Well 2017 brings the big 3-0 birthday in just a few months, so I figured why not make sure I read 30 great books. I made a list as any Type A might. The fun, and mostly fictional ones first. But since I am turning 30 there are ones for improving the future me. Enjoy! Add some recommendations in the comments.
Books for fun.
It’ll Be Fine: A True Story
by Rebecca Rose
It is her Debut book. A memoir (a look into her diaries) about her relationship with her future husband, who happens to be in the US Military. I knew Rebecca in Middle School and she was a sweet talented girl then so I am excited see what she has become.
A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel
by Amor Towles
From a best seller author, you see all the buzz about any new book. But this one appealed to the historian in me. How could someone not be interested in a story of a man sentenced to live his life in a hotel, in a country that is changing around him?
The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak
Books, a place to hide from the world outside. Who could not resist? I am quite slow at getting this book read, but curious about the character Death.
The Quiet Gentleman (Regency Romances)
By Georgette Heyer
I love Jane Austen novels but you can only read them over so many times. Georgette Heyer is not a replacement but her writing is similar, in its wit and entertainment. I have loved all of her books, especially Grand Sophie. Such talent. And I can’t wait to read this delight.
The Velvet Hours
By Alyson Richman
This book came out in Sept 2016. It is a story based on the actual finding of an intact Pre-WWII apartment in France. Can’t wait to see where Alyson’s story takes us.
1984 (Signet Classics)
By George Orwell
Somehow I managed to make it through High School and a history degree without reading this book. I consider this book a bucket list book. Plus, I want to understand the Big Brother context that is often referenced as it definitely applies to the tech world today.
Behind a Mask: Or, A Woman’s Power
By Louisa May Alcott
This writer has always been a favorite of mine. I did not know that she had written a “racy” book. It is fascinating to see another part of an author. The one often hidden away, as this one was under a pseudonym.
No Other Will Do
By Karen Witemeyer
Karen Witemeyer writes very entertaining Western Christian Romance. I enjoy reading her first book, A Tailor-Made Bride, but I put down a few of her others because they were too obvious. This book caught my attention because it has an assailant, who attacks a woman’s colony. Not a typical plot for this genre.
Desert Gold
By Zane Grey
If you are writing westerns, you have to read the best. People claim he is one of the best and original. Can’t wait.
All the Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr
Occupied France during WWII. A French girl, who is blind, and a German boy try to survive in Paris. Need I say more.
The Secret Keeper: A Novel
By Kate Morton
I want to finish this one. A daughter watches her mother murder a man and never says a word. Then as the mother is in a hospital bed dying, she has flashbacks brought on by a picture one of her daughter’s finds. Who is the secret keeper and is the murder the only secret? Off to the library.
Like a Flower in Bloom
By Siri Mitchell
A story of a woman, who after years of assisting her botanist father, is now on the marriage mart. She finds herself in a mess of her own making, but no husband prospect that appreciates her intelligence. I enjoy Siri’s storytelling and look forward to reading this one.
The Messenger
By Siri Mitchell
Sometimes our religion and our belief for right get complicated. Siri’s Hannah addresses that problem as best she can with a good conscious. Her twin brother leaves their Quaker values to join the army, only to end up in jail. Hannah has to decide if she will help him or leave him and his fellow men. Looks like a intriguing book.
Montana Marriages Trilogy
By Mary Connealy
Cute and enjoyable. I love real Christian Romance novels and Ms. Connealy appears to make her characters with flaws. So many romance writers get so caught in the romance that they don’t add the real world issues that impact that love or try to destroy it.
When We Were Strangers: A Novel
By Pamela Schoenewaldt
This book appealed to me because it starts with this eerily foreboding message that Irma’s mother tells her she will die among strangers. What is a single girl to do? Especially after her mother dies. The book is about discovering that you have more to offer the world. Don’t we all want to feel that we have something wonderful to offer?
The Color Project
By Sierra
This book is not being released until Nov 2017. The Color Project is a charity organization that the heroine buries herself in to hide from her personal life. The man running the organization wants to know her better and there comes a point where he will, whether the heroine wants him to or not.
Books to better my future:
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
By Jen Sincero
So I have actually started this book a bit early, and I have to say that I am not as impressed with it as I had hoped. Jen uses swear words when professional language would do quite well. She has a few good points but nothing original so far. I will finish and post my review on an upcoming blog.
The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively
By Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D.
My husband and I finished reading the Five Love Languages for Couples and loved it. It has brought us closer together. But we also are a family and we want to encourage love in our children, so they know that they are loved by our whole family. Looking forward to this improvement in our house.
Women, Food, and Desire: Honor Your Cravings, Embrace Your Desires, Reclaim Your Body
By Alexandra Jamieson
So this title has made my list since I heard her interview on the Model Health Show podcast. (FYI – Great podcast). Alexandra was involved with the Super Size Me project and in this book she discusses embracing food and your feminine emotions. Let’s face it as women we are emotional eaters. I am looking forward to learning about her experience in embracing her emotions and food.
Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet
By Jesse Itzler
So this man is cray-cray in a good way. I think? This man is an entrepreneur that will try about anything, which includes allowing a Seal to live in his house for a month and train him. No wimpy stuff. I am reading this to see how this man ignores the little voice inside his head that says, “hey, don’t do this. You are crazy.” Side note: He is married to Sara Blakely, the Spanx creator.
How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination
By Sally Hogshead
As an author or even as a person, it is important to understand how others perceive you. Often it is not the same as you see yourself, which I have learned in the last year. I felt this book would be important in the development of my brand as an author and also to understand myself at a deeper level.
The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom
By Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig
Our household did Whole30 in May 2016, but we did not read the book. It changed how we look at food. We may love the taste but after this diet we realized the impact food makes on our stomachs, emotions, and brain function. We want to get even more information when we implement Whole30 again this year.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Author of Eat, Pray, Love opens up about the creative side and the struggle within each creative being. Excited to open the door to how to embrace the creativeness and understand the gifts I have been given.
GIRLBOSS
By Sophia Amoruso
From the Founder of Nasty Gal and her story to success. She has mixed reviews on Goodreads but I am curious to see a different experience from a woman’s perspective.
Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade
By Robert B. Cialdini
I will just admit it now. I know nothing about marketing or enticing people to buy things. So in order to make a successful go at being an author and blogger, this is a must read for me.
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
By Josh Waitzkin
Maybe it is hitting thirty that makes one realize that we know nothing and we need to know so much more. This book is actually on my husband’s list and we are planning to read it together. Learn together, stay together. Or something less cliche.
Even though I have an active plan in place for my depression. I feel like you can never have enough help to keep the evil inner tormentor away. So bring on the information.
Hormones, Health, and Happiness: A Natural Medical Formula for Rediscovering Youth with Bioidentical Hormones
By Steven F Hotze, Kelly Griffin
I am a earthy health freak and I love understanding the why behind why our bodies act the way we do. I am not reading this to rediscover youth but rather to keep healthy to be young longer.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
By Charles Duhigg
Are my habits good or bad? Can we changed them to improve our life? Absolutely. But why do we do these habits?
StrengthsFinder 2.0
By Tom Rath
Time to stop focusing on what we do bad or wrong. Why not do what you do best so you can enjoy life and have confidence? Self examination is important to improving. Do I know all my gifts? I doubt it. Do you know yours and are you using them to make a better world?
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Whitney Buckley 