october picture book pile ♥ the cottage library

 

Happy October, kind folks!

It's that time of year when the vibes are vibing, as they say. All things cozy are making their return to the forefront of our home, and I'm so here for it. In our home, we've always seen Halloween as a fun holiday. We do spooky and mysterious and cute but no horror or terror or anything of that sort. Over the last few years, I've begun intentionally collecting picture books that I grew up with, as well as new ones that I enjoy. I've found quite a list of authors and illustrators that I love as well, so that's always fun to find one of them out in the wild. 

There are many cute Halloween storybooks out there, and I've got a few to share here today. Instead of focusing on just one book to share, I've decided to share my October picture book pile...some of these I've read and some I have not, but they're all in my pile to enjoy this month. Who said picture books were only for children? I'm convinced they can be some of the most comforting, healing books out there, especially if the illustrations are the sort you wish you could jump right into, Mary Poppins style.  

I find many of my picture books at little free libraries. And such is the case for many of the ones I'm sharing here today. I tend to go towards picture books that are a bit older...think at least 10-15 years old minimum, with a few exceptions here and there. I also love warmer, more traditional styles of art with a magical, whimsical, enchanting, imaginative angle. Lots of color and details...especially tiny details making everything feel like a wonder. Huge emphasis on home and nature and family and just the beauty of ordinary life. I think storybooks are one of the greatest foundations for instilling a sense of wonder and awakening to the beauty of ordinary days. (And serve as quite the reminder for us grown-ups.) So many newer picture books just feel so...well, modern, and that's just not really me. I also tend towards picture books where the art feels very seasonal and nostalgic...picture books today (for the most part) just lack something special, in my opinion.

I also love to collect these early reader type books...some may be considered early chapter books. I haven't read the above ones yet, but I was so drawn to them by the covers...yes, I do judge picture books by their covers. I admit. {{smiles}}

Like squirrels gather nuts for winter,

autumn signals my need to collect more books 

for the cold months ahead.

~ Jamie Davis ~

Spookley is a story that I discovered as a little girl, and this is my childhood copy. It's a sweet story, and I adore the colorful artwork throughout. Sometimes, I may not actually read through picture books word for word, but it's always fun to flip through, turning the pages slowly, and taking in the illustrations. I find them so inspiring and enchanting...so many of my imagination's musings are right there on the pages.

I always keep a list of picture books, authors, and illustrators that I want to keep my eyes open for. Collecting picture books has become a fun, delightful, whimsical hobby for me...any my stash has outgrown my first book basket and has moved to a book rack, which is nearly full, too.

I plan to share a picture book pile for each month. I know many adults, whether or not they have children, love picture books just as much as I do. I'd love to know if you have any favorite picture books or any authors or illustrators that are your favorites. I do think that adult books should have little illustrations in them more often...perhaps that'd be a good collection to share sometime...adult books with illustrations??? Hmm...my wheels are turning!

Thanks for joining me here today...

I'll be back here soon with a fun October photo diary series for the month.

Wishing you the loveliest October, dear readers!

home is where the heart is ♥ the cottage library

Welcome back, dear reader.

And welcome to a new, hopefully, weekly series I'm starting here at my cozy cottage. If you've been poking around here for any time at all, you'll quickly realize that I love books and stories. I've shared some of my favorite novels on here through the years. However, my shelves are absolutely full of books, and not just novels. I've got quite a lovely collection of coffee table books, cookbooks, garden and home books, picture books, some poetry books, craft books, and more. 

 My favorite way to grow my personal library is attending the annual library book sales. I'm fortunate to have a few libraries in my area that not only have a small shop of used books that are open year-round, but several times each year, they hold a HUGE used book sale. It is at those sales that I really have some fun! You can fill a big box for just $12, and do you know how many books you can fit into a big box? I'll tell you... A LOT! That for me is better than vacation!

I also love visiting local little free libraries, and I try to make the rounds every couple of months. I've found some real treasures in those! And as much as I love shopping for used books off my book list, there's something about going into a sale or walking up to a little free library and not knowing what you're going to find. I've found some absolutely lovely and gorgeous books in those unexpected places.

Which brings me to this new, hopefully, weekly series...my hope and plan is to go through my shelves and choose a book somewhat randomly and share it with you. Through photographs, perhaps an excerpt or two, and any other thoughts I want to share. I think it will be great fun, and I hope you'll join me for these posts. I won't be sharing any (err, many) novels in this series, as I want this to be more about those other books on my shelves. I hope you enjoy!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

To begin this new series, I thought a good place to begin would be with an absolutely gorgeous book. Back when I was a young girl, the art of Thomas Kinkade was all the rage. I even seem to recall seeing commercials on TV showing his art. Even as a little girl, I was completely enchanted by his artwork, and especially how so many of his pieces depicted homes and cottages and the beauty of those sacred places.

This book, Home is Where the Heart Is, is a sweet coffee table book. Let's take a peek inside...

