Start of image description for image above: a white rectangle with the words “January reads and book reviews” underneath is a smaller rectangle with the words “bookshelf”. Underneath is a picnic blanket on a picnic blanket with a teacup of berry tea and a teapot, then there is three books laid out next to a bunch of fake blue and white flowers. End of image descriptions.
Please note all links to the books in this blog post are not affiliate links or ads or sponsored by any of these authors or any publisher or company, just me helping you to find the book if you’d like to read it too.
This month I read nine books in total, some of these were started in December and others were started in January. Often I will read a fiction book and a few nonfiction books at the same time.
Books read this month:
Fiction:
Non fiction:
Start of image description: a photo of Arjaye-Rose’s bookcase with her book tracker showing she has read nine books. The book tracker has a picture of a black cat in a floral teacup at the top with toadstools, flowers and leaves down the sides. At the bottom it has. The words “books read this year 009 Arjaye-Rose”. Behind it is black and white woven balls in a set of fairy lights, a range of different books in the bookcase with a few magazine files of knitting patterns, a butterfly bookmark she made with the Master Crsfters and below it is a crochet bow garland. End of image description.
Start of image description: a blue, turquoise and grey picnic blanket next to a fish pond in the whimsical garden. At the top is a floral teapot and a matching floral teacup with raspberry tea. On the picnic blanket is the books Acquiring A Mind Of Christ, Anne of Ingleside, and Rainbow Valley. Next to the books is a bunch of blue, purple, and white artificial flowers. At the front is a book bag with a cat laying on a book amongst the flowers with the words “Life is better with cats and books” and a lip balm attached to the cord, a bookmark of a paw print in a heart shape sticking out of the top of the book, a wooden page holder of a cat and paw print magnetic book mark hanging over the pocket of the book bag. End of image description.
Start of image description: a turquoise, blue and grey picnic blanket with images of the ebooks on it. A Homewood Christmas, Clara, Behold A Great Light, Nan’s ice-cream shop, Different: the out of the box kid and the mom who loved him, and the book A Little Bit Country. End of image description.
Another Homewood Christmas by Courtney Burden, Chelsea Burden, Rebekah A.Morris, Erika Matthew’s, Bethany M.Griggs, Olivia Godfrey and Hannah Foster.
Start of image description: a turquoise, blue and grey picnic blanket with images of the ebooks on it. A Homewood Christmas, Clara, Behold A Great Light, Nan’s ice-cream shop, Different: the out of the box kid and the mom who loved him, and the book A Little Bit Country. End of image description.
Book description:
Come back home to a small town Christmas through the ages…From its founding to the present day. Homewood Minnesota’s open arms always offer a shinning Moravian star to remember. Journey with the first family to settle in Homewood as they embark from the East. Stick around when troubles threaten to turn
Homewood into another ghost town. Follow a song of hope and an old violin in the aftermath of the war. Sit with a hurting couple in need of a Christmas miracle to complete their family. Stay close to a young women as she struggles to find hope in the midst of rejection. Witness an aunt learning how much family truly means. Visit with a new neighbour who isn’t sure what she is looking for. Throughout these seven heartwarming stories, watch the Christmas light and a love of God sent to earth in the form of a human baby always proves abundantly sufficient - and the Christmas stars of Homewood live to testify of His story!
Homewood into another ghost town. Follow a song of hope and an old violin in the aftermath of the war. Sit with a hurting couple in need of a Christmas miracle to complete their family. Stay close to a young women as she struggles to find hope in the midst of rejection. Witness an aunt learning how much family truly means. Visit with a new neighbour who isn’t sure what she is looking for. Throughout these seven heartwarming stories, watch the Christmas light and a love of God sent to earth in the form of a human baby always proves abundantly sufficient - and the Christmas stars of Homewood live to testify of His story!
Dates read: 28th December - 2nd January
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
My Review:
I enjoyed reading each of the stories, they were so heartwarming. I also loved how the Moravian star was mentioned in each of the stories too. I loved the disability representation in Simple Gifts with the Aunt in a wheelchair. Each story is unique but each paints a picture of a loving community in Homewood with Christmas memories each of the families treasure.
