Sunday, March 15, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 1-3, Ezra 1-5; Luke 15-16

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 19

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Ezekiel 5-15

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Joshua 1-10

Monday, March 16, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 4-8; Ezra 6-10; Luke 17-18

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 20-22

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Ezekiel 14-22

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Joshua 11-24

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 9-12; Luke 19-20; Nehemiah 1-5;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 23-24

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Ezekiel 23-27; 20, 29, 30-31; Jeremiah 34, 21, 32, 33, 39, 52; 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Judges 1-5

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 13-19; Nehemiah 6-13; Luke 21-24

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 25-26

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Lamentations; Obadiah; 2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 40-44; Ezekiel 33-39, 32

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Judges 6-21

Thursday, March 19, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 20-25; Esther; Acts 1-2

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 27-28; James 1;

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Daniel 4, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9; Ezekiel 40-48, 29-30; 2 Kings 25

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Ruth; 1 Samuel 1-3

Friday, March 20, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Deuteronomy 26-34; Job 1-2; Acts 3-4

ESV Women's Study Bible

James 2-5;

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Ezra 1-4; Psalms 126, 147; Daniel 10-12;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

1 Samuel 4-15

Saturday, March 21, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Joshua 1-6; Job 3-10; Acts 5-7;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Mark 1-3;

KJV Chronological Life Application Bible

Haggai; Zechariah

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

1 Samuel 16-20

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

10. The French Kitchen

10. The French Kitchen. Kristy Cambron. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars, historical fiction, Christian fiction]

First sentence: What would a French glamour girl wear to stash weapons in the dead of winter besides a haute couture gown? Kat Harris wished she knew.

The description of French Kitchen sounds great, interesting, intriguing. However, for me at least, the book failed to match the description. 

The French Kitchen has dual timelines. 

There is a timeline set in France during World War II where the heroine, Kat Harris, is masquerading as Celine a woman part of the Resistance. The real Celine never arrived at her assignment. Kat Harris took her place and assumed her name. She's going undercover as a pastry chef, I think??? Regardless, she's going undercover in a French kitchen. France is occupied. The book opens with a cliff hanger, though since you have no investment in the characters much of the intensity and suspense is wasted. 

The second timeline is France in the 1950s. Kat Harris has received a telegram that may or may not be concerning her dead or not dead brother who was also a spy working with the Resistance. For whatever reason she feels the best way to find her possibly-not-dead brother is to find a man she may or may not be able to trust, Gerard, and marry him. For whatever reason he says yes. (At this point, readers are most likely as clueless as I was as to why he would say yes and why she would propose and what the point is). 

The chapters alternate between the past and present. In the 'present' story line Kat is once again become interested in cooking and meets Julia Child. This is what the description emphasizes. This is what the author's note emphasizes. This supposedly is the whole reason the book exists--to create fictional characters to interact with a fictional Julia Child. She's also searching for her possibly-not-dead brother. 

There are characters--friends, enemies, frenemies--in both timelines. But the way this story unfolds...at least to me...is not as effective as it could be if the author had chosen a timeline and kept things chronological. I am not opposed to dual timelines IF the story flows well and most importantly if it makes sense with little to no confusion. 

The description seems like it was written by someone who only heard a summary of the book and didn't actually read it. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #11

Sunday, March 8, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Leviticus 16-20; 2 Chronicles 1-5; Mark 7-9;

RSV Sovereign

Isaiah 40-43; Jeremiah 32-36;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 12-17

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Isaiah 49-59

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible

Exodus 31-40 

Monday, March 9, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Leviticus 21-27; 2 Chronicles 6-9; Mark 10-13;

RSV Sovereign

Isaiah 44-66; Jeremiah 37-52

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 18-26

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Isaiah 60-66; 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, 34, 2 Kings 22:1-2

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Leviticus 1-11;

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Numbers 1-8; 2 Chronicles 10-13; Mark 14-16

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 27-31; Matthew 1

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Jeremiah 1-6, 22, 26, 47, 48, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Leviticus 12-27

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Numbers 9-15; 2 Chronicles 14-20; Luke 1-6

