My Books of 2022

 Happy New Year!

And thank you for letting me have the last year off blogging.  I'll update you all with everything eventually, but for now lets concentrate on the most important things: Books!

I actually read 52 books (1 isn't currently on goodreads), though there were two books that I confess that I didn't finish.  I decided that life it soo short to persevere with books that are either too slow or too boring, when there is so much more out there that I want to read!

I should also say, that though I am going to separate out all the books that I have read this year below, the links won't work until I have written up the reviews.  And I know that some of you are still waiting for the reviews of the books that I read in 2021.  Hopefully, now that I have a bit more time (she says, on the first bank holiday of the year), I'll get around to catching up and filling those in too.

You will notice that some of these books are from my recent A-Z Challenge but that I haven't finished this list.  That's because, when my daughter was going in for her heart surgery, I made sure to download a load of free boxsets.  As they are currently on my kindle, these are what I have been going through more recently.  And I have recently joined my local book club, so I'll be reading two 'random' books each month too.  The first meeting I'm attending is tomorrow, so wish me luck!

So here is the list of books that I read in 2022, though I may have the order slightly wrong in some places. 
For those who prefer visuals, there is a picture below.

Fiction:

• Exodus by Andreas Christensen
• Aurora by Andreas Christensen
• Genesis by Andreas Christensen
• When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason
• When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason
• When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
• The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
• Black Dog by Neil Gaiman
• The Last Safe Place by Ninie Hammon
• The Crown of Thorns by Ian C P Irvine
• Hidden byt Megg Jensen
• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
• A Single Step by Georgia Rose
• Reckoning by Megg Jensen
• Hunted by Megg Jensen
• Before The Dawn by Georgia Rose
• The Wedding Pact Boxset by Denise Grover Swank
• Wicked Words by M J Scott
• Patterns in the Dark by Lindsay Buroker
• Pale-Eyed Mage by Jennifer Ealey
• Torn by O M Faure
• Untied by O M Faure
• Chosen by O M Faure
• Thicker than Water by Georgia Rose
• Soul Blade by Lindsay Buroker
• Dragon Blood 1-3 Boxsetby Lindsay Buroker
• Shattered Past by Lindsay Buroker
• Oaths by Lindsay Buroker
• Raptor by Lindsay Buroker
• The Fowl Proposal by Lindsay Buroker
• Heritage of Power Boxset by Lindsay Buroker
• Playing Dirty by Andrew R Williams
• The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
• Falling by T J Newman
• Jim's Revenge by Andrew R Williams
• Superior by Andrew R Williams
• Andalusia by David Harvey
• The Dark Insite by Solomon Carter
• The Singapore Grip by J G Ferrell

Non-Fiction:

• English Legal System by Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski
• Legal Profession - Is it for you? by V Charles Ward
• Watching Neighbours Twice a Day by Josh Widdicombe
• Helping your Child with a Physical Health Condition
• Older and Wider by Jenny Eclair
• Parsnips: Buttered by Joe Lycett
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Christian Inspirational:

• The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian D McLaren
• Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey
• The Message: New Testament by Eugene H Peterson

My books of 2021

 

Last year, I set myself the target of reading 50 books, which I hit.  I think I've actually read a couple more than 52, as I still (sorry!) have some reviews to write up, and I don't always add them to Goodreads if I haven't done the review.  If you are a Goodreads user, feel free to click this link to follow me there too.

This next year, I've set myself the even more modest target of 24 books in a year.  This is because I barely wait whilst the girls are dancing anymore, so I have less time to read actually structured into my week.  I also (before last week) hadn't read anything since about October.  I had less free time, and in December you have to watch as many made-for-TV crappy Christmas movies as you can.  It's the law.

Here's a pictorial summary of all the reading I did last year, and I'll give a link to each review below.

Fiction

• The Dark Side of the Sun by Terry Pratchett
  
• Red White and Blues by Rysa Walker
  
• Ember by Jessica Sorensen
  
• Forgotten by Don and Stephanie Prichard
  
• Genesis Code by Eliza Green
  
• Happiness is a Smoking Gun by Alaine Allister
  
• I Spy, I Saw Her Die by Ian C. P. Irvine
  
• Juliette and the Monday ManDates by Becky Doughty
  
• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
  
• Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson
  
• The Legacy of the Key by S L Morgan
  
• Mouse Tails by Sonny Collins
  
• Nocturne by Kat Ross (The Fourth Talisman Series)
  
• Out of a Dream by Rosemary Hines
  
• Pancakes and Corpses by Agatha Frost
  
• Quantum by Patricia Cornwell
• Rift by Andreas Christensen
  
• Season of Hope by Dayo Benson
  
• Taste by Mary E Twomey
  
• Ugly Girl by Mary E Twomey
  
• The Vine Witch by Luanne G Smith
  
• The Wave at Hanging Rock by Gregg Dunnett
  
• Yesterday by Amanda Tru
  
• Meadowlark by Melanie Abrams
• Brainrush by Richard Bard

Non-Fiction

• Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Barrett and Allison
  
• I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna
  
• The Diet Trap Solution by Beck & Beck
  
• The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
  

Christian Inspirational

• Women Rising by Meghan Tschanz
  
• Finding Intimacy With Jesus Made Simple by Matthew Robert Payne
  

Book Organisation

Ok, so I have gone through all my past Book Reviews and tried to classify them, so that if you wanted to find a certain type of book that would be easy to do now.  All you have to do is look at the Word Cloud on the right, squint a bit, and then choose the genre you're looking for.

