Books Read In 2018

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Every year I set out to read 52 books. Sometimes I reach that goal, sometimes I surpass it, and other years I fall short.

Read in 2018

1. Beneath The Night Tree

Beneath The Night Tree is the first book I have read by Nicole Baart. The story was a good one, undoubtedly believable but it wasn’t what I would call “heart gripping”. In other words, I didn’t have to stay up past my bedtime to make sure things ended okay. Instead, I was able to read it an hour here and there and be okay with finishing it another day.

2. The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time

This book presents a plan for getting out of debt like no other I have ever read. If you have tried traditional budgeting and failed pick up a copy of The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living and my guess is you will succeed using the author’s plan. Warning–the author does throw an odd swear word in the mix here and there but don’t let that stop you from reading her down to earth and doable for anyone no matter what your income debt pay down plan.

3. The Little Book Of BIG Weight Loss

This book is a written list of eating rules to live by if you want to lose weight and keep it off. No counting calories involved just healthy eating. I didn’t learn anything new from The Little Book Of BIG Weight Loss, but I did find it to be a good reminder of what does equal healthy eating and what doesn’t and realized I need to smarten up in the eating department if I want to lose those pounds I hope to lose this year.

4. Running: A Love Story: 10 Years, 5 Marathons, and 1 Life-Changing Sport

I had high hopes for Running: A Love Story and so I kept on listening hoping to take away something profound–I didn’t. Oh and warning the author swears.

5. Clutterfree With Kids

This book had great tips for not just decluttering with children but decluttering in general.

6. 14 Days To Opening Your Front Door To Guests

More of a guide than a book. I got it as part of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. I am counting it as a book though as I read it cover to cover.

7. The Artisan Soul: Crafting Your Life Into A Work Of Art

Favorite quote from The Artisan Soul: ” The perceived limitation is the medium, but the actual limitation is in the artist. Everyone begins with the same material; it’s what we do with the material that matters.” And one more ” We aren’t limited because we have limitations; we are limited because we haven’t embraced them.”

8. Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

Being present over perfect, slowing life down and soaking it up–that is the type of life I want to live. I have never lived a life as frantic of the author of Present Over Perfect and yet this book showed me where busyness has seeped into my life and stolen more precious little moments than I would like to admit.

9. 47 Little Love Boosters

More of a long essay than a book, and it kind of read like one big advertisement for the author’s other projects.

10. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

This is one of those books you want to read more than once. The Power of Habit is full of a lot of great life-changing research about how to use habits to reach your full potential in life.

11. Developing the Qualities of Success (How to Stay Motivated Book 1)

I listened to this book on audible and I plan to listen to it a few minutes a day from now on. Developing the Qualities of Success is a book that will boost your self-confidence and keep it boosted provided you listen or read it over and over.

12. Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom

I love those who become debt free and stay that way through unconventional yet legal methods. The story shared in Walden on Wheels is one young man’s story from debt to debt free that is like no other I have read.

13. Wait and See: Finding Peace in God’s Pauses and Plans

I have felt like I am in a period of waiting for quite some time now –things about life seem pretty stagnant. Reading Wait and See reminded me that although I can’t see God working, it doesn’t mean HE isn’t.

14. You Can Stay Home with Your Kids!: 100 Tips, Tricks, and Ways to Make It Work on a Budget

This book is an excellent how to save money 101 course. You Can Stay Home With Your Kids! is full of practical and simple ways to save hundreds of dollars each month.

15. Meant to Be Mine

A good light-hearted romance. Meant to Be Mine was the perfect book for kicking off the summer reading season.

16. Wild: From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail

I had heard so many rave reviews about Wild that I was excited to see it in a Little Library box I visit from time to time. However, it didn’t live up to my expectations for it. It was okay, but not wow! Readers beware she uses curse words fairly often.

17. How To Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets

A “how to clean” book for the rest of us. How To Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind is written by a woman who struggles with housework as much as I do and yet she has found a way to keep her home livable. This book is very inspiring and motivating. The author makes keeping a tidy home doable.

18. Born To Win: Find Your Success Code

Zig Ziglar is so motivating. I read Born To Win a few years ago but felt it time for another hit of Zig.

19. No More Faking Fine: End The Pretending

If your past has left your hurt you need to read No More Faking Fine.

20. In Broken Places

Warning–there are passages in this book that deal with physical and mental child abuse. However, In Broken Places paints a positive future for those who have survived child abuse.

21. Under a Cloudless Sky

Oh, my! Chris Fabry has become my favorite fiction author in the last few years and Under a Cloudless Sky is one of the reasons why. This book will keep you guessing right to the very end. Don’t start it late at night because trust me, you won’t be able to put it down.