Some stories were sadder than others but all showed God’s love through them all and that the characters who experienced hard times weren’t forgotten by God of the community. This was a beautiful Christmas read and second Homewood Christmas book.
Start of image descriptions: a wooden table with the ebook Another Homewood Christmas next to a bunch of peach artificial flowers. End of image description.
Behold A Great Light: A devotional for the Nativity Fast through Theophany by Steven De Young and Basil Ross Aden
Book description:The forty days of fasting before Christmas are meant to prepare us for the Feast of the Nativity, but the busyness of the secular celebration can interfere with our best efforts to center our hearts on Christ. Behold a Great Light is a daily devotional designed to help readers contemplate the mysteries of the Incarnation from the beginning of the Nativity fast on November 15 through Christmas and Theophany, ending with the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist on January 7. Popular Ancient Faith authors, bloggers, and podcasters bring their own unique perspectives to these meditations, which are paired with selections from the Scriptures and the hymns of the Church.
My Review:
A beautiful devotional for the Nativity/Advent season which I enjoyed reading and learning from. I loved the readings each day with scriptures, hymns etc. A book I read each Nativity/Advent season and look forward to reading with my children as they get older. I loved focusing on Christ during this season too. A beautiful book, I’d recommend to anyone inquiring, seeking, catechumen or parishioner of the Orthodox Church.
Start of image description: a wooden table with the ebook Behold A Great Light next to a bunch of purple artificial flowers. End of image description.
Clara: Wild Rose Ridge Historicals by Alyssa Schwarz
Series: Wild Rose Ridge Historicals book 5 of 7Book Description:
Clara Miller never meant to witness a murder, but when Chicago detectives dismiss her testimony, her life is on the line. Fleeing west as a mail-order-bride is her only shot at safety, until she discovers her intended groom is a small-town sheriff who sees her as more burden than blessing.
Sheriff Amos Goodwin refuses to run from a fight, even if it means entering a marriage of convenience to strengthen his reputation in town. But from the moment Clara stumbles into one of his arrests, disaster seems to follow her. Worse, a WANTED poster arrives naming her as a person of interest in a murder investigation. Amos must decide whether to uphold the law or risk everything to protect the woman who has captured his heart.
It's Christmas. But a snowstorm is on its way, and trouble is closing in. Will he protect Clara at the cost of his badge? Can love survive when duty demands everything?
It's Christmas. But a snowstorm is on its way, and trouble is closing in. Will he protect Clara at the cost of his badge? Can love survive when duty demands everything?
Dates read: 3rd January - 12th January
My Rating: 4 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
My Review:
I loved reading this Christmas Novella. The time period and historical aspects were really interesting. I wasn’t too sure about the mail-order-bride troupe, but it didn’t disappoint and it was lovely seeing their relationship bloom. Clara is a loveable character who has been through so much heartbreak. Amos was also quite a loveable character as the story went on and you got to know him. This is a great read with crime, mystery, action packed story that is hard to put down.
I loved reading this Christmas Novella. The time period and historical aspects were really interesting. I wasn’t too sure about the mail-order-bride troupe, but it didn’t disappoint and it was lovely seeing their relationship bloom. Clara is a loveable character who has been through so much heartbreak. Amos was also quite a loveable character as the story went on and you got to know him. This is a great read with crime, mystery, action packed story that is hard to put down.
A Little Bit Country by Debbie Macomber
Book Description:
Rorie Campbell has a pleasant, predictable life in San Francisco, where she's seeing a pleasant, predictable man. Then, while she's on vacation, her car breaks down on an Oregon country road, and horse rancher Clay Franklin comes to her rescue. Rorie soon discovers that a city girl can fall in love with a country man. And the other way around... But Clay has no right to return her feelings because he's engaged to another woman!. Is he willing to change that situation for Rorie--and himself?Dates read: January 15th -17th January
My Rating: I didn't give this book a rating as I dont want to be unfair as this book wasn't for me.
