Happy Tuesday! I was not really feeling this week’s TTT (too much going on to think that hard), so I am again twisting the topic and featuring books with “minor” characters — characters under the age of 18 who star in or make a big impact on the book. (Some of the covers even have children on them!) It was fun to look back at books that have a child/teenager’s point of view. An even dozen , there are lots of genres to choose from. I hope one piques your interest.
There are people out there who don’t like to read! I know a few. Even my own daughter used to say that once upon a time — until she discovered what she loved. That is always my assertion for people who don’t like reading — they just haven’t found the right book. On a twist of this week’s TTT, I am listing books for people who don’t like romance or suspense or fantasy . . . . Maybe you just haven’t found the right book. đ All of the books I have listed have wonderful characters struggling with issues that are common to all. I hope this list piques your interest. By the way, my daughter loves to read now. She just doesn’t like fiction! Oh, where did I go wrong.
With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves — or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement — and secrets that have been held too long.Â
Filled with gentle romance, The Choice opens the world of the Amish — their strong communities, their simple life, and their willingness to put each other first. Combined with Fisher’s exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in a series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.
When The Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall
When Hannah dares to love across the boundaries of tradition, will she lose everything?
Despite being raised in a traditional Old Order Amish family, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp desires to break with custom, forgo baptism into the faith, and marry outside the cloistered community. Sheâs been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for three years, and before returning to college for his senior year, Paul asks Hannah to be his wife. Hannah accepts, aware that her marriage will change her relationship with her family forever.
On the evening of their engagement, tragedy strikes and in one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed. As she finds herself entangled in questions that the Old Ways of her people cannot answer, Hannah faces the possibility of losing her place in her family, in her communityâ and in the heart of the man she loves.Â
Contemporary Romance
Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese
Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there’s only one match she’s committed to now–the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first-grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency’s requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.
Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.
With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.
True to You by Becky Wade
After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.
Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he’s diagnosed with an inherited condition, he’s forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother.
The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John’s already dating someone and Nora’s not sure she’s ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they’re seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.
Fantasy
A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr
In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone’s search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he’s joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.
Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom’s dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.
The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin
Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories–she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.
During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down…and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers…and they’re after her too.
Historical Fiction
Burning Sky by Lori Benton
Abducted by Mohawk Indians at fourteen and renamed Burning Sky, Willa Obenchain is driven to return to her familyâs New York frontier homestead after many years building a life with the People. At the boundary of her fatherâs property, Willa discovers a wounded Scotsman lying in her path. Feeling obliged to nurse his injuries, the two quickly find much has changed during her twelve-year absence: her childhood home is in disrepair, her missing parents are rumored to be Tories, and the young Richard Waring she once admired is now grown into a man twisted by the horrors of war and claiming ownership of the Obenchain land. Â When her Mohawk brother arrives and questions her place in the white world, the cultural divide blurs Willaâs vision. Can she follow Tames-His-Horse back to the People now that she is no longer Burning Sky? And what about Neil MacGregor, the kind and loyal botanist who does not fit into in her plan for a solitary life, yet is now helping her revive her farm? In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, strong feelings against âsavagesâ abound in the nearby village of Shiloh, leaving Willaâs safety unsure. Â As tensions rise, challenging her shielded heart, the woman called Burning Sky must find a new courage–the courage to again risk embracing the blessings the Almighty wants to bestow. Is she brave enough to love again?
An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz
Unflinching and plainspoken, Tessa Swan is not your typical 18th-century woman. Born and bred on the western Virginia frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Quiet and courageous, Clay Tygart is not your typical 18th-century man. Raised by Lenape Indians, he returns a hero from the French and Indian War to the fort that bears his name, bringing with him Tessa’s long-lost friend, Keturah, who disappeared from the settlement years earlier.
Determined to avoid any romantic entanglements as fort commander, Clay remains aloof whenever he encounters the lovely Tessa. But when circumstances force Clay’s hand–and heart–the stage is set for one very private and one very public reckoning.
Intense, evocative, and laced with intricate historical details that bring the past to life, An Uncommon Woman will transport you to the picturesque and dangerous western Virginia mountains of 1770.
Mystery/Suspense
Miranda Warning by Heather Day Gilbert
Child of the Appalachian mountains, Tess Spencer has experienced more than her share of heartache. The Glock-wielding, knife-carrying housewife knows how to survive whatever life throws at her. But when an anonymous warning note shows up in her best friend Mirandaâs mailboxâa note written in a dead womanâs handwritingâTess quickly discovers that ghosts are alive and well in Buckneck, West Virginia. Hot on a cold trail, she must use limited clues and her keen insight into human nature to unmask the killer…or the next victim might be Tess herself. Tinged with the supernatural and overshadowed by the mountains’ lush, protective presence, this twisting psychological mystery is the first in A Murder in the Mountains series.
Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill
After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she’s worked for: a transfer to San Antonio’s Homicide Division. Reality sets in quickly, though, as her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, brings chaos to her personal life.
As the investigation moves forward and she increases the pressure on the suspects, Amara finds herself under attack by cybercriminals. Her every move is being potentially watched online, and she’s forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer. With few leads, she fights to keep her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.
Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see that justice is served and lives are protected.
Congratulations to all the wonderful authors who are finalists in the 2021 Carol Awards presented by the ACFW. Now you know what to read this summer! đ
Contemporary
The Promised Land by Elizabeth Musser
If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh
On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Historical
Things We Didnât Say by Amy Lynn Green
In High Cotton by Ane Mulligan
The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Historical Romance
Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar
Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette
The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Dead End by Nancy Mehl
Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks
A Babyâs Right to Choose by David L. Winters
Novella
Far as the Curse is Found, from the collection Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection by Amanda Barratt
Christmas in Galway, in the collection Christmas Lights and Romance by Elizabeth Ludwig
A New Hope for Christmas by Erin Stevenson
Romance
Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray
Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter
Romantic Suspense
Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison
Point of Danger by Irene Hannon
Airborne by DiAnn Mills
Short Novel
The Christmas Bargain by Lisa Carter
Killer Insight by Virginia Vaughan
Texas Holiday Hideout by Virginia Vaughan
Speculative
Cry of the Raven (Book 3, The Ravenwood Saga) by Morgan L. Busse
Well, my TBR list just got bigger! So excited for the 2020 Christy Award nominees. I have read some of these books (and they are great), and now have many more to get on with. A big congratulations to all the talented authors!
Contemporary Romance
Just One Kiss by Courtney Walsh
Now And Then And Always by Melissa Tagg
Sweet on You by Becky Wade
First Novel
A Long Time Comin’ by Robin W. Pearson
The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg
Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
General Fiction
All Manner of Things By Susie Finkbeiner
Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels
Historical
The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts
The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson
My Dearest Dietrich by Amanda Barratt
Historical Romance
The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin
The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Echoes Among The Stones by Jaime Jo Wright
The Girl Behind The Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker
Smokescreen by Terri Blackstock
Short Form
A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall
A Flood of Love by Tracie Peterson
Intrigue A La Mode by Regina Jennings
Visionary
Cry of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse
Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck
The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin
Young Adult
The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg
A big congratulations to the talented authors who make up this year’s Carol Award Finalists. No matter what genre you prefer, you will find a winner of a read! I have read a few of these books — more are on the TBR list. Hope you find an award winning book to enjoy!
A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal Laynie Portland, Retired Spy by Vikki Kestell Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson
Novella
Always by Jody Hedlund The Groom Sheâd Thought She Left Behind from The Runaway Brides Collection by Darlene Panzera The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings
Romance
Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson Love You, Truly by Susan L. Tuttle
Romantic Suspense
The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey Living Lies by Natalie Walters Knox by Susan May Warren
Short Novel
A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount The Rancherâs Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn Lioness: Mahlahâs Journey by Barbara M. Britton
Speculative
Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig
Young Adult
Romanov by Nadine Brandes Coral by Sara Ella Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto
Debut
A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens
I am a very eclectic reader. I will read just about any genre. I do have some exceptions, but since I read Christian fiction almost exclusively, I don’t have to worry about some of the more explicit scenes/language that can crop up. đ While my time is spent mostly in reading real life stuff, whether contemporary or historical, I do like a good speculative novel as well. So what is speculative fiction?
Speculative fiction: a genre of fiction that encompasses works in which the setting is other than the real world, involving supernatural, futuristic, or other imagined elements.
The speculative fiction genre includes allegory, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, time travel, alternate history, dystopian fiction, etc. While the general market has lots of speculative fiction, there is not as much published in the Christian market, so you have to look for it. Enclave Publishing is one imprint that publishes spec fiction exclusively and is a good place to go to get your fix or to get you started on a new adventure in reading. Note: while the definition of spec fic states that the settings of the book are other than real world, I think some of the best examples of the genre take the real world and pull back a curtain that keeps us from seeing the whole picture. Those books use creative elements to help us process and imagine those things we just canât see.
For my Top 10 Tuesday post, I have included the reasons I like spec fiction, as well as some suggested books for you to check out. Hope you enjoy!
Top Reasons to Love Speculative Fiction
Takes you to another world.
Prophet by R. J. LarsonÂ
Ela Roeh of Parne doesn’t understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She’s undignified and bad-tempered, and at age seventeen she’s much too young. In addition, no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as Parne’s elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite’s prophet, Ela knows she will die young.
Yet she can’t imagine living without Him. Determined to hear the Infinite’s voice, Ela accepts the sacred vinewood branch and is sent to bring the Infinite’s word to a nation torn apart by war. There she meets a young ambassador determined to bring his own justice for his oppressed people. As they form an unlikely partnership, Ela battles how to balance the leading of her heart with the leading of the Infinite.
The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin
Selling stories is a deadly business
Tanwen doesnât just tell storiesâshe weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.
During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the kingâs guard hunts her down . . . and theyâre not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers sheâs not the only outlaw in the empire. Thereâs a rebel group of weavers . . . and theyâre after her too.
Allows you to travel in time and space.
The Bright Empires Series (5 books) by Stephen Lawhead
It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future.
Kit Livingstoneâs great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.
One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code â a roadmap of symbols â that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.
But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.
The Bright Empires series â from acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead â is a unique blend of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, adventure like no other.
Makes you think about the supernatural world.
The Chair by James Rubart
When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe’s antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was built by Christ, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts to wonder. Could the chair heal the person whose life he destroyed twelve years ago?
As word spreads of the boy’s healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece says itâs Corinâs destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why?
Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he reveals.
Searching for the truth about the artifact, and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it, Corin soon realizes he isnât the only one willing to do anything to possess the power that surrounds The Chair.
Gives fresh perspective on everyday life.
The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings
Lost luggage can ruin any trip. But what if it could change your life?
A mother of three hoping to survive the days at her perfect sister’s perfect house before her nieceâs wedding.
A hothead businessman coming to the city for a showdown meeting to save his job.
And a young artist pursuing his fatherâs sports dream so he can keep his own alive.
When Gillian, David, and Michael each take the wrong suitcase from baggage claim, the airline directs them to retrieve their bags at a mysterious facility in a deserted part of the city. There they meet the enigmatic Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed, and carrying it with them is slowing them down in ways they canât imagine. And they must deal with it before they can leave.
Gives you a little (or a lot) of thrills and chills!
The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey
For the three people tortured by their secret complicity in a young man’s untimely death, redemption is what they most long for . . . and the last thing they expect to receive.
It has been twenty years since Philip McBride’s body was found along the riverbank in the dark woods known as Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide. But three people have carried the truth ever sinceâPhilip didn’t kill himself that day. He was murdered.
