Overall, this has been a great month of reading! Unlike in years past, I am not setting parameters on what I have to read (eg nonfiction, self-help, etc.). I am just reading because I enjoy it, and man, I have enjoyed some really good fiction books this month--to the extent that I have chosen to read more at night instead of doing my usual crosswords to wind down. The series I did not expect to enjoy, but devoured, was The Porter Family series by Becky Wade. I passed over the first book a few times because the Libby summary seemed tongue-in-cheek and trite. When I decided to read, what I found instead was a story rich in meaning, redemption, and plot. A small delight was the setting of these books in areas of Texas familiar to me because of where my family lives. The books are definitely for adults, as they cover some heavy topics of abuse, addiction, divorce, and more. With that caveat of audience, I would definitely recommend them!
The other books on this list are not too shabby, either. God gave me a lot of enjoyment in reading this month. Praise Him for that!
1) Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury—Cole Blake is ready to be there for the girl he loves. Elise Walker is not sure what to do, with her unplanned pregnancy, or her life. It is in an a state of upheaval after some unhealthy choices, an abusive romantic relationship, and a move in with her aunt and uncle to finish high school. This is the main story, but there are secondary stories about Alma and Theo and Lucy and Aaron. This story has a lot of goodness to it, but in my mind, a little too much pain. It also ends incompletely on a cliffhanger (maybe suggesting a sequel?). All that makes me me give this novel a pass, especially if it requires waiting for it on hold.
2) What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh—Jameson Shaw shows up on Emma Woodson's doorstep just when she needs him. What she doesn't know is who he is or why he is there. Emma, meanwhile, is determined to keep her own secrets. This book keeps readers wondering what the main character's secrets are, giving them only bits and pieces right up until the secrets are revealed. Even then, the story is not over, as the characters have to decide what to do when their secrets are out. This is story of intrigue, love, romance, faith and redemption because in the end, the characters have to decide what matters most. I definitely recommend this one!
3) Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller—Riley McAllister and washed up baseball pitcher Hayden Price have their stories, as does their small town of Maple Falls. Their story is good, poignant at times, and laugh-out-loud funny at others. Still, crass humor and a little too much innuendo for a book billed as Christian fiction make this a pass for me. If I’m going to be hooked on a book or series, I need depth without the breadth of things that border on inappropriate.
4) The Weary World Rejoices: A Devotional through Advent's Promises by Kate Bowler —Author Kate Bowler said this was a book, so I am counting it as one. This past year's advent devotional, it included lyrics from a Christmas tune, a daily reading, a daily prayer, and optional audio snippets. Sundays were meant to be done with the family. I especially appreciated the “Twelve Days of Christmas” section that expanded just a bit more on Christmas with a daily song, verse, and action to take. Bowler says this is an excerpt from Everything Happens, but it's a good one. I appreciate her sharing it as a resource this advent season.
5) A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits by Ashley Hales—This was a good book, though I felt like it got a little repetitive at the end. It focused how recognizing limits can expand and make room for our relationship to God. “Limits are...a part of God’s very good plan,” the author posits. “Our limits too are not strictures holding us back but doorways into intimacy with God,” she writes later. Ultimately, she concludes that making space is making space for God, who is spaciousness, and His Spirit who dwells within us. I cannot begin to confess that I have traded hustle for hurry, but this book did help change my perspective on limits. Perhaps they are a good thing to embrace rather than eschew. That gives me some thinking to do.
6) A Time to Forgive by Marta Perry—Tory Marlowe has lost all of her loved ones. When an opportunity comes up for her to work and potentially make good on a promise to her dying mother, she jumps at it. Adam Caldwell is anything but happy to have her on his island. Harboring hurt and unforgiveness, he wants to keep giving Tory the cold shoulder, but slowly she warms up to him, thawing his hard heart, but not enough to forgive, at least until the stakes are extremely high. Parts of this story are a little underdeveloped, but overall, it is a good one, with a good message. The story is fairly short, and because of the message, worth taking the time to read.
7) Promise Forever by Marta Perry—Reconciliation after divorce is not always possible, but I always hope for it, and in this sequel to A Time to Forgive, it happens! Miranda Caldwell and Tyler Winchester married, and divorced young. When Tyler finds out he has a son, he is forced to confront what he lost, and Miranda dares to hope for restoration. This is a sweet book, with a little unexpected suspense and drama included. It focuses on the strength of love and the value of learning to trust God and others. This is a shorter, but heartwarming piece of fiction with eternal values
8) The Minister’s Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Doubt, Friendship, Loneliness, Forgiveness, and More by Karen Stiller—I put this book on my list last year when I was trying to understand more about exvangelicals and people deconstructing their faith. This book really was not about that, but rather a spiritual memoir depicting what it is like to be a minister's wife, specifically an Anglican minister's wife (which is a bit different, perhaps, than an evangelical minister's wife). It was a good book, that gave an inside look at the humanity of minister's wives. A few thoughts were poignant for me. I hope this gave me more empathy for minister's wives. Overall, though, it was just a book to read. It might be more meaningful for actual minister's wives who could more resonate with the author's personal experience.
