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A Very Bookish Novella Collections
A Very Bookish 4th of July
A young mother, pulled into event planning for her new hometown on the prairie like Laura Ingalls Wilder.
An aspiring authoress, finding companionship outside of Anne of Green Gables for the first time in her life.
Two sisters, with a deadline to travel an incredible distance just as it was in Around the World in Eighty Days.
A young girl, preparing for her favorite holiday with her many cousins like in the book Eight Cousins.
Four stories, by four authors, based on four classic books together in one collection. Tales of faith, patriotism, and hope.
Available only through the end of August 2021.
An aspiring authoress, finding companionship outside of Anne of Green Gables for the first time in her life.
Two sisters, with a deadline to travel an incredible distance just as it was in Around the World in Eighty Days.
A young girl, preparing for her favorite holiday with her many cousins like in the book Eight Cousins.
Four stories, by four authors, based on four classic books together in one collection. Tales of faith, patriotism, and hope.
Available only through the end of August 2021.
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2021
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Holman
46 books459 followersSarah Holman lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Scott. When not working on her next novel, she can usually be found hanging out with her family, reading, or hiking at state parks with her husband. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it’s because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website, www.thedestinyofone.com.
To keep up to date on releases, join her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bitBIf
To keep up to date on releases, join her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bitBIf
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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August 17, 2021Only a few day left to get this collection! Remember, grab it before the end of August.
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It's out! I'm so excited to have this collection out! Get ready for the 4th of July with this collection!
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I'm so, so excited about this collection. It seems each time we do one of these, there is unique challenges. For me, it was writing this story despite beginning a romantic relationship with my best friend. Staying focused wasn't easy. However, I'm so excited for how this collection turned out and I can't wait to share it with all of you.
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It's out! I'm so excited to have this collection out! Get ready for the 4th of July with this collection!
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I'm so, so excited about this collection. It seems each time we do one of these, there is unique challenges. For me, it was writing this story despite beginning a romantic relationship with my best friend. Staying focused wasn't easy. However, I'm so excited for how this collection turned out and I can't wait to share it with all of you.
May 27, 2021
I can't wait until this collection comes out!
I felt like Sarah's story was the red one– some struggles, but fun and with patriotic things popping up to mix with Around the World in 80 Days.
Kelsey's story felt like a lighter blue with a few stars mixed in – problems, and difficulties, but a patriotic flavor with summer mixed in and a finish that kept it from being too sad.
Abi's story was the darker blue – struggles, problems, not as much focus on the patriotic side of things until the very end.
My story was the white – Lots of sunshine, summer, flags flying, and patriotic vibes.
Combine all the stories and you have a red, white, and blue collection!
I felt like Sarah's story was the red one– some struggles, but fun and with patriotic things popping up to mix with Around the World in 80 Days.
Kelsey's story felt like a lighter blue with a few stars mixed in – problems, and difficulties, but a patriotic flavor with summer mixed in and a finish that kept it from being too sad.
Abi's story was the darker blue – struggles, problems, not as much focus on the patriotic side of things until the very end.
My story was the white – Lots of sunshine, summer, flags flying, and patriotic vibes.
Combine all the stories and you have a red, white, and blue collection!
July 1, 2021
I loved being a part of this collection and swapping stories with the other authors. If you're a fan of this holiday, sweet stories, or any of the authors, don't miss your chance to read it during summer 2021!
June 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection! My favorite was "Across the Land I Love" by Sarah Holman, but I really enjoyed all of them! "Rose of Nowhere" reminded me a lot of a GLH book, but seemed like the 4th of July was a little bit of an afterthought;) I really liked to setting of "Prairie Independence Day." "Lessons from Liberty" was definitely completely focused on Independence Day the most.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection... maybe more than the first two in the series!
I can't wait to see what the next "A Very Bookish..." will be!!
(I found it very interesting that the main character in "Lessons from Liberty" was named Liberty with Libby, Lib, and Libs as nicknames because we have a dog named that and call her all of those names.xD Also, I loved that there were five sisters within ten years of each other as that is how it is with my sisters and I.)
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection... maybe more than the first two in the series!
I can't wait to see what the next "A Very Bookish..." will be!!
(I found it very interesting that the main character in "Lessons from Liberty" was named Liberty with Libby, Lib, and Libs as nicknames because we have a dog named that and call her all of those names.xD Also, I loved that there were five sisters within ten years of each other as that is how it is with my sisters and I.)
