2014 Reading List

Please note many of the links below are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you purchase through them.

Also, please note … I’m terrible at updating this. But as best I can remember, these are the books I read in 2014. Not as many as in previous years but a lot more fiction than I usually read.

Non-Fiction

• The Millennials by Thom and Jess Rainer. {Excellent resource for teachers, pastors, youth leaders, and ministry workers. Detailed information on the older half of the millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 1991.}
• The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life by Warren, Amen, and Hyman. {I loved this book! Highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a practical and biblically-based plan for a healthier lifestyle.}
• How to Pray for Boys: A Mom’s Guide to Creating Scripture-Based Prayers for Her Sons by Brooke McGlothlin.
• How Not to Look OLD – 230 Tips and Tricks How to Look Younger for Ladies 40+ by Angela Moore. {Keepin’ it real here … I’m over forty and I could definitely use some tips and tricks. This book was an easy read and had simple and doable suggestions for hair, makeup, clothing, and more.}
• Balanced: Finding Center as a Work-at-Home Mom by Tricia Goyer. {Perfect blend of storytelling, practical application, and biblical truth. A must read for any mom who works at home, writer or not.} my Amazon review
• Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper.
• Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist.  {I read this book last year but I wanted to take some time to savor it. I think I loved it more the second time through.}
• Trafficked: My Story of Surviving, Escaping, and Transcending Abduction into Prostitution by Sophie Hayes. {Oh my word! This book is the heartbreaking account of a middle-class British girl who is taken into prostitution. There is a lot of language including the “f” word but the story is gripping … and shatters every stereotype about what trafficking looks like.}
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain.
• What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me? by David Platt.
• Simple Church by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger.
• Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup. {Because I like to read the book before I see the movie, I had to grab this one. Now my only fear is they will somehow diminish the beauty of this story on the big screen.}
• Christianish: What If We’re Not Really Following Jesus at All? by Mark Steele.
• Exploring Grace Together: 40 Devotionals for the Family by Jessica Thompson.
• Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman.
• Moms’ Night Out and Other Things I Miss: Devotions To Help You Survive by Kerri Pomarolli. {One of my sweet church friends gave me this in a care package when I got home from the hospital. I laughed and cried my way through it!}
• Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Sparkly, Safe Faith Is No Longer Enough by Kristen Welch. {Oh. My. Word. In 2013 Let Hope In was the book I said everyone needed to read … in 2014, it is Rhinestone Jesus. You can read my whole review here … but seriously, if you are only going to read one book other than the Bible in 2014, make it this one!}
• Pulling Back the Shades: Erotica, Intimacy, and the Longings of a Woman’s Heart by Dannah Gresh and Juli Slattery. {You can definitely expect to hear more about this book and this topic on my blog. I highly recommend reading Pulling Back the Shades if you have any questions about the consequences of “mommy porn” in the lives of women and its effect on marriages and relationships.}
• Plain Faith: A True Story of Tragedy, Loss and Leaving the Amish by Ora Jay and Irene Eash and Tricia Goyer. {I received a copy of this book from my friend Tricia Goyer. I absolutely loved it! If you have read her Big Sky series or the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors books, the Eash’s story will be familiar.  Plain Faith is a beautiful story of grace and faith and will be an encouragement to anyone who reads it. I shared a little about how it spoke to me in this post.}
• Join the Insanity: Crazy-Fun Life in the Pastors’ Wives Clubby Rhonda Rhea. {Rhonda is one of the most inspiring and energetic writers I know! And this book is no exception. Plus, I’m very honored to have been asked to contribute a portion of my story as a pastor’s wife for the chapter on his and hers burnout.}
• The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful by Myquillyn Smith. {A gift from the lovely Stacey Thacker when I had my heart attack, this book was just the reminder I needed that change is okay, perfection is overrated, and beauty is found in what we love.}
• Pinterest Savvy: Strategies, Plans, and Tips to Grow Your Business with Pinterestby Melissa Taylor.
• The No Brainer Wardrobe: Feel More Like Yourself by Hayley Morgan.
• 31 Days to Coming Alive by Jenn Hand.
• The Christian Writer’s Market Guide 2014 by Jerry B. Jenkins.
• Chai with Malachi (Coffee Cup Bible Studies) by Sandra Glahn.
• 31 Days of Forgiveness {through the eyes of grace} by Tracie Stier-Johnson.
• SOLO ESV: An Uncommon Devotional {LOVE this devotional! In fact, I will likely use it again in 2015.}
• Help Me, Jesus! I Have Nothing to Wear!: The Go-To Guide for All Shapes and Sizes by Shari Braendal.
• Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All by Karen Ehman. {I had the honor of writing an endorsement for this book and trust me — it is amazing!!}
• In This House, We Will Giggle: Making Virtues, Love, and Laughter a Daily Part of Your Family Life by Courtney DeFeo. {Court is one of the new friends I made in 2014 and this book is just like her — fun, godly, and encouraging!}
• A Loving Life: In a World of Broken Relationships by Paul Miller.
• A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller.
• The One Year Book of Amish Peace: Hearing God’s Voice in the Simple Things by Tricia Goyer.
• God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas {An annual read for me. LOVE it.}
• The Women of Christmas: Experience the Season Afresh with Elizabeth, Mary, and Anna by Liz Curtis Higgs. {This will be another annual Advent read.  SOOOOO good.}
• 12 Stories of Christmas by Robert Morgan.
• The Hour That Changes the World: A Practical Plan for Personal Prayer by Dick Eastman.
• A Mom After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George.
• 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth, M.D.
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp.
• Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmell.
• The Writing Life by Annie Dillard.
• Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews. {I. Loved. This. Book.}
• Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin. {One of the very best books I’ve read about how to study the Bible!}

