Most Anticipated books for 2023!

 Happy New Year!!  I was looking at the books coming out in 2023 and I am so excited!  I'm also excited because I've decided to do something a little different this year.  I'm hoping to catch up on some of my Kindle books that have been languishing as they await my attention, as well as reading (and rereading) some books I own in paper that keep coming to mind.  So for this list, the new books will in at the top, in release date order and then the books already available will be in some sort of order below.

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason - 1/3/2023

So this one I have mixed emotions about this one. I didn't finish the first book in the series,

but I so enjoyed the second one.  So I'm very curious about this one! 

Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden - 1/17/2023

The Final book in the series!  I'm excited for Liam's story!

Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White - 1/23/2023

I'm excited for a new dual-time novel from one of my favorite authors! 

Brooke by Ronie Kendig - 2/6/2023

I've been waiting for Brooke's story and have already pre-ordered it!

A Match in the Making by Jen Turano - 2/21/2023

A new series!!!!! 

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin - 2/23/2023

I'm always up for Sarah Sundin's books!

Love Makes Way by Hallee Bridgeman - 3/7/2023

I so enjoyed the other books in this series and am looking forward to this one!

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White - 8/22/2023

As previously mentioned, I always love Roseanna's books, so her books 

are always on the list!

The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar 

I missed this one in 2022 and I'm hoping to acquire it sometime this year. 

When The Day Comes  by Gabrielle Meyer

I had the pleasure of receiving this book for Christmas and

am excited to have a moment to dive in!  Also, dual-timeline. :)

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano 

I found this one at my library!  I've so enjoyed all of Joanna's books so far

and am hoping to borrow it whenever it becomes available again.

The Book of Wars Series by Ronie Kendig

I confess, I read the first book when it released and my sweet husband

bought me the second and I haven't ever finished the series.  Hopefully that will 

change in 2023! 

Abiassa's Fire series by Ronie Kendig

This is another of those, I read the first and by the time the second one came out, I forgot

about it.  But we bought this box set, so I can finally know how it ends!

Prophet by R. J. Larson

I read this one shortly after it came out and I remember it was 

so good and it's been on my mind to read the series again. 

So what about you?  What books are on your list? 

Favorite books of 2022!

 It's that time of the year again!  The day, or maybe a week or two, that we spend remembering the past year and considering the future we expect to have (hopefully).  This is also when all the book nerds remember our favorite books that we've read this year and eagerly think about the list we're compiling for next year.  So these are my top 10 books of 2022!  Not all of these were published in 2022, I just happened to read them this year.  Also, one of them isn't actually a favorite (though it was very good!), but it surprised me so much, that it has to be here for an honorable mention.  So I suppose it's actually my top 9 books of the year?  Eh, close enough.  :)   (also, these are just in order by author's last name)

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar - I originally read this book several years ago, 

shortly after it first came out.  I remembered it fairly recently and something about

 it kept prodding me to read it again.  And I'm so glad that I did!  

Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar - I bought this book several months 

before actually reading it.  I love how God uses Ms. Afshar's books to remind me of

truths, something I particularly needed after the miscarriage. 

Range by Ronie Kendig - Honestly, this book was a difficult read.

Ms. Kendig seldom pulls punches in her writing, but this series in particular is 

explosive and abrasive to the conscious, as it attempts to very authentically portray human trafficking.

 

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin - I always love Ms. Sundin's books and this

 one is no exception!  I also want to note that it's currently on sale on the Kindle for

 $1.59  if you haven't read it yet! 

To Disguise the Truth by Jen Turano - This has to be one of my 

very favorite books by Ms. Turano!  I can't even give a specific reason, just that

it was so good!  If you haven't read it yet, it needs to be on your list for next year!

Turn To Me by Becky Wade - I think Ms. Wade's newest book is always 

on my list.  I'm really hoping that doesn't change. 

Sunburst by Susan May Warren - This is another book that surprised me!