22. Driftwood Tides

The overall message I took away from Driftwood Tides is that love and healing is possible even in the most dysfunctional of families.

23. The Waiting: The True Story of a Lost Child, a Lifetime of Longing, and a Miracle for a Mother Who Never Gave Up

An autobiographical story that will take your breath away. The Waiting is an extraordinary tale of the reunion of an adoptee and a mother.

24. Decluttering At The Speed Of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle With Stuff

If you battle with clutter Decluttering At The Speed Of Life is the book you need to read. Written by a reforming clutter bug, this book contains advice that works.

25. The Austen Escape

I have loved every other book I have read by this author and I also loved this one –no surprise there. The Austen Escape contains a believable storyline with believable current day characters even if it is loosely based on characters from Austen’s books.

26. Renegade Car Camping: A Guide to Free Campsites and the Ultimate Road Trip Experience

(Kindle Unlimited) I discovered a lot of new to me websites that will help my husband and me in our pursuits to travel inexpensively inside the pages of Renegade Car Camping.

27. The Carry-On Traveller: The Ultimate Guide to Packing Light

(Kindle Unlimited) The Carry-On Traveller was packed with information on how to pack light and yet not feel like you are missing a thing.

28. The Affordable Flight Guide: How to Find Cheap Airline Tickets and See the World on a Budget

(Kindle Unlimited) The Affordable Flight Guide might be a short read but it has more information than three average-sized books. If you are wanting to travel abroad on a regular basis this eBook is a must read. It will help you learn all the ins and out of saving money on flights and more–it even has a chapter on how to start a side job to raise money for your trips.

29. Big Travel, Small Budget: How to Travel More, Spend Less, and See the World

(Kindle Unlimited) This book is full of great out of the box ideas for traveling long-term inexpensively. The majority of the tips in Big Travel, Small Budget would work for vacations of a month or more but others would work for shorter trips.

30. The Modern Nomad’s Backpack: A Guide to Packing Light for Round the World Travel

(Kindle Unlimited) Great information on packing light from a gal who has spent 2 years traveling the world with husband. Find out what 210 items these two digital nomads travel within the pages of The Modern Nomad’s Backpack.

31. One Light Bag: Packing Tips

(Kindle Unlimited) One Light Bag is a super short read, it has good information in it for those wanting to pack just a carry-on but if I had time to read just one carry-on luggage bag book it would be The Carry-On Traveller: The Ultimate Guide To Packing Light.

32. Travel Like a Minimalist

(Kindle Unlimited) If I had bought this title instead of borrowing it as part of my Kindle Unlimited free trial I would have felt seriously ripped off. The author of Travel Like A Minimalist doesn’t take any part of the topic deep and shared nothing that I could not have found out had I googled and read a few blog posts on traveling like a Minimalist.

33. A Beginner’s Guide to Living in an RV: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Full-Time RVing Across America

(Kindle Unlimited) I wish I had read this book before our 5 and a half month RV trip. However perhaps I can save you from learning the hard way–if you are planning an extensive RV trip, or even just buying your first rig read A Beginner’s Guide To Living in an RV.

34. Packing Light: The Normal Person’s Guide to Carry-On-Only Travel

(Kindle Unlimited) Written by the co-owner and creator of Tortuga Backpacks the book Packing Light is an excellent read for those like myself that struggle with packing too much simply because they really don’t know what they need.

35. Convert your Minivan into a Mini RV Camper: How to convert a minivan into a comfortable minivan camper motorhome for under $200

(Kindle Unlimited) Although this eBook covers it chosen topic it could have gone a lot deeper. I think most people would get more knowledge of how to make a minivan camper from searching YouTube and watching videos there. Or you could just read this article of how my husband and I made ours.

36. How to Start and Enjoy Living the RV Life on a Tight Budget: A Budget Friendly RV Lifestyle Startup Guide

(Kindle Unlimited) If you have never owned an RV before and want to How To Start and Enjoy Living the RV Life on a Tight Budget could be very helpful. It goes into great detail about what it takes to care for an RV. As for covering how to do it on a tight budget–well I found the book lacking in tips for this.

37. Road Cash: How to make money while living on the road

(Kindle Unlimited) WOW! Road Cash covered so many ways you can make money on the road. Many I had never heard of before. Many more could be done from home too, no need to travel. That said if you are looking for flexible streams of income Road Cash would be a good ebook for you to read.

38. Post Like an Influencer, Grow Like a Marketer: A Proven Step-By-Step Guide To Start a Successful Instagram Page, Grow Your Following, and Make Money.

