Showing posts with label LesleaWahl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LesleaWahl. Show all posts

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2026

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books First Quarter 2026


It has been an excellent year for reading so far, not my best to date, but my second best. I averaged over a book and a half a day. Faster than the last few years, but I had the first few weeks off work, and so many books and series I am working through. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. 

This quarter I read 151 books and I did not any to the ‘did not finish’ list, one of my highest quarters since I started keeping track, below is the comparison with the last 9 years:

     2026 - 151
     2025 - 132
     2024 - 119
     2023 – 160
     2022 – 145
     2021 – 97
     2020 – 96
     2019 – 123
     2018 – 91
     2017 – 100
     2016 – 52

One of the things that always causes a spike in the first quarter is I endeavour to pray a Stations of the Cross Friday of the year and each day through Lent. And this is the first Lent I have hit each day, at least so far. At the beginning of Lent this year I had 10 Stations I had never read. I have read 20 new ones and still have 4 I have year read, which I hope to do during Holy Week. But back to this year by the numbers:

Books Read: 151
First Time Reads: 122
Fiction: 37
Non-Fiction: 114
5/5 Stars: 111
5 Stars Fiction: 27
5 Stars Non-Fiction: 84

The first quarter of this year was great. I can state again that looking back 2016 is a bit of an outlier as late that year I switched jobs and have since had much better work – life balance. In the spring of 2016, I worked through Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now (now available on ClaitasU). The year before that I removed all games from my phone and tablet and my reading had doubled. This year I received a physical Kindle for Christmas; instead of reading on my phone; and my reading has gone up again.

Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

2. 15 Days of Prayer with …New City Press - Focolare Media
3. Poetry of John Irvine
4. Great Spiritual Teachers Series - Ave Maria Press
Living in the Presence of God The Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence - John J. Kirvan
That You May Have Life: Let the Mystics Be Your Guide for Lent - John J. Kirvan
6. Saint Michael the Archangel Through the Ages - Fr. Frederick Schmit O.Praem and Fr. Peregrine Fletcher O.Praem
7. The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life - Michael Dubruiel
8. Just A Minute Meditations - Pauline Books and Media
Finding Inner Peace - Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP 
9. Art and Prayer - Mary Charles-Murray - CTS Deeper Christianity Series 
10. Lent for Little Folk - Roderick Vonhögen 
12. The Way of the Passion: 40 Stations with Jesus - Julien Chilcott-Monk 

Bonus Books New Stations of The Cross:

John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross - Amy Welborn, Michael Dubruiel, and Michael D. O'Brien
With Jesus in Jerusalem: The First Way of the Cross - Étienne Méténier
Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus - Fr. William F. Prospero and Fr. James Kubicki
Stations of Strength: Praying the Stations of the Cross in Times of Suffering - Alice Camille 
Stations of the Cross for Young Catholics - Sister Anne Flannagan, FSP

Top Ten Fiction Books:

 1. A Stranger Among Us - Connor Gallagher
 2. Hypergifted - Gordon Korman - Ungifted Book 3
 3. Pilgrim Tales An anthology of fiction by the Catholic Writers Guild
 4. Tales From Wakken Wood - E. P. Cowley
 5. The Kidnapped Prince - Roger B. Thomas - The Chronicles of Caol, Book 1
 6. The Fixer - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Lessons in Power
 7. Begotten - Antony Barone Kolenc - Incarnate Book 2
 8. Black Dog - Dean Hamilton - A Tyburn Filos Novella
 9. The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - Blindside Series Book 3 

Bonus Books:

Conspiracy 365 - Gabrielle Lord
April
Ted Talk - Karina Fabian - A DragonEye, PI, Short Story
Pogue Too - Edited by Liska McCabe - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 72

I have averaged just over a book a day over the last decade; and closer to a book and a quarter over the last few years. In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more.  

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section.
 
But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list.  



Statistics Books Read By Year:
151 - 2026 January-March
424 - 2025 
363 - 2024
455 - 2023 
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
98 - 2008
83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
60 - 2004
52 - 2003
97 - 2002
50 - 2001
41 - 2000
71 - 1999
73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996


Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 



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Wednesday, 11 March 2026

The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - Blindside Series Book 3

Ultimate Blindside
Leslea Wahl
ISBN 9798994665503
eISBN 9798994665503
ASIN B0GLGM5VQ7

The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - Blindside Series Book 3

This book marks the fourteenth time I have read a book by Leslea Wahl, and that does not count her contributions to anthologies or the collaborative stories she has written with other Catholic Teen Books Authors. It took a long time for this third story in this series to be available. But it was well worth the wait! The description of this volume is:

“Jake’s silver-medal life is movie-worthy.

