Christian Shelves

In looking back at 2023, I was initially going to pick my favourite books that I got to read this year. I actually had this all ready to share before I realized that something else was weighing heavier on my heart. During my brief time as a book reviewer and Bookstagrammer this year, I've been feeling both grateful and humbled by what's involved in promoting Christian books. As a result, I thought I'd share a few things I've learnt since starting this journey up earlier this summer. There are more books published than I'll ever be able to read.  This is so true, considering how many titles are released each week, and how many authors are emerging that I haven't heard of until more recently. Even until this early fall, I was in the mindset of accumulating as many Christian books as I could whenever I travelled. However, I now look at the sheer number of books to read, and feel like I need to be much more discerning of my TBR pile so that I can make the most of my...

The last Friday of 2023, and it's been a good one! I'm actually in the middle of two Pepper Basham books, so it's been fun to flip back and forth. What a nice way to end the year 😄 I also feel like I got a bit of a head start on the #ClearlyChristianReadathon with the non-fiction book I'm reading and how much it aligns with the "whatever is true" attribute of Philippians 4:8. I have a feeling I'll be done this eye-opening book in no time! 📘 Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham 📗 Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way Out of the Mormon Church by Lynn K. Wilder

Merry Christmas! May you have a blessed day, celebrating the birth of our Saviour. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:11 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Going into Christmas, I hope to be able to have time to read the following: 📘 Christian fiction: Love Under Construction by Penny Zeller 📗 Christian non-fiction:  The God Who Is There by D.A. Carson In reading a lot of Christmas books recently, I was looking for something a little different. I got to read the prequel to Love Under Construction  called Henry and Evaline and it was so charming that it prompted me to start the series 😀 Merry Christmas and happy reading! 🎄📚

I'm sneaking one more  Heroes of Freedom Ridge  book in before the end of the year, which means that I'm almost halfway through the series! Trusting the Hero  is the eighth book in this series, and is the second book by Hannah Jo Abbott . Book Synopsis He wants to protect her, but she’s desperate to keep her secret. When Addison Monroe moved to Freedom and landed a job at the resort, she knew this was the community she had always wanted. But her hidden past comes calling, and Addison is forced to call the police for help. Despite the danger, she needs to keep her secrets safe - even from the handsome officer assigned to her case. Ty Riggs came to Freedom in search of a fresh start and a new challenge - which he finds as a police officer in the small town. But the hurt from his past makes it hard for him to feel a part of the close-knit community. When He takes on Addison’s case, he can’t help but be drawn to her, but she has thick walls and won’t let him through. Addison ...

Since Christmas is nearing and it's a busy season, I thought a small book (only 68 pages) would be nice to share about.  A Theology of the Ordinary by Julie Canlis was a book that ended up being surprising in different ways, with a lot packed into a short volume. Book Synopsis Julie Canlis is an award-winning author who has turned her attention to the ordinary. With the surge of books and blogs celebrating the ordinary, she lays a theological foundation for this celebration based upon the Father's blessing of ordinary life, the Son's incarnation in ordinary life, and the Spirit's re-creation of ordinary life. First, turning her attention to American revivalist roots, she explores how this has seeped into evangelicalism's DNA, pushing ordinary life in Christ to the margins. Then, she begins by turning to the Father's blessing of ordinary life in creation, and the way in which temple-language mimics creation-language, revealing all of the world to be God's te...

I first learnt about the Original Six Hockey Romance series earlier this year when I posted a silly video about my husband and I discussing the rise and fame of hockey books (notably hockey romances). After reading The Breakup Project , am I ever glad that I heard about this series from the author, Carolyn Miller ! This was exactly what I needed after reading a disappointing book that happened to feature a hockey player, but did not get as in-depth as this book did; I'm very thankful that this book reshaped my ideas about Christian hockey books. I should have waited to read this book for the  #ClearlyChristianReadathon  as it definitely reflects Galatians 5:22-23; however, I also wish that I had read this book sooner, which is a good dilemma to have! Book Synopsis New Year. New Resolution. New Romance? What happens when the best-laid plans break a friendship? As the twin sister of hockey’s hottest forward, romance-loving Bree Karlsson is used to being ignored, leading to a ...

