Category: Book Review

July is the mid-point of the year. I haven’t yet accomplished my goals for this year, but I have done a fair bit of reading. According to my Goodreads log, I’ve read 222 books so far in 2026.

Here are a few of my favorites:

God Must Be A Fly Fisher: The Drift of a Lifetime

A dear friend suffering from lung cancer gave me a worn paperback copy of this book shortly before she died. Like the sport of fly fishing, my friend was peaceful and gentle. I hope there’s fly fishing in heaven, and I hope I get to fish with my friend again.

You can read the Kindle book for free at https://amzn.to/4hgFLwg with Kindle Unlimited. Or buy a physical copy, so you can pass it on to someone else, as my friend did to me and I did to the next person.

Fox Be Nimble

Fox Be Nimble is a book I enjoyed reading to my children, too long ago! It was fun to reread this lyrical book and laugh at Fox’s antics. If you are in the market for a children’s book, this one is old but good.

Firefly Lane: A Novel

I started reading Firefly Lane because a relative was reading it. It was the first time I read Kristin Hannah, and I went on to read more of her books. Unfortunately, my relative is still reading Firefly Lane months later. She has dementia, and can’t remember where she last read. I’m thankful the book is engaging enough to keep her occupied, even if she doesn’t keep the whole story in mind.

These are just three of my 5-star reads this year. To see what else I’ve read, check out my Goodreads log and read my reviews. Find something good to read before the year is out.

#Goodreads #GoodBooks #Reading2026 #FavoriteBooks

Review of Who Touches the Mountains, by Deborah Raney

Deborah Raney’s Who Touches the Mountains launches a new series, drawing inspiration from Psalm 104:31-34, from which she takes the phrase, The God Who. This passage speaks of praise for God’s glory seen in creation. Raney aptly selected the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, specifically the scenic area around Asheville encompassing Black Mountain, Chimney Rock, and Montreat, as the setting for her debut book in the series.

Just before the scheduled release of Who Touches the Mountains, Hurricane Helene tore a path of destruction through that region, with catastrophic flooding and loss of life. Raney wondered if allowing publication on the heels of this real-life tragedy would seem insensitive and exploitative. In the end, she decided the book honors the resolve of the area’s residents, and she is donating a portion of the book’s profits toward rebuilding the affected communities.

In Who Touches the Mountains, Raney crafts a tale of loss, grief, romance, and even mystery. The veteran author incorporates inspirational elements into the story in a natural, unobtrusive way, touching on themes of prayer, church attendance, one’s relationship with God, and forgiveness.

For those who have weathered a storm, may you find encouragement in the pages of Raney’s book, as you lift your eyes toward The God Who.

Upcoming titles in The God Who series include Who Stirs Up the Sea, Who Names the Stars, and Who Measures the Oceans.

@AuthorDebRaney #ChristianRomance #ChristianFiction #TheGodWho #Inspirational