My Rating: I didn't give this book a rating as I dont want to be unfair as this book wasn't for me.
My Review:
This book wasn’t for me, I’m sure there’s many people who will enjoy it though. I picked up the audio book of this and the description was quite different than the one on Goodreads.
It’s not my kind of book due to both of them already having partners but they still end up kissing despite hardly knowing each other. I kept reading to see if there were apologetic about their actions but instead they brushed them off. I didn’t finish reading this book as I stopped after this part. Aside from this the rest of the story was quite good, I don’t know how much of their relationship etc is with the story line though.
This book wasn’t for me, I’m sure there’s many people who will enjoy it though. I picked up the audio book of this and the description was quite different than the one on Goodreads.
It’s not my kind of book due to both of them already having partners but they still end up kissing despite hardly knowing each other. I kept reading to see if there were apologetic about their actions but instead they brushed them off. I didn’t finish reading this book as I stopped after this part. Aside from this the rest of the story was quite good, I don’t know how much of their relationship etc is with the story line though.
Please note I’m just sharing my review of this book and in no one am I trying to be mean or horrible to her about her book. I’ve read some of her books and loved them.
Start of image description: a wooden table with the ebook A Little Country next to a few purple artificial roses. End of image description.
Start of image description: a turquoise, blue and grey picnic blanket in the whimsical garden next to a fish pond. Arjaye-Rose is smiling and reading a book. She is wearing a maroon dress, white light cardigan and a tan headscarf tied to the side in knots that looks like a plait. Next to her is a black tote bag next to her and her two green floral walking sticks behind her. In front of her is a floral teapot, a matching floral teacup with raspberry tea, three books and a cat bookmark with purple, white and blue artificial flowers next to it. Further away is a book bag with a lip balm attached to it, a paw print magnetic bookmark clipped over the pocket. End of image description.
Different: The Story of an Outside-The-Box Kid and the Mum who loved him by Sally Clarkson and Nathan Clarkson
From his early childhood, Nathan was bursting with creativity and uncontainable energy, struggling not only with learning issues but also with anxiety and OCD. He saw the world through his own unique lens?one that often caused him to be labeled as “bad,” “troubled,” or someone in need of “fixing.” Bravely choosing to listen to her motherly intuition rather than the loud voices of the world, Sally dared to believe that Nathan’s differences could be part of an intentional design from a loving Creator with a plan for his life. She trusted that the things that made him different were the very things that could make him great.
Join Sally and Nathan as they share their stories from a personal perspective as mother and son. If you are in need of help and hope in your own journey with an outside-the-box child, or if you’re an adult trying to make sense of your differences, you’ll find deep insight, resonance, and encouragement in the pages of this book. Dare to love and nurture the “different” one in your life.
Dates read: 28th December- 16th January
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
I found their perspectives quite interesting and insightful. Sally (his mother) choose to see Nathan as a gift and a blessing instead of different. She was determined that Nathan knew Gods love for him and that he was uniquely designed, deeply loved and accepted by God. That he was loved, accepted by their family and a blessing to them all. I was glad this book had both Sally and Nathan’s perspectives. Nathan talked about his struggles he faced in his childhood and adulthood with struggles he faced as he found his place in the world. He found relief, security and warmth in his family home. His mum learnt a lot and understood him, he confided in her a lot. His father at times struggled to understand what Nathan was going through. As time went in he clearing more and become more understanding about the challenges Nathan faced and dealt with.
Picture of a wooden table with the ebook Different: the out of the box kid and the Mom who loved him next to a few purple artificial roses. End of image description.
Acquiring a mind of Christ: Embracing the vision of the Orthodox Christian Church by Archimandrite Sergio’s Bowyer.
