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.
Easter weekend always signifies to me that Spring is finally here! Even if there is still a chill in the air, there is something about all of the bright colors and joyful images in the parks as families enjoy time outside that reminds me that it is a season of rebirth, renewal, and life. For the past several years, I have celebrated Easter in an unusual way. School is on break from Good Friday to Easter Monday, so I take the chance to slip out of town and rest. Typically, I will splurge on a nice hotel room with a large window and comfortable seating. Then I settle in for the weekend and pamper myself.
This year’s Easter vacation looked a little different than most. I went out of town and got a great room, but I rarely left it. Instead of going to the museum or catching a baseball game, I stayed close by and allowed myself to meditate, rest, and breathe. Some would consider this a waste of money because I could have done all of those things in my apartment. To me, it was the perfect investment and a needed change of scenery.
What I Finished This Week
Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford. I did not expect this novel to move me as it did! This story is going to stay with me for a very long time AND it influenced a personal research project. I love when fiction goes beyond a mere story and causes you to think deeply about big issues from our past and present. Chariot on the Mountain is the story of Kitty, a house slave who is beloved by her master. Upon his untimely death, his widow Mary has control of his property. To honor her husband’s dying wish, Mary decides to free Kitty. When Mary’s nephew makes a claim against his uncle’s will, it becomes evident that Kitty must leave immediately. Kitty, her three young children, and Mary set out for Pennsylvania along the path of the Underground Railroad. The party arrives safely to freedom, but when a free black man betrays Kitty’s trust, she is caught and returned to bondage at the hands of the violent nephew. In a final act of rebellion, Kitty sues her captor and proclaims herself to be a free person. Chariot on the Mountain is based largely on historical record and is a fascinating novel. While I “knew” about the Underground Railroad through childhood education in Arkansas, Ford’s novel made the circumstances, danger, and moral questions come to life. This will certainly be one of the contenders for the best book of the year for me. 5 stars.
The Leaving by Tara Altebrando. YA mystery is rarely my jam. Since I needed another mystery to complete the March mini-challenge, I decided to pick up this book on a whim. The premise is quite interesting. Six kindergarten students are taken from school on the first day of class. Their disappearance is completely unexplained and there are no clues leading to their recovery. Fast-forward 11 years…..when five of the students return to their small community. The only problem? They have no recollection of where they have been or anything that has happened during “The Leaving.” I used this novel to fulfill case #28 – a character wrongly accused — and that is probably the only reason that I didn’t DNF this book. Was it really that bad? No…but this month’s challenge has affirmed for me why mystery is not a favorite genre for me. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (p. 82 of 661). I’m returning to this American classic this month while participating in the Active Mind Book Club. While I have previously read the novel, I remember very little about it. I am enjoying the start of the story, but I must admit that I am finding it difficult to engage with the characters at this point. I seem to remember that it took me a bit to get invested in the character’s lives before too, but once I was in the story, it was hard to put down. I’m hoping for a similar experience with this re-reading.
Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich (p. 63 of 439). As I was finishing my reading of Chariot on the Mountain this week, I stumbled upon a YouTube video that referred to “personal curriculum.” I was intrigued by the idea and set out to discover more. Essentially, it is a personal education for a specified length of time on a topic that interests you without the pressure of grades. The goal is simply to learn more. When I first encountered the idea, the vlogger spoke about the power of following your curiosity instead of a set “curriculum plan.” I liked the idea of selecting a topic and learning what you can. A quick question to ChatGPT about best sources to learn more about the Underground Railroad led me to this book. (I’ll share more about my early experiences with “personal curriculum” later this week on my personal blog, Livin’ Life.
Bound for Canaan is an expansive look at the journey of slaves to freedom and the challenges that it brought about. Right now, my focus is on the earliest days of the idea in Philadelphia as abolitionists and Quakers joined forces to protect the African-Americans in their community. While largely fueled by religious fervor, the Underground Railroad was also an expression of the political fight in the young nation’s legislature that would ultimately lead to civil war. My reading of non-fiction is typically slower than fiction, but I am thoroughly enjoying exploring this important aspect of American history.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (p. 29 of 369). I brought a stack of books with me for my holiday weekend getaway because I anticipated needing to start a new book for the main reading challenge. I have heard so many readers complain about the first prompt of the challenge — a book set in an ancient civilization — and decided that I needed to start my selection for this prompt in case I needed to pivot. A contemporary retelling of the myth of Achilles and Patroclus in their pursuit of a kidnapped Helen, Miller’s novel is proving to be fast-paced and quite approachable so far. I am very thankful for the many English teachers I have encountered that made mythology less daunting; it is certainly aiding in my current reading.