June 30, 2021
I enjoyed A Very Bookish Thanksgiving so much that I eagerly bought this next installment in this series of limited-edition anthologies. It's a little unusual to find stories that revolve around America's Independence Day, so this was a unique delight in that respect. Each of the four novellas in this collection tell an original story that takes place on or around July 4, but which also involve some classic book as well.
"Rose of Nowhere" by Abigayle Claire was my favorite, but I did like all four novellas! Since my kids liked A Very Bookish Thanksgiving, I'll be handing this off to them for a fun summer read as well. Once again, the idea of entwining a fresh, new story around a classic book makes these novellas relatable and enjoyable.
"Rose of Nowhere" by Abigayle Claire was my favorite, but I did like all four novellas! Since my kids liked A Very Bookish Thanksgiving, I'll be handing this off to them for a fun summer read as well. Once again, the idea of entwining a fresh, new story around a classic book makes these novellas relatable and enjoyable.
February 27, 2024
This was a different experience than the last one in that I was much more familiar with the stories being retold, so these reviews will have more to do with the retelling aspects than those for books I haven't read. Fourth of July is also one of my favorite holidays, so I was quite excited for this one!
Prairie Independence Day - 3.5 stars
I adored the Little House books growing up, so I was very excited when I saw them in this one. I enjoyed the details about the current state of the town and homestead site, and it sounds like a place I would love to visit. I empathized with Chandler's struggles with her pushy neighbor, and I enjoyed her friendship with Kalpana. However, I was a bit disappointed in it as a retelling. Aside from Chandler pointing out some small parallels between her life and Laura's and getting some ideas for the celebration from the books, there was only one plot point that was recognizable to me. It just felt more "inspired by" than like a full retelling? I know, there's way too much material in the series to retell in such a short space; I guess I would have just liked to see more connections that I could point to. (Also, I know sensibilities have changed in recent years, but it just really jarred me to have Chandler warn her friend about racist attitudes in the books. I'll give you that the one town minstrel show doesn't age well, but racist attitudes overall? I really don't remember that being an issue, so that grated probably more than it should have.) Overall, I enjoyed the story as its own story; it just fell a little flat for me as a retelling.
Rose of Nowhere - 3.5 stars
This one I also struggled with as a retelling. I have to be careful here because I've never read the Anne books, only watched the movies, so it's entirely possible that there are scenes or whole plotlines I know nothing about that would make things much more clear. But from what I do know of Anne of Green Gables, I really struggled to see the connection, and other than Rose's early life, I couldn't make it out. Maybe more than anything, her personality just didn't really feel "Anne" to me at all. I did enjoy the story on its own--watching her work hard for her opportunities, her friendships with Johnny and Meg, her secret passion for writing (although I would really have liked more details about that), but I kept trying to make the connection to Anne, and I couldn't bring it into focus. Perhaps the most dangerous kind of retelling for me is one where I'm only partially familiar with the source material. (:
Across the Land I Love - 5 stars
Okay, Sarah, I feel personally called out. XD The line about having a perfectly planned vacation, but "we were spontaneous where we ate every evening"--were you spying on the first solo trip I ever took with my sister? Or are our personalities really that similar? Anyway... I loved getting to spend time with Lillian and Stella, with their opposite personalities but sincere love and understanding for each other. I enjoyed the road trip angle, although stopping at various attractions when they were supposed to be under a time crunch would have made me a little nuts. :} It did feel a little farfetched that the airline would go to that much time and trouble to get them where they belonged, but I did enjoy Greg. ;) And I loved it as a retelling of Around the World in 80 Days, especially as the unexpected delays started piling up. Also loved the callbacks to Maple Leaf and the events of As Long as I Belong. <3
Lessons from Liberty - 5 stars
Ahhhh, this one! Yes, I had already read this one to write the synopsis, but I loved it just as much on the second time through. Eight Cousins was one of my top favorites growing up, and I love how Rebekah captured the spirit of it here! Loved the gender-flip aspects, loved the Air Force connections, loved all the little traditions and habits that had to be explained along with ALL the patriotic things. (Seriously, I'm a pretty patriotic person, but I can't recite the Declaration of Independence or sing all four verses of The Star-Spangled Banner.) I adored Alec, and I loved the special bond that he and Libby developed. The way the cousins' presentation shaped up could have come straight out of my family's homeschool days. And there were so many Easter eggs, from personalities to events to quoted lines, for readers who know Eight Cousins, along with being just a delightful story on its own. Definitely my favorite of the collection!
