I'm inviting you to join my book club
The beauty of reading, a peach cornbread recipe, and a prayer
In a world where short 10-second videos are much of what we consume—so fast and fleeting—books give us something precious. They force us to slow down, reflect, and soak in beauty and meaning. Reading books is something that people do less and less. Sadly, much of modern fiction is laced with explicit scenes or messages that don’t nourish the soul. Many nonfiction books push constant self-focus and new age ideas that don’t point us to God. But reading doesn’t have to look like that.
We can fill our minds and hearts with stories that inspire virtue, stir compassion, and draw us closer to the Lord. I’m not saying that every book you read has to be a Christian book, but wouldn’t it be great to be part of something where you can be encouraged in your walk with the Lord alongside other ladies who love reading too?
That’s why I’m so excited for our upcoming quarterly book club launch. We’ll be starting with the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, a deeply moving retelling of the biblical story of Hosea. It’s a novel that beautifully portrays God’s relentless love for us, even when we’ve turned away. Through the journey of the characters, we’ll see themes of grace, forgiveness, and redemption woven throughout. A lovely reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach.
This will not be a fast-paced book club! We’ve intentionally chosen to do one book each quarter so that we can have deep conversations at our bi-weekly Zoom calls, where we’ll discuss the book and what has been resonating with us. It will be a time of friendship, reflection, and encouragement as we read together.
I hope you’ll join us on September 1st! To gain access to these book club calls, consider becoming a paid subscriber today. For just $2 a week, you can be a part of a life-changing discussion.
If you’re subscribed to our Substack—even as a free subscriber—you’ll receive our weekly Book Club email. Each week, we’ll provide a reading plan designed to help you finish the book in 12 weeks, along with thought-provoking discussion questions to keep you engaged and inspired.
For paid subscribers, you’ll also receive the Zoom link and schedule to join our live discussions every two weeks, plus exclusive conversations in the YHC Substack Chat. I highly recommend becoming a paid subscriber—it’s such a meaningful way to connect, share insights, and dive deeper into the book!
Grab your copy of the book here so you can be ready. This is going to be fun, uplifting, and life-giving!
1. Fiction shapes our hearts with empathy.
Stories allow us to step into another person’s shoes—feeling their joys, sorrows, and struggles. This cultivates compassion and tenderness, qualities that help us love and serve our families and communities more fully.
2. Fiction inspires virtue and imagination.
Unlike quick media consumption, novels invite us to linger with characters who model courage, faith, and perseverance. These examples can stir our own hearts toward Christlike living and remind us of the beauty of godly femininity.
3. Fiction helps us slow down and reflect.
Reading a story requires patience and presence, both of which counter the hurried pace of modern life. For women especially, this practice nourishes our souls, making space for rest, creativity, and a deeper awareness of God’s truth woven into daily life.
Peach Cornbread with Honey Butter
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter (plus more for greasing)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup honey (plus extra for drizzling)
1 cup fresh peaches, peeled and diced (or well-drained canned peaches)
1/2 cup softened butter (for honey butter)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish or cast-iron skillet.
In a large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, combine milk, melted butter, eggs, and honey. Stir well.
Gently fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.
Fold in diced peaches.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
While baking, make the honey butter: mix softened butter with 2–3 tablespoons of honey until smooth and creamy.
Serve the warm peach cornbread with generous dollops of honey butter and a light drizzle of extra honey if desired.
Perfect for a summer-meets-fall treat to enjoy during a cozy reading session.
Let’s choose to be women who guard what we let into our minds, replacing the world’s noise with the richness of God’s truth—even in the stories we read. I can’t wait to open the pages of this book together and watch God move through every chapter.
