Benches, Romance, Historical Fiction, and More

Before we go inside, I want us to show you one of my favorite benches.
This bench is tucked into our wooded area, and I love coming here to read. Now that the weather is turning cooler, you will find me here often in the mornings. But come inside, I have another bench I would like to show you.

It is my piano bench. I am starting to practice music for Christmas. I teach piano once a week and am trying to get back into the habit of spending some daily time practicing after a few years of sporadic playing. Of course sometimes I get distracted by reading…

  Noble Pursuits: This is not your typical romance. This is not one of those insta-love books or kiss-till-the-reader-gages books. This is a romance that goes deeper than attraction and deals with the harsh realities of life and our amazing God who works all out for good. If you haven’t read it, do so.  Beauty for Ashes: This is one of my all-time favorite books. The romance is pretty light, as with most Grace Livingstone Hill books, but this one had a message that really touched me. I also loved the main guy as he was a man of great character.
Stealing the Preacher: I really like this authors books, but this is by far my favorite. The guy is one of my favorite heroes ever, as he stands up for what is right and confronts others in a godly way. The romance was sweet.
Into the Whirlwind: This book has two things that I normally hate in a story; a girl trying to make it in a man’s world, and a love triangle. However, it all felt so real, believable, and I could not stop reading. The romance ended just as it should.
A Distant Melody: This book came at a time I needed it. I was having a very hard week, and this book was a wonderful distraction, a reason to cry for both sadness and joy, and a wonderful reminder of Christian principles.

From the Dark to the Dawn: This book…There just aren’t enough words to tell what this one means to me. It touched me so deeply at a time I needed it and has continued to bless me. Read my full review to understand.
The Messenger: What do you get when you mix a Quaker and a spy? Most books I would consider it a disaster, but this one was amazing. There was no throwing out all the beliefs, or overdone romance. This book was just amazing both in history and characters.
A Home for My Heart: There are some books that are just so beautiful, this is one of them. This was so against the norm that the ending was nothing like what I expected at the beginning which was a good thing. It is just beautiful.
The Abolitionist: I think of this book where Jane Austen and Amazing Grace meet. This is a beautiful story that pulls together both history and endearing characters. This is written by my all-time-favorite author.
Just Jane: Speaking of Jane Austen, this fictional book about her life  was very cool. I loved how it really felt so much like the historical character, pulling from her letters and such. I loved Moser’s whole series, but this remains my favorite.