A dear reader reminded me that it’s time to share book lists so…
Here are titles I’ve recently read, are on order, or am reading & would recommend ~
Roses Have Thorns by Sandra Byrd
Take a Chance on Me by Susan May Warren
Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews
Unwritten by Charles Martin
One Glorious Ambition by Jane Kirkpatrick
Josiah’s Treasure by Nancy Herriman
Apostle to Burns: The Diaries of William Grierson
Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts
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Your turn…
Thanks!
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I’m reading Love in a Broken Vessel right now too! And it’s a perfect day to read- all snowy in Colorado! 🙂
Oh Marissa, So glad you know Mesu and are enjoying her work! I’ve had the honor of spending the weekend at Mesu’s house and she (and her husband) are just as wonderful as her books!
Enjoy that beautiful snow:) I can’t think of a better way to spend a snowy day than curled up with a good book 🙂 Bless you.
Sounds like a wonderful list, Laura! I haven’t read any of those authors yet.
I’ve recently read . . .
The Duck Commander Family (LOVE the Robertsons and their show!)
Sparkly Green Earrings
And I’m currently reading . . .
Love at Any Cost
Taylor’s Gift
Permission Granted
Thinking of you often Laura, and keeping you close in prayer
Hugs,
Michelle
Michelle, Wonderful to touch base with you – you are so busy I am amazed you keep up your beautiful blog and all that reading!
Smiling at The Duck Commander because I gave that to Randy for Christmas and he couldn’t put it down. It’s also one of our favorite shows 🙂 Gotta love those beards…
I spy Julie’s book on your list – it’s getting lots of great reviews on my Facebook author page this morning as I posed the “What are you reading” question over there.
Now I have to look up your other 2 titles as they sound intriguing! Thanks so much for the book sharing – and prayers/thoughts with you, too, my friend.
I’ve heard of a few of those authors, Laura, but haven’t read those titles. They sound like “good reads” though!
One of my writer/blogger friends reviewed a book by author Kay Springsteen recently, and although I rarely read contemporary or mainstream stories, she highly recommended it. It’s called Heartsight. It has a swoon-worthy U.S. Marine hero, blind due to a combat injury, an overwhelmed heroine who is cleaning out her granny’s B&B in North Carolina, and her precious six year old daughter who has Down syndrome. Rather outside my box, but I really did like it. It’s mainstream-tame, but it’s not CBA.
I’m still running the forests and navigating the waters of The Frontiersmen, and am enjoying it so much. I’ve learned tons. I might actually finish it if I can stop reading other books alongside it. 😉
But, back to my real niche, and said “distracting books”, I’m currently reading Sandi Rog’s “Walks Alone.” I’m around halfway through and am loving it. My favorite time to read a really good book is at night when the house is fairly settled, and I really get into the story without interruption. Usually around 10! But a new show on one of the history channels about slang words/phrases was on at 10, so alas, I missed my reading slot. Sigh…
How very sad that I can’t even give a reading list without it turning into a narrative…
Oh, love your narratives, Whitney. I can’t even send an email without writing a novella ;). Your HEARTSIGHT find sounds like a treasure indeed! The title is so intriguing to me ~ as is your blurb. I’m sure others will want to check it out like me.
Like you, I enjoy getting out of the box when reading though I do tend to stay in a historical rut. Thrilled you’re still navigating and running with TF! You said it well – you’ve learned tons. His books always do that for me and I use them primarily for research.
Thrilled, too, you’ve discovered Sandi Rog. I endorsed WALKS ALONE and think she’s so brave in her writing and in her personal life as she has battled cancer, etc.
SO enjoying The History Channel lately. My men are watching VIKINGS though I tend to hide behind my computer screen when it’s on. Lots of angst and bloodshed and Viking-ish stuff but it’s very well done though I’m still missing THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA. And still watching umpteen episodes of MONARCH OF THE GLEN when I have time… Now I’m wanting to take a look at your wordy show ;)!
