blogging

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Goodbye 2018 & Looking Ahead

Welcome to my annual “best-of” celebration! I’m changing it up a bit and separating the categories of my yearly best-of lists over a few days. All of this is to celebrate their distinction and spend a few more days talking about all the wonderful entertainment of 2018.

Day 1. Best of 2018: Novellas

Day 2. Best of 2018: Historical Books

Day 3. Best of 2018: Contemporary Books

Day 4. Goodbye 2018 & Looking Ahead

2018 has been quite the year. Personally, it has be joyous and bittersweet. I am glad for several things that happened in 2018, but I also am SO ready for a new year and the renewal and fresh start that comes with it.

Talking reading and entertainment, 2018 was a year of greatness. As I have outlined with my fav book posts so far, I have read some awesome stories. At last count, I read a total of 71 books, novellas, or short stories. I also surpassed my Goodreads challenge of reading 60. Here’s my “Year in Books” there!

2018’s Most Popular Blog Posts

  1. Favorite Quotes from “Persuasion” by Jane Austen
  2. Best of 2017
  3. Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Best On-Screen Rom-Com Couples
  4. How-To: Solar Dyed Yarn Project (With Kool-Aid!)
  5. Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Novels with the Most Unique Settings
  6. Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR + Mood Reads
  7. Top Ten Tuesday: 11 Characters Who Would Make Great Leaders of a Camping Trip
  8. Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Reads & My TBR

2018’s Most Popular Reviews

  1. I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
  2. Impossible Saints by Clarissa Harwood
  3. Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan
  4. Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan
  5. Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan
  6. The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
  7. The Cupcake Dilemma by Jennifer Rodewald
  8. “Whole Heart” Music Album by Passion Music

Looking ahead to 2019, I am anticipating several new book (and movie!) releases. A few of the ones I’m most excited about are listed below. (and I’m likely to forget one or two, so consider this a partial list).

Do YOU have any New Year’s resolutions? Do you set a reading goal for the year?

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November Happenings

Whew! It’s already December, the very last month of 2017. You know what that means?!!! It’s time for another monthly wrap-up!

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on the bookshelf

Books added to the shelves this past November include: paperbacks of Charming the Troublemaker AND A Twist Faith by Pepper Basham, Enchanted: A Christmas Collection by Melissa Tagg, Sell Out by Tammy L. Gray, The Gift of Christmas Past by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall, and The Uncloaked trilogy by J. Rodes.

on the blog

Most popular posts:

  1. Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books on my Winter TBR
  2. ‘Inspired by Classics’ Guest Post by Pepper Basham (+ Review)
  3. First Line Fridays #5 Special Military Edition: Conspiracy of Silence

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Most popular book reviews:

  1. Charming the Troublemaker by Pepper Basham
  2. I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
  3. The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin + Movie Thoughts

in the kitchen

IMG_20171126_201637_551.jpgSo I made a bundt cake. Actually, half of one. But ya’ll, it was SO GOOD! It was this Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Bundt Cake from Bake from Scratch. I WILL be making it again!

on the screen

Same Kind of Different as MeIn November, one movie on the big screen that I really, really loved was Same Kind of Different as Me. It’s a movie I can recommend to anyone with a deeply touching story. And, the fact that its a true story, depicted in such a way that it broadcasts a message of forgiveness, made it all the more a blessing.

On the small screen, I enjoyed watching new shows and old classics alike, like a Thanksgiving rewatch of Yours, Mine and Ours (the Lucille Ball version, of course!) and a few new Hallmark movies. My favorite Halllmarks so far include A Bramble House Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas.

around the web

This Gift Guide for the Jane Austen fan is absolutely perfect inspiration for gifting an Austen lover you know! (Ahem, family: hint hint. I already have #5 & #7!)

Since we’re still talking Hallmark movies, here’s the “part 2” list of new movies coming this season on Silver Petticoat.

 

YOUR TURN! How was your November? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving with lots of turkey? What are your favorites “things” (recipes, books, movies, etc.) from this month?

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October Happenings

I cannot believe it is the end of October. Where did the month go?!

