Happy 2026! Having returned last night from spending most of the Christmas/New Year holiday season in the Holy Land, my body and mind are still struggling to figure out what day it is, what continent I'm on, and what I need to do now. My Christmas decorations are still up, but it already feels like January is half over. It's a weird feeling, like I'm half in the new year, half in the old. I'll catch up with everything...eventually.

Usually, I love the beginning of a new year when I can spend lots of happy hours examining my reading stats and reviewing how I did on my goals and challenges. Today, I started updating everything so I could put together a wrap-up post for 2025, before realizing I'm too tired and lazy to put in all that work! I'm ready to push 2025 behind me and move on. I'll be working on updating the blog for the new year over the next few days.

For those of you who wanted to know how my trip went, it was amazing! Truly. We spent 8 days in Israel and 3 in Jordan with a fun tour group made up of members of our church, our American guide (Steven Harper, a scholar, author, and professor associated with Brigham Young University), and various local guides. Together, we visited tons of Biblical, historical, and cultural sites in both countries, including:

- Bethlehem (the birthplace of Jesus)

- Jerusalem's Old City, including the Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock/the Western Wall (important religious sites for Muslims, Jews, and Christians)

- Nazareth (hometown of Jesus)

- the Dead Sea

- the River Jordan (where Jesus was baptized)

- Petra

- Masada National Park

- the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies

- Ceasarea Philippi and Maritima (Herodian city/palace ruins)

- Capernaum

- the Sea of Galilee 

- Jericho (the oldest city in the world)

- and much, much more

I just got back from a fabulous 2-week vacation to the U.K. in which everything went pretty much as smoothly as it could. Even the few things that didn't go quite as planned turned into happy accidents and funny memories. This hasn't been the case with every holiday I've gone on, naturally. I've been on trips marred by nasty weather, illness, car trouble, family drama, forgotten medication, kids having meltdowns, and one memorable (but very minor, thank goodness) trip to a Canadian emergency room. Although I pray for uneventful vacations in real life, I want the opposite in my fiction. Bring on all the holiday murder and mayhem! I mean, c'mon, who wants to read about a smooth-as-silk holiday? Not I! Today's TTT prompt is actually Top Ten Characters I'd Like to Go On Vacation With, but I'm going to put my own spin on it and list some vacation thrillers on my TBR list. I actually did this same topic back in 2020 with ten different books, so take a look at that if you're into this genre as well.

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Pop on over there and give her some love, won't you?

1. The River Wild by Denis O'Neill—I loved the film version of this survival story starring Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep, but I've never read the book. The story is about a couple whose marriage struggles lead them to go on a white water rafting trip with their young son, hoping they can heal what's broken with some concentrated bonding time. When they rescue two stranded rafters, they unknowingly pick up a pair of criminals on the run. The family's peaceful outing soon turns into a desperate run against two armed killers and a powerful river, both of which seem to be conspiring to kill them.

2. One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware (available May 21, 2024)—In spite of relationship issues with her wannabe actor boyfriend, Lyla auditions with him for a new reality show that pits couples against each other for a large cash prize. Along with their fellow competitors, Lyla and Nico are left on the shores of a beautiful, exotic, and very remote island. After the game's first challenge leaves the contestants boiling with anger, a violent storm sweeps in, cutting the players off from all communication with the outside world. With no way to call for help and supplies running low, the couples must band together to survive. Or not.

3. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam—I'm probably the last person on earth to read this buzzy thriller. It's about a family from New York City who rent a luxurious Long Island home for a much-needed rest from their busy lives. Everything is going swimmingly until a knock on the door in the middle of the night changes everything. An older couple has arrived, claiming to be the owners of the home. They bring terrible news—a mysterious power outage has shut down the city, causing widespread chaos and panic. Something about the situation doesn't seem right to the vacationers, but with phone and Internet service down, there's no way for them to know what's really happening. Can they trust these newcomers? Or is something way more sinister than a power outage going on?