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
“Heartsight” is a wonderful title and meaningful to the story. Branching out of my box can be hard, but fun. Contemps are always so much faster paced!
I did not know that about Sandi Rog. Both Heartsight and Walks Alone are bound to end up on my favorite books pinterest board…
Speaking of which, your new “Story Board” intrigues me! Thanks for turning me into a Pinterest addict. 😉
Have a blessed evening.
You’re so right about the fast pace of contemps – a sound observation and a reflection of the frantic pace of our times. Historicals should be a bit slower, one would think.
So happy you saw that Story Board I put up there. It was a secret board till I had to go public and make another secret board for the next book, lol. Never enough secret boards as we’re limited to 3!!
Love your Favorite Books board :)!
Quick question about “The Frontiersmen”. Is the book you are discussing written by Charles Egbert Craddock? I bought his book on my ereader but the format has many errors and was not possible to read. Did I buy the same book you mention here? ~ Tx
Is it acceptable to “reply” to my own comment? Upon closer reading of the copyright page of my “The Frontiersmen” ebook, I learn the book was written in 1904 and was actually written by a woman named Mary Noailles Murfree. The name Charles Egbert Craddock is the only name that appears on the simple cover photo. The book was put in ereader format out of the Cornell University Library and states there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of the text. The next page lists several other books written by Mary N. Murfree under the name “Charles Egbert Craddock”. I say all this to clarify my earlier statement about my copy of “The Frontiersmen” author’s name. In this book the author’s writing is very descriptive and in some cases very prejudiced.
Mary, Thanks so much for the info. So interesting women back then assumed men’s names as pen names. I understand the reasons but am glad times have changed. And I’ve run into the prejudice issue many times in older books. Again, thanks for taking time to post this.
Love your diverse list, Laura! Unwritten by Charles Martin is near the top of my list too.
I just finished Katie Ganshert’s Wishing on Willows. LOVED it! Next on my list is When the Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti, followed by When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad, Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade, and Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.
Then, of course, I can’t wait for Love’s Awakening!
Brenda,
So thankful for you! You’re naming some I missed on my list. Lorna is right at the top, yes! Love that lilac/lavender cover and am going to host a giveaway on my new page on Facebook as soon as I get my copies. WOO HOO! I’ve been meaning to read Katie Ganshert’s debut and now I want to make time for WOW, too. Lots of good stories coming out of Waterbrook. And I’m so glad you’re ready to read LA. I hope you like my Jack ;)…
Charles Martin is such a fine writer. I need to plow through all his books. Someone on my Facebook page said CHASING FIREFLIES is their favorite. I am so smitten with this title. Love his website, too.
Cynthia’s cover is stunning for WTMGB! And now I must check on Becky’s and William’s books.
So love picking your bookish brain, dear Brenda :). Thank you.
No doubt I’ll love your Jack! 🙂
You’ll love Katie Ganshert’s books. She has lovely lyrical prose that draws me in right away. And her stories go right to the heart.
I loved Chasing Fireflies too, but can’t choose a favorite Charles Martin. When Crickets Cry is beautiful, as is The Dead Don’t Dance, and Wrapped in Rain, and … well, you get the idea.
And CONGRATULATIONS on making the INSPY shortlist! What a thrill to see your name there!
Love the commentary on Katie’s writing :). Good writing has to have that lovely, lyrical quality for me. And that rare heart-tugging quality. I’m in!
I just knew you were a Charles Martin fan, too, Brenda. Glad you can’t choose a favorite! That means they’re all top notch!
