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Rhenáe's Recap

Rhenáe’s Recap: 8/11/19 – 8/31/19

New & Notable

 

I took a mini break after realizing that I was experiencing some type of block when it comes to reading and writing my reviews for the blog.  I decided I needed to spend some time with God just to make sure I was still on the right path.  And man, am I glad I did that.  I was able to start and create over 20 posts to release for the blog.  I’m excited for two (maybe even three) series that I will be launching later this year.  For now, it’s a secret but here is a hint for two: they combine reading and growth.

 

 

 

I’ve also started to share in my Instagram and Facebook stories the free book deals that I get daily.  The genres range from Romance, Self Help, Business and Christian.  You can download using Amazon Kindle or Apple Books.  They normally only last a day so make sure you check them out and download them if you think they sound like a good read.

 

 

 

Reviews

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

This review was a long time coming.  But I finally got it done! Now the real work begins.  As I mentioned in the post, the book is formated as a 12-week course.  So I plan on starting today with writing my morning pages and going on my artist dates.  Cameron does recommend that you keep the morning pages to yourself but I will share what I can over on  Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

 

Educated by Tara Westover

The review was crazy for me to write. This was an audiobook that I listened to on a roadtrip.  I didn’t expect a lot of notes but when I had so many opinions, I turned to my voice memo app.  Listening to my voice while typing out my notes was weird. But I got it done. Finally.  This was an amazing book that was unexpected.

 

 

Other Happenings

Down the TBR Hole #21-40

I skipped a week with doing this meme so I doubled up with this one.  I walked through 20 books from my TBR list and made decisions on if I was keeping them or removing them from the list.

 

 

What We Are Watching

 

My husband and I watched both seasons of this (20 episodes) over the past few weeks.  It was a hilarious show for the most part with some serious issues sprinkled in.  Now the part that I hate, we have to wait for the next season.

 

 

We also watched the first season of this show (5 episodes).  I’m not sure what the plans are for future seasons but it was an excellent show. What I enjoyed about it was the behind the scenes into what this process and what the criminal justice system does on someone’s mental health. Good news for Meek is that his case was officially closed this week.  This nightmare is over for him but his bringing awareness to the problem is just starting.

 

 

Currently Reading

 

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss –Honestly, this is the only book that I have been actively reading while on my break.  I think it’s because of how it’s presented with each titan having a couple of pages.  So it’s almost like I’m reading a quick snapshot of each one instead of a book.

 

All of the other books I’ve started and just haven’t been able to finish are currently on hold.  It’s been a while so I am going to have to start them from the beginning anyway.  Feel free to click the Rhenae’s Recap tag below to see them.  If they haven’t moved to Finished Reading, they are on hold ;).

Finished Reading

 

The Southern Hero by Lenora Worth

 

 

 

Recently Acquired

 

Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks (giveaway win)

 

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman

 

 

Dear John by Linda Heavner Gerald (giveaway win)


 

Grind: A No-Bullshit Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow by Michael J. McFall (giveaway win)

 

 

Goodreads Challenge Update: 45/52

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the links included in this post.

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Down The TBR Hole

Down the TBR Hole #21-40

Welcome to Down the TBR Hole #21-40.  Have you been feeling inspired to go through your list of books that you have to read?  Or have you maybe found some books that I mentioned to add to your list?  Need to catch up?  Head here to see the last post.  As a reminder, here are the rules:

I am starting this week with 4,678 books.  Not sure how I ended up with more books than I started with last time.  I’m sure this reading slump I am in is not helping.  But of course, there is never a shortage of books to add to my list.  I also skipped last week so let’s double up this week.  Let’s get started.

1. Business Boutique: A Woman’s Guide to Making Money Doing What She Loves by Christy Wright

In a past life, I was all into finance and financial planning and thought that would be my career.  I also owned my own business for a bit. I found Christy Wright by way of Dave Ramsey and started listening to her podcast. I started reading this book, but for whatever reason, I didn’t finish it.  But from what I remember, it was good. I own it on Audible, so I’m keeping it.

