What I'm Reading in January

My favorite post of the month!  As I sit here and look at the gloom outside my window, I'm wishing that I could be at home, under my blanket, reading one of these good books... but work calls... after all, I have to earn money to buy more books!  Thought I'd take a break from student learning outcomes to give you a peep at what I'm reading this month.

I'm also linking up with Book Musings Monday, a site that focuses on Christian reading.  I'm providing a disclaimer at the end of each book description if it isn't Christian reading, so you can just skip right over those if you choose.

I set a goal of reading 125 books this year.  That's just over 10 books a month.  Last year, I read well over this number, ranging from 5-17 books per month, so this goal is definitely achievable! 

Here's what I'm reading right now...

The Liberation of Alice Love- This book focuses on Alice, a young woman at the prime of her life. She isn't too excited about her job, but she's making big girl decisions like obtaining a mortgage payment, only to find out someone is using her identity and has destroyed her credit rating. It's pretty good so far... a little language, but a very relevant plotline.  Scary stuff, actually! *Not Christian fiction

Life In Spite of Me- This book is the true story of a 19 year old who decided to end her life on a set of train tracks... only to be spared.  I'm just now getting into this book, and the beginning grabbed me from the get go.  I like Kristen.  She's down to earth and up front.  I can't wait to see where it's headed, because I know God has big plans for her!

Rhett Butler's People... This is an authorized book by the Margaret Mitchell Foundation.  I've had it for awhile, but when Kami got me the authorized book about Mammy by the same author for Christmas, I knew I had to read this one first... and it's good.  It's all about Rhett before he was kicked out of West Point and before he met Scarlett. *Not Christian fiction

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn- This is another one that I've had for a while.  Written by the author of Gone Girl (which I loved) this book is difficult to read at times.  It traces the story of a young lady whose brother killed her entire family when she was seven.  As she tries to figure out exactly what happens that evening, she learns about herself.  It has some significant language issues and deals with some pretty delicate topics, so if you're easily offended I can't recommend this one with a clean conscience.  *Not Christian fiction

The Lost Wife- This is another book I've just read a little in.  It's set in modern day, but also goes back to WW2 era... and I love anything written about WW2.  *Not Christian fiction

The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis- This is one that was chosen by one of the book clubs that I subscribe to on facebook a couple of months ago, but I never got around to it.  It's about an Amish girl who has befriended a rich socialite via mail. Both are trying to figure out just who they are.  The characters are likeable and it is an easy read.

A Casual Vacancy- This book focuses on small town politics in England and it is really good.  When one of the council men die suddenly, the community scrambles and reacts. There's rival with a nearby community, teenage angst, and just enough love thrown in.  There's a little bit of language in this one, too... but so far it is a good read. *Not Christian fiction

The Moment Between- This book is one I got free a couple of years ago and just  had never read.  It is about a woman who had a love/hate relationship with her sister growing up, and what that relationship meant for her future.  Again, the characters are likeable.... but the story is a little hard to follow at times. 

Heart of the Story: The Family of Jesus- I've been taking a break on this one, as I'm completing it with a Bible study group at church, but it is really good and I'm looking forward to digging back in.

The Circle Maker- I've heard so much about this book.  I'm just a chapter in but I can tell I'm going to like it... the writer is engaging and it is about praying, which seems to have been a theme for me at the end of the year into the new year...

100 Days of Kindness- Since my word of the  year is love, I saw this free ebook and downloaded it... all about random acts of kindness that we can use to show our love.  Most of them so far are easy things that you wouldn't really think make a difference, but in our rushed society, a little can go a long way.  Smile at someone today!

I'm reading The Chronological Bible.  There's a reading plan where I will read around 3-4 chapters a day and get through the entire Bible in a year.  It always amazes me how I can read a passage over and over again, but if I'm open, God can show me something new!!!

On the To read list: I'm still searching for those Outlander books.  I've got Love Does and the book Kami bought me for Christmas.  American Sniper, which is set to release as a movie in a couple of weeks, is on my nightstand.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Locke, the Red Glove collection by Karen Kingsbury, and Leaving Time. 

Oh, who am I kidding? There's too many to count!!! Even though I don't like snow, a couple of snow days would be nice =)

I'd love to hear what you're reading.... and maybe what your best book of 2014 was?