Saint Paul clearly “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Phillipians 2:5) How do we acquire this mind of Christ and where is it to be found? For the Orthodox Christian, salvation is the acquisition of this Mind of Christ which is to be found in the Church. This acquisition of this Mind of Christ which is to be found in the Church. This acquisition moves us from the image of God to the likeness of God; through our obedience to this call we begin to know God and this knowledge is eternal life (John 17:3). This small book hopes to begin to answer how acquiring the Mind of Christ is possible and why it is necessary in our lives today.
Dates read; December 27th - 16th January
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
This was very interesting and helped me to learn more. There is a lot about the Divine Liturgy (Church Service) and the Eucharist (communion). The final chapter is about a prayer rule to maintain connection with God and to cultivate a real relationship with God. I’ve enjoyed learning more about Orthodoxy and reading a little of this book each evening,
This was very interesting and helped me to learn more. There is a lot about the Divine Liturgy (Church Service) and the Eucharist (communion). The final chapter is about a prayer rule to maintain connection with God and to cultivate a real relationship with God. I’ve enjoyed learning more about Orthodoxy and reading a little of this book each evening,
Start of image description: a blue, turquoise and grey picnic blanket with the book Acquiring A Mind Of Christ next to a bunch of purple, pink and blue artificial flowers. End of image description.
Nan’s ice-cream shop by Rebekah A. Morris
Could all these troubles ever lead to something good? Vonnie Smith is trying hard to keep her spirits up, but with her family far away, her road home blocked for the foreseeable future, and her Nan’s business on the brink of failure, it’s easier said than done, Even reconnecting with her childhood “triplets” takes a sour turn when one of the boys breaks his leg in a freak accident - right in the middle of the shop! Zeitgeist Vic and Val on her side, Vonnie is determined to prove that the little ice-cream parlour can still turn a profit, but as blow after blow threatens her budding hopes, she can’t help but wonder where God is in all of the mess. Can she still find purpose when life seems to be crashing in around her? And can she manage to trust God and others when the answers are delayed?
Dates read: 3rd January- 24th January
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
This was such a beautiful story. The setting is bright and cheerful just like the cover portrays. This was a beautiful summer book. There was a few suspenseful moments for Vonnie and felt like you were among friends with funny Val and Vic. I hadn’t seen the snippets of this book during Kings Daughters Writing Camp; the book dedication is to all the girls at Kings Daughters Writing Camp who wanted more of Vonnie, Vic and Val, and of the ice-cream shop.
The story centres around saving Nan’s family-owned ice-cream shop. There is a deep sense of community. There was a lot of preservance, reconciliation and frustrating God after trails. This book has a good reminder that God is faithful even through the hard times when life is uncertain.
This was such a beautiful story. The setting is bright and cheerful just like the cover portrays. This was a beautiful summer book. There was a few suspenseful moments for Vonnie and felt like you were among friends with funny Val and Vic. I hadn’t seen the snippets of this book during Kings Daughters Writing Camp; the book dedication is to all the girls at Kings Daughters Writing Camp who wanted more of Vonnie, Vic and Val, and of the ice-cream shop.
The story centres around saving Nan’s family-owned ice-cream shop. There is a deep sense of community. There was a lot of preservance, reconciliation and frustrating God after trails. This book has a good reminder that God is faithful even through the hard times when life is uncertain.
Start of image description: a wooden table with the book Nan’ ice-cream shop next to a bunch of peach artificial roses. End of image description.
Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
Series: Anne of Green Gables, book 6
Anne is a mother of five , never a dull moment in her lively home. And now, with a new baby on the way and insufferable aunt Mary Maria visiting - and wearing out her welcome - Anne’s life is sills to bursting. Still, Mrs Doctor can’t think of any place she’d rather be than her own beloved Ingleside. Until the day she begins to worry that her adored Gilbert doesn’t love her anymore. How could that be? She may be a little older, but she’s still the same irrepressible, irreplaceable redhead - the wonderful Anne of Green Gables, all grown up. She’s ready to make her cherished husband fall in love with her all again!
