Between The Pages | August 2025 Reading Round Up

Welcome to my August Reading Round Up! I’m honestly shocked as I write this, but it turns out I read a whopping 14 books this month. My literary journey took me all over the globe, from the USA to the UK, Canada, and France, and my reading list was just as diverse.

Though I wouldn’t typically pick up a western frontier historical fiction, I found myself captivated by several short and sweet Christian stories about mail-order brides. These were all around 76-120 pages and were incredibly faith-filled. Beyond the frontier, I read about books, new beginnings at a lighthouse, and a determined mother on a mission to save her daughter. I also delved into an investigation mystery, an end-of-life story, and a tale of a woman’s new start.

This month’s reads truly ran the gamut of emotions—I went from belly laughing to sitting on the edge of my seat, and even shedding a few tears.

Come along with me as I share all the details of these great reads!

Letters of Freedom: The Carmel Sheehan Story – Book 1 by Jean Grainger (via Kindle Unlimited)

Letters of Freedom: The Carmel Sheehan Story – Book 1 by Jean Grainger is the first book in a trilogy that follows the journey of a woman who uncovers shocking truths about her past.

The story centers on Carmel Sheehan, a 40-year-old Irish woman living a quiet, unfulfilling life. She was raised in a Dublin orphanage and was always told that her unwed mother abandoned her as a baby. She has resigned herself to a practical, but loveless marriage and a life that feels “just fine”—not exciting, but not awful either.

Her world is turned upside down when a total stranger contacts her on Facebook with information that completely contradicts the story of her origins. The message is a revelation that could change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

Torn between deleting the message and stepping into the unknown, Carmel decides to travel to Dublin to meet the stranger. What she discovers about her true story is both shocking and heartwarming, and it sets her on a path of self-discovery, forcing her to confront the past in order to build a better future. The novel is a gripping tale of love, loyalty, betrayals, and secrets that shaped her fate long before she was born.

The Future’s Not Ours To See: The Carmel Sheehan Series Book 2 (The Carmel Sheehan Story) by Jean Grainger  (via Kindle Unlimited)

The Future’s Not Ours To See is the second book in Jean Grainger’s Carmel Sheehan Story trilogy. Picking up where the first book left off, Carmel is now faced with a monumental decision.

After uncovering the shocking truth about her past and the mother she never knew, Carmel is offered a chance at a new life in London by the handsome and charming Dr. Sharif Khan. This opportunity is a lifeline left for her by her birth mother from beyond the grave, a path to a life filled with joy, friendship, and the love she has always craved.

However, Carmel finds herself pulled back to her past reality: She’s not yet divorced from a miserable and loveless marriage to the “monosyllabic” Bill and his “malicious” sister in a small Irish town. She doesn’t put it past her sister in law to sabotage Sharif’s hospice facility and put everyone in danger to fulfill her own grudges and hate against Carmel. As her 40th birthday approaches, Carmel realizes that this may be her only chance to escape her old clutches and truly live on her own terms.

The book follows Carmel’s struggle to find the courage to leave her unfulfilling life and embrace the future her mother wanted for her, even if it means scandalizing her community. It’s a story of self-discovery, finding one’s worth, and confronting the past in order to finally live a life of joy and purpose— do we hear wedding bells?

The Sea House: A BRAND NEW utterly spellbinding mystery from Louise Douglas  (via Kindle Unlimited)

The Sea House by Louise Douglas is a spellbinding mystery that weaves together a story of a mysterious bequest and a tragic love from the past. The plot centers on the death of an elderly woman named Elisabeth Quemener, who leaves behind a small, sealed parcel with one strict instruction: it can only be opened by a woman named Astrid Oake.

The problem is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is. Elisabeth’s family hires the Touissants detective agency to track her down. Mila Shepherd and her partner, Carter Jackson, take on the case, but all they have to go on is an old photograph of two young women holding the hands of a small child. The women in the photo, who may or may not be Astrid and Elisabeth, are smiling, but Mila is haunted by the sadness she sees in their eyes.

