In the Storm

60 New Books in 2015.

My read more new books in 2015 project continues with a couple of good reads. After watching the movie War Room and completing the Bible study, The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer it wasn't surprising that I'd pick up her book, Fervant that basically accompanies the study and compliments the movie. I loved the book!

I also read the autobiography by Gretchen Carlson, Getting Real. I haven't read an autobiography in along time (I think the last one was by Billy Graham) and I find them intriguing. That said, I'm not sure I liked hers. It wasn't bad and she talked about some interesting things but Getting Real for a title would say to me that the good and the bad would be 'revealed' and unless she had such a sugar-coated life as read in her book I'm not sure she really got real with the audience. I think she was transparent in some parts but there seem to be some things, maybe, left out.

The life-changing magic of tidying up. Putting the condescending attitude aside, attributed most-probably to her heritage, and tucking unrealistic visions into the far-reaches of the attic, I did like the book. It wasn't life-changing. Nor magical. I did, however, immediately purge my side of the closet of clothes and my costume jewelry. One note: if one lives with those with any degree of hoarding and they have no desire to purge and simplify what should be done? Does the author just assume that someone will disregard the wishes of another, like the she did with her family, and purge and simplify and tidy up for them? I think not! This is not going to happen! While I do not like the amount of 'stuff' we have I am not going to force my family to purge, simplify, or 'tidy up'. All that said, there are some good points in there. Loved how to fold things for drawers...

30, I mean 60, new books in 2015.

Remember this.

Well, I've upped the game.

I'm reading 60 New Books in 2015. 

I've read 42 New Books so far this year. Only 18 to finish. I've got a stack of library books and books I've already purchased, and another very long list of books I want to read. 

Commitment. Discipline. Reading. I can do this.

These are my latest reads. By far An Officer and a Spy was my favorite!

An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris. Historical fiction and amazing! Both in the same sentence and both, so true, regarding An Officer and a Spy. Based intimately on Frances' infamous Dreyfus Affair of the early 1900's, I was captivated in the first chapter, the first pages no less and every page thereafter. While I don't have a stack of historical fiction to bank my review I would definitely put this novel in the stack with which to say, "this is historical fiction at its best!"

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. This book was good. It was guirky and fun! I believe there is a sequel but I won't be reading it. I appreciate the ending to this book and wouldn't care to tackle Don and Rosie's 'married life' and there was enough within the Rosie Project that ircked I wouldn't deliberately pick up another book of the same.

Glory Days by Max Lucado. Uniquely Max Lucado. Pure goodness. I enjoyed plowing through the book of Joshua, solid scripture-based reading, as Max measured our Christian life journey against the Israelite's own to the Promised Land. Max writes to uplift, teach, and empower us to live the life God wants us to live.

All Necessary Force by Brad Taylor. This is the second in the Pike Logan character series. I read the first and didn't like the character Pike Logan or the special operations community Taylor tried to build surrounding Logan. Not impressed with the first book and gave this second book a chance to see if it improved, and disliked it even more. Pike Logan doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities for me to grip on to (unlike Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series which is totally worth my time, holds my attention, with gripping story lines).

30 New Books in 2015.

I have completed my 30 New Books in 2015 project and decided I needed to just continue the project by raising my goal to 60 New Books in 2015. Vince Flynn's novels, having read through all of them, took me over the thirty mark and I still had a stack of books on my bookshelf, including J.D. Robb's latest In Death yet to read. 

Lack of time most recently has left me reading-less but with no looming big projects on the horizon I plan on tackling my stack of books and even head to the library choosing a few that are on my running reading list that I keep in my purse.

I can't say enough about the Vince Flynn Mitch Rapp series and while a couple left me wanting more I came across a favorite:

 

Consent to Kill is undoubtedly my favorite of all Vince Flynn's novels although Term Limits, which I'd read a couple months ago comes in a close second. I am interesting to see what happens to Flynn's Mitch Rapp series in the hands of the new author after the death of Flynn.

And then there is J.D. Robb's latest, Devoted in Death. She just never misses. I would be ever-so-happy for Robb to never finish this series. They are just that good.

So, here continues my 30 60 New Books in 2015 project. 

30 New Books in 2015 | july

I have read a lot this month. All this reading has brought me only one book shy of reaching my goal of 30 New Books in 2015 with have a year to go. What to do? Anything would be on the plus side and with several more Vince Flynn novels and a new J.D. Robb out in September and quite a few Christian non-fiction books I have my eye on I think I'll try for 60 New Books in 2015 and see how far I get. Like I said anything beyond 30 is golden. But for now, these are my latest reads:

The Third Option by Vince Flynn - All of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novel's are being re-published and I've been reading them in order, many of which I've never read before. And I'm lovin' every minute of it. Pretty fast reads but enough intrigue and action to hold my attention, the Third Option was very good.

