Hello everyone! Today I have a fun little book-related post…my new review system and how it works! So strap on your seat belts, here we go!

So, basically, I’ve never liked the 5-Star system. But since that’s all Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub allow me to use, I’m kinda stuck with it there. But here? I’m gonna start using the good old 10-Star system! This post will cover four things: my Content Meter, my Quality Meter, My Personal Enjoyment Meter, and my 5-Star Converter!

This is where I list my personal opinions of a book’s content. Who I would feel comfortable recommending a book to. Please note, the reader age suggestion is just a guide. Some may feel differently about the proper age, or I may change my rating based on the book’s uniqueness. There are only 5 sections to this meter.
 
5| Completely Clean
100% clean content for all ages

4| Mature Content/Minor Censoring for Young Readers
100% clean content for a reader 16+. A book dealing with topics too hard for a child to handle, but in a clean, moral way (Abortion, the Holocaust, PTSD, Violence, etc.)

3| Mature Content/Mild Censoring for Mature Readers
For readers 18+. It may contain minor swear words/have a storyline that needs to be censored (Romance, Excessive Violence, etc.)

2| Major Censoring
For readers 21+. Contains more serious swear words/storylines that are inappropriate but still have enough good content to be worth the effort of censoring.

1| Filthy
This book contains inappropriate scenes that are the bulk of the story/has excessive language/too detailed in acts of violence,/glorifies evil. I would advise no one read this book.

This meter judges the author’s work according to my personal reading standards.
 
1| Pitiful/Lazy
The book is riddled with typos, with no clear direction or plot in the story. The author basically published their notes.

2| Brainstorming
This book had some potential but needs to be fleshed out and outlined—complete writing overhaul.

3| First Draft
Interesting idea, but no story to grasp. Needs revising and editing.

4| Hard to Follow/Doesn’t Flow
This is a book that has a plot, but only the author can see it. Not enough information is given to keep the readers hooked. Or the writing is too choppy and throws you out of the story.

5| Cluttered
The story has promise, but there’s excess information that clouds the story from being seen.

6| Needs Polishing
The story is good; it just needs some editing.

7| Good
A solid story. Could use minor clean up edits.

8| Great
An amazing story. Minor tune-up and character development.

9| Well Done
No problems and exceeds expectations in setting, characters, and plot.

10|Excellent
This author is a genius and takes things above and beyond!
 
Take Away || 1-5 Not so Great || 6-10 Worth Reading

This is where I give my rating on how much I enjoyed the story. This is my personal opinion and may not line up with the ratings I give on the other meters. I will, of course, provide an explanation on why it received a particular rating if needed 😉
 
1| Shakes Head
I stopped/should have stopped reading it.

2| Sigh
I didn’t enjoy it at all.

3| Eye Roll
Waste of Time.

4| Meh
Not my cup of tea.

5| Shrug
Not good, not bad, not a favorite.

6| Smiles
This book was okay. Not bad!

7| Grins
I like this book. It had a good plot, and I would definitely recommend it!

8| Beams
A Good solid book! I enjoyed it!

9| Heart-Eyes
I couldn’t put it down!

10| Star-Eyes
Top Favorite! I may just reread this every year! 😉

This one is simple.
 
1| 1-2 on my Overall Rating.

2| 3-4 on my Overall Rating.

3| 5-6 on my Overall Rating.

4| 7-8 on my Overall Rating.

5| 9-10 on my Overall Rating.

This is the final score I give the book. Since I don’t know my rates in the other sections, I can’t give you an example, but I will explain the Overall Rating on each book as required!
 
I hope to reread a few of the books I’ve already read and update their reviews here with the new system as I go!
 
Just a quick thought: If you were a book, how would God rate you?
 
Writing Prompt: How do you rate the books you read?
 
Thanks for stopping by today! God Bless and happy reading!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello! Hope you’ve had a blessed week so far! I have a fun post to share with you today that I hope you will enjoy! I’m going to list all the upcoming books that I am anticipating! Then, I’m going to list some books that have been out, but I haven’t read yet! So here we go!!

Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle

About the Book ||

He left his entire world in Iraq. So why did the war follow him home?

Harley Keane and his best friend Nigel were just kids when 9/11 rocked their world and changed their lives forever. When they’re finally old enough to join the army, all their childhood dreams seem about to come true. But war wasn’t supposed to be like this. A kid’s dream isn’t supposed to become a living nightmare. Fellow soldiers aren’t supposed to bleed out in front of your eyes.

Back home, safe and unwounded, Harley feels anything but. Why would God spare him when so many others were taken? Why won’t the nightmares stop, even when he’s awake? And how long can he hide the truth that threatens everything he has left? When Harley’s invisible scars refuse to stay hidden, will he let anyone close enough to help? And how do you go on with life when “okay” isn’t okay at all?

Coming November 11, 2020

My Thoughts ||

This is my number one anticipated read! I’ve loved everything Kassie has written, and I had the privilege of Alpha reading this book for her! I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to read the revised version, but I cannot wait to hold this book baby in my hands.

A Fine Day Tomorrow by Amanda Tero

About the Book||

Essie March never planned to do much with her life, being the sickly one of the family. And just as she starts to pursue her dream of nursing, it seems that everything stands in her way to prevent it. Inspired by Little Women.

Coming October 26th, 2020

My Thoughts ||

This book is part of a collection, but I’m personally just interested in this one, lol! I’ve loved everything Amanda has written, and I can’t wait for this one to be added to my collection! I beta read this one, and I just know the revisions will make it even better than it already was!
 

A Secret Place of Thunder by Alicia Ruggieri

About the Book ||

Edna Sue O’Connell came back to the Kentucky hills out of duty and can’t wait for the chance to escape again. Her work as a horseback librarian in rural Appalachia provides enough income for her invalid father to survive in the midst of the Great Depression, but it affords her with little else.

When an opportunity arises for Edna to take on an additional book delivery area, she spies a glimmer of hope that she might find a way out of Willow Hollow after all… and that she might actually make something of her life apart from the tragedy that has filled it thus far.

But the new routes give Edna more than she ever bargained for. Slowly, she finds that the mountains contain many valuable secrets – if she has the grit to meet them.

The Secret Place of Thunder is part of the Librarians of Willow Hollow multi-author novella collection. Each novella stands on its own but is connected to the others in this historical Christian fiction series set in 1930s Appalachia.

My Thoughts ||

I’ve never read this author, but I’ve been working through all the books in this series, so I’m eager to see how the final Librarian of Willow Hollow compares with the others! (Reviews for Book 2 and 3 coming soon!)
 
Fair in War (Book 8 in the Emily Abbott Series) by Perry Kirkpatrick

About the Book ||

She expected popcorn and cheap prizes--not a front row seat to crime and conspiracy...

When Brent's brother, Carter, unexpectedly arrives in Phoenix bearing important intel, Brent disappears into their world of espionage and world-saving, leaving Emily feeling left out. Telling herself she doesn't really belong in their world anyway, she determines to enjoy her afternoon at the state fair with Izzy.

But as she sees more and more familiar faces in the crowds and among the vendors, it becomes clear something more is going on.

(This is just a working blurb. Subject to change.)

My Thoughts ||

This is a favorite series of mine, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with our favorite Accidental Spy! (Click here for my review of this series!)

The Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk by Carolyn Keene

About the Book ||

A trunk that Nancy receives from her father for a trip to Buenos Aires becomes the center of a mystery.

My Thoughts ||

I love Nancy Drew books, and this is the next one in our read through! The 60’s rewrites are the best out there, as the 1930s are so feministic, and the ‘70s are just garbage. Thankfully, our library has ‘60s versions!
 
Soldier Dogs #5, #6 and 7 by Marcus Sutter

About the Books ||

Book #5: Battle of the Bulge

A loyal army of sled dog teams up with an unlikely pair of kids to help Allied forces win the Battle of the Bulge.

