Faith, Fiction, & FairytalesMy Reading List: March & April
How is it May?
I once again read 11 books in this two-month period, putting me at 22/50 (almost halfway!) for my reading goal for 2026. All but Rebuilder by Megan Schaulis and Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer were tour copies.
Also, a quick aside… last month I went to a book sale and managed to snag all but the first volume of the Christy Miller series AND the entire Sierra Jenson series, along with a couple other books, for only $11! It was a very happy day.
Let’s get to it!
Click on the title of the book to head to Goodreads for my star rating and full review (including potentially problematic content).
When They Met Again by Leslie Gould
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I struggled with getting invested in this one. The prose felt a bit clunky and repetitive for the first half, and I had a hard time connecting with the plot. Once we got past the halfway mark, the momentum built and carried through to the end, though, and I did appreciate the messages the author chose to include.
Anna of Bethsaida by Susanne Blumer
This novel felt so sweet and wholesome–devastating at times, but simultaneously coated in grace. I haven’t read book one (and now need to), but I was drawn right into Anna’s world and caught up pretty quickly. The character arc isn’t dramatic in Anna of Bethsaida, but it was her journey and growing strength which truly made the story.
An Arrival of Hope by Alena Mentink
A delightful and riveting continuation of the Home to Osceola series! An Arrival of Hope delivered mystery, a light and sweet romance, and above all else, the reminder that the story isn’t over until you’re gone, and life is worth the living. The mystery and intrigue was planted early on and while it took a backseat for a while, it kept the stakes high and the plot surging forward. And the romance… I won’t lie–I was annoyed when the misunderstanding got the better of them, but fortunately it didn’t last long. For the most part their journey to “I love you” was relatively bump-free!
The Ultimate Blindside by Leslea Wahl
There was a lot that I loved about this book–the setting, the filming elements, the healthy dating relationship between Sophie and Jake. I also liked the parental involvement (and disappointment and consequences) because I feel YA fiction sometimes likes to ignore that parents exist. The opening hooked me pretty quickly, and the end was WILD. But a few aspects made this book harder to enjoy.
Where Your Treasure Is by M. Liz Boyle
Wow, that was a wild ride! I’ve followed M. Liz Boyle’s blog for a while but had never read one of her books, and I’ve been missing out! Where Your Treasure Is was thrilling from start to finish. Boyle didn’t hesitate to jump straight to the action, and she kept Ruby on her toes all the way through page 281.
Claire Holloway Is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong
This was such an adorable and thought-provoking Christian rom-com! Angela Ruth Strong pulls her readers right into the commercial airline world, packing in amusing incidents from her own experiences as a flight attendant. Claire and Nathan were both easy to love, and while I considered liking Wyatt, Claire’s relationship with him proved itself clearly lacking. I worried that there would be cheating here, but Clair and Nathan both worked hard to honor each other and her relationship with Wyatt. And the main message of this book… SO beautiful. I never considered the difference between letting go of someone out of love and perhaps hurting them… and actually harming them through your actions. Strong got me thinking.
The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner by Susan L. Tuttle
The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner brings the Treasures of Halstead Manor series to a thrilling conclusion, once again taking Everleigh, Natalie, Brooke, and their entourage on a mind-bending adventure (which I’ll admit I struggled to keep up with at times). Tuttle capitalizes on found family, bodyguard, and friends to enemies to more tropes in this finale, and she held my attention from the opening pages.
Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson
I love when Christian fiction peers into little-discussed or even avoided topics from our history and teaches me something new while also remaining uplifting, and that’s exactly what Kendy Pearson provided in this book. I had no concept of most of the events covered in Fires of Injustice, so I got a history lesson alongside the reminders of God’s faithfulness in our darkest seasons.
Megan Schaulis never ceases to amaze me with her writing that brings together thrilling (and life-threatening) adventure, sweet romance, AND powerful faith content. No worries about low stakes here! I’m so glad Hatch got his own story after what happened in Proclaimer, and Myah was easy to love. I want Rafferty to be my uncle, and Zerub, Yara, and Ezri cracked me up–you can’t go wrong with a gaggle of flirtatious old ladies. This book wasn’t without its serious moments, though–and I stayed up WAY too late to finish the last quarter.
Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
I think Stealing the Preacher may just beat every other Christian Western I’ve read. The characters were witty and distinct, and the plot had me REELING. (I didn’t expect the title to be quite so literal!) This was my first book by Karen Witemeyer, and I enjoyed it from the first page to the touching finale. It made me laugh and kept me on the edge of my seat–although I did see some of the elements of the ending coming from early on.
A Girl’s Guide to Having It All by Leslie Kirby DeVooght
I had fun reading this book, even if it was a bit slow for my taste. If you enjoy contemporary romance about career-driven thirty-somethings who are scared that life is going to pass them by, you’ll enjoy this read!
Exciting Shadows Over Broad Street news coming…
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What books have you read lately? Any new favorites?
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