Books I Read In March

I had the best month reading in March. Some of these books were ones I'd had forever, some I just picked up over the past few weeks. Some are by my favorite authors, others I'd never heard of before. 

Reading is both an adventure and a comfort zone, and this collection of books made me happy beyond words. Unlike some months where I don't even share some of the books I didn't particularly like, I would recommend every single one of these 13 books.

Bible study books:
Renovate: Building A Life With God by Jacob Armstrong. I adore the book of Nehemiah, and this Bible study compares rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with rebuilding the spiritual house of your own life. Such a good book!

Living in Love with Jesus by Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli. A study in 1 John and Esther, put together with classic art from the masters, these two lovely ladies share stories and lessons to make you think. I highlighted half the book as I noticed and understood things I'd never thought about before.

History: 
Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author's detailed account of some of the most important relationships from the Revolutionary War era. The best chapter was an in-depth look at George Washington's Farewell Address, looking at the themes in it, who actually wrote it, and what Washington said about a great many things as he was preparing to leave office and go sit under his "own vine and fig tree."

The Bulletproof George Washington by David Barton. Not only did George Washington survive innumerable battles and enemies, he fully attributed his survival to the grace of God. The details of some of those battles make your blood run cold when you think about all the times he could have died, which would have changed the entire history of our country. So powerful.

Business: 
Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. Productivity is one of the main skills I want to develop this year, as time is so important and in such short supply! Plans and ideas are great, but without the wisdom to make things happen, they're going to just sit in your brain. The lessons in this book showed me some amazing strategies for getting things done once and for all.

Making God's Business Your Business by Jeff Buckman. I've really been struggling with the why behind doing the job I do, and this book shook me out of that mood. The work I do, the services we provide, isn't mine to control. I was reminded that because I have turned my life over to the Lord that I turned my work over, too. I'm right where I need to be at just the right time because this is where my God wants me to be.

Fiction: 
An Amish Harvest by Patricia Davids. A sweet story of an Amish man made blind in an accident and nursed by a neighbor woman. They allow God to heal them both, in very special ways, and find love along the way. 

According to the Pattern, An Unwilling Guest, and The Esselstynes by Grace Livingston Hill. The Esselstynes is the first book Grace wrote, when she was 12, and this special edition included all three of these stories. All very different from each other and many of the other stories she wrote, I adored watching and waiting for my favorite characters to get saved and try to figure out how the love interests were going to end up together. (Some I was right, some not so much.) Perfect.

Beyond the Picket Fence and Other Short Stories by Lori Wick. I've had this book for years, but this is the first time I've pulled it out. I love these stories, which weren't long enough to be their own books, but fit wonderfully together in one volume. And to make it even more special, the author explains a little about the background of the writing process at the end of each story.

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson. My absolute favorite book I read this month. I've been waiting for ages for this book to come out - it's been on preorder! I read it in two days (you know, life and stuff) and it was phenomenal. If you haven't read the first three, read them first so you understand the continuing storyline. 

Kids' book: 
The Curious Tourists by Irma Selz. Yes, I totally read this book for work. It's an adorable story about a small European town that gets an influx of tourists for vacation, and the town has to decide if they want quiet or extra money being spent. For the tourism director of a small town, it was a lovely ending!

What was on your reading pile in March?

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