4. Never Coming Home by Kate Williams—In this YA thriller, ten of the world's most famous teen influencers are invited to Unknown Island. This paradise of the privileged has just opened and the whole world is talking about its beauty, luxury, and exclusivity. When the "First Ten" receive their coveted invites, they think they're being rewarded because of their massive followings. Wrong. They're being trapped because of the secrets each one of them is hiding. Someone wants those bombshells released. Someone wants to punish their keepers. Someone doesn't want the powerful influencers to leave the island. Ever. 

5. The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis—Twenty years ago, four teenagers embarked on a study abroad adventure in Provence, France, and became the best of friends. The girls spent their weekends visiting elegant Séraphine Demargelasse, one of the students' grandmother, at her fancy chateau. Two decades later, Séraphine invites them back. None of the women understand the sudden invitation, but each has their own secret reason for accepting. When their host is found murdered after a night of celebration, those secrets begin to emerge as everyone scrambles to figure out what is happening and why. 

6. Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok—When the titular character disappears while on vacation in the Netherlands, the Lee family is devastated and confused. What happened to their smart, successful oldest daughter? Amy, the youngest of the Lee siblings, has always been shy and easily intimidated. She idolizes her sister, her polar opposite. Determined to find answers for her distraught parents, Amy calls on every ounce of courage she possesses and embarks on a journey to figure out what happened to Sylvie. Along the way, she'll expose shocking secrets and discover deep truths about her sister, their parents, and herself. 

7. The Last Guest House by Caroline Mitchell (available April 16, 2024—today!)—In need of some R&R after working a taxing case, Detective Constable Nicola McKenna agrees to go on a relaxing vacation to Scotland's remote Isle of Skye. When they discover that their hotel has been overbooked, they scramble to find alternate accommodations. The Loch House has some odd rules, which Nicola finds more than a little unsettling. An incoming snow storm unnerves her even more and shows her just how very wrong things are at the sketchy guest house...

8. The Search Party by Hannah Richell—Max and Annie Kingsley have left their stressful life in London behind to run a glamping site. To ensure everything goes well for its grand opening, they decide to give their new venture a test run. They invite a group of family friends to join them for a fun, relaxing weekend. It doesn't take long for things to go sideways. With tension already on the rise, a sudden storm crashes in and one of the group disappears. As they try to find their missing member, secrets will come to light, families will be pitted against each other, and friendships will crumble. Will any of them ever recover from their dream weekend turned hellish nightmare?

9. Descent by Tim Johnston—The Courtlands are hanging out in the Rocky Mountains enjoying one last family vacation before their 18-year-old daughter, Caitlin, heads off to college. When she and her brother go for a run one morning and only Sean comes back, the family is thrown into a wild panic. What happened to Caitlin? Have they lost her forever? 

10. The River At Night by Erica Ferencik—If there's one thing everyone can agree on it's that Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Even still, she's a tad reluctant to join her best friends on a rafting and hiking adventure in the Maine wilderness. Her misgivings come to fruition when a freak accident turns their harmless excursion into a desperate struggle for survival against nature, each other, and the most dangerous type of wildlife: other humans.

There you go, ten novels about vacations going terribly wrong that I want to read. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Are there any other books you've loved about holidays gone awry? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy Tuesday! I just got back from a two-week family history research trip to the U.K. and today's TTT topic—April Showers (however you chose to interpret it)—goes perfectly with this promised recap of my vacation. Although the U.K. was damp and cold, we actually got pretty lucky with the weather, which stayed mostly dry. There was only one day that poured almost without ceasing and even that one gave us a bright, beautiful double rainbow (before it started raining again). Despite the cold, rain, mud, and even a surprise snow flurry in Wales, we had a fantastic trip. Jet lag is still kicking my trash as is the immersion back into reality, but I'm really glad we went. It truly was a spectacular experience.

