I hope you found got some good books to read during this winter lull. See mine below :). And at the very bottom, see February’s giveaway! I combined it with this month’s post, but the giveaway will remain open through the end of February.
Everything is just Beginning by Erin Bartels
Topic or themes I saw: Feelings of failure, not being liked. Doubting yourself. The fear you have nothing to offer or it isn’t good enough. Search for happiness and fulfillment. Approval that matters, approval that doesn’t.
Read it if you like:
✔️The 90’s
✔️Music
✔️Underdog stories
✔️Stories with strong mentors
✔️Women’s fiction
✔️Characters who have disabilities
Story: Michael wants to be a famous singer. In an attempt to get to a producer, he attends a party he isn’t invited to. At the party, he meets Natalie and together they begin an unlikely band. Stories that bring out belonging, self-worth, and loneliness, healed by the kindness of someone who cares are my very favorite. I can’t get enough of them. I saw these themes in this novel. Everything is Just Beginning is the kind of book that makes me want to hug the author and say thanks. Thanks for writing this book for me. I also loved that the lyrics for the songs Michael and Natalie wrote were included in the story. Bartels does spectacular at placing the reader in the life of a musician. The setting and song writing process really came alive for me.
Quote: “Sometimes what looks like an obstacle is actually useful to you.”
Thank you Revell for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
Topic or themes I saw: The value of relationships built on trust, honor, and respect. Empty vs. full relationships, fake vs. real. The power of genuine relationship. The emptiness of glitter, glam, and achievement with no heart connection to others.
Read it if you like:
-Contemporary fiction
-Stories with strong themes
-Themes of being loved for who you are and second chances.
-Elements of romance
-Stories of transformation and meaning.
Story: I adored Molly and Silas. Their personalities were so real. The stark contrast between them was comical. When I started the book, I wasn’t sure I was the target reader. The beginning threw you into the world of a beauty social media influencer, and I struggled to relate. But a few pages later I was sucked in and resonated deeply with many of the things the characters walked through. The beginning was the perfect set up for the beautiful story that quickly played out. Molly begins a summer volunteer program at a place that houses teens who have maxed out of foster care. I really appreciated diving into this angle of life as well. This is a powerful tale that shows the beauty in being seen, and loved, for who you truly are.
Good Boundaries And Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst
Who it may interest: If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have needs, or your needs don’t matter. If you’ve failed to set healthy boundaries out of fear of being selfish or un-christian. If you’ve struggled to work through tough relationships, unsure how to love others without losing yourself.
There are many authors I glean so many wonderful things from, then there are those who I feel completely safe with, at home with. Totally, and completely understood. Lysa is one of those for me.
Have you ever had situations with relationships that you can’t pinpoint as bad but something just feels off? Maybe you blame yourself, tell yourself you are just crazy or too sensitive? Have you ever felt setting boundaries is unloving and unchristian? Me too. As always, Terkeurst speaks directly to my heart bringing to light something I’ve wrestled with inside but struggled to define. Over the past couple years, God has really laid on my heart something: love does not mean enabling. For so long, I’ve lived in passivity. Taking on myself the blame and shame of the hard things in relationships. I told myself I’m loving the person unconditionally. I’m being a good Christian. But inside I crumbled under the strain of bearing bad behaviors of others in the name of love. There is a way to love others without enabling, without losing who you are. That’s what this book is about.
At the very end is a list of scriptures that have been taken out of context and used against boundaries. Lysa writes about how to see them in context. I really appreciated this, as I have used scripture against myself out of context.
Main takeaway: This quote basically sums up what the entire book is about: “God establishes boundaries to protect intimacy, not to decimate it. And we should do the same. How to do this appropriately is what this entire message is about.”
A few other favorite quotes:
“If we are living honest lives that honor God, we must not forget that people not liking our boundary does not mean we aren’t living right before God.”
“When we know who we are, we are whole and available to love, serve, and give to others from that fullness. If we don’t know who we are, then we will love, serve, and give, hoping people will fill our empty places and make us whole. And then doing so, we will always be defined by how well, or how poorly someone else makes us feel.”
