I read seven books the month of February and was thankful for the extra day we got this year as I finished three of these books on the 29th 😉 The girls and I started listening to audiobooks in the car (I pick up the CD versions at the library) and that has been great fun for us all! I sometimes struggle with how to rate books – books I enjoyed can get 3.5 stars and other books I didn’t think I liked can get 4.5 stars in the end. It all depends on what I am feeling and writing down about the book at the end. My rating system isn’t flawless and I know it is impacted by different seasons in my life (I may like a book more next year or less last year, etc,) but I try to not get caught up in making sure I’ve reached the perfect rating or written the perfect review. I just write and review how I feel in the moment and let it be. This all may be overkill to say, and you may not overthink leaving reviews on goodreads the way I do, but I felt like I should say something here. You may rate higher what I rated lower or you may disagree with my take on a book, but that one of the great things about literature – our words, books, and thoughts don’t have to be for everyone!
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
5 Stars: I picked up the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre dramatization of this book at the library and we devoured it in the car – it was incredible! With original musical scores, engaging sound design, and incredible voice actors, we were all caught up in the story and sad when it was over. Every time I would stop the car, my five-year-old would say things like “I bet the Robbin will find the key!” or “I need to know who is crying!!” or “I think he just needs a friend. I hope he gets one.” I love the transformation these kids go through as they learn to love others, engage with the world, and break free from the childhoods that were forming them. The purpose these spoiled, lonely kids found in caring for a garden was life giving and revealed the truth that it is in giving and generosity we can find true contentment and joy. The part where they sang the Doxology made me cry and I was encouraged that despite many “waisted” years, there is always hope of redemption. Martha, Dicken, and their mother live joyful, faithful lives with what the Lord has given them and are the big instigators of change in the lives of Mary and Master Colin – it makes the three of them my favorite characters. 100% worth a listen!
“Two worst things as can happen to a child is never to have his own way – or always to have it.”
At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
5 Stars: I don’t recall ever reading this book, so this first read along with my kids was enchanting, engaging , and captivating. The way George MacDonald weaves fantasy and reality together to tell a story is truly magical. The story itself is very Dickensian – with a spotlight on the working class struggles in 1800s England. We see Diamond, a young boy who is the son of a poor cab driver, live the life he has been given well – loving others, caring for those around him, trusting, protecting, and resting in the North Wind. The way MacDonald uses conversations between The North Wind and Diamond to answer some of life’s hardest questions is truly beautiful. I teared up at the end but also had such a peace in my heart. There is a reason this is a classic and inspired so many other classics!
PS: This is another Focus on the Family Radio Theatre dramatization we picked up at the library for the car to listen to. It was amazingly done! I purchased the book to read again soon.
Beneath the Bending Skies: A Novel by Jane Kirkpatrick
4.5 Stars: I knew nothing going into this book and I enjoyed following Mollie Sheehan’s story as told in a personal journal way (similar to Little House on the Prairie.) However, at the beginning, I expected it to be mostly a love story as we see Peter and Mollie develop a relationship with some pretty dramatic twists and a very stubborn father. So once we got midway (aka she got married), I wondered what happened to the plot, where the story was going to go, and what the point of the book actually was. This part honestly dragged on a bit and I was wondering if I wanted to keep reading/ finish it. It was then that I learned that this book is based on the true story and life of Mollie Ronan. That was fascinating. And then the book made so much more sense to me as a reader because the story is her life, her feelings, her trials. It is a million little stories in one lifetime that flow together to create a bigger narrative. I finished the book in awe and wishing there was more – soaking up the author’s note at the end filled with all the historical facts. Reading the life of a historical figure who was actually just a normal girl living a faithful life, not someone who was trying to leave a mark on history or even doing big things, was encouraging. She was sensitive to her role as a daughter and sister, loved and supported her husband, raised her children, engaged her neighbors, and was faithful to the Lord. She lived a very simple life that had a great impact on those around her – and that is an inspiration. Our mundane, everyday faithfulness has ripples we may not even see or know in our lifetime. I can’t explain it, but once I finished this book, I realized I liked it more than I did while reading it.
