Pursuing a New Writing Project and My New Favorite Romance Series

I’m always thinking of my next writing project, and I’m feeling a lot of pride and genuine fulfilment in what I’m working on and working towards. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been interviewing military spouses about their experiences and helping to bring their stories into the world with help from Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life. The military life presents families with a unique set of challenges, and military wives or “dependents” are often misunderstood by the general community. Everyone’s story is different, and I wanted to challenge some stereotypes, inspire positive action, and help bring awareness to some of the spouses’ incredible achievements. You can find my first two articles about the topic here.

I’m currently planning on expanding and growing this series and am exploring potential publication options. If you have experience querying agents or managing self-publication through Amazon, I’d love to hear from you about your experience and tips. This project is still young and very much in the developmental stages, but it’s something I want to carry with me through the early stages of motherhood and our next move.

For today’s blog, I’ve got four very different genres to explore. First up, historical fiction set in 15^th century China. Next, I’ve got a memoir that exposes the toxicity and abuse of a famous family. Lastly, I’ve got two romance novels that are guaranteed to make you smile. I’m getting so close to being caught up on my book reviews, and I think I can realistically be before baby girl arrives. Wish me luck!

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Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa See back in 2020, and I was struck by her attention to detail in her research, something that is apparent in her immersive historical fiction. While much of the publishing industry is enamored with World War II and the American and European history most readers are typically familiar with, See turns her gaze to the women of China whose stories and histories are largely overlooked, glossed over, and ignored in history textbooks and library’s bookshelves.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women follows Tan Yunxian, a female doctor in the 15^th century who has the rare privilege of being able to examine the women around her, something male physicians could not personally do. However, she also faces the overwhelming obstacles of women’s limited independence, agency, and voice in the upper classes. Besides the physical limitations of having bound feet, she is also confined by the societal and familial expectations that she will remain within her family’s compound, bring pleasure to her husband, oversee the vast household of other women, and produce sons.

In many ways, Yunxian’s story feels foreign to us today. Having a male physician not even lay eyes on an ailing female patient and relying on any female in the household (even a child) to relay information about her symptoms to him was the cultural norm, and the rare female physicians could not touch blood, forcing them to rely on lower-class midwives to be hands-on during the labor and delivery process. Upper-class women were expected to have their feet broken and radically and torturously reshaped to please their future husbands, and the process put them at risk for deadly infections. The medicines and procedures that are so commonplace to us today were centuries away from discovery, so while there was an organized system of knowledge that saved lives, it had its limitations.

See does not shy away from providing details about everyday life in an effort to bring readers into her characters’ world. Parts of the narrative can drag while others feel glossed over, and I wish that a smaller segment of Yunxian’s life was focused on rather than the broader strokes and sweeps. The book’s summary makes Yunxian’s friendship with Meiling seem like a central thread of the narrative, but, in my opinion, it doesn’t have enough screen time or substance. With female relationships being such a major theme of See’s work, I wished this one was explored with more depth.

Overall, this book was okay for me, but it wasn’t my favorite of hers. If you’re new to See’s books, I would start with The Island of Sea Women and dive into some of her extensive backlist. I’m hoping to read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, but because it focuses on the relationship between mothers and daughters, I will probably want to wait until I’m out of my pregnancy and postpartum days first.

Holy Disrupter: Shattering the Shiny Façade by Getting Louder with the Truth by Amy Duggar King

Like so many others, I watched 19 Kids and Counting on TLC with curiosity. Having that many children was already a foreign concept to me, but watching their “courtships” televised added another alien layer to this puzzling family dynamic. As the years have gone on, I certainly don’t have to remind you about the bombshell after bombshell that has obliterated the innocent, God-loving, and God-fearing persona the Duggars worked so tirelessly to cultivate for the public eye. Their extremist Christian cult has done serious damage to thousands of innocent women and children, and the abuses, scandals, and subsequent arrests continue to fuel documentaries and headlines.

