Me and Coach

Living our modern day fairy tale...one adventure at a time.

The Library

I’ve often described myself as an obsessive reader.

I typically forget to wash the clothes, feed the kids, and go to sleep when I am entrenched in a great story.

For me, the library is as much a state of mind as it is a physical place.

Being surrounded by books grounds me. I find that books make a room feel strong and stable.

Each year I challenge myself to read at least one book a week, and I have an absolute blast working my way towards that magic number 52!

Following is a list of the books I’ve completed these past few years as well as links to reviews on those that I think are worth sharing. The 5-star ratings are instant favorites, as in life-altering MUST READS. The 4-star books are fabulous, and you need to read them, too. I’m glad I pushed through a 3-star, but I wouldn’t take time away from another book to read it again. A 2-star means that I would recommend you avoid it, and if anything ever comes away with only 1 star, that’ll mean I couldn’t even finish it.

OK, friends, let’s go conquer those “to be read” piles that seem to be growing all around my house!

With love and hugs,

Ashli

PS: I love learning of new books and authors via Book of the Month Club; when you use this link to join BOTM, we both receive a free book! Also, when you purchase through the Amazon links on the titles below, Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc. receives an affiliate benefit.

52 Books…2021

  1. Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas – read by Mary Jane Wells (***)
  2. Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon (****)
  3. The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George (***)
  4. Atomic Love by Jennie Fields (****)
  5. A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier (***)
  6. To Scotland with Love by Patience Griffin (***)
  7. Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman – read by Mia Barron (****)
  8. The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee – read by Jenna Lamia (****)

2020

  1. The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey (****) Read my review
  2. The Captain’s Daughter by Jennifer Delamere (***) Read my review
  3. Big Sky Secrets by Linda Lael Miller (**) Read my review
  4. A Magnolia Reunion novella by Michelle Major (***) Read my review
  5. Bending the Rules by Susan Andersen – audio by Carol Monda (**)
  6. Topics of Conversation by Miranda Popkey (*)
  7. Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason (***)
  8. A Lady for Lord Randall by Sarah Mallory (**)
  9. The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (*****)
  10. The Little Tea Shop on Main by Jodi Thomas (***)
  11. A Mistress for Major Bartlett by Annie Burrows (***) 
  12. Country Strong by Linda Lael Miller (**)
  13. Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris – audio by Brian Hutchison (****)
  14. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (****)
  15. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (****)
  16. The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman (****)
  17. The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March (***)
  18. A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott – audio by Cassandra Campbell (****)
  19. The Paris Hours by Alex George (***)
  20. Mountain Christmas Brides: Nine Novellas (***)
  21. The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs (**)
  22. Texas! Lucky by Sandra Brown (***)
  23. Texas! Chase by Sandra Brown (***)
  24. Texas! Sage by Sandra Brown (***)
  25. Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham (*****) Read my review
  26. Beloved by Toni Morrison (****)
  27. The Tattered Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter (***)
  28. What You Wish For by Katherine Center (****)
  29. Someone to Love by Mary Balogh – audio by Rosalyn Landor (***)
  30. Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh – audio by Rosalyn Landor (***)
  31. Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler (***)
  32. The Half-Stitched Amish Quilt Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter (***)
  33. The Quilter’s Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (****)
  34. Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (****)
  35. Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh – audio by Rosalyn Landor (**)
  36. Circe by Madeline Miller (***)
  37. The Girl in the Plane by Katherine Center – audio by Katherine Center (***)
  38. The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick – audio by Louisa Jane Underwood (***)
  39. The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick – audio by Nina Alvamar (**)
  40. The Lady Chosen by Stephanie Laurens – audio by Jill Tanner (**)
  41. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – read by Jim Dale (***)
  42. Temptation’s Darling by Johanna Lindsey (***)
  43. The Season by Sarah MacLean – read by Gabrielle Baker (***)
  44. The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristen Harmel (****) Read my review
  45. Just Ask: Devotions for the Coach’s Wife by Sarah Roberts (*****) Read my review
  46. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (***)
  47. This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens (***) Read my review
  48. The Duke Effect by Sophie Jordan – read by Carolyn Morris (**)
  49. Writers & Lovers by Lily King (**)
  50. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (****)
  51. Murder in Black Tie by Sara Rosett – read by  Elizabeth Klett 
  52. The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss (***)
  53. The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson – read by Susan Bennett (**)
  54. An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James – read by Susan Duerden (***)
  55. The English Wife by Lauren Willig (***)
  56. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren (***)
  57. The Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere (**)
  58. Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean – read by Justine Eyre (**)
  59. The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo – read by a full cast (*)