Every page showcases a piece of Kinkade's art, as well as a poem or excerpt from a book or a few shorter quotes...all on the theme of home. The painting here is called "Blessings of Autumn". Can you see the little pumpkins on the front steps? {{smiles}}

Home is a comfort

And home is a light

A place to leave the darkness outside

Home is a peaceful and ever-full feeling

A place where a soul safely hides

And being at home should remind you that still

There's a place that's prepared just for you

~ Michael Card ~

This is a song! Who knew?!?! 

You should definitely go to YouTube and give it a listen...your heart and soul will thank you. ♥

(Can you see why this book jumped out at me?!?!)

A close-knit and loving home is worth more than a kingdom.

~ William Bennett ~

This painting is called "Sunday Outing".

I'm a lover and collector of quotes. I've been keeping a commonplace book for over a decade now. And I love finding new quotes that I haven't read or seen before, such as the one above. How true those words are! I know I'm happiest at home.

While I'd heard the last line of this poem, I didn't know it was part of a longer poem...and this is just part of it here. You can easily search for the entire poem online and give it a read.

The artwork throughout this book is especially inspiring...the use of color and light and the central focus of home...it all fills me with so much inspiration and imagination. I am reminded of my love of home and the value I place on that sacred haven. I am inspired and moved to continue to make my home what I want it to be. I especially love how the shifting seasons are brought to life in the different paintings...the autumnal colors in the one above, as well as the leaf pile burning in the front yard...the scent of crunchy autumn leaves and sticks burning and woodsmoke nearly comes right off the page. I also really appreciate the soft dampness on the sidewalk and how the lights are reflected there. This painting is called "Amber Afternoon".

I have never, ever come across any Miss Read mentions, much less excerpts from her books, in any other book...until this one. How lovely is this selection from No Holly for Miss Quinn?

She lay back and listened to the little domestic sounds of the old house.

The fire whispered, a log shifted at its heart, the dog snored gently after his meal.

Outside, the wind stirred the trees, and somewhere a distant door banged as the breeze caught it.

Christmas magic. Horses tied up waiting outside by a tree decked with twinkly lights. Gentle lights glowing from within the home. A wreath on the door. This painting is called "Christmas Memories".

And a rather lovely selection from L.M. Montgomery in Anne's House of Dreams.

The first glimpse of her new home was a delight to the eye and spirit...

The door of the little house opened,

and a warm glow of firelight flickered into the dusk.

How lovely are some of the lines of this poem by Edgar A. Guest...

Sittin' on the porch at night when all the tasks are done,

Just restin' there an' talkin', with my easy slippers on,

An' my shirt band thrown wide open an' my feet upon the rail,

Oh, it's then I'm at my richest, with a wealth that cannot fail;

For the scent of early roses seems to flood the evening air,

An' a throne of downright gladness is my wicker rocking chair.

The painting here is called "Hometown Memories".

This painting is called "Victorian Garden II". The very first thing I noticed is the smoke coming out of the chimney. Then, of course, all the gorgeous flowers and picket fence and lamp post...the porch and lights glowing from inside and how quaint it all feels. 

I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside one of the most beautiful books on my shelf. I absolutely love Thomas Kinkade's artwork and the words paired with his paintings in this book were sheer perfection. I hope you found some inspiration in them, too.

Until my next post, 

may your day be filled with wonder and beauty!

the letter tucked in a susan branch book . . .

 The one thing I knew I wanted for my birthday last month was to add to my growing Susan Branch book collection. My mom and sister got me a handful of her older books as well as a preorder for her upcoming winter book, which I am excitedly awaiting. When I was looking through each of the books, I came across a letter tucked inside the back of Vineyard Seasons, a letter from a father to his daughter in June 1999. This is one of the *many* reasons why I tend towards used books...sometimes you find the sweetest notes tucked inside the back flaps or even written on the inside cover. Here’s what the note said:

Dear Kristen,
How are you? I am fine. I’m tired of editing sports. Amelia is in the other room figuring pricing- and she is meeting with her girlfriend Anne and husband to walk at 4:00 pm. I think I’ll go home then too.
I had breakfast with Bill on Monday. He and Ash just got back from Costa Rica. He sounded good. I guess Monday was yesterday.
I made stewed sprouts and also I cooked cabbage and kielbasa. I have 2 jars of it. It will last all week.
This is a neat book. The lady Sue Branch is like you. I met her once. She is one of Amelia’s good friends. She lives on Martha’s Vineyard.
Anyway I thought you would like it.
Love,
Dad
P.S. I hope I’m sending it to the proper address. This is an old used book. I hope customs understands. Pop.

Little notes like this, evidence of someone’s ordinary, everyday life, tucked into a book, found 27 years later, somehow make the world seem smaller and remind me that everyone out there is just living their own little life. Reminders of the beauty tucked into ordinary days and the sweetness in small, little things. I don’t know if I’m the only one who finds things like this heartwarming, but maybe it made you smile a bit today.

stories that feel like home . . .

Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.

