I was introduced to 3 fantastic authors this month, and I’m so grateful to have read their work. I’m looking forward to reading more books by those authors.
The first book I read this month was written by a fantastic author, who is also a friend. Power of a Place was a great book to start the new year.
Review: This author is someone I admire and respect. He went to school with Ted, and I worked with him in Colorado. He’s a great teacher and a fantastic writer. I loved his first book, Chasing Wisdom, and his second book is just as good. The Power of Place is about the value of putting down roots and investing in the place you call ‘home.’
Review: This book was so engaging, I did not want it to end. It shares the beautiful relationship that develops between CS Lewis and Ms. Davidson. They were pen pals, and later met and became great friends, and eventually married. I already loved CS Lewis, but this story makes me love him even more. This author did a fabulous job of re-creating their love story. I highly recommend the audiobook because the narration brings the story to life. It’s free on the Hoopla app.
Here are two quotes from the book that I loved:
God does not love us because we are lovable but because He is Love.
CS Lewis
Sometimes we want to stay and goof off in a mud pit when God has an entire seashore for us to play in.
Review: This was a wonderful book that I read with my 12-year-old son Clark. It’s the story of a young boy coming to live with his aunt in Minnesota to escape his war-torn country of Sudan. The author writes brilliantly and expresses such beautiful and deep emotion in very few words. This book can be read in a day but will stay with you for much longer. I felt the wonder, optimism, fear, sadness and hope through the eyes of the main character (Kek). This book gave me a glimpse into what it might be like to be a refugee. I HIGHLY recommend this book! Great for parents to read with kids ages 8 and up.
Review: I read this book with my 14 year-old son and we both enjoyed it. It’s a novel about a boy who went to work with his dad on September 11, 2001. The book does an excellent job recreating the environment from that day. You feel like you are in the Twin Towers that morning trying to escape. This book allowed George and I have to have some great conversations about what happened on September 11.
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Thanks for reading! Please share which of these books you’d like to read or a great book you’ve read recently.
This is not a book about sales, though it would certainly help if you are in sales. It’s really a book about how to get the most out of life and how to be the best version of yourself.
It’s about man who inherits 10 ancient scrolls that are the ‘secret to success’. Each scroll has a powerful message.
I loved this book. I felt like I was listening to my grandfather describe his life from a beautiful, bygone era as I read about the simple life of Jayber Crow.
Jayber Crow is a book you want to read when you can sit back, relax, put your feet up and just enjoy a good story.
Erwin shares one phenomenal story after another, connecting what God teaches in the Bible to real people putting that into action, and the POWER that action had in their lives. Here are a few of my five favorite points from the book:
You need to act like your life depends on it because it’s never just your life involved. The world desperately needs everything you can bring to the table.
You will never sustain greatness or fulfill your God-given calling if you see people as an obstacle to your destiny rather than as essential to fulfilling God’s purpose in your life. An old African saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We are more powerful when we walk together, and we are more vulnerable when we walk alone.
Fear is like a leprosy that eats away at us. Fear will lead us to build fortresses that look like security and safety. Fear convinces us that we have locked out the dangers, but it hasn’t locked the world out at all. Instead, fear has trapped us inside. It was never a fortress, it was a prison.
I do not believe anyone is born average but I do believe that many of us choose to live a life of mediocrity. To be above average demands a choice. Average is a safe choice and it’s the most dangerous choice we can make.
Do not lose sight of the fact that just because it’s time to move forward, the things in the past did not have great value for the time in your life. Appreciate the past, but live IN the present and FOR the future.
I’d heard of Clara Barton in connection with the Red Cross, but never knew what a fascinating life she led!
Reading (or listening to) stories like this gives me hope for each human. Clara was a simple girl that noticed a gap and problem, then filled the gap and help solved the problem. We can do great things by starting small.
I’m thankful for women like Clara because she carved the way for a woman like me, She was a leader before women were allowed to lead. She was hard-working, creative, respectful, but bold.
I listened to this book on my free Hoopla app and recommend it for moms and their daughters to listen to together.
