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2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


23 / 30 bookish books. 77% done!

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (7)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (1)
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (1)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maine (3)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico
- New York (4)
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee
- Texas (2)
- Utah (1)
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*

International:

- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Canada (2)
- England (19)
- Fiji (1)
- France (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Italy (1)
- Mexico (1)
- New Zealand (1)
- Norway (1)
- Scotland (1)
- The Bahamas (1)
- Vatican City (1)

My Progress:


30 / 51 states. 59% done!

2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


21 / 25 books. 84% done!

2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

My Progress:


25 / 50 books. 50% done!

Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


30 / 52 books. 58% done!

2026 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


31 / 52 books. 60% done!

2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


22 / 40 books. 55% done!

2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


22 / 51 books. 43% done!

2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge

2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


16 / 25 books. 64% done!

2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


42 / 52 books. 81% done!

Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)

My Progress:


50 / 65 books. 77% done!

2026 Countdown Reading Challenge

My Progress:


55 / 55 books. 100% done!

2026 Series Reading Challenge


22 / 36 books. 61% done!

Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo

Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo

My Progress:


66 / 125 books. 53% done!

2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge

My Progress:


9 / 9 books. 100% done!

2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)

My Progress:


31 / 60 books. 52% done!

2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge

2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge

My Progress:


10 / 40 books. 25% done!

European Reading Challenge 2026

My Progress:


7 / 50 books. 14% done!

2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)

My Progress:


60 / 125 books. 48% done!

2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


98 / 100 names. 98% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


76 / 80 skills. 95% done!
Thursday, January 08, 2026

A Tired, Jet-Lagged, Happy New Year at BBB


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)
- 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 honestly don't remember even half of what we did, saw, and learned. We walked so much that I lost seven pounds on the trip! The things I experienced were interesting, beautiful, awe-inspiring, spiritual, and mind- and soul-expanding in numerous ways. 

Our most memorable experience occurred in Jordan, on a bedouin-led desert tour of Wadi Rum. It was cold, so many of us bought scarves and had our guides wrap them around our heads for us (best $15 I ever spent!). Looking legit, we ventured out into the desert in pickup beds, where we took in beautiful, unreal views. 


Camel rides were on offer, and my 17-year-old daughter really wanted to do it. Since neither my husband nor I were really interested in that, we left her to it (in the company of other members of our tour group). We trucked ahead, waiting with cameras ready to photograph her at the end of the fairly long ride. When other members of our group arrived and she didn't, we started to get a little nervous. Finally, we spied our daughter's riding companions coming around the bend, only we couldn't see our girl. As soon as the group was in shouting distance, they started telling us that our daughter was fine, but that her camel had bolted away from the bedouin holding its leash, taking her with it! She managed to stay seated while a bedouin dashed after the camel and yanked her off its back before chasing the crazy animal down. Everyone told us she handled the scary situation like a champ. One lady assured me she had gotten the whole thing on video so my husband and I could see what had happened. When our daughter finally arrived with the next group (shaken and minus her glasses, which had flown off during her wild ride), everyone—including all the bedouins—clamored around her to compliment her on her calm bravery and mad camel riding skills! The bedouins laughingly suggested she could star in the camel races that were happening there the next week. Our girl handled her 15-minutes of death-defying fame with good grace, and enjoyed her notoriety for the rest of the week. I'm just glad she's okay. Check out the video that went viral among our tour group and our bedouin guides:  



People have asked if we felt safe in the Holy Land. We absolutely did. The people in Israel and Jordan were friendly and welcoming. They are grateful that tourism is finally starting back up again, helping the economy in their countries. Although it was a little disconcerting to see soldiers armed with automatic weapons everywhere, they didn't trouble us at all. The only time I felt at all nervous was when we walked across the border from Israel into Jordan. It was all a bit intimidating, but also not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Other than the Israeli checkpoints and signs warning about minefields here and there, I couldn't tell I was in a war zone. On the surface at least, things seemed peaceful (although there were signs in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Jericho warning Israelis to stay out of Palestinian cities and vice versa, on risk of death). All of our local guides, whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, or Jordanian, expressed to us that they long for peace in the Middle East, especially so that their children and grandchildren can live in safety.

After observing different groups of people at worship—Jews praying earnestly at the Western Wall and welcoming in Shabbat with joyous dancing and singing; Muslims answering the call to prayer five times a day; Christians lighting incense and prostrating themselves in a church supposedly containing Jesus' tomb; and Latter-day Saints partaking of the sacrament in the Jerusalem Center, which sits atop Mount Scopus, overlooking the Mount of Olives, the Kidron Valley, and the Old City—the biggest Holy Land lesson I came away with is that no matter how it was being done, we were all expressing our faith in and worshipping the same God. No matter what, whether you're religious or not, we're more alike than different, and there's room for all of us to live peacefully side by side. 


Oh, and guess what I found outside of Nazareth Village? A Little Free Library. Books for the win! Speaking of, I'm looking forward to another wonderful year of reading, reviewing, and hanging out with you here at BBB and on your blogs. Here's to a great 2026.

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BBB Out - See You in 2026!


Since tomorrow is Christmas and I'm headed to the Holy Land early Friday morning, this will be my last post of 2025. I'll be back in January with my usual year-end wrap-up posts, but for now, I'm signing off. I wish you all the very happiest of holidays. Thank you so much for spending some of your time here at BBB with me this year. Interacting with you just makes me happy. I'll see you all in 2026.

Oh, the picture above shows the early Christmas present I got from my husband. Isn't it fun? I've loved using it. It shows that I still have four books to read in order to hit my Goodreads reading goal before January 1st. Think I can do it? Considering the long flights I have ahead of me, it should be a piece of cake. We'll see. Happy reading, my friends!

 

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday: I'm My Own Santa Claus (Or, the Last Ten Books I Gifted to Myself)

I love Christmastime—the lights, the carols, the food, the traditions, the generosity and goodwill in the air, just all of it. Even though it can be stressful to make all the magic happen for my family, this is still my favorite time of year. In spite of all the chaos in the world, I hope you're able to feel the joy of the season and take comfort in the goodness that still exists out there. I don't talk about my religion on here much, but I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. Each nativity scene I see displayed reminds me of the gift of His birth, the example of His life, and the tremendous sacrifice He made to redeem us all. Throughout my life, I have felt the presence and love of my Heavenly Father and His Son and I will be forever grateful for that. For those of you who celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas! For my Jewish friends, Happy Hanukkah!  I hope we are all able to enjoy time together with our friends and loved ones this holiday season and that we can be both the recipients and the givers of cheer and love. 


Since I won't be back on TTT until mid-January, after my Holy Land trip, I also want to wish you all a Happy New Year! Thank you for sticking with me for another year. I truly appreciate everyone who drops in here at BBB and all who make the book blogosphere a wonderful place to hang out. Here's to more great reads and bookish fun in 2026.

Oh, and remember that if your holiday isn't turning out to be so merry and bright, we always have books to provide us with comfort, companionship, entertainment, and joy!

Speaking of books...let's get on with Top Ten Tuesday (hosted, as always, by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl). The topic du jour is Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes. For this annual prompt, we're encouraged to post our Amazon book wishlists; visitors to your blog can then grant wishes by buying you books, if they choose. I've always been uncomfortable with this prompt, so I'm going to twist the topic a tad and talk about the last ten books I have gifted myself. (Who needs Santa, anyhow?)

The Last Ten Books I Gifted to Myself 


1. Pearls and Poison by Erin Lindsey—I talked about this book in my last TTT post. It's the fourth installment in a Gilded Age mystery series starring a former New York City housemaid who becomes involved with a special branch of the Pinkerton Detective Agency that investigates paranormal mysteries. Now a Pinkerton agent in her own right and with Thomas Wiltshire (her mentor and object of affection) away in California, Rose Gallagher is on her own to investigate a series of strange deaths as well as some missing jewels. 

This is a fun series, and I've enjoyed all the books, which I've been able to find at my local libraries. Unfortunately, they do not carry Pearls and Poison, so I bought the e-book from Amazon. I started it today and I'm already hooked! 


2. The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson—My local indie, Changing Hands, offers a $10 discount during your birthday month, so I always go in December. This mystery novel looks fun, so I grabbed it. It's about Nora Davies, a newcomer to Cornwall who starts a book club at her local community center. So far, it's been a huge disaster, with attendees disagreeing over everything. When one of the members disappears and a dead body is found at his home, the remaining book clubbers must come together to figure out what happened to their missing member.


3. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt—This book got so much buzz when it came out, that I immediately bought a copy of it in hardcover. It has been gathering dust on my shelf ever since! Then, a blogger (I can't remember who, unfortunately) mentioned how good the audio version is. When I got a new Audible credit in December, I cashed it in right away. The story is about several lonely souls whose lives converge in surprising ways. It really is a lovely book, one I really enjoyed, and the audiobook narrators truly are wonderful. 


4. Shadows in the Mind's Eye by Janyre Tromp—I couldn't find this historical novel at my library, so I bought it with Audible credits as well. The story is about a man who returns home to Arkansas after serving in World War II. After the horrors he experienced in the Pacific Theater, he's hoping to find peace and solace in his beloved hills. When he starts noticing strange things happening on his property, he's sure something sinister is going on. Considering the shell-shocked behavior he's been displaying ever since his return, no one believes the dismayed veteran. What's really going on? He's determined to find out.


5. The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace—Another pick from my Changing Hands shopping spree, I just realized this is actually the second book in a series. Oops! I'll have to read The Framed Women of Ardemore House first, then move on to this sequel. The series stars an "amateur autistic sleuth" working in North Yorkshire. Sounds promising!


6. Upgrade by Blake Crouch—I've enjoyed a number of books by Crouch, but I hadn't read this one yet so I grabbed it while I was at Changing Hands. It concerns Logan Ramsey, a man whose genome has been hacked, giving him some enhanced abilities. Of course, he's been "upgraded" for a reason, just as the rest of humanity will be if Logan doesn't stop it from happening. And fast.


7. James by Percival Everett—Everyone's raving about this historical novel that tells the story of Jim, the escaped slave who accompanies Huckleberry Finn on his grand adventure. I haven't read the book yet; hopefully, I'll get to it soon.


8. The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper LeeTo Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book of all time, so naturally, I had to buy this newly-released volume of essays and stories by the iconic TKAM author.


9. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus—In order to fulfill a prompt for my 2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge, I need to read a book with a tv or movie screen on the cover. This novel qualifies and I've been curious about it ever since it came out, so I snatched up a copy when I saw it at Changing Hands.


10. Murder Buys a T-shirt by Christy Fifield—This is the first book in a cozy mystery series that features a Florida souvenir shop that is haunted by its deceased former owner via his pet parrot. When a local football star dies, the bird has a lot to say to its new owner. Can she trust a chatty pet to help her find out what really happened to the teenager? 

I bought a copy of this book because I couldn't find it in my local libraries. It was okay. Not very original, although I did like the crime-solving bird approach. That's unique and fun.

There you go, the last ten books I bought for myself. Have you read any of them? What did you think? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!
 

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday Wednesday: Winter TBR List


The closer it gets to Christmas and to my family's departure for our Holy Land trip on December 26, the crazier life becomes! So much to do, so little time. BUT, I didn't want to miss participating in Top Ten Tuesday this week, so here I am. (I started this post yesterday, but finished today, so I'm actually a day late. Oops!) This week's topic is Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR list. To be honest, I have no idea what I'm going to be reading this season, but I've come up with ten possibilities to share with you. 

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.



Also, be sure to scroll down on my blog and check out my posts about the two reading challenges I'm hosting this year: the Bookish Books Reading Challenge and the Cover Lovers Reading Challenge. They're both laidback and fun. Please consider joining me on these reading adventures! 

Top Ten Books On My Winter TBR


1. The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss (available April 7, 2026)—I have an e-ARC of this forthcoming YA murder mystery that takes place during the filming of an escape room-themed game show. Contestants on the newest season include the sister of a contestant who died during the last season and she's not just out to win, she wants justice. Sounds intriguing!


2. Pearls and Poison by Erin Lindsey—This is the fourth installment in the always entertaining Rose Gallagher series. Rose is a former housemaid who works with a team of investigators with special abilities to solve mysteries of the supernatural kind in Gilded Age New York City. Now a legit Pinkerton agent, Rose is on her own to investigate a case of missing jewels and a mysterious murder.


3. Atomic Habits by James Clear—I reread this inspirational book every January to motivate myself to set and achieve personal goals. 


4. Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson—On a visit to my local indie bookstore, Changing Hands, yesterday, I picked up this mystery novel. It's about two warring, cantankerous residents of a dilapidated apartment building. When they're informed their home will be demolished and another resident is subsequently being harrassed, the two join forces to find out who is behind the attacks and save their home.


5. The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans—Estella Ecker never intended to return to Rockfall House, but now that her father has died and her mother has disappeared, she feels she has little choice. As Estella begins unearthing Rockfall's secrets, she discovers shocking truths that throw into question everything she thought she knew about her parents and herself.

6. Coach by Jason Reynolds—I have really enjoyed Reynolds' middle-grade series about an inner-city track team. Each novel is told from the perspective of a different member of the group. As indicated by this book's title, it is the story of the team's leader, Coach. 

If you decide to give this series a go (and you really should), try it on audio. Actor and singer Guy Lockard, who is a close personal friend of Reynolds, does an excellent job narrating the books.


7. We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter—This is the first book in a new mystery series. It's about a small, close-knit town that is rocked to its core when two local teenage girls disappear. As the police investigate, it soon becomes clear that they were both hiding terrible secrets. Did those secrets lead to their deaths? I've never read anything by Slaughter, so I'm excited to check her out.


8. An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly—In this series opener, an American medical doctor trades in her chaotic existence in Seattle for the quiet life of a country doctor in a quaint Scottish town. She gets more than she bargains for when she discovers a dead body—and then finds out that in addition to being the town's doctor, she's also its coroner! Determined to find out what happened to the victim, she begins digging into the town's secrets, stirring up all kinds of trouble among its residents.


9. The Star Society by Gabriella Saab (available January 6, 2026)—After fighting the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance during World War II, Ada Worthington-Fox fled to the United States and has reinvented herself as a rising Hollywood starlet. When the sister she thought was dead turns up in California, Ada fears all the secrets from her past will be exposed, especially as it becomes clear that her sister has her own secrets and a mission that could destroy the new life Ada has worked so hard to build for herself. 


10. Bluebird by Sharon Cameron—Like #9, this YA historical novel deals with World War II refugees grappling with the aftermath of the atrocities of war. Eva, who knows the truth behind Project Bluebird, a monstrous experiment conducted in the concentration camps, has come to the United States seeking one thing: justice. She will stop at nothing to hunt down the Nazi behind it all. 

I've already read—and loved—Bluebird, but my book club just chose it as our January pick, so I'm going to reread it sometime in the next month. 

How about you? What's on your Winter TBR? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!

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2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge

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2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction

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