December 2020 – Erin McKnight

I’m a voracious reader. Since I read across all genres and demographics, it isn’t surprising for me to have 2-3 books going at a time. (Don’t judge me. I switch between them depending on my mood.) That being said, there were a lot of wonderful books in front of my eyes this year, but one stood out above the rest.

The Savior’s Sister is the companion novel to the first book in the Savior Series, The Savior’s Champion. Leila is the One True Savior and rightful ruler of Thessen, but her reign is in peril. A tournament designed to select her future husband is transformed into a way to bring assassins into her palace. Her father, Brontes, is determined to seize her throne for himself. Now Leila is in a race against the clock to discover her father’s secrets in order to save not only her life, but the life of a certain competitor that has absconded with her heart.

While this is a companion novel, this dystopian romance works wonderfully as a standalone. This book checks every box for me. Romance. Suspense. Action. Colorful characters. Immersive world-building. It is the total package.

I thought I knew want to expect going into this. I devoured the first novel in the series. I knew the story, but not all of it. Holy cow! It’s as if it has opened my eyes. There was so much going on behind the scenes of the first novel. Seeing what was happening in the palace while the competitors duke it out in the Labyrinth in some ways was even more satisfying than the original.

One of the most enjoyable parts of this novel is the strong female characters at its center. A lot of novels I read turn a strong female figure into a Mary Sue. This book does not do that. Leila is a kick-ass woman willing to take on anyone, but she is far from perfect. She makes mistakes. She shows vulnerabilities. She has to have help. The whole thing is refreshing.

There isn’t much more I can say about the novel without giving away its surprises, but I will say that this is a fantastic read. There is graphic violence and adult content, so steer clear if either of those is an issue for you.

You can get your own copy of The Savior’s Sister in ebook, hardback, and paperback at the link below. Give it a read. You will not be disappointed.

Amazon.com: The Savior’s Sister (The Savior’s Series Book 2) eBook: Moreci, Jenna: Kindle Store

Every year, my church puts together an advent devotional booklet filled with devotionals written by church members. The pastor asked me to write one this year with the overarching theme of “Fear Not.” I wasn’t just afraid. I was terrified.

It was laughable for me to think that I, with my mental health struggles, could write something about not having fear when I fight against it every day. Then I thought about the overall themes of advent. Hope. Joy. Peace. Love. Christ. Hope jumped out at me, and I was reminded of a rather dark moment during the pandemic lockdown.

625 sqft. That is what my world consisted of during quarantine. 625 sqft, a dining table workstation, and two cats. No family. No friends. Just me, myself, and I.

It was an introvert’s paradise! It was everything I thought I had always wanted. Then my dream turned into a living nightmare.

Having no human contact outside of a Zoom call was a blessing in the beginning. I could pick and choose whether I wanted to engage with anyone. If a video call was too peoplely, I could just opt out for the day. No explanation needed. No risk of hurting anyone. Slowly, that little bit of interaction became all that I had. That is when my thoughts started taking a turn for the worst.

625 sqft started to feel more like 6.25. Everything became cold and dark. That blessed reprieve from human interaction started to drive me deeper and deeper into myself until I started questioning my own validity. My own purpose. I was alone and isolated in a way that I had never imagined I could be.

Every day got a little bit harder. Just mustering the energy to pull myself out of bed felt like one of the trials of Hercules. The resounding thought that “this was it” played over and over again in my mind. I was going to live and die alone. My 625 sqft of paradise had become like a tomb. There was nobody there but me. Nobody to make sure I was alright. I was completely and utterly alone.

Then a voice in the back of my mind reached through the fog and reminded me of something I had almost forgotten.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

As I lay on my couch, tears rolling down my face, a tiny spark of hope welled up inside my chest. I imagined the Father’s loving arms around me as he whispered reassurances in my ear. I was never truly alone. Nor would I be. He had never left my side, and no power on this earth would ever take him from me.

Month: December 2020

Best Book of the Year

625 Square Feet – An Advent 2020 Devotional