#roseanna a. brown

[fablesbookstuff]

I went to the mall this weekend and picked up 2 new books so here's a little book haul

The first book I got is Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, please ignore the damage to the cover on the front there was an unfortunate sticker that didn't come off nice sadly

And then the second book I got is A Psalm of Storm and Silence by Roseanna A. Brown

Very excited about both of these books and they have been added to my tbr list to read this year

[heartlandians]

Behind the scenes of Heartland - 17x08 - Harmony

[readnburied]

24 Books I want to Read in 2024

This is another post that should’ve made its way to you sooner rather than later. But it’s still the first month of the year, so I think I’m not too late in sharing with you all the 24 books I want to read in 2024. Please keep in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list because I want to read a lot more than these 24 books. So without any further ado here’s a list of them. 

1. Thirteen Rising by Romina Russell

Not only do I love this series as a whole but I really want to know how it’ll end and this is the last book so I’ll finally know. 

2. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan 

Everybody loves books by Rick Riordan just like me so my goal—along with many others’—is to read all the books by him and it includes this one. 

3. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larson 

The first book blew my mind and that’s why I’m eager to know what’ll happen next in the series. 

4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve heard a lot about his book and I do love books by Leigh Bardugo so I’m eager to read this one.

5. White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz

It feels like forever since I read the first book in this series and I really want a chance to read the second book because this series is interesting. 

6. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Every year I tell myself I’ll read this book and every year I don’t. But I want to change that this year and finally read it. 

7. Jade War by Fonda Lee

I read the first book and found it really heavy and kind of scary for myself. However, I do want to know what happens next and I hope I can do it. 

8. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

I started reading this book but I just wasn’t able to give it proper attention and so I want to try again and read this book. 

9. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

This is another book which deserves a better treatment than what I was initially giving it, so I hope I’m able to give it proper time and attention this time. 

10. Psychos by Sheridan Anne

I love the title of this book and that’s the main reason why I want to read this book, and I hope I enjoy it. 

11. Wyntertide by Andrew Caldecott

I read the first book and found it weird but intriguing and that kind of urged me to give the second book a chance. 

12. Scare Crow by Julie Hockley

I think I mainly want to read this because I want to make progress on the series and I’m certain I need to revise the content of book 1 before I do. 

13. Blood Infernal by James Rollins

This is the last book in this super interesting series and I’m eager to see how it all ends and what happens to the main characters. 

14. How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Since I love the first series I read by this author I’ve made it a mission to read all her books and that’s why I want to give this book a read. 

15. The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox

This is another author I aim to read every book of and this will be my second book from this author. I just love gothic stories. 

16. As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

This is a pretty famous series and I’m eager to read the last book and finish it and I’m hearing a lot about how it’ll make you cry. So let’s see. 

17. A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

The first two books in this series are downright adorable and I know the third book would be as well, so I’m eager to read this book. 

18. Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I’ve been trying to get to this book for a really long time and I just hope 2024 is the year and I can read it.

19. Break Us by Jennifer Brown 

This series is one my favorites and of course I’m looking forward to reading the last book and reaching the conclusion. 

20. Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O’Donoghue

The main theme of this series is what I love about it and that’s why I’m looking forward to reading the last book and finishing this series. 

21. Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

The whole world in this series feels so real and unique at the same time that I can’t help but want to read this book.

22. The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson 

Considering the crazy cliffhanger of the first book, it’s obvious I want to read this book the first chance I get. 

23. The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

I don’t know about the female protagonist, but I love the Prince of Hearts and I want to know what happens to him in this book. 

24. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

I loved the first series I read by this author and so I want to read all their books and that’s why I’m eager to get to this series. 

And these are the 24 books I’m eager to get to in 2024. I hope I can read them all and so many more in this year. Let me know what are your anticipated reads for 2024 and if you’re planning to read any of the books on this list. 

[chocolatehideoutpirate]

