About Me

woman reading a book on a swing against city skyline

I normally shy away from sharing too much about myself as I stopped being active on social media almost a decade ago. When I mentioned that I casually browsed Bookstagram, I had been doing it with an account that contained zero content and zero followers at the time. This is now (slowly!) changing as I become more active on this blog. Because I would like to maintain my anonymity as much as possible, my biographical information will be scant, although I am sure that aspects of my life will emerge the more I share.

Just so there is some context, here are some details about me:

I am Canadian. I feel the need to mention this first as most of the Christian reading community seems to be American, and there is not always the same access to information, book promotions, and even vendors for those of us up north (there are many publishers that do not ship books or send advanced reader copies to Canadians, but I hope this will change).
I am an avid reader. I have averaged over 100 or more books a year for the past decade, with a few years where I have exceeded 200 or 300 books. With the emergence of audio book availability, this number has increased substantially for me over time. I do not always read Christian materials and tend to read quite widely, but a significant portion is Christian—hence the blog 😀
I have worked in a number of libraries (and one bookstore) throughout my life. Seeing the other side of books makes me even more thrilled that books remain popular and widely available.
I am a published author (non-fiction). This is another side of books that has helped me appreciate reading even more. Though this is relatively recent for me, if God opens the door for me to write more, I would happily pursue those opportunities. I have also been a casual book reviewer, starting about 15 years ago. As I begin to catch up to a lot of ARCs, I am striving to get better at completing these in a timelier manner.
I am both a Bible college and seminary graduate. This has shaped how I approach reading Christian books, which may explain my thought process when I go into them a bit more. At the very least, I hope it lends me a slight bit of credibility!

I look forward to sharing more thoughts as time goes on, and if this blog does end up growing, to be able to meet other like-minded readers.

Comments

Review: The Cul-de-Sac War

For National Good Neighbour Day , I thought this fun title from Melissa Ferguson would fit the bill! The Cul-de-Sac War is just the guide to neighbourly relations, right? 😂 (Fine, it's an American holiday and I should spell it the American way, but I can't let go of the "u".) Book Synopsis In this charming rom-com, two enemies find something they never expected in one another—taking "all's fair in love and war" to a hilarious and heartwarming new level. Actress Bree Leake doesn't want to be tied down, but just when it's time to move on again, Bree's parents make her an offer; hold steady in Abingdon for one full year, and they will give her the one thing she's always wanted—her grandmother's house. Her dreams are coming true... until life throws her some curve balls. And then there's her new neighbor. Chip McBride. For the first time in her life, she's met the person who could match her free-spirited air—and it's drivin...

Review: Reunited with the Hero - Heroes of Freedom Ridge #5

I'm really doing this; I'm going through the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series, and it's been a great Christmas journey! Living near the mountains, I'm starting to feel at home with this amazing ensemble of characters and families. A place like Freedom Ridge Resort may be out of reach, but it's fun to imagine being there. The fifth book in the series, Reunited with the Hero by M. E. Weyerbacher, is a food-oriented read as one of the central activities in the book is a cookie bake-off, along with a sweet romance, of course. Now, who could pass up Christmas cookies (and the relentless search for good coffee, although I can't relate as a tea drinker)? 😄 Book Synopsis A shocking reunion between high school sweethearts and a daughter with an avalanche of prayers leads to an unexpected Christmas. Fueled by faith and coffee, Widower Thea Riley sets out for a fresh start in her hometown of Freedom, Colorado. Housesitting her sister's cottage for the winter makes it ...

Review: He Is Faithful in Every Season

I'm a little sad that I read so little poetry as an adult compared to my youth. I don't know whether it's a lack of exposure to Christian poets or that I forget to seek it out, but am I ever grateful for opportunities to come across it when others reach out about it. Christian poetry is such a special genre that draws on truth and beauty in its arrangement of words to compose an entirely new scene. He Is Faithful in Every Season by Julia Rose does just that, providing us with a lovely reminder to encounter words in a fresh and inspired way. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Fifty poems intricately woven together with God's faithfulness and the truth of His Word. "He Is Faithful In Every Season" is a book of worship, love, redemption, freedom, and dependency. It touches on topics such as anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief. It brings to light the aboundin...