Sophie’s role is about to be sabotaged.

Their sleepy Colorado town is overrun by a Hollywood film crew as the two teens, now high school seniors, find their private lives laid open for the world to see. 

Meanwhile, a mysterious woman and her daughter seek the couple’s help running from a powerful, dangerous man. In this tale of twists, whom can Sophie and Jake truly trust?”

The Perfect Blindside, was the first book I read by Wahl and after reading it I picked up all the others that were then available. And I eagerly awaited this novel that continues the story. This book, series, and everything from Wahl is a good clean Christian young adult novel. But the story is so well written that even older readers should really enjoy it. It is part mystery and part romance. But the romance much less in this volume, and the two have grown in their relationship. This story reminds me a lot of Madeleine L’Engle’s Chronos books. 

As such the story revolves around mysterious events happening in Colorado during the filming of events from the previous volume to turn those into a movie Both the main characters have a lot on their plate, with growing fame, finishing highschool, preparing for university. And The mysteries they just seem to find themselves wrapped up in.

Both Jake and Sophie are facing things from their past. But also dealing with a lot in the present. During the first day of shooting a car goes into water and Jake jumps in to save a mother and young child. Because the cameras were rolling and media was onsite it made a big splash in the news. But the mother ants to hid and is fearful of even the police. They also discover someone is tampering with Sophie’s electronic communications, and Jake feels like he is being followed. Sometimes the best intentions so sideways, sometimes even in epic fashion. To find out read this excellent story. 

Both Jake and Sophie have grown a lot over the course of this trilogy and the other stories they appear in. But in this one they face their biggest challenges yet. And they truly do face an Ultimate Blindside. 

The story moves at a great pace. One of the greatest strengths is the characters. Wahl writes amazing characters. She also does excellent part in the book is the representation of internal struggles, of Jake and Sophie as they try and live out their faith, and as they are growing into adults. Jake and Sophie are excellent role models and examples. And I hope that we get another story with them.

This is the type of stories I encourage my own teens and young adult children to read. It is clean, but shows real struggles and trials. This book was a great read. I could hardly put it down. The discussion guide at the end is great for families or youth groups to work through together. It is an excellent read. I can easily recommend it. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Leslea Wahl:
To Serve and Protect

Finding Faith Series:
Into the Spotlight
Charting the Course
…
An Unexpected Role – Republished as Into The Spotlight
…

Blind Side Series:
…

All For One:
Unlikely Witness (Original Edition)
…

Contributed to:



The Ultimate Blindside - Leslea Wahl - Blindside Series Book 3


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Sunday, 21 December 2025

The Gift of the Angel Tree - Catholic Teen Books

The Gift of the Angel Tree
From Catholic Teen Books
eISBN 9798231114870
ASIN B0G3B8BV64

The Gift of the Angel Tree - Catholic Teen Books

I somehow missed this volume when it released a year ago. That was my loss. Do not make my mistake pick it up and give it a read. This book is a little different. Like the earlier volume, The Christmas Lights, it was a story written in parts, serially. It is a deeply moving story. And the first in the collection that is historical fiction and not set in contemporary times. It was sort of an experiment. We are informed that:

“"The Gift of the Angel Tree" is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by five Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast.”

And the description of the story is:

“In late 19th century Chicago, Jenny wants only one gift from her father. She wants him to go back to church. It's what her late mother would've wanted too. But curmudgeonly Patrick is bitter. Bitter about his wife's death. Bitter about the changes in his city.

With reluctance, Patrick nevertheless sets out to find a special Christmas gift for an out-of-work man. With the help of the most unlikely companions, Patrick might be able to let go of his bitterness just enough to enjoy the blessings of Christmas.”

We are further informed in the introduction that:

“Catholic Teen Books is a collaborative website of authors who all write faith-based fiction for middle school and high school teens. In December of 2020, many of the Catholic Teen Books authors wrote a collaborative story, “The Christmas Lights,” for Christmas that was read on Jedlie’s Reading with Your Kids Podcast, on Christmas Eve.