This first edit of old classic passing Tuesday Mary Jesus Joseph Angels in heaven Princess Pocahontas, Lallie Charles Cowell Portrait, Lou Conter, Amber Rene Hagerman, Opal Jennings, JonBenèt Ramsey, Kelly Ann Fleming, Judith and Maria Barsi, Heather Michele O'Rourke, Lucille Ricksen, Judy Garland and Terry, Dominique and Dominick Dunne, Samantha Reed Smith, Pal, Bessie Barker, Darla Jean Hood, Mona Lisa, Mary G Stinson Smith, Grigori Rasputin, Julia Ann Beauchemin Stinson, COL Thomas Nesbit Stinson, Lydia Ruth Talbot Theobald, Arthur James Talbot, Alton Elbren Theobald, George Eli Talbot Sr., Benjamin Grant “Cotton” Theobald, Crystal Theobald Whitehead, Charles Arthur Theobald, Thomas Benjamin Talbot, Margaret Alice Wiggill Talbot, Eli Wiggill, Rosanna Maria Wiggill Talbot, Isaac Wiggill, Ann Brown Hammer Wiggill, Frances Amelia Wiggill Lowe, Ailsa Georgina Booth-Jones, Edward Booth-Jones, John Percival Booth-Jones, Millichamletton Percival Booth-Jones, Jeremiah Francis “Jerry” Wiggill, Eli Francis Wiggill, Priscilla Jane Talbot Wiggill, Victoria Adelaide Wiggill McLean, John Richard Wiggill, Lavina Ruth Wiggill Ellison, Sarah Good, Salina Talbot Dutson, Charles Henry Talbot, Charles Stuart Talbot, Roseanna Maria Talbot Anderson, Ellen Graham Anderson, 1SGT William Alexander Anderson, Mary Louisa Blair Anderson, Ruth Floyd Anderson McCulloch, Anna Aylett Anderson McNulty, William Dandridge Alexander Anderson, William Dandridge Alexander “Alex” Anderson, Judith Nicoll Anderson, Henry Wayne Blair, Col William Barrett Blair, Mylinda Elizabeth “Mindy” Baker,Michael L. Baker, Carla Jean Eves Baker,Sandra Jane Burch, Patti Jo Baker, Jessie Benton Stinson, Jack Chesbro, Mabel A Shuttleworth Chesbro, Prince Sigismund of Prussia, Ruth Naomi Steward, Truman Cox Steward, Alice Christine Steward Wear, Charles Corwin Steward, Helga Susanne Goebbels, Hildegard Traudel “Hilde” Goebbels, Helmut Christian Goebbels, Holdine Kathrin “Holde” Goebbels, Hedwig Johanna “Hedda” Goebbels, Heidrun Elisabeth “Heide” Goebbels, Harald Quandt, and so much more I'll add Gracie Perry Watson in the second row of edits

[willowbrookesblog]

The Lost Ones, Roseanna

Roseanna is the rock of the group, she's the one the girls go to if they need help with something or don't know what to do about a situation, she's very talkative and persistent and always willing to do anything for her fellow witches. She enjoys running, meditating, sewing, and learning new things. She has black/dark brown curly hair and brown eyes that may remind you of old books. Her main element and spell is Hydrokinesis which is the ability to move and control water, she also can use other types of magic, her age is also 26.

Taglist: @oceansrose2002 @britany1997 @henhouse-horrors @beoneofus @house-of-slayterr @phantomenby @redrosewritingsstuff @charlizekkelly @ria-coolgirl @auntvamp

[brucedinsman]

Book Review: To Believe by Carolyn Brown

Book Review: To Believe by Carolyn Brown

Broken Roads #3 To Believe by Carolyn BrownKindleMy rating: 5 of 5 starsMore sizzle hereThe story continues around the Oklahoma B&B scene as one other granddaughter gets hitched twice to the same guy. Read it for yourselfView all my reviews Amazon Roseanna Cahill didn’t believe in happily-ever-after anymore. Not after a marriage that should never have started and which ended after four years.…

[sapphic--kiwi]

Knew I couldn’t miss out on day 6 of New Dream Appreciation Week: Fitzbabies 💜💜✨✨

This is the twins, Bastion and Bea, meeting their baby sister Rosie for the first time! (They’re about 6-7 here) ❤️

@gleamful-lanterns @autumn-ravenclaw

[fredrikswrites]

2, 3, 14, and 23 pls thank you 😌💞

2. Album of the year?

It feels like this was ten years ago but i think The Horror and The Wilds by The Amazing Devil came out earlier this year and it's amazing (go listen to it)

3. Favourite musical artist/ group you started listening to this year?

This may be embarassing considering they have been around for decades but I have been getting into german punk music and Die Ärzte may or may not be one of my favs this year.

14. Favourite book you read this year?

If re-reading counts then this will definitely go to Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, if not then it's A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanna A. Brown (i can wholeheartedly recommend both of these amazing YA fantasy books)

23. If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be?

Start hoarding toilet paper? No, i don't even know how anyone could have prepared me for this absolute clusterfuck of a year.

Although I probably would have told myself that I am in fact not imagining my crush liking me back and that I should stop stressing out about the stupid things I wrote to her while slightly intoxicated.

[hamlets-ghost-zaddy]

queen of peace

Part 7/10 Shifty Powers x Reader

Margaret’s father brings the Aigle fabrics that afternoon, Margaret herself following with a tin of ham in hand and a baguette swaddled in a dish towel under an arm. You’ve sat at the worktable in the sewing shop since returning home from the resale shop, ledger and every cent to you and your mother’s name arranged around you, the money squirreled out from the hiding places around the house. The majority of it had migrated to nooks and crannies in your bedroom, where you thought it’d be safe after the tea kettle purchase, but now that you have waved the bank bills and letters under Mother’s nose, you don’t see the point in hiding.

