Favorite Reads of 2021!

 I'm typing this post one-handed while cuddling our sweet 3 week-old baby girl with the other.  So please ignore any typos and chalk it up to my being a new-mom-of-two.  :-)

Happy New Year!  I know many people are looking forward to saying "farewell" (or maybe "good riddance!") to 2021.  Looking back, for our family, there were hard and beautiful moments alike, just as with every year.  Our daughter turned 1 in March!  My dad passed away in April.  I got a new tiny niece in August, amidst some severe health issues for her mom.  Thank God, they're both doing well now!  At the end of November I worked my last shift at the job I've had for almost 6.5 years.  It was a bittersweet day.  I'm blessed to get to be a stay-at-home-mom, but I'm definitely missing my work family a bit.  And our second sweet daughter made her arrival the beginning of December!

In the midst of all of that, I actually got to do a bit of reading!  So this is some of my favorite books that I read (or reread) this year, though for a change, not all of these were published in 2021.  And a couple of them are rereads that I still just really enjoyed.  So in no particular order, here's my list!  Oh, and if you click on the titles, it should send you to Amazon to read more about the books.  

Follower of the Word Trilogy by Morgan L. Busse

This series totally sucked me in!  I read the first one (I think I got it 

on a Kindle deal or something) and immediately had to get the other two!

Definitely one of my favorite series of the year!  Though I will say that reading

them all in a row, the second one felt super short to me, and the third one seemed 

to drag just a little, but still.  So. Good.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

This one also sucked me in!  All of Joanna's books that I've 

gotten to read have.  She's become an auto-read for me.  :-)

Autumn by the Sea by Melissa Tagg

I'm not normally big on rom-coms, but I have to make

an exception for Melissa's books!  I couldn't help but love Sydney and Neil.

Also, one of the very best meet-cutes ever, in my opinion. 

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson

This is one of my rereads for the year.  Dee Henderson

has long been one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed 

getting to revisit Ann and Paul's story.

Let It Be Me by Becky Wade 

The second book in the Misty River series!  It's late, I'm 

a little sleep deprived, and I read this book 7 months ago, so I'm honestly

not entirely sure what to say about it.  Haha!  But I remember really enjoying it!

Taken by Dee Henderson

Another reread!  And yes, another by Dee Henderson.

I love several of the conversations Matthew and Shannon

have throughout the course of the novel and their relationship in general.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

This book probably gets "longest book title of the year" haha!

I loved the honesty and dry humor in this story!  And it also gave me some 

food for thought, which I almost always enjoy.

To Write a Wrong Jen Turano

I'd like to talk with anyone who reads Jen's books and doesn't laugh

out loud at least once.  Seriously.  My toddler just looked at me a couple times,

when I actually took a minute to read while she was awake.

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

This book was an interesting - and at times heart-breaking - 

look at Germany before the US joined WWII.  I always love 

the characters in Sarah's novels and it holds true for this one!

Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar

This one is another "I know I read it, but my brain

isn't working at full capacity right now" kind of comments.

I know it was a delightful read, with suspense, intrigue (and I was right!),

romance, and a cantankerous cook.

If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh

I haven't read all of Courtney's books, yet, but this one is 

definitely one of my favorites!

So those are my favorites for the year!  What does your list look like?  I'm always up for recommendations, though my reading time is indubitably more limited than it was - for a very good reason.  :) 

  

Bookish Thoughts: Autumn by The Sea

 

"I think Maggie would say that's what love does.  It keeps hoping even when the answers don't come easily.  It invites strangers in.  It doesn't give up.  Love keeps searching." - Neil MacKean

Description:

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she’s never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who’s searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago.

If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie’s once again caught up in the past, convinced she’s finally found her long-lost granddaughter.

Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there’s something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that’s messier than ever. Together, they’re pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

About the Author:

Melissa Tagg is the USA Today bestselling, Christy Award-winning author of swoony and hope-filled small-town contemporary romances. 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:

I don’t typically read much rom-com, but I always make an exception for Melissa Tagg’s books.  When I saw this one would start a new series, I was both intrigued and a little sad - I love the Maple Valley folks.  I knew I could come to love these new people as well, it would just be a change from the familiar.  And come to love them, I did indeed!

