Welcome to the July 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

I’ve been squeezing in a lot of short reads lately, so let’s get right to it!

Science fiction isn’t usually my thing, but I heard about The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster on The Catholic Reading Challenge podcast and downloaded a copy. In this dystopian future, humans exist entirely in their government-assigned apartments, interacting with others only via button and screen. Sound familiar? The thing that most gave me pause about this story is that it was written more than 100 years ago!

The Boden Birthright by Mary Connealy is a novella prequel to The Cimarron Legacy series, which I plan on reading soon. It provides an introduction to some of the characters in this Texas ranch series. While I think understanding this bit of back story will enhance my enjoyment of the books, I found it a little lackluster.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan is a children’s classic I never read. I had no idea it was so short—and deceptively simple. It paints a lovely portrait of frontier life told from a young girl’s point of view as her widowed father welcomes a mail order bride of sorts into their family. I think my daughters will love this one.

The Lost Letter is the second book I’ve read by Mimi Matthews. It was a perfect distraction on a beautiful Sunday afternoon when the world was going crazy. Well-developed characters and a second-chance Victorian romance tugged on my heart in the best way.

I immediately switched to The Matrimonial Advertisement, also by Mimi Matthews, the first book in the Parish Orphans of Devon series. This shares some superficial similarities to The Lost Letter (mainly a wounded veteran of an Indian (as in India, not American native) uprising), but this story amid the rugged seaside cliffs with its dilapidated abbey drew me in. With a touch of the Gothic, the quality of this Victorian romance ensured I’d be reading the remaining books in the series.

I won Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19^th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery by Michelle Griep in a Goodreads giveaway, and I’ve been tardy in reading and reviewing it. I love the author’s novels, and these stories were enjoyable, even if not as moving . Length is a factor here. These were quick reads though with well-developed characters and a good sampling of the author’s style. I enjoyed the mystery aspect in each of the stories, particularly the first story, “The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady.”

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz came recommended to me on several fronts, and I’ve been meaning to read it for quite a while. Still looking to immerse myself in something other than current events, I dove in, loving the lush Kentucky wilderness world that the author created. The sweeping romance delves into the simple lives of late-18^th century Americans complicated by the competing interests of natives, pioneers, the British, and the French –not to mention the threats of disease and deprivation. The romance between a Kentucky pastor’s daughter and the half-native man whose life has been intertwined with hers since childhood is tender, heartfelt, and passionate.

I zipped through two novels by Catholic author Janice Lane Palko in a few days.  St. Anne’s Day, set in Pittsburgh, was a little like visiting home with its casts of characters that speak and act like the people I was surrounded by growing up, from their down-to-earth frankness to their uniquely Pittsburgh quirks and cultural Catholicism. There’s a lot of levity to this book even though it deals with some grave topics. The romance is between a fallen-away Catholic/avowed bachelor bar owner and the visiting nurse tending to his ailing, aged mother. Their path to a happily ever after is anything but straight.

The sequel, Our Lady of the Roses, is hard to put in a box. Is it a comedy? Yes. Does it deal with serious spiritual matters? Yes. Is it Christian fiction? Yes. Does it fit the Christian Booksellers Association mold for Christian novels? No. And a little diversity among my Christian fiction is good, I think. The story follows superficial, promiscuous Janetta to Rome as she accompanies boring Bob, a salon client, on a business trip (with a side pilgrimage). Bob is the steady, honorable guy Janetta needs but doesn’t think she deserves.

The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund, second in the The Bride Ships series, takes place at the same time as the first book as a ship of prospective English brides arrive in British Columbia. I like the prodigal son aspect of this story as developed in the hero, Pete. A lowly baker, Pete sets his sights on the aristocratic Arabella, running from what all but certainly would’ve been an abusive arranged marriage. I’ve seen others refer to this story as involving a love triangle, but there never seemed to be any real competition in that regard, at least not one I couldn’t see easily resolved, so I didn’t classify it that way.

My teenage son enjoyed listening to the audio drama Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott, which chronicles Dooku’s life as a Jedi before he turned to the Dark Side, while taking his daily walk. It was like listening to a movie, he said. It’s now one of his favorite Star War books.

