July & August 2024 Reading Wrap Up | I read a contemporary romance 😳 and discovered Betty Neels 😍📚

[@jensreadinglife]

Great video! I am so glad you loved The Blue Bedroom! It’s going to be on my favorites of the year. Also, since you love D.E. Stevenson, you should try Molly Clavering. I just read Near Neighbors by her and loved it. And I just got Dear Hugo to read. She and Stevenson were friends and very much influenced each other’s writing. 😊

[@amyofhearthridge]

Yay! So glad you had your baby and alls well! ♥️ Loved listening! I love Miss Silver!

[@amyofhearthridge]

I also read The Four Graces this past summer and LOVED it! 😍 Pepper Basham isn’t for me. I’ve tried a few. 😅 You aren’t crazy. 😂

[@LCruse]

I just subscribed because so many of the books you mentioned are faves of mine. And I bought a D. E. Stevenson Kindle edition as I have wanted to try her. Enjoyed your video.

[@woldenburnreads]

Yay! I'm so glad. I hope you enjoy the D.E. Stevenson book!!

[@eileennielsen5165]

I was in the hospital this past summer then had to go right to rehab due to complications from the surgery. I had taken The Blue Bedroom with me, and boy, was I glad I did! LOVED every story! I really like Rosamunde Pilcher, read her book Winter Solstice last year and a definite re-read for me. I think I like it the best so far of her bks. I had started September, but had to stop due to so much pain(still from surgery in June). Got about 1/3 through and it was also good. Will start again next Sept.😋

[@amyofhearthridge]

Awwww! Betty Neels! 😅I enjoy them, too, I don’t love the cold-shoulder theme 😂in them, but I do like them, too! My favorite one that I read recently was The Innocent Bride because everything was so cozy in main protagonist cottage etc! ♥️✨

[@woldenburnreads]

I haven't read that one yet. I'll have to see if my library has it because I'm always up for another Betty Neels! And yes, sometimes the whole cold-shoulder thing is a bit much

[@insearchofwonder]

Congratulations on the baby! Fitting in the filming when you can - I can't even imagine! When my kids were littles, I was a blogger, but trying to video was so beyond my scope of capability that I never even dreamed of doing it. Now that they're teenagers, it's much easier. Kudos to you for fitting it in when you can! I also don't read a lot of contemporary for similar reasons. I am much happier with historical fiction, because like you said, the situations seem much more novel-worthy when they're in a different setting that I'm not so familiar with. Regarding the miscommunication trope, though, as frustrating as it is to encounter in a novel. I will say that, having been in a ministry family literally my entire life, misunderstandings and miscommunication are the NUMBER ONE relationship-ruiners. Many people find it silly when it happens in romance novels, but truly, in my observation of human nature, the novels are just reflecting real life. Many times people are completely unaware that miscommunication and misunderstandings have even occurred. Even if it's annoying as a plot device in a novel, I do think it's very realistic and in accordance with normal human nature.

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! ❤️ And I do think you're right about the miscommunication/misunderstandings. I wonder if the reason it tends annoys me so much in books is less about the fact that it's a miscommunication and more that it's an incredibly petty/silly miscommunication that is a really just a non-problem. 🤔 Which, those do happen in real life too!!

[@insearchofwonder]

@@woldenburnreads Yeah it's not always fun to read about. I agree that more complex issues create a more compelling story.

[@debbiestuckey6599]

Hi! I've read 2 Kate Morton books. They are really thick books, but i loved them. I read Homecoming, and also The Distant Hours.

[@carlabrown6849]

Congratulations on your new baby boy!

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!!!

[@MyBookHauledLife-Essie]

Hello! You mentioned that you knit. I was recently out and a child about age 6 saw the book in my purse and must have assumed I had more in there "Why do you have so many books?" He asked. Well, I love to read! Then he said, "Oh, do you also knit?" 😂

[@woldenburnreads]

Oh how cute! And so funny! I definitely do both knitting and reading and usually at the same time.

[@cozycottagechapters]

Congrats on the baby! You read some great books and I've added a few to my tbr 😊

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! ❤️

[@sunshinemuldoon]

Congratulations to you and to your husband! The only Josephine Tey book that I truly love is "The Daughter of Time". If you have ever wondered about Richard III (especially the version of him we see in Shakespeare's play) - I recommend it highly. Even my teenage son liked it. :)

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! That book sounds really good! Thank you for the suggestion. I'm going to see if I can find it.

[@smartie1685]

Congratulations! You should continue with Pepper Basham's books, I loved each one more and Luke's book is the best. I really need to read D.E. Stevenson, yours is the second video I've watched talking about her this week.

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! I'm going to see if I can get the next book in the series. I did like Pepper Basham's writing so I'm definitely not opposed to reading more of her books. And yes!! D. E. Stevenson is such a fantastic author.

[@emmareads734]

Congratulations on your new baby! I recently read Celia’s House and The Musgraves by D.E. Stevenson and they weren’t my favorite reads. I need to try a Miss Silver!

[@gerrid9092]

Have you read any other DES books? If not, you might want to try another one. She’s one of my favorites. Or maybe you have and she’s just not for you. 😉

[@emmareads734]

@@gerrid9092 I have also read Miss Buncle’s Book and really enjoyed that one. I won’t give up on her!

[@krommama]

Congratulation on the birth of your second child! I read a few Betty Neels in the beginning of the year, and then just recently, I have read five. My library doesn't have any, so I have been picking them up here and there (and on eBay) used. I really enjoy D. E. Stevenson, as well. Have you read Molly Clavering? I feel like I might have asked you that before. Take care!

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! ❤️ I haven't read any Molly Clavering yet, but I just borrowed my first one and I can't wait to start reading it!

[@gerrid9092]

@@woldenburnreadsThe two Molly Clavering books that Jen mentioned are a good place to start. They’re both wonderful books, imo. 😊

[@beckbabej]

Happy to be first to say CONGRATULATIONS!!

[@woldenburnreads]

Aww! Thank you so much!!! ❤️

[@dianecrump9215]

Congratulations! So happy to see a new video from you! Apparently Celia’s House is a retelling of Mansfield Park? I’ve read Celia’s House, but haven’t actually read Mansfield Park. I laughed out loud listening to you talk about contemporary fiction. I feel the same! Also, I recently read and loved my first Miss Silver book on your recommendation. 💗💗

[@woldenburnreads]

Thank you!! ❤️❤️ How interesting! I have read Mansfield Park so I can see a couple similarities. I'm so glad you tried a Miss Silver book!!