Outstanding Reads in 2020

Top 2020 Reads:

Happy New Year's Eve! At the end of every year, I like to look back at my Goodreads list of "read" books and pick out the ones that impressed me the