Bookish Lists: Anticipated books for 2021!

 Happy New Year!  A few days late, but the sentiment remains.  And something I'm always excited about for the new year are the many new books releasing!  I have quite a few on my list from last year that I haven't had the opportunity to read, yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not still looking forward to these! (much to my husband's amusement) 

These are some of the books I'm most excited about for the year, though most likely not all of them.  I'm very sure I'm missing at least a couple, one of them being that I haven't seen anything about the next book in Dani Pettrey's Coastal Guardians series.  When I do, that one is sure to make the list, as well! 

These are in order of publication and as usual, you can click the book's title to learn more about them. :)

1) Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White

I'm actually reading this one right now!  I'm a little less than halfway through

and can say that I'm greatly enjoying it!

Release Date January 5th

2) When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Sarah is one of my very favorite authors of WWII historical fiction and I'm always excited

for another of her books.

Release Date February 2nd

3) The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

This is the final book in the Hope and Glory series and I've been eagerly awaiting Luke's story!

Release Date February 16th

4) Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter

I don't really know what to say about this one. It's by Kristi and it's Aaron's story, 

both of those facts ensure that I must read it. :)

Release Date April 20th

5) Let It Be Me by Becky Wade

This one is the second book in the Misty River Romance series and I'm 

super excited and curious to see what happens!  I was given just a little glimpse into the 

characters in Stay With Me and I must know more!

Release Date May 4th

6) The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

Isn't this cover beautiful!  And again, by a favorite author!  I think it might also be the 

first in a new series!  I'm not entirely sure about that, but I might have seen it somewhere?

Release Date May 4th

7) The Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer

There's no cover for this one yet, that I could find.  But I love Karen's books

and it's the next in her Hanger's Horsemen series, so I'm looking forward to it!

Release Date June 1st

8) Jewel Of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

Tessa is one of the only authors of Biblical fiction that I've read and I greatly enjoy

her books!  I haven't yet read her 2020 release, something I shall have to rectify!

Release Date June 8th

9) Plot Twist by Bethany Turner

I just discovered Bethany's books last year and the one I had the pleasure of reading 

was hilarious!  I saw this one and couldn't resist adding it to the list!

Release Date June 14th

10) Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason

I just realized as I was finishing this list that I totally forgot to include the 3rd book

in this series on it.  I got to read it before the first of the year, so I didn't even think . . . but

anyway!  This book is looking like it might be the final one in the Danger Never Sleeps series

and I'm super happy that she's sharing Caden's story!

Release Date August 3rd

11) Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

We're going back to Prince Edward Island!  I loved her Prince Edward Island Dreams series, 

so I obviously can't miss this one!

Release Date August 3rd

12) To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano

Okay, so is there anyone who doesn't like this cover?  If so, I'm not sure we can

be friends any longer . . . . Also, if you've read To Steal a Heart, this is Daphne's story!

So, that's my list so far!  Do any of these catch your attention?  Any books on your list that I don't have here? (I'm always up for suggestions!)

Bookish Lists: My Favorite Books of 2020

Though 2020 has been a difficult and strange year in many ways for a multitude of people, I'm seeking to focus on the happy and good things that happened, especially as I look back and ponder through journal entries and possible blog posts.  One of those things is that I actually read quite a bit more this year than I thought I would!  I thought having a baby would slow my reading down a lot.  And in some ways, it has.  But I'm learning that naptimes are great times to read, if I'm not sleep deprived and there isn't a ton of bottles/dishes/laundry waiting for me.  So, this is my annual "favorite books of the year!" post.  Complete with alphabetizing by author and links if you click on the book title.  Not all of these books released this year, but I did get to read them at some point during the year, so I'm saying it counts.  So, without further blathering:

1) Cry of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse

This is the third book in the Ravenwood Saga and I was so excited to read it!

It's also the first book I read after I had my little girl and I actually read most of it

out loud to her. Getting her started early.

2) Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse

I don't typically include two books by the same author and I find it kind of amusing

that the first book is the last one in her newest series and this one is the first book in her

very first series.  But this one challenged me, a lot.  I haven't gotten to read the rest of the series yet, but simply based on this one, I'll have to finish it very soon!  I must know what happens!

3) Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese

One of my friends is an avid fan of Nicole's and has told me for a while now that I just

have to read one of her books.  I don't remember how I came to have this one, but I chose to read it on

a whim one day and I was so good!  I am now a believer, Denise!  I haven't gotten to read any others from her, yet.  But this one was beautiful, funny, sweet, and so many other things.

4) Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

This book had loads of suspense!  It also included a drug trial, something I found interesting,

being a pharmacy tech.  Plus, I loved Sarah and Gavin!