And thanks for the INSPY shout out. What a surprise that was! Here’s the romance and general fiction finalists which dovetails nicely with our talk of books today. I see more books/authors to add to our lists…
2013 Shortlists announced
April 15, 2013 · Posted in Announcements, General Fiction, Literature for Young People, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Speculative Fiction
We are pleased to reveal the 2013 INSPY Award shortlists:
General Fiction
• Into the Free by Julie Cantrell
• Promise Me This by Cathy Gohlke
• The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones
• The Messenger by Siri Mitchell
• Stardust by Carla Stewart
Romance
• To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander
• Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden
• Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz
• Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann
• My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
Mystery/Thriller
• Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins
• A Plain Death by Amanda Flower
• Placebo by Steven James
• Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig
• Proof by Jordyn Redwood
Literature for Young People
• Wreath by Judy Christie
• With a Name like Love by Tess Hilmo
• Dead Man’s Hand by Eddie Jones
• There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
• Cake: Love, Chickens, and a Taste of Peculiar by Joyce Magnin
Speculative Fiction
• Caught by Margaret Patterson Haddix
• The 13th Tribe by Robert Liparulo
• Freeheads by Kerry Nietz
• Soul’s Gate by James L. Rubart
• Daystar by Kathy Tyers
Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors!
Woot! Congrats. 🙂
Thanks so much, dear Whitney ~ I’ll take that WOOT and treasure it! 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS, Laura. How exciting for you and also those of us who love your writing. I love seeing your name and books mentioned on blogs and reviews. Technology gives a whole new meaning to “word of mouth” for sharing books we love and want others to read too.
Thanks for your warm words, Mary. I don’t enter contests so this one was a surprise. Readers are very gracious to have done this with LR. And yes, word of mouth is so important for sharing books, moreso than any other, so they say. I’m very glad of that as I’m not the best marketer!
I have recently finished
The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson awesome book
Divergent by Veronica Roth for secular teen fiction it is actually a pretty good book.
Threads of Love by Frances Devine
and
The Cowboy Lawman by Brenda Minton
Carissa, One of the things I love about you is that you embrace books across the spectrum and make room for so many genres. Plus you always, always name titles I’ve not heard of and widen my reading window :). Thanks so much for that.
Melanie’s covers are among my very favorite and I need to get up to date with her books. It was you who pinned her upcoming cover and I snagged it on Pinterest. So pretty!
Praying for you as you finish your last term at school. Summer will be here before we know it :)!
Goodness, don’t I wish that I had a library like the one above. But I would probably still run out of room. LOL! CONGRATULATIONS on being on the INSPY short-list! How neat to see your name on there.
I recently finished MaryLu Tyndall’s “Forsaken Dreams”. Loved it! I am currently reading Melanie Dickerson’s “The Fairest Beauty”. And on my TBR pile is Liz Curtis Higgs’ “Here Burns My Candle” and “Mine is the Night”. And of course, on my future TBR list…”Love’s Awakening”. I’ll say it again. I can’t wait! 🙂
Angi, So happy you’re adding to our toppling stacks! Thanks for the thumbs up on the Inspy final. I was very surprised (and delighted).
Thrilled you’re into MaryLu and Melanie. And of course, Liz. Especially loved Mine is the Night. As for that last title, hmmmm. Haven’t heard of that one ;).
You’re a gem, my friend!
First of all, congrats on making the short list of the Inspy’s. I notice several books I’ve read are also on the list.
I seem to be having a bit of a reading lull right now. I suppose I’ll blame it on the spring allergies/cold. My sore throat I mentioned to you last week, it turned into a full blown cold by Friday. I’m finally starting to feel a bit better.
A couple of the books I’ve read recently. Mail Order Groom by Jody Hedlund. I think it’s my favorite CBA book so far this year. I just loved it. I also read Firefly Island and Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate recently as well. I’ve never read any of her books before, but a friend of my really loves them, and I won Firefly Island on a blog and enjoyed it a lot.
Michelle, Hope you feel better soon. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. It’s hard to read with a cold or when sick. And you’re probably working on top of everything…
Thanks for your reading suggestions. I hit lulls, too, and then I’m glad for research books. I sat by Lisa at a book event a couple of years ago and need to read her books. Firefly Island sounds so good to me. But so does Blue Moon Bay. Congrats on the book win :). Her titles are intriguing and I am sure her covers are, too.
Thinking of you and praying you’re better soon. Don’t know if there’s any skating going on but hope so!
