Top Ten // Movies + Books

Liberty always does Top Ten posts on her blog (she has a AWESOME blog, so be sure to check it out and give her a follow!), and I thought it might be fun to do one--or at least a version--of my own post! Hope you don't mind me stealing your blog idea, Liberty! *winks*

So today's post is going to be talking about top ten movies and books!

Movies:
Mom's Night Out!!
Soul Surfer
Courageous
While You Were Sleeping
Parental Guidance (So funny!)
Yogi Bear (lol)
Playing With Fire (lol)
The Greatest Showman (musical)
Moondance Alexander
Wild Hearts Can't be Broken


Movie Series/Shows:
Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye!!
Road to Avonlea
Man from Snowy River: The McGregor Saga
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
A-Team
Wind at My Back
Full House
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Father Murphy
The Waltons
...and many more!

Books: 
The Fire in Ember!!
The Rawhiders
Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming
Love Finds You in Last Chance, California
A Distant Melody
The Swiss Courier
Strangers and Pilgrims
Dangerous Decision
Where Two Hearts Meet

Indie Books:
Freedom!!
Dandelion Dust
Behold
Love Needs No Words
Martin Hospitality
Beloved
The Old River Road
Bound
Never Say Goodbye
Live Without You

Book Series:
Circle C Adventures by Susan K. Marlow!!
Serenity Inn by Kay D. Rizzo
The Chloe Mae Chronicles by Kay D. Rizzo
Prince Edward Island Dreams by Liz Johnson
Homestead by Stephen Bly
The Skinners of Goldfield by Stephen Bly
The Wells Fargo Trail by Jim Walker
Love Finds You (Sundance, Silver City, and Victory Heights just to name a few!)
Swiss Agents (The Swiss Courier + Chasing Mona Lisa)
Ladies of Harper's Station
Honorable Mention: the Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin

What's your favorite Movie? What's your favorite Series? What's your favorite Book? What's your favorite Indie Book? What's your favorite Book Series? 

Comment Below the number one in your top ten! 

Many Blessings

Brooklyne Elysse

Book Series Spotlight

Today, I'd like to talk about a series I just recently completed! The Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin. This is the first series I've read by Sarah Sundin, and so far, I have really enjoyed her writing style (though she doesn't shy away from the harder topics.)

My Reviews:

Book One: A Distant Melody 

Why in the world did I not pick this book up sooner! A Distant Melody is now one of my most favorite books EVER! I absolutely loved it!!! (sorry if this review is a little all over the place!)

From the perfect cover to the story inside, this book was phenomenal! What can I say? When I read the very last page, I was sad because I didn't want it to end.

Allie and Walt "Preach" are so wonderful together. These two main characters came alive to me, they were very real and really just the best! In fact, all of the characters in this book were extremely well written! Oh man, did Baxter and Allie's parents make me mad, though! And it was tragic about Frank...

I loved the friendships! Especially in the first of the book! And it was so neat to see Allie and Walt's friendship-turn-to-something-more throughout the letters! But, honestly I think that happened even before the letters began! <3

Just watching how Allie grew from the first of the book to the last of the book was amazing. Nothing was rushed, and I just loved how her character developed!

I love the way Sarah Sundin was able to weave her words in such a way that there was some real heart to heart lessons to be learned, but then at the same time, there was a few moments when there would be teasing or just plain cuteness happening! Both of these combined and it made for the most enjoyable read! (Honestly, if the book I write someday is half as good as A Distant Melody, I would be overjoyed!)

There is only two things that could have been different in my mind, one of which was that I felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere, or maybe I am used to faster paced plots. For most of the book, the two were separated because of the war. Because of this, I felt like I was reading the same scene twice from both sides... There was plot twists, and miscommunications, but I didn't really feel like there was a huge climax to the story. The second thing was the miscommunications. They were vital to the story, but after a while, I got a little tired of the two main characters not being on the same page with each other and the very complicated web of lies surrounding their relationship.

The history throughout this novel was well written! There wasn't too many facts that made it seem like a non-fiction history book. It was definitely enough fiction for me, but also enough real history to satisfy!

I absolutely LOVED this book so much! A Distant Melody definitely deserves five shiny stars, if not more!

Book Two: A Memory Between Us

3.75 stars

Well, I really enjoyed reading this second book in the Wings of Glory series by Sarah Sundin.

