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READ IT AND REAP
Book Reviews and Recommendations

WHAT I'M READING NOW
The Sorcerer of the North
John Flanagan
Stops Along the Way
Anna Sortino
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Book Recommendations for Different Genres (2024 Edition)
I missed the actual anniversary, but it's time for the third biannual post where I give one (or two if I can't choose) book...
Lyra Thompson
Aug 29, 20243 min read


My Apologetics Dinner Party by Louis Markos
Book Synopsis: Have you ever wanted to look over the shoulder of an expert apologist as he has conversations about faith? Louis Markos, acclaimed author of From Plato to Christ and Passing the Torch, gives you a seat at his table for an international potluck dinner held in his home, where guests from many faith traditions and walks of life engage in spirited discussion about faith, miracles, and the meaning of life. My Apologetics Dinner Party presents a method of talking abo
Lyra Thompson
23 hours ago3 min read


The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: NARNIA... where dwarfs are loyal and tough and strong—or are they? ...where you must say goodbye... and where the adventure begins again. The unicorn says that humans are brought to Narnia when Narnia is stirred and upset. And Narnia is in trouble now: A false Aslan roams the land. Narnia's only hope is that Eustace and Jill, old friends to Narnia, will be able to find the true Aslan and restore peace to the land. Their task is a difficult one because, as the C
Lyra Thompson
5 days ago3 min read


Lost: Amelia Earhart's Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life by Rachel Hartigan
Book Synopsis: When Amelia Earhart’s plane disappeared in 1937, the clues poured in, attracting wild conspiracies about her tragic fate. In Lost, former National Geographic reporter Rachel Hartigan delves into Earhart’s disappearance, introducing a host of eccentric characters who have become obsessed with finding the truth. Did the great aviator crash land near the Marshall Islands, only to be captured by Japanese soldiers? Did she manage to land on Nikumaroro Island but die
Lyra Thompson
Apr 95 min read


The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure. Narnia... a land where the woods are thick and cold, where Talking Beasts come to life—an entirely new world where adventure begins. One cold, wet summer in London, Digory and Polly meet and become fast friends. Their lives take a sudden turn when Digory’s Uncle Andrew, who fancies himself a magician, sends them hurtling to... somewhere else. They arrive in Narnia, just as it is born fr
Lyra Thompson
Apr 83 min read


The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: The Horse and his Boy is a stirring and dramatic fantasy story that finds a young boy named Shasta on the run from his homeland with the talking horse, Bree. When the pair discover a deadly plot by the Calormen people to conquer the land of Narnia, the race is on to warn the inhabitants of the impending danger and to rescue them all from certain death. My Review: 4.25/5 stars. I enjoyed a lot of things about this book, and I don't really have anything negative
Lyra Thompson
Apr 32 min read


Vivid (The Color Theory #1) by Ashley Bustamante
Book Synopsis: When Ava Locke was five years old, she began a journey to join the Benefactors—the leaders of the magical continent of Magus. Twelve years later, she unwittingly started down the road to betray them. On Magus, where colors fuel magical abilities, yellow is banned in an effort to protect people from its mind-controlling capabilities. When a rogue Yellow magic-user named Elm escapes imprisonment, Ava becomes innocently fascinated with his story. Once this mysteri
Lyra Thompson
Mar 304 min read


The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: NARNIA...where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans, where a prince is put under an evil spell...and where the adventure begins. Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor...or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings
Lyra Thompson
Mar 222 min read


Nero and Paul by Kathie Lee Gifford & Bryan M. Litfin
Book Synopsis: Centuries ago, against the backdrop of Roman domination and decadence, a rabbi-turned-evangelist challenged the ideology of an immoral emperor. Two competing messages clashed—and they were messages that echo into our modern world. One voice says, Do what feels good. Gain more influence. Focus on yourself and build your own kingdom. Another says, Live for something beyond yourself—something eternal. Carry out your God-given mission, no matter the cost. Follow yo
Lyra Thompson
Mar 184 min read


To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen
About the book: Seaside, England, 1886 Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva’s heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret. One eveni
Lyra Thompson
Mar 63 min read


(SPOILERS) Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Miraz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World. My Review: 3.75/5 stars. This was my least favorite of the Narnia series so far. It didn't hold my attention a
Lyra Thompson
Mar 42 min read


Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: Narnia . . . where animals talk . . . where trees walk . . . where a battle is about to begin. A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world. My Review: 4.5/5 stars. I liked this more than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The plot was more engaging, it had a more interesting concept, and i
Lyra Thompson
Feb 122 min read


A Wheelie Awkward Romance by Tess & Corby Campbell
Book Synopsis: Tess wasn’t searching for love—and she definitely wasn’t looking for a man with a power chair and a penchant for dad jokes. But when Corby’s clever and correctly punctuated dating profile caught her attention, one message turned into two, then twenty, and suddenly, her carefully predictable world was tilted on its axis. This story is more than a tale of love. It’s a wildly witty, refreshingly honest look at what happens when an intensely logical woman and a qua
Lyra Thompson
Feb 103 min read


The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Book Synopsis: They open a door and enter a world NARNIA...the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins. Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves.
Lyra Thompson
Feb 72 min read


(SPOILERS) The Battle for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice #4) by John Flanagan
Book Synopsis: For Will and Evanlyn, freedom has never felt so fleeing. Still far from their homeland after escaping slavery in the icebound land of Skandia, the Ranger's apprentice and the princess's plan to return to Araluen is spoiled when Evanlyn is taken captive by a Temujai warrior. Though still weakened by the warmweed's toxic effects, Will employs his Ranger training to locate his friend, but an enemy scouting party has him fatally outnumbered. Will is certain death i
Lyra Thompson
Feb 43 min read


A Kingdom of Shadows by Emily Bain Murphy
Book Synopsis: The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day. Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure a
Lyra Thompson
Feb 33 min read


The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Book Synopsis: If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human. When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Everything is going to change. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the me
Lyra Thompson
Jan 153 min read


Carols and Chaos by Cindy Ansty
Book Synopsis: 1817. The happy chaos of the Yuletide season has descended upon the country estate of Shackleford Park in full force, but lady's maid Kate Darby barely has the time to notice. Between her household duties, caring for her ailing mother, and saving up money to someday own a dress shop, her hands are quite full. Matt Harlow is also rather busy. He's performing double-duty, acting as valet for both of the Steeple brothers, two of the estate's holiday guests. Fallin
Lyra Thompson
Jan 103 min read


The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice #3) by John Flanagan
Book Synopsis: Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise–even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will's friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights–but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soo
Lyra Thompson
Jan 43 min read


Even If: Trusting God Through the Fire by Bart Millard - Review
Book Synopsis: The inspiration behind the major motion picture I Can Only Imagine 2, this true story of heartache and hope from MercyMe’s lead singer, Bart Millard, and his wife, Shannon, shows us how even our deepest wounds can become doorways to God’s grace. MercyMe was just a small worship band from Texas until January 2002, when Bart Millard’s song “I Can Only Imagine” swept the airwaves. Suddenly Bart, his bandmates, and their families were riding a wave of success beyon
Lyra Thompson
Dec 28, 20253 min read
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