In each subsequent year, Catholic Teen Books authors have collaborated on another Christmas story. Jed gives us a prompt, and one by one each of us write a section as the story passes from author to author. Only the final author knows the entire story until we read it for the podcast.

We’ve enjoyed these projects and want to share these fun, short stories with others. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.
We hope you enjoy!”

The books in this series are:

The Christmas Lights
A Fowl Christmas
A Saint Nicholas Eve Carol
The Gift of the Angel Tree
A Lack of Christmas Spirits

The eBook of the story becomes available the year after it is done on the podcast. The contributors to this specific volume are:


This is a great short story it is very moving. It is a story about young woman working to help her father return to the church. She is inspired to pick a tag from the Angel Tree at church for her father to pick a gift. Times are hard, and many are out of work and struggling. But things are not always as they appear, or as we assume them to be.  

I have really enjoyed all 5 stories in this series. But this one really hits differently. I think about the Angel tree we have at church and how for many years the kids would pick someone their age to purchase for. I think about the great need in our own day and age, and I reflected upon the time where we were in need and others helped. 
  
Insight might come from the most surprising of places, or even surprising people. If our eyes and hearts are open; and maybe a miracle of a transformed heart. But to find out the details you will need to read this wonderful short story. I can easily recommend this book and the previous volumes in the same style from the Catholic Teen Books Authors. 

Please note: This is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by four Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Links to other reviews of books by the contributors:
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Friday, 19 December 2025

A Lack of Christmas Spirits - Catholic Teen Books

A Lack of Christmas Spirits
From Catholic Teen Books
eISBN 9798232509170
ASIN B0G3CR9G6R

A Lack of Christmas Spirits - Catholic Teen Books

This book is a little different. Like the earlier volume, The Christmas Lights, it was a story written in parts, serially. It is a very fun and a deeply moving story. It was sort of an experiment. We are informed that:

“A Lack of Christmas Spirits is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by five Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast.”

And the description of the story is:

“At each other's throats since the recent contentious presidential election, Cal's youth group finally settles on a Christmas service project. If Cal can just keep his distance from Nick, maybe he can enjoy some quality time with Michaela while they're at it. But when Cal's elderly grandma goes missing, all of the youth group members, especially Cal, will be put to the test. Can they get along well enough to do some good? Maybe even save some lives?”

We are further informed in the introduction that:

“Catholic Teen Books is a collaborative website of authors who all write faith-based fiction for middle school and high school teens. In December of 2020, many of the Catholic Teen Books authors wrote a collaborative story, “The Christmas Lights,” for Christmas that was read on Jedlie’s Reading with Your Kids Podcast, on Christmas Eve.

In each subsequent year, Catholic Teen Books authors have collaborated on another Christmas story. Jed gives us a prompt, and one by one each of us write a section as the story passes from author to author. Only the final author knows the entire story until we read it for the podcast.

We’ve enjoyed these projects and want to share these fun, short stories with others. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.
We hope you enjoy!”

The books in this series are:

The Christmas Lights
A Fowl Christmas
A Saint Nicholas Eve Carol
A Lack of Christmas Spirits

The eBook of the story becomes available the year after it is done on the podcast. The contributors to this specific volume are:


This is a wonderful short story. It is very moving. It is a story about a youth group that is experiencing serious conflict because of political differences. The group appears ready to split into two different camps along those political lines. But when they decide on a Christmas service project things do not go as planned and soon they realize they need each other more than they could ever have imagined. 

I have really enjoyed all 5 stories in this series. But this one really hit home this year. Not because of the political lines but because of the conflict and learning to see what really matters. 
  
Help might come from the most surprising of places, or even surprising people. And maybe a miracle; as some former friends might find they still have more in common than they thought. But to find out the details you will need to read this excellent short story. I can easily recommend this book and the previous volumes in the same style from the Catholic Teen Books Authors. 

Please note: This is a collective short story written sequentially in individual pieces by four Catholic Teen Books authors and originally presented aloud on Reading with Your Kids Podcast. Proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Links to other reviews of books by the contributors:
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Monday, 30 June 2025

Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Second Quarter 2025

 Top Ten Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Second Quarter 2025


It has been a good year for reading so far. I am averaging just over a book a day. It my best second quarter’s ever and one of my top 5 of all time. 