The cover is so perfect for the story! I really liked Ruth and Jack. And I thought it was sweet to have the reoccurring inside joke rhyming with moon, and June. As much as I liked these two main characters, my favorite characters would by far be their friends- Charlie and May! (this couple needs a book about them!)

I also thought that it was cool to hear more about Walt and Allie from the first book (love those two!)

The author of A Memory Between Us did an amazing job with this book, and I love her writing style so much!!! :) I am so looking forward to reading more books by Sarah Sundin!

I liked how each main character had a fear they had to overcome, and the message I received was of letting God have control and putting our trust in Him (Giving Him our worries and fears.)

This book dealt with some very hard topics including rape. And for this reason, I do NOT recommend this book to younger readers, or readers sensitive to this subject.

I was not bothered by the main character (Ruth) remembering her past, but when her past became a reality for her to overcome at the end of the book, that part bothered me. That is why I have such a hard time rating this book. On one hand it was a great book, but on the other, I felt like that last part (where both main characters had to face their fears- literally) I felt was unnecessary to the story. Too much detail for me. In other words, if my family were watching that last scene (involving Burnsy) as a movie, my parents would be quickly jumping up for the remote to turn it off...

In my mind, they could have overcome their fears (for Jack it was water and drowning, for Ruth it was a hard past including evil men...) without having to go through what they did. If I were to rate chapters 49 through 60, my star rating would be considerably lower. But I decided to give the overall book a 4 stars (3.75).

In the end, I really liked reading this book and it helped pass the time on my return trip (a five hour drive!) I am excited to continue on with this series!

Book Three: Blue Skies Tomorrow 

Ok y'all! What an end to the Wings of Glory series!

Both characters had to overcome their fear. And this was such a great message to the book. I loved how they held each other accountable and really stood strong when they were tempted to just fall back into the familiar fear patterns. Also, the characters grew so much thought these pages!

I especially loved learning and reading about this timeframe.

The cover (and really the covers in the whole series) is AMAZE! Just, perfect! <3

The characters: for the most part, I really liked them. There were a few things that I didn't care for (more so in regard to Helen.) But, she grew on me. And some of the side characters... hmm.

Honestly, the back of the book didn't even begin to explain the complicated story inside. The plot thickened pretty fast. And you could really see the internal struggle that the characters had. Helen was between a rock and a hard place, for sure.

The romance was a little on the heavy side for me. Didn't care for that part, especially so soon at the beginning.

This book dealt with some tough topics ** Spoiler alert: Helen's late husband and father-in-law were abusive. And there was details shared. ** End spoiler.

It suffice to say, is for older readers in my opinion. Definitely mature content...

But, life is real. Life is hard. And this book didn't shy away.

I loved seeing the other characters from previous books! That was a plus!

Overall, this book was really good and I'm sad to see the series come to an end. My favorite was book one, and I liked book three better book two.

Thanks for reading my review! I hope these thoughts helped you decided if you'd like to read Blue Skies Tomorrow. (Also, sorry this review is all over the place!)

Have you read this series? If so, what's your favorite book?? 

Comment below! 

Many Blessings,

Brooklyne Elysse

Never Say Goodbye // Author Interview

Good morning, readers! 

Today I am participating in a blog book tour featuring a lovely book that I had the privilege of beta reading. This book is such a sweet read and I'm excited to help spread the word about it! If you haven't read Never Say Goodbye yet, you definitely should get your hands on a copy!

 (Keep scrolling to read my book review!)

Author Bio:

Sarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called 'Life,' she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.

Book Synopsis: 

They say time heals all wounds. But he was finding it a poor painkiller.

Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.

Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.

In this sophomore novel featuring beloved characters from Live Without You, Sarah Grace Grzy explores themes of grief, hope, and second chances in a story that touches both the heart and spirit.

~~

Author Interview: 

1. What was your favorite thing about writing NSG? (The writing process, formatting, design, advertising, etc!) 

I'm not sure! Every part has its challenges, joys, and struggles. The whole project is a process that I both struggle with and enjoy. If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would either be writing the first draft or the cover design. Even if it was a major struggle at times, writing the first draft is a very special process to me. Also, graphic design is very close to my heart, so designing the cover was a ton of fun for me! I love getting to design my own cover.

