I read quite a bit more this month. (Vacation flanked by long wait times in airports helped.) My favorite reading of the month occurred in the forms of two paper (yes, paper!) books. One was my cousin's book, which I highly recommend! (See number 42.) The other was a reread of Wild and Free, notes in which reminded me of just how far God has brought me in this life. And with that, here's my list:37) Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson—I am torn about this book. I enjoyed the multiple layers of storytelling (past and present). This was some rich character development among the many members of the story (Jo-Lynn as decorator and niece, Evan as husband, Valentine as past lover and foreman, Stella as aunt, etc.), mystery, and intrigue. The faith integration felt forced, surface level at best. The end conclusion about things left unspoken, and the fact that those things all came to light anyway seemed slipshod. The historical parts of this book did seem well researched. I enjoyed the Georgia setting. I just can't really speak up and give this book a wholehearted recommendation. There were too many detractors that took away from the beauty of the tale.
38) Sadie’s Prize by Margaret Daley—Special Education teacher Sadie Spencer is a driven woman, and executive Andrew Knight is completely dedicated to his work, so much, in fact, that Sadie can’t reach him about a special project for her students. Determined to get face time with Andrew, Sadie bids on a date with him at a charity bachelor auction. She gets what she wants, scholarships for her students’ sports uniform, and the start of a vocational program for students with special needs. After spending so much time with Andrew, she finds that she wants more than this, though, more even than the friendship they have developed over the course of these projects. Andrew, however, has closed his heart. He shuts down when he starts to recognize the prize that Sadie is. As both Sadie and he throw themselves back into work, they start to assess what really matters in life, and their conclusions end with several sweet rewards for readers. This is a tender story, with some deeper themes of love, loss, and control. It’s a keeper, in my opinion.
39) When Dreams Come True by Margaret Daley—A little different than Love Inspired's typical romances, this is about a man gone missing, presumed dead, only to show up in his wife and children's lives again. The story contains some more mature concepts including addiction, guilt, and trust. It's a good one, though, a sweet story with truths about reconciliation and redemption that make it definitely worth the time to read.
40) 101 Conversation Starters for Couples by Gary Chapman and Ramon Presson—Short, sweet, and full of questions covering everything from family of origin to hopes and dreams for the future, this book has something for everyone. It has some decidedly Christian spiritual questions for those of faith as well. I checked this out and tagged questions for conversation on a recent vacation.
41) The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston—Set at a beautiful lake outside of Charlotte, North Carolina (the author's hometown), this is a story of loss, love, and holding on to what really matters. Brianna Porter has stayed at home to run her family's resort, but now it seems like she will lose it, and her livelihood along with it. Then along comes investor Scott Gibson, who has his own story of loss. Along the way, the two bicker, but then decide to partner to save this special place. The car and cooking references also made this a fun read for me. One part of this story does not seem quite integritous or ethical, but it makes for a good plot line. Overall, the heart of the story shines through, making this a great book to add to a summer reading list.
42) Cold Turkey by Jodi Cowles—Clean and comedic, this is a fun read about life as an ex-pat in a foreign country. Second grade teacher turned eighth grade international school educator Amanda Morris is SO relatable. From struggling with the dynamics of the Christian dating scene, aka “meat market,” to getting caught up in gossip and wanting to give up when life gets hard, Amanda goes through it all. Along the way during her adventures, she learns some valuable lessons about what really matters. With both laugh-out-loud moments and truths that resonate, this is a book that pulls readers in like a warm hug. Some books are so terrible I will stop reading cold turkey. This was one I just kept going back to, so much so that I finished it in a short two days!
43) Wild and Free: A Hope-Filled Anthem Who Feels She is Both Too Much and Never Enough by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan—Written by two female powerhouses, this is both the story of their own journeys, and a call to live as God intends. With personal stories and scriptural exposition, the authors call readers to live out of God’s creativity, wildness, and freedom. They decry shackles of shame and cry out for focus on Jesus. I read this book in the past and it resonated. Much of it still does, though maybe not as poignantly. That is probably more because of my current tired lifestyle than anything, though, and even more reason to keep this book and reread it periodically to remember the life to which God calls me.
44) The Long-Awaited Child by Tracie Peterson—Tess Holbrook wants a baby, only she can’t have one, despite the years of fertility treatments she has undergone. She is against adoption, even though she was adopted herself. She wants her own baby, a family of her own making. Then God shows her that she is trying too hard to control things, and she needs to let go. That leads to her letting in young mother Sherry Macomber, whose baby she plans to adopt. What transpires is a story of loss and redemption that needs to be read. While I think this story may paint a prettier picture of adoption than it always is, it gets some of the very hard parts more right than anything I have read in a long time. It also focuses on the power of gospel to redeem. People with hearts for adoption could benefit from reading this story. Others will find it a heart-touching, insightful story, one that provokes thought about the foster care crisis and beyond. Adoption is a commitment, but a beautiful one that can make families for children long-awaiting their forever homes.
45) Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky—Marnie Wittier has regrets, major ones, but she is out west, living her best life as a coffee shop owner, or at least that is what she tells herself. That is what she tells herself as she wrestles with a box full of regrets and a business that barely, if it does at all, pays the bills. Her world upends when she learns that her sister has died and appointed her guardian of her Down Syndrome son, Emmit. The story switches back and forth between past and present in a way that hooked me and kept me intrigued. Suddenly, though, as the story moves to a close, the characters get confusing. Emmit is Emmeth. Emmit (the first one) disappears and reappears. Is he an angel? An apparition? Something there one morning and gone the next? This story really let me down. Its themes of forgiveness and love and redemption were good, but with such a disparate ending, those messages get lost. Unless someone can point out to me something big here that I missed, this is sadly a, “No” recommendation from me.
46) The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck—This was a really fascinating read! Told from the perspectives of numerous different characters, it chronicles the lives of marriages across generations: their struggles, their griefs, and their victories. The story has more twists and turns than I expected, and in the end, becomes allegorical, with a sweet and clear gospel message. Pick up this book today and fall in love with Charlotte, Emily, Tim, Daniel, and Jesus Christ, the eternal bridegroom whose love for his bride, the church, never grows old.
47) The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi—This was a really sweet book, and I mean that. It was billed as a home management book, but really, it was a compassionate call to embrace identity in Christ, name what matters without apology, and live based out of personal values. Not overtly Christian until the end, this book walks readers through Adachi's 13 Lazy Genius principles of a life well lived. Using personal disclosure, practical examples, and “for instance,” applications, this book helps readers see that they cannot do it all, and trying to do so just makes them tired. For a perfectionist like me who tends to try to make everything important, this gave me a lot of food for thought, and I mean that!
48) Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong—Lainie Davis pulls off into Last Chance not because she is desperate for gas or food or the other things the signs advertise. She pulls off because she is desperate, because her car will not go any further and because she is pretty much out of money and out of luck. Although she had plans to go on through New Mexico to her friend in El Paso, she ends up staying, and falling in love with the community of Last Chance. For the first time, she has a place that feels like home. She knows she cannot stay, though, and has to tear herself away. The book's title made me expect a tongue-in-cheek, comedic romance, but not so. This book had me on-the-edge-of-my-seat frightened, nearly teary, and marveling at the twists and turns of the story. The end does come a bit suddenly, but after a ton of unexpected, and heartwarming redemption. I am on the highway with this story and moving quickly to obtain and read the next book in the Last Chance series!
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