Here are the books I finished reading in 2018:
76) Start with Why
~ by Simon Sinek
[When running your business, start from the inside of the Golden Circle and move out: Why, How, What. I watched a TED talk by the author about this topic several years ago. His book is very repetitive, although I did enjoy the examples he uses to make his points.]
75) Bringing Mom Home
~ by Susan Soesbe
[The subtitle of this book is "How Two Sisters Moved Their Mother Out of Assisted Living to Care for Her Under One Amazingly Large Roof." It was encouraging to read about how the author and her sister honored their mother by caring for her in the final months of her life. An inspirational example.]
74) Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace
~ by Jody Hedlund
[John Newton wrote the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." This novel tells the story of how as a young man he met and fell in love with Polly Catlett. He met with a great deal of misfortune, much of which was of his own making. But — and I don't really think I'm giving away the story's ending — God saves him!]
73) Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been
~ by Jackie Hill Perry
[This book is on a lot of "best of 2018" lists on evangelical blogs/sites, and I certainly understand why. The author was in the homosexual lifestyle until she became a Christian. She does a beautiful job telling her story and gives all glory to God in the process. Excellent book.]
72) Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
~ by Gino Wickman
[I read this book because the leadership team at my workplace has read it. Although I am not a member of the leadership team, I do want to understand the operating system my workplace is probably going to implement.]
71) Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World
~ by Bob Goff
[See #51 below and insert same remarks here! I am wavering between feeling inspired and feeling inadequate. But I think the author's intent is to inspire, so I'll go with that.]
70) Is It Night or Day?
~ by Fern Schumer Chapman
[The cover of this novel says "Based on True Events." The paperback version I read contains some good bonus material which provides additional history. The author's mother was sent to America by her parents during WWII, saving her from the Holocaust. I think this book would be effective in teaching younger children about this troubling time in our world history.]
69) The Mathematician's Shiva: A Novel
~ by Stuart Rojstaczer
[The narrator's mother is a prominent mathematician. When she passes away, mathematician's from all over the world want to come sit shiva with the family. They are hoping to discover the proof she has been working on, as well as pay their respects (of course). An interesting story which I enjoyed.]
68) Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy
~ by Tim Harford
[Every now and then I like to read a book that I wouldn't ordinarily pick up. I learned a lot from this interesting little book. I didn't always agree with the author's political undertones, but I did gain a new appreciation for the technologies that exist today.]
67) Beyond the Truth: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[Novel #3 by a hometown friend. (See #43 below.) I think this was my favorite of the series so far! Not sure when #4 is coming out. I will be watching for it.]
66) The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
~ by Katherine Woodfine
[This is the first book in the Sinclair's Mysteries series, targeted toward 8 - 12 year old readers. May I just say that 55-year-old readers just might enjoy this book, too? The setting is London, 1909. Sinclair's Department Store (a la Selfridge's) is about to have its grand opening when the clockwork sparrow is stolen. Who took it? Will young Sophie Taylor be able to solve the mystery in time?]
65) The Cure: What If God Isn't Who You Think He Is And Neither Are You
~ by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall
[Of the two roads called "Pleasing God" and "Trusting God," which is my primary motivation? Choosing the first brings me to "The Room of Good Intentions." If I choose the second, I am led to "The Room of Grace." After reading this book, I watched the talk "Two Roads FULL Message" by John Lynch on Trueface's YouTube Channel. I will be thinking about this book for quite a while....]
64) The Chocolate Cat Caper (Chocoholic Mystery Book 1)
~ by JoAnna Carl
[How could I not enjoy a book with both "chocolate" and "cat" in the title? And it's a mystery to boot!]
63) Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity
~ by Rebekah Merkle
[Interesting book. History, analysis, and encouragement all in one volume. I'm probably getting Emily a copy of this for Christmas. (Shhhh... Don't tell her!)]
62) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel
~ by Robin Sloan
[I really enjoyed this quirky story! Books, codes, interesting characters... it was quite fun.]
61) The Burgess Boys: A Novel
~ by Elizabeth Strout
[I can't remember where I learned of this novel, but I'm pretty sure I put it on my "to read" list because I learned much of it was set in Maine. The novel's depiction of Maine reminded me of the political belief that "Maine is a cheap date" — a belief I'm not happy about! That aside, the story was okay in that it kept my interest. Some interesting character development.]
60) Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
~ by Susan Cain
[I read most of this book while using the elliptical machine. (I didn't read it all in one session!) As an introvert, I really appreciated this book and I enjoyed the case studies the author shared. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a supervisor; it would help you understand the needs of introverted employees.]