“What boundaries will do for those of us terrified of being misunderstood is to finally abolish the notion that having limitations and needs is selfish. And we can finally accept that not everyone will be happy with us—and that’s not a bad thing at all.”
Topic or themes I saw: Freedom, the power of prayer and trust in God despite circumstances.
It may interest fans of: Historical fiction. Williamsburg setting. Revolutionary time period. Rich historic detail.
Story: I really appreciated being set in the tumultuous time at the start of the revolutionary war. It really makes you appreciate the founding fathers and all the brave people who stood up for freedom in the face of such personal cost. Freedom isn’t free. Reading about that time period and turmoil grows my gratitude for our country and the men who sacrificed to make and keep it free. I also appreciated the way the characters were quick to pray scripture throughout their daily life. I absolutely loved Noble. He was so…Noble 🥰. The ending held such a beautiful analogy.
This quote ❤️: “Twas the bitter that made the sweet all the sweeter.”
Now onto the February book pick for the Giveaway!!
When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer was one of my favorite reads of 2022. Here is my review of it (as previously posted):
Topic or themes I saw: Trust that Gods path for us is the best, even when we can’t see how or understand it. The value of a child’s life, and unborn babies. The choice to make the best of situations and believe in Gods goodness, or to be overcome by bitterness. The sovereignty of God.
Who it may interest: Um calling all historical fiction lovers…not one but TWO historical timelines. It can’t get any better than that. You will want to read this book if you love historical fiction with spiritual depth!
Story: How incredibly awesome is it to be richly steeped in two totally different historical time periods that weave together seamlessly in the same book?
Amazing.
Being able to see the contrasts in the two time periods was a super cool aspect of this book.
This story was sweet and tender but also hard and heart aching. It was the perfect balance of real pain in life, with hope and beauty too. I love when books get me thinking what would I do in this situation. In When The Day Comes, the characters had to make hard choices but God was at the root of it all. I loved how there was this strong mentor/mentee relationship between Libby and her 1774 mother. It shows how we can draw encouragement in a path we are struggling in from someone who has already walked it. When we are blinded by pain and can’t see beauty is coming amidst the mourning, we can be held up by someone who was once there but walked through it and grew. As Christian’s we can comfort others who are going through what we went through. This is one of those rare books that made me tear up on multiple accounts 🥰. I hope one day I can write a story as historically rich and spiritually encouraging as this one ❤️.
To enter all you need to do is:
- Be a subscriber of my newsletter. If you are already on the list, you already have this step down. If not, you can join by entering your name and email at the top of my homepage.
2. Each month will be a different book. If it is a book you would love to have, simply comment on the correlating blog post or Instagram post to be entered into that months giveaway.
For the month of February I am giving away a copy of When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer. If you want a chance to win a copy, comment on this blog post with any bookish comment!
Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway ends February 24th at 4:00 PM central time. It is not affiliated with Instagram. US residents only. One winner will be selected at random and will receive a copy of When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer. Once contacted, winner will have 48 hours to respond, if winner does not respond in allotted time, they will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.
Happy reading friends!
i am always searching for inspirational books to read in my spare time. I really appreciate your reviews.
I am thankful they are helpful! It’s always fun to share the books we read with others!
Just recently finished “The Edge of Belonging” by Amanda Cox. Was hard to put down … a story about broken people coming together to find healing.
You summed it up perfect! I am so glad you loved it!
When the day comes was an amazing book! I definitely would love to have it in my home library. Some other great historical fiction novels I read this past year were When Twilight Breaks and Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin. And I literally devoured every single novel by Connilyn Cossette.
Such good recommendations Laura! I have read Until the Leaves Fall in Paris and it was very good! I haven’t read any by Connilyn Cossette, I will have to add some of her books to my to read list!
You won’t regret it! Her books are phenomenal!
I just want to add, I feel the same way about Lysa Terkeurst! I feel so safe and seen when I read her books. You just know she understands exactly what your going through, and she shares the Biblical wisdom the Lord has revealed to her through the trials in her life. Her book It’s Not Suppose to Be This Way spoke directly to my weary heart ♥️
Exactly! She knows exactly how to word things that really helps me to understand my own feelings I can’t quite name!