July's Reads: Contemporary Fiction

At the end of every month, as I look toward the next month's reading genre (you can find out about the reading challenge I'm doing here), I always scan my physical and Kindle bookshelves to see what I already own that fits that genre. For July, I was supposed to read contemporary fiction. The first thing I hit on was my Karen Kingsbury section of books. From there, I finished a series I started a while ago, read a couple new books, and revisited a beloved series from my teenage years. 

I started July reading Where Yesterday Lives by Karen Kingsbury. 

(From Karen's website)

Ellen Barrett, thirty-one, is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, Ellen longs for the time, long ago, when they were happy—when they were a family. 

Then tragedy strikes. Now Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she must leave Miami and return to her childhood home on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan. 

As she returns to a world that was, an avalanche of memories is unleashed. And so Ellen’s quest begins—a quest to make peace with the people who still live there, with the losses and changes that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her.

I had bought this one a while back but hadn't read it yet. And, to be honest, it wasn't my favorite. I've read a decent number of Karen Kingsbury books, and I generally enjoy them. I didn't not enjoy this - I just didn't have that full feeling when I finished it that comes after reading a really good book. That being said, this isn't a bad book. It's got interesting characters and focuses on the really difficult task of dealing with grief and learning to let go of the past. In the end, I think it has a lot of good things to say; it just wasn't my particular cup of tea this go around.

From that standalone book, I jumped back into Kingsbury's Redemption Series. If you are familiar with her books at all (and she has written an incredible number of them!), this is the original Baxter Family series. I have read the first book, Redemption, but I don't own it. Since I remembered it well enough, I jumped into the one I do own, Remember. 

(From Karen's website)

Convinced she could make it on her own, Ashley Baxter has kept the most important people in her life at a distance--her family, the man who loves her, and the God she is sure can never forgive her.

Now, just as she begins to open her heart, the events of September 11 rip into Ashley's world and she is led to heartbreaking and hope-filled decisions that will forever change her life.

I'll be honest: I cannot read or watch anything about the September 11th terrorist attacks without getting emotional. I'm just incapable of it. Kingsbury has another series of books more specifically about that, and those books absolutely wrecked me.

This book does coalesce around September 11th; it's a huge part of the story, and it is devastating. I forgot that I had read this one before as well, so I was getting little snippets of deja vu constantly. I went on to get the other books in the series from the library, which I had not done the last time around. So, Return, Rejoice, and Reunion were all new to me. Each one of these books, like much of Kingsbury's fiction, deals with tragic, painful circumstances, and they can be really emotionally gripping. Her characters - the now-iconic Baxter family - each deal with struggle and have to come to grips with their faith in different ways. Rejoice was the hardest for me to deal with, but its message is in some ways the most incredible. I always get on Kingsbury kicks when I read her books, so I'm eager to move on to the next Baxter Family series, which I have read the first book of but haven't finished. 

After reading Remember but while waiting on the rest of the books, I re-read Robin Jones Gunn's series Christy and Todd: The College Years. I first started reading her original Christy Miller series when I was 14, just a year or so younger than Christy is in that first book. And I absolutely loved those books when I was in high school. I own The College Years and one of the other collections, so I decided to dive back in. And they are every bit as good as I remember. 

The plot descriptions of these books - Until Tomorrow, As You Wish, and I Promise - are slightly spoilery, since it's not really the beginning of the series. So I'll just say this. The Christy Miller series documents the life of a young woman as she moves to California from the Midwest, meeting God, navigating highschool, and making lifelong friends along the way. Christy is one of the most relatable young adult characters I have ever read, and all of the other characters are really fun, too. And the lessons learned along the way sink deep as you read. I highly recommend these books. I'm also sensing some investment into more books in the future, because the library is kind of spotty on the rest of the books in this series and the related ones about Christy's friends. Which is quite terrible, as I've got to finish them!

I finished the month off by finishing the series I read in February - the Bradford Sisters books by Becky Wade. There are a couple of novellas in this series that I didn't know about, so I'll have to get around to those at some point. But the last main book is Sweet on You. 

(From Becky's website)

Britt Bradford and Zander Ford have been the best of friends since they met thirteen years ago. Unbeknown to Britt, Zander has been in love with her for just as long.

Independent and adventurous Britt channels her talent into creating chocolates at her hometown shop. Zander is a bestselling author who’s spent the past eighteen months traveling the world. He’s achieved a great deal but still lacks the only thing that ever truly mattered to him–Britt’s heart.