Boss the Alaskan Husky is parachuting into the middle of a snowstorm. As an army dog, it’s her job to bring supplies to Allied troops during the Battle of the Bulge. But when she finds a wounded sled dog and two lost kids, she knows she has to help them, too.

As the blizzard bears down, can Boss complete her mission, escape the Nazis, and get the kids out of the storm alive?

Book #6: Heroes on the Home Front

Twin siblings give their dog to the Coast Guard during WWII only to discover a German threat in their hometown.

When they hear about the Dogs for Defense program, twins Charlie and Kate know their yellow lab Buster would be a perfect soldier dog. So they enlist Buster in the Coast Guard, where he works alongside Army horseback patrols to protect US shores from German U-boat attacks.

Back home, Charlie and Kate discover a threat of their own—a coded message about a Nazi sabotage plan! With danger on every side, can Charlie, Kate, and Buster to defend US shores from the Axis Powers?

Book #7: Shipwreck on the High Seas (Blurb to come)

My Thoughts||

I love this series (Dogs, WWII, Military in general…what’s not to love??) Reviews on all three coming soon! (Click the links for reviews of Book 1, 2, 3, and 4!)
 
Captive at Kangaroo Springs by Robert Elmer

About the Book||

Book 2 in the Adventures Down Under for middle-grade readers. Bushrangers take Patrick's sister hostage, then Patrick is captured. Can they find a way to stop the bounty hunters' terrible plan?

My Thoughts||

This is the second book in The Adventures Down Under Series! Can’t wait for more Aussie culture and mystery! Will Mr. McQuaid be proven innocent this time??
 
Structuring Your Novel by K. M. Weiland

About the Book||

Is Structure the Hidden Foundation of All Successful Stories?

Why do some stories work and others don’t? The answer is structure. In this new guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will discover the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will help you to not only perfectly time your story’s major events, but will also provide you with an unerring standard to use in evaluating your novel’s pacing and progression.

I so enjoyed her last book I read that I jumped at the chance to get this one for review! Can’t wait to share the review when I finish!
 
Well, I could list many more, but I’ll just leave it there 😉
Hope you have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Okay, so I’ve never done a favorite books post, so today, I’m sharing my top 10 favorites! I’m thinking about expanding this into a genre/theme-related post in the future, so if you would like to see that, please drop us a line and let us know!

1| The Holy War by John Bunyan
This book has been at the top of my list ever since I read it. I’ve never read Pilgrim’s Progress all the way through, but I’ve heard the audio version dozens of times, but it just doesn’t compare with The Holy War. The allegory, the symbolism, the deep spiritual truths…this book is way underrated and deserves to be read and loved to pieces.
 
2| Three People by Isabella Alden
My favorite book by my favorite Author! Three People is the story of three young men from three classes of society and how the evils of alcohol have a devastating impact on each of their lives. It shows how birth status doesn’t matter; who you are on the inside is what counts. And when you have a Mighty and Righteous God fighting on your side, there is no way you can lose! An inspiring read for the whole family and one that should be shared with the world!
 
3| Let’s Roll! by Lisa Beamer
I thought I knew 9/11 before reading this book. Let’s Roll! makes it personal. The story of a young mother widowed by terrorism and the husband she loved and adored will rip your heart out. Lisa shares their life stories, showing their faith boldly and their struggles. She paints a devastatingly detailed account of Flight 93 and the heroes onboard as the vilians as well. To anyone who says our fight in the Middle East is unjustified and says they are ashamed to be an American, read this book. To those who love their country and support our troops and want a closer look at the American tragedy, read this book.
 
4| O To Be Like Thee by Kassie Angle
I will not fangirl, I will not fangirl…this book made me cry so hard. I love the military. I love the U.S. Army. And this book deepened that love tenfold…and taught me so much. People…we have no right to disrespect our troops. We have no right to ignore them. We have no right to burn the flag they fight and die for. That is not a right. That is a disgusting crime. Read this book. Wake up.
 