There’s no point in hiding anything anymore; when Margaret lingers in the sewing shop after you direct her father to place fabric on the great wooden racks designed to hold rolls of fabric bolts—only two of the fifteen holder pegs hold the last few yards of the same, tired fabric—rubbing the damask between her fingers, you don’t bother to gather up the money or slam closed the ledger. You can feel her curious eyes shifting over you, over your furious scribbles on the ledger lines, but can’t bring yourself to care anymore because, God, you’re tired. So tired.

“I gather you’re in a bit of trouble,” Margaret offers, nodding to the great black mess you’ve made from crossing out, rewriting, and crossing out again, trying to calculate how to parse out the savings, the bleeding ink a confusion of mismatched, half-formed numbers.

Leaning back, patting the open stool at your side in invitation, you reply, “A mild way of putting it. Mother bought the most expensive fabrics from Aigle with money we desperately need.” You had found the Aigle catalogue Mother ordered from, the postal order form at the back neatly snipped out, underneath a mouth of knitting you’d been meaning to tidy for weeks in the sitting room. If only I hadn’t procrastinated, you think.

Sliding into the seat next to you, Margaret asks, “Why…why would she do that?”

Biting out a hot sigh, you shake your head, allowing for precious time to process the question and construct a reply that didn’t smack of anger, bitterness, and all of your carefully guarded plans for the future—for you and your mother’s continued survival—wasted on a frivolous hunch and rumors traded innocuously, probably said only to fill a brief silence. Your eyes drift to the wedding photo Mother keeps on her sewing station’s workspace; she and your father look out at you, rosy cheeked from the tinter’s blush, but beaming as if they could see you, see how their daughter has turned out and aren’t repelled by who they see. As if you haven’t failed your father’s memory, failed to protect your mother.

Because is it truly your mother’s fault? You hadn’t shared the hardships of financial ruin with her; she’s suffered bouts of fatigue and withdrawal for months now, and rarely dresses for the day except on Saturdays. She still reels from the loose of your father, and you had tried to mitigate her grief by protecting her from the harsh realities you decided to shoulder alone; you minimalized her allowance of struggles as if she were an infant, not a fully-grown, competent woman—a seamstress, a businesswoman, and a mother. Nibbling your lip, your eyes flick to the ledger, to your fingernails stained black at the beds. How could she? you think, correcting it to: how could I?

“Well,” you begin carefully. “She was so used to ordering fabric to have on hand when orders came in, so a customer might be able to feel the fabric and be able to more properly visualize what the final product will look like.” You leave out that Margaret, herself, was supposed to be said customer. Though it’s a dearly kept secret, one Margaret and her father have only confided in you and your mother, Margaret Clayton’s mother had been the bastard daughter of a rather morally-weighted duke. Which duke of where, Margaret hasn’t dared tell you, but when Margaret’s maternal grandfather laid on his deathbed, a great oppressive guilt for never acknowledging or legitimizing his daughter bore down on him and he requested an inheritance be established for her. Margaret’s mother barely outlived her biological father leaving her, her father, and the inheritance. Yet, it is wartime, and no matter the fabulousness of hidden wealth, you doubt even Margaret would be fanciful enough to think a luxury like Aigle fabrics justifiable.

Who would think such a thing? Oh right, you internally correct, my mother.

Margaret’s frowning now. “Seems silly to me, not that I get a say in the matter, of course. Surely she would have puzzled out that spending that kind of money isn’t a smart investment considering your, uh, situation.”

From the mouth of babes, you think. “Well, I don’t think she was thinking straight, really. She’s been tired and sickly for such a long time that I, well, I didn’t tell her the full extent of our problems.” You wave your hand over the ledger. “I couldn’t put this on her; it didn’t feel right.”

Something in the way your voice dips, something in how you duck your head to hide the shame graying your cheeks, makes Margaret’s breath catch and she speaks with more heat than expected. “And you’re putting this on yourself, aren’t you? Shifting all the blame off of her and onto yourself.” She sticks up a finger when your eyes flash to her, your mouth popping open to cobble together a weak protest. “Don’t even try—I know what you’re going to say and, yes, I agree it’s not entirely fair to put everything on your mother, but really!” In her indignation, she seems to fluff, an offended owl. “How could she not see you’ve been wasting away? That all your coats have magically lost their liners overnight? It’s positively negligent of her, not to mention shameful and entirely unfair to you. You’ve put so much weight on your shoulders, and she never bothered to ask if you wanted help carrying it.”

You click your tongue, more out of a sense of duty to your mother than actual disagreement. It’s horrible of you, you inwardly scold, but you can’t help the smoldering flicker of embers Margaret’s words stir in your chest, kicking up the heat of the coals and warming your chest, your toes, your numb fingers. Though a betrayal to your mother, you allow yourself this fraction of validation: someone comprehends and legitimizes the fears you’ve locked so tightly in your chest. You never thought you’d be able to articulate them, so long have you forced yourself to remain mute. With how Margaret looks at you intently, every unspoken worry, shut-away concern comes unbound from you, and you talk through the afternoon and well into the evening. Margaret stays the night, sending for food to be sent over from her home and you don’t protest or worry over owing her. Instead, you talk, she listens, and you dare to believe her when she clasps your hands and whispers: “It’ll be okay.”