Separation of Power by Vince Flynn - Good, but definitely not my favorite of the several I've read.

Executive Power by Vince Flynn. Another good one, but still not my favorite. Some really good action parts, and while not my favorite I have to say I really like how Vince write's military, counterintelligence intrigue.

The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor. Technically, this is not a new read but it has been years since I've read it and I'd forgotten every bit of it. Not that it wasn't interesting, just that it's been so long ago. Brad Thor novels are on hold now until I read all the Vince Flynn's.

You'll Get Through This by Max Lucado. The only non-fiction in the bunch this month, even though I have one 'on my nightstand' so to speak, or more accurately, 'in my workbag'. A must read for anyone who has taken in their mother-in-law to come and live with them when you don't really know them very well. Life-changing and applicable book for my situation, right now.

30 New Books in 2015 | june

The year is not even half gone and I only need to read 6, count 'em 6, more books to reach my goal of 30 New Books in 2015. The month of June helped tremendously to fill some squares as I veraciously, well - veracious for me anyways, read five books this month. Yesterday, my plan was to come home and create this post having only read 4 books and I was so good with that, but, little did I know when I slid Max Lucado's latest nugget of gold, Before Amen, into my giant work bag, that I would be able to read the entire book, while at work, after spending hours of my time on Bible study as well.

True, it helps to have a job watching the weather. And today just happened to be a day of near clear skies, blistering heat, and only one weather observation an hour required. Granted, days like these are few and far between but today was one of them and I was blessed beyond.

Interrupted by Jen Hatmacker. Amazing, amazing, amazing. One of my all time favorite non-fiction books, easily! I'd already read her 7 bestseller and loved it but this book is over the top. All I can say is what God does when we are obedient is out of this world is mind-blowing!

Term Limits by Vince Flynn. His first novel just rocked! I can't believe I didn't know that he had died from cancer in 2013. I was shocked and so very saddened. Intelligence intrigue slash darn good story line slash throw in counterintelligence brilliance and I'm there every time.

Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn. In his second novel, he wrote about something with an all-to-imaginable possibility of happening in real life. Good, good book.

The Princess Bride, an S. Morgenstern classic tale (abridged) by William Goldman. This is the book the critically acclaimed movie was based on. I read this aloud to John and Jarrod as one of the books we are reading for their senior year of high school. So much fun, especially if you've seen and adore the movie!

Before Amen by Max Lucado. This book will change your prayer life.

Yesterday, I picked up Vince Flynn's third book, The Third Option, so I'll probably read that in June, as well.

30 New Books in 2015 | may

What is becoming an annual project, as this is my second year completing this project and I am more than half way through, I have only read three books lately: The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner, Uncommon Marriage Adventure by the Dungy's, and The Return of the King by J.R. Tolkien.

The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner was very good. While it is closer to a self-help book than a spiritually-derived book I fully enjoyed it because I could see Jessica's faith and spirituality weaved throughout the book and kept wanting to cheer on, or give a high five to the concepts. But, even more so I found tons of take-aways.

Uncommon Marriage Adventure by Tony and Lauren Dungy. More a devotional for a married couple I found it an easy read and it too had some take-away infused into it that I would definitely recommend to any married couple.

The Return of the King by J.R. Tolkien. Oh my!!! The third book in our year-long read-a-loud adventure of the Lord of the Ring Trilogy and I am in awe. Our literature curriculum from the Homeschool Scholar is the Literary Lessons of the Lord of the Rings and we are done! John and Jarrod still have a few more assignments associated with the curriculum but overall we are finished.

I continue to love this project and reading new books. I found I am drawn lately to non-fiction unless I am reading aloud to the boys. We decided that I would continue to read aloud, but what to read next... 

30 New Books in 2015 | April

I am continuing with my year-long project of reading 30 New Books in 2015. I read 30 New Books in 2014, a huge success for me since I'd gotten into a rut of simply re-reading books I have on hand and not venturing into new territory. I decided I needed to change that habit. When I completed last years challenge successfully it seemed only natural to continue this year with another challenge. While I didn't change the amount of books to read, I still consider this to be a hefty challenge for me to achieve.

Thus far, I'm doing just fine.

GO Me!

Recently, I've read some amazing reads that I will return to again and again. First up is:

Love Does by Bob Goff. A super easy read because each chapter is like little true stories of how Love Does weaved into each tale. A couple things I didn't agree with, like not studying the Bible, rather he calls it Bible Do, and while I get that, not everything regarding Bible study has application so I fear just hitting the parts of the Bible where it requires action seems to me one can miss the whole Word of God. That being said, this is an amazing book of Love in action - Love Does.

