I LOVED The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd because it is a well-written, captivating book that grabs your interest from start to finish. Based in Charleston in the early 19th century, this book weaves together many women’s lives in their quest for hope, freedom and connection.

 

Heaven is Here is an beautiful memoir demonstrating the power of faith, hope, family, and love.  Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian, have the happiest of lives until a tragic airplane crash leaves them burned, with Stephanie severely burned, in the hospital for months and fighting for her life.  The book chronicles Stephanie’s amazing and heroic recovery, her transparent physical and emotional struggle with life after the accident, but most importantly it showcases what all the human spirit is capable of enduring and overcoming.

 

 

 

I love Gone Girl!  Gone Girl is a suspenseful and twisted page turner that you won’t want to put down. I felt it was completely unpredictable the whole way through — I love being shocked at the end of a book!

 

 

 

  

 

Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristin Armstrong
In this book, which is actually a compilation of articles written for Runner’s World, Kristin beautifully and hilariously describes life lessons she’s learned by running, specifically by running with a group of girl friends she affectionately refers to as her “sweat sisters.” Further, she describes how running (and/or physical exercise of any sort), in community with other women, helps her better to connect with herself, her loved ones, and her God. Sound familiar? Kristin’s experiences with her sweat-sisters-community are virtually identical to the iGnite experience.

 

The 10 Essential Hugs of Life by Roy Spence
The author spoke about his book at my church on Father’s Day and I immediately bought it. I’m just starting to read it, but I know it will be great from what he spoke about. It’s all about embracing life, whatever comes at you!

 

 

I added The Closer by Mariano Rivera to my reading list for the summer after hearing an interview with him and being so inspired by his incredible story, upstanding character and passion for life. In his memoir, Rivera shares his journey from poor boy in Panama to the greatest relief pitcher of all time, and the adventures and struggles he encountered along the way.

I’m currently reading In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson.  It’s a historical biography/memoir that takes place in Berlin during Hitler’s rise to power.   In it, the American ambassador to Berlin takes his wife, son and flamboyant daughter to Berlin where she is enamored with the “New Germany” and loves to party with the handsome members of the Third Reich.  The family slowly realizes the terrible history that is unfolding before them.

 

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