Amy Scott's Thoughts

Bookish Thoughts for April

I’ve spent the last few months stocking up on books I thought I would read again. I am a re-reader by nature. Books become my friends and hold a special place in my heart. I love to re-visit places and characters. To prove to myself I would re-read my recent purchases, I gave quite a bit of time to re-reading favorites this month. As much as I love reading new books, there is something comforting about curling up with a familiar book. My top picks for April are all books you’ve seen here before, but I couldn’t help myself. They are 5 star reads, in my humble opinion!

My new release reads this month were But He’s My Fake Fiancé, Romancing the Grump, and Just for the Summer. I’ve really enjoyed Annah Conwell’s “But He’s a Carter Brother” series. I can’t wait to see how she concludes the series. I also decided to tackle some books that have been sitting on my shelf for a while – The Screwtape Letters and Habits of Grace. I’m prone to book guilt if a book sits too long without being read. After watching all the movies, I pre-read How to Train Your Dragon before passing it along to Owen. I love that pre-reading books gives me a chance to read kid lit. Owen has loved The Phantom Tollbooth this month, so I’ve promised him I’ll make it my next read.

I’m already curating my books and making a plan for my May reads. I’m excited for yet another month of good books and inspiring reads coming soon!

Top Picks for April

The Book List for April
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

• The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids by Sarah MacKenzie – 5 stars
• I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel – 5 stars
• Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis – 3 stars

Fiction:

• How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell – 2.5 stars
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis – 3 stars
• The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery – 5 stars
• The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin – 4 stars
• Love Finds Your in Annapolis, MD by Roseanna M. White – 5 stars
• Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
• Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
• Hello Stranger by Katherine Center – 4 stars
• But He’s My Fake Fiancé by Annah Conwell – 4 stars
• The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel – 4.5 stars
• Romancing the Grump by Jenny Proctor – 3 stars
• Falling for Your Best Friend’s Twin by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
• Falling for Your Boss by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
• Falling for Your Fake Fiancé by Emma St. Clair – 4 stars
• Falling for Your Best Friend by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
• Falling for Your Enemy by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars

Bookish Thoughts for March

You’ll notice some themes or common groupings amongst the books I read this month. The first centering on C.S. Lewis. I finished Surprised by Joy last month and wrapped up my book club for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at the beginning on March. I picked up a copy of Once Upon a Wardrobe from the library and it was the perfect book to follow-up the previous two I mentioned. It was a work of fiction that summarized Surprised by Joy beautifully and the focus of a young boy on the inspiration for Narnia was enchanting. Spoiler Alert: The book is sad, but also beautiful. I hope to add it to my home library someday! It’s one I can see myself reading again.

The next group revolves around Jane Austen. I have a confession to make… I like Jane Austen things much more than I like reading Jane Austen books. A movie based off her books? Sign me up. A book based off of her books? Yes, please. I feel guilty I didn’t actually read any Austen this month, but I loved reading books inspired by her work. Both The Austen Escape and Austenland feature destination vacations where the characters are immersed in the world of Austen. Curiosity got the best of me and I watched the movie version of Austenland. Of course, the book was much better. I also watched Persuasion (2022) on Netflix.

Both Katherine Reay and Roseanna M. White had new releases this month. (The Berlin Letters for Reay and A Noble Scheme for White.) This inspired me to reread some favorites by these authors. I read Yesterday’s Tides by White last month and I decided to find her main character’s minor role in The Codebreakers series. I love it when authors overlap their worlds and I find familiar characters making appearances. Reay and White are go-to authors for me. If they write it, I will read. It was a treat to have new releases from both of them this month!

The final bookish highlight of my month was a Goodwill book haul! A friend invited me on a kid-free shopping adventure to look for books at Goodwill. So many friends share their Goodwill finds and I’m always envious. I tried to book shop there once, but I had my whole family in tow and I just couldn’t focus. It was a total bust. Apparently, going kid-free was what I needed to succeed. The funny thing is I only purchased kids books. So even without my kids, it was still all about them. It’s always satisfying to get a good deal on a huge stack of books!

Top Picks for March

The Book List for March
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

• Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey – 2 stars
• The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon – 4 stars

Fiction:

• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – 5 stars
• Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan – 5 stars
• The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh – 4 stars
• Austenland by Shannon Hale – 4 stars
• The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown – 3 stars
• A Groom of One’s Own by Emma St. Clair – 3 stars
• The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay – 4 stars
• The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay – 4 stars
• The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay – 4 stars
• A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
• The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
• On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
• A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars

P.S. Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

First off, Happy Leap Day! Or Happy Leap Year Day!? I’m not sure what the proper title for this extra day is, but I hope you’re enjoying a little extra time this month. February was an exciting book month for me, so let’s dive right in!