Prairie Independence Day - 3.5 stars
I adored the Little House books growing up, so I was very excited when I saw them in this one. I enjoyed the details about the current state of the town and homestead site, and it sounds like a place I would love to visit. I empathized with Chandler's struggles with her pushy neighbor, and I enjoyed her friendship with Kalpana. However, I was a bit disappointed in it as a retelling. Aside from Chandler pointing out some small parallels between her life and Laura's and getting some ideas for the celebration from the books, there was only one plot point that was recognizable to me. It just felt more "inspired by" than like a full retelling? I know, there's way too much material in the series to retell in such a short space; I guess I would have just liked to see more connections that I could point to. (Also, I know sensibilities have changed in recent years, but it just really jarred me to have Chandler warn her friend about racist attitudes in the books. I'll give you that the one town minstrel show doesn't age well, but racist attitudes overall? I really don't remember that being an issue, so that grated probably more than it should have.) Overall, I enjoyed the story as its own story; it just fell a little flat for me as a retelling.
Rose of Nowhere - 3.5 stars
This one I also struggled with as a retelling. I have to be careful here because I've never read the Anne books, only watched the movies, so it's entirely possible that there are scenes or whole plotlines I know nothing about that would make things much more clear. But from what I do know of Anne of Green Gables, I really struggled to see the connection, and other than Rose's early life, I couldn't make it out. Maybe more than anything, her personality just didn't really feel "Anne" to me at all. I did enjoy the story on its own--watching her work hard for her opportunities, her friendships with Johnny and Meg, her secret passion for writing (although I would really have liked more details about that), but I kept trying to make the connection to Anne, and I couldn't bring it into focus. Perhaps the most dangerous kind of retelling for me is one where I'm only partially familiar with the source material. (:
Across the Land I Love - 5 stars
Okay, Sarah, I feel personally called out. XD The line about having a perfectly planned vacation, but "we were spontaneous where we ate every evening"--were you spying on the first solo trip I ever took with my sister? Or are our personalities really that similar? Anyway... I loved getting to spend time with Lillian and Stella, with their opposite personalities but sincere love and understanding for each other. I enjoyed the road trip angle, although stopping at various attractions when they were supposed to be under a time crunch would have made me a little nuts. :} It did feel a little farfetched that the airline would go to that much time and trouble to get them where they belonged, but I did enjoy Greg. ;) And I loved it as a retelling of Around the World in 80 Days, especially as the unexpected delays started piling up. Also loved the callbacks to Maple Leaf and the events of As Long as I Belong. <3
Lessons from Liberty - 5 stars
Ahhhh, this one! Yes, I had already read this one to write the synopsis, but I loved it just as much on the second time through. Eight Cousins was one of my top favorites growing up, and I love how Rebekah captured the spirit of it here! Loved the gender-flip aspects, loved the Air Force connections, loved all the little traditions and habits that had to be explained along with ALL the patriotic things. (Seriously, I'm a pretty patriotic person, but I can't recite the Declaration of Independence or sing all four verses of The Star-Spangled Banner.) I adored Alec, and I loved the special bond that he and Libby developed. The way the cousins' presentation shaped up could have come straight out of my family's homeschool days. And there were so many Easter eggs, from personalities to events to quoted lines, for readers who know Eight Cousins, along with being just a delightful story on its own. Definitely my favorite of the collection!
August 4, 2021
A Very Independent Set of Tales
I am enjoying this series soo much!! The first story was pretty good, but I wasn't a big fan of Little House on the Prairie growing up, so it didn't really resonate with me. Unlike the next three, all three favorites of mine!! Really enjoyed each one, and the books they referenced. Just so good!! Looking forward to the next collection, ladies!!
I am enjoying this series soo much!! The first story was pretty good, but I wasn't a big fan of Little House on the Prairie growing up, so it didn't really resonate with me. Unlike the next three, all three favorites of mine!! Really enjoyed each one, and the books they referenced. Just so good!! Looking forward to the next collection, ladies!!