March in Review
March was a busy month in my world. Opera rehearsals, a trip to Arkansas, and opera tour dominated my life. Somehow, I managed to maintain a steady diet of reading for the month. That’s surprising to me as well! I’m also surprised to see that my top rated book of the month was one of the mysteries I read…..that just shows you how much I didn’t like the other books I read this month. I’m looking forward to getting back to some of my normal selections in April. Anyway, here are the stats for March.
Books read in March: 6 books (even with February)
Pages read in March: 2,296 (up 170 pages from February)
Highest rated book:The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood – 4.75 stars
2026 Reading Challenge Progress – The 52 Book Club
I have been feeling as though I’m behind on the main challenge with all of my attention going to the mini-challenges each month. I have only completed 10 prompts so far (although I have read 24 books so far this year). I’m a purist….normally one book for each prompt across all the challenges. However, when I saw a memory pop up in my feed this week, I noticed that I’m right on pace with last year; I had only read 9 books for the main prompt by the beginning of April. So here I am, taking a deep breath, enjoying my reading and not worrying about how quickly I finish the challenge. My only goal is to actually finish it.
Since I spent nearly half of my reading time this month completing the March mini-challenge (those blasted mysteries!), here’s the graphic showing what I’ve completed there as well. I have to admit that these were a fun departure from my normal reading patterns, but I’m ready to read in my lane for a bit now.
Upcoming Plans
April has another mini-challenge, so I have to get those going. I also need to read a book that has been turned into an Oscar-nominated film and one that has been nominated for the Women’s Prize for another challenge. (I am thinking that I may double dip on the Oscar-nominated story since I also need to read The Godfather for The 52 Book Club Challenge.) As always, I have big plans, but we will just have to see what I accomplish. All I know for sure is that I’ll continue to press my nose into a book daily and see what I can learn about myself, my world, and my fellow man.
Last week was spent in Midland, Texas. I was there with Opera of the Plains performing Little Red Riding Hood for elementary students in the Midland/Odessa area. Eleven performances in six days! With approximately 1,500 students in our audiences, the tour was an immense success. It was also very exhausting!
Clearly, the performance schedule impacted my reading life. I managed to continue to progress through my reads, but I’m hoping that this week will see a return to a regular schedule now that rehearsals and performances are over.
What I Finished This Week
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy. I’ve long been intimidated by Russian literature. There’s something about seeing the names that I am uncertain how to pronounce that sends my mind reeling. Combine that with a land that I cannot imagine, a culture with which I am not familiar, and a vast history that I know little about and you have a formula for a challenging read. When I think of Tolstoy, my mind immediately goes to War and Peace and Anna Karenina. After plowing through Karenina last summer, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this current read, but I was up for the challenge. Resurrection is a beautiful story of redemption, love, and sacrifice against the background of an unjust prison system in 19th century Russia. The novel was not perfect and seems as though it might have benefited from additional editing. However, I found the juxtaposition of Christian theology, western philosophy, and Russian heritage an interesting blend. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Chariot on the Mountain by Jack Ford (p. 112 of 285). Last fall, I selected a new shelf in the Unger Memorial Library to read my way through. The latest novel that I am enjoying from that project is Chariot on the Mountain. It is a historical novel set against the background of the Underground Railroad. Kitty is a slave whose master, Samuel, has died and left all of his property to his wife, Mary. Samuel’s dying wish is that his daughter Kitty and her children be set free. Thus begins the unconventional journey of Kitty and Mary to freedom in Pennsylvania. The novel is fascinating and its short chapters make it easy to jump in and out of during a busy season.
