Christian Shelves

I'm thankful that I recently had the opportunity to visit a number of Christian and secular bookstores that sell new and used books in all the possible combinations you can find. Though I'm especially fond of stores that sell used Christian books, I'm also delighted to pick up new Christian books at bargain prices. While I've been intentional in not wanting to promote a lifestyle of consumption on my blog or on social media, I do confess that there is an element of treasure hunting for me when I go shopping for books. I've had to become adept at scanning bookshelves quite fast as I've gotten into having my husband time me to prove that I don't spend that  much time in bookstores 😆 I can very easily spot a Christian book in the wild, so to speak! This fun challenge aside, I do value finding books that point toward God, both in fiction and non-fiction genres. However, one of the things that hit me most this time is that I can have too much of a good thing. Al

For anyone who has played bingo along with Christmas Romance movies, it's clear that there are definite (and repeated) themes. Movie-Made Romance by A.M. Heath plays on that idea, bringing a story within a story to life. Book Synopsis He wants a second chance. She wants him to get lost. Carleigh St. John is tired of watching everyone else get their happily-ever-after, and her little sister’s engagement is the last straw. Stewing down the overused plot lines from Christmas Romance movies, Carleigh creates a dating playbook. With a marathon of Christmas dates ranging from picking out a tree with her first crush to volunteering with her grumpy co-worker, she’s bound to find her perfect movie-made ending. … If only her ex will stay out of the way. Joshua Price has spent the last four years trying to outrun his past and the ex-fiancé he had hurt, but now he is back home. As he strives to help his grandfather, he keeps bumping into Carleigh. The pull between them is undeniable, and Josh

I confess that I really enjoy YA fiction, which is funny because when I was a young adult, I think I ended up reading a lot more adult titles. Whether this was due to fewer YA titles being written at the time or less awareness of them, I'm certainly glad that I can make up for lost time now! Now that I've been exposed to so many great titles, including The Intrepid Three: Animus Revealed by Brianna and Matthew Penfold, I wish I got to read these books many years ago 😄 I am grateful to the authors for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Dez, Arabella, and Walter are seemingly ordinary teenagers from different worlds. Dez is a dejected coder living in Euporia under the oppressive conglomerate E-Corp. Arabella skates through life in an Aurelian aristocratic family. And Walter treads a typical path in the technology-obsessed society of Immerxia. In a day's time, their lives are turned upside down when they meet Author, t

As I've been reading the Christmas in Garland series , I've discovered that A.M. Heath is not afraid to tackle uncomfortable subjects in her books, making them relatable and realistic. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear is a special story set at Christmastime that is even more meaningful with the impending birth of a baby. Book Synopsis Can a cozy inn at Christmas transform the troubled hearts seeking refuge there? Pregnant and alone, Alissa Hill moved to Garland, Tennessee to help at her aunt’s inn. When a guest brings her hidden past to the inn’s door, she must decide whether to face it or continue to run. A career-ending injury ruined Stephen Powell’s life plans. Now a former NFL kicker, he’s searching for a new purpose while recovering at the Cheery Inn. But those at the inn may offer him so much more than he expects. Sparks fly the moment Alissa and Stephen meet, but secrets and regrets may keep them apart unless they can learn to forgive and move beyond their brokenness. Sour

Continuing on the theme of books that can be labourious to get through, I've been coming across more and more content in Christian fiction that has me scratching my head, though they don't necessarily always affect the rating of the book (unless they're all piled on egregiously or something, but that hasn't happened yet). To be honest, a double take is usually the extent of what I give these mentions, but I do find it interesting that there is a bit of a shift in what can be included in Christian fiction nowadays. There are just a few of the ones that have stood out to me over the past while, though I'm sure there could be more added to the list as well. Luck/chance . I have caught myself in the past wishing someone "good luck" even though I don't believe in it, so I've tried to shift to saying things like, "all the best" or "I'll be thinking of you," even if it's a little longer or more awkward to say. All that to say,

This is such a fun yet emotional story, with The Engagement Cover by A.M. Heath demonstrating why the Christmas in Garland series is such a great series to read any time of the year. Personally, out of all the books I've read in the series so far (book #5 is coming out soon!), this has been my favourite. The hockey likely helped, though I also loved the cultural aspects 😍  Book Synopsis He nearly ruined her life. Now he’s the only one who can help her. After a disastrous dating app experience that nearly destroyed her modeling career, Teresa Bradford knows what she wants, and Justin Reynolds seems to check every box. But when her family pressures her to bring him home as her fiancé in order to ease the mind of her dying grandmother, their relationship takes a weird turn, and his absences create the need for a fill-in fiancé. Since his mom’s passing, and with his dad working out of state through the holidays, Alex Landry misses the feeling of home. So, when his friend Marc Bradf

This is a book that I've seen floating around online, so I'm glad that I had the opportunity to pick up Every Woman a Theologian by Phylicia Masonheimer, a new to me author. I've heard great things about her books and look forward to reading more from her! It was also lovely to have this as a buddy read with Christian Books and Coffee where we could share our thoughts as we went along. Hooray for other theology students! 😀 Book Synopsis Know what you believe and live it boldly! Phylicia Masonheimer believes that every woman should be a theologian and a student of the heart of God. Learn the basics of Christian theology and why it's so important to continue your biblical education to grow deeper in faith. Discover how scriptural knowledge can help you navigate the world, answer your toughest questions, and engage culture in loving ways. All of us have guiding principles at work behind our choices, even if we don't realize it. We hold beliefs about the world, oursel

Bah humbug does not describe Project Scrooge by A.M. Heath at all, other than when we first meet Sanford Stone. Otherwise, this first book in the Christmas in Garland series is a lovely book that honours Christmas in the heart by pointing to Jesus first and foremost. Book Synopsis Can Scrooge find love from a friendship gone cold? Sanford Stone cut ties with his best friend, Natalie, in favor of the love of his life … a woman who ended up walking out on him just before Christmas. Six years later, Sanford can’t bring himself to celebrate Christ’s birth with any joy. Little does he know, his grandmother and her companions have dubbed him the Scrooge and intend to help him overcome his bitterness and find happiness again. The only thing that has hurt Natalie Dunivan more than Sanford cutting her out of his life has been watching his long-held grudges slowly destroy the man she has always loved. Together with Ms. Carol, Natalie devises a plan to reach out to Sanford. Sanford accepts his

On this Labour Day, I've been wondering if and when reading begins to feel like work. For the most part, reading is a very enjoyable activity for me, which is why I engage in it as often as I can. There are times, however, when I've noticed that reading can be a bit of a slog. Though I try not to dwell on it, this has been a helpful signal to me to be better about not completing books that fall into this category. I don't have an extensive list, but here are a few things that can make reading a book begin to feel laboursome: Too many typos . I feel like this is universal amongst all readers, so I'll leave it at that. Too many complications . When so many characters get introduced or the plot lines are quite convoluted, this can make reading less pleasurable. A lot of pop culture references . A few well-placed ones that enhance the story or make it relatable to the audience is fine; however, when I'm reading a book and it starts to feel like a tabloid magazine where