July 15, 2021
I started this patriotic anthology on the Fourth of July, and oh, my goodness. IT WAS JUST SO GOOD. I loved the themes and the characters and the tributes to classic literature...*hugs book*
Prairie Independence Day ~ This story was so cozy, with a rural/small-town atmosphere and excellent themes, including the facts that isolation leads to loneliness and community is a vital part of life. I related a lot to Chandler, and I loved both the Ivey family and Kalpana’s family. The Ingalls references were also so cozy; the Little House series was one of the first I remember reading as a kid. And it’s a very small part of the story, but I loved seeing representation of a character with food sensitivities/allergies. It wasn’t weird or made out to be something pitiable; it was just there and a part of the character’s life, just like it happens in real life.
The writing could be a little stilted (there was sometimes a speech tag in an awkward place or an unnecessary bit of dialogue or description). Overall, though, this was a very simplistic but charming story.
3.5/5
What if this event was an opportunity to encourage a group of people to celebrate the American heritage again? Return their focus to God and what He’d done for them? The US had made many mistakes, but there was no question it had been founded with the right intentions and focus. With all the political and moral division of recent years, this Independence Day should be no joke.
Rose of Nowhere ~ AHHHH, this story was so sad and beautiful! Rose having Anne to keep her brave, and Father gifting her the book, was so beautiful and heartbreaking. I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH. Rose, a young woman with a go-get-‘em attitude working in a newspaper office at the start of WWII, was a lovely protagonist. Her story was inspiring and uplifting without containing an abrasive feminist agenda. Jonathan Harris was charming, and I loved the friendships and respect that developed between the Harrises and Rose and between Rose and her boss and coworkers. Also, Rose was a writer, so that was lovely! The warmth of friendship and family wraps around this story, making it beautiful and cozy. And the theme of the importance of feedback, along with wonderful writing, were the icing on the cake. Love, love, love! Definitely my favorite story in this collection.
5/5
With the world at large submerged in chaos, it was comforting to know that good worth fighting for still existed just like it had in 1776.
Across the Land I Love ~ Around the World in Eighty Days is one of my favorite classics, so those references were wonderful. Lillian’s and Stella’s personalities contrasted beautifully; I love good sister relationships. And I related so much to Lillian, so I loved her POV chapters the best. The road trip and Fourth of July festivities created a fun plot for this story, and I was definitely rooting for the sisters to make it to their family gathering in time! (Side note: yay for homeschool rep! :) ) I also have some Questions about how a certain friendship ended up...*smiles* *begs Sarah Holman for a sequel*
Some of the descriptions felt lacking and were difficult to envision. I did have a mental picture, just not as vivid as I prefer; sometimes it was more like white space. But that’s basically my only quibble with this wonderful story, my second favorite of the collection!
4/5
She really did have the best sister in the world.
Lessons From Liberty ~ The lakeside setting was charming, and the military aspect of the story was lovely. And I loved the close-knit familial relationships. My siblings and cousins are some of my best friends, so it was wonderful to read a cousin story.
Alec, to me, did seem much older than 14. Also, there were many more dialogue tags than I prefer. At times, the writing became a little clunky, with a little too much dialogue and several run-on sentences/comma errors.
Although this was a pretty predictable story, it was super sweet, so I didn’t really care that much. Despite some of the clunky writing, it was beautiful and perhaps the most patriotic of the collection.
3/5
”Happy birthday, America,” she said.
This whole collection was lovely and cozy, and it has me wanting to reread the Little House series, Anne of Green Gables, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Eight Cousins. :) Every story in this anthology was full of patriotism, the importance of friendship and family, God’s Providence, and other timeless themes. My heart was full after finishing this book.
Content: none, except for a slightly creepy man in “Rose of Nowhere”
Prairie Independence Day ~ This story was so cozy, with a rural/small-town atmosphere and excellent themes, including the facts that isolation leads to loneliness and community is a vital part of life. I related a lot to Chandler, and I loved both the Ivey family and Kalpana’s family. The Ingalls references were also so cozy; the Little House series was one of the first I remember reading as a kid. And it’s a very small part of the story, but I loved seeing representation of a character with food sensitivities/allergies. It wasn’t weird or made out to be something pitiable; it was just there and a part of the character’s life, just like it happens in real life.
The writing could be a little stilted (there was sometimes a speech tag in an awkward place or an unnecessary bit of dialogue or description). Overall, though, this was a very simplistic but charming story.
3.5/5
What if this event was an opportunity to encourage a group of people to celebrate the American heritage again? Return their focus to God and what He’d done for them? The US had made many mistakes, but there was no question it had been founded with the right intentions and focus. With all the political and moral division of recent years, this Independence Day should be no joke.