What a delight to have all these title suggestions. Thanks to you, Laura, and everyone else who took time to share great reads. I’ve actually been reading more none fiction the last few weeks, but there is always time for fiction, especially when my mind wants to shift in to cruise control before bedtime.
I recently read and highly recommend:
“The Noble Groom” by Jody Hedlund
“Through Rushing Water” by Catherine Richmond
“Skip Rock Shallows” by Jan Watson
“The Amish Midwife” by Leslie Gould & Mindy S. Clark
“Wedded To War” by Jocelyn Green
“The Sweet By & By” by Sara Evans & Rachel Haulk
“My Foolish Heart” by Susan May Warren
On my TBR shelf:
“Nightingale” by Susan May Warren
“The Air We Breathe” by Christa Parrish
“Choices of the Heart” by Laurie Alice Eakes
“Take A Chance on Me” by Susan May Warren
(This one was on your suggestion, Laura. 🙂
“Wings of Glass” by Gina Holmes
“The Irish Healer” by Nancy Herriman
“Against the Tide” by Elizabeth Camden
And, as Yul Brynner said in “The King and I”, “Etc., etc., etc.! I try to keep my TBR shelf full so I can make a selection to fit the mood I’m in. Only women understand women, and that’s OK.
Again, thanks for this great source of sharing and learning about new and good reading and authors. I think it is exciting to “discover” a new author that writes to my heart.
I have yet to get on Pinterest, but if you keep it up, Laura, I’m going to weaken! I try to be very selective and selfish with my personal time. A couple years ago I hung a beautiful carved wooden sign in our dining room that states “SIMPLIFY” and I try to continually apply that to all areas of my life…not always with the greatest of success, but some success is in always trying…right?
Mary! SO thrilled with your list! I see some I have missed but want to try. Am sure others will, too.Thanks very much for taking the time to write all that down. Getting titles and authors straight is something of a challenge for me but you seem to pull it off beautifully. And I had to smile at your SIMPLIFY because that is the little sign I have hanging in my kitchen :). So we are thinking alike yet again.
As for Pinterest, I just attended a webinar tonight on that through my agent/agency and it was wonderful but mostly related to marketing, something I struggle with. But you are so right. The presenter said you have to guard your time. I treat it more like dessert and go over a few times a day for a few minutes. Though you can’t tell that from my Exquisite History…Dress board. Oh my! But there’s just something so beautiful and restful to me about being there, unlike other social media. On the other hand, I have a friend who had to delete her boards/account because it caused her to long for things she didn’t have. I think she’s very wise and I respect that. It’s not for everyone.
Love when you say “exciting to “discover” a new author that writes to my heart.” Amen to that. It’s sometimes rare but when you find that book or that author it’s like coming home.
Bless you so much!
Great list! I recently read and recommend Take a Chance on Me, too. Great stuff! Finished Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall. Now reading Candace Calvert’s Rescue Team. Sandra’s book has been on my list for a while, now that I see you list it extra incentive 🙂 Also reading a good mom book called Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae.
Neat to see you mention Duck Commander. Its a favorite here, and I’ll readily admit hunting is not a big love of mine (which is probably an understatement). Don’t like loud noises or blood. But our whole family loves this show (especially our 5-year-old son). Very family friendly and hilarious.
JULIA! Love hearing what you’re reading and like best. Thank you. I’m such a fan of Candace Calvert in person and know I’d love her books. I must read them. Her hero on a recent cover reminded me of George Clooney. He’s a Kentucky boy so that’s not a bad thing ;).
You sure summed up those Robertson’s and Duck Dynasty. We just love laughing at them and with them :). Funnest show ever! It’s definitely a fav here, too. I guess Phil has a new book out. Sure it will be a bestseller. They’re on Facebook, too. Truly hilarious. And I love the faith element woven in and the prayers they say.
Happy weekend to you! Hoping there’s some sun in your neck of the woods…
Hi! I’ve been following your site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
Adelaida, Bless you for being here and for your encouraging spirit! I hope you come back often :)!