The Leaving by Tara Altebrando (p. 122 of 425). For my final read for the March mini-challenge, I have selected a YA mystery. On the first full day of kindergarten, six students mysteriously disappeared from a quaint Florida community. The event — now referred to as “The Leaving” — has been attributed to everything from alien abduction to kidnapping by a horrifying predator. Eleven years later, five of the students mysteriously return with only the clothes on their back and individual maps to their homes. They have no memory of what happened or where they have been. This is a riveting tale that alternates character perspective and challenges the imagination as readers try to discover where the sixth student is and what really happened.
Last week was a most relaxing week. I got to spend much of the week curled up on my parents’ couch with my nose in a book. How could I ask for anything more? Between naps, I managed to get some reading done to continue moving me closer to my monthly goals.
What I Finished This Week
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden. There are few things better than a good historical novel! I really enjoyed this book about the work of Marion Crawford, governess for Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. I found the anecdotes from the girls’ childhood charming. Marion’s work during the horrors of World War II and the Blitz were invigorating and courageous. However, I found the end of the novel rushed and rather unsatisfying. While we know that Marion was essentially shunned by the Royal Family after the publication of her memoir The Little Princesses, Marion’s failed marriage, her feelings about the early days of Elizabeth’s reign, the birth of Prince Charles, and other events until her death in the 1980s would have been fascinating to explore further. I understand that this was essentially beyond the scope of the novel, but the simple mention of these events left this reader wanting more. 4 stars.
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. Continuing to make my way through the March mini-challenge, I read this charming mystery to fulfill case #12: features an amateur sleuth. In the small British town of Marlow, nestled on the banks of the Thames, the serenity has been crushed through a series of unexplained murders. While the police are frantically trying to solve the cases despite being understaffed, Judith is invested in discovering the killer of her friend. Is Judith an investigator? Not at all — she is a 70-year-old creator of crossword puzzles. Through her investigations, Judith teams up with a local dog walker and the wife of a minister to arrive at the truth. This was a fast-paced, witty read that I enjoyed immensely. 4.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 462 of 573). I am continuing to make my way slowly through the novel. Maslova and the other prisoners have begun the journey to Siberia. Nekhlyudov serves as Tolstoy’s eyes as the group mercilessly progresses from the prison to the train station in blazing heat. Questions about the morality of the punishment and the harshness of the conditions are at the heart of the conversation. I’m in the final section of the novel now and should have a huge finish before the end of the month.
As the title of today’s post suggests, I flew home to Arkansas to spend a few days with my parents over Spring Break. Since I would be leaving on Thursday afternoon, the first part of the week was incredibly hectic to try to get things done before I left. While I managed to meet my minimum reading goal each day, the bulk of my reading this week happened in the air on Thursday. Here’s what I managed to get done.
What I Finished This Week
Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. It’s no secret that I am not the biggest fan of mysteries. When the March mini-challenge appeared, I decided I could give it a try and commit to reading three mysteries. First up was the one that I selected for Case #6: a cozy mystery. This seemed like an unoffensive kind of mystery to start with — no blood, no obvious violence. Gemma, the owner of a Sherlock Holmes bookstore, is accused of murder in the quiet tourist town. I was pleasantly surprised throughout much of the book and enjoyed the characters. Then, out of nowhere, came the revelation that the murderer was actually a minor character that suddenly had a motive and the ability to kill. That’s what I hate about most of these mysteries. It’s not that I don’t like the suspense; I hate the solutions that seemingly come out of left field when it is time to bring the novel to a close. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden (p. 274 of 420). This is an absolutely wonderful book that I cannot put down! This historical novel tells the story of Marion, a young Scottish student teacher who is hired to become the governess of two very important British girls — Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Marion’s effects to expose the Royals to normal activities such as riding the Underground, taking a bus, and shopping at Woolworth’s are both charming and heartwarming. The poignant looks at major historical events from the rise of Hitler, the spread of Communism, and the abdication of King Edward VIII to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, are insightful and illuminating. The novel is based largely in historical fact and is a fascinating read.
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 320 of 573). As Tolstoy’s novel has moved into part two, the focus has shifted to issues of land ownership and the plight of the Russian peasants. Nekhlyudov’s moral transformation continues as he attempts to rescue the many who have been wronged by society and his actions. This is a remarkable novel. I am wondering why it has been so overshadowed by the two larger novels. Resurrection is very approachable and much less daunting than either War and Peace or Anna Karenina.
