5. KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference Bible

5. KJV (King James Version) MacLaren Large Print Reference (Thomas Nelson). 2021. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift] [5 stars, Bible, King James Bible]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Start date: April 23, 2026

Finish date: July 9, 2026

I love the King James Bible. I love new King James Bibles. I love old King James Bibles. There are pros and cons to both old and new. This one is decidedly new. It uses comfort print font. It is 10.5 font size. The chapter and verses are in a distinctive blue. The copy I read was imitation or trutone or "leather" like. It was decent. DOUBLE column, not single. Words of Christ in BLACK. The cross references appear at the BOTTOM of the page. There are paragraph headers though it is verse by verse reference edition. This one is not broken into syllables with a pronunciation guide. (Older KJV Bibles often are like this). 

It is relatively light weight. The size of the font makes for a mostly comfortable reading experience. It isn't GIANT print or SUPER GIANT print. 

It would be a good introduction to the King James Bible. It isn't particularly intimidating, it has many of the things you'd expect in a "modern" Bible. It is line-matched. It does lay flat. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

4. ESV Women's Study Bible

4. ESV Women's Study Bible. God. 2021. 2336 pages. [Source: GIFT] [Bible, study Bible, 5 stars]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 

Start date: November 29, 2025

End date: May 2, 2026

I loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this Bible. It is the BEST of both worlds. It offers devotionals AND study notes. It also features articles, maps, timelines, illustrations, profiles cross references, glossary. It was just the right balance too. There are plenty of features that make this a true study Bible. YET it isn't as overwhelming as the ESV Study Bible. The devotions are present--obviously. But they are not carrying all the weight either.  The translation is the English Standard Version. (This is the 2016 text edition). 

It is double column, words of Christ in black. 

As I mentioned, I love this one!!! I loved the substance of this one. It was SOLID. It is probably the best Women's Bible I've ever owned, ever read. I can't think of a better. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. King James Chronological Life Application Study Bible

3. KJV Chronological Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition. God. 2025. 2128 pages. [Source: Bought (Gift)] [5 stars, bible review]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

What you should know about this Bible?

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible is available in the King James Version AND the New Living Translation. 

This is the second edition of the Chronological Life Application Study Bible. It has a few new features including more insight from Jewish scholars. The first edition has been out of print for quite a while.

It is double column. It is black letter. The Words of Christ appear in black--not red.

There are study notes, profiles of characters, maps, charts, articles, appendices. 

Being a life application Bible, the notes are more on the application side as opposed to scholarly, academic, or contextual. 

What didn't work for me personally:

I found some of the notes to be highly, highly, highly speculative. It is okay just to admit you have no idea 'how to read' a passage. I am thinking particularly of Song of Songs or Song of Solomon. The notes are 99.9% speculative fluff. There is NO WAY to read the passage and come to their conclusions without a lot of imagination and speculation and just reading into the text. 

I found the amount of notes to text to be overwhelming--again depending on the book. Anytime a page of the Bible is 90% notes and 10% Scripture, I just find it TOO overwhelming to read any of the notes at all. 

I have realized I don't really enjoy the chronological approach to reading Scripture. I just don't. Some may. I don't. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

7. King James Version with Apocrypha (Cambridge Cameo)

KJV Cameo Reference Bible with Apocrypha. Black Calfskin Leather, Red-Letter Text. God. Cambridge Bibles. 2011 this edition. 1868 pages. [Source: Gift]

ISBN 13: 978-1107608078

ISBN 10: 1107608074

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Start date: March 1, 2024. End date: April 7, 2024. 

I love, love, love, love and adore this Bible. I do. The paper quality is excellent--absolutely fabulous. Is it as good as India paper???? I haven't read this Cameo side by side with a Cameo with India paper. I do have a few Bibles printed on India paper--I love them all. The paper of this Cameo Reference Bible is supplied by Papeteries du Leman, Thonon-les-Bains France. It is printed in the Netherlands by Royal Jongbloed. Cambridge is the oldest Bible publisher; they have been printing Bibles in English since 1591. 

