Challenge family saga fiction historical romance The 52 Book Club

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Dec 23

Santa Claus is Coming to Town (December 23, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

It’s nearly Christmas, so this week has featured a little shopping, a little baking, and a lot of lazy reading on the couch! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season. My reading has taken the turn to holiday stories all week.

What I Finished This Week

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore. I decided to return to Dream Harbor since I had enjoyed the story of the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. Gilmore once again did not disappoint. The story centers around Kira, the new owner of the local Christmas tree farm. The residents of Dream Harbor are convinced that there are dead bodies — or buried treasure — hidden on the property, so they send in Bennett to get to the bottom of things. Only problem? Kira despises Bennett from first sight and wants nothing to do with him. Bennett’s past dating history has not done him any favors in his interactions with women. This is a cute rom-com that is sure to please most readers while putting them in the Christmas spirit.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely. I really enjoyed this read. After being betrayed by her boyfriend at Thanksgiving, Fable enlists the help of her billionaire boss, Wilder, to get them both through the holidays by being each other’s “fake date” for the season. Once their escapades take the couple to a small village for events leading up to Fable’s sister’s wedding, the line between “fake dating” and falling in love become blurred. I found myself laughing and rooting for this unlikely pair as their emotions became real. A little more spicy that what I normally enjoy in a romance, Lauren Blakely once again provides a fascinating story peopled with believable characters that readers are invested in. One of my favorite stories of the month!

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank. After finishing the other books, I was looking for something short and engaging that wasn’t a romance, but still a holiday story. This short novella fit the bill perfectly! Theodora is a 90-something woman who longs for the Christmases of yesteryear. Largely influenced by the housemaid of her childhood, Pearl, Theodora’s memories are associated with good food, laughter, respect, and worship of the Christ child. Sadly, Pearl passed away many years ago and there is no one who is able to fill her shoes. Now in the present day, the new housekeeper has to leave the home unexpectedly and will not return until after Christmas. She has spoken to her neighbor who has agreed to help the family out. Theodora is shocked when she greets the replacement and discovers it is Pearl! Part Ghost of Christmas Past and part Clarence Odbody from It’s a Wonderful Life, Pearl’s story is filled with warmth, magic, and love. I strongly encourage you to read this short work as a way to celebrate the holiday season.

What I’m Currently Reading

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter (p. 56 of 293) This book came to me as part of the December Book of the Month Club. I was drawn to the pun in the title. I have seen people reading it all over social media with good responses. I am not typically a mystery reader, but I decided to take a chance and give this a read. Still early in the book, but I am enjoying the interactions and the writing style so far. Hopefully, I’ll have this finished by the end of the week without too much difficulty.

The Thief who Saved Christmas by Angela Casella (p. 20 of 391). First, let’s address my frustration with this reading. I am reading it as an ebook, but this edition does not have a page count on my Kindle. Therefore, I only know the percentage that I am through the entire book, but I have no way of knowing how much reading I’ve actually accomplished in each sitting. That is a bad recipe for me. Now….as far as the story goes, I’m fascinated and thoroughly engaged in what has been presented. Rather than tell you what I know of the plot thus far, I’ll just say that this is definitely one that you should look into reading if you are searching for a fun read to finish out the holiday season.

What’s Coming Up

As the year is winding down, I wanted to give you a glimpse into what you should expect from the blog next week. I will be back on Monday with my regular weekly update. On Tuesday, I’ll post a special 2024 in review. This post will include stats from the year — books completed, books that I DNF’d, and total pages read. I’ll also include my favorite selections from each month as well as naming my best read for the year. I’ll conclude with my plans and goals for the upcoming year. (I have some lofty goals and should be an entertaining journey in the year ahead. Above all, I plan to have my nose firmly planted in the pages of books.)

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Dec 16

Let Christmas Vacation Begin (Dec 16, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Grades have been turned in. Holiday road trip is complete. Final performance of the season is behind me. I am officially on vacation! I started the change of pace before leaving Plainview and got quite a bit of reading done along the way.

