Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by this little corner of the Internet!

Though I started blogging over 20 years ago, I will confess that I have not usually keep up my blogs for longer than several years at a time. For this blog, I have instead decided to focus on a topic that actually consumes a lot of my spare time so that I can combine my interests (and test my longevity and commitment).

This topic is of course, Christian books!

Through casually browsing Bookstagram over the past few years to glean recommendations for new reads, I see that there is a place where people can share about books, and it is celebrated. How refreshing to see a reading culture remain strong amidst many other distractions, several of which have kept me scrolling non-stop to learn about books rather than simply reading them. Since I fall into this camp, this blog can help me to get through my TBR (to be read) pile in order to actually make a semblance of a dent into it. I recognize that it is such a blessing to be able to own and access so many incredible thoughts and stories, captured as written words. As such, I am excited to delve into this new journey of also writing out my own thoughts.

My hope is that I can explore and review both Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction on here. I am prone to being a completionist who tries to read in chronological publication order, so there may be a few series on here as well. I am also pretty hashtag-adverse and prefer lists, which will make an appearance throughout the blog.

Happy reading!

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Christian Book Review Programs

Over time, I've been on the hunt for Christian book review programs that readers can join. As a result, I've been able to compile the following list which may be of interest if you are seeking review copies of Christian books. This list mostly applies to print and ebooks, although some publishers offer audiobooks as well. If further information is available for any of the publishers below (or any missing publishers), please let me know as I am happy to update this list—thank you! Please note that you can also search for these publishers on NetGalley and other review sites in case there are no review programs available or you don't qualify for one 😊 Christian Publishers B&H Publishing Group Previously offered the B&H/Lifeway Blogger program which has since closed Availability: Professors and instructors Link: B&H Academic Book Requests Baker Publishing Group Availability: U.S. and Canadian residents Genre: Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction Imprints: Bet...

Review: The Queen's Cook - Queen Esther's Court #1

Today is release day for The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar ! What a perfect way to spend a snowy day, escaping to a warmer climate and to a kitchen filled with Persian foods and spices 😊 Many thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens. In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigatin...

Review: Reading Between the Lines

Though this book was first published 34 years ago, the content remains relevant and timely to us as readers today. Reading Between the Lines by Gene Edward Veith Jr. is an engaging book about how Christians can "get more out of their reading." Book Synopsis A guidebook for those who want to cultivate literary taste― knowing how to recognize and benefit from books that are spiritually and aesthetically good. Literary expert Gene Veith helps book lovers better understand what they read as he explains how each major literary genre communicates. Showing how comedy, tragedy, realism, and fantasy can portray the Christian worldview, Veith delves into related topics such as the value of fairy tales, the tragic and the comic sense of life, the contrast between the classical and the Hebraic traditions, and the role of postmodernity (a subject of vital importance to Christians). Introducing readers to writers past and present, Veith helps Christians to influence culture from an educat...