5) Start With Me by Kara Isaac

There are so many things I could say about this book . . . but I think it all 

boils down to, "you need to read it!"  Truly, I'm a huge fan of Kara's and this book might by my favorite.  Maybe.  I'm terrible at choosing these things . . . .

6) The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano

This book surprised me in so many ways!  I hadn't read anything by this author

since her debut novel and I fell in love with this story!

7) Some Bright Someday by Melissa Tagg

If you enjoy rom-com, even if you just like it, and you haven't read

any of Melissa's books yet my first question is, "why not???" 

8) Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano

I think one of Jen's books ends up on my list every year.  I just can't help it!  

I love to laugh and her books inspire much laughter in my house!  They're also some 

of my library that I happily loan, so they can elicit laughter in other homes, as well!

9) Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

This book was my first from Bethany Turner and it surprised me!  It honestly wasn't

super deep or anything, but it was so funny!  And during a pandemic, you need all the humor

you can find, right?

10) The Best We've Been by Beth K. Vogt

This book is a little outside of my normal scope, being that it's more women's fiction

than romance, but after reading the first 2 books in the series last year, I had to get the last one.  And it was really good in a heart-wrenching, soul-searching kind of way.  A fitting end to the series, for sure.

11) Stay With Me by Becky Wade

Becky has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read My Stubborn Heart and then

reread it before it was due back at the library.  And she has yet to disappoint me!  This book

was . . . you know, just read it for yourself.  That's about all I can say.

12) A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

This is the final book in The Codebreakers series and I loved it just as much as the 

first 2!  Honestly, I'm pretty sure every book in this series made me cry at one point or another.  But there's so much truth, even amidst the pain and war.  And beauty, especially found by Lily's camera.

What were some of your favorite books from 2020?  Did any of these make your list, too?  Please share!  I'm always looking for more titles to add to my never-shortening TBR list! 

Bookish Thoughts: Some Bright Someday

 

"When you know what you want, it's worth mustering

up the bravery to go after it."

- Lauren

Description:

He’s torn between love and honor...

Lucas Danby has always regretted the decisions that caused his dishonorable discharge from the military—and he’s never stopped trying to redeem his honor. He's spent the past decade taking on dangerous short-term missions as an elite private soldier—the only part of his life that's ever gone right. But the high-risk work never cures his shame. Now he’s stuck stateside, mentoring a new recruit. Worse, he's sick of lying to the people he cares about most—including the woman he’s secretly loved for years.

She can’t escape her house of memories...

Jenessa Belville should be happy. She's the hometown girl everyone loves, after all. But she’s also the last Belville left—and if she had her way, she'd leave the name and all its painful memories behind. Which is exactly what she hopes to do once she sells Belville Park, the massive estate she inherited from her parents. First, though, she needs to restore the property’s once-glorious gardens. But on the same day she puts up the “For Sale” sign, she discovers three children hiding in the caretaker's cottage, thrusting her into the unexpected role of temporary guardian.

Fighting for their future means healing from the past...

Struggling to mentor a young man with scars nearly as piercing as his own, Lucas offers to help Jenessa restore the Belville grounds. Though drawn together by a trio of kids who tug on their hearts and the sparks they can’t deny, past secrets and current sorrows threaten to pull them apart. Only the brightest love and hardest sacrifice can turn the house Jenessa never wanted into the home she and Lucas have always longed for.

 

About the Author:

Melissa Tagg is the Christy and Carol Award-winning author of swoony and hope-filled small-town contemporary romances, including the Maple Valley series, the Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series, and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. She’s also a former reporter, current nonprofit marketing strategist, and total Iowa girl.

Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not happily lost in someone else’s book or plugging away her own, she can be found spoiling her nieces and nephews, watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next fictional hero. Connect with Melissa at melissatagg.com.

My Thoughts:

Melissa Tagg has long been one of my favorite authors and I was super excited to read this newest book!  I don’t read much rom-com, so her books are a little different from my usual taste, which I think is part of why I enjoy them so much.  They overflow with laughter, romance, beautiful descriptions and settings, along with plenty of “awww” moments.  To say that I enjoyed this book is a little underwhelming.  I truly loved getting to read Lucas and Jenessa’s story and am now pondering how long it would take me to read all of her previous novels again.

Setting and dialogue are two things that make or break a book for me, and this story has both in droves!  Ms. Tagg creates such beautiful places with her words and I always end a Maple Valley story longing to visit in person . . . I so want to meet these curious and lovely people who take up residence in my mind and heart while I’m reading!  I don’t think I can choose a favorite of all of Ms. Tagg’s books, but I can say that I really love this group of friends she’s placed together.  From Marshal and Mara’s book (Now, Then, and Always) to waiting for what will hopefully be Sam’s story at some point, I’m so enjoying getting to know this unique group of friends.  And I have to laugh out loud quite often at the great banter and dialogue between them!

