My Cozy Fall Decorations

Fall is my absolute favorite season, and since I missed out on a lot of it last year due to Covid, I’m extra excited to celebrate this year. 🧡

J and I pulled out our tote of fall decorations, many leftover from our wedding, some old items I’ve owned forever, and got to work decorating our apartment.

One of my favorite things is our little welcome sign paired with the “H” pumpkin my sister just gave us. It’s like we’re a little family and it’s so cute. ☺️

We keep our blanket basket out year-round, but I had to add one of the largest pumpkins on top for maximum cozy vibes.

I’m obsessed with this tea tray we set up on the chair we never use unless there’s company. Aren’t the sweater pumpkins from my wedding adorable? 🧡

My absolute favorite decoration is the bread bowl full of pumpkins, large and small, twig and sweater, with my hedgehog figurine nestled happily in them.

J filled in this empty spot next to the (dusty) candle with his boutonniere from the wedding, and it’s officially the perfect touch. 😉

And speaking of perfect, his letter board sarcasm is unmatched. 😂

The mixture of memories, small pumpkin figurines that used to live atop my desk years ago, sweater pumpkins from our dating years and wedding, and now fresh pie pumpkins I’ll definitely be baking into something scrumptious…

I feel so at home in our little apartment, and decorating for a new season always brings such joy. 🧡

Five Fall Favorites // Top 5 Books of 2022

Yes, it is wrap-up and announce the giveaway winner day! 😭😍🧡

Thank you so much for attending! It’s been so fun getting to know you all, and I hope you’ve found some new favorite books (and bloggers!) to celebrate fall with. 🧡 You all have done some serious damage to my TBR, that’s for sure. 😉

If you would like a PDF of all the books recommended so far, check out Katja’s blog. There’s also a (incomplete) Goodreads list available too. 😉

A few of us are sharing our top 5 favorite books of this year (so far!), but be sure to catch up on everyone’s blogs and let them know how much we appreciated their bookishness!

🍁 Katja recommends beloved classics and newer indie books. She’s also an indie author herself with three perma-free books available!

📚 Abigail recommends thrilling reads and military fiction (which her debut novella happens to be!). She also just launched a bookish boutique.

☕️ Kelsey recommends whole-hearted classics and has made her Jane Eyre-inspired novella free today!

🍂 Lillian recommends a wide range of middle-grade fiction and has published two books of her own.

🧣 Sarah recommends encouraging Christian fiction and is a prolific multi-genre indie author!

🥧 Bella recommends a variety of genres and has published an allegorical short story.

☕️ Jana recommends a wide range of amazing fiction and hosts the #SpellTheMonthInBooks link-up!

🧣 Ryana Lynn recommends historical and indie conservative fiction and has a free ebook for those who email her.

📚 Mac is brand new to the blogging world and chose this party as her first order of business.

🍁 Sophia Ellen recommends indie fiction and plans to join the community as an author someday.

📚 Heaven recommends a wide variety of genres in a way that makes you want to read everything she mentioned.

🥧 Hannah recommends indie fiction (among other genres) and is currently writing many books herself as well as offering writer services.

🍂 Mikayla recommends Christian fiction and often writes poetry on her blog.

And I’m a multi-genre reader and author who absolutely loves an opportunity to share about my favorite books. 😉 I also have a novella free today!

My Top 5 Favorite Reads of 2022

2022 has been quite the year, and while it’s not over yet, I’m looking back at some of the books that have meant the most to me. 🧡

1. The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

My first book by this author. Hauntingly beautiful. 🧡 Changed my perspective about ghosts in stories. 😉

// My Review //

2. Ignite by Jenna Terese

Got me back into the indie book world. Clean and meaningful superhero novel. A new favorite author.

// My Review //

3. Kate’s Informant by Sarah Holman

A terrible twist in the series. Gorgeous themes. Even more heart-filled than usual. 🧡

// My Review //

4. Apprentice by Kristen Young

First Enclave book I’ve read. Meaningful sci-fi. A new trilogy to love.

// My Review //

5. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant

Cute and sweet. Opportunity for me to experience more culture. Helped me understand my anxiety.