If you have read something based on my recommendation and think that I have missed a classification (from the list below), please comment and I will add it.  Depending where you read, there are 7 or 8 main classifications of genre (I have made sure I covered them all) but there are also 150+ subgenres and classifications that I can't always see the difference between.  As such, some things you'll have to give me artistic license for, such as grouping Paranormal under Fantasy, rather than giving it its own classification.  And I'm surprised to see that despite reading a load of Stephen King and James Herbert as a teen, I haven't got any Horror listed.  That's probably the only addition that I would make.

And, you will notice that some of the links give more than just books listed, especially in the non-fiction list, but you'll just have to cope with scrolling down to find the books for those.

So here is the list of classifications, so that if you did want to find something quickly, you can either click the link below, or the word cloud.

Fiction:
Adventure
Chick-Lit
Childrens
Classic
Cosy
Dystopia
Fantasy
Horror (No link yet, as there are no books yet)
Mystery
Romance
Sci-Fi
Thriller
YA

Non-Fiction:
Bible
Childrens
Christianity
Feminism
Non-Fiction
Real Life
Recipe
Weightloss

Finding Intimacy With Jesus Made Simple by Matthew Robert Payne

 

The blurb says:

Have you got a hunger to be closer to Jesus? Have you got a desire to know Him in a greater way and walk with Him in a deeper relationship? Do you have a thirst for intimacy with Jesus to such a level that you can know secret things about Him? Do you want to walk with Him so close that He directs your every step through the leading of the Holy Spirit?

 This book is separated into over 70 Kingdom Nuggets.  Each Nugget is only a few pages long and goes over some simple truths of the Bible and faith in Jesus - actually, not just faith In Him, but specifically enhancing your relationship With Him, and ends with a simple prayer.

Overall, I really liked this book.  I can't say I agree with the author 100% but overall, but, given this was a free book, I liked his casual writing style, the fact he owns up and is open about various sins, and there is a lot of encouragement within the pages without the author being "Holier Than Thou".  If you're looking for an easy-to-read book of encouragement, this may be what you are looking for.

The Obesity Code by Jason Fung

 

The blurb for The Obesity Code says:

We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but despite being inundated with diet advice we are only getting fatter. We count calories and exercise regularly, yet still the pounds won’t budge. Why?

In this highly readable and provocative book, Dr Jason Fung sets out a groundbreaking new theory: that obesity is caused by our hormones, rather than a lack of self-control.

He reveals that overproduction of insulin in the body is the root cause of obesity and obesity-related illnesses including type 2 diabetes, and offers robust scientific evidence that reversing insulin resistance is the only way to lose weight in the long term.

It turns out that when we eat is just as important as what we eat, so in addition to his five basic steps — a set of life-long eating habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels — Dr Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight — for good.

This book is really clearly organised.  It starts simple, and gently increments knowledge, understanding, and evidence towards the final conclusion.  It is separated into six parts: The Epidemic, The Calorie Deception, A New Model of Obesity, The Social Phenomenon of Obesity, What's Wrong with Our Diet?, and The Solution.

The blurb has given away the main conclusion of this book - that insulin is the main cause of obesity, so we need to lower both our insulin levels and our insulin resistance in our blood - however, I think this is still a good book to read.  I will list the 5 steps to reducing your insulin as follows, but you really need to read the book to fully understand what each of these steps actually mean:

1. Reduce your consumption of added sugars
2. Reduce your consumption of refined grains
3. Moderate your protein consumption
4. Increase your consumption of natural fats
5. Increase your consumption of protective factors.

These all seem like 'common sense', but this book shares the science behind them, which means they should work, rather than blindly following a fad diet.  In addition to what we should be eating, this book highlights the benefits of fasting; whether you follow the 16:8, 5:2, fast for longer periods, or for religious reasons, fasting is a simple way to help each of use control our insulin levels.

Women Rising by Meghan Tschanz

I am on a Faith & Feminism group on Facebook because I think both Christianity and Feminism are important things in our world, not to mention that in some Christian circles, Feminism is considered a dirty word.

One of the admins of that group has recently written a book, Women Rising, so I thought I'd check it out.

