August Reading Wrap Up + Book Haul #2

This is something I thought would be fun to do. A bit of a haul on this blog. I have seen these floating around the inter webs and decided to give it ago. Today is a really small haul because I am on a book buying ban. I was a good girl this month and didn't buy anything. I did get three books from publishers that I am extremely excited about! Check out previous book haul. 

The Windfall by Diksha Basu, Soneela Nankani (Narrator)

For the past thirty years, Mr. and Mrs. Jha’s lives have been defined by cramped spaces, cut corners, gossipy neighbors, and the small dramas of stolen yoga pants and stale marriages. They thought they’d settled comfortably into their golden years, pleased with their son’s acceptance into an American business school. But then Mr. Jha comes into an enormous and unexpected sum of money, and moves his wife from their housing complex in East Delhi to the super-rich side of town, where he becomes eager to fit in as a man of status: skinny ties, hired guards, shoe-polishing machines, and all.

The move sets off a chain of events that rock their neighbors, their marriage, and their son, who is struggling to keep a lid on his romantic dilemmas and slipping grades, and brings unintended consequences, ultimately forcing the Jha family to reckon with what really matters.

Check out my review here. 

GodSpace by Keri Wyatt Kent

Think you don't have time or space for spiritual stuff? That intimacy with God is impossible?

Here's how-in the life you already live-you can make time and space for God.

GODSPACE offers seven practices that help busy Christians pay attention to God. They help us align our sometimes messy daily lives with our spirituality. And they strengthen our most important relationships, giving our lives meaning, significance, and purpose.

It's not holding a set of beliefs, reading the Bible, going to church, or even praying that determines how we connect with God. It's our pace of life. When we live hurried and distracted lives, we miss the chance to experience the intimacy we desire with God.

Experience God more deeply and live more joyfully by exploring these seven spiritual practices:

• Sabbath
• Hospitality
• Worship
• Simplicity
• Gratitude
• Generosity
• Critical thinking

With abundant wit, humorous anecdotes, and authentic sharing of her own joys and struggles, KERI WYATT KENT guides us toward a deeper and more meaningful faith in the midst of our overcrowded, cluttered lives. A lay pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, where she has been a member for thirty years, Kent is the author of eleven books. She speaks at events and retreats around the country.

Check out my review here. (posting in September) 

Good Night, I Love You by Jene' Ray Barranco

In the wake of her husband's sudden and unexpected death, Jene Barranco writes a stunning book of brutal honesty about overwhelming grief, grappling with being a single mother to three grieving teenagers, and how she overcame the deafening silence she felt at the center of her relationship with God. 

GOOD NIGHT, I LOVE YOU explores with raw and honest prose the author's journey as a widow and what she has learned about grief, marriage, parenting, faith, living life with purpose, and utter dependence on God.

 Here is a book that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child.

Check out my review here. (posting in September) 

The Happiness Prayer by Evan Moffic

At age 30 Evan Moffic became the leader of a large congregation. He had great success. But he couldn't find happiness. Then he found a 2000-year-old prayer. In it were hidden elements of Jewish wisdom. They became a part of his life and those of his congregation and transformed them and him.

What if we had a clear path to follow when life disappointed us? What if we had a time-tested guide for a life of deeper meaning and happiness? That is what Rabbi Moffic discovered in an ancient Jewish prayer.

Based on ten practices any person can follow, the prayer has helped thousands of people-couples, teenagers, empty nesters struggling with loss, divorce, and ruptured relationships-find renewed meaning and purpose in their lives.

Moffic discovered the power of the prayer when he was called to become the youngest rabbi to lead a large US synagogue at just thirty years of age. The prayer became his guidepost, providing him with the wisdom to lead beyond his years. By incorporating the power of this prayer into his life and using it to guide his congregation and community, he became known as "the smiling rabbi."

In the tradition of Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Evan Moffic opens up the Jewish wisdom tradition with insights for today. Drawing from interactions with thousands of congregants, as well as his own experience; relating stories of real people; providing accessible commentary from contemporary psychologists; and sprinkling in warm humor, this rabbi of a new generation reveals the means and meaning of joyous living that will appeal to everyone.

Check out my review here. (posting in September) 

Unshakeable Trust by Joyce Meyer

In her new book, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer explores a life lived in complete and total dependence on God. Drawing on her own experiences and inspiration from the Word of God, Joyce makes the case that in every area of your life--spiritually, relationally, emotionally, financially--you can trust that God has your very best in store. 

With each new chapter, Joyce unveils a sovereign and trustworthy God who longs to be in a relationship with his people, and inspires you to tear down the walls of self-reliance. This book will both equip and encourage, as you learn how to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." 