// My Review //

And now for the winner of the Grand Prize giveaway…

Congratulations, H! I have contacted you to confirm your entry and get your shipping information. 😉

Grab on Amazon! (and the rest of the series is on sale 👀)

Thank you all for coming, and happy fall and reading!

What do you think, should we do this again next year?

Five Fall Favorites // Top 5 Historical Fiction Reads (But I Went with an Alternate)

Day 5 of Five Fall Favorites, and likely the genre you’ve all been waiting for. 😉 Dun, dun, dun…

Today is about Historical Fiction! Historical fiction transports us back in time to people and situations very much like our own but inspiring, entertaining, and sobering in their differences. There’s so much to celebrate, mourn, learn from, and enjoy as we look back on history, and fiction is one of the most powerful ways to do this. 🧡

Today the bookish bloggers are sharing their top 5 historical fiction reads…

(Please note: Anything I link out to is not an across-the-board endorsement from me. Each blogger is responsible for their own recommendations.)

Sit back in your time machine, and enjoy!

Katja 🍁 // Abigail 📚 // Kelsey ☕️ // Lillian 🍂

Sarah🧣// Bella 🥧 // Jana ☕️ // Ryana Lynn🧣// Mac 📚

Sophia Ellen 🍁 // Heaven 📚 // Hannah 🥧 // Mikayla 🍂

We also have two fabulous guest bloggers who decided to join the fun!

Rebekah🧣and Katie ☕️

I’m actually one of the bloggers who chose an alternate genre today (since I don’t read that much historical fiction currently), and I went with Indie!

I am a huge fan of independently published books! The creativity, variance of thought and perspective, genre-busting, and opportunity for faith content are absolutely wonderful. Not to mention the supportive community that has sprung up around it. 🧡

I’ve read 150+ indie books, so choosing these was not an easy feat, but I went with some I love and haven’t mentioned already this week. 😉 If you’d like to see more indie books I’ve read, check out my Goodreads shelf.

My Top 5 Favorite Indie Inspirations

1. Ignite by Jenna Terese

I love everything about this book. 🧡 The cover, the paperback quality (like why does it open so beautifully?!), the concept, themes, and heart I know is behind it, the epic characters (and those scenes near the end 😭)… This was one of the first books I bought last year when I re-entered the indie world, and the. hype. is. real. It’s probably the best indie debut novel I’ve ever read, and that’s saying a lot. 😉 (Read my review.)

2. Gift from the Storm by Rebekah Morris

I mention this one on my blog constantly (like, it’s been less than a month), and I’m not stopping any time soon. 😁 Fall vibes, found family, amnesia trope, cozy holidays, a great mystery. What more do I need to say to convince you? 😉 (Read my review.)

3. Not Write Now by Kyle Robert Shultz

The best (and probably only) satirical writing book I’ve ever read. There are some legitimately good tips in here, but it mainly serves the great purpose of making writing fun again and providing inspiration and laughs when you’re feeling burnt out. (Read my review.)

4. Emmeline by Sarah Holman

I am not generally a Jane Austen fan, but I do have a soft spot for Emma (particularly the 2009 BBC miniseries). So it was incredibly fun to see one of my favorite authors take inspiration from this story and bring her own writing style and faith elements to the table. I really enjoyed this one, and I need more people to read it. 😉 (Read my review.)

5. Healer’s Bane by Hope Ann

I’m a huge fan of the author’s fantasy series, so when I heard about this dystopian novella, I snapped it up. 😉 It’s such a dark world, yet the power and cost of empathy really spoke to me, and I think this may be my favorite book by this author. I mean, I did turn right around and buy a paperback copy, so… 😉 (Read my review.)

Last day to enter the giveaway!

Just a quick reminder of what the prize includes…

1. Decorative fall items (pumpkins, gnomes, and blanket scarf)
2. A fall mug (there will be tea!)
3. Annie’s Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney
4. Hedgehog journal
5. Kiera by Kate Willis (hardcover)
6. Brothers and Betrayal by Sarah Holman (paperback)
7. Should We Tell Her? by Lillian Keith (paperback)
8. The Road to Bremen by Kelsey Bryant (paperback)
9. Anthology including a story by Abigail Harris (paperback)

Most books are contributions by participating authors. Ships to contiguous US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted.

