September Reads

As a fellow author I find it hard to rate books. Reviews are SO subjective. When I leave reviews, I try to think what would benefit the reader so they know if it would be a good fit for them. Therefore, I feel no need to leave star reviews on my Instagram or Blog.

But when I leave reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, or other seller sites, I do leave star reviews. If you follow me there, you will notice I have started to leave a guide for how I rate books. I would love to hear how you rate books. Leave a comment and let me know.

Here is my system:

I largely rate books on how they make me feel which is incredibly subjective 🥰.

5⭐️–Absolutely adored and loved the book, a favorite.
4⭐️-Really enjoyed the book. Would recommend it.
3⭐️-Liked the book, it was engaging and interesting but I wasn’t drawn in emotionally as much as others.
2⭐️- There was a strong theme that I did not agree with or overall the book just left me with a bad feeling.

Now onto the my September Reads:

A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

Topic or themes I saw: Living in fear. Abandonment, the question of where is God when bad things happen. A desire to live free, and be who God created you to be. Finding ways to thank God instead of dwell on negative thoughts. Wealth.

Who it may interest: Anyone who loves Historical fiction. If you enjoy Lynn Austin or Robin Lee Hatcher you may enjoy this book as well.

Story: I got lost in this story in the best kind of way. The well developed characters, strong theme, and spectacular setting really brought to life what life at El Tovar at the Grand Canyon over one hundred years ago may have looked like. Emma Grace is hiding from her past and thinks living hidden as a Harvey girl will be enough. Ray yearns for more than following in his father’s steps in building his empire. This story was rich in history (including the Kolb brothers), Grand Canyon descriptions, hints of mystery, and spiritual struggles/growth. I really enjoyed it and the spiritual thread encouraged me.

Main takeaway: God’s love overcomes fear. I adored this quote: “Neither one of them had the best examples growing up, but somehow, God’s love had still shone through. That was what it was all about wasn’t it? The love of God. It transcends time, social class, circumstances…all of it.”

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

Topic or themes I saw: Trafficking, loss, undercover work, loyalty, seeing past someone’s pain to who they are.

Who it may interest: Anyone who loves Romantic Suspense with deep meaning. Any reader who loves books with strong, encouraging themes that address life issues.

Story: I would say this is a story of two broken people trying to find healing. The story not only entertained me and put me in the setting, it also encouraged me. The way Melissa crafted the characters’ dialogue brought words of healing that will reach far past the characters into the very heart of the reader. And the tender way Meric treated Liliana was just the perfect romance 😍.

Main takeaway: We aren’t the sum of what people say of us, or even who we mistakenly believe we are. People that see us for who we truly are, pull out the good, and create a safe place for us to heal are a huge gift.

Thank you Revell for gifting me a copy of this book.

Vieled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green

Topic or themes I saw: Worthiness, mental health (what we know now as PTSD), loyalty, strong family ties, and hope. I also saw themes of surrender, wanting to be a better person, and overcoming. Finding beauty in imperfection.

Who it may interest: Anyone who loves a inspiration historical fiction read. Anyone intrigued by the Great Chicago Fire. Those who love books by Lynn Austin or Tricia Goyer.

Story: I was instantly drawn into this story which was incredibly rich in history. The characters were well crafted and deep. Jocelyn really brought the setting to life and I felt I was walking the streets of Chicago 1871. The story of a struggling broken soldier who has loved ones who refuse to give up is one that’s near and dear to my heart. Jocelyn crafts this story in such a heart tugging and empathy building way. The words she puts on the page are so beautifully crafted I read slower than normal to savor them all. This was a magnificent story rich in setting, story, depth, history, and well crafted characters.

Main takeaway: God is not limited, he can use us, even broken and imperfect.

God loves me and I love myself by Mark DeJesus

If I could give this book 6/5 I would. It was exactly what I need in this stage of my life. I’ve benefited greatly from Mark’s podcast and knew I wanted to dive deeper so I listened to this book.

If you struggle with self hate, worthiness, or condemning self talk, read this book.

I’ve been learning different psychology tools to deal with my thought life, and I saw those in different forms throughout this book, which was great. BUT what made it stick even deeper in my heart was how he wrapped tools, scripture, roadblocks, and experiences all together in a way that gave me a much better understanding on how to actually apply it in my life.

He also addressed many of the roadblocks in the Christian world that have can hold many back in fear.

I highly recommend this book, and I know I will be referencing and re-reading it as I continue on my journey toward learning to love who God made me.

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