As I’ve come to anticipate, this book drew me in right away!  I loved the richness of the setting, the colorful characters, and another quirky town that I got to explore with Sydney.  I’m honestly not sure which of the new characters I loved the best.  Obviously, Sydney and Neil are the leads, but I also couldn’t help but want to hug Maggie.  And I enjoyed the glimpses into the lives of the sisters, Lilian and Indi.  The setting almost seemed a character itself, the beautiful coast of Maine and a blueberry farm.  

Simply due to the plot, there are so many questions that are asked and answered throughout the story.  I so enjoyed how Ms. Tagg chose to reveal some of the answers while also leaving a few to lead into another story.  There is beauty, both in the answered and the unanswered, the asking and the wondering.  I loved how that all played into the mundane and the everyday of the story.  I don’t know if I’m explaining my thoughts well, so you might just have to read the book yourself to understand what I’m hoping to convey in a few sentences, when it took the author a few hundred pages to play it out.   

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy rom-coms!  Or even if they’re not your normal fare, you might consider giving it a try.  You may find yourself more than pleasantly surprised.

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Bookish Thoughts: Hostile Intent

 

I just discovered that I set up this post the beginning of November and never hit "publish" - oops! Well, here it is now!

Description:

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

My Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of Lynette Eason's books and was super excited for this newest one, especially as I've been hoping for a book for Caden ever since he first appeared in "Collateral Damage." Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed! This book kept me guessing from the very first page and I often found myself debating between racing to the finish or savoring as I read. 

I always really enjoy Ms. Eason's writing style and how the mystery and suspense play out. It's seldom over the top, though I do tend to give her books more license for that, than I might a TV show. In this one, I loved the puzzles and questions, the hunt for answers and the CIA angle was intriguing! I will say as far as "over the top" goes, that I found the ending a little along those lines. I realize that people can do astounding things with enough adrenaline pumping, but part of the chase at the end just seemed a little much.

I also really enjoyed the friends-to-more romance and how it was handled amidst a stressful story. I've loved getting to know Caden in the other books and was so happy to see him find his "happily ever after." 

Overall, if you enjoy romantic suspense, I would greatly recommend this book and the others in the series as well!

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Bookish Thoughts: A Midnight Dance

 

Description:

All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past? 

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, and The Love Note. 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:

This is one of those books that I don’t know if I have the words to do a review of it justice.  Joanna Davidson Politano has such a unique and lyrical way of writing, with stories that draw me in, regardless of plot or characters.  Her books always sound so mysterious or unusual.  I picked up her first out of complete curiosity, without any idea whatsoever of what I was getting into, and have read the others simply because there was something so different about that book and I wanted to read more of it.  A few books in and I still don’t think I can explain what that “something” is.  But I will say that it’s beautiful and I always find myself buried within a tale that captures both my heart and imagination.  In the case of this one, I think Ella would be quite proud, as that’s what she believes ballet should do, as well. 

I don’t know much about ballet.  I’ve been to one production of “The Nutcracker” a few years ago and that’s about the extent of my experience.  That being said, I was very surprised by a number of the historical details shared within this story.  I had no idea that ballet once had such obvious, and even expected, immorality.  Or that the Church ostracized anyone who worked in theater or dance.  I truly appreciate how the author included those things more so as facts than as a way to sensationalize the story or cause the reader to gasp in shock.  

I greatly enjoyed getting to know Ella and Jack! I’m not sure what else to say about that, without giving something away.  I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that I was very intrigued by the mystery and was very surprised at how it concluded!  

Overall, this book is definitely going on my list of favorite reads for the year!  I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a unique take on historical fiction!

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Bookish Thoughts: Beyond the Tides

 

Description:

When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.

Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.

Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren't what they expected.

About the Author:

Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including A Sparkle of Silver, A Glitter of Gold, The Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love's Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and a handful of short stories. She works in marketing and makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona

My Thoughts:

I always so enjoy Liz Johnson's books and have been eagerly awaiting this one! It's the start of a new series, set on the Prince Edward Islands, and after her first series there, I've been wanting to visit. This one certainly didn't change that desire!  And since it’s seeming my opportunity to visit right now rests in fiction, I’m definitely enjoying the trip!