~ Louisa May Alcott ~

As the years go on, and as I grow...both as a person and in age, there's one thing I've come to learn about myself. And that is the absolute fact that my favorite books are the ones where the stories feel like home. When I say feel like home, what I mean is a story that feels like coming home to the place that overflows with warmth, comfort, safety, relief, familiarity, goodness, beauty, family and kindred spirits. Where you can practically smell dinner simmering away on the stove and you can hear the creak of the old staircase. Where you know you're safe and protected and you can step away from the noise of the world. The kind of story where the setting comes to life in your mind, almost as if you can step right into the page and experience it in person. A story where the characters feel like old friends and kindred spirits who you can relate to and learn from. A story where goodness lies at its heart, where beauty of ordinary life shines through, and where you know your heart and soul are going to be filled to the brim with something truly lifegiving. That's what I hope for my home to be, both for myself and my family, but also for anyone who comes through our door. But, I've come to realize that's also what I love in a story. And just because it's not always sunshine and rainbows, as is the same with life, the beauty and goodness shines through and makes a way and all is well in the end. Stories like that are the ones that I have come to realize are the ones that stick with me...and I find myself pondering them long after I return the book to my shelf.

As a teenager and young woman in my early to mid-twenties, I didn't make the best choices when it came to reading material. My choices were nearly always books with a strongly, burdensome, guilt-ridden, toxic, heavy religious bent. They did nothing to feed my soul and fill me with goodness. Instead, they stole my peace and made me question every single little thing in ways that one should never have to. They caused me many years of anxiety and a tangled web of thoughts always running through my mind. It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I made the switch to fiction. And not just any fiction, I made the conscious choice to fill my mind with fiction that wasn't heavy, dark, or depressing. I sought out books that were light and beautiful and happy. To many, those words automatically mean that a story lacks depth or realness or substance, but I beg to differ. I think and truly believe that folks would do well to stick with those sorts of books and set aside those books that are "deeper" with themes and tones that trigger anxiousness and depression and an overall dark view of life and the world. Depth can absolutely exist and be found in beauty, lightness, and happy endings. Not only that, but also in gentle, comforting, wholesome, charming stories, too. At least that's what I've found to be true.

In my fiction-reading-journey, the biggest thing I've been on the search for are stories that feel like home. Stories that are exactly what I described above; stories and characters that I can relate to and feel a connection with; stories that show and remind me that goodness and beauty do indeed still exist in this world. (I can sometimes get caught up in forgetting that.) With this post, I wanted to shine a light on a few of the stories that have come to hold a special place in my heart...stories that feel like home.

Growing up, I was very familiar with Jan Karon's Mitford series. My mom learned about them from a friend and began reading them when I was 6 or 7 years old. She collected the books as she finished one and was ready for the next. Those same books sit on my shelf today, as a few years back she gave me her set. Those books have made it around to three more friends, plus her stepmother...and every single one who read them all loved them. I grew up hearing about the characters and stories and from my mom and the ones she shared her books with all talking about how much they loved everything about them. Last November, after years of prodding from my mom, I finally picked up the first one and read it for myself. Needless to say, I was in love. It was unlike any of the other books I'd read before, as it felt like home...really and truly. It was like coming back to a part of myself and healing a piece of my heart that needed mending. The stories are heartwarming and charming and full of good, clean humor. The storytelling is gentle and comforting and wholesome. Mitford is a town that I would want to live in if I could, and its townspeople are folks I wouldn't mind having for neighbors or running into while running errands. I've since read the second book in the series and am about to begin the third soon. 

I didn't grow up with Anne Shirley. She was a kindred spirit I met right after I stepped into my twenties, and that was through the Megan Follows movie series. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I finally read my first Anne book. Several years had passed, and I returned to that same story last autumn and found so much more the second time round than I even did the first time. L.M. Montgomery created an entire world...a world that invited my grown up, adult self to reawaken my imagination, to rediscover wonder, and to cultivate a strong desire to notice the beauty right in front of me. I realized that I live in a magical land, filled with wonder and beauty and whimsy, all thanks to Lucy Maud's imaginative writing. She stirred up something within me when I met Anne. I see the world differently...my imagination has been reawakened and that's something I think every adult needs to experience. In some ways Anne and me are kindred spirits; in other ways, I find myself more of a Diana sort of girl. Either way, the characters in these stories feel like dear old friends. And so does the landscape and scenery and nature that is written about so vividly in these books. I've still just read the first Anne book, but you can be assured that I have plans to pick up the second very soon. And I'm also curious about Montgomery's other books...are they as captivating and wondrous as her books about the Anne girl?

While the stories I shared above are full series, there are some books that are standalones. Not only that, but I've realized that each of these standalones have some similar qualities about them. Each one of these makes you realize it's okay to be quirky and to be yourself. They help you realize that being normal isn't necessarily a virtue, but rather denotes a lack of courage, as Aunt Frances so wisely says in Practical Magic. As someone who has never felt like I belonged or fit in, who has always felt broken or weird in ways, and who spent my childhood being bullied by adults and children alike (and even into my adulthood, too), stories like these always feel like home...like finding a kindred spirit and a place where I can actually belong. 

Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost was one of the first books I ever read that felt like coming home. I found myself in this story; I was comforted and healed and felt seen. Not to mention, this is a story that is set in the month of October and brings all the autumnal feels and cozy vibes right off the page. Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic is a middle-grade that my sister told me I must read. I read it a few months ago, and it immediately became a favorite. Her storytelling is so captivating and her characters, though they be children, felt like kindred spirits. Where were these children when I was in school? I'd have liked to have them as my friends. Both of these books feature characters who are learning to accept their unique qualities and quirks and being okay with being different...whether that be in talents or skills, personality, or the things that make them who they are. It's funny and kind of ridiculous, but even in my thirties, I deal with insecurities and low self-esteem sometimes because I feel different than what is considered "normal"...what even is normal? I am always drawn to characters and stories (whether in books or on screen or even in song) that make me feel like I'm not the only one to experience those thoughts and feelings.  The Waverly women in First Frost and Felicity and her family in A Snicker of Magic are some of those characters for me.

Picture books are also rich with stories that feel like home and characters that feel like kindred spirits. Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge is just one example of that. These woodland folk love home and simple pleasures and family and friends. They love celebrating festivals and holidays and making an ordinary day feel magical and special. Brambly Hedge is the sort of village I would jump right into if I could. Think Mary Poppins style. {{smiles}} Their homes feel like home to me, and I am inspired by how they make havens that are so cozy, comfy, and welcoming. So yes, I have some kindred spirits who are mice.

There are others I could mention, and perhaps I'll share more in another post. And along with these fiction selections, I have a few authors who write diaries/memoirs that feel like home to me, but I'll save those for another post. The stories I shared her today are the ones that come to mind first when I ponder stories that feel like home. Jan Karon wrote that the reason she writes the stories she does is to give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary lives. That single phrase is exactly what I mean when I say "stories that feel like home". It's precisely the thing I look for in a story as well. And the wonderful thing about books is that I can find that in stories written for adults as well as for children, even in picture storybooks. I stand by the thought that a children's book that is truly well written can also be enjoyed by adults...and make them ponder things, take away something meaningful, and stir up their imagination.

I would absolutely love to hear from you...what are the books that feel like home to you?

three good reads

My first three reads of 2026 have been major wins! And I’m so happy and thankful for that!

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine was a fun, charming middle-grade mystery set in a department store. What a wonderful setting! I absolutely loved the four main characters that made up the amateur sleuthing friend group, and the storytelling felt like it was written long ago with all that old-fashioned charm and heart that too many books are lacking these days. 5 stars, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next one in the series.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 1 by Beth Brower was my official dive into the much beloved and talked about series. After hearing endless good things about it for a few years now, I decided to give it a try myself. I find a lot of hyped-up books just aren’t my cup of tea, but this one absolutely was. It was written so wonderfully…it felt like I was really reading the journal entries from a young woman back in the 1800s. It was funny and clever and just thoroughly enjoyable. I must get my hands on book two very soon! 5 stars.

Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr was another book that I’ve seen several trusted bookish folks talk about a lot over the last while. I really wanted to give it a try because it sounded so fun, but it had some fantasy elements…and I’ve never read anything like that before. Again, I wasn’t sure it would be my cup of tea…wrong was I! I absolutely, completely loved it! Edith and her family were some of my favorite things about this story…just the emphasis on family really shined through for me. And that’s a major winning factor in my book! The fantasy elements were fun, but not overwhelming, so for a newbie to the genre, like me, it was sheer perfection. Charming, mysterious, cozy, adventurous, sweet family relationships, awesome setting and descriptions, delightful storytelling and writing style…it was all there. And yes! I must get to book two soon! 5 stars!

Have you read and loved these books as much as I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts on them. And if you’ve read anything exciting so far this year, tell me about it!

reclaiming quiet ♥ quotes on tending your inner-world

A very favorite book of mine from last year, and a true stand out in general, Sarah Clarkson's Reclaiming Quiet is a gentle, kind gift for someone like me, who often feels like my inner world is loud, overwhelming, and anything but peaceful. This book offered much encouragement, wisdom, and goodness in cultivating and valuing rhythms of quiet and stillness, even in a world gone crazy. She shares on "how to move without hurry, how to look without distraction". If you've not yet picked up this book, I heartily recommend you do so...consider this me gently, but strongly, persuading you to go pick up a copy. Preferably a physical copy, so you can mark it up and underline your favorite bits as I did, and so you can return to it as often as you desire. These are some of my very favorite quotes from this gem of a book...may they encourage you as much as they did me. ♥

I don't think quiet is really about great feats so much as it is about small faithfulnesses. 

(page 13)

We are asked to shape our lives, our time, our attention by habits and rhythms radically different from the windblown fury of the broken world. This means an entirely alternate shape of life, not just the subtraction of screens and distractions but the embrace of prayer, of daily wonder, of listening, of trust, of celebration that roots us moment by moment in that deep, watchful quiet that ushers us into the presence of God...I am walking ancient paths in learning the rhythms, the habits, the steps and cadence by which I may root not just my mind but my body, my wearied senses, and my breath in the homeland of quiet.

(page 28)

If I cannot find "earth crammed with heaven" in the forced bulb growing in winter on my windowsill, I will not find it in whole fields of blossoms in abandoned, springtime wandering. I truly believe it's amidst our ordinary stuff that the divine affection cradling our lives is both revealed and enfleshed: in our fierce little acts of kindness, in our humble creations, in moments of intricate or miniature beauty or words offered like water in tiny deserts of our individual loneliness.