2. What is the message you would like your readers to get after reading your book?

One word: Hope. It is my prayer that this story will bring even just a tiny bit of hope to whatever circumstances my readers are going through at the time. We all have something we're going through. I've realized that more and more in these challenging times. So I pray that in the midst of whatever it is that's on your mind and heart, Never Say Goodbye will bring a bit of hope and encouragement to you.

3. Who is your favorite character, and why do they stand out to you? 

Hmm, that's a hard one, as all my characters feel so close to me! I think I would have to say Tyler Collens, though. This sweet dude has been close to my heart since my first book, Live Without You. He almost feels like a close friend or brother. Another character who touched my heart but has less of a storyline is a little girl named Lilah. I'm not even sure how she entered the story, but she touched my heart!


4. What was the best part of designing the cover and what was the most challenging part? 

Oh, man. Designing the cover was a process. I think I enjoyed getting to experiment with new skills and learn new techniques to achieve the look I wanted. And the most challenging part would be just that: getting the look and design I wanted! I went through so many revisions, and even had some others design a version of it for me to give me some new perspective. (Brooklyne, your version is still my favorite of the other drafts! I loved it so much.)

5. What is a word of advice to pass on to new self-published authors? 

I talked about this on my Instagram a while back, and realized this is one of the most important words of advice I would want to give someone. Trust your writing journey into God's hands . . . completely, 100%. I think that was the one most important decision I made when I first started writing, giving it to Him and asking Him to lead and guide me. I think it will blow your mind what He will do with a surrendered heart and pen. He certainly has mine!

6. Target audience?

I think Never Say Goodbye would be enjoyed by a wide audience. If you love stories with realistic characters, raw authenticity, and deep themes, I think you would enjoy Never Say Goodbye!

7. How has God used this story in your own life?  

I love this question, because He certainly does use my stories in my own heart and life! As I was writing Never Say Goodbye, I was finding myself discouraged and disheartened by my life's circumstances at the time. I felt like my dreams had been stripped away from me, and while I didn't like where I was, I didn't know where I would rather be. All my plans and hopes seemed so empty, all of a sudden. Then the themes of hope in Never Say Goodbye were starting to speak to my heart, and the things God was speaking to me on hoping and dreaming started filtering into the story.

Thanks so much, Brooklyne! It's been a pleasure. :)

And thank you, SG, for writing such a great book!

~~~

My book review of Never Say Goodbye:

"5 (4.5) Stars. ✭✭✭✭✯

To say I enjoyed Never Say Goodbye would be a understatement. The characters, the setting, and the message throughout this book was amazing! I was privileged for the opportunity to beta read Never Say Goodbye, and I look forward to future books by Sarah Grace Grzy. Can we all take a moment to admire that stunning cover?! *heart eyes*

I really liked the relationship that Ty had with his little daughter, though he was very overprotective at times and that sometimes clouded his judgment. Alyvia was such a neat character! I loved that she loved books as much as I do. Their love story was portrayed nicely and was very clean.

I also really liked how the characters from Live Without You were side characters in this book, and it was nice to learn more about their story along the sidelines of Never Say Goodbye. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like stories with themes of love, forgiveness, and triumph over what life can throw in our direction.” 

~~~

Check out this awesome book trailer that Sarah Grace had made for her book HERE!

Add NSG to your Goodreads TBR pile HERE!

Find Sarah Grace on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to learn more about her and her books!

Also, enter the giveaway HERE!

Have you read Live Without You yet? 

Did you enjoy this author interview? Comment below!

Many Blessings,

Brooklyne Elysse

Ten Book Genres // Yay or Nay

Today I thought I'd mix things up a bit and voice some of my opinions on one of my favorite topics: books!

I would definitely consider myself to be a bookworm and love to talk about literary pieces of art. But the best thing about being a reader is, you can form your own opinions about the books you read and they can differ from other people. Cause that's what makes the world go 'round! And even though we all have our own unique thoughts about books, us bookworms can all agree on one thing... ok, a couple things: Libraries can be dangerous to TBR piles, and sifting through a paperback is just pure amazingness!

But lets talk about top ten book genres that seem to be the most popular. And i'm going to either vote "Yay" or "Nay" depending on my opinion on each genre. Then explain my reasoning behind my vote.

So lets dive in!

