Heyo everybody! I hope everybody had a very Merry Christmas! Today on the blog, I'm sharing what I got for Christmas and my picks for my top 2023 reads. Christmas Present Roundup From my parents, I got some free clothes, including two really cute long sleeves that I plan to wear to church. I love purple and plaid, and this sweater shirt is so comfortable! I also got what was at the top of my wishlist - a copy of Cain's Jawbone! For those of you who don't know, Cain's Jawbone was published in 1934 by a British puzzler and crossword writer, who offered his readers 15 pounds (the equivalent of 1000 US dollars today) if they could solve the puzzle. The book's pages are completely disorganized, and the reader has to not only put the pages in the correct order, but also solve all six murders. Since its publication in 1934, only three people have ever solved the puzzle. I'm hping I can be #4! I also got a black Pilot V-pen (the one with the fancy pen tip) and some fine-tip pens that I'm going to use in my Bible reading. From my grandparents, I got a beautiful peridot cross necklace. I specifically asked for this after my last one, which I had had for over five years, broke one day at church. This necklace is so pretty, and I'm definitely going to wear it to church as well. I also got this cute heatless curling set that creates beach waves and ringlet curls. I already have a black (and slightly larger) set, so now I can have really defined curls! Top Books of 2023 All right, everybody! It's been an interesting year for me. I've really branched out in my variety of genres read this year, and with 208+ books finished, I have some great picks to share! In this post, I'll be sharing my top ten books that I've read in 2023. #10 - Stop Calling Me Beautiful by Phylicia Masonheimer Genre: women's biblical nonfiction Read via: audiobook This book really opened my eyes when it comes to water-downed Christian teachings that we women hear in our church, on social media, and even in our friend and family circles. Phylicia Masonheimer covers deep spiritual truths that biblically-grounded women need to stay reminded of, and she tackles topics like legalism, anxiety, community, shame and guilt, and how to delight in the true Gospel. This book's title caught my attention, and the more I listened to the book, the more I wishes I owned it in real life so I could underline all the things I thought were so insightful. A definite recommend to any Christian woman. #9 - Edwin, High King of Britain by Edoardo Albert Genre: historical adult fiction Read via: Kindle This novel, the first in a trilogy, is about Edwin, one of the notable kings of Northumbria, and how his kingdom was transformed by the Christian faith that his wife Aethelburh. Edwin is one of the kings of Britain who becomes a Christian, yet he struggles to keep not just his kingdom from falling back into pagan practices, but also his home. This book weighs in at an impressive 353 pages, but once I got into it, it only took me about a week to finish it. Definitely recommended for anyone who is a history nerd, especially when it comes to British history. #8 - The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks Genre: middle grade mystery/thriller Read via: Kindle A boy is discovered in Washington DC's National Gallery with no memory of who he is...and a group of men behind a million-dollar heist are determined to keep him that way. One of the ways I've branched out in my books is by reading more middle grade novels, and this one did not disappoint. The Van Gogh Deception is perfect for anyone who's a fan of the Bourne movies and who loves art and/or art history. #7 - Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson Genre: young adult fantasy Read via: audiobook Set in the land of Neverland's tribal people, Tiger Lily weaves a fresh perspective on the classic Peter Pan story. As a Peter Pan-phile, I thought I had read every type of Tiger Lily character imaginable. Nope, not even close. This book is about how Peter Pan met the first girl who challenged him to grow up - not Wendy, but Tiger Lily. Recommended for all Peter Pan lovers (and the audiobook narrator is great!). #6 - False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert Genre: adult thriller-suspense Read via: Kindle First of all, DO NOT read this book at nighttime. This book's depictions of the Mothman scared me, and I've been interested in all things mystical and creepy since I was eleven. That said, this book was a great end to the Murder in the Mountains series, and I'm so glad I read it. This series should be read in order, but this is by far the best of the quartet. #5 - Vladimir the Russian Viking by Vladimir Volkoff Genre: historical biography Read via: paperback I felt obligated to add at least one of my college textbooks this year, as I actually found most of them to be really interesting this year. This book covers one of my favorite types of history (Ancient Eastern Europe), and was an insightful read into a great Viking and Russian leader, who not only united the country but also made Russia a Christian nation. #4 - For Time and Eternity by Alison Pittman Genre: historical adult fiction Read via: Kindle This was a challenging read for me, but an important book to include on this list. For Time and Eternity is the story of a Christian teenager who is swept up into Mormon culture and falls in love with a Mormon farmer. When she moves to Utah with her new husband, however, Camille's Christian faith is tested in ways she never expected. If you're looking for an enlightening read on Mormon culture during the 1800s, then try out this book. #3 - The Story Hunter by Lindsay Franklin Genre: young adult fantasy Read via: Kindle This shattering end to the Story Weaver trilogy has captured my heart since 2021. This book is the culmination of Tanwen and her friends' mission to stop the Master from overtaking the kingdom of Tir. The Story Hunter tackles themes like trauma, sacrifice, family dynamics, and real love. You need to read this whole series, and this book especially! #2 - Black Blood by S.D. Grimm Genre: young adult fantasy Read via: Kindle I know, I know...you're tired of me putting down the last of a series as a top pick book. But honestly, this novel was amazing! The ending was nothing like I expected, and somehow, most of my favorite characters ended up not dying! (That's been a problem for me recently. XD) If you enjoy Christian fantasy with "chosen one" vibes and dragons you can ride, then this book is definitely for you. #1 - Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens Genre: Christian thriller-suspense Read via: Kindle This book almost became #2, but I finished it in one night, and that's what made the difference. Criss Cross is carefully and tenderly written, and yet packs a punch. Holly is running from her demons, but they are determined to swallow her alive. When a Southern detective and a long-lost childhood friend offer to help Holly rediscover her lost memories and overcome her fears, she's hesitant to take them up on the too-good-to-be-true offer. But a killer is striking fast, and he's made it quite clear to Holly that he wants her dead. This book ties themes like healing from trauma and Gd's love for us in such a beautiful way. A definite recommend for anyone who loves Christian suspense. And above are all the covers so you can find the books pretty easily.
That's all for now, folks! So, what did you get for Christmas? Have you read any of the books in my list? See ya'll next week! :D ~Cate
6 Comments
Victoria
12/28/2023 08:42:56 am
Simply splendid Christmas wrap-up! I loved the book picks! Haven't read any of them...think I might need to add some to my list...
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Cate
12/28/2023 09:05:08 am
Thanks, Victoria! :)
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Ooh, Cain's Jawbone sounds really cool! I hope you figure out the puzzle! ;)
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Cate
12/30/2023 12:01:37 pm
Thanks Kat! I hope I can finish the puzzle too.
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Ooo these books look really good! I'll have to check these out! I've heard great things about the story peddler series so seeing that one of the books made the list of your top reads is making me even more interested in trying the series out! Hopefully I'll get to it soon.... *glares at long TBR* Also, that cross necklace is BEAUTIFUL! I love it! <3
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Cate
1/4/2024 12:06:35 pm
Thanks Is! Yes, the Story Peddler is AMAZING. You should definitely read it. :D
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