Goodreads Reading Challenge - February

 

Happy March everyone! My reading for February was great. I read a sum total of seven books and got quite a few books marked off of my TBR pile.

A sweet little read from Lamplighter Books that's as charming as it is pretty. The book is comprised of short essay on the lives of Mary Slessor, Helen Keller, Fanny Jane Crosby, Maria Mitchell, Alexandrina Victoria (Queen Victoria), Jenny Lind, Mary Lyon, Clara Barton, Marie Sklodowska, Elizabeth Gurney, Louisa May and Elizabeth Blackwell. Girls of Courage is an endearing read about extraordinary women whose very different lives (that ranged from missionaries, scientists and queens) changed the world by knowing their worth and never backing down.

This is a mystery that is clearly part of series. Not reading the books prior to it, I was somewhat confused as to what was really going on. There is very little introduction and I didn't even know what time period we are in! Rather bland and boring and very British.

 

I loved this one!  The Anne of Avonlea miniseries was a combination of Anne of the Island and Anne of Windy Poplars; Island dealt with Anne's life in Avonlea, while Windy Poplars is about Anne's time as a teacher to the notorious Pringle community. Rebecca Dew was hands down my favorite character and I loved how most of the book was is epistolary form too. I enjoyed this one infinitely more than its predecessor. 

 

This is book that has an appeal on Christians for generations and for good reason too. From the time she was 16, Katherine starts a journey of finding and understanding God in her life. From painful loss, first heartbreak, unexpected love, marriage and motherhood, Katherine experiences God in the ordinary everyday happenings. Extremely thought provoking and beautifully written, Stepping Heavenward challenges the reader without losing the charm of a young woman's coming of age.

 

What's that famous Doctor Who term? Wibbly, wobbly, timey, wimey? That's about the best way I can describe this book! However I really enjoyed it! Basically mystery with a hint of supernatural/sci-fi. Just keep a pen and paper on hand so you can keep track of the story.

 

Another Lamplighter book that had a simple, but endearing storyline. A young woman leaves her family to live almost entirely on her own in the wild Scottish moors. Her reason? Not a broken heart or rebellion, rather to do missionary work among the poor and destitute. With time and patience her work takes root and her influence becomes essential to the people she serves. Simple and straightforward, but also charming and even romantic. One would think that a book about a missionary in Scotland would be dull, but to be honest the locals were the best part of the story! 

 

This is a turning point in Anne's life as she leaves behind Anne Shirley of Green Gables and becomes Mrs. Anne Blythe of Four Winds. Anne's single girlhood years are behind her and she now embarks onto married life with the same determination and unchangeable spirit. As with Avonlea, Four Winds isn't short on personable side characters. Miss Cordelia and Captain Jim and Leslie Moore were all excellent, but I really have a soft spot for Cordelia I must admit. Anne also deals with her first painful loss within her marriage, something that I was not expecting.