My middle-school daughter is working her way through Theresa Linden’s West Brothers series, most recently Life-Changing Love. I’ve read the book myself, but it was interesting to see it through my pre-teen daughter’s eyes as she discerned the good and bad relationship choices the characters were making. What a great opportunity for her to see real-life consequences in a fictional setting where no people are harmed!

She also enjoyed a book I’m going to read as well: Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles, which I think I first saw recommended by Catholic Teen Books author Leslea Wahl and made part of my summer reading list. Honoring a vow to her wounded soldier brother, Gabriela walks the Camino de Santiago with her brother’s best friend, whom she despises.

Across Five Aprils is a historical novel set during the Civil War that I saw recommended on an An Open Book post and knew immediately would appeal to my daughter, who loves American history. It follows young Jethro Creighton, starting in 1861, through the Civil War as his family is pulled into the conflict between North and South.

I read two stories from Heavenly Hosts:  Eucharistic Miracles for Kids to my now-third grade daughter, in bed each night. She enjoyed listening to the stories set in various centuries and throughout the world. The fictional details Kathryn Griffin Swegart adds to the true miracles make them more interesting and engaging for young readers. A few editing details could be cleaned up in the text but didn’t detract from my daughter’s enjoyment.

This is the third child in the household reading the Origami Yoda series, and she is currently reading The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger. These are fun books for my Star Wars fans, who usually ending up grabbing paper and attempting to make little origami creations.

After purchasing books through a recent online Usborne party, my two youngest are re-discovering the Shine-A-Light books they enjoy. The new favorite seems to be  Secrets of Winter by Carron Brown. If you have young kids in your life and you haven’t discovered these, they are such fun! Hold a flashlight behind the page to reveal a hidden part of the illustration.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

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Welcome to the June 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

The school year here went out with a whimper during stay-at-home orders, and our reading and listening routines are changing again. I spend almost no time in the car or alone, so my audiobook listening has really dropped off, but my teenager is trying listening to books for the first time when he takes daily walks.

I generally don’t read fantasy, but I make exceptions for author friends’ books, and I’ve been meaning to read Katy Huth Jones’s Mercy’s Prince, the first in a five-book series, for years. This is just the kind of fantasy I enjoy: it’s human-centric with names I can pronounce! I had no trouble immersing myself in the fictional world replete with an invading reptilian horde and noble dragons. A sweet and tender romance and some gritty (but not gruesome) battle scenes round out this Christian fantasy for teens and adults.

At Love’s Command is Christian historical romance author Karen Witemeyer’s latest release. This one includes more action than most of her novels, but since the hero is a cavalryman turned mercenary, it makes sense. The likable heroine is a doctor, unusual for her time. Karen Witemeyer writes with a consistency of quality that I admire.

Becky Wade’s Stay With Me, the first in the Misty River Romance series, tackles some tough issues not often seen in Christian fiction, the main one being opioid addiction. Despite the grim topic, Stay With Me remains hopeful, even humorous at times and includes beautiful faith themes that come together seamlessly by the end.

Farmgirls Die in Cages in Corinna Turner’s most recent release in her unSPARKed series. I love that these are published in short, serial installments, each one as exciting as the last. Great adventure fun for teens and adults. Life with dinosaurs seems plausible in this wonderfully designed future world.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a fifth century B.C. Chinese military handbook that my now-high school senior (gulp!) listened to on audiobook. He’s interested in both Western and Eastern classics, so this appealed to him.

My two oldest kids loved E.K. Johnston’s Ahsoka, so my son was eager to cash in on a deal for Queen’s Shadow by the same author, which he’s also been listening to. While not his favorite Star Wars novel, he’s enjoyed seeing some of the characters from The Clone Wars series, of which he’s a big fan.

My middle school daughter had planned on reading Roland West, Loner by Theresa Linden for a self-directed literature assignment, but the school year ended without it being realized. Instead, she’s reading it for pleasure (though I may work through the discussion questions with her afterwards). Roland West, a quiet, unassuming kid, is thrust into a new high school along with his bullying twin brothers. He discovers friendship, a mystery, and maybe even a miracle. This is another that both her older brother and I enjoyed and a fabulous introduction to the West Brother series, which is wrapping up with Fire Starters, just released on Pentecost.

