Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

 Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan 

3.5 rounding up to 4 Stars

After enjoying Summer Romance, I was excited to pick up Annabel's newest release, and reading it with my friend Theresa made it even more fun.

Dolly is the ultimate caretaker, always managing everyone else's problems. As someone who often feels like the "chaos manager" in my own family, I found her incredibly relatable. At 39, she returns to Rhode Island with her son to help keep her family home from being sold, where she meets Stewart....a wealthy man fresh off a very public breakup. Their fake dating arrangement naturally turns into real feelings, and I appreciated that the fake relationship involved far less deception than most books in the trope.

Stewart took a little while to grow on me, but once his vulnerabilities came through, I really enjoyed him and Dolly together. I also loved seeing Dolly as a devoted mom, especially since her own mother left her and her family. Her growth in standing up for herself and the family dynamics with her father and brother stood out too. The disability representation through her brother added another layer to the story.

My biggest drawback was the romance becoming more detailed than I personally prefer. There is one open-door intimacy scene (Chapter 25, pages 241–249) and another fade-to-black scene (Chapter 31). While not as explicit as many general contemporary romances these days, they were beyond what I typically enjoy or recommend to my clean-romance audience. She also talks about sex in a really convenient and unrealistic way. This is my issue with a lot of romance books though in general sometimes.

Overall, I still really enjoyed the story and found Dolly to be a relatable, well-written FMC. This story stands out for the family dynamics and real life situations. It was nice to see Dolly even resort to prayer and begging God to help at a really intense moment. I especially appreciated seeing characters in their late 30s and 40s. I don't think this will be a favorite for most of my clean-romance followers, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

The audiobook narrator was great and I'd happily listen to more of her work.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the ebook to read for review. I purchased a copy but will be unhauling since it wasn't really an all time favorite. All thoughts are my own.

Content: Moderate language (including 4 F-words and several uses of the Lord's name in vain), detailed kissing, one open-door intimacy scene (Chapter 25), one fade-to-black scene (Chapter 31), references to sex, panic attack, parental abandonment

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Theo Of Golden by Allen Levi

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

What can I say? This is now my favorite book of all time. I cannot form into words how beautiful this story really is. This is what I would consider my first 6 star read, many people use that term for their "extra" favorite books. While I never have, it's the only rating I can think of. 

This is a story about faith in action. Faith lived out. Being kind to others. Do unto others. Being the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. People are hurting in this world and need the Lord. I know what it means to not walk with the Lord in the past and what it means to walk with Him now. Before and after. Allen Levi portrayed the broken, real people of this world who just need someone to walk into their lives and be Jesus to them. 

That's all I have for now. Watch the full reading vlog for my immediate thoughts and reactions. I get pretty real and raw and honest as usual, but no surprise, right? :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHWS__fNhTs&t=

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from these links.

2 DAY SALE DAILY GRACE COMPANY - $10 BIBLE STUDIES

Daily Grace Company Sale 

Hey yall! The Daily Grace Co is having a FLASH SALE for 2 days where all spiral bound Bible studies are $10.00!

If anyone is interested, my discount code stacks on this sale - 10% off BOOKLOVERAMANDA code - unlimited uses. No pressure, just mentioning! I haven’t seen them do this sale before myself, so wanted to share it! 

Shop here: https://www.thedailygraceco.com/BOOKLOVERAMANDA

Some of the Bible Studies I like, friends have liked or are on my list to do:

On Earth As It Is In Heaven - Sermon on the Mount Bible Study - Their Newest Study Just Dropped Today: https://collabs.shop/fgrulo

Genesis Bible Study - On my list to do, my close friends loved it! https://collabs.shop/8rgkxc

Revelation Bible Study - I hear is also amazing, on my list to do: https://collabs.shop/dqculx

Clinging to the Cross Lent Bible Study - Can Be Done ANYTIME honestly, I loved it! https://collabs.shop/9warq1

My Current Study I am doing from Daily Grace is their recent ABIDE Bible Study: https://collabs.shop/knqd5r

Their Flourishing in Motherhood Study is also on my list! https://collabs.shop/ercb0u

Even more then just their spiral bound studies are on sale, I have this JOB Study to do at some point too: https://collabs.shop/1daue8

If you are looking for a fresh start mid way through the year, I did this Fresh Start Bible Study in January and loved it. It's only $5.00 today https://collabs.shop/papypy - its a 2 week study

I also did the Peace Under Pressure hardcover study, this one is only $10.00 too, I loved it and was one that really helped me in a tough season https://collabs.shop/tlqaii

This is one I'll be doing this September with my friend Keisha's book club! Just $5.00 https://collabs.shop/bxyzil

I loved doing this 40 days with Jesus study a couple of years ago also https://collabs.shop/nz5ngv

Anyway, there are so many bible studies they have to check out! I just wanted to share the sale and my 10% discount code off your order stacks on top of the sale, if you are interested. 