Dates read: 17th January - 24th January
Rating: 4 stars
Rating: 4 stars
Book review:
I loved the setting of this book with Saint Glen Mary and Four Winds. I loved the family life at Ingleside with all the ups and downs. Anne is such a loving mother, she has a beautiful relationship with each of them. Gilbert is a hard working father and husband, it’s been great to see how his and Anne’s relationship has grown over time.
This is such a whimsical, cottagecore book. I love how Montgomery writes is so beautiful. The descriptions are so beautiful and it’s like you are there with the characters.
I loved the setting of this book with Saint Glen Mary and Four Winds. I loved the family life at Ingleside with all the ups and downs. Anne is such a loving mother, she has a beautiful relationship with each of them. Gilbert is a hard working father and husband, it’s been great to see how his and Anne’s relationship has grown over time.
This is such a whimsical, cottagecore book. I love how Montgomery writes is so beautiful. The descriptions are so beautiful and it’s like you are there with the characters.
Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery
Series: Anne of Green Gables book 7
Anne Shirley has grown up, married her beloved Gilbert, and is the mother of six mischievous children. These boys and girls discover a special place all their own, but they never dream of what will happen when a strange family moves into an old mansion nearby. The Meredith clan is two boys and two girls - and a runaway named Mary Vance. Soon the Meredith’s join Anne’s children in their private hideout, intent on carrying out their plans to save Mary from the orphanage, to help the lonely minister find happiness, and to keep a pet rooster from the soup pot. There’s always an adventure brewing in the sun - dabbled world of Rainbow Valley.
Dates read: 24th January - 30th January
Rating:5 stars
Rating:5 stars
Review:
One of my favourite books in the Anne of Green Gables series. Though I did miss hearing not as much another it the Blythe family. I loved hearing about the Meredith children and their adventures. Mary Vance, I had mixed feelings about but all the rest are lovable.
I loved John and Rosemary’s story along with hearing more about the community as well. I hope the next book is more about the Blythe family though, I found the reverend wasn’t really there for his children - they seemed to raise themselves, yet their father is often found reading.
One of my favourite books in the Anne of Green Gables series. Though I did miss hearing not as much another it the Blythe family. I loved hearing about the Meredith children and their adventures. Mary Vance, I had mixed feelings about but all the rest are lovable.
I loved John and Rosemary’s story along with hearing more about the community as well. I hope the next book is more about the Blythe family though, I found the reverend wasn’t really there for his children - they seemed to raise themselves, yet their father is often found reading.
Start of image description: a turquoise, blue and grey picnic blanket with the book Rainbow Valley with a teacup of Berry tea above it and next to the book is a bunch of purple, blue and white artificial flowers. End of image description.
Start of image description: Start of image description: a turquoise, blue and grey picnic blanket in the whimsical garden next to a fish pond. Arjaye-Rose is smiling and drinking a cup of raspberry tea. She is wearing a maroon dress, white light cardigan and a tan headscarf tied to the side in knots that looks like a plait. Next to her is a black tote bag next to her and her two green floral walking sticks behind her. In front of her is a floral teapot that matches the floral teacup with raspberry tea, three books a wooden cat page holder, and a cat bookmark with purple, white and blue artificial flowers next to it. Further away is a book bag with a lip balm attached to it, a paw print magnetic bookmark clipped over the pocket. End of image description.
Currently Reading
I am currently reading the book Robinson Crusoe with the Master Crafters and I’m reading the book Upon The Spring Breeze. I hope to read a few books in February but it doubt it will be as many as this month.
Start of image description: a turquoise, blue, grey and picnic blanket with the two books Arjaye-Rose is currently reading with bookmarks in both. There is a bunch of blue, purple and white artificial flowers. End of image description.
Thank you for visiting Cozy Woodland Cottage Knits!
Have a great day friends and I hope to post another book reads and reviews for February soon.
[Start of image description: Arjaye-Rose’s signature with a blue feather floating in the air. Below is a meadow with yellow flowers with a log, on one of the branches is an owl below it is a hedgehog going into the log. Next to the log is basket of white yarn with a dandelion next to it. In the middle is a dandelion, two toadstools and a black cat running through the grass. End of image description.]
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