Writing comes second only to my love for reading. Books are enchanting in their ability to transport us through time and space; there are worlds waiting within the pages of words written if we would only take the time to read them.

One of my favorite things to do is snuggle up on the couch or in my bed and get lost in a good book. I’m extending the invitation to you to fall in love with the art of reading by featuring one book on the first of each month that I have personally read and been impacted deeply by.

If you see one that you want to add to your reading list… yay! Just click on the name of the month and it will take you directly to Amazon where you can purchase the book! These are not affiliate links, I just want to give you easy access to some great reading.

So snuggle up in your favorite reading spot, and enjoy!

Xoxo,

December’s Book of the Month.

“The miracle happens in the breaking. I trace that cross on my wrist slow, outline the beams. It’s exactly the places of brokenness that let the need and power of the cross bleed through.”– Ann Voskamp; The Broken Way

You can find the full description of the book here on goodreads.

I absolutely love Ann Voskamp’s writing and her heart for Jesus, which is why two of her books, right in a row, are featured as a Book of the Month! I don’t know about you, friend, but I am a recovering perfectionist. I struggle to be vulnerable with my weaknesses and dropping my own standards of perfection rather than reaching for the arms of grace and trusting they’ll catch me. I believe this stems from a fear of broken things, especially when the broken thing is me. Ann Voskamp’s book, The Broken Way, is an upside-down, gracious, and powerful invitation to break open in the presence of Jesus in order to be made whole. Broken things are not to be feared, but to be welcomed and shared in community – koinonia – with those we love. When we bear our broken hearts for others to see, rather than hiding them away, we give Jesus the power to move through us and within us in order to welcome others into His arms of grace. Brokenness truly is the miracle: the breaking of perfection and the letting down of our walls in order to be fully seen, fully known, and fully beloved.

I can say with confidence that this has been my favorite book from 2020, so I would definitely encourage you to put this book on your reading list!

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November’s Book of the Month.

“The only real prayers are the ones mouthed with thankful lips. Because gratitude ushers into the other side of prayer, into the heart of the God-love, and all power to change the world, me, resides here in His love.” -Ann Voskamp; One Thousand Gifts

You can find the full description of the book here on goodreads.

I read One Thousand Gifts about a year ago, right around the time when I was feeling less than grateful for certain things in my life. I had no idea the positive, powerful impact it would have on my heart and my relationship with God. Ann Voskamp introduced me to eucharisteo; grace, thanksgiving, joy. Out of a grateful heart flows unimaginable grace and tangible joy and that is the truth Ann Voskamp writes throughout these pages. She taught me to look at my life through the eyes of grace, to count my blessings, and to always keep my eyes peeled for God’s wondrous gifts in the everyday moments. She taught me to take my weary and broken heart to the feet of my Heavenly Father who aches to bring beauty out of my ashes. One Thousand Gifts drew me closer to the heart of God and opened my eyes to His will for me to live with a thankful heart – an open heart ready to receive. Because from an open, thankful heart, a full, joyous life pours out. A life glorifying to the God who gives good gifts.

I would highly recommend putting this read at the top of your fall reading list!

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October’s Book of the Month.

“Time flew. And each ended the night full and happy with the rare glow that comes from knowing your very being has been understood by somebody else. And that there might just be someone out there, who will only ever see the best in you.” Jojo Moyes; The Giver of Stars

You can find the full description of the book here on goodreads.

The story is set in 1930’s Depression-era Kentucky in a small mining town. Alice Wright has ventured all the way from her home in England to live with her new handsome and wealthy American husband, Bennett Van Cleve. Outspoken and headstrong Alice soon feels very out of place in a society that has a knack for placing its suffocating limitations on women. So when a call to join Eleanor Roosevelt’s new Traveling Library, Alice jumps at the chance. She’s introduced to four other strong, progressive women who are determined to not allow modern-day society to place limits on what they can or cannot do. Together, they band together to show their small Kentucky mining town that women are capable of whatever they set their minds to. I am a sucker for strong female leads and this book did not disappoint! It is definitely one of my favorites from this year’s reading!

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September’s Book of the Month.

