Words are not enough. Unexpected, soul deep, and surprising, Theo of Golden left me in joyful tears. Well done. A must-read for all of us.
To be honest, the title confused me. When our book club decided to read this book, I had no idea what to expect. But from the first page I was captivated. The unforgettable characters, especially Theo, nudge us to look at ourselves, our motives, our intentions, and most of all how we look at each other.
If you live in east central Alabama or central Georgia, you may find the setting familiar. The downtown district is easy for me to visualize because I’ve been to the city that inspired Theo’s fictional world.
Asher Glisson, the artist in the story, was also familiar. When our book club met for discussion, our host had a portrait of her children, done by him, hanging in her den
I studied it in amazement. Theo’s description of Asher’s gift caused me to look deeper. I saw what Theo saw. The people within the drawing, their stories written in their faces.
Reading Theo helped me believe that there is hope for us yet. If we can learn to look deeper into each other than our assumptions, if we can learn to look with love and forgiveness, we might just make it.
This was a perfect read for the beginning of 2026. Theo of Golden will not keep you up at night. It’s not a fast-paced story. But, if you stay with it I think you’ll be glad you did.
An engaging cast of characters in a small seaside village full of possibilities. I didn’t like coffee or particularly care for fish tacos, but this sweet series had me trying both-and liking them. Every book is wonderful and makes you want to move to Hope Harbor.
Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series is set in a small coastal town in Oregon. Both the characters we meet at first and those we get to know along the way find their way into our hearts. Their stories make us want to sit down at the local coffee or tea shop, or one of Hope Harbor’s restaurants and have a good meal and a long conversation with each of them.
Reading this series has made me want to visit Oregon’s coast. I’d love to find the small town or towns that inspired the author. I’d love to explore and experience the world of Hope Harbor. Who knows, I might find myself wanting to stay for a while.
Hope Harbor book number 12, Harbor Pointe, released last week on April 7, 2026. I can’t wait to read it!
Deeply engrossing trilogy of books by a master writer. I first read them in college and come back to them again and again. These characters and their story stay with me, providing insight into life, inspiration to endure in the toughest of times, and wisdom to always be present in the moment. Tolkien himself was a wise insightful man worthy of admiration. Great reading!
J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books are classics. I couldn’t begin a list of my top fiction reads without including these books as well as those of C. S. Lewis, his long-time friend and fellow member of The Inklings.
This epic tale of Frodo and Sam’s quest to save their world from evil is essential reading, in my opinion, for everyone.
Good versus evil, strength in weakness, the value of friendship, honor, and self-sacrifice are themes of the best literature. And this story is some of our best literature.
A timeless story that resonates to the core with an added bonus that it is well-done in the movie adaptation. This series is on my bookshelf of favorites.
Beautifully told in letter form. A collaboration between two authors. A moving story of wartime romance and life after. Wonderful feel-good Christmas story.
A wonderful and “unforgettably romantic” novel set in WWI. Spanning four Christmases from 1914-1918, Evie Elliot and her brother’s best friend Thomas Harding exchange letters as they each navigate the world at war. Their fondness for one another grows and through their letters, we see into their hopes, fears, and dreams during a time of uncertainty.
A romantic feel-good Christmas read that warmed my heart. Save it for Christmas or read it anytime with a cup of tea or hot chocolate and a sweet treat. Enjoy!
This was my first exposure to Patty Callahan Henry’s books. I’m now a fan. A well-researched delightful account of Joy Davidman’s life as she corresponded with, came to know, and finally married C.S. Lewis. Great read.
I listened to this one as an audio book and loved it. C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors and I am fascinated by the story of his life. Joy Davidman and Mr. Lewis exchanged letters across the sea before they met in person. Their relationship was complicated by Joy’s back story. Their growing friendship, respect, and attraction to each other caused them to grapple with what they believed to be right.
Joy’s illness and death rocked Mr. Lewis. In his intense grief, he kept notes of his struggle through the pain and the crisis of faith he experienced. These notes later became his book, A Grief Observed, a raw honest account of his journey through deep grief.
Are We There Yet? 