PS: The audiobook helped this story come alive. I recommend listening to it if you can!
The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel
4.5 Stars: After really enjoying The Maid of Ballymacool, I was excited to read more of this author. This is a great story set in Ireland in the 1920’s with a Romeo and Juliet kind of love (although thankfully not the same ending!) I knocked off .5 stars because I almost had it with the “we can’t be together” sabotaging each of them was doing, but it all worked out in the end and mostly made be forget how much I hated that part 😉 A fun, historical, clean romance that not only kept me engaged, but also had me researching Irish history on the side (always a good mark of historical fiction well done!)
A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel
3.5 Stars: Okay, this book had a lot to like (Ireland, sacrifice, friendship, romance) and I have been devouring the other books in this series, however this one didn’t win me over. The story felt over dramatic at many points and Moira was frustratingly naive and unaware most of the time. I always hate a love triangle and this one was the worst because we all knew that Declan was bad news. I’m glad she figured it out but I was truly shocked how she even ever wrestled with it!?! The absolute hatefulness of quite a bit of the characters didn’t feel founded. I get that people may be turned off by her because if things they heard, but it didn’t feel like a natural response. And the twist at the end was way too dramatic and unnatural – I felt the motivation lacking. I’m truly shocked that everyone believed the lies of ONE mentally unstable criminal over the Truth. I get small towns like drama, but you would think someone would be a bit discerning! The good part: Peg, Colm, and Bridge.
Forged in Love by Mary Connealy
3.5 Stars: I mostly liked it. It was a fun, quick read. I liked Clint although I wish his backstory was a tad bit stronger, and Mariah was fine but felt a bit lacking somehow as the main character. Speaking of Mariah, I’m not sure if that is supposed to be her on the cover (I assume so!) but I cannot get over how much the book talks about her only wearing black and then finally getting a pretty purple flower dress and the outfit on the cover is clearly neither of those – when did she wear this outfit? Also the ending leaves a bit to be desired and several loose ends. I am hoping and assuming that the next book will help solve those things but I’m afraid we were supposed to be satisfied with the resolution. I didn’t love their marriage story and proceeding awkward conversations. I didn’t like how Clint at the end stops using the traditional/ fancy names for the dishes he makes in his restaurant – it was such a random addition on nearly the last page and it is supposed to show us he has grown and changed too?!? or something? I don’t really like Becky, but I do like Nell! Overall, not the best book I’ve read, but I’ll read the next one just to see what happens!
Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
3 Stars: I finally got around to reading this and I was pretty disappointed and a bit embarrassed I have been giving this book as a gift the past couple years. As someone who listens and follows the Risen Motherhood podcast, I thought this book was going to be a deeper dive into their ministry to moms, however it is the opposite. This is a motherhood book that does point women to Christ and is gratefully Biblically sound, but very elementary. This book is definitely geared toward young, first time, or soon-to-be moms. Or maybe moms who are new believers or moms who are just starting to try to put their faith into action. This isn’t necessarily for a seasoned mom or even a mature Christian. I have three young kids but I just felt like so many of the “issues” were unrelatable or not where I am looking for hope and Gospel transformation (lets talk about discipline, training in righteousness, being grateful in all circumstances, sharing the gospel, being an engaged and Christlike parent, etc.) Some of the parts were encouraging to me (always a good reminder that the gospel does permeate through all the things in our lives,) but lots of it was unrelatable, superficial, and geared toward insecure and stressed out moms (like full chapters on being sad about birth stories, struggling with body image, making food choices for our kids, lamenting over school choices, and self-care.) I know there are lots of moms who struggle in these areas and are learning and growing in their relationship with the Lord – this book is for them! The last two chapters were the most encouraging/ best part of the book but overall a big miss for me – nothing too profound.
That is all for February! 4/5 stars are added to my Amazon lists here where you can look for even more recommendations. Follow me on Goodreads to see what I am reading, what I want to read, some of my favorite books, and every review I write! Any other books I should add to my list? Leave a comment and let me know!
