Books I Read In December

December was such a fun month for reading. Not only did I get to read a couple of fun Christmas stories, the variety of genres I chose really made it interesting. And there were some really unique ideas in this collection, especially in storytelling and layouts for plots and timelines.

Just for the fun of it, I got an escape room advent calendar book. Mystery Escape Room Advent Calendar was filled with puzzles and codes to help you figure out the mystery - which was great! Hints and solutions are included in the back, and I definitely needed them a couple of times. The storyline was very well-thought out with a surprise around every turn.

I'd already read Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret, but it seemed appropriate to read it again right before Christmas. I adore Stevenson's books, and the setup of 24 chapters, 24 clues, 24 days up to Christmas is phenomenal. No hints...but it's not who you think it is! Love it!

For my December history book, I chose Beneath the Sands of Egypt, Donald P. Ryan's archeological adventures over the past few decades. I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, and it was so interesting to get past the romanticized world of Egyptology and learn what excavation and discovery are really like. Very, very good book.

I grabbed Cigars, Whiskey, and Winning: Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant off the shelf at the thrift store as soon as I saw it. Al Kaltman had the brilliant idea of walking the reader through the General's victories and losses in chronological order through the Civil War. He then relates those leadership truths to the business world, revealing how we can apply Grant's attitudes and belief system to our own organizations. This one gets a reread in the next couple of years, for sure.

The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry breaks down Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things arepure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things - and how our thought lives affect our actions and our relationships. I came away with several truths that I can apply to my everyday life, both personally and professionally, ways to fill my mind with the positive words of Scripture instead of the filth of the world.

You may not be able to see it in the picture, but my 7-month-old dachshund puppy got ahold of An Unusual Amish Winter Match, so I won't be able to reread this copy. But it was a good book with a sweet love story and lots of rescued animals to make you smile. I wasn't sure how this couple was going to end up together in the end, so it was a fun journey to take with them. Now to keep an eye out for another copy!

I am still obsessed with Grace Livingston Hill, and I thoroughly enjoyed the three I read this month. Where Two Ways Meet was written in 1946, Amourelle in 1934, and The Honor Girl in 1927. As I've said before, they were contemporary Christian romance novels in their time, and they're just as applicable today as then for their witness, testimony, and presentation of the gospel. I love the insight into each of the decades they were written in, and even though some of them can be very dark because of the time period, they are amazing snapshots of the moment she was living in. I only have a handful left that I haven't read yet, but there's always January!

What was on your reading list in December?

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