Hello, again! Looking back…July looked a lot like June, at least in some ways. We spent another two weeks feeling unwell, extremely tired, with debilitating headaches, weakness (too weak to leave the house or even do much of anything at all), and a bad cough to go along with it all. Still, I took a step back from my reading commitments and allowed myself some time to actually rest this time. I actually managed to read more than I expected, but part of that might have been due to the content. I stopped reading so many review requests and backed off from all my paid jobs and hustles, and it made a noticeable difference. As horrible as it sounds, making money has always cost me my health, and regardless of what I do, I always end up too weak to continue, even when trying to pace myself. From intense migraines, depression, or, like lately, these strange and sudden illnesses that seem to come and go just as suddenly and without ever finding any answers as to what’s causing them. It makes life…interesting, but God provides and I’m so thankful to Him for all that He does! Even though I’d love to be able to make money and life a ‘normal’ life, I know everything happens for a reason, and I’m so thankful for the life I do have and am able to enjoy.

I touched on my autoimmune struggles and how God encourages me to slow down and spend time with Him more often as a result. Well… July was another slow-down-and-reflect month. After the craziness that last summer was, this one is turning out to be just the opposite, but in some interesting and unexpected ways. God has been so good, and all year we’ve seen prayers answered that we’ve been asking for years. It’s a bit surreal, really, having waited so long to finally see fruit starting to appear. It’s also beautiful and humbling to experience God’s goodness and faithfulness in such a visible and profound way. I also spoke about wanting another slow month to catch up and rest, and apparently God was indeed willing because July was just that.

Even with everything that happened, we were able to re-center and rest. August is already shaping up to be a busy month, and for us, the Biblical Fall Feasts are about to begin. Those are always an interesting and busy time, but I’m intending to do better than last year, and NOT overbook my time and reading commitments during that time, lol. Oops! (Live and learn, this year has seen a lot of those lessons in practice. And I’m so thankful for that too! God has taught my a lot, and still continues to teach me day by day. Great is His faithfulness, and I’m so very thankful for that too.)

What I Read in July:

July Reads:

I read eight books in July. I’m not sure how I needed up finishing so many, but I’m thankful for the time of rest and getting to read some of my highly anticipated reads this year. This month has been more focused on TBR books, and God has really used that to speak to me in a lot of areas where He’s been working with me in my life and walk with Him.

I shared some blog tour posts and posted a few extras on IG this month. Nothing overly noteworthy, but still some fun updates, and the blog tour posts have giveaways. I also wrapped up another book launch that I was on the team for. I’m trying to do better about time management and actually planning ahead to have reviews ready and up on time. I’m also working on getting better in handling ‘the little things’ since I sometimes feel overwhelmed and tend to skip steps, a bad habit that I’m fixing little by little lately.

Bluebird on the Prairie by Tasha Hackett (Audiobook) –

This was a delightful listen, and I loved getting to know Zeke and Eloise a little more. The characters in both books are beautifully done, and I highly recommend them (in book or audiobook form, whichever you prefer). There are potential triggers in both, as noted in my review, but they are relatively short scenes and don’t detract from the overall story and wonderful characters.

SEAL of Honor by Jessica Ashley (eARC) –

I had been meaning (needing) to read this for several months now, and yet God’s timing is perfect. I was surprised (shouldn’t be, but it still takes me by surprise each time it happens!) by how much God used these stories and the timing to speak to me and to point out the lessons and themes that He has been speaking to and touching on in my life and Bible studies as well. It’s always beautiful and wonderful when it happens, and I’m so glad to be on this journey with Him and to see Him moving in me and in my life. It hasn’t happened quite as often lately, and I’m realizing that it was partly due to the books that I was reading, and the fact that maybe they weren’t what wants me to focus on at the moment. I’ve recently been missing the stories and characters that point me back to Him and those that remind me of the timeless truth of His Word, and this series has been a great example of that for me.

Overdrive by Taylor S. Newport (eARC) –

This has been another series that He had used to speak to me. Maybe not so loudly, but still there. In this one, we see a change in the characters as their situations being to shift, and I love where it leads, but there’s still a long way for them to go before they can enjoy anything resembling true peace.

