2019 Summer Reading List Giveaway (ENDED)

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The annual summer reading list is an anniversary of sorts for me. It was one of the first posts I published on this blog back in 2017. Last year's list marked the start of a new journey in faith and in writing—my year of rest. As I come out of that year— wondering simultaneously where the time went and how so much could have changed in just 365 days—I see this year's selection of books as the next step in that journey. 

Last year's books focused on finding rest in God. This year, I'm drawn more to books that not only help us abide in Jesus, but to take that gift and use it to convey God's love. How do we love those around us, raise children, and lead others from a place of rest, from a deep sense of peace about who we are in God?

For the fiction titles, I searched for characters who inspire us with their stories and who overcome greats odds to experience personal transformation. 

I hope these books will help you grow personally and spiritually, while also filling your summer with entertainment and joy. 

Here's how the giveaway works:

1. Check out the books in The My Cup Run's Over Summer 2019 Reading List below.
2. Enter the giveaway.
3. Increase your chances of winning by sharing the giveaway on social media. 

One grand prize winner will win five books (of their choosing) from the list . 

The five entrants who generate the most entries from referrals and social sharing will each win the book of their choice from the five. (If the grand prize winner is one of the top five entrants, they will only win the grand prize and the sixth highest-referring entrant will win instead.

I'm excited about the premise of The Ministry of Ordinary Places—that we can serve Jesus by simply showing love the people we encounter day-to-day. This is one of the two most critical instructions Jesus gave to us, and yet, we so often get this wrong. Simple, ordinary love and kindness has become an enigma to many of us as we rush to get inside our homes and shut out the outside world. (Except, of course, the fragments of it that reach us through the Internet. We never seem quite capable of shutting those out). 

As I read this book, I hope to learn practical strategies for being salt and light. 

I discovered Emily P. Freeman just over a year ago, and she is now one of my favourite authors to follow. Her writing is refreshing, fun, and grace-filled. This book is an extension of her The Next Right Thing podcast and offers gentle guidance for those who struggle to make decisions.

Chapter titles such as 'Become a Soul Minimalist,' 'Know What You Want More," "Make the Most Important List," "Don't Rush Clarity," and "Stop Collecting Gurus," suggest that The Next Right Thing will help us know and trust ourselves more and lead more authentic lives. 

Regular readers of this site will likely need no explanation as to why this book is on the list. My children are well-acquainted with Grumpy Mom. They spent years riding in the back seat of her crumb-carpeted minivan, listening to her grumble about glitter stuck to the table, and wondering why she was always so angry. In my pursuit of rest, I've learned how to ignore all that and find joy in the chaos. 

I hope that after reading this book, the Grumpy Mom in my house—and yours—will take more than just a vacation!

Last summer, I listened to an episode of The Entrepreneur's Summit podcast featuring Jordan Raynor as a guest. It was probably the most thought-provoking podcast I've listened to. In the interview, Raynor addresses the challenge of finding the balance between trusting God as a Christian and hustling as an entrepreneur (a label which, he explains, includes creatives). He talked about honouring God through your creativity and living a life that resonates through eternity. 

I am eager to glean more of his wisdom and stockpile some inspiration for the year ahead. 

Women are prone to believing lies about themselves, such as I'm worthless, I'm not good enough, and I can't forgive myself. Most of us can relate to these sorts of thoughts and know first-hand how debilitating they can be. It's hard to love others and live out God's calling on our lives when we haven't learned how to be the beloved of God or how to love ourselves. 

Jaynes' book shows us how to recognize these lies and replace them with truth. If these types of beliefs are standing in the way of your personal transformation, this book will help you overcome them and go forward with confidence and hope.

If you struggled with concepts such as developing good character in your children, discovering their unique talents and abilities, or parenting through a crisis, this book offers practical and relatable advice to help you through. Seaborn's mission is to show us how to love our children the way Jesus loves them, valuing them for who they are and helping them become the people God designed them to be.

Even if we don't work in upper-level management, many of us are leaders in one domain or another: our homes, our churches, non-profit boards, homeschooling co-ops. Even if the role is unofficial, we always have the opportunity to step up and lead. In this book, Brené shows us how to do so with humility, staying true to our values even when faced with situations that seemingly make it impossible to do so. 

Brown's writing is addictive. I dare you to read the introduction to this book and try to put it down. 

Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story . . . and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love."

Hidden Among the Stars falls into my favourite category of novels: a dual storyline juxtaposing a modern-day discovery with a WW2 mystery. Dobson's novel should be a good fit for fans of Susan Meissner, Kate Morton, and Michèle Phoenix. 

Here's an example of an instance where all you need is a comp title to sell a book: "Meets The Nightingale." Sold. If it's anything like The Nightingale, I love it already. If you enjoy novels set in France, WW2 mysteries, female protagonists, and dual storylines, Mah's The Lost Vintage is a great book to pick up this summer.