Conversations With Kav – 26 in 26 + Giveaway

Have you heard about ’26 in 26′? It’s been making the rounds on booktube and bookstagram. The challenge is to select 26 books you want to read in 2026. Easy peasy, right? Ha! I thought so, until I tried to pare down all my potential candidates. I was well over a hundred titles and the list kept growing…basically everything on my wishlists past and present made it onto the list!

Obviously, I needed a new selection strategy (and the ability not to take myself so seriously!) So I eliminated all the 2026 releases and targeted books already on my physical TBR, or on my audible wishlist, or library holds shelf. Still way too many books, so I added all the titles to a random generator wheel and let the fates decide the 26 books I will for sure read in 2026! And here they are :

  1. The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen (this has been on my physical TBR for forever!!!)
  2. There Goes the Groom by Esther Hatch (same…been on my TBR for a couple of years.)
  3. The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham (have to get current before the final Freddie & Grace book releases later this year!)
  4. No Stone Unturned by Jennelle Hovde (debut novel with rave reviews…what is taking me so long?)
  5. Loving Lieutenant Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden (finishing this series has been in my goals for the past three years!)
  6. Garden of the Midnights by Hannah Linder (she’s a read-to-zero author this year)
  7. Charming Artemis by Sarah M. Eden
  8. Where Stillness Speaks by Cheryl Sterkenberg
  1. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh (this has been my most checked out library book and yet I haven’t read it yet!)
  2. An Irish Kiss by Carolyn Miller (going to be a St. Patrick’s Day read this year!)
  3. Wedding at Sea by Melissa Tagg (I have to finish this series!!!!!)
  4. Planning for Nick by Tasha Hackett (I’m waiting for the audio book)
  5. Honeysuckle Breeze by B.R. Goodwin (loved the first book in this series and now all the books are out.)
  6. Meet Me in Virginia by Elizabeth Camden
  7. But He’s My One Regret by Gracie Ruth Mitchell (the last book I need to read in order to finish the series!)
  8. The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs by Sharon J. Mondragon (loved the first book!)
  1. Daniel’s Oil by Urcelia Teixeira (this whole series beguiles me and I’ve only read the first book.)
  2. On the Edge of Trust by Patricia Bradley (to finish the series!)
  3. Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett
  4. Crossed Off by C.C. Warrens (the content in this one scares me!)
  5. The Glass-Bottom Boat by Laura Thomas
  6. Burying the Evidence by K.T. Lee (and a series will be complete!)
  7. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Peggy Rothschild
  8. Hearts Aweigh by Shannon Sue Dunlap
  1. Nightfall in the Garden of Time by Tracy Higley (look at me being brave with a speculative fiction on my list!)
  2. Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (I have earnestly engaged in not reading this book for two years now! It’s time!!!!)

Now it’s your turn: (and the Giveaway)

Let’s talk. Are you interested in creating your own ’26 in 26′ TBR list? What books would wind up on it? Share the title and author of one book that you would like to read in 2026 (must be Christian Fiction and already published) in a comment, and, if your name is drawn, that’s the book you will win.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 7 2026.

63 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – 26 in 26 + Giveaway”

  1. Haha! Long TBRs stress me out, so I think I would be stretching to come up with 26 books 😉 At this point, I do some review copies and aside from that, read what I’m in the mood for and what the Lord is putting on my heart. This would be a re-read for me, but a title I don’t own and have been wanting to read is A Man Called Blessed, by Ted Dekker 🙂
    Also, as this is a Conversations Day… I have a blog tag for you, possibly for an upcoming conversation? It was started by Iona at Story Blossoms.

    Unsung Elements Tag

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    1. Always looking for conversation starters, Stephanie! Thanks for the link. I am a total mood reader which is why I had such difficulty making up my 26 titles. Mind you, now that it’s done, I’m kind of excited to have a reference for when I’m looking for the next read too. We’ll see how the year goes. Good luck, Stephanie!