Another Theresa Linden book makes the list this month: Breastplate of Righteousness, the second book in her Armor of God chapter book series. I had the pleasure of editing this little illustrated book that’s great for students in the early elementary grades. Each book includes simple lessons about virtue in the context of medieval students aspiring to be nights and dames. I have two young readers in the target audience for this one!

My youngest child dug into the books he received from his teachers to kick off his summer reading. Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel includes several short illustrated tales for young readers. My now-second grader also began Super Fly: The World’s Smallest Superhero by Todd H. Doodler. It’s what you’d likely expect. Mild-mannered Eugene Flystein and his Fantastic Flea sidekick take on the villainous Crazy Cockroach.

My younger readers have also picked up the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books that belong to their older brother, and, believe it or not, they’ve been zipping through my Garfield books from the 1980s while clutching my old stuffed animals. Apparently I’m so they’re so old that they’re not readily available anymore.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

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Welcome to the May 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Since our family schedule has been radically altered due to self-isolation, we’ve begun incorporating some reflection in our morning prayer using Mike Aquilina’s A Year with the Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living. This lovely leather book with a fancy ribbon bookmark includes a daily entry with a short passage from a church father, reflection questions, and a closing prayer.

My husband picked up a book on our shelf to dig into: Tolkien: A Celebration, edited by Joseph Pearce. This collection of fourteen essays reflects on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “great literary legacy and the spiritual values that undergird his imaginary Middle-earth.”

Together, my husband and I read 33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Consecration to Divine Mercy by Michael E. Gaitley, culminating in consecration on Divine Mercy Sunday. These easy to read, daily entries delve into St. Therese’s “Little Way,” while incorporating what we know about mercy from St. Faustina.

Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese is the most moving book I’ve read this year. This romance relies heavily on sacrificial love, which is always my favorite. Inspired by the author’s international adoption of her own daughter, the story traces Lauren’s path in becoming an adoptive mother, which comes into conflict with her blossoming relationship with the dinosaur-loving education tech wizard/substitute teacher Joshua, who is everything she’d ever hoped for in a husband. This one is not to be missed! (Kindle ebook on sale for $1.99 5/6/20 ONLY!)

I joined with readers on Litsy to read a short story by one of my favorite classic authors, Willa Cather. My Mortal Enemy is an interesting observation of love and, in part, an illustration of how we always hurt the ones we love the most. Cather, despite being a non-Catholic, has a tremendous grasp of the sacramentality of the faith.

Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter is the second book in the Bluebell Romance series. In this installment, older brother Levi is matched with Hollywood starlet Mia. Levi is a likable enough hero in the story of three siblings and their efforts to make a go of the family inn following their parents’ death.

This Wandering Heart is a strong debut by Janine Rosche. This contemporary Christian romance is set (mostly) in beautiful Montana and introduced me to glamping. (Glamour + camping. I am the only one who didn’t know this was a thing?) The last quarter of this second chance romance between single dad Robbie and wounded school teacher/social media maven Keira/Kat Wanderfull is the strongest – fast-paced and rich in conflict.

Corinna Turner has added another fun adventure to her dystopian dinosaur  unSPARKed series with Panic!, probably the most action-packed installment of the thus far. In this one, the stories and characters collide! The fragility of life and its unexpected turns resonate and leave you on the edge of your seat.

My time in the car has been significantly reduced lately, so I’ve found less time for audiobooks. Even so, I’ve begun listening to the final installment in Nancy Mehl’s Kaely Quinn Profiler series. The stakes are high in Dead End as special agent Kaely is called in to interview her serial killer father in pursuit of a copycat killer. This may be what it takes to push Kaely over the edge. Or it may finally push her into the arms of her brooding, widowed partner Noah.

My sixth-grade daughter sped through Carmela Martino’s Playing by Heart in two days, enjoying this lyrical historical novel based on the real-life Agnesi sisters of 18^th century Milan. She loves historical fiction, and this story with faith themes and a bit of romance was a great fit for her.

While clearing out some books to convert our computer room into a bedroom, we ran across Valley of the Moon: the Diary of Maria Rosalia de Milagros by Sherry Garland, part of the Dear America series. The daily entries are set in Sonoma Valley, California, 1846. I think this is something both my daughters might enjoy.