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on the bookshelf

New books on the shelf this month include a paperback of Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig, a paperback of The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay (eeek!), Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey, With No Reservations by Laurie Tomlinson, Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano, The Recipe by Candace Calvert, The Redeeming by Tamara Leigh, and The Esther Paradigm by Sarah Monzon.

on the blog

Most popular posts:

  1. First Line Fridays #2: Christmas at Gate 18
  2. Top Ten Tuesday: Meal Planning 101 (AKA Yummy Foods in Books)
  3. First Line Fridays #3: Charming the Troublemaker20171009_124022.jpg

Most popular book reviews:

  1. I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
  2. All This Time by Melissa Tagg (with Author Interview!)
  3. Christmas at Gate 18 by Amy Matayo

on the screen

PoldarkOctober ushered in Season 3 of ITV’s Poldark here in the US on Masterpiece PBS. I confess I’m a big fan, continually impressed with the character development and atmospheric setting of every episode. (I want to go to Cornwall!) While I’m still very upset with Ross for some season 2 shenanigans, I do hope he will still prove me wrong because everyone is redeemable. Demelza, Verity, and Caroline are still my favorites. One thing I’m enjoying in this season is how George tries SO HARD to advance his political career/social standing and works at it by manipulating and bringing others down, while Ross doesn’t even want to try to gain that sort of ground yet does so out of some natural good decisions (i.e. friendship and loyalty), especially in ep 5.

around the web

Carrie over at Reading is my Superpower had a wonderful guest post this month from author Sondra Kraak about Reading Fiction in Him. It’s such a cool way to approach story!

I stumbled across Book Riot’s article about how “Chrome’s Library Extension Will Change Your Life”. Choose your local library system and you can see whether or not they have a copy of books you’re browsing on Goodreads and Amazon. It’s awesome.

With November nearly upon us, Hallmark has begun the most wonderful yearly tradition of Christmas movies 24/7 on its networks AKA WATCH HALLMARK ALLLLL THE TIME season. Here’s a great preview of new movies to come for the first part of the season over on Silver Petticoat.

 

YOUR TURN! Are you loving the change of season October brought? What books did you add to your TBR this month?

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September Happenings

September was a busy blogging month! I honestly don’t know how that worked out — most of the month was a blur. BUT, we did get to welcome fall (my favorite season) and barely start to feel the cooler days in my neck of the woods.

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on the bookshelf

Oh my, I’m turning into a book hoarder. My mother would agree. New titles on the shelves, both virtual and paperback, include the “Targeted for Danger” ebook novella collection, The Last Summer by Brandy Bruce, Chasing Haven by Rachel Fallin… and for upcoming review Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig, All This Time by Melissa Tagg, Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh, Too Far Down by Mary Connealy, The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner, The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright, Returning Home by Toni Shiloh, and Impossible Saints by Clarissa Harwood.

on the blog

Most popular posts:

  1. 20170918_145336Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books with Bookish Heroines (and Heroes!)
  2. 4 Reasons to Read Inspirational Fiction
  3. Author Interview & Giveaway: A New Shade of Summer by Nicole Deese
  4. How-To: Solar Dyed Yarn Project (With Kool-Aid!)
  5. Let’s Talk Rereads!

My copy of Many Sparrows

Most popular book reviews:

  1. I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
  2. The Long Shadows of Summer by Robin E. Mason
  3. Many Sparrows by Lori Benton

in the kitchen

I tried this fresh raspberry pie recipe from PBS Food (yes, them again. They just post some good recipes!). It was light and fun and soooo good.

I’m also having fun with a new Christmas cookie cookbook…. more on that, and a review, soon.

on the screen

I admit it, I’ve never read an Agatha Christie book OR seen any adaptations (that I know of). So, I watched the “classic” Murder on the Orient Express from 1974 because the new one looks just so darn good. I admit, I didn’t see some of the twists coming! It has a 1970s drama flair to it that I will be anxious to compare with the new one.