(page 61)

Note: Can you see how much that above quote resonated with me as I read At Home in Mitford? A novel celebrating and valuing all that is ordinary and simple and oftentimes hidden right after reading these words of wisdom and truth...I must say reading those two books together, without any forethought or realization at how much they would intertwine, was grace...and a gift. And so very beautiful. ♥

At the heart of recollection is a return to the knowledge of our origins, of God as Maker and Keeper of the whole of our being, a fact to fill us richly with a sense of our lives and the world as gift. Such quiet reminds us that we are not responsible for our own flourishing. Our lives, our healing, our survival, our joy -- all, all is gift.

(page 120)

There are many, many more sections that I could share, but these are just a taster of what this book holds...I will share more of my favorites throughout posts in the coming weeks, months, etc. My hope is that something here resonated with you, whispered to your soul, and touched your heart...if that is the case, please pick up this book. And if you've read this book (and love it as much as I do!), please let me know...I'd love to know your favorite quotes or sections or chapter and what you loved most about it. Let's chat!

Until next week,

many warm blessings to you, my dear readers!

my favorite books of 2025

As we turn the calendar to a brand new year, and as 2026 begins, it's time for a little look back at my favorite reads of 2025. Fortunately, last year I found some new (very) beloved favorites and found my belief in reading for the delight of story reiterated time and time again. I also found that books find their way to you when you're meant to read them...one particular book in particular was one that I'd picked up several times before and it just didn't fit with me...but then 2025 came round and it was a perfect fit. I read a dear favorite of mine for the third time! And found that I love it just as much as I did the first time. Nonfiction isn't my usual cup of tea, but I did have a few books jump off my shelf that I thoroughly enjoyed and loved...and still think about. Overall, it was a good reading year. I'm not one to focus heavily on numbers or stats, and I do wish I had read more than I did. But considering the year I had, I'm content with what I did read, and am also thankful that what I did read was utterly delightful.

So, without further ado, here are my TOP 10 favorite books from 2025...in no particular order, except for my top two favorites, which were tied for the golden tier.

Betsy-Tacy 

Betsy-Tacy and Tib

by Maud Hart Lovelace

(I'm counting these as one as they're from the same series, and because I'm making the rules here.)

While I had a couple of the Betsy-Tacy books growing up, I don't remember ever reading an entire one. As these stories start out when the girls are quite young (around kindergarten age), I'm very excited to see how the books and characters grow as the stories go on. I love that these books are meant to grow and mature with the reader. These are sweet stories that bring back a simplicity of life and childhood that is too often lost in our modern age...but it doesn't have to be. These are charming and rich in family and home, and I just adore them.

My Phony Valentine

by Courtney Walsh

My very favorite Courtney Walsh book to date...so far. I absolutely loved the characters in this book (Poppy and Dallas forever!), which I admit is quite unusual for me with Walsh's books. I tend to prefer her storytelling style over her characters. This was also the first one in the Hart family trilogy, and I just really loved getting to know the entire family here and there through this story. Yes, it is a romance, but it's also got so much heart and soul and family love and I just love it so much. I've still got the third Hart family novel to read...and I don't want this series to end. I love the Harts!

Mandy 

by Julie Andrews Edwards

By far one of the sweetest, most charming, heartwarming, wholesome stories I've ever read. Julie Andrews Edwards (yes! THAT Julie Andrews!) is a phenomenal storyteller, and everything about this story felt magical and enchanting and like everything a little girl's imagination could possibly dream up. And the illustrations are some of my very favorites, as well.

The Last Bookshop in London

by Madeline Martin

My first novel by Madeline Martin, but definitely not my last. Despite being set in wartime London, this book felt hopeful and lovely and beautiful. Martin's writing style was just my cup of tea, and her characters became my friends whilst reading this book. If you're like me and enjoy stories set during and around World War 2, but don't like gore and heavy tones, this is a perfect read, in my humble opinion.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

by Jeanne Birdsall

Continuing along with the dear Penderwicks family, which is a favorite fictional family of mine, this second book was a true favorite of mine. The four girls and their beloved father make for the sweetest family, and all their adventures and imaginations make for a fun read. Jeanne Birdsall writes in a way that makes it feel like this book was written many, many years ago...with all the old-fashioned charm and loveliness and home and family centeredness that is rare these days. The story, characters, writing and storytelling style...all of it is just my cup of tea.

Devotions

by Mary Oliver

I'm not a huge poetry reader, mostly because I like poetry that I can actually understand. There I said it...ha! I don't like ambiguous or hazy meanings or saying something in the most complicated, fanciful way when it could be said simply...and just as meaningfully. And Mary Oliver is just my kind of poetry writer. I love her emphasis on nature and noticing the small things and of the magic of ordinary, everyday, simple moments. I would absolutely love to find other poetry like hers...and to read more of hers, too! So yes, I do love poetry, when it's my kind of poetry. I must also say that there's something quite magical about starting your day with a Mary Oliver poem or two...or three. 

