Christen Krumm

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Summer Book Report

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I had every intention of doing a monthly summer book report, but the summer was way busy and I unofficially took time off from the blog … I ended up on a little bit of a reading binge (I’m going to chock it up to husband working a couple of 3rd shifts as well as summer reading challenge put on by @Lunasluckymoon on Instagram). Did you read this summer? What were your favorite reads?

Note: This post does contain affiliate links.

A Painted Summer | Amy Matayo

Loved this novella. It’s short, so I read it super fast. It’s about a former homeschooler (so, I could totally relate). I fell for the hero super fast. Overall a cute read definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something light and happy.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things | Jenny Lawson

When your brother-in-law randomly calls in the middle of the day and tells you that you have to read this book, you request from your library and read it as fast as you can. Multiple times I was laughing out loud (at so many inappropriate things). This book was super entertaining.

After You | Jojo Moyes

This is the second book in the Me Before You series. I remember reading the first book because there was so much controversy surrounding it. The second book was just ok. I still love Jojo’s writing, this story was just … okay. I am looking forward to the third book, Still Me, which I have heard is a lot better than this one.

A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L’Engle

E and I read this one together before we watched the movie. It was my first read (I know, I know). I went back and forth between “this is so weird” and “this is so good”. For the most part, I loved it. I love the messages weaved throughout. E and I both decided that we loved the book better than the movie. I so loved the messages in the movie, but the book was definitely better.

The Royal We | Heather Cocks

I’ll admit. I have been bit with the “royal” bug. I love seeing everything Meghan Markle. I grabbed this book (based loosely off of Kate and William’s story). It took me forever to get through this book (I felt like it was really long — I think it covered six years?) It was good, but not going down in my “most favorite book ever”.

Death in the Floating City | Tasha Alexander

I will always be a fan of the Lady Emily mysteries. This was the seventh one and still just as enjoyable as the first.

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess | Andrew Morton

Maybe I am a little obsessed with all things England and princess right now. I loved Meghan on Suits and now love her as the new princess.

Brazen | Penelope Bagieu

This was a super fun one. A graphic novel of such telling quick stories of women who changed history. <3

The Anomaly | Michael Rutger

I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I was going to. It was my Book of the Month club pick and pitched as X-Files meets Indiana Jones. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading. At about chapter 35, the pace finally got going for a bang of an ending.

Gone Rogue: Wires and Nerve #2 | Marissa Meyer

I will always and forever love Marissa Meyer. This graphic novel series continuing the Lunar Chronicles series is golden.

Unbreakable | Sara Ella

This was the final book in the Unblemished series. It’s a little bittersweet. I was there at the series beginning and this was a great ending to the entire thing.

The Truth Between Us | Tammy L. Gray

This was another fun, quick read. More on the chick lit side, but if you’re looking for something easy (while good) this would be your pick! You can see a full review on it here.

When Through Deep Waters | Rachelle Dekker

Rachelle Dekker is another one of those authors that I just love everything they write. When Through Deep Waters was a lot different from her first series, but I still loved it. You can see a full review on it here.

Song of a Captive Bird | Jasim Darznik

This one isn’t something I’d normally pick up, but at the recommendation from a friend requested it from the library and then promptly devoured it. This is one of the main reasons I love recommendations — they lead you to read something in a genre you wouldn’t normally read, and you’ll end up discovering new favorites.

The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon

This one I found on Instagram (via a late night scroll and discovering the author). She’s British and described this as dystopian — I was sold. It was a little different then what I generally enjoy, but oh my sweet goodness did I love love love this book. I hear there is a read-a-long going on for this series and we’re reading book two this month — can’t wait to dive in!

My Plain Jane

The Jane series. Sigh. These are such great books. My Plain Jane is the second book in the series but is completely stand alone. Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters — pure perfection.

Bolivar | Sean Rubin

This was a graphic novel I picked up in the children’s section of my library. I loved it. Apparently, there is a movie coming out based on the book — I’m so there

The Opposite of Loneliness | Marina Keegan

I’m finding that I super loving books of essays. This one was written by a Yale graduate who died a few days after graduating. Her family, friends, and professors gathered all her writings and put them in this book. I loved each short story and essay — I kinda wish there were more. Definitely worth a read!

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christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

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Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack!! (Lin Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack!! (Link in bio)
Everything I’m currently reading (not including Everything I’m currently reading (not including my kindle reads or audiobooks)

What are you reading this month?
I genuinely get so excited when new readers find A I genuinely get so excited when new readers find Atlas of Neely Spencer.

Here’s a little more about the project I’m releasing chapter by chapter on Substack: The year is 1925. Neely Spencer’s mother wants nothing more than for her three daughters to marry well. While her sisters are more than happy to conform to the expectations of society, nineteen-year-old Neely craves more. She wants adventure. For years, she, along with her father and older brother, have been researching an ancient lost city in the Amazon. When her brother goes missing while searching for this lost city, Neely, with the help of a handsome stranger, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. But, if she’s not careful, there’s a chance she might lose her heart in the process.

Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack.
Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is available now Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is available now wherever books are sold! 

📖 blurb: She just wants a nice, quiet holiday getaway. Too bad her new—and way too handsome—accidental roommate comes with an annoying dose of holiday cheer.

Successful, but writer’s blocked author Bronte Parker just needs some holiday peace and quiet to jumpstart her brutal writer’s block. Hence her rental at a quaint cottage on quiet and remote Jonathon Island. So what’s the deal with the double booking? And worse…the sudden Santa can’t leave—not with a record breaking blizzard overtaking the island. Suddenly her world is all about eggnog, Christmas movies and decking the halls with all type of distractions.

