Ever since I saw the title of Julie Klassen's Regency novel, The Painter's Daughter, I've been anxiously waiting for its release! I am The Artist Librarian, after all ...  

Title: The Painter's Daughter
Author: Julie Klassen
Published: 2015 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Book:

Sophie Dupont assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. In private, she paints the picturesque north Devon coast, popular with artists--including handsome Wesley Overtree, who seems more interested in Sophie than the landscape.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother Wesley's responsibilities. Near the end of his leave, he is sent to find his brother and bring him home. Upon reaching Devonshire, however, Stephen is stunned to learn Wesley has sailed for Italy and left his host's daughter in serious trouble.

Stephen feels duty-bound to act, and strangely protective of the young lady, who somehow seems familiar. Wanting to make some recompense for his own past failings as well as his brother's, Stephen proposes to Miss Dupont. He does not offer love, but marriage "in name only" to save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he fears, she will at least be a respectable widow.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie finds herself torn between her first love and this brooding man she barely knows. Dare she wait for Wesley to return? Or should she elope with the captain and pray she doesn't come to regret it?

The Artist Librarian Review:
Julie Klassen is one of my favorite authors writing Regency fiction today.  Klassen's latest novel, The Painter's Daughter, is a story of the two very different Overstreet brothers and the young woman torn between them.  A marriage of convenience, and a love triangle of sorts, tinged with sibling rivalry, sets this story (Klassen's 10th published novel) apart from her previous work.

One of the most enjoyable parts for me was the art aspect.  Having an art background myself, I loved seeing little details I recall learning from my art history courses and studio classes come to life on the pages of Klassen's novels.  From the role of women in the art world to the reputation of art models or the creation of paint or stretching canvas, I don't recall anything off or out of place.  Klassen gives enough details that you can get a picture of the scenes without getting mired with minutiae.  Sophie, the protagonist and titular painter's daughter, has a believable, historically accurate role as a background painter and assistant to her father.

This novel felt like it was a bit higher on the drama than some of Klassen's previous works --there are a couple of climaxes and plot twists that almost felt like they were from a Julie Lessman novel.  I still haven't decided how I feel about those, but they did keep me turning pages late into the night, so I guess that's a good thing!  I didn't feel like the romance was any more intense than her previous books, but maybe a couple more innuendos if anything (it is a marriage of convenience story).  I think Klassen fans and Regency romance lovers will definitely want to give this uniquely set story a look.

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

About the Author:

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her books, The Silent Governess, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for genre fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award, and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards and ACFW's Carol Awards. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.

Do you know of any art-themed or "art in fiction" titles you'd suggest?  Do you enjoy Regency novels?  Let's talk!

I first "met" Pepper D. Basham on the Seekerville writing blog, so it's neat to see her go from aspiring to published author!  When fellow librarian, Sydney from Singing Librarian Books announced this blog tour, I knew I had to apply to be a reviewer.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post for a chance to win The Thorn Bearer!

Series: Penned in Time
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Romance, Christian
Published: May 7, 2015 by Vinspire Publishing, LLC
Number of pages: 362

Other books in the series:
The Thorn Keeper (Book 2 coming February 2016)
The Thorn Healer (Book 3 coming TBD)



About the Book:

When Ashleigh Dougall’s fiancé leaves her eight months before their wedding, the unexpected blow ignites a battalion of insecurities stemming from her father’s intimate betrayal. In an attempt to escape her shame, Ashleigh boards the ill-fated Lusitania to cross the war-torn waters of Europe. Much to her dismay, she isn’t traveling alone.

Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to help his childhood friend, Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and companionship as she ventures across a perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in the love of his childhood friend. Neither are prepared for the life-altering and heart-breaking journey of their friendship.

Pepper D. Basham's debut novel has arrived at the perfect time.  Thanks to the television series, Downton Abbey, there's been so much more interest in World War I and the early 20th century.  Published exactly 100 years after the sinking of the Lusitania, The Thorn Bearer blends real-life events with unique characters, plot twists, and drama that would make Julie Lessman proud!
  