2019

  1. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton (*****)
  2. Double Wide by Leo W. Banks (****)
  3. The Texan Duke by Karen Ranney (****)
  4. O’Hurley Born by Nora Roberts (***)
  5. The Best Yes by Lisa Terkeurst (*****)
  6. The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler (***)
  7. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (***)
  8. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch (**)
  9. The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer (****)
  10. The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer (***)
  11. Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas (***)
  12. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (*****)
  13. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (***)
  14. Devils’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas (***)
  15. Big Sky Wedding by Linda Lael Miller (**)
  16. The Mister by E. L. James (***)
  17. Craving by Helen Hardt (**)
  18. Obsession by Helen Hardt (**)
  19. Possession by Helen Hardt (**)
  20. How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper (***)
  21. I’ll be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos (****)
  22. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson – audio by Katie Schorr (***)
  23. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (*****)
  24. GodPretty in the Tobacco Field by Kim Michelle Richardson – audio by Katie Schorr (***)
  25. The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate – audio by Abby Craden and Bahni Turpin (***)
  26. Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (****)
  27. The Watchmaker’s Daughter by C. J. Archer – audio by Emma Powell (***)
  28. The Mapmaker’s Apprentice by C. J. Archer – audio by Marian Hussey (**)
  29. The Apothecary’s Poison by C. J. Archer – audio by Marian Hussey (***)
  30. Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster – audio by Alison Larkin (**)
  31. Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster – audio by Alison Larkin (**)
  32. The Violets of March by Sarah Poi – audio by Lyssa Browne (**)
  33. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (****)
  34. Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern (***)
  35. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (****)
  36. I’ll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable (****)
  37. The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee (****)
  38. Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (***)
  39. Liar’s Bench by Kim Michelle Richardson – audio by Jorjeana Marie (**)
  40. Lone Star Cafe by Lisa Wingate – audio by Johanna Parker (**)

2018

  1. Don’t Tempt Me by Lori Foster
  2. Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries
  3. Wyoming Winter by Diana Palmer
  4. Christmas Cowboy by Diana Palmer
  5. The Obsession by Nora Roberts
  6. All I Want is You by Elizabeth Anthony
  7. Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts
  8. This Man by Jodi Ellen Malpas 
  9. Frontier Woman by Joan Johnston
  10. Middlemarch by George Eliot (audio)
  11. Morrighan by Mary Pearson
  12. The Kiss of Deception Mary Pearson
  13. The Heart of Betrayal Mary Pearson
  14. The Beauty of Darkness by Mary Pearson 
  15. The First Kiss of Spring by Emily March
  16. Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas 
  17. The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
  18. The Lady’s Command by Stephanie Laurens 
  19. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
  20. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  21. Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas
  22. Rustler’s Moon by Jodi Thomas
  23. Lone Heart Pass by Jodi Thomas
  24. Sunrise Crossing by Jodi Thomas
  25. Wild Horse Springs by Jodi Thomas
  26. Indigo Lake by Jodi Thomas
  27. Winter’s Camp by Jodi Thomas
  28. Silver Hair: A Handbook by Lorraine Massey 
  29. Wired by Julie Garwood
  30. Big Sky River by Linda Lael Miller
  31. A Christmas Affair by Jodi Thomas
  32. Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks 
  33. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
  34. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (*****)
  35. When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis
  36. All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy by Jessica Clare
  37. Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
  38. The Bride Wore Mistletoe by Christina Skye
  39. One Day in December by Josie Silver
  40. A Snow Country Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
  41. A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews
  42. A Will and a Way by Nora Roberts
  43. Local Hero by Nora Roberts

2017

  1. The Angel’s Share by J. R. Ward
  2. Once a Rancher by Linda Lael Miller
  3. Wyoming Brave by Diana Palmer
  4. The Unlikely Lady by Valerie Bowman
  5. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
  6. Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
  7. The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich
  8. Perfect Touch by Elizabeth Lowell 
  9. The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
  10. Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist
  11. The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn
  12. Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
  13. The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner
  14. The Ballad of Frankie Silver by Sharyn McCrumb
  15. Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
  16. When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
  17. Dogwood Hill by Sherryl Woods
  18. The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn
  19. Part of the Bargain by Linda Lael Miller
  20. A Wife for a Westmoreland by Brenda Jackson
  21. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier 
  22. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
  23. Devil’s Cut by J. R. Ward
  24. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  25. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
  26. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 
  27. The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries
  28. To the Duke, with Love by Amelia Grey

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