What I’ve Read: The First Half+ of 2025

It’s been so long since I blogged that I forgot how to login! I had to go through my email to find an old reset password message to find the correct URL to login.

I’ve been meaning to participate in an Open Book earlier this year, but this will be my first one of 2025, so I’ll just list all the books I’ve started reading finished. I’ll get to that in a minute…

To Stay or Not to Stay?

To be honest, I’ve considered shutting down this blog. For one, it costs money, but more to me, it takes time to cultivate, and that just hasn’t been on my Top 10 list (I don’t really have a list haha). But at the same time, I’ve been running this thing since 2017 – since before I was engaged or married or had kids. It’s crazy to think that with a click of a button or two, it could all go away.

I spent so much time learning how to set up a website, how to use WordPress.org, how to find and install a domain, and how to solve a string of other complexities that popped up. One skill I’m very proud I figured out was switching website hosts. If you don’t know what that means, you probably don’t need to and you can count yourself blessed. I never hired anyone to help me with my website, partly because I was bootstrapping it (I always want to say bootleg but then I correct myself), but also because I wanted to learn the behind-the-scenes.

I love reading other people’s Substacks and I wonder if that’s the way to go. I’m praying about it. I just enjoy writing. I don’t love promoting my writing, I don’t love working on website back-end techy stuff, and I don’t love worrying about how many people read my work. Can’t a girl just write to write?

And while this blog makes no money (unless I were to start running ads or do affiliate links, which I have no desire to do), I do make some money from book sales, which pays for the website hosting and domain. In that regard, at least I’m not losing money. And even if I were, couldn’t I just call this a hobby?

Part of my hesitation to switch to Substack is the dreaded follower count. I could see myself caring too much about it and getting too caught up in it. I know myself.

Also, there’s the question whether I’d migrate all my old blog posts to Substack or start from scratch?

On to the books I’ve read!

Fiction

Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell

I read this back in January and LOVED it! It’s probably one of my favorite books of all time now. It has all the ingredients of a cozy winter read: snow, Advent, Christmas decor, a castle in a small European country, romance, and a mystery to solve: why did Lethersby’s queen disappear without a true explanation? There were times where I was losing hope that Ellie would solve the puzzle, which made it all the more enticing to keep reading to find out how she did it.

I plan to read the sequel, Love in the Castle Library coming in Oct 2025. It follows Delphine’s story (as the Castle Stewardess) instead of Ellie’s, which I was bummed to learn at first because I felt so attached to Ellie and Mark, but I’m sure Ellie will still be part of it.

Both books are from White Crown Publishing, the sister imporint of Chrism Press for Catholic and Orthodox books.

Summer at West Castle by Teresa Linden

This is a prequel of sorts to be read after Anyone But Him, which I read a few years ago. This novel tells the story of how Caitlyn Summer, a wholesome faithful college student, fell in love with Jarrett West, her friend’s older brother with a wild child reputation. (Anyone But Him takes place when Caitlyn and Jarrett are married and she suffers a head injury that causes her to forget she ever fell in love with Jarrett in the first place.)

It’s so comforting to read a romance that’s clean but also realistic. I look forward to reading more of Teresa’s books.

Non-Fiction

You Are Never Too Busy: Seeing Your Time the Way God Sees It

When I have told people about this book, I mistakenly call it, “You Have Enough Time,” which I think would also be an appropriate time. The basic premise is that we all have enough time to do the will of God, but we waste so much of our time doing stuff that isn’t aligned with his will. This was a very short read and one that I’ll refer back to regularly.

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told

I don’t know how, but this memoir about infidelity-forgiveness-infidelity-forgiveness was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. I first heard about it from another blogger on Open Reads and then I heard Emily Stimpson Chapman talk about it on her podcast, Visitation Sessions. After these endorsements, I picked it up and had a hard time putting it down.

When the Light Finds Us: From a Life Sentence to a Life Transformed

I read this to prepare for an interview with the author, Judy Henderson. I had heard Judy’s story on the Lila Rose podcast first, and then reached out to her myself to see if I could interview her as, well.

Judy served more than 35 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. She was framed by her boyfriend, who was part of a criminal enterprise she knew nothing about. The saddest part to me was that her kids were only 3 and 13 years old when she was found guilty, so she missed decades with them. She did get to see them while in prison, and she even helped other women in prison stay in touch with their children, too.

Despite this, Judy is not bitter. She’s joyful and her joy came from the Lord. Her experience is an amazing testimony of finding God in unexpected places and finding joy in any circumstance. After reading it, I still can’t believe everything she’s gone through, starting with her own childhood as a survivor of physical and sexual abuse.

Her never-ending quest to prove her innocence and be released was inspiring. If you want to see my interviews with her, here they are:

• Wrongful Conviction, Divine Mercy Part I
• Part II
• Part III