Monthly Reflections (#12) ~ December

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Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

My goals for December were...

☑Read 9 books, including:
☑1 non-fiction

In December I...

Read 21 books!
1 non-fiction

Books read:

Reviews:

Evacuation by Jennifer Hartz

Offworld by Robin Parrish

The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott

Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock

Dark Hearted by D.I. Telbat

Shadows of Pain by Ashley Dawn

Engraved by Amber Garza

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day by Daryl Aaron

Interviews:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Melanie Dickerson
Jennifer Delamere
Cathy Bryant



I was awarded the Sunshine award!

My thoughts on this month:

I'm very happy with what I read this month! I read way more than I had hoped! :)

Looking ahead:

Here is what I hope to accomplish in January:

Read 10 books, including:
2 eBooks

If you want to do your own Monthly Reflections, feel free to grab the button and post about it on your blog, then leave a comment with the URL - otherwise, please share your thoughts in a comment!

Now it's your turn! What did you accomplish in December, what do you hope to accomplish in January?

Review: Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day by Daryl Aaron

Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day by Daryl Aaron

Bethany House / 2012

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:


An Easy-to-Use Guide to Christian Theology

Theology can be intimidating, even overwhelming. Where do you start? How is it important to the Christian life? What are the key topics that you need to understand? How do you make time to study something so complex without going to Bible college or seminary?

In Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day, professor and former pastor Daryl Aaron answers forty critical questions about the Christian faith. Arranged by topic, you can choose the areas that interest you or systematically read through the book. Each section is short and easy to understand. You'll come away with a deeper faith as you learn about the nature of God, heaven, the Bible, church, and even yourself.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day is a wonderful book for people who want to learn about theology in an easy-to-understand way. Even though the book is short (around 200 pages), I think things were explained very well.

A few of my favorite quotes are:

"As noted in chapter 15, we are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are (born) sinners." ~Page 90

"At some level, all people are theologians, whether they know it or not." ~Page 16

"As with God's love, we must never take for granted God's mercy and grace demonstrated through Jesus Christ. When we remember we are sinners who deserve punishment and can do nothing to impress God, that he is just, owes us nothing, and ought to give us what we deserve - eternal death - grace becomes truly amazing." ~Page 53

Overall, I loved Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day - it was great to learn more about theology. I loved what was said in the epilogue:

"You have merely dangled your toes in the deep ocean of the amazing things of God." ~Page 211

So true! I look forward to learning more and more about theology. I recommend Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day to anyone who wants to learn a little about theology.

*I received this book for free from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

Review: The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

A Deep Haven Novel, Book Five

Tyndale House / 2012
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage. After twenty-five years, they’re contemplating divorce . . . just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases part of Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly steps into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember? Will their secrets destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future?

My rating:

My thoughts:

The Shadow of Your Smile is the second Deep Haven novel I've read (the first being book six, You Don't Know Me). I know, I'm reading them out of order, but it hasn't affected my enjoyment of the stories so far. 

I loved The Shadow of Your Smile! It was different than the majority of books I've read, as the main characters were already married. I seem to love stories where a character loses his/her memory and this one was no different. I found it very interesting to read the Hueston's story as Noelle struggles to regain her memory and reenter her life. I also loved the subplot romance between two of the characters.

I found The Shadow of Your Smile to be very realistic and just a really great read. Even though there was one thing I didn't like, overall it was still too good to give it any less than 5 stars. :) I look forward to reading more Deep Haven novels in the future.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

Weekend Wrap-Up & Giveaway Winner!

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and hope to read this coming week, and (when applicable) the current giveaways/giveaway winners. Occasionally I'll post some other stuff as well.

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've accomplished (reading-wise) this past week. :)

 What I've read this week:



What I'm currently reading:

 What I hope to read next week:

Reviews posted this week:

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

  Current Giveaways!

Enter to win an eBook copy of Dark Liaison and Dark Hearted by D.I. Telbat! Open Internationally! Ends 12/31



Enter to win a copy of An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere! Open Internationally!



Enter to win a copy of A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson! US and Canada only. Ends 1/6



Enter to win a print copy of The Way of Grace by Cathy Bryant! US only.

Giveaway Winner!


The winner is...

Rachel (time4us2havetea@...)*

*Winner has been contacted and has until Jan. 3rd to claim their prize.

There you have it, that is what I accomplished (reading-wise) this week! What about you?