The blurb says:

Fresh out of college, hating her job, and searching for meaning, Meghan Tschanz left everything to join a mission trip around the globe, and quickly witnessed oppression experienced by women that she never thought possible.
Over the next several years, she befriended women around the globe who had survived sex trafficking, female genital mutilation, and violence so extreme Meghan wondered at the woman's survival. Through listening to their stories, Meghan started to notice a pattern that pointed to systems of injustice that held women back―systems that her childhood church had taught and in which she was complicit.
She was changed.
Returning to the United States, Meghan became keenly aware of how the teachings and messaging surrounding women in her own upbringing were part of the problem. In the process, she began to find her voice, one that spoke out against injustice and moved her into tension with her Christian community.
Women Rising is Meghan Tschanz's personal journey of transformation. But it's also a Christian blueprint for anyone wanting to confront injustice against women while pointing to a biblical standard for gender equality. With humility and grit, Meghan calls Christian women to amplify their voices for righteousness―and she calls the church to listen.

I found this book to be a book of two halves, but I think that is mainly because of my own misconception. Both halves are important, and I can see why they are put together like this.

The first half of the book is an autobiography about missionary life, and tbh, I think it should be considered essential reading for all who are considering to go into missionary work.  Though it is written with a focus on women, I think it should be read by young men who want to work in the field too.  It is a very honest account of Meghan's journey through many countries, many experiences, and the many things she has learned, not least that she has her own privilege and has fallen foul of white saviourism.

The second half of the book is about how women are treated in the church in America (and it applies to England too, so I could say all the western World).  This was the area of the book that I was most interested in, and it didn't quite go far enough for my liking, but will open the eyes of people who haven't thought this way before.  Meghan has also given references to other books that will go deeper into the subject of patriarchy within Christianity, so I have added those to my wishlist.

All in all, this book is very easy to read, whilst talking about some tough subjects.  As I said, I think this should be compulsory reading for everyone going into mission work, and is an easy introduction for people who are interested in the systemic patriarchy within Christianity (or indeed, it's a quick read for people who don't think there is a problem, to perhaps open their eyes a little).

The only thing I wish (and this is a rarity for me!) is that I didn't buy the kindle version, but a hardcopy that I could pass around.  Definitely worth reading.

The Diet Trap Solution by Beck & Beck

This is the second time I have purposely read through The Diet Trap Solution. It is one that you can keep referring back to when you find your eating going out of control.

The blurb says:

Most diet programmes work at first. We lose a few pounds in a few weeks, but then life happens and the bad habits and the weight return. In this invaluable book, Judith Beck PhD offers the solution to break free from these common diet traps and keep the weight off for life.

Judith Beck explains that when it comes to losing weight, it's not just about what we eat – it's also about how we think. To consistently eat differently, we must learn to think differently. Diets fail us because they don't offer effective strategies for overcoming the common traps – emotional eating, social pressure, dining out – that can derail us. Now, she and her daughter, Deborah Beck Busis, share the techniques they have successfully used with thousands of clients, revealing exactly how to overcome the thoughts and behaviours that have been holding you back.

With The Diet Trap Solution, readers on any diet can learn to identify their specific diet traps, prepare for their personal triggers and create action plans to strengthen their 'resistance muscle' – making losing weight easy, sustainable and enjoyable.

This is another book that I was reading through with my friend, as we try to encourage each other to get healthier and lose weight.  

The book goes through the psychology of dieting and why most diets fail - not because of the diets themselves, but rather because of ourselves.  There are various core strategies that is recommended you do every day (for example, reading through your Advantages List of why it is important to you to lose weight). There are reminder cards for you to carry around with you to help prepare and prevent your sabotaging behaviour, and you are encouraged to think in advance about what normally happens to sabotage your weight loss, and what strategy you will use to mitigate it this time.

At the start of the book there is a quick quiz to determine which traps affect you the most, and then the book goes through each of eight traps in groups of two: Internal Traps, Interpersonal Traps, External Traps, and Universal Traps.  For me, I ticked 'yes' to almost all of them, but even if you don't, I'd recommend you at least skim read through the other chapters, even if you don't pay as much attention to the ones that affect you.

I like this book because it is no nonsense,  Again, it's not a magic pill that will solve all your weightloss problems, but it helps focus your mind.  Whilst some of the suggestions seem like common sense, I dare say that if you perfectly enacted all of them in your daily life, you wouldn't be needing to lose weight.

I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna

 

Given not much else was working, at the start of the year, I purchased I Can Make You Thin.

The blurb says:

Welcome to a revolutionary way to stop overeating, control cravings and feel totally motivated to take exercise. Paul McKenna has developed a breakthrough weight-loss system that re-patterns your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs about yourself, your health and food to help you easily take control of your diet and lose weight permanently.

As you use Paul's amazing system, the latest psychological techniques will automatically help you to start losing weight straight away! You can use it again and again to make you feel happier about yourself as you go all the way to your ideal shape, size and weight.