Regardless of your past pain, your present circumstances, or your future uncertainty, when you learn to trust God each day, you'll experience the joy-filled life Jesus came to give you. Others may have let you down . . . but God never will!

Check out my review here. (posting in September) 

Previously posted in August  on my blog in case you missed it: 

A wonderful book tour about a historical novel

An emotional middle-grade book. That is a must read.

One of my favorite books that I have ever read (spoilers)

A book that might have changed my mind about young adult literature.

A cute spin on Jane Austin

A book that I ranted about. Made me remember how far away I and young adult are traveling.

Book Review: You Wouldn't Want to be in the Great Fire of London!

Title: You Wouldn't Want to be in the Great Fire of London!

Author:  Jim Pipe, David Antram (Illustrator)

Page Count: 40 pages

Where I received: From the publisher

Actual Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This was an interesting little picture book to read. I have mixed views on it, because I am not sure how many children will really enjoy this one. It wasn't a bad picture book but the font made and intense graphics made it sort of a pain to read. I could see children with eye problems or attention problems struggling with this one.

It also is jam packed with a lot of history, maybe a little too much. There isn't much of a storyline, to really engage and keep young readers interested.

Overall it was a decent children's picture book.

Links to purchase: Amazon

Goodreads Description:

As if the plague wasn't bad enough, here comes the fiery antidote! As famous diary-keeper Samuel Pepys, you'll witness four days and four nights of fire and live to tell the tale. Find out how people lived in the London of 1666, how they coped in the aftermath and all importantly, whodunnit! - or at least who we think dunnit! 

"You Wouldn't Want To Be" is a constantly-growing library of exciting titles which transport the reader to the grisliest times and places in history. The first-person narrative approach puts the reader in the shoes of some of the most unfortunate people ever to have lived. Humorous cartoon-style illustrations bring the characters to life, while informative captions explain processes or chronological events. 

Book Review: Until You (Fall Away, #1.5)

Title: Until You (Fall Away, #1.5)

Author: Penelope Douglas

Page Count: 406 pages

Where I received: From the library

Actual Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

***This novel contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.

This is such a different book than I would normally never read, but sometimes you have to live outside of the box. You know when you do something that is really bad for you, but it feels good? That is this type of book. I won't say this is something I would read this book again or read anything in this genre again. This book is number 1.5 in the Fall Away series, which I haven't read it at all.

I believe in the genre like this male pov's are always better. This book was pretty amazing. The characters are multi-dimensional, the story line is solid and interesting.


“My name is Jared.
My name is Jared.
My name is Jared."

In this story, we follow two characters, Jared and Tatum. Who were best friends in the past, practically inseparable, but after one summer they drifted apart. So many things have seemed to have changed. He had hardened himself against all kinds of emotions. Pushed himself away from the one person who made him feel whole. So what does he do to her? He makes her life a living nightmare.

For the next couple of years, Jared spreads rumors and taunts her. It is really mean at times and quite cruel. He makes her cry in front of her peers. He causes her so much pain. She decides to go to France for her Junior year, which in turn shows Jared that he can't live without her. That his life can't be the same without her in it.

This is where the story gets extremely interesting.


Overall it was a pretty decent romance novel. 

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

***This novel contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+. 

Have you ever been so angry that hitting things felt good? Or so numb that you actually felt high? The past few years have been like that for me. Traveling between fury and indifference with no stops in between.

Some people hate me for it, while others are scared of me. But none of them can hurt me, because I don't care about anything or anyone.

Except Tatum.

I love her so much that I hate her. We used to be friends, but I found out that I couldn't trust her or anyone else.

So I hurt her. I pushed her away.

But I still need her. The sight of her centers me, and I can pool all of my anger into her. Engaging her, challenging her, bullying her...they are my food, my air, and the last part of me that feels anything human.

But she left. She went to France for a year, and came back a different girl.

Now, when I push, she pushes back.

Book Review: Kitty Hawk

Tittle: Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold

Author: Iain Reading

Page Count:

Where I received:

Actual Rating:

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska's inside passage and Canada's Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves as Kitty prepares for her next adventure - flying around the world!

Book Review: Girl, Interrupted ·

Hey, lovely readers, I am deciding to start a new series that really focuses on mental health. This can be fiction or non-fiction but it must be a positive outlook. There is way to much bad attitude about mental health. So this is going to. be a subarctic series potentially but I will get a better grasp of my schedule this weekend.  Read more posts from this series here. ( if not linked that means I have only done one of these in this series. 

When thinking about how to write this review it took me several hours to find the right words. This book really gave me a good look into personality disorders and how it can majorly mess up relationships. This book will leave you speechless. I regularly had to put down this book and cry for this women at times. She seemed so nice and being haunted by these demons really didn't every stop. 