ENTER HERE!

Today’s FREE ebook is…

Grab on Amazon!

What are your favorite historical (or indie 😉 ) books? Have you read any of these?

I can’t believe the party is almost over! It’s been so fun getting to hang out with you all, and I hope you found some good books to read. 😉

Keep an eye out tomorrow for the giveaway winner, more free ebooks, and the bonus genre! 🧡

Five Fall Favorites // Top 5 Romance Books

Here we are at Day 4 of Five Fall Favorites! Phew, so many books, so little time. 😉 (I did the math, and y’all are getting up to 70 recommendations every day, and wow.)

Love is in the air, bookish love to be exact. 🧡 Whether these recommendations are full-on romance novels or a story with a wonderful romantic sideplot, prepare yourself to fall in love. 😉

Today we’re sharing our top 5 romantic books… (With some bloggers choosing an alternate genre. 😉 )

Get your inner shipper ready! 😘

Katja 🍁 // Abigail 📚 // Kelsey ☕️ // Lillian 🍂

Sarah🧣// Bella 🥧 // Jana ☕️ // Ryana Lynn🧣// Mac 📚

Sophia Ellen 🍁 // Heaven 📚 // Hannah 🥧 // Mikayla 🍂

My Top 5 Favorite Romance Loves

1. Wings of a Dream by D’Ann Mateer (previously Anne Mateer)

I am not a swooner, but if I had to choose one that brought me closest to swooning… it’s this one. Mikayla gave me a copy, and I gobbled it up then turned right around and read it aloud to a younger sister. World War I and the 1918 flu epidemic were a time period and setting I knew very little about, so I was caught up in the historical elements to the point where I went on a research dive afterwards. 😉 The romance and the found family aspects are just the sweetest. 🧡 (Read my review.)

2. The Trouble With Love by Toni Shiloh

I picked this book up in an effort to diversify my reading, and I couldn’t be happier I found it. 🧡 The storylines are fabulous, the representation gorgeous, and the Biblical themes inspiring but really honest to life. I especially enjoyed how the female friendships in this series are just as (maybe more) important as the romantic relationships. (Read my review.)

3. Matched by Ally Condie

I apologize in advance for my screeching. I ACCIDENTALLY HAVE THREE COPIES OF THIS BOOK. I didn’t realize I was that much of a fan of these books (especially since I’ve always been shy about loving straight-up romance) until recently, and I am not ashamed to say it. 😉 Especially since the boy is soft and kind and the story is full of poetry and family and thinking for yourself and managing your emotions, and I generally love those things. Okay? It’s all adorable and relatively clean. 😉 (Read my review.)

4. Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

So this book is downright spooky (especially if you’re sensitive to Spiritual warfare themes), and not something I would have usually read, but it is FOREVER in the annals of books that changed my life and the Spiritual allegory is the most beautiful thing. It’s also unofficially the book my characters Kiera and Brennan share. 😉 (Read my review.)

5. The Scourge by Jennifer Nielsen

I absolutely adore this strange blend of dystopian and medieval (read: two of Kate’s favorite genres), and I’m also a fan of how plucky the main character is. When I found out the mild, sweet romance was based on the song 500 Miles, I immediately adopted these cuties forever. 😉 (Read my review.)

Grand Prize giveaway!

Most books are contributions by participating authors. Ships to contiguous US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted.

ENTER HERE!

Grab on Amazon!

(Did you remember to enter the giveaway? 😉 )

Five Fall Favorites // Top 5 Mystery Reads

Happy Day 3 of Five Fall Favorites! I’m having so much fun adding books to my TBR that I fear it’s going to be happily unattainable. 😉

Today is a very mysterious one… a.k.a. we’re talking about the genre Mystery! *dons mysterious thinking cap and looks thoughtful when my mind is actually full of pastries* Whodunnit, was it stolen or misplaced? Is this a case of a mistaken identity or a secret one?

Today we’re sharing our top 5 mystery books… (With some bloggers choosing an alternate genre. 😉 )

The game is on!