I remember Paul McKenna from his TV hypnotism where people would act like fools on stage.  But, having used hypnotherapy when I was pregnant, I know that it can work.  Mainly, I got this for the book, because, well, I like books.

I read the book slowly, as I wanted to take in as much as possible, and I listened to the audio/hypnotherapy when I had a spare half hour.  I found that by listening regularly, it helped me keep in mind the positive reasons why I'd like to lose weight and encouraged self belief that I could make it happen.  

Much of the book is common sense, and it dovetails nicely with other books I've been reading concurrently, but having the audio is worth the price of the book itself.  I haven't lost much weight using it; it certainly isn't a cure-all - but the repetition of eating slowly and mindfully does help you develop good eating habits, and this book is much more about a lifestyle change, rather than weightloss (imo, despite the title of the book).

So, would I recommend it?  Actually, yes.  Even though I didn't lose weight using it, it has helped give me the self belief that I am worth it, I deserve to be fit and healthy, and taking just 30min a day to rest and focus on myself, is good for me too.  And as I have made other changes to my life recently, maybe this book and audio have had more, indirect, impact than I thought when I started this review.

 

Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Barrett and Allison

 

Trim Healthy Mama Plan was recommended to me from a friend, and we read it simultaneously, but not together. Despite meeting up fortnightly to discuss the book, we've discovered that this method didn't really work for us, so we have now gone back to reading a set number of chapters each week of a book, and meeting up weekly rather than fortnightly.

The blurb says:

Forget the Fad Diets, Join the Food Freedom Movement!

Counting calories is out. All the food groups are in. Becoming trim and healthy doesn't have to be difficult or painstaking anymore. After trying almost every fad diet out there, Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett, creators of the Trim Healthy Mama movement, took matters into their own hands. Through trial and error and much research, they created the Trim Healthy Mama Plan, the breakthrough lifestyle program to help readers of all ages and stages get healthy, slim down and keep off the weight once and for all.

Based on the authors' successful self-published book, this simplified, improved, practical plan shows readers a unique way to lose weight and get healthy by eliminating sugar, and still eating hearty, delicious food. The biblically-sound and highly effective eating approach centers on Satisfying meals (which include more fats and protein) and Energizing meals (which include more carbs and protein), as they are the key to success.

Scrumptious whole, unprocessed foods, including fats, blood sugar friendly grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables, are eaten in a way that boosts metabolism, yet still fits into anyone's hectic lifestyle. It's family friendly and effective for pregnant and nursing mothers, pre or post- menopausal women, and also those without weight or health issues--even men and growing children.

The book includes menu plans, a list of key super foods to eat on plan, time-saving tips, and pantry stocking and lifestyle advice to help readers successfully reach their goals.

Join the Trim Healthy Mama movement and along with thousands of others, and discover the groundbreaking, easy-does-it, and delicious way to eat for health and weight loss.

From the blurb, we thought this eating plan would dovetail nicely with the 2B Mindset book, You Can Drop It! and the fact they were writing from a Christian point of view is an added bonus.

The essence of this book is that there are two types of meals (S meals which are fat-based, and E means which are carb-based) which your body digests and processes differently.  To stop your body going into a rut or being overloads, you need to mix up these types of foods whilst ensuring a long enough gap between meals/snacks to that your body is being fuelled only by either S or E foods at that sitting.

It is worth noting at this point, that I only had the plan and not the accompanying cookbook.  The book regularly says about recipes that are in the cookbook, or that they can easily be found online (such as on pinterest) for free.  There are a few recipes written within this book, but it is more the theory side of things.

The theory seems sound (to an uneducated person like me), however, when you look at the recipes, there seems to be much need to buy specialist foods.  Rather than sugar, you need stevia, and not only one kind of stevia, but differing blends depending on whether the use it to be very sweet or medium sweet.  Apparently these mixtures are detailed in the cookbook, or you can buy the premixed versions direct from https://trimhealthymama.com/.  Not only sweeteners, they also recommend you buy specific flour blends, collagen, gelatin, glucomannam, whey powder, lecithin, dietary fibre, nutritional yeast, and a host of other oils and flavours to be used in your cooking.  I do believe them when they say this is all natural and good for you, however, I'd rather eat whole foods that provide this or that (even if it's deemed as "less healthy") rather than have a kitchen that is stocked like a Chemistry lab.

So, this diet or eating lifestyle isn't for me.  There are plenty of stories online about how this is amazing and it has worked for them, so if this review hasn't put you off, then it may be worth trying it.

The Daily Message by Eugene H Peterson

 

The Daily Message is a Bible-in-a-Year using The Message version.  I have not read much of The Message version before, but I do like it's simplicity to understand.  It may not be the most accurate in terms of specific words used from the original language, however this translation means the Gospel is more accessible as it gets the meaning across.

