Books I Read in 2014

I started off this year keeping a better list and then I slacked off. But I really, REALLY like to have a list of books I’ve read!!

Here are a few previous posts on books:

• Books I Read in 2013 {So, I read a few more in 2013! 32 books}
• Best & Worst of Books in 2013 {all my favorites and least favorites}
• Books I Read in 2012 {33 books including the Bible in 90 Days!}
• Favorite Books of 2011

Favorites from 2014: I have placed a * beside the books I loved the most this year! I didn’t include books I had read previously (Yada Yada Prayer Group.) 

Books I read in 2014

1. Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine ~I loved this book. I don’t think that ordinarily I would have finished a book on goals, but because I have felt the Lord prompting me to be more disciplined and get more accomplished with my time, this book was EXACTLY what I needed at exactly the right time! God is good! {I wrote a full review and the points that spoke to me the most here.}

2. Fifteen Minutes: A Novel by Karen Kingsbury ~ If you enjoy American Idol or other such shows, you might enjoy this novel where the main character is a contestant on one of these type shows. 🙂 I enjoy Karen Kingsbury’s fiction and they are easy, quick reads that also are faith based. I don’t like that this one includes more romance, and it’s not inappropriate in any way, I just don’t like or need to read a lot of books with romance in them.

3. Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Not-Evangelism* ~ I have a looooong post coming up on this book in the next 1-2 weeks. This book was amazing. I will say upfront that there are a few things in it that I don’t agree with 100% but overall this book is fabulous. If you want to be challenged in how you share Jesus with the world around you, I highly recommend this book!

4. Chasing God* ~ I loved this book. I wrote a lot about it here and had a give away, that is now closed.

5. Being OK with Where You Are  ~ this book by Stacey Thacker (who I love following on I nstagram and was blessed to meet at Allume) is wonderful. In fact, it happened to be what I needed at just this time in my life! It contains great encouragement. It is on kindle and a great read!! I happened to get it when it was free, but I also think it’s worth $4.99.

6. 33 Prayers of Gratitude: Overcoming Negativity Through the Power of Prayer ~ I’m not even linking to this one because I was disappointed in this book. In the first place, this is just a book of simple prayers. That’s it. No expounding on prayer or gratitude. For instance, Day 4 or Prayer 4 just says “Thank, you, Father, for bread and meat. Thank you for the friends we meet. Thank you for our moms and dads. Thank you for the love we have. Thank you for our work and play. Thank you for another day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.” That’s it. Each day is just a different prayer. Now, I do have some prayer books that I love!! But, this one didn’t fully sit right with me. Prayer 5 starts off by saying, “God, Goddess, Divine Spirit of all there is…” I’m not sure I feel comfortable with praying to a Goddess and I’m not all together sure what the author meant. But there is no explanation or such to go with it. Day 18 is a prayer to the Cosmic Mother?? There are also famous “prayers” or poems listed in it from saints and poets. While I enjoy reading this type of material, i was hoping for more with a title that claimed “overcoming negativity through the power of prayer.”

7. The Antelope in the Living Room: The Real Story of Two People Sharing One Life* ~ I read this book for book club and OH MY HEAVENS. Y’all have got to read this book. When I read Melanie Shankle’s first book, Sparkly Green Earrings, I thought…”this woman has GOT to write more books! Because I need to laugh more often!” Her first book was her memoir on motherhood, this one is her memoir on marriage. Both are amazing and wonderful and will make you laugh out loud.

8. Esther Queen of Persia by Jim Baumgardner. I hope to do a more full post on this book, but if you are in ancient history and get to the point of Esther in your schooling, READ THIS BOOK!! I loved it!! Warning — I would only read this with junior high level and UP. But this book truly opened up the story of Esther to us. I did read it aloud to my kids, but I had to change a little bit of it as I read…if it had only been my girls i probably would not have changed any of it. There is much talk of how the kings of that time had multiple wives, his harem, Esther’s fears of these facts, etc. But I love it because I have a feeling she really did struggle with much of this!!

9. Uncharted – wow. We just read this book for book club and WOW. This is one of those stories that you just can’t believe. You get to the end and it all makes sense. 🙂 Very thought provoking…but I don’t want to give the story away. Great book to read and discuss!!