9) Is It Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh—Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a birthday pact, but they their world disintegrated, leaving them both hurt and alone. They meet again Cody saves Louisa's life, but they are at an impasse. They can forgive neither themselves nor each other. Sweet family friend Maggie wants more for them, but not until Maggie dies do they begin to see the power of forgiveness. This book blends romance, mystery, intrigue, and a poignant message about the many facets of forgiveness. If there is a book I could recommend for immediate reading, it would be this wonderful one!
10) Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade—This story really had it all: love, loss, intrigue, mystery, and suspense. I mean, it included a thoroughbred farm, cybercrime, and kidnapping, and I don't say that tongue in cheek. The story had all those elements and it was not in a cheesy or corny way. It was a very well written, intricately layered plot! The story had a lot to say about belonging to God and finding security and identity in him, too. Undeniably, this was a well written book!
Note: don't usually read books where the protagonist is divorced and looking for love again (or in this case, initially not), but by the time I recognized this was the case for heiress Meg Cole, I was into the story. I think that there were biblical grounds for Meg's divorce, too, so I kept reading.
11) Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade—Another book in the Porter Family series, and I could hardly put it down! Ty and Celia wed years ago in Las Vegas ceremony. They've been living separate lives, that is, until Ty decides to look Celia up and finds they have a daughter. Celia is determined to keep her heart closed to her former husband, that is until he sustains a career-ending injury. They both have a lot to learn about the love of God, forgiveness, and trust. Once again a multi-faceted story with some real world struggles, this is a beautiful book with, as the author notes in the discussion questions, at least three allegories, several of which I would argue are about the ultimate love of God expressed to those he predestines as His.
1) Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury—Cole Blake is ready to be there for the girl he loves. Elise Walker is not sure what to do, with her unplanned pregnancy, or her life. It is in an a state of upheaval after some unhealthy choices, an abusive romantic relationship, and a move in with her aunt and uncle to finish high school. This is the main story, but there are secondary stories about Alma and Theo and Lucy and Aaron. This story has a lot of goodness to it, but in my mind, a little too much pain. It also ends incompletely on a cliffhanger (maybe suggesting a sequel?). All that makes me me give this novel a pass, especially if it requires waiting for it on hold.
2) What Matters Most by Courtney Walsh—Jameson Shaw shows up on Emma Woodson's doorstep just when she needs him. What she doesn't know is who he is or why he is there. Emma, meanwhile, is determined to keep her own secrets. This book keeps readers wondering what the main character's secrets are, giving them only bits and pieces right up until the secrets are revealed. Even then, the story is not over, as the characters have to decide what to do when their secrets are out. This is story of intrigue, love, romance, faith and redemption because in the end, the characters have to decide what matters most. I definitely recommend this one!
3) Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller—Riley McAllister and washed up baseball pitcher Hayden Price have their stories, as does their small town of Maple Falls. Their story is good, poignant at times, and laugh-out-loud funny at others. Still, crass humor and a little too much innuendo for a book billed as Christian fiction make this a pass for me. If I’m going to be hooked on a book or series, I need depth without the breadth of things that border on inappropriate.
4) The Weary World Rejoices: A Devotional through Advent's Promises by Kate Bowler —Author Kate Bowler said this was a book, so I am counting it as one. This past year's advent devotional, it included lyrics from a Christmas tune, a daily reading, a daily prayer, and optional audio snippets. Sundays were meant to be done with the family. I especially appreciated the “Twelve Days of Christmas” section that expanded just a bit more on Christmas with a daily song, verse, and action to take. Bowler says this is an excerpt from Everything Happens, but it's a good one. I appreciate her sharing it as a resource this advent season.
5) A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits by Ashley Hales—This was a good book, though I felt like it got a little repetitive at the end. It focused how recognizing limits can expand and make room for our relationship to God. “Limits are...a part of God’s very good plan,” the author posits. “Our limits too are not strictures holding us back but doorways into intimacy with God,” she writes later. Ultimately, she concludes that making space is making space for God, who is spaciousness, and His Spirit who dwells within us. I cannot begin to confess that I have traded hustle for hurry, but this book did help change my perspective on limits. Perhaps they are a good thing to embrace rather than eschew. That gives me some thinking to do.