Katja 🍁 // Abigail 📚 // Kelsey ☕️ // Lillian 🍂

Sarah🧣// Bella 🥧 // Jana ☕️ // Ryana Lynn🧣// Mac 📚

Sophia Ellen 🍁 // Heaven 📚 // Hannah 🥧 // Mikayla 🍂

My Top 5 Favorite Mystery Reads

1. Red Rover, Red Rover by Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick

I can only mention the first book here, but the entire series is brilliant and you should definitely check it out and be warned you may become a shipper and a diehard fan and there is no coming back from this. 😁 I love me a good amateur detective book, but this one is especially amazing for its clean content, humor, and satisfying mystery. (Read my review.)

2. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Another classic I experienced as an adult (and I’m glad because child me would have been too spooked), and while I absolutely loved the twisty mystery, I was also exceedingly impressed with how well the author handled such a huge cast of characters. I’m kinda nerd like that. 😉 (Read my review.)

3. The ABC Murders by Agathe Christie

(Can we appreciate how if you read that wrong it looks like Agatha Christie did the murders?) I have been on an Agatha Christie mystery kick this year, and this second one I’ve ever read. It was absolutely fantastic, a little creepy, and still managed to place a high value on human life. (Read my review.)

4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I knew nothing about this book except that it was spooky and Victorian but no one told me that the characters were Jewish and it’s absolutely amazing?!! I’m a more sensitive reader, so one aspect of the special powers did gross me out, but it was mostly fine and definitely worth it. 😉 (Read my review.)

5. Sweet on You by Chautona Havig

Amateur detectives for the win! This series is really quite fun (though not without its serious justice moments). My favorite aspect is how Madeline picks up detective skills as the series progresses instead of automatically being good at everything. 😉 Also, Russell. (Read my review.)

Grand Prize giveaway!

Most books are contributions by participating authors. Ships to contiguous US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted.

ENTER HERE!

Grab on Amazon!

How is the party going for you? Have you found any new books you’re excited about?

Five Fall Favorites // Top 5 Fantasy Finds

Happy Day 2 of Five Fall Favorites, and one of my absolute favorite genres…

Today we’re talking about Fantasy! I love how weird, and wild, and various this genre can get. Everything from fairies to semi-medieval settings, parallel universes to extra special powers… There’s something for everyone, and often a world far removed from our own can end up feeling even more like home and cause us to examine themes in a whole new light. 🧡

Today we’re all sharing our top 5 fantasy books… (Just a heads up, some of our bloggers may have chosen to use one of our genre alternates, so don’t be surprised. 😉 )

Go forth on an adventure!

Katja 🍁 // Abigail 📚 // Kelsey ☕️ // Lillian 🍂

Sarah🧣// Bella 🥧 // Jana ☕️ // Ryana Lynn🧣// Mac 📚

Sophia Ellen 🍁 // Heaven 📚 // Hannah 🥧 // Mikayla 🍂

My Top 5 Favorite Fantasy Finds

1. Song of the Sword by Hope Ann

Absolutely beautiful, full of strong allegorical elements, and wistfully mysterious, this book is the one that got me into the Legends of Light series. Definitely recommend. 😉 (Read my review.)

2. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

One of the most wholesome, beautifully written books, and I’m forever in love with the mountain, Peder, and the strong supportive friendships between the main characters. ❤ I also really enjoyed book two. 😉 (Read my review.)

3. Shallows by Denver Evans (a.k.a. Perry Kirkpatrick)

This book is just VIBESSSS. I honestly love it so much. A hauntingly gorgeous fantasy world with adorably shippable main characters, this trilogy starts out as fluff and gets deeper and deeper as it goes, handling themes of mental health, chronic illness, and identity. (Read my review.)

4. The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson

This is actually the forth book in the Wingfeather Saga, so beware of spoilers if you look it up. 😉 It does a beautiful job tying up the entire series with humor and heart, but some of the last few scenes gave me absolute chills and strengthened my faith. ❤ (I won’t share my review here, because #spoilers, but check out the whole series, please. 😉 )

5. The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove

This is a criminally underrated trilogy so I’ll never stop recommending it. It has some of the most unique worldbuilding ever, and the characters are really lovable and easy to root for. 😉 I especially loved how nerdy it got with all the fantasy forms of cartography. (Read my review.)