I mentioned in a previous blog that I got to visit Powell’s (a Portland, OR bookstore chain) on February 1st. This visit was the catalyst for spending the last of my Christmas/Birthday gift funds on books. I was so happy to pick up a few titles in-person and then I hopped online to finish my shopping expedition. I was able to add a grand total of 12 books to my home library this month. Combine that with January’s 14 books and Decemeber’s 7, my shelves have seen quite a bit of rearranging to make space for new books. The joy of having a birthday so near to Christmas is that I get a lot of goodies all at one time… The downside of having a birthday so near to Christmas is I get a lot of goodies all at one time… and then nothing for a long time. Haha! It’s all good. I won’t be bragging about my book haul next month, but that’s okay. It was fun while it lasted!

My Kindle Unlimited subscription is finished for the time being. Some KU favorites this month were Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind and Wish You Weren’t Here by Gracie Ruth Mitchell. Both were rom-coms, but with a twist that made them unique. I enjoyed Country Walsh’s new release, My Lucky Charm. Her Holidays with Hart series has been a fun one with more sister to go in the saga. Cinder Luna by Marie Soleil was a creative fairy tale retelling of Cinderella. I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings and can’t wait to read the rest of this new series as it’s released. Waiting for the next book is always so hard!

I finished the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson this month. I really enjoyed how the novella series with Janci Patterson gave a look at what was happening “back home” while Spensa was off on her own intergalactic adventures. The novellas also deepened the side characters stories so you felt more connected with them in the final book, Defiant. I was gifted the first book of the series and decided to buy the rest of the series this month. This YA Sci-Fi series is one I could see my boys enjoying down the road. I love sharing books with them when the time is right!

A few other honorable mentions… I finally read Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis. I picked up a used copy at Powell’s years ago and I’ve felt bad about how long it’s sat on my shelf. There were parts of his story that I didn’t love (boarding school sounded awful!), but parts I really enjoyed. While I am nowhere near as well read as Lewis (understatement), I appreciated how books featured so prominently in his life story. I re-read A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White to refresh myself before her new release, A Noble Scheme, is out. My copy of the book is in the mail and I can’t wait to read it before it’s actual release date. I did a little book scouting and read Adventures with Waffles and Lena, the Sea, and Me by Maria Parr. I enjoyed the tales of childhood in Norway and could see my boys reading them when they are ready for new books. Right now Owen is in a Hardy Boys phase and Graham is obsessed with Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins. We are a household of happy readers!

Top Picks for February

The Book List for February
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

• Intentional Parenting: Autopilot Is for Planes by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, & Melissa Trevathan – 4
• Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis – 3 stars

Fiction:

• Skyward Flight: Sunreach, ReDawn, Evershore by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson – 4 stars
• Defiant by Brandon Sanderson – 4 stars
• Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr – 3 stars
• Lena, the Sea, and Me by Maria Parr – 4 stars
• But He’s My One Regret by Annah Conwell – 4 stars
• The Love Audit by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
• One More Song by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
• Out of Office by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
• The Last Taste by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
• One Last Play by Annah Conwell – 4 stars
• The Golden Goal by Annah Conwell – 3 stars
• Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind by Gracie Ruth Mitchell – 3 stars
• Wish You Weren’t Here by Gracie Ruth Mitchell – 3 stars
• Cinder Luna by Marie Soleil – 3 stars
• My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh – 3.75 stars
• A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White – 4 stars
• Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White – 5 stars

Bookish Thoughts for January

The biggest highlight of January was adding to my home library thanks to many thoughtful birthday gifts. Through a combination of birthday money, gift cards, and gifting, I added 14 books to my collection this month. I also pre-ordered a March new release. Woo hoo! When I realized that my birthday was going to be very quiet, I went to the internet started my online book shopping. I had hoped to visit a couple of bookstores in-person, but the weather didn’t accommodate. Oh well! I got my books, one way or another!

When adding to my home library this month, I went back through my Goodreads ratings for the last few years. If a book rated 4 or 5 stars, I added to my wish list. I also went through my Kindle and selected books that I’ve re-read digitally more than once. Since you can’t let friends borrow Kindle books, I wanted to add physical copies to my shelves so can share my favorites with others. Adding to my home library isn’t just about me. I love sharing books amongst family and friends.

Also this month, I did a little research reading for Owen. I remember reading Hatchet and The Twenty-One Balloons in elementary school and I wanted to refresh my memory on the stories. I believe Owen will enjoy these stories in the next few years, so I’ll look to add them to our home library in the near future. I’m also currently reading the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson. I was gifted the first book and there is a good chance I will pick up the complete series at some point. It’s been a solid 3 star series for me, but I could see my boys enjoying this YA Sci-Fi series in the future as well. Because a friend gave me the first book and is now letting me borrow the rest of the series, it’s been fun to connect with her and her daughter over this shared reading experience. I love when books bring people closer together!

I’m still enjoying my discounted subscription to Kindle Unlimited thanks to a Black Friday deal in November. The price will increase later in February, so I’m doing my best to get as my KU books read as possible in the next few weeks. I’m “on again, off again” with KU. I can’t justify the price monthly, but I enjoy the strategy of waiting for a decent about of new books to become available and then I re-subscribe for a short period of time. For the times when I don’t have KU, I’m thankful for the library, the Libby app, reading from my home library, and borrowing from friends. I’m never without access to a good book! What a wonderful thing!