"Personally, son, I happen to think a weather faith is a good faith.

It means you've been through a storm and back.  Or maybe you're still

in it - still fighting.  Maybe your belief if battered and weak.

But that just means you're in a prime place for a rescue.

For a miracle."

- Arthur G. Flagg

If “wearing your heart on your sleeve” could take physical form, I think Ms. Tagg’s books would be hers.  Between the covers of each of her books are, without fail, broken people struggling, grasping, wrestling . . . to find hope, to find God.  The stories are progressions of a lesson learned and it’s apparent that in at least one aspect of it, the author learned from personal experience.  I so appreciate how real fiction can be at times and how beautifully she shares hope and peace, amidst the trials and difficulties she puts the characters through.  

Side note: the kids in this story just pull on your heart so much!

Overall, I would highly recommend this story!  And am even now plotting a reread at some point soon. :) 

As always, thanks for stopping by!  There are several more quotes I'd love to share, but I don't want to risk spoiling anything! 

I'm not sure I'll manage another post before Christmas, so just in case, I truly hope your Christmas is beautiful and filled with the people you love!

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Bookish Thoughts: The Love Note

 

Isn't this cover beautiful?

Description:

Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.

Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words. 

Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears and A Rumored Fortune. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their two kids in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her at www.jdpstories.com

My Thoughts:

I’ll go ahead a say it - I adored this story!  I haven’t read anything from Joanna Davidson Politano since her debut novel, something I shall have to rectify very soon.  I was drawn in from the very first page and couldn’t wait to see where the story was going to go!  The complexity kept me wondering and the beauty in so many of the lines had me wishing I had a pen and paper nearby to write them down.  I definitely have a “book hangover” from this one and I don’t regret one moment of it.

As it’s been a while since I’ve read anything from this author, I had no recollection to create expectations.  That being said, I had also forgotten what a great storyteller she is!  From the mystery surrounding the letter, to the many characters whose hearts were revealed through an anonymous letter, I was captivated by this story of love lost, love found, and so many questions of what true love looks like.  Much of this story comes from the perspective of Willa Duvall as she searches for the writer of the letter, as well as answers to the many questions she has regarding her life and purpose.  I loved watching her grow in compassion and wisdom, as well as finding answers that surprise and challenge her.  The story also comes from a few other characters, as the letter makes its rounds through a household of broken and hurting people.

There’s so much of this novel that pulled on my heart, but I think my favorite part was the hope that is woven through a telling that is at times difficult and broken, while also somehow being beautiful and healing.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction full of twists, turns, and so much hope.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!  I'm not sure if I'll manage another review before Thanksgiving, so just in case -

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Bookish Thoughts: To Steal A Heart

 

Happy Release Day to this new book baby 

of Jen Turano's!

Description:

After a childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she'd put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. In the middle of breaking into a safe that holds the proof to prove her friend's innocence, Gabriella is interrupted by Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend--until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he'd be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.

About the Author:

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.

My Thoughts:

This book was a much needed respite during frustrating and anxiety-inducing times.  I always so appreciate Jen Turano’s sense of humor and the crazy antics found in her stories, but seldom have I needed it more so than right now.  With a world in chaos, finding some rest in a fictional world where I know a happy ending is waiting after all the twists and turns . . . it’s a gift.  And I loved every minute of it!

As always, Ms. Turano kept me smiling and laughing throughout the story!  It does have some serious moments and somewhat dark themes at times (cue, the villain), but overall, it’s a fairly lighthearted read and just what this tired mind needed.  I adored getting to know a new cast of characters and am already so excited for the next book!  Gabriella and Nicholas are old friends who lost one another for a time and I greatly enjoyed their reunion.  Daphne is quite a trip and I’m exceedingly curious regarding Eunice’s story, which I’m hoping will be explained more in future books.  The mystery kept me intrigued, though I did have a fairly decent idea of “whodunit,” and I enjoyed reading about some of the cases the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency took on.

My only mildly negative comment is that I found a bit of the ending rather superfluous.  But it did tie things up quite nicely, so it worked out in the end.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes zany historical fiction.

I really need to think of something more creative to write here . . . but I have a 7 1/2 month old who is an expert crawler.  So all of my creativity goes to keeping her out of trouble.  

As always, thank you for stopping by! If you're looking for a distraction from the craziness of this world and you haven't bought a book yet today, maybe consider adding this one to your list!  Links are below, if you're interested!

Have a lovely day!

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Bookish Thoughts: Point of Danger

 

Description:

Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently. 

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.