Each of the three have wilted in the shadow of their sins. Jake Barnett is Mattingly’s sheriff, where he spends his days polishing the fragile shell of the man he pretends to be. His wife, Kate, has convinced herself the good she does for the poor will someday wash the blood from her hands. And high in the mountains, Taylor Hathcock lives in seclusion and fear, fueled by madness and hatred.
Yet what cannot be laid to rest is bound to rise again. Philip McBride has haunted Jake’s dreams for weeks, warning that he is coming back for them all. When Taylor finds mysterious footprints leading from the Hollow, he believes his redemption has come. His actions will plunge the quiet town of Mattingly into darkness. These three will be drawn together for a final confrontation between life and death . . . between truth and lies.
House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker
Frank Peretti and Ted Dekkerâtwo of the most acclaimed writers of supernatural thrillersâhave joined forces for the first time to craft a story unlike any you’ve ever read. Enter House â where you’ll find yourself thrown into a killer’s deadly game in which the only way to win is to lose . . . and the only way out is in. The stakes of the game become clear when a tin can is tossed into the house with rules scrawled on it. Rules that only a madman â or worse â could have written. Rules that make no sense yet must be followed. One game. Seven players. Three rules. Game ends at dawn.
2019 was a great year for reading! I discovered a number of new and exciting authors. Discovered, as in I read them for the first time. Some of the authors had been published before and some had debut releases. (Some I met in person last year — squee!) You may be familiar with some or all of them, but in case you aren’t, they are all recommended by me. I look forward to more great books to discover from these authors.
It is always hard to compile a best of list every year. I read a lot of really good books in 2019. A. Lot. But in going back through the archives, I found the following eleven that captured my imagination, touched my emotions, and made me think about my world and myself long after I closed the cover. The books are a mixed bag of genres — speculative, allegory, dual timeline, contemporary, and historical — so basically something for every taste. I hope one grabs your interest and you find a great read! (The links are to my reviews.)
Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories — she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.
During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.
Lindsay A. Franklin would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives in her native San Diego with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their three geeklings, three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats), and a stuffed wombat with his own Instagram following. You can find Lindsay on social media, too, if Wombatman hasnât hijacked all her accounts. Sheâs @LinzyAFranklin on Instagram and Twitter, and she Facebooks at www.facebook.com/LindsayAFranklin.
My Impressions:Â
The Story Peddlerby Lindsay A. Franklin is the best kind of fantasy — one in which the author masterfully creates a new world that is different enough to engage and intrigue the reader, yet has a touch of the familiar to allow the reader to enter effortlessly into its world and story. I can hardly believe that this YA/Adult novel is a debut — it is one of the best of the fantasy genre I have read and one of the best books overall from my reading this year. It is a very highly recommended read.
The country of Tir is the setting of this highly imaginative novel. It has a medieval feel which I love. The country is ruled by a tyrannt king who suppresses his people’s thoughts and expressions. After taking the throne years before, he systematically changed the history and mythology of the country by limiting what artisans, including storytellers, could share. Entering into this scenario is the story peddler, Tanwen, whose heart will not allow her to stay on the proscribed narratives. Part of the story is told from her 1st person perspective, while the other half is told through the 3rd person perspective of Braith, the princess and heir.
Franklin’s descriptions made me feel a part of the story. The characterization is very strong as well, as she introduces us to a varied cast of characters. The story is part adventure, part romance, part coming-of-age, and all so very, very good. The most unique aspect of the book is the way Tanwen tells her stories. My words won’t do it justice — just know that you will be as mesmerized and enchanted as Tanwen’s audiences. The theme of art, whether painting, song, or story, as a means to reveal truth is beautifully depicted.
I really loved The Story Peddler! Perfect for YA and adult readers alike, it is a must-read for fans of fantasy,
Very Highly Recommended.
Audience: YA to adult.
(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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