What I'm Reading / / March Edition

First of all, who is surprised that it's almost May and I'm just now sharing my March reads? Anyone? No, I didn't think so. Whatever man. 

March was such a fun month! Mom and I got to go to the UK vs. LSU game at Rupp Arena which just happened to be Senior Honor Night! So of course we proceeded to cheer our little hearts out for our beloved Wildcats, especially our senior, Alex Poythress! It was a long day of driving, cheering, SHOPPING (because duh, where else will be find SO MUCH Kentucky stuff???), spending time with our sweet Lexington family, and more driving. Thanks to the Blackmon family for our tickets! You made my whole month!

Look at that arena full of MY PEOPLE!

Me and momma after we WON!

This was the slowest reading month I've had this year, but I still managed to read seven books.  Be sure to check out the reviews for Looking for Lovely by Annie Downs and Start Something that Matters by Blake Mycoskie, my two favorite reads this month!

4 stars

Sycamore Row (Jake Brigance #2) by John Grisham:
In Sycamore Row, Seth Hubbard, a prominent businessman dying of lung cancer, commits suicide. But before he does so, he plans his funeral, carefully pens his last will and testament, and mails it to Jake Brigance, a local lawyer Seth admires because of his integrity during the Hailey trial three years earlier. In his will, Seth leaves ninety percent of his wealth to Hetty Lang, his black maid, and completely cuts out his children, grandchildren, and ex-wives. In the course of the trial, the book explores the questions: was Seth of sound mind during the writing of the will, was he unduly influenced by Hetty, and why would he leave so much to his maid? I haven't read A Time to Kill (when I started Sycamore Row, I didn't realize it was part of a series), and while the story line from the first book is referred to occasionally, I didn't really feel like I missed anything because I haven't read it. I have really enjoyed some of John Grisham's novels, while some of them felt like time wasted. This one was time well spent. 

4 stars

Cometh the Hour (Clifton Chronicles #6) by Jeffrey Archer:
Apparently I started reading this series just in time. I finished the fifth book in February and Cometh the Hour was also released that month. I was surprised to get a copy from the library so quickly. A suicide note helps to quickly resolved the court case between Emma Barrington and Lady Virginia Fenwick. We also see less of Emma as chairman of the board of Barrington Shipping and more of her serving in the community. Harry is still helping to sell Anatoly Babakov's autobiography and advocating for his release from prison in Russia. Giles is deciding if his political career is over and if he'll rescue Karin, the new woman he loves, from East Germany. (Again, I'm not crazy about the mostly self-indulgent Giles and this story line, although he still has some redeeming qualities and there are a couple twists to his and Karin's relationship that make it more interesting than I thought it would be.) Sebastian spends a good amount of time in this book courting Priya, although her traditional Indian parents are determined she'll marry the man they've chosen for her back in India. I really liked Priya, but was thankful her time in this book was temporary as Samantha and Jessica return! As usual, the cast of characters I love to hate are back and devious as ever! I loved this book so much I finished it in only two days and am so sad I have to wait until November for the seventh and final installment of the Clifton Chronicles.

5 stars

Looking for Lovely: Collecting the Moments that Matter by Annie Downs: 
I was so excited to be chosen for this launch team. And let me tell you, I needed to read it to be sure. Annie shares her own story of the lies Satan whispered to her that she believed for so long: you're too fat, too much, unlovable, not enough. And she shares how God worked in her life, placing what she needed in each moment. That might have looked like a much needed counselor, a well timed Scripture, good friends. Or it might have been as small as pretty nail polish, Zumba classes, hiking her favorite trails, and good music. God may show up differently for each of us in our every day, but God shows up. Annie explores what it means to look for lovely and encourages us to do the same. Read my full review and some of my favorite quotes here. 

2 stars

An American Spy (The Tourist #3) by Olen Steinhauer:
First of all, I bought this book way back in Florida on my honeymoon at the CVS on Anna Maria Island (slim pickins, to be sure), got a few pages in, then decided to drive to the Barnes and Noble in Sarasota to buy something else. I just could not get into this book. But in my efforts this year to read the books I already have (or can rent/get for free), I tried again. And I did get through it, but it was painful. Maybe if I had started at the beginning of the series, I would have been more invested in the characters and enjoyed it more. But (again), I didn't realize this book was part of a series until the author started, very frequently, referring to the previous story lines. Definitely not a stand-alone book. Even among those who've read the series, An American Spy only has decent reviews on Goodreads. Definitely not one I would recommend.

4 stars

Caught by Harlan Coben:
At what point does one read enough Harlan Coben books? In my opinion, exactly never. An ex-boyfriend recommended his books to me and I fell instantly in love (with Harlan Coben's books, not the ex-boyfriend, obviously). I especially love that his books have characters in common: detectives, PI's, a particular financial advisor I love. Seeing their familiar names is like seeing a friend unexpectedly and always makes me smile. Caught is the story of Dan Mercer, social worker and all around nice guy who is accused by reporter Wendy Tynes of sexually deviant behavior with underage girls on national television. Dan espouses his innocence, but his life is ruined. When Dan is murdered, a cell phone is found in his hotel room belonging to missing teen, Haley McWaid. But where is Haley? And is Dan really guilty? Another never-saw-it-coming ending that I highly recommend!

4 stars

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle:
American Sniper was the Big Library Read in March and I was really excited to read it knowing people all over the country were reading it as well. (I actually listened to it on my Overdrive app as they had unlimited electronic and audio copies for rent during the Bid Read time frame!) I really enjoyed the first person telling of the life and military career of Chris Kyle. The life of a soldier is one of sacrifice and bravery, danger and fear. I am so desperately thankful there are men like Chris Kyle who put their lives on the line for my freedom, but it a hard thing to hear an account of. It isn't exceptionally well written, but then again, Chris was a soldier first, not an author. I loved that his wife Taya wrote parts of the story from her perspective. Overall a great but hard read!

5 stars

Start Something that Matters by Blake Mycoskie:

I saw this book back in September at the TOMS store in Austin, Texas and knew I would have to read it. One, because I'm a TOMS superfan, and two, because I love this business model and wanted to know all there is to know about it. If you fall into either of these categories, you will love this book. Blake, an entrepreneur even before the start of TOMS, shares about his story and the birth of the famous classic TOMS shoe and his company committed to the one-for-one model. He also shares tips for running a business of any size and any model. As someone who so desires to own my own business, I found myself so thankful for the knowledge, personal tidbits from his experience, and encouragement he shared. And I love that he used the TOMS brand in the design of the book. When you read it (because you totally should), be sure you have a pen and highlighter handy!  

So that's it! At the end of March, my total number of books read was 27, bringing me to roughly 34% of my total reading goal for the year. Not too bad!

How are your reading goals coming? Have you read something recently you just have to share? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy reading!

Looking for Lovely

Being a part of a launch team is always a blessing. Getting a free copy of the book? Love that. Reading said book before you can even buy it in stores? So cool. Helping an author you love get the word out about a book he or she worked so hard on? A complete privilege.

But it just so happened that God had even more for me than all that.

In Looking for Lovely, Annie Downs talks a lot about her struggle with what she calls her "broken crazy" and how God is healing her heart, helping her see what is lovely along the way. I have been struggling with a little bit of my own "broken crazy" this Spring and God dropped this little book in my lap at the exact right time. That is so like Him, am I right?

So in honor of our Looking for Lovely's launch last week, here are five of my favorite quotes (or paragraphs...) in no particular order:

I want you to finish what you start. I want you to be the kind of woman that is absolutely full of hope to where it overflows and splashes on your people. But that comes at a cost. And I hate to tell you this so early in the book because I don't want you to quit reading, but if you want to be full of hope, you have to suffer a bit. You have to find purpose in the suffering so you don't give up. You have to persevere. And when you persevere, your character, your proven faith and tried integrity, grows. And then hope. Hope arrives.

TRUST THE PATH, I heard God say. And I knew He didn't just mean the "medium" difficulty one at Radnor Lake. He meant the questions in my heart, the things I wonder about, the worries that I am going to miss Him. I don't have to know where things are going; I don't have to know the destination; I just have to trust the path.

It makes perfect sense to me, grace and perseverance. I have learned that to be all grace is to be lazy but to be all perseverance is to be judgmental. A good balance of grace and perseverance pushes us forward without destroying our spirit when we don't meet a goal, and it continually brings us back to our goals, dreams, and desires in order to remember why we began, how far we have come to get here, and where we ultimately want to go. It gives us permission to not be perfect but to strive toward excellence. Just like when my hands are clasped together, I want my life to be marked by grace and perseverance as partners.

