1. The Ladies of Ivy Cottage (Tales From Ivy Hill, Book 2)
Author: Julie Klassen
Publisher: Bethany House, December 2017
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Pages: 450
Rating: 8
Returning to the town of Ivy Hill, this book focuses on Rachael Ashford and Mercy Grove. I loved the continuing exploration of ladies trying to provide for themselves in an era (1820) that makes it nearly impossible without “marrying well.” You’ll want to read book 1, The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, first or you might be a little lost. This is a true series, and I’m enjoying getting to know more of the Ivy Hill inhabitants. The only drawback is that I have to wait until December 2018 for book 3!
2. Pride and Prejudice (audiobook by Rosamund Pike)
Author: Jane Austen
Publisher: Audible studios
Genre: Classic Fiction
Time: 11 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: 10
I’ve read this classic several times, but this was my first time listening. I thoroughly enjoyed Pike’s performance of a well-loved story.
3. Lies Jane Austen Told Me: A Proper Romance
Author: Julie Wright
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, November 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 320
Rating: 8.5
I was a little leary considering the title, because, well, nothing compares to Jane. However, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this story. It isn’t a redo of an Austen plotline, and I loved the references to Austen’s writing throughout, along with main character Emma’s struggle to set aside the unrealistic expectation of finding a Mr. Darcy.
4. Wonder
Author: R. J. Palacio
Publisher: Knopf, February 2012
Genre: Children’s Books/Growing Up & Facts of Life/Illness/Special Needs
Pages: 320
Rating: 9
This is the story of a boy born with facial differences and his first experience going to public school. I loved seeing into the minds of not just Augie (the boy), but his classmates, sister, and others. It was a great reminder to me that everyone has their own story, and the more we hear of it, the more we’ll understand them. My 9-year-old son insisted that I read it, and I’m glad I did!
Author: Allan Wolf
Publisher: Candlewick, September 2007
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Pages: 512
Rating: 8.5
I was skeptical about reading a book in poetic form, but I absolutely loved this novel of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. I grew up in a town where Center Street is flanked by Lewis on one side and Clark on the other, so I really appreciated getting to know these men and their crew better than what I learned in fourth grade Idaho history. Wolf gives each character a distinct voice and style, using actual excerpts from Lewis & Clark’s journals.
6. Jane Eyre (audiobook by Susan Ericksen)
Author: Charlotte Brontë
Publisher: Amazon Classics
Genre: Classic Fiction
Pages: 17 hours 27 minutes
Rating: 10
I absolutely love this story, and Ericksen’s reading gave me a new appreciation for the beauty of Brontë’s words. I had to go back and listen to several passages more than once just to bask in the artistry.
7. Lady of Breken Manor
Author: Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press, January 2018
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 106
Rating: 8
Contemporary romance about an American man who inherits a haunted castle in Scotland. I like how Moore brought the old and new worlds together and made them mesh in a plausible manner.
8. Meant to Be Mine (A Porter Family Novel, Book 2)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, April 2014
Genre: Christian Romance
Pages: 386
Rating: 9
Loved this story of sacrifice, trust, and commitment between struggling single-parent Celia Park and professional bull rider Ty Porter. Wade does a great job of weaving God into the story without getting preachy.
9. A Love Like Ours (A Porter Family Novel, Book 3)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, April 2015
Genre: Christian Romance
Pages: 370
Rating: 8.5
Horse-trainer and former Marine Jake Porter still struggles with PTSD. Childhood friend Lyndie James reenters his life when she is hired to exercise his Thoroughbred horses.
Author: Laura Frantz
Publisher: Revell, January 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 418
Rating: 7.5
Colonial Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution, with Tories and Patriots vying for power and one young woman–abondoned by her Tory father–trying to make do for herself with the aid of a Patriot.
11. The Lady and the Gent (London League #1)
Author: Rebecca Connelly
Publisher: Phase Publishing, February 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 279
Rating: 7.5
Fun read about a British operative and the young woman he admires from afar.
12. Her One and Only (A Porter Family Novel, Book 4)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, May 2016
Genre: Christian Romance
Pages: 481
Rating: 9
Porter boys’ little sister Dru is assigned to protect an NFL star who balks at having a female bodyguard half his size. Loved this story.
