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First Reading Choices 2026

Sometimes we make choices without really thinking about them. Other times we agonize over a choice or decision, wanting to be sure to make the best one. I wanted to do that with my reading list for the year. So many books and so little time. Yet, almost without realizing it, I made my choices. Some of them I started last year and carried over to finish.  

I wonder if anyone else is like me. I figure probably not. Most people probably just pick up a book and start reading. Oh no. I have to make a production out of it in my head. I mean I can’t just grab a book. What if I grab the wrong one? Then the whole year is off on the wrong foot, and the tone is set. It must be just right, see. The right book can set the tone for the whole year of reading. Anyone with me? No? I was afraid of that.  

Of course, your reading plan can go off the rail at any time. Last year I started with Killing the Witches by Bill O’Reilly. I usually like this series and looked forward to reading this book. I was disappointed. As I was by The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. That ending, really?  Big disappointment there. I was also disappointed by The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden. So much so, I didn’t even finish it. My year was redeemed with other books such as Little Buried Secrets by Cheryl Bradshaw, Soulbound by Bethany Adams, When Birds Fall Silent by Shana Frost, Raven Black by Ann Cleeves and the four books I read by Brandon Sanderson. I’m not going into a review of each of the books, but I enjoyed them and would read another by each of the authors.  

My beginning list contains authors I have never read or heard of before, except for one, I have heard of Robert Whitlow but am not sure I have read any of his books, so it will be fun to read his newest, Witness Protection.   

So, here are my first five selections for the 2026 reading year. 

Death on the Doorstep by Mary Lancaster 

Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner 

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow 

Super Moon Protocol by J.T. Fluhart 

Piper at the Gates of Dusk by Patrick Ness 

Of course I have already finished Death on the Doorstep, by Mary Lancaster and you can find my review here on All for One. Not on the list is the third Mistborn book by Brandon Sanderson, Hero of the Ages. I started it last year and need to finish.  I usually read a couple of chapters in bed before I turn out the light, which is why it has taken me so long to finish. I am currently reading Codex Arcanum 1888 by Tasmin Turner and Super Moon Protocol by J.T. Fluhart. I am enjoying both books although they are very different in tone and structure and language. I am enjoying one more than the other but more on that later. I will give my review on both when I have finished them.  

How do you select your books? Do you line them out for the year? Or do you wait and see what comes out and go from there? Maybe a mix of the two?  

What makes the grade? Are there any topics or genres that are off limits? What sections do you pass right over in the bookstore?  

I hope all of us say that the one book above all others that is on the list without question is our Bible. May you be blessed as you read the Word of God this year. If you need ideas where to start, there are abundant options online to choose to get you started. The Bible app always has some good reading plans. If you are new to Bible reading, then I hope is the year you start.  

Let me know your choices. I look forward to hearing from you. 

All for One 

Angela 

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Death on the Doorstep – book review

I read this book as a free download from NetGalley in exchange for a written review. 

Constance Gray and Solomon Silver have just returned home from their Italian honeymoon and almost immediately are confronted with death literally on their doorstep. Two men are found dead on the back door of Constance’s “establishment.” The two men seem to have nothing in common as one is a vagrant who makes his home on the streets and the other is a wealthy man with a good reputation. It takes unraveling plots and clues to sort truth and ill intent in this seventh book in this series by Mary Lancaster. The book contains references to drug use, alcohol, prostitution, and suicide, so the reader should be aware if these are personal triggers.  

I downloaded this book not realizing I was jumping into a well-established series with well-developed characters.  Fortunately, Death on the Doorstep is a wonderful standalone book and the author does a good job of making the reader aware of past events without making them feel as though they have missed much.  

The author weaves this tale with blackmail, threats, secrets, and old relationships resurfacing. The book is about 200 pages long and makes for a good weekend read. I appreciated the fact that there is no foul language and no explicit sex. Bedroom scenes are left in the bedroom. Although the reader should be aware that Constance is the owner of a brothel. She runs her “establishment”, as she calls it, as an opportunity for young women to leave the streets behind and learn a trade and find employable work. If they choose to remain in the oldest profession, they can do so safely, without fear of abuse or exploitation.  

Constance and her husband, Solomon, have established an investigation service and it is through this agency that they investigate the deaths found on the doorstep. 

I enjoyed Death on the Doorstep book and would read another book in this series or other books by this author. I give Death on the Doorstep book 4 out of 5 stars because of the references previously mentioned. I would recommend it to anyone over the age of eighteen.  

