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10/1/2021 0 Comments Greenglass house Image courtesy of barnesandnoble.com Set in a secluded, snow covered inn at Christmastime, Greenglass House is full of both cozy, hot-chocolate-and-warm-fire feels and also eerie, chilling, why’d-the-lights-just-go-out moments.
Owned by Ben and Nora Pine, the five-story inn (called Greenglass House) is a common stopping point for smugglers and thieves in Nagspeake Bay. The Pines have a son, Milo, was just settling in to enjoy his quiet Christmas break when the bell announcing a new guest unexpectedly rang. And rang again. And again. And again. And...yep, there's another. By midnight, the inn was full of people who had mysterious origins and equally as mysterious suitcase contents, meanwhile Milo’s quiet Christmas was no longer quiet. I don’t want to offer any spoilers, but just trust me - you’ll love the rest. :) The best part of Greenglass House is that there is atmosphere. This book is immersive to the fullest extent and makes you think there’s snow just outside your window and a toasty fire in the living room, even in July. You’ll keep thinking about the plot even when you’re not actively reading (at least I do!) and you’ll emerge from a reading session utterly confused about the season. Plus, the characters - which are completely plausible but also just slightly “off” will make you crave a trip to Greenglass House. This is just the tip of this mysterious, cozy, eerie, partly suspenseful and utterly delightful book - there are so many details that I am saving for you to discover yourself, but trust me that it is phenomenal! I do want to note that one of the characters in this book is a ghost. I don’t find the ghost to be in any way scary - it’s not at all a supernatural, Halloween-like ghost - so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Greenglass House to younger readers, but I wanted to mention it. :) Grab your hot cocoa (mini marshmallows required) and dive into Greenglass House. With love, Abbie
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7/19/2021 0 Comments City of Ember Image courtesy of amazon.com This book was an amazing book I really enjoyed! It was full of mystery, adventure, and excitement. The characters are so fun and each chapter is a real page turner. Deep dive into this underground book, where a city lies below the earth.
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, supplies are running low and terrifying blackouts are sweeping through the streets. It’s only a matter of time before the lights go out and never come back on again. When Lina finds part of a secret message, she’s sure it holds a clue that will save Ember. She enlists her friend Doon, and together they explore long-forgotten parts of their dying city as they race to solve the mystery. If they succeed, they will have to convince everyone to follow them into danger. But if they fail? The lights will burn out and the darkness will close in forever. I hope you enjoy reading this book, I know I did! It is a series so make sure to check out the other books as well! With love, Grace 6/21/2021 0 Comments Seamless teen girl bible study Image courtesy of lifeway.com Last year, a few friends and I worked through the teen Bible study Seamless. This study is AMAZING. It is insightful, funny + deep, and I believe it will give you a new perspective on the Bible! Plus, can't we just talk about that cute cover?
Seamless outlines the Bible in just seven weeks, and it manages to cover all of the major Biblical events without being too overwhelming. One thing that I love about this study is how organized it is - there are illustrations and icons to help you remember key concepts and interactive charts, lists + activities to help you stay engaged with what you are reading. It makes the study feel much more achievable and understandable, at least to my organization-loving mind! :) The author does an incredible job of discussing lots of sections of the Bible, while connecting everything studied back into the main theme of the Bible - that Jesus came and died for us. It is easily-understandable enough for new believers, while also being deep and rich enough for life-long Christians. I would highly recommend picking up a copy of the Seamless to work through independently or with your mom, friends or youth group. Since this study is a bit involved, summer is the perfect time to begin it! What are your favorite Bible studies? Love, Abbie 6/11/2021 0 Comments My Top 5 nancy drew book picks Partly because I’m crazy, and partly because it sounded like fun, I decided to read through the entire 56-book Nancy Drew series a few months ago. At this point, I’ve read all but four of the books, and have decided to share my top-five Nancy Drew book picks with you. Are you ready? These books are all complex, have great side plots, have more creative problems than a typical Nancy Drew and set the tone masterfully (are dark + suspenseful, or lighthearted + engaging). You can't go wrong picking up any of these five titles!  Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Clue of the Tapping Heels  Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Ghost of Blackwood Hall  Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Whispering Statue  Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Haunted Bridge  Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Secret of the Wooden Lady What are your favorite Nancy Drew Books? Love, Abbie 4/23/2021 0 Comments Three TImes Lucky Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Join 11-year-old detective Mo as she and her sidekick Dale solve mysteries in Tupelo Landing, population 148. This 4-book series has got it all - flawlessly fun characters, can’t-put-down writing and intricate mysteries, all told with loads of humor and personality. It reminds me a lot of The Secret Series and Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave!
Mo was adopted by the Colonel and Miss Lana after narrowly surviving a hurricane that separated her and her mother when she was two. Now, she helps at the cafe her adopted parents own, and she’s also got a knack for solving mysteries (and being where she is not wanted). Throughout the series, Mo & Dale solve mysteries ranging from murder to ghosts, but all of the mysteries are a bit more lighthearted than other books, which I appreciate. Two additional things that I love about this series are 1: the characters and 2: the writing. The characters are fantastic - they all have super creative and fun personalities that you won’t want to miss! Plus, the writing is spot on. The author has a suspenseful yet really lighthearted writing voice that draws the reader in. Check this series out if you love mysteries or just plain good books! I’ll meet you at the Tupelo Landing cafe! - Abbie 4/12/2021 0 Comments The Clue of the tapping heels Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Today’s book is short, suspenseful and sometimes just a little bit scary (in a good way). The Clue of the Tapping Heels is one of the best Nancy Drew mysteries I’ve read so far, because the plot is intricate (read: interesting but very tricky to solve!) and Nancy is almost constantly in danger, which keeps you on edge.
A nurse friend of Hannah Gruen, who is the Drew’s housekeeper, keeps hearing tapping noises at night while caring for and living with a patient. Nancy, her friends Bess and George, and Hannah head to the house to investigate. They discover that not only are there strange tapping sounds in the house, but several of the homeowner’s prized Persian cats have been stolen from the garage! As Nancy investigates further, the mystery begins creeping into her personal life - first she’s followed home and to social commitments, then several attempts are made on her life. Meanwhile, secret rooms and very recently-used hidden passageways are discovered in the house, and the neighbors are acting suspicious. Will Nancy, Bess and George catch the mysterious tapper - and the cat thief - before they are placed in greater danger? Find out all the answers in The Clue of the Tapping Heels! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. - Abbie  Image courtesy of barnesandnoble.com I think you’ve probably figured out that A and I LOVE historical fiction. We kinda tend to review those more than any other genre. So, I was a little skeptical when I picked up Tournament At Gorlan. The only reason I picked it up is because I was participating in a reading program and I needed to read a somewhat new teen book to complete a requirement. This book had been recommended for me so I gave it a try.
I really enjoyed it!!!!! As I testimony to how much, I recently picked up the next 2 books in the series! It’s the perfect fantasy novel for a historical fiction geek. It has a great balance of humor and action. Still not convinced? Try reading this overview of the plot. Meet Crowley and Halt. Crowley is one of the King’s Rangers, or should a say was? Halt is his best friend and shoots a bow just as good as any Ranger in the country. Together they are trying to gather together the Ranger group and stop Moragath, the king’s evil assistant who is out to take over the kingdom. -B 2/5/2021 0 Comments Book COmparisonsIt always happens to me. You know, where you read an absolutely phenomenal book, fall head-over-heels in love with the writing style, genre, time period...and can’t find another book like it. Know the feeling? Well, I came up with a solution (kinda, it won’t work for every book. I’m not that good!). Today, I’ll be giving you some of my favorite “book comparison sets.” Essentially, look through these sets of books/series. If you’ve really enjoyed one of the books in that set, make sure to check out the other book(s) in that set too! My system was rather arbitrary, but the books in each set are ones that I’ve enjoyed and that I thought had comparable plots, characters, writing styles, genres, etc. ;)        Which of these books will you be reading first?
Love, A 1/22/2021 0 Comments listening for Lions Image courtesy of harpercollins.com I mean, isn’t the title alone enough to make you read this book?!
Listening for Lions is perfect for fans of historical fiction. If you enjoy books by Linda Sue Park or Elizabeth George Speare, give it a read! I’d like to introduce you to Rachel Sheridan, a sweet, curious tween gal living in Africa with her missionary parents. Her parents run a medical center in a remote African village, but their lives are at risk when the influenza pandemic reaches their sheltered town. Ok, so let’s skip the sad details, but a few chapters in, Rachel is now an orphan living alone in an influenza-wracked village. Moving on. The richest couple in the town takes her under their wing, but they force Rachel to pretend that she is their daughter, to hide the fact that their daughter just passed away. They force Rachel to travel to England alone and live with the grandfather of their deceased daughter. It’s all a ploy to allow the couple to get back into the man’s good graces (and his large will). Along the way, Rachel tries to run away as well to reveal the truth to the elderly and ill grandfather, but she can’t bring herself to. Does she...love him? The story winds up beautifully, but even as Rachel grows to love England, she longs for Africa. Will she ever return? Have fun reading Listening for Lions! It can be sad at times, but definitely not unbearable, and is a great for the historical fiction lover. It’s full to the brim with beautiful descriptions of African life and nature, as well as great stories of determination, following dreams and adapting. ️ Lots of love from, A 1/15/2021 0 Comments Book goals for 2021 Happy New Year!!!! 2020 is finally over and a new year means a fresh start. Last week, A talked to you about how to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend doing so! A gives some great tips that are very practical.
Speaking of resolutions, I have a couple myself! Both of which involves reading. The first is to read my Bible more, the second is to read a book a month. The second is what I am going to be talking about today. My goal is to read a book a month that has 200 pages or more. If I finish a book in less than 2 weeks I will try to read 2 that month. I am officially starting it next month (February) because this month I am winding down from the holidays. That means that by the end of the year I will have read AT LEAST 2,200 pages! I will be using A’s guide to stick to my goal, but another way that I like to use to stick to my goals is by having an accountability partner. One works fine, but I thought “What if I had a lot of accountability partners?” That’s why I posted my resolution on here. I want you to help me stick to my goal by doing it with me! At the end of each month I will post what book(s) I read and you can put in the comments what you have read. Feel free to email me at ab@faithfunandfridays.com anytime to tell me how your doing or ask for ideas of what to read next. I would love to personally respond to you! -B |
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