13. Worth the Risk
Author: Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press, February 2018
Genre: Christian Romance
Pages: 210
Rating: 7.5
Contemporary romance about teenage best friends who reconnect ten years later. We also get to see inside the life of a hoarder and how that affects friends and family.
14. Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone
Author: Martin Dugard
Publisher: Broadway Books, May 2003
Genre: History/Africa/Exploration
Pages: 368
Rating: 9
Finally, I know the story behind the famous phrase, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” There are some disturbing details of death, disease, and sacrifice; but I thoroughly enjoyed learning about these two men and their adventures and humanity. I did have to refrain from reading it while I was on vacation in a (not very remote) jungle…
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Publisher: Bethany House, October 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Rating: 8.5
I loved learning more about Morse code, telegraphy, and the rival newsagencies AP and Reuters at the turn of the 20th century.
16. A Night in Grosvenor Square (Timeless Regency Collection)
Author: Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press, January 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 248
Rating: 7.5
Three very different novellas surrounding a night in Grosvenor Square. I enjoyed each of them, but novellas always leave me wanting more!
17. Ashes on the Moor (Proper Romance)
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, March 2018
Genre: Victorian Romance
Pages: 384
Rating: 9.5
I adored this story of an impoverished, novice schoolteacher and her unlikely friendship with an Irish brickmason. Sarah Eden at her best!
18. Check Me Out
Author: Becca Wilhite
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, February 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 368
Rating: 8
I love the library setting of this rethink on Cyrano de Bergerac.
19. Love Beyond Time
Author: Nancy Campbell Allen
Publisher: Covenant Communications, July 2011
Genre: Speculative Historical Fiction/LDS Time Travel
Pages: 196
Rating: 7.5
An interesting take on a 21st century doctor’s view on Civil War medicine, among other things.
20. Keeping Kinley (Books of Dalthia, Book 5)
Author: Annette K. Larsen
Publisher: Kindle Press, May 2017
Genre: Teen Romance
Pages: 290
Rating: 8.5
You’ll want to read the other Books of Dalthia first, starting with Just Ella. I’ve enjoyed all five of them.
21. A Wrinkle In Time
Author: Madeleine L’Engle
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1962
Genre: Children’s Science Fiction
Pages: 228
Rating: 7.5, although I would’ve rated it closer to 8.5 as a kid.
Meg and Charles Wallace embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father.
22. Through Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom Book 1)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revel, August 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Romance
Pages: 386
Rating: 8.5
WWII Mystery/Romance about a secretary at the Boston Naval Yard and an Ensign in the US Navy during the 1941 build-up to the United States entering the war. I loved the insights into the pre-war sentiments of the populace and the chemistry between the leads.
23. Anchor in the Storm (Waves of Freedom Book 2)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revel, May 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Romance
Pages: 400
Rating: 9
Book 2 of the series deals with the changing role of women in WWII, attitudes toward the disabled, and what is now called PTSD. Again, great chemistry and exciting plotting. This one kept me up until 3am!
24. When Tides Turn (Waves of Freedom Book 3)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revel, March 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Romance
Pages: 401
Rating: 8.5
Book 3 explores women in the military through the newly formed “WAVES.” I love the theme of inner versus outer beauty that is woven throughout as several characters struggle with their individual worth.
25. All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Publisher: May 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction/WWII
Pages: 544
Rating: 9
A poignant portrayal of WWII from the perspective of a blind French girl and an orphaned German boy, among others. Doerr’s prose is beautiful and captivating, but he does not sugar coat the brutality of war. Scattered foul language and crass comments made this a more difficult read for me and brought my rating down a notch. Highly recommended reading, if you can handle the grit.
26. We Took to the Woods
Author: Louise Dickinson Rich
Publisher: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1942
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir
Pages: 368
Rating: 8
A lovely account of Rich's family life in a remote area of Northern Maine in the late 1930s.
