my favourite reads 2016

Extremely random....but extremely important: the best of all the books I read in 2016!!!

It was a wonderful reading year.

I got in a LOT of reading the first half while we were driving from our old home to our new with a van packed full of belongings and siblings...my reading definitely dropped the second half of the year because of my job and the amazing outdoors which does actually trump books (shocking, I know!).

so here they are...

I found some pretty life-changing books in 2016...

Colors of Goodbye

I Don't Wait Anymore

Hunting Hope

Hope Heals

It Was Beautiful

....as well as some other great ones....

Strong and Kind

20 Things We'd Tell our Twenty-Something Selves

If My Husband Would Change, I'd be Happy

Tying the Knot

One Minute After You Die

...and some autobiographies...

Unbroken (again)

Swimming with Faith

Young and Beardless

The Good, The Bad and the Grace of God

not to forget some awesome fiction...

The Perilous Gard

The Sherwood Ring

The Last Ride

Shades of Gray

The Book Thief (again)

From Anna

The House on the Hill

A couple lovely editions of the Bible

an impressive photography book

and because it's adorable:

I Love You Just Because (get this book. you will cry. the illustrations are that sweet)

             

My top 14 reads from 2014!

It is now time for me to share with you the top 14 books of 2014! Although I kept an organized list of all the books I completed during the year, and even highlighted my favourites from each month, it was very difficult to come up with just 14 favourites.

So I didn't. 

But I'm calling it the top 14 of the year.

Rules: All these books were NEW reads for me! 

Because I read so few rereads this year (sadly enough),
 I was able to tack them on at the end of the list.
As a bonus.
You're welcome.
Oh, and for those of you who don't know me, I assure you I am not boasting concerning what I've read and such.
If I wanted to boast, it would be about the fact that I remembered every author from my very own noggin without having to look them up. But I didn't remember every author so that would have to categorize as only half true.

Reading isn't too super-heroic for me and my kin (who all read constantly even before we had mastered the English language-or any language for that matter).
It's putting what I read into practice that's special.

Starting with fiction...
No. Starting with non-fiction:
They are in chronological (as read) order...

Six Days- Ken Ham

Apologetics
Read it!

Hitler's Cross- Erwin Lutzer

1940 history
Hitler's belief system
Read it!

Prophet on the Run- Baroz

Excellent study of the book of Jonah

Choosing Gratitude- Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Life-changing devotional-style book. Not just for ladies, guys!

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus- Nabeel Quereshi

Quite interesting. I love reading salvation stories.

Ex-Muslim- Naeem Fazal

Both these books were good. I can't remember which I preferred
 though. Sorry. Perhaps the first. yes.

Singled Out- Nikki Derouin

I appreciated a slightly different approach to the topic. Uplifting.

Spoken For- Robin Jones Gunn
 
Finding your identity in Christ.

Privilege of Persecution- Dr. Karl A Moeller

Wonderful picture of believers in other countries.
Read it!

Afro-Vegan- Bryant Terry

Full of delicious and healthy recipes!
Get it. 

The Nourished Kitchen- Jennifer McGruther

In the style of Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon-
lots of recipes and techniques!

25 Ways to Communicate Respect to your husband- Jen Flanders

(I know: so practical, right? But then again, I hope to someday be able to put into practice the truths learnt from this book!)
Excellent for wives and those hoping to be.

Bible Revival- Kenneth Berding

Great stand for truth

The Knock at the Door- Margaret Ajemian Ahnert

Armenia 1915 genocides biography
Heart-rending and exciting semi auto-biography. See my link above however as there was stuff not all readers should read.

Secret Believers- Brother Andrew

Love the  stories of faith!

The Home Team- Clint Archer

Read it! It's an easy read, but full of foundational truths for the family!

Journey Through the Night- Anne DeVries

World War 2  Christian historical fiction...yes!
One of the top recommendations from 2014, I assure you!

Journey to the River Sea- Eva Ibbotson

Sweet and humorous children's adventure with the allure of fantasy.

Daisies Are Forever- Liz Tolsma

World War 2 fiction
This is the best Christian romance I've read. Like a movie.
Wouldn't recommend for young readers though.

I am David- Anne Holmes

WWII historical fiction
Sweet and wonderful story!
Good for all ages.

Just 18 Summers- Rene Gutteridge and Michelle Cox

Loved this contemporary fictional book.
I guess it's inspirational fiction. We got a lot of laughs out of it. And inspiration.

The Heretic- Henry Vyner-Brooks

This ends up being such an exciting story! But see my review...there were some things...that weren't very conservative or tasteful. And it's hard to read aloud, so I don't know what your family is going to do! It's not a book you'll die if you don't read. Like with Robert Louis Stevenson's books. But it was good. Actually, what's odd is that it can't compare to Robert Louis Stevenson's adventures yet the salvation message in The Heretic was excellent!

The favourite re-reads of the year: 

The Hiding Place

By Far Euphrates

The Scarlet Pimpernel

God's Smuggler
If you haven't read these, DO!

No, I am not going to share the worst books I read in 2014!

Check out my Goodreads page if you're curious.
And connect with me on Goodreads; it's a great place to share book ideas!