 

About the Author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, including Dangerous Illusions, Hidden Peril, and Dark Ambitions, as well as the Men of Valor, Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Each of her suspense novels have been ECPA bestsellers. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

My Thoughts:

I confess, I’d taken a bit of a break from Irene Hannon’s writing and haven’t kept up with her last few books, but this one sounded very intriguing, so I thought I’d give it a go.  And I’m glad I did!  I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to searching out the ones I’d missed.

Part of the reason I stopped reading Ms. Hannon’s books for a while was because I was finding them a bit repetitive.  Which isn’t a bad thing.  They were just becoming predictable to me and I wasn’t enjoying them quite as much.  I definitely can’t say that about this tale!  It kept me guessing until the very end!  I enjoyed getting to know Eve and Brent, along with Eve’s sisters, (who I hope have staring roles in the rest of the series!) and Meg.  Ms. Hannon did a great job of setting up the mystery with red herrings and plenty of twists to keep me on my mental toes.  And surprisingly, I also enjoyed the bit of a political bent and how she handled things with Eve’s career.  I’m not typically one for that, but I thought she handled it with finesse.

I also really appreciated how she handled a couple side stories that were playing out amidst everything else going on.  And I can also say that while she writes characters that I adore by the end of the story, she also does a great job writing characters that you just kind of love to hate.  There were a couple of those and I can honestly say that I enjoyed their comeuppance perhaps a little more than I should have.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  If you'd like to learn more about the book, I'll include links below!

Have a beautiful day!

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Bookish Thoughts: The Conqueror

 

Description:

It is AD 312. Rome teeters on the brink of war. Constantine's army is on the move. On the Rhine frontier, Brandulf Rex, a pagan Germanic barbarian, joins the Roman army as a spy and special forces operative. Down in Rome, Junia Flavia, the lovely and pious daughter of a nominally Christian senator, finds herself embroiled in anti-Christian politics as she works on behalf of the church.

As armies converge and forces beyond Rex's and Flavia's controls threaten to destroy everything they have worked for, these two people from different worlds will have to work together to bring down the evil Emperor Maxentius. But his villainous plans and devious henchmen are not easily overcome. Will the barbarian warrior and the senator's daughter live to see the Empire bow the knee to Christ? Or will their part in the story of Constantine's rise meet an untimely and brutal end?

Travel back to one of the most pivotal eras in history--a time when devotion to the pagan gods was fading and the Roman Empire was being conquered by the sign of the cross.

About the Author:

Bryan Litfin grew up in Dallas, TX; Oxford, England; and Memphis, TN. He earned a degree in print journalism from the University of Tennessee, a master's degree in historical theology at Dallas Seminary, and a Ph.D. in the field of ancient church history at the University of Virginia. He now works at Moody Publishers in Chicago, IL.

My Thoughts:

I want to start this review by saying that I didn’t finish this book.  I read almost half before deciding it wasn’t for me.  I’d never read anything from this author before and was excited to read a book set in very early Rome.  But I found more than I was expecting between the pages - more violence, more disturbingly described pagan rituals, more darkness.

I do want to say that I think Mr. Litfin is a very good writer.  This book is obviously painstakingly researched and his writing style is engaging.  I do really appreciate his attention to detail and desire to keep the story true to events, as explained in the historical note.  That to say, I probably should have been expecting the violence and debauchery described, but it still took me aback.  I don’t know that I would say that it’s graphic, but in some places, even the simple bluntness of the description was more than sufficient.  There’s also a LOT of rather specifically described death, something I personally don’t really ever need to imagine.  I also question the use of some more modern language that sounded very strange for the setting and time period.   

I will also say that I found it interesting to read a woman’s perspective written by a man.  I hope that doesn’t sound bad.  I just didn’t find Flavia’s character very interesting.  She honestly seemed more often like a spoiled rich girl than a grown woman willing to die for her faith.  At least in the first part of the book.  And while Rex was an interesting character, I frequently found him quite mercenary and willing to take a life rather than sparing it.  So neither of them were characters I particularly connected with and I didn’t really care enough to really want to know how their story would end.  I do hope that there was more character development by the end, though I can’t speak to the accuracy of that.

I do truly believe that there is a book for every person and I hope people who would enjoy this book find it.  I wouldn’t say that it’s a bad story or seek to discourage someone who enjoys this genre from reading it.  It simply wasn’t my “cup of tea.”

 

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I wasn’t required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Wow!  It's been a while since I've written a review for a book that I didn't particularly care for - which is great!  But it also stretched some thought processing and word-rearranging that I haven't used lately.  

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!  If you'd like to learn more about this book, maybe read some other reviews to get a more complete picture, there are links below.  

Have a lovely day! 

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