27. A Distant Melody (Wings of Glory Book 1)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, March 2010
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 422
Rating: 7.5
Sundin's debut novel, about ball-bearing heiress Allie Miller and WWII airman Walter Novak, who has a weakness for bending the truth whenever it suits him. The writing is not quite as tight in this debut as in her later books, but I enjoyed the story and especially the war scenes. There is brief mention of homosexuality, viewed through a 1940s lens and not detailed.
28. A Memory Between Us (Wings of Glory Book 2)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, September 2010
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 449
Rating: 8
Continuing with characters introduced in Book 1, this follows Jack Novak and his pursuit of Ruth Doherty. Themes of virtue, repentance, and violence against women are prevalent throughout. More adult themed than some of her other books, but still clean.
29. Blue Skies Tomorrow (Wings of Glory Book 3)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, August 2011
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 432
Rating: 8.5
Sundin really hits her stride here with the third Novak brother, Ray, and war widow Helen. Adult themes of domestic violence and mentions of intimacy, but Sundin keeps it clean without sterilizing the conflict.
Author: Edmund Morris
Publisher: Random House, January 2001
Genre: Biography
Pages: 772 (25 hours 50 minute audiobook)
Rating: 8
The second in Morris' three-part biography, this covers the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. I found this book after reading Mornings on Horseback (covering TR's childhood and youth) and starting River of Doubt (which details the Amazonian river trip that nearly killed him after he failed to secure a third term in 1912). I put that one on hold so that I could fill in the gap with Theodore Rex. I enjoyed the book, but got a little mired down by the politics (not my favorite subject). However, it greatly increased my appreciation for our 26th president and his remarkable political acumen.
31. With Every Letter (Wings of the Nightingale Book 1)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, September 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 434
Rating: 8
More WWII from Sundin. I loved learning about the North African/Mediterranean theater of the war from the perspectives of an early air-evacuation nurse and an army engineer. I enjoyed seeing the war behind the front lines.
32. On Distant Shores (Wings of the Nightingale Book 2)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, August 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 434
Rating: 8
Air-evac nurse meets army pharmacist. Great information on the developing role of pharmacy in medicine.
33. In Perfect Time (Wings of the Nightingale Book 3)
Author: Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell, July 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian Romance
Pages: 418
Rating: 9
I did not expect to love this one more than the others (9 books from one author in a short time and all that...), but I totally did. The themes of repentance and redemption sounded throughout without being preachy and moved along nicely by the exciting plot. Looking forward to more by Sundin in the coming years!
34. Autumn Masquerade (Timeless Regency Collection Book 1)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack, Donna Hatch, Nancy Campbell Allen
Publisher: Mirror Press, October 2015
Genre: Regency
Pages: 298
Rating: A Merry Dance, 8; Unmasking the Duke, 8; What's in a Name, 7.5.
Three regency novellas that were all entertaining. The kissing in #3 had a bit TMI for my taste or I'd have rated it higher.
Author: Kari Iroz
Publisher: Covenant Communications, June 2017
Genre: Suspense
Pages: 288
Rating: 7.5
Sequel to A Date With Danger (reviewed in 2016 Selections), I didn’t enjoy this quite as well as the first, but it was entertaining.
36. Eve: In the Beginning
Author: H. B. Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press, November 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 291
Rating: 7.5
An interesting fictional adaptation of life in the Garden of Eden and after The Fall.
37. 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven
Author: S. Michael Wilcox
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Religion and Spirituality/Biography
Pages: 208
Rating: 9.5
Saint Patrick, Saint Francis, Joan of Arc, Mencius, Khadijah and Aisha (wives of Mohammad), Sddhartha/Buddha, Charles Darwin, Sir Ernest Shackleton, George MacDonald, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Each short biography of these amazing individuals was highly motivational, but equally impactful for me was Wilcox’s preface about Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations and the many people who have influenced his life for good.
38. Miss Wilton’s Waltz
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, May 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 352
Rating: 8.5
Deep characters with real weaknesses facing hard choices. Confirmed spinster teacher is caught wandering the streets of Bath alone, at night, wearing men’s clothing and is consequently blackmailed into helping an impossibly unruly student.
Note: this is a sequel to The Vicar’s Daughter (which I haven't read), so I was a little confused at the references to characters as if I should already know them. However, just reading the cover blurb of that one cleared things up enough to read on.
