November kicks off the holiday season - which is often the season of over-indulgence… Going with that theme, I’m not sharing just one book with you this month but a whole stack of them I think deserve a place on your nightstand. One is brand new and a couple are stand-outs from earlier in the year..

All of them, alone, or together, would make spectacular holiday gifts for yourself or your favorite bookworm.

Welcome to November my friends! Grab your coziest throw, a steaming mug of tea and find your favorite book-nook… If you’re going to indulge - especially OVER indulge - in anything, let it be the magical activity of reading!

This unique collection of the most beloved Christmas carols will help to get you into the spirit of the season!

An Advent Carols Countdown features one carol for each day from December 1st to Christmas Eve and presents both the lyrics and the fascinating stories and facts behind its creation.

Sharing everything from popular, familiar carols to lesser-known but cherished hymns, author Michael D. Young combines his musical expertise with information specific to each song.

An Advent Carols Countdown is a beautiful gift book for the whole family to enjoy along with the music of the holidays. Each entry also features a QR code that will link to an audio or video performance of the carol performed by the choir most associated with Christmas, the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir.

ORDER: An Advent Carols Countdown

When your days feel overwhelming and your life has you anxious and stressed, you can find peace and hope in Jesus.

In this NEW 365-day devotional prayer book, Jesus Listens, from Sarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling, you’ll find confidence to come to God in all circumstances with short, heartfelt prayers based on Scripture.

God desires a relationship with you through continual conversation—prayer. Jesus Listens empowers you to pray daily, whether it serves as your only prayer for the day or simply a jump starter to your own prayers.

The biblical basis for each prayer in Jesus Listens is given at the end of each entry so you can continually return to God's promises in Scripture. Whether you gift Jesus Listens or pick it up yourself to establish a more consistent prayer practice, Sarah’s words and her constant return to the Word of God will greatly enrich your prayer life.

ORDER: Jesus Listens

Even the Dog Knows was my August Book Club pick, and I still catch myself thinking about the story and smiling at Moses innate wisdom, as I go about my daily routine.

In this exceptional novel, by Jason F. Wright, a family's old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his people find forgiveness and healing.

Although Moses is just a dog, he's very observant. He knows things—like that his people haven’t been the same since one left, someone is hiding something, and he loves the lady that smells like bacon. You know, dog wisdom. He also knows he's an old dog and that his time is near, but there are still important things only he can do.

Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to meet strangers and find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.

ORDER: Even the Dog Knows

Even before I had my farm animals were a big part of my life. From birth to current day, every chapter of my personal story has had a family pet at the center. They are the other family members whose roles are vastly more impactful and important than we may ever fully realize.

My book club choice for the month of August speaks to that.

“Even The Dog Knows”, by New York Times best-selling author, Jason F. Wright, is about a family who’s been torn apart by grief.

Each member, now distanced, isolated, and lonely… and their dear old pup, who may provide the glue that can bring them together once again. The jacket reads: “A family’s old, beloved dog takes a final road trip to help his people find forgiveness and healing.”

“Meg Gorton finds herself alone and lonely in Florida. Three years earlier, she had packed what she could fit into her sister’s car and asked her estranged husband, Gary, to take care of Moses, their beloved black Labrador. Things between Meg and Gary hadn’t been the same after the loss of their only daughter many years ago. Even after raising their grandson, Troy, it was clear that if Meg wanted a new beginning, she would have to do it alone.

Haunted by the tragedy of his daughter’s death, Gary is stuck in his life in Woodstock, Virginia. He still owns and drives the bus for their hometown minor league baseball team, and he still thinks about the day his wife drove away.

Everything changes when Meg contacts Gary with a request to bring Moses to visit her one last time before the old dog passes on. Gary is reluctant, but Troy thinks it’s an excellent idea. They could even travel together in Gary’s bus. Along the way, Gary takes a detour to visit Troy’s ex-girlfriend, Grace. Gary might not know how to fix things with his wife, but he knows he doesn’t want Troy to make the same mistakes he did.

Although Moses is just a dog, he’s very observant. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out they are going on to see Meg. He knows he’s an old dog and that his time is near, but he also knows his family needs his help.

Even the Dog Knows is a novel that will take readers on a thousand-mile journey to find forgiveness, understanding, healing, and the meaning of true and lasting love.”

At a time when it seems as though every sound bite we come across is simply more depressing news, unplugging and immersing ourselves in feel-good moments are not just important but as necessary as eating healthfully and getting enough sleep.

Give yourself a dose of good medicine this summer. Find a moment, a glass of ice tea, pick up your copy of “Even The Dog Knows,” and travel along with Moses on the journey to unite his people.

My Big Book Stack | November Book Club