I have to give full credit for the title of this post to Heather Wood who used this phrase in an Instagram story to promote the #ClearlyChristianReadathon . Thank you for using this term as it's been in my head ever since I saw it! In thinking about what it means to have Jesus as the Lord of my life, this clearly and obviously extends to how I fill my time and what content I consume. Although my reasons for being more intentional with my reading were initially pragmatic (as in if I die soon, did I waste a lot of time in my life reading things that weren't even that great?), I also see how it can both reflect my walk with God and shape what it becomes. Though I'm sharing a lot of content about the Clearly Christian Readathon , I'm encouraged to think of all of my entertainment choices in the light of eternity. While I've certainly struggled with this at different times in my life, it's been hitting me in a different way now. I confess that even quite recently, ...

2024 Clearly Christian Readathon What You Read Shapes Who You Become The heart of this readathon is to identify, celebrate, and promote books that are unashamed in clearly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This upcoming year, we invite you to participate in the #ClearlyChristianReadathon ! Let's be intentional with the books that we read by following Philippians 4:8 : "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." As a result, may we become Christians who increasingly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 : "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." With God's help, we want our reading to continually point toward Him, spurring us to reflect Him in our lives. Ways to Participate: Short on time? The Bible is the best place to be and the best place to star...

Here's another review that I won't be sharing on social media but which I feel like I need to write and make available (mainly because I keep seeing The Hart of Christmas pop up in my feed). I really hate to talk about books I wouldn't read or recommend as I want to focus on being a blessing and an encouragement to Christian authors; however, this is the book that did not sit well with me for weeks and which left me in a funk about Christian books. As a result, I feel convicted that I need to say something about it. I shared an amended version of this review on my  Goodreads account that omits my ethnicity as I don't want that to get attacked, but which is important for me to share here because it points to why I'm so culturally and spiritually sensitive to this topic. Furthermore, let me just express how sad I am at the name of the series that this book kicks off. Even though I've watched hockey all my life and enjoy the sport, I'm going to skip the rest ...

What a week! I got to wrap up a few work projects, and work on something special for 2024 with some amazing fellow readers. Is anyone else in disbelief that this year ends in just two weeks?! This week, I hope to slow down and enjoy the following titles: 📘 Christian fiction: The Breakup Project  by  Carolyn Miller 📗 Christian non-fiction: The Christian Mind by Harry Blamires I'm looking forward to the second half of Advent and hope that you are as well!

Taking a break from posting Christmas books, I wanted to share a book that recently captured my attention. What I Like About Us is the most recent release from Elizabeth Trent, and it was such a treat to read it this month. Book Synopsis In a world dominated by dating apps, can faith and trust lead to a lasting connection? Hunter Teague has always dreamed of planning weddings. She is no stranger to love stories, but when her best friend signs her up for a dating app, she never expected to fall for someone she's never seen. With nothing to lose, Hunter takes a chance and finds herself falling in love with her online match. Derrick Ross, a tech app developer, has achieved everything he ever wanted, except for true love. Determined to find his soulmate, he creates a revolutionary app that matches people based on shared values and interests in the hope of finding his soulmate. When he connects with a perfect match on the app, he is convinced he has finally found the one he has been lo...

Over the years, I've gifted a number of beautiful Christmas books to others, which means that I don't actually own the type of Christmas books that you can put out on a coffee table or shelf. This changed after I saw Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Complete Story of Christmas from the New King James Version from Thomas Nelson Bibles. Book Synopsis Start a new holiday tradition as you read the Christmas story in the Bible’s own words. His coming went unnoticed by most people, but it was foretold from ages past. His birth wasn’t announced by royal proclamation, but it was lauded by the angels of heaven. There were no servants to attend Him, but shepherds left their flocks and wise men left their homes to catch a glimpse of His glory. At Christmastime, we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, an event that forever changed our world—and the hearts of billions. And there’s no better way to get in the true Christmas spirit than to immerse yourself in the story of His coming. Good T...

It's safe to say that I needed to read a book just like this one; I am incredibly grateful that I picked up Their Holiday Secret by Betsy St. Amant as it was exactly the palate cleanser I needed. Having read some of Betsy's previous books, I knew I would be in for a treat, yet this book still exceeded my expectations! Book Synopsis Can their pretend relationship t urn into a true Christmas gift? Preston Green will do anything for a fake girlfriend—even bid on one at a charity auction. Sweet and quirky baker Lulu Boyd is the perfect choice to stop his mother’s constant matchmaking. And it’s just for one holiday family dinner—until his father’s failing health makes ending their ruse impossible. Soon it feels all too real…but another secret might make this their last Christmas together. Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts What an incredibly charming book about a Christmastime romance! I loved that the author even mentioned all the elements of a perfect Christmas story in a cute, tongu...