I thank you for supporting me using my discount code but there is never any pressure to use it, just wanted to mention since this is just a 2 day sale.

Thank you all!

- Amanda

10% Off Daily Grace Co Orders with Code BOOKLOVERAMANDA  unlimited uses (Updated July 2026)

Shop here: https://www.thedailygraceco.com/BOOKLOVERAMANDA

Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer

Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer

4.5 Stars

This was so FUNNY! If you are in a mood to read something super funny and full of chaos, YOU GOTTAAAA check this out! 

Nate and McKenna have a funny "meet-cute" if you will....she's trying to set up the perfect proposal for her sister. They run into each other during this, the chaos ensues....the ring goes missing....and a trip to Tennessee brings her to Nate in Tennessee at his family B&B. They get to know each other, searching for the missing ring, planning a community concert, hiking in Tennessee...so much fun!

I really liked the Tennessee setting as my little small town was included in this book, with our bookstore, donut shop and hiking areas inspiring Becca in her writing! Becca has always been a joy to meet in our local indie bookstore in Cookeville, TN!

The enemies to lovers went on for a little longer than I usually like but around 40% I really started to connect with them as a couple. I recommend as a fun time read!

As an audiobook girlie, the narration was 10/10! She did a great job with all the character voices and really made you feel like you were with each scene as a movie. Made me laugh with her tones during the chaotic funny scenes!

It was also nice to have the short statements of faith in the end!  Romance was clean with kisses only.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for a gifted copy of the audiobook to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own. I purchased a physical copy as well.

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780310182412

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514395-not-what-we-pictured

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The Music of Us by Emerald Alexandrea

The Music of Us by Emerald Alexandrea

3.5 rounding up to 4 stars

Y'all, this was a delightful surprise! A clean, YA romance that is great for teens and young adults - and really anyone! Thank you to @librofm and @blinkyabooks for a complimentary ALC to listen to for review. I had a lot of fun with this, it was a breath of fresh air honestly. I am also OBSESSED with this cover!

So if you like boy bands, cats, cafes and sweet romance reads, this is one to pick up! Lucy is helping manage her mom's cat cafe....but the fancy coffee shop across the street is causing them to lose customers and people to adopt their special cats in the cafe. Lucy emails her ex-best friend and first crush Jake, who is in a music boy band with his friends and pretty famous, to help attract more people to the cafe via a livestream performance. But Lucy and Jake haven't talked in years....and their feelings resurface. 

I think this was a fun audiobook to listen to. Yes, there was some miscommunication bits, but expected in a YA romance. I love that this was wholesome and appropriate for young readers with no explicit sexual content or language. We need more of these type of reads out there! The cats were SOOO CUTE and the narrator did a fantastic job with the voice and the tones/inflections for each character.

The family bits were great too, seeing her Mama especially was so precious.

Definitely recommend!

I received an ALC of this book from the publisher and libro.fm. All thoughts are my own.

Content: no language, no spice, kisses only, few “omg” statements, no real content warnings I found 

Libro.Fm Audio Link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780310182412

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All The Stars by Mandi Blake

 

All The Stars by Mandi Blake
Unfailing Love Book 5

3 Stars

Leah's husband left her to raise their daughter alone and she's trying to get back on her feet. She goes to the hardware store and ends up having a "meet-cute" with the handsome owner, Brian. They keep meeting and he becomes interested in her. However, she has such significant stranger danger because of the trauma of her ex-husband leaving and his deceitfulness. She doesn't want to let anyone in but Brian has never met a stranger, so they are complete opposites in that regard. Leah works through her hesitations and a romance comes together.

I liked this one, just not a favorite. This series has been quick, Christian romance reads that I have enjoyed but just not the same as the newer books Mandi has written. Most of her new releases are 4 and 5 stars for me so as I read her backlist, I get to see where she started to where she is now, which is great. 

Leah was a character I just didn't end up loving. She had too much stranger danger in my opinion that didn't match up with the trauma she went through but I did love Brian and his relationship with her daughter, very sweet.

Overall, glad to read another in this series and looking forward to finishing it.

Romance was clean with kisses only.

Libro.fm audiobook link: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781664948037-all-the-stars

Libro.Fm Referral Link (Supports Local Indie Bookstores): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798400514395-not-what-we-pictured

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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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