The other thing I particularly liked about this book, was that every 7th day was a rest day for reflection on the previous week - for me, this was a catch-up day, so even if I fell behind slightly, I knew that by the start of the next week I would be all caught up.

The blurb says:

The Daily Message is the perfect one-year reading Bible, allowing for both flexibility and time to let the readings soak into your heart and mind. Arranged into six readings per week, this simple, easy-to-do plan will revolutionize your daily quiet time with God. Features include:

• Discipleship Journal’s “Book-at-a-Time” reading plan
• Inspirational words from Psalms or Proverbs and thoughtful questions for deeper reflection
• Alternative reading plans that allow you to start any day of the year and read at your own pace

If you have considered trying to read through the Bible in a year, but thing the task is too mammoth or the language is too antiquated, then this is the book for you. 

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience by Stormie Omartian

 

This was a free download that I got a few years ago, and though it took me some time to get around to it, I am glad that I read this book.  It is only short - a few pages to read each day for 7 days - but I found it helped me to focus back on God and on my prayer-life.

The blurb says:

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience is a free eBook from bestselling author Stormie Omartian, developed using excerpts from Prayer Warrior and Prayer Warrior Prayer and Study Guide. Are you equipped for spiritual battle? Take the next seven days to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Join Stormie as she explains the pieces of armor, what they mean, and how they can help you be a prayer warrior in your spiritual battle. With devotional thoughts, suggested prayers, ways to dig deeper, and opportunities to connect with Stormie and a whole community of prayer warriors, The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience will empower you with the truth that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

What I liked about this book, is that to be a good warrior, we need good armour, so rather than focussing on the same quotes about the importance of prayer, this book goes through the armour of Christ from Ephesians and applies that to our prayer life.  At the end of each short chapter, there is a prayer and some suggestions for further reading, so you can go much deeper if you have more time.

I recommend this free book to all Christians.

A.S.K. God by Andrea G Williams

 

This book is only 52 pages long and the blurb says:

Have you ever felt like you don't have anything to offer the world? Has your mistakes, life experiences, or relationships distract you from going after your purpose? No fear my love, I am here to bring you some good news! God gives us all an assignment to do here no matter what. It is up to us to find out what God put on the inside and walk in that truth. When you walk in your God given purpose, you will discover a continuous overflow of abundance and real joy in your life.

In this book you will learn how to discover your calling, your gifts, and the purpose you never thought you had. You will learn how to use your gifts to serve others while setting up wealth streams. You will learn how to do what you love and still be in alignment with God's will. If you have a gnawing feeling in your belly that there is more to life than this, then you have landed at the right book. It is God's perfect will for you to answer the call, walk it out, and win!

I have to be honest and say I was disappointed in this book.  It doesn't say anything new, and I always worry when books talk about "wealth streams" - it's too much like Prosperity Gospel to me.  That is not to say I totally disliked the book - there are snippets of good things in here.  It is encouraging.  It does reinforce that we should Ask, Seek and Knock (hence the title) and we should look to be using our gifts and live authentically.  However, this book doesn't seem to suggest any more than this.  There is no deep discussion about gifts, nor how to practically apply them to life.  As I say this, I realise it is a short book, so it cannot cover everything, but for me, this book is lacking.

God's Will for our Daily Lives by William J Luke

 

The Blurb says:

Chapter one is the Christian's seven phases of spiritual development from insemination to maturity. Chapter two is the Christian's ongoing sacred duty, following maturity. Chapter three to five is the Christian's nourishment [knowledge and understanding] that is required at phase four of spiritual development, in order to progress to maturity. Chapter six is the Christian's supreme authority. Chapter seven is the Christian's defence against failing their sacred duty.

Other books about God's will for daily life consistently say either that we should, keep the ten commandments, live by the new testament letters, or follow divine inspiration. These are the three main schools of thought today, and they are all flawed.

The bible clearly says that we are to do what Christ says, and this book clearly explains it. From the basic phases of spiritual growth, to the controversial issue of sin in a believer’s life, this book clarifies all of God's will for daily life.

In this groundbreaking explanation of Christ's teaching [sermon on mount], you will find God's will clearly defined and explained. You will learn what God requires of every one of us, including: 

• Spiritual development - from acceptance of Christ's gospel through to maturity.
• Sacred duty - from enduring persecution to producing a testament.
• Rightness in life - concerning the Mosaic Law, works of faith, and Christ's Law.
• Goodness at heart - in relation to God, possessions, and people.
• Rightness in God's sight - concerning the teaching of man, of Christ, and of the devil.

