Favorite Books of the Year and a Giveaway!

UPDATE: The winner of the book drawing is Shari B.! Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon and ordering you the book of your choice. Thank you, everyone, for participating!

It’s my favorite post of the year! The one where I share all my favorite books and give one away – stay with me till the end so you can enter to win!

Before I start with my list, let me say that 2020 has been hard on so many levels, and it was definitely not my best reading year. You’d think, with being quarantined for months, my book list would be a mile long. But unfortunately that isn’t the case. Most nights, by the time my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep, and on the rare nights I did have time to read, I could hardly make it through 3 or 4 pages before my eyes became too heavy to keep open. But here are some of my favorite books (in no particular order) from 2020:

1. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: A true story of a man born to a white father and black mother in South Africa, this book follows Trevor Noah’s life, struggles, and successes, all with touches of humor and poignancy.
2. Prince Warriors series by Priscilla Shirer: Jonah and I read this series early in 2020 and we both loved it. The books follow a group of friends who are swept away to another land and battle evil beings. Priscilla Shirer is a Bible teacher and author who wrote these stories for her own children as they were growing up to show them the truths of God’s Word. It’s a great series for 8-12 year olds so if you’re still on the hunt for Christmas gifts for a child in your life, these would be a great addition! I’ve linked to the first book, but there are 4 in the series.
3. Next Year in Havana: This was my absolute FAVORITE book of 2020! I’m not sure why it was so captivating. Maybe it was the historical fiction story or the rich beauty, cuisine, and culture that were described. Whatever the reason, I loved this book! The chapters alternate between 1960’s Cuba and present day, and it follows the story of a wealthy family exiled from Cuba, a mystery surrounding one of the family members, and a granddaughter on the hunt to solve the mystery.
4. Her Daughter’s Mother: The Amazon caption says this: “She befriended the one woman she was never supposed to meet. Now she’s the key suspect in her disappearance. For fans of The Perfect Mother and The Wife Between Us comes a gripping psychological suspense debut about two strangers, one incredible connection, and the steep price of obsession.” How could you not want to pick up this book after reading that review? Warning: There is some strong language, so if that is offensive to you, take a pass on this one.
5. Evvie Drake Starts Over: This is a sweet love story and a quick, easy read. If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t require much concentration but is still a great story, this might be just the book for you. There is some language but the love story part is clean. This would be a good beach read if you have a vacation coming up.
6. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate: Ok. This heart wrenching story follows a family whose children were stolen in the middle of the night and taken to a children’s home where all manner of abuses were inflicted on them. The mystery of the past is eventually uncovered by a granddaughter of one of the stolen children.This is another book which switches from past to present and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you cry for these children yet eventually rejoice in the outcome.
7. Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge: I have read a couple of John Eldredge’s books and I think he is a fascinating author and teacher. He has such a way with words and makes me really think about the truths of Scripture. In this book, he basically asks this question: “Who is Jesus to you?”
8. The Senator’s Children by Nicholas Montemarano: This book had been on my to-be-read list for over a year and I was finally able to get to it. It wasn’t what I expected at all but still, it was very good. The story follows a family of a prominent senator, his bid for the White House, and some unfortunate decisions that lead his family down an unexpected path. It’s a great, quick read, and I think almost everyone will enjoy it!
9.  The Orphan Keeper: I cannot get enough stories about adoption or about India, but I promise I’m not recommending this book just because it’s about both of those things. This is a fascinating story based on real life events (who can resist a true story?) of a man named Taj who had been stolen off the streets of India as a child and later adopted by an American couple. It reveals the horrors of child trafficking and the very real struggle adopted children deal with, even as adults. Read it and let me know what you think.
10. The Dearly Beloved: This was described by the Modern Mrs. Darcy as a “quiet book,” and it definitely is. Nothing outrageously exciting happens yet it’s a beautiful story of faith and doubt and friendships and support. I loved it.
11. 40 Day Sugar Fast: I read this book and worked through it while fasting from sugar several months ago. I even wrote several posts about it if you want to go back and read through them. If you find yourself running to sugar to fulfill you instead of running to Jesus, this might be just the book for you!
12. Bad Blood: This is the true story of a Silicon Valley start-up called Theranos, which promised all sorts of amazing things with their innovative lab equipment. The only problem was – it didn’t actually work. I was actually horrified and intrigued simultaneously while reading how the company started, who the financial backers were, and how the founder lied her way through years and years of research and inspections. Warning: Lots of medical equipment technicalities (which I skipped over). I don’t need to know all the details. Ha!
13. The Lost Man by Jane Harper: So far, I have loved everything by Jane Harper and this book did not disappoint. It follows the story of one family in the Australian outback, the mysterious death of one of the brothers, and years of secrets. It’s an ending I didn’t see coming!
14. Simply Tuesday: This book by Emily P Freeman spoke to my soul in the exact moment I needed it. Emily reminds us all that God is with us in the small quiet moments, the mundane moments, as well as all the big moments of life. I needed the reminder that He can use me while I’m folding laundry or talking to my neighbor or cooking yet another dinner for my family. If you are feeling defeated or exhausted, this little book might be a great respite for you.

So, which book would you like to read? Leave a comment here on the blog or on Facebook, letting me know which one sounds intriguing to you .You will then be entered in a giveaway to win that book of your choice! All entries must be in by Friday, December 18, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.  Once all the entries are in, I will draw the winner, who will be notified by email. (Facebook is not a sponsor of this drawing)

Get your entries in now! And Happy Reading!