As Mila digs into Elisabeth’s quiet life, she uncovers unsettling clues that suggest the old woman was living in fear. The deeper she gets into the mystery, the more she feels a connection to the story unfolding—a story of family secrets, old friendships, and a past that holds the key to the present. The race is on for Mila to find Astrid and deliver the parcel, because what’s inside might just be the one thing that can save a life. The book is an atmospheric and gripping mystery that takes the reader from the seaside town of Morranez in Brittany to the wintry moors of Yorkshire as Mila attempts to unravel the hidden secrets of the past. **This book was part of my #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge**

The Lighthouse Cafe (Gulf Coast Getaway Book 1) by Bebe Reed (via Kindle Unlimited)

The Lighthouse Cafe by Bebe Reed is the first book in the Gulf Coast Getaway series. It’s a heartwarming story about a family on a journey of new beginnings, self-discovery, and healing.

The story begins with Ginny Rigby, a 53-year-old widow who, at the reading of her late husband’s will, is delivered two devastating blows: she learns that he had a secret family and that she has only one hour to vacate her home. Shocked and homeless, Ginny drives aimlessly until she finds herself on the Florida Gulf Coast, where she impulsively buys a historical lighthouse at an auction.

Ginny decides to turn the lighthouse into a beachside cafe, using her late mother’s recipes. While she’s never run a business before, she’s determined to make it a success. The only thing she’s unsure of is how to tell her daughters the truth about their father.

Meanwhile, her two grown daughters are also at a crossroads. Reece, a second-year medical student, is secretly failing and feels lost. When she learns her mother needs help with the cafe, she sees it as a perfect escape from her academic struggles. Chandler, a successful jewelry designer in New York, has lost her creative spark and feels she’s lost her purpose. A trip to the beach seems like just what she needs to find her muse again.

As these three women come together to build the cafe, they must confront their own secrets and face the truths they’ve been hiding from one another. The book is a journey of heartache and love, where they find inspiration and healing by mending not only the lighthouse but also themselves and their relationships.

The Bookshop on the Corner: A cozy bookstore romance (Scottish Village of Kirrenfief Book 1) by Jenny Colgan (via Kindle Unlimited)

The Bookshop On The Corner by Jenny Colgan (also published as The Little Shop of Happy Ever After) is a feel-good story about starting over and the power of books.

The novel follows Nina Redmond, a librarian who loves nothing more than finding the perfect book for every person. She has a true talent for literary matchmaking. Still, her passion is put to the test when her library branch is closed down and her job is eliminated. Facing an uncertain future, Nina is determined to find a way to keep working with books.

On a whim, she buys a large van and moves to a sleepy village in the Scottish Highlands. She decides to convert the van into a mobile bookshop and travels around the countryside, bringing the magic of reading to small communities that have lost their own libraries.

As she navigates her new life, she meets a cast of quirky characters, including a grumpy but kind-hearted landlord, a charming train conductor, and a group of local residents who are delighted to have access to books again. Through her mobile bookshop, Nina not only helps others find their happy-ever-afters but also begins to write her own, learning to put down the books and experience life, love, and adventure for herself.

Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure: by Rhsy Bowen  (via Kindle Unlimited)

Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen tells the story of Ellie Endicott, a woman in pre-World War II England who finds herself blindsided by her husband’s demand for a divorce after 30 years of marriage. Rather than let this betrayal define her, Ellie sees it as an opportunity for change.

The unfaithful husband can have the house—Ellie is taking the Bentley. She and her dear friends, her housekeeper, Mavis, and her elderly friend, Dora, impulsively set off for the South of France. Their journey takes them to the small, charming fishing village of Saint Benet, where their car breaks down.

Ellie decides to rent an abandoned villa in the hills and, as they settle into this new life, she finds herself making new friends and falling for Nico, a handsome and mysterious fisherman. Just as she’s beginning to build a fulfilling new life for herself, the threat of war looms closer.

This novel is a captivating tale of resilience, friendship, and new love as Ellie charts a daring new course for herself. It’s an inspiring story about a woman who, in the face of betrayal, finds the courage to start a new adventure she never expected. **This book was part of my #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge**

A Single Act of Kindness: by Samantha Tonge   (via Kindle Unlimited)

A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge is about a woman named Tilda who has meticulously crafted a life built on order and isolation. After a difficult past, she’s determined to protect herself by running her successful business and keeping everyone at a safe emotional distance. She believes that by maintaining a controlled, organized existence, she will never again have to face the vulnerability and fear she once experienced.

Her carefully constructed world is challenged by a chance encounter with Milo, a homeless man who has fallen on hard times. Despite her firm rule of avoiding personal attachments, Tilda feels an unexpected pull to help him. She surprises herself by offering him assistance, viewing his life as a project she can easily fix with her superior organizational skills. Tilda is convinced that if she can just get Milo’s life in order, he’ll be able to get back on his feet, and she can go back to her safe, predictable existence.