This book summarises and collates the words of Jesus, specifically the Sermon on the Mount, and relating it all to the Parable of the Sower. I particularly liked this books version of the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Lord Jesus Christ.  May your kingdom come and your will be done absolutely upon earth.  Give us all this day our daily requirement of knowledge concerning your will. And forgive us all this day our latest offences, as we forgive all those who repent of having offended us.  And do not let us give in to temptation to live in accordance to what we think or feel is right.  But rather, deliver us all this day from our self-centredness.  For the kingdom of God, the power to forgive sin, and all the glory from our good works, are yours, forever, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Two other sections of this book that I highlighted are:

Christians who have ignorance or misunderstanding in their hearts concerning God's will erroneously believe that salvation is a gift from God, that salvation is received upon conversion, and that continued unrighteousness (sin) following professed conversion means that either, (1) that salvation has not actually been received, or (2) that salvation will ultimately be lost.  They do not understand that God's spirit of graciousness within a person's heart, and that continued sin following conversion does not necessarily have any bearing on a person's salvation.

And:

Therefore, when praying to God, ensure that your requests are for every member of Christ's army - as per the Lord's prayer - rather than just for yourself and those members that you know of.

As this book is focussed on Jesus's words, it is heavily based in the Bible.  It is not too deep or theological, but neither is it a light read.  I found this book a good book to remind me of the sermon on the mount, alongside my usual Bible reading.

The Ultimate Yorkiepoo Dog Manual by Hoopendale and Moore

 

We're getting a Yorkiepoo!  Both Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles are classed as hypoallergenic due to their low/non shedding coats, so having a pup that is a mix of the two breeds is great for me.

The blurb says:

The Ultimate Yorkiepoo Dog Manual will answer all the questions you may have when considering sharing your home with this cute and cuddly intelligent mixed breed.

Learn everything there is to know, including little known facts and secrets, and how to care for every aspect of the Yorkiepoo’s life.

This Manual contains all the information you need, from birth to the Rainbow Bridge, including transitioning through house breaking, care, feeding, training and end of life, so that you can make a well-informed decision about whether or not the Yorkiepoo is the breed for you.

This book really does cover everything you could want to know about the breed, and is worth reading before you've made the decision whether this breed is right for you.  Each chapter is not too long, and goes through things to consider before you buy, how to choose the right do, how to feed and train your puppy, how to socialise your dog, finding the right vet, through to how to care for aging dogs.

This book is primarily aimed at the American market, but there are a few links and example prices for the UK too. I would say that probably only half the book is specific to yorkiepoos - the other half being sensible advice for any breed of dog.  Whereas Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy focussed on training (and I will follow that book, rather than the short chapter in this one), this book covers all the other parts of looking after a pet and has given me confidence that I know more what to expect.  

If you already own this breed, or are experience with other small breeds of dogs, this probably isn't the book for you.  However, if you are a total newbie like me, it is worth giving it a read.

Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy by Steve Mann

If you don't follow me on Facebook (and if not, why not?!) you may not have seen the news that we have put down a deposit on a puppy.  We can't bring her home for another fortnight, but we are in love with her already.

So, as is my way, I have immediately bought and read a load of books about dogs.  Oh, maybe not a load, but I have bought two for myself and two for my girls.  And yes, I have read them all already.

The first of these is Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy and it contains a wealth of information.

The blurb says:

My name's Steve Mann and I've been a professional dog trainer and behaviourist for over 30 years. As founder of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, I've helped transform the lives of over 100,000 dogs and their families - and now I want to help you, too!

Whether you're living with a brand-new puppy, an adult dog or rescue dog, my methods will give you everything you need to know. Using simple, proven, science-based and ethical techniques, I'll show you how to have the best relationship with your pup, as well as teaching you how to get:

super-fast recalls, great loose lead walking, perfect manners and much, MUCH more...

I promise, it really is easy peasy and every tip, trick and lesson will bring you and your puppy closer together.

I'll see you on the other side.

This is a really well written book. It is casual enough that you feel like you are having a conversation with Steve, yet it is full of solid advice, ways to approach your pet, tips and tricks (though in reality, there is no trick, other than starting training your dog right and don't use violence or aggression to them).

I'm not going to go into what the book teaches too much, because this is a book that I think is worth you buying, but I now have a list of key words stuck to my fridge, and I feel more confident looking after a new member of the family.

If you have a puppy, or want one, read this book, and if you have an older dog, you may be interested to know that Steve Mann has a book aimed at older dogs too.

Actually Factually by Guy Campbell

I don't know why this book was in my list of books to read - I can only assume that my husband got it for the children, thinking they would like it.  However, I do like tidbits of information, so I chose this as my next non-fiction book to read.

This book is a collection of oft-quoted sayings followed by a discussion about whether they are true or not, and covers a wide range of topics.

The blurb says:

A fascinating collection of misunderstandings, mistakes and misconceptions, "Actually Factually" reveals the reality behind just a few of the myths that get mixed up with truth. If you really thought that Christopher Columbus discovered America or that Henry VIII definitely had six wives this book will bring you right back to Earth with a bump.

