I have to admit I don’t comment very much at 5 Minutes for Books, although I do read the posts. But I really enjoy participating in this meme and sharing a little bit of what I have been reading with other people. You can join in a lot of different ways, even if you just post a picture of your actual nightstand!
I got smart this month and made myself write down my thoughts about the books I liked as soon as I finished them – and before they had to go back to the library. 
So here’s a couple of good reads I found recently:
Chronicling the lives of three sisters emigrating from Sweden to America in 1897, Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin is one of the better examples of Christian historical fiction that I have read recently. I enjoyed seeing the different personalities of the three main characters and watching them grow as they interact with the various people they meet along the way.
Of course, each of the girls meets a love interest or two along the way, and what romance doesn’t need a happy ending or three? If you’re looking for a light read and are a fan of this style, this would be a good choice.
Moving from Christian fiction to a book where the main character is not a believer but writes Christian romance novels to make money, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring. I was pleasantly surprised to find a complex story that delves deeply into the issues of healing and forgiveness and into how we can let our past hold us back from experiencing love (of any kind) in the present.
This book is a journey for both a mother and a daughter, as they each seek answers about their fathers: one for a father who was there but caused immense pain, and the other for a father she never knew, not even by name. With a strong supporting cast of characters and a writing theme, this was a very engaging book for me.
Coming up for me in the next couple of weeks:
Rex: A Mother, Her Autistic Child, and the Music that Transformed Their Lives – I was asked to review this for Thomas Nelson and love what I have read so far.
Search Engine Optimization for Dummies – I’m a complete novice and have gotten asked to take on a project at work related to this topic. I am looking forward to learning about it but not enjoying the feeling of being in over my head!
So, what’s on your nightstand?