Amy Duggar King’s memoir provides an invaluable glimpse into the Duggar experience. As a Christian who grew up outside of the fundamentalist cult but not outside of the family’s circle of manipulation and abuse, she is able to detail the many ways her family has failed her, her mother, and her cousins. While Josh Duggar’s sexual crimes have been well-documented, Duggar King reveals that Jim Bob’s father was also an abuser. Her grandmother and mother strove to keep her safe from his depravity, and it’s clear Duggar King’s heart breaks for all of the women in her family who weren’t protected, whose stories were swept under the rug, whose suffering has been relatively silenced.

Similarly, her parents’ tumultuously abusive relationship provided her with years of heartache and instability, exposing her to further physical, mental, and emotional harm. As an outsider looking in, Duggar King could admire what seemed to be a peaceful and organized home when she visited her cousins. However, she became aware that the children she grew up with were becoming more and more foreign to her as they subscribed to and adhered to a strict code of conduct that made her seem “wild” and “rebellious” in comparison. Wearing pants and makeup, listening to modern music, and dating made her a sinful outsider. Without meaning to, Duggar King became absorbed into the media circus of her family’s reality TV show, but instead of receiving any financial compensation, she ended up sinking money into outfits, travel, and making herself continuously available for their intensive filming schedule.

Duggar King’s writing is not particularly flowery or eloquent, and while simplicity can be helpful, it felt like it needed a little more polish and editing. The themes she explores are heavy, and the abuses she recounts are bravely detailed. What the book lacks in writing finesse it more than makes up for in truthful, authentic content that does, indeed, “disrupt” the façade her family has struggled so hard to maintain. If you’re interested in the Bill Gothard cult, the Duggar family, or the damaging impacts of toxic families, this is a scathingly honest and personal look into those worlds. I finished this book in only a few hours and couldn’t stop turning the pages. If you enjoyed Jill Duggar’s Counting the Cost or Tia Leving’s A Well-Trained Wife, you’ll be immediately absorbed into Duggar King’s story of pain and perseverance.

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams

On a much lighter note, Sarah Adams’ romance series is the perfect escapism if you want small-town Hallmark love stories filled with easy to digest tropes. This is the final book in her When in Rome series, but if you start here, you won’t be too lost. The story follows Madison, a former teacher and aspiring chef who feels defeated after having her confidence broken by the toxic culture and homesickness she faced in New York City. James was just her brother’s friend and someone she could playfully tease, but when he offers her the opportunity of a lifetime—opening a farm-to-table restaurant on his family’s farm in her hometown—she can’t help but feel a new attraction to him. James hasn’t seen her as just a friend for years, and his longing for her means he’ll do whatever it takes to reignite her shattered confidence and happiness.

There’s a small degree of heaviness as Madison deals with anxiety, panic, and self-doubt and James worries about his finances, responsibilities, and health, but, overall, the book is beautifully and refreshingly optimistic and breezy. Madison is part of a supportive family unit, and James will move mountains to bring back her spark. There’s plenty of sweet moments, and their connection feels genuine and unproblematic. Yes, there’s grand gestures of building a home and restaurant just so Madison can return to her small town and regain her confidence (swoon!), but there’s also scenes of driving and cooking together and spending time with their friends and family. There’s a little bit of magic in Adams’ writing because of how cozy and comfortable her books are; part of you wishes you could be part of the Walker family to eat pie, watch movies, and visit their local bar with them. I’ve listened to them all on audio, and it’s the best way to enjoy the dual narration.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

