I'm The Worst - How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults by Nathan Clarkson

 

I'm The Worst - How Freedom is Found in Admitting Our Faults by Nathan Clarkson
4 Stars

Wow, this was a surprising audiobook for me. I received a gifted copy from @libro.fm in the July influencer list for their audiobook listeners program and truly enjoyed this one. This wasn't even on my radar but it's a great audiobook experience, as it felt like a true conversation or podcast, narrated by the author himself. 

This was a book I needed right now as someone who has been frustrated by judgement but also been the judge herself on things. We are not the judge and jury. We are not the be all for everyone's choices. We should never shame people in their choices or experiences. He talks about current and recent events, cancel culture, hero worship and idols and tribal mentality. He shares his own personal stories, references media in today's world and points us back to the Lord and His word related to sin and judgements. He touches on some tough topics but it was an honest, reflective look at sin, our own sin nature and looking at our own mess before we cast the first stone on others. He really encourages you to take a look at yourself and seek the Lord. 

This book felt especially timely because I’ve been increasingly frustrated by the judgment that often exists within the bookish community over what people choose to read. If I’m honest, I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past, judging others’ reading choices and even gatekeeping certain books.

Over time, the Lord has worked on my heart in this area and reminded me that it is not my place to sit in judgment of others, especially when I have experienced judgment for my own reading choices. We can certainly be a resource for those seeking cleaner books or specific content preferences, but we do not have the authority to act as judge and jury over someone else’s reading journey.

Reading is deeply personal and shaped by our individual experiences, convictions, and perspectives. What resonates with me may not resonate with someone else. What affects me may affect another reader differently. We can respectfully share our opinions and have honest conversations without shaming people for the books they choose to read. 

This book served as a powerful reminder that before we pause our scrolling to criticize others online, we should first examine our own hearts. It challenged me to look at my own shortcomings before focusing on the choices of others, and I think that is a lesson worth remembering.

I am definitely going to get a physical copy to highlight some great quotable items and refer back to. While some chapters hit more than others, there's a LOT to notate here that is so valuable.

Thank you to the publisher and @libro.fm for a gifted audiobook to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own. 

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781545933640-i-m-the-worst

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/4p7RJuf

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Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh

 Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh
5 Stars

Stay tuned for my reading vlog on this one!

COURTNEY DOES IT AGAIN! WOW! I loved this book so much! Her books just bring me so much joy. I laughed so much. It was giving early 2000s rom-com, I kept picturing Katherine Heigel and James Marsden from 27 Dresses LOL. SO GOOD.

If you want all the joy, read this.

Second chances, funny moments, plenty of depth, clean romance - the best.

I love that the characters are middle age in their 40s. Such a breath of fresh air to see this, especially as I just turned 36 this year and I find myself seeking characters in their 30s and 40s out in books these days.

Claire is recently divorced, as her husband cheated on her after 20 years of marriage.  Claire moves from Colorado to Chicago, a place dear to her heart, as she loved being in rural Illinois growing up. She moves to a new apartment in the city and is ready for a fresh start. Her daughter Minnie is trying to set her up on dates though and makes her a dating profile online. Things get a bit complex when the apartment building owner, Miles, and her have quite the meet cute. Miles is also divorced, isn't seeking getting married again himself...and he starts helping with the matchmaking for Claire. Only you already know....the chemistry is more between Claire and Miles than anyone else they may be trying to date along the way...disastrous dates by the way....little do they know where their own relationship will end up.

But this book was more than just a romance.
This book was about self-discovery after your life turns upside down. It's a reminder to be with someone who supports you in what you enjoy. Lift each other up. I had the best time with this book and would recommend this book to everyone. It's truly one of those books that felt like real life. The epilogue was the best and gave me all the emotions - I teared up it was so beautiful.

The audiobook was also top tier. As an audiobook girlie, I loved the narration. She did a great job and I felt like I was right there with the characters while listening.

Will always recommend a Courtney Walsh read!!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and libro.fm for a gifted ebook and audiobook to read and listen to for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781400352906-brighter-than-before 

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Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9781400352883_brighter-than-before

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Sirens and Sea Captains by Courtney Denelsbeck

 

Sirens and Sea Captains by Courtney Denelsbeck
3.5 - rounding up to 4 Stars 

This was a fun novella to read! I like pirates and mermaids so it was a good little novella to escape in throughout the week at bedtime when I picked up my kindle. 

This is a YA fantasy romance where Lenora is betrothed to the pirate captain. Her father sends her on the boat with her betrothed and Lenora's devastated because the man she thought she would be with has moved on to someone else and she is left betrothed to a pirate captain.

She's on the ship with the roughest crew, having to help out unexpectedly throughout the trip with her loyal pet axolotl by her side. Sirens lurk the waters out in the deep ocean though and they all endure quite the adventure on the seas.....

I think if you like pirates, creatures, mermaids, adventures on ships, check this out. There is some Christian allegory as well as she prays to the "Maker", which was nice.

Lots of action as sirens attack and Lenora is trying to figure things out along the way since the pirate captain is so mysterious to her.

The romance is clean with kisses only. Since it's a novella, things moved super quick, so I would have like a bit more details of Lenora and the Captain interacting and talking I think. But overall, it was a good, quick short novella I had fun reading to suspend reality for a bit. 

Thank you to the author for sending a copy of the ebook to honestly read for review. All thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4vFX1j4
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You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego
4.5 Stars

THIS WAS A WILD RIDE Y'ALL! This is a very clever, twisty locked-room mystery! If you love thrillers or mysteries, this will be one to check out for sure!

6 thriller authors are invited to an exclusive writing retreat on a private island as a game centered around classic mystery tropes....but things turn deadly when one of the guests is murdered. You know what's next...

I loved the cast of characters, the atmosphere, the isolated island...it was giving And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie vibes honestly! (Another favorite of mine from this year!)

As somebody who never figures out the "who-dun-it" in the book, you already know I never knew who to trust but it kept me engaged as I read along. I was just here for the ride!

The premise is especially fun for thriller fans because the characters themselves are mystery writers. They know all the tricks and tropes, which adds another layer to the cat-and-mouse game unfolding on the island. The author clearly had fun playing with classic mystery conventions while still delivering surprising twists.

The large cast occasionally made it challenging for me to keep track of everyone and their motivations, particularly in the beginning but thats a ME thing. The audio helped me keep track since it was a FULL CAST! I LOVEEEE a good FULL CAST AUDIOBOOK! :) I became fully invested in this one.

If you enjoy locked-room mysteries, isolated settings, and stories that keep you second-guessing every character, this one is worth adding to your TBR!

Content/Trigger Warnings: Mild to moderate language, murder, psychological tension, lots of death in general 

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 

https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780593949863-you-are-fatally-invited (on sale as of 6/24)
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Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber

 Chasing the Clouds Away by Debbie Macomber

4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars

I loved this book so much. It's a book all about family, doing unto others, what it means to be kind, and second chances. We follow Chase who is making his way back home to figure out things for his mother's funeral. He's a rich man, rude and in quite the mood when he runs into Maisy on his flight. She has a peace about her that gets him thinking like no one has ever done before. They talk a bit on the plane ride, he expresses his mother passed away and he didn't have a relationship with her due to her leaving the family from being an alcoholic many years ago. He tells her no one will probably be at her funeral anyway.....Maisy is saddened by this. 

After the plane lands, Chase is in an uproar about his delays in travel to get to where he needs to be and Maisy offers him a ride to the funeral home. He begs her to let him pay for her trouble but she says no, this is what people do for each other in kindness. She asks him to pay it forward, a concept that is foreign to Chase. They part ways but Maisy has left quite the impression on him....

They meet back up after he realizes Maisy and her grandmother attended his mother's funeral and the rest go on from here as Chase starts to realize the meaning of family, kindness and love.

This was a "right book, right time" type of read for me. I have never read Debbie's books but this was sweet, wholesome and had a clean romance that I really liked. I love redemption arcs for people in stories and this had it for Chase. Loved Maisy's family, Patrick was the sweetest little boy too. While the conflict in the ending wasn't my 100% fav to see, I can understand and loved how it ended up all the same. 

This book also had some good faith moments that surprised me, mentions of God naturally in the book, how He would provide in times of trouble and how He got many through their sobriety.

Overall, a solid contemporary romance book that I would recommend!

Content/Trigger Warnings: 1 D word but that's all I could remember right off, parental death mention, brief grief shown, past miscarriages mentioned, romance is clean with kisses only

Thank you to the publisher for a ebook copy to read for review, all thoughts are my own but I also purchased a copy of the audiobook and physical book :)

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 

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Beautiful Storm by Mandi Blake

 Beautiful Storm by Mandi Blake
3 Stars 
Book #4 in The Unfailing Love Series

This was a sweet Christian romance and another enjoyable installment in this series. I've been reading through Mandi's backlist with my friend Melissa, and it's been fun to see where her writing journey began. Having read more than 20 of Mandi's books, I appreciate the chance to go back and experience some of her earlier work. While this one wasn't a new favorite, I still found it to be a good read.

Tori's seemingly perfect life falls apart when her doctor husband leaves her for another woman. As she tries to rebuild her future, she receives an unexpected surprise in her divorce settlement.....a cabin in Georgia. When she travels there to sort out her new circumstances, she meets Marcus. Marcus is raising his younger sister and three brothers while dealing with the challenges of a mother who continues to make destructive choices. The connection between Marcus and Tori is immediate, and their relationship develops with a strong love-at-first-sight feel.

I enjoyed the story overall, but it didn't stand out to me as much as some of Mandi's more recent releases. That's a difficult comparison to make since this was part of her first series and she has grown so much as an author over the years. Her new books are almost always 5 star favorites for me. She's really perfected her timelines and being able to make it a very natural progression of what happens in the stories. This was still a charming Christian romance with likable characters and a heartwarming message. I'm not usually a fan of insta-love romances like this with the more cheesy bits, but this one ended up being a solid read rather than a standout favorite for me.

Looking forward to book 5!

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): 
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To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer 

5 Stars

I am having the BEST time going through Karen's backlist books y'all! THEY ARE SO GOOD. This is what Christian Fiction should be to me! 

I read this book with my friend Melissa and we both loved it so much! This book is a story of second chances, redemption, keeping promises made to the Lord even when it's hard....so many good things here.

Levi was THE BEST guy and his redemption story was so strong. He has a tough background where he paid for his crimes and committed his life to the Lord going forward. He is in town and starting fresh as the town's new blacksmith. He also has a lisp and has for as long as he could maintained not saying words with the "s" sound as he is embarrassed by this. As a Mom to a little guy with speech issues, this tugged at my heart strings so much. Karen is so talented to be able to maintain using words without the "s" sound in his dialogue too. Eden is the librarian in town and while she doesn't really seem like the nicest woman in the world at first, the Lord opens her heart throughout the story and I loved seeing her faith journey unfold here. Levi and Eden together were the best, and seeing how they each cared about every single person no matter their background and stood for the people they believed in, was so good. Despite Eden's original feelings and judgements, the Lord really did a work in her heart about people. 

The book has depth, natural chemistry with the characters, memorable moments and a faith message that stands out.

I honestly don't even know what else to say. This may be my favorite of Karen's, but of course, they all are!! 

p.s. The Sherriff in this book can kick rocks LOL

p.p.s. EPILOUGE took me out. I was sobbingggg! So good.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Alcohol, Saloons, Brothel, Gambling, Romance was kisses only and clean, no language

Libro.fm Audio (Supports Local Indie Book Stores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780840714695-conspiracy
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