I hadn't read anything from Ms. Warren in at least a couple years and this one just

 drew me right in!  And best of all, I adored the characters!

Sundown by Susan May Warren - See above comments.  Also, I just really

enjoyed how she finished this series.  It was beautifully done.  

Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White - Again, I think at least of

Ms. White's books is on my list every year.  And this is not a complaint!  This series

 conclusion was very satisfying. 

The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert - This is the one that surprised me.

I've honestly been looking at this book for several years and I just wasn't picking it

 up. Does anyone else have that one book that just keeps staring at you? (In the

 case of this cover, literally) I finally started it and just got sucked in!  And then

 dumped back out, as I haven't been able to get the other 3, yet.  Maybe next year.

So that's my list for the year!  What's on yours?  Anything I should be adding to my list for the new year?

Bookish Thoughts: Word of Honor

 

Description

FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when her partner is taken captive and murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.

As a woman in a Muslim country, she'll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the man assigned to play the role is none other than US Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders--the man who crushed her heart into a million pieces back in college.

With a cargo bay's worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, killing innocent civilians, and threatening to destabilize the oil markets. But love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times--and protecting Lynda has become Bill's primary focus.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

The Story Graph

About the Author:
Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the series and it picks up right where the first one left off, though you don’t have to read the first to keep up with the story.  I really enjoyed the first book and was very excited when this one arrived in the mail.  My reading time is getting more and more limited, it seems, so I wasn’t able to rush through it as I usually do.  That said, it was really nice to take my time and savor the story a little more.  Though I was more than a bit impatient when the suspense picked up and I had to keep putting it down when life demanded. 

I read the back cover description and was under the impression that Bill and Lynda’s “marriage” would be a larger part of the story.  I’m always a sucker for the “forced proximity” or “marriage of convenience” tropes, so I was very intrigued.  In all actuality, it didn’t have as large of a role as I had anticipated.  I did really enjoy how their relationship changed more gradually.  Though the timeline for most of the story is fairly short, the romance didn’t feel rushed or unrealistic.  I loved how natural it felt, amidst the suspense and mystery happening around them. 

I so enjoyed getting to know Bill and Lynda, as well as revisiting some other characters from the first book.  I’ve also seldom read a book set in Turkey, so I found the cultural things fascinating, especially the things Bill and Lynda learned for their undercover roles.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to Ozzy’s book next month!

Bookish Thoughts: Honor Bound

 

Description:

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord's mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces "A-Team" on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia's life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia tries to hold on to her anger--but an unwanted attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he's beginning to think they just might overcome their differences and be able to make a life together.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

The Story Graph

About the Author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

My Thoughts:

I’ve long been a fan of Ms. Bridgeman’s work and was super excited to learn she has a whole new series releasing!  This one is the first in a new series about an Army Green Beret special forces team and I couldn’t wait to dive in.  First, I had to free the book from my toddler’s curious hands, as she loved the cover. 

I honestly wasn’t sure what to think when I first started the story.  I liked Rick from the beginning.  With Cynthia, it took a little more time for me to warm up to her character, though I did really like her by the end!  I really enjoyed the suspense and getting to know the entire team.  I found the number of characters, names, and their team call-signs a little overwhelming at the beginning, but quickly settled into the rhythm.  The pacing and “feel” of the story is a little different from the author’s other novels, so that took a little adjustment for me, but I found that while I greatly enjoyed her other books, I liked this slightly different style as well.  

One of the things that I found very interesting is Cynthia’s perspective on war.  She’s a pacifist put in the middle of combat with a group of special forces soldiers.  So while she disagreed with their methods, she was forced to assist them to help her village.  I enjoyed learning about her opinions and beliefs on the subject, as well as how Rick perceives his role in warfare.  I appreciated how the author handled the conversations on the subject.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am excitedly awaiting the opportunity to read the next one!

Question to ponder:

Do you tend towards agreeing more with Cynthia in her pacifist beliefs, or with Rick being a military SF soldier? Have you ever taken time to consider the other side?