When Zander’s uncle dies of mysterious causes, he returns to Merryweather, Washington, to investigate, and Britt is immediately there to help. Although this throws them into close proximity, both understand that an attempt at romance could jeopardize their once-in-a-lifetime friendship. But while Britt is determined to resist any change in their relationship, Zander finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings hidden.

As they work together to uncover his uncle’s tangled past, will the truth of what lies between them also, finally, come to light?

Like the previous two books, this one was such fun! It's got a great mystery at its heart and characters that you get attached to quickly. Britt is very different from her sisters in her determination to keep it all together for everyone else's sake, and it has stunted her emotionally. That plays a very important part in this book, and I think it's a valuable arc. I absolutely loved this finale to the series and highly recommend! 

---

So, those are my reads from July. Have you read any of these books? What have you been reading lately? I'd love to talk about it in the comments! 

Thoughts from the Book of Romans

About a month ago, I started a Bible reading plan that is taking me through the letters of Paul. This is the specific plan, if you're interested - Paul's Letters. All this year, I have been working on studying God's Word more consistently - it's a habit I had really let myself get out of, and I've suffered for it. At first, all I could manage was a quick daily devotional. Then I did a two-week study on the Holy Spirit, and now I'm doing this. Eventually, I'd like to get back into reading the Psalms, as well. But, for now, this is enough. Usually, it's a couple chapters a day. The only thing I don't like about YouVersion is that it adds specific dates to each day, but I just ignore those if I miss a day (or on Sunday, when I don't typically do a personal devotional/study). 

I just finished Romans with this plan. And I will admit, it took me much longer than the plan has it taking, but that's okay. I can't remember the last time I read Romans all the way through; I'm not actually sure I ever have. So it's been a good experience. Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite verses and the thoughts I wrote down for them. 

Each new book has its own overview from the Bible Project. Romans had two - Chapters 1-4 and Chapters 5-16

Romans 2:28-29 "A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code."

Circumcision set God's people apart in the Old Testament. And it was done in obedience to God. But circumcision in and of itself cannot save anyone. God is looking to circumcise our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit and make us clean.

Romans 4:23-24 "The words 'it was credited to him [Abraham]' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness."

The study note for these verses talks about the exchange we make - we give God our sin, and He gives us justification and righteousness. Generally, an exchange includes things of somewhat equal value. But that is the exact opposite in this case! We give God something dirty and shameful, and He gives us His perfect righteousness. There's nothing equal about that! How incredible that God gives us this gift!

Romans 5:3-4 "... but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

This is an important verse to me, and it has been for a while. When we encounter trials and difficulties here on earth, it's sometimes really hard to keep going. Sometimes these are huge trials, like persecution in places like China. But other times it's the daily grind. In my case, that's parenting a toddler, and it can be incredibly overwhelming sometimes. Yet I know that what feels insurmountable some days is not the end. When we can keep going through suffering and trial, we are persevering. And, as we persevere, God is creating character in us, which results in a hope that does not go out. We have a hope of eternal life; we know that this is not all there is, and that's a tremendous encouragement to me on days that feel exhausting. 

Romans 7:21-23 "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind..."

Every day, I am at war with sin - in the form of disobedience and rebellion in my small child, and very definitely in myself. I don't want to be angry and snap, yet I do. I don't want to be resentful, yet sometimes I am. This is the work of sin in me. Yet I am not a slave to sin - I do not have to obey Satan. "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin... offer every part of yourself to [God]." (6:13) I don't want any part of me acting in the service of the Devil - not my mouth, in particular, which is what I struggle with the most. Instead, I want God to have everything.

Romans 11:36 "For from him and through Him and for Him are all things."

I cannot fully understand God's methods, because I am not God. But I trust Him. This verse is at the close of the chapter in this lovely doxology that essentially says God is above our understanding. It very much reminds me of the questioning chapter in Job. God is so far above our human understanding. We cannot fathom the mind of God. Yet He is holding all things together, and He loves us beyond our ability to fully grasp. 

Romans 12:3 "...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

There is nothing about me inherently that makes me better than anyone else. I need to remind myself of that sometimes. But in Christ, I am worthy, accepted, and loved. That is where I find my value.