Full of fantastic facts to wow your teachers, friends and family, the entries include: your hair and nails continue to grow after you die; a goldfish has a memory of about three seconds; water goes down the plughole the other way in Australia; ship's Captains can perform marriage ceremonies and more.

As an adult, there was nothing new in her, but for a child I can imagine it being quite interesting.  Each chapter is only a few pages long, and though there are scientific discussions, nothing is too heavy for a 8+ year old to understand.

Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure

 Reshaping It All was recommended to me by my friend, and we read it together over a couple of months.

Candace made her name in the US Sitcom Full House (which I hadn't heard of before, but I've started watching the sequel Fuller House with my girls.  It's light, easy entertainment.  Yes, it's predictable with some bad/dad jokes, but is good clean fun) and as she grew up, she found herself putting on weight.
This book is an overview of her life, how she lost weight, and her relationship with God.

The blurb says:

Candace Cameron Bure first became known to millions as a co-star on the hit ABC television series Full House. Today, like her brother Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains, Fireproof), she is the rare Hollywood actor who is outspoken about her Christian faith and how it helps overcome certain obstacles.

Bure’s healthy lifestyle has been featured in US Weekly and People magazines as well as national talk shows including The View and NBC’s Today. In Reshaping It All, she continues the story, inspiring women to embrace a healthier lifestyle by moving faith to the forefront, making wise choices, and finding their worth in the eyes of God. Candace shares a candid account of her struggle with food and ultimately her healthy outlook on weight despite the toothpick-thin expectations of Hollywood.

More than a testimony, here is a motivational tool that will put readers on the right track and keep them there. In addition to practical advice, Candace offers a biblical perspective on appetite and self control that provides encouragement to women, guiding them toward freedom.

 As with the other weightloss books I've been reading, I can track the impact this book has had on me.  Whilst I have lost weight, it is only by half a kilo, as unfortunately I put a fair bit of weight on whilst I was reading this book. 

Overall, I did enjoy this book, and had I not read other weightloss books recently, I'm sure it would have had more impact.  This book is mainly story/advice, with each chapter ending with a letter she has written to a fan, an inspirational quote, relevant Bible verses and a recipe to try.

Joyful by Toks Adebiyi

 

The blurb says:

Successful or not. Rich or poor. People use plenty of terms to determine and define happiness—but is it really joy they're seeking? Author Toks Adebiyi shares examples from his time in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom in the inspirational memoir Joyful. Like many others, Toks got caught up in the push for wealth and popularity and dreamed of becoming the next Richard Branson or Robert Kiyosaki. But when events in his life brought him back down to earth, he began to redefine what joy meant to him. Here, Toks shares what he found, laying out a path for others to follow in advice-filled chapters such as "Loving Yourself" and "Mind Your Environment." All throughout, he includes action points to aid others in their own pursuit of joy. Joyful is specifically targeted at young readers and families. This lighthearted, easy-to-read guide will help you find what matters most in your life—and what you really need to find inner peace.

I found this book to be a mixed bag. 

At first the book reads as if it adheres to the Prosperity Gospel, but if you persevere you realise this isn't the case.  There is also much of this book that is just biography, and anecdotes of his own inspirations and prejudices.  The chapters are very, very short, I hadn't realised that it was purposely aimed at young readers, so that may be the reason why? 

And some of the comparisons are hilarious - when discussing the idiom [paraphrased] "the wealthiest people are not always the richest and the richest people are not always the wealthiest" he gives the example of someone who has a one hundred million pounds of savings but is depressed and gets divorced, compared to someone who has one hundred thousand pounds of savings, who is happy and content. £100,000!!!! That's still someone who is really really rich!  I do agree that you can be economically poor, yet rich in life, but this was not the example to choose!

However, within the book are nuggets and gems, hidden amongst the other stuff.  I got the book because it was free on Kindle, and if you can get it for free it is definitely worth reading.

The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D. A. Carson

My Growth Group at church has, for this year, been going through Cedarville University's Old Testament Literature course by Dr. Chris Miller.  I've really enjoyed going through these lectures each week, and despite having read the Bible many times, there is plenty that I have missed.  I recommend this for everybody interested in learning more about the Old Testament.  I wish I had seen it when I was a knew Christian, but I equally recommend it for those long in the faith, as there is always more to learn!

Anyway, during one of the lectures, Dr. Miller recommended a book: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D. A. Carson. 

The Blurb says:

The theme of the love of God is inexhaustible, both in our experience and our theology. We will reflect on it and adore him for eternity. In today's world, however, it is a theme that has been taken for granted and treated as easily understood. Many see God in sentimental ways: he is a kind old man in the sky who wouldn't harm a fly, or an easy-going friend who gives them presents and helps them out of every difficult spot. 'God loves me,' cries one person, 'so surely he won't punish me.' 'God loves the whole world,' cries another, 'so we needn't worry about who will be saved.'
But is it really that easy? What does the Bible teach about God's love? What does it have to say about the wrath of the loving God, or about the loving God who is also sovereign Lord?
In this book, Don Carson turns his attention to these vital questions. He wants us to get a new perspective - one that sees God as awesome and glorious as well as loving. He wants us to take seriously the need for justice to be done and for God to be Lord. But most of all, he wants us to understand that these things are included in God's love, not opposed to it, and so to reach an even greater, richer, more 'truth-full' picture of the wonderful love of God.