(Kindle Unlimited) I am trying to grow the Instagram presence of my new blog The Parents Flew The Nest and thought perhaps reading Post Like an Influencer, Grow Like a Marketer could help. The book did not disappoint, I am actually going to hold onto it for a while longer so I can read it again–that is something I rarely do with a book.

39. Instagram Marketing: Grow Your Instagram page to 1 million followers In Under 6 months. (Dominating the Instagram Game)

(Kindle Unlimited) There was some good Instagram growth advice in Instagram Marketing but there was also a lot of what I would call “shady” growth strategies. If you want to grow your Instagram account I think read number 38 is a better pick.

40. Your First 100: How to Get Your First 100 Repeat Customers (and Loyal, Raving Fans) Buying Your Digital Products Without Sleazy Marketing or Selling Your Soul

(Kindle Unlimited) Your First 100 has some great questions that when you take the time to answer in-depth I believe would help you become a better online marketer.

41. Asperger Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide For Understanding, Living With, And Treating Asperger Syndrome

(Kindle Unlimited) This book was a very informative read for those wanting to know more about Asperger Syndrome.

42. Chasing Excellence: A Story About Building the World’s Fittest Athletes

(Kindle Unlimited) Want to know what it takes to be your best read Chasing Excellence. I think I highlighted half of this book!

43. Travel Nursing made easy: Start your new career now

(Kindle Unlimited) Travel Nursing Made Easy was more like a long blog post than a book. It has some good information but truly you could read a blog post or two or watch a few Youtube videos about travel nursing and get probably more information than what was in this book.

44.TRAVEL for FREE: How to score FREE Flights, Rental Cars & Accommodations, dramatically reduce Airfares, Get paid to Travel & START a DIGITAL NOMAD BIZ … in the World! (Travel Smart Series Book 1)

(Kindle Unlimited) There is some great information on how to travel internationally for less in TRAVEL for FREE.

45. Our Socially Awkward Marriage: Stories from an Asperger’s Relationship

(Kindle Unlimited) Our Socially Awkward Marriage wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It was an okay read but didn’t cover the topic as well as I thought it could.

46. The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)

(Kindle Unlimited) I have heard so many other bloggers rave about The Miracle Morning that the second I saw it was offered in Kindle Unlimited I snatched it up and started reading it. I was underwhelmed by it. I already do 90% of what it suggests to do each morning so perhaps that is why it wasn’t a home run of a read for me.

47. Sleep Smarter: Evening Habits And Sleeping Tips To Get More Energized, Productive And Healthy The Next Day Kindle Edition

(Kindle Unlimited) This was the perfect book to read after The Miracle Morning! Sleep Smarter went over how to have a productive yet relaxing evening so that you can get a good night sleep and feel like you live a life beyond work.

48. The Shift: The True Story Of How One Businesswoman Left Everything Behind And Changed The Lives Of Thousands

(Kindle Unlimited) WOW! What a life of sacrifice. The story of one woman who gave up her life of comfort to serve the street people of Vancouver.

49. Influencer Fast Track: From Zero to Influencer in the next 6 Months!: 10X Your Marketing & Branding for Coaches, Consultants, Professionals & Entrepreneurs

(Kindle Unlimited) Heard it all before. Seemed to skip around a lot and unless you took the time to click through and read the articles she recommends or sign up for the expensive courses she says you need, you really don’t learn much that you couldn’t learn with a few google searches.

50. The Essential Habits Of 6-Figure Bloggers: Secrets of 17 Successful Bloggers You Can Use to Build a Six-Figure Online Business

(Kindle Unlimited) Lots of inspiring stories about bloggers who are super successful as well as tips to help you with your own blog. The Essential Habits of 6-Figure Bloggers is written for those early in their blog journey.

51. Church Of Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up A Life

Melanie Shankle is one of my must read every book she writes authors. Church Of Small Things didn’t disappoint it had me laughing, crying and deep in thought chapter after chapter.

52. Everybody Always: Becoming Love In A World Full Of Setbacks And Difficult People

Bob Goff another one of those got to read every one of his books authors. Everybody Always convicted me to stop judging peoples exterior and concentrate instead on getting to know their interior.

53. Find Readers And Sell Books On A Shoestring Budget

This was a free ebook that had a few great ideas of how to promote your book for either free or for a minimal budget.

54.Your Dream. God’s Plan

What an amazing true story of a young woman who faced incredible health struggles but didn’t let them get in the way of serving others. Your Dream. God’s Plan will inspire you to go after your calling despite adversity.

55. Come Clean: A Story Of Faith

If you can’t understand why anyone would fall into alcohol addiction you need to read Come Clean. If you yourself are addicted to alcohol and are ready to stop — read this book.