6) A Time to Forgive by Marta Perry—Tory Marlowe has lost all of her loved ones. When an opportunity comes up for her to work and potentially make good on a promise to her dying mother, she jumps at it. Adam Caldwell is anything but happy to have her on his island. Harboring hurt and unforgiveness, he wants to keep giving Tory the cold shoulder, but slowly she warms up to him, thawing his hard heart, but not enough to forgive, at least until the stakes are extremely high. Parts of this story are a little underdeveloped, but overall, it is a good one, with a good message. The story is fairly short, and because of the message, worth taking the time to read.
7) Promise Forever by Marta Perry—Reconciliation after divorce is not always possible, but I always hope for it, and in this sequel to A Time to Forgive, it happens! Miranda Caldwell and Tyler Winchester married, and divorced young. When Tyler finds out he has a son, he is forced to confront what he lost, and Miranda dares to hope for restoration. This is a sweet book, with a little unexpected suspense and drama included. It focuses on the strength of love and the value of learning to trust God and others. This is a shorter, but heartwarming piece of fiction with eternal values
8) The Minister’s Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Doubt, Friendship, Loneliness, Forgiveness, and More by Karen Stiller—I put this book on my list last year when I was trying to understand more about exvangelicals and people deconstructing their faith. This book really was not about that, but rather a spiritual memoir depicting what it is like to be a minister's wife, specifically an Anglican minister's wife (which is a bit different, perhaps, than an evangelical minister's wife). It was a good book, that gave an inside look at the humanity of minister's wives. A few thoughts were poignant for me. I hope this gave me more empathy for minister's wives. Overall, though, it was just a book to read. It might be more meaningful for actual minister's wives who could more resonate with the author's personal experience.
9) Is It Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh—Cody Boggs and Louisa Chambers made a birthday pact, but they their world disintegrated, leaving them both hurt and alone. They meet again Cody saves Louisa's life, but they are at an impasse. They can forgive neither themselves nor each other. Sweet family friend Maggie wants more for them, but not until Maggie dies do they begin to see the power of forgiveness. This book blends romance, mystery, intrigue, and a poignant message about the many facets of forgiveness. If there is a book I could recommend for immediate reading, it would be this wonderful one!
10) Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade—This story really had it all: love, loss, intrigue, mystery, and suspense. I mean, it included a thoroughbred farm, cybercrime, and kidnapping, and I don't say that tongue in cheek. The story had all those elements and it was not in a cheesy or corny way. It was a very well written, intricately layered plot! The story had a lot to say about belonging to God and finding security and identity in him, too. Undeniably, this was a well written book!
Note: don't usually read books where the protagonist is divorced and looking for love again (or in this case, initially not), but by the time I recognized this was the case for heiress Meg Cole, I was into the story. I think that there were biblical grounds for Meg's divorce, too, so I kept reading.
11) Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade—Another book in the Porter Family series, and I could hardly put it down! Ty and Celia wed years ago in Las Vegas ceremony. They've been living separate lives, that is, until Ty decides to look Celia up and finds they have a daughter. Celia is determined to keep her heart closed to her former husband, that is until he sustains a career-ending injury. They both have a lot to learn about the love of God, forgiveness, and trust. Once again a multi-faceted story with some real world struggles, this is a beautiful book with, as the author notes in the discussion questions, at least three allegories, several of which I would argue are about the ultimate love of God expressed to those he predestines as His.
12) A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade—Lyndie James wants to teach her childhood friend Jake Porter to hope again. Jake, however, is deeply wounded. Physically, he has scars, but inwardly, he harbors guilt and traumatic flashbacks of what happened during his tour of duty in Iraq. Lyndie has to learn that only Jesus can heal and give eternal hope. Jake has to learn that one person can't give him everything, even if she can crack open his heart. The gospel could be made a little more clear in this book, but for a work of fiction, the story is a great purveyor of deeper spiritual truths. Mix in some thoroughbred horse racing and romance, and I was sold. Books like this don't come along everyday!
13) Her One and Only by Becky Wade—In this conclusion to The Porter Family Series, Executive Protective Agent Dru takes on the job of protecting football player Gray Fowler. There is a web of intrigue, near misses at death, a stalker to be found, and serious relationship issues that stem from Gray's history of childhood abuse. Once again, not a book for the faint of heart, but a good one that kept me at the edge of my seat. While not my favorite of the series (that honor goes to book two of the series), this book was still good and worth reading. After all, I couldn't just leave Dru as the only Porter whose story I didn't know!
13) Her One and Only by Becky Wade—In this conclusion to The Porter Family Series, Executive Protective Agent Dru takes on the job of protecting football player Gray Fowler. There is a web of intrigue, near misses at death, a stalker to be found, and serious relationship issues that stem from Gray's history of childhood abuse. Once again, not a book for the faint of heart, but a good one that kept me at the edge of my seat. While not my favorite of the series (that honor goes to book two of the series), this book was still good and worth reading. After all, I couldn't just leave Dru as the only Porter whose story I didn't know!
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