All for One 

Angela 

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Reading Goals – More Than Just Books on a List

Welcome to 2026! I hope the new year has already been a blessing to you. Let’s talk reading. My first year of All for One didn’t show much in books or reading. When I set out to write a blog, I had originally planned a book blog. What I wrote was something very different. Yet still I love books and reading. So, this year I want to add more book reviews to All for One as well as the content you are used to seeing. I have been on a more consistent reading basis since 2021. Each year I set my goal just a little higher. Sometimes I make it and sometimes I don’t.  

I didn’t meet my goal in 2025. I got hung up on Brandon Sanderson’s cosmere and because of the length, two of his Stormlight books should have counted as two normal books, but here I am keeping my low count again this year. 

I deliberately keep my book count goal low.  So, my count this year is 35.  I started at twelve and feel pretty good about my count of 35. I made it to 22 last year. I know there may be some of you who have busier lives than me, and you are reading into the hundreds, and I am super proud of you. Maybe one day I will reach that level. Each reader must read what they are able and what their life will allow. I got five books read in January and thought yesss this is going to be an awesome year. Then I learned that reading is more than books on a list. Reading is also about a connection. This happened when my son introduced me to Sanderson.  

There is a story here. He was never much of a reader. So, when he came to me and said, “you have to read this”, I dove in. Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books and Stormlight books had been on my reading list for a while. So, when he got into them and wanted me to read them, it seemed like a good time. I don’t regret reading them and if you are looking for something to add to your own list, I would recommend his books but be prepared for a commitment where Stormlight is concerned.  I ended up reading Way of Kings and Words of Radiance from the Stormlight series and the first two Mistborn books. I am still working on the third one.  

While reading is a solo endeavor, it doesn’t have to be isolated. Books profit by being shared. This is why book clubs are so important and popular. My son and I have had countless conversations over Sanderson’s books this year. I don’t regret that my book goal was not reached. I was introduced to a new author and my son and I built a new connection – over books. That is the power of reading and books. So, I will gladly keep a low reading goal if I can have that kind of result with my family or another person.  

Has a book helped you make a connection with someone? What was it? Was it one you liked or hated? Was it a series or a stand alone?  

What does your reading life look like? Do you enjoy reading? Do you have a reading book goal for 2026?  

Oh, and while you are adding books to your reading list for this year, don’t forget to add the best-selling book of all-time – the Bible. Make sure to read it each day.  

Share your thoughts with me in the comments. I would love to hear from you.  

All for One 

Angela

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Angela’s Bookshelf: The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood has become popular in recent years with the release of the movie. It was originally published in 1985. I believed it was a more recent release, so was surprised to find the copyright so far back. I read the book because I was curious to know what the hype was about.

The setting is dystopian America, and the location was hard for me to place. However, the story takes place following the takeover of the Regime. The Regime is a pseudo-religious government which twists Christian beliefs to control the people. Families are split apart, and viable women are given to “Commanders” to bear children to keep the new society going and proliferate the population with the new doctrine. The story is the first generation experiencing the Regime. It is told in the first person and is narrated by a handmaid separated from her husband and daughter and has now been sent to her second “Commander” having not borne any children for the first Commander. It flows in parts as diary and parts as stream of consciousness always from her perspective. The reader is never told her original name.

The story is well written and fast-paced. I read through it quickly even with other books and responsibilities. In fact, it rose to the top of my reading list for a time while I finished it. I found it to be engaging and was curious to see how it would end. I imagined various outcomes and scenarios for how the end would be. None of what I imagined occurred. I was disappointed by the ending. If you have read The Handmaid’s Tale, then perhaps you understand what I mean. If you have not, then I will not give it away in the chance you want to read it for yourself. The book does contain language, sex, violence, and suicide. I would not recommend it to anyone under the age of 18 or to anyone to whom these might be a trigger.  

There is an undercurrent of fear as there often is in dystopian novels. It is interesting that the Regime had its roots in Christian beliefs. While the Regime was in no way Christian, Christian words and behaviors were modeled while God and Jesus were left entirely out of the picture. It is reminiscent of this verse in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:5

holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.

This was certainly true of the Regime. They missed the point of Christianity and denied the true source of power. The regime had Its sole mission control and fear. Unfortunately, those under its influence were not able to avoid them. However, it did not seem that it held much beyond the borders of America. The regime, it seemed, had its roots in America and had spread little beyond it.

While I appreciated the ease of reading and the way I was drawn into the story, I did not appreciate the ending. While I cannot reveal it without giving it away, I can only say I was not satisfied. If you read the book, you understand what I mean. I believe there are other books to follow this one. I have not decided if I will continue and read more. My thinking at this point is I will not. I was so put off by the ending.

