
My family gifted me a large stack of books for Christmas (oh they know me so well!), making January a good month of reading! Every book this month has come off my own library shelves! I even got a library stamp for stamping my own collection. I’ve decided it is an important part of a home library and it’s historicity! At some point I’ll add library books back into my reading but I am currently harboring a bit of resentment toward my local library district. I don’t feel like hashing out my library woes here today, but they did close my neighborhood library for no other reason than the board is bad at their job and mismanaging funds. Reading books I already own and being involved in the neighborhood movement is helping me deal with this personal crisis 😉
Well enough about that, let’s get into my stamped, read, and reviewed books of this month!


The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz
5 Stars: This is one of those books you want to sit with after you turn the last page – I wasn’t ready for the story to end and I am still not ready to move on from Juliet & Leith (and the rest of the Buchanans!) This novel is thick (in the best way) and all encompassing, fully engulfing me in the late 1700’s. I was caught up in the story, slowly enjoying it all unfold. This isn’t one of those afternoon quick reads, but one that you have the privilege to sit with for several days. I was grateful for it. Eye opening (don’t you love it when a novel can do that) and gave me a new perspective on the human experience and the Revolutionary war from a not American point of view. Simply enchanting, challenging, gripping, and endearing! Please tell me there will be more of the Buchanans!


The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse
5 stars: Taking place during the bone wars in Colorado/ Wyoming Territory in the 1800’s, the paleontology and setting so near my home was enough for me to pick it up! I had no idea it was a captivating mystery as well! I tried to figure out bits along the way but I didn’t see the whole story until it unfolded in front of my eyes! Wonderful, imperfect characters that learn and grow in grace. An an amazingly unique story! Cannot wait to read the rest of the Treasures of the Earth Series!


The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t by Erin Loechner
5 Stars: This is one of those books filled with so much to think about! I was actively changing and shaping our families’ views toward technology/ media usage while reading! As someone who gave up my social media and the platform I had worked so hard for, I could really relate to Erin and her choices to say no to social media so that she could say yes to something better. I have never regretted listening to the Lord and shutting down my Instagram – it was a wonderful way to make a side income but it also came at a cost. There were years where I didn’t think I could live without my cellphone or my online presence, but I have been stepping away from that mindset slowly over the years and this book just met me in that journey. We may not end up as “extreme” as the Loechners with flip phones, but we are making changes that may look odd to the world. Although, I think there is a powerful moment recognizing the cost of social media/ cellphones/ technology and we as the parents of a new generation are rising up and making changes – valuing and protecting our children’s childhoods. Overall, great book that I would recommend to every parent! Our family cultures matter – God has given us our children and our families to steward well! I envision myself reading this book again in the future!


Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Malcolm Guite
5 Stars: Christmas ends and Epiphany begins on January 6th, so I didn’t finish this festive book until this month! However, I love how Christmas stretches on through the New Year in the Anglican calendar and ushers us into a slower, less rushed season! This poem a day book by Malcom Guite is a perfect addition to the season! Seriously, I love Malcom Guite (his YouTube videos are absolutely adorable and enchanting!) and his daily readings in Lent has been something I have done for the last several years! If you think you are not a poem person, try again! Malcom effortlessly combines a poem with his reflection and commentary on it and awakens my soul to see Christ and his gospel with new eyes. A wonderful read – maybe a bit odd and challenging for non-poetry readers- but very much worth it and now a tradition in my life for the Anglican church seasons!


Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel
4 Stars: I really enjoy Jennifer Deibel and have read almost all of her Ireland novels (I realized there is one I have not read yet!!) This is very immersive in the Irish landscape and brings to life the characters and timeline! I enjoyed the faith element of the characters learning to rely on God and not themselves/ their Irish superstitions. I was very interested in learning about the weaving process and did some more research on my own which is always a fun byproduct of learning something new in a novel! There is a lot of Irish words and slang woven into the stories which makes it hard to read at points. There is a glossary to go back and define it all, but that takes too much time for me/ takes away from the story so I just move along assuming what it says based on the content around it. I am sure that this could be remedied by listening to the audiobook version as my brain is not Irish! Big fan of how Owen & Saoirse’s story unfolds – don’t always love the miscommunication but I do think it is accurate and on-brand with their characters. The side romances felt a little rushed to me but also I don’t mind that much 😉 Overall, a wonderful read!


Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin
4 Stars: I have read and enjoyed a couple other Sarah Sundin books before and truly enjoyed this one as well! The WWII story takes a different angle/ perspective than we are used to (censorship and refugees) and makes it come alive! I really loved Hugh Collingwood’s character and enjoyed the progression of his relationship with Aleida. I was surprised by the murder mystery addition to the storyline but I love a Matlock mystery to solve while reading a novel!! HAHA. I had a couple qualms with the book, one being that it is seriously very hard to have Aleida be separated from her son, but it all mostly came together in the end and was worth the read! I will gladly read more from Sarah Sundin in the future!
I have one more “other” review for the month. Goodreads makes it clear that this is “NOT A BOOK” so I cannot review it there, but this is my favorite planner ever and I finished it this month so I wanted to review here!


The Homeschool Planner by Jennifer Pepito
I rounded out the last week in this planner just as the new year began making it my first book to finish in 2025! I needed to order my second right away (I’m already using it!) as we move into a new year of homeschooling & life. This has been my favorite planner of all time to use because it is so flexible and comes with empty dates! This allows me to plan weeks when needed and skip weeks of vacation or summer or Christmas – my last planner lasted over a year and a half (but I don’t foresee that happening again as we get more and more homeschooly over here!) I also love the meal plan boxes and big boxes for the days of the week so that I can easily add in our homeschool checkboxes. I need a place to write things down but not assume too much for me and this planner does just that!



It is a new year and I have a new reading goal! As of today we are 7/80 books read! You can check the status of my Goodreads report here. If you don’t already, follow me on Goodreads to see what I am reading, what I want to read, my favorite books, and every review I write! I also share all the books that I have rated 4 or 5 stars on my Amazon storefront where you can look for even more recommendations than just this monthly list! Always feel free to share recommendations with me – I am a big fan of word of mouth!