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. Can I say, oh my!? This book is so FULL of my heart, everything about it that is wrong, that is right, where I need healing, where I'm doing ok. I can see me carrying this book around for a long time re-reading it's fullness of goodness. I'm not sure how to describe how it has touched my heart. I'm also not sure if a chapter has gone by that I haven't cried because it has impacted me so fully.

Satisfied by Jeff Manion.  Super easy read but plenty of action items I can incorporate into my life. I don't often struggle with discontent but these past months I have tremendously - living in frustration and sadness and discontentment and mad. I know some changes need to happen and hopefully I can make some of those changes impact my attitude.

Me Before You. Waste of my time! Don't even remember who wrote it...Jo somebody or another.

30 new books in 2015 | march.

 

I am continuing my project of reading 30 new books in 2015. So far, I am fairly pleased with my progress. It is only the month of March and I have already read 12 new books. Granted one of those books is an entertainment book plus cookbook, Around the Table by Martina McBride, but it is well-worth the read. And, too, one of those books is a phenomenal book on documenting life by Ali Edwards called Life Artist - such good reading and reflection, cover to cover. 

Obsession in Death by J.D. Robb. The latest in Robb's In Death series starring Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her hunky and gazillionaire husband, Roarke plus amazing supporting casts. Of course, the book did not disappoint. After so many offerings from Robb in this series one might become bored. But NOT ME! Love everyone of them.

Unbroken by Laura Hildabrand. Oh my! Amazing book not just defined by the life of Olympian and more importantly WWII POW and veteran Louis Zamperini, but also by the unbridled, passion of the authors prose, Hildabrand. Such a good book!

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. My most recent read and one, once I got through the first couple chapters I couldn't put down. It is a hard, moving novel most definitely about how life can just throw curve ball after curve ball. And even more how good people can just make bad decisions and the consequences to their actions can be far-reaching. One of the best quotes in the book, "Sometimes life turns out hard, Isabel. Sometimes it just bites right through you. And sometimes when you think it's done its worst it comes back and takes another bite."

I have two books 'on my nightstand' right now and hope to begin one of those today - if the weather holds and I'm not too busy at work. Because lately that is where I've done most of my reading - at work, and waiting rooms.

30 new books in 2015 | february.

While I wouldn't call myself a voracious reader by any stretch of the truth, I have begun to enjoy immensely, finding new books to read as I continue my pursuit of reading 30 new books in 2015. My latest reads come from far-reaching genres that could make one curious what really is my favorite type of book to read as there is no similarity with my reading.

24/6 by Matthew Sleeth. All I can say is wonderful. Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy. Oh how we have forgotten that instruction given to us by God. I don't want to forget.

Around the Table by Martina McBride. Yep, the country singer. This is more than a cookbook, but a way to celebrate in a number of ways around the table. It wasn't the recipes I ended up enjoying but Martina's stories and writing.

The Two Towers by J.R. Tolkien. The boys and I are reading this collection for their British Literature course and we have loved every minute.

Life artist by Ali Edwards. When I first picked up this book, many years ago, I bought it for the ideas - the pictures. But, recently I picked it up off my shelf and read it for the words. I enjoyed this immensely.

30 new books in 2015 | january.

One of my big projects for the year is read 30 new books. It was such a huge success last year, and after receiving a Kindle Fire for Christmas, how could I not start over in 2015. Thirty new books may not seem like a lot to verocious readers but for me, who likes to re-read books, in particular series' of books, such as J.D. Robb's In Death series, thirty new books is a challenge. I came in just over the wire in 2014 so I knew 30 new books it would have to be for 2015, rather than increase the amount.

I'm off to a fine start:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I know. Really, I've never read it. And I can't believe how I was missing out. Simply amazing. Full of humor and fun and playfulness and I just loved it.

The Best Yes by Lysa Terkhurst. Spiritually based, but inspiring and so well-written I will be going back to this book as more a reference, self-help to those time when I need to know whether to say Yes or No.

Hazardous Duty by W.E.B. Griffin. A Presidential Agent novel (and I'm betting the last) as this was a slap-stick novel, in line with the silliness and craziness of M*A*S*H. Lots of 'returning to previous novels for an update' which is great if you hadn't already read the series but gets tiring after awhile. The would-be story line is acceptable if the presidents agent would ever get to the heart of the mission but I think that was the point of the novel - doing everything possible not to complete the mission - in the most round about way possible. Did I like the book? Sort of. It definitely was a slap-stick novel with similarities to M*A*S*H. Would I have preferred an actual Presidential Agent storyline? Definitely - because I like the character and his gang of Merry Men.

It's Not About Me by Max Lucado. Typical Max book. But, still very good.