Books Worth Reading

Searching for Spring* // If you're walking through a season of suffering or even just waiting for something in your life to become beautiful, this book is for you. Christine Hoover has filled this book with so much rich truth and so many great reminders about how God never stops his redemptive work, and that even the most painful experiences can lead us to the beauty of perseverance, hope, and even God himself. This book was such a timely read for me as I've struggled these past months with questioning God about this season of life he's put us in, wondering what the purpose is, and definitely not thinking it's a beautiful thing. I needed to hear these words that struck a chord deep within me: "Nothing changed except the posture of my heart...[God] was asking me to submit to the unchangeable blueprints in a way that would build beauty rather than bitterness, faith rather than futility, for his glory and for my good." This book was excellent, and I highly recommend!

The Masterpiece* // If you've not read any of the novels by Francine Rivers, then you are missing out! I love the way she writes and crafts her stories. This is a contemporary novel about a famous painter and a woman who begins work as his assistant. The book goes back and forth in time through both of their difficult pasts and their current faith journeys. The book is compelling, and I read it in one weekend! I highly recommend this if you're looking for a well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable story. Bonus: the cover artwork is gorgeous!

Never Unfriended* // I received this book last year when it first came out, but then my life kind of got a little crazy when we moved across the country! It ended up working out perfectly, though, because I am now in a season of making all new friends. This book was an easy and enjoyable read, and I thought it had some really great nuggets of truth about friendships! Whether you're in a season of walking through difficult hurt and struggles in friendships, or if you're in a season of making all new friends (like me!), I recommend reading this book!

Unbroken // If you are one of the few people who has not read this book, then I am here to tell you to read it as soon as you get your hands on it! This has been on my TBR list for years, and I finally picked it off our shelf last month. I could not put this book down! This is truly one of the most incredible books I have EVER read. It is absolutely mind-boggling to think of all that this man endured in his life. I felt extremely emotional throughout the whole book, and tears were definitely shed. This is a story that everyone needs to read and hear about, in my opinion. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

*Disclosure: I did receive these books for free from the publisher in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

In All Things

What devotionals or Bible studies do you have planned to do this year? I'm wrapping up a study at my church tomorrow, and we're jumping into another study next week! I enjoy doing corporate Bible studies with a group, but I also really enjoy working through studies on my own. On the top of my list for this year is Melissa Kruger's new devotional In All Things. This nine-week devotional studies Philippians, a book written by Paul who is filled with joy, peace, and contentment despite his difficult circumstances. I love Philippians, and I'm excited to learn more through this devotional! I've previously worked through Melissa Kruger's Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, and I love the format of her studies. Her questions are thought-provoking, and her writing is packed with truth and insight. If you're looking for a new study for this year, In All Things will be on sale June 5!

Disclosure: I received this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

5 Good Books I Read This Summer

Lucky Boy // This is one of the best books I've read in a while, and it will probably end up on my "best books of 2017" list! This story explores the strength and depth of a mother's love throughout every stage of mothering: infertility, pregnancy, birth, fostering, adoption. It was beautifully written, and the story was original, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend! Bonus: it just came out in paperback! 5 stars

The Alice Network // This is an excellent book about a network of female spies during World War I. It's loosely based on fact, with a lot of imagined elements thrown in, but it was so fascinating and well-done. It was really enjoyable to read a different type of World War fiction, as this was different than anything else I've read. I flew through it (it's deceivingly long at 500+ pages) and thoroughly enjoyed it. 5 stars

The Windfall: A Novel // This is the story of money, status, family, and nosy neighbors: Mr. & Mrs. Jha get an unexpected enormous amount of money and find themselves trying to fit in on the super-rich side of Delhi. This book had me laughing at how ridiculous they were acting and the great lengths to which they went while trying to keep up with the Joneses. It was a fun and quick read, and I loved reading a book set in modern India. I received this book for free from Blogging for Books but this review is 100% my own. 4 stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo // This was such a fun book to read! Evelyn Hugo is a famous actress who has lived a very full life and is ready to divulge all of her secrets in an end-of-life interview. She's been married seven times and each chapter of the book chronicles her relationship with that particular husband. The book was really interesting, well-written, and fun to read. I was surprised by some of the plot twists in the book, which is always a bonus! 4 stars