Biblical Fiction

Vote: Nay

Why: I have never been big into Biblical Fiction because I feel like the real truth of the Bible can be tweaked depending on the writers view point in the Bible. I try to keep the Bible separate from fictional characters so I don't get confused.

Historical Fiction

Vote: Yay

Why: Well, for starters, who doesn't love to think back into History and imagine all the stories that could have taken place! Historical Fiction gives me the little bit of western, vintage, simple life picture that I just love. Now, I will admit, some historical fiction books can have way too much historical details or become too preachy, but most of the time there is lots of adventure.

Contemporary Fiction

Vote: Yay

Why: I use to not care for contemporary fiction, but now, I love it! Why? Because I can relate to it, and it's usually easy to understand. And fun.

Non-Fiction

Vote: Yay-ish

Why: It depends on the non-fiction book for me! Non fiction is harder for me to stay focused because it looses my interest, but every once in awhile, I will come across a great non-fiction! Lmk if you need recs! Both self-help or writing related...

Fantasy

Vote: Nay

Why: Truthfully, I've never been into fantasy novels. Maybe my imagination just doesn't stretch to dragons, magic, and make-believe worlds/scenarios. Plus, I can't handle the dark themes and double meaning attributes that usually come with a fantasy book. Now, this doesn't mean that I won't ever pick up a fantasy book, I have actually considered trying some that my trusted friends have suggested. So if you have any good fantasy that wouldn't scare me off or make me feel uncomfortable, feel free to recommend some in the comments!

Action + Adventure

Vote: Yay

Why: I love a good adventure to keep me turning the page. When adventure and action are joined, sometimes it can get iffy, but usually if it is Christian Fiction, you should be safe. All depends on the book though.

Classic

Vote: Nay

Why: Ah, I don't want to dislike classics so much, but I do! The writing styles are usually so complicated. Which is a good thing. People back then had such a way with words! But-- they can be excruciatingly long, thus boring. I like the idea of classics, but when it comes down to actually reading them, I'll pass.

Mystery + Suspense + Crime

Vote: Yay-ish

Why: Give me some good, mysteries that aren't "messed up" in the bad guy/gal department, and I'll be set! Plus, books that keep you in suspense are pretty awesome. Obviously, with this genre, you have to be carful, but I've been able to find some great ones!

Sci-Fi

Vote: Nay

Why: Sci-Fi (aka Science Fiction) is speculative fiction that typically deals with futuristic concepts like technology, time travel, worlds, etc. No, just can't do it. Books like this are so not my type. In fact, they creep me out. Definite "Nay" for me.

Romance

Vote: Yay

Why: I fight this, I don't like to admit it, but unfortunately i'm kinda a romantic at heart. I'm a fan of sweet love stories. Pure relationships. Stories of how fictional characters find the "one" for them. *sigh* I can't help it. Plus, it's even better when there is a obstacle that the couple has to overcome.
But-- there are two very different sides to the "Romance" genre. There's the kind I like, the kind of romance that is just right and not "mushy" or "steamy." And then there's the opposite of what I like. And I don't have much experience with that kind of romance besides seeing some, shall we say, interesting in a not so great way book covers. Take my advice and steer clear of those kinds of romance fiction.

What's your favorite book genre?? Talk to me in the comments below! <3 

Many Blessings,

Brooklyne Elysse

A Bookish Questionnaire with Kate

Today on Showers of Blessings, I will be hosting a questionnaire with my friend, Kaitlyn! Check out her amazing blog(s) here and here. Also, make sure to grab a copy of her book Beloved if you're in the mood for a touching and heartfelt story!