The first time my husband and I visited the U.K. was in 2021. We took our two youngest kids with us that time. This go around, they were a little miffed about not being invited. When I explained that this trip would mostly include visits to churches, cemeteries, and museums, my 19-year-old son said, "Oh. Never mind, then." Ha ha. I wasn't lying either. Here's some numbers to prove it:

Miles traveled by airplane (from Phoenix, Arizona; to London, England; to Edinburgh, Scotland; and back again): about 5000

Miles traveled by car: 1616 (We rented a Tesla, so at least we didn't have to pay for expensive petrol!)

Miles traveled by ferry (from Heysham, England, to the Isle of Man, then from the Isle of Man to Liverpool): about 150

Miles traveled on foot: 78.73 (My FitBit wasn't sure what in the world was going on!)

Countries visited: Scotland, Wales, and England

Old churches visited: about 20 (probably more)

Cemeteries visited: about 22 (probably more)

Museums/Archives visited: 5 (We had to cross a picket line of protesting workers [very polite English ones] to enter the Museum of Liverpool, but our personal tour of the very well laid out museum was worth it. Also, I love that so many of the U.K.'s museums are free to visit! That's not at all true in the U.S.)

Castles visited: 7
Old friends visited: 2

New friends made: dozens (Other than a crochety cashier in a corner store in Liverpool, everyone we met was super nice and helpful.) 

Car accidents: 1 (Thank goodness there was only one and it was just a fender bender. We were hit by a cheery English woman on an impossibly narrow road in England's Lake District. The scenery there is unbelievable and so are the roads. They're terrifying.)

Highlights (although, really, everything we did was a highlight): 

You're already bored, I'm sure, so here's my actual TTT list:

Surprise!  I thought I would be spending today driving home from Utah, but we decided to end our vacation a day early so I'm already home, safe and sound.  We had a lovely time celebrating the Fourth of July in Provo, a town that does the holiday to the max.  Houses are decorated; people deck themselves out in red, white, and blue; there's a big parade for which spectators camp out overnight to get good seats; and much more.  We decided at the last minute to skip the parade (been there, done that—a million times) and we actually missed the fireworks that we always watch from the lawn of the Provo temple because after hanging out there for a couple hours my daughter and I really had to go to the bathroom and there are no facilities on site), but we did end up seeing fireworks going off all over the valley as we drove home over the bench that night.  The kids stood up in my van's moon roof as we drove and oohed and ahhed all the way back to where we were staying.  In addition to those festivities, we enjoyed the beautiful Utah scenery, spending time with extended family, and road-tripping with three of our four kids (our married son came with us, although his wife couldn't make it, but our college daughter had to stay home and study for her summer classes—boo hoo).  At any rate, it was a lovely vacation all around.  Even though I will  miss Utah's cool nights, it is good to be home.

Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is an easy one (thank goodness!)—reasons why we love reading.  I'm excited to see everyone's answers.  If you want to participate, click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl to get all the details.

1.  It's just what I do!—Ever since I learned to read, I've inhaled books.  I've always loved them and I always will.  

2.  Learning about different times, people, and places—Reading is my favorite way to learn about experiences that differ from my own.  I love sinking into a book that allows me to explore new places, soak up history, meet interesting people, and do things I can never do in real life.

3.  Gaining new perspectives—Slipping into someone else's shoes for a time allows me to see the world through their perspective.  It always helps me look at my own world in a new way.

4.  Pure entertainment—I'm not a tv watcher and I don't have many hobbies, so reading is my primary source of entertainment.  I'd rather pick up a book than do most other things.  There's nothing like a good read to kick-start my imagination and deliver some safe thrills.

5.  I'm never bored!—Whenever my kids complain about not having anything to do, I tell them to read a book.  They generally roll their eyes (since reading is my answer to everything, apparently), but what they should really do is follow my advice because I'm never bored.  Books keep me engaged whether I'm waiting for a doctor's appointment, in a long pick-up line, on a plane flight, or just hanging out at home.

