Cozy Reads for January

Happy New Year! 

This past year I've really been reading a lot and spending a lot of time on my Goodreads app to track and rate books as well as document my books I want to read. Because of that, my goal for this year is to read 50 books! I didn't set a goal last year until half way through the year but I did reach it. So anyways, this year I really wanted to share a lot of the books I've been reading and loving. I've tried to categorize them and then I will post the lists monthly as blogs here. Now, if you've been reading my blogs for a while you know that I am a fan of recommending free things rather than asking you to spend your money. This series of my recommended monthly readings will mostly be free but could have one or two books that you may have to buy in order to read (unless a friend has a copy and will lend it to you- which is always worth a shot, as well as checking out your neighbourhoods Little Free Library- which isn't always registered on the site so its worth searching while your out walking your dog.) but that I believe is worth the money to purchase. I have tried to keep these "non-free" reads to one per month. I have a small book collection because I rarely re-read books. However, this last year I have re-read books and got the inspiration to create my own personal little library of books I love which is how this monthly blog series came to be. A lot of these books in these lists are in my personal little collection or on my list to add to it but ALL of these books have been read by me.

I want to mention that the books that have physical copies available through Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) you may have to "place a hold" to get it sent to your nearest Library. I have done this several times with several books and once it's at my library I get an email stating its ready for pick up so I head to my library and tell them my name and borrow it. Sometimes this takes days and sometimes weeks- it just depends so keep that in mind. Also The Libby app is connected to SPL but is its own app that you would need to download for free and have a Saskatoon Public Library Card in order to access these titles. Library Cards are free. All you need to do is go to your nearest library (or any Saskatoon library) with a piece of ID and fill out the registration form then they will hand you your library card and you're ready to borrow!

Also, although not this month, some of these "free reads" are on Kindle Unlimited (You do not need to purchase a kindle to access these titles. You can download the Kindle App for free on your phone or iPad, tablet, etc.) Kindle Unlimited is a pay subscription service but when you first sign up you usually get anywhere between 1-3 months free before you have to pay the monthly $10ish dollars that gives you access to millions of books which again I do believe is worth it for the books I'll be recommending plus more. It's also cheaper than buying the kindle versions in general. 

***I give examples where you can borrow these books for free but that doesn't mean you can't purchase and add to your collection, of course! I always encourage supporting authors so for this reason the title will be linked to amazon where you can purchase these books to support the author (and me at no extra cost to you) and the following links will be free resources to access these books legally and in ways that don't hurt the author. I usually borrow a book, read it and then return it and decide if I will read it again and/or want it in my collection then proceed with purchasing it. I will not recommend or or even look for or share ways to get free books that are pirated.***

This months category is "Cozy reads".  I've decided to recommend 5 books (one for each week of this month plus one cause you can't leave out the last book of a series) although, the first three books are actually books I read or recommend reading throughout the entire year of 2025.

The Holy Bible

In the last 2 years I have read 2 versions of the bible both from Candace Cameron Bure: Incourage CSB (Christian Standard Bible)  ( I've linked the most similar due to her bibles not being in print anymore. Because of this, the NLT One Step Closer version is very expensive though it is linked) One Step Closer NLT (New Living Translation)  You do not need to purchase a bible to add to your personal library/ collection. There are several available through Libby ( The Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) online library). Also Mission Thrift Store gives away free bibles-a bunch of different versions/ translations. There are several apps you can use to access the bible for free such as The Bible App where you can access several different translations of the bible as well as other free bible related resources. I used The Bible Recaps Free Podcast to help me know, understand and love the bible as I followed their one year reading plan (which is also accessible through said Bible App) the past 2 years. The Bible Recap has several books and studies available as well) This year I am reading my Bible I received at my baptism when I was a baby which is The Good News New Testament & Psalms which has a reading plan at the back of it that I am using. I want to read this bible this year and then in 2026 purchase Candace Cameron Bure's next bible translation she is coming out with (that she just announced on IG stories) which I will use The Bible Recap for again. I would love to read a new translation each year and eventually read the bible in German one year.

Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort & Joy- Sarah Ban Breathnach. 

I have read this book ever since I picked it up at my Little Free Library 7 years or so ago. I've read it just randomly, I've read it following along the days, I've read it as a regular book just beginning to end, I've read it with each corresponding day. It's a write up of little meditations for each day of the year with little "bucket list" type things to do for each month. I highly recommend this book and have it in my collection. It was a big deal when it came out for a reason. She redid this book for a more modern version however the book I have is one of the original versions from the 90s. It still holds up to this day for the most part and the things that don't just give me some nostalgia.. You can access this book through SPL online library Libby as an ebook as well as take out a physical copy at the library amongst several of her other titles. I have seen this book at several Little Free Libraries as well.

Staying Strong 365 Days A Year- Demi Lovato

This is another book that is technically supposed to be read throughout the year but that I have read front to back as a regular book. This has affirmations from Demi Lovato who I am a huge fan of. It reminds me of Simple Abundance but just shorter, simpler write ups. I had bought this book and lent it and then donated it. I will be buying this book again to add to my collection. You can access a physical copy of this book through Saskatoon Public Library. 

A Night In With Audrey Hepburn (Libby Lomax 1)- Lucy Holliday

This is the first of a 3 book series. I enjoyed reading this entire series and found it cute and a great series of books to cozy up with by the fireplace in this cold Saskatchewan winter weather. I am a huge fan of vintage and antique vibes- movie stars, items, etc. So this series was perfect for me. I actually started out reading the second book because I had seen it at Walmart when it first came out several years ago and just "Marilyn Monroe" on the cover and bought it. I didn't however read it until 2 years ago then read the others. I enjoyed the books regardless but believe they are better when read in order. You can borrow a physical copy of this book through SPL as well as an ebook version through the Libby app, I believe. 

A Night In with Marilyn Monroe (Libby Lomax 2)- Lucy Holliday

This is the second book in the series but the first book I had read of the series. I love Marilyn Monroe and always have so I enjoyed this book of the series the most. You can borrow a physical copy of this book from Saskatoon Public Library as well as an ebook version through the SPL online Libby app.

A Night In with Grace Kelly (Libby Lomax 3)- Lucy Holiday

The third and final book of the series. To be honest, I didn't really know who Grace Kelly was so I wasn't the most intrigued by this third and final book other than finding out the main characters love story ending. The physical copy of this book can be borrowed through Saskatoon Public Library. 

Just a reminder:

The books that have physical copies available through Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) you may have to "place a hold" to get it sent to your nearest Library. I have done this several times with several books and once it's at my library I get an email stating its ready for pick up so I head to my library and tell them my name and borrow it. Sometimes this takes days and sometimes weeks- it just depends so keep that in mind. 

Thanks for reading!

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• 🖤 Tawny & Rex 🐾 (and Bear 🐻 & the kittens 🐈‍⬛ too!)