We Were the Lucky Ones // This is one of the better World War II fiction books I've read, because it was so beautifully written and gave a more comprehensive look at how the war affected different countries and families. The story is about all of the members of one family and how each of their lives was turned upside down by the war. It was a heartbreaking read, but so very good. 4 stars

Disclosure: Please keep in mind that books are very personal, so what I like you might not like, and vice versa! I try to read and share a variety of books on this site. Some of the books in this post may include coarse language or sensitive material, so please be aware of that as you choose what to read next. This post does include affiliate links, meaning if you click through and purchase one of these books, I may get a small commission! 

What I Read in February

Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty // I had high hopes for this book. I loved the title, I loved the cover, I loved the premise. But, it fell a little short for me. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed, but overall it seemed to drag. It took me a little while to finish it because I didn't find the story to be that compelling, and I didn't particularly like the characters. I can see that this is one of those books that some people would really love, but it just wasn't that for me. 3 stars

Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches // Sometimes a book hits you at just the right time, and for me, that was this book. Adjusting to life with two kids under two has been challenging for me, but I found this book to be so helpful in changing my perspective and embracing these crazy days. I ended up reading this book in one day (it's short!) and found myself underlining and starring sections that were what I really needed to hear in that moment. Unlike some parenting books I've read, this book did not overdo it on the personal anecdotes; it was straightforward and really refreshed my spirit. If you're in the midst of mothering little people, I highly recommend this book! 5 stars

Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife // I'm working through a big stack of books I received for Christmas, and amidst all of the parenting books was this book on marriage I had asked my mom for. This is one of the better books I've read on marriage: it's a book of letters Barbara Rainey writes to her daughters in response to wide variety of questions about marriage. The format of the book made it so enjoyable to read, because it was so personal and relatable. The advice in the letters was straightforward and biblical, and I really enjoyed reading this! I should also mention that this book is absolutely beautiful; there are gorgeous illustrations throughout the book, and it's definitely the type of book you could keep out on your coffee table. It would make a great gift! 4 stars

Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard // This book kept popping up all over my social media, so I decided it was time to read it. I'm so glad that I did. Jennie Allen does a really good job of writing about the struggle that many of us face in feeling that we are not enough, which leads us to trying to prove that we are, when really we just need to understand that Jesus is enough and is the only one that will ever satisfy us. I really loved the second part of the book where she talks about Jesus being the one who can bring us rest, who can truly satisfy us, and who can be enough for us even in the midst of suffering. This was a really great book, and I highly recommend it! I did receive this book for free from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review. 4.5 stars

Run // I'm going to sound like a broken record here for a minute: another Ann Patchett book that I really enjoyed! This book takes place within 24 hours, but somehow she doesn't make it feel rushed or cheesy. The story took several twists that I was not expecting, which I really enjoyed, and again, her writing is beautiful. What I have come to really enjoy about Ann Patchett's novels (aside from the writing), is that all of her stories are so different! I never know what to expect when I start one of her books, but I'm always pleased.  4 stars

Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline // I was so intrigued by the title of this book, because that's exactly where I am: long days that feel full of seemingly small things. While I definitely agree that there is deep spiritual fruit to be found in this season and these tasks of motherhood, I don't agree with the premise that we can replace spiritual disciplines and time in prayer and the Word with the tasks of mothering simply because this is a busy season of life. Because of that, I didn't connect with the main theme of the book, but I did really appreciate how this book emphasized that these often mundane tasks are actually significant in the lives of our kids and our families. I did really enjoy several of the chapters in this book, and I thought the author did a good job of helping give an eternal and spiritual perspective to the ordinary tasks of motherhood. I did receive this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a review. 3 stars

The Wicked City // This was my book for book club this month. I've read most of Beatriz Williams' books and have really enjoyed several of them, but this one wasn't my favorite. The story takes place during the Prohibition era, which really interested me because I haven't read much during that time period. The story seemed a little disconnected and random throughout the book (though she did tie things together at the end), and it also seemed so long. I was ready to hurry up and find out what happened to all of the characters, which tells me I didn't love it. I also found it difficult to read, partly because of the Appalachian dialect and partly because of the narration. Not my favorite, but not horrible. 3 stars

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World // I think I may be the last person on earth to have read this book, but better late than never! I had low expectations for this book, despite all of the hype over the past several years, but I was presently surprised to find that I really enjoyed this! Bob Goff is a fascinating man, and he has some pretty incredible life experiences that he shares in this book. I was captivated by the way he lives his life and the detail to which he recounts it in this book. This book is really interesting, funny (I read a couple of passages aloud to Caleb and we were both laughing out loud), and thought-provoking. 4 stars

Please Stop Laughing at Me: One Woman's Inspirational True Story // I really enjoy reading memoirs, so I picked this one up. The author tells her story of being horribly bullied throughout her childhood. It was very surprising to me to read the extent of the things she suffered at the hands of her classmates. The bullying deeply affected her, which is evident even in the detail to which she recounts specific instances of being bullied. I found the writing a bit weak, and the book did seem to drag on a little. This was not a favorite of mine, but it could be a good resource for teachers or maybe for parents whose kids are being bullied.  I received this book for free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review. 2 stars

Disclosure: Affiliate links are included, so if you click on any of the titles above and purchase the book(s), I may receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting the blog + my reading habit.

What I Read in January

Staying on top of my reading resolutions for this year with a recap of the books I read in January - and two of them were non-fiction! What did you read this month?

The City Baker's Guide to Country Living // Sometimes I browse bookstores and add every book with an interesting cover to my to-be-read list. This cover was one of the ones that caught my eye, so I was excited to receive a copy of the book from Blogging for Books! I really enjoyed reading this novel! The setting - an inn in a small town in Vermont - felt very Gilmore Girls-esque, which I loved, and the plot had several unexpected aspects which I really enjoyed. I love detailed writing about food, so the cooking scenes and descriptions of all of the food were a big plus for me. A fun, easy read. 4 stars

Commonwealth // This was my book club's January book. I've mentioned before that I love Ann Patchett, and this is my current favorite title of hers. The writing is beautiful, and I loved how the story spanned five decades. This is probably going to end up being one of my favorite books for this year, so I highly recommend! I will warn you that this is not a happy-feel good book; it's about how a divorce affects the children of two different families. That being said, I love books that are well-written and true to real life, and this book was both of those things. 5 stars

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living // In this book, Shauna says that "present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice". The entire book is about her journey to living in a more simple way, being careful with what she says yes to, and taking the time to just be who she is and enjoy what's most important to her. As someone who is a perfectionist who likes to say yes and be busy, this was a good read for me. I didn't feel like it was life-altering, but I enjoyed her writing and found myself resonating with some of the things she wrote. 3 stars

My Heart: Every Beat Surrendered to Our Unchanging God // This book was SO good. It's the first-person account of a young mom who finds herself in active heart failure. The book is a combination of a retelling of her story, her prayer journal during her most difficult days, and the letters she writes to her two young boys as she faces the very real possibility of death at an early age. This book challenged me, encouraged men, and made me cry! Julie has a beautiful way with words, and it was a gift to be able to read her honest thoughts and struggles in the midst of deep suffering, yet at the same time her total reliance and trust in a faithful and loving God. Highly recommend! 4 stars

Affiliate links were used in this post, so if you click through on any of the book links above and make a purchase, I may receive a tiny commission. Thanks for supporting my reading habit + this blog! 

What I Read in November + December

Whew - a long overdue post on what I read in November + December! It's a bit of a long post because there's a bunch of books, but I wanted to finish out the year with these recaps because I know so many of you enjoy them.

Shepherding a Child's Heart // I really enjoy reading parenting books, and this was one I had asked for for my birthday last year. There are really good principles about training your children from a young age to obey and respond to parental authority, and I really liked it. This wasn't as much of a practical handbook as laying down foundations in your child's heart. 4 stars

What Alice Forgot // I've read several of Liane Moriarty's books, and this was by far my favorite. It was our November book club book, and I could not put it down. The story is about Alice, who wakes up thinking she's 29 and pregnant, when in reality she's 39 and has three kids and a falling-apart marriage. We had a lot of fun discussing this book during book club, and everyone really liked it. Definitely worth picking up! 4 stars

The Underground Railroad // This book won the National Book Award last year, was Oprah's Book Club pick, and was given rave reviews everywhere I looked. But, I didn't like it! I kept reading it waiting to feel really connected to the book or for this moment when I wouldn't want to put it down, but that just never happened for me. Yes, it's well-written and clever, but I didn't really enjoy reading it. If you want to read a book about slaves in the south, I would recommend The Kitchen House or The House Girl long before I would recommend this one. 2 stars

What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage // I've had this book for a while, and I wanted to read it because I hadn't read a book on marriage in a while. There were some really great truths and principles in this book that I found helpful, especially as good reminders 6 1/2 years into marriage. I did find the writing a little redundant, but I enjoyed it. 3 stars

A Certain Age // I am a big fan of Beatriz Williams, but for me this title fell a little flat. It just wasn't as compelling as some of her other stories. I did enjoy reading it, but I didn't really like it, so it doesn't get a high rating from me. 3 stars

All the Pretty Things: The Story of a Southern Girl Who Went through Fire to Find Her Way Home // This was one of those books that was popping up all over my social media, so when the publisher sent me a copy I was thrilled to read it in exchange for a review! I love reading personal stories and memoirs, so I enjoyed this book. I think there's value in reading about people who are very different than you, and that's how I felt about this book. I can hardly wrap my mind around the way that Edie grew up. It was an interesting read, and she definitely has a story to share. 3 stars

Winter Storms // I've read all of Elin Hilderbrand's books, because they are so easy to fly through and so enjoyable. This was the third book in her winter trilogy, and I enjoyed it just as much as her other books. It's not very long and was a breeze to get through, but the characters and story are engaging and very enjoyable. 4 stars

State of Wonder // I've always heard good things about Ann Patchett and recently finished Bel Canto, which I really enjoyed. This book was also very good - well-written, interesting characters, unique plot. It's safe to say I'm now an Ann Patchett fan and will continue to work my way through her books.  4 stars

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep // What I loved about this book was the child's perspective from which it is written. The way the girl perceives the things that adults do and how she explains them was so entertaining. I thought the plot was a little strange and left me wanting more, but it was an enjoyable read. 3 stars

Truly Madly Guilty // If you've read some of Liane Moriarty's books (like Big Little Lies or The Husband's Secret) and enjoyed those, than you will enjoy this one. There's the suspense of wondering what has happened to this group of people in the book, and the chapters alternate between detailing the actual event surrounding the book and the aftermath. I don't love books written in that way, so this was not as good as What Alice Forgot for me. It was interesting, and I'm glad I read it as it was on the Bestseller list, but it just wasn't my favorite. 3 stars

The Mothers // I was really anticipating this debut novel because I had heard good things about it, and I was not disappointed! I really enjoyed a book written within the American black church culture, something that I was pretty unfamiliar with. The writing is very good and the plot had a few unexpected twists. There is quite a bit of language in this book, just to warn you, but if you can look past that, it's a great read. 4 stars

The Mommy Group: Freaking Out, Finding Friends, and Surviving the Happiest Time of Our Lives // I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was really nice to read a non-fiction book on motherhood/parenting that didn't really have an agenda. The book really just tells the stories of this group of moms in Brooklyn as they go through pregnancy, birth, and the first couple of years of their children's lives. It was refreshing, honest, and funny, and I really liked it. This would be a great book to give to a pregnant friend or a new mom. 4 stars

Today Will Be Different // I really loved Where'd You Go, Bernadette, so my hopes were extremely high for this book. And those hopes were unfortunately dashed, because I just did not enjoy this one! I liked the premise: a mother decides that her day will be different in a number of ways, and the book takes place in the 24 hours of that day. However, the plot was not compelling enough, and I didn't enjoy the main character. There were several lines that I found to be snarky and entertaining, but definitely not enough of those to warrant a good review. Disappointed in this one. 2 stars

How I find time to read

After starting my monthly series about the books I'm reading, I received several comments and questions about how I find time to read so many books. I will say that this season of my life has been the one where I've had the most time to read! I am a stay-at-home mom (I work only 3-6 hours per week from home), I have just one child, and that child still naps twice a day! It's a unique combination that allows me extra time here and there during the week that I can spend reading if I'm caught up on everything else. I know it's not something that will last, so I am enjoying it while I can! That being said, here are a few tips that might help you spend more time reading.

Keep a to-read list // I've found that if I keep a running list of books that I want to read, whether they're new releases by my favorite authors or books that have been recommended to me, I end up making more time to read because I'm anxious to get to the next book on my list! I currently have 14 books on my nightstand and 8 e-books in my Kindle app, so those piles definitely keep me busy reading!

Read every day // I'm a firm believer that you will make time for what's important to you. If you truly want to read, you can find some chunk of time in your day, no matter how small it may be, to read. I read every single night when I get in bed, something that I've been doing for pretty much my whole life. Sometimes it's only 10 minutes before I start falling asleep, but if it's a particularly gripping book, it may be an hour! This means that even if I have a crazy busy week or we're traveling or have house guests, I can easily read at least a book or two a week.

Join or start a book club // If you love reading but never seem to get around to it, it might help if you join a book club so you have an external obligation of sorts to read (and finish!) a book. Similarly, check books out from the library. If you hate paying overdue fees like I do and the book you're really enjoying is due in a couple of days, you might make a little more time to read so you can hurry up and finish it before it's due.

Read more than one book at a time // This might drive some people crazy, but I really enjoy reading a couple books of different genres at the same time. Typically this means that I'm reading a fun novel, a Christian living/thought book, and maybe a parenting or psychology book. Those are the genres that I tend to read the most anyway, and I've found that if I'm reading the Christian living book after my morning devotions, reading a couple of chapters from the parenting book at some point during the week, and reading a novel every night when I get in bed, I'm spending more time reading and finishing more books than I realize.

(image from here)

Reading, Lately

Delicious! I have read most of Ruth Reichl's books and really enjoyed them, so I was thrilled to hear she had written her first novel. This ended up being my favorite book of hers, and I certainly hope she will continue writing fiction. She is such an excellent writer, and I didn't want to put this book down. Oh wait, I was at the beach so I literally did not put the book down all day :)

Choosing Gratitude This book really challenged and stretched me in the area of being thankful. Having an attitude of thanksgiving really transforms your person, your day, and really your whole life. I especially loved the chapter on worship. The author says that you cannot whine and worship simultaneously, which is so true. There is so much to be thankful for, and if we are in a constant state of thankfulness, it translates to worship, and as we worship we will not even be able to whine or complain.

The Fault in Our Stars I had really high expectations for this book after hearing about it and seeing it everywhere, and I'm afraid they weren't quite met. That isn't to say it wasn't good, because it was. It was a great beach read, which is incidentally where I read it. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly was missing from the book that would have made it a great read for me. I think I just wish the book hadn't been hyped up so much.

The Nazi Officer's Wife I initially bought this book for Caleb to read while we were on vacation, but I finished all of my books and needed another, so I picked up this one. It was quite a fascinating read about, as you can imagine from the title, a Jewish woman who survives the Holocaust by marrying a Nazi officer. I loved the autobiographical view of World War II and the Holocaust. It was a gripping read and, like any other book on the Holocaust, left me in disbelief at all that happened throughout the Holocaust. Definitely recommend it if you're enjoy memoirs or history or World War II.

Delancey This is Molly Wizenberg's (of the blog Orangette) second book. Her first book is one of my all-time favorite books, so I knew I would love this one as well. This book chronicles Molly and her husband's journey through opening their restaurant: the stress, the fun, the recipes, all of it. It reaffirmed to me that I would never survive in the restaurant business, but I really love Molly's style of writing.

What have you been reading so far this summer?

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? If you're not sure, Susan Cain in her book Quiet says that introverts "may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were in home in their pajamas...prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family...listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing...tend to dislike conflict...have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions."

I've always believed that I was introverted but never liked that most people think of introverts as very shy people who don't talk very much. I would not consider myself shy and I certainly have a lot to say (poor Caleb), so when I saw this book I knew I wanted to read it right away.

I really loved this book and found it fascinating. She describes so well the different characteristics of introversion and never describes it as inferior to extroversion. Several of my tendencies I realized are due to introversion, like how I have trouble projecting fake enthusiasm, why I let calls go through to voicemail most of the time, why I enjoy working alone better, and more.

Cain also describes introversion in relation to nature vs. nurture, how far we can stretch our personalities to go beyond our "sweet spot", and the physiological side of introversion.

This would be a great read for you if you believe you are an introvert, if your significant other is an introvert, or if you have introverted children. I highly recommend it:)

One final thing I found interesting in the book was that introverts are more likely to share intimate things about themselves online. That's certainly true for me, so I'm curious: how many of you bloggers are introverts?

Reading, Lately

This past week I finished reading The Goldfinch. I had been hearing a lot about it, so I had to buy it and see what the hype was about. (Also, I just really love the cover. I am a total sucker for a good cover on a book, and this one got me.)

First, let me say that this is a long book! But there's something so cozy about snuggling in and committing to a good, long book in the winter. I like longer books that I can read over several weeks and really get into them and savor them, rather than shorter books that I finish in two nights. So, if you're going to pick this up, get ready to settle in.

Whenever I share about books I've read, I hesitate to say too much. I hate book reviews and recommendations that completely ruin the story. So! I will share my thoughts and what I loved about the book without discussing to much of the plot and ruining it for anyone who's interested in reading it.

I really, really loved the beginning of this book. The writing is just so poignant, and I love that in a book. Theo, the main character, experiences the death of someone close to him, and several sections in the beginning resonated so deeply with me regarding loss and grief. This is how the author describes Theo's struggle with remembering the date of death:

"Even my hand balks at the date; I had to push to write it down, just to keep the 

pen moving on the paper. It used to be a perfectly ordinary day but now it sticks 

up on the calendar like a rusty nail." 

And as the book continues, the author crafts the most fitting description of how grief leaves you feeling so raw:

"And maybe I was coping awfully well, I don't know. Certainly I wasn't 

howling aloud or punching my fist through windows or doing any of the things 

I imagined people might do who felt as I did. But sometimes, unexpectedly, grief 

pounded over me in waves that left me gasping..."

I mean you can just feel exactly what Theo is feeling, and I loved that about the entire first section of the book. The other thing that I really loved about this book was the way that the plot connected characters throughout the book in unexpected ways. That happens so well in long books, yet I always seem to be surprised by it. Even though it is a long book, the story held my attention, and I was eager to see how things would conclude. 

All in all, I would recommend this book. There is a section in the middle that I found to be a little dark and depressing, but beyond that I really enjoyed the book. The writing was just so good! If you've read it already or if you end up reading it, I'd love to know your thoughts! 

(image from my instagram feed)

Reading, Lately

Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow // I've not shared a lot about losing my brother (this might be the only post), but 4 1/2 years later I'm still dealing with the effects of such a tragic loss, I'm still walking the long road of grieving, and I'm still missing him daily. This book was the most helpful book I've ever read about grief and sorrow. It was filled with God's truth which gave me much peace and perspective. If you've experienced a loss or are grieving in any way, I highly recommend this!

Kitchen Chinese // As I was reading Ann Mah's other book (see below), I ordered this one on a whim because I needed some books for our trip to France. It's an easy read about a woman who moves to Beijing to write restaurant reviews for a newspaper. Since I lived in China for several years, I loved reading a story with little glimpses into Chinese culture, food, and language.

The Envy of Eve // This was a really good read on the roots of covetousness and envy and how destructive they are to our relationships and lives. It helped me to get some perspective and really challenged me to find contentment in the Lord no matter in what season or situation in life I am.

Unspoken // I received this book from the publisher to review, and I really loved reading it. It's a mystery/suspense novel about a woman who is rescued after being kidnapped and held for several years. The story has some twists and turns that I thought were pretty good, and also has a sweet love story on the side. It was a good read and one I would recommend if you need an easy read.

Mastering the Art of French Eating // I heard about this book here, which was perfect timing to read before our trip to France. In each chapter Ann Mah explores a different traditional French dish, sharing her experience with discovering its origin and eating it. There's also a recipe at the end of each chapter. It's the perfect blend of a food + travel memoir. If you like eating or are interested in France at all, this is the book for you.

Elizabeth the Queen // This might have been the best book I read in 2013! I have always loved all things to do with the Queen and royal family, and this biography was so good I could not put it down! It is long (500+ pages), but I ended up reading it so quickly because I just soaked it up. Bonus: the book is pretty heavy so you get a little arm workout when you lay down and read it in bed:)

What good books have you read lately?

Reading, Lately

We're at the beach this week, and I have absolutely loved all of the time in the sun and sand with a book in my hand. So far the books I've finished here haven't been all that great, which is really disappointing, but the one I started yesterday is looking better:) The books below are ones that I finished at home recently and really enjoyed. If you're looking for new summer reading, here's a few I recommend!

The House Girl: This book was incredibly well-written, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened. The story bounces back and forth between a slave girl in the 1850s and a lawyer in present day who tries to discover whether several famous paintings were actually painted by the slave girl rather than her mistress who has gotten the credit all these years later. 

One Thousand Gifts: This book has been in the spotlight a million times over, but I really did like it. The writing style is different, and I know that makes it difficult for some people to read, but I really enjoyed it. If you're unfamiliar with the premise, Ann decides to make a list of all of the gifts in her life. The book is her story of discovering joy and thankfulness in uncovering so many gifts around her that she often overlooked. I found it really challenging since I tend to look at the negative and complain instead of giving thanks.

Mary Coin: This book is a fictitious story woven around a famous photograph, written through the eyes of the photographer who took the picture, the woman in the picture, and a man who discovers a secret in the photograph many years later. Apparently I like when stories jump back and forth between perspectives and time, because I also enjoyed this book and looked forward to finding out what happened. It is again written very well and was often quite sad, which makes for a more heartfelt read.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: This book was summer reading at its finest. It was a hilarious book, and I loved it! It's super easy to read, really light, filled with ridiculous characters, and just a really fun book. And with a cover like that you pretty much know it's going to be great:)

What good books have you read lately? I need suggestions!

Reading, Lately

Here's the stack of books I've enjoyed lately...

RebeccaI totally judged this book by its cheesy romance-looking cover, but finally gave it a try.  And surprise - it was good!  It's more of a suspense than a romance, and the story, though a little strange, really had me reeled in.

GoldThis book was good, but not Chris Cleave's best.  Little Bee is one of my all-time favorite books, so I expected Gold to be up there on my list of favorites as well.  I did enjoy reading it while the Olympics were going on, and I think if I had had lower expectations it would have been even more enjoyable.

Cupcakes and Cashmere Emily's blog is one of my favorites, and her book was like one huge, long blog post that you could read in bed without staring at a computer screen.  I love her simplistic approach to decorating and how she makes everything look pretty.

The Time In Between Best book I've read in a while!  Don't let the length scare you away!  The story sucked me in quickly and I was surprised by the turns the plot took several times.  I wish they would make this into a movie because it is just that good!

Plate to PixelThis book has been extremely useful in helping me to take better pictures of my recipes.  It is filled with gorgeous food pictures and covers so many aspects of photography.  Even if you don't enjoy food photography, this would be a great and different way to learn more about shooting with natural light, styling, etc.

The Perfectly Imperfect HomeI've kind of been obsessed with decorating books and magazines since we bought our house.  This little book lays out some basic decorating principles and guidelines to decorating a beautiful but comfortable home.

Design*Sponge at HomeAnyone who enjoys perusing Design*Sponge would like this book.  I didn't find that I would attempt too many of the DIYs in the back section of the book, but I loved looking at all of the sneak peeks that comprise a majority of the book.  There's some great decorating inspiration in there!

What have you been reading lately?