Petit Medieval Clarendon 1159 is the font type and the size is 8 point. It is SMALL, of course, but it is also LIGHT. It is compact in size.  It is SO easy to hold and position that the small size is not difficult. Yes, I have tricky vision. Very tricksy. I would never claim that I could easily read a Bible if I struggled with it. 

Double-column. Red-letter. It was a pleasant enough red letter. I've seen better. I've seen worse. I've seen a lot worse. I love the layout of this one. 

There is separate pagination (page count) for the Old Testament, the Apocrypha, and the New Testament. 

The apocrypha includes: 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Rest of Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, Song of Three Holy Children, History of Susanna, History of Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manasses, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees. 

This was my first time reading the apocrypha in the King James Version. I have read Apocryphal books in the Revised Standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version. I'm not sure if they are the exact same books. I am by no means an "expert" when it comes to the Apocrypha. I've read it two to three times. I know one of those was a Catholic edition so that the books may have been different. 

My system that I used for most of this project was an adapted Bible in 90 days. I used the Bible Reading Plan Generator, selected my books, and checked that I wanted readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament each "day." I usually read two "days" per day. One in the morning devotions. One in the afternoon/evening devotions. Some days I went ahead and read an extra day. Towards the end, I was doubling and tripling up on readings. I could see the finish line in sight. Now, that being said--speed was not a motivator. My goal was not to rush through and say I did it. I absolutely LOVE love love reading the Bible. I do tend to pick up speed when I only have a few books left. But I think this is natural--for me--and not necessarily a warning sign that my reasons are all wrong. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

43. Under the Texas Mistletoe

Under the Texas Mistletoe. Karen Witemeyer. 2021. 320 pages. [Source: Gift]

First sentence: "It's a fool's errand, I tell you."

Under The Texas Mistletoe is a collection of three holiday-themed novellas by Karen Witemeyer. One is brand new--2021. One is first time in print [previously available as an e-book]. One is a reprint of a previously published novella [from another holiday novella collection]. The three novellas are A Texas Christmas Carol, An Archer Family Christmas, and Gift of the Heart. 

I enjoyed all three novellas. I don't know that I have a favorite exactly. Whatever story I happen to be reading at the time is my favorite. Of the three novellas, An Archer Family Christmas is the most melodramatic--in my opinion. But I am also super partial to the Archers so I can definitely overlook a little holiday drama. 

I really just felt so happy reading all three novellas. It was great to revisit Gift of the Heart. I do remember reading that one when it came out in another book. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

19. Berean Standard Bible

Berean Study (changed to Standard) Bible. 2020. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I've read the BSB translation three times now. I just absolutely love, love, love this translation of the Bible. 

It is now available on Olive Tree app and YouVersion. 

The Berean Study Bible is a (relatively) new translation recently made available in print. It has been available online at Biblehub.com since 2016 (I believe.) It is important to realize, however, that it is not your traditional "study" Bible. It is a text-only Bible. The study element is what you put into it by being a Berean (Acts 17:11). You put in the work, the effort, the energy--and it will be a study Bible.

From their website, "The Berean Study Bible is a completely new translation based on the best available manuscripts and sources. Each word is connected back to the Greek or Hebrew text, resulting in a transparent and honest text that can be studied for its root meanings. The Berean Study Bible text is the result of a careful translation and styling process to maintain core meanings and produce an English text of high literary quality, effective for public reading, study, memorization, and evangelism. We believe that the Scriptures are meant to be studied and shared freely. Just as Paul encouraged the churches to pass on his letters, we are developing digital resources that will be free to access and free to share in websites, apps and software."

I absolutely love, love, love, LOVE, love this translation. It feels like coming home. It feels familiar, right.  Of course, many translations feel familiar. But that is often the result of months even years. It is hard to explain. 

BSB

The Lord is my shepherd; 

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

This third time through, I read it with the Daily Offices of the Book of Common Prayer. 

About the print edition, the layout is great. Good size font. A good bit of space on each page. (Perhaps not enough for notetakers, but this isn't claiming to be a notetaker's edition). Nothing looks crowded or crammed. It is black letter!!! The only slight negative is that it is a bulky Bible. It is a bit heavy. But once you've got where you're going, once it's on your lap or on the table/desk in front of you, you forget all that. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

15. ESV Gospel Transformation Bible

ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible: Christ In All of Scripture, Grace for All of Life. 2019 (this edition). 2096 pages. [Source: Gift]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I read and reviewed the first edition of the Gospel Transformation Study Bible when it first released. They have since come out with a second edition.

One thing that has changed from then to now is my eyesight. I wasn't able to fully utilize the notes this time around. But if memory serves me, then the notes were all sorts of amazing and awesome. (I'm sure that is still the case). For the record, I tried to read the notes for about two or three weeks, it was just too much of a strain on my eyes to commit to reading each and every word of the notes. If I came across a particular passage where I felt I needed some clarification or a boost, then short spurts of reading the notes worked. 

I love the premise of this one--that Christ is to be found in ALL of Scripture. This Bible erases or perhaps bridges the disconnect between testaments that some struggle with. 

I started this Bible on June 28, 2022 and finished it on October 17, 2022. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. Berean Study Bible (BSB)

Berean Study Bible. God. 2020. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift] 

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Berean Study Bible is a (relatively) new translation recently made available in print. It has been available online at Biblehub.com since 2016 (I believe.) It is important to realize, however, that it is not your traditional "study" Bible. It is a text-only Bible. The study element is what you put into it by being a Berean (Acts 17:11). You put in the work, the effort, the energy--and it will be a study Bible

Because it is so new and perhaps you haven't heard of it or learned of it, I'll take a few extra steps in this review. From their website, "The Berean Study Bible is a completely new translation based on the best available manuscripts and sources. Each word is connected back to the Greek or Hebrew text, resulting in a transparent and honest text that can be studied for its root meanings. The Berean Study Bible text is the result of a careful translation and styling process to maintain core meanings and produce an English text of high literary quality, effective for public reading, study, memorization, and evangelism. We believe that the Scriptures are meant to be studied and shared freely. Just as Paul encouraged the churches to pass on his letters, we are developing digital resources that will be free to access and free to share in websites, apps and software."

I first read this translation in 2021. I read it the second time this year (2022). I used the Five Day Bible Reading Plan. I started on January 1, 2022 and finished March 4, 2022. I read multiple "days" per days. Some days reading just three or four days' worth of readings. And some days reading five to seven days' worth of readings. This plan takes a somewhat chronological approach. I wouldn't say it's strictly chronological. The psalms seem to be almost completely randomly sprinkled throughout the readings. If there was an order or reason for their arrangement, it went way over my head. 

I discovered that while I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the translation. (Still think I'm holding back a little bit on how much I love this translation). I am not a big fan of the 5 day reading plan. 

I am so glad I gave into my urge to reread this one so soon after finishing it the first time. It does feel like coming home; the translation does feel JUST RIGHT. 

About the print edition, the layout is great. Good size font. A good bit of space on each page. (Perhaps not enough for notetakers, but this isn't claiming to be a notetaker's edition). Nothing looks crowded or crammed. It is black letter!!! The only slight negative is that it is a bulky Bible. It is a bit heavy. But once you've got where you're going, once it's on your lap or on the table/desk in front of you, you forget all that. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

11. RSV Schuyler Quentel with Apocrypha

Schuyler Quentel RSV with Apocrypha. God. 2021. Evangelical Bible. 1700 pages. [Source: Gift]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I began reading the RSV Schuyler on October 1, 2021 using the Shred 30 Day Bible reading plan. It was my first time to use this plan. Because this edition of the RSV Schuyler has the apocrypha (it was available with or without), it took me an additional week to complete. It was also my first time reading the apocrypha all the way through. (I had read tiny bits and pieces before, but never entire books, and never all of the books.) 

I chose the dark green goat skin. I wish the ribbon color was not green--or that shade of green. The green of the ribbon and the green of the cover do not remotely go well together. A contrasting shade of ribbon would have been lovely. That being said, I did love the cover! The shade of green grew on me throughout the month. The LOVE of the feel of the cover was instant. From day one, I loved the way this one felt in my hands. I loved the way the Bible opened. It had a just right feel. Not too stiff or awkward. Not too floppy and unwieldy. 

The art gilding edging was red under gold. It grew on me. I didn't ever dislike it, mind you. But I wasn't wow this is the best thing ever either. After daily use, I've gotten used to the many colors. I like it best when it gives a coral vibe.

The font size. I may be alone here, but I wish it was a larger font. 10 point is in the "acceptable" range. But it isn't that magic "just right" range. The NASB Schuyler is 11 point font. And it was JUST RIGHT. 

The layout is lovely. Meaning it is a feast for the eyes. Yet it would have been nice if the font could have still been 11 points! Some people seem to be so thrilled over the drop cap (large capital letter used as a decorative element at the beginning of a paragraph or section) that they will gladly sacrifice that extra point. Me, I'm more practical. It is NOT a deal breaker. I repeat, it is not a deal breaker. 

It is BLACK LETTER. If it had been red letter and 10 point font, that would have been a strong NO for me.

I love, love, love the raised spine ribs. I only have a handful of Bibles with raised spine ribs, but it just adds to the experience of holding it in your hands. And it is just HAPPY making. A very small thing, to be sure, again not a deal breaker. But LOVELY all the same.

I wish it had not broken words down into syllables--particularly proper nouns like place names, people. But I was looking through other RSV Bibles that I have, and this seems to just be how it is. 

I've heard also that there are four typos in this Bible. I read it cover to cover, and none of the typos threw me out of the text and made me cranky. So I wouldn't let that fact alone keep you from getting one. 

I will mention that for those that want to write *some* in their Bibles. There seem to be at least half a dozen or so sturdy, thick pages that are blank and perfect for *some* writing. 

Other features:
Line Matching
28 GSM Paper
Page size: 6.1″ x 9.13″ x ~1.1″ (155 mm x 232 mm x ~29 mm)
3 x 1 cm Green Ribbons
Gold embossing on the Spine.
Smyth Sewn
Cross references
Expanded Edition of The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books
Glossary concordance
Presentation pages
Extensive Schuyler Bible Maps

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

8. Berean Study Bible (BSB)

Berean Study Bible. God. 2020. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift] [Source: Free Online]

First sentence: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Berean Study Bible is a (relatively) new translation recently made available in print. It has been available online at Biblehub.com since 2016 (I believe.) It is important to realize, however, that it is not your traditional "study" Bible. It is a text-only Bible. The study element is what you put into it by being a Berean (Acts 17:11). You put in the work, the effort, the energy--and it will be a study Bible

Because it is so new and perhaps you haven't heard of it or learned of it, I'll take a few extra steps in this review. From their website, "The Berean Study Bible is a completely new translation based on the best available manuscripts and sources. Each word is connected back to the Greek or Hebrew text, resulting in a transparent and honest text that can be studied for its root meanings. The Berean Study Bible text is the result of a careful translation and styling process to maintain core meanings and produce an English text of high literary quality, effective for public reading, study, memorization, and evangelism. We believe that the Scriptures are meant to be studied and shared freely. Just as Paul encouraged the churches to pass on his letters, we are developing digital resources that will be free to access and free to share in websites, apps and software."

I absolutely love, love, love, LOVE, love this translation. It feels like coming home. It feels familiar, right.  Of course, many translations feel familiar. But that is often the result of months even years. It is hard to explain. 

BSB

The Lord is my shepherd; 

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for the sake of His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

I read the Berean Study Bible using the Power60 reading plan. I didn't take all sixty days. I took about forty. 

About the print edition, the layout is great. Good size font. A good bit of space on each page. (Perhaps not enough for notetakers, but this isn't claiming to be a notetaker's edition). Nothing looks crowded or crammed. It is black letter!!! The only slight negative is that it is a bulky Bible. It is a bit heavy. But once you've got where you're going, once it's on your lap or on the table/desk in front of you, you forget all that. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible