This week Top 10 Tuesday is focusing on re-reads. I have done a couple of those posts before. (Find them HERE and HERE.) So, as a tweak of the meme, I am featuring new-to-me authors that I read over the past year or so that are now must-read authors. Those first books blew me away, so I will be reading more of their books. My list includes the books I have on my TBR list to read next as well.
Top 10 Tuesday is a Love Freebie today, so I decided to list some books I loved with Heart(s) in the title. Some are romances to get you going this Valentine’s Weekend, but others are not and include contemporary, historical, Biblical, and suspense fiction — so there is something for everyone’s tastes! hope yo find a a book you can love too!
Top 10 Books with Heart(s) in The Title
Engraved on The Heart by Tara Johnson (historical romance)
Ghost Heart by Lynne Gentry and Lisa Harris (suspense)
The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel (women’s fiction)
The Heart of A King by Jill Eileen Smith (Biblical)
The Hearts We Mend by Kathryn Springer (contemporary romance)
Not in The Heart by Chris Fabry (general fiction)
A Rebel Heart by Beth White (historical romance)
A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep (historical romance)
Water from My Heart by Charles Martin (general fiction)
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.
Reluctant debutante Keziah Montgomery lives beneath the weighty expectations of her staunch Confederate family, forced to keep her epilepsy secret for fear of a scandal. As the tensions of the Civil War arrive on their doorstep in Savannah, Keziah sees little cause for balls and courting. Despite her discomfort, she cannot imagine an escape from her familial confines — until her old schoolmate Micah shows her a life-changing truth that sets her feet on a new path . . . as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.
Dr. Micah Greyson never hesitates to answer the call of duty, no matter how dangerous, until the enchanting Keziah walks back into his life and turns his well-ordered plans upside down. Torn between the life he has always known in Savannah and the fight for abolition, Micah struggles to discern God’s plan amid such turbulent times.
Civil War-era Savannah came alive within the pages of Engraved on The Heart by Tara Johnson. Although I am a transplanted Georgian (36 years now), I did not know much about that city’s involvement during the war, but this new-to-me author had it spot on. How do I know? I was recommending this book to a friend who happened to teach Georgia History to 8th graders for years. Everything she mentioned about Savannah, I responded with “that’s in the book!”. With its heartfelt message, engaging characters, and historical accuracy, this book is a recommended read for fans of historical romance fiction.
As the book opens, the South is on the verge of seceding from the Union. Sentiments are high with hopes of a glorious future for the old South. But main character, Keziah Montgomery chafes at the old ways and old ideas. Her views on abolition, plus her gender, are disregarded. As her parents work to get her married off, the war begins and everything changes for Keziah.
I loved the history surrounding the Underground Railroad in Savannah that Johnson details. It made me want to visit this city’s historic sites again. Abolition was certainly not popular, but there were many who believed in freedom for all — that was encouraging and enlightening. Keziah and Micah Greyson are integral parts to the railroad, and the book brought new appreciation of the danger involved in such a clandestine undertaking. Keziah longs for freedom of her own — from family expectations and societal structures. Her gender and her misunderstood ailment bring huge limitations to what she could do. That was eye-opening as well. The message of value in God’s eyes is very relevant for modern readers. There’s plenty of romance, mystery, and suspense in Engraved on The Heart — it is the whole package and a recommended read!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Tyndale Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinion expressed are mine alone.)
Here are the finalists for the 2019 Christy Awards. A top honor in Christian fiction, you can be sure of an excellent read when choosing one of these books. Congrats to all the talented authors!
A big congratulations to all the talented authors whose books are represented on the 2019 Inspy Award Shortlists! So many great books Now you have your summer reading list! 😉
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