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

This whole section describes Christian living, but this verse is a succinct roadmap of perseverance. We have in Christ a hope that never dies, so we can be joyful. We can hold on through trials, knowing they will end. And we can keep praying, knowing that God hears every word.

Romans 13:12 "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

I love this picture of time - that the night of our suffering and loneliness and fear is ending, and the day of Jesus' return is so very close. 

Romans 15:5-6, 30 "May the God Who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me."

God desires first obedience and then, above all else, unity. There should not be petty squabbling over differences of opinion in the church of Christ. Discussions about different interpretations of Scripture are healthy and good. But judgment and arguments over "disputable matters" are not. God gives different convictions to each of us, and Paul makes it clear that do ignore your convictions is sin. But that doesn't mean God has given someone else the same convictions, and it would be wrong me for to judge them for that. 

The final verse speaks to the importance of prayer. Too often, I treat prayer as an afterthought. In reality, though, it is a mighty weapon, and it's one of the ways we can unite with Christians around the globe. 

June's Reads: Thriller

 II have definitely read far more books this year than I did last year, and I’m very much enjoying it. Halfway through the year, I’ve read about 23 books, which is a huge improvement on last year. I had really missed reading. So this reading challenge has been a good thing for me. And it’s making me think at least a little bit outside of the box.

June’s genre was thriller, and, I’ll be honest, I don’t really own any thrillers. Since the other purpose of this challenge was for me to read through my bookshelves, that did present a bit of a problem. So I had to think a little beyond the “thriller” concept.

I chose to read a book I’ve owned for quite a while but had never made the time to read, Fire in the Night by Linda Byler. It’s billed as a “suspenseful romance,” which I would say is fitting.

(From publisher website)

The Amish community of Lancaster is being terrorized by barn fires. David and Malinda Beiler's barn was the first to go… Sarah, David and Malinda's daughter, observes her parents' agony. Not only is she afraid, and wishing she could protect her parents, she's entranced by the flirtatious Matthew Stoltzfus. He's dating her friend, Rose, but when he tenderly bandages Sarah's hand after she burned it at the barn raising, she wonders who he's really interested in.

When a second Amish barn burns for suspicious reasons, the Amish grow more restless…Seriously considering police protection, the increasingly tense community questions their traditional nonresistant approach to violence. Sarah now finds herself at odds with her mother over her choice of boyfriends and uncertain about how to respond to the attention of Lee, a newcomer to Lancaster. Not only that, she wonders if her dad is a wise enough leader as her community reels from within and without.

I enjoyed this book, the first in Byler’s Lancaster Burning series, enough to read the second one. And I’m currently trying to get ahold of the third and final book. It’s a pretty slow burn (pardon the pun), with much of the book focused on Sarah’s daily life and her fixation with her neighbor, Matthew. But ever-present under the surface is the mystery of the barn fires and who is setting them.

The writing style takes a little getting used to – Byler uses a lot of Pennsylvania Dutch, which is a German dialect typically used amongst the Amish, and translates in parentheses. It's really jarring, and I’m still not 100% sure that I like it, but it does theoretically help ground you in the setting. Some of her word and sentence choices are a little awkward for me, too – that may be just a writer sensitivity, though. Overall, the story and characters are interesting - even if I do want to scream at Sarah from time to time - and I am invested in seeing how this series finishes up.

I also finished John Grisham’s middle grade Theodore Boone legal thriller series. His Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer is followed by The Abduction, The Accused, The Activist, The Fugitive, and The Scandal. He must have run out of “A” names halfway through or something.

Overall, I enjoyed each book separately. They each follow the setup of the first book – a smart, generally good kid who knows more about the law than anyone else his age and dreams of being a great lawyer gets himself in the middle of trouble that he doesn’t cause but nonetheless helps solve. Each story is interesting on its own, but you definitely feel the targeted age group when you read them all quickly – they’re very repetitive with the details of Theo’s life, and they run together after a while. That being said, the highlight of most of the books is Theo’s stop in Animal Court on behalf of one friend or another, where, thanks to lax rules, he gets to truly act like a lawyer. It’s a fun series; they were all quick reads and something out of the norm for me.

I also read Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar, which is not at all a thriller, though it has some suspense elements to it. It’s biblical fiction that I highly enjoyed and definitely recommend.

---

So, overall, I’d say I didn’t dive too deep into true thrillers this month. But I did read, and I read things that are little different than I usually do. So I consider that a success. What have you been reading lately?