The Magic of Sea Glass

by Jenny Hale

I've read several Jenny Hale books and while I've enjoyed them all, none have stood out like this one. I absolutely, hands down, completely loved this one. The characters, Lauren and Brody (always and forever a fan of these two!), as well as the side characters (especially Mary, the innkeeper), the North Carolina coastal setting, the inn, and the story itself. It was all just perfect in my book. The romance was sweet and gentle, the story was healing and heartwarming, and the mystery and little peeks into the past made for a fun element to the story. Definitely a book that I was so sad to have come to an end...I struggled very badly after this one to find another good read. It was the perfect summer read!

Reclaiming Quiet

by Sarah Clarkson

An absolute gem of a book. The kind of book that felt like it was written by a kindred spirit...the kind of book that makes you realize you're not the only one. A cup of kindness and light...that's how I would simply describe this book. For a girl who has many times been called "the quiet girl" throughout my life, and never in a positive way, my inner world has always been as loud as a roaring lion. This is a book about tending your inner world, of cultivating your inner world in a way that feeds your soul. Sarah Clarkson and I have a good many things in common, and we differ in our opinions on a number of things as well, but most of all, this book felt like she wrote it from a true kindred spirit heart, and I feel like that really shined. I have many quotes and sections that are marked and even written out in my notebook. This is a book that I will certainly return to again and again, even just for a moment to refer to those marked passages. I highly recommend this book, especially for those of us whose inner worlds often feel loud, intrusive, heavy, and overwhelming. This is not a book about that, per say, but for me, that's what I felt and received through reading it. (Next Sunday, I hope to share a post with some of my favorite quotes and excerpts from this gem of a book.)

~ GOLDEN TIER ~

Anne of Green Gables 

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A re-read that felt like the first time. I thought I loved everything "Anne"....the Megan Follows movies, the book, the whole Avonlea world. But I didn't know just how much until I read this book again. I came to this series in my early twenties through the movies first, then I read this book in 2018...but this re-read felt even more magical than the first time. I absolutely adore the world L.M. Montgomery created in these stories, and her characters are sublime. I can't tell you how many times I stopped reading just to underline something because I loved it so much. Her writing is impeccable! I adore Anne and Diana (I do believe I'm more of a Diana myself) and their friendship, the relationship between Anne, Marilla, and Matthew, Anne's sometimes-tense relationship/friendship/enemy-ship with Gilbert, and even Mrs. Lynde grew on me throughout the book. Avonlea is a dear favorite fictional setting, and the descriptions of the changing seasons and nature's beauty made me feel, smell, taste, and see it all in my mind. Oh, yes, I'm for sure an Anne girl!

At Home in Mitford

by Jan Karon

I don't know if I could love a story more than this! I had tried picking up this book a few times in the past, and for whatever reason, I just couldn't get into it at those times. I did know, however, that I would love this book once I actually read it...and how right I was! I grew up with the Mitford books around our house and seeing my mom pass around her copies to our neighbor, a friend, and her step-mother. At eight years old, I very much knew about Father Tim and the world of Mitford...and all these years later, I am finally entering that delightful world for myself. I must say that after reading Anne and then Mitford, I was in quite a reading depression. It was very hard to get into another book, as these were just so dear to me. Jan Karon has quickly become a favorite writer of mine, as her way of weaving a story together is other-worldly and so very enchanting. I adored all of her characters, from Father Tim and Cynthia, Hal and Marge, Miss Sadie, Uncle Billy and Miss Rose, Dooley and Barnabas the dog, and all the townspeople. Mitford is just the kind of place I wish existed for real, because if it did, I would just have to visit, and perhaps live there. This is a gentle, sweet, heartwarming, delightful, moving, beautiful story that tells about the lives of ordinary people living their ordinary lives...but it truly shows the beauty and wonder in all that ordinary-ness. Jan Karon has said that she writes "to give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary lives", and that right there is why I loved this book, and her writing. It is comforting and healing, inspiring and beautiful, hope-filled and authentic, lifegiving and enchanting. I've heard people say that "nothing happens in these stories"...and that couldn't be further from the truth, in my opinion. To call ordinary living "nothing" is to say that there is no beauty or purpose in our everyday moments and goings-on. It is very much in that "nothing-ness" that our very lives happen and unfold. Jan Karon celebrates that beauty and purpose in such a way that I'm not sure can be matched...here's me excitedly waiting to pick up book two! I can hardly wait! You will, no doubt about it, be seeing me write about these books over and over again...if you haven't read this one yet, boy, what delight you have to look forward to!

As you can see, a good company of books joined me through 2025. I'm hoping and trusting that 2026 will bring about more new-favorites to be discovered, and returning to the series and stories that already captured my heart. I'd be most delighted to know what your most beloved books from last year are...so do share your list with me! And if you love any of the books I shared about here as much as I do, I'd love to hear about those, too!

Happy reading, lovely readers! May your 2026 be filled with magical stories, enchanting characters, beautiful writing, and lots of happy hours reading in your coziest and comfiest corner.