It's not that my life is all that different; it's just that I see it differently. So it feels like a brand-new life. I know, I know. Dramatic pause and dramatic language, but I'm telling you, that is how I feel. I feel like since I gave honest words to the broken crazy and started to get healthy around it, God has shown up and walked me into more healing than I even knew to ask for. And in it He is opening my eyes. And as I'm collecting these moments that matter, I'm actually just seeing more of Him. Because in the end that's what this is all about. When you find Jesus, you have found lovely. He is everything we need.

As Bob and I talked about water and depth and what lies beneath, he said, "Annie, to be authentically you, you have to be the same at one foot of depth as you are at thirty." At one foot? I'm finished. I'm shiny. I'm clean. I'm a great Annie. At thirty feet? I'm most definitely unfinished. There's not much lovely about that view, but it does feel freeing to say it. And freedom is incredibly beautiful.

Y'all, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Looking for Lovely was written from such a pure place and God intended not to just heal Annie's heart, but ours as well. And in this season of my life, it has made all the difference.

So do yourselves a favor, get your hands on a copy. 

heart caths, karaoke, and God's goodness

I didn't tell many people this, but dad had a heart cath last Thursday. I knew the procedure itself was necessary - when it comes to your health (or your dad's health) it's better to know upfront what you might be dealing with, am I right? But just because something is good doesn't mean it's easy. And it definitely doesn't mean it's not scary. 

So when the results of his heart cath came back clear, all of us Furnish girls breathed a huge sigh of relief and thanked our Father for not just good news, but the best news.

And then Friday night we had a good ole fashioned pizza party at mom and dad's house to celebrate. While us girls were working in the kitchen and the kids were playing with all the toys, dad started pulling up some music videos of songs we LOVED when we were younger, songs we would belt at the top of our lungs while my parent's drove all our friends home from youth group in the church van. Youth group girls, you know what songs I'm talking about.

Evolution by Geoff Moore and The Distance

If You Could See What I See by Geoff Moore and The Distance

Jesus Will Still Be There by Point of Grace

Big House by Audio Adrenaline

First of all, these songs have music videos? Yes, yes they do. Second, we still knew ALL THE WORDS! (Side note: why do I remember words to songs from 15 years ago and can't remember what I had for breakfast and where I put my keys? This is a mystery my husband will never understand.) 

This is from Easter, not from Friday night, but I can assure you

that Nate's face during our little karaoke session was very similar.

Not. Impressed.

I left mom and dad's that night a little teary. I was just so thankful for all the ways God has shown up unexpectedly - for fun songs and silly girlfriends, for the work God started in my heart when I was young, for my parents and all they did for my sisters and my friends growing up, for my family and all our additions, for our strength and our willingness to show up for each other in hard times, for our good health.

Things have never been perfect, but God has been so good to us in all things all along. Amen?

What I'm Reading / / February Edition

Remember that one time I said I would try to write these in a more timely manner? Whatever, man.

February was a good month of reading with nine more books under my belt! Be sure to check out Notorious RBG, my favorite book in February!

4 stars

Best Kept Secret (Clifton Chronicles #3) by Jeffrey Archer:
I have absolutely loved this series and this book was no different. Best Kept Secret is the ongoing tale of the Barrington and Clifton families. The House of Lords is set to decide whether Giles Barrington or Harry Clifton is the heir of Hugo Barrington, and therefore, if Harry can finally marry Emma Barrington. Meanwhile, Emma begins searching for her father's illegitimate daughter, Jessica. Giles runs for a seat in the House of Commons, falls in love with a beautiful, but extremely manipulative woman, and marries her despite the pleading of his family. Sebastian Clifton, covering for school friends Bruno Martinez and Vic Kaufman, thinks he's been expelled from school and accepts a job offer from Bruno's dad, Don Pedro Martinez. With two new love-to-hate-them villians, Best Kept Secret kept me turning the pages late into the night.

4 stars

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginzburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik:
Before I read Notorious RBG, I didn't know much about Justice Ginzburg. What I did know was that we wouldn't agree on everything. But the idea of disagreement should never prevent you from hearing out those with whom you disagree. I loved learning about her early years as a lawyer, arguing equal rights before the Supreme Court; her time serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals (appointed my Jimmy Carter); and her tenure as a Supreme Court Justice (appointed by Bill Clinton), only the second woman in the history of the Court. I was struck by the truth of her idea that real and lasting change is made incrementally and impressed by her life-long commitment to it. What really resounded in my heart was her friendship with recently passed Justice Scalia. Despite their differing opinions on what seems like every divisive issue, they were real and true friends. I really enjoyed reading this account of her life and work. It was witty, thorough, and very interesting. Definitely worth the read!

4 stars

Be Careful What You Wish For (Clifton Chronicles #4) by Jeffrey Archer:
The third book in this series left us with a huge cliff hanger - who died in the fatal car crash, Sebastian Clifton or his friend Bruno? Be Careful What You Wish For begins with the answer to that question (thank God - cliff hangers are the worst!). Meanwhile, our two delicious new villains are conspiring to keep Emma Clifton from her much desired seat as Chairman of Barrington Shipping and are attempting to bankrupt the company while they're at it. We're also introduced to new a new character in Jessica Clifton's boyfriend, Clive Bingham, fellow student at Slade Academy of Art. (I loved this story line until it took a turn I didn't particularly care for although I understand it in the overarching plot of the series). We also meet Cedric Hardcastle, owner of Farthing's Bank, who plays a major role in the series as Sebastian's Old Jack. What I don't love is that Harry Clifton, the original main character of the series, plays a very minor and even passive role in this book. Overall, Be Careful What You Wish For is still an up-all-night page-turner that I really enjoyed. 

4 stars

This Is Not the Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness by Laura Munson:
This memoir is Laura's story of her perseverance in marriage. When her husband comes home one night and states that he's not sure that he loves her anymore, Laura decides that she won't suffer. She knows her husband and knows that what he's struggling through is about him, not her. She journals through this season of her life with an honesty and vulnerability that surprised me. I bought and read this book originally probably five or six years ago and it was fun to re-read and see what this book meant to me now that I'm very happily married. Originally, I clung to the much needed truth that I am enough; other people only define you if you let them. This time, I was struck by the strength and courage it takes to fight for your marriage when your spouse won't. But even more than that, she fought for him, for his happiness and more importantly, his wholeness, when he couldn't see that for himself. In a world where divorce is so commonplace, it was refreshing to read about love, for yourself and for your spouse, as a choice, not just a feeling. 

3.5 stars

Mightier than the Sword (Clifton Chronicles #5) by Jeffrey Archer:
Be Careful What You Wish For ended with the IRA detonating a bomb aboard the Buckingham, Barrington Shipping's new luxury liner, and of course, Mightier than the Sword opens with more details on that story line and the repercussions to Emma's seat as Chairman of the Board. Harry once again emerges as an actual main character of this book. He's elected president of the PEN and uses his position to advocate for the release of author Antony Babakov, translator for Josef Stalin. Interestingly enough, we discover he has a photographic memory which ends up being a big part of this story line. Meanwhile, Giles Barrington makes a huge personal mistake in Russia which could jeopardize his seat in the House of Commons. I'll be honest and say I absolutely hated this story line and may never like this character again. Sebastian is quickly making a name for himself at Farthings, under Cedric Hardcastle's mentorship. He also becomes engaged to Samantha, a curator at a local art gallery who is familiar with Jessica's work. Their story in this book is good, then questionable, then somewhat redeeming. Cedric's story line, however, and his courage, is one of my favorites in Mightier than the Sword. I also loved-to-hate what has turned into a team of villians desperate to decimate the Barrington and Clifton families. (Occasionally I think a book is better than one number but not as good as the next number, hence my rating of 3.5 stars. Halves aren't possible on Goodreads, so I've rounded up to 4 in my rating there.)

4 stars

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben:
No Second Chance is the story of Marc Seidman, a do-gooder plastic surgeon who is almost fatally wounded when an intruder kills his wife and kidnaps his infant daughter. When he wakes up in the hospital a couple weeks later, he's distraught when he learns not only of the tragic events, but that there's been no ransom demanded. But when a ransom is demanded and goes badly, the kidnappers are sure to let him know, he'll get no second chance. Marc's search for his daughter leads him to discover the truth, but it's something you'll never see coming. It's no secret: I love reading Harlan Coben's work. There's always a didn't-see-that-coming plot twist that can actually become a little predictable after you've read a few of his books, but that was not the case here. The ending left me stunned!

3 stars

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard:
Being born in the early 80's, I didn't know much about the details of JFK's presidency. I was fascinated by the story of President Kennedy's personal life and time in office. I learned of his friendship with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby; his closeness and dependency on brother, Bobby Kennedy, usually to the exclusion of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; His relationship with wife, Jackie Kennedy; the loss of their son born during the Presidency; the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis and the President's response to both. I could see how he'd grown in confidence and skill as his presidency progressed. But I just could not reconcile the respect one should have for the President and the integrity with which a President should serve his or her country with the volume of extramarital affairs had by JFK. For me, not only did it dishonor his wife, it tainted the good work he did as president. I did know most of the details of the assassination, but I was surprised by the humanity revealed in this particular telling. Of course JFK's death not only affected the country, but those closest to him as well, and I didn't know much about those details. Despite the low ratings I usually give Bill O'Reilly's books, I keep reading them and am usually glad for it.

3.5 stars

Almost Home (Jordan Weiss #1) by Pam Jenoff:
Jordan Weiss, a State Department intelligence officer, has spent her professional life on the move. When her college boyfriend, Jared Short, drowns in the River Cam right before graduation, she knows her idyllic Cambridge will never be the same and that she'll never return. But when Sarah, a close friend from college suffering from ALS, asks her to return to London, Jordan requests a transfer to the London office. She's immediately assigned to a task force responsible for finding English corporations that might be involved with the Albanian mob. Chris, another friend from college, also quickly makes contact and shares with her his theory that Jared, a strong swimmer, did not drown but was killed. Jordan is quickly caught up in two cases that seem inextricably linked. But who can she trust to help her? Almost Home was better than three stars, but not quite four. 

3 stars

A Hidden Affair (Jordan Weiss #2) by Pam Jenoff:

At the end of Almost Home, Jordan learns she has been betrayed by those she trusted most. And she learns that not only did Jared, her college boyfriend, not drown in the River Cam, he's still alive and on the run from the Albanian mob. She immediately quits her job at the State Department and begins her search for him. She heads to the French Riveria to find Nicole, one of his known contacts, and quickly realizes she isn't the only one looking for her. Aaron, an Israeli, is searching for Nicole for his own undisclosed reasons and while neither of them fully trust the other, they quickly discover they are better off searching as a team. This story has some elements that I really enjoyed, but mostly, for some reason I just can't put my finger on, the whole thing fell flat. 


Two months into 2016 and I've knocked out 20 books - 25% of my goal for the year! 

How's your reading going? Did you set a goal? Have you read a really good book? I'd love to hear all about it!

What I'm Reading / / January Edition

You guys, it's no secret that I dropped the ball on my book reviews last year. But, I think I've come up with a solution to these posts that will make them a lot easier, and therefore much more likely to actually be written. I compiled a list of last years reads along with what I've read so far this year here. You can always friend me on Goodreads as well. (It's a lifesaver when you're standing in the library trying to remember that book you wanted to read.)

I read 61 books last year and set a reading goal of 80 for 2016. 80 books, y'all! I originally set it at 60 again, but realized I actually wanted to read more but also wanted to set the bar lower because I already know 60 is doable. I don't want to be that girl in any area of my life, even the small parts. So 80 it is. And January was a big reading month. 

5 stars

Only Time Will Tell (Clifton Chronicles Book 1) by Jeffrey Archer:
I snagged this book for free through BookBub and wasn't sure what to expect, but I was captivated by Harry Clifton's story from the beginning. Harry is from a poor family: he never knew his father and is supported by his uncle Stan who works at the docks and his mother who works as a waitress. He has a beautiful voice and, through several mentors and lots of hard work, earns a choral scholarship to a highly regarded boarding school. He quickly becomes friends with Giles Barrington, of the wealthy Barrington Shipyard family, and Deakins, a scholar. During Harry's school time and into his adulthood, he searches for the real reason his father died. His quest for the truth confronts him with some very difficult personal decisions. Who is his real father? Can he marry Emma, the love of his life? The unexpected ending to this beautifully written novel only leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to read the rest of the Clifton Chronicles and can only hope Jeffrey Archer has continued to write completely spell-bounding tales of Harry Clifton. (And that the rest of my 2016 reading is as entertaining!)

4 stars

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert:
I use the OverDrive app on my phone to check out free audiobooks from my local library and was thrilled when Big Magic, which I'd had on hold for over a month, was finally released to me. Elizabeth Gilbert captures the heart of what it means to live creatively by tapping into your interests, curiosity, and ideas no matter your circumstance or age and following wherever they lead. She boldly states that we are all created to create. She writes specifically about not wanting to burden her creativity with meeting her financial needs, which I thought particularly interesting. (She didn't quit her day job until after Eat, Pray, Love.) She also hilariously and truthfully writes that everything sucks some of the time and challenges her reader to find something they love so much that the parts that suck are still worthwhile. Big Magic is written from a spiritual perspective, although not gospel centered. I read this book while also praying for discernment. And I'm so glad I did. Definitely a good read. 

2 stars

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard:
It's no secret that I love to read about history - historical fiction, autobiographies, biographies, etc - and was eager to read Killing Reagan. I loved learning about Ronald Reagan's career as an actor, appearing in over 50 movies before transitioning to television, a new and controversial technology at the time for movie actors. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild, married two times, a Democrat before he converted to the Republican party, etc. However, while filled with interesting information, it also paints Reagan and his wife Nancy in a rather unfavorable light. O'Reilly and Dugard assert that the assassination attempt on Reagan's life by John Hinckley Jr. hastened Reagan's early onset Alzheimer's. They claim Reagan was easily confused and therefore easily manipulated by his wife in presidential matters. While Killing Reagan was more well-written than Lincoln's Last Days, there was enough conjecture - and out-right error - to recommend that you pass in favor of more credible biographies. 

5 stars

The Kennedy Connection: A Gil Malloy Novel by R. G. Belsky:
This was another book I found on BookBub ($1.99). At any given point, I'm usually reading a few books, some of while are very introspective and thought-provoking - and a good story always balances me out. I got lost in the story of Gil Malloy, a disgraced journalist for Daily News, who is caught up in the connection of three modern-day murders, a Kennedy half-dollar found at each murder scene. Malloy is also put into contact with Lee Harvey Oswald Jr., the illegitimate and secret son of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. The more he dives into each story, determined to redeem himself as an investigative reporter, the more he believes the present-day murders and the assassination of JFK in 1963 are connected. His determination to find the truth soon finds him unemployed and searching for where he went wrong. He quickly learns the information he's unearthed not only ended his career, but may potentially end his life. I absolutely loved every page of this book.

3 stars

The Candidate's Daughter (Elizabeth McClain Thriller Book 1) by Catherine Lea:
The Candidate's Daughter is another book I found for free using BookBub. Six-year old Holly McClain is kidnapped by Kelsey Money, her controlling boyfriend Matt, and Matt's strung out brother. While Kelsey hopes to return Holly safely home after the ransom has been received, she quickly discovers Matt and his brother have a very different plan and promises herself and Holly that she'll keep Holly safe, no matter what. Elizabeth McClain, struggling with postpartum depression, and Richard McClain, a self-absorbed politician, have distanced themselves from each other and from their daughter Holly since birth. Now realizing her terrible mistake, Elizabeth stops at nothing to find her daughter and bring her home safely. The Candidate's Daughter is the first book in the Elizabeth McClain Thriller series, but I doubt I'll read the rest of them. It was a good story, but I don't think these characters are worth investing more time in.

3 stars

Run Girl (Ingrid Skyberg Thriller #1) by Eva Hudson:
This was another free book I found through BookBub. At only 115 pages, it was a quick read. Secretary of State, Jayne Whitticker, is in London negotiating peace talks with three warring African nations when her granddaughter, Rachel, goes missing. Special Agent Ingrid Skyberg, in London to lead an FBI training conference, is summoned to help. With no back-up, very few leads, and only a few hours, she must find Rachel before the peace talks are completed and her grandmother discovers she's missing. Although it was a bit predictable, this series might be worth finishing. 

4 stars

The Innocent by Harlan Coben:
I picked up a few Harlan Coben books at a rummage sale last year and have been looking forward to re-reading this one. Matt Hunter's life comes to a screeching halt  when he kills someone while trying to break up a fight at a frat house. After serving four years of his sentence, Matt is released from prison and works hard to lead a normal, unassuming life. Fast forward nine years: Matt is married to Olivia Hunter, the love of his life, expecting his first child, and working as a paralegal. When his wife, who is away on business, starts sending him suspicious text messages, he can feel it all unraveling. Unwilling to believe his wife would be unfaithful, he is determined to find Olivia but instead finds himself as the primary suspect in a triple-homicide investigation.  When he finds his wife and learns the truth about her past, they are determined to find the real killer and bring him to justice. Harlan Coben is the master of surprise endings, and this one did not disappoint. 