So, here it is. My humble review of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Overall, I would rate it a 4 out of 5. I realize this is not a full summary of the book and this is intentional. I wanted to give you a surface of the book without revealing too much of the story. The negatives are the language, sex, violence, suicide and pitiful ending. The positives are the engaging read and the way the author pulls you into the story. I read it quickly. If I can do that, then the story gets a higher count, but the negatives always come into play. I could almost go a little lower because of them, but that would be unfair to the writing and story line. Again, in good conscience I cannot recommend The Handmaid’s Tale to anyone under age 18.

Angela

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My “To Be Read” List

I am a list maker. I can’t help it. I think in lists. I make a to do list, content list, book list, reading list, a list on lists. I probably should see someone about it, but I would need to make a list first. Oh well, the truth is that to some extent my lists help keep me on track.

This is especially true when it comes to my reading list.  I have a list of books I want to read, my TBR list.

I set up All for One into themes. The theme for August is Back to Basics. So, I wanted to include this theme into my reading. My reading list for August needed to reflect this. I haven’t chosen doctrinal books, but rather classical Christian literature. We are already into mid-August so even I realize I probably will not be able to read all of these before we get to September. But a goal is something to strive toward.

I wanted to share my August list with you. If you are looking for something to read this August, grab one of these classics and dive in.

  • Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
  • The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
  • The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
  • Crazy Love by Francis Chan
  • The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
  • Miracles by C. S. Lewis
  • Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan

So, you see the only modern book is by Francis Chan and even it is not that recent. It came out a few years ago. My husband loved the book, and I never read it, so now is a good time to get into it. If you have never read C. S. Lewis apart from the Chronicles of Narnia, his nonfiction reminds me a lot of the writing of the apostle Paul. Very intellectual, very deep, but worth the read. The Screwtape Letters is another of Lewis’s fiction. I have actually read this book, but many years ago and it is time for a new read. I remember reading some of The Pilgrim’s Progress when I was much younger so with this one also it is time for a fresh look. Tozer is a short book that shouldn’t take long to read. So, here they are the August book challenge for me and you if you don’t already have something on your TBR list for August.

I have a much longer list of books I would like to read but let’s not get into that craziness. What about you? What is on your TBR list for this month? Have you selected one or do you just read as the mood hits you?

Be sure to let me know in the comments what you are reading and if you are taking the August challenge or have one of your own. I would love to hear from you.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you don’t miss new content when it drops. I don’t fill your inbox with unwanted emails, and I don’t give away your address. I don’t like it done to me and I won’t do it to you.

Angela

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WHAT I’M READING NOW

When I began All for One, I intended it to house a page for book reviews. If you drop by often, you have no doubt noticed there is one lonely book review. I rediscovered my love for reading and found there were some really good books out there and some really not good books out there. I thought I would give my reviews on them. I set myself a reading goal for each year and started reading. Then this year hit, and my son introduced me to Brandon Sanderson the author of the Stormlight series. These books are not small. I have read the first two books; each book has upward of 1200 pages. So, every other book I have planned to read fell away. I have now taken a break and have about three books going at once.

I read digital and print and enjoy both. There is something about the feel and smell of paper that you don’t get from a Kindle or tablet. I use a tablet and have several reading apps. My favorite reading apps are Kindle and Apple. I have Nook and Google books and some others, and I will use them but don’t enjoy them as much. I really don’t like Google books and use it the least. It just doesn’t seem as user friendly as the others. Maybe it is the user. Plus using digital you can have an almost unlimited number of books at any time so there is space saving advantage. Yet I love walking into bookstores and seeing the stacks of books and breathing in the scent. I am almost immediately at ease. Bookstores are my happy place. Whether I buy a book or not. Of course, I usually buy at least one. After all you can never have too many books, right?

What does your reading list look like? Do you read one book at a time or several at once? I usually have several books going at once. I somehow manage to keep them straight. My husband and son are the opposite. They each read one at a time finish it then move on to the next one. I drive my husband crazy because I might have a stack of books close by. My son is in his twenties and is discovering reading for pleasure after school and college. So, for him one at a time is good. Plus, he is reading Sanderson.

Right now, I have three going. I am reading Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, and Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson (much shorter than the Stormlight series). I look at my list and realize there is not a mystery among them. Mystery is my favorite genre. I try to balance my reading with some nonfiction which is why there is C.S. Lewis. I also will cross genres, I don’t want to miss any good books, Atwood’s dystopian, and Sanderson’s fantasy. So, I imagine after these I will be ready for a good whodunit.

What are you reading now? Are you like my family and read one book at a time? Or are you like me and have several going at once? I believe there is no wrong way to read if you read. There are a lot of books out there. Pick one, or two, and settle in. Let me know in the comments what you are reading now.

