2024 Delights

Sunday afternoon naps

Trying new restaurants with family

Family conversations during church when we shouldn’t be talking

A good poem that resonates with you

A walk on a beautiful day

Birdsong

Short chats in the office with coworkers

Making someone smile

Seeing a friend unexpectedly

Someone thinking of you and sending you a picture

Daughter taking sunrise/sunset pictures

A new episode of a podcast you like

When people make themselves laugh

Lunch with my husband

A good, healthy meal

A slow walk at rush around the neighborhood

2024 Books

1. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffe

2. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

3. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

4. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

5. Maame by Jessica George

6. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

7. Islam Explained by Ahmad Rashid Salim

8. The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

9. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

10. The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

11. All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby

12. Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

13. The Maid by Nita Prose

14. Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, M.D.

15. Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

16. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

17. The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

18. The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

19. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

20. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

21. The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

22. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

23. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

24. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

25. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

26. Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

27. Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

28. Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

2023 Books

1. Survival by K. A. Riley

2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

3. Spare by Prince Harry

4. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

5. The Measure by Nikki Erlick

6. Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst

7. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

8. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

9. The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson

10. Things we Never Got Over by Lucy Score

11. The Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score

12. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

13. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

14. The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

15. A Beginner’s Guide to Trauma by Reshie Joseph

16. The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro

17. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

18. Happy Place by Emily Henry

19. Homecoming by Kate Morton

20. The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

21. Vacation Wars by Meghan Quinn

22. All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore

23. American Royals III: Rivals by Katharine McGee

24. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

25. Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

26. Reign by K. A. Riley

27. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

28. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

29. It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

30. We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

31. With Love from London by Sarah Jio

32. Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore

33. The Humans by Matt Haig

34. Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

35. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

36. Never Lie by Freida McFadden

37. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

38. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

39. A Soul of Ash and Blood by JenniferArmentrout

40. Rememberings: Scenes from My Complicated Life by Sinead O’Connor

41. The First Ladies by Marie Benedict

42. Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere by Ree Drummond

43. The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther

44. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

45. The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman

46. Reign by Katharine McGee

47. Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

48. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

49. Hello Beautiful by Ana Napolitano

50. Where’d You Park Your Spaceship? By Rob Bell

51. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

52. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

53. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

54. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

55. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

56. Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

57. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

58. Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh

59. Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

60. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

61. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

62. Weyward by Emilia Hart

2022 Books

1. Roommaid by Sariah Wilson

2. Spring House by Mary Ellen Taylor

3. The Words We Whisper by Mary Ellen Taylor

4. Gilded by Marissa Meyer

5. Here We Go Again by Betty White

6. The Princess Purge by Cordelia Castel

7. Development Through the Lifespan by Laura Berk

8. War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

9. These Tangled Vines by Julianne Maclean

10. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

11. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapeno

12. Finale by Stephanie Garber

13. The Cure by K. A. Riley

14. Awaken by K. A. Riley

15. Ascend by K. A. Riley

16. The Restaurant by Pamela M. Kelley

17. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

18. Family Therapy by Samuel T. Gladding

19. The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes

20. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

21. Fallen by K. A. Riley

22. Introduction to Educational Research by Craig A. Mertler

23. Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

24. Sankofa by Chibundo Onuzo

25. Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

26. Book Lovers by Emily Henry

27. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

28. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

29. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

30. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

31. A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab

32. Signal Moon by Kate Quinn

33. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

34. The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

35. Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

36. She’s Up to No Good by Sara Goodman Confino

37. Foundations of Addictions Counseling by David Capuzzi

38. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout

39. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer Armentrout

40. The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer Armentrout

41. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

42. The War of Two Queens by Jennifer Armentrout

43. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

44. When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

45. The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

46. The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel

47. Fairy Tale by Stephen King

48. It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

49. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

50. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

51. The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman

52. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

53. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

54. Verity by Colleen Hoover

55. Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

56. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

57. From Trauma to Transformation by Debra Laaser

58. The Royal Games by Jamie Sanders

59. Recruitment by K. A. Riley

60. Render by K. A. Riley

2021 Books

1. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas – 8

2. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas – 8

3. Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn – 9

4. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn – 9

5. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn – 8

6. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn – 9

7. To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn – 9

8. When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn – 9

9. It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn- 7

10. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn – 8

11. Learning the Art of Helping: Building Blocks and Techniques by Mark E. Young – school book. No rating 😁

12. Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality, and Staying in the Church – 9

13. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – 9

14. Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mes – 7

15. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas – 7

16. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey – 8

17. Caliban’s War by James S. A. Corey – 8

18. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah – 9

19. Sexuality Counseling: Theory, Research and Practice by Christine Murray, Amber Pope, Ben Willis – school book. No rating.

20. What every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know About Sex by Stephanie Buehler – school book. No rating.