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 2-4

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Kings 24:1-4; Jeremiah 25, 36, 45, 46, 19, 20, Daniel 1-3;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Numbers 1-36

Thursday, March 12, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Numbers 16-21; 2 Chronicles 21-26; Luke 7-8

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 5-9

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Jeremiah 7-18, 35, 49

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Deuteronomy 1-5

Friday, March 13, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Numbers 22-26; 2 Chronicles 27-32; Luke 9-11; 

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 10-14;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Jeremiah 22-24; 29-31; 37-38, 50-51, 2 Kings 24:5-19; 2 Chronicles 36:1-14;

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Deuteronomy 6-16;

Saturday, March 14, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

2 Chronicles 33-36; Numbers 27-36; Luke 12-14;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Matthew 15-18;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Ezekiel 1-4; Jeremiah 27-28

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Deuteronomy 17-34

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

1. RSV Sovereign

1. RSV Sovereign. God. 1977. Thomas Nelson. 1488 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, Bible review]

Start date: December 30, 2025

End date: March 9, 2026

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

About the RSV: The Revised Standard Version was a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. The New Testament was released as early as 1946. The Old and New Testaments together were published in 1952. The translation went through several updates becoming finalized, I believe, in 1977.

According to Wikipedia, the VERY first copy of the RSV to come off the press was given to Harry S. Truman in September 1946. It was released to the general public a few days later.

Not every Christian embraced this new translation especially regarding the Old Testament. A strong reaction against this NEW translation in part led to a King-James-Only Movement. The fuss was over how Isaiah 7:14 was translated.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Some pastors preached sermons and wrote pamphlets against this "horrid" "modern" translation. A few even made a spectacle of themselves by burning it. 

The RSV has been the basis for two different revisions: the NRSV (1989) and the ESV (2001). 

My thoughts:  I was not aware of the controversy before I started reading it! I didn't always love, love, love how they translated particular verses. But I wouldn't have been an angry protester, at least I don't think! But then again, I did get quite upset with the Common English Bible over how they translated a verse in Genesis, so maybe I would have been. 

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE the fuss that would have resulted if the MESSAGE had been published in 1952. It would actually be a little fun to imagine the uproar. 

I have read the RSV three perhaps four times. It is not my favorite translation. It is not my least favorite translation. 

The method I used to read this one was to start with TWO ribbons--or bookmarks--with one in Genesis and one in Revelation. To read forwards from one and backwards from the other. (Revelation, Jude, 3 John, 2 John, etc. and Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, etc.) I was curious WHERE I would meet in my read through. I ended up meeting in Isaiah. 

The Sovereign was a nice printing of the RSV for the most part. Sometimes the verse numbers are too close to the verse. BUT I love the size and weight of the Sovereign collection. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #10

Sunday, March 1, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Romans 13-16; Exodus 8-9; Matthew 13-14;

RSV Sovereign

Proverbs 5-11; Ezekiel 33-36;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 86-94; 

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Psalms 42-49

Monday, March 2, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Exodus 10-13; Matthew 15-17; Proverbs 1-2

RSV Sovereign

Ezekiel 37-48; Proverbs 12-21; 

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 95-104

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Psalms 84, 85, 87, 1, 2, 10, 33, 66, 67, 71, 91

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Exodus 14-17; Matthew 18-21; Proverbs 3-6

RSV Sovereign

Lamentations; Proverbs 22-31

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 105-115

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Psalms 92-93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 104, 105, 106, 107

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Genesis 1-24

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Exodus 18-28; Proverbs 7-11; Matthew 22-25

RSV Sovereign

Jeremiah 1-4; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 116-131;

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Psalms 111-118

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Genesis 25-50

Thursday, March 5, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Exodus 29-40; Matthew 26-28; Proverbs 12-19

RSV Sovereign

Jeremiah 5-13; Isaiah 1-7

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 132-150

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Psalms 119-125, 128-130, 132, 134-136, 146, 148-150

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Exodus 1-10

Friday, March 6, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Leviticus 1-11; Proverbs 20-31; 1 Chronicles 1-12; Mark 1-3

RSV Sovereign

Isaiah 8-27; Jeremiah 14-23;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 1-5

