by Crystal Caudill | Dec 31, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s the LAST month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. (HAPPY NEW YEAR, by the way!!!! So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away.
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month:Â December – Oldest book on your TBR pile
January – Genre you don’t usually read
The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today
by Mark Twain and Charles Warner
I’ve been wanting to read this one for research purposes for a long time, but the audiobook was dauntingly long when I didn’t have much time. I’m honestly still not finished, but I’m getting close. The Gilded Age definitely has all the Mark Twain I’ve come to expect, and the intro by Mark Twain makes it clear this is a satirical piece about the times, written with a co-author. It had lots of “main” characters and storylines that all converged. It was an intriguing listen, with much of the story focusing on the con of speculation, the poverty of the time, and the pursuit of the American dream of getting rich quickly. It was a clear view of the haves and have-nots. It was a good read for one time, but it’s definitely not one of my favorite Mark Twain books. I doubt I’ll revisit it, but I’m glad I read it at least once.
Genre: Satire (Contemporary at the time, historical now)
Plot Overview:
A satirical masterpiece that named an era—and still defines our own.
First published in 1873, The Gilded Age is a bold and biting political satire co-authored by legendary American writer Mark Twain and journalist Charles Dudley Warner. Set in post–Civil War America, the novel follows the Hawkins family and a parade of lobbyists, land speculators, and corrupt politicians chasing wealth and influence in Washington, D.C. and the frontier.
More than just a historical novel, The Gilded Age offers a scathing critique of greed, government corruption, and the illusion of progress—issues that remain deeply relevant in today’s political and economic landscape. Its themes of speculative capitalism, moral compromise, and institutional decay echo powerfully in the 21st century.
Giveaway – Marti was December’s Winner!
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter widget. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 30, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s another month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away. Since this year is based on your TBR pile, I will not have a recommendations page, but I’m leaving the link here so it’s easier for me to set up NEXT year’s blog posts.
Find recommendations at Reading Challenge Recommendations, Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends Facebook group, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, or Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
Don’t forget to comment at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a book off my prize shelf. *The list of prizes from my shelf can be found here.*
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month:Â November – Award-winning book
Next Month: December – Oldest book on your TBR pile
We Three Kings: A Romance Christmas Collection
by Crystal Caudill, Cara Putman, Angela Ruth Strong
Yep, totally cheating this month because I JUST finished my draft mid-week and the first book I picked up to read during my sabbatical was a new release that I’ve been waiting for since I read the first book in the series. So I’m cheating and featuring the Christmas collection I was in with the amazing Cara Putman and Angela Ruth Strong. It really was a blessing to work with and learn from these spectacular women, and their stories were unique, and I enjoyed reading them. (Especially since they were the descendants of my characters. LOL) If you’ve read my Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series (the one with the Secret Service operatives), you’ll see Josiah Isaacs as a side character in my award-winning story “Star of Wonder.” (Y’all, winning that award still makes me cry as that award is physical representation of God’s goodess, restoration, and redeeming of a horrible horrible horrible lots of horrible years in the midst of a horrible seven years of family medical trauma. I’m not tooting my own horn, because it still blows my mind that this story would win. It doesn’t makes sense to me. But God. And I am so thankful for His working and lavishing great love on me.) Okay enough with the asides.
If you like WWII-related stories, you will ADORE Cara’s as the hero and heroine work to identify and restore art stolen by the Germans to their rightful owners, set in a bomb-stricken town where loving and serving the community brings about a new love and understanding of Christmas.
If you like rom-com with depth, Angela Ruth Strong’s story is perfect. This soon-to-be single mom is an event planner who is in need of kindness and a restoration of the Christmas spirit. Funny with depth, I love how Angela takes a hard thing and makes it beautiful.
Genre: Christmas collection spanning 1880s, Post WWII, and contemporary timelines
Plot Overview:
In this Christmas collection, Weise men still seek Jesus—and love
“Star of Wonder” by Crystal Caudill
The Christmas-themed maiden voyage of his family’s grand steamer ship was supposed to be Aldrich Weise’s chance both to instill investor confidence and to romance Celestia Isaacs. Instead, he must foil a criminal and leave his lady love behind forever.
“Beauty Bright” by Cara Putman
Lieutenant Charles Weise served as a Monuments Man after World War II and now works to restore stolen art to rightful owners. Captain Lillian Thorsen pairs up with him not only to return treasures but also to fix the war-torn lives around them.
“Perfect Light” by Angela Ruth Strong
Essential oils mogul Brendon Weise is drawn to Lacey Foster, the event planner for his huge Christmas lights festival. But when he inadvertently makes a spectacle of her on television, Lacey wants nothing to do with him. Will a chance to give gifts to those in need at Christmas be the key to discovering common ground—and maybe love?
Purchase Links:
Amazon
Giveaway
For your chance to win an e-book copy of We Three Kings or a book off my prize shelf, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Oct 31, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s another month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away. Since this year is based on your TBR pile, I will not have a recommendations page, but I’m leaving the link here so it’s easier for me to set up NEXT year’s blog posts.
