Better than Happy by Jody Moore *****
I have been listening to Jody Moore's podcast, Better than Happy for over four years now, and I love it. Her "Be Bold" life coaching program is truly life-changing - at least it has been for me. This book is a lot of review for people familiar with Jody, her podcast and her life coaching program, but for me this book is excellent, and I loved it. Jody says things in a way that totally makes sense to me, and her models of how to apply Christian gospel principles in our lives every day has certainly blessed mine. Jody's teaching shows how healthy thinking can help us with some of life's biggest challenges, giving us healthier relationships with ourselves, our friends, our family and God. I would suggest listening to a couple of episodes of her podcast before beginning the book. I loved this book and gave it five stars ***** on Goodreads. (Paperback - own - purchased new).
Counting on Christmas by Trenton Hughes **
Tom hasn't celebrated Christmas since his wife died, but this year, his estranged daughter, Noel, shows up at his house, kids in tow, desperately needing a place to stay after a messy divorce. Tom reluctantly agrees to take them in - as long as they are gone by Christmas. As Christmas approaches, secrets are revealed and things begin to change for the fractured family.
This book was supposed to be a sappy little feel-good Christmas romance, but a Christmas lighting contest took up far too much of the story and everything worked out far too perfectly at the end. I was not impressed. The story was predictable and it barely held my interest enough to finish it. The many chapters about the Christmas lighting contest seemed unrealistic and did not add much. The blossoming romance for Noel was not surprising and predictable. This book would be a very mediocre Hallmark Christmas movie. It has most of the Hallmark movie elements, except that it is set in California, not New England. It really did nothing to make me feel the Christmas spirit and I was glad when I had finished it and could move on to something that was hopefully more interesting. I gave it only two stars ** on Goodreads. (Paperback - own - purchased new).
Rising Strong by Brene Brown *****
How we get back up and go on after we fall is the subject of PhD and Shame Researcher Brene Brown's book Rising Strong. Brene Brown's relatable stories and experiences of those who "Dared Greatly" and failed (as we all have) is humbling, funny, insightful, educational and ultimately inspirational. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, who brings her own research, humor, passion and perspective to the text. Living a brave and wholehearted life is not always easy and the process of getting back up and trying again after we fall and fail is some of the most important work that we as humans ever do. This book tells us how to rise strong and it empowers all who read to be a little more courageous, daring and brave in how we live, love, parent and lead. Excellent book. Not boring. Interesting, easy to read and learn from. Highly recommended. I gave this book five stars ***** on Goodreads. (Paperback - owned - thrift store purchase. Listened to audiobook from library).
Changed Through His Grace by Brad Wilcox *****
Changed through His Grace addresses the question that Christians throughout the centuries have asked, "How does the Grace of God change us?" Scripture tells us that we are saved by Grace, but God's grace also changes our hearts. This excellent book explains much about this transformative and very necessary process, through which the believer experiences God's favor, goodwill, love and salvation. I enjoyed the author’s powerful stories and experiences from his own life and the life of others, illustrating God’s grace as work in the lives of everyday Christians. I gave this book five stars ***** on Goodreads. (Paperback - own - purchased new).
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matter to Christmas
by William J. Bennett ***
Interesting book about the historic as well as legendary Saint Nicholas and how he became the Santa Clause we know and love today. This is a quick and easy read that adds some perspective on American Christmas customs. I gave this three stars *** on Goodreads. (Kindle version).
The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere ***
Seven years before the start of the story, Gloria lost her husband and her son with with two weeks of each other. Her teenage son ran away and his father died two weeks later. Gloria tries to fill the hole in her heart by helping others in need, many of whom find a way to her door. The Christmas Promise is a rather sappy, predictable story of love, friendship and second chances. This is the stuff Hallmark movies are made of. Nice holiday reading, or listening, as in my case, I listened to the audiobook. (One annoying thing about the audiobook is that the voice actor who read it kept changing the accents and dialects of the different characters, so I was never really sure who was speaking. It would probably be easier to keep track of the characters if you are actually reading the book). (Hardbound - own - thrift store purchase. Listened to an audiobook from the library).
Picturing Christmas by Jason F. Wright **
I read another book by this author a few years ago and loved it (The Cross Gardener) so I had high hopes for Picturing Christmas. I shouldn't have. This was the worst Christmas book I have read so far. The story started out with some promise - an independent young woman gets a photography internship in New York City, just as her parent's long-standing marriage is dissolving. This could have been an interesting story about a strong woman standing on her own and learning about her own resilience. The story becomes none of that. The author seemed to have decided to turn the first few promising chapters into another attempt at a sappy romance that probably wouldn't even make it on the Hallmark Channel. The ending "Christmas surprise" was ridiculously unrealistic. There is little character development and the conflicts are resolved far too easily. He could have done much more with this story, but decided not to. This book was a struggle to finish, even though it is less than 200 pages. I ended up finishing it because I had a long flight with little else to read. I was so disappointed in Picturing Christmas and that I will stay away from Jason Wright's books in the future. I gave this book only two stars ** on Goodreads. (Paperback - owned - purchased new).
Open Season by C. J. Box****
C.J. Box is a well known mystery/crime/suspense author. His books are set in the American West - mostly Wyoming and Montana. His "Joe Pickett" series has 22 books, the first of which, Open Season, appeared back in 2001. I heard of C.J. Box from a "true crime" podcast I listen to from time to time. I decided to give his books a try. I was not disappointed by this first book. The characters in the book where realistic and well-developed and the descriptions of the wild Wyoming back-country where story takes place is magnificent and spot on. The plot was skillfully developed and suspenseful. All-in-all, this was an good solid crime/mystery novel and I will definitely look for the other books in this series. I gave is four stars **** on Goodreads. (Paperback - owned - thrift store purchase).
I accomplished my reading goal for 2021. My goal was reading 30 books. I actually read 63 - a new personal best for me.
Approximately 1/3 of the books I read last year were fiction. That means that 2/3 were non fiction.
My top three favorite nonfiction books this year were:
Better Than Happy by Jody Moore
Rising Strong by Brene Brown
Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment
by Marianne Williamson
Most of my nonfiction reading tends to be in the self-help and spirituality and religion genres.
My top three favorite fiction books this year were:
The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek
by Kim Michele Richardson
I Don't Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The fiction genre I have most read this year is mystery/suspense. I want to branch out more in the coming year, but oh, I do love a good mystery!
I joined the Goodreads 2022 Reading Challenge with a goal of 35 books. I always like to underestimate what I really plan to read because, hey, life happens. We don't know what is in the future, but I will probably (hopefully) read a lot more than 35 books. I want to read more books from my "to read" stack, which is sizeable. My goal is to read two books a month from that stack. I also want to buy fewer books, and think more carefully about my book purchases. I will continue to use the library when practical. I have several books on hold now, but I am sometimes finding that books I am interested in are not in our local libraries.
I am grateful that I enjoy reading. It is an important part of my life. I am thankful for the books I read in 2021 and excited about the books I will read in 2022.
😊Deb💗
"What a blessing it is to love books."
~Elizabeth Von Arnim
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