December 2022 Reading Recap & January 2023 TBR

My December 2022 Reads: 

Christmas break provided me with extra reading time and I'm thankful for it. 😊 I managed to complete my 2022 Goodreads challenge of reading 75 books this year. In a few days, I'll be posting my lists of favorite reads.

1. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Suncoast Empire: Bertha Honore Palmer, Her Family, and the Rise of Sarasota by Frank A. Cassell - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


4. A Life Renewed by Olivia Rae - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 1/12/23.


5. In Love's Time by Kate Breslin  - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


6. Entertaining Angels: True Stories and Art Inspired by Divine Encounters by Anne Neilson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph with a gender-swapped, fantasy setting. Interesting, with some really good spiritual truths.


8. Just Enough Luck by Aspen Hadley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - My favorite of The Drake Duology. Fun to read once.


9. Just Enough Magic by Aspen Hadley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 


10. A Winter at the White Queen by Denise Weimer - ⭐⭐ - Though I received a finished copy, the novella held a weak story and errors in spelling and grammar (particularly in the first few chapters).

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Expected January 2023 Reads:

Looking at this list, it looks like I'll be adding lots of poetry to my reading. 👍

1. Everything is Just Beginning by Erin Bartels.


2. The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz. - Laura is one of my favorite authors and I'm looking forward to this one!


3. Peace in the Midst of the Storm by Kaleb Thompson. - Inspirational poetry!


4. Walking with my Angel by Adam Scott Campbell.


5. Poems by C. S. Lewis. - Currently reading.


6. Woman of God by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - Currently reading.


7. Endless Grace by Dan Wilt and Ryan Smith. - Prayers inspired by Psalms 76-150.

What will you read this month?

Book Review: Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson

About the Book:

Shaping the hearts, minds, and souls of your children starts with your words.

As a parent, your heart's desire is to guide your children to love and follow God. Yet so many voices are offering help and advice. Whose voice should shape your children?

Sally and Clay Clarkson suggest the answer is as simple as it is powerful: yours. They will show you how to use your own words to shape your child's life for Christ.

The biblical principles and wisdom they offer, drawn from their years of raising four children and mentoring parents worldwide, will equip you as a word-giving parent.

Start here to gain confidence to personally and intentionally cultivate a verbal home, one filled with words of faith formation and spiritual nurture.

Then, when your children "take your words for it," they will hear God's voice.

Read an excerpt from Giving Your Words on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

I rarely read parenting books, but I love reading Sally Clarkson’s books and thoughts on parenting. Having enjoyed The Lifegiving Home and Awaking Wonder, I had high expectations for Sally and Clay’s new book, Giving Your Words: The Lifegiving Power of a Verbal Home for Family Faith Formation. I felt less engaged with this book than Sally’s prior books, but I still found it inspirational. I love that her mothering style is based on loving well and serving her children, rather than simple behavior modification and heavy-handed parental discipline.

Giving Your Words encourages parents to use their words in affirmative ways that create a healthy environment for personal and spiritual growth. The Clarksons go beyond positive speaking to explicate how creating a verbal home can lay the foundation for a child’s faith. While I did get a bit of the “do this and your child will turn out right” vibe, Sally and Clay have four well-rounded, accomplished children that bear witness to their methods.

My upbringing was vastly different from the ethos that Sally and Clay created for their children, but the Clarksons make creating a verbal home seem possible even for someone raised in a less ideal environment. The book’s guidance relies heavily on a traditional family of father, mother, and children. It needed another chapter addressing alternative situations such a spouse that doesn’t share the same family vision or co-parenting with an ex-spouse. Overall, Giving Your Words inspires and encourages parents to mindfully create a home atmosphere that nurtures spiritual growth for children. Four stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

November 2022 Reading Recap and December 2022 TBR

My November 2022 Reads: 

1. The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. The Brilliance of Stars by J'nell Ciesielski - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


4. The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.

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Expected December 2022 Reads:

Since I'm a bit late posting this reading recap, it turns out I've already finished two books on this list, but I'm putting them here anyway. Can you guess which ones? 😉

1. In Love's Time by Kate Breslin. - My first novel by an author that's been on my radar for a long time.


2. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes. 


3. Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson - Currently reading!


4. Walking with my Angel by Adam Scott Campbell.


5. Suncoast Empire: Bertha Honore Palmer, Her Family, and the Rise of Sarasota by Frank A. Cassell - Still on my TBR after several months! 🤣


6.  Entertaining Angels: True Stories and Art Inspired by Divine Encounters by Anne Neilson.

What will you read this month?

My October 2022 Reads and November 2022 TBR

My October 2022 Reads: 

1. Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Life After by Katie Ganshert - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A deep story about survivor guilt, PTSD, and healing. Hard to read, but worth it.


3. Embracing Advent by Jen Ludwig - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


4. Meeting Jesus in the Holy Land  by Ignatius Fernandez - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review.

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Expected November 2022 Reads:

This month I'll be attending The Art of Writing Conference and Christy Award Gala in Nashville, TN. Between the airport waits and the flight times, I'm hoping to work in some extra reading time. After all, what's a bookish adventure without some good reads? 😉

1. The Brilliance of Stars by J'nell Ciesielski. - Just released on 11/01/2022!


2. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes.


3. Giving Your Words by Sally and Clay Clarkson - Sally is one of my favorite authors on parenting/homeschooling!


4. The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen.


5. Walking with my Angel by Adam Scott Campbell.


6. Suncoast Empire: Bertha Honore Palmer, Her Family, and the Rise of Sarasota by Frank A. Cassell - This has been on my TBR for several months and I'm not sure if I'll get to read it this month, but I'm keeping it on the list anyway.


7.  The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano. 

What will you read this month?