Find recommendations at Reading Challenge Recommendations, Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends Facebook group, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, or Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
Don’t forget to comment at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a book off my prize shelf. *The list of prizes from my shelf can be found here.*
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month: October – Title from a favorite author
Next Month: November – Award-winning book
Gallimore
by Michelle Griep
Review by: Crystal Caudill
I’m almost caught up with my Michelle Griep backlist. I can tell that this was one of her earlier books, as it lacked some of the typical elements I’ve grown accustomed to. However, it was a fun time-travel novel that allowed me a break from the normal. I love how Gallimore dealt with grief and allowing others into your life, all with the backdrop of a realistic Medieval setting–complete with smells and perhaps less than chivalric behavior. It was fascinating how she tied the past to the present and how echoes of the past affected the future relationship of the characters. It’s a quick read, and while I would love to have a longer version with more details to fill in some of the cliffhangers that jumped to the future and build in the romance of the present-day hero and heroine, it was still an enjoyable read.
Genre: Time Travel to Medieval England
Plot:
Jessica Neale’s faith is lost the day of her husband’s death, and with it, her belief in love. In a journey to find peace, she encounters a gentle, green-eyed stranger who leads her to the ruins of the medieval castle, Gallimore.
On his way to battle, Colwyn Haukswyrth, knight of Gallimore, comes face to face with a storm the likes of which he’s never seen, and a woman in the midst of it who claims to live centuries in the future. The Lady Jessica of Neale is an irksome, provoking bit of woman to be sure. And she’s about to turn his beliefs on end.
The product of a family rooted in pain and evil, Colwyn has focused on naught but himself—until Jessica. To a mysterious prophecy stitched on a tapestry, through the invasion of Gallimore itself, Colwyn and Jessica are bound together by a lesson in forgiveness and love—a bond that might be strong enough to survive the grave.
Author Website: https://michellegriep.com/
Purchase Link: Amazon | Â Barnes & Noble
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. You MUST comment on this blog post or your entry with be disqualified. Use the KingSumo App for your entry. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
*Note: I am using a new platform. KingSumo will also send you an email (check SPAM/Promotions) from Crystal Caudill that will ask you to confirm your email. I think you HAVE to hit confirm in that email for the entry to count. I will NOT be signing you up for any newsletters, etc. This is PURELY for the entry method and required by KingSumo and not me. I’m doing the best I can with what I’ve got. We’ll see how this goes . . . Thanks for your patience as I try to figure out how to move forward with options that don’t cost me an arm and a leg now that Rafflecopter shut down and Gleam ended up too expensive.
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 30, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s another month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away. Since this year is based on your TBR pile, I will not have a recommendations page, but I’m leaving the link here so it’s easier for me to set up NEXT year’s blog posts.
Find recommendations at Reading Challenge Recommendations, Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends Facebook group, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, or Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
Don’t forget to comment at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a book off my prize shelf. *The list of prizes from my shelf can be found here.*
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month: September – New to you author
Next Month: October – Title from a favorite author
Their Burden to Bear
by Heather Tabors
Review by:Â
So I’m totally cheating on this one. I read this one for endorsement, and since I’ve been hitting my book hard, I haven’t read anything else. So here is your chance to jump in on a debut author’s book and preorder it so you get it before everyone else realizes how wonderful it is.
It’s hard to put into so few words why you should read Their Burden to Bear, but here I go. Books set after 1900 aren’t usually my thing, especially those connected to World War I or World War II, however Their Burden to Bear captivated my imagination from the first page. How had I never heard the history of the men who carried the Unknown Soldier to his final resting place? I’d always humbly respected and was thankful for the Unknown Soldier and all he represented, but after reading this book, I have a new appreciation and reverence for the men he represents. Then to read the perspective of one soldier as he not only is one of the chosen to bear the burden of carrying this unknown soldier to his resting place, but also his struggle to return to a normal life for himself was truly an experience I would recommend everyone read. I’ve always known that the men who served in either World War were known to be very quiet about their experiences, and Phillip’s realization that he can let Elsie in without sharing all the details was not only huge for him but for me in understanding the struggle they faced in letting those they loved in to the scars the war left behind.
I’m a huge history person, so you know that’s where my first love for a story goes, but this story had more than just an eye-opening and deeply researched history. The romance between Elsie and Phillip was realistic with the struggles both of them faced, was sweet, and had me rooting for them as they overcame every little and big obstacle that overtook them. It was a love born out of circumstances and need, but it was beautiful and satisfying. There were even surprise elements of danger that kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed.
If you have any desire to understand an often overlooked portion of history as well as the struggles of the men who served not just our country but the world, you need to pick up Their Burden to Bear.
