Category: goals

What I Read in December (2025)

Books Read in December: 20
Books Read for the Year:  232/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, by Matt Dinniman (audio): I have no idea why I’m enjoying this series so much.
Secrets You Can’t Keep, by Debra Webb (TBR): I enjoyed this.
Blueprint for a Book, by Jeanie Nash (TBR): I’m not sure I got anything out of this.
Secrets of the Octopus, by Sy Montgomery (TBR): This was a fascinating read, full of gorgeous pictures.
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, by Emma Knight (TBR): I think the title was a bit of a stretch, but this was a decent read.
The Moor Witch, by Jessica Khoury (TBR): I really enjoyed this read!
Stone Cold, by Devon Monk (TBR): Still loving these characters.
Someone Else’s Love Story, by Joshilyn Jackson (TBR): Apparently, I’d read this before, but I didn’t really remember it.
Transformed by the Messiah, by Rabbi Jason Sobel. I liked this read.


For Review:

Skylark, by Paula McClain. This was an intriguing dual-historical-timeline read…although I didn’t care for the ending(s).

Oxford Blood, by Rachael Davis-Featherstone. Social media isn’t my favorite, so that (rather large) part of the story low-key got on my nerves, but this was a decent YA murder mystery.

The Bookbinder’s Secret, by A.D. Bell. I like Lily, but she did a lot of stupid and underhanded stuff.

Anne of a Different Island, by Virginia Kantra. This was a solid read that felt like a comfort read, with the Anne of Green Gables connection and callbacks.

In Bloom, by Liz Allan. I didn’t really care for this. It felt way to jumbled an chaotic.

Silver & Blood, by Jessie Mihalik. I enjoyed this a lot! The world is cool and I liked all the main characters.

The Unwritten Rules of Magic, by Harper Ross. This was an okay read, but the MC was abit selfish.  

Carnival Fantastico, by Angela Montoya. I really liked the dark carnival idea, but I thought the execution was a bit lacking.

Just Because:
Life Application Study Guide Bible

Radical Wisdom, by Regi Campbell. I didn’t connect with this very much.

Jesus You’re All I Need. I enjoyed this devotional.

Left Unfinished:
Pedro the Vast, by Simon Lopez Trujillo. The language felt overly pretentious, like the author was self-important and was more interested in that than in telling a good story.

Detour, by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart. I don’t mind an ensemble cast…but I didn’t care about any of these people.

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies, by Jenny Elder Moke. Vapid and superficial characters are a no for me.

The Society, by Karen Winn. Taylor’s obsessions with glitz and possessions was a major turn-off for me.I don’t want to read about someone like her. I don’t care what happens to her.

Sundays are for Writing #264

This has been a great writing week! I wrote two book reviews: The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West, by Sara Ackerman and The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck, by Kylie Scott. Olivia was a great read. Both timelines engrossed me (and made me want to visit Hawaii). I’ve enjoyed all of Sarah Ackerman’s books I’ve read, and this was no exception. Lilah Goodluck had me laughing out loud several times, and I almost hurt myself snorting. Seriously, if you need a fun weekend read, pick this up.

I also got in five fiction-writing sessions this week. This was a bit of a struggle, because things are in such a state of flux at work, and I had two squeeze in two writing sessions on Thursday to make it work, but I did! The WIP is slowly starting to sort itself out—and I think it’s morphing from a fantasy to a bit of a dystopian. Who knew?

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #261

This was a fantastic writing week! I got in five fiction-writing sessions, and I wrote three book reviews, too: A Body at the Seance, The Missing Witness (up on Tuesday), and It Takes a Rake (up on Thursday). I’m very happy with this amount of writing.

How was your writing week?

Sundays are for Writing #260

I didn’t write any book reviews this week, but it was another great fiction-writing week: five more sessions! So far, two weeks in, I’m really happy I set specific writing goals, instead of just “writing.” This makes me much more focused.

Frigid temps blew in here last night—it’s 12 degrees right now. In Texas. No, thank you—so I’m huddled inside trying to stay warm. As long as it doesn’t turn into an ice storm and we lose power, I’ll write some fiction tomorrow. too.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #85

Cheers for another solid writing week:  four book reviews, two fiction-writing sessions, two lessons in the Stiefvater class, and a brief brainstorming session on the revision of Chasing Shadows. (Think I’m going to just bite the bullet and start this, so I don’t get too bogged down in procrastination.)

I hope everyone had a good writing week!

Sundays are for Writing #83

This was a good writing week. I wrote three book reviews plus my Best Books I Read in July post. I did a couple of lessons in the Maggie Stiefvater class and wrote a short outline of the first chapter of the story I’m editing. And, I got in two fiction-writing sessions, so I’m happy with my writing this week.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #48

I had another solid writing week. I did not finish the timeline I wanted to finish for my own little NaNo goal, but it’s almost done. New goal:  finish this entire draft by January.

I got in three fiction-writing sessions and wrote several book reviews as well. I need to stay ahead of the game there, as I might have over-committed on reviews for January. But…I get to review Michelle Sagara’s newest Chronicles of Elantra book, and I cannot wait! (Trying to resist rushing off to read that right now.)

Sundays are for Writing #26

I decreased my fiction-writing goal to one session a week this week. Which is…sad, I know, but with things so stressful lately, I’ve needed to put resting and de-stressing at the top of my list.

And it worked, more or less. I got in my writing session on Saturday. I also wrote a long piece for the internship and a shorter personal profile as well.

More importantly, I survived the unusually chaotic and stressful workweek, so there’s that.

Sundays are for Writing #23

Well…sort of.

I didn’t do any fiction writing this week. Sometimes, exhaustion and busyness combine to make sleep a priority.

I did, however, write three book reviews on Saturday, and my first blog post for my internship, so I’m counting it as a win.

Sundays are for Writing #17

I had a good writing week. I got all my words, but I changed my sessions just a bit to accommodate my schedule:  three sessions on Tuesday, one after work on Wednesday, and two on Saturday.

I also outlined five scenes and did two writing lessons this week, so I hit all my writing goals!