Rose of Nowhere ~ AHHHH, this story was so sad and beautiful! Rose having Anne to keep her brave, and Father gifting her the book, was so beautiful and heartbreaking. I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH. Rose, a young woman with a go-get-‘em attitude working in a newspaper office at the start of WWII, was a lovely protagonist. Her story was inspiring and uplifting without containing an abrasive feminist agenda. Jonathan Harris was charming, and I loved the friendships and respect that developed between the Harrises and Rose and between Rose and her boss and coworkers. Also, Rose was a writer, so that was lovely! The warmth of friendship and family wraps around this story, making it beautiful and cozy. And the theme of the importance of feedback, along with wonderful writing, were the icing on the cake. Love, love, love! Definitely my favorite story in this collection.
5/5
With the world at large submerged in chaos, it was comforting to know that good worth fighting for still existed just like it had in 1776.
Across the Land I Love ~ Around the World in Eighty Days is one of my favorite classics, so those references were wonderful. Lillian’s and Stella’s personalities contrasted beautifully; I love good sister relationships. And I related so much to Lillian, so I loved her POV chapters the best. The road trip and Fourth of July festivities created a fun plot for this story, and I was definitely rooting for the sisters to make it to their family gathering in time! (Side note: yay for homeschool rep! :) ) I also have some Questions about how a certain friendship ended up...*smiles* *begs Sarah Holman for a sequel*
Some of the descriptions felt lacking and were difficult to envision. I did have a mental picture, just not as vivid as I prefer; sometimes it was more like white space. But that’s basically my only quibble with this wonderful story, my second favorite of the collection!
4/5
She really did have the best sister in the world.
Lessons From Liberty ~ The lakeside setting was charming, and the military aspect of the story was lovely. And I loved the close-knit familial relationships. My siblings and cousins are some of my best friends, so it was wonderful to read a cousin story.
Alec, to me, did seem much older than 14. Also, there were many more dialogue tags than I prefer. At times, the writing became a little clunky, with a little too much dialogue and several run-on sentences/comma errors.
Although this was a pretty predictable story, it was super sweet, so I didn’t really care that much. Despite some of the clunky writing, it was beautiful and perhaps the most patriotic of the collection.
3/5
”Happy birthday, America,” she said.
This whole collection was lovely and cozy, and it has me wanting to reread the Little House series, Anne of Green Gables, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Eight Cousins. :) Every story in this anthology was full of patriotism, the importance of friendship and family, God’s Providence, and other timeless themes. My heart was full after finishing this book.
Content: none, except for a slightly creepy man in “Rose of Nowhere”
December 13, 2023
Enjoyed this fun collection!
July 9, 2021
Enjoyable all the way to the end. Grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review. First time author for me and definitely won’t be the last book. Don’t miss out
April 29, 2025
Prairie Independence Day by Kelsey Bryant
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I need to read more of Kelsey Bryant’s work because I love her stories so much. She did such an amazing job working in Laura Ingalls Wilder into this one! From the ‘pioneer’ storyline of Chandler & Mark, to the cottagecore/old-fashioned aesthetic and small town feels, and most of all the themes of community, friendship, courage, and improvisation—and even the mini message of shyness! Also, as a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan myself, I love the Laura obsession/familiarity. ;) And I love how the author addressed the racism and talked about how non-whites also established and settled (North) America and are an equal part of its history. The characters are delightful, I love the humour, and though I’m anything but American I can certainly appreciate the history/national day celebration!
Rose of Nowhere by Abigayle Claire
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I think Abigayle Claire is quite good at novellas. She does such a great job investing you and building character arcs and slipping in backstory. Also, she writes excellent 1940s fiction. I really liked Rose—she was smart, sweet, confident, and real. Honestly, I found her quite inspiring. Her storyline was awesome and I loved the Anne of Green Gables feels. Jonathan was a perfect cross between Gilbert & Matthew, and Meg of Marilla & Diana (much more Di, though). I was not sure how it would all turn out but the ending was satisfying—I’d love to see a sequel or continuation though!
Across the Land I Love by Sarah Holman
5 stars. Right off the bat I loved the deep family love that radiated off these pages. The security, the comfort, the beauty of it! The sister relationship was ON POINT, and both Stella & Lillian are awesome and relatable. Also, I loved the road trip vibes! And the Around the World in Eighty Days retelling was so well done, so plausible, and so downright FUN. I couldn’t stop smiling. The adventures didn’t stop, the messages were so good, and the 4th of July was worked in real well. This is a fantastic little novella that anyone can read and enjoy, regardless of nationality!