As I closed this book, I hugged it in deep appreciation. Oh, how I needed to hear those beautifully written words.
I recommend this to someone new in town, who may feel ‘anonymous,’ or to someone whose dreams haven’t been realized.
Here are 5 points from the book:
Why would Jesus announce the birth of his precious son with a full angelic choir, then hide this priceless gift for three decades? Because what is hidden is not unimportant.
God’s first public words to Jesus were not directional (go there) or instructional (do this) it was relational: THIS IS MY SON! God spoke affirmation before Jesus had ever done any good works.
Every day, we invest in a future we cannot see. Time is not really spent, it is invested in a future we cannot see.
Jesus could stand strong in public because he stood still in private. He intentionally pursued quiet places.There is healing in stillness.
Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
This is the best marriage book I’ve ever read. I picked it up, not because I was ready to ‘split,’ but simply curious on the advice she’d give from the perspective of a divorce attorney.
I had no idea how truly insightful and helpful this book would be to EVERY SINGLE MARRIED PERSON!
Here are 5 take-aways:
Your marriage can go from that bad to this good. No matter how troubled or even chaotic your marriage may seem, you have more control over its future than you think.
Ask yourself and people you trust: “What is it like to be on the other side of me?“
Your spouse can’t make you happy. Happiness is something you bring to a relationship, not something you get from it.
There’s danger in allowing the emotions you’re experiencing right now to lead you to make long-term decisions. Yes, your emotions are real. Examine them. Learn from them. But don’t give them the lead role.
Find friends who will help you WIN in your marriage. Surround yourself with WISE, trustworthy, and objective friends who help you make better decisions. Your friends help you lean into or away from your marriage.
This book was captivating because it shared so many different stories of the people who were directly impacted by the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
I read this book twice this year – first reading the book, then listening to the audiobook. Both were excellent, but I loved that the audiobook contained REAL RECORDINGS from that day. It was powerful.
This book is so entertaining, you won’t want to put it down. My son kept asking: “Can we read another chapter?”
It’s the story of a girl and her parents who moved to the US from China. They get jobs at a motel in California. Mia, only 10 years old, runs the front desk. The book tells interesting stories about the guests who come to the motel, and gives insight into what it’s like to be an immigrant. The stories are endearing and you will fall in love with the characters!
Because Clark is such an active kid, he doesn’t usually want to sit and read. This is one of the first books where he actually loved sitting with me and reading together. It was one of the sweetest memories of the summer.
My son said: “I wish this book would never end.” I felt the same.
Parent tip: Keep trying new books until you find one your kid loves!
I’ve heard of and even quoted this author many times, but didn’t read his book until this last year. It’s a beautiful and hard book to read. Victor Frankl is a psychologist who survived Auschwitz – partially by using the techniques he taught his clients. One thing I loved was that he tried to find a way to laugh every day while imprisoned. He and another Jewish man would think up silly stories to share. Finding humor in the worst situation helped them survive.
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Here’s a picture snapshot of my Top Ten Books from 2021:
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There you have it! My favorite books of 2021.
What was your favorite book of the year or which book from this list do you want to read in 2022? Leave a comment by clicking on the box by the TITLE of this post.
I finished 58 books this year. Occasionally I’ve been asked how I find time to read. Here’s what I’ve said:
First of all, I love to read. You find time for things you love.
Second, I keep books all over the place. I have several next to my bed, a couple by the couch in the family room, another in the car – a physical book and an audio book.
I take a few minutes to read when I first wake up and before I go to bed. If it’s a really good book, I stay up too late to read.
If I have to wait for my kids at practice or an appointment, I read.
I read WITH my kids. I usually read one chapter per day with each of them.
The free HOOPLA app allows me to download excellent books for no cost, so I will listen to books while doing household chores or exercising.
Before I read any book, I look it up on Goodreads to see what my friends have rated it and what their reviews say. I find that well-written books are easier and faster to read. Click here to follow me on Goodreads.