“With rich historical details, a romance that is hard-won and beautiful, and unexpected twists, Taber has penned a debut novel that will leave you sitting not only in awe of her story-telling, but also in awe of the brave soldiers her story represents. Their Burden to Bear will leave you with a new and profound reverence for and understanding of the men who are represented by the Unknown Soldier and the men who served along those who never made it home and still remain unknown. This story will leave an indelible mark on you, and you don’t want to miss it.” – Crystal Caudill, Christy Award-Winning author and author of Written in Secret
Genre: Historical Romance
Plot:
Washington, D.C., 1921—In the shadow of Arlington National Cemetery, Elsie St. Clair yearns for her father’s approval and a love to call her own. When she’s selected as a companion to Phillip Pierce, a decorated Marine chosen to bear the Unknown Soldier to rest, she sees her chance to finally make her widowed father proud. But beneath Phillip’s decorated uniform lies a man haunted by the horrors of Belleau Wood—a hero whose most grievous wounds are invisible to the eye. As Elsie’s own scars from her father’s emotional abuse surface, she recognizes in Phillip a kindred spirit burdened by life’s cruelties. Meanwhile, the ambitious Lavinia, determined to claim Phillip for herself, strives to destroy their relationship in any way she can.
When her father’s abuse escalates, Phillip offers marriage as protection—a convenient arrangement with clear boundaries to shield her from harm and him from attachment. As they care for Elsie’s orphaned nephew together, what begins as a practical union slowly transforms into something deeper. But their fragile connection is threatened when Elsie stumbles upon mysterious ledgers and hidden documents that suggest her father is involved in something sinister. As Elsie fights for the love Phillip is hesitant to give, an anonymous blackmailer uncovers a secret from his past that could destroy everything he’s built—including his budding relationship with Elsie.
In a time when battle trauma was misunderstood and hearts were expected to silently endure, Elsie and Phillip must decide if they’re brave enough to lay down their defenses and share not just their burdens, but their love. With dangerous men closing in, mysterious connections to the Spanish embassy emerging, and secrets threatening to destroy them, they discover that our heaviest burdens were never meant to be carried alone. Set against the solemn backdrop of America honoring its fallen warriors, their journey proves that the most profound acts of courage often happen far from the battlefield, in the quiet surrender of a wounded heart.
Author Website: https://heathertabers.com/
Purchase Link: Amazon |Â Barnes & Noble
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Use the Gleam Widget below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced on the Gleam widget. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
September 2025 Reading Challenge
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 1, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s another month of our challenge: Tackle Your TBR Pile. So go dig through that stack taller than you of books you’ve been meaning to read and start reading away. Since this year is based on your TBR pile, I will not have a recommendations page, but I’m leaving the link here so it’s easier for me to set up NEXT year’s blog posts.
Find recommendations at Reading Challenge Recommendations, Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends Facebook group, Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, or Inspirational Historical Fiction Index.
Don’t forget to comment at the bottom of the post for your chance to win a book off my prize shelf. *The list of prizes from my shelf can be found here.*
Reading Challenge 2025: Tackle the TBR Pile
If you’re anything like me, you have a TBR pile that is bigger than you can hope to read in a lifetime. This is the year we’re going to try an tackle at least twelve of those books. Head to your shelves and find books that fit each month’s challenge.
This Month:Â August – Book published before 2020
Next Month: September – New to you author
October – Title from a favorite author
November – Award-winning book
December – Oldest book on your TBR pile
The Bartered Bride
by Erica Vetsch
2009 – original, 2025 – rerelease REVIEW
I’ve always enjoyed Erica’s books, and it’s nice to go back and read her backlist. This story was a real quick read, full of wonderful historical detail, a forced marriage story I could get on board with, and strong-willed characters. I truly enjoyed reading Jonathan and Melissa’s story. I loved seeing them come together, was sort of annoyed by the taking something out of context over-hearing breakup (but it fit the story), but loved how things came back together in a healthy relationship way. I’m definitely looking forward to finishing the rest of the rereleased series after I finish drafting my current work in progress.
Genre: Historical Romance, American 1900s
Plot Overview:
A rebellious suffragette and a steadfast sailor—tied by duty, divided by secrets, and tempted by a love that changes everything.
A born sailor, Jonathan Kennebrae thrives in his role running his grandfather’s shipping enterprise. That is until his grandfather delivers a crippling ultimatum—Jonathan will marry Melissa Brooke or lose his inheritance and everything he’s worked for. Though Jonathan finds himself drawn to Melissa, he can’t help feeling his intended may not be who she appears to be.
Melissa Brooke is tired of being voiceless. She’s been the perfect daughter all her life, doing what she’s told for the good of the family. Except she has a secret. Melissa lives a double life, teaching literacy to struggling immigrant women and fighting for the suffragette movement. If she goes through with the wedding, she’ll be forced to abandon her life’s work. Yet refusing the union could cost her any chance at an inheritance to fund her cause. To make matters worse, she can’t deny the tender feelings blooming between her and her fiancé.
Originally published as part of the Kennebrae Brides series.
Purchase Links:
Amazon
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month. Use the Gleam Widget below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter widget. *Giveaway Policies can be found here.
August 2025 Reading Challenge
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