“Nothing haunts us more than our search for, finally, place. As it turns out, true belonging is found only in the sovereign palm of God… it’s only when we find our place in Him that we find rest.” -Beth Moore; Chasing Vines.

We are fruit bearers. Whether we bear rotten, stinky, sour fruit or sweet, delicious, juicy fruit; the way we live our lives produces fruit. I embarked on reading this book with a close friend of mine simply because I love books and I love Beth Moore! Little did I know how deeply Beth’s words would impact me in this season of my life. Beth unpacks the beauty of a grapevine through the lens of Heaven. She shows you what it looks like to live an immensely fruitful life through words of Scripture and that, in fact, it’s to God’s glory that we live abundant and fruitful lives! The secret? Remain in the One true Vine, and allow Him to grow your roots deep so your life may be full of all the wondrous blessings He aches to fill you with. God loves watching things grow, and Chasing Vines is a challenge to remain in the Vinedresser through every season of life and trust that through the waiting, through the pruning, and through the pain… God never wastes our efforts on this side of Heaven. And even when we can’t see the fruit forming, God is working.

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August’s Book of the Month.

“We waste a lot of time building an image we want the world to see instead of taking responsibility for breaking through the limits we create in our own heads and becoming who we were made to be.”
-Jordan Lee Dooley, Own Your Everyday.

Own Your Everyday is a call to the everyday woman to kill insecurity with kindness, crush jealousy with joy and to uncover the purpose inside of you that’s been there all along. While reading this book, I truly felt like Jordan became my new BFF… which is exactly the kind of conversational tone you’ll find throughout these pages. Her sound wisdom is laced with so much love as she encourages you to risk the safety of your comfort zone and step toward the woman you were created to be. Jordan’s honesty about her own struggles in life, marriage, and womanhood make her words stick to your soul and leave you wanting more! She provides truth in the form of Jesus while also sharing practical steps to overcome the obstacles in your life that may be holding you back from living your life to its fullest potential. Own Your Everyday meets you right where you are, but doesn’t leave you how it found you. It leaves you with a hunger to finally chase after the life you were meant to live; a life lived authentically, purposefully, and intentionally.

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July’s Book of the Month.

“If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: in love, we find out who we want to be; in war, we find out who we are.”
― Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale

The Nightingale is a riveting tale of two sisters navigating their way through German-occupied France at the height of World War II. At the beginning of this story, we find two sisters; divided by their differences in personality but tied together by their fierce desire to protect the people they love. One is marked by quiet strength – aching desperately to hold her family together – while the other will forever be remembered by risks taken in the name of freedom. Both women embark on a journey of a lifetime as war reveals a kind of strength they never knew they had and healing they never knew they needed. To date, this has become my favorite historical fiction book! Telling you I could not put it down would be an understatement. Kristin Hannah did a beautiful job at painting a pristine picture of what being a woman at the time of World War II must’ve been like. This tale will break your heart only to put it back together again. The Nightingale is now at the top of my list of favorites, and if you’re someone that loves historical fiction… you need to add this to your summer reading list!

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June’s Book of the Month.

What I’m finding to be most helpful more than any list, question, or sage advice is simply to get quiet in a room with Jesus on the regular, not for the sake of an answer but for the sake of love. – Emily P. Freeman; The Next Right Thing

I read ‘The Next Right Thing’ right in the middle of a difficult season of chaos and uncertainty. A season where decisions seemed overwhelming and anxiety sat at the door of my heart screaming to be let in. Emily P. Freeman’s gentle yet sound truths helped guide me to peace throughout the stress of quarantine life. She has created a simple but powerful masterpiece that aids in decision making by creating room for your soul to breathe. The Next Right Thing constantly reminded me that making the ‘right’ decision isn’t always the point… but that love is always found at the feet of Jesus amidst our tough decisions. Naming our stresses and our desires helps us take back our power as we submit them to the feet of Jesus and trust that His voice within us will be strong enough to do The Next Right Thing… in love. If you are someone facing a tough decision that needs to be made, or you have trouble making decisions at all, this ‘wrapped in beautiful grace’ kind of book is for you!

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