. . .

Shifty does something he never does: he sends a telegram to confirm you’re still meeting at the tea shop on Wednesday.

Truthfully, you hadn’t planned on going until you found a loose pence piece floating around a drawer of thread spools and figured it’d be the last tea you’d attend anyway. You had to tell Shifty the cost isn’t manageable. Yet, you reason, the found pence piece had never been factored into your accounts and would be used to do a courtesy to a friend. Shifty deserved to be told, face-to-face, you couldn’t meet anymore.

Yet, you think, staring down at the telegram, sectioned off in neat creases after inhabiting your pocket since yesterday morning, when you received it, I was going to lie to him. Admitting to Margaret, your oldest friend, the ugly truth had been an act of faith; confessing to Shifty seems an act of further self-sabotage. But the telegram acts as a physical reminder of Shifty’s goodness, how he has confided his worries in you over tea and sewing lessons, and you hadn’t placed that same trust in him. Before, you could at least cling to the consolation that you never lied to his face; he never asked why you only drank one cup of tea, always refused to order additional cups or food, but now you’d be blatantly spinning a web, fearing his reaction to the truth.

But do you fear seeing his kind, pitying look directed on you more?

Could you stand knowing you’re chiseling your place as his pitiable English friend—the sad, dour little friend he’ll mention off-handedly when he returns to the United States, that he’ll recall fleetingly when his friends reminisce over their months in Aldbourne? You can’t keep food on the table, can’t handle your own survival; what would a self-sufficient country boy like Shifty think of that? He provided meat for his family with his rifle in the depths of the Depression, he’s making a name for himself with his marksmanship; surely he would see your floundering failure as deplorable?  

Gnawing on your lip, allowing your feet to carry you along automatically, you cross the town square and push into Roseanna’s teashop before you can decide which route—truth or lying—would cut you up, splinter and facture your heart, more permanently in the end.

Shifty surges to his feet at your entrance, a hand swiping down his already-neat brown hair, while the other hand worries at his cap. The sight of him—so nervous and fidgety, unlike you’ve seen him since that first meeting in the post office—steals the air from your lungs, leaving you deflated, stunned, and somehow more grounded in the present. You’re startled from the depths of your roundabout thoughts, struck by how young Shifty looks as he tries on a small, earnest smile for size and waits for you to join him at the back table.

You try to return that smile as you weave through the sparsely populated tables of the teashop. Your instincts scream at you to check your appearance—to ensure you coat lays properly, your scarf isn’t lopsided—but you dare not take your eyes from him. His hands find yours, holding both between his and his cap, as if warming you, when you’re almost to him, his impatient step bridging the remaining distance between you. “Good, you’re here,” he breaths out, a heavy exhale betraying his relief, as if there was a possibility you might not come at all. Your brows bunch.

“Of course, where else would I be?” you ask, trying to keep your voice mild; trying to act as if his relief doesn’t send a whistling pain plummeting through you, or how you know that pain will make your decision—lying or telling the truth—all the more impossible to make.

He shrugs, the gesture sheepish. “I don’t know; I was just worried.” He pauses, eyes staring at your hands in his, as if catching himself, and he hurriedly releases you to wave at the table, already set with flatware and water glasses. “Uh, um, why don’t you sit down? I already ordered your tea; you always get the same thing so I figured…” He loses momentum, falling into a befuddled silence as you slide into your chair and he sways his weight from one foot to the other, as if wanting to pull out the chair for you and temporary lost when you seat yourself.

Studying how he carefully deposits his cap on the white tablecloth, gathering his pant legs as he sits, you note the determination hardening his eyes, the slight crease darkening between his eyebrows, and when he sits fidgeting for a dragging moment, a squirming uncertainty begins to nibble at your insides. “What’s…what’s going on, Shifty?” you volunteer in a squeak. Perhaps, if you weren’t so aware of the slickness of your palms, buried and hidden in the holds of your skirt, of how a faint film of sweat builds along your hairline, you might be self-conscious of how wobbly and weak the question is.

“Well, um,” Shifty mumbles before pausing, clearing his throat. Taking a sip of water, he squares his shoulders, pulling himself to his full height, and begins again, “Well, I wanted to talk to you about something real important today, which is why I cabled you to make sure you were coming.” Cold seeps into your fingers and toes, clawing and inching up from the digits and along your limbs. Is…is it possible to call off a friendship? you think, dread drying your mouth and quelling your sweat into a frigid clamminess. “So, um, I’m a paratrooper, as you know. When I joined up, some of the perks that the recruiting officer pitched to us was that I’d be fighting with the best but also that, because I had gone through more training, I’d be getting paid more. And, well…”

You want to prompt him, he looks so lost you squirm to help, but you’re adrift in his conversational direction. His mouth works at words, his concentration on your face turning palpable, a pressure against you, but you’re powerless to help. The tea arrives, Roseanna glancing at Shifty’s face and withdrawing faster than usual, not lingering to cluck over you both. Taking a formative swig of tea, Shifty continues: “Well, I can only have my paid differed to someone who’s a member of my family. I’ve been sending some to my Ma and Pa back home, but I really don’t need the half of it I’ve been keeping; the Army pays for everything so…” He trails off, eyes searching yours, a light kindling there, hopeful you might fill in his meaning and spare him from articulating the rest. Yet, your brain refuses to follow the only optional thread of reason; it’s too improbable to even entertain.