Top Picks for January

The Book List for January
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

• Modern Miss Mason: Discover How Charlotte Mason’s Revolutionary Ideas on Home Education Can Change How You and Your Children Learn and Grow Together by Leah Boden – 4 stars
• Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer – 5 stars

Fiction:

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen – 3 stars
• The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois – 3 stars
• Starsight by Brandon Sanderson – 3 stars
• Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson – 3 stars
• The Good Part by Sophie Cousens – 3 stars
• Landin’ in Trouble by Brittany Larson – 3 stars
• Just One Look (novella) by Brittany Larson – 3 stars
• That Fine Line by Cindy Steel – 3 stars
• Double or Nothing by Cindy Steel – 3 stars
• Stranded Ranch (novella) by Cindy Steel – 3 stars
• Falling in Line by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
• Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor – 3 stars
• Play Me Once by Carina Taylor – 4 stars
• Tuesdays Like That by Carina Taylor – 4 stars
• A Fish Out of Water by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
• He is So Not My Valentine (novella) by Savannah Scott – 3 stars
• But He’s My Grumpy Neighbor by Annah Conwell – 4 stars
• Selling Out by Martha Keyes – 4 stars

Bookish Thoughts for November

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in all the bookish things! This time of year, I try to get my hands on as much Christmas content as I can. I’ve re-read Christmas books that I own. I snagged a couple Christmas novellas on sale. I’ve used the Libby app and our local library. I also got a Black Friday deal and re-subscribed to Kindle Unlimited. Give me all the Christmas books! While my fiction reading list looks long, about half are novellas, so I fly through those in a blink. I plan to keep all the Christmas cheer coming in December as well! It’s the happiest reading time of the year!

When I re-read The Hunger Games this summer, I mentioned waiting to re-read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes until November. It was my least favorite of the series and the snake content gave me the heebie-jeebies. While I found the history of Panem and Snow’s backstory interesting, I don’t love stories that don’t have a happily ever after. Snow is the villain of the series, but I couldn’t help rooting for him in Ballad, only to watch him fall. Not my favorite, but definitely informative for the series as a whole. I had a greater appreciation for the book after a second reading. I enjoyed reading it again before seeing the movie. No surprise, I liked the book better, but it was super fun to watch the movie with my forever friend and book buddy, Christa.

I’m making book lists and checking them twice. Between Christmas and my January birthday, this is the best season for adding to my home library. All I want for Christmas is books… you can substitute Christmas for my birthday, Groundhog’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, etc. You get the idea. All the books, all the time. After the holidays, I hope to pour over my 2023 book list and add some favorites from the year to my bookshelves. Because I’m an avid reader, I sometimes forget a good book I read in February by the end of the year. Thankfully, keeping track of my reading on Goodreads and on my phone gives me a great snapshot of what I’ve enjoyed most this last year.

Top Picks for November

Non Fiction: Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt and Mark Hunt. I read an older copy of this book a few years ago. While I enjoyed it the first time, I really appreciated this updated edition. I found myself stuck wondering what my oldest son should read next and a book about good books for kids was the perfect place for inspiration. Not only is this book packed full of recommendations, but the message is convicting! Good books offer kids so much. As parents, we get the great honor of sharing a world beyond our homes with our children. There are so many good books that will not only spark imagination, but help children gain wisdom, understanding, courage, and many more admirable attributes. Books are one of the greatest tools for shaping the next generation.
Non-Fiction: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer. This book was recommended by multiple sources, so I decided to give it a go. It had been a while since I’d read WWII historical fiction and I think that made the experience extra emotional for me. I was a blubbering mess by the end! I enjoyed the dual timeline between the grandmother as a teen in Poland during the WWII and her granddaughter in present times. The story is a mystery that unfolds and the title was so fitting. So many things go unsaid, for so many reasons. You see layer after layer throughout the whole story. It was well done and very moving (thus the puddle of tears I created)!

The Book List for November
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.

Non-Fiction:

• At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor by Carey Nieuwhof – 5 Stars
• Honey for a Child’s Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt and Mark Hunt – 4 stars

Fiction:

• The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – 4 stars
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – 4 stars
• The Other Side of Darkness by Melody Carlson – 2 stars
• Christmas at Harrington’s (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
• The Christmas Bus (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
• The Gift of Christmas Present (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
• Angels in the Snow (novella) by Melody Carlson – 3 stars
• Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel – 4 stars
• A Christmas Spark (novella) by Cindy Steel – 4 stars
• Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway – 4 stars
• Host for the Holidays by Martha Keyes – 4 stars
• Solo for the Season (novella) by Martha Keyes – 3 stars
• A Newport Christmess by Jess Heileman – 4 stars
• Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
• The Holiday Stand-In By Kortney Keisel – 4 stars
• Cotswold Holiday by Kasey Stockton – 4 stars
• Cabin Crush (novella) by Kasey Stockton – 3 stars
• Christmas Like This (novella) by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
• Cocoa Kisses (novella) by Melanie Jacobson – 3 stars
• Christmas Ella (novella) by Angela Ruth Strong – 3 stars