Now on to the questionnaire! 

~~~

1. Out of all the books you read last year (2019) which book deserved more than 5 stars? 

Oh goodness, I read several that deserved more than 5 stars! But I’ll go with Freedom by Faith Potts. Not only is it an incredibly-written book, but the characters are endearing, the plot is amazing, and the message, y’all, that message deserves 10,000 stars! That book is powerful. <3

>Yes, I totally agree with you on that! Freedom was such a awesome read! 

2. Top three favorite cover designs? 

Ahhhh, so hard! There’s sooo many covers that I love to pieces! But I’ll go with Unblemished by Sara Ella, Fawkes by Nadine Brandes, and Dust by Kara Swanson, just to keep it to three. ;)

>Some very unique and pretty covers you chose! 

3. What MC from any book is most like you... who you relate with the most?

There’ve been several characters that I can relate to (one being Cara from my book Beloved), but the one I’d say that I can probably most relate to Andi Carter from the Circle C books. Not only does she have big brothers (one in particular that tends to be on the bossy side and they butt heads frequently), she also has trouble knowing when to keep her mouth shut. Granted, I’ve become better at this as I’ve gotten older, but I can definitely commiserate with her!

>Hehe, I love Andi! She kinda reminds me of my lil' sis.

4. What recommendations would you have for a non-fiction book about creative writing? 

Would you believe me if I told you that, to my knowledge, I’ve never read one? *chuckles nervously* I keep meaning to, buuuuuut other books shove themselves in the way and I just . . . haven’t. *coughs* I’ve heard that the Go Teen Writers book is really good, though!

>I've heard of Go Teen Writers, but haven't read it yet either! One book I've really enjoyed is How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method...

5. About how many books are in your TBR pile?

Ha. Hahhhhaaaa. Um . . . on my official Goodreads TBR, it says I have 188. But I probably won’t even read half of them. Of the ones on my physical shelves that I’d like to get to in the next while . . . 185. Yikes, I didn’t realize there were that many! 

>Oh, wowsers! That TBR pile will keep you busy for a long while! 

7. Do you have a goal for how many books you want to read in 2020? 

I do! I’ve set a goal for 60 books this year! This is the goal I set for myself last year, too, and I ended up reading 82 books then, so we’ll see if I’m more busy this year. ;) I’m far ahead of my goal so far, though!

>I hope you are able to reach that goal then, I'm cheering you on!

8. What are some tropes that you really like but are surprised that you like them? 

I can only think of one off the top of my head, and that would be the ‘chosen one’ trope. You know, where the world is in mortal danger and there’s only one person who can save it? It’s a super cliched trope, especially in YA fiction, I think . . . but I haven’t read much of it, so maybe I just haven’t gotten tired of it yet. ;) The one instance that I could give of this would be The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson. So good!

>Ah, I see! I haven't read many books with that trope in it, but sounds interesting. XD

9. What are some tropes that you think are way overused in fiction? 

-Enemies-to-lovers. I’m sorry, I know that this is a super popular trope, but I just . . . don’t like it. Now, I’m sure that I’ve read some books with this trope that I really enjoyed, but in general, I’m sorry, I just don’t like it. *Cringes*

-Nosy journalists. I don’t hate this trope as much as I used to, but it still really gets on my nerves. I get that their job is to get down in the thick of things and let the world know what’s going on, and I respect that. But DON’T TURN VIGILANTE OKAY? LET THE POLICE DO THEIR JOBS.

-Country hicks + city slickers. One one side, I can’t stand it when country people are portrayed as a Jeff Foxworthy redneck, with a stalk of wheat in their mouth, pitchfork in hand, overalls sagging on scrawny shoulders. Country people really are intelligent, y’all! And on the flip side, it bugs me when city slickers are shown as being dumb as doornails when they’re out of the city. I understand that country people are going to be uncomfortable in the city and city people are going to be uncomfortable in the country. But guyyyyys they’re not incompetent!

>Haha, now I have read a lot of these kind of tropes before! Yes, some of these can be so annoying! 

10. What book (or book series) first started your love of reading?

Ummm . . . the Pathway Readers I read in school when I first learned to read? *laughs* After those, then probably the Sisters in Time and Sadie Rose series. I loved those so, so much! If I re-read them now, I don’t know how much I’d like them . . . but they hold good memories, so that’s always fabulous. ;)

>Sisters in Time series is one of my favorite childhood reads! And my sister read some of the Sadie Rose books too! <3 

Thank you so much for hosting me, Brooklyne! <3

>Thank YOU for answering my bookish questions! :P

Calling all bookworms, now it's your turn to pick a question in this post to answer for yourself in the comments below! Also, what is your current read?

Wisdom Teeth Recovery Update: I'm doing pretty good, eating lots of smoothies and mashed potatoes! And watching a ton of movies. Thanks to those of you who are praying for me! 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse

Freedom // Book Review

Today, I will be reviewing one of my favorite indie-published books of 2019. Freedom by Faith Potts. 

Where to begin? Freedom was one of those books that gripped your heart and held on until the very last page. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2019 and it did not disappoint! I was over the moon excited to receive Freedom in the mail and I read it over one weekend. (Ask my sister, she can attest!) In fact, she knew I was so excited, waiting for it to come in the mail. When it came, she hid it and took me on a four wheeler ride then had me close my eyes when she handed it to me. XD