Home AgainOf course, I watched the new Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again Hallmark production (shoutout to the #POstables fans!!!). I’ve been following this saga for most of its duration, happily rooting for the characters, friendships, and (finally) romance of the series. This latest made me happy, once again! I really, really appreciate how the ongoing relationships have steadily grown in complexity and depth over several installments — and not just with the 4 main characters, but with the extended family dynamic and other characters. Also, I LOVE how the series refocuses on a fresh storyline yet frequently retains a thread of patriotism and honors historical events.

around the web

Merriam Webster added new words to the dictionary. You might learn a thing or two from their announcement, or be glad your slang terms are now “official” (I’m talking about froyo here.)

And this is SUPER nerdy, but I was amused by this TED video on alphabetizing and types of sorting algorithms:

Exciting covers were revealed this month for two 2018 releases: Rachel McMillan’s upcoming Murder at the Flamingo AND Joanne Bischof’s Sons of Blackbird Mountain! Both are gorgeous and creative and exquisite.

Bethany House’s blog post featuring Five Bookish Mysteries to Solve is witty and fun!

YOUR TURN! How was September for you? Did you accomplish that “to-do” list or do anything exciting?

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August Happenings

It’s the last day of August! That means back-to-school season and last hurrahs of summer. It’s been a quieter month on the blog, but this monthly wrap-up proves I was a little productive.

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on the bookshelf

New titles on the shelf this month include The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson, Someplace Familiar by Teresa Tysinger, My Hope Next Door AND Shattered Rose by Tammy L. Gray, Uncloaked by J. Rodes, and for review, The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips, The Long Shadows of Summer by Robin E. Mason. + a few fun reference books at a library book sale, along with a cute little copy of Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (yay for classics!).

on the blog

A Name Unknown

Most popular posts:

  1. How-To: Solar Dyed Yarn Project
  2. Top Ten Tuesday: True History in Fiction
  3. July Happenings

Most popular book reviews:

  1. I’ll Be Yours by Jenny B. Jones
  2. A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White
  3. The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

in the kitchen

I’ve been happily cooking with a few fresh veggies from the garden. My favorite veggie-to-hide-in-baked things is zucchini. After a few frozen loaves of the normal cinnamon zucchini bread (grandma’s recipe 🙂 ), I was ready to try something different. I found THIS 2-loaf lemon zucchini bread recipe, and it’s A-ma-zing! It’s more like a light lemon cake. You’re welcome.

on the screen

MV5BOTU0NGY3NTktNWFjOC00OGFiLWFjN2EtOGQ2OGIwNzVhODAzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDY0NDM0NzI@._V1_ (618x384)One of the things I enjoyed “on the screen” this month was a Queen Elizabeth II TV special (from last year) on the Smithsonian Channel called The Queen at 90. It was a delightful look at some of the queen’s yearly duties, everyday life (including her sweet love for her horses), and her life through the years, with interviews from her own family (including some fun comments from Prince William!).

around the web

This lovely “Romance Rendezvous” interview with author Pepper Basham over on Katie’s Fiction Aficionado blog covers some fun points on romance in Christian fiction and character talk.

“What are we becoming?” by Amy Matayo. Food for thought in this media-crazy, soap-box modern life.
What was your August like? Do you share a monthly wrap-up or favorites post? Share your link in the comments, I’d love to visit!

2 Year Blogoversary!!! {and a Twitter giveaway soon}
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2 Year Blogoversary!!! {and a Twitter giveaway soon}

blogoversary

Hi all! Today’s my two year blogoversary – it totally took me by surprise. Thank goodness for WordPress notifications!!!! Two years ago, I published my first post. Since then, it has grown from a place talking about crafts, food, and photography to a platform of sharing all things book-related, too. So, if you want to celebrate with me, cut the cake and have some tea (I am!).

I just wanted to say thank  you to all who follow my blog. I appreciate each and every one of you, along with all the comments, shares, and fun convos we have on all things book-related. Y0ur follows, visits, and friendships (you know who you are) mean so much.

In honor of my blogoversary, I’ll be giving away a book via Twitter some time in the next week. Follow me on Twitter for a chance to win!!!