What Tilda doesn’t realize is that this one seemingly simple act of kindness is a catalyst that will fundamentally change her own life. By opening herself up to helping Milo, she is forced to confront her deepest fears and the very defenses she has spent years building. The novel explores whether the barriers she’s put up to keep herself safe are truly protecting her or if they are preventing her from experiencing the joys of connection, love, and community.

It is an uplifting story about how vulnerability can lead to unexpected happiness and that sometimes, the greatest act of kindness you can perform is for yourself.

Odd Mom Out by Sandi Day (via Kindle Unlimited)

Odd Mom Out by Sandi Day is a heartfelt and humorous women’s fiction novel about a woman’s journey of self-discovery and reinvention in midlife.

The story centers on Trudy Asp, a recently divorced woman who is struggling with her weight, her business, and her confidence. Things get worse when she discovers her ex-husband is engaged to the same dental hygienist who has cleaned her teeth for years. To add to her chaos, her daughter announces she’s getting married in Europe, a revelation that forces Trudy to confront her fear of flying.

With her daughter’s wedding looming, Trudy feels immense pressure to get her life together. She’s horrified at the thought of facing her ex and his new, “scrawny” fiancée while wearing a gown. This event becomes a catalyst for change. As she prepares for the transatlantic trip and her role as the mother of the bride, Trudy begins to address the issues she’s been avoiding. Yet to boot, her daughter hasn’t responded to any of her recent text messages. Trudy’s motherly instinct tells her there’s something wrong, and she intends to find out what.

The novel is a relatable and inspiring look at how one woman’s journey to her daughter’s wedding becomes a humorous and emotional mission to reclaim her life. It’s a story about female friendships, mother-daughter relationships, and the powerful realization that it’s never too late to start over. **This book was part of my the #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge**

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin (via Kindle Unlimited)

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin is a beautifully poignant and uplifting novel about an unlikely friendship that blossoms in a hospital’s terminal ward.

The story centers on two main characters:

• Lenni Pettersson, a witty and insightful 17-year-old who is facing a terminal illness.
• Margot, an equally spirited and rebellious 83-year-old heart patient.

When they meet in the hospital’s art class, they discover a profound connection. They realize that together, their ages add up to exactly one hundred years. To celebrate their shared century of life, they embark on a joint project: to create one hundred paintings that each represent a story from their lives.

As they work on their art, they share tales of their pasts—stories of first loves, great adventures, heartbreak, and resilience. Lenni’s youthful curiosity and Margot’s lifetime of wisdom create a dynamic and deeply moving narrative. Through their unique friendship, they find a way to leave their mark on the world, proving that even as their time dwindles, there is still so much living to be done.

The book is a blend of humor, sadness, and profound hope, exploring themes of friendship, legacy, and finding beauty and meaning even in the face of death. Lenni also explores faith when she befriends the hospital chaplain, who becomes a dear and trusted friend and confidant.

Paris Time Capsule: Sad, emotional, and gripping historical fiction (Secrets of Paris Book 1) by Ella Carey (via Kindle Unlimited)

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey is a dual-timeline historical fiction novel inspired by the real-life discovery of a long-abandoned Parisian apartment.

The story unfolds in two interconnected timelines:

1940, Paris: We follow Isabelle de Florian, a young woman living in Paris on the brink of Nazi occupation. For months, she has been playing a dangerous game of secrets to protect the people she loves. As the city becomes increasingly treacherous, she is forced to flee, leaving behind her life and her treasured apartment, which becomes a perfectly preserved time capsule.

2015, New York: The story also follows Cat Jordan, a New York-based photographer. Her life is turned upside down when she receives a parcel containing a key and a letter informing her that she is the sole heir to the estate of a complete stranger: Isabelle de Florian. Confused and intrigued, Cat travels to Paris to claim her inheritance and find out why this woman, a friend of her late grandmother, left everything to her.

As Cat explores the dusty apartment and the letters and artifacts within, she begins to unravel the mystery of Isabelle’s escape and the secrets of her own family’s past. The novel is a captivating blend of wartime history, romance, and a compelling mystery, as Cat’s quest for answers about Isabelle’s life leads her to discover truths about herself and what she truly wants from her future.