In her Easter basket, my second-grade daughter received a copy of The Case of the Easter Egg Escapades (Sisters of the Last Straw Book 6) by Karen Kelly Boyce. It’s a fun Easter-themed mystery for chapter book readers. In my recent interview with Karen Kelly Boyce, she reveals the origin of this convent of sometimes-silly sisters.

My daughter is loving Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage by Carey Wallace. This attractive, oversized hardback book is filled with beautifully illustrated biographies of saints from early Christianity to modern times. I’m learning about some obscure saints right along with her.

This child also immediately absconded with The Kid’s Book of Prayers About All Sorts of Things. This book was recently given a fresh, contemporary look by Pauline Kids. I would’ve loved to have had a book like this as a kid with prayers for all sorts of situations – loneliness, birth of a sibling, loss of a grandparent, holidays, etc. With lots of white space and fun illustrations, it can become a treasured keepsake – part journal, part prayer book.

The youngest kid in the house received King of the Shattered Glass by Susan Joy Bellavance in his Easter basket. I first discovered this book through Erin McCole Cupp’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk series. This touching tale is perfect for children who are about the age of making their first confession.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

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Welcome to the April 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

It’s sad that shortly after my husband received Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson, adoration was indefinitely suspended in our parish due to the global pandemic. Even so, he’s made use of this attractive, leather-bound manual with chapters devoted to Sacred Scriptures, the Rosary, the Catechism, and Lives of the Saints.

I’ve been listening to Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us Out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode—and into a Life of Connection and Joy by Aundi Kolber with a group of women this Lent. I’m falling a bit behind because I have little opportunity to listen to audiobooks now that I have nowhere to drive and there are five other people in the house 24/7. But the author has a lot of valuable things to say to those who have suffered the effects of trauma and have been white-knuckling through life for years, maybe even decades, instead of truly living.

This Lent, my bible study group began an Ascension Press study designed around Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life by Marcellino D’Ambrosio. That too has been canceled due to COVID-19, but I am continuing the study alone when I can spare a few minutes. The book has helped me to grasp the Holy Land geography better than anything I’ve studied and does a remarkable job of presenting both Jesus’ human and divine natures.

Channel of Your Peace by Veronica Smallhorn is an honest look at the lies we tell with our bodies when we live in a way that doesn’t honor God’s design for marriage, family, and self-sacrificial love. In her debut novel, the author captures the heroine’s journey in a genuine, nonjudgmental way, allowing the reader to witness her heartache, suffering, and conversion in a gradual, natural way.

Desperate Forest by Cece Louise is a YA historical novel about a princess on the run, kingdoms in jeopardy, a menacing forest, and a bit of mystery. Add the uncertainty of whom our refugee Princess Roselynn can trust and a little romance, and it’s a recipe for a fun escape. I will pass this recommendation on to my daughter.

My high school junior recently won a Scholastic Gold Key Award for his science fiction story entitled “Asimov.” Appropriately, one of his teachers recommended he read some Isaac Asimov, so he’s been reading Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation. With the libraries closed, he now has unlimited, free renewals on this science fiction tale about psychohistorians trying to mitigate a 30,000-year dark age.

In sixth grade, my daughter is reading The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke with her class. A gang of orphans on the streets of Venice steal from the wealthy, and a pair of runaway brothers find their home with them.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is also being shared by the girls here. I’ve somehow never read this children’s classic in which a girl discovers the hidden garden of her widowed guardian’s deceased wife. Based on A Little Princess, by the same author, I’d give this a try.

My younger daughter recently received Belt of Truth by Theresa Linden as a sort of First Reconciliation gift. This charming knight-in-training story includes a lesson about honesty for chapter-book readers. It includes great illustrations by the multi-talented author too.

This girl of mine loves everything dogs, and she also picked up The Berenstain Bears Epic Dog Show by Stan, Jan, and Mike Berenstain. It sounds like Bear Country bully Too-Tall is faced with juvenile detention or some community service. Which will he choose?

My youngest loved Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller. Unfortunately, this story left him asking me for doughnuts. I’m baking our bread now, but I’ve not yet ventured into doughnut territory. You need a fryer for that, don’t you? Anyway, he read this tale of a doughnut who doesn’t know he’s meant to be eaten on Storyline Online.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

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Welcome to the March 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Welcome to the February 2020 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

Once Christmas Day passed, I had an opportunity to do a bit more reading, including reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for the first time. From there I dove into a variety of books, including an advance copy of Danielle Bean’s Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood, which releases this week. In her usual personal style, the author provides encouragement to mothers embarking on a different but equally-challenging stage of life in their vocations as mother and wife. A quick read filled with hope.