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  2. I have seen others posting their 26 in 26 on Facebook. I wasn’t inspired enough to make my own. I just enjoy reading as it comes, and I know I’ll get to 26 easily without the pressure. That said, I just finished A Seaview Homecoming after having it sit on my shelf for a year. Now I’m ready for A Seaview Christmas!

    Thanks!!

    katrhynlvossATgmailDOTcom

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  3. While I have a TBR of sorts, I’m never one to read by a list.  What I read often depends on my mood, if I already have it and at that time being of the greatest desire to read.  Mixed in there is often books I’m asked or referred to read.  Plus, I could never limit myself to 26 books.  I never know the number of books I read until the end of the year when I go back for fun to check.  I do know that for the past three years, I read well over 26 – more like 3 times that number or more.

    If I were the very fortunate one selection, my choice would be:

    TRACK OF COURAGE by Susan May Warren – Release date – January 6, 2026.  It hits so many boxes of a book I know I’m going to love even before I open the cover – like romantic suspense, K-9, Alaska and knowing who the author is.

    Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy!

    Hope you’re feeling tons better today. ❤

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. This is the first reading list I’ve ever made so we’ll see how I do with it. I’d need to read 2-3 titles a month to get them all read. And yes, the limiting it to only 26, that really messed me up, until I got into the mindset that they were only 26 books among countless possibilities – I wasn’t limiting my year of reading to only these 26! Phew! Good luck, Kay – Track of Courage is an awesome read!

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  4. I had not heard of the 26 in 26 until yesterday but I still didn’t know much about it. You’ve got some good titles to look forward to on your list. Being the list maker that I am and already having set up my new notebook, I had no problem doing my top 26 picks. I do my books by month of release, so if you want a preview of what I’ll be reading this year, here it is,

    Jan-1 Track of Courage/S Warren, 2 Beyond the Clouds/E Camden, 3 The Belle of Chatham/L Frantz, 4 On Living Stone/H Kaufman

    Feb-5 Whiteout/L Eason and D Pettrey, 6 Taming Lady Temperance/K Witemeyer

    Mar- 7 Raging Waters/D Mentink, 8 Last to Fall/L Blackburn, 9 All Booked UP/M Carlson, 10 The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner/S Tuttle, 11 South of Somewhere/TI Lowe

    April- 12 Harbor Pointe/I Hannon, 13 More than Friends/D Hunter

    May- 14 Chasing the Light/SW Fisher, 15 Brewed Awakening/P Basham, 16 The Island Bookshop/R White

    June-17 Scent of Hope/SM Warren, 18 Shortbread in the Highlands/RJ Gunn

    July- 19 Bookmarked for Love/S Monzon, 20 The Bachelor Spy/P Basham

    Aug- 21 The Things We Can Not Keep/A Cox, 22 The Heiress and the Woodsman/C Suntz. 23 Three Steps Behind/ Dani Pettrey

    Sept- 24 In These Hills/T Alexander

    Oct- 25 Throne of the Heavens/ C Cossette

    Nov- 26 The Palace Spy/ Tessa Afshar

    I need to catch up on the Sisterhood books by Robin Jones Gunn before the third one comes out in June, so throw me in for Gelato at the Villa. I can use this for my Olympic bonus on bingo too 🙂

    Thanks Kav! Hope you have turned the corner on your illness and on the upswing now. I’m praying so! We are snowed in with about 4″ of snow and ice on the roads, so it’s online church again this week and then….surprise, reading! tracey14567 atgmaildotcom

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    1. I’m gobsmacked at your bookish organization, Tracey! And eeeeping over the sneak peek you’ve given me into my own reading future! Now that you mention Gelato in the Villa, that’s one I should have added to my list.

      Hooray for snow day reading sprints! What did we do before online church on days like this?! Thanks for the well wishes – good luck, Tracey!

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  5. Many of mine are not in the christian fiction category I’m a huge Freida McFadden fan as well as several authors that are new to me. Freida writes mystery thrillers and many of her books are hard to put down till you finish the book.