Review: I’ve heard of and even quoted this author many times. I don’t know how I haven’t read his story until now. It’s a beautiful and hard book to read. He’s a psychologist who survived Auschwitz – partially by using the techniques he taught his clients. One thing I loved was that he tried to find a way to laugh every day. He and another Jewish man would think up silly stories to share. Finding humor in the worst situation helped them survive.
Review: I really enjoyed the beginning of this book where the author shared her conversion story.
However, the chapters on her specific denominational preferences was not really relevant or necessary for this book, and for me, it took away from her powerful personal story.
Review: This was one of my favorite books from childhood. I re-read it to find inspiration for some children’s books I’m working on. Each chapter of this book contains a story from a grandmother’s childhood and includes a lesson she learned.
Review: This is a book that’s stood the test of time. It’s the story of an orphan girl named Anne who gets adopted and the book shares her adventures, and mis-adventures, in a warm and endearing way.
I’ve watched the movie a dozen times, and even starred as Marilla in our high school play, but finally read this book for the first time. I’d recommend that mothers read or listen to this book with their daughters.
Review: Clark and I read this book together. It’s the third book of a series about a young girl who moves to the US from China. In this book, she goes back to China and shares how much it’s changed. Clark said at the end, “I wish there were more books in this series.”
Review: I had this on my list of books to read this Christmas season, then walked into a thrift store – and there it was on display, for only 75 cents! This was a great book to read over my quarantined Christmas. If you haven’t read it, I’d add this classic to your list.
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Thanks for reading. I’ll be listing my favorite books of the year very soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss that post!
There was an article about this author in the Sunday paper that piqued my interest, so I found her book at our local library.
This author’s life story is phenomenal! She was a Jewish girl living in Poland during WW2. Just before Hitler liquidated her Ghetto, she snuck out with her sister. Using fake papers, they “hid” by working in Germany through the war.
The author went on to become a doctor, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. She got married, raised a family, and worked in the medical field. The book is way better than my short synopsis. I recommend it to anyone interested in stories from WW2.
I started reading this with one of my sons and he wasn’t really into it. I finished on my own. There were some fun little facts about life in the White House, but most of the stuff written in this book is already well known. I would recommend it to someone in in middle or high school who may be interested in the life of a president or what happens in the White House.
I usually love memoirs, but not this one. The author is a great writer, but the book is filled with SO. MUCH. (partially self-induced) DRAMA and struggle. I’ve read plenty of books with struggle, and those are usually the best ones (see the first book I mentioned above). However, many books share lessons learned, a redemptive twist, or some sort of triumph in the end. Not in this book. I kind of just felt sad and icky when I finished this story. I wished the author would have waited a few years to publish this book, to allow herself time to heal first. I don’t recommend this book.
Review: The only way to ‘read’ this book is to ‘listen’ to the audiobook. It’s read by Matthew McConaughey and he is an entertaining storyteller, but there’s nothing profound in this book. If you want a book with nothing more than some amusing stories, check out the audiobook.
Review: I respect this author, follow her on Instagram, and enjoy listening to her podcasts on parenting. Dr. Meg Meeker really understands the struggles mothers face, and writes to help us enjoy the journey. This book has some good nuggets, but I recommend her Strong Mothers, Strong Sons over this one.
I read this book about five years ago and loved it SO much. I saw it on my free Hoopla app and decided to listen to it this time. Bob Goff reads the book and it’s fun to listen to him tell such fascinating stories about growing up, his teenage and college years, meeting his wife, adventures with his kids, and interesting stories with friends. Each chapter has a little life lesson as well – all about living a life of LOVE.
I’d heard of Clara Barton in connection with the Red Cross, but never knew much about her. Wow, what a fascinating life!
She was a SUPER SHY young girl, so her parents encouraged her to become a teacher. Though she was INCREDIBLY nervous at first, she learned that she was really good at it! She quickly learned how to connect with her students, and they loved and respected her. Clara taught for many years, and even helped get free public education started in states that didn’t have it yet.