Grand Prize giveaway!

Most books are contributions by participating authors. Ships to contiguous US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted.

ENTER HERE!

Grab on Amazon!

Tell me, what is your favorite fantasy novel or series?

Happy Five Fall Favorites!! (Intro and Everything)

Hello everyone, and happy Five Fall Favorites! Before we get started, I just wanted to say I’m so happy you’re here, and I know our fabulous bloggers have some really good book recs to share with you. 😉 Have fun browsing and don’t forget to check out the giveaway and daily FREE ebooks!

I also wanted to be clear that anything I link out to is not an across-the-board endorsement from me. 😉 Each blogger is responsible for their own recommendations.

All right, all that housekeeping out of the way… PARTY TIME!

Fall is my favorite season. Something about the melancholy lighting, cooler temperatures, earthy foods, and cozy, cozy sweaters just bring my creativity and bookishness alive, and I’m never happier than when this happens. 🧡

Today we’re all sharing our top 5 books that have inspired us, feel like home, and make us who we are today.

Go meet your new bookish friends!

Katja 🍁 // Abigail 📚 // Kelsey ☕️ // Lillian (her book is FREE today!)🍂

Sarah🧣// Bella 🥧 // Jana ☕️ // Ryana Lynn🧣// Mac 📚

Sophia Ellen 🍁 // Heaven 📚 // Hannah 🥧 // Mikayla 🍂

And I’m Kate! Your main host, home base for the giveaway and #details. 😉

Borrowing my husband’s hardcover copy of The Book Thief 🧡

My Top 5 Favorite Books That Make Me Me

1. The Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff

I’ve mentioned this book a couple times here on my blog, but it’s always one I come back to. The copy I grew up on was so worn it didn’t even have a dust jacket anymore, but eleven-year-old me was obsessed with the medieval setting, loyal characters, hope in a hopeless place, and platonic but absolutely shippable main characters. 😉 It pretty much became a core part of my personality (and teenage crushes, oops) and is the reason I still adore writing medieval stories. 🧡 (Read my review.)

2. Evangelists in Chains by Elizabeth Wagler

If you’ve been here a while, you might recognize this one too. *smile sheepishly at my predictability* This book was incredibly inspiring to me as a teen. The strong Christian love shown in the Moravian Anabaptist community, their strength and trust in God as they were asked to go completely against their nonviolent convictions, and the way God used their trials to spread the Gospel. 🧡 I *believe* this is based on true events, but whether or not it is, it’s still definitely worth the read.

3. Red Rain by Rachel Newhouse

This book (the first edition, that is) was one of the first ever indie books I experienced, and I’ve been in love with the genre and the creativity it allows ever since. I’m so excited to see the series rebooted and continued this year, and I can’t wait to read more about these compelling characters and their complicated world. 👏👏

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I experienced the movie first and fell completely and utterly in love with the setting, characters, message, and ultimately just the bookish vibes. 🧡 I bought the book without knowing much about it, and when I read a (censored for language) it just brought all the tears, sank into my soul, and both broke me and inspired me. (Yes, I have made it part of my personality. Yes, I adore Max. 🥺) Truly one of the most beautiful books ever, and the writing style showed me how there really are no limits to creativity. (Read my review.)

5. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

I wasn’t lucky enough to grow up with this book, but I decided to try it as an adult when I heard all my Goodreads friends raving about it. I could not have enjoyed it more. 👏👏 The brilliant puns and puzzles, the wonderful, dear characters, and hopeful themes just wrapped me up and felt like home. 🧡

I also rarely relate to fictional characters, but I felt a kinship with Reynie, and I loved watching his growth. I also got to buddy read the rest of the series with Mikayla and then buddy watch the show too, so I like to think it’s been a big, important part of our friendship. 🧡 (Read my review.)

Grand Prize giveaway!

