For as long as I can remember I am always reading a book. Reading takes me to another world and through books I have found a love for words (hence the blog). I wish I had more time to read but I have too many hobbies and just not enough time. My favorite kinds of books are definately self-help books and memoirs but I will read pretty much anything.

So of course I have to share my reads from 2016 and hope to inspire some of you to find a passion in books as well.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.

I started 2016 with this book in efforts to improve my self being by letting go of being and wanting “perfect” this and “perfect” that in life. This book has taught me about living a whole hearted life with a realistic mindset. It talks about overcoming fear and shame even when feeling vulnerable. The author does an amazing job at leaving you feeling liberated, full-filled and just happy as can be. Truly an amazing read that I will cherish and read over and over when ever I need a refresher or a pick me up. I’m so glad that I started the year with such an empowering book!

The Body Book by Cameron Diaz with Sandra Bark

Boy did I enjoy this book! It’s textbook style so it has a ton of information that I will probably forget unless theres a quiz on it but I definitely picked up a few things from it. This book is the reason I have decided on living a healthier lifestyle. It opened my eyes to many things, in particular how generations have changed the way we eat and how the advancement in technology has made every day tasks easier yet most of us lazier. This book is a true inside look to your body and how to make the most of it inside and out. Thank you Tia Vicky for this awesome gift, it has helped me change my lifestyle!

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

The true story of an eleven year old girl kidnapped and held captive for 18 years, written by her after this traumatic experience. This book shifted my emotions in so many ways. As a parent, it was difficult to read and brought me to tears instantly. I couldn’t put this book down and was drawn to her bravery in telling her story. I’m humbled by her for using this traumatic experience to help others in similar situations through the JAYC Foundation that she started. A good read that will leave a mark in your heart for Jaycee Dugard and others in any type of traumatic situations.

Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Ph.D.

This book was such a insightful read. It aided a lot of great conversations between my husband and I. It definitely helped me understand my husband’s perspective of life and work and helped me have more compassion for his every day life outside our home. The book illustrates and explains the “hyper-vigilant rollercoaster” that law enforcement personnel go through and how it affects their actions and behaviors as a whole. Thank you hubby for this awesome gift, the perfect book to strenghten our relationship and understanding of each other.

Blogging Tips by Zac Johnson

This book had a lot of useful information on starting a business and making money through blogging. I learned that it requires a lot of work and probably won’t be the direction I take my blog in to, even though it was once on my to do list. It did open my eyes on how easy it can be to make money blogging, given you have the time for it, especially through affiliated marketing. I found bits of pieces of this book to sound like an infomercial on services the author offers to facilitate setting up a blog. Something I’m not quite interested in. It is however a great book for someone interested in going big with their blog. Thank you Joyce for this awesome birthday gift, I enjoyed the read!

All the Good Parts by Loretta Nyhan

A fictional easy to read story of Leona, a 39 year old single woman with desires to become a mother. It was an easy read, gulped it down in about 2 weeks, which is fast for me and the list of hobbies on my plate. I yet have to discover the fictional world of books but this was a good book to get me started. The characters were all lovable. I was particularly drawn to the relationships that Leona had with her sister Carly and her niece Maura. They reminded me of the genuine bond that should exist within families. Thank you Once Upon A Book Club for making this book come to life with the gifts included with your book club membership.

I’m already on my second book for 2017 and I have a pretty good selection of books to read next so I am pretty excited. I would love to see what you all are reading and if you have any great book recommendations send em my way please!