This is definitely my favorite of the When in Rome series, and, no, it’s not just because it’s about two teachers/authors who fall in love. This enemies-to-lovers story follows Emily, an elementary school teacher who prides herself on having her life put together. She’s organized, she cares for her family, she excels at her job, and she is loved by and loves her small town. However, she can’t get over her frustration and supposed hatred for her co-worker, Jack. He’s seemingly frivolous with his money, always ends up on top when it comes to their classes and careers, and is easily liked by all he meets. When he leaves town to be closer to his fiancé, Emily should feel a sigh of relief, but she actually finds herself missing her verbal sparring partner. When Jack comes back to town, is surprisingly single, and just so happens to be her new next-door neighbor, Emily is reluctant to admit how much she enjoys spending time with her self-proclaimed nemesis. While she doesn’t know that Jack is secretly a bestselling author, she does end up needing and accepting his help when it comes to her debut romance novel that ends up in the wrong hands.

The chemistry between Emily and Jack is a delight to listen to on audio. While they seem like rivals and enemies on the surface, it’s clear how much they care for each other, and their shift to friends and then lovers is a natural and fulfilling transition. While I wouldn’t necessarily classify their love story as a slow-burn, Adams is intentional about giving them the space and time to develop a genuine and trusting connection. The witty banter, Jack’s loving support, and Emily’s growing vulnerability are delightful, and it’s the kind of book that rom-com and Hallmark lovers alike can really sink into. Adams’ work is the literary equivalent of a warm hug and a cup of hot cocoa. If you feel like your confidence has been shaken in your career, in love, or in life, the gentle reminders of hope and second chances are enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

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Watching: I convinced Tom to watch The Artful Dodger with me, and we recently finished the first season. The romance, the yearning, the drama! Agh it was such a perfect, high stakes, heart-pounding, heart-wrenching ending to the season. Honestly, it was perfect. We’ve started the second season, and while I don’t love it quite as much as the first (mostly because poor Dodger is suffering so much), it’s still a delightful watch. I’m also watching the new season of Top Chef, which I’m already enjoying more than the previous one. There’re still too many contestants for me to root for anyone yet, but I’m hoping to have someone to cheer for soon.

Listening: I’m back on my romance audiobook kick! I’m currently listening to Any Trope But You, which I saw recommended on an “underrated romance” list on Instagram. The Goodreads reviews aren’t the most optimistic or flattering, but it’s a fun and fluffy read that truly leans into ALL the romance tropes. Should I be making a birth playlist? Meh, probably. Will I end up watching Jeopardy and listening to my favorite Disney podcasts? More likely, yes.

Doing: Quiz bowl and pub trivia were a huge part of my college experience, and I still love going to pub trivia nights with Tom and our friends. One of the local breweries hasn’t been able to hold trivia while their host is off-island, so I volunteered to step in this weekend so the show can go on. I’ve had a blast writing questions, and I can’t wait to host for a (hopefully) full house. Because I’m due in less than a month, I can only commit to this weekend, but their fingers are crossed I can come back in a couple of weeks.  

Cooking: Tom and I took a trip to the best stocked grocery store in town, and I was so excited to see my favorite items in stock. Buttermilk! Brown Cow yogurt! A wide variety of vegetables! It’s really the little things that get me so excited. I’m on a bit of a salad kick right now, so I’ll be making a variety of them for my lunches and dinners. Some favorite additions: roasted eggplant, chickpeas, beets, tomatoes (such a treat), nuts and dried fruit, homemade tzatziki, and celery.

Baking: I recently made two stellar recipes that are new favorites of mine. The first are buttermilk biscuits from Flour Barn Homestead. The recipe is straightforward and simple to execute, and the results are fluffy, flavorful, and delicious. I made a batch on Sunday morning and will be making more to freeze for my postpartum stash. I also made oatmeal cookies with chocolate chunks and toasted pecans from America’s Test Kitchen. It was my first time making a thin and crispy cookie, and while I normally gravitate towards the thick and gooey variety, there’s something so satisfying about the deep brown sugar flavor complemented by the warm oats and pecans. I added a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and it was absolute perfection. The recipe did call for dried cherries or cranberries, but I omitted it because I didn’t have any in my pantry.