Mental health hospitals are now picnic. It has always amazed me how we believe people can get better in those conditions. This was an interesting book because I had mixed feeling about it. I sort of liked the message but also disliked a lot of the practices by psychiatrists, but I have to remember this is an older. In 1967 most people thought mentally ill people should just be locked up. This young woman's story is quite inspiring though. They used progressive methods to help gain her sanity back. 

There was one line in this book that sparked some debate in my head. That line was, "“Was insanity just a matter of dropping the act?" Is mental illness just a person who doesn't wear a mask in front of people to hide or being secretive. Unfortunately, a lot of people in psych hospitals are on so many drugs they hand the cognitive function of a potato, that's a criticism of the system, not patient. 

I think keeping those things in mind, the main woman in this story Kaysen is so refreshing and interesting. I like that book was written from her perspective versus her therapist or psychologist giving a rather brief overview.  I also like that she had enough self-awareness to really get treatment. She knew she was losing her mid. That is something you don't see every day. 

I also love the real message in this book.They also weren't overly optimistic that they could actually help her. That personality disorders can't just go away. You do learn how to live and overcome them but every day is a battle.  For that, I believe all mentally ill people are very strong. 

When we first learn about Kaysen we realize that she's never matched up with societies views. She always had sort of strange obsessions and ideas about things. Through the book, we learn that there are a lot of red flags people missed.  She was obsessed with her body and at times seemed to lose her grip on reality vs. delusions. 

This book is very interesting and fast paced. Girl, Interrupted gets ups set over my lunch break. It was a harrowing tale of finding your self through the madness. This book has got to be the most brutally honest memoir I have read. She lets you in on the good, the bad, and the down right ugly. I think this book is also good because I feel like right now society has made mental illness cooler, so there are a lot of people clogging up the system that they desperately need. 

There are so many beautiful quotes in this book I loved. Below is a sampling of my current favorites: 

I told her once I wasn’t good at anything. She told me survival is a talent.

"They had a special language: regression, acting out, hostility, withdrawal, indulging in behavior. This last phrase could be attached to any activity and make it sound suspicious: indulging in eating behavior, talking behavior, writing behavior. In the outside world, people ate and talked and wrote, but nothing we did was simple."


“When you’re sad you need to hear your sorrow structured into sound."

I purchased this book from thrift books, I am really glad I did. I had picked up Girl, Interrupted about two years a go and it's been on my TBR for ages. I am glad to have finally gotten to it. I can't believe I  waited so long. 

What is a book that's been on your TBR pile for ages? Post your answers in the comment section below! 

Goodreads Description: 

In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years on the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele -- Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles -- as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.

Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery.(less)

Book Review: The Secret Life of Lilykins

Title: The Secret Life of Lilykins

Author: Max Goodman, Erik Mace (Illustrations) 

Page Count:

Where I received:

Actual Rating:

This is such a delightful little-illustrated children's books about cute cats.  

A really delightful illustrated children's book about a lovely cat called Lilykins who lives with her two human daddies and her older feline brother. 

Lilykins gets up to a lot of fun adventures. She's a cat with a big imagination. I found myself smiling at her antics and the sweet illustrations and soon Lilykins grew on my heart. 

The story itself is not badly written although due to some poor sentence placement and formatting I couldn't tell if the whole book was meant to rhyme or just some. I hope they tighten that up before publishing it. I'd buy this for my children or as a gift.

It has a lovely message about using the power of your imagination and with it being an all male couple also opens children up to LGBT family units. Lilykins won my heart paws down. 4 stars from this cat loving book lady!

The art in this book is really amazing. It is a gorgeous picture book with fun shapes and bright colors. Guaranteed to spark your child's imagination. 

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble



Goodreads Descriptions: 

On the surface, Lilykins lives the life of a typical house cat. But Lilykins has another life - a secret life - that transports her to a world of incredible adventures.

 "The Secret Life of Lilykins" is a story filled with animals, adventure and absurdity. But at its core, it's a story about the power of imagination.

Book Review: Jorie and the Magic Stones

Title: Jorie and the Magic Stones

Author: A.H. Richardson 

Page Count: 268 pages

Where I received: from author and publisher

Actual Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Such a sweet and endearing story. Jorie and the Magic Stones, tells the story of a nine-year-old girl who is being sent to live with her aunt who is aging. She lives in a big manor house with an almost endless pond. Which she finds quite interesting. The story is filled with adventure, magic, and tons of secrets.