I was  pleasantly surprised by this book.  I was expecting it to be very heavy and difficult reading, but it was interesting to a layman like me.  It goes through all the different facets of God's love, and why if you reduce His love to either "God loves everybody regardless" or "God only loves His own" you miss important understanding of who God is, you miss His mercy and judgement, you miss facets of His personality and indeed His enduring love, and reduce Him to a caricature or cliche, neither of which does Him justice.

You Can Drop It! by Ilana Muhlstein

I read this book with my friend as we look to encourage each other with our weightloss aims.

I suggested we read this because I loosely follow the 2B Mindest (click on the word cloud to see my other posts) and I like what it says and what it stands for.  I makes sense - both common sense, and it is back by science and research. It is not a fad diet, but a skill to learn in order to approach food sensibly.

The blurb says:

My name is Ilana Muhlstein and I wrote You Can Drop It! to help you learn my personal and proven system to drop weight and keep it off—without sacrifice—and it’s so simple that you’ll love it! This unique approach has become famous thanks to my renowned 2B Mindset program. The 2B Mindset is designed with the built-in ability for customization so that it is optimally effective and can work for everyone. It has already helped thousands of people lose weight—some more than 100 pounds—while never asking them to go hungry or cut out the foods that they love.

You Can Drop It! doesn’t just give you the key knowledge you need to lose weight. It adds motivational principles and real-life examples and it’s the perfect complement to my successful program.

No counting calories! 

No portion control!

No feeling hungry! 

No off-limits foods! 

No exercise required!

Finally—weight loss with FREEDOM!

Here’s Exactly Why YOU CAN DROP IT! Will Work:
You're going to feel full and satisfied. (You can still eat comforting foods, in big portions, and enjoy 50+ delicious recipes inside.) 

You’ll eat the foods you love. (Nothing is off-limits, not even dessert or a glass of wine.) 

You’ll be in control. (Say goodbye to emotional and mindless eating.)  

You can finally keep off the weight! (These powerful weight-loss tools will be yours for life.)

The 2B Mindset method changed my life and thousands of others. With this book, you’ll learn how you can do it, too. Best of all, you won’t be doing it alone! Join me now and let’s get started with a journey into the mindset that will give you a lifetime of feeling strong, lean, confident, happy and healthy!

I struggled with yo-yo dieting the whole first half of my life. I was always the big one in the group. By the time I turned 13, I weighed over 200 pounds, and I felt terrible about myself. That’s when I realized I had to break the cycle.

Through trial and error, and lots of research, I discovered a simple and effective way to lose weight, while still eating large portions and the foods I loved. Over time, I lost 100 pounds, and kept the weight off. . . even after having two beautiful children.

My secret? It’s called the 2B Mindset. It has helped thousands of my clients lose weight too— and now it will help you.

I’ve helped more than 240,000 people between my private practice and the 2B Mindset program— and this impressive group is growing by the day. I am committed to getting everyone within our growing community the results they want and deserve and I look forward to helping you, too.

That’s why I spend so much time working with my Mindset Membership community—which you will love being a part of as you read this book and beyond. That’s where I host live Q&As, have one-on-one sessions, provide new meal plans and add new recipes every single week. Now it’s your turn to finally get the body you want—and I have every tool here for you to do it! 

As someone who already has access to all the 2B Mindset videos, recipes and help on offer, I found the book didn't add anything.  It was a good reminder, and we all know how much I like books, so I wouldn't say it was a waste of money for me, but certainly wasn't necessary.

Much of the book goes through all the different facets of the 2B Mindset, including why it's called the 2B Mindset, and why I hashtag some of my posts with #WaterFirst and #Veggies Most.  There is a lot of information in this book, on not too many pages, so it shouldn't feel overwhelming to anyone.

The last chapter is a bit of a sales pitch, which is kinda understandable, but kinda annoying too.  That said, I did lose weight whilst reading it! 1.5kilos over 6 weeks isn't bad going, especially if I can keep it off.  I also made lots of the food and recipe suggestions too - I don't know how I lived my life before enjoying Roasted Cabbage Steaks or Noah's Ark Dressing (which goes with almost everything!).

If you haven't heard of the 2B Mindset before, I certainly recommend the book, as well as to follow the FB pages that give daily reminders of ways to think about food, and various recipe ideas.

If you already follow the 2B Mindset, it probably isn't worth getting unless you're a bibliophile like me.