Life was surprisingly calm this week. Half of the cast of the children’s opera were out of town on a choir tour. That meant we didn’t have rehearsal. While that was stressful on one hand, it was a most welcome rest that I embraced gladly. Evenings at home, leisure time to lose myself in the pages of a book. Even though I only have one finish this week, I am very pleased with where things stand at the moment.
What I Finished This Week
An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough. I read this book to fulfill the prompt of a book written by an Australian author. What I found was a dark exploration of mental illness and the medical professionals who care for them. Honour is an army nurse who has been assigned to oversee Ward X, a psychiatric ward for soldiers experiencing distress in the waning days of World War II. The patients’ problems range from manic depression and excessive anger to homosexuality and perversion. When Michael arrives in Ward X, everything begins to change. A handsome man, Michael catches the attention of Honour and becomes a trusted confidant of the other patients. As patients vie for their nurse’s attention, situations escalate and tragedy strikes the ward. McCullough looks at unhealthy obsessions in both the sick and their caregivers. Although dated now, it is a loving look at mental health in the early 1980s. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany (p. 104 of 308). When the mini-challenge for March dropped, I knew I was going to be in trouble. This month’s challenge is all about mysteries — a genre that I typically don’t read. I don’t really know why either. I normally enjoy puzzles and a level of suspense in my reading. Mysteries just aren’t where it is for me. Since the challenge allows me to choose three prompts from a list of 50, I figured that I should at least give it a chance again and see what I could discover. I’m starting with a “cozy mystery” — Elementary, She Read. Here’s the basic premise of the book. A woman hides a priceless magazine in a Sherlock Holmes tribute bookstore. When the owner decides to track her down and return the forgotten item, she discovers that the woman is now dead. Yup….it’s that simple at this point. There are lots of questions about who would want the magazine so badly to kill for it and if our heroine is in danger now. Not high literature, but definitely something to keep me reading when I’m tired and just want to escape for a bit.
Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy (p. 157 of 573). This novel is about as far away from Elementary as I could possibly get! The final story written by the Russian novelist, Resurrection follows a woman who has been sentenced to Siberia for a crime she did not commit. Since she is a prostitute, the judicial system assumes the worst. Among the men on the jury is the wealthy aristocrat that she fell in love with as a teen….and has never fully gotten over. I’m reading this with the Active Mind Book Club. So far, I’m staying on pace with the reading schedule. I’m enjoying taking this one a little slower than usual as we explore ideas about justice, redemption, the role of women, and the sanctity of marriage.
The Royal Governess by Wendy Holden (p. 63 of 420). As soon as I read the summary of this novel, I was hooked! I was just looking for the right time to dive into it. This week, I decided to start reading a little of it and now I just want to read more. Essentially, it is the story of the woman who became the personal tutor and governess for Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth. I’m still really early in this one, but I’m looking forward to diving in this week and seeing where this story will take me.
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.
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…..
Tuesday was a joyful day for me. I played the last jury of the semester, walked out of the office, and headed home to quickly pack. That began 4 consecutive days of driving cross country: Dallas, Geriatric Ward, Nashville, and back to the Geriatric Ward. All of that time in the car meant some quality reading time. It also meant that I didn’t have anything I needed to do when I arrived at each destination (except for a performance in Nashville), so I was able to wind down after each leg of the drive with a good book. That led to a very productive week and lots of Christmas romances.
What I Finished This Week
Billionaire Secret Santa by Lena Michaels. This was a typical holiday romance and a quick read when I needed a change of pace from children’s literature. Bruce, the company CEO, disguises himself as Santa in order to learn what is happening in his company when the employees don’t know he is watching. Holly serves as Santa’s elf and Bruce’s consultant in the investigation. It’s love at first sight and the sparks fly. That’s the summary of the entire plot. This novel had a lot of potential, but Michaels was light on the actual plot, choosing only to focus on the romance. Even though I enjoy the growing love story, I wanted to know what was happening in the company. When Bruce and Holly figure out what is happening, the author just says that things are resolved — and doesn’t create what could have been a really fun, dramatic scene. As smut, Billionaire Secret Santa was fine. As a novel, it left me wanting more. 3 stars.
