It has been quite some time since I did a reading wrap-up, so I’m looking forward to sharing this post!

March

In March I read Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury.

Here is the book blurb from the back cover:

One frozen embryo. Two families with life-long secrets. And a guy who never planned to fall in love again.

Maddie Baxter West is shaken to the core when she finds out everything she believed about her life was a lie. Her parents had always planned to tell her the truth about her past: that she was adopted as an embryo. But somehow the right moment never happened. Then a total stranger confronts Maddie with the truth and tells her something else that rocks her world—Maddie had a sister she never knew about. Betrayed, angry, and confused, Maddie leaves her new job and fiancé, rejects her family’s requests for forgiveness, and moves to Portland to find out who she really is.

Dawson Gage’s life was destroyed when London Quinn, his best friend and the only girl he ever loved, is killed. In the hospital waiting room, London’s mother reveals that London might have had a sibling. The frozen embryo she and her husband donated decades ago. When Dawson finds Maddie and brings her to Portland, the Quinns—her biological parents—welcome her into their lives and hearts. Maddie is comforted by the Quinns’ love and intrigued by their memories of London, who was so much like her. Is this the family and the life she was really meant to have?

Now it will take the love of Dawson Gage to help Maddie know who she is…and to help her find her way home.

My review: 4 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book from Karen Kingsbury! It was a quick read, and quite predictable in my opinion, but I always love how Kingsbury pulls on the reader’s heartstrings while weaving in faith elements to the story. If you love Hallmark movies, then this is the perfect book for you!

June

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Book Blurb:

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention. Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing. Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher. And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

My review: 2 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed the premise of this book and it was a fast and easy read. My issues with it really lie in how the book ended. I really enjoy “locked-room mysteries” that Agatha Christie made popular, such as her novel And Then There Were None, however, the book by McManus seemed to take an extra step that I did not enjoy. I decided I wouldn’t continue with the series as I wasn’t excited by the characters and their storylines.

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

Book Blurb: 

Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript.

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony–two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she’s convinced will come with Cecelia’s missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell–the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters–offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia’s last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

My review: 5 of 5 stars!!

Y’all, THIS BOOK! After reading the synopsis I knew I would love it. I’m not much of an “only romance” reader, meaning I need more to the plot than just two people falling in love. The whole storyline of the two main characters looking for their friend’s manuscript drew me in right away, as well as the setting! Deese also has such a poetic way that she writes that’s both enjoyable and easy to read. While Deese is a Christian, and this is considered Christian Fiction, the faith themes were expertly woven into the story that gave it so much credibility, versus feeling “preachy”. I cannot wait to read more of Nicole Deese’s books! 

July

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl

Book Blurb:

Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines, and the only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging ominously on a tree in the victims’ front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end–or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.

With little time left on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony’s detective father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived far too long. As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer–before he catches one of them.

My review: 3 out of 5 stars

Cold Threat is the second book in the Ryland and St. Clair series by Nancy Mehl (I read the first book earlier this year, rating it 4 out of 5 stars). While I enjoyed the plot and it kept me turning the pages, the characters felt a bit flat, as well as the writing as a whole. I’m currently reading the next and final book in the series because I’m excited to see how the overarching storyline comes to a conclusion. 

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

Book Blurb:

Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.

Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers’ groups are sure to enjoy discussing for its many layers of meaning.

My review: 4 out of 5 stars

I have been wanting to read this book for a while! I did feel as though the beginning of the book was a bit slow. Knowing that this is the first book in a four book series (The Wingfeather Saga), I realize that the author was needing that time to help introduce the world to the readers. However, things soon became fast paced. This world and story was really enjoyable and I am so excited to continue the series! 

Summary

It feels like I didn’t read a lot the last five months, but I have a few books that I’ve started and haven’t finished yet! Stay tuned for more posts in the next coming days!

February was a great month for reading! I’ll be honest, I finished a couple of these just as the clock was counting down into March, but, hey, it works, right?

If you end up reading one of these books, let me know! Or if you’re looking for any other recommendations, send me an email at sarahbaylorwrites@gmail.com! 

1. Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen. 4 out of 5 stars

“Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.

As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.

In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.

It starts in your head. And from there, the possibilities are endless.”

I started reading Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head during a difficult season where I was dealing with spiraling thoughts about a particular situation. One of the things that this book showed me and reminded me of was that “our emotions are a by-product of the way we think.” Throughout this book Jennie Allen reminds her readers that a lot of times, we have a choice regarding the way we think and that because of Romans 12:2, it’s possible through the Lord that we can be “transformed by the renewal of [our] mind[s].” This book was really encouraging during a tough time I was walking through, and I’m grateful for the Lord’s guidance and Jennie Allen’s impact. 

2. Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl. 4 out of 5 stars

Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case that went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They’re soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son who disappeared four years ago. River knows there’s almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

But as they follow the boy’s trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. With a killer on the loose set on finishing the job he started, will River be pulled back into her tormented past or finally face the demons that haunt her?

Nancy Mehl is one of my favorite Christian suspense authors, so when I saw she released a new book, I knew I had to get it! I actually read this book as a buddy read with my aunt and it was a lot of fun! This book was exciting and had a twist that I hadn’t been expecting. A lot of times, however, the dialogue fell flat and the character development seemed to be lacking or unrealistic. The mystery was really good and easy to follow, and it kept me turning pages! Despite a few minor critiques, I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series soon!

3. Unearth the Tides by Alissa J. Zavalianos. 4 out of 5 stars.

Huxley Krew Gannon III always knew he would be a royal guard; defending the Crown is in his blood. And coming from a long line of Gannons, that means the job is to be taken seriously at all costs.

When tragedy strikes, Huxley is framed for treason, and his only option is to flee to Braka’s most feared place: The Wasteful Tides.

It’s rumored a monstrous beast haunts those waters, but what Huxley encounters is even worse: an elusive captain, magical herbs, a beautiful lady, and unearthed truths that could change the course of history.

Unearth the Tides is a fantasy retelling of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Filled with mystery, found family, and themes of truth and forgiveness, Unearth the Tides is perfect for those who love the coziness of the classics and the thrill of adventure.

Alissa is one of my favorite independently published Christian authors, so I was so excited to read Unearth the Tides! You will really enjoy this book if you are looking for a laid back, cozy fantasy! I really enjoyed the characters and the new world to explore (who doesn’t love an under/on the sea story!). I love how Alissa’ prose is poetic and she clearly paints a picture in your mind. At times, it felt hard to pinpoint what the main character’s motivation was, which caused the book to have a lack of depth, for me personally. Overall, this book was a fun, clean fantasy read!

Thanks for reading my February Reading Wrap-Up! Stay tuned to see what I read in March!

This year my goal is to read 30 books. Honestly, this has been a goal of mine for a few years now, but I haven’t reached it quite yet. So, I figured the best way to keep myself accountable is to share the books I’ve read each month! I also hope this inspires and encourages you to find your next read! You’ll have to let me know if you pick up one of these books or if you’ve read them before. Here we go!

1.  Beyond Justice by Cara Putman. 4 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Synopsis:

“Hayden McCarthy knows firsthand the pain that follows when justice is not served. It’s why she became an attorney and why she’s so driven in her career. When she’s assigned a wrongful death case against the government, she isn’t sure if it’s the lucky break she needs to secure a partnership—or an attempt to make sure she never gets there.

Further complicating matters is Andrew Wesley, her roommate’s distractingly attractive cousin. But Andrew’s father is a congressman, and Hayden’s currently taking on the government. Could the timing be any worse?

The longer she keeps the case active, the higher the stakes become. Unknown enemies seem determined to kill the case—or her. Logic and self-preservation indicate she should close the case. But how can she, when justice is still just beyond her reach?”

Beyond Justice is a legal suspense thriller by Christian fiction author Cara Putman. I really enjoyed this book! The mystery was engaging and the characters were interesting to follow. One thing I will note is that since it is a legal suspense book, there is a lot of law and justice terminology that I either had to Google the definition of or try to pick up context clues for throughout the reading. However, this did not dampen the excitement of the plot for me, rather it showed the author’s expertise. I also love learning about the justice system so it was a fascinating read!

2. Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills. 3 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Synopsis:

“When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother’s murder, with details never revealed publicly.

Alarmed by Carson’s inside knowledge of Trenton’s death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson’s background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson’s stepfather and children have gone missing. There’s a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger.”

This was the first book I read by DiAnn Mills. The back cover synopsis really intrigued me (I mean, it’s about special agents with the FBI, of course I had to buy it), however, the characters’ development fell flat and their dialogue felt stiff throughout the book. The mystery and plot line was interesting, but it was hard to follow at times. Overall, I really enjoyed the themes of forgiveness and fighting for the truth!  

3. Liberty or Death by Andrea Faith. 5 out of 5 stars

Back Cover Synopsis:

“It is one thing to believe a lie, another to believe the truth, and a work of freedom to fight to live in the light of a new reality. In three parts: The Dark, The Light, and the Fight, a bird seeks to walk out what it means to be free without the chains which were once its close companion.”