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  6. Good morning, Kav. I pray you are on the mend & feeling so much better! I thought of you when I opened my blinds this morning & looked out to a sunny, white world. It’s an everyday occurrence for you in the winter & you walk to church in it, go the library, get groceries, etc. 😮 Not me. I’m afraid I’ll slip. Pastor is having an online fireside service from his home today.

    Anyway, I do keep lists in my email, but they are mostly of not yet published books I want to read in the future. I also keep a list of TBRs on Goodreads, but not over 20 at the time bc it overwhelms me. Looking at GRs this morning I realized that the already published books I have listed I pretty much already have, I just haven’t been in the mood to read them yet.

    I don’t know if this counts bc it just released today, but I really, really, really have been looking forward to this one! The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep!!!!

    I hope you keep getting betterer & betterer! Thanks, Kav!

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. Enjoy your winter wonderland while you have it, Diane! I toast you with my hot chocolate this morning! 🙂 I have multiple lists too — a book of recommendations, a new release book, cozy mystery series tracking book etc. And all of those don’t overwhelm me at all but ask me to target just 26 books as intentional reads and I go to pieces. Bwahahaha!

      And now you’ve gone and messed with my strategy because I intended to use my audible credits (I’ve got 5 saved, how did that happen?!) on my 26 in 26 list but, instead, I’ve gone and used one of those credits for The Bird of Bedford Manor! Ah, the power of a good bookish suggestion! 🙂 Good luck, Diane!

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      1. Thanks! It’ll be here awhile bc even though it’s sunny, temps are supposed to return to freezing around 7pm. So melting ice on the streets will turn to ice. Ugh Toasting you back. ☕

        Sorry to mess up your strategy, but I have a feeling that’s not too hard to do at all! Bwahahaha

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  7. Well, gremlins must be in my iPad again because my previous post appears to be invisible 😄

    I will briefly repost that the 26 in 26 is new to me, but I have lots of books on my kindle and paperback TBR lists to choose from. I want to read more from my already owned books too this year, but one book that I don’t have and really want to read is A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse.

    Your list looks great and I’ve read quite a few of them and loved them, so Happy Reading to you!

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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    1. Comforting to know that some of my 26 picks are books you’ve loved! I have good reading taste, I guess. 🙂 And bah humbug to WP for messing with your comment. Such an unkind thing for it to do! Good luck, Sandy!

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  8. Kav, loved your story of trying to select your list and how you had to finally go with a random generator to get it accomplished 🙂 I would probably drive myself crazy trying to make such a list so I’ll not attempt it 🙂

    One book I would love to read this year is My Beloved by Jan Karon. Didn’t get a chance this past holiday season so definitely want to fit it in this year. Thanks as ever, Kav!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. This is my first year making a reading list and it might end up being my last! I’ve just started a new book and it’s not on the list and just bought another new book which isn’t on the list either. Sigh. Good luck, Cheryl!

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  9. Kav, I really really want to read Elizabeth Camden’s Beyond the Clouds! I’ve read the other two in the series, and am sooo anxious to finish her great series! It is good to see Best Readers lists and get my ideas for 2026. As Diane said, Kav, I hope you are betterer and betterer in your health issues…..you are so appreciated by us BR!! jacsmi75 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Jackie! I’ve only read the first book in that series so far but I have the second book on hold at my library. I do enjoy Elizabeth Camden’s storytelling. Good luck, Jackie!

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  10. I laughed a bit at the 26 in 26, since I managed to read 21 books in January already (what else to do when the temperature refuses to rise above 0 degrees F?), and I suspect you’ve read even more! On your list, I highly recommend Wedding at Sea and There Goes the Groom – lots of laughs in both, though Melissa Tagg also knows how to tug the heartstrings! I do like your idea of getting around to books that have been languishing on the TBR list for a year or more; I don’t have 26, but I would really like to get around to Regency and Regicide by J.J. Fischer!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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    1. I know, right? It’s not like I have to struggle to find a book to read but once titles are added to a must read list I run screaming. 🙂 Wedding at the Sea is soooooooo anticipated and I have no idea why I haven’t read it yet. Shameful of me. And good to know about There Goes the Groom, the first book in that series was lots of fun for sure. Regency and Regicide has such an intriguing plot! Good luck, Karen!