The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel set in an early 20^th century mental institution (though Brighton, the protagonist, is not mentally ill and neither are some others forcibly committed to the institution where she resides.) Stellar fiction that is imaginative, multi-layered, and marked by persistent hope amid suffering.

The Last Shot by Amy Matayo is the third book in her Love in Chaos series, each book being set amid a calamity: lost at sea, a tornado, and now an active shooter during a country musician’s concert. I’ve enjoyed each book so far, and this one didn’t disappoint. I love how deeply the author gets into each character’s head. Lots of chemistry in this one and some heated kisses.

Jeff Goins’ The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do was a short listen in the car. His advice for discovering what you’re called to do rang true with my own experience in discovering what to pursue in college and in life. I like that the stories shared incorporate faith and that his approach includes a well-balanced life that is about much more than work but faith, family, and service as well.

Denise Hunter’s contemporary Christian romances are consistently well-done, and Lake Season is no exception. This story’s hero, Adam, stands out as the nerdy love interest – something we see little of in romance. I say, give us more real men that have a variety of interests, aren’t perfect-looking, and don’t play sports or have six-pack abs.

I completed the final read-through of my own novel coming out next week: Come Back to Me. It’s a sequel of sorts to Stay With Me, but can stand alone. This one is a little different for me. It’s shorter than any novel I’ve written (less than half the size of all but Rightfully Ours), and not a conventional romance. This one falls more readily into the general Christian fiction category, though a marriage is at the center of the story. Come Back to Me shares the point of Chris’s older brother Alan, who is separated from his wife, and Megan, another minor character from Stay With Me who, like Alan, is forced to re-think her approach to life.

My oldest son found Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic boxed with my old college books and has been reading a letter here and there. Seneca was one of my favorite Roman writers (along with Cicero), and I’m so glad that I hung onto this book (in English, not Latin), and it’s getting some use!

With Christmas cash, he also picked up the Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo, which is fun for the whole family to flip through, looking up races or characters here and there, especially as some have resurfaced in Disney’s The Mandalorian.

My tween went on a reading binge starting with Cynthia Toney’s 8 Notes to a Nobody, a story well-suited to her age. Wendy, on the verge of starting high school, deals with changing friendships and interests, a blended family, and some not-so-nice classmates. Oh, and she loves puppies! Great start to the Birdface series.

From there my daughter launched into Raymond Arroyo’s Will Wilder series starting with The Relic of Perilous Falls, and read the three books in the series very quickly! It sounds as if it’s set up for four additional books, but I couldn’t find any indication that more are in production. She’s encouraged me to read these stories of a boy battling demons in his town.

I had to keeping digging new books out for this child and finally handed her Leslea Wahl’s debut novel, The Perfect Blindside. She really loved this story of a cocky snowboarder and a high school photographer who team up to solve a mystery in their Colorado town. Mystery, adventure, faith, and a little romance – a perfect combination for my young lady!

Somewhere in there, she also read It Happened in the White House: Extraordinary Tales from America’s Most Famous Home by Kathleen Karr. As you might expect, it includes ghost sightings and a variety of interesting tales gathered over the centuries. Her favorite story was of newly inaugurated Ronald Reagan wanting to ride his horse back to the White House. For protection, a steel-lined hat and bullet proof long johns were provided to him only for him to change his mind about the horseback ride.

My second grader hops from book to book and back again, and Sisters of the Last Straw’s The Case of the Christmas Tree Capers by Karen Kelly Boyce has been carted around the house with her. These are cute chapter books with an endearing cast of imperfect religious sisters who solve a little mystery. I see there is an Easter-themed book on the way too!

True to her puppy-loving self, she also has been reading The Adventures of Wishbone book The Mutt in the Iron Muzzle by Michael Jan Friedman. (It’s a retelling of The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas, in case you didn’t guess.) This takes me back decades to my nephew, who loved watching Wishbone after school. A cute series whether in books or on TV.

