review

A few of my favorite things

September 14, 2023 by Kristin 2 Comments

Bombas socks – I know, they’re kind of expensive. But I love how the ankle socks feel on my feet and in my shoes.

This braided band for my Apple Watch – I asked my 16-year-old daughter to find me a watch band that was comfortable and dried easily. This is what she came up with, and I love it. In fact, I’m going to order another color or two soon.

Crossbody bag – I have loved this Lululemon one for a while, but I found an even better and cheaper one on Amazon. Truly, hooray for liking the off-brand one better!

ESV scripture journals – I used to carry my Bible to church and fill the margins with notes. Both during our main church service and the Sunday school class I attend, we go through books of the Bible, so I bought the books we were in and now fill the notebooks with notes. There are whole journaling pages plus wide margins. Marking up scripture is the best way for me to learn, so this is the perfect notebook for me to carry with me to church.

Crunch Labs – Ben gets excited each month when these boxes show up on our porch. It’s a great subscription box for my teenager who loves to build things. Plus the whole family likes Mark Rober’s videos that go along with the projects.

Created for Communion – I know, maybe it’s weird to put my own book on here. But I’m really happy with how it turned out, thanks to Market Refined Media. I love the friendship bracelet on the cover and used throughout. The journaling prompts were originally planned, but I love having them incorporated. I rewrote my introduction during the editing process and am so pleased with it now. Studying the biblical friendships and then writing about them took me back to my journalism days, and it was really just such a fun process. (Plus there is some fun, free stuff on my website to celebrate!)

Walmart delivery – I was working this morning when the groceries I ordered last night showed up on my porch. I am a paying member of Walmart+ and don’t regret it. Plus you get other perks, like free, quick shipping on items not available in the local store. (Save $20 if you sign up through this link!)

He Should Have Told The Bees

September 6, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

August was a slow reading month for me, but I give all the stars to “He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox. She’s a Christian writer who adds bits of faith and scripture to her well-developed characters with complex emotional stories. I like that it isn’t cheesy Christian fiction, but storytelling that gets right to the heart of matters while the plot unfolds with some secrecy. Her website says she writes “poignant stories of hope, healing, and home,” which is a perfect description of this book as well as her others.

In this particular story, I also liked the beekeeping aspect. That creates an enjoyable set of circumstances and analogies.

About the book

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business—one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her in the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets—and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

“He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox is a 336-page paperback book and is available now in various formats from Revell.

About the author

Amanda Cox is the author of “The Edge of Belonging” and “The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery,” both of which I recommend and were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.

*****

I received a free, advanced copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for a review, but these opinions are mine and I genuinely recommend this book.

Books of 2022

January 2, 2023 by Kristin 2 Comments

I love book lists! And here I am a little late to the year-end party, but 81 books are the most I’ve read since I started keeping track. My list this year is heavy on romance and suspense, but that could totally change in 2023. You can follow #KHTreads on Instagram and Facebook, where I share reviews as I read throughout the year.

I shared on social media the other day some things about my reading habits that helped me accomplish this:

I like to read on my Kindle (I just upgraded to a Kindle Oasis and love it!) and also read actual books.
I started listening to audiobooks, mostly memoirs, while I drive.
I don’t plan ahead what I am going to read. Perhaps that makes me an emotional, circumstantial reader — I read what fits my mood. This means I also like to have options — Kindle Unlimited, Book of the Month, library books, and Amazon wish list of recommendations.
I use Goodreads to keep track of what books I’ve read, but I don’t set reading goals.
I quit books if I don’t like them or am not into them.
I totally judge a book by its cover and description.
I mostly read fiction. Yes, it’s kind of an escape, but, also, stories matter and teach me so much about myself and the world around me.