84 charing cross road ♥ the cottage library

 4.5 stars

My final read of 2025. {{smiles}}

Absolutely delightful in every way. It's kind of hard for me to "review" this as it is a book of letters and correspondence from one person to another. But I will say this, while the actual content and substance of the letters and such wasn't always relevant to me personally (I sometimes didn't "get" things or understand what was being discussed as it was often book titles that I'm not personally interested in), the essence and soul of this book is what shines brightly. The friendship between Helene and Frank, his wife, Nora, and the fellow bookshop workers at 84 Charing Cross Road is heartwarming, to put it very simply. This is the sort of book that makes you believe in the goodness of humanity again, and the reminder that friendship can be found, even when and where you least expect it. It is a book that felt nostalgic, even though it was about and written well before my time. It holds a long-lost time within its pages, and that, for me, is the sign of a good book. This is surely a book that I will return to again and again...my copy had a little handwritten note from the previous owner which said, "leaves a good taste in your mouth." And that I heartily agree with...and highly recommend reading 84 Charing Cross Road. Your heart will be warmed through and through.

december 4: a very cozy collection ♥ christmas book edition {vlog}

Hello, lovely readers! You are warmly invited to come visit me over at my little corner of YouTube for a cozy bookish chat in which I share my Christmas collection of favorites. Pour yourself a cup of something comforting, get comfy, and let's have a festive chat...

come visit me here.

May your day be a beauty!

the cottage library ♥ looking forward

 My very first Marcia Willett, but definitely not my last. I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed this book!

The writing style exuded so much warmth and coziness and was a gentle sort of storytelling. There were lots of domestic details and beautiful descriptions of the English countryside, as well as The Keep, the family home, which was a character totally on its own. With every turn of the page, you were invited to step deeper into the Chadwick family's world, and a wonderful world it is. Despite the family going through life's ups and downs, they are truly there for one another, as is The Keep...their foundation and rooted place where they all come together and comfort, encourage, challenge, and laugh and cry with one another.

With a cast of characters, this book was written in such a way that each one had their own unique storyline, and each character appeared on the page often enough so that you never forgot who was who or what was going on with that particular person. I loved that I never felt lost or confused while reading about so many characters.

I loved Fliss as an older sister so much. The way she cared for and protected Mole and Susanna was deep and sincere. Theo offered much wise encouragement and sometimes a bit of a differing opinion to Freddy, making her see things from a new perspective. And, then, of course, Freddy herself. What a wonderfully caring, loving, protective Grandmother she was. I especially loved her strength and protectiveness over her entire family. A truly inspiring character. I also adored Caroline, Ellen, and Fox, the devoted servants to the Chadwick family. Though so much more than mere servants, they were a true part of the family, and that was such a sweet aspect of the story.

Though this book went through many years (about 13), it also followed the seasons, which made for extra cozy and fun reading. I do wish, however, that there had been more detailed Christmas scenes and such. Maybe the other books in the series offer this???

This was such an easy book to read, and hard to put down. It was a comforting, healing sort of read, with bits of melancholy here and there, funny bits, and just loads of heartwarming moments. I sincerely loved this one, even more than I thought I would...and I look forward to reading the rest of the Chadwick family chronicles.

I did, however, have a few smallish caveats...which is why I rated this book 4.5 stars. Nothing too big or major, but a few things that I did note.

Possible spoilers below...none too big or major to the story, but if you don't want to know about specifics, don't read on.

Kit's loose (and lack of) morals and overall flirtatious demeanor was such an annoying aspect of the story to me. I did not like how teenage intimacy was so flippantly dealt with and not really seen to be wrong in any way. The same goes for her mother, Prue. She was quite a desperate woman, sleeping with a man who she knew had major red flags and whatnot. I didn't care for these loosie-goosy characters. Prue did mature as the story went on, but a forty-something year old woman should honestly know better.

I knew going into this book that it had a relationship in which two cousins (a male and a female) were attracted to each other and very much in love. If I had not known that, it would have been quite a shock! That was a bit too weird for my liking. There was also a small scene in which the male cousin noticed how his female cousin/love interest had matured physically and his thoughts and response to that was, in my opinion, inappropriate and perverted. Completely taking away her dignity as a person. Just didn't line up with my personal morals.

And my final "issue" was the age-gap relationship that eventually developed between Fliss and Miles. With Fliss being barely over 20 (and a teenager of around 15 when Miles first showed interest), an age-gap relationship of about 20 or so years just didn't sit well with me. I felt that Miles took advantage of her at times physically, and though he seemed nice enough, I didn't find it appropriate. Again, this just doesn't line up with my personal morals.

Overall, I loved this story, but I did have a few issues. Nothing too major and certainly not anything to hinder me from continuing on with the series. Just enough to take it from 5 stars to 4.5 for me.

What have you read recently? Do share below!

may photo journal ♥ day twenty-two ♥ bookstack

bookstack ...

“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” (Plato)

This is a post to celebrate reading and books and the stories they tell. Truth be told, for me, everyday is a little celebration of books and stories and the adventures and journeys I go on within the pages of a book. I’m an eclectic mood reader, so I never know which direction my reading life is going to take me. One day I may be solving a mystery and the next, I’m living vicariously through the pages of a book in some quirky small town in the mountains hanging out with a bunch of unique characters. I could be in England one day and pottering about the Southern coast of America the next. Reading is an adventure. It is, for me, a comfort, a companion, a delight, a necessity. I’m a physical book reader only…I need that feel of a book in my hands. I need to turn the pages, see books stacked and lined up on shelves and tables. I need to smell that unmistakable book scent. I need to feel my books in every sense of the word.