Reading (or listening to) stories like this gives me hope for each human. Clara was a simple girl that noticed a gap/problem, then filled the gap and helped solved the problem. We can do great things by starting small.
I’m thankful for women like Clara. She carved the way for a woman like me! She was a leader before women were allowed to lead. She was hard-working, creative, respectful, but bold.
I listened to this book on my free Hoopla app and recommend it for moms and their daughters. Listen to it together.
As I closed this book, I held it in my hands with deep appreciation. I am so grateful for this author and her words. Oh, how I needed to hear them. I wish I would have read this book 3 years ago when I moved to Minnesota and felt completely…anonymous.
Jesus lived 90 percent of his life anonymously! And yet, look at the impact He made in the world and for eternity.
Don’t despise anonymity. Learn during that season, grow in that season. God has not forgotten you.
I underlined almost half of this book. It was so incredibly powerful. I was in tears many times.
This is one of the best books I’ve read all year. I read it slowly to savor the words. It’s a book I’ll go back to because the message is so important and so beautiful.
Read this if you feel anonymous, if your dreams haven’t been realized, or if you are in a new town and feel unknown.
Here are a few points that I loved from this book:
Why would Jesus announce the birth of his precious son with a full angelic choir, then hide this priceless gift for three decades? Because what is hidden is not unimportant.
God’s first public words to Jesus were not directional (go there) or instructional (do this) it was relational: THIS IS MY SON! And He spoke affirmation before Jesus had ever done any good works.
Every day, we invest in a future we cannot see. Time is not really spent. Instead, it is invested in a future we cannot see.
Choosing what is right not only makes a difference today, it makes a difference that compounds exponentially to bless our future.
Jesus could stand strong in public because he stood still in private. He intentionally pursued quiet places.There is healing in stillness.
Strength is not given, it is grown.
Savor the anonymous season. Respect it’s potential.
WOW! What a funny, yet powerful book! I couldn’t put it down. Michael is such a great performer and storyteller. Each chapter tells a (usually funny) story from his life with a POWERFUL life lesson or action step for the reader.
Micheal Jr. included great quotes throughout the book:
Sometimes, would tell a story, then say, “Scan this to watch it.”
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Thanks for reading the reviews of these great books! Have you read any of these or another good one? Leave a comment and let me know what to read next!
Review: A beautiful, yet heart breaking story that follows generations of African Americans from Africa to the United States. You follow generations of families as they endure (and sometimes conquer) the tragedies of war, slavery, drug abuse, and discrimination.
I listened to the audiobook and because the book shares the stories of so many characters over so many generations, it was a little hard to follow. If you are listening, I recommend you have a pen and paper nearby to help you keep it all straight.
Review: This is one of the best marriage books I’ve ever read. I picked it up, not because I was ready to ‘split,’ but simply curious on the advice she’d give from the perspective of a divorce attorney, why NOT to split!!!
I had no idea how truly insightful and helpful this book would be to EVERY SINGLE MARRIED PERSON!
Do yourself and your marriage a favor and read this book!
I took SIX PAGES OF NOTES!!! Here are some highlights:
Your marriage can go from that bad to this good. No matter how troubled or even chaotic your marriage may seem, you have more control over its future than you think.
Ask yourself and people you trust: “What is it like to be on the other side of me?“
Your spouse can’t make you happy. Happiness is something you bring to a relationship, not something you get from it.
There’s danger in allowing the emotions you’re experiencing right now to lead you to make long-term decisions. Yes, your emotions are real. Examine them. Learn from them. But don’t give them the lead role.
Marriage is two broken but loveable people.
Find friends who will help you WIN in your marriage. Surround yourself with WISE, trustworthy, and objective friends who help you make better decisions. Your friends help you lean into or away from your marriage.
Review: I’m so fascinated by the life of Andrew Van Der Bijl – just a regular man who wanted to make a difference in the world! He decided to smuggle Bibles into countries where people could not get them. Some churches were without any Bible, other churches were sharing just one single copy. The things Andrew saw and other things that happened are beyond explanation – a truly fascinating story!