59) Henry Kapowcawicz and the Remarkable Subway Rat
~ written by K.F. Brown
~ illustrated by Sean Evans
[I can't remember how I came across this cute short story about a boy who helps a rat start a business. Quite fun; quirky characters!]
58) The Guardian
~ by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed
[Lew read this novel before I did, and he recommended it to me. It is an imaginative story involving the little scroll from the book of Revelation. I didn't want to put it down!]
57) High as the Heavens
~ by Kate Breslin
[I was able to borrow this historical-fiction, Christian-romance novel through our Kindle Unlimited membership. The setting is Belgium (mostly Belgium) during WWI. I liked the story, although I did find the plethora of passages about how the main characters thought/felt about each other to be a little tedious — but not so tedious that I wouldn't recommend the book. I DO recommend it for its intriguing story. It had some unexpected twists!]
56) Next Door Savior
~ by Max Lucado
[This was a book I savored. I read no more than two chapters a day (and usually only one), because each chapter had a great message.]
55) Pachinko
~ by Min Jin Lee
[While reading the first part of this novel, I kept wondering when the character named Pachinko would appear. It was a family saga, so I figured Pachinko was a descendant of one of the earlier characters. I eventually learned that Pachinko is a Japanese form of pinball, so my expectations were way off! I found this novel to be quite intriguing and engaging. It was respectful of the Christian faith. It also had some very explicit scenes and language, so be forewarned if you decide to read it.]
54) Come Thirsty
~ Max Lucado
[It had been a while since I read a book by Max Lucado. I do read something by him every day, though: I get a daily devotion via e-mail! I enjoy his writing style — not to mention his message. Good stuff.]
53) The Shape of the World: A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright
~ written by K.L. Going
~ illustrated by Lauren Stringer
[When I read a lovely picture book, I feel I must add it to this list! I saw a review of this book in WORLD Magazine, so I ordered it for Eli and Adam. I think Eli will enjoy reading this out loud. Maybe I will ask him to read it to me!]
52) Surgeon's Choice
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[The last novella on my current reading list! These were fun to read during my try-to-fall-asleep time at night.]
51) Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People
~ by Bob Goff
[This book was mentioned in a sermon I heard recently, so I decided to get it on my Kindle. It really is a good read and provides a great challenge to love others. I fall far short....]
50) Rx Murder
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[Another novella. One more to go!]
49) The Mystery of the Yellow Room
~ by Gaston Leroux
[The French title of this delightful book is Mystère de la chambre jaune. I read an English translation, of course! The methods of the sleuth in this story reminded me of Sherlock Holmes.]
48) FIRST LESSONS: Early Blog Posts by Author Richard L. Mabry, MD
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[I wanted to put a different name on the "by" line above, just to see if anyone would notice! Ha ha! It was fun to read this collection of blog posts after reading so many novels/novellas by Dr. Mabry. I still have a couple more Kindle Unlimited offerings to go!]
47) Silent Night, Deadly Night
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[Yes, this novella does take place during the holiday season. The opening scene is five days after Christmas.]
46) Cardiac Event
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[This novel was another good, easy read.]
45) How to Walk Into Church
~ by Tony Payne
[I've been reading a lot of short books recently, and this is yet another one. It offered very practical advice, and I am still thinking about the many good points the author made. A helpful little book.]
44) The Beatitudes
~ by Arthur W. Pink
[Blogger/author Tim Challies listed this as a Kindle deal on his blog. I just heard a sermon recently on the Beatitudes, so reading this short book added additional insight. Good stuff.]
43) Beneath the Depths: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[Novel #2 by a hometown friend. (See #35 below.) Again, the language — although probably realistic — was a little rough for my tastes. But I did enjoy the story itself. It looks like the third book in the series will be available in late October. I will read it... gotta support the hometown boy!]
42) Art and the Bible
~ by Francis A. Schaeffer
[Another great little book filled with great big wisdom. (See #37 below.)]
41) Doctor's Dilemma
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[After I read Guarded Prognosis (#39 below), I saw that there were another half dozen of Dr. Mabry's books available on Kindle Unlimited. This novella is one of them. I'll be reading the other offerings soon, too!]
40) Stars in the Grass
~ by Ann Marie Stewart
[This is a touching story about a family being torn apart by a heartbreaking tragedy. The narrator is a nine-year-old girl. I read this novel within a 48-hour period; I didn't want to put it down.]
39) Guarded Prognosis
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[I had previously read the author's Prescription for Trouble series (4 novels) and really enjoyed them. So when this new novel popped up as available through Kindle Unlimited, I borrowed it and read it right away. It was a good read and went quickly. The author includes faith as part of his character's lives.]
38) The Girl From the Train
~ by Irma Joubert
[Not to be mistaken for the movie The Girl On the Train, this novel's story begins in Poland during World War II. The girl, Gretl, is a skinny little girl at the story's start and is much too close to the horrors of war. I don't want to say much more about Gretl, because I recommend reading the book!]
37) The Mark of the Christian
~ by Francis A. Schaeffer
[Great little book filled with great big wisdom. I need to take it to heart. It took me less than an hour to read, so I'll probably re-read it again soon.]
36) The Language of Flowers: A Novel
~ by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
[I really enjoyed this. It had been on my "to read" list for a while, so I'm glad I finally read it. A good story, but I doubt I remember anything I may have learned about flowers!]
35) Among the Shadows: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[The author is a hometown friend; he was in my sister Kim's class. This is his first novel. I'm going to use the term "gritty" to describe the language, but I really enjoyed the story! It was set in nearby Portland, so that made it a fun read. The second novel in the series has already been published, the third will be out soon, and he is already working on the fourth. I plan to read them all.]
34) The Book Stops Here
~ by Kate Carlisle
[This is the first book that I've read in the author's "Bibliophile Mystery" series, although I believe it is the 8th installment. The main character — Brooklyn Wainwright — is a bookbinder who has a knack for stumbling across dead bodies. The story was entertaining, but I probably will not read any other books in the series. Why not? There are so many great books I still haven't read!]
33) After the Funeral
~ by Agatha Christie
[Hercule Poirot. A full-length novel. A mystery reader's feast!]
32) Rush Revere and the Presidency
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the fifth book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. To my knowledge, there is not a sixth book yet — although I did read that Rush hopes to do another one. If there is a sixth, I will be reading it... and then passing it along to Eli and Adam, of course! This is a really good series.]
31) A Woman of Independent Means
~ by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
[I enjoyed this more than I was expecting to. The story is told in the form of letters. There is a 1995 mini-series starring Sally Field based on this.]
30) Double Sin and Other Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[Eight short stories in this one. Again, very enjoyable. The next Agatha I read will be another mystery novel. I can hardly wait!]
29) The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[Nine short stories in this collection. Very enjoyable!]
28) Star over Bethlehem: Poems and Holiday Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[This collection is quite a change from her mystery novels! Some Christian-based stories; some interesting poems (not all necessarily to do with holidays). I'm glad I read this, but I prefer her mysteries. And I've never been good at understanding poetry, ha ha!]
27) The ABC Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
~ by Agatha Christie
[Every time I read an Agatha Christie novel, I always say, "This is my favorite one so far!" This book was no exception. I guess they are all my favorites. 😊]
26) We Have Lost the Plot
~ by Paul Mathews
[This is the 5th, and apparently the final, installment in the We Have Lost series. Farewell, Howie and Britt!]
25) Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond
~ by Sam Hearn
[The style of this kids' book reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I enjoy all things Sherlock Holmes!]
24) Jack Frost
~ by Christopher Greyson
[I enjoyed reading yet another installment in the Detective Jack Stratton series! These are quick reads.]
23) Jane Eyre
~ by Charlotte Bronte
[I found out that Emily had recently read this, so I decided to read it as well. The whole time I was reading it I kept wondering, "Have I read this before? It seems like something I might have read." Either way, I'm glad I read — or re-read — this classic.]
22) Live Like Line / Love Like Ellyn
~ by Bill Hoeft
[After I read about the movie "Miracle Season" in WORLD Magazine, I immediately looked to see if I could find any free Kindle books related to this real-life story. This book by Bill Hoeft is available through Kindle Unlimited, so I was excited. I experienced some difficulty several times while reading it: my eyes got all watery and blurry, and my cheeks got wet. I just watched about half an hour of related YouTube videos and experienced the same difficulty.... Such a tragic, touching, moving, inspirational story. A wide range of emotions.]
21) Ordeal by Innocence
~ by Agatha Christie
[I hadn't read anything by Agatha for a while, so it was good to get back to reading her again. (My goal is to read all of her mystery novels.) This story doesn't have Poirot or Marple, but it was still quite enjoyable. A lot of interesting characters!]
20) The Promise of Jesse Woods
~ by Chris Fabry
[I really enjoy this author. Christian perspective. I stayed up really late on a work night to finish reading this novel.]
19) With You Always (Orphan Train Book One)
~ by Jody Hedlund
[In the late 1800s the Children's Aid Society also helped find jobs for women in the West. Elise (the main character in this novel) travels by train to Illinois, hoping to find work and earn enough money to send back home to her siblings. Her path crosses that of Thornton Quincy — and the sparks fly!]
18) Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the fourth book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. Rush Revere and his students take a trip to modern-day Washington, D.C. in this installment. And, of course, they have some time-traveling adventures as well. I really want to visit D.C. now; I may have to talk Lew into taking a trip!]
17) Here's to Friends: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[The final book about the four Lindas. I enjoyed the series. But I am a bit skeptical about them completing all their home improvements in such a short amount of time! 😉]
16) Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover
~ by Markus Motum
[I bought this picture book to give to Eli and Adam, because I thought it would be good to have in their homeschool library. I read it first, of course (!), and it is quite delightful. I learned a lot, and I may have to do some Internet surfing on Mars exploration.]
15) All for One: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[Book three in The Four Lindas series. See #11 and #13 below. One more to go!]
14) Southern as a Second Language
~ by Lisa Patton
[The third and final novel in the author's Dixie Series. I am sharing these books with a co-worker who was looking for a fun read.]
13) Hometown Ties: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[Book number two in The Four Lindas series. (See #11 below.) I've already started reading the third one!]
12) Yankee Doodle Dixie
~ by Lisa Patton
[This is the second novel in the author's Dixie Series. If you enjoy laughing so hard that your shoulders shake and tears stream down your face, then this book is for you! It's the equivalent of a chick flick!]
11) As Young As We Feel: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[This is the first book in The Four Lindas series. Marley, Caroline, Abby, and Janie met in grade school and began going by their middle names to avoid confusion. (They all share the same first name. Guess what it is?) Now in their 50s, the four are reunited at a high school reunion. Although it's a little bit different, this series reminds me of Sensible Shoes: four friends helping each other deal with what life brings their way.]
10) Orphan Train: A Novel
~ by Christina Baker Kline
[My friend Carmen recommended this book to me, and now I recommend it to you! Some salty language at times, but not often enough for me to put it down.]
9) Rush Revere and the American Revolution
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the third book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. After I finished reading this one, I read the Declaration of Independence — which I don't remember ever reading before. (But I must have, right?) So... many thanks to Rush Revere and his time-traveling horse, Liberty, for a wonderful historical adventure! I will be handing this book off to Emily and Matt so they can read it to Eli and Adam.]
8) Sunshine Country
~ by Kristina Roy (Kristina Royovej)
[Based on true events, this story takes place in the mountains of Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s. It is about a nine-year-old boy who finds a Bible and subsequently shares the good news of Jesus Christ. A sweet story. (I read an English translation, of course!)]
7) The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: A Flavia de Luce Novel
~ by Alan Bradley
[This is the 6th Flavia novel. From what I can tell, there are currently nine books, so I still have a few more to savor!]
6) An Extra Mile: A Story of Embracing God's Call
~ by Sharon Garlough Brown
[This is the 4th and final installment of the Sensible Shoes series. I thought that it was going to be a trilogy, so imagine my excitement when I learned about this book a couple weeks ago! I enjoyed reading this — I felt like I was getting together with old friends.]
5) Speaking from Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel
~ by Alan Bradley
[Who killed Mr. Collicutt? Chemistry-wiz and amateur-sleuth Flavia de Luce is on the case! I do believe Flavia is one of my favorite fictional characters. She has an independent streak and passion for life that I greatly admire.]
4) Deadline: A Novel
~ by Randy Alcorn
[This is the first book in the Ollie Chandler series. It is a mystery novel. It is a love story. It offers a glimpse of what Heaven may be like. It is a resource for how to answer some tough questions in today's society. I read this on my Kindle, but I just ordered a paperback copy so I could mark it up. When my copy arrives, I am going to start reading it again.]
3) Between Heaven & the Real World: My Story
~ by Steven Curtis Chapman, with Ken Abraham
[I've enjoyed S.C.C.'s music since he first started out, so reading this auto-biography was a trip down memory lane for me as well.]
2) We Have Lost the Chihuahuas
~ by Paul Mathews
[This is the fourth book in the We Have Lost series. The author says he will have one more coming out this Spring, and then he will be working on a new series. I enjoy these books — fairly predictable, but fun and easy to read.]
76) Start with Why
~ by Simon Sinek
[When running your business, start from the inside of the Golden Circle and move out: Why, How, What. I watched a TED talk by the author about this topic several years ago. His book is very repetitive, although I did enjoy the examples he uses to make his points.]
75) Bringing Mom Home
~ by Susan Soesbe
[The subtitle of this book is "How Two Sisters Moved Their Mother Out of Assisted Living to Care for Her Under One Amazingly Large Roof." It was encouraging to read about how the author and her sister honored their mother by caring for her in the final months of her life. An inspirational example.]
74) Newton and Polly: A Novel of Amazing Grace
~ by Jody Hedlund
[John Newton wrote the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." This novel tells the story of how as a young man he met and fell in love with Polly Catlett. He met with a great deal of misfortune, much of which was of his own making. But — and I don't really think I'm giving away the story's ending — God saves him!]
73) Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been
~ by Jackie Hill Perry
[This book is on a lot of "best of 2018" lists on evangelical blogs/sites, and I certainly understand why. The author was in the homosexual lifestyle until she became a Christian. She does a beautiful job telling her story and gives all glory to God in the process. Excellent book.]
72) Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
~ by Gino Wickman
[I read this book because the leadership team at my workplace has read it. Although I am not a member of the leadership team, I do want to understand the operating system my workplace is probably going to implement.]
71) Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World
~ by Bob Goff
[See #51 below and insert same remarks here! I am wavering between feeling inspired and feeling inadequate. But I think the author's intent is to inspire, so I'll go with that.]
70) Is It Night or Day?
~ by Fern Schumer Chapman
[The cover of this novel says "Based on True Events." The paperback version I read contains some good bonus material which provides additional history. The author's mother was sent to America by her parents during WWII, saving her from the Holocaust. I think this book would be effective in teaching younger children about this troubling time in our world history.]
69) The Mathematician's Shiva: A Novel
~ by Stuart Rojstaczer
[The narrator's mother is a prominent mathematician. When she passes away, mathematician's from all over the world want to come sit shiva with the family. They are hoping to discover the proof she has been working on, as well as pay their respects (of course). An interesting story which I enjoyed.]
68) Fifty Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy
~ by Tim Harford
[Every now and then I like to read a book that I wouldn't ordinarily pick up. I learned a lot from this interesting little book. I didn't always agree with the author's political undertones, but I did gain a new appreciation for the technologies that exist today.]
67) Beyond the Truth: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[Novel #3 by a hometown friend. (See #43 below.) I think this was my favorite of the series so far! Not sure when #4 is coming out. I will be watching for it.]
66) The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
~ by Katherine Woodfine
[This is the first book in the Sinclair's Mysteries series, targeted toward 8 - 12 year old readers. May I just say that 55-year-old readers just might enjoy this book, too? The setting is London, 1909. Sinclair's Department Store (a la Selfridge's) is about to have its grand opening when the clockwork sparrow is stolen. Who took it? Will young Sophie Taylor be able to solve the mystery in time?]
65) The Cure: What If God Isn't Who You Think He Is And Neither Are You
~ by John Lynch, Bruce McNicol, and Bill Thrall
[Of the two roads called "Pleasing God" and "Trusting God," which is my primary motivation? Choosing the first brings me to "The Room of Good Intentions." If I choose the second, I am led to "The Room of Grace." After reading this book, I watched the talk "Two Roads FULL Message" by John Lynch on Trueface's YouTube Channel. I will be thinking about this book for quite a while....]
64) The Chocolate Cat Caper (Chocoholic Mystery Book 1)
~ by JoAnna Carl
[How could I not enjoy a book with both "chocolate" and "cat" in the title? And it's a mystery to boot!]
63) Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity
~ by Rebekah Merkle
[Interesting book. History, analysis, and encouragement all in one volume. I'm probably getting Emily a copy of this for Christmas. (Shhhh... Don't tell her!)]
62) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel
~ by Robin Sloan
[I really enjoyed this quirky story! Books, codes, interesting characters... it was quite fun.]
61) The Burgess Boys: A Novel
~ by Elizabeth Strout
[I can't remember where I learned of this novel, but I'm pretty sure I put it on my "to read" list because I learned much of it was set in Maine. The novel's depiction of Maine reminded me of the political belief that "Maine is a cheap date" — a belief I'm not happy about! That aside, the story was okay in that it kept my interest. Some interesting character development.]
60) Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
~ by Susan Cain
[I read most of this book while using the elliptical machine. (I didn't read it all in one session!) As an introvert, I really appreciated this book and I enjoyed the case studies the author shared. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a supervisor; it would help you understand the needs of introverted employees.]
59) Henry Kapowcawicz and the Remarkable Subway Rat
~ written by K.F. Brown
~ illustrated by Sean Evans
[I can't remember how I came across this cute short story about a boy who helps a rat start a business. Quite fun; quirky characters!]
58) The Guardian
~ by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed
[Lew read this novel before I did, and he recommended it to me. It is an imaginative story involving the little scroll from the book of Revelation. I didn't want to put it down!]
57) High as the Heavens
~ by Kate Breslin
[I was able to borrow this historical-fiction, Christian-romance novel through our Kindle Unlimited membership. The setting is Belgium (mostly Belgium) during WWI. I liked the story, although I did find the plethora of passages about how the main characters thought/felt about each other to be a little tedious — but not so tedious that I wouldn't recommend the book. I DO recommend it for its intriguing story. It had some unexpected twists!]
56) Next Door Savior
~ by Max Lucado
[This was a book I savored. I read no more than two chapters a day (and usually only one), because each chapter had a great message.]
55) Pachinko
~ by Min Jin Lee
[While reading the first part of this novel, I kept wondering when the character named Pachinko would appear. It was a family saga, so I figured Pachinko was a descendant of one of the earlier characters. I eventually learned that Pachinko is a Japanese form of pinball, so my expectations were way off! I found this novel to be quite intriguing and engaging. It was respectful of the Christian faith. It also had some very explicit scenes and language, so be forewarned if you decide to read it.]
54) Come Thirsty
~ Max Lucado
[It had been a while since I read a book by Max Lucado. I do read something by him every day, though: I get a daily devotion via e-mail! I enjoy his writing style — not to mention his message. Good stuff.]
53) The Shape of the World: A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright
~ written by K.L. Going
~ illustrated by Lauren Stringer
[When I read a lovely picture book, I feel I must add it to this list! I saw a review of this book in WORLD Magazine, so I ordered it for Eli and Adam. I think Eli will enjoy reading this out loud. Maybe I will ask him to read it to me!]
52) Surgeon's Choice
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[The last novella on my current reading list! These were fun to read during my try-to-fall-asleep time at night.]
51) Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People
~ by Bob Goff
[This book was mentioned in a sermon I heard recently, so I decided to get it on my Kindle. It really is a good read and provides a great challenge to love others. I fall far short....]
50) Rx Murder
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[Another novella. One more to go!]
49) The Mystery of the Yellow Room
~ by Gaston Leroux
[The French title of this delightful book is Mystère de la chambre jaune. I read an English translation, of course! The methods of the sleuth in this story reminded me of Sherlock Holmes.]
48) FIRST LESSONS: Early Blog Posts by Author Richard L. Mabry, MD
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[I wanted to put a different name on the "by" line above, just to see if anyone would notice! Ha ha! It was fun to read this collection of blog posts after reading so many novels/novellas by Dr. Mabry. I still have a couple more Kindle Unlimited offerings to go!]
47) Silent Night, Deadly Night
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[Yes, this novella does take place during the holiday season. The opening scene is five days after Christmas.]
46) Cardiac Event
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[This novel was another good, easy read.]
45) How to Walk Into Church
~ by Tony Payne
[I've been reading a lot of short books recently, and this is yet another one. It offered very practical advice, and I am still thinking about the many good points the author made. A helpful little book.]
44) The Beatitudes
~ by Arthur W. Pink
[Blogger/author Tim Challies listed this as a Kindle deal on his blog. I just heard a sermon recently on the Beatitudes, so reading this short book added additional insight. Good stuff.]
43) Beneath the Depths: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[Novel #2 by a hometown friend. (See #35 below.) Again, the language — although probably realistic — was a little rough for my tastes. But I did enjoy the story itself. It looks like the third book in the series will be available in late October. I will read it... gotta support the hometown boy!]
42) Art and the Bible
~ by Francis A. Schaeffer
[Another great little book filled with great big wisdom. (See #37 below.)]
41) Doctor's Dilemma
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[After I read Guarded Prognosis (#39 below), I saw that there were another half dozen of Dr. Mabry's books available on Kindle Unlimited. This novella is one of them. I'll be reading the other offerings soon, too!]
40) Stars in the Grass
~ by Ann Marie Stewart
[This is a touching story about a family being torn apart by a heartbreaking tragedy. The narrator is a nine-year-old girl. I read this novel within a 48-hour period; I didn't want to put it down.]
39) Guarded Prognosis
~ by Richard L. Mabry, MD
[I had previously read the author's Prescription for Trouble series (4 novels) and really enjoyed them. So when this new novel popped up as available through Kindle Unlimited, I borrowed it and read it right away. It was a good read and went quickly. The author includes faith as part of his character's lives.]
38) The Girl From the Train
~ by Irma Joubert
[Not to be mistaken for the movie The Girl On the Train, this novel's story begins in Poland during World War II. The girl, Gretl, is a skinny little girl at the story's start and is much too close to the horrors of war. I don't want to say much more about Gretl, because I recommend reading the book!]
37) The Mark of the Christian
~ by Francis A. Schaeffer
[Great little book filled with great big wisdom. I need to take it to heart. It took me less than an hour to read, so I'll probably re-read it again soon.]
36) The Language of Flowers: A Novel
~ by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
[I really enjoyed this. It had been on my "to read" list for a while, so I'm glad I finally read it. A good story, but I doubt I remember anything I may have learned about flowers!]
35) Among the Shadows: A Detective Byron Mystery
~ by Bruce Robert Coffin
[The author is a hometown friend; he was in my sister Kim's class. This is his first novel. I'm going to use the term "gritty" to describe the language, but I really enjoyed the story! It was set in nearby Portland, so that made it a fun read. The second novel in the series has already been published, the third will be out soon, and he is already working on the fourth. I plan to read them all.]
34) The Book Stops Here
~ by Kate Carlisle
[This is the first book that I've read in the author's "Bibliophile Mystery" series, although I believe it is the 8th installment. The main character — Brooklyn Wainwright — is a bookbinder who has a knack for stumbling across dead bodies. The story was entertaining, but I probably will not read any other books in the series. Why not? There are so many great books I still haven't read!]
33) After the Funeral
~ by Agatha Christie
[Hercule Poirot. A full-length novel. A mystery reader's feast!]
32) Rush Revere and the Presidency
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the fifth book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. To my knowledge, there is not a sixth book yet — although I did read that Rush hopes to do another one. If there is a sixth, I will be reading it... and then passing it along to Eli and Adam, of course! This is a really good series.]
31) A Woman of Independent Means
~ by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey
[I enjoyed this more than I was expecting to. The story is told in the form of letters. There is a 1995 mini-series starring Sally Field based on this.]
30) Double Sin and Other Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[Eight short stories in this one. Again, very enjoyable. The next Agatha I read will be another mystery novel. I can hardly wait!]
29) The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[Nine short stories in this collection. Very enjoyable!]
28) Star over Bethlehem: Poems and Holiday Stories
~ by Agatha Christie
[This collection is quite a change from her mystery novels! Some Christian-based stories; some interesting poems (not all necessarily to do with holidays). I'm glad I read this, but I prefer her mysteries. And I've never been good at understanding poetry, ha ha!]
27) The ABC Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery
~ by Agatha Christie
[Every time I read an Agatha Christie novel, I always say, "This is my favorite one so far!" This book was no exception. I guess they are all my favorites. 😊]
26) We Have Lost the Plot
~ by Paul Mathews
[This is the 5th, and apparently the final, installment in the We Have Lost series. Farewell, Howie and Britt!]
25) Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond
~ by Sam Hearn
[The style of this kids' book reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I enjoy all things Sherlock Holmes!]
24) Jack Frost
~ by Christopher Greyson
[I enjoyed reading yet another installment in the Detective Jack Stratton series! These are quick reads.]
23) Jane Eyre
~ by Charlotte Bronte
[I found out that Emily had recently read this, so I decided to read it as well. The whole time I was reading it I kept wondering, "Have I read this before? It seems like something I might have read." Either way, I'm glad I read — or re-read — this classic.]
22) Live Like Line / Love Like Ellyn
~ by Bill Hoeft
[After I read about the movie "Miracle Season" in WORLD Magazine, I immediately looked to see if I could find any free Kindle books related to this real-life story. This book by Bill Hoeft is available through Kindle Unlimited, so I was excited. I experienced some difficulty several times while reading it: my eyes got all watery and blurry, and my cheeks got wet. I just watched about half an hour of related YouTube videos and experienced the same difficulty.... Such a tragic, touching, moving, inspirational story. A wide range of emotions.]
21) Ordeal by Innocence
~ by Agatha Christie
[I hadn't read anything by Agatha for a while, so it was good to get back to reading her again. (My goal is to read all of her mystery novels.) This story doesn't have Poirot or Marple, but it was still quite enjoyable. A lot of interesting characters!]
20) The Promise of Jesse Woods
~ by Chris Fabry
[I really enjoy this author. Christian perspective. I stayed up really late on a work night to finish reading this novel.]
19) With You Always (Orphan Train Book One)
~ by Jody Hedlund
[In the late 1800s the Children's Aid Society also helped find jobs for women in the West. Elise (the main character in this novel) travels by train to Illinois, hoping to find work and earn enough money to send back home to her siblings. Her path crosses that of Thornton Quincy — and the sparks fly!]
18) Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the fourth book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. Rush Revere and his students take a trip to modern-day Washington, D.C. in this installment. And, of course, they have some time-traveling adventures as well. I really want to visit D.C. now; I may have to talk Lew into taking a trip!]
17) Here's to Friends: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[The final book about the four Lindas. I enjoyed the series. But I am a bit skeptical about them completing all their home improvements in such a short amount of time! 😉]
16) Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover
~ by Markus Motum
[I bought this picture book to give to Eli and Adam, because I thought it would be good to have in their homeschool library. I read it first, of course (!), and it is quite delightful. I learned a lot, and I may have to do some Internet surfing on Mars exploration.]
15) All for One: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[Book three in The Four Lindas series. See #11 and #13 below. One more to go!]
14) Southern as a Second Language
~ by Lisa Patton
[The third and final novel in the author's Dixie Series. I am sharing these books with a co-worker who was looking for a fun read.]
13) Hometown Ties: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[Book number two in The Four Lindas series. (See #11 below.) I've already started reading the third one!]
12) Yankee Doodle Dixie
~ by Lisa Patton
[This is the second novel in the author's Dixie Series. If you enjoy laughing so hard that your shoulders shake and tears stream down your face, then this book is for you! It's the equivalent of a chick flick!]
11) As Young As We Feel: A Novel
~ by Melody Carlson
[This is the first book in The Four Lindas series. Marley, Caroline, Abby, and Janie met in grade school and began going by their middle names to avoid confusion. (They all share the same first name. Guess what it is?) Now in their 50s, the four are reunited at a high school reunion. Although it's a little bit different, this series reminds me of Sensible Shoes: four friends helping each other deal with what life brings their way.]
10) Orphan Train: A Novel
~ by Christina Baker Kline
[My friend Carmen recommended this book to me, and now I recommend it to you! Some salty language at times, but not often enough for me to put it down.]
9) Rush Revere and the American Revolution
~ by Rush Limbaugh with Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
[This is the third book in the Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans series. After I finished reading this one, I read the Declaration of Independence — which I don't remember ever reading before. (But I must have, right?) So... many thanks to Rush Revere and his time-traveling horse, Liberty, for a wonderful historical adventure! I will be handing this book off to Emily and Matt so they can read it to Eli and Adam.]
8) Sunshine Country
~ by Kristina Roy (Kristina Royovej)
[Based on true events, this story takes place in the mountains of Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s. It is about a nine-year-old boy who finds a Bible and subsequently shares the good news of Jesus Christ. A sweet story. (I read an English translation, of course!)]
7) The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: A Flavia de Luce Novel
~ by Alan Bradley
[This is the 6th Flavia novel. From what I can tell, there are currently nine books, so I still have a few more to savor!]
6) An Extra Mile: A Story of Embracing God's Call
~ by Sharon Garlough Brown
[This is the 4th and final installment of the Sensible Shoes series. I thought that it was going to be a trilogy, so imagine my excitement when I learned about this book a couple weeks ago! I enjoyed reading this — I felt like I was getting together with old friends.]
5) Speaking from Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel
~ by Alan Bradley
[Who killed Mr. Collicutt? Chemistry-wiz and amateur-sleuth Flavia de Luce is on the case! I do believe Flavia is one of my favorite fictional characters. She has an independent streak and passion for life that I greatly admire.]
4) Deadline: A Novel
~ by Randy Alcorn
[This is the first book in the Ollie Chandler series. It is a mystery novel. It is a love story. It offers a glimpse of what Heaven may be like. It is a resource for how to answer some tough questions in today's society. I read this on my Kindle, but I just ordered a paperback copy so I could mark it up. When my copy arrives, I am going to start reading it again.]
3) Between Heaven & the Real World: My Story
~ by Steven Curtis Chapman, with Ken Abraham
[I've enjoyed S.C.C.'s music since he first started out, so reading this auto-biography was a trip down memory lane for me as well.]
2) We Have Lost the Chihuahuas
~ by Paul Mathews
[This is the fourth book in the We Have Lost series. The author says he will have one more coming out this Spring, and then he will be working on a new series. I enjoy these books — fairly predictable, but fun and easy to read.]
1) Doula: A Story of Love
~ by Teri Ong
[This is a lovely allegory of what it means to follow Christ. I am going to give this book to Emily.]
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