Marsupial Literature

What If Jesus Was Serious about the Church? by Skye Jethani ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What If Jesus Was Serious about the Church is a devotional style book that tackles a lot topics surrounding the current state of the church. The book looks at the issues of lack of trust and people leaving the church, and turns to Scripture to try to address what is going wrong and what followers of Christ should focus on to change these problems. I started listening to The Holy Post podcast this year, which is one of the main reasons I was interested in reading this book. The chapters were short, easy to follow, and fell in line with a lot of what is presented on the podcast, and I liked the illustrations. My main critique is that I feel like the book almost would have been better suited as a book with longer chapters that went deeper into the topics rather than a devotional style book. That being said, I liked reading What If Jesus Was Serious about the Church and am interested in reading the previous books in the...

Wow, it has been a long time since I have updated my blog. I am reading up a storm and am up to my neck in ARCs as always, and sometimes it leads to fewer blog posts. I'm trying to do a better job keeping it updated because, wow, there are some really great books that have been recently published or will be published soon. Let's start with Glad You're Here! Glad You're Here by Craig Cooper and Walker Hayes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Glad You're Here is a look into the friendship between Craig Cooper and country music star Walker Hayes. I first read about this book on Hayes's instagram and really looked forward to having the opportunity to read and review a copy of the book. One of the strongest parts of the book is that it is so honest. Sure, there are plenty of lighthearted stories, but the two did not sugar coat any of the difficult times. From alcoholism to pregnancy loss and then some, there were so many struggles covered in the book. What also makes the book so good is tha...

Finally, one of my favorite books of the year (so far) publishes today, and I am beyond excited to share my review. All That Fills Us is exceptional and outstanding, and I can't wait for readers to check this one out.  All That Fills Us by Autumn Lytle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All That Fills Us is the story of Mel, a girl with an out of control eating disorder that has landed her in the hospital multiple times. With her family and doctors at the the end of their rope, Mel decides to try to heal in her own way first: by hiking from Grand Rapids to Mount Ranier National Park. The trip would be difficult for the healthiest of people, and Mel will need to rely on the kindness of strangers to get her through this trek. All That Fills Us is such a great book. Great does not even begin to described how much I loved this book, it is easily one of the best books I have read in a long time. Mel is such a good lead that goes through so much throughout her journey: the reader will feel for her yet get so fr...

That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh Donna Grant, thanks for yet another winning cowboy romance novel with That Cowboy of Mine. One of the first cowboy romance novels I ever read was a Donna Grant book, and I'm pretty sure I just keep liking them more and more. I liked the premise of this book a lot; Dillon and Cal certainly had a unique start to their relationship. The romance between the two developed well and I enjoyed reading all the missteps that lead to their eventual bond. And the side story of the fight for Dillon's ranch definitely kept me on my toes. I loved reading That Cowboy of Mine and am hoping there will be more books in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

Wonderfully Made by Allie Marie Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wonderfully Made is a great 30 day devotional style book that touches on a lot of important topics for it's target audience. The book is geared towards young women that may be having trouble finding their purpose in life, and guides them to look to God and the Bible to find what they are made for. A prevalent theme throughout the book is the author's own struggles with severe depression, and she uses examples from some of her most difficult times in many of the chapters to help get her points across. This book really hit home for me, and I found it to be a very personal and useful book that I am so happy to have as an addition to my bookshelf. I would highly recommend Wonderfully Made for teenage girls/young women in need of an encouraging and practical devotional book. Thanks to Moody Publishers for a copy of this book; this is my honest and voluntary review. 

Always Jane by Jenn Bennett was one of my most anticipated books of the year and is also one of my favorites reads so far this year. So, please enjoy my review of Always Jane and check it out yourself! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Always Jane follows Jane, an eighteen year old girl who works with her father every summer at Lake Conder, assisting a music producer and helping with the town's music festival. This summer, Jane has a lot going on: she is recovering from an accident that left her with a brain injury and also planning on moving in with her boyfriend, Eddie. When Eddie leaves town, feelings between Jane and Eddie's brother, Fen, come to the surface and throw some big changes Jane's way. Jenn Bennett is my favorite YA author, so I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to read and review Always Jane. I'm a big fan of Bennett's writing style, and Always Jane gave me a lot of Starry Eyes vibes....which is a very good thing in my book. I loved Jane as a lead and appreciated ...

Chase Wilde Comes Home by Jennifer Ryan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Chase Wilde Comes Home is the first book in the Wildes of Wyoming series and follows Chase and Shelby. Chase is a military veteran suffering with PTSD and addiction issues who returns homes after a traumatic event. He is reunited with Shelby, the mother of his child the the woman he wishes he never left. Shelby also has a troubled past and when the two reunite, they are both given a second chance at romance and life.  I have read my fair share of cowboy romance novels this year and I can say that Chase Wilde Comes Home tells a different kind of story. Wow, this book deals with some heavy heavy topics. It's a lot and it helped me feel for and connect with both of the main characters. I loved the overall themes of redemption, second chances, and forgiveness. The reader will really get invested in the story and want to root for these two until the end. And Eliza is just darling, my goodness. Chase Wilde Comes Home is a great book and ...

Let's start with The Wolves are Waiting, which publishes today (Happy Pub Day!) The Wolves are Waiting by Natasha Friend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Wolves Are Waiting tells the story of an attempted sexual assault of 15 year old Nora by three fraternity members and the journey to try to put the pieces together of what happened that night. Told from four POVs, the book alternates between Nora, her best friend Cam, Nora's brother Asher, and Adam, Nora's classmate who found her in the midst of the incident. As the four start to find answers, they also begin to reveal more than they could have expected.  The Wolves Are Waiting is an important and relevant story and one that I found to be captivating from start to finish. I had trouble putting the book down and was continuously interested in what would happen next. The four POVs really suit the book; it can be difficult to make that many perspectives work together and it was key to telling the different aspects to the plot. And wow, there w...

The Inn on Mirror Lake: another fun Debbie Mason novel! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Inn on Mirror Lake is the fourth book in the Highland Falls series and the first book that I have read in this series. After reading a Christmas book by Debbie Mason this past holiday season, I really looked forward to reading this book. Oh, yet again, I just loved the small town vibes of Mirror Lake, it was so much fun to read. I liked reading about Ellie and Nate's relationship and it's progression from friends to lovers. I adored the concept of the Most Romantic Small Town in America and also loved all of the quirk supporting characters. So much Hallmark going on here. The Inn on Mirror Lake is a good choice for romance fans. Thanks to Forever for a print copy of this book; this is my honest and voluntary review. 

A couple more reviews from the Forever Book Bundle! Not the Kind of Earl You Marry by Kate Pembrooke ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Not the Kind of Earl You Marry is the first book in the Unconventional Ladies of Mayfair series and follows William and Charlotte. William, Earl of Norwood, finds himself at the center of an unexpected scheme when a fake engagement between him and Lady Charlotte is printed in the morning paper. Charlotte also had no knowledge of the announcement, but the two decide to pursue the fake relationship to make it benefit both of them. Not the Kind of Earl You Marry is a fun historical romance novel and another good book to continue my new interest in the genre. William and Charlotte were both interesting leads and I enjoyed reading the progression of their relationship. I liked the fake engagement and how it eventually led to real feelings between the two. The letter writing sections of the book were so cute and definitely some of my favorite parts. My small criticism is that I strug...

Forever bundle book 1: How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ How to Survive a Scandal is the first book in the Rebels With a Cause series and follows Lady Amelia and Benedict Asterly. When Benedict Asterly finds Lady Amelia close to freezing to death, he never imagined that saving her life would result in a scandal that requires the two of them to get married. While the marriage is not something that Amelia or Asterly have in mind, the two soon find that the marriage may be more beneficial than they realized. How to Survive a Scandal is a new genre for me; I haven't read much historical romance before this book. That being said, I loved the book from start to finish and had trouble putting it down. I enjoyed reading the progression of the relationship between Lady Amelia and Benedict Asterly and no trouble staying invested throughout the story. The writing style made the book, and I just could not get enough of this story. How to Survive a Scandal officially made me a fa...

Happy pub day to two more great books!  The Bright Side Running Club by Josie Lloyd ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Bright Side Running Club is the story of Keira, who receives a breast cancer diagnosis that turns her world upside down. Keira is a wife, mother, and dutiful employee who does not want to let the disease define her and looks for an outlet in an unexpected place for her: a women's running club. Her fellow runners quickly become a source of hope, encouragement, and understanding that Keira so desperately needs. I loved the concept of The Bright Side Running Club and found Keira's to be one that could easily have been a work of nonfiction. The way that the author wrote this book, it felt very real and honest. Keira is a great main character who continuously struggled with the battle of not wanting breast cancer to affect any part of her life. Her running club partners were all a strong source of support and kept giving Keira the extra boost of support when she needed it the most. I hope th...

January was a pretty good month for my book list. I read 15 books in total that spanned a wide variety of genres. Some favorites included the sequel to one of my favorite books (The Circle), an upcoming YA novel by Kasie West (I love her sweet YA love stories), another YA book by Jennifer Ann Shore (the fifth book I have read by this author), and a few great nonfiction books. My reviews for all of these books are on Goodreads; some of the reviews are already up on this blog, while others will be posted closer to publication date. January Books: Sunrise What Might Have Been A Sunrise Over Bali Never Give Up The Great Nowitzki Summer Nights With a Cowboy 3:16 Places We've Never Been This is Not the Jess Show Outback Nevada Accidentally Perfect The Matchbreaker Summer Killing Time Only You In Everything The Every

Happy pub day to three great books! These are all some really awesome books, and I've been looking forward to sharing my reviews. Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy  ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Good Girl Complex follows Mackenzie and her struggle between her plans for her life and the need to meet the expectations of her wealthy parents, boyfriend, and friends. She moves to Avalon Bay for college and meets Cooper, a local bartender who usually does not give people like Mackenzie the time of day. As the two become friends (and then something more), Mackenzie starts to come out of her shell and embrace her true self. I was immediately interested in Good Girl Complex just from seeing the cover and reading the book summary. So as soon I received an ARC, I quickly put aside all other books on my tbr list because I couldn't wait to get started. Good Girl Complex exceeded all of my expectations, and I easily read this book in a couple of sittings. I loved the relationship between Mackenzie and Cooper and d...

What a great way to start the weekend! After my daughter woke up from her nap on Thursday, we found a package with three great books from Forever (Grand Central Publishing). I have to say, after a year of reading and reviewing books, Forever has skyrocketed to the top of my list when it comes to looking for a can't lose romance novel. It's basically a guarantee that when I pick up a Forever book, I know I will be swept away by a swoony love story.  The books in the book mail package included: How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish  Not the Kind of Earl You Marry by Kate Pembrooke  The House on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills  Now I can't decide which book to read first. These are good problems to have.

Hi Everyone! Two great books by two of my favorite publishers release today and I'm so excited to share my reviews. If you're looking at books from Forever and Entangled Publishing, you pretty much can't lose.  Texas Homecoming by Carolyn Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Texas Homecoming is the story of Cody, who is returning home to his small town Honey Grove ranch after his time with Doctors Without Borders. His homecoming is met with an unexpected snowstorm that leaves him trapped with Stevie, a local veterinarian that, oh right, had her heart broken by Cody years before. After the weather lets up, the two continue to find themselves spending time together and picking up where they left off. Texas Homecoming....something about this book, it just had me hooked from the start. And what I loved about it even more is that I stayed interested until the very end. The snowstorm brings a fun forced proximity aspect to the book and helps set the stage for the relationship between Cody and Stevie. Th...

Happy Pub Day to Only You in Everything by Jennifer Ann Shore! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Only You in Everything is the story of Cameron, an artist who is spending the summer before college working at a summer camp. And she just so happens to be working right alongside her childhood friend and longtime crush Will. Will this be the summer that Will finally returns Cameron's feelings, or will her hopes remain unrequited as she enters her first year of college? Only You in Everything is the fifth book I have read by Jennifer Ann Shore and I think this one just might be my favorite so far. I adored the summer camp setting; it gave me some nice trips down memory lane and offered a fun escape. Cameron was great as a lead and I liked how the book focused on her as a whole person just as much as it did the romance aspect of the book. The relationship between Cameron and Will had a lot to it, and their road was definitely not straightforward. I am always in need of good YA books in my life, and Only You in Ever...

It's only the first month of the year but, wow, so many great books have already been published this month! Here are a few more reviews for books published earlier in January. Wishing Under a Starlit Skye by Lisa Hobman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wishing Under a Starlit Skye is the story Caitlin, who at 28 years old took the unconventional route of choosing to have a baby on her own with the assistance of an anonymous sperm donor. After twelve years of being a single parent to her daughter, Grace, Caitlin decides to begin navigating the waters of the dating world. Singles nights, speed dating, blind dates, and her daughter's friend's father are all included in Caitlin's journey.....though she may just find that the right person was close by the whole time. Wishing Under a Starlit Skye is a fantastic book in my opinion and there are several reasons for this. Caitlin's story of motherhood was definitely unique and not one that I have seen in fiction before. It was sweet that she wanted to...

Happy Pub Day to 4 books!  Must Love Books by Shauna Robinson  ⭐⭐⭐💫 Must Love Books is the story of Nora, a disgruntled editorial assistant who is hit with the bad news that her salary is being cut. Desperate to make ends meet and find a way out of her situation, she takes a second job at a rival publishing company. When met with the dilemma of choosing sides when it comes to author Andrew Santos, Nora finds herself with some difficult decisions to make. The cover and description of Must Love Books drew me in, but wow, this book is a lot different than what I expected. Nora's character is written in a brutally honest manner and confronts a lot of difficult topics, including mental health issues and letting go of the concept of a dream job. The romance aspect between Nora and Andrew is interesting to read, and really portrayed from the perspective of a struggling person. As much as I liked the writing style, I sometimes had issues with staying engaged with the plot. Again, I t...

Hi All! I am incredibly behind on updating my blog as you can probably tell! Often, I have been favoring my bookstagram over my blog for posting book reviews. In 2022, I plan on focusing more on my blog instead of the bookstagram.  So, I'll go ahead and start by sharing my 2021 year in books. 2021 was my first year reading and reviewing ARCs and I have to say I had the best time. I've found some new favorite authors and publishers and read more books than I thought possible. My list of books is separated by month, and the associated reviews can be found on Goodreads, retailer sites, Instagram, and of course, this blog! February Wilderness adventure camp Keeping a nature journal Chicken talk around the world The no cook cookbook Rosie's travelling tea Shop The mindful kids activity book I hate running and you can too The OCD workbook for teens The dbt skills workbook for teen self harm Marathon mum The anxiety and depression workbook A cowboy kind of love Sloppy...