Mail Order Bride: Claire (Unexpected Brides Historical Christian Romance Book 1) by Emily Woods (via Kindle Unlimited)

Mail Order Bride: Claire by Emily Woods is a historical Christian romance novel about two people who aren’t looking for love but find it anyway.

The story follows Claire, a woman who has traveled west to Virginia City in search of a new job and a new life. At the same time, we meet Benjamin, a baker who is searching for the perfect woman to help him run his bakery business.

Neither Claire nor Benjamin is actively looking for a romantic relationship. However, Benjamin’s meddling, matchmaking father has other plans. He brings them together, and despite their initial intentions, they find themselves drawn to one another. The book is described as a sweet western romance that explores how, with a bit of help from a well-meaning family member, two people can unexpectedly find love and build a life together.

Love Most Certain: A Friend’s More Sweet Christian Historical Romance by Penny Zeller (via Kindle Unlimited)

Love Most Certain by Penny Zeller is a sweet Christian historical romance about a woman who believes she’s done with love, and the man who sets out to change her mind. The novel is part of the Love Letters from Ellis Creek series.

The story follows Genevieve Amsel, who is heartbroken after a canceled engagement. To get a fresh start, she moves to the small town of Ellis Creek, determined to never fall in love again. She is a woman on a mission to put her heart back together, not to find a new man.

At the same time, we meet Oliver Bessell, the new postmaster in Ellis Creek. He is determined to win over the town’s residents, and in particular, the beautiful and guarded Genevieve. He makes it his personal mission to cheer her up, leaving her encouraging notes on the breakfast table at their boarding house.

Their budding relationship takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious letter arrives at the post office, presenting a puzzle that draws them closer together. This tender and lighthearted romance explores whether Oliver can prove to Genevieve that he is nothing like the man who broke her heart, and if newfound love can truly heal a broken one. The novel is a story of faith, humor, and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Bride of Argyle (Mail Order Ministers Book 3) by Katie Crabapple  (via Kindle Unlimited)

Bride of Argyle by Katie Crabapple is a Christian historical romance about a woman seeking a new beginning and a pastor in need of a partner.

The story follows Beatrice, who is left heartbroken and alone after her fiancé marries someone else. Looking for a fresh start, she accepts a proposal to become a mail-order bride to a young minister in Texas.

Meanwhile, Adam, the minister, feels lonely in his work in Argyle, Texas. He is nervous about the prospect of marrying a stranger, but he trusts that God will guide him to the right woman.

The novel explores whether these two strangers can form a genuine connection and fall in love, or if they will merely have a functional relationship, akin to that of husband and wife. It’s a sweet romance about faith, hope, and the chance to find love in an unexpected arrangement.

Mail Order Margaret (Homespun Book 4) by Katie Crabapple  (via Kindle Unlimited)

Mail Order Margaret by Katie Crabapple, the fourth installment in the Homespun series, is a sweet historical romance set in post-World War I Minnesota.

The story revolves around two people seeking a new beginning. Daniel, a man who grew up knowing his parents met through a mail-order bride arrangement, decides to follow in his father’s footsteps. He believes this is the ideal way to find his future wife.

Meanwhile, Margaret (Maggie) is grieving the loss of her fiancé, who was killed in the war. Her hometown no longer feels like home, and she’s searching for a way to move on with her life. When she sees a mail-order bride advertisement, she’s intrigued by the prospect of a completely fresh start.

The novel explores whether a historical tradition can work in a new era and whether Daniel and Maggie can find a future together, despite the emotional baggage they each carry from the past. It’s a gentle and heartwarming story of finding hope and love after loss.

August Reading Roundup: Final Thoughts

And there you have it—a peek into my August reads. This month felt like a true literary journey, a delightful mix of new adventures and comforting returns. I found myself traveling through different eras with gripping historical fiction, falling in love with endearing characters in sweet romances, and even getting a taste of feel-good contemporary tales that left me with a warm heart. Each book was a new world, a new perspective, and a quiet escape from the everyday.

One of the best parts of reading is sharing the experience. Now, I’d like to hear from you. What were the standout books on your shelf this month? Did you discover a new favorite author, or did a beloved series finally get a new installment? Let me know what you read and what you would recommend for my September list!

I’m partying with these Amazing Blog Hop | Link Up party hostesses! & #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge, hosted by Anabel of Anabookbel and Emma from Words And Peace.