Note: mild spoilers ahead.

Now to start the review, lets begin with the characters...

➳The Characters: 

James was a broken Marine who tried to hide behind a layer of humor. As if by making a joke about his situation it would lesson his pain. At first, this humor rubbed me the wrong way as I felt it was harsh, then when I got into his head a bit more, I realized it was just his way of dealing with the grief. Then, I felt for him as he struggled both mentally and physically. As well as spiritually. But He overcame many things and in the end, found love and grace.

*cough* Um, I totally shipped James and Alex! They made such a cute couple... quite perfect for one another! Their love story was portrayed well, and was really just the sweetest thing.

I didn't relate much with Alex until towards the middle of the book. She had such a kind heart, but at first, she seemed a bit controlling. Once I saw who she really was instead of the mask she wore in hopes she wouldn't get hurt, then I really loved her character! 

And can I just say that everyone needs a Uncle Joe in their life! Someone who is always offering a listening hear, able to give wisdom, and genuine love and support. 

Basically, I loved how all of the characters had their own individual personalities and quirks. Did I mention how much I love this book? 

➳Moving on to the message/theme: 

To me, the message was about not giving up on life and learning to surrender to God. To let Him into our shattered hearts and let Him heal our brokenness. Also about forgiveness (to both the main characters parents.) It was a much-needed message, one that was strong, yet didn't come across too preachy. Bravo, Miss Potts! <3 

➳My favorite scenes: 

Well, all of them! But a few that stood out to me was the dancing one, a Walmart trip, the cute selfie session, and the 5k race. I personally love running in 5k's, so that was really cool to see in a book!

I gave this book 5 stars and it deserves 5 thousand stars! I would recommend Freedom to anyone, although suicide is a theme (but handled very well) so keep that in mind if you are really sensitive in that area. 

Have you ever read Freedom? Have you read any other books by Faith? 

Comment Below! 

Many Blessings 

Brooklyne Elysse 

Childhood Books and Favorite Books // I Need Assumptions!

Ahh, childhood books.

The books you grew up on.
The books your daddy or mama read to you every night.
The books that you finally learned to read on your own.
The books that held you fascinated.
The books that gave you ideas.
The books that you play-acted like you were the characters.
The books that made you laugh.
The books that impacted you so much.
The books that you randomly think about now.
The books that made you become a bookworm.
The books that gave you the desire to write.

Yes, we all have them. Childhood books always make me smile when I think about them. And that's why today, i'm going to be doing a whole post about them! I'm going to talk about some of my favorite childhood books and why I like them so much!

I'm going to try to go in order as I read them, but I don't know the exact ages when I read them....
So here's a list of my childhood books AND some of my most favorite books still today:

1. Puddle The Duck
This little book has a blue felt cover with a handle, and I loved it! I would carry it around, and it was seriously the cutest book to read. It talked about Puddle the duck going around with his little bag, helping all the farm animals with band-aids and such, then in the end, they all had a birthday party for the horse! It was so fun, and every little kid should have a book like this!

2. Froggy Goes to Bed by Jonathan London
I remember having the most fun with this book! And why? Because my daddy read it to us in all these funny voices, and then he would change up the words and we would have to correct him because we knew it by heart. We would beg for him to read it to us almost every night!

3. Pony Investigators by Kathleen Pennell
This was another series daddy read to us kids. It was about two girls and their horses who solved mysteries and went and got ice cream for them and their horses! I liked this series so much that me and my older sister would play like we were the two girls with our horses (our bikes.) This was before we had real horses! Lots of memories!

4. Reel Kids Adventures by Dave Gustaveson
I don't remember this series as much, but I remember my dad reading it to us as well!

5. The Swiss Family Robinson by A Beka Book reading program
So this book was for school, but it was probably the first book that I read on my own, that I actually got into... *winks* For those who didn't know this, when I was really little, I didn't like reading... But now, I'm so glad that changed! :)

6. The Adirondack Kids by Justin and Gary Vanriper
Another one dad read to us! He would always make it fun, and change the words... hehe, unless he fell asleep!

7. Pony Pals
This series was the main reason I went to the library so much as a kid! I read this series when I was around 8 or 9. This was another series that my sisters, and cousins would play like we were the characters! And I loved that there was a map in the front cover... because hey, maps are fun!

8. The Boxcar Children
I actually don't remember reading all of them, but us kids would always play "shows" that were suspiciously similar to The Boxcar Children. *goofy grin*

9.  Books by Mr. and Mrs Stephen B. Castleberry
There was different series, but I read most of the blue cover ones, and daddy read us some other ones too. They were good, I liked the mysteries that these two brothers solved.

10. Sisters in Time series
 I loved reading this series! There was so much about history in them... my favorite was Daria Solves a Mystery.

