There were so many wonderful books which came across my path in 2018. Some books had book launches and were seen all over social media. Others arrived quietly, unassuming but equally a good read. It has been hard to narrow it down to share just a few:

My grandchildren were the reason I eagerly read Brave Moms, Brave Kids by Lee Nienhuis. Our world is changing so rapidly and we as moms need to tend to our souls and be brave. We need to overcome fear by believing God. This book encourages us to be women who are filled with courage as we pray and train our children more effectively to do so for themselves. You can read my full review here.

In a perfect world, I would possess the power (aka – control) to keep my loved ones safe from all hurts and difficulties. But alas, we don’t live in a perfect world, nor am I a perfect woman. In her book, An Imperfect Woman, Kim Hyland reminds us that we are imperfect women held together by our perfect God, and in the light of His truth, our anxious minds can be stilled. You can read my full review here.

While I have read and loved her other books, Begin Again: The Brave Practice of Releasing Hurt & Receiving Rest by Leeana Tankersley is her best one yet. She shares the quote by St. Benedict, “Always we begin again.” The book is a beautiful call to each of us to cease striving and to surrender to the call of God in our lives, which is as unique and individual as we. You can read my full review here.

In Born to Wander, Michelle Van Loon brings the wonderful reminder that we are all pilgrim travelers, with a clear purpose, a secure identity, and a safe resting place in God. The book is beautifully written, explaining Jewish terms often hidden from those without a Jewish heritage, bringing the familiar stories of the the Israelites and their wilderness wanderings to life with new insights. You can read my full review here.

The one fiction book which I read this entire year:

The saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” But nothing could be further from the truth about The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers. The cover is stunningly beautiful and every word inside equally so. I am not much of a fiction reader and I will admit, I chose this book solely because of the cover. I admired the colors and the feel of the book in my hands. The story is riveting and kept me up long after I should have gone to bed. This was a story difficult to put down. You can read my full review here.

There were also some wonderful children’s books which I read and reviewed this year:

There is nothing quite as sweet as reading a bedtime story to a child. God Bless You & Good Night by Hannah C. Hall is a whimsical touch and feel story book, perfect for toddlers. It is a touch and feel book perfect for little fingers to explore various textures while listening to the story. The book is sure to become a favorite of both children and parents, and grandparents as well. You can read my full review here.

Having read Love Does and Everybody Always by Bob Goff, I was delighted to see he and his daughter had written Love Does For Kids. Bob Goff is a storyteller and kids will certainly enjoy the stories he tells in this book. He has taken stories told in his previous books and now told them for children ages approximately 6-12 years old. They are stories which will draw them in and help them to realize faith is simply lived out in our everyday world, wherever life may find us. You can read my full review here.

Tales of Buttercup Grove by Wendy Dunham and Michal Sparks is a delightful series of books for young readers. The characters are once again endearing. The group of animal friends will teach children the deep value of friendship and the encouragement which is found in friends. The series of four books makes a wonderful gift for any child. You can read my review of the first two books here and the last two books here.

There were many books for me to choose from as I read forty three in 2018. I tried to share ones in this post that hopefully would be different and enjoyed by all.

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Today I am joining … Books I Read in 2018 and Booknificent Thursday and Porch Stories and Let’s Have Coffee and Woman to Woman and Recharge Wednesday .