Because “God Smuggler” by Brother Andrew is one of my favorite autobiographies, I decided to read this biography about him. I really enjoyed it because it shares stories I had not read in his book, as well as a different perspective on the stories I already knew.
Review: This short chapter book gives kids a glimpse into what it must have been like to survive the terrorist attack on 9/11. It’s a fiction story that felt so real I thought it was non-fiction. The ‘I survived’ books are a little ‘harrowing’ with heavy topics, so I would only recommend them for kids ages 10 and up. Overall, it was an excellent story.
Review: My son and I couldn’t get enough of Book 1 (Front Desk), but we had to force ourselves to finish Book 2. This one felt like the author was trying to lecture the reader and push an agenda with a topic that is above the heads of kids reading it. Unfortunately, I don’t recommend it.
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Thanks for reading this post! Have you read a good book recently? Leave a comment and let us know!
Each of these books are affiliate links which means if you purchase on, I may get a small commission. TIA!
Review: This book is so entertaining, you won’t want to put it down. All summer, my son would ask: “Can we read another chapter?”
It’s the story of a girl and her parents who moved to the US from China. They get jobs at a motel in California. Mia, only 10 years old, runs the front desk. The book tells interesting stories about the guests who come to the motel, and gives insight into what it’s like to be an immigrant. The stories are endearing and you will fall in love with the characters!
My son said: “I wish this book would never end.” I felt the same. We were thrilled to learn there are two more books that follow Front Desk. We are currently reading book 2, called “Three Keys.”
Because Clark is such an active kid, he doesn’t usually want to sit and read. This is one of the first books where he actually loved sitting with me and reading together. It’s been one of my sweetest memories of the summer.
Parent tip: Keep trying new books until you find one your kid loves!
Review: This book gave a good overview of Thomas Edison’s life. He was an interesting character and reminds me a little of Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. He was an amazing creator, inventor and scientist, but not so much a people person.
Reading this book made me so grateful for the things I take for granted – like making a phone call and talking to someone on the other side of the country and flipping on the lights in my house. I loved hearing how the ‘lightbulb’ was invented and how much ‘trial and error’ Edison put into creating it. His quote that: “Genius is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration” comes to life in this book. Edison wouldn’t give up working on an idea or problem until he solved it!
What I love about Janet Benge’s “Heroes of History” books is that she writes biographies that are entertaining and don’t get overly detailed with too much information.
Someone on amazon said: “I learned just enough about Edison’s life to be both enlightened and entertained—without having to endure the insufferable sludge of detail that weighs down most biographies.” I completely agree!
I was excited to see he had published a book about his “Row the Boat” philosophy, which he uses in life and coaching. Coach Fleck is known for turning losing teams into winning teams with his approach.
The book was short and easy-to-read. The beginning is a quick synopsis of PJ Fleck’s life. In my opinion, the best part of the book starts in Chapter 6 when he outlines exactly what “Row the Boat” means!
Here are 10 of my favorite parts of the book:
You are the captain of your boat. You decide to row or not.
The ‘oars’ of the boat represent your energy. Your energy is contagious and the energy you invest and share with others determines the quality of your life.
There will be times when rowing is extremely hard and will require powerful work. Other times, efficiency will be utilized.
The boat represents sacrifice. The more you serve, give, and make your life about helping others, the better and more fulfilled your life will be. The more you do this, the bigger your boat gets.
The compass is about the vision we have for our lives, how we speak to ourselves and the people we surround ourselves with help create the dream.
When rowing, your back is to the direction you are traveling – the future – which you cannot control, nor can you see. You don’t know what’s ahead of you. You’re rowing in the present, which is the only thing that you can impact and have control of.
You can either choose to keep rowing or put your oars back in the boat and stop. And while rowing, you are looking in the past, which is the only thing that you can actually learn from – but can’t change.
The dream is the journey and the journey is the dream. You will make your biggest impact where it will be the hardest.