Shifty sucks in a lungful of air and says in a rush on the exhale: “So, um, if I were to get married, I could offer a nice amount of money for my wife to live off of, and…and I like to think I’d make a good husband while I’m at it.”

“Oh,” you choke out, tearing your eyes from his face, pretending great interest in the lazy coils of steam rising from your tea, fingers reflexively clutching and releasing the heated porcelain, letting it sear the pads of your fingers and dancing them away when it becomes too scalding. “Well,” you manage, not really sure where your words are going. “I, um, congratulations, Shift; who’s the lucky girl? Do I know her?”

A choked noise startles you into looking back at him. His face is entirely pink, but he wears a crooked smile, trained solely on you, and you realize—“Oh. You—? You mean—?”

“Well, yeah,” he replies, gusting out a laugh. You wish you could bottle that laughter to keep forever. “I can’t believe that—I mean, y/n, you’re the only girl I—err, well, uh.” He ducks his head, bashful. “I know you’ve been facing down some money troubles, but I figured you being you would only ask for help if you needed it—that you knew you could ask for my help if you needed it. But then Maggie told me about what happened with that order…” He shrugs. “I had to do something.”

The bubble of elation in your chest pops. “Oh,” escapes on your breath, more disappointed than you intended. He’s offering marriage for financial support, as an act of kindness and of course he is, you think; Shifty is a good friend—a great friend—of course he’d go to any lengths to assist his friends. Even if means tying himself up in a marriage founded entirely on finances. Still, he’s looking at you so earnestly, so sweetly, and you can’t harbor any resentment toward him for your own disappointment. He’s only trying to help.  “Oh, Shifty,” you begin. “That’s awfully nice of you to offer, but I couldn’t possibly. It wouldn’t be right, marrying you just for your wages. I…I just couldn’t…” You shake your head. “I can’t do that to you; I appreciate it, but I’ll find my own way.” Leaning across the table, careful to avoid upsetting the teacups, you clasp his hands. “I promise.”

Negotiating his hands under yours, flipping them, to grasp your fingers in return, Shifty replies, “I can’t let you go through this alone; you’re…I feel like…I’ve never…” He hesitates and you remember how he swallowed down words last week, in the final moments before heading back to barracks. It had been a casual moment made earth-shattering, as you watched some revelation brimming in his throat, his mouth, just as you do now. Now, as you did then, you feel as though you teeter on the edge, suspended in anticipation for whatever he might say. Then, he settles on: “Um, you’re my friend. I can’t let you do this alone.”

Squeezing his hands, allowing the disappointment that he couldn’t bring himself to say whatever it is he intended slide off of you, you reason, “And you’re a wonderful friend for even suggesting it, but it’s me and mother’s problems. It’s all a mismanagement of money that was never accounted for when the atelier first opened. My parents…they took out so many loans, made investments, all in attempt to grow their business, thinking they’d pay it back by 1945. Back then, in ’37, we were one of the few families doing well; large orders, star-studded clientele, the whole works; we would have been a success if we had the foresight to know a bomb would fall through the atelier’s roof.”

“And now you’re paying for the mistakes of your parents,” Shifty concludes, the closet to bitterness you’ve ever heard in his voice. “It’s not fair, y/n; you shouldn’t have to go through this alone. I mean, look at you, you’re one girl and it’s a lot of pressure to put on your shoulders. I don’t know how you’ve done it so far—you’ve been so brave, and strong, but…but, maybe if you don’t want to marry me, we could work something else out—”

“But that’d still be taking your money; I don’t want handouts, even if they are well-intentioned and you don’t expect me to pay them back!” you interrupt, taking your hands back, because something in how he spoke—like he wants to protect you, fight for you, as if he has the right to do it—makes all your frustrations over your feelings for him, and the financial ruin, and your life whirling away and out of your carefully-maintained control, synthesize into heated and sharp words, forged and shaped into a cutting edge. “I don’t have much left, Shifty, but at least leave me my dignity.”

tag list: @gottapenny, @maiden-of-gondor, @wexhappyxfew, @medievalfangirl, @higgles123. @mayhem24-7forever

[fictionadventurer]

Hello! I honestly love your blog and all the things you say, so I was wondering if you have any book recs for fiction, YA or adult, with catholic morals and feel-good ending, that you could share with us? I've been browsing books at libraries for so long but I very seldom find anything that makes me want to spend time in their world. Thank you!!