What I Finished This Week

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore. Even though this wasn’t the Christmas novel that I thought I was going to be reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip to the town of Dream Harbor. Hazel manages this cute bookstore in town. She is searching for adventure as she nears her 30th birthday at the end of the summer. Mysteriously, some books are being shelved backwards and have pages earmarked (the horror!). Each book seems to indicate a personal adventure for her to take. What fun are adventures alone? So Hazel enlists the help of Noah, Dream Harbor’s handsome fisherman. As any reader would expect, the adventures turn into romantic outings, our characters fall in love, and the outrageousness ensues. Is this series rather cheesy? Absolutely. Did I still enjoy it? Apparently, because I’m reading the next book in the series as part of the Christmas mini-challenge.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand. I’m not sure if this short novel qualifies as a cozy mystery, but it was a book that I struggled to read. The premise is simple enough — father of an eccentric family dies under questionable circumstances — and an amateur sleuth steps in to save the day. I suppose the book was well-written enough. I just didn’t find the plot or characters compelling. I think I need my mysteries to include a little more intrigue and suspense. I made it through because I just wouldn’t let myself pick up anything else until I had attempted to finish this mystery.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio. With large portions of four days spent in my car last week, I was able to devote significant time to finishing this 14 hour audiobook. Truly, the account of the life of John Kennedy, Jr. by those who knew him personally was fascinating. However, I think the book could have been shortened by a few hours without negative impact. After the reports about the plane crash, the public’s response, and John’s funeral, the biography should have ended. While Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s death is clearly linked to John’s story, the lengthy exploration of her memorial service and the family’s blame of John for her death was unnecessarily long. The coda included a final opportunity for each contributor to say one final thing about why JFK Jr. was so important to society. The reader already had a clear understanding about how much each cared for the man based upon their statements throughout the book. The coda simply felt like an unnecessary pissing match — an attempt to say “I knew him best.”

What I’m Currently Reading

I needed new books before heading to Nashville for a quick performance. I wasn’t ready for another mystery and I certainly did not want another biography. I wanted something fast-paced and still in the holiday spirit, so Christmas romances are the order of the day again. The plan is to head to the local library this week to see if I can find another holiday genre to clear my palette after reading these.

The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (p. 56 of 342). Another of the Dream Harbor books, I knew exactly what to expect when I started reading this short novel. Like Cinnamon Bun Book Store, I’m finding the book has a very slow start. Since the main characters were briefly introduced in the previous book, I’m not coming into this environment completely blind, but I’m still not invested in their relationship. I’m hoping that the pace will pick up as I get a little further into the book and the romance begins to bloom between our unlikely lovers.

My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely (p. 112 of 479). Talk about a cliche premise! Fable, our heroine, walks in on her boyfriend having a little too much fun with the caterer at her boss’ Thanksgiving dinner. When Fable’s sister announces at the same dinner that she is getting married at Christmas at the boss’ Christmas extravaganza and the two-timing ex-boyfriend is also in the wedding party, Fable has to come up with a plan to survive. That’s when she and her handsome billionaire boss concoct a scheme to “fake date” through the end of the holidays. Fable wants to stick it to her ex; her boss wants to show her how a woman should be treated….and maybe fall in love in the process. Blakely’s books are always for mature audiences and are mixed with lots of humor and innuendo. I’m really enjoying this read just because of how outrageous the situation is, but I’m also rooting for Fable to land the man who will treat her as she deserves.

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Dec 9

The End is in Sight (December 9, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

The Fall semester is quickly winding down at Wayland. Classes are finished in Plainview and all that remains are finals and turning in grades. I cannot wait to be done! It’s been a long semester and I’m ready for some down time with family.

Thankfully, the last week of classes aren’t insane for me. Mostly, I’m just making sure everyone knows what will be covered on their finals and scheduling piano juries. That means that I had lots of time to do some reading. So I was a very happy little bookworm until the respiratory infection made another appearance at week’s end.

What I Finished This Week

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber. On Tuesday, I took a quick trip to the local library to see what kind of Christmas themed book I could find that I could read fairly quickly to complete one of the prompts for the December mini-challenge on The 52 Book Club. I had seen Macomber’s name on shelves many times before, but I don’t think I have ever read any of her works. It seemed like the perfect time to give this short novel a try. Julia lives across the hall from Cain, a curmudgeon who is bringing down Julia’s joyful Christmas spirit. After describing her interactions with her personal “Ebenezer” to her best friend, she is given the advice to “kill him….with kindness.” As Julia launches her Kindness Project on Cain, she also decides to blog about the experience. Since it is a Macomber romance novel, of course the two will fall in love. Will their love be strong enough when Cain discovers what Julia has said about him in the blogosphere? This was a really cute book that warmed my heart without playing too hard on the romance.

