protagonistspub

[protagonistspub]

March 2025 Newsletter

February Highlights Cold weather arrived once again and over-stayed its welcome. As I work on this newsletter, the current outside temperature is a balmy 70 degrees and for that I am very thankful. Luckily, the days were warm more often than not and I managed to begin the spring weeding and planning the garden. February was a month of reading surprises. I read more than I thought, discovered I…

[protagonistspub]

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a classic Christian Apologetic written in epistolary format. This volume in the classic Apologetics by Lewis purports to be the letters of a senior devil, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, which attempt to aid and assist him to become a better “Tempter”. Told entirely through Screwtape’s perspective, Wormwood is told how to be more effective at tempting…

[protagonistspub]

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen is the first published novel by the world’s most favorite female author. This coming-of-age novel tells the story of the two eldest Dashwood daughters, Elinor (19) and Marianne (16). Elinor represents Sense, she’s the practical, logical daughter. Marianne represents Sensibility, she’s the impulsive, emotional daughter. Together, they are meant to teach the…

[protagonistspub]

Groomed for Marriage by R. Shannon

Groomed for Marriage by R. Shannon is the first book in the Ryan Mallardi Investigates series. This is a Catholic contemporary romance, and the first book is not available on Kindle Unlimited, but the remainder of the series is. In this interwoven story, Father Liam is the cohesive figure that brings divergent story lines together. The story occurs in Florida and Father Liam misses his brother…

[protagonistspub]

For Steam and Country by Jon del Arroz

For Steam and Country by Jon del Arroz came to my attention because of a Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson video he published. This is the first book in The Adventures of Baron von Monocle series and is Young Adult steam punk fantasy. All of this series, and indeed all of the authors books, are available on Kindle Unlimited. Gender swapped twist on the farm boy turned hero trope, our heroine…

[protagonistspub]

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vol. 2 by Beth Brower

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vo. 2 by Beth Brower is the second installment in the series. This is an epistolary series based in an alternate reality of Victorian London. All volumes currently released are available on Kindle Unlimited. Astute readers will know that volume 1 in this series left me wanting more, and generally dissatisfied with the story. However, I know that several…

[protagonistspub]

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson is the third book in The Stormlight Archive series. It is epic fantasy and a re-read for me. Despite owning a physical copy of the book, I listened to this on audio from my library. I don’t want to discuss the plotline of the third book in the series in specific detail. I will tell you that I caught things on the re-read that didn’t concern me when I read the…

[protagonistspub]

Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

Version 1.0.0 Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson was a read to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in December of 2025. This is a classic that was published at the end of 1740. To be honest, I have pondering writing this review for over a week now. This isn’t one to easily summarize and come to a conclusion. This book is often held up as the first English novel, and for me, it…

[protagonistspub]

February 2025 Newsletter

February Highlights Cold weather arrived and stayed in our area of Texas. As I work on this newsletter, the current outside temperature is a balmy 18 degrees. It will be 60 later today, thank you very much, 18 degrees is just too cold for me. There was only one DNF for the month and it was a book I fully anticipated loving, Shadows of the White City. There were many great reads in February,…

[protagonistspub]

February 2025 Writing Prompts

Thank you for reading! You can always catch-up with me over on You Tube, join the book club community on Discord, invite link here, or buy me a coffee over at Ko-Fi.

[protagonistspub]

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery was a reread for me and is the first book in the beloved series. First, let us just admire this cover! Not only is it gorgeous, it is the perfect depiction of young Anne Shirley. In the United States, at the time of this posting, the box set of the series from this publisher, Tundra Book Group, is unavailable. Thus, I am collecting each of the books in the…

[protagonistspub]

Catholics by Brian Moore

Catholics by Brian Moore was an impulse read on Kindle Unlimited, because obviously I had insufficient choices in my January Pile of Possibilities. It is a novella published in 1972 and my first experience reading the author. The premise is quite simple and stark, an American priest is sent to a remote Irish monastery to quell the religious fervor the monks are stirring around the world. The…

[protagonistspub]

Misshelved Magic by S.R. Crickland

Misshleved Magic by S.R. Crickland is the first book in the Liminal Library series. It is young adult Catholic fantasy. Our heroine, Adelina, is hired by her aunt to work at the town library, which is attached to the local mage college. She works in the history department and there is one rule, never cross the line into the mage library. When a spellbook goes errant, curious Adelina decides to…

[protagonistspub]

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare

Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare begins the year long journey of one play a month in 2025 in written order. It is the first comedy. It is rare that one of Shakespeare’s plays doesn’t make me think or send me off researching something or other. Welcome to the exception! The play is essentially about first love and competing for the love of the most beautiful woman. Honestly, even…

[protagonistspub]

The Storm and I

Story Credit: Epic Waves Crash Above Cliffs on Lake Superior’s Shores It was unnerving to be caught in a winter storm on the edge of Lake Superior. I, who had no personal experience with the fury and majesty of whipping wind, crashing waves, and the sound of nature, have found myself in the first winter storm of the year, and it’s only late October. As the weather grows ever more angry outside…

[protagonistspub]

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear was a library read based on a recommendation from my friend Miriam, checkout her amazing channel here! It is a mystery novel. In an endless sea of historical mystery novels, cozy mystery novels it is difficult to stand-out, and yet that is precisely what this hidden gem of a novel does. I knew about it, but it always got filed under, “I’ll get to it later” in…

[protagonistspub]

Tropical Dreams

Gray skies, blustery days, and less than balmy nights make me long for the lapping of waves, gritty sand, and blistering heat of a winter get away. Somewhere warm, where layers upon layers aren’t required to step outside to stay warm. Blue skies and gentle ocean breezes that waft gently across my face as I step outside into the heat of a January day. The beach beckons, not just to frolic in the…