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Micah 2-7; Isaiah 36-39; 2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 32

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Exodus 11-18

Saturday, March 7, 2026

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign

Leviticus 12-15; 1 Chronicles 13-29; Mark 4-6

RSV Sovereign

Jeremiah 24-31; Isaiah 28-39

ESV Women's Study Bible

Proverbs 6-11

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Isaiah 40-48

NASB 95 Large Print Compact Bible 

Exodus 19-30

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

9. Taming Lady Temperance

9. Taming Lady Temperance. Karen Witemeyer. 2026. 336 pages.  [Source: Library] [historical fiction, historical romance, christian fiction, 4 stars]

First sentence: Casting a surreptitious glance over her shoulder, Noreen O'Sullivan tiptoed pas the unoccupied Methodist church, then darted across Walnut Street toward the schoolhouse. Heart palpitations brought on by self-imposed skulking shallowed her breathing.

Premise/plot: Noreen O'Sullivan is a "spinster" (27 years old) who has reconciled herself to being single, strong, independent, and, of course, opinionated. Soon after the novel opens, she joins a Spinster Society. Noreen's cause is temperance. She is out to almost singlehandedly change her community.  She's protesting and using her first amendment right to try to dissuade anyone from entering the local saloon. The local deputy, James Paxton, wants to be fair to everyone. He does. But he is becoming more and more smitten with Noreen by the day. He wants to support her cause without going on the record as supporting her cause. After a parade--with band--in support of temperance, a local drunk beats up his daughter and wife. Noreen loses control and makes an unwise decision...which sets her up to be set up. 

James will have to fight for Noreen...even when she asks him to consider his own career before her freedom. 

My thoughts: This one was a quick read. I enjoyed it. It was both unique and predictable. Unique in that I haven't personally read many Christian fiction romances about feisty heroines who are part of the temperance movement. Predictable in the romance perhaps. Though maybe that is unique in some ways too? I feel I've seen some old black and white movies that might perhaps feature this type of romance. Anyway, a deputy falling in love with someone he's had to arrest.... Anyway, plenty of drama and melodrama. I liked it for the most part. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Bible Reading #9

Sunday, February 22, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Kings 9-13; 2 Chronicles 22:8-12; 2 Chronicles 23-24;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 19-23

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 900-94; Zephaniah; Habakkuk;

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Exodus 2, Matthew 9, Jeremiah 52, Romans 7

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 115-118; 119:1-32

Monday, February 23, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Kings 14, Jonah, 2 Chronicles 25-26

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 24-34

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 95-106; Nahum, Micah, Jonah, Obadiah, Amos

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Exodus 3, Matthew 9, Romans 8

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 119:33-104

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Amos; 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 27:1-9; Isaiah 1, Micah 1

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 35-43

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 107-118; Joel; Hosea

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Acts 1:15-26; Matthew 9-10; Romans 8

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 119:105-176

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Kings 16:1-18; 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Kings 17:1-4, 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Chronicles 29:1-2; Isaiah 7-12, 17;

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 44-55

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 119-121; Daniel

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Exodus 4, Matthew 10, Lamentations 1, Romans 9

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 120-131

Thursday, February 26, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Hosea; 2 Kings 17, Isaiah 28

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 56-67

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 122-134, Ezekiel 1-11

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Exodus 5, Matthew 11, Lamentations 2, Romans 10;

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 132-138

Friday, February 27, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

Isaiah 1-5; Isaiah 13-16; 2 Kings 16:19-20; 2 Chronicles 28:26-27

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 68-74

RSV Sovereign Bible

Psalms 135-150; Ezekiel 12-19

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Exodus 6-7; Matthew 12; Lamentations 3-4; Romans 11-12;

NASB 77 Giant Print (AMG)

Psalms 139-150

Saturday, February 28, 2026

KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible

2 Chronicles 29-31; Proverbs 25-31

ESV Women's Study Bible

Psalms 75-85

RSV Sovereign Bible

Proverbs 1-4; Ezekiel 20-32

NKJV Wide Margin Sovereign Bible

Lamentations 5

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible