The Books of 2016

Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Read from December 29, 1015 to January 1st, 2016

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Read January 22nd - 26th

Miss Manners' Guide to Rearing Perfect Children by Judith Martin

Read January 19th-29th




A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Read February 2nd-4th




Blameless by Gail Carriger
Read February 5th-6th




The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott
Read February 28th-29th




Arthritis Diet and Cookbook by Joshua Goldberger
Read February 29th-March 1st



Benefits of Pomegranate by Ellen Vincent
Read from March 3rd-4th



Paris in Love by Eloisa James
Read from March 6th-7th



Snacks For Little Kids by Brenda Van Niekerk
Read March 25th



201 Organic Smoothies and Juice for a Healthy Pregnancy by Nicole Cormier
Read March 28th



There's A Green Plastic Monkey In My Purse by Jessie Clemence
Read April 6th



Cartoon Marriage by Liza Donnelly
Read May 24th



You Are What You Eat by Dr. Gillian McKeith
Read June 7th-8th



Heartless by Gail Carriger
Read July 5th-7th



A Beauty Refined by Tracie Peterson
Read from July 22nd-23rd



The Happiness Dare by Jennifer Dukes Lee
Read from July 23rd - August 3rd



A Super Upsetting Cookbook About Sandwiches by Tyler Kurd
Read from August 23rd - 29th



The Everything Bridesmaid Book by Jennifer Lata Rung
Read from September 8th - 13th



Miss Manners On Weddings by Judith Martin
Read from September 13th - 16th



I Wish He Had Come With Instructions by Mike Bechtle
Read from August 8th - September 20th



Counted With The Stars by Connilyn Cossette
Read from September 21st - 25th



Honor Redeemed by Christine Johnson
Read from September 27th - 30th



Timeless by Gail Carriger
Read from September 30th - October 1st



Two Tickets To The Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
Read from November 7th - 11th



Confessions Of A Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Read from November 20th - 27th



The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Read December 17th



The Innkeeper Of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen
Read from December 15th - 20th


My Year In Books 2016

What Child is This?

What child is this, who, laid to rest,

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spears shall pierce him through,

the cross he bore for me, for you.

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,

the Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,

Come, peasant, king, to own him.

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Raise, raise a song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The babe, the son of Mary.

The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill Book Review

Title: The Innkeeper at Ivy Hill

Author: Julie Klassen

Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance, Community, Drama,

Plot: The young widow Jane Bell spends her days in a solitary haze, overlooking her inn with mild interest, still wondering why her husband left it to her in the first place. She was born a gentlewoman and doesn't feel cut out for the hard work of landlady. She's nothing like her fierce mother-in-law Thora, whose unexpected arrival coincides with the announcement of bad news from the banker.

Now Jane and Thora must work through their differences and combine their strengths to save their beloved inn in three months or watch it - and their futures - crumble under the weight of secrets and debt.

Likes/dislikes: a wonderful book and an excellent start to a series, though I was a bit distracted by trying to figure out which minor characters will show up in following books. I really hope we learn more about Gabriel, he was intriguing, and Rachel seemed very interesting. All of the cleaning done by the characters was very inspiring and I felt so sorry for Jane when we learned the heartbreaking extent of her losses. Overall a great book.

Rating: PG-16 and up mainly for reading level and content (one bloody miscarriage scene and some suggestions but nothing graphic)

Date Review Written: Dec 23rd 2016

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers. I wasn't required a write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

O Holy Night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appeared and the soul felt

Its worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and

Glorious morn.

Fall on your knees O hear the

Angels voices.

O night divine O night when Christ as born

O night divine O night divine

O night divine.

Let it Snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful.

And since we've got no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping,

And I've brought some corn for popping.

The lights are turned way down low,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But, if you really hold me tight,

All the way home I'll be warm!

The fire is slowly dying,

And my dear, we're still good-by-ing.

But, as long as you love me so,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Oh, it doesn't show signs of stopping,

And I've brought some corn for popping,

Since the lights are turned way down low,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally say goodnight,

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But, if you'll really hold me tight,

All the way home I'll be warm!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

but the fire is so delightful.

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow! Let it snow, Let it snow!

Let it snow! Let it snow! LET... IT ... SNOW!

Joy to The World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.