I haven't done a good job this year of reviewing the books I've read. I've read 58 books and have reviewed only 24 of them here. So, I thought I'd do a couple of posts with quick reviews of some of my favorites. Today I'll share a few of the individual books I read, and tomorrow I'll share about some of the book
series I either read, completed or started this year.
This Christian non-fiction book by Debbie Macomber was recommended by my friend
Ellyn for my monthly book club meeting.
One Perfect Word shares the author's stories of her focus on one word for a year. She began this practice many years ago, and I really enjoyed reading the stories about how the words helped shape her life and focus. This would be a great read for scrapbookers who participate in Ali Edwards One Little Word project. The author is not a scrapbooker, however she does offer advice at the end of each chapter with ideas and suggestions to maintain focus on the word.
Constantly Craving: How to Make Sense of Always Wanting More is Marilyn Meberg's newest book. I heard the author speak at a couple of Women of Faith conferences several years ago and always enjoy her spiritual insights tinged with bits of humor and stories/examples from her own life. This book looks at our cravings and offers advice on how to manage them as we await the fulfilment of our primary craving (for relationship with Christ) in heaven.
[I downloaded this e-book free from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.]
I always enjoy Anne Rivers Siddons' books, but I have to be sure I don't have a lot of other commitments when I start one . . . they are hard to put down.
Sweetwater Creek was no exception as she once again drew me in with her characters and description of the South Carolina low country. This story focus on 12-year-old Emily who lives with her father and brothers on a plantation where they raise hunting dogs. Emily is a born trainer, but her life changes dramatically when LuLu (a rich 20-year-old) comes to stay with them one summer.
I found a copy of
Stacy Julian's
Simple Scrapbooks several months ago at a used bookstore. This book has ideas for a variety of theme and mini-albums. Stacy wrote this book after she initially developed the system she now calls her Library of Memories and teaches in the
Finding Photo Freedom workshop at
BPC. I enjoyed the variety of ideas for albums in this book and will be incorporating some ideas from it in my 2013 scrapping.
I have enjoyed most of Frank Peretti's previous novels, so when I saw that he had a new one out I added it to my To-Read list this year.
Illusion: A Novel is classified as a Christian fiction, however the spiritual focus of the author's previous novels is missing. The book is about two magicians who married and performed together for years before a fatal car crash took the wife's life. Or did it? Dane meets a young girl who looks just like Mandy did when they met forty years ago. What follows is an intriguing tale of magic, time travel, illusion, deception, and corruption with lots of surprises along the way. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Have you read any of these books? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them in the comments. And, of course, I'm always up for books suggestions as I prepare my 2013 To-Read list (and for a fun reading challenge I'm joining in - which I'll share about soon).
