Top 10 Favorite Books of 2017

Hey everyone!! It’s been a long time. I took a long break to reevaluate my life in this blogging world. I have felt a little discouraged becuase I wish I had time to blog more, but after much thinking and even praying about it, I decided I still want to continue blogging the best I can which will be about 2 times a week! I love it and I love sharing the things I love with people! I don’t care about numbers, making big money or anything else. Just sharing my thoughts with people who want to read them! Today I am excited to share my favorite books with you all!

This last year I read a lot of books! Probably the most I ever have in a year! So today I thought I would share with you my top 10 favorite books of 2017!

This was a my favorite book of 2017. I read it for a homescool moms retreat for our book discussion day and I absolutely fell in love with it! I was worried when I started reading that it would just make me feel guilty for not having gone on any service missions, but in the end it helped me in so many ways in my life. As a mother, a wife, a member of a community, and most espeically being willing to help others around me! As much as I want to go to Uganda now and help people there, I can do so much in my own sphere in the USA, and be grateful for the things I have and share them with others!

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

The riveting account of a courageous eighteen-year-old from Nashville who gave up every comfort and convenience to become the adoptive mother to thirteen girls in Uganda.

This book came into my life at the perfect time! I very much needed to find peace in my homescoholing life, even after feeling good about homeschooling for the last 8 years. I just needed reassurance that it was still the right thing for our family and that I was the right teacher for my kids! This book is FILLED with so much goodness for any mama, especially any mama that needs to stress less and find more joy and rest in their homeschooling days!

Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home. Yet so many parents (mainly mothers) who have taken up this challenge find the enterprise often full of stress, worry, and anxiety. In this practical, faith-based, and inspirational book, Sarah Mackenzie addresses these questions directly, appealing to her own study of restful learning (scholé) and her struggle to bring restful learning to her (six) children.

I read this one a long time ago, but reread it this year after talking to a friend about it. This book taught me so much about trusting in God, forgivenss and helping others to see God’s love in their life. Corrie is an amazing example to me and will always be one of my heroes!

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker who became a heroine of the Resistance, a survivor of Hitler’s concentration camps, and one of the most remarkable evangelists of the twentieth century. In World War II she and her family risked their lives to help Jews and underground workers escape from the Nazis, and for their work they were tested in the infamous Nazi death camps. Only Corrie among her family survived to tell the story of how faith ultimately triumphs over evil.Here is the riveting account of how Corrie and her family were able to save many of God’s chosen people.

I just finished listening to this book with my kids so that we could go see the movie and both were wonderful! This book is a must read for everyone. It teaches love and kindness towards all! The movie was very well done also, but I would read the book first if I were you!

Wonder by J. Palacio

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

This book was a fun read! If you just need a good romance that is clean and fun this is the book for you. I blogged more aboutthis book HERE.

Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright

Ever since Emma Pierce read Pride and Prejudice, she’s been in love with Mr. Darcy and has regarded Jane Austen as the expert on all things romantic. So when it turns out that what her boyfriend Blake wants is more of a hook-up than a honeymoon, Emma is hurt, betrayed, and furious. She throws herself deeper into her work as CMO of Kinetics, only to find her job threatened when her boss brings in a consultant to help her expand the business to the East Coast. Her frustration turns to shock when that consultant turns out to be Blake’s younger brother, Lucas.

Emma is determined not to fall for Lucas, but as she gets to know him, she realizes that Lucas is nothing like his brother. He is kind and attentive and spends his time and money caring for the less fortunate. But as perfect as Lucas seems, he clearly has his secrets. After all, there’s an angry woman demanding money from him and a little girl who Lucas feels responsible for.

Realizing that her love life is as complicated as anything Jane Austen could have dreamed up, Emma must figure out the truth—and soon—if she wants any hope of writing her own “happily ever after” ending.

Shadow Mountain came out with two wonderful Historical Proper Romances this year that were wonderful. I wrote a review on my I loved this book HERE.

All That Makes Life Bright: The Life and Love of Harriet Beecher Stowe (Proper Romance Historical) by Josi S. Kilpack

When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled romance, eventually a family, and continued opportunities to develop as a writer. Her husband Calvin is completely supportive and said she must be a literary woman. Harriet’s sister, Catharine, worries she will lose her identity in marriage, but she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. Deeply religious, she strongly believes God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer and will help her accomplish everything she was born to do.