In April of 2023 I wrote a piece called How I Read So Much? Because I get asked the question so often, read the piece linked above if you are looking for some ideas on ways to read more. But a lot of it goes back to my dyslexia, and once I learned to read there were all these worlds and all this knowledge out there. I have been addicted since then. I wrote about that in 2006 Confessions of a Bibliophile #5 - How I Became a Bibliophile, From Dyslexic to Addict. 

This quarter I read 118 books, my best second quarter since I started tracking, the comparison with the last 8 years:

     2025 - 118
     2024 - 78
     2023 – 109
     2022 – 110
     2021 – 104
     2020 – 85
     2019 – 102
     2018 – 102
     2017 – 112
     2016 – 36

But back to this quarter by the numbers:

Books Read: 118
First Time Reads: 105
Fiction: 39
Non-Fiction: 79
5/5 Stars: 72

As mentioned one of my best quarters since I have started keeping track. Here is my top ten fiction and non-fiction books of the second quarter of 2025.

Top Ten Non-Fiction Books:

 6. Great Spiritual Teachers Series - Ave Maria Press
 8. CTS Deeper Christianity Series - Catholic Truth Society 
Providence and Prayer - Francis Selman
Union with God Living the Christ Life - Father David Vincent Meconi

Bonus Books:
  
Top Ten Fiction Books:

 2. Armstrong Adventure Series  - Nick Donnelly (Unpublished manuscripts)
02 Snares of the Demons
03 Faith of the Armstrong
 7. Gordon Korman Books
          Swindle - Swindle Book 1
          The Contest - Everest Book 1 
          Shipwreck - Shipwreck Book 1 
          The Discovery - Dive Book 1 
          The Stowaway Solution - On The Run Book 4 
          Slap Shot Series:
          Monday Night Football Club Series:
          Nose Pickers from Outer Space Series:

Bonus Books:
Richard Paolinelli - Dreams of the Storyteller

My reading has been staying pretty consistent at about a book a day over the last several years. I attribute in part to Brandon Vogt’s course Read More Books Now, removing all games but 1 brain game from my devices. And I was commuting to work on a bus and read on the bus every day. Working from home reading took a little more discipline, and we are now back to a hybrid model with 5 days a month in the office, so things are changing again.  

Note: I do not include books that have been read in previous years and were reread this year in my top ten lists, they are sometimes in the bonus section.
 
 
But if you want more options check out my favourite books year by year list. 


Relates Posts: 
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Reading Goals for 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2010
Top 10 Fiction Books 4th Quarter 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2010 - Recap
Top 10 Fiction Books 2010
Top 10 Picture Books of 2010
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books of 2010
Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2010
Top Ten Reading Goals For 2011 
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals for 2011 Update 
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2011 
Top Ten Fictions Books 4th Quarter 2011
Top Ten Fiction Books 2011
Top Ten Reading Goals 2011 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 3rd Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books  4th Quarter 2012
Top Ten Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2012
Top Ten Reading Goals 2012 - Recap
Top Ten Reading Goals 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 1st Quarter 2013
Top 10 Fiction Books 2nd Quarter 2013
Top 10 Books Second Half 2013
Top Ten Fiction Books 2013
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2013 
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2014
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2014
Top Ten Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2014
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2015
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2015
Top Ten Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2015
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2016
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2016
Top Ten Non- Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Fiction Books 2016
Top Ten Catholic Books
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2017
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2017
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Fiction Books 2017
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2018
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2018
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Fiction Books 2018
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2019
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2019
Top Ten Non-Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Fiction Books 2019
Top Ten Books First Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Second Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2020
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2020 
Top Ten Books Third Quarter 2025
Top Ten Books Fourth Quarter 2025
...  

All Top Ten Lists on Book Reviews and More

Statistics Books Read By Year:
250 – 2025 January - June
363 - 2024  
455 - 2023 
438 - 2022
365 - 2021
317 - 2020 
392 - 2019
359 - 2018
380 - 2017 
272 - 2016 
177 - 2015 
130 - 2014 
 88 -  2013
176 - 2012 
163 - 2011
302 - 2010
142 - 2009
 98 - 2008
 83 - 2007
191 - 2006
151 - 2005
 60 - 2004
 52 - 2003
 97 - 2002
 50 - 2001
 41 - 2000
 71 - 1999
 73 - 1998
131 - 1997
101 - 1996



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