BookLoverAmanda

  What Did You Expect? Daily Grace Company 5 Stars  Some books come into your life right when you need them most and this was that book for me. This study gently but honestly walks through something many of us don’t talk about... disappointment. The kind that comes when prayers feel unanswered, life turns suddenly, and you’re left asking God questions you feel guilty for having. Right now this message feels especially personal as my family is walking through my Dad’s lymphoma diagnosis. I didn’t realize how many expectations I quietly have in my heart. So many expectations about how God would respond or what His will is...what His plan is....This book didn’t shame those feelings… it helped me examine them. I loved how it points out that sometimes we don’t just struggle with circumstances, we struggle with who we thought God would be in those circumstances. We had OUR WILL instead of HIS WILL. I’ve caught myself wanting God to operate according to my timeline, my idea of “good,...

The Bluff by Emma St. Clair 3 Stars  First, this was such a fun, quick rom-com read. The banter was strong, small town setting is always entertaining in Sheet Cake, TX, and I genuinely laughed out loud several times, as I always do in Emma's books.  Our main couple is James and Winnie. They work together and he is her grumpy boss. It's giving a little enemies to lovers in a way, lots of banter, grumpy sunshine type stuff. It was nice to see Pat and Lindy again from the first book and the family stuff I always enjoy.  That said, I did struggle a little with the romance pacing I guess. Their relationship just felt more surface level - attraction based versus emotional connection. They both had big emotional baggage they needed to deal with from loss, grief and other things. But I feel like I never really knew them and I feel like they never really got to know each other before their first kiss/make outs. I also think I wanted to see more details about why James was so grump...

  Taming Lady Temperance by Karen Witemeyer Book 1 in The Secret Society of Spinsters Series 4 Stars  This was just the book I needed during a hard season, filled with laughs and wit! We have a spinster, Noreen and our Deputy, James. Noreen is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and it's her goal to defend the cause of prohibition. James is the Deputy who wants to preserve the peace...but Miss Noreen ain't havin' any peace! :) She is invited to join the Secret Society of Spinsters and jumps at the chance to rally others behind her movement to shut the local saloon down. James is wanting to be elected sheriff so he really can't afford to be seen as her ally but Noreen ropes him into her plans for a temperance march...the rest is history. I just had a good time with this book. I think its a fun, old west style book that is a good mix of lightheartedness and emotional depth too.  James and Noreen together was chef's kiss! They were so funny because t...

  Whiteout by Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey  4 Stars (3.5 Rounded Up) Novella Collections I always enjoy a good Christian, romantic suspense read and these were some great novellas! Very much an on the edge of your seat read for both novellas in this collection. If you are looking for a good quick winter read, check these out because both have snowed in, avalanches type of storylines, with high-stakes suspense.  The first one, Dani Pettrey's, follows Joel and Cassandra in a second chance romance. She left him at the alter years ago over this crazy situation with a stalker she had. Now, they are back around each other when they are both part of a destination wedding party. Everyone ends up being snowed in at an abandoned lodge with their friends after a tragic avalanche happens. But is her stalker lurking in every corner? Will she reveal the real reason she left so long ago? I was really engaged in this one! Loved the characters and suspense. It was very intense though, w...

How Can It Be - Kelli Galyean 4.5 Stars  What a powerful story of redemption in Christ. Mia and Ryan had a relationship together many years ago in college, before they were living for the Lord. Soon after, Mia learned she was pregnant and her parents, being "politically important" figures, forced her into having an abortion. 10 years later, Mia has found healing and embraced a new life in Christ. She goes to church one day and sees the drummer in the church band is none other than Ryan, from all those years ago. He has no idea what happened back then. Seeing him sturs up so many emotions and traumatic feelings from her past mistakes. They end up growing closer, discussing things and the rest is history as they worked through this together.  This was a really good second chance romance that was filled with church, faith, redemption and healing in Christ. This reminds us how nothing is too big for the Lord. He can redeem all things.  I loved these characters had full, deep ...

  An Unconventional Lady  Sarah E. Ladd  3.5 - 4 Stars Rounded Up on Goodreads Pub Day: February 10th, 2026 This was a clean, regency romance that combines historical romance, science and sweetness all into one.  I think if you like a good period drama or books by Julie Klassen, you will enjoy this one! Ella is our main girl who immediately stands out. She is outspoken, independent and a very refreshing take on your typical regency lead. She was brought up in a home devoted to natural philosophy and with the truth behind the rumors about her late mother... she really wants to clear her mother's name. We see a world of something I had never heard of before "phrenology" and I think that adds a layer of a lesser-known aspect of regency-era science to the book. She meets Gabriel, her childhood friend, who is to find a runaway girl linked to the same phrenologist speaking at the symposium. They go back to Keatley Hall and things unfold as they join forces to expose the ph...