SEAL of Bravery by Jessica Ashley (eARC) –

I liked Garrison from Zane’s book, but I adored seeing him at work in this one. I also loved the themes of helping others, loving our neighbor (literally and figuratively) and accepting love in return. That last one is a pretty big theme in each of the books in this series, and if you can’t tell is something God has been teaching me and healing to a place where I can accept that blessing along the way.

Toofer and The Giblet by Paulette LeBlanc (review copy) –

This was a children’s book about two mice. It was cute, but I’m unwilling to recommend it due to some of the more subtle themes it carries.

SEAL of Courage by Jessica Ashley (eARC) –

I was eager to continue this series but wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this one. I knew Sawyer as the sarcastic and flirty jokester of the group, and often those are the characters I prefer as friends and side-characters, but struggle with as MCs. This one proved me wrong, though, and while I still see him in more of that supporting role, I loved getting his perspective and getting to know him and Anastasia better in this book. It also provided a unique view of some of the other characters, and I’m even more excited to finish out the series now!

Unmasking the Diamond by Laura Beers (review copy/eARC) –

I have loved a few of Beers’ books in the past, but they are also lacking the one thing I desire in a story now. God. Laura Beers is mormon, and the closer I grow to God through the Holy Spirit, the less I realize I have in common with other religions and even other ‘christian’ groups. She writes clean Regency romance, but lately when I’m finished, the appeal and emotions fade, and I’m left feeling empty and unsatisfied. Which I know is a good thing! Because that means the Holy Spirit is working, and I’m continuing to be ‘set-apart’ (made ‘holy’ is another way it’s talked about in the Bible), and I’m blessed to experience this disconnect. So, despite not being able to recommend and enjoy her books anymore, I’m actually glad I read this one because it reminded me that the books I read do matter, and that He above all should be the focus of all that I do. This also includes the stories I read and other hobbies I take part in as well.

Shadow Light by Ivy Emerson –

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but it was recommended to me at the start of the year, and I happened to have KU and a few days left when I saw that it was about to be pulled. I’m glad the author is making it available on her site, as I personally prefer to buy direct, but I’m also making my way through some of the books on my TBR that are only available to me through KU, so I decided it was finally time. And was it ever! This story was so beautiful, and I loved seeing both Tessa and Declan learn and grow and heal in this story!

(Each title listed is directly linked to the corresponding review post for that book if I have them posted. If not, they will link to the Goodreads page, or I’ll simply leave them unlinked.)

  • Bluebird on the Prairie by Tasha Hackett
    • 4.5/5
  • SEAL of Honor by Jessica Ashley
    • 4/5
  • Overdrive by Taylor S. Newport
    • .
  • SEAL of Bravery by Jessica Ashley
    • .5/5
  • Toofer and The Giblet by Paulette LeBlanc
    • 4/5
  • SEAL of Courage by Jessica Ashley
    • 4.5/5
  • Unmasking the Diamond by Laura Beers
    • 3/5
  • Shadow Light by Ivy Emerson
    • 5/5

Bluebird on the Prairie was offered free on Youtube on the author’s channel (although, if you can, it’s only a few dollars on Audible, and it’s much better to support the author). SEAL of Honor, Overdrive, SEAL of Bravery, and SEAL of Courage were all eARCs. Toofer and The Giblet and Unmasking the Diamond were all review copies from a couple of sites that I work with/for. Shadow Light was previously available on KU.

July Alpha/Beta Reads:

  • None

July Book Mail:

July Book Mail:

  • I actually got several books this month. A few DIY/design idea books, some cookbooks, three hymn story and biography books, and some older historical children’s chapter books.

Audiobooks:

  • Lemonade! by Melane Mullins
  • Maggie’s Mountain by Sherri Wiggins
  • Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake

The first two were for review, although I ‘bought’ Maggie’s Mountain for a couple of dollars to help me meet the deadline since the review was for the ebook. I used my audible credit for Love in the Wild, since I’ve been wanting to read it but keep putting it off, I thought maybe a different format might help. 🙂

Have you read any of the books listed this month?
Are any of them on your TBR?
Or, tell me what your favorite book was in July?

Feel free to comment about them below!

Discover more from Books Less Travelled

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.