Believe me, I'm not exaggerating!  The tension between Ashleigh and her sister Catherine reminded me of Lessman's O'Connor sisters.  If you can get me to feel very ... strongly ... about your characters (and then get me to like a character I hated), then in my book, you've got great characterization skills.  The only criticism I have is that the climax conflict between the two romantic leads could have easily been solved if they'd bothered to clarify and not assume (so many assumptions!) but that type of conflict is normal in a romance novel, so while it did annoy me, it's also proof that by then I was invested: I cared about these characters!

Though seeing names like "Ashleigh" or "Jessica" seemed a bit too modern for the age of the characters (who would have been born before the turn of the 20th century), other historical details of daily life helped me immerse myself in the novel.  And the metamorphosis and growth of other side characters made me wish I was able to get in on The Thorn Keeper's blog tour!  I'll certainly be following Pepper D. Basham's future work  If you like to read stories with strong interpersonal conflict (drama!) and tension that leads to satisfying endings (or are just suffering Downton Abbey withdrawal), Basham's novels might be a good choice!

Be sure to keep reading for an exclusive interview with Pepper below!

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book as a participant of Singing Librarian Books' blog tour for review purposes.]

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley.

Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, with the second arriving in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in spring 2016.

Connect with Pepper through her website: www.pepperdbasham.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,  Goodreads, or Amazon Author Page.

Congrats on your publishing debut, Pepper!  What inspired you to write this novel?

Several things converged to inspire this novel. I'd already gotten the idea of a heroine who suffered from the dark betrayal of sexual abuse, but other than that - I was kind of flailing around in the water of story creating until.... I discovered a book at yard sale about the ill-fated Lusitania. For some reason, the turmoil of that ship's last voyage and the inner turmoil of my heroine bound together to create this book. :-)

I appreciated the internal struggle Ashleigh faced due to her past abuse; dealing with something like that is never clear-cut, so it felt more authentic ... I love yard sales, so the fact that "your find" was also a story idea made me smile!

Historicals generally have some research involved in their creation. What is the most interesting thing you learned while researching for this novel?

Most things about the lesser-known Lusitania, were interesting. Alfred Vanderbilt, cousin to the Vanderbilts of Asheville, NC who built the Biltmore House, died during the sinking.

Can you talk about the book cover design process for you as an author? How much input did you have into the final design (if any)?

Well, I filled out a 'cover information sheet' in the beginning with info like what 'colors' I imagined for this book, important aspects that might be noteworthy to include visually, what the characters looked like, etc. Once the cover draft came, it was so lovely there were very few suggestions I had.

I'm in love with Ashleigh's gown on the cover ... I think it's especially well designed for an "indie publisher" --they did a great job!  Since I had an "Art" question, I should ask a "Librarian" question ... LOL. Why should people read fiction? Why do you write fiction?

God loves story. It's pretty evident in the fact that he placed His Word in print so it could transform the lives of His kids, but within that He uses story to tell truths, communicate comfort, and inspire his people. Though the Bible is not fiction, Jesus used parables to share Big truths in everyday ways. I think fiction does that for us. We are created as beings with imaginations, who naturally reach out to touch other people's lives. Stories are a wonderful medium to combine both - and that's why I write. I believe God's called me to use stories to touch lives and show His grace. 

Well said!  Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Pepper! To learn more about Pepper's life as an author, check out this short video:


Do you have a favorite novel set during the early 20th century?  Want to congratulate Pepper on her debut?  Feel free to comment below!

Wow, I'm feeling way too accomplished for finishing this, but it was a lot of fun!  I saw Ally from The Scribbling Sprite participate in this book survey and I had to try it out!  Survey created by Jamie @ Perpetual Page Turner. See her original post for the link-up!  Most of the links below are my reviews of the book titles.