39. My Sister's Intended (Serendipity Book 1)
Author: Rachael Anderson
Publisher: HEA Publishing, March 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 257
Rating: 8.5
Super glad I was never in the same dating pool with any of my sisters, but I loved the sisters' relationship and the banter between the two leads.
40. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey (audiobook narrated by Paul Michael)
Author: Candice Millard
Publisher: Broadway Books/Books On Tape, October 2006
Genre: History/Exploration/South America
Pages: 416 (12 hours 18 minutes)
Rating: 10
I don't give 10s on a whim, friends. This is the remarkable true story of Roosevelt's exploration of the Rio da Dúvida (later renamed Roosevelt River) with legendary Brazilian explorer Cândido Rondon. I was as captivated by this book as any novel. The only drawback was that I could not devour it in one sitting, since I purchased on audio. In the words of Naturalist George Cherrie, who accompanied Roosevelt on this treacherous journey through the Amazonian rainforest, "I have always thought it strange, since I had the opportunity to know him and know him intimately...how any man could be brought in close personal contact with Colonel Roosevelt without loving the man." What an amazing chapter in the life of an amazing man!
41. Women of the Book of Mormon
Author: Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Covenant Communications, November 2015
Genre: Spirituality/History
Pages: 112
Rating: 8
Moore brings all the women of the Book of Mormon together for us to contemplate in an insightful collection.
42. Loving Lieutenant Lancaster
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Covenant Communications, April 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 256
Rating: 8
Another lovely read from Eden. I can always count on her books for a little dose of happiness. This one is a family reunion of sorts between the Jonquils and the Lancaster clan. If you haven’t read her books from the other two series, you might be a little lost starting here. Seeking Persephone is the first of the Lancaster books, and Friends & Foes is the first of the Jonquils.
43. Last of the Mohicans (audiobook narrated by Jonathan Oliver)
Author: James Fenimore Cooper
Publisher: RNIB; Audible, August 2009
Genre: Classic Literature/Colonial North America/French and Indian War
Pages: 384 (15 hours 50 minutes)
Rating: 8.5
I saw an edited version of the 1992 film when I was in college and fell in love with the story and the music, and have had this in my To Read list for years. The story is captivating, and the vintage recording by Jonathon Oliver was excellent. It's been a long time since I saw the movie, but I'm pretty sure they took some big liberties with the plot and characters.
44. My Dearest Enemy
Author: Jennifer Moore
Publisher: Covenant Communications, April 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction/War of 1812
Pages: 200
Rating: 8
An interesting look at the War of 1812, as seen from the perspective of an American soldier and a Canadian woman.
45. Intertwine
Author: Nichole Van
Publisher: Fiorenza Publishing, February 2014
Genre: Historical Romance/Time Travel
Pages: 302
Rating: 8.5
2012 meets 1812. I'm usually pretty skeptical when it comes to time travel books, but Van did a nice job of closing up the holes that usually bother me.
46. More Than Meets the Eye (A Patchwork Family Novel Book #1)
Author: Karen Witemeyer
Publisher: Bethany House, June 2018
Genre: Historical fiction/Christian
Pages: 354
Rating: 8.5
Another great read from Witemeyer. A family of three orphans is threatened by a man seeking justice. I loved the prologue, and hopefully the next in the series fills in some of the gaps!
47. A Defense of Honor
Author: Kristi Ann Hunter
Publisher: Bethany House, June 2018
Genre: Regency/Christian
Pages: 386
Rating: 9
I found the premise and characters captivating. Thankfully, we've come a long way from the ostrasizing of unwed mothers and their children in the regency era.
48. The Hound of the Baskervilles (audiobook by Simon Vance)
Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Publisher: AmazonClassics, 2017
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 5 hours 17 minutes (112 pages in paperback)
Rating: 9
One of Doyle's most famous stories--and one I've been meaning to read for years--nicely read by Vance.
49. Kiss of the Spindle
Author: Nancy Campbell Allen
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, 2018
Genre: Steampunk Victorian
Pages: 352
Rating: 7.5
Clever steampunk adaptation of Sleeping Beauty.
50. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Publisher: Anchor, 2003
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 272
Rating: 9
A reread of one of my all-time favorites. I love Mma Romatswe's view of life and pithy insights. There is some adult content (recall of domestic violence, comedic commentary on intimacy), but nothing explicit.
51. Summer Holiday (Timeless Victorian Collection Book 1)
Author: Nancy Campbell Allen, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon
Publisher: Mirror Press, 2017
Genre: Victorian Romance
Pages: 225
Rating: Breakfast at Sommerpool's, 7.5; However Long the Wait, 8.5; The Last Summer at Ivy House, 7.5.
Three entertaining novellas. Eden's was especially good.
52. Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill (audiobook by Simon Vance)
Author: Candace Millard
Publisher: Random House Audio, 2016
Genre: History
Pages: 10 hours 14 minutes (400 pages hardcover)
Rating: 8.5
A fascinating look at the young, impulsive, sometimes brazen Winston Churchill. I wasn't sure I could like his younger self, but Millard convinced me.
53. True to You (Bradford Sisters Book #1)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Pages: 386
Rating: 9
Librarian meets Navy SEAL. Love these characters!
54. Falling For You (Bradford Sisters Book #2)
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Pages: 370
Rating: 8.5
Famous model and former NFL quarterback in a second chance romance.
55. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition
Author: J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Publisher: Aruthur A. Levine Books, 2015
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 256
Rating: 10
I read this aloud to my 5-year-old (and a fluctuating mixture of his siblings ranging from 9-21 who were drawn in *again* by the story) and was thrilled to experience it again for the first time through him. Adding to the experience was reading out of my newly purchased illustrated edition. The pictures are amazing!
56. A Gentleman in Moscow
Author: Amor Towles
Publisher: Viking, 2016
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 480
Rating: 8
Towles' prose is beautiful. I especially enjoyed his depictions of the Count's love of good food. Though not the fastest page-turner, it did hold my interest while simultaneously making me painfully aware of my glaring lack of education in most things Russian. I did recognize names and places, but beyond that I'm pretty clueless... Now I need to find an exciting condensation of Russian history! Any recommendations?
57. Long Journey Home (Longing for Home, Volume 4)
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Mirror Press, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 370
Rating: 9
Maura O'Connor leaves the factories of New York to seek out her deceased husband's family in Hope Springs, Wyoming. Another solid hit by Eden. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, and they just keep getting better. I love the depth of Eden's characters and the goodness that they show in spite of--or because of--their flaws.
58. Educated: A Memoir
Author: Tara Westover
Publisher: Random House, 2018
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 352
Rating: 7.5
I didn't want to like this book, but I did. Westover tells her story of growing up without a formal education in rural Idaho. I can't say that I enjoyed reading it (because of the difficulty of the subject matter), but it was definitely eye-opening. I can say that as a Latter-Day-Saint who grew up within an hour of Westover's home, I had a very different "education." I do wonder where--between her perspective and the refutations of it by those who claim to be siblings and close neighbors--the truth lies.
59. The Worst Hard Time (Audiobook narrated by Ken Burns)
Author: Timothy Egan
Publisher: Tantor Audio, 2006
Genre: History/Nature
Pages: 11 hours 47 minutes (340 paperback)
Rating: 8
A fascinating look at the Dust Bowlers that stayed and survived.
60. A Daring Venture
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Rating: 8
I love how Camden mixes science and technology into her stories. This one weaves the development of chlorine as a water purifier into a compelling plot.
61. The Shipbuilder's Wife
Author: Jennifer Moore
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Historical Fiction/War of 1812
Pages: 272
Rating: 7.5
Sequel (but fine as standalone) to My Dearest Enemy, this novel is set during the War of 1812 along the east coast, in and around Washington City.
62. Still Alice
Author: Lisa Genova
Publisher: Pocket Books, 2009
Genre: Fiction/Medical
Pages: 388
Rating: 8.5
Wow. What a journey through the eyes of a brilliant woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Poignant, sweet, disturbing. Has a bit of language.