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  11. I definitely am also a mood reader. I just peruse my stacks and see what looks good. In 2023 I tried to do a 23 in 23 using books I already had on my shelves… I think I made it through 15 of them and still have those last eight or so in a stack somewhere!

    A book that would finish a series for me is The Keeper by Charles Martin.

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    1. 15 out of 23 is pretty good, Patty! I’m afraid that I’m such a mood reader I’ll end up balking at reading the books on my list on principle. Bwahahaha! I still need to explore Charles Marting’s books more. Good luck, Patty!

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      1. Charles Martin is probably a bit of an acquired taste for some. I discovered his writing very early on in his career, and I think I enjoyed some of his earlier works better than his more recent ones, but I am still a fan. I’ve heard him interviewed several times and he seems like a really genuine guy.

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  12. I think I WOULD like to do a 26 in ‘26! that sounds fun😃 I’ve already got like twenty in mind that I’d add to it🤔 Like you, those are all ones I physically own already or are available at my library. As for one that I DON’T own yet, but would LOVE to add to the list… I’ve been hearing a LOT of good things about Ashley Willingham’s books, and I think I’d start with A War of Crowns 😊

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    1. Woohoo, give it a try…especially if you already have so many books in mind. Did you notice that I have two….gasp…speculative fiction books on my list? Is that brave of me or what?! Really like the sound of A War of Crowns…especially that it’s a standalone. I’ve never read this author..or even heard of her…but this one strikes my fancy. Good luck, Elly!

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      1. Oopps, just went to mark A War of Crowns on a Canadian site and realize that the book I was looking at is part of the series or more like a prequel, I guess, and therefore a standalone – A Vow of Honor — that’s the one I’m going to try. But, if I’m right, the one you want to enter into the giveaway is the first book of the series by the same name. Hope I have that right.

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      2. I did notice your foray into speculative🙃 I’ve read Fawkes by Nadine Brandes and LOVED it! I haven’t read Wishtress yet, but would like to! My sister read several of Tracy Higley’s books a long time ago, but I don’t think she read any speculative by her, mostly historical (maybe a time-travel at one point??)

        And yes, I was referring to book #1 in Ashley Willingham’s series, though there is a prequel/standalone (the one that you named) also😅

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  13. I hadn’t heard of 26 in 26 until I read this. I don’t make a list except of books I’m scheduled to read & review and I read what I have in my TBR bookcase in between. Embers In The London Sky by Sarah Sundin is one I missed and would love to read. I pray you are feeling better. I’ve read all of Hannah Linder so you will enjoy catching up book twin. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  14. Kav, You always share fun topics. I haven’t heard of 26 in 26. I’m a mood reader to that determines my reading. I’d love to read When Justice Comes by Collen Coble and Rick Acker this year.

    Hope you are feeling better! Have a blessed week.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  16. I like the concept and how it breaks down. It helps me not feel so overwhelmed. as I look at and dealing with my TBR stack. I look forward to reading the Book of the Year written by Michelle Shaklee, All We Thought We Knew.

    Thanks for this idea. I’m starting on my 26 in 26 list.

    Blessings

    nora finding hope yahoo

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  17. I know I will read way more than 26 because I mostly read new releases for review. I could make a dozen lists of what I own that I have not read.
    I will pick an oldie that was re released by Jocelyn Green: Spy of Richmond.
    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

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  18. I don’t know if I could come up with a list of 26 books I would realistically stick with reading throughout the year! I do, however, make sure to read Sarah Sundin’s newest when they release so I guess I always know of at least one book I’ll read. 🙂 I agree with you that one book I would like to read this year would be No Stone Unturned by Jenelle Hovde.

