2022 ~ The Final Tally

 The question of the year to be answered, and I know you all are waiting with baited breath, is whether or not I completed my personal challenge of reading 55 books this year.  Well, yes and no.  But we'll take the bigger yes!  

On my last post, I was only up to 47 books, but the final books came in by reading more books in the Bible.  I finished strong with Leviticus, Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Acts, Romans, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, 2 Corinthians.  Which puts me almost half way done with that reading plan.  I am DETERMINED to get through it this round, since I have only been working on it since 2018.

The thing that I am disappointed with myself about my reading goals this year was that I did not read as many non fiction books as I wanted to.  I read three biographies here, here, and here, and two regular non-fiction books here and here.  I mean, I guess you could qualify the books of the Bible as non-fiction (and biography) but I consider them in a category all their own. :)

The final total:  

11,546 pages!!!

I think I'll go for 56 next year, and decide how to add more biographies and other non-fictions books.

Let me know what your reading goals are for next year!

Always reading ...

Melissa

The Christmas Swap, book #47

Funny story about this one .... as you know I have now read a few non-Christian books and not been overly happy, but went with the cute story.  So I started what I thought was this one and in chapter it had all the things I despise about non-Christian books!  I was so disappointed and shocked and angry as we have read so  many of Melody Carlson's books before and she never had any of that in hers.  I was on the middle of going off about it to my DH when I went to look up and see if this was a new book this year, like maybe she was trying to "cross over" ... when I realized I was reading the wrong book!   Needless to say I was relieved Melody had not crossed over, but I was still irritated I had paid money for a book I didn't want to read.  Alas ...

Once I got into this one, it was everything and more that I expected in a sweet Melody Carlson book!  A nice ending to the 2022 Christmas book reading.

All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can't find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there's someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year. West Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet--or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house's caretaker. But when Emma's friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things get . . . messy. (Picture and description at Amazon)

My next post will sum finish out 2022 ~ stay tuned to see if I met my goal!

Always reading ...

Melissa

Home, Hearth and the Holidays, book #46

So this book I actually read back in November but somehow I missed getting it up here.  I read the first book in the series back in 2014 and never got around the second one.  I picked this one up as a Christmas book and quickly filled in the holes.  I am now excited to move onto the final book, but i just finished this book at the beginning of Christmas book reading season, so I think it may be my first book for 2023!

With holidays approaching in the charming town of Appleton, and Daphne Ballinger's deadline to "get hitched" drawing closer, Daphne finds herself happily distracted with the unexpected tasks of "motherhood." Young Mabel is enjoying the attention, but the clock is ticking and unless love comes her way, Daphne's delightful life will start unraveling by spring. (picture and description at Amazon)

Melissa

A Gift to Remember, book #45

 

We decided to go to New York City for Christmas this year and Rebecca thought it would be a great idea if we all read the same NYC Christmas-y book.  Of course we couldn't all decide on one, but Leah and I did read this one.  Again, not Christian, but a cute story nonetheless.  It read like a Hallmark Movie, and alas, it is!  

Darcy Archer works in a small bookstore in Manhattan. A daydream believer, she refuses to settle for anything less than being swept off her feet by the perfect man... literally.  One day, when cycling to work, Darcy accidentally crashes into a sharply dressed gentleman walking his dog. He is knocked out cold, rushed to hospital and the poor pup gets left behind. Wracked with guilt, Darcy takes the dog and makes plans to reunite him with his owner, Aidan. As she discovers the mysterious stranger's world of books, travel, adventure and all the wonderful things she's ever dreamed about, Darcy builds a picture of this man and wonders if he could be THE ONE...  But does fantasy match reality? What happens when Prince Charming wakes up? Will Aidan be the happy ever after she's always imagined?  (picture and description from Amazon)

Later this week I will also update on all the books of the Bible I have read, and we will see if I got to my 55 books or not ... along with a total page count!

Me outside the NYPL!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

Edited to add:

We all thought this sounded like a Hallmark movie, so I looked it up and indeed it was!  We decided to watch it this week and oh my word but they hacked it up so bad you could hardly even tell it was the same story!!

The Christmas Bookshop, book #44

 

Not a Christian book, sadly, but the story was cute.  (The cover and title was cute not to pass up) I guess reading a non-Christian book every once in a while gets my out of my Christian ghetto, but I'll be ready to get back in it.

Laid off from her department store job, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. The prospect of spending Christmas with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered yuppie life does not appeal.  Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want her prickly sister Carmen there either. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs help revitalizing his shabby old bookshop. So Carmen moves in and takes the job.  Thrown rather suddenly into the inner workings of Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the picturesque streets of historic Edinburgh, Carmen is intrigued despite herself. The store is dusty and disorganized but undeniably charming. Can she breathe some new life into it in time for Christmas shopping? What will happen when a famous and charismatic author takes a sudden interest in the bookshop—and Carmen? And will the Christmas spirit be enough to help heal her fractured family?  (picture and description at Amazon)

So sometimes I get asked, why only Christian fiction?  There are so many authors out there who write good stuff, when the book isn't labeled "Christian" or there are so many "feel good" books out there that may not have God and Jesus in them, but they aren't inherently bad.  And I mean, Melissa, do we need to talk about the TV shows you watch?  Are they "Christian"? (ouch)

Here's my answer:  

Yes, I agree with the above.  Yes, the TV shows I watch are probably no worse than "non-Christian" books.  However, I'm typically not quite as invested in the TV shows as I am books. (Well, let's not talk about Grey's Anatomy, but that's another story!)  Books have so much more in them than a 45 minute show.   With books, you FEEL them, you can SMELL where they are (campfire, bookstore, country, smoke, warm kitchen, etc), you can literally put yourself in the story as a bystander, things you just can't do in a TV show.  

And when I'm reading books, I SEE the words.  I'm not so keen on seeing curse words in black and white.  I don't like getting in the heads of some of the characters in non-Christian books.  I don't like reading about characters having one night hookups, or getting insanely drunk, etc.  

I'm not judging anyone who doesn't read mainly Christian books like me, but for the same reason I chose to listen only to praise & worship music. I follow the GIGO philosophy.  (garbage in garbage out)  

Just don't talk to me about my TV #eyeroll.  

Keep reading!  

O:)

Melissa

Wreathed in Disgrace, book #43

 

An odd one Marsha picked for us for Book Club, but once I was sucked in I loved it!  

A famous actress, a protective bodyguard, a festive Christmas season, and a killer...or two...on the loose.  Everybody believes movie star Denise Masters abandoned her family to pursue her dream, but the truth is much more complex. For years, she's longed to return to Coventry to repair her relationship with her daughter, but contractual obligations--and fear of being rejected--have kept her away. When a serial killer targets Hollywood actors, Denise decides to spend the Christmas holidays in New Hampshire. She will finally face the disgrace of her past.  Private security agent Jon Donley figures the woman he's been hired to guard will turn out to be a paranoid, privileged prima donna. Instead, the more he gets to know Denise, the more he likes her. But he’s not being paid to get involved with her. His job is to keep her safe while he figures out what links her to the other victims.  But the serial killer on the west coast isn't the only danger they face. A second one is closing in fast, threatening not just Denise but the little girl she'll stop at nothing to protect.  (picture and description of Amazon)

Now on to decide my next fun Christmas book!

Happy Reading!

O:)

Melissa