The Five Fall Favorites giveaway includes…

1. Decorative fall items (pumpkins, gnomes, and blanket scarf)
2. A fall mug (there will be tea!)
3. Annie’s Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney
4. Hedgehog journal
5. Kiera by Kate Willis (hardcover)
6. Brothers and Betrayal by Sarah Holman (paperback)
7. Should We Tell Her? by Lillian Keith (paperback)
8. The Road to Bremen by Kelsey Bryant (paperback)
9. Anthology including a story by Abigail Harris (paperback)

Most books are contributions by participating authors. Ships to contiguous US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after being contacted.

ENTER HERE!

Today’s FREE ebook is…

Grab on Amazon!

Happy Five Fall Favorites! We’re going to have so much fun. 😁🧡

Announcing Five Fall Favorites 2022!

Seven autumns ago, there was an idea. *cue Nick Fury voice* Fall is my absolute favorite season, and I wanted some way to celebrate it and the bookishness it always brings with my best blogger friends. I shared the idea with Rebekah Morris, and together we brought it to life with our first Five Fall Favorites party.

Since then there’s been a party every autumn, and Rebekah has served as an amazing hostess. (Give her a round of applause! 👏👏) This year she’s stepping away from it, and I’m taking up the mantle again.

I hope we all have a very fun party celebrating my three favorite things–autumn, books, and the bookish community. 🧡

If you have a blog and would like to participate, go ahead and sign-up here: https://forms.gle/CPR8ZPVhjf7sc4uM9. (Sign-ups close the 17th!)

See you there! 😉

Fall Is Best Of All (Giveaway)

I can see fall coming before I feel it.

The light changes, softens into a gentle haze of gold and gray.

The days are gentler and the nights come sooner.

The weather shifts one day into cool, crisp, and exciting then back again into muggy, warm, and blistering.

Soon it will settle out into the first and not the latter and then I will need to find my sweater.

Soon.

Fall is my favorite season. The flavors, the colors, the clothes, and the overall vibe that says “of course you should stay in and read”. 🧡

This year in celebration of fall, I wanted to give away a small package of coziness…

Included in the giveaway are…

• 2 mini mugs (orange and cream)
• Small pumpkin candles
• Empowered by Catherine Parks
• Broken Strings by Eric Walters
• …and whatever other goodies I decide to add!

(The absolutely yummy sweater background is not included. Giveaway only available to the contiguous US.)

ENTER HERE

I’ll be back next week with a couple reviews of the books, but for now HAPPY FALL!!

(Special thanks to Joshua for taking the giveaway picture before it rained. That was a close one. 😂❤️)

Pre-Orders Will Be the Death of Me

Just a short time ago, my income steadied enough to where I could seriously consider buying an ebook right when I heard of it. (As long as it was still pretty inexpensive. Let’s not go crazy. 😉)

And then I tried my first pre-order and experienced the magic of it just appearing on the Kindle. It’s even more magical when you forget the release date so a random Tuesday becomes a new favorite book day. 😉

Unfortunately (but really quite fortunately), my authors spent their quarantine well and the closer it gets to Christmas, the more new releases there are. 😬😬😉

A Very Bookish Thanksgiving (by various authors) is the next installment in the anthology series I was part of last year. I’m so excited to read it, especially since quite a few of my favorite indie authors have contributed something. 😉

This one is being delivered in just under a week. 😁👏

YES, YES, YES! More Bremily, I mean, mystery. 😁😁 I’ve been reading Fair in War in installments as she posted it for Patrons, but I’ve saved the end for when I can inhale it in one sitting with my Kindle. 

*does some quick math* That’s only three weeks from now… Ahhhh! 😊

An Unlikely Proposal is actually pretty far out (alllll the way in next February 😱), but when my new favorite author gets such a cool book deal, I gotta support. 😁 Really can’t wait to read this one. ❤️

While I was thinking about this post, one of my pre-orders slid into my Kindle, but I thought I’d include it anyway. 

Isn’t the cover gorgeous?! 😍 Two authors whose work I know and love + two authors I get to try for the first time? Sign me up. 👏

We’ll see how well I do at ignoring all the other amazing releases that come up, but for now these are the ones I’m super excited about. 😉