Interior designer Emma Reynolds is doing great after a bad year … until her twenty-week scan reveals her baby boy has semi-lobar holoprosencephaly, a brain abormality that causes seizures, developmental delays, diabetes, and other health problems. Despite the obvious challenges ahead, she is determined to keep her baby. EMT supervisor Ben Sullivan sees the distraught … The post Book Review | Emma’s Hero by Carrie Walker appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

Most of the time I read to be entertained, not to think. But some novels manage to do both at the same time, which is great. Kaleidoscpe Eyes by Karen Ball introduced me to synesthesia, which colours (literally) the way some people see. I wonder if this is where the New Age ideas around auras … The post Bookish Question #327 | What’s a novel that made you think? appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

Raegan Farrow is the much-younger sister of control freak Adele, who is the CEO of the family record label, and distraught and depressed Hattie, whose slimy ex has taken their two children to Greece for the summer to meet his much-younger fiancé’s family. Raegan also works for the family record label as general assistant and … The post Book Review | The Roads We Follow (Fog Harbor 2) by Nicole Deese appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from The Mapmaker’s Secret, the new release from Australian author Jennifer Mistmorgan. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One: What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?   About The Mapmaker’s … The post First Line Friday #334 | The Mapmaker’s Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

Does reading my own book count? I read that so many times while I was writing and editing. I honestly can’t say how many times. I can say that I didn’t read the whole book each time—I read as much as I had written, and moved forward from there. I’m currently following a similar process … The post Bookish Question #326 | What’s a book you’ve read more than three times? appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m quoting from Emma’s Hero by debut author Carrie Walker. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One: What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?   About Emma’s Hero “God won’t give me … The post First Line Friday #333 | Emma’s Hero by Carrie Walker appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

As a general rule, I prefer covers with pictures over covers with words. The reason is that covers with words are often nonfiction, and I tend not to read nonfiction. There are some fiction covers with words, but they tend to be hand drawn fonts. For example, here are recent covers from some of my … The post Bookish Question #324 | Do you prefer covers with words or pictures? appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

I can’t believe it’s April already! Here are the new releases in Christian fiction for April … happy reading! More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Contemporary Romance Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer — She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s … The post New Releases in Christian Fiction | April 2024 appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

I’ve tossed various periods around in considering this question. I studied the history of the Tudors in high school and subsequently read a lot of fiction set in Tudor times … to the point I grew tired of it. I’ve read a lot of Regency romance and enjoy the period … but I’ve possibly read … The post Bookish Question #323 | What’s your favourite period in historical fiction? appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more

High school senior Emma Lee and her mother have just moved to Pendleton, South Carolina, population 3,084. After an embarassing and awkward first day at her new school, she makes a fool of herself (again) with neighbour and school hottie Shane Michaels. Emma has a temper. She also comes from an abusive household—that’s why she … The post Book Review | Walking in Circles by Amy Matayo appeared first on Iola Goulton ..read more