There are many stories about the house and the people who have lived there in the past. She learns about her ancestor Maalog Doonan. Who is someone that interests her, it is almost like she is drawn to this person. She is determined to figure out the secrets of this person, and how it connects to her life.

She quickly makes friends with the neighbor boy, Rufus, and they try to discover the secrets of the book together, which leads them to the magical world of Cabrynthius. Jorie finds the three magical stones and saves the land from the evil dragon lord. Who just wants the stones and the magic, for himself. 

This book is such a fun middle-grade adventure. It is a simple story but told with such richness and depth. Youn readers will enjoy this, even if they can't digest really complex plots. This book had a lot of parallels with other child classics, which made this really fun to read. The characters are so interesting, there is a surprising amount of friendship displayed in this book. Which was really interesting. 

Overall this is a fun cute read for young children that love dragons, and all things magical. 

Disclaimer: I received a free physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

When Marjorie went to live with her frosty maiden aunt, she couldn't imagine the adventures she would have with dragons - good and bad - and all the strange creatures that live in a mysterious land beneath the Tarn. The spunky 9-year-old redhead forges an unlikely friendship with an insecure young boy named Rufus who lives with his crusty grandfather next door. When Jorie - for that is what she prefers to be called - finds a dusty ancient book about dragons, she learns four strange words that will send the two of them into a mysterious land beneath the Tarn, riddled with enchantment and danger. Hungry for adventure, the children take the plunge, quite literally, and find themselves in the magic land of Cabrynthius. Upon meeting the good dragon, the Great Grootmonya, Jorie and Rufus are given a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog - stones of enormous power - and return them to their rightful place in Cabrynthius. Their mission is neither easy nor safe, and is peppered with perils in the form of the evil black half-dragon who rules the shadowy side of the land. They have to deal with a wicked and greedy professor, the tragic daughter of the bad dragon, caves of fire, rocky mountainous climbs, and a deadly poisonous butterfly. Jorie must rely on her wits and courage to win the day? Can she do this? Can she find all three Stones? Can she save Rufus when disaster befalls him? Can she emerge victorious? She and Rufus have some hair-raising challenges, in which they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, bravery, and friendship.

Blog Tour & Review: Sacred Mundane

Title: Sacred Mundane

Author: Kari Patterson

Page Count: 224 pages

Where I received: Kregel Publishing

Actual Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Do you ever feel like you do the same thing every day? Does life ever feel mundane to you? Do you feel like you just are in going in an endless circle? Do you ever doubt God's plan in your life? Maybe what your ultimate purpose in this life is? 

This book is such a blessing for anyone who has had those thoughts. I sometimes feel like my routine is boring, or that I am simply not doing enough. This book taught me to meet God in the humdrum, ordinary moments of every day.

To be honest everyday life can become oh so very boring. Taking care of your family, working, going to school, or even housekeeping can become daunting and seem so overwhelming. Due to how time-consuming cleaning is, you can get depressed and let things slide. We all fall into these traps and loops of existence. 

I feel think this would be the perfect book for a mother, who doesn't have a ton of time but still needs encouragement about God's love. I also really think this would be a great book for small groups or a woman's study. The author is brutally honest and has offered such a blessing to her readers. She shares God's word, the biblical objectives and lessons she learned through the Word. This is a story of a journey she took to find God's love, and ultimately find out exactly who she is.  

This is a small book at just over 200 pages but feels like it has so many more words. It is jam packed with wonderful verses and life lessons. The perfect book to devour in a day, or savor for weeks at a time. 

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author and Kregel publishing. All opinions are my own. 

Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Goodreads Description:

What if the key to changing your life--and yourself--is already in your hand?

So many women struggle with what to do with their daily lives. They feel trapped in everyday drudgery and disappointment, in dull domestic duties, and in mundane jobs they despise. Where is the abundant, purposeful life they were promised?

Kari Patterson shows readers the truth: in each unremarkable life lies an opportunity to see, know, love, and be utterly transformed by a God who meets everyone right where they are. Instead of stepping away from real life to find God, Patterson equips women with a six-step practice to move further in and meet Him in the humdrum moments of everyday existence. And when a woman's inner being is truly changed by the sacred, everything in her world changes too--right down to tackling the dirty dishes.

Through entertaining narrative, candid real-life stories, Bible study, and practical instruction, Sacred Mundane guides individuals or small groups to discover the beautiful sacredness in the lives they already lead. Women who long to grow in God and make a real difference in the world--no matter how small--will reach eagerly for this book and the radical transformation it offers.

"Our daily routine, with its mundane tasks and mindless repetition, is ultimately an offering of worship to God. What a great truth from a great God!"

--Ann Byle, author of The Making of a Christian Bestseller and coauthor of Devotions for the Soul Surfer