6.  I love words and language—I've always been a word nerd who appreciates a beautiful, evocative, funny, creative, or clever turn of phrase.  I'm the kind of reader who literally sighs over lovely prose!

7.  Reading deepens my empathy—Like I said above, reading is my favorite way to learn about experiences other than my own.  Slipping on someone else's persona, even for a short time, helps me to see things anew.  It deepens my appreciation and respect for the fact that we're all different.  A greater understanding of someone else's life (whether fictional or non-) allows me to have more empathy for those I interact with in real life.

8.  Book people=my people—It's important to find your tribe and this is mine.  I love talking books with other bibliophiles.  We understand each other in a way that non-bookish people just...don't.

9.  Books are my comfort objects—As a child, I sucked my thumb and carried around a ragged baby blanket to help me self-soothe.  Once I discovered books, they started to serve the same purpose—and still do.  Reading comforts me, no matter how I'm feeling.  If I'm happy, I reach for a book.  If I'm sad, I grab my nearest read (and some chocolate).  If I'm anxious, I lose myself in words.  If I'm nervous...you get the idea.

10.  Books just make me happy!—Enough said.    

Why do you love to read?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Jenna Carlson has planned the perfect getaway to celebrate her husband's 50th birthday.  The bestselling YA novelist has rented a luxurious villa right on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  It will be the perfect place for the couple and their moody 16-year-old to relax and bond.  Peter's best friend and business partner, Robert "Solly" Solomon, has also been invited along with Ingrid, his beautiful, much-younger wife, his teenage son from his previous marriage, and his 5-year-old autistic son from his current one.  Solly's exuberance can be a bit much, but the vacation won't be as much fun without his larger-than-life personality.  All in all, Jenna is patting her back for organizing what is sure to be a flawless trip, the vacation of a lifetime.

The Carlsons have barely stepped foot on the beach, however, before tensions start running high.  Jenna's gritting her teeth over her daughter's surly attitude, Ingrid's insufferable begging for advice on novel-writing, Solly's irritating monologues, her husband's clandestine phone calls, and a budding romance between teenagers Clementine and Malcolm.  Jenna wants everything to go smoothly, but her perfect vacation is slowly turning into a perfect nightmare ...

Back in February, I made a Top Ten Tuesday list about vacation-gone-wrong novels that I wanted to read.  Tomorrow There Will Be Sun, a debut adult novel by YA writer Dana Reinhardt, was on that list because it fits the bill.  While the problems the Carlsons experience on their getaway trip were interesting enough to keep me reading, I can't say I really enjoyed this book.  The characters are almost wholly unlikable, Jenna being especially obnoxious.  Although they do learn some valuable lessons from their beach vacation, the overall vibe of Tomorrow There Will Be Sun is negative and depressing.  When I closed the book, I found myself asking, "What was the point of that?"  It's not that I think the novel is poorly written—it's not—it just didn't appeal much to me overall.  Bummer.

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't think of anything.  Can you?)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language, violence, and sexual content

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find

I love Top Ten Tuesday, as you all well know, but some weeks I'm just not feeling the topic du jour.  A case in point?  This week's prompt:  The Last Ten Books That Gave Me a Book Hangover.  I don't have anything against the topic; it just feels like I'm constantly talking about my same favorite books over and over.  So, I started brainstorming fresh subjects.  Since President's Day was yesterday, I considered books about presidents, but politics is actually one of my least favorite things to read about.  The Monday holiday means those of us in the U.S. got to enjoy a three-day weekend, which got me thinking about vacation.  I've been on enough of them to know that things rarely go exactly as planned and sometimes go wholly, horribly, hilariously wrong.  Perfect vacations are no fun to read about, but disastrous ones?  Bring it on!  I wracked my brain for ten books I've read about vacations gone awry and couldn't come up with that many, but I found a whole slew that I'd like to pick up.