Cadets prayer “make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. “
Coach PJ Fleck wants to set the standard academically, athletically, socially, and spiritually.
Ted and I had a 6 hour drive to Chicago, and I suggested we listen to an audiobook together. He picked this one. I didn’t know who the author was before reading this, but truly enjoyed the book. The author is a sports commentator and a fabulous storyteller!
I loved what the author shares about:
adopting four of their six kids,
wins and fails in parenting, and
how he came to faith and how that has impacted his life and sustained him through chemotherapy and other life challenges.
This book is easy-to-read (or listen to). It’s filled with great life lessons and it’s very entertaining.
Review: I read this many years ago, but decided to listen to it this time. Wow. Why have I waited so long to listen to this fantastic book?? It was written nearly 100 years ago, but applies to life today. The book covers topics such as:
dealing with difficult people,
navigating tough conversations,
making a positive impression,
speaking so others listen, etc.
This is a MUST READ for anyone age 15 and older. And if you are like me, and it’s been more than 5 years since you’ve read this book, I recommend you re-read it or listen to the audio edition!
Review: Ted’s had this book for years and I saw it on my hoopla app and decided to listen. The book shared myths about millionaires, and some insight into how some millionaires gain their wealth, which included:
Living below their means,
not purchasing items for ‘status’
The book also gave some investing and saving strategies, as well as career options for obtaining wealth.
Review: I thought this was going to be a traditional ‘biography,’ but was actually made up of Jim Elliot‘s letters and journal entries he wrote over the course of about 10 years.
It was well written, but dragged on at times. I was impressed with the depth and detail that Jim put into his letters and journal entries. It has inspired me to write more letters! After finishing the book, I hand wrote TEN LETTERS, and hope to keep it up.
Review: This book is very easy to read and pretty entertaining. Each chapter the author asks a question then ‘shares her stuff.’ She then encourages the reader to do the same. The questions Laura posed in this book really inspired me to write more stories about who’s impacted my life, what pivotal moments changed my life, magical moments that occurred in my life, and more.
A picture book I read with my boys that’s worth mentioning:
Review: I have a whole new respect and appreciation for bees after reading this beautiful book:
What about you? What have you been reading? What do you want to read? I’d love to hear from you. Leave me a comment by clicking on the tiny ‘comment box’ next to the title of this post.
I’m “almost” finished reading Front Desk with one of my sons. We are absolutely loving and don’t want it to end – I’ll give you a full review next month. Please consider subscribing so you don’t miss that post.
Review: Listening to this wonderful book was like going to therapy. The author’s voice and his encouragement were calming and helpful. He shared useful tips for healing from hurts, remembering the good, and enjoying life. The author shares how to re-orient yourself away from the noise, and toward a place of peace, calm and joy.
One thing he recommends is the one minute PAUSE. Here’s a summary:
Review: I follow this author on MoneySavingMom.com, and when I saw her book was available for free on my Hoopla app, I decided to download it. It’s easy to listen to, and gives tons of practical advice and encouragement to parents. She shares the story of one of her teens becoming suicidal, and how they got there, and what she’s learned from this experience. I think this book is a great one for any parent with kids ages 5-15.
Review: Ted encouraged me to read this book and I really enjoyed it! If you find yourself stretched too thin (MOTHERHOOD!), overworked or busy but not productive, this would be a great book for you!
This quote sums up the book fairly well:
“When we don’t purposefully and deliberately choose where to focus our energies and time, other people—our bosses, our colleagues, our clients, and even our families—will choose for us, and before long we’ll have lost sight of everything that is meaningful and important.”
Greg McKeown
This quote made me smile and is one of the reasons I value having FUN with my kids:
“It’s hard to be successful at anything without having some fun while doing it.
Greg McKeown
I love this about the importance of playing:
“As we get older, PLAY seems like a waste of time. It seems unnecessary and childish. However, play has the power to significantly improve everything from personal health to relationships to eduction to organization to ability. Play leads to brain plasticity, adaptability, and creativity. Nothing fires up the brain like play. The value of play can’t be overstated.”