Lessons from Liberty by Rebekah A. Morris
4 stars. This little novella is like America in a bottle! It's just bursting with proud patriotism and the contemporary all-American dream. As a Canadian, I found it a leetle overwhelming--we just don't celebrate our national holiday as explosively--but it almost made me nostalgic for something I never experienced, somehow. It felt set in the early 2000s, and was full of sunshine and laughter and strong family ties... just a great summer feel. Also, I enjoyed the Eight Cousins retelling and how the author wove in a nod to Alcott's recurring plays!!
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I need to read more of Kelsey Bryant’s work because I love her stories so much. She did such an amazing job working in Laura Ingalls Wilder into this one! From the ‘pioneer’ storyline of Chandler & Mark, to the cottagecore/old-fashioned aesthetic and small town feels, and most of all the themes of community, friendship, courage, and improvisation—and even the mini message of shyness! Also, as a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan myself, I love the Laura obsession/familiarity. ;) And I love how the author addressed the racism and talked about how non-whites also established and settled (North) America and are an equal part of its history. The characters are delightful, I love the humour, and though I’m anything but American I can certainly appreciate the history/national day celebration!
Rose of Nowhere by Abigayle Claire
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I think Abigayle Claire is quite good at novellas. She does such a great job investing you and building character arcs and slipping in backstory. Also, she writes excellent 1940s fiction. I really liked Rose—she was smart, sweet, confident, and real. Honestly, I found her quite inspiring. Her storyline was awesome and I loved the Anne of Green Gables feels. Jonathan was a perfect cross between Gilbert & Matthew, and Meg of Marilla & Diana (much more Di, though). I was not sure how it would all turn out but the ending was satisfying—I’d love to see a sequel or continuation though!
Across the Land I Love by Sarah Holman
5 stars. Right off the bat I loved the deep family love that radiated off these pages. The security, the comfort, the beauty of it! The sister relationship was ON POINT, and both Stella & Lillian are awesome and relatable. Also, I loved the road trip vibes! And the Around the World in Eighty Days retelling was so well done, so plausible, and so downright FUN. I couldn’t stop smiling. The adventures didn’t stop, the messages were so good, and the 4th of July was worked in real well. This is a fantastic little novella that anyone can read and enjoy, regardless of nationality!
Lessons from Liberty by Rebekah A. Morris
4 stars. This little novella is like America in a bottle! It's just bursting with proud patriotism and the contemporary all-American dream. As a Canadian, I found it a leetle overwhelming--we just don't celebrate our national holiday as explosively--but it almost made me nostalgic for something I never experienced, somehow. It felt set in the early 2000s, and was full of sunshine and laughter and strong family ties... just a great summer feel. Also, I enjoyed the Eight Cousins retelling and how the author wove in a nod to Alcott's recurring plays!!
July 4, 2022
Did I feel a little funny reading this because I’m not an American and don’t celebrate the 4th of July? A little. But I loved the authors’ Christmas and Thanksgiving collections, so I wanted to try this one.
Granted, there were things I simply couldn’t relate to solely due to the fact that I don’t have an American heritage, and that was completely fine. However, despite the emphasis on America and Independence Day, there were messages and themes that transcend heritage and were beautifully done.
Prairie Independence Day: (Kelsey Bryant)
The story of a socially awkward young mother and the power of coming together as a community
Rose of Nowhere: (Abigayle Claire)
An aspiring authoress obsessed with all things Anne of Green Gables finds her very own kindred spirits against the backdrop or WW2.
Across the Land I Love: (Sarah Holman)
In a vacation gone wrong, two sisters find themselves on a road trip across the US in a race against time while trusting God with their way-laid plans.
Lessons from Liberty: (Rebekah A. Morris)
Eight cousins work together to learn and remember what Independence Day is truly all about.
All in all, a lovely collection of stories and a fun summer read!
Granted, there were things I simply couldn’t relate to solely due to the fact that I don’t have an American heritage, and that was completely fine. However, despite the emphasis on America and Independence Day, there were messages and themes that transcend heritage and were beautifully done.
