My Reading List | January through March 2023
The first quarter of 2023 is finished already?! So crazy. But that means I’m back with another book blog, sharing with you all the books I have read since the start of the new year.
I have still been trying to slow down my reading a bit so that I am able to focus better and absorb more of what I’m reading. In addition to the books you’ll see below, I am also in the middle of reading of Knowing God by J.I. Packer (this is a reread, as we’re going through it at church), Business Made Simple by Donald Miller, and All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon. These will be in my next post sinceI haven’t finished them yet.
You won’t have to guess which book I’ve enjoyed most during this quarter. If you read any of these yourselves, or have other titles to recommend, please let me know! Although my reading list is already extensive, and is definitely going to outlive me, I’m always taking suggestions.
If I Run | Terri Blackstock
In last years’ Jan-March book post, I shared about Terri Blackstock’s Restoration series. I thoroughly enjoyed that series and new right away that I would want to read more of her books. This series was the next one I was eyeing, and a coworker gave me the series (three books) for Christmas- perfect!
Well, because this is a three-part series, the storyline isn’t rushed in this first book. We’re immediately introduced to the main character, Casey, who’s suspected to have murdered her best friend. She’s wanted and on the run from the authorities- but she’s not the killer. Over the course of this first book, readers are introduced to several other characters and their personal struggles and mysteries. In the pursuit of answers for her new friends, Casey risks her life to try and find the truth to resolve their stories- even if she never finds it for herself. Fake identities, abduction, dirty cops- this story has it all.
If I’m Found | Terri Blackstock
My goodness- this second book in the “If I Run” series doesn’t slow down one bit! There are so many layers to this story, and yet it all flows so well.
Casey is still on the run and wanted for the murder of Brent Pace, but she’s relocated again. Dylan, the private investigator hired by Brent’s family to find Casey now sees how much danger she’s in, and is adamant that she’s not guilty. Committed to helping her build a case against the men who want her dead, Dylan is following multiple leads while also trying not to reveal himself as sympathetic to a suspected killer. Casey is almost caught- more than once. And she’s injured multiple times. She comes to know God in this second book, all while trying to clear the name of a friend accused of assault against a child at the same time she’s building evidence against the real culprits.
By the time I was nearing the end of this book, I was reminded of the plot line of the Divergent series, in which Four repeatedly tells Tris not to do a specific thing, and she goes and does it anyway- so frustrating, but necessary, I suppose, for building some tension. I’m so eager to read book three, and hoping that it will tie all my ideas and questions up with a nice, tidy bow.
If I Live | Terri Blackstock
You guys. I just- the bodycount in this series is baffling. Lots of people die, but as a reader you aren’t left to linger in any sort of graphic descriptions (so it’s not inappropriate for younger readers). In this last book in the If I Run series, Casey is identified and taken into custody- but not as smoothly as her wannabe assailants would hope. Things are coming to a tipping point, and people are getting desperate. But the evidence is overwhelming and the truth finally comes out.
As I was finishing this book I was happy with how it was concluded, but there is a lot of backstory that wasn’t provided, which I think would’ve really added some nice substance to the plot- readers are given just enough information about the characters to get them invested in the story, but not enough to provide some desired clarity (for myself at least); there are so many layers to the story that there was great opportunity to develop those more.
Overall I was very impressed with this series, and enjoyed it very much. It’s fast-paced (I think this is due in part to the short chapters, which alternate between characters), and you won’t find yourself bored. It’s clean (no language, sex/innuendo, graphic violence), and the perfect combination of suspense and romance. Highly recommend.
The Maid | Nita Prose
I was not impressed with this book…the storyline sounded intriguing, and I’d seen it on Amazon quite a bit, so wanted to give it a try. The story is narrated by the main character, Molly, who’s a very prim and proper, straitlaced maid in the hotel where the story takes place. A guest at the hotel has been murdered in their room, and Molly is the one who discovers the body. Over the course of the week that this story takes place, she becomes the main suspect.
The voice of Molly as narrator was very unique- I was reminded of Temperance Brennan from the tv show Bones: clear and concise, but awkward at the same time because of an inability to read and respond to social cues; I didn’t sense any natural inflection or a sense of humor as I was reading things from her point of view. There are definitely some endearing qualities about her character, but overall she, and the story as a whole, is pretty boring. The story was kind of slow, there was nothing that really took you by surprise, and it just wasn’t super engaging. There was a very small cast of characters, so it wasn’t hard to figure who the criminals involved were. Honestly it was frustrating to follow Molly through the story and see and understand things that she didn’t- her ignorance or naïveté was a little overdone, I think. That being said, there is some growth and development over the course of the book; she does learn, and challenge herself, and find companionship she didn’t realize she needed. This was a fine book, but I wouldn’t recommend it. (There was two or three instances of foul language- nothing offensive that I can recall.)