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn. As I shared in my introduction to this book last week, this novel centers around a local contest to see which of the villagers has the most Christmas spirit. With clear references to Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the narrator speaks in rhyming couplets and regularly speaks directly to the characters. Quinn’s novel is humorous and filled with spirit. It is also very mature in its content. This is not an “open door romance”; that term does not adequately express the extremely spicy content. Reader, beware of your surroundings!

What I’m Currently Reading

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore (p. 186 of 347). When the December Mini Challenge arrived in my email on Monday evening, I made my way directly to Barnes and Noble to see what Christmas books were on display that might grab my interest and fulfill one of the prompts. I was disappointed to find that only holiday romances were prominently featured. (What does this say about our society? Do only those who read romance novels want to be in the holiday spirit? I digress….) Since one of the prompts has to do with seasonal treats, the title caught my eye; what I failed to notice is that the cover clearly indicates an autumnal setting. What’s most funny is that this novel’s opening is at the end of summer…so I completely missed the prompt. Anyway, I have the book so I’m reading it and must admit that it is cute. Hazel, the manager of the bookstore, will soon turn 30. She feels as though her 20s have slipped away and she hasn’t had much adventure in life. It seems as though she is being prompted to be more adventurous as she is finding books shelved in the wrong places with dog eared pages and highlighted passages. Hazel takes these as clues to her personal adventure (yeah…it’s as cheesy as it sounds). In a blueberry patch late one evening, Hazel has had too much to drink and tells the handsome fisherman, Noah, about the clues she has found. Noah agrees to follow the clues with Hazel to see where they may lead.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand (p. 66 of 317). My reading life began with mysteries. I spent many hours in the pages of books featuring Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Somewhere along the way, I ventured away from the mystery genre. It was partially because of the violence and the suspense. (In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m not a fan of things that go bump in the night!) Since I am on a bit of a romance overload at the moment, I decided this was a good time to try out a mystery. Set in an English manor during Christmas, Grand’s novel features the members of a large, wealthy family who are coming to the countryside to celebrate Christmas together. As I have forced myself to get started in the book, I am realizing why I tend to avoid this genre. The novel opens with the murder that must be solved before jumping back in time to slowly bring all of our parties together in the manor. I’m still in the “introductions” stage when what I really want to know is what happens to the corpse that has been discovered. It just feels that mystery writers take forever to fully develop their characters before moving forward with the plot. I’m hoping that this book gets better quickly and that I am mistaken in my assumptions about mysteries since I have a few of them on my reading plan for 2025. I guess I’ll just have to let you know how things turn out as I continue to plow ahead in A Christmas Murder.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography by Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio (6:18 of 14:54). I did a little more listening this week about JFK Jr. This week explored his entry into the spotlight, being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1988. From this point on, people were aware of his relationships with Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts, and Daryl Hannah. It was also around this time that John made his entry into the political landscape, introducing his uncle at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. As I have said for several weeks now, my hope is to make significant progress in this audiobook while driving home to Arkansas later this week.

There you have it. Hope you all have a great week of reading!

~Kennith

Christmas Mini Challenge romance The 52 Book Club

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Oct 7

Back to Reality (October 7, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

As should be expected, I left a piece of my heart in Malibu. I didn’t want to come back to West Texas, but responsibility beckons.

Last weekend, I attended Waves Weekend at Pepperdine University. This year was targeting 1990s alumni (that’s me!) and there were lots of special faces that returned to the ‘Bu to reminisce and celebrate with us. Additionally, I was asked to coordinate an alumni coffeehouse to close out the weekend on Saturday evening. While most of the music wasn’t my typical rep, it was exactly how I stretched my wings as a collaborative pianist and music director while I was at Pepperdine, so it felt very natural to agree.

Were there challenges? Absolutely! Just lining up performers and rehearsals from Texas was a challenge in and of itself. But if I hadn’t had the responsibility of performing, I probably wouldn’t have made the trip back to California. There never seems to be a convenient time to leave work if I’m not performing or recruiting students. So I had to steal away from the reunions for a few hours to grade a few submissions, but nothing too daunting.

Am I glad I went? Absolutely! There is really nothing quite like spending time with cherished people who poured into my life during some formative years. Hugs with Hung, Bob, Stuart, LaJuana, Scott, and Kim lingered as I soaked in their love. Spending time with men and women who did life with me on campus for six years as friends, musicians, and fraternity brothers cannot be given a price. (Oh how I treasure the time I got to spend with Jessica, Andy, Amy, Jen, Alan, Ben, Tim, Natalie, Gina, and Brian Lee….as well as lots of others!) Sometimes I think I forget just how much I need to be in a safe space with people who know me best and love me most. These people are my family…and it felt as though we just picked up as though we were still roaming the halls of Pepperdine as we did 30 years ago. My heart is so full!

Besides traveling and seeing friends, I also managed to get some significant reading done. And that’s what we are here to talk about, right?

What I Finished This Week

Returning to Eden by Rebecca Hartt. For the flight, I decided that I wanted an ebook to read on my Kindle that I could easily come in and out of as the weekend went by. Hartt’s novel is the first in the Acts of Valor series and was listed as a Christian thriller. I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised. The story centers around Jonah, a navy SEAL who was taken captive when a mission went south. After a year of being gone, he is presumed dead and his wife and step-daughter have begun to move on with their lives. Then the call comes that changes everything — Jonah is alive, but he has no memory of his wife, his capture, or his imprisonment. Being treated for PTSD, Jonah has a very real sense that his life is still in danger. This gripping novel is a lovely story of transformation through Christ while keeping us on the edge of our seats as we follow the mystery to its chilling conclusion. If you like John Grisham and would like to have something with a Christian worldview, this might be the perfect novel to check out.

What I’m Currently Reading

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (p. 205 of 342). I started reading this novel last week and didn’t get very far. As I kept reading, I found myself struggling through the first 150 pages of the novel. Everything was so depressing as the remaining Blue sisters dealt with the death of Nicky. I am normally fine with dark themes, but these characters seemed irredeemable. I just didn’t like any of them. FINALLY, it appears that the three are going to come together to help each other with their various demons. It seems that the tone and tempo of the book has improved with everyone’s arrival in New York. The chapters are very long in order to maintain a single point of view, but I think the same thing could have been accomplished simply by providing big headings and breaking the chapters into smaller, digestible chunks. I’m ready to see how this one is going to end and hope that I will keep up the progress that I’ve made this weekend.

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

~Kennith

Book of the Month Christian ebook family saga fiction romance thriller

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Jul 22

Of Water Heaters and Shower Doors (July 22, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

Greetings, friends! It has been another unforgettable week here in the Geriatric Ward. This is not one I will soon forget. Sure, I continued to struggle with a little congestion and not feeling terribly well, but that wasn’t the biggest event of the week.

Let’s just “dive” in…..the water heater in my parents’ bathroom developed a severe leak this week. Truly, there was water standing all over the floor. The old linoleum has torn from the floor and the area rug that was in the room is completely ruined. Patient #1 decided to order a tankless water heater to install. It sat unboxed in the living room as he puzzled over the instructions. The next morning, his crew joined him before deciding that this was too complicated to install. So off to the store they went to buy a new water heater.

Once I returned home, this merry band of workers had installed the new water tank — after shoving the vanity that sat next to it over a few inches. It was clearly obvious to any observer that the new tank was wider than the previous resident. That’s when the hilarity began.

The next thing I hear is Patient #1 calling Patient #2 to tell her that we have a “little problem.” While installing the heater, the crew had kept the door to the shower open — still not entirely sure why they were in the shower, but sometimes questions are better left unanswered! Anyway, now the shower door can’t be closed because the top of the vanity sits in the door’s path! Over the next few hours, there is talk of cutting the corner off of the vanity by the same crew of merry men — I could just see the entire thing collapsing to the ground — or buying a new shower. The last time Patient #1 bought a shower, he had gotten something so small we can barely stand in it…..so I had to think quickly and come up with a solution that would buy time for Mom to find the shower she wants.

So off I go to Walmart, a place I hate more than any other, and purchased a shower curtain, liner, and rings. We have removed the door of the shower and installed the curtain. It’s not pretty and it’s certainly not ideal, but it gets things started. Now I just have to make some phone calls to get estimates to redo the bathroom. Nothing like the end of the summer for things to start falling apart in the Geriatric Ward!

What I Read This Week

My Best Friend’s Secret by Romeo Alexander. I don’t really have a lot to say about this book. It was an easy read when I wasn’t feeling well. It wasn’t the best use of my time, but it kept me reading when I didn’t necessarily feel like it. I don’t think I would recommend it to others though.