2015 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 141 (80 books/novels, 61 comic books/graphic novels), not counting picture books.
Number of Re-Reads: Er, I didn't really count this year ... I'd guess around maybe 5?  I also read 14 Attack on Titan manga twice.
Genre You Read The Most From: According to Goodreads, it's Dystopian, but half of that was the 20+ Attack on Titan manga and tie-in series. ;-)

Best In Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2015? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2015 release vs. backlist)
--I don't have to to cheat!  As a soon-to-be-librarian who adores historicals, Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden (an academic librarian by day, award-winning author by night) was definitely my top pick of the year!

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? 
--Wayne Thomas Batson's Dreamtreader trilogy.  WTB was one of the first "new" (i.e. not C.S. Lewis or Tolkien) Christian fantasy authors I discovered in high school.  I hadn't kept up with his books recently, so when the opportunity to review the last book in his new trilogy came up, I jumped at the chance to read them.  As I wrote in my review, it's a good middle grade Christian fantasy series.  However, I think maybe I've outgrown WTB or my expectations were too high ... I didn't love the books as much as I wanted to or thought I would.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
--It's a toss up between Nadine Brandes' A Time to Die (I can't believe what she did in the middle of, and at the end of the book!) or Jennifer A. Nielsen's The False Prince (maybe some will think the climax revelation cheap.  I almost felt betrayed for a moment, but I didn't realize it was happening until it was).


4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? 
--I don't know anyone read them because of me, but the books I recommended the most this year was The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.  The books I posted the most about were probably Dina L. Sleiman's Valiant Hearts novels or Nadine Brandes' Out of Time books, since I was fortunate to be invited to these awesome authors' book launch teams.



5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015? 
--I'm going to be super technical and not count trilogies, so I'll say Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series.  She alone has made me want to read more Contemporary Christian fiction.  Her characters are authentic, unperfect, and relateable ...
--Best sequel ... I'm sounding like a broken record, but A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes. Attack on Titan, Vol. 2 is a close second because of what happens in it ... *no spoilers* Seeing episode 8 of the anime blew my mind and prompted me to read the rest of the manga ('cause couldn't wait watching 1 episode a week on Cartoon Network)!  =P
--Best series ender was definitely Winter by Marissa Meyer.  It took awhile to get there, but I think I needed all 800+ pages to say goodbye to those characters.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015? 
--I'll point to my Top 10 New-to-Me Authors of 2015 post, but I'll name Rachelle Dekker, since I'm ashamed to say I forgot to add her to that list.  Great YA dystopian debut with The Choosing --so much potential in this trilogy ... interested to see how it goes.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone? 
--The best book I read that was out of my comfort zone was Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher.  If they weren't required reading for my Books & Media for Teens course, I probably would never have read these general market YA novels because the storylines didn't sound appealing to me, but as modern YA classics, they're good to know about and they're good discussion opportunities.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
--I'm going to give this one to the Attack on Titan manga.  I borrowed volumes 1-14 from the library and I spent literally the whole night reading them until 3-4am and then freaked myself out when going upstairs to sleep ... Titans are scary.  ;-)

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
--The Attack on Titan Guidebook, in preparation/research for a Survey Corps uniform cosplay (Mikasa Ackerman, Sasha Braus, or Zoe Hanji?) ... maybe.  I couldn't write a review for Beyond All Dreams (Elizabeth Camden) without gushing uncontrollably, so I do want to reread and write a proper review this year.


10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
Dauntless - Medieval era heroine armed with bow and arrow ... 'nuff said.
Batgirl of Burnside, Vol. 1 - Batgirl's costume re-design is perfect!  Love the practical and utilitarian design. 
Attack on Titan, Vol. 13 - Hajime Isayama isn't the best manga artist but this is my favorite cover of his.  My crew look so "badass" and epic ...  Please no one else dies ... ;-)  <3

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
--Beyond All Dreams was just like a love letter to librarians, librarianship, and art, so I just ... that one for me was the most beautiful. 
Also, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman comes to mind.  Even though written in the 21st century, it had a really classic, British children's book feel, like it was timeless, despite the references to cell phones and such which clearly date it as modern.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015? 
 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High.  A required reading for my Library Management course, but it emphasized several concepts that I think are important for communications.  It's not a perfect book, but a lot of interesting things to think about and consider when dealing with conflict.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
--Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and The Giver by Lois Lowry.  I'm actually glad I didn't read these in middle or high school because I think I got more out of them as an adult ... but yeah, chalk these up to LIS books & media class required readings.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015? 
--Luke Callahan has an amazing scene in chapter 8 of Beyond All Dreams where he's encouraging his young nephew, an aspiring artist.  As an artist and creative myself, I found the whole chapter beautiful, but here's just a brief portion:

If you don't make it as a painter, funnel that passion into something else, but it doesn't have to die.  Do you think I would have turned that old boxcar into a traveling library if I hadn't been in love with poetry?  My love of poetry was a gift from God.  So is your passion for art, even though we don't know yet what form it will take.  If you don't make it as a painter, perhaps you'll be a great teacher.  Or a museum curator.  Maybe you'll become a rich industrialist and fund a museum.  Just don't limit yourself by thinking you already know God's purpose for you.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
--Shortest books were the picture books I read for LIS classes or preschool storytime at the library.  The longest book was Winter by Marissa Meyer at 824 pages.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
--Nadine Brandes' A Time to Die and A Time to Speak win this for sure ... all of the above while reading her books!  ;-)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar) 
I probably shouldn't admit this, but I'm Team Eremika:  That is, 'shipping Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan.  I love this pairing!  They have so much ... history together, I just can't see them with anyone else.  In real life, I might have some issues with their relationship (they're the points critics of this 'ship usually bring up), but I think they have the potential to really compliment and support each other (think what was "Everlark" in The Hunger Games trilogy).  But sometimes, I don't know why I even bother since I'm pretty sure romantic relationships aren't at the forefront of creator Hajime Isayama's mind (this is a shonen/action/"boys" manga, after all --romance isn't the focus).  There are little hints in the manga and anime, but they're not a couple yet (at the very least, there's a strong bond of friendship).  In all honesty, I probably wouldn't even be in this borderline horror?/dystopian fandom without this 'ship.  =P

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year 
--Trevn-Sar Hadar and Hinckdan (Hinck) Faluk, Prince Trevn was hands down my favorite character in Darkness Reigns, the part 1 e-book of Jill Williamson's new epic fantasy series, and his close bond of friendship with Hinck, his backman (and I guess, wingman) just makes me smile.  

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
--Beyond All Dreams and With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
--Ender's Game.  For a presentation, I had to read a minimum of two books from a Margaret A. Edwards award-winning author for my Books and Media for Teens class. I couldn't decide between Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising sequence) and Orson Scott Card --After talking to my classmates, polling my friends on Facebook, and talking to a school librarian, I ended up choosing Card.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015? 
--Ooh ... snap, too many.   Uhm, the guys from The Lunar Chronicles probably won't count because it says "newest" ... so, I'll narrow it down to Luke Callahan (especially with a very romantic, sweet, swoon-worthy gesture/scene near the end of Beyond All Dreams), Jude and Hawke from Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy (in the words of Megara, "I won't say I'm in love," but ... *yeah*), and Kael from Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe (I must know more about this angsty elf! LOL). ;-)

23. Best 2015 debut you read?
--As one of the only true debuts I read, The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker.


24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
--Nälu (J.L. Mbewe's Secret's Kept, Collum & the Darkwater forest (Patrick W. Carr's The Darkwater Saga), and the United States of the East/post-apocalyptic North America (Out of Time trilogy).

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
--Princess Ugg, Vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh (a princess from a viking-esque tribe is sent to be educated in a refined princess academy) & Kristy's Big Idea by Ann M. Martin, adapted by Raina Telgemeier (this Baby-Sitters' Club graphic novel was a nostalgia trip; a very well done adaptation).  Also Your Lefthanded Child by Lauren Milsom --even as a lefty, this was an eye-opener in a "that kind of makes sense" way ... =P 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
Probably A Time to Die and A Time to Speak.  Nadine Brandes, your books are emotional roller coasters --just sayin'. ;-)

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Because I don't normally read indies, Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe, but the librarianship-focused, Cosplay in Libraries: How to Embrace Costume Play in Your Library by Ellyssa Kroski, is a close second.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
--Nadine Brandes' Out of Time books.  Both of them.  Crushed in a good way, but ... my heart/soul. =P

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
--Meanwhile by Jason Shiga --sort of a "chose your own adventure story" but crazier.  You have never read a graphic novel like this one. 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
--A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes.  I love the book, but that certain character ... oh, I was so mad.  ;-)

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

• Dreaming Under the Same Moon Rissi's one of the most prolific bloggers I "know" --she and her book/media review blog is such an inspiration (wanna be a blogger like you when I grow up)!  ;-)
• Britt the Book Nerd is a fellow LIS/Library & Information Science student (a.k.a. future librarian). ^_^

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?
--Hmm ... probably "Smart & Sassy in All the Right Ways" (Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell)
 or my manga/anime/fandom review of Attack on Titan.  My favorite more "professionally written" review was something like "A Shockingly Good Fantasy" (The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr).

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
--One of the most popular (and personal) posts I wrote this year was "And They Said Speak Now: In Defense of Christian Romance", but my favorite non-review post I wrote this year was my "Dream Bookish Cosplays" for Top Tuesday.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
--The opportunity to attend the American Library Association's Annual Conference (ALAac15) this summer was the best book-related event for sure!  For online or virtual events, the most amazingly organized and interactive launch team I've ever been part of was for Nadine Brandes' A Time to Speak --I met so many new book blogging friends through that!  A close second was being invited to be one of the hosts for Seekverville's Rockin' New Year's Eve blog party! 3,252 comments on one blog post I have never seen!  =)

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015? 
--One of the best bookish life moments of the year was experiencing the Exhibit Hall at ALAac15 and also the "Young Gotham" panel there, where I briefly met the main writers and artists of Gotham Academy, Batgirl (of Burnside), and Grayson.  It felt like I was at a huge Comic Con(vention). ^_^

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year? 
--Posting consistently.  I know you can schedule posts ahead, but between school, work, family, and more ... life happens.  Definitely going to try and co-ordinate better once summer comes! 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
--According to Blogger, my top three posts are:

• "Dauntless Inspirations" (A Guest Post by author Dina Sleiman about her YA medieval novel, Dauntless).
• "Dragons: Race to the Edge (of Excitement)!" - A fandom post on the then-forthcoming Netflix series based on the How to Train Your Dragon film series.
• Finally, my "In Defense of Christian Romance" post mentioned earlier.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

• "Animation Awards Season" (A look at the Oscar nominees for best animated feature film w/ videos!)
• My interview with dystopian YA author, Nadine Brandes (It was published on Star Wars Reads Day! Which of course, has nothing to do with dystopia, but ...) ;-)
• "Valiant Hearts MBTI with Dina Sleiman" (I customized MBTI graphics for this post and was a little disappointed more people didn't check post out, I mean, who doesn't like Myers-Briggs Type Indicators?)  =P

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

• Cosplay, Comics, and Geek Culture in Libraries - A website created by an academic librarian/cosplayer Ellyssa Kroski, it's a treasure trove of information for librarians looking to incorporate fandom into their libraries.  Many contributing librarians write articles on programming, geeky arts & crafts, fandom, cosplay, book/media reviews, fandom life, and more!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
--I met my reading goal of 100 books for 2015.  More details in My Year of Books According to Goodreads 2015.

Looking Ahead 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?
--Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas ... I don't know if it's my #1 priority, but it's part of a series I'm absolutely curious about, with all the hubbub about them.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?
--A Time to Rise, the 3rd book in Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy! 

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
-- Currently, Curio by Evangeline Denmark, which was released earlier this month!

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
--Nadine Brandes' A Time to Rise for series ending (Out of Time #3). For sequel, The Calling (book #2 of The Seer trilogy/series?) by Rachelle Dekker.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?
--My first Top Ten of the month was all about my Bookish and Blogging Goals for 2016, but the main thing I want to do is add all my cosplay and costumes (with breakdowns and "making of"/walkthrough posts) to my blog.

6. A 2016 Release I’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I haven't read a 2016 release yet!

Whew!  If you've read all that, you deserve virtual brownie points!  So what do you think?  #QOTD: Feel free to answer one or a few of these questions in the comments, or if you've participated in the survey, I'd love to see your post! 

I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions, but that's sort of the theme of The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday this week.  Since I do have some book and blogging goals for this year, I decided to feature them here, so in no particular order ...

(c.) 2016 The Artist Librarian - Bookish & Blogging Resolutions for 2016.

Bookish Goals:

1.  Overall Reading Goal: 125 Books
--I want to up 2015's goal of 100 books.  Last year, I started counting everything: novels/books and comic books/graphic novels to my Goodreads Reading Challenge, but kept a personal goal of 50 novels, which I achieved.  This year, I'm aiming at 55 books minimum, but once I graduate from library school this spring, I'll re-evaluate and see if I can afford to bump that goal higher!

2.  Read more from my own "stacks"
--I have a shelf doubled up with books I own and haven't read yet (and probably more around the rest of my room).  I keep meaning to get to them ... I'd like to get at least of quarter of them read this year.

3. Finish up the old Star Wars Expanded Universe books and catch up with new Star Wars publishing
--The Bad: the previously published Star Wars "EU" novels have been rebranded "Star Wars Legends" so all the books and most of the characters that made this fangirl fall in love with Star Wars isn't part of the official timeline anymore (thanks, Star Wars: The Force Awakens). =/

The Good: Since the Disney buyout, every Star Wars novel published since September 2014 is part of the official timeline and is actively being integrated with the films and tv shows.  Previously, info/storylines/characters, etc. from the books could be dismissed if they contradicted the films or tv shows. 

The Point: I had read nearly every Star Wars EU novel until 2012, when I fell behind finishing the last Fate of the Jedi novel.  Having just watched The Force Awakens, which left me with more questions than answers, I am finally inspired to finish off the old EU and get to the new "canon" books. =P

4. Read the Harry Potter Series
--This series has been on my radar since high school --maybe I'll finally get around to reading it this year. Goal is to start the series by summertime, bonus points if I finish by the time that new Fantastic Beasts and How to Find Them movie is released.  ;-)

5. Read Dee Henderson's O'Malley Series
--My mom read and loved this series, but wanted to wait until I was 16 to let me read them.  Well ... 16 came and went, LOL.  I keep meaning to get to these highly regarded Christian romantic suspense novels.

6. Expand My Manga Horizons
--So the majority of my manga experience is essentially Attack on Titan or A Bride's Story.  In 2015, I read about 60 comic books/graphic novels/manga.  I expanded beyond western superhero comic books to quite a few graphic novels and stand alones, but my manga series were basically two.  This year, I want to explore the many different manga genres in the all-ages to teen ranges.  I've already reserved Kaoru Mori's Victorian historical Emma series ... Any and all manga suggestions are welcome!

7. Utilize Goodreads More Constantly
--I normally only update my reading list on Goodreads about 4 times a year.  In 2015, other than posting time sensitive book reviews, I only updated my reading list in Spring and Winter.  While I keep track of the books I read on a spreadsheet (which was handy for keeping track of novels vs. comic books), I'd like to update Goodreads more consistently this year, so that when they're tracking my 2016 reading goal, it will be more accurate on how many books I'm behind or ahead of my goal.

Blogging Goals: 

8. More "Artist" at The Artist Librarian
--I first started this blog with the intent to highlight not just book reviews, but my arts, crafts, and especially costuming and cosplay projects.  I've been blogging for about a year and a half now and I'd say 95% of my blog is bookish related.  I recently revamped my blog design and reorganized pages in preparation for this.  While the upcoming semester will be pretty busy, I'd like to start posting costume/cosplay guides and tutorials (one or two costumes a  month) once summer begins.

9. Reviews of Clothing, blu-Ray/DVDs, or Other Fandom Stuff
--Again, when I started this blog, also I wanted to feature some product reviews of things I've purchased.  For example, I often wish online stores had detailed garment measurements.  I also at times have wanted/needed more detailed cosplay wig information or reviews on a certain style or color.  If I can do 6-12 of these this year, I'd be satisfied ...

10. Falling into Fandom Series
--If you've perused my new "Interviews & Other Features" page, you may have seen the #FallingIntoFandom series of posts I'd like to start this year.  In it, a fandom will be featured (book series, film, tv show, etc.) and I'll write about how I became a fan of said series, why I'm a fan, etc.  I think this would be a cool link up thing to do ... or something to get other bloggers to join in on --I'll have to look into how to do that.  But for now, I'd like to just start off with about 6 of these this year.  =)

So ... I'm probably super ambitious with this list, but any advice?  What are your blogging or bookish goals this year?  Feel free to share your TTT list also!

In a world where casual dating and "hookup culture" is becoming more common, I think getting people to think about intentional dating or personal standards, like this book does, is something to encourage ...

(c.) 2014 by Tyndale House Publishers

Title: The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance
Author: Ginger Kolbaba
Published: 2014 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

About the Book:

Contrary to popular opinion, being “old fashioned” doesn’t mean you’re dull or unromantic. In fact, a true old-fashioned relationship can be more exciting and romantic than anything you’ve ever experienced! So what does it mean to do things The Old Fashioned Way? Sure, it means opening doors, holding out chairs, and taking things slow. But a true old-fashioned romance goes much deeper than that. Inspired by the motion picture Old Fashioned, this book will show you how to reclaim the lost art of romance by introducing you to romantic love as God intended it—for all of us. Regardless of your past experiences, where you’ve been, or where you are now, you can find and create a love that will last a lifetime.
As you work your way through this 40-day journey of inspiring readings and questions for reflection, you’ll discover all the unique and amazing benefits of doing things the old-fashioned way and be well on your way to creating a love story for the ages.

The Artist Librarian Review: 
The Old Fashioned Way: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Romance is a 40 day devotional book based on the 2015 Christian/faith-based film, Old Fashioned.  Author Ginger Kolbaba invites readers to re-evaluate what they think about God, love, and romantic relationships in topical daily devotionals. Each devotional is about 4-6 pages long and opens with a quote (often an excerpt of the Old Fashioned screenplay), a devotion focused on a specific idea or topic, a passage or excerpt of relevant Scripture, and either journaling prompts or questions to consider. Many of the devotionals also feature a short prayer based on the topic of that day.

I don’t normally use devotional books for personal devotions, but I did enjoy working my way through this book. Despite the title, Kolbaba didn’t say “all Christians must court” or anything like that, but emphasized the importance of seeking God when coming up with your personal standards regarding romantic relationships, that it was something between you and God, something that can vary depending on the individual. One of the things that I felt I got out of this was focusing on being the person God wants me to be, doing what He has for me, no matter what the state of my love life is … and to try not to worry and to trust His timing.  However, in a world where casual dating and "hookup culture" is becoming more common, I think getting people to think about intentional dating or personal standards, like this book does, is something to encourage.

Finishing this book has only left me more eager to finally watch the Old Fashioned film!  Have you heard of this movie?  What do you think about intentional dating or courtship?  If you're curious, check out the trailer for Old Fashioned below!


[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

About the Author:

Ginger Kolbaba is an accomplished author who has written or contributed to more than twenty books. She is the former editor of the award-winning Today's Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, and Kyria.com publications of Christianity Today. She's also appeared in national venues, such as CNN Headline News, Chicago Sun-Times, Family Life Radio, and Moody's Midday Connection. Visit her at GingerKolbaba.com.