I've always found it interesting that Christianity as its own genre can be used across music, film, books, and virtually most forms of artistic or creative expression. While most secular items tend to be labelled by their style, works produced by Christians tend to get labelled by the faith of the one producing it. I remember seeing an article years ago about how the Grammys  put Christian artists under the genre of Gospel and Contemporary Christian who would then be further separated out by their musical style, such as Gospel, Bluegrass, Rock, Pop, Country, etc. I can't recall the specifics of the article, but I believe that the author of the article thought it was both a little unfair that artists would be lumped together in a giant pool despite varying styles or backgrounds, and that it was also a label that didn't really tell audiences what they would be getting, other than Christian content. I wish I could remember a bit more, but as I read it in passing, the only thou...

I don't often post reviews of books that are less than glowing as I'll move on from that title to something better. I also try to do a bit more research before confirming which books I'll go with for my weekly Friday Reads selection. In this case, I had failed to do enough research before choosing to read From Burned Out to Beloved , so I'm making an exception and posting a less-than-favourable review.  Book Synopsis As a social worker, jail chaplain, and justice advocate, Bethany Dearborn Hiser pushed herself to the brink of burnout―and then kept going. Stress, despair, and compassion fatigue overwhelmed her ability to function. She was called to serve the abused, addicted, and homeless people in her community. Yet she was emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Something needed to change. Searching for answers, Hiser learned that trauma affects everyone who is exposed to it―not only those experiencing it firsthand. Psychologists call it "secondary trauma." S...

I've been increasingly burdened by the thought that even though what I post to my account is not always an endorsement of a book's content, I still need to be careful in vetting the materials beforehand. After being burned by three books now (two of which have appeared in past Friday Reads posts, and one in an Instagram story), I am a little gun-shy about sharing books I have not yet read. At the same time, this defeats the purpose of a Friday Reads as I don't usually read the books prior to posting them (unless I solely stick to re-reads). I'm a little raw after these bad reading experiences, but I don't want to limit myself from trying new books either. As a result of feeling somewhat subdued this week, I'm open to suggestions of solidly good Christian books if anyone wants to share them. If the book happens to be available on Kindle Unlimited, that's great; however, I can also see what my public library has available. This will be one of the few times I ...

It's been a while since I've continued with the  Heroes of Freedom Ridge  series, so with Christmas around the corner, it made sense to get back into it.  Guarded by the Hero  is the seventh book in this series, and is the second book by Mandi Blake . Book Synopsis His job is to protect her, not to fall in love with her. Heath Mitchell learned his security skills during his time in the US Marine Corps. After spending his first few years in the civilian world as the head of security for the Freedom Ridge Resort, he’s ready to branch out and help form a security firm. Things are just getting off the ground when he meets his sister’s friend. When a hit and run breaks into their meeting, she becomes his first client instead of his girlfriend. Claire Odom has grown accustomed to a quiet life in the small town of Freedom. The perils of her past seem long gone until they resurface when she meets Heath. Determined to protect her, he becomes her full-time bodyguard. His good ...

I've found it quite a bit harder to write reviews based on audiobooks, so I may not venture into doing this too often. While most reviewers will also rate the narration or other aspects of an audio experience, I find that in listening to most books at twice the speed, I probably would not be the best judge. That being said, I also recognize that my retention is not as strong after I listen to a book versus reading it for myself. With these disclaimers out of the way, I am willing to listen to more audiobooks, even if I seldom review them. I'm grateful that Winsome Conviction by Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer stood out enough that I wanted to share more about it. Book Synopsis We generally assume that those sitting around us in church share our beliefs. But when our personal convictions are contested by fellow Christians, everything changes. We feel attacked from behind. When other Christians doubt or deny our convictions, we don't experience it as a mere difference of op...

It's always wonderful getting to support a Canadian author, but even more so when the debut novel is as charming as hoped. I recently discovered Courtney Westerhof and was delighted to hear about Candy Cane Gifts . I'm thankful that this book kicked off December (and the Advent theme of hope) for me! For full disclosure, I was on Courtney's ARC team and received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Anonymous gifts topped with candy canes—Christmas just got interesting in Port Hope. Ally wants to be a hard-hitting journalist. Instead she finds herself writing about parades and town council meetings for Port Hope’s newspaper. However, covering the local mill that’s on the verge of closing could be the opportunity Ally needs to move up to a national reporting job. Then, in the midst of the most difficult holiday seasons in Port Hope’s history, various residents start receiving substantial, anonymous gifts. Ally’s tasked with the mission to ...