5 stars

Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum by Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner:
Find Me Unafraid is the true story of Kennedy Odede, born in Kibera, Africa's largest slum, and Jessica Posner from Denver, Colorado. Kennedy grew up poor, scavenging for food, experiencing violence, lack of opportunity, and sometimes even living on the streets, but he had a hunger for knowledge and a determination to be a light in his community. As a teenager, he bought a soccer ball for twenty cents and started SHOFCO, Shining Hope for Communities, a youth program designed to effect change in Kibera. In 2007, Jessica Posner studied abroad in Kenya, working with SHOFCO's theater group. Although she had a host family, Jessica convinced Kennedy that living with him in Kibera would give her a more authentic experience and allow her to have a better understanding of SHOFCO and why it is so necessary. Despite all odds, and with Jessica's perseverance, Kennedy is able to graduate with his Bachelor's degree, return to Kibera, and change his community, building a school for girls among other community services. Find Me Unafraid is their story of love, light, and determination to make a difference. My heart was so encouraged by their bravery. (You can learn more about SHOFCO by visiting their website.)

5 stars

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker:
If you know me at all, you know I've already professed my undying love for all things Jen Hatmaker, not because of her, but because of how God is using her to move His kingdom forward. Also, she's sarcastic and loves good food. So we're friends, obviously. Anyway...I was nervous to read 7. I just knew God would use it to seriously shed some light on my indulgent lifestyle and root out my love of stuff. I put off reading it for months and finally gave in, because January is a good time for all things new and this would definitely be new to me. And I was right. 7 is Jen's attempt to radically reduce the excess in her life in seven areas: food, clothes, possessions, media, waste, spending and stress. All in an effort to make more room for God. He teaches over and over that we are to take care of and tangibly love those who are "least" (Matthew 25). But what would our lives look like if we took that seriously? Jen sheds light on our irresponsibility and shows us that we can do better. Not coincidentally, because I'm sure God knew I needed accountability, I was invited to work through this book this year with some ladies in my area and am looking forward to (and simultaneously am so nervous for) what God will do in our lives. This is not just a book for women and I cannot recommend it highly enough. 

2 stars

Lockdown (Ryan Lock #1) by Sean Black:
I started out really liking this book. Ryan Lock is head of security at the world's largest bio-tech company. When animal rights protesters convince Meditech to stop all animal testing, they think they've won a hard fought battle. But when Nicholas Van Stratten, the CEO, and Gray Stokes, the leader of the animal rights activists announce this on television, Gray is assassinated by a sniper. But this is where things start to get crazy. Because then a high-level former Meditech employee finds out his child has been kidnapped. And then it starts to look like Meditech orchestrated the whole thing. And then Ryan discovers Meditech will no longer be testing on animals, but on humans. And then he finds out the human test subjects are terrorists from the middle east and Russia. And then the test subjects escape and take Meditech employees hostage and inject the CEO and his power mongering son with a live Ebola virus for which there is only an untested and potentially fatal vaccine. And then that Russian terrorist becomes a suicide bomber who escapes into Times Square with the remaining tubes of Ebola virus that could knock out all of New York. Oh yeah, and it's New Years Eve. When I finally finished the book, it had strayed way too far from where it started and I thought to myself, what the heck just happened. While some may love the unexpected nature of the book, I was just trying to get through it. 

5 stars

The Sins of the Father (Clifton Chronicles Book 2) by Jeffrey Archer:
I was so excited when I found the second book in the Clifton Chronicles at my local library. I didn't rent the third book because I thought it would take me a week to get through, but I came down with a cold, stayed in bed for two days, and finished it off just in time to make it my 11th book in January. Whoa. Anyway, if it's even possible, I loved this book even more than the first. England has just entered WWII, and while Harry is serving time in an American prison, Giles has joined the military and quickly worked his way up to an officer. His father Hugo is still in hiding. And Emma is quickly figuring out that Harry really isn't dead and goes to America in search of him. It all sounds very soap-opera, but I promise you, it's so good (and isn't nearly as cheesy). The cliff hanger at the end of the book left me so frustrated that I didn't grab the third book from the library as well. I can't wait to get my hands on it! (Sometimes I do this thing where I find an author I really like and then proceed to read everything they've ever written. Jeffrey Archer may just be the next one.)

So there you have it! I read 11 books this month and am already at 14% of my goal! 

Did you set a reading goal for the year? I'd love to hear about your reading challenge and what you're currently reading!