What I’m Currently Reading

Blackout by Connie Willis (p. 290 of 491) I made progress this week. I didn’t make much progress, but I put a few more pages in the rear view mirror. When I finally sit down to read the book, I don’t hate the experience. I just have to consciously make a choice to pick this book up. It just doesn’t call to me. So I’m trying something new this week to see if I can help get a little further along and finish the #BigBookSummer selection for July.

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (p. 11 of 257) I’m going to see if a non-fiction selection will help me devote a little more time to Blackout this week. I read Hillbilly Elegy in the summer of 2017. I remember the basic details, but now that Vance has been named the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, I think it is important to revisit the narrative so I have my own opinions about the book’s content. I just started reading late yesterday, so clearly I’ve not gotten very far — actually, just the introduction. I think I will probably read a little more slowly this time through since I am looking for Vance’s philosophy and if that lines up with my personal feelings on important topics.

So I’m not really feeling very good about my reading in the past few weeks. I had hoped to get much more done, but we deal with the circumstances of life. I did reach the halfway point in my personal reading goal for 2024 — finishing my 20th book of the year. We are now in the 30th week of 2024, so i need to get in a few extra books if I hope to get back on pace for reaching that goal.

There you have it! Hope you have a good week ahead filled with lots of happy reading!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer memoir romance update

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Jul 16

Music and a Little Summer Sickness (July 16, 2024)

by kennithfreeman

I’m back in the Geriatric Ward after a quick trip to Cincinnati, Ohio last week. The trip included attending a recital by my friend, Jessica Rivera Schafer. It was lovely to sit at the back of the hall and just listen to some quality singing after a long summer hiatus from any classical music.

The trip also included a lot of sleeping. After the recital on Thursday evening, I slept for nearly 14 hours and simply could not seem to get enough rest. I don’t know if I was sick or exhausted, but I was confined to bed for the next couple of days — even deciding to skip going to the baseball game (Marlins at Reds) that I had been looking forward to all summer long.

I felt poorly enough after getting home on Saturday night that I made my way to the medical clinic yesterday morning. That visit took longer than I anticipated, putting me completely off of my regular routine. While the tests came back negative for COVID and the flu, I didn’t feel like doing much of anything when I got home. Thus this week’s update post is a day late….but here it is.

What I Finished This Week

The Truth About the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline. A couple of short flights to Cincinnati made my Kindle the perfect reading companion. This relatively short novel was packed with intrigue and interesting characters. As I mentioned last week, the story opens with John Devlin suspecting that he had killed a man and asking for help from his brother, TJ. As the story continues John attempts to pin the murder on TJ in order to hide his own secrets. Can anyone say dysfunctional?! Having enjoyed other novels by Scottoline, I had high hopes for this one. It was okay…..I didn’t hate reading it, but it felt rather routine and formulaic.

What I’m Currently Reading

Blackout by Connie Willis (p. 264 of 491) Your eyes don’t deceive you. I have read all of 10 pages of this book this week. I didn’t try to pick it up until I got to Cincinnati when I was expecting quiet time in my hotel. However, I didn’t feel like reading and wanted to sleep instead. I forced myself to read a chapter and a bit more of this month’s entry for #BigBookSummer. I hope to get back to this novel this week and see if I can make some progress. I’m not really sure why, but this one is just not grabbing my attention at the moment.

My Best Friend’s Secret by Romeo Alexander (p. 138 of 313) I needed a new Kindle read for the flight home and picked up this one. I’m barely halfway through the book and it’s just now getting to the basic premise. Since I started it when I wasn’t feeling very well, I didn’t get acclimated to the story right away. The alternating voices seem very similar in tone to me, so I’m having some difficulty keeping the characters straight in my head as well. It’s not a bad book…..I’m just not in a good place with it.

What’s Ahead?

My intentions this week are to finish My Best Friend’s Secret and to make significant progress in Blackout. However, I also have a couple of memoirs in my sights that I want to dive into this week. One was written by my sister and I feel obligated to give it a cursory glance at least. The other is J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy; since he has been named as the Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency, I feel it is important to re-read this piece and reacquaint myself with his story as the nation makes an important decision later this fall.

There you have it. I’ll return to my normal Monday posts next week and let you know what I’ve managed to get done.

Happy reading, y’all!

~Kennith

Big Book Summer historical romance Sci-Fi Series

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