11. Saddles, Stripes, & Stars series by Deborah Kent
I really liked this series! And my favorite book was Riding the Pony Express, about a girl who rode for the pony express!

12. Concord Cunningham Mysteries by Mat Halverson
I loved these books! It was about a boy who used his Bible to solve mysteries! But the best part? Each mystery would end, and you would have to look up the Bible verse to figure out how he solved the mystery. So cool! I remember reading a chapter each morning.

13. Peter Paul Pappenfuss series by Seth J. Pierce
I read these when I was a little older, but I have to say, they were hilarious! The Day the School Blew Up (first book) was one of the funniest books ever! Laugh out loud kind of funny!

14. Circle C Adventures by Susan K. Marlow
So everyone who has read my blog for any period of time probably knew I was going to include this series! Horses, 1800s, adventure... sign me up! I read this series when I was 13 years old, and literally grew up with the main character! She turned fourteen, and I was like... oh, I'm fourteen now too! I loved this series! And if you want to learn more about Andi Carter, check out Mrs. Marlow's blog HERE!

15. Goldtown Adventures by Susan K. Marlow
Another favorite for sure!

16. The Serenity Inn series by Kay D. Rizzo
As I got a little older, The Serenity Inn series became a favorite series! This was probably my first series that I read with romance in it. My older sister and older cousin read them first and I had never been interested in them (I tried to pick them up once or twice but didn't like the more complicated writing style.) Then one day, all that changed and once I got passed the first page, I couldn't stop! I loved the olden time feel of the books in this series, and the characters were amazing! My older sister warned me about book 6 and 7, how they weren't as good. So I skipped those and haven't ever read them, but I did read the rest and they are one of my favorite series! My favorite books were the first two books, Abigail's Dream book 5 (about the Oregon trail) and Rebecca's Crossing (last book.) I would definitely recommend this series, but for more mature readers only because of the romance aspect and the writing style...

17. The Chloe Mae Chronicles series by Kay D. Rizzo
This series was not as good as The Serenity Inn series, but I still really liked reading it! (Even though that happened! Sorry, can't tell because of spoilers!)

18. Maude March Misadventures series
The first book, me and my older sister listened to on a audio book, but the second book, we read. I really liked it! (And I surprised myself how much I liked listening to it! Usually I like to actually read the books...)

19. Louis L’Amour
I enjoyed most of these! My favorite was Ride the River because it was about a girl. I also liked the Sacketts.

20. The Wells Fargo Trail series
As much as I liked this series, I would definitely not recommend it to sensitive readers. It's a western, and there was some parts that were iffy. (More along the lines as detailed fights and such.) My favorite was the fourth book that I actually read first. Overall, this series was exciting, but I would not recommend it to just anyone....

21. Homestead series by Stephen Bly
Gotta say, this series is awesome! It is super family oriented, and squeaky clean. And that one scene with the sunflower, I laughed so hard! (My family would know what I'm talking about...)

22. The Skinners of Goldfield by Stephen Bly
Another favorite by Stephen Bly! This series is a must read for anyone who likes a good family western! <3

22. The Fire in Ember by DiAnn Mills
Many people have heard I like this book, probably because it's one of my favorites!!!

23. Love Finds You series
So there are a LOT of books in this series, written by many authors. I have not read all of them, but most of the ones set in historical timeframes I have read. Some of my favorites are Love Finds You in Sundance Wyoming, Love Finds You in Victory Heights Washington, Love Finds You in Hope Kansas, Love Finds You in Groom Texas, Love Finds You in Last Chance California, Love Finds You in Calico California, Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio, and Love Finds You in Silver City Idaho!

Whew! That was a long list!!! And if you read the whole post... *high fives and gives you chocolate* Great job! So now, you have had a glance of what kind of books I grew up on! And how my taste in books grew! Haha, from Puddle the Duck to Love Finds You books! Anyway, I hope you liked this post! And maybe you have found some book recommendations along the way. (Because everyone should read Puddle the Duck!) XD 

Also, I need your help! 

I saw a lot of posts awhile ago asking for assumptions and seeing how well you know that person... so I thought I'd do a post like that sometimes in the near future! So ask away in the comments below! Assume something about me! (About books, life, my WIPs, whatever you want to assume!) Then I'll do a post seeing if y'all were right or wrong about me! 

So what are some of your childhood favorites? How about just favorites? Have you read any of the ones I mentioned above? Are you going to assume something about me?? 

Talk to me in the comments!!! 

Dandelion Dust // Author Interview

Good morning, all! Today, I am so happy to be helping celebrate Dandelion Dust's 2nd Birthday!!! I read this AMAZING novella last year in November, and let me just say, you need this book in your life! It was happy, it was sad. It was super sweet and had such a summery feel! I am so glad to have a copy sitting on my bookshelf!

But, todays post is not just me fangirling over this lovely novella... I am doing another author interview with one of my most favorite indie-authors! If you would like to see the other interview with Faith Potts on her book Behold, go HERE. Today's interview is going to be talking mostly about Dandelion Dust!