One of my favorite things about Ms. Johnson’s writing is how she brings the characters and area to life.  I had no idea what lobster fishing entailed, prior to reading this book (I honestly hadn’t ever really thought about it), and she managed to pull me into a story about it, tell me in reasonable detail what the job looks like, all the while making me fall in love with the characters and their plights.  I also loved the banter between Meg and Oliver, as they started going from not-so-much-enemies-but-friends. 

I will say that I was mildly disappointed at how the slight mystery was resolved.  I was feeling pretty involved in it and didn’t expect the resolution that came.  I really enjoyed Ms. Johnson’s suspense stories and miss them every now and again (though I think I own almost all of them and I should just reread), so I kind of perked up at a hint of mystery in this book.  It was a little anticlimactic for me, but looking at the story as a whole, it definitely fits better than what I may have been thinking.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet romance in a beautiful setting!

Thanks again for stopping by and reading my ramblings! I'm still pondering the merits of possibly trying to write some different content, so we'll see.

I started this blog . . . I don't even know how long ago. I'll have to look back and see. But so much has changed in my life since I started it, simply to review books. So I'm wondering what it would look like to maybe alter some things to better suit my life now. We'll see!

As always for books, links are below!

Have a lovely day!

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Bookish Thoughts: The Ice Swan

 

Description:

Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.

1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into hiding in Paris’s underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.

Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.

Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.

About the Author:

With a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories, J’nell Ciesielski weaves fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. Winner of the INSPY and the Maggie Award, she is a Florida native who now lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

My thoughts:

I honestly don’t remember hearing of this author, prior to this book coming across my screen one day, as I sought a different book to read.  This one definitely seemed to fit the bill, being set in Paris during the Great War and surrounding a Russian princess fleeing her own war.  I hadn’t a clue what to expect, so this was definitely something different.

I can’t fault the author at all in her storytelling abilities.  I found myself easily drawn into the story, despite not particularly caring for the characters, at least in the beginning.  Svetlana is standoffish and cold, though I was expecting that from the description.  I greatly liked Wynn and his mostly easy-going nature.  I absolutely loathed Svetlana’s mother, maybe even more than Sheremetev, which is saying something.  She is childish and selfish, hardly a mother at all to Svetlana or Marina, and I was honestly kind of hoping something would happen and remove her from the story.  Her only redeeming moment is at the very end of the book, making it a sometimes tedious 400 pages, with her so frequently a part of the story.  Leonid was a surprising character and most often the comic relief, something this tale greatly needed.  I realize it was a very difficult time in history, but I wasn’t anticipating how drab the story could be, with so few light-hearted or positive moments.  

I honestly kept reading because I’m a sucker for “marriage of convenience” stories and was desperately hoping there would be a happy ending.  Thankfully, there was!  But I’m not sure I’d really recommend pushing through the heaviness to get there, unless that’s the kind of book you’re looking to read.

I'm thinking sometimes in the next 3-4 months, I'm going to be stepping back from reviewing, even more than I have thus far. Or maybe just taking a hiatus while we find our new normal with 2 little ones.

I've also been finding myself losing my joy of reading a great story and I want to find that, again. Hopefully taking a break will help with that.

I'm considering the idea of possibly writing some posts of a more conversational nature, but I want to pray about it more, before I add my thoughts/opinions to the litany that already exists online. So we shall see, just know, this blog might go through an adjustment period, as my own life changes. :)

Thank you so much for sticking around, this far!

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Bookish Thoughts: The Heart's Charge

 

Description:

Members of Hanger's Horsemen, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks arrive in Llano County, Texas, to deliver a steed, never expecting they'd deliver a baby as well. Left with an infant to care for, they head to a nearby foundling home, where Mark encounters the woman he'd nearly married a decade ago.

After failing at love, Katherine Palmer dedicated her life to caring for children, teaming up with Eliza Southerland to start Harmony House. From mixed ancestry, illegitimate, and female, Eliza understands the pain of not fitting society's mold. Yet those are the very attributes that lead her to minister to outcast children. The taciturn Jonah intrigues her with his courage and kindness, but there are secrets behind his eyes--ghosts from wars past and others still being waged.

About the Author:

Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer (www.karenwitemeyer.com) offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.

My Thoughts:

I’m kind of an on-again, off-again reader of historical Western fiction.  I used to read it more, but with having less time to read, I’ve found myself slowly weeding this genre out of my frequent reads . . . unless it’s by Karen Witemeyer!  In that case, it’s instantly on my to-be-read list, even if I’m not able to review it.

This is the follow-up book to At Love’s Command, though you don’t have to read the first to appreciate this one.  Each book stands alone, but if you read the first and enjoyed the characters, I can almost guarantee that you’ll like this one.  Though I’m not picky about the storyline, at least when it comes to Ms. Witemeyer’s books, I’m not typically a huge fan of love lost and then found again.  So I was excited to find that this book had a dual romance aspect and nicely tied up 2 stories in 1.  I found the mystery intriguing and quite enjoyed getting to know Eliza and Jonah, along with the rather colorful collection of kids in their care.  

I honestly can’t think of a single thing to nitpick or say I didn’t enjoy.  It did broach the topic of skin color and background in a way that I found well done and rather fitting for the time we’re living in.  Though I may not be racing back to read it again, I found it an interesting summer read and would recommend anything from this author. 

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Bookish Thoughts: Jewel of the Nile

"In my experience, God starts to tell us something, and before the sentence is out of his mouth, we finish it off the way we prefer.  We assume.  We presume.  And we jump to false conclusions." - Hermione   

Description:

Whispered secrets about her parents’ past take on new urgency for Chariline as she pays one last visit to the land of her forefathers, the ancient kingdom of Cush.

Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents’ tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen’s court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.

Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel and determines to be rid of her as soon as possible. But drawn in by Chariline’s story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.

In this transformative tale of historical fiction, bestselling author Tessa Afshar brings to life the kingdom of Cush and the Roman Empire, introducing readers to a fascinating world filled with gripping adventure, touching romance, and a host of lovable characters—including some they may recognize from the biblical book of Acts.

About the Author:

Tessa Afshar is the Publishers Weekly best-selling author of biblical and inspirational historical fiction, including Harvest of Gold which won a Christy Award and Land of Silence, which won an INSPY. The Way Home: God's Invitation to New Beginnings is Afshar's critically acclaimed Bible study based on the book of Ruth, which won the ECPA Christian Book of the Year Award, 2021 in the Bible Study Category. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. She holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship for a year. Having served in women and prayer ministry for twenty years, Tessa became a full-time writer several years ago. Contact Tessa at tessaafshar.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessaAfshar/

My Thoughts:

I’ve been a fan of Tessa Afshar’s books since first discovering her very first novel at a library and diving in.  Since then I’ve eagerly anticipated her next release, only missing last year’s due to all the fun of 2020.  That being said, getting to start this new book was like stepping back in time and greeting dear friends, though I hadn’t met them, yet.

Ms. Afshar’s books are the only Biblical Fiction I’ve read and I think it’s because I enjoy them so much, I’m concerned I’ll be disappointed or unfairly compare another author’s work.  There is so much depth of character and history in Ms. Afshar’s writing, and I loathe having to put down one of her books, once I’ve started it.  I love the beauty of her descriptions, how she brings the ancient past to life in a way that makes it seem maybe not quite so distant.  Though I know her works are fiction, I so enjoy how she uses Biblical teachings and accounts, bringing life to scripture that I’ve read most of my life.  

I confess, Chariline wasn't my favorite character, at first.  She is impetuous and listens little to the advice of others. At first. But as the story progressed, I found myself liking her more and more. She is more than she first seems and I couldn't fault her for some of her actions, especially as she quickly sought to learn from her mistakes.  I also couldn't help but love Theo and his motley crew. 

Overall, this is a book that I'm hoping to read again very soon and it definitely makes me long to revisit friends from previous novels.

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