The Lost and Found Bookshop | Susan Wiggs
This was a touching story. It gets off to a dramatic start involving a plane crash, setting the stage for the book. Natalie Harper unexpectedly inherits the responsibility of maintaining the bookshop her mother and grandfather had opened many years earlier in San Francisco- but it’s in a deep financial hole. Even in the midst of opposition, she’s determined to save the store. While she’s navigating her own grief and the struggle of watching her grandfather’s declining health, she is led to hire a local handyman to repair some necessary areas in the bookstore, and through a chain of events ends up getting the help of a local, and very famous, author to do a book signing and hopefully remedy their money problems. In the midst of this comes a bit of a love triangle, and two seemingly good options for a relationship.
I like the bits of family and local history woven into this story; in a bookshop as old as this one, there are always treasures to be found, and stories that go with them. There’s enough character background provided to keep you interested in the story without causing the pacing to get bogged-down at any point. The pacing is actually nice and steady throughout. There is some nice growth we see from Natalie as time progresses and she has to learn lessons she wished she didn’t have to. I liked the family dynamic of this book, and the how those relationships were prioritized and valued by the characters involved.
There is some language that occurs here and there throughout the story. And we almost make it through the whole book without any sex, until the last chapter (the last few pages, really) as Natalie concludes who in the love triangle it is that she really wants to be with; it’s not what I would consider super crude or explicit, and while it isn’t long (not quite two pages), it could easily be skimmed and you wouldn’t miss anything vital to the story. I was a little disappointed that it had to be thrown in right at the end because the rest of the story isn’t uncomfy at all.
Overall I liked this book, and would recommend it if you’re looking for something cozy with a bit of emotional honesty; the grief we navigate with the characters is relatable and I think that is what makes a good plot. You grow to love the characters, and can really visualize yourself within the story.
Cover Story | Susan Rigetti
Honestly, I was underwhelmed by this book. It was a quick read due to the format of the story: it alternates between journal entries from the main character, text/email threads, and memos, so you’re turning pages pretty fast. When I got to the end of the book, I was confused…because I couldn’t determine what point in the story things shifted to get to the conclusion. But also, the underlying “gotcha” of the plot is kind of teased for readers from page one, and so the progression of the story isn’t surprising at all, kind of predictable. I can’t really explain the storyline without giving it away, either…There’s also language throughout. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book. I think there are better stories you could spend your time on.
Mother Hunger | Kelly McDaniel
I got this book from the library to read because I had seen it recommended on a number of social media accounts that I follow, and was intrigued by the premise; part of why it was endorsed by these people had to do with the importance of the mind-body connection and healing mental/emotional issues to aid in healing physical symptoms, which is a topic I want to learn more about.
It is a book about attachment, specifically between mothers and daughters (though I think the principles could apply to most relationships), and walks through various components of different attachment styles and how those can play out within various life circumstances. McDaniel explains how the role of mothers is to provide nurturance, protection, and guidance for their daughters, and how if mothers were not provided healthy models of those traits in their own upbringing that they can struggle to provide them for their daughters: “A mother can only give her child what she has” (pg. 3).
This book is not written from a Biblical perspective, so there are a number of passages and ideas that I would disagree with (such as those that touch on feminism, the “patriarchy”, and overall personal responsibility) simply because of the difference in worldview that the author has.
Overall I liked this book and appreciated the perspective it offers. So many people do not realize the subtle, long-term, and often buried contributing factors to their relationships that stem from their own upbringing; we often don’t take the time to ask ourselves why we are reacting a certain way, or why something triggers (as much as I dislike that word) a certain emotional response in us. Our past experiences shape and impact our present life and relationships, and it’s important that we can acknowledge those things without blaming them for our own choices and actions.
As I was reading this book, I was disappointed to find that it didn’t go into as much depth and detail and research as I had expected. It touches on a lot of good and important points, but doesn’t spend a lot of time untangling any one of them very much. I find this kind of subject matter fascinating from a psychological perspective, and was hoping for more…substance, or something. It was published in 2021, so it’s a new book; perhaps she will be able to add more content in future editions.