5| Tattered Wings by Kassie Ange
Wow, Kass, you made the list twice! This book broke my heart even more than OTBLT. Service dogs, Rangers, amputees, Law Enforement…missing someone, and not knowing who they are or why…I shouldn’t understand this book as much as I do. I literally have nothing in common with these characters…but maybe in a deeper since I do…Anyway, this book is eye-opening and needs to be read like yesterday.
 
6| Iron Scouts of the Confederacy by Lee McGiffin
A true story of the Fane brothers, novelized for today’s readers, this is a classic favorite of mine! I read this book once a year, usually, and I plan to pull it out soon! If you want to know what the War Between the States was like on a deeper level, plus learn the story of Taps, read this book. It’s from Southern POV, but please, if you support the Union, read it anyway. It really doesn’t talk about the cause of the war as much as it does the soldiers' lives. Just read it, please.
 
7| Worth Dying For by Roarke Denver
This one will need a little editing (language), but it is sooooo worth it. This needs to be read by every high school student as required reading. There are more ways to serve your country than in the military; it’s not a good fit for everyone. But just because you can’t do the military doesn’t give you an excuse not to make a difference. If you are in high school or beyond, read this book, change your ways.
 
8| Wounded Tiger by T. Martin Bennett
This book opened my eyes to a lot of things about WWII Japan. Eastern reasoning and culture is way different than Western and alarmingly so. This book showed me that while Japan was soooo wrong, the FDR administration was part of the problem. I refuse to say America because FDR does NOT represent who we are or what we stand for, thank God! Everyone has their issues, and so many things could have been avoided, but they weren’t. We were right to fight, but they have a story too. It’s essential to look at both sides. Don’t condone their sin, but learn from their mistakes. (This one is 18+, and requires minor edits for language.)
 
9| The Last Day I Remember by Andrew Klavan
This book hit me hard because it was so close to home. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone; it is super intense, and I don’t agree with everything said in the series. But seeing how a terrorist organization could overtake our great nation from the inside was disturbing and sobering. We need to stand by our Judeo Christian values. We need to fight for our country to remain great and never give in to the evil that would love to swallow us whole. And this book shows that we can still make a difference. 18+ and again, minor edits for content and mild language.
 
10| The South Was Right! By Ron and Don Kennedy
This book just makes me smile so much. And before you get turned off by the title, hear me out. This book does not say we are right because we are the South. We were right because the Founding Fathers were right. This book dives into the incatracies of why the War Between the States happened, exposes the propaganda of the era, and dives deep into the culture of the North and South, using not only Souther documents but mostly official Federal documents. It deals with myths of American Slavery, so things you might not know about Northern and Southern leaders and how all of this impacts us today. There are a couple of things I didn’t fully agree with, but overall, I recommend this book to everyone! Even if you don’t agree with the Confederacy, or even if you take issue with the Colonials, please, just give it a read with an open mind 😉 It will change your life!
 
So that’s it for today! Hope you have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello and happy Saturday! I love reading, and this summer, I’m hoping to get in a little more reading than I have been able to get lately. So I thought I would share some books with you that, to me, seem to have a pretty summer vibe to them and see how many I can get read this season! Please note, I haven’t read these books and am not endorsing them. As I finish, I hope to review them and share my thoughts.

1|| All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

This is a Vietnam story, set on the homefront. It’s a slow read, as I have already started it, but I look forward to getting further into the story.
 
2|| Escape to Murray River by Robert Elmer

I read this book years ago and just rediscovered it on Kindle! I’m looking forward to reading it again and possibly reading it aloud to my siblings! It’s a fun Irish/Australian story, which made me think of Jayne’s Endeavour!
 
3|| The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

This is a classic I’ve been wanting to read for years, but have never read in full. But this year, I want to change that! Let’s see if I can get it read!
 