10. Even-Tempered Mother: Tips from a Mom Overcoming Rage and Depression {BONUS CONTENT} – this book is a very practical and REAL book from a fellow homeschool mom who has struggled with anger and depression. She shares her story as well as several others stories (including a small excerpt from my own blog!) She gives practical ideas for survival, tips for controlling anger, and much, much more! I think this is a much needed resource for moms struggling with depression!

11. Christian Unschooling – such a fabulous book!! I wrote a whole post about that book here!

12. Teaching From Rest* – such a book of encouragement for homeschool moms. I wrote more about this book here.

13. Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things – this book is for everyone who is living out a broken heart. For most of us, life didn’t turn out exactly like we hoped it would. This book will encourage you heart in the midst of brokenness. I highly recommend this one! I wrote more about this book here.

14. A.D. 30 This first book is brand new. {It releases October 28th, put it on your wish list!} Many friends have raved over Ted Dekker books, but this is the first I have read. And now, I’m going to have to go back and read more! I could not put this book down. The story is fascinating and gripping. The story takes place in Ancient Palestine and I love getting a glimpse into the way people lived during Bible times. I feel like it makes the Bible come even more alive for me! The story starts with an outcast daughter of a powerful Bedouin ruler, who escapes attacks on her family and begins a journey to protect her people. She sets out on this journey with 2 of her father’s right hand men, one of which is a Jew. I love learning more about the Jewish people and their traditions! On this journey, the weary travelers meet a man that changes everything for them, his name is Yeshua.

15. A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion Series Book 1)* This is the first book in a 3-book series by Francine Rivers. I should probably lump them all together, but I will break them up for the purpose of this list. I will note, however, that once you get to the end of the first one, you WILL want to have the second book ready to go. This is another series that I could not put down. The main character int his series is a young girl named Hadassah. I spent about the first half of book 1 trying to figure out how she was Esther, since Hadassah was Esther’s given name. But, I finally had to ask and someone told me it was NOT a book about Esther. Apparently Hadassah is a pretty common name from this time period, so I learned something new in that! She is a young slave girl who ends up in Ancient Rome.

 

16. An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion #2) This second book in the series continues the story. At this point you are already drawn into the story of Hadassah and love all the characters in the book. So many fascinating story lines that give you so much insight into the life of the Roman empire in AD 1. Rome and Ephesus come alive for you. This book takes a focus on the life of Marcus, and once again, you will get to the end and HAVE to pick up book 3.

17. As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion #3) – This third book in the series finally gives you some closure to several story lines happening throughout the all 3 books. Whew. I could never have stopped at just 1 or 2. LOL! This story line will focus  on the life of Atretes, a German warrior and gladiator. He won his freedom from fighting in the arenas, but then his life changed forever. I will admit to being very fascinated by the glimpses into life during this time period. I can’t imagine LIVING it, but reading about it was very eye opening!

18. Fireflies in December – this was another book club book. I enjoyed it. This story took place in the heat of racial segregation and prejudice. The book made me sad, it’s just hard to read about this time period in our country’s history. But, it was also a sweet story and a good reminder for us of where we’ve been and where we hope to never be again as a nation.

19. The Yada Yada Prayer Group (Yada Yada Series) – I read this series years ago and our book club decided to read the first book again this year. So, this time I listened to the audio version. Oh my. The audio version is SO FABULOUS. I loved listening to these characters come to life. I had forgotten how much this book talked about PRAYING SCRIPTURE. Amazing how much God has done in my own heart regarding praying His Word and then to hear it in this book, I loved it!!

20. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, Book 2: With Celebrations and Recipes — so this is the 2nd book in the Yada Yada series…and I also listened to the audio for this one. I love it so much.

21. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real (Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 3) (With Celebrations and Recipes) — here is the 3rd book in the series. Again, amazing listening to this on audio. I recommend reading OR listening to these stories. Your prayer life will be inspired!!

22. A Redbird Christmas: A Novel – this was our Christmas book club read. Overall the book club did not enjoy this book. LOL! I would call it fluff, just not much depth to it. Some people love this type of book, but this one didn’t quite have enough meat or storyline  for us.

23. Praying Circles Around the Lives of Your Children – this has been added to my 8 Books for Praying Moms. It is so good. Lots of practical ideas for verses to pray for your kids, praying with vision for them, etc. I love this book!!