Fiction

{This year I’m finding myself drawn to fiction … all kinds from long crime novels to humorous shorter books. Also, be aware not all of these are Christian fiction.}

• Mint Juleps and Justice (An Adams Grove Novel) by Nancy Naigle. {This was my FREE pre-release Kindle book for January. Just another benefit of Prime membership!}
• The Tenth Circle: A Novel by Jodi Picoult.
• Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) by Naigle {I enjoyed the free book so much I went ahead and bought this one and the rest of the Adams Grove series. Great marketing, Amazon! LOL}
• Out of Focus (An Adams Grove Novel) by Naigle. {Yep, another Adams Grove novel. Told you I liked them!}
• Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. {Had to read the book before I see the movie. Just the way I roll. Great story but there is a strong sexual component as the book is told from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy. Not graphic by any means but the narrator is definitely sorting through is own physical and hormonal changes as he tells the story.}
• Orphan Train: A Novel by Cristina Baker Kline. {I kept hearing about this book and finally decided I had to read it myself. So glad I did! Beautiful story and great characters with a solid historical base relating to the “orphan trains” in the United States.}
• Long Knives by Charles Rosenberg. {My free Kindle First book for February. I’m telling you, this is one of my favorite Amazon Prime perks! Anyway, a great mystery but as this is not Christian fiction, there is some language.}
• The Widow of Larkspur Inn (The Gresham Chronicles Book #1) by Lawana Blackwell.
• The Courtship of the Vicar’s Daughter (The Gresham Chronicles Book #2) by Lawana Blackwell.
• The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark (The Gresham Chronicles Book #3) by Lawana Blackwell.
• Jewel of Gresham Green, The (The Gresham Chronicles Book #4) by Lawana Blackwell.
• Home to Stay (An Anchor Island Novel) by Terri Osburn.
• Love Me If You Must (Patricia Amble Mystery Book #1) by Nicole Young. {I admit, I love mystery novels … so this series was a quick and fun read for me.}
• Kill Me If You Can (Patricia Amble Mystery Book #2) by Nicole Young.
• Kiss Me If You Dare (Patricia Amble Mystery Book #3) by Nicole Young.
• Capitol Offense: A Novel by William Berhnardt. {Scott found this one for me at the Dollar Tree. If you don’t check the books there, you should! We’ve found lots of great Christian nonfiction as well as biographies for just $1!}
• The Seventh Child by Erik Valuer. {Another Kindle First free pre-release book!}
• The Giver by Lois Lowry. {This Newberry Award winner came to my attention because my daughter and her BFF were discussing what they were reading in their 8th grade English class.  Since it was published after I finished college, I had missed it … but based on their interest in reading it and wanting to get the rest of the series to read this summer and the fact the movie based on the book will release in August of this year, I figured I’d better get it.  I wasn’t disappointed! And we’ve already ordered the rest of the books.}
• Chasing the Sun: A Novel by Natalia Sylvester.  {Read this one in less than 2 days while waiting on the girl’s cheer practice to end. A great storyline and characters … however, I admit the ending was a little predictable and trite. This was my Kindle First book for May.}
• Color Tour (A Ray Elkins Thriller) by Aaron Stander.
• Nora Roberts Landby Ava Miles.
• Noble Beginnings: A Jack Noble Thriller by L.T. Ryan.
• Supreme Justice by Max Allan Collins.
• Gathering Blue (The Giver Trilogy Book 2) by Lois Lowry.
• Messenger (The Giver Trilogy Book 3) by Lois Lowry.
• Son (The Giver Trilogy Book 4) by Lois Lowry.
• Up to the Challenge (An Anchor Island Novel) by Terri Osborn.
• Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes (An Adams Grove Novel) by Nancy Naigle.
• Hello Goodbye: A Novel by Emily Chenoweth.
• Louisiana Bigshot: A Humorous New Orleans Mystery by Julie Smith.
• Castle Cay (Julie O’Hara Mystery Series Book 1) by Lee Hanson.
• Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer.
• Almost Perfect (Dreaming of Roses Book 1) by Martha Rowe Sconnely.
• Hardly Perfect (Dreaming of Roses Book 2) by Martha Rowe Sconnely.
• More Than Perfect (Dreaming of Roses Book 3) by Martha Rowe Sconnely.
• When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
• The Promise Box (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Book 2) by Tricia Goyer.
• The Kissing Bridge (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Book 3) by Tricia Goyer.
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.
• Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight Book 1) by Marcia Clark. {Yes, the Marcia Clark of the O. J. Simpson trial.}
• A Simple Amish Christmas by Vanetta Chapman.
• Truth Be Told by Carol Cox.
• Undetected by Dee Henderson.
• Unspoken by Dee Henderson.
• Ruby – Sweet Montana Western Bride Romance  by Juliet James.
• A Family for Christmas by Mona Ingram.
• The Proposal by Martha Silver.
• Trouble in Store: A Novel by Carol Cox.
• The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate.
• Coming Home: A Story of Undying Hope by Karen Kingsbury. {Oh my gosh … if you love the Baxters, this one is a heart-breaker.  But so, so good.}
• All God’s Children (Peacemakers Book 1) by Anna Schmidt.

You may also want to look at my 2013 reading list and list of best books of 2013 by category.  I also recommend Sandra People’s reading list for other book ideas.