Thank you! I’m honored that you thought of me as a resource for this kind of thing! I don’t tend to think of fiction in terms of Catholic morals (I generally look for “clean” and think of anything else as a nice bonus), so I can’t vouch for theological purity or anything, but I think some of these books might fit the bill.

The Fairy Tale Novels by Regina Doman: Six books that retell fairy tales in the modern-day real world with Catholic characters. The first three books (The Shadow of the Bear, Black as Night, and Waking Rose) form a trilogy about two sisters.  The next two books (The Midnight Dancers and Alex O’Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves) involve side characters from that trilogy. The sixth (Rapunzel Let Down) is an adult novel involving mostly new characters. Like fairy tales, these books involve a lot of darkness, but also a ton of beauty and hope and truth. They may not be the best-written books ever (I suspect if I reread them I’d find a lot more flaws in the style) but they honestly revolutionized my faith and reading life. A lot of the characters are readers, so if you explore some of the books they mention, you’ll have a pretty good reading list.

The Father Brown stories by G.K. Chesterton: Golden Age mystery short stories involving a Catholic priest as the amateur detective. They’re classics for a reason, and are probably the most accessible of Chesterton’s fiction.

The Man Born to Be King by Dorothy L. Sayers: The Gospels retold as a series of 12 radio plays broadcast on the BBC in the 1940s. Unlike any other Biblical adaptation I’ve seen, this doesn’t just present Bible scenes, it invents more, filling in tons about the ordinary life that was happening around the extraordinary event of God becoming Man. The character work is amazing, with the apostles having lovable personalities, and Jesus becoming a fully-rounded, approachable person in a way that I’ve yet to see another adaptation match. The book provides the scripts of all twelve plays, plus the extensive notes that Sayers used to explain each play to the producers. Though Sayers is Anglican, her theology is soundly Catholic. Even when I don’t agree with her interpretations of certain scenes, the result is a riveting drama.

Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl: If you like Narnia, this should be the next stop on your reading list. It’s elaborate, fairy-tale-influenced and allegorical high fantasy for young adult readers. The first book is rough, but the series get stronger and richer as it goes on. My favorite is the sixth novel, Shadow Hand, but you need to read the rest of the series to understand it. Lots of dragons and scariness in some of the stories, but also a lot of brightness and humor and hope.

The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder: A slightly steampunkish fantasy in a world where islands float in space and are connected by flying trains. A 50-some-year-old illusionist and his fast-talking 20-some-year-old business manager stake their livelihoods on winning a contest to perform for the queen, and wind up entangled in murder and intrigue. No real religious content, but clean, entirely compatible with Christian morality, and an utter delight. It’s an indie book that managed to get a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, so it’s something pretty special.

Shadows Over England series by Roseanna M. White: A trilogy involving a family of thieves employed as spies in the early days of WWI. They’re Christian historical fiction romance, but they’re some of the stronger books I’ve seen in the genre (for one thing, the romance doesn’t overwhelm the historical and political intrigue portions of the plot). They definitely have some weaknesses in plotting and characterization, and some of the theology is very Protestant, but they involve several of my favorite fictional topics (WWI, spies, thieves, families, libraries, music) so I love them anyway. A follow-up book to this series, The Number of Love (just released so I haven’t read it yet), involves a Catholic heroine (whose Catholicism is respected as valid Christianity–a nice feature in a Protestant book) who was my favorite character in this trilogy, and it’s probably my most anticipated new release of the year.

I hope this helps! I feel like this list is kind of generic, especially if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time at all, so let me know if you have any more specific requests for recommendations.

[heartlandians]

Behind the scenes of Heartland - 17x08 - Harmony Video by: Natalie Brown

[readnburied]

24 Book Series for 2024

I know this post should’ve come at the beginning of the year but I was sick and so I was unable to write until now. So this is a list of 24 series I want to start, continue or finish in the year 2024 and I really hope I’m able to get to them so I can have the chance to try some new series. So without any further ado, here are the 24 series I want to get to in 2024. 

1. Insanity by Cameron Jace

I’ve read 3 out of 9 books in this series so of course I intend to continue with the next book. 

2. Zodiac by Romina Russell

I’ve read 3 out of 4 books in this series so if I’m able to get to this I can finish this series this year. 

3. The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I’ve read 3 out of 5 books in this series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book and getting closer to finishing the series. 

4. Millennium by Stieg Larson

I’ve read 1 out of 6 books in this series. I loved the first book a lot and I really want to know what’s in store in book 2. 

5. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor 

I’ve read 1 out of 3 books in this series and I think it’s about time I get to the next book and continue the story. 

6. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco 

This is a new series which I wish to start this year. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series so I’m eager to get to it. 

7. Everneath by Brodi Aston

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and I’ve also read the novella. So one more book to go and I’ll be done with this series. 

8. Ruined by Paula Morris

I’ve read 1 out of 2 books in this series. I loved this series a lot and I’m eager to read the next book. 

9. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series, including the novella and I want to finish the series by reading the last book. 

10. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

I’ve read 4 out of 8 books in this series and it’s one of my favorite series, so I’m excited to continue it. 

11. Night Angel by Brent Weeks

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and I need to quickly read the next book so I can finish this series. 

12. The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

I’ve read 1 out of 3 books in this series and the whole world has read this series and I feel left out, so I want to continue. 

13. Madison Avery by Kim Harrison

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and after one more book I’ll be done with this series. 

14. Book of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence 

I’ve read 1 out of 3 books in this series. There’s also a novella so I need to read that as well but I hope I can get to this series. 

15. The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart 

This is a new series for me and once again I’m fashionably late for this series but I’m still eager to get to it. 

16. Depraved Sinners by Sheridan Anne

This is a new series for me and personally I only want to read this series because the book tittles are so interesting. 

17. Easy Bake Coven by Liz Scholte

I’ve read 2 out of 8 books in this series. This is a kind of a cozy mystery fantasy and I want to continue reading it. 

18. Private by Kate Brian

I’ve read 2 out of 14 books in this series and I don’t know if I’ll ever finish this series but for now I’m definitely eager to read more. 

19. The Order of the Sanguines by James Rollins

I’ve read 2 out of 3 book in this series and this includes a novella as well and I love this series and want to read the last book. 

20. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson 

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and this has a novella as well. I’m really looking forward to reading the last book in this series. 

21. The Codebreakers by Roseanna M. White

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and I love this series so much and I’m looking forward to the next book. 

22. Debutantes by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I’ve read 1 out of 2 books in this series and I really hope I get the chance to finish this series this year. 

23. Nikki Kill by Jennifer Brown

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and I’m eager to finish this series because it’s just so beautiful. 

24. All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue 

I’ve read 2 out of 3 books in this series and this is an interesting series and I’m eager to know how it ends. 

So these are the series I want to try and get to this year. These are not the only series I intend to work on because there are so many others, but I can’t list them all for this post. Let me know if you’ve read any of these series or want to read do let me know. 

[fullbeaumonty]

Thanks for the tag, @dancetothestoriesinyoursoul

1. Are you named after anyone?

My first name is two words, one of which is Rose, hence my nickname of Rosie.  My great-grandmother who came over from Italy as a child was named Rose, and it’s a tradition in our family to include a Rose every so often through the generations.  We have or have had a Rosalie, Rosalinda, Roseanna, Rosemary, and countless middle names of Rose.  I’m honored to be part of the tradition.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Stef called me her ride or die today and I got super emotional and had to go compose myself in the bathroom.  I had a difficult day, but I can’t say I wouldn’t have been touched on a normal day anyway.  (love you, girl)

3. Do you have kids?

Nope!  Just me and two cats.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I speak it as a second language.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Physically, their eyes.  But I can read people immediately when I meet them, and I’m rarely wrong.  I’m not sure what I notice, but I can sense it.

6. Eye color?

Hazel...mostly green, with brown and blue.

7. Scary movie or happy ending?

I don’t do horror.  Ever.

8. Any special talents?

I’m a birder by hobby and can identify a vast number of the birds or birdsong in Eastern N. America.

9. Where were you born?

York, PA

10. Do you have any hobbies?

Birding, as mentioned previously

11. Do you have any pets?

The feline loves of my life, Fred and George.  Here they are as kittens in 2007.

12. How tall are you?

5′5

13. What sports do you play/have you played?

I threw discus in high school on the track and field team.  I wasn’t good, but I loved being part of the team and wouldn’t trade the experience.

14.Favorite subject in school?

College-level geology.  I loved it so much, I almost changed my BS Ed minor to earth science.

15. Dream job?

Stay-at-home cat mom

Tagging: @riseandshinelittleblossom, @breaumonts, @thedepthsremember, @alj4890

[sphq]

“I shouldn’t have listened to you!”

AARON JAMES ANDERSON is a SIXTEEN/SEVENTEEN-year-old WEREWOLF and is attending SPELLBOUND ACADEMY as a JUNIOR. HE currently identifies as HETEROSEXUAL and is CURRENTLY SINGLE (He recently broke up with his girlfriend of one year, Melanie Ganner. The two began dating January 7th, 2010 and broke up May 25, 2011). His face claim is MICHAEL TREVINO.

AARON is ALERT, CONFIDENT, and OUTGOING, but can be CONFLICTED, REBELLIOUS, AND SNEAKY.

X QUICK FACTS

DATE OF BIRTH: January 25th, 1994 PLACE OF BIRTH: Montebello, California PARENTS: Richard, Carol HAIR COLOR: Brown EYE COLOR: Brown HEIGHT: 5′9 SIBLINGS: Jacob

X HI, MY NAME IS

Even though he was born in California, Aaron spent his younger years growing up in Phoenix, Arizona. He and his family moved down to Los Angeles before he was to enter the fourth grade. He quickly grew close to Wyatt Reed, Brayden Westerly, Tyler Smith, Audrey Ganner, Valerie Hale and Alison Mitchel. When he was in seventh grade, he met Brooke, his new next door neighbor, and the two have been close ever since.