2. The Secrets You Keep by Kate White

My best friend recommended this book to me.  I think it took 15 years for me to realize that we no longer have the same taste in books.  She leans heavy into suspense and psychological thrillers while I am more into non-fiction books and romance.  But that doesn’t mean I won’t try and read one of her recommendations.  But I wasted an audible credit on this one. Thirty minutes in and I could go further. I’m removing this one.

3. Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy

This book was recommended to me by an SVP that I admired at my old job.  She continuously kicked butt in a male-dominated world and specifically with a couple of challenging males that I had to work with daily that she had previous experience with.  I’m forever thankful that she took the time out to help mentor me. I started to read this book after she recommended it, but we were so busy my projects took over my life, and I had to put the book down. But I have a physical copy of this book plus the Audible version so I’ll be keeping it.

4. The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M. Goldratt 

This was the first book that we were to read as a team at my old job. Recommended by the same SVP from above.  The only problem was my team was crazy busy.  We kept having to move the meeting that we had to talk about the book.  I’m not even sure I had time to finish one chapter. I do remember that it had an interesting concept, and I also happen to own a physical copy and the Audible version.  I think I will be keeping this one.

5. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

This book has been on almost every recommendation list for businesses owners that I have come across.  So I downloaded it on Audible.  I feel like building habits is part of my theme for the year, so I am keeping this one.

 

6. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey

Like the book above, I have yet to come across a list that didn’t have this book recommended. I think I downloaded this one on Audible at the same time as the last one.  But it’s another one I haven’t had a chance to listen to. It’s a book on habits and fits my theme, so I’m keeping it.

7. God, Are You There? by Kay Arthur

I discovered Kay Arthur last year through Right Now Media and the inductive Bible study method. I instantly fell in love with her style and how her message of just using the Bible to interpret the Bible was so clear. I went on a hunt and ordered a few of her books (as you can tell).  I did read one of them and enjoyed it so I will be keeping this one.

 

8. Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days by Kay Arthur

While I think I understand already what she will teach in this book because of watching her studies, I am keeping this book since I have a physical copy of it.  I also think it will be a quick read.

 

9. Discover the Bible for Yourself: Helpful Introductions to Every Book, Practical Approaches for Study, Applications for Everyday Life by Kay Arthur

You guessed it; I’m keeping this one.

 

10. Don’t Settle for Safe: Embracing the Uncomfortable to Become Unstoppable by Sarah Jakes Roberts 

First and foremost, I stan for Sarah Jakes Roberts.  If people can stan for musicians and actors, I can stan for a pastor.  What I love about her is she keeps it honest.  She made mistakes, and she had to work through them.  I’ve read another book of hers and probably every sermon she has preached.  Plus I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her teach in person.  I’m keeping this one.

11. Brave Enough to Succeed: 40 Strategies for Getting Unstuck by Valorie Burton

My previous business mentor recommended this book to me.  I’ve never connected with Burton based on what she posts on social media, but I was willing to give this book a chance.  I wonder, would this help me with my reading slump?  I’m feeling kind of stuck.  I’m keeping it.

 

12. Simplify: Ten Practices to Unclutter Your Soul by Bill Hybels

This was the second book that was recommended by my business mentor.  I was a Professional Organizer, so a book about organizing your soul? I’m all for it.  I’m keeping this one.

 

13. Battlefield of the Mind Bible: Renew Your Mind Through the Power of God’s Word by Joyce Meyer

I started to read her book by the same title and knew I wanted to get the Bible as well.  But I have the Bible and was using it when reading the book.  I don’t think it belongs on this list anymore.  I’m going to be removing it and putting it on my read list

 

14. Hebrews Bible Study Book: The Nearness of King Jesus by Lisa Harper

This is a bible study that I started but never finished.  Honestly, the turnoff was I had to either rent the videos or pay a large sum to own the videos.  For some reason, Lifeway has the video studies priced so high that I can’t always justify the cost. It was a good study, and I love Lisa Harper, especially after hearing her in person.  I’m keeping this one with the hopes of one day being able to complete it.

15. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home: No-Nonsense Advice that Will Inspire You to Clean Like the Dickens by Thelma Meyer

I went through a phase where I was trying to do a better job at setting the atmosphere of my home. I already loved having a clean house, so I was open to see if there were alternative ways to doing things.  So I felt like I was buying all the cleaning books.  I’m removing it, but it will make some cute decor.

 

16. Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster, and Loving Your Home Every Day by Melissa Maker

Another book from my home cleaning phase.  I’m removing it from my list but will keep it for decor.

 

17. How to Start a Home-based Professional Organizing Business by Dawn Noble

I might have mentioned a time or two that I previously had a Professional Organizing business. So although I bought this book while doing my research, I found so much info online that I didn’t need it.  I’m removing it.

 

18. Stronger than the Struggle: Uncomplicating Your Spiritual Battle by Havilah Cunnington

I bought the study for this book after hearing Havilah speak.  I enjoyed the study and wanted to read the book behind it, so I purchased it.  I enjoy listening to her preach, and I expect the same from her books.  I’ll be keeping it.

 

19. Anonymous: Jesus Hidden Years…And Yours by Alicia Britt Chole

A friend recommended this book to me after they enjoyed it.  I haven’t had a chance to start reading it yet, but I do like the concept. I have a physical copy of this book, and I am keeping it.

 

20. Everyday Hope: Holding Fast to His Promise by Katie Orr

Now that I have done a study with Katie (Philippians study), I want to do all of her studies.  She is an amazing Bible teacher.  You will see next week that I have a few of her studies.  I’m keeping this one.

 

Final count: Removing 5; Keeping 15; TBR down to 4,674

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the links included in this post.

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Down The TBR Hole

Down The TBR Hole #11-20

Welcome to Down the TBR Hole #11-20.  Head here to get more information on this meme that I am doing.  As a reminder, here are the rules:

I am starting this week with 4,676 books on my To Be Read list.

1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

This book is on every productivity recommendation list I have ever come across.  I have the physical copy of this book and had started to read it but ended up putting it down.  This was during the season where I couldn’t find joy in reading because of other things happening.  I will eventually read it, so I’m keeping it.

 

2. Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life by Emily P. Freeman

Another book that I have a physical copy of.  As someone who is recovering from being all about doing things and doing them right to please others, I bought this one when I was in Altar’d State out of town.  I started another book by Emily P. Freeman recently, and it’s pretty good, so I think I will be keeping this one for now.

 

3. Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands by Gary L. Thomas

I will take all the books on marriage I can take.  It is literally the hardest thing I have done.  I am keeping this one.

4. Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs

A friend let me borrow this book, and I fell in love with it.  I took my time reading it, took a ton of notes, started to implement some of the recommendations, and then decided to order my own along with the workbook.  Then I stopped reading it.  I started again on my sabbatical but couldn’t get back into the flow I was in before.  But this book is beyond amazing, and I will read it and soon.  I’m keeping it.

5. Sink Reflections: Overwhelmed? Disorganized? Living In Chaos? The FlyLady’s Simple FLYing Lessons Will Show You How to Get Your Home and Your Life in Order–and It All Starts with Shining Your Sink! by Marla Cilley

I use to follow the FlyLady, and it did wonders for keeping and maintaining my house clean and organized.  I still follow the essence of her advice as it has become routine for me, but I’m not strict with what she recommends.  I also believe I can find everything in this book on her website.  So although I own a kindle edition of this book, I am removing this one.

6. Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud

I’ve had Dr. Cloud’s books recommended to me a million times.  I felt like he was a legend at my previous home church, and everyone swore by his books like they were the Bible (which should have been my first clue).  A friend let me borrow the audiobook.  I bought the workbook. I think I downloaded the eBook.  I could not get into this book.  Or the regular Boundaries book. And you know what I am done trying.  I’m removing it.