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  19. I love how you narrowed down your 26. I started making a list of 26, all from my owned books, but didn’t finish the list. A lot of what I want to read, like you, are books that need to finish series. Plus, my own books, LOL! You have a lot of great reading ahead of you. I am planning to reread the entire Holly Series by C.C. Warrens because the new one comes out in May!! A book I would love to win is My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh.

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    2. I’m currently listening to Where Stillness Speaks. Cheryl Sterkenberg is the narrator and Chelsey Welwood is the author. It’s pretty good.

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  20. I haven’t heard of the 26 in 26. I am a mood reader and ARC reader to do that but it’s a great idea. I would choose Dana Mentink’s Fire Mountain from last year. I haven’t read it yet

    Tighefan42atgmaildotcom

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  21. What a great idea to sort by genre! Now you have a variety to choose from. I always have a few months somewhere in the year where I binge-read Regency, so I’m putting The Duke’s Bargain by Megan Walker on my list. Happy reading!

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  22. Aside from a couple of books, I don’t usually make a reading list for the year. Whenever I’ve tried making it longer, I rarely get through more than three before I don’t feel like reading what I originally picked anymore; at least not at that moment. 🙂 I am planning on making a pretty good sized dent in my physical ‘to-be-read’ pile though! I’m also looking forward to many books releasing this year! One book I don’t have yet, but would love to read this year is: “Tidewater Bride” by Laura Frantz

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    1. I’m hoping I’ll be able to read them all since I have the entire year and plenty of leeway for molding reading too. We’ll see how it goes. I’m actually reading the first book on my list right now so I’ve made a start. Good luck, Sabrina!

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  24. Wow!  Your list is quite impressive!  I’ve read a few that are on your list.

    I have not heard about the 26 in 26, but I’m such a mood reader that I doubt that it would work for me.  I tend to read 70-80 books per year, so the 26 might be too restricting.  My basic TBR list on Goodreads is always just over a hundred.  I’ll never manage that in a year!  I do have a few Net Galley early reads that I’ve been approved for, but I’m waiting for that “mood” to strike!  Thankfully, they’re a good ways out there on the calendar. So, the one I’ve completely missed out on is A Fierce Devotion by Laura Frantz.

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. We mood readers seem to be in the majority! 🙂 I tend to be compulsive about Net Galley books, reading them right away, but I don’t get many because I only opt for the audio books. Good luck, Perrianne!

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  25. I haven’t heard of 26 in 26…. It seems a little overwhelming spending time making a list that I probably won’t even go by…. I’m a mood reader and when I’m not distracted I can read a lot of books. Having a list hanging over me would be very distracting. A book that I would like to read in 2026 would be Seeds of Change by Lauraine Snelling. Thank you for this giveaway.

    angieadams306 at gmail dot com

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  26. 26 in 26 sounds like a good idea. I haven’t made a list but think I will do it this year. I have been wanting to read Secrets of Willow Spring trilogy by Tracy Fredrychowski. I have not read any of her books and would like to. Thanks!

    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  27. You are so organized and brave… I feel like everytime I make a list I almost rebeliously ignore the list! Sooo many books! One that is still on my list from last year and hard to get my hands on: Janelle Leonard’s Northargyle Abbie (Royally Austen. Is that Christian Fiction though? Hmmm, I may have to suggest a secondary one id not. I think you read this one. I know I signed up to help with the cover reveal of book 2… and haven’t read book 1 yet, lol.

    email: blessedmommy3x AT gmail DOT com

    I saw Hearts Aweigh on your list… loved that one. I wanted to read Love Overbaord now by her. Are you reading ALL of Hannah Linders books?

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    1. Bwahahaha! That’s usually me too. I’ve read one book on my list so far so I can say I’m making progress. 🙂 I loved Northargyle Abbie. I’ve been impressed by WhiteCrown Publishing. I definitely want to read more of their books. And yes to reading all of Hannah Linders’ books — I have three left to read: Garden of the Midnights, Never Forgotten and The Red Cottage. Good luck, Jo Ruth!

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