Wrapping Up January 2023

Happy February, Readers! The end of January has snuck up on me and it’s time for a monthly reading wrap-up and recap of the highlights from this month. I’m really happy with how this month turned out, and can’t wait to see which books follow in February! Everything I read this month was so good, and even though I was sick for a while and took most of the month to regain my energy, some really good things came about. Here’s a glimpse of the my 2023 beginning:

Books Completed

📘 Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette (Out From Egypt #1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Here

📗 In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin (Wings of the Nightingale #3) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read my review Here

📔 Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read my 2020 review Here

📕 Winter Cats by Janet Lawler ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Average Rating: 5⭐s

I don’t think I have had a full five-star month before!

Books Read but Not Completed

📚 Other B irds by Sarah Addison Allen

📚 Carved in Stone by Elizabeth Camden

Seasonal TBR List Check-In

List posted here.

Completed: 5

DNF: 1

In-Progress: 0

Untouched: 11

Other Misc. Highlights

Watched: Prince Caspian (2008 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; Winter Love Story (2019) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐; Captain Marvel (2019 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; The Santa Clauses (2022) (series) ⭐⭐⭐.5; Lady and the Tramp (2019) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; Lady and the Tramp (1955 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐; High School Musical (2006 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; A Quiet Place (2018) ⭐⭐⭐; Matilda (1996) ⭐⭐; A Quiet Place Part 2 (2020) ⭐⭐⭐.5; Galaxy Quest (1999) ⭐⭐⭐; How to Train Your Dragon (2010 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐; National Treasure (2004 – rewatch) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Listens: BibleTalk: Jesus’ Response to Anxiety; Looking Up with Kathy & Carla: Introduction and Scripture Writing; 5 Minutes in Church History: Amazing Grace 250th, American Church History in 5 Movements

Enjoyed: An escape room to celebrate a friend’s birthday; started attending a new ladies Bible study at church; winter book bingo at the library; trying new things to drink in the morning since being sick ruined the taste of hot coffee (flavor-wise, ginger peach tea is the winner so far, but only black tea gets close to the caffeine boost I’m used to); prioritizing “comfort reads” instead of more serious books; DIY indoor putt-putt with friends; a computer game called Pico Park; looking at craft books and getting lots of ideas, but knowing that I don’t have the space to indulge in such projects at the moment; sharing a favorite book series with a friend; participating in my church’s card-writing ministry; trying raw Salmon sushi for the first time; seeing growth in friendships that no longer quite count as new; redecorating for spring

And that was January! Despite starting out with the worst illness I’ve had in years, it turned into a really decent month, both in reading and overall. I can’t remember the last time I watched that many movies, which is admittedly part of why this blog has been a little less active recently. Also, it’s been a long time (if it’s ever happened before) since I had a month where all of my reads were 5 stars! If you have any interest in historical fiction, I hope you will check out the first two listed above. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. Counted with the Stars has me hooked for the rest of the series, and In Perfect Time was a really great conclusion to the Wings of a Nightingale series.

I’m looking forward to more good reading, watching, and conversing in February! What are you looking forward to? Want to give a shout-out to any of your January read? Share in the comments!

Until the next chapter,

Jana