It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Sept 14

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Happy Monday, everyone! How did your week go? Feels like forever since I posted one of these. I'm not sure how much I will post the rest of this week because my schedule is jam-packed. No day off for me this past weekend, but the Rick's Place Golf Classic is September 19, and the Lil' Princess will be home for The Big E on September 20, so I will have a day off. 

Lots going on in my world. Several closings coming up. More new listings. No real medical answers. Feel like a bit of a hamster in a wheel right now. However, I did get to spend some time in the kitchen this weekend and enjoy the outdoors for a bit before our very rainy Sunday when I had back-to-back open houses. 

Chilling at home after work

Bought myself a larger Crock-pot

Made butter (saved the buttermilk), sour cream, and whipped cream

Finally wrote my review of The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller. You can read that here.

I should be getting back to The Eyes of River now that some reviews are done. 

Finished Staged by Caitlin Rother. Look for my review this week. Fingers crossed.

Loving Massawa by Pam Webber. 

Wrote my review of Food is Medicine by Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DRPH. You can read it here.

Finished A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens's Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge. Fabulous! You can read my review here.

Check out my review of The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson here. Loved this one!

I am listening on Audible to Cratchit: A Christmas Carol Continues by R.M. Bouknight. Not sure how I feel about it yet. It's dark. 

Up next is the Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Assistant by Hank Quense.

Upcoming Events

• Evan's Stormy Voyage by Karen Charles - Sep 24 (Review at TC&TBC)
• She Forgot She Was Free by Giselle Mascarenhas - Oct 14 (Review)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

I ordered Stupid TV, Be More Funny by Alan Siegel last week. I've wanted it for a while. Right now, it is sitting on my coffee table. 

Not sure how often I share my Booktrovert shelf, but here are the latest additions:

Mark Twain for Book Lovers edited by R. Kent Rasmussen

In These Hills by Tamera Alexander

Chapter One Again by Keelia Clarkson

And Then We Saw the Bag by Emma Adbage.

Christmas Year Round

Journey through Christmases Past explores the Christmas of 1813, which was a tough one for many areas of the world. This post also shares some of the decorations and what you see now. You can check it out here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Shared some new book arrivals from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers that I will be reading soon. You can see them here.

Laura's Little Houses

Haven't had time to work on this blog lately. Maybe next week. 

That's it for me. It is now midnight, and I need to get Theo to the vet at 9, followed by a full day of appointments. Such fun!

Book Review: A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens's Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge

 

A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens's Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge is a unique and insightful devotional. Whether you have read A Christmas Carol by Dickens or not, you will find much to enjoy. However, fans of the classic Christmas story are certain to find wandering through favorite moments from the book in a new way just as touching and wonderful as their first read-through of A Christmas Carol. 

Cleverly, Dodge uses the five-stave format that Dickens used to pen his well-known tale of Scrooge's transformation in her devotional. Each day opens with Scripture and a quote from Dickens's story. Then readers find a "Prepare Him Room" section for reflection, followed by "A Christmas Prayer." 

The book's format has pages of stunning artwork that remind us of the story and the season. The author dives deeply into A Christmas Carol, providing insights and helping the reader uncover even more treasures from the beloved classic along the way. What is most beautifully done, however, is how Dodge connects Scrooge's tale with Scripture and God's love for us, helping the reader to focus on the true meaning of the season. In her Introduction, the author says, "When seen through the lens of Scripture, his story reminds us that each day is a gift, that the hardest hearts can soften, and that God can redeem and restore even the most broken parts of our lives." This made me love A Christmas Carol even more than I did before and encouraged me to see Dickens's beloved classic in a new way. 

This is one of the most beautiful and touching Advent devotionals I've had the pleasure to read. A perfect gift for you or someone you love, A Christmas Carol Devotional is a wonderful way to reclaim your focus and intention this holiday season.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zondervan
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 8, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0310468035
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0310468035

I downloaded this book from NetGalley. This review contains my honest opinions, and I have not been compensated in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Aug 24

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Welcome back! Hope you had a great week. We are creeping closer to the end of August, and I am ready! Not that I have time for it, but I really want to decorate for fall. I actually listened to Christmas music last week. I bought some new flour to try out different recipes, and this weekend, I made a bunch of chicken broth and banana bread. 

Shifting to reading...

Hope to write my review of The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller this week. 

I didn't read The Eyes of River last week. 

Dived into Staged by Caitlin Rother. 

Loving Massawa by Pam Webber. 

I need to write a review of Food is Medicine by Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DRPH.

Also need to read:

• A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens's Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge
• The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson
• Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Assistant by Hank Quense

I have 45 days on this devotional. 

I only have 14 days left on this one. Yikes!

Upcoming Events

• Evan's Stormy Voyage by Karen Charles - Sep 24 (Review at TC&TBC)
• She Forgot She Was Free by Giselle Mascarenhas - Oct 14 (Review)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Nothing new this week. I am pretending to behave. 

Christmas Year Round

Journey through Christmases Past explores Christmas 1954. You can read that here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

Nothing new, but I will post something soon. 

Laura's Little Houses

Sharing my thoughts on the Netflix adaptation of Little House on the Prairie today at Laura's Little Houses. Check that out here. 

Photos for a new listing, therapy, and a final walk-through today. I will check in as I can. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Aug 17

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. 

Oh, golly, Miss Molly, it is Monday again! Hope you enjoyed your week. The Lil' Diva celebrated a birthday last Tuesday, and the Lil' Princess visited for a few days. It was nice to have both of them around. Work is still kicking my behind, and at this point, I am glad this isn't my first year in real estate, or there wouldn't be another one. SpongeBob states my feelings exactly. 

Managed some reading last week, and I hope to get some writing done this coming weekend. We will see how that goes. Here are a couple of photos:

Sunday night dinner

The Lil' Princess and us at her favorite place

As far as reading goes, I still need to write my review of The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller.

I didn't read The Eyes of River last week. 

Need to pick up Staged by Caitlin Rother this week. 

I started Massawa by Pam Weber on Saturday.

I am almost finished with Food is Medicine by Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DRPH.

Also need to read:

• A Christmas Carol Devotional: 25 Advent Reflections from Charles Dickens's Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge
• The Christmas Yes List by Melissa Ferguson
• Beginner's Guide to Using an AI Assistant by Hank Quense

Upcoming Events

• The Call to Authorship by Tim Lindsay - Aug 17 (Book Blast & Giveaway)
• This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C. by Kent Heckenlively - Aug 19 (Spotlight)
• Enheduanna's Song from the Sands by Ellen Rachlin - Aug 21 (Interview)
• Evan's Stormy Voyage by Karen Charles - Sep 24 (Review at TC&TBC)
• She Forgot She Was Free by Giselle Mascarenhas - Oct 14 (Review)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

This week, I picked up A Castle Christmas by Jimmy Bennett at the local Goodwill for $2. 

Giselle Mascarenhas is touring with her book, She Forgot She Was Free. I will be reviewing this one.

Christmas Year Round

Journey through Christmases Past explores Christmas 1869 this week. You can read that here.

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection

I shared a book I will be reviewing in September at The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. You can see that here.

Laura's Little Houses

Nothing new at Laura's Little Houses this week, but I am finally caught up on the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Podcast. I am sure that will spark ideas. 

Off to bed before a final walk through this morning. Enjoy your day!