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In 2017 I started a list of my goals and accountability tracking for the year. I reached and exceeded every goal. (You can see that post on my personal page here.) If you haven’t read my other book reviews from this year you can catch up here.

The goal of this section of the blog is to share a glimpse into what inspires, motivates and teaches me. Out of the books I read, I only bring up the ones I would suggest taking a look at…there are still a few that get left out; entirely based on my own opinions.

So where do I find all these books to read? Lots of places. I follow the Book of the Month Club on Instagram and I get weekly suggestions from my daily news source, theSkimm. You can sign up for free here using my referral code!

 

Read For Fun

 

 The Road to Eden’s Ridge by M.L. Rose

This is a liiitttlleee bit of stretch since this was a book I read in childhood but when I came across it while cleaning my mom’s house, I just had to bring it back and re-read this book. I remember loving the lyrics to songs inside, the way M.L. Rose (two authors) described the main character and placing actual country singers in the fictional character’s roles. This love story is set in Nashville and Maine, with a few flashbacks between family members and a surprising truth (ok you can probably guess mid-way through) of an aspiring country music artist and the George Strait of her world.

Once I was done reading this book I ended up donating it because I don’t like clutter and I hope someone else is able to enjoy this book.

 

 The Woman In Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Another recommendation from a friend, The Woman In Cabin 10 did not disappoint. To me, cabin meant this story would take place in the woods, maybe during camp but it is actually on a cruise ship following a journalist with mental health issues after having been attacked by an apartment burglar. I couldn’t help but think of The Sinner. The journalist witnesses a murder and is instantly viewed by others on the ship as the paranoid woman. After doubting herself, searching for clues and digging where she shouldn’t the main character is taken through a disturbing, confusing and thrilling mystery that ends at a (in my opinion) cliffhanger conclusion.

 

 The Child by Fiona Barton

I feel like if I had read the hardcopy vs the audiobook I probably would have been more involved and follow the three female characters in this book with more understanding on how they were connected. Having said that it was very creative how Barton worked around the fallout when a newborn’s skeleton is discovered beneath a bulldozed London building site. The truths exposed are also eerily tied to what is going on in the world/news currently and hits the pain points many women experience in their lives. As NPR reported in their own book review, The Child does more showing than telling and that’s what makes it a unique and intriguing story. Like the journalist character in this book you, too, will find yourself on the edge of your seat attempting to figure out whose skeleton was buried, whose baby it was and who is to be held responsible.

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Read For Improvement

 The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

This audio book was just over four hours long and, while it’s not something I would normally seek out, it is a classic that everyone should read or listen to. It focuses around manifesting what you want and the Law of Attraction. I could have done without the dramatic music and voices but this was still a gem filled with helpful and motivating tidbits such as “Energy flows where intention goes.” and “You cannot help the world by focusing on the negative things.” I agreed with the mindset shift they suggest of being Anti THING vs. Pro THING. Are you anti fast food or are you pro healthy eating? If you’re feeling lost or out of control/off your path give this your attention.

 

 

 

 

 

The Go-Giver Leader by Bob Burg and John David Mann

This was another fairly short audio book at about 3.5 hours. I didn’t realize this book was originally titled ‘It’s Not About You‘ but they re-published with this new title and new cover because they believe it wasn’t sending the right message about what the book was about. THIS is why BRANDING is so incredibly important. This book asks the question ‘What is influence?’ and ‘What is influence made of?’ It is an unseen flow of power. We often think that influence means manipulation but that is not true. Every person in leadership, business or any position of influence needs to read this book; and own it.

 

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

I learned about the love languages during college in a workshop with my sorority and heard about it all over the place afterward. I never read this book before and never read it for marriage; more-so out of curiosity. I believed my love language to be words of affirmation but now after retaking the test this June, realized it’s Quality Time. Here were my results.

8	Quality Time
7	Physical Touch
7	Words of Affirmation
5	Acts of Service
3	Receiving Gifts

I do feel like this has a lot to do with what you’re going through in that moment so it would be fun to retake once a year. You can find out the love language for you OR your child here.

 

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You’ve read through my opinions so you deserve some FREE STUFF! Make sure you are following the blog (upper right of this page) to get free downloads in the future. Once you’re following, go ahead and download this document: GOALS FOR 2018 from Local Collaborative I mentioned to track your goals and adventures for the rest of the year and into 2019.

 

Cheers!

Marin

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