I just got my new romance novel in the mail on Tuesday. Also, I’m finally starting a new read that’s been on my shelf since the Summer. Still Here by Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife is the third book that has been written by the couple. Love Felt Like This is Julie Olivia’s second novel, coming on the heels of If It Makes You Happy. That book came out in 2024. She also has a novella, which was released in 2021. Since it has a Christmas theme, I may read that during the holidays.
I’ll do some reading this afternoon as I make a coffee date with myself at Cutie’s and highlight my drink of the day. Up next, remembering 9/11 and where I was on that horrible Tuesday morning.
Those of us who are old enough to remember know where we were on the morning that the World Trade Center was hit. We remember what we were doing when the plane crashed in that field in rural Somerset County. We know who were with the Pentagon was hit.
I was in my math class at my junior college. We left class when we learned of the news that a plane had struck the twin towers. Fun fact: the college I was was enrolled had five different branches around the Johnstown area. I wasn’t far away from my dorm room as the class was at the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Everyone gathered in the cafeteria and learned what was going on. We were all overwhelmed and frantically trying to call home to get in touch with our loved ones.
That night was one of the quietest until the world shut down in March of 2020. The next day was a new day but had a different meaning to it. That Friday was a national day of mourning. The rest of the year saw everyone’s patriotism displayed.
I stopped at Cutie’s this afternoon after waking up. I was saddened that they had lost some merchandise and supplies from last week’s storms. However, the shop was not affected. I was undecided on the Maple Cutie Latte or the Banana Cream Pie Latte. I chose the former; therefore, the latter will be Monday’s drink of choice at Bible Study. I went upstairs to enjoy my Maple Cutie and my newest reads.
Julie’s second book has me so excited! I read “If It Makes You Happy” last fall and finished it within a month. That book was set in a cozy New England town during fall in the ‘90s. The Spotify playlist was full of songs that I listened to on B94 when I was in high school. For fans of Fall and Gilmore Girls, it was the perfect read. The main and side characters were great, so I knew I would be in for a treat with “Love Felt Like This”. I read some of the praise for the author and her previous and current works and finished the first chapter already. “Love Felt Like This” is perfect to read at Cutie’s or any coffee shop in town, as well as Ligonier. I know that I’ll read a few chapters while I’m in Cape May next month. The soundtrack for this book has more 70s songs, that of the easy listening variety.
Before starting the romance novel, I opened Steven Curtis Chapman’s latest book, Still Here. He co-wrote this book with his wife, Mary Beth. This is the third that I’ve read from the popular recording artist. I began listening to Contemporary Christian music when I was in college and living in Johnstown. Steven was one of the first artists I listened to regularly. Some of his greatest hits include “The Great Adventure” and “Cinderella”. There’s too many to name over the years but these are two of them. Steven and Mary Beth have six kids, three of which they adopted. One of them tragically died. They have a great story that I read about in his previous book. I’m looking forward to learning about their 40+ year marriage and how they’ve made it work.
Fun fact II: Michael W. Smith, another popular Christian artist whom I listen to, released his “Worship” album on September 11. Fitting day for that with all that was going on in the world.
The final Cutie’s Bible Study is this Monday. There have been a few rainouts this year, but no other issues otherwise. At least it didn’t end prematurely due to complaints like last year. Like Laurel Caverns and Summit Inn on US 40 in Fayette County, Cutie’s Bible Study will soon be closed for the season.
A visit to Abigail’s is coming soon as I try something from the Gilmore Girls menu, and my Pumpkin Spice Latte will be just after the first day of Fall. Even though I’ve had a few K-Cups at home plus the Fall Blend coffee, it’ll be my first PSL of the year. Don’t know what I’m going to end with for September, though.
Stylish 🍒 