Prairie Independence Day: (Kelsey Bryant)
The story of a socially awkward young mother and the power of coming together as a community
Rose of Nowhere: (Abigayle Claire)
An aspiring authoress obsessed with all things Anne of Green Gables finds her very own kindred spirits against the backdrop or WW2.
Across the Land I Love: (Sarah Holman)
In a vacation gone wrong, two sisters find themselves on a road trip across the US in a race against time while trusting God with their way-laid plans.
Lessons from Liberty: (Rebekah A. Morris)
Eight cousins work together to learn and remember what Independence Day is truly all about.
All in all, a lovely collection of stories and a fun summer read!
December 6, 2021
Honestly, this was my least favorite of the very bookish collections. It's been too long since I read it to give it a proper review, so I'll just leave it at most of the stories were a bit on the boring side. But I did enjoy Rose from Nowhere. <3
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May 6, 2021Beta read Rebekah Morris' story. Review to come
November 1, 2025
I really enjoyed the literary inspired, patriotic piece full of love for God and country. My favorite was Rose of Nowhere.
June 10, 2021
Fun, patriotic, and inspiring
The play on eight cousins was fun. I would like to have seen the this of July celebration!
Charming an uplifting!
The play on eight cousins was fun. I would like to have seen the this of July celebration!
Charming an uplifting!
April 16, 2022
Had good stories. It was made unavailable so I couldn’t read the last short story, but each was written well and interesting
July 21, 2024
**Lessons from Liberty:
For anyone who loves Louisa May Alcott's eight cousins, this is a lovely story! A fairly quick read, very patriotic. The perfect read for Independence Day!
I'm definitely a fan of all the characters in this story, and the similarities between it and Eight Cousins. A delight to read!
**Rose of Nowhere:
Rose of Nowhere pays homage to Anne of Green Gables. It is not lost on me that the very first scene takes place at a train station!! When her father moved her from England, it changed so many parts of her life. But then after the war... Rose ended up spending quite a bit of time in an orphanage, of which she is always trying to shake the bonds of that place -- deep into adulthood. She finally starts to feel at home in America when she lands a new job, new friends, new kindred connections.
**Across the Land I Love:
Inspired by the classic novel Around the World in 80 Days, this story takes two sisters on a road trip that lasts 8 days. They share frustrations, setbacks, etc. Almost any hurdle that they could have come across, happens. Such is life!
Stella and Lillian are rather sort of opposites in many ways, but they share similarities too, like their faith in God is at the center of their lives. On this bumpy road of a road trip, they see a lot of fun things, landmarks, and experiences. The parallels between their story and a Phileas Fogg's is uncanny. I loved it!
**Prairie Independence Day:
I love that this story is inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books. If you're looking for a quick summer read about the 4th of July, go ahead and give this one a try! Especially if you enjoy the "bookish" kind of books.
Chandler has a lot of stress being put on her by the town planning committee, but she really pulls out all the stops and finds her inspiration-- and her inner strength. She relies on God a lot, as we all should!
For anyone who loves Louisa May Alcott's eight cousins, this is a lovely story! A fairly quick read, very patriotic. The perfect read for Independence Day!
I'm definitely a fan of all the characters in this story, and the similarities between it and Eight Cousins. A delight to read!
**Rose of Nowhere:
Rose of Nowhere pays homage to Anne of Green Gables. It is not lost on me that the very first scene takes place at a train station!! When her father moved her from England, it changed so many parts of her life. But then after the war... Rose ended up spending quite a bit of time in an orphanage, of which she is always trying to shake the bonds of that place -- deep into adulthood. She finally starts to feel at home in America when she lands a new job, new friends, new kindred connections.
**Across the Land I Love:
Inspired by the classic novel Around the World in 80 Days, this story takes two sisters on a road trip that lasts 8 days. They share frustrations, setbacks, etc. Almost any hurdle that they could have come across, happens. Such is life!
Stella and Lillian are rather sort of opposites in many ways, but they share similarities too, like their faith in God is at the center of their lives. On this bumpy road of a road trip, they see a lot of fun things, landmarks, and experiences. The parallels between their story and a Phileas Fogg's is uncanny. I loved it!
**Prairie Independence Day:
I love that this story is inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books. If you're looking for a quick summer read about the 4th of July, go ahead and give this one a try! Especially if you enjoy the "bookish" kind of books.
Chandler has a lot of stress being put on her by the town planning committee, but she really pulls out all the stops and finds her inspiration-- and her inner strength. She relies on God a lot, as we all should!
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