My little boy read Tornado by Betsy Byars at home and with his class. This simple chapter book is a story within a story as the tale of discovering a lost dog during a tornado is retold from inside a storm shelter.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook Share on X

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

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Welcome to the December 2019 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

My husband and I are going to be reading 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration by Michael E. Gaitley together. I did St. Louis de Montfort’s Marian consecration years ago, but I’ve been lax about renewing it, mainly because I found his book tedious and boring. (There, I’ve said it. Take back my Catholic card.) This looks like more of a user-friendly book including not only the words of St. Louis de Montfort, but also St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope St. John Paul II.

I love a good Christmas novella, and Julie Lessman has been adding them to her popular series of novels each year. This year, she released A Gift Like No Other: An O’Connor Christmas Novella, which features the original couple from her Daughters of Boston series, Faith and Collin. (A Passion Most Pure). This book pertains largely to marital intimacy, and though there are scenes of married couples in some pretty passionate embraces, there is no explicit or lurid content. I appreciate that in keeping with her tagline “passion with a purpose,” Julie Lessman refuses to gloss over sensitive issues such as sexuality, temptation, and chastity. (Maybe we have a little in common.) In a world that wants to keep God out of the bedroom at all costs, she introduces Him through characters who welcome Him into every aspect of their lives. I grew a little jealous of the circle of O’Connor family women, who frankly share their most personal problems and are surrounded with prayer and support. On the other hand, I wanted to shake Collin since as a Catholic, he’d do well to avail himself of sacramental confession. I guess that proves his character has become real to me!

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl was a relatively short audiobook that moved at a good clip. FBI profiler Kaely Quinn is paired with a new agent, Noah, to apprehend a serial killer who may have them both in his sights. Going by the killer’s creepy elephant poem, they must stay a step ahead of the killer. I’m happy to say the killer wasn’t whom I expected. The best twist didn’t come from the resolution of the murder mystery but from revelations about Kaely herself. I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in the series.

I’m halfway through Her Stand-in Cowboy by Crystal Walton, and it’s a light-hearted romance that makes me smile. Ainsley is a single mom trying to care for her infant and run a farm. To appease meddling family, she’s claimed Connor Allen is her cowboy/veterinarian boyfriend. Only he’s really her chiropractor from New York City. Add some stinky farm animals and southern charm, and you’ve got an enchanting story. And if you are or have been a nursing mom, there’s some extra humor in store for you!

My high school junior is reading The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. This is his second go-round with this classic, having read it in middle school as well. He enjoyed this Civil War novel the first time. This is another classic that somehow never made it into my hands. So much to read and so little time!

My sixth-grade daughter has been enjoying a book she selected for completing the local library’s summer reading program. At the Battle of Yorktowne: An Interactive Battlefield Adventure by Eric Mark Braun is a choose-your-own-ending book, and I’ve had fun going through it as a French woman. You can be a French officer, a patriot woman, or a patriot slave as well. This girl loves the colonial era, so this was a perfect fit for her. She said it was a good book “because there were so many different ways to die!”

She’s also been reading Poetry for Young People: William Shakespeare to help fulfill her class reading goal that requires her to read in a variety of genres. While she’s not very familiar with poetry, she seems to be enjoying these poems and recognizing the origins of many popular phrases.

My second-grade daughter likes to keep about a half-dozen books going at once. I don’t get it, but at least she’s reading. In addition to the Puppy Place series she can’t get enough of, she’s reading Judy Moody Saves the World by Megan McDonald. This one is an environmentally-friendly themed story. I like to see her laughing at the illustrations, which are always such a treat in early chapter books.

At bedtime, she’s been bringing out her sister’s Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker by Mary Engelbreit, obviously. The beloved Christmas ballet is close to my heart, and I love seeing my kids enjoy this story! The illustrations are colorful and inviting, and it’s the perfect book to bring out year after year.

With The Mandalorian series being replayed frequently in our house, the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded from DK Publishing has found its way out again. For Star Wars fans, this is a great reference for all of the unusual species spotted in cantinas and marketplaces. The book is from 2011 but still relevant, at least in our home, where Star Wars is timeless. I’m linking here to the most recent version, from 2019.

Junie B., First Grader: Boo . . .  and I Mean It! by Barbara Park is the paperback my first grader is toting around the house. It’s such fun to see him reading “big books” now in addition to picture books. He likes all of the “scary secrets” in this book and was anxious to get to the candy corn part!

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