Hello, everyone! Today, I’m going to be sharing five books that I want to read this July!

1. The Design of Providence Anthology

Blurb: Before there was a United States, there was a dream forged in the crucible of revolution—and a steadfast belief that a divine hand was shaping the nation’s destiny. From the bloody snow of the Boston Massacre to the treacherous battlefields of the South, the path to liberty was fraught with peril, heartbreak, and impossible choices.
In this landmark collection of historical short stories, ten authors of Christian fiction sweep you into the heart of the American Revolution. Journey alongside historical giants like George Washington and his steadfast valet, William Lee. Witness the fire of a young Andrew Jackson standing against British tyranny, and feel the tension as John Adams, America’s first ambassador, stands before the very king he defied.
Intertwining fact and fiction, each story masterfully explores the personal cost of allegiance, the agony of families divided by war, and the quiet, persistent thread of faith that wove through it all.
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with this immersive, faith-filled journey into the soul of a nation’s founding.

I am looking forward to some patriotic reads this July to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday! This collection of stories about the American Revolution looks really interesting! I am especially excited to read Jayna Baas’s story as I have read her novels Preacher on the Run and Patriot at the River before and really enjoyed them!

2. The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz

Blurb: In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides–Patriots and Loyalists–causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond. As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty. Proclaimed “wordsmith extraordinaire” by Library Journal, Laura Frantz delivers a stirring tale of divided loyalties, sisterhood, and love.

Another American Revolution story, I am looking forward to reading this book as I have read and enjoyed one of Laura Frantz’s other novels. The American Revolution actually isn’t a time period I have read about much, so I think this one will be interesting, especially with the spy and survival elements!

3. Unbanded by Hope Ann

Blurb: Anna wants her memories back. All of them.
___
I shouldn’t be alive.
The Unbanded rebels did something to my mind before my brother rescued me with a city patrol…at least, that’s what I was told when I woke up. There’s a gap in my memory from the past year.
My brother says I should rest and recover. My handlers say my mind can be cured if I’m patient. They all say I should trust the emotional regulation of the band on my arm and the basan in my veins.
Except they aren’t telling me everything.
Maybe they’re right to mistrust me.
All I know is I was on a mission. A mission that isn’t complete. A mission that holds answers about who I am, the bands we all wear, and the rebels’ supposed plan to use them against us.
I’ve forgotten something important, and there’s no time for patience.
I need to know what happened. What I did and why. Otherwise, I may find myself helping my enemies.
Or worse—betraying my friends.
If you enjoy the action and stakes of Hunger Games and the setting vibes of City of Ember, you will love the characters and world of Unbanded. Read today to discover the truth hidden behind the experiments on Anna’s mind.

While I love the dystopian genre, it can be hard to find clean/Christian dystopian, so I was super excited when I heard of Hope Ann’s new release! I have already heard a lot of good things about this book, and I can’t wait to read it! Also, the cover is amazing!!!

4. Message in a Bottle Romance Collection

Blurb: Join the journey as one word etched in Latin on an ancient bronze bottle travels through the centuries to reach five young women who are struggling to maintain their faith in God and love. An Irish princess, a Scottish story weaver, a Post-Colonial nurse, a cotton mill worker, and a maid who nearly drowned each receive a message from the bottle just when they need their hope restored. But will the bottle also bring them each to a man whose love will endure?

I think the premise of this collection sounds so interesting: the same message in a bottle in five different locations and time periods tying the stories together! It looks like the perfect summery read! The different settings all sound interesting. Also, two of my favorite authors are in this collection (Amanda Dykes and Joanne Bischof)!

5. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Blurb: “Who am I becoming?”

That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words: “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.” It wasn’t the response he expected, but it was–and continues to be–the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness, as a root of much evil. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.

The topic of rest, particularly from a Biblical perspective, is something that I have been exploring lately. Rest is something that is so devalued in our society today, but, as I am learning, it is so important; God did not create us to be constantly busy! I am eager to read Comer’s perspective on the topic!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my July TBR List! What books are you looking forward to reading this upcoming month? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!