Angela

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A View of August

If you have visited All for One, you know it is a small blog. It is only a couple of months old. I am still learning to blog and finding it is more than just putting thoughts and words on a screen. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

I have however, been amazed and humbled how far these words have reached. So, I want to say a very sincere and quick thank you. If you have been watching and reading, thank you. If you have dropped by and lingered long enough to read a post, thank you. I hope you stick around there is more to come. We are just getting started.

August is shaping up with back to school. Parents rejoice and children mourn. There is planning involved in the new school year. Teachers and administrators alike plan events and lessons. Classrooms are decorated and everything is cleaned and ready for the return of the students. Parents and kids hit the malls and stores buying school clothes and supplies. There is an excitement in the air ready for school to begin.

I am getting ready also. I am not going back to school. Those days ended for me a while back. My son is grown so I do not have to fight the crowds for school supplies. But I am working on content. Planning what I want to bring to you in August. Since school is beginning. I thought we would get back to basics. I have been toying with the idea of a theme for each month. August will be the first month I really dig in and try it out.  If it works wonderful. If not, well at least I gave it a try.

So, what do I mean by back to basics? Well in Times Like These, I want to cover some basic Christian doctrines. will try to cover doctrines without my Southern Baptist paradigm, but my Baptist roots run deep. I want to take the view of whatever doctrine we are studying as close to the bible as possible, so we are getting truth and not opinion. In Third Verse Devotions, we will look at some old hymns like Are you Washed in the Blood, At the Cross, and others. If you have a favorite hymn you would like to explore, just let me know and I will be happy to include it in Third Verse Devotions. In Angela’s Bookshelf, I hope to have more material up. Maybe not all reviews but other articles and posts.

So, there it is a quick overview of what I hope for in August, a Back-to-Basics kickoff. You don’t want to miss anything that is coming, so be sure to hit the like and subscribe button.  Also leave me a comment and let me know what you are most looking forward to in August. I’m looking forward to seeing you throughout August as we get Back to Basics.

Angela

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Angela’s Bookshelf: The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill

It has been said that there is a novel inside of everyone. I do not know how true this is, except the publishing houses are still able to produce books each year whether digital or print. Bookstores still exist. There are still readers still hungry for words. So, maybe, there is some truth to the saying. I do believe there is a desire that wells inside a person to write. It burns from somewhere deep within. And it is unshakeable. Sometimes a single class or a single book is all it takes to light the fuse or for the bug to bite.

Theodosia Benton is in this class. She knew she wanted to write. The trust her grandfather had set up for her and her brother, Gus, was an obstacle. The trust existed for them to attend law school. If they chose another path, the trust was forfeited. Her brother, Gus, completed his law degree. Theo had tried, but she left law school and went to her brother’s home in Kansas.

Theo found, however, that Gus needed some domestic help. She needed to treat her writing as any other day job. She needed to find an office outside of his house. She found Benders. A bar by night and a café by day. It became a haven for other writers. It was here she met Dan Murdoch. Dan was another writer, but one of success and fame. They quickly formed a friendship, and he became her mentor.

When she finishes her novel, she asks Dan to introduce her to his agent. He refuses saying they aren’t right for her. Dan did not appear at Benders the following morning or throughout the day. Theo tries to contact him but can get no answer. At his house, door is ajar, so she goes in calling for Dan. She slips and falls and, in the darkness, realizes that she has slipped in the blood of the dead Dan Murdock.

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill is a fast paced novel full of twists and turns. It follows the publishing path of Theodosia Benton and her interaction with published author Dan Murdoch. When she is accused of his murder, her brother, Gus Benton, does everything to stay ahead of legal battles to keep Theo out of jail.

I loved this book. The plot was original. It is not the simple murder mystery. Theo gets caught in a web of deception that takes time to untangle. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh and original mystery. There is some sex and some use of language that may be offensive; however, it is not overused.  This book is suitable for ages 16 and up. This is a top shelf read. Four and a half out of five stars (4.5 out of 5) because of language.

(Be sure to like and subscribe below so you don’t miss new content when it is posted.)

Angela

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Welcome to All for One

All for One is a place where I host my writing, book reviews, Bible studies, and other interests in one place and ask you to come along. I call it All for One for two reasons. One,because it is all of my interests all rolled into one place, and two because I want everything I do to be for an audience of One.

In the pages here you will find Angela’s Bookshelf, my book reviews and news page. I enjoy reading and there may be books from all genres, from Christian and non-Christian. Times like These is my Bible Study page. I will post what I am learning from God’s word. Third Verse Devotions is where I bring to life the old hymns and meditate on what the writer might have been trying to say about his or her belief in God, the Bible and life.

I hope you will join me in these pages. I am just getting started. There is more to come.