Reading, Writing & Pondering

  The Lighthouse at the Cove by Amy Clipston is the second book in the Coral Cove series. I read The View from Coral Cove first but you don't need to as this book works well as a stand-alone. Coral Cove looks like a postcard-perfect town along the coast--complete with a lovely old lighthouse. However, Kaiah Ross didn't decide to go there for a visit on purpose. Rather her car broke down and stranded her in town. Kaiah is a travel journalist who was on her way to write about another coastal town when she gets stalled at Coral Cove.  Reid Turner is a fire fighter, a part-time Uber driver, a twin and dad to Piper. He was born and raised in Coral Cove and has always called this town his home. After his wife passed away, the last thing he wanted was another relationship. Instead, he has been focused on raising his daughter. Then Reid is called to pick up Kaiah from the car-repair shop and he offers to let her stay at the apartment above his garage since the hotels are full. They ...

    Bringing Heaven Here by Brad Gray and Brad Nelson takes a look at the Lord's Prayer. So many of us can say The Lord's Prayer from memory and I think it is so easy to just say it and not really focus on the words.  Brad Gray and Brad Nelson are co-creators of The Lord's Prayer film and The Sacred Thread film series. While I am not familiar with that series, I don't think you need to be to appreciate this book. I like how this book goes through the whole prayer and peels it back layer by layer in an up-close look that could make it more personal for you.  Bringing Heaven Here released from Thomas Nelson on November 25, 2025 and is available for purchase now.  From the Publisher: From the creators of the global television series  The Sacred Thread  comes a transformative exploration of how the Lord’s Prayer unlocks the power of God to guide, heal, and renew our lives and the world around us. The Lord’s Prayer is the most iconic and widely spoken ...

    Do you wish you could go back in time to your younger self and possibly make some changes? I love time travel books and sometimes I wish I could! Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack was a sharp thought-provoking book as readers journey with Sutton Layne as she travels back into her twenties on her 40th birthday. Our milestone birthdays can hit differently so I can see where Sutton had some struggles with that age.  As the book begins, life is stressful with her family and Sutton is facing her "big" birthday coming up. On the big day, Sutton plays in a pickle-ball tournament and luncheon in her honor for her special birthday. She gets hit by the ball which knocks her out. . .and she takes a trip back to her twenties, with an angel guiding her way. She goes back with the knowledge that things could be different this time. She works as an up-and-coming actress, teaches pre-school in Nicaragua, and attends Coachella. She has the chance to see how different relationsh...

  The Buy-In by Emma St. Clair is the first book in the Love Stories in Sheet Cake rom-com series. This year, I have read more rom-coms as I felt that I have needed some lightness in my life. For that reason, I think this book is a fun start to a rom-com series. Former Pro-Football Player Pat Graham has been struggling the past few years. He made a relationship mistake in the past with a woman he cared for and has regretted it ever since. Now his dad bought the town of Sheet Cake where that woman--his former girlfriend lives--and his dad wants him to sell his brothers on the idea.  Lindy had plans to travel the world as a travel writer. That all changed when she decided to raise her niece. Lindy would do anything for Jo--even a marriage of convenience to the man who once broke her heart. I enjoyed The Buy-In as a whole. I enjoyed getting meeting the Graham family and all of the main characters. I also enjoyed the slow burn romance that culminated in some swoony moments towar...

  The Bells At Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright is a dark tale based on a true murder story--in two timelines. Like most of Wright's books, this is a dual timeline story. I usually like her books but this one was just too creepy and dark for my tastes to be a favorite of hers. I wanted to know what happened so kept going but I honestly didn't enjoy this one as much as I have some of her other books. In 1890, there is the murder of Waverly Pembrooke's Aunt and Uncle. Waverly then has to spend a week in the hall along with her Aunt and Uncle's dead bodies. I felt for Waverly in more ways than one with this awful arrangement. Then there is also a murder in Newton Creek during the present day timelines. Jennie Phillips takes over the estate from her mother. There is a dark mystery in this timeline as well. Maybe it is just my state of mind right now, as I have been enjoying more positive books as of late. There is just so much dark stuff in this one. It is well-written, I t...

  Do you follow authors who write in more than one genre? I have been reading and enjoying Irene Hannon's books for a long time. Out of Time is a romantic suspense book and the last book in her Undaunted Courage series. She also writes regular romantic fiction in her Hope Harbor series. This book has a preview of her next book in that series coming out next year. I loved that too! Historical Anthropologist Cara Tucker is a professor on sabbatical at a remote country estate. She is also working with the estate's owner to translate journals that are written in an outdated language. Not long after she arrives, strange things are happening around the estate.  Sheriff Brad Adams investigates the strange happenings. Soon Cara and Brad feel an attraction towards one another.  At the same time, more strange things are going on at the estate. Who is behind all of them? Is Cara in danger too? I enjoyed Out of Time . This author writes clearly and the plot has good pacing. The "bad...