Good Elf Gone Wrong by Alina Jacobs. Few things can make the holidays more festive than a wedding, right? For Gracie, that has always been the dream. She found her groom for her Christmas wedding in James…until she found him screwing her sister under the tree on Christmas Eve! A year later, James plans to marry Gracie’s sister on Christmas Day — and expects Gracie to plan the wedding. Desperate times call for desperate measures. When Gracie meets Hudson on the bus headed home, it seems that fate has provided the perfect solution to destroy her sister’s wedding. Gracie and Hudson falsely portray themselves as a couple in order to keep Gracie from being forced to answer too many questions. It is also meant to prove that Gracie’s sister will forever try to steal anything she wants from Gracie — including her men! What follows is a funny tale of revenge, deception, and Christmas cookies. This romance novel definitely needs a spice warning — 5 out of 5 jalapenos! Overall, I really enjoyed the book. 4 stars.
Holiday Ever After by Hannah Grace. My journey through Christmas romances continued with Holiday Ever After. Clara is the daughter of a toy mogul, looking for her path to advancement in the family company. In order to get the promotion, she is sent to Fraser Falls, a small, close-knit community that has become a PR problem for the corporation. What’s the problem? Viral videos are appearing all over the internet claiming that the mogul stole the inspiration for their latest hot toy from the residents of Fraser Falls. When Clara arrives in town to see if she can get the videos taken down, she meets Jack Kelly, the artist who produced the doll in question and a beloved member of the community. What follows are Clara’s efforts to earn the trust of the small community as she attempts to find positive ways to shift the community’s focus away from the family company…..and to earn a long overdue promotion. In the process, she and Jack fall in love. Can it survive the turmoil of doing business? 3.75 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (5:19 of 11:23). Since I finished my previous audiobook while driving in from Dallas this week, I needed something for the trip to Nashville at the end of the week. I wanted something that had a little less romance and a little more family dynamics. I was cautiously optimistic about this novel set in Edinburgh. Carmen lost her job in a department store due to the economic shift. When she struggled to come up with another position, her mother pressured her sister, a lawyer in Edinburgh, to see if she could find something. Now Carmen finds herself living with her estranged sister and her three children while working at an old bookstore desperate for a change. In fact, the bookstore will be closed if it doesn’t turn a profit by Christmas. With only a few weeks left, Carmen’s work is cut out for her. So far, the book is an interesting story although it does tend to move at a slightly slower pace than my most recent audiobooks. Now that my driving will be significantly reduced, I’m going to need to look for new ways to incorporate listening into my reading schedule.
The Inferno by Dante (p. 96 of 387). This week, I received the invitation to alumni of the Great Books program at Pepperdine to participate in a spring reading group that will focus on Dante’s Divine Comedy. In a moment of wanting to stretch those intellectual legs a bit in a setting that holds tremendous memories, I decided to participate. When I walked over to the bookshelf and saw the edition I had used in class all those years ago, I took it as a sign that there was no better time than the present to start reading. (By the way, the price tag is still on the back of the Penguin Classic edition: $3.50 in the campus bookstore. Somehow, I doubt that students are purchasing copies of the book for that price anymore.) I’ve decided to not be in any rush, reading 1 or 2 cantos each day, so I have time to dive into the notes and think about the implications of each ring’s punishment. So far, I’m finding that much that I learned in my Great Books reading is coming back to me without too much effort. We shall see if the trend continues.
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison (p. 29 of 370). With the finish of Holiday Ever After yesterday, I wanted to go ahead and pick up another of the Christmas themed books I purchased on Thanksgiving weekend. This one has an interesting premise and I’ve heard good things about it. Good Spirit seems to be a spin on Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol. In Borison’s retelling, the Ghost of Christmas Past haunts Harriet, but she has no idea why since she is not a Scrooge at all. The idea of a contemporary romance between such diverse characters was far too intriguing to pass up.
December 2025 Mini-Challenge
The December mini-challenge has been pretty simple. It’s a game of Bingo using nine different prompts for each of the spaces. I decided that rather than really planning out my strategy, I would read holiday books and see what would fit where. When I finished Holiday Ever After, I made my first Bingo!
Now what? I figure I’ll still do some holiday reading through Christmas Day and then turn my attention back to My Library Shelf project until the 2026 Reading Challenge starts. I don’t know that I will end up with a blackout board, but anything is possible.
Reading for Me 