Happy Tuesday! Today I am taking this week’s Top 10 topic and putting a spin on it — big surprise. LOL! The books I am featuring have smiling faces on their covers. Do you know how hard it is to find book covers with full on faces, let alone those that are smiling? There are plenty of covers with the backs of heads and others in which the models look determined or pensive or something other than happy. I picked books that I have reviewed and went a ways back in the archive. There are full on smiles, plenty of hints of a smile a la the Mona Lisa, and a couple of smirks. 😉 I hope you find a cover and a book to love.
This week’s Top 10 Tuesday theme is books to read on a deserted island. Since it’s mid-summer and you may still need a getaway that doesn’t involve fending off island predators and/or those stranded with you 😉 , I am going another direction and listing books set on islands, real and fictional. There’s women’s fiction, history, romance, suspense, and mystery included, so there should be something for every reading taste. And don’t those covers give you the necessary island vibe!
This week’s Top 10 Challenge is books that made us want more. For my list I went to my past If You Liked . . . posts. Every month I take my book club’s selection and list more novels that feature some of the same elements as the book we just read. For today’s list I have chosen a variety of genres — something for every reading taste. I hope you find some books to love. (And for more reading recommendations, you can find past posts by clicking on the If You Liked . . . link in the side bar.)
For more great reading recommendations, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.
If You Liked . . .
The Escape by Lisa Harris
US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.
When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead–and one fugitive on the run. They’ll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear–and will do anything to stop them.
This high-octane game of cat-and-mouse from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris will have your heart pumping as you try to catch a fugitive with nothing to lose.
US Marshall Service — Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman
Strong Female Character — Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill
Edge of Seat Suspense – Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills
The Woman in The Green Dress by Tea Cooper
A cursed opal, a gnarled family tree, and a sinister woman in a green dress emerge in the aftermath of World War I.
After a whirlwind romance, London teashop waitress Fleur Richards can’t wait for her new husband, Hugh, to return from the Great War. But when word of his death arrives on Armistice Day, Fleur learns he has left her a sizable family fortune. Refusing to accept the inheritance, she heads to his beloved home country of Australia in search of the relatives who deserve it more.
In spite of her reluctance, she soon finds herself the sole owner of a remote farm and a dilapidated curio shop full of long-forgotten artifacts, remarkable preserved creatures, and a mystery that began more than sixty-five years ago. With the help of Kip, a repatriated soldier dealing with the sobering aftereffects of war, Fleur finds herself unable to resist pulling on the threads of the past. What she finds is a shocking story surrounding an opal and a woman in a green dress. . . a story that, nevertheless, offers hope and healing for the future.
Exotic Locale — A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy
Curiosities and Mystery — Lady of A Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd
Interwoven Dual Timelines — The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright
Living Lies by Natalie Walters
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name — but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.
Suspense in A Small Town — Trial by Fire by Kathy Herman
Heroine with Struggles — Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks
PTSD — Without Warning by Lynette Eason
Magnolia Storms by Janet W. Ferguson
Maggie Marovich couldn’t save her father or her home from Hurricane Katrina, but she’s dedicated her life to meteorology so she can warn others when the monster storms approach. Except . . . she works three hours inland and rarely risks returning to her childhood hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Both her single-parent sister and the ship pilot Maggie once loved refused to leave the Coast, despite Maggie’s requests. Now a hurricane’s headed toward Mississippi, and Maggie’s sister is seriously injured, leaving Maggie little choice but to head south — into the storm.
The water and tides flow through Josh Bergeron’s veins, and he can’t imagine giving up piloting — even for the love of his life, the infuriating Magnolia Marovich. He tried to move on without her, marrying and having a child. But after his wife abandons him and his little boy, his career choice is threatened by the weight of his parental responsibilities. Moving next door to Maggie’s sister and sharing their child care seems like the perfect set-up. Until Maggie blows back into town.
Being forced to lean on Josh for help washes up the wreckage in Maggie’s faith. Where was God during the destruction of Katrina? Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? Between the hurricane looming in the Gulf and another gale raging in her heart, can Maggie overcome her past and find the trust to truly live?
Importance of Family — Practically Married by Karin Beery
Overcoming Fears — When You Look At Me by Pepper Basham
Past Impacts Present — Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh
Egypt’s Sister by Angela Hunt
Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria’s royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what — but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery.
Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God’s will for her life.
