Books Matt Read {2020}

1. Star Wars Jedi Search

2. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

3. The Founding Myth by Andrew Seidel

4. How To By Randall Monroe

5. The End is Always Near by Dan Carlin
6. I will Carry You by Angie Smith
7. Peter Pan by James Matthew Barrie (to boys)
8. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (to boys) 

9. The Battle of Nashville by Benson Bobrick
10. Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
11. A Solider of Great War by Mark Helprin
12. Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook
13. The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
14. Eric by Terry Pratchett
15. Who was Abigail Adams? by True Kelley 

16. 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric Kline 

17. 11 Indispensable Relationships by Leonard Sweet

18. Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber 

19. Adventuring Together by Greta Eskridge 

20. The Volcano of Fire By Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

21. The Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

22. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J Krosoczka (to the boys) 

23. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J Krosoczka

24. The Tower of Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon

25. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Books I Read {2020}

1. I Will Carry You by Angie Smith

2. Finding Home by Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell

3. Suffer Strong by Jay and Katherine Wolf

4. All the Ways we Say Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White

5. Raising the Challenging Child by Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Debbie Reed and Wendy Lyons Sunshine

6. Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson
7. The Jolly-Rogers and the Cave of Dooms by Jonny Duddle (to boys)
8. Mercy Watson Fights Crime by Kate DiCamillo (to boys)

9. Geronimo Stilton A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo (to boys)
10. Falling Home by Karen White
11. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
12. Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury
13. Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson
14. The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
15. Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
16. On The Bright Side by Melanie Shankle
17. The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams
18. Selah by Lisa T. Bergren
19. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
20. Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates
21. When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley
22. The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates
23. Honey For a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
24. The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
25. She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
26. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (to boys)
27. The Call of The Wild + Free by Ainsley Arment
28. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (to boys)
29. Mercy Watson Goes For a Ride by Kate DiCamillo (to boys) 

30. Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne
31. How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Fisher and Elaine Mazlish
32. Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne
33. Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne
34. Mercy Watson Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
35. Mercy Watson Thinks like a Pig by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
36. Mercy Watson Something Wonky this way comes by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
37. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase
38. Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillo (to boys)
39. Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate Di Camillo (to boys)
40. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
41. The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin
42. Magnolia Table: A Collection of Receipts for Gathering Volume Two by Joanna Gaines
43. One Day in December by Josie Silver
44. The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
45. Blind Spot by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
46. More Than Words by Jill Santopolo
47. The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck
48. Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye (Geronimo Stilton #1) by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys)
49. The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
50. Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
51. The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton
52. The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
53. Eugenia Lincoln and the UnExpected Package by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
54. Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys)
55. Stella Endicott and the Any Is Possible Poem by Kate DiCamillo (to the boys)
56. Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
57. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
58. Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer
59. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
60. Open Book by Jessica Simpson
61. I'm Too Fond of my Fur! Geronimo Stilton #4 (to the boys)
62. Reborn by Clayton King
63. 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
64. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
65. Four Mice Deep in the Jungle, Geronimo Stilton #5 (to the boys)
66. On The Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci
67. Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters by Andrea Beaty (to the boys)
68. Meet Me on Love Lane by Nina Bocci
69. Who Was George Washington by Roberta Edwards (to the boys)
70. The Ingredients of You and Me by Nina Bocci
71. Paws Off, Cheddarface! Geronimo Stilton #6 (to the boys)
72. The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
73. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
74. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez 
75. Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants by Andrea Beaty (to the boys)
76. Stand All The Way Up by Sophie Hudson
77. The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
78. The Beach Trees by Karen White
79. The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
80. Be The Bridge by Latasha Morrison
81. Triggers by Amber Lia
82. The Southern Education of a Jersey Girl by Jaime Primak Sullivan
83. The Miscarriage Map by Sunita Osborn
84. Mom Seeks God by Julia Roller

85. Women & Men In the Word - New Testament by She Reads Truth 

86. A Different Beautiful by Courtney Westlake

87. Adventuring Together by Greta Eskridge

88. With Love from the Inside by Angela Pisel

89. 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs

90. The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan

91. Red Pizzas for a Blue Count by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

92. Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion by Andrea Beaty (to the boys) 

93. Attack of the Bandit Cats by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys)

94. What You Wish For by Katherine Center

95. The Phantom of the Subway by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

96.  The Patient One By Shelley Shepard Gray

97. 11: Indispensable Relationships You Can't Be Without by Leonard Sweet 

98. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

99. The Loyal one by Shelley Shepard Gray

100. The Protective One by Shelley Shepard Gray 

101. The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray 

102. The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women's Work by Kathleen Norris

103. This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell 

104. Results may Vary by Bethany Chase

105. One Night At the Lake by Bethany Chase

106. All Because of a Cup of Coffee (to the boys) 

107. Live by Sadie Robertson

108. Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane 

109. Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum 

110. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert 

111. Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jean McKinlay

112. The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker 

113. Women & Men in the Word - Old Testament by She Reads Truth

114. Not That Kind of Guy by Andi J. Christopher 

115. The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall 

116. What Were The Twin Towers? by Jim O'Connor  (to the boys) 

117. Mother Daughter Widow Wife by Robin Wasserman 

118. Would Like To Meet by Rachel Winters 

119. It's Halloween You 'Fraidy Mouse (to boys) 

120. The Home Edit by Clear Shearer and Joanna Teplin 

121. After the End by Clare Mackintosh 

122. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

123. The Book Of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate 

124. Not The Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher

125. Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

126. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian

127. Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting 

128. The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

129. Garden City by John Mark Comer

130. Merry Christmas, Geronimo (to the boys) 

131. Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

132. We Don't Know What's Going to Happen and That's Okay by John Mark Comer

133. The Temple of the Ruby Fire (to the boys) 

134. Intensional by D.A. Horton

135. 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke 

136. The Home Edit Life by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin

137. Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long 

138. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 

139. Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand 

140. The Restaurant by Pamela Kelley 

141. In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

142. Truly, Madly, Deeply by Karen Kingsbury 

143. Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First by Laura Tremaine

144. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth 

145. My name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

146. The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories by Celeste Fletcher McHale 

147. Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

148. To Love A Prince by Rachel Hauck

149. An Amish Christmas Bakery 

150. The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

151. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne 

152. Christmas Island by Natalie Normann

153. Surf's Up Geronimo (to the boys) 

154. Float Plan by Trish Doller

155. The Little French Bridal Shop by Jennifer Dupee

156. Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey 

157. Tools of Engagements By Tessa Bailey

158. An Amish Christmas Wedding: Four Stories by Amy Clipston and more

159. Wedding Crasher by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys)

160. Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty(to the boys)

161. The Search for Sunken Treasure by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys)

162. Snowed in by Jessica Calla 

163. Shall We Dance by Shelley Shepard Gray 

164. Take the Lead by Shelley Shepard Gray

165. The Lake House by Christie Barlow

166. Thea Stilton and The Race For the Gold (to the boys) 

167. Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank 

168. Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst 

169. The Little Swiss Ski Chalet by Julie Caplin 

170. How To Test a friendship by Theanne Griffith (to the boys) 

171. Thin Girls by Diana Clarke

172. Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

173. Want by Lynn Steger Strong

174. The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary

175. Advent 2020 Jesus Christ is Born by She Reads Truth 

176. Brain Trouble by Theanne Griffith (to the boys) 

177. Out of Pocket by Debby Mayne 

178. 25 Days 'Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander 

179. The Christmas Toy Factory by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

180. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne 

181. Frontier Follies by Ree Drummond 

182. Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan 

183. On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves 

184. The Switch by Beth O'Leary

185. All I Want For Christmas by Wendy Loggia 

186. Every Summer by Joanne DeMaio

187. Stories from Suffragette City by M.J. Rose 

188. The Mouse Island Marathon by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

189. The Magnificent Makers #3: Riding Sound Waves by Theanne Griffith (to the boys) 

190. The Nantucket Inn by Pamela M. Kelley

191. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

192. Christmas Catastrophe by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

193. A Very Merry Christmas by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

194. New Year's Kiss by Lee Matthews 

195. A Christmas Tale by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

196. The Mysterious Cheese Thief by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

197. A Grandma for Christmas by Alta Halverson Seymous (to the boys) 

198. A Perfect Amish Romance by Shelley Shepard Gray 

199. Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

200. Sacred Tears by Lindsey Wheeler

201. It's Never Too Late by Kathie Lee Gifford 

202. The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss 

203. The Wild Wild West by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

204. Down and Out Down Under by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

205. Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan 

206. Save the Last Dance by Shelley Shepard Gray 

207. Nantucket Neighbors by Pamela Kelley

208. Valley Of The Giant Skeletons by Geronimo Stilton (to the boys) 

209. Summer at Little Beach Street Baker by Jenny Colgan 

210. The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward 

To the Boys: 50

For myself: 160

Non-fiction: 53

Fiction: 157

Books I Read {2019}

1. The Better Mom Devotional by Ruth Schwenk

2. You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfield

3. Homebody By Joanna Gaines

4. Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith

5. Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

6. Things I Never Told You by Beth K. Vogt

7. Where Hope Begins by Katherine West

8. Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh

9. The Way of The Warrior by Erwin McManus
10. Dangerous Prayers: 50 Powerful Prayers That Changed the World
11. Finding Holy in the Suburbs by Ashley Hales
12. Brave Love by Lisa Leonard 

13. 10 Choices Successful Couples Make by Dr. Ron Welch
14. Love Where You Live by Shauna Pilgreen
15. Hope Heals by Jay and Katherine Wolf
16. Marriage that Works by Chip Ingram
17. Taste and See: Discovering God among Butchers, Bakers, and Fresh Food Makers by Margaret Feinberg
18. God's Word for Mothers
19. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
20. The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile
21. On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
22. Learning To Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt
23. The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart
24. Best Family Ever by Karen Kingsbury
25. The Memory House by Rachel Hauck
26. Breaking the Power of Negative Words by Mary C. Bush
27. Misfit Table by Tiffany Kilgore
28. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center
29. Autumn Brides by Kathryn Springer, Katie Ganshert, Beth K. Vogt
30. Love that Lasts by Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke
31. To Have and To Hold by Betsy St. Amant, Becky Wade, Katie Ganshert
32. Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury
33. Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton
34.  Food Freedom Forever by Melissa Hartwig
35. Winter Brides by Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney and Betsy St. Amant
36. It Starts with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig
37. Loving My Actual Neighbor by Alexandra Kuykendall
38. Teaching from Rest by Sarah McKenzie
39. Verity by Lisa T. Bergren
40. Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
41. The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
42. Get Lucky by Katherine Center
43. I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening) by Sarah Steward Holland and Beth Silvers
44. What's Next? by Chris Hodges
45. The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
46. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (read aloud with boys)
47. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (read aloud with boys)
48. The Next Right Thing by Emily Freeman
49. It's A Love Story by Lincee Ray
50. Powerful Prayers for Your Son by Rob and Joanna Teigen
51. On True Happiness
52. Laughter is the Spice of Life by Patsy Clairmont, Barbara Johnson, Nicole Johnson, Marilyn Meberg, Luci Swindoll, Shelia Walsh, Thelma Wells
53. Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (read aloud with boys)
54. The Dragons of Blueland by Ruth Stiles Gannett (read aloud with boys)
55. Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank
56. Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand
57. The Women Who Met Jesus by Dorothy Valcarcel
58. When You Need To Move a Mountain by Linda Evans Shepherd
59. Surfside Sisters by Nancy Thayer
60. The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams
61. Shame Off You by Denise Pass
62. Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker
63. The Daniel Detox by Don Colbert, MD
64. Gone Fishing, A novel in Verse (read aloud with Mason)
65. It's Not Supposed to be this Way by Lysa Terkeurst
66. The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie
67. Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner by Wendy Blight
68. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
69. Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse (read aloud with Mason and Maddox)
70. Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
71. Hope in The Dark by Craig Groeschel
72. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
73. The Auto-Immune Solution by Amy Myers
74. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
75. The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
76. Roomies by Christina Lauren
77. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park 

78. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown {read aloud with Mason and Maddox)
79. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures: The Japanese Ninja Surpise by Jeff Brown {read aloud with Mason and Maddox}
80. Love Lives Here by Maria Goff
81. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton
82. How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
83. The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels
84. Forged Through Fire by Mark D. McDonough, MD
85. The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin
86. Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #1: The Mount Rushmore Calamity by Jeff Brown
87. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
88. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
89. The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
90. Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller
91. How Many Times do I have to Tell You by Rachael Carman
92. Into the Free by Julie Cantrell
93. Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer
94. Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
95. What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
96. Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
97. The Third Option by Miles McPherson
98. Strong Brave Loved by Holley Gerth
99. Just Mercy By Bryan Stevenson
100. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey
101. Unfollow by Megan Phelps-Roper
102. When Kids Ask Hard Questions
103. An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd

Lastly, I finished reading the entire Bible in 2019! I believe I'm most proud of reading this book.
❤️❤️❤️

Strong Brave Loved by Holly Gerth {Devotional Review}

Strong Brave Loved: Empowering Reminders of Who You Really Are by Holley Gerth has been an excellent addition to my morning reading time. 

Strong Brave Loved is truly an empowering book. Holley's words are heartfelt and it's obvious that she has lived through what she is sharing and teaching and encouraging. I really like that at the end of each devotional she asks a question or encourages an action step and then provides space for answers to those questions. As typical with most devotionals, she has included prayers for each entry as well. 

Aside from the contents, this is just a beautiful book! The cover is visually appealing and the pages inside are the same.

This would be a great book for a new mom or new believer. Just so encouraging and heartfelt! 

**Thanks, Revell Reads, for letting me try this one out!**

Forged Through Fire by Mark D. McDonough, MD {A Book Review}

Forged through Fire by Mark D. McDonough was an incredible story of resilience and courage. 

When Mark was younger, his family home caught on fire. He was badly burned and his mother and brother died in the fire. 

As Mark shares the story of the night of the fire as well as the days that follows, you can almost feel his physical pain. He writes of the smells and sounds and the process he had to go through for healing. Obviously, he whole family was going through a healing process at the same time. 

During the last third of the book, Mark shares about a serious venture that he undertook when he realized that he was sick with an addiction. He shares how his life changed and how he worked hard to overcome and heal. 

I found this story difficult to read but also so encouraging and insightful. If you enjoy true life stories, I'd check this one out! 

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels {A Book Review}

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels is my most recent fiction read and I thought it was a pretty good one. We traveled for over a week in mid-September and it always takes me a bit to get back into reading after traveling. This book was great for jumping back in. 

The Words Between Us bounces back and forth between 20 years ago and present day. Sometimes, I struggle to keep up when books do that but I found this one fairly easy to follow. The story follows Robin whose father is on death row set to be executed. Robin is a lover of books and owns a small book store. Between her love of books and her father being on death row, the story shares of years ago when Robin met Peter. The author did a good job of interweaving the past with the present and presenting those two separate periods of time with ease. 

I loved the story in the past because I really like the character of Peter. Present day was a bit slow for me at times but eventually picked up and was more enjoyable. There are some twists in the story that surprised me and kept me guessing. I always enjoy that. The ending was good but definitely left me wanting to know more! 

I really enjoyed the author's writing and I would read more books from her in the future. 

By the way, this book is not necessarily a Christian book but it is clean and PG, in my opinion. 

Thanks, Revell, for sending me a copy! 

Wally's Misadventure {A Children's book review}

Wally's Misadventure is a super cute book that had the boys and I laughing most of the time. The cover art drew us right in. I mean, what kid doesn't love a book with an animal as the main character? 

Wally had been very busy with chores and lessons and was anxious to see his friends and go on an adventure. One day he finished his to-do list early and headed out with a warning from his Dad to remember the rules. 

Wally tries to get his friends to join him and everyone is busy. As the day wears on, he finds himself in some interesting situations and needs a bit of help. 

It was fun at the end to see what happened and to help my boys learn a lesson from what Wally chose to do. 

This is a fun read and have some definite teachable moments. 

I'm glad we got the chance to read and review it. 

**Thank you to the publisher for sending us an e-book copy to read.**

Shame Off You by Denise Pass {A Book Review}

Shame Off You by Denise Pass was an eye-opening book for me to read. Obviously, I knew the definition of shame prior to reading this book but reading brought me to a new understanding of shame and just how much it can impact us in our daily lives. 

The Bible says this: 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 

I truly loved Denise Pass's transparency in this book. She shared her story openly and honestly and was able to give light to how she has worked hard to overcome shame in her own life. 

I was telling a friend about reading the book and told her that I had not really felt a great deal of shame in my life, thankfully, but this book painted some pictures that definitely helped me to reflect back on areas of my life even 30 years ago and see where I had experienced shame. It was kind of neat to reflect and see how those moments have shaped me and how I have allowed the Lord to heal those parts of my life. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about shame and how it impacts our lives. I also think it is helpful to anyone who wants to help those who are dealing with shame. 

It was very well-written and helpful! 

**I received a free copy of this book.**

 

Learn more at https://shameoffyou.life/the-book.

Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker {A Book Review}

Last year I read another book by Shawn Smucker, a memoir,  called Once We Were Strangers. I was drawn to the book initially because Shawn Smucker lives in Lancaster, PA which is where some of my husband's extended family lives (well, close to there.) Anyway, I enjoyed that one so much that when this one came out, I couldn't wait to read it. Light from Distant Stars did not disappoint! 

Smucker's writing style is enjoyable and easy to read. I flew through this book and honestly, couldn't wait to find out what happened next. 

There are a couple of story lines for this book. The first is Cohen's father being found nearly dead and goes forward as we discover what happened, what contributed to that initial scene. There are some unexpected twists and turns that I really enjoyed. Nothing too crazy but enough to make you pause in a bit of shock. 

The storyline that the book went back and forth with was a storyline from when Cohen was younger and encountered "The Beast." I must say, I like the current day storyline better than I did this storyline but it wasn't bad at all. Just different. 

It was cool to see young Cohen as well as grown-up Cohen and how his younger years affected his later years. I loved the characters in the story including Cohen, his sister, his mother, his father, a young boy named Thatcher and more. There wasn't one that I didn't like except "the beast."

I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable fiction read. 

When You Need To Move a Mountain by Linda Evans Shepherd {A Book Review}

When You Need to Move a Mountain: Keys to Praying with Power by Linda Evans Shepherd is my latest read. In recent months, I've been highly interested in growing in my prayer life. I have spent almost a year spending time in the Word each day but my time in prayer could use some help! 

When You Need to Move a Mountain seemed appropriate as there are some mountains in our lives we would really like to MOVE! This book was very empowering. Shepherd provided some practical ways to pray powerfully. The personal stories included in the pages were encouraging to me as well. 

This book has really pushed me to read more of God's promises in Scripture and to claim those promises, pray those promises and truly believe that God can and WILL do what he says he will do. 

I feel like this book is a great guide for increasing your prayer life. It is easy to understand and to digest and I truly think anyone could benefit from it. Thank you for writing it, Linda Evans Shepherd

**I received this from Revell.**

 

Recent Reads {June/July 2019}

Here are a few of my recent reviews reads from this summer. With all of our traveling, I haven't read much so I'm hoping to jump back in with more reading ASAP!

The Women Who Met Jesus by Dorothy Valcarcel is incredible! Each chapter introduces a woman that Jesus encountered. The Scripture is shared that introduces us to the woman and then the author dives deeper. A personal story typically accompanies each topic as well. There is a time for reflection where the name of each woman is shared again as well as the scripture reference. Questions and an inspirational passage are included, too. I found this book relatable and interesting and I will hope to utilize this as a reference for encouragement as I go through different situations in life. 

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman is the next book. The tagline for the book is "A simple, soulful practice for making life decisions." I truly feel like this book embodies that. The chapters are straightforward and insightful and made me think through some of the thoughts she presented. I think this book would be great for someone who is in a season of having to make a big life decision. This gives practical steps and helps guide the decision making. That's not to say it can't be beneficial for the day-to-day decisions of life though. Freeman's writing is very calm and I enjoyed that. 

The Very Best, Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions by Tim Shoemaker is the last read for this post. I had super high hopes for this book and I must say I'm a bit "meh" about it now. While I LOVE the lessons that the activities are supposed to teach, I felt like most of the activities were a bit time consuming and more involved than I or my husband would truly enjoy. That being said, the author does encourage the reader to complete one a week or so. While they are time-consuming, it isn't like you are doing something huge everyday. So, I think the idea is great but for a family on a budget, I don't know that this is the best choice. We will pick and choose the ones we will do from this book. I think this would be great for a youth leader or a co-op teacher etc. 

Thank you, Revell Books,  for all of these reads! 

Bible Workbooks {Volume 1 Old Testament and Volume 2 New Testament}

I was truly thrilled to receive these two bible workbooks by Catherine B. Walker. There are two volumes, one is the Old Testament and one is the New Testament. I want to start with a disclaimer: I have not completed the entirety of these workbooks at this time but I am looking forward to that in the very near future!

First, these workbooks can easily fit into a binder which I think is great. The pages are perforated so you can tear them out or  put the workbook itself directly into a binder. That will make these easy to transport if needed. 

I also love the way the workbooks are designed. They go in order of each testament and are written to allow you space to answer questions, fill in blanks, etc. Through my perusing, I can already tell that there is going to be some major depth of knowledge exposed through these little books. 

Catherine Walker stated regarding these books: “It is my prayer that all who use these books will be guided by them into a deeper, more personal, knowledge of the living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the written Word, the Bible,” 

Catherine designed these books to encourage students to want to know more. These are not exhaustive studies but a way to help us understand how and why the Bible is written and get our thoughts moving in the right direction. 

As we prepare to homeschool beginning within the next week, I foresee these being helpful for me as I learn how to teach the boys about the Bible in a practical way. 

Thank you, SideDoor Communications and Moody Publishers for these great resources! 

Recent Reads {May 2019}

Loving My Actual Neighbor by Alexandra Kuykendall

Loving My Actual Neighbor by Alexandra Kuykendall is a SUPER practical book for helping us to live out what God has asked us to do and love our neighbors. She has based the book on scriptural truth (2 Peter) and provides good examples from her life about how to walk out loving your neighbor. I found this book easy to read and to relate to and I enjoyed the concepts she presented. I especially enjoyed reading about generosity as well as humility. 

**Thanks, Baker Books.**

It's A Love Story by Lincee Ray

It's a Love Story is the second book by Lincee Ray. I really enjoyed her first book and wanted to give this one a try. While I did enjoy it, I think I liked her first book better. That being said, this book is good! Ray presents all of the different loves of her life. They are wide and varied just like most anyone's would be. Like her first book, this one is funny and easy to read and super relatable! I love Ray's down-to-earth nature and ease at helping her reader to relate to her. Her knowledge of pop culture is an added bonus! 

**Thanks, Revell Books.**

I think You're Wrong (but I'm Listening) by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers

I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening) was NOT a light read! Nor did I expect it to be. I have heard a bit of buzz around this book and knew that it would stretch me and grow me so I dove right in. Honestly, its one of those books that I could read again and still pick up new information. Holland and Silvers are working moms that are on complete opposite ends of the political spectrum and believe and strive for communication about politics and other hot topics to be respectful. They don't think topics should be avoided but rather conversations started to share beliefs while also honoring the person you are talking to. Grace-filled conversations that truly make a difference.

I learned a good deal from this book and it especially encouraged me to be willing to have hard conversations to share my feelings and hear others while also being respectful and God-honoring. I highly recommend this one! 

**Thank you, BookLook Bloggers.**

Powerful Prayers for Your Son by Rob and Joanna Teigen

Powerful Prayers for Your Son is such an incredible tool for parents. I will say, I have not read every single prayer in this book yet but I've read over half of them. Each prayer is addressing a specific need or area that our sons may need prayer for. When your son is dealing with a particular issue, you can look for a prayer related to that and it has scripture to accompany it so you can seek the Lord on your son's behalf. For the portion of the book that's I've read, I've been ver pleased. The scriptures relate to the topic at hand and will be great for showing my boys when they are dealing with certain things. The prayers are bold while not being overly fancy but rather practical. 

I definitely recommend this for boy moms and dads! 

**Thanks, Revell Books.**

Misfit Table by Tiffini Kilgore {A Book Review}

Misfit Table: Let Hunger Lead You to Where You Belong by Tiffini Kilgore is my latest read. When I first started reading, it took me a LONG time to get into it! The writing is a bit scattered at first but as I got into the book and learned more of Tiffini's story, I wanted to get more details and know what God had done and was continuing to do in her life. 

Tiffini shares her story from childhood to near present day in short chapters. Each chapter is anywhere from 2-8ish pages so they are manageable for quick reading. The initial part of each chapter is Tiffini sharing her perspective for that portion of her life. Following that portion is a section written as God, or as Tiffini refers to him "Papa", speaking to Tiffini. I'll be honest and say I didn't read every single one of these sections. The ones I read were a bit odd to me. But that may just be me. It didn't take away from the book for me, it was just unique. 

I really ended up enjoying this book and getting to the 'end' to learn how God had redeemed Tiffini's life and drawn her closer to him and how she is using that to impact others and invite them to the table. 

This was an encouraging book and worth checking out. 

**Thanks BookLook Bloggers, for the book!**

Recent Reads

Marriage that Works by Chip Ingram

I'll admit that after my recent marriage read (10 Choices that Successful Couples Make) that I LOVED this one had a lot to live up to and it fell short for me. Ingram's writing is a bit dry for me. While Marriage That Works had some good information for married couples, It just felt a bit dated for me and because of that irrelevant. I 100% believe that marriage is spiritual and that God must be in the midst for it to be successful. However, this book felt a bit overly spiritual to me. I just wasn't a fan of it overall. 

**Thank you, Baker Books, for providing this book to me!**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Memory House by Rachel Hauck 

I have been a fan of Rachel Hauck for several years and I couldn't wait to read The Memory House. As with other books, I enjoyed this one so much and had trouble putting it down. The Memory House tells the story in two different time periods 50 years apart slowly connecting the dots between the two story lines. Beck Holiday is an NYPD officer who lost her father in 9-11 and she ends up with partial amnesia. She has a run-in with a perp at work and gets suspended. Around that time, she receives a letter knowing that she has received a house through a will. She doesn't full understand and can't remember the details of the person who left the house to her. Nonetheless, she goes down to Florida to see what's going on. She reconnects with an old friend who remembers her but she doesn't remember. Slowly, information returns to her and the dots are connected. There's a bit of a love story, mystery and just a good fiction read. Definitely worth checking out! 

Check out this giveaway, too! 

**Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!** 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Love Where You Live by Shauna Pilgreen 

Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home was a highly anticipated book for me. I had heard a great deal of hype leading up to its release and I couldn't wait to read. This book is DENSE! Each page contains so much good information that you will want to take time to read and digest. I loved every practical tip in the pages as well as the stories the author tells about her own family and their "living sent" journey. The concept of living sent is so neat in that it encourages you to look at those around you, learn from them, let them learn from you and in the midst of that show Jesus to them. I highly recommend this book if you are struggling to connect with your neighbor on a day to day basis. 

**Thank you, Revell Books, for providing this book to me!**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Breaking the Power of Negative Words: How Positive Words Can Heal By Mary C. Busha

Breaking the Power of Negative Words: How Positive Words Can Heal is an incredible book! When I began reading this book, I did not have any negative words that had been spoken over me so I wasn't sure how much this book would matter to me. However, I learned so much through this book about the importance of the words I speak to others especially my husband and my boys. Sometimes, we allow words to come out of our mouths quickly and flippantly without awareness of their impact. This book taught me/reminded me of the power of our words and that both positive and negative words are impactful in a major way. I pray that I take this book to heart and speak kindly and respectfully to those around me. 

**Thank you, Revell Books, for providing this book to me!** 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If God Is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation: A 6-Week Bible Study of Romans 8 by Trillia Newbell

If God Is For Us by Trillia Newbell is a bible study I was asked to review and share. As this is for 6 weeks, I haven't finished the full study yet but I want to go ahead and share about it. 

A bit about the study: 

Why just the one chapter? The simple answer: there’s so much there! It’s no wonder that so many Christians list Romans among their favorite books of the Bible and Romans 8 as their favorite in the book. Romans is packed with profound truth after profound truth which are then followed up with life-changing promise after life-changing promise. In this 6-week study, Trillia will walk you through Romans 8 and help you cement deep inside yourself the scandalous truths of our great salvation, our inheritance, the assurance of our faith, and ultimately the love of our good Father.

Each week includes 5 daily readings out of Romans, an accompanying devotional, and questions for reflection and study.

I really like the in depth nature of this study. I mean you are covering 1 chapter over six weeks. There are incredible questions with each section that have you diving deep and looking within to learn from the scriptures. This is a great study to do alone or with a group of two or more. 

**Thank you, Moody Publishers, for providing me with a copy of this book.**

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's Next?: The Journey to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference by Chris Hodges

What's Next? was a fun read for me because I love Pastor Chris and Church of the Highlands. both had a major impact on my life as a young professional and even now into my thirties. What's Next? is extremely practical. Hodges goes through many next steps to be taken after salvation in an effort to determine your purpose, thrive as a believer, grow closer to God and it's spot on. Helpful, encouraging, simple steps. Check it out! 

**I'm grateful to be a part of the launch team for this book. Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for a digital copy of this book.**

A Few Recent Reads

I need to recap some of my recent review reads so I figured it'd be best to just do post with all of them. I've read some good books lately!

First up is this one...

10 Choices Successful Couples Make: The Secret to Love That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ron Welch

You guys...this book is so good. I have read many books on marriage in the past and this one is truly one of my favorites. In fact, after I finished I told Matt that I wanted to read it together ASAP. What sets it apart from other books on marriage? It's not silly/cheesy and it has practical application exercises that can be done as a couple.

This second point is exactly why I want Matt and I to read the book together soon. I think application in this type of book can be majorly helpful. If I just out of the blue recommended that Matt and I complete all of the exercises he'd probably respond with "Why?" (and I'd respond that way, too!) but when a book tells us what to do, how to do it and gives us the tools to complete the task, it makes it so much better.

I also enjoyed that this book was practical and not overwhelming. I've read marriage books in the past that were just simply overwhelming - too much information for me to process and that doesn't help me! This book was straight-forward. Welch offered experiences from his own life but also included experiences of couples he worked with in the past. Real life examples are so helpful. It makes us feel less isolated in things we may be going through!

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to Matt and I reading it together soon.

**Revell sent me a complimentary copy of this book.**

Next up...

The Way of The Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace by Erwin Raphael McManus

This book is HEAVY. Super heavy, in my opinion. McManus's goal in this book is to give practical tools to help the believer live in victory and walk in peace. While I do think this is achieved in the book by exploring ancient biblical principles, it is a hard read. It's intellectual and full of many complex thoughts and it is intense. Does that mean it was bad? NOT AT ALL! In fact, I think this book is incredible. It just isn't a book you can breeze right through and catch all of it. I think this book would be best read in small chunks (5-10 pages with a highlighter!) so that the reader can really digest the information.

This book is difficult for me to explain (as I'm sure you've already seen!) There is no doubt that McManus is passionate about what he is teaching and I think that despite the heaviness of this book, it is what kept me reading. You can feel the passion in the pages.

I also feel like this book is great for men. The tone, to me, is masculine and the stories are more appealing for men. I kept thinking of Christians who have maybe grown stagnant in their walk and this book helping to revive them and move to a new place with God.

I hope all of that makes sense.

**Waterbrook sent me a complimentary copy of this book.**

Third book...

Brave Love by Lisa Leonard

Lisa Leonad's  debut book is incredible. I was honored to be a part of the launch team for this book and I'm serious when I say that I could not put this book down! Lisa's story is raw and real and genuine and I felt like I was sitting right beside her and she was pouring her heart out to me. Lisa's life has been beautiful but also hard. She and her husband had been married a show time when they found out she was expecting their first child. On the day he was born, they found out he had a unique syndrome that would impact his and their lives forever. Lisa shares how she put herself on the back burner in many ways and, in the process, lost herself. I love the beautiful story of redemption and healing she shares. I have already passed this book along to a friend and cannot wait to keep telling people about it!

**As a part of the launch team, I received this book for free.**

When I Pray for You by Matthew Paul Turner 

The newest children's book from Matthew Paul Turn, When I Pray for You, is absolutely incredible. From the writing on each page to the illustrations, you'll be oohing and ahing and crying! It's a special book for sure.

Turner has a way with words that draw in people of all ages. Both of my boys (5 and 2.5) have enjoyed reading. The concept of praying for our children is an important one and I try hard each day to pray for our boys. This book put to words what I often pray for in my heart. It's incredibly neat to see the illustrations which are beautiful and inclusive. Children of all races are included and children with different uniquenesses are included as well and that is important and special. This book is definitely worth checking out! 

**I am glad I was able to be a part of this launch team.**

The Better Mom Devotional by Ruth Schwenk {A Devotional Review}

This past year, I really started reading the Bible consistently while also incorporating devotionals into my daily time as well. This year, I started with The Better Mom Devotional by Ruth Schwenk. 

As always, I have not completed this whole devotional because I'm only reading one entry a day but I have a week plus under my belt and I feel confident in reviewing it. 

The Better Mom Devotional is biblically based providing a 1-2 page excerpt by the author each day along with a poignant prayer and scripture as well as two questions to reflect on. 

The days I have read so far have shared information about parenting as well as marriage and even household related topics. I am enjoying this very much and I think the questions are important for me to help me refer back to what I just read. 

I think this devotional would be great for a new mom or a mom in any season of life especially young motherhood. 

Also, if you aren't reading a devotional of some sort, I highly recommend it. It's a great way to get help with scripture application. 

Jax's Tail Twitches: When You Are Angry {A Children's Book Review}

Jax's Tail Twitches; When You Are Angry is another book in the Good News for Little Hearts series and it is incredible, too! The other two books I've read have read and reviewed addressed failure as well as anxiety and this one addresses anger.

I think this one was harder to read because it was intense and don't we all struggle with anger at times? It was difficult to see the Dad in the story become angry and see how his children reacted and to see how they all worked through it. 

I think this book is monumentally important for all of us to read and apply in our lives. If a child deals with anger issues, this is especially needed for them. 

Zoe's Hiding Place: When You are Anxious {A Children's Book Review}

Zoe's Hiding Place: When You are Anxious is a book in the Good News for Little Hearts Series and it is such a great book. While I'd much prefer for children to never be anxious, it is a reality and when it happens, they need a book to help this. This is one such book. 

Zoe becomes anxious and begins to worry about many things as she prepares for a class trip and when she interacts with her mom, her mom helps her to learn and remember that God is always with her. That Zoe can turn her worries into prayers to God and he will help her.

When the event comes, she remembers what to do when she begins to worry and get anxious. She is able to overcome and grows stronger in the process. 

The end of the book has a bullet-point section of tips for helping a child who is dealing with anxiety and there are some pocket bible verses as well. 

This book is real while also being on the child's level. I highly recommend this!!