My Journey’s My Own

I’ve always loved to read, to disappear into another world or life that’s not my own. To escape and dream and have an adventure! 2023 was not a great year in terms of reading for me but I still managed to take in 48 titles. This is only the second year I even tried to set a reading goal or kept track of how much I read.

I won’t leave a whole review of each book, as we would be here forever but I will tell you what I loved about my top 5!

#5 The House Children by Heidi Daniele

This historical fiction novel pulls at the heart strings as you read the stories of children sent to live in places that hold no love for them. Where children are labeled and punished for simply existing. It makes you realize how horrible children have been treated world wide and yet to read of the main characters strength and ability to rise above this and shine is a testimony to how amazing we can be despite our circumstances. It stayed with me for a long while.

#4 The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston

Time travel, antiques, mystery and love! This novel has it all! It keeps you on your toes and your kind engaged. The author has a way of keeping you guessing as well. Pulling out all the stops as she takes you down a winding path and dropping you where you wouldn’t expect. Melding together two different centuries with one main character is sheer brilliance. I actually became jealous of the heroine because she was able to travel time! A must read for sure!

#3 Sarah’s Key by Tatiana DeRosnay

World War II. Probably the saddest time in modern history. And the most popular historical fiction topic. This one will completely rip you up, especially if you’re a parent. Anything to do with the holocaust is hard for me to read, I simply can’t process that level of evil, but this reads different. Follow Sarah’s journey through the concentration camp and her attempt to get back to her brother that she left behind. It’ll eat at your soul. Sad but worth every word.

#2 The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richard’s

Another historical fiction book but this one is of a whole different arena. Rural Kentucky. The blue people, I didn’t even know they existed. So that took me down a completely different rabbit hole. Then to look up the librarians and how they lived and what they delivered. Wow. Just WOW! These women were amazing. They were incredibly brave and strong. Sassy and brazen! Hero’s if there ever was one. All to spread literacy and friendship. How amazing. It touches on the ignorance that often penetrated these rural communities too and as a modern woman my brain hurts reading that. I just can’t wrap my brain around some of that thinking. But thankfully the Bookwoman is more forward thinking and she doesn’t put of with any of that nonsense! Read it. You won’t regret it.

#1 Read of 2023: The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan!!

Beatrice had a gift, one that fascinated and overwhelmed her. Causing her to abandon her life, career and one true love. She chooses instead to live in solitude amidst the sounds of ocean waves, devout Catholic nuns and two sassy bovines. Beatrice sees and feels other peoples “ghosts”. When she encounters Anne, it becomes clear to Beatrice how her gift can lay everyone’s ghosts to rest, including her own.

This amazing novel hits the shelves in November 2023 and it will not disappoint. Its incredibly strong heroin brings to light the demons we all deal with. Dr. Bird shows us that the only way to rid ourselves of our ghosts is to dig deep and find the root of the problem.

I was immersed in a literary mixture of supernatural, mystery, and self help books. Observing the three main characters battle their respective demons was enlightening and made me reflect as to the ghosts that may be plaguing me. The twist at the end is amazing and jaw dropping! It’s a must read for anyone that loves the supernatural and a good mystery.

This book is one I will read again and pass on to my book dragon friends (not my personal copy of course)!

Share your top reads of ‘23 with me in the comments. I’m always on the hunt for a new author or title to expand my reading adventures. Happy reading friends!

Tools I use to keep track and to borrow my books!

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goodreads-book-reviews/id355833469

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/libby-by-overdrive/id1076402606

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bookmory-reading-tracker/id1515533482

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amazon-kindle/id302584613

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