As one of Spellbound’s resident bad boys, he does not have any trouble getting the ladies. This bad boy who charms the ladies with his caring nature thinks that he’s better off being alone or at least he’ll just stick with his flings. If he is not playing football then he is hanging out with his friends. All Aaron really needs is to find the right girl and he knows that he would stop his bad ways once and for all.  

During Aaron’s Sophomore year, he began dating Melanie Ganner, the little sister of Audrey Ganner. The two kept their relationship secret and before they could go public, Aaron broke up with her because of something that Tyler Smith told him. He still hasn’t told Melanie the real reason why. He thought he had found the right girl in Melanie Ganner, but since having ended his secret relationship with her at the request of a friend, he is not so sure anymore.

Like many of the others, Aaron just wants to put what happened that night in the past. It was difficult at first, but soon he and his friends return to their regular routines. All of that lasts for about 25 seconds before certain weird occurrences begin happening again. Aaron is fully prepared to ignore all of the signs though; he would rather play naive then believe that something strange is going on at Spellbound.

X THESE ARE MY FRIENDS & THESE ARE OUR STORIES

✘ BROOKE ADAMS: Aaron Anderson & Brooke Adams first met at the age of 13. Ever since discovering that the two of them were neighbors during that time, Brooke and Aaron have been extremely lose. During a night out at the movies, the two share a kiss in the dark confusing him, but he quickly got over it. ✘ AUDREY GANNER: Aaron Anderson & Audrey Ganner first met during elementary school. The two are not that close, but they both know that if they ever needed something, the other would be they for them. ✘ MELANIE GANNER: Melanie Ganner & Aaron Anderson first met while Aaron was in 1st grade. The two weren’t really close then, but hung out a lot due to the fact, he was close with her older sister. After being partnered up for a school project, their love began to blossom. She’s his first love that he unexpectedly broke up with. He still harbors lingering feelings for her. He still hasn’t told her the reason why.   ✘ ALISON MITCHEL:  Alison Mitchel & Aaron Anderson first met during elementary school. Her craziness for cheer-leading matches his craziness for football. He considers her the happy vitamin of the group. ✘ WYATT REED: Aaron Anderson & Wyatt Reed first met during elementary school, he considers him as his favorite best friend out of all three. He would date him if he could. ✘ TYLER SMITH: Aaron Anderson & Tyler Smith have been close since elementary school. Aaron sometimes can’t believe the things that comes out of Tyler’s mouth. Aaron broke up with Melanie because of Tyler, but doesn’t know that the real reason was Brooke.   ✘ ROSEANNA STEVENSON: Roseanna Stevenson & Aaron Anderson met during elementary school. Before Aaron started dating Melanie, he used to mess around with Roseanna Stevenson. The two doubt that anyone knows about their past “relationship” because they’ve never told anyone about it. After he broke up with Melanie, he went to her for comfort.The two used to have a slight friends-with-benefits relationship, but nothing ever came out of it. ✘ BRAYDEN WESTERLY: Brayden Westerly & Aaron Anderson first met during elementary school. The two have been close friends since then. Aaron considers Brayden his boyfriend but so does Tyler. It never fails to end in hilarious fights.

[lamourvt-blog]

full name: roseanna doursey nicknames: rosie birthday: august 8, 1974 gender: female sexuality: heterosexual ethnicity: caucasian (european descent) and native american

faceclaim: melissa ponzio hair color: dark brown eye color: brown height: 5′6″

occupation: owner and chef of rosie’s diner living situation: two bedroom apartment over the diner education level: bachelor’s degree in business

positive traits:

resilient

protective

hard-working

negative traits:

single-minded

uncompromising

temperamental

relationships in town:

nora stewart | best friend

vivian doursey | adopted daughter

bradley hargrove | usual customer/friend

need-to-knows:

rosie always loved to cook.  she grew up in the kitchen with her mom, and she always hoped to pass that tradition on to her own kids.  when she continues to struggle when it comes to dating, she gives up on the family thing and focuses on sharing her passion for cooking with the masses by creating rosie’s diner.

when her restaurant becomes successful, she decides she’s ready for a family, and decides she doesn’t need a man to do it.  the adoption process is a long one, and while she waits, she is asked to foster a girl living nearby.  vivian was difficult, but also sweet and everything she could have wanted in a daughter.  after a year, and with vivian’s earnest approval, rosie files for adoption.

owning one of the more well-known restaurants in town, rosie has been roped into her fair share of romantic schemes.  nora is a big reason for that.  over the years, she’s gotten pretty good at reading what people are looking for, and sometimes goes out of her way to help them.  it’s purely selfish, of course.  if she can’t find romantic happiness for herself, she wants to make sure she sees other people find it.