The things I love most about this book was the setting in Canada. I acutally looked up Port Dover Ontario after reading this sweet story. You can read why I loved this book HERE.

The Song of Copper Creek by Kristen Mckendry

Copper Creek Farm is part of a Canadian historical museum, offering glimpses into nineteenth-century pioneer life. Yet the farm offers much more than that—it is a place of second chances. For Grace, the opportunity to work the land alongside the loving Whelan family is the first step toward healing. But she isn’t the only broken soul seeking hope on the farm. Grace is joined by a young man in trouble with the law, as well as the Whelans’ son and grandchildren, who are struggling through their own heartbreak. Together, these survivors discover the strength that can be found in friendship. But when faced with the uncertainty of the future, will they have the courage to move beyond the past to forge new lives for themselves?

I listened to this book on Deseret Bookshelf. Sister Marriot was the reader and was amazing, plus I love her southern accent! I loved listening to her story about finding the church, seeking Jesus, and shifting her whole religious paradigm! She is an amazing woman and great example to me in my life!

Seek This Jesus by Neill Marriott

Neill Marriott was raised in the Deep South of the United States and grew up an active member of her Methodist congregation. As a young girl, Neill developed a strong faith and desire to seek Jesus, and a foundation for the rest of her life was set. When she was introduced to the Church in college, her religious paradigm started to shift.

In Seek this Jesus, Neill Marriott shares her unique conversion story and how she learned to give her heart to Jesus, find strength in Him, and follow Him despite life’s hardships. Told with her characteristic Southern charm, you can’t help but feel as though you are settling down in an airy sitting room surrounded by magnolias and chatting with an old friend.

We all need to read a good parenting book every year and this one was wonderful. It doesn’t make you feel guilting for not being the perfect mom, it did exactly what the title says and helps you to know that you are the mother your children need!

You Are the Mother Your Children Need by Christie Gardiner

The woman you want to be . . . the one who has within her every talent, gift, and ability to be what her children need? She’s already there. She is you.

Motherhood is the toughest job you’ll ever take on: there is no interview, no job description, and no salary. When you get the position, it can be all too easy to feel under qualified and overwhelmed. But with a sweet message of encouragement, Christie Gardiner reminds women there are as many ways to be a good mother as there are mothers in this world—and there’s no one more capable of raising your children than you!

In this uplifting book, mothers are encouraged to let go of the quest for perfection and recognize the divinity within. Learn to own your strengths and weaknesses, and allow your true self to shine! With practical advice on learning to accept failure, hold on to your identity, and harness the divine help available to mothers, women will gain the confidence to embrace their uniquely perfect qualifications for the job of motherhood.

Our family has become big fans of Hank Smith! His book Be Happy is a great book about choosing happiness in this life. I wrote more about this book HERE.

Be Happy: Simple Secrets to a Happier Life by Hank Smith

You can be happy—solidly, genuinely happy—no matter what’s going on around you, no matter what happens to you, no matter what storm comes along to batter and bruise you.

Keep reading, and I’ll show you how . . .

Face it: it’s not always easy to feel happy. With all of the worries and trials of day-to-day life, the cares of the world can seem overwhelming. But as popular speaker and author Hank Smith demonstrates, no matter your circumstances, you can be happy—the kind of happy that illuminates you from the inside out, a joy that does not depend on what happens to you but on what you do with what happens. With his characteristic humor, Hank offers readers a fresh perspective on finding joy in the journey with a collection of tools and strategies designed to inspire genuine happiness, such as: • Learning to develop an optimistic outlook

• Understanding how to deal with feelings of depression<

• Mastering ten simple tricks to jump-start your joy each day

Featuring an inspiring collection of real-life examples, enlightening doctrinal direction, and motivating goals, Be Happy is the guide you need to start living a happier life, today!

Books on My List for 2018

Here are some books that are on my list for this year! They come highly recommend from friends and family!! I can’t wait to share my thoughts about them with you!! Hopefully they will be on my favorite books list for 2018!