Liberty or Death is a poetry collection written by one of my friends, Andrea Faith! The themes in these poems deal with being free from the darkness and coming into the light. I enjoyed every poem; they are each so insightful and contemplative! This is definitely a book I would read and reread! (Here is the link to it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Death-Andrea-Faith/dp/B0CFCVJH15 Check it out!!)

I think 2024 started off strong for my reading goal! I’m looking forward to next month’s books. Let me know if you read anything in January!

2024 started in a really weird way for me. As the clock counted down toward midnight, I found myself sitting on an uncomfortable airplane chair, surrounded by half asleep strangers. I was traveling back to Virginia after a week with my family in California. Even without the countdown, fireworks, and cheers to ring in 2024, my heart knew it was entering a new season – one where intentionality would become key. 

What is intentionality? Dictionary.com defines intentionality as “an attitude of purposefulness, with a commitment to deliberate action.” I recently accepted a job position within my current department, one where some days I wouldn’t work until later. Having had a similar schedule in the past, I knew two things: I was given the opportunity for more flexibility and I knew I needed to steward it well. The easy choice would be to sleep in until it was time to clock into work, something I’ve done before in the past, but I knew that I wanted to use that extra time for writing and editing. So I set my alarm for 6 AM my first day on the new job, it was a small step toward intentionality. This is when I realized a few lessons I was still learning about intentionality:

1. Intentionality keeps us in the here and now.

I think it’s easy to think about and plan for the future. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, we’re not being intentional with the current season we’re placed in when all we can think about is tomorrow.  

2. Intentionality allows for accountability.

Intentionality is a practice and discipline that will require work. One thing I would encourage you to do is find accountability. For months now, I have been working on being intentional with my evenings, especially with the time that I head to bed. Just about every morning, as we start our work days, my friend and I message each other with our plans for the evening, including a general time we hope to shut off the lights and head to bed. A lot of times, the next morning, I’ll send a message saying something along the lines of, “I did not get to bed early enough and I am exhausted today….” or she’ll send me a message saying how she was successful in her previous evening ventures and we’ll celebrate with each other’s wins. Accountability is important because it helps us realize that we are not alone in this life.

3. Intentionality reminds us there’s room for grace.

When you think about it, every action we take comes with some form of intentionality and sometimes the outcome looks different from our original expectation. I had every intention of getting up early to knock out my to do list. However, as soon as my alarm went off, the procrastination set in. As the day continued, I was starting to grow disappointed in myself and knew there were some decisions I needed to make while focusing on intentionality.

This is where grace and flexibility come into play. Maybe your expectation and intention is to go to bed at a reasonable hour, but then you begin doom-scrolling on Instagram, and before you know it, it is way past that original bedtime you had hoped for. You definitely had good intentions, but it’s important to offer yourself grace. There’s always room to grow.

No matter what your 2024 resolutions are, I hope you take some time for intentionality and make decisions to glorify the Lord.

What choices do you face during your day? Are there some decisions that you are faced with in which you are needing to practice intentionality? 

Hello, everyone!

It has been…too long…since I last posted an update! Just about one month after I posted my last entry, I sent my completed (91,000 words) manuscript to my editor on September 21st. Then, on October 30th, I received the notes back from my editor!

There’s a lot to work on and honestly, it can be a bit overwhelming at times! But, I am so excited as I continue on this journey 

There has been a lot that the Lord has taught me recently, over the past year, but especially the last few months. One thing I’ve been learning is remembering to trust in the Lord. Oftentimes, as we walk through life, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the here and now. Personally, I begin to overthink things, which typically sends me in a spiral. 

My life verse has always been Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” It’s easy to memorize these words and recite them when asked what my favorite verse is, but then I come upon some days, when the Spirit whispers to me, Are you truly trusting Me? 

A blast of conviction hits me like a winter chill. It gives me pause and in those quiet moments, I evaluate my heart, but specifically my thought patterns. It’s those thoughts that appear at a moment’s notice that eventually cause me to attempt to lean on my own understanding; those thoughts that pull me further from trusting the Lord. 

I think that a lot of the things we struggle with on a daily basis come from our thought patterns. What we think about matters, especially what we allow in, because those things will settle like dust in the corners of our mind. One verse that the Lord constantly reminds me of is Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We have the choice to change what we’re thinking about and how we’re thinking about certain situations. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 

In life, we were never promised an easy path. Jesus even said in John 16:33, “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We are going to come to seasons where we walk through difficult trials. There will be hard days. But we have this hope – as an anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19) – that the Lord is going to walk right alongside us.

So I encourage you to remember the hope in Jesus that we have. Honor Him with every moment of your day. Trust that He knows the bigger picture and He will see you through this season, no matter what you are walking through.
If you’re not a Christian or if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at sarahbaylorwrites@gmail.com and I would love to tell you about the gift of salvation through Jesus.