How thankful I am for books and for the authors who write the stories I love. They are magic makers, word weavers, and story tellers. I’m so thankful that I decided to delve into the world of fiction when I reluctantly tiptoed in nearly a decade ago. Now, I can’t imagine my life without stories!

The books featured in today's post are simply some of my favorites. These are pretty much all books I've talked about here many times before. But, even after all this time, when I stand in front of my bookshelves, and think about pulling a stack of my beloved favorites, these are still the ones I reach for. And, of course, now that I'm looking at these photos, I'm realizing that I forgot a few books that I really, really love. 

I could talk and write about books for days and days and days. 

But this post was just intended to be a little celebration of stories and the wonder of reading.

I'd love to hear 5 of your top favorite novels, so please share with me in the comments!

Have a wonderful weekend, lovely readers!

M A R C H ♥ book club chat & A P R I L ♥ book choice

Welcome to our March book club gathering, reader friends!

Oh, I so enjoyed this book and I'm delighted to be here today and share some of the reasons why...

This was one of those books that greatly appealed to me for several reasons. From the bookshop setting to the World War II time period to the many recommendations I'd seen online from some trusted sources, I felt fairly certain that this was a story that I'd like. (I was right!) Everything about this book was right up my alley, and I'm happy to say that it won't be my last Madeline Martin book I pick up to read. 

I adored our main character, Grace. She was a kind-hearted, genuine, sincere person whose story you were immediately drawn into. I loved how much she cared for Mrs. Weatherford, her mother's friend who had warmly invited her and her friend, Viv, to come live with her and work in London. Whilst in London, Grace gets a job at a small bookshop, with much thanks to Mrs. Weatherford. There she meets Mr. Evans, as he is the owner of Primrose Hill Books. While their relationship started out a bit rocky, as Mr. Evans was not the slightest bit keen on having an assistant working for him, I loved the way their relationship turned into a very sweet one...he became a sort of father figure that Grace had never had and the way they both protected and looked out for one another was a favorite part of the story for me.

The story was obviously set at the start of World War II, and there was much change going on during that time...rations beginning to take place, nightly blackouts, young men being sent off to train and fight, air raid sirens going off every night as people sleepily, but anxiously, made their way to the shelters, and even for Grace, taking a volunteer position many evenings with her ARP duties. I felt in many ways like I was a fly on the wall as Madeline Martin wrote so descriptively and in a way that made things real. You know, it wasn't all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, when these events in history took place, and sometimes it can seem unreal that people actually lived through such realities. This story shared those realities, and even heartbreaking events that the characters had to go through, in a way that felt approachable. I'm certain Ms. Martin did a ton of research on this time period, and yet, she didn't make it feel weighed down with historical facts...she truly told a beautifully touching story and made that time period come to life on the pages of her book. I loved her storytelling style!

And while this book did deal with heavier situations and events that come with wartime, I felt this story was well balanced with coziness, a bit of humor here and there, heartwarming moments, and plenty of English charm. I very much loved this story and couldn't put it down. I found myself each day sharing bits from what I had read and what "my characters" were up to with my mom and sister, though not giving spoilers because my sister wants to read this one very soon, too. That, for me, is a true sign that the story is one that I'm loving.

 

If you read along with me, I'd love to hear what you loved about The Last Bookshop in London. Please feel free to share a comment with your thoughts. ♥

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And now for April's book choice...

Last August, I chose The Tale of Despereaux for my book club monthly selection. This was before I made the decision to choose books that I had previously read and loved or read the month prior to the book club. That August book choice made me realize that I needed to make that change to my book club in order to ensure I chose well. You can go back to August's book club discussion post for all my thoughts, but in short, I was incredibly disturbed and disappointed by the story. I've been thinking, though, that I really want to share a true favorite middle-grade story with you all in my book club. So for April, I've chosen one my most beloved books and stories...

Because of Winn-Dixie

by Kate DiCamillo

(Yes, she also wrote Despereaux, but I can confidently assure you that this story is nothing like that disturbing, horrendous tale...this is one that will warm your heart to no end.)

This book found me when I was eleven years old, sitting in an old school room, dressed in a very uncomfortable plaid uniform skirt and button-down Oxford shirt with a sweater vest over it. I was very lonely that school year and experiencing bullies left and right, from adults and fellow students alike, and this story was my comfort and companion during those lonely school days. Shortly after, that summer, I watched the movie, and the story was brought to life. It, too, immediately became a favorite that I still adore to this day, nearly two decades later. And I am so delighted to read this story along with you in April.

About the book:

The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.

Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.

I believe this book should be quite easy to locate at your local libraries, but, as always, if you want to purchase a copy to add to your personal collection, AbeBooks is my go-to. You can check out some really great deals here.

The discussion for April's book club will be on Thursday, April 24th. And I'll also be sharing May's book choice that day as well.

I do so hope that you'll join me in reading this most charming, heartwarming story...

happy reading!