 

7. Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

This book was one of the books I picked from the free Audible Originals one month.  It looks like it will be a quick romance to listen to so I am keeping it.

 

8. Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

I love Arianna Huffington.  She’s done and launched amazing things.  Her story of burnout resonated with me from when I worked in Corporate America.  I have already read one of her books and loved it.  I own this one on Audible, so I am keeping it.

 

9. Win From Within: Finding Yourself by Facing Yourself by John Gray

I have been a fan of John Gray for a while and until recently would watch most of his sermons.  He went through some criticism lately, and his response to that was to become an angry preacher, so I stopped watching him.  But I do plan on reading his books, and maybe one day I’ll check back in on his messages.  I own this one on Audible, so I’m keeping it.

10. Feeding the Dragon by Sharon Washington

Another book I received for free from Audible Originals.  I love reading autobiographies from women of color, and her living on the top floor of a library made me want to add this to my collection.  Plus her father being a custodian and her love for literature was something that made me relate to her as my father had a job as a building custodian at one of the apartments we lived in, in New Jersey.  And I shouldn’t need to say how I relate to her love of literature…since you are on my book blog :).  Needless to say, I am keeping it.

Final count: Removing 2; Keeping 8; TBR down to 4,674

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the links included in this post.

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Rhenáe's Recap

Rhenáe’s Recap: 08/04/19 – 08/10/19

This has been a pretty light week on the blog as I’ve had to spend quite a bit of time detoxing and sleeping. Because of that, I didn’t read or write too much but instead thought through some decisions I needed to make to help with my reading slump.  I think I was finally able to break it with some easy romances and hoping that having spent some time organizing what is in my head will help make next week a lot more productive.

New & Notable

 

 

In the reading world this week, we had the passing of a legendary author, Toni Morrison, on August 6th. (Photo Cred: AP/CNN)

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 9th was Book Lovers Day.

 

 

I launched a new weekly book meme (book lingo for a challenge), Down The TBR Hole.  I take ten books from my TBR list on GoodReads that I have been building since 2017 (2016 in Evernote) and decide if I will keep it on the list or if I am no longer interested and will be removing it.  It’s a great way to see what I thought when I added the book and what my thoughts are on individual books now.

 

Currently Reading

If you have read any of my previous Rhenáe’s Recaps, you may have noticed at least two of my currently reading books have been the same.  I’ve started a new book each week and am now at four books that I am just struggling to finish.  They are great books, and I can’t wait to read them, but I’ve had some block.  So I decided to put down three of the books I am not making progress with. I won’t add them to DNF because I WILL finish these books.  I’m just not going to push myself to do it right this moment.

 

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss – I went to the back, and there are 705 pages. It’s broken into three sections, the first being “Healthy.”  I expected to skip this section altogether, but as I was flipping through it, some items made me stop and read it. I am currently on page 167 in this book and have been making progress each week.

 

Finished Reading

Thank goodness for Amazon Kindle and Apple Books deals.  These books were free this week, so I downloaded them. Two quick romances and a suspense/mystery that I was able to read in one day.

 

Her Texas Cowboy by Debra Clopton

 

Entangled by Barbara Ellen Brink

 

 

Full Circle by Mona Ingram

 

 

 

Recently Acquired

I signed up for emails that send me Amazon Kindle and Apple Books deals.  To keep my budget under control (and my husband happy), I only download the books if they are free.  With that being said, I tend to download probably about five new books a day.  That’s crazy, I know, and I probably won’t read all of these books.  But I’m a book hoarder, and with them being eBooks, I don’t see a problem. This is how I have been able to discover amazing authors and some different genres that I am enjoying.

Let’s do some quick math.  ~5 books a day, seven days a week means I am probably downloading 35 books a week. I think what I am going to do is share those on my Instagram and Facebook stories each day (you can get in on the deals also). Then in my Recap, I will share which ones I am looking forward to reading the most.

Goodreads Challenge Update: 44/52

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the links included in this post.