What I Read in April

Now that it’s already the end of May, I’m finally getting around to writing about the books I read in April 😉 I was really excited about one of the new books I got in April! One of my favorite authors since I was in high school has been Robin Jones Gunn, and I’m so glad she’s still writing books about Todd and Christy. I read several other books that I really enjoyed, too!

What I Read in April | Grace to Grow Blog

  1. If I’m Found by Terri Blackstock \\ Casey Cox is still on the run, but getting closer to proving who killed her father and is now framing her for her friend’s murder. She is encouraged by her unlikely friendship with the man tasked to find her, and the faith he’s helping her find. But while she’s hiding and runnnig for her life, she can’t help but intervene when she sees injustice, even when it puts her in more danger. I love the unique plot of this book and the whole series; it’s hard to put down! The only part I don’t love is that I have to wait a year for the third book in the series to come out 🙂
  2. Eve by William Paul Young \\ I know William Paul Young is a controversial author, starting with his book The Shack. I haven’t read that one, but I found Eve on clearance at the bookstore and thought I’d give it a try. I was a little surprised by how much it drew me in. It tells the story of Creation through the eyes of Lilly, a girl who suffered great tragedy and now finds herself in another dimension between worlds, destined to be a Witness. The book may be a little too science fiction-y to some, and there’s probably some questionable theology, but it’s definitely a unique way to bring the Creation story to life. If you’re comfortable with it, I’d encourage you to read it for yourself and try to think critically about what you’re reading and how it jives with what you know to be true from the Bible.
  3. Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey \\ I loved Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, so I was excited to find that she has a new series out! So far there are two books out in this Chesapeake Valor series (Cold Shot is the first) and the third is coming out this fall. The series follows a group of friends, all involved in law enforcement in different ways. This first book starts off with Griffin, a park ranger, finding a body in his national park. It takes the whole group and their unique skills to solve the crime, and along the way, they learn to work together as a team. There’s plenty of action, compelling characters, and a unique plot that keeps you guessing.
  4. Our Lost Constitution: The Willful Subversion of America’s Founding Document by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) \\  Mike Lee has been one of my favorite senators since he was first elected in 2010. (Who even has favorite senators, especially ones from states across the country? I do, I have to admit! 😉 ) I had been wanting to read this book, so when I saw it on clearance at the bookstore, I had to buy it! Each chapter describes a certain provision of the Constitution and the story of how it came to be part of the document. Then, Sen. Lee describes a problem we face today that can be traced back to ignoring or misinterpreting the corresponding part of the Constitution. It’s really interesting to learn more about how the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, and seeing the consequences of “forgetting” those important parts shows how vital they are! This would be a great book for homeschoolers, high school or college students, or pretty much anyone who votes in the United States.
  5. Right Where We Belong by Deborah Raney, Melissa Tagg, and Courtney Walsh \\ I’ve read books by two of the contributors to this novella collection, so I was excited to see this on Kindle Unlimited! This is a collection of three short stories that all take place in small towns. The main character in Melissa Tagg’s part of the book was a secondary character in the other book I’ve read by her, so it was fun to get to read about her story! These stories didn’t feel rushed, like novellas can sometimes, and I really enjoyed the whole book.
  6. A Sweethaven Summer and
  7. A Sweethaven Homecoming by Courtney Walsh \\ I’ve read a couple other books by Courtney Walsh and liked them, so I was excited to see that her Sweethaven series is on Kindle Unlimited! These are the first two out of three books in the series.They follow the stories of four friends who spent their teenage summers together in Sweethaven, but grew apart later in life. Now, one of the friends has passed away, and her daughter decides to go to Sweethaven to find out more about her mother’s past, and to try to find out the identity of her father. Along the way, she meets her mother’s old friends, who are all facing their own problems and learning important lessons about God and themselves. Following each of the five main characters keeps the plot interesting, but not hard to follow, since they’re all so intertwined. The main characters span three generations (three of the original friends, now in their 40s; one of their mothers; and one of their daughters), so there’s someone everyone can relate to. I really enjoyed these books, and I will definitely be reading more books by Courtney Walsh!
  8. Salty Kisses by Robin Jones Gunn \\ The Christy Miller series is one of my favorites of all time, and has been since I was in high school. I’m so glad Robin Jones Gunn is still writing about Christy and Todd! This book picks up after Christy had her baby (spoiler alert!), and her friend Katie is finally able to come visit from her new home in Africa…not for a happy reason at first, but some happy news she gets while there extends her stay for a while. Another fun part of the book is Christy and Todd’s visit to Glennbrooke, Oregon, the setting for another one of Mrs. Gunn’s series. I really loved this book, and I wish I could be friends with Christy and babysit her daughter! 😉

What have you been reading lately?

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