He’s a soldier who needs a merry Christmas…

After two years away, Army surgeon Jonah White is thrilled to be going home for the holidays. Too bad his parents have escaped the island for a tropical Christmas cruise, renting out their place—his home!—to a seriously uptight author. And thanks to a blizzard, he can’t even escape.

But when he discovers the author has writer’s block, well, the doctor is in. He’ll help her fix it by showing her a real Christmas—something foster kid Bronte has never had. And maybe it’s working because as surprise Santa sweeps her up in the magical Jonathon Island Christmas festivities, a new story starts to come alive inside…one where maybe a happily-ever-after could actually exist.

But is this just a holiday romance? And what happens when the blizzard ends, the air clears, and duty calls. Is the magic over?

Enjoy this enchanting Jonathon Island Christmas story about being snowed in with an unexpected hero…and taking a chance on the happy ending you never saw coming.

#christmas #grumpysunsine #sweetromance @sunrisemediagroup
✨ Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage available now ✨ Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage available now wherever books are sold! 

📖: She just wants a nice, quiet holiday getaway. Too bad her new—and way too handsome—accidental roommate comes with an annoying dose of holiday cheer.

Successful, but writer’s blocked author Bronte Parker just needs some holiday peace and quiet to jumpstart her brutal writer’s block. Hence her rental at a quaint cottage on quiet and remote Jonathon Island. So what’s the deal with the double booking? And worse…the sudden Santa can’t leave—not with a record breaking blizzard overtaking the island. Suddenly her world is all about eggnog, Christmas movies and decking the halls with all type of distractions.

He’s a soldier who needs a merry Christmas…

After two years away, Army surgeon Jonah White is thrilled to be going home for the holidays. Too bad his parents have escaped the island for a tropical Christmas cruise, renting out their place—his home!—to a seriously uptight author. And thanks to a blizzard, he can’t even escape.

But when he discovers the author has writer’s block, well, the doctor is in. He’ll help her fix it by showing her a real Christmas—something foster kid Bronte has never had. And maybe it’s working because as surprise Santa sweeps her up in the magical Jonathon Island Christmas festivities, a new story starts to come alive inside…one where maybe a happily-ever-after could actually exist.

But is this just a holiday romance? And what happens when the blizzard ends, the air clears, and duty calls. Is the magic over?

#christmasreads #christmasromance @sunrisemediagroup
📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer Read now on Substac 📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer 

Read now on Substack. (Link in bio)
📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer Read now (link in b 📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer 

Read now (link in bio)
Neely Spencer chapters dropping schedule this mont Neely Spencer chapters dropping schedule this month … yes, only one. 

While I hate not to be able to drop more this month, I have another pressing project (more later, I promise) which has caused me to need to step back (not away, just back) this month from Neely Spencer. 

I do have some fun things planned for Neely Spencer in the coming months (if I can pull it off) so stay tuned! We’re getting to the good parts!
For October - still working my way through The Fic For October - still working my way through The Fiction Formula. It’s not new or groundbreaking, but I’m really enjoying a peek behind Sean + Johnny’s process. 

And an overwhelming number of my audience told me I needed to read Bird by Bird next, so I bumped it to the top of the pile. 

Thoughts on War on Art - I liked pieces of it. Some of it I felt it was a little woo-woo. This one will stay on my shelf mostly for the whole middle part that I did like. 

What about you? Are you reading any craft books this month?
Are you ready to meet Bronte Parker? True, she m Are you ready to meet Bronte Parker? 

True, she may be a little bit of a grump, but she just wants a place to belong — for someone to love her.

Does she get her wish? You’ll just have to read Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage to find out! 

🎁 Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage now available!
Atlas of Neely Spencer is being released on Substa Atlas of Neely Spencer is being released on Substack and you can read the first ten chapters for free (cause I’m writing and releasing as I go and that’s as far as we’ve gotten!!)
About last night… @johnnyswim with the sister. About last night…
 
@johnnyswim with the sister. Good times.
It’s podcast recording day! @createexploreread It’s podcast recording day! 

@createexploreread 
@themarginswriting
I can hardly believe we’re ten chapters in with I can hardly believe we’re ten chapters in with this adventure! 

Get caught up now (it’s free!!) on Substack!!
And with that… September is wrapped. And with that… September is wrapped.
Jonah is so fun. He’s the oldest brother of four Jonah is so fun. He’s the oldest brother of four sisters, reads rom-coms (with a healthy dose of Brandon Sanderson), and has questionable sleeping habits (re: he reads too much) 

He can cook, is super smiley, and loves so big. 

Fall in love with Jonah when you read Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage! Out now!
As authors we collect negative thoughts like a squ As authors we collect negative thoughts like a squirrel gathering nuts, preparing for winter. Sometimes we have to take those thoughts and toss them like glitter in the air.
I love how every time I sit down to write, I reali I love how every time I sit down to write, I realize I have no idea what I’m doing…
I have officially signed with an agent! I am bei I have officially signed with an agent! 

I am being represented by the amazing @marydemuth of Mary DeMuth Literary Agency! I’m so excited — Mary is a dream of an agent, and I’m so blessed to be repped by her!!
When JJ emailed me after finishing Meet Me at the When JJ emailed me after finishing Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage I was floored by her sweet words! I met @jjsamiemyles at a writer’s retreat and she is the sweetest soul alive (why must she live in the other side of the world?!) She also writes amazing stories and if you haven’t picked up a JJ book, you are missing out and you should change that!!!
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Things of Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

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