2019 Book Lovers Gift Guide

Hey friends! I realized after some reflection that I am currently reading my forty-fifth book for the year. I can hardly believe I’ve consumed that many words in a year, but I feel like my year has been so enriched in the process and I wanted to share my favorites with all of you! So I’ve gathered up my favorite authors and reads from all that reading this year and I’ve created a guide for all the book lovers in your life. The books are divided up into types: Bible Studies, Non-Fiction and several sub-types of Fiction.

Let’s get on knocking out those Christmas lists, friends! Here are my picks for the year! Be sure you are following along on my Simply Stories Instagram because I am going to be announcing a giveaway in partnership with this gift guide very soon! (And if you are a newsletter subscriber, be sure and check your inbox for a sneak peek!)

Let’s start with the most important kind of reading any of us can do: Bible reading. I cannot say enough good things about each of these studies and how they point you to not only read the Word of God, but unpack it and apply it.
1. Jude: Contending for Faith in Today’s Culture 2. Included in Christ: Living A New Story from Ephesians 3. His Testimonies, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God 4. Psalms 5. Daily Grace Co. 6. The Advent of the Lamb of God

This is probably the type of fiction that has mattered more to me than any other over the last few years because it has helped me develop a deeper love for the Bible, and has fanned a desire in me to learn more about people (especially women) in scripture I did not know a whole lot about before I stumbled upon these books. With Ruth and Rahab, we know a little more than many other women in scripture, but their stories were so layered with grief, confusion and unlikely hope and yet, they are some of the more notable stories told including women in the Biblical narrative. Counted With The Stars, is unique and incredibly captivating as it is from the perspective of an Egyptian during the time of the plagues that come over Egypt and the Exodus of the Hebrew people. Jerusalem Rising tells a story of the only two (albeit unnamed) women mentioned in the list of those who worked to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and once I got started I couldn’t put it down. Lineage of Grace tells mini stories of what the 5 women in Jesus’ lineage may have been like. When I read it for the first time years ago, the Old Testament was truly unlocked for me in a way I can never come back from and I am forever grateful. It will probably be on my list of “Biblical Fiction” picks forever.

These authors and these particular books are my absolute favorites in this genre in my recent reading. Each of these authors have MANY more books under their belts and I would highly recommend following them and diving into their repertoire.

1. Redeeming Grace: Ruth’s Story 2. Counted With the Stars 3. In the Shadow of Jezebel 4. Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey

   5. Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity 6. The Crimson Cord: Rahab’s Story

This is for my friends who are just not into Fiction or are looking for some books that have released this year designed to press into some incredibly difficult places in hurting hearts. I was so fortunate to have Ashley Abercrombie, Sarah Stewart Holland & Beth Silvers of Pantsuit Politics, and Jennifer Greenberg on the podcast this year and they are some of the most downloaded and discussed episodes thus far. Each of those conversations were so powerful, but their books, their outside work have each impacted me in incredibly significant ways and I will recommend their books forever more. The other three books have been incredibly timely works with powerful voices that are impacting the awakening and learning journey in me as a woman, a Mother and a white person who is trying to do better by my friends of color and I cannot say enough good things about the authors and their books. Be sure to follow each of these women, support them, and these books are going to be incredible gifts or great reads for anyone for starting off 2020 on purpose.

1. Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like it is, and Live with Holy Gumption 2. I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening) : A Guide for Grace Filled Political Conversations 3. You are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You

   4. Raising Worry Free Girls: Helping your Daughters Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World

   5. Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse 6. Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation

All right, my Fiction loving friends, I present to you my favorite authors who have sent me down happy historical rabbit trails. I could truly go on and on about each of these books and authors, but I’ll try to be brief. They pull me so thoroughly into moments in history, develop characters and families I miss when they are gone, and always leave me like I’ve had a conversation with a friend who have shared some new to me insight about the Lord and who He has been to them. (You can hear more about those kinds of things from my conversation with Rachel Fordham on the podcast!) Tamera Alexander, in particular, has captivated me as she has developed three trilogies based around historical homes in the Nashville area, where I live, and it has been so special to unearth what is based on fact and what is an elaboration of true events as well as her fantastic imagination.

1. The Heiress of Winterwod 2. The Noble Guardian 3. With This Pledge

   4. To Wager Her Heart 5. Yours Truly, Thomas 6. An Hour Unspent

Technically, in the Fiction world, things continue to get broken down into further sub-genres, but for this go round of my favorite picks… hopefully y’all can give me some grace here for this to be my catch all general fiction section. However, know that these are varied in theme, some have romance and relationships, some contain suspense or more intense action, some will have you absolutely rolling with laughter, some will leave you wondering how it could end with any kind of hope and weeping in how it finally does. Each of these have captivated me, pushed me, and I’m so grateful for the introduction to these authors so I can dive even further into their other works. (You can hear my conversations with Bethany Turner, Erin Bartels, and Lynn Blackburn here and stay tuned for Shawn Smucker’s the first of the year! For the record, I would HAPPILY have Charles Martin and Beth Moore Any. Time. ;) )

1. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck 2. Send Down the Rain 3. The Undoing of Saint Silvanus

   4. Light from Distant Stars 5. The Words Between Us 6. One Final Breath

I hope that’s helpful, friends!! I can’t wait to hear about which of these stories you come to know or share with friends. Just for the record, each of the book links are amazon associate links. To my knowledge, they are not marked up, but I do receive a small commission from their purchase. I am so grateful for your choice to use these links as it supports the podcast and my family. Merry Christmas, y’all!