~~~

1. What inspired the idea behind Dandelion Dust?
In December of 2016, I had a dream that I was watching a guy speed across a field on a four-wheeler aannndd…he crashed. By the end of the following day, I’d written a few scenes of what I thought would be a short story—which is now Dandelion Dust.

2. What character do you relate to the most in Dandelion Dust?
Charity, for sure. Not as much now as I did when I wrote and published her story, but I still relate to Charity’s character, her struggles, and her personality on many levels.

3. What is the best part about the writing/publishing process for you? 
(Can I give two answers?) Best, as in most enjoyable, would be the first draft. I love writing without holding back, letting the story take control and flow out, making it’s way to the page and deeper into my heart. If we’re talking best meaning easiest… I don’t know, maybe the actual publishing? Uploading files, choosing categories, taking care of all the details, setting up pricing, arranging a preorder, and making sure (hopefully!) things go up on time… I don’t mind those little things at all. It’s even kinda fun. ;)

4. Since this was one of your very first books published, do you have any tips for new indie-published authors? 
Chase your dreams. Like, seriously. If there’s something you want to do, learn as much as you can about it—and go for it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to fall short. And most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too young, too inexperienced, or not good enough. If you’re chasing your God-given dream, He will give you the strength to accomplish it. <3

5. What was your favorite scene to write in Dandelion Dust? 
Oh my goodness, so many! I really loved all the sad/heartbreaker scenes. (I know, I know, so wicked…), but the happy/teasing scenes were fun to write too. And I had way too much fun with the haircut scene… If you know, you know. ;)

6. Do you have a playlist for Dandelion Dust? If so, what are some of the songs on it? 
I do! And I still listen to it sometimes, just because of all the memories that it holds.There’s like…so many songs on it. Some of my favorites are When You Smile by Casey Darnell, Miracle by Unspoken, and Mean to Me by Brett Eldridge.

7. If you were to describe Dandelion Dust in five words, what would they be? 
Dreams. Prairie. Tears. Prayers. Hope…. And so many more. ;)

~~~

And there you have it! If you haven't read DD and you enjoy a sweet romance + a moving story, then I highly suggest that you do!

To learn more about Faith Potts, visit her website, blog, and Instagram!

AND in honor of Dandelion Dusts second birthday, it is going to be FREE on kindle the 30th of June!   So don't miss out on a chance to read this awesome book!

Because we are celebrating a book birthday here... *throws confetti and eats birthday cake* I thought I'd do a photo shoot with my copy of Dandelion dust:

Me and my little sister had a lot of fun taking these pictures!

^^ So Pretty! 

^^ My favorite! 

^^ Had to take a picture with a dog print because: Katydid!

Have you read Dandelion Dust? Did you like reading the author interview? What was your favorite picture that I took? Comment below!