21. My Hero Academia: Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi

22. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – 7

23. The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory- 7

24. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – 7

25. Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory- 7

26. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – 7

27. Colorblind by Mia Sanders

28. Colorstruck by Mia Sanders

29. Groups: A Counseling Specialty by Samuel T. Gladding

30. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes – 7

31. Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory – 7

32. The Survivors by Jane Harper – 7

33. Sandcastles by Luanne Rice – 7

34. The Burning: The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 by Tim Madigan – 6

35. One Two Three by Laurie Frankl – 7

36. Career Development Interventions by Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey (school book)

37. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – 9

38. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – 7

39. The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy – 7

40. A Woman Like Her by Marc Levy – 7

41. Abnormal Psychology by Beidel et al.

42. A Vow so Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer – 7

43. The Betrothed by Kiera Cass – 7

44. Love at First by Kate Clayborn – 7

45. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

46. The Upside of Falling by Alex Light – 7

47. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

48. The Princess Trials by Cordelia K Castel

49. The Princess Games by Cordelia K Castel

50. The Princess Crown by Cordelia K Castel

51. This Tender Land by William Kent Kreuger

52. Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans

53. The Heir by Kiera Cass

54. The Crown by Kiera Cass

55. The Paid Bridesmaid by Sarah Wilson

56. Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling by Remley & Herlihy

57. Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham

58. The Downstairs Neighbor by Helen Cooper

2020 Books

  1. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
  2. The Breakout (Genesis Book 1) by Rachelle Harp
  3. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
  4. The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns
  5. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
  6. The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer
  7. The Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdoms by Chris Colfer
  8. Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel
  9. Native by Kaitlin Curtice
  10. The Land of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey by Chris Colfer
  11. There There by Tommy Orange
  12. Fierce, Free and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker
  13. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
  14. The Land of Stories: Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer
  15. Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
  16. I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
  17. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
  18. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
  19. Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi
  20. Disoriental by Négar Djavadi
  21. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
  22. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
  23. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
  24. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
  25. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
  26. Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
  27. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
  28. Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer
  29. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
  30. Chair Time by Dan Southerland
  31. Honeysuckle Season by Mary Ellen Taylor
  32. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
  33. The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
  34. Open Book by Jessica Simpson
  35. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker
  36. Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
  37. American Royals by Katharine McGee
  38. American Royals II: Majesty by Katharine McGee
  39. Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell
  40. Beach Read by Emily Henry
  41. Counseling Today: Foundations of Professional Identity by Darcy Haag Granello & Mark E. Young
  42. Children of time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  43. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
  44. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
  45. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
  46. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
  47. A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer
  48. Counseling Theory and Practice by Edward Neukrug
  49. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
  50. The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
  51. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

2019 Books

  1. Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction by Christine Valters Paintner and Betsy Beckman
  2. The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert
  3. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  4. True Places by Sonja Yoerg
  5. Bring: The Last Beholder by Megan Beam and Erin Hicks
  6. Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
  7. Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction by David G. Benner
  8. Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
  9. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  10. Seeking God Together by Alice Fryling
  11. Still Me by Jojo Moyes
  12. Gather: The Last Beholder by Megan Beam & Erin Hicks
  13. A Curve in the Road by Julianne Maclean
  14. The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healey
  15. Confidential by Ellie Monago
  16. The One by John Marrs
  17. Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano
  18. Shameless: A Sexual Reformation by Nadia Bolz-Weber
  19. Reap by Casey L. Bond
  20. Resist by Casey L. Bond
  21. Reclaim by Casey L. Bond
  22. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
  23. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
  24. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson
  25. Spiritual Companioning by Angela H. Reed, Richard R. Osmer, Marcus G. Snicker
  26. Spiritual Direction by Sue Pickering
  27. Trustworthy Connections by Anne Winchell Silver
  28. The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson
  29. Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson
  30. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
  31. King’s Cage by Victoria Aveyard
  32. The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett
  33. The River by Peter Heller
  34. Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate
  35. The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
  36. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
  37. Enchantee by Gita Trelease
  38. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
  39. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
  40. My Glory Was I Had Such Friends by Amy Silverstein
  41. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
  42. The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali
  43. The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne
  44. The Beholder by Anna Bright
  45. Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas
  46. Legend by Marie Lu
  47. Prodigy by Marie Lu
  48. Champion by Marie Lu
  49. The One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood
  50. Crown of Midnight by Sarah Maas
  51. Heir of Fire by Sarah Maas
  52. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
  53. Queen of Shadows by Sarah Maas
  54. Empire of Storms by Sarah Maas
  55. Tower of Dawn by Sarah Maas
  56. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah Maas
  57. Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

2018 Books

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle

Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle

An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle

The Girl Who Dared to Stand by Bella Forrest

The Girl Who Dared to Descend by Bella Forrest

The Girl Who Dared to Rise by Bella Forrest

Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro

Sweet Tea Tuesdays by Ashley Farley

The Case of the Green Dressed Ghost by Lucy Banks

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Forgotten by Krista Street

Remembered by Krista Street

Reborn by Krista Street

Evolution by Kelly Carrero

Tormented by Kelly Carrero

Deception by Kelly Carrero

Vengeance by Kelly Carrero

Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James

Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

As Good As True by Cheryl Reid

That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

Love Wins by Rob Bell

Becoming a Welcoming Church by Thom Rainer

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa De Los Santos

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

The Sometimes Sisters by Carolyn Brown

Finding God in the Waves by Mike McHargue

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans

Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King

The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

The Grace in Dying by Kathleen Singh

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction by Susan S. Phillips

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

The Listening Life by Adam S. McHugh

Learning to Speak God from Scratch by Jonathan Merritt

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani

The Ragged Edge of Night by Olivia Hawker

The Tenth Island by Diana Marcum

The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile

Educated by Tara Westover

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky & Steven Brown

Holy listening by Margaret Guenther

The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham

Hearing God by Dallas Willard

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

Still Life by Louise Penny

Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson, M. D.

Three Things

I’m passionate about a lot of things these days: Poverty Empowering women Helping people see their value in God and gain confidence Refugees Immigration concerns Revitalization of the church Food deserts Children – foster/adoption/mentoring Enjoying family Creating community and making … Continue reading