63. The Masterpiece
Author: Francine Rivers
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, 2018
Genre: Religious/Inspirational Fiction
Pages: 512
Rating: 9.5
Rivers addresses exceptionally heavy topics (abuse, drugs, prostitution, abandonment, gang activity, attachment issues, promiscuity) without delving into the graphic and weaves the love of God into the pages without getting preachy. I loved these characters.
64. Promises and Primroses (Mayfield Family Series)
Author: Josie Kilpack
Publisher: Shadow Mountain, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 336
Rating: 8.5
What a great introduction to the Mayfield Family. The parallel stories of old love and young love were delightful. Kilpack demonstrates how good people sometimes make bad choices, and there is always a chance for redemption and forgiveness.
65. My Stubborn Heart
Author: Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, 2012
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Pages: 354
Rating: 8.5
Can't say enough about Wade's writing. This one is about a social worker on leave to help her grandmother renovate the grand old family home, and their contractor--who just happens to be a former pro hockey player. Great development in the characters.
66. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck
Author: Bethany Turner
Publisher: Revell, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Pages: 306
Rating: 8
This is the first book I've read by Turner, and a thought-provoking exploration of the atonement. Do we allow others to move on from their mistakes once they have? or do we box them in and refuse to let them out? I enjoyed the characters and story--maybe a little more kissing than I prefer, but she did keep it clean.
67. Drops of Gold
Author: Sarah M. Eden
Publisher: Covenant, 2013
Genre: Regency
Pages:191
Rating: 9
This is probably my favorite Eden to re-read, and a great pick-me-up when I'm down. If only I could be as cheerful through difficulties as Marion!
68. A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England Book #1)
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction/Early 20th Century
Pages: 434
Rating: 9
I just love a story about libraries and writers! This one is set in London and rural England during the build-up to The Great War. I loved getting a feel for the history before the mud and the trenches and the dying.
69. Kim (audiobook by Madhav Sharma)
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks, 2009
Genre: Classics, Action/Adventure
Pages: 13 hours 19 minutes (256 pages in paperback)
Rating: 8.5
Kipling's classic tale of an orphaned British boy who grows up on the streets of Lahore. I have wanted to read this for years but had a hard time getting into my paperback copy (possibly because it has a wealth of footnotes to explain all of Kipling's colloquialisms), but I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Sharma's voices are delightfully varied and charming and brought the life to the story that--for me--was missing in the paperback.
70. The Roses of Feldstone
Author: Esther Hatch
Publisher: Covenant Communications, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 224
Rating: 8
Delightful debut! I devoured it in one sitting.
71. Amulet: The Stonekeeper
Author: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Graphix, 2008
Genre: Graphic novel/Fantasy
Pages: 192
Rating: 7.5
My 5th grader came home complaining that he could not get a copy of this book from the school library because it is so in demand. I ordered a copy because I had to see what all the fuss was about. This was my first graphic novel, and I enjoyed it. It hooked me fast and kept me interested throughout--I think I read the entire thing in about 15 minutes while standing in my kitchen. Not my first choice of format, but the story was definitely interesting and the pictures well done. This would be a great book for a kid who loves fantasy but isn't ready to commit to a full-length novel.
72. Proximity
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson
Publisher: Covenant Communications, 2018
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 262
Rating: 8
Another suspenseful read from Abramson. I love her characters, and it was fun to see a couple from another book return in supporting roles.
73. Flame and Ember
Author: M.A. Nichols
Publisher: M.A. Nichols, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 264
Rating: 9
I really enjoyed this regency novel by Nichols, especially the development of the main characters. This was refreshing change from the (too?) many books about stunningly gorgeous, nearly perfect people who fall in love at first sight.
74. Variant
Author: Robison Wells
Publisher: HarperTeen, 2011
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 384
Rating: 8
Lord of the Flies meets Hunger Games. I read this in one sitting.
75. The Moonstone
Author: Wilkie Collins
Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics, 1993
Genre: Classics, Mystery
Pages: 472
Rating: 8
I had to speed-read this one for book club because I forgot about it until two days prior. It has been sitting on my shelf for years, and I was not expecting to like it, but I found myself wishing I had more time to read it so that I could enjoy the writing more. One of the earliest novels written in multiple distinct voices--which I found delightful--and the mystery kept me guessing right up until the reveal.