 4|| Porch Swing Girl by Taylor Bennett 

This story is an Indie book that I’ve been curious about for some time. It’s set in modern-day Hawaii and sounds so fun! And the cover is so pretty!
 
5|| Bridgers by Angie Thompson

I’ve heard so much about this book, but at the same time, I know nothing about it, setting, the theme, anything, so I thought I might as well dig in blindly! I’ve read this author before 😉, so I’m greatly anticipating this story!

1|| The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw

This historical fiction chronicles the author’s mother’s life growing up in WWII Japan. I’ve heard it’s a lovely look at what life was like for the civilians of Japan and isn’t a book to try and redeem the Japanese army, so I’m eager to give it a read!
 
2|| By Paths Unknown by Rebekah A. Morris

I don’t talk about it much, but I love a good western! They are just so hard to find. So when I heard about this story by a dear author friend of mine, I decided to get a copy! I’ve had it for a few months now and just haven’t gotten to it. Time to change that!
 
3|| Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell

Okay. So first of all, this is an edited copy I received for my birthday from Kassie Angle, a close friend, and fellow author. I read a children’s edition years ago, and I am so eager to get the whole story of Operation Redwing straight from the Lone Survivor himself. So, Texas, Navy SEALs, and men ready to defend America from a terrorist? Yes, please! (Plus…I remember where I was when all of this was going on. So that makes this that much more personal to me.)
 
4|| Patriots, Redcoats, and Spies by Robert J. and Robert A. Skead

I love the American Revolution, and when I found this book at the Homeschool Bookfair a few years ago, I was eager to read it! It’s written by a father-son team and follows twin brothers and their involvement in the Culper Spy Ring. I can’t wait to read it, and its sequel!
 
5|| The Night Heroes: Cry from the Coal Mines by Dr. Bo Wagner

This is a fun little time travel story that lets you enjoy solving historical mysteries! I’m not sure what the historical period is, but it sounds fun, so we’ll see what happens!

And that’s it for today! Have a lovely week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Books and a new year just seem to go together! Today, I’m sharing 5 books that I plan to read this year…at some point anyway. Some I’ve had for a little while, others, I just got and one I haven’t bought yet, because it’s not in print yet. So, without further ado, let’s dive in! (Disclaimer: These aren’t exactly endorsements; I’ve only read a draft of one of these. So don’t take this as a recommendation until a positive review goes up 😉)

Speak Truth in Your Heart by Sarah Mally

I received this book for Christmas, and I am so excited to read it! Sarah Mally is a favorite of mine (though I wish all her stuff was King James) and I adored her book Before You Meet Prince Charming. This is her most recent book and teaches how to immerse yourself in the truths of God in order to avoid belief in the lies of the devil…even the ones you don’t realize are lies. I’ve started this one already and I’m loving it so far!
 
The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg

I read his book The Auschwitz Escape last year and enjoyed his writing style. After reviewing it, so many people told me I had to read The Last Jihad. And I just happened to have it. (Goodwill finds, y’all!) I know it’s supposed to be about the possibility of a terrorist overthrow, but other than that, I’m actually not quite sure.  So…we’ll see if I end up liking it or not 😉
 
Unbroken: Young Adult Edition by Laura Hillenbrand

Since I enjoyed the original (minus some edits…) I figure this one will be even better, since I know certain words won’t be in there and probably a few scenes as well. Looking forward to proofing this one for my siblings!
 
Through All Things by Malachi Cyr

This is a historical fiction I bought in a sale in 2018…so yeah, I need to read this. From what I read about it, it’s set about the time of the French and Indian War and may involve a character going on a search for a kidnapped younger sister and her friend. I’m thinking along the lines of Alone, Yet Not Alone, though that is another book I haven’t read…
 
Tattered Wings by Kassie Angle

I cannot wait for this book to release! I was privileged to get to beta read this book prior to final edits and let me tell you, even there it was good! I can’t wait to read the final copy…and hold it in my hands! The cover is just gorgeous too!

So that's it for today! Have a blessed Weekend!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22