Out of the 109 books I read last year, these are the "Best of the Best" - books that stood out to me in a variety of ways, such as their literary quality, emotional impact, relevance, or simply their enjoyment factor. Watch for several of these authors to be featured with giveaways in the next few weeks!
There's no way I could rank them according to preference, so I'm listing them in alphabetical order by the author's last name. All are highly recommended, but titles with an * beside them have the "very highly recommended" designation. You can click on each book's cover to see my reviews.
Please share some of your favorite reads from 2014. Your list probably looks quite different from mine, but have you read any of these?
Keepers of the Covenant
By Lynn Austin
By Lynn Austin
Until I Found You
By Victoria Bylin
By Victoria Bylin
*The Butterfly and the Violin
By Kristy Cambron
By Kristy Cambron
The Hesitant Heiress
By Dawn Crandall
By Dawn Crandall
The Painted Table
By Suzanne Field
By Suzanne Field
The Revealing
By Suzanne Woods Fisher
By Suzanne Woods Fisher
Love's Fortune
By Laura Frantz
By Laura Frantz
A Woman of Fortune
By Kellie Coates Gilbert
By Kellie Coates Gilbert
*Saving Amelie
By Cathy Gohlke
By Cathy Gohlke
The Sentinels of Andersonville
By Tracy Groot
By Tracy Groot
*A Promise Kept
By Robin Lee Hatcher
By Robin Lee Hatcher
Love Without End
By Robin Lee Hatcher
By Robin Lee Hatcher
Dare to Love Again
By Julie Lessman
By Julie Lessman
A Life Intercepted
By Charles Martin
By Charles Martin
Death Takes a Ride
By Lorena McCourtney
By Lorena McCourtney
A Stillness of Chimes
By Meg Moseley
By Meg Moseley
*Songs of the Shenandoah
By Michael K. Reynolds
By Michael K. Reynolds
In Perfect Time
By Sarah Sundin
By Sarah Sundin
Meant to Be Mine
By Becky Wade
____________________
By Becky Wade
____________________
Great list, Carole! I should have my list up soon, too. Caryl McAdoo and Lisa Norato and Jen Turano plus Lorna Seilstadt are on my list and more such as Tamera Alexander. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to comment, Carrie! I just wish for more reading time or that I could read faster. Of the authors you mentioned, I've enjoyed Lorna Seilstadt and Tamera Alexander before. And I think I have books by each of the others in my TBR pile. As I said, just need more time!
DeleteLooks like a great list (I've only read one out of all of them)! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLaura, I think you read a lot more suspense and fantasy than I do. I primarily lean toward character-driven stories - but it's good for the authors we love that we all have different tastes.
DeleteCan't wait to see that little one, Laura! You are a wonderful mom and I pray that all goes well.
Carole, it truly amazes me at how similar our reading tastes are. I saw a few I have read and will need to pick up.lol I feel this was a great year of reading and look forward to 2015 releases. I agree I couldn't pick a specific field as each I read touched me in a special way.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Katrina
Katrina, I know I've said this before, but I wish we lived close together. I am blessed to have a daughter who loves spending time with me because we enjoy so much of the same things - reading, walking, talking, drinking coffee, etc. - and I think you and I would be the same.
DeleteThere are a few highly-praised authors that I want to try, but just haven't been able to find time for yet - Kate Ganshert, Lori Benton, Julie Cantrell, for instance. We must both be drawn to character-driven stories, Katrina. Thanks for sharing here.
Great list!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha! I can't imagine how many you've read this year.
DeleteHi Carole! Thank you so much for including Until I Found You. I've read four of the books on your list, have two on my TBR shelf, and am jotting down the other titles. Very cool mix of historical, contemporary, romance and straight fiction.
ReplyDeleteVicki, as we've talked about, I'm drawn to character-driven stories. Although I read a little suspense, it's not my favorite genre, and I don't do fantasy or speculative at all. I'll enjoy doing your feature very soon, Vicki. Thanks again for all you do to support me.
DeleteCarole, I echo Vicki in that you read such a wonderful mix of genres! I spy a couple here that are new to me. Your list is delightful and I'm so blessed to be on it! Thank you for your writing ministry and beautiful site here.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I have to say that one of the best things about reviewing books is getting to connect with and help promote authors like you. Also, I haven't had time to read your earlier books, other than The Frontiersman's Daughter, and hope to do so soon.
DeleteAlthough I lean toward historical fiction, I do enjoy a variety as long as they are character driven. Thank you for taking the time to comment, Laura. I'll see you soon!
Thank you, Carole Jarvis!!! I feel so honored to be part of such a great list of books!! I am so thankful that you enjoyed my books so much! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteDawn, your style reminds me so much of books I used to enjoy. It's rare that I want to start a book all over again when I've finished it, but that was the case with The Hesitant Heiress. So glad I can help promote your writing, Dawn!
DeleteThank you, Carole! Such fun to be included with so many of my favorite author friends!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great list! I can't believe I haven't read any of these! I love Lynn Austin, though, and it looks like the rest are all right up my alley. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAlly @ The Scribbling Sprite
Hi, Carole!!
ReplyDeleteLove your faves list - thank you!! Several of my fave authors are included in your list, others I own but haven't had a chance to read yet, still others I want to read. As with you, there are so many wonderful books and never enough time to read all that I would like. I'm looking forward to the 2015 releases also!!
Shared post!!
Hi Carole! Thanks for putting "Revealing" on such an esteemed list! I have read many of your must-read books--loved them. And I think I'll add your other suggestions to my TBR pile. Haven't read anything by Charles Martin but have always wanted to. Thanks for encouraging readers to stretch! Grateful for you, dear Carole. Warmly, Suzanne
ReplyDeleteCAROLE!!!! I am SO blessed to be on your incredible list, my friend -- THANK YOU!!! This made my day, girl, and I am honored to be on your list with so many of my own favorite authors!
ReplyDeleteHope 2015 is your BEST year yet!
Hugs,
Julie
I have most of these, but have only read one of them. I'm going to write down this list and make them a priority! kim
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Carole! The Butterfly and the Violin made my 2014 list, too. A-MA-ZING. http://prismaticprospects.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/favorite-reads-2014/ I also really enjoyed Keepers of the Covenant. Reuben's experience with his kippah brought me to tears.
ReplyDeleteI've only read one on your list here (Laura Frantz's) but the others look really good as well! I've got the first two books in the 'The Restoration Chronicles' series, just waiting for the third one to come out so I can read them all together. Dawn Crandall's series sounds good and I can't wait to read 'The Butterfly and the Violin.' So many loved it!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
I only see one on your list that I have actually read (A Life Intercepted), 2014 was a slow reading year for me. Only completed 24 books. But I have at least 4 of those books in paperback waiting to be read and a few more of them on my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteI read the Sentinnels of Anderson as well. It was an inspiring book. Thanks for linking up at Book Musing Mondays. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've not read any of these books but have several on my to read list and have added a few more. From your reading tastes I feel like we could be reading friends! =)
ReplyDeleteI think I've only read one of these on your list - the Lorena McCourtney one. I always enjoy her books. I'm going to check out the rest of them soon. Thanks for sharing your favorites! Thanks for being a part of Booknificent Thursday this week!
ReplyDeleteTina
great list! I will have to check out the ones I didn't read yet. Looks like we like a lot of the same things :)
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