76. Beneath the Scarlet Sky
Author: Mark Sullivan
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing, 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction/WWII Italy
Pages: 526
Rating: 8.5
Fascinating to learn about the "Forgotten Front" of Italy during WWII. Not an easy read, as it doesn't sugar coat the realities of war. A bit of language, and I did skim over some of the more disturbing violence. Also skipped a page or two in the apartment--not sure what all was in there but you'll see it coming. That said, it was a worthwhile read. And one I (as you can see below) followed immediately with a heavy dose of happy endings. ;)
77. A Song Unheard (Shadows Over England #2)
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 418
Rating: 8.5
Ah, the romantic power of music.
78. An Hour Unspent (Shadows Over England #3)
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
Rating: 9
I enjoyed all three of White's novels about early WWI England, but this one was my favorite.
79. Perfect Set
Author: Melanie Jacobson
Publisher: Covenant Communications, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 226
Rating: 7.5
Can an ambitious sports writer set aside her prejudice to consider a professional beach volleyball player? And can he get past his abhorrence of the media?
80. A Country Christmas (Timeless Regency #5)
Author: Josi Kilpack, Carly Kelly, Jennifer Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press, 2016
Genre: Regency/Victorian
Pages: 327
Rating: Saints and Sinners, 8; The Christmas Angle, 8.5; The Perfect Christmas, 8.5
Just in time for the holidays!
81. The Merry Lives of Spinsters (The Spinster Chronicles, Book 1)
Author: Rebecca Connolly
Publisher: Phase Publishing, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 296
Rating: 8.5
I was skeptical going in, I admit. But I really enjoyed this book and the diverse personalities of The Spinsters. Looking forward to more of their stories!
82. The Rithmatist
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Teen, 2014 reprint
Genre: Fantasy/Magic
Pages: 384
Rating: 9
I just wish Sanderson would write faster. :) I bought this book a couple of months ago for my son, who has been to busy with school to read it. My resistance only goes so far... I read it in about a day and a half and enjoyed every minute. Yet another fantastically believable world and magic system by Sanderson. The only drawback is that there is so much more to discover about this world, and he apparently hasn't even started the next book...
83. The Spinster and I (The Spinster Chronicles, Book 2)
Author: Rebecca Connolly
Publisher: Phase Publishing, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 281
Rating: 8
Much to her chagrin, shy spinster Prudence Westfall has attracted the attention of the ton by unwittingly inheriting a fortune.
84. My Brother's Bride (Serendipity Book 2)
Author: Rachael Anderson
Publisher: HEA Publishing, 2018
Genre: Regency
Pages: 253
Rating: 8.5
I loved Abby's approach to life. Would that I could be so positive!
85. The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love through the Generations
Author: Karen Witemeyer, Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Becky Wade
Publisher: Bethany House, 2018
Genre: Anthology (Regency, Western, 1950s, Contemporary)
Pages: 384
Rating: Legacy of Love, 8.5; Gift of the Heart, 8.5; A Shot at Love, 8.5; Because of You, 8.
I loved how the four authors were able to weave the story of an heirloom brooch through many generations. A Shot at Love was especially entertaining, with atypical heroine Fleeta Brady.
86. Life After
Author: Katie Ganshert
Publisher: WaterBrook, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 351
Rating: 9
So glad I happened to stumble across this book on social media one day! Join Autumn Manning on her journey of recovery following her survival of a horrific attack on Chicago's "L" train. Real characters, great development, captivating plot.
87. From Ash And Stone
Author: Julie Daines
Publisher: Covenant Communications, 2018
Genre: Medieval Historical Romance
Pages: 240
Rating: 8.5
Lady Margaret seeks revenge on the Reivers who killed her family, on the Scottish border in the near-lawless age of Henry VIII.
88. The Book of Mormon
Author: Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr.
Publisher: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Genre: Scripture
Pages: 351
Rating: 10
No better way to end the year! I loved pushing my way quickly through this wonderful book, finding new insights, and noticing how Jesus Christ is discussed or speaking on nearly every page. No book has impacted my life as much as this one, and I love it more every time I read it.
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