Favorite Nonfiction of 2024

Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. by Andrew T. Le Peau & Linda Doll

The history of evangelicalism cannot be understood apart from the authors and books that shaped it. Over the past century, leading figures such as pastor-scholar John Stott, apologist James W. Sire, evangelist Rebecca Manley Pippert and spiritual formation writer Eugene Peterson helped generations of readers to think more biblically and engage the world around them. For many who take their Christianity seriously, books that equip them for a life of faith have frequently come from one influential publisher: InterVarsity Press. Read my review.

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One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry

One Prayer Away invites you to begin in the brokenness and finish with more faith. Whether you are struggling or seeking, flying or failing—God is with you. You can trust Him to hold you through it all. He is right there, closer than you know, ready to hear from your heart. Read my review.

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Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe

Unlock your potential by cultivating self-awareness and curating a fulfilling life full of self-improvement, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset. Leadership expert and entrepreneur Dr. Josh Axe teaches 12 revolutionary mindshift transformations to beat the grind and reach the life you've always wanted. Redefine success and replace the limiting beliefs of yourself with the healthy mental toughness to think this, not that. Read my review.

Book Review: One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry

About the Book:

Find hope when you need it the most with reminders that God can bring you past your broken beginnings, through the messy middles, and into a faith-filled future.

This beautiful and inspiring 90-day devotional will show you that one prayer can change everything.

When you're at the edge of what your heart can handle. When you can't see the road ahead. When you wonder if the hurt is beyond healing. You need the kind hope and renewal that only God can give. Mercifully, it is only one prayer away.

One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry is for every moment in the messy middle of your life and will gently guide you along even when you don't know where to start or what to pray. Each day invites you to begin with your brokenness. To speak to God about what keeps you up at night. To know that in every single thing you carry today, you do not need to carry it alone. One Prayer Away includes:

• 90 meditations offering you hope and encouragement in Lauren's signature poetic style
• Prayers to receive for yourself or to pray for others
• Bible verses relevant to your needs each day, like hope, mercy, and surrender
• Inspirational quotes and soothing photography to create a place where your soul can rest

This beautiful devotional is a thoughtful gift for:

• A friend who needs encouragement in times of uncertainty, anxiety, loneliness, and loss
• Women's prayer groups or Bible studies
• Mother's Day, birthdays, or simply to say "I'm thinking of you"
• Any woman who desires to grow spiritually

One Prayer Away invites you to begin in the brokenness and finish with more faith. Whether you are struggling or seeking, flying or failing—God is with you. You can trust Him to hold you through it all. He is right there, closer than you know, ready to hear from your heart.

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My Thoughts:

One Prayer Away: Healing Words to Speak Over Your Day by Lauren Fortenberry has been a faithful companion to me over the past six months. I read the daily entries as a positive way to start off my day with comfort and encouragement. When I finished Day 90, I restarted the book, and it was well worth the second read.

The 90 daily readings in One Prayer Away were short. Each entry had a primary statement with encouragement and spiritual truths that supported the main idea. This was followed by a Scripture verse and a prayer. I found comfort in reading these thoughts and praying the provided prayer. Often, the book spoke to my situation with the encouragement I needed. Topics included: anxiety, overwhelm, strength, direction, healing, peace, and more.

 

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.

October 2024 Reading Recap & November 2024 TBR

 My October 2024 Reads: 

1. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Classic Tessa Afshar: witty, entertaining, and lots of spiritual themes. Read my review.


2. Tell Her Story by Nijay K. Gupta - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Academic in tone and thorough in research, the author illuminated the lives of women in the early Christian church. Read my review.


3. A Kingdom to Claim by Sian Ann Bessey - ⭐⭐⭐½ - More adventure than romance as a would-be couple seeks to help King Alfred regain the Saxon throne. Not bad, but I wouldn't reread it.

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Expected November 2024 Reads:

1. A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell - My local book club's November selection. Read my review from earlier this year.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll.

What will you read this month? 

September 2024 Reading Recap & October 2024 TBR

 My September 2024 Reads: 

Wow! I read more in September than any other month this year! Two were novellas and one was a nonfiction I'd been reading for months, but the others were full length novels. 

1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved this book... right up until I didn't. I knew the *thing* was coming, but I surely cried when it happened. An excellent debut novel. Review to come.


2. The One with the Kiss Cam - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Absolutely loved the romance in this one. Read my review. 


3. Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review available 10/08/24.


4. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A self-help read with lots to consider. Read my review.


5. To Catch a Coronet by Grace Hitchcock - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An average Regency romance that was a fun way to spend a few hours. Read my review.


6. Her Surprise Vacation Date by Liwen Y. Ho - ⭐⭐⭐½ - An easy, fun romcom with bookish vibes. 


7. The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker - ⭐⭐⭐½ - Review to come.


8. The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - A second chance romance set amid the Christmas season. Short enough to read in an afternoon, but also short on character depth and plot build up that the story needed.

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Expected October 2024 Reads:

1. The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese - My local book club's October selection.


2. The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - Can't wait for this one!
 
3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


5. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


6. Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2022 by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll.

What will you read this month? 

August 2024 Reading Recap & September 2024 TBR

 My August 2024 Reads: 

1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An all-around excellent novel and my local book club's August selection.


2. For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - A little of everything: sisterhood, time travel, drama, hope, and romance. - Read my review.


3. The Last Exchange by Charles Martin - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A gritty novel with a dedicated hero, truth bombs, and an intense plot that wouldn't let me go. - Read my review.


4. Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐ - A sweet Christmas story that suffered the typical constraints of the novella form. Review to come.

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Expected September 2024 Reads:

1. Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle - My local book club's September selection.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

July 2024 Reading Recap & August 2024 TBR

 My July 2024 Reads: 

1. Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Romance, romance, and romance! - Read my review.


2. The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A deep, probing novel about multigenerational relationships. Also, my local book club's July selection. We used it as an opportunity to discuss each person's heritage and bring/eat a favorite childhood food.


3. Treason Trail by Kit Hawthorne - ⭐⭐⭐½ - A shorter novel set a the end of America's War for Independence. I liked the characters and found the encryption/decoding element interesting. I enjoyed the story while I was reading it, but I don't think I would reread it.

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Expected August 2024 Reads:

1. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay - My local book club's August selection.
 
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst & the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team - Currently reading, but to meet my deadline, I've published this review based on what I've read so far.


4. One Prayer Away by Lauren Fortenberry - Currently reading.


5. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month? 

May 2024 Reading Recap & June 2024 TBR

 My May 2024 Reads: 

1. The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - My local book club's selection for May. I loved this book just as much the second time around. Read my original review here.


2. The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Review to come!

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Expected June 2024 Reads:

1. Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes.
 

2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


3. When the Ocean Roars by Charlsie Estess.


4. Think This Not That by Dr. Josh Axe - Currently reading.

What will you read this month?