The Hebrew People in Egypt — Miriam by Mesu Andrews
More on Cleopatra — The Queen’s Handmaid by Tracy Higley
Remaining Faithful — A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith
This week Top 10 Tuesday posts are featuring book covers that depict nature. As I was looking for books to include, I was surprised that I could find as many as I did. Most covers feature people. I chose books that depict a setting or key element of the story (some have people, others not). They span genres too.
I have to admit I didn’t know that Crayola had crazy colors. My kids have been grown for a while and my granddaughter is not quite old enough for coloring. But this Top 10 Tuesday challenge sounds like a lot of fun — Book Titles That Could Be A Crayola Color.
Do you know a book title that sounds like a crazy Crayola color?
I have always been a small town girl, at least in my heart. I grew up in a large-ish town, but as an adult found myself enjoying small town living. I like less traffic, feeling a part of a community, and knowing people when I shop, dine, or recreate. I am aware of the pitfalls of small town life, (people knowing your business at number 1 😉 ), but still prefer to live in my small town. It was great raising children here too!
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about favorite book settings that you could live in. It’s no wonder that I chose small towns, both real and fictional.
In what book setting would you like to call your hometown?
Happy Tuesday! This week I am featuring books — some I have read, others on the TBR list — that have LOVE in the title. They run the gamut of genres but all feature love in some form or fashion. There are books for your reading list and books for your kids. Check them out — there’s still time to get them before Valentine’s Day! 😉
For The Love of Joyby Janet W. Ferguson returns the reader to lovely St. Simons Island in the 5th book of the Coastal Hearts contemporary romance series. Favorite characters from previous books join in as Davis and Joy navigate past hurts and present obstacles to find joy and love and forgiveness.
Is he married or isn’t he?
Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife — or former wife? — she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down.
Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret.
When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
My Impressions:
Janet Ferguson writes contemporary romance with endearing characters who navigate serious issues. In previous books, addiction and overwhelming anxiety are just two of the timely themes explored. For The Love of Joy brings together Joy and Davis who both have enough baggage to fill a cargo bay. Trust issues along with feelings of worthlessness separate them from each other and God. Tough emotions and situations, but Ferguson has a light hand as she includes much needed humor. I really enjoyed my return trip to St. Simons Island and rate this a recommended read.
Davis Donnelly believes his marriage to Joy has been over for a long time. At the beginning of a new ministry, he seeks to put the past squarely in the past. What he finds is not an ex but a wife and a child he knows nothing about. The two clash from the get-go, yet the sparks that first brought them together continue to kindle. I loved the interactions between the two even as they frustrated me — so real! Their relationship is colored by their own misconceptions, misunderstandings, and the false talk that they and others have repeated over and over. These two need a lot of work. But God reaches in and brings coincidences together to bring healing. While that is the main story, I was delighted with 2 year old Hank who steals the scene over and over. And that humor that Ferguson injects? It comes from not only events in the novel, but the hokey idioms that abound. I married a Mississippi boy and live in Georgia. We both laughed at the sayings both Joy and Davis spout. My favorite actually comes from another character who mocks Davis’ redneck sayings — Not my pig. Not my waller. Classic! The faith message is strong as the story of the woman at the well becomes real in Joy’s life.
Sweet romance, humor, and a hope-filled message, For The Love of Joyis one you don’t want to miss.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Happy New Year! I know many of you have been anxious to write 2021. Me too. 2020 could not be over quick enough for me. So today we have a brand new year, and Janet Fergusonhas a brand new release! Woo hoo! For The Love of Joyis now available on Kindle. I can’t wait to read this newest contemporary romance in the Coastal Hearts series. In fact, it will be the first book I will begin in 2021. I all the details are below.
And because it is also Friday, here is the first line:
Weddings — the best of times, the worst of times, depending on one’s vantage point.Â
Is he married or isn’t he?
Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife — or former wife? — she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down.
Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret.
When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.
Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
For more First Line Friday fun, check out Hoarding Books.
Baby, it’s cold outside! At least for middle Georgia, that is. I know many of you have already had snow and really, really cold temperatures, but in the sunny South it is officially winter when we have to put on a coat. 😉 All that to say — welcome Winter and the Winter TBR! This week I am featuring books that I want to get read in the next few months. Some are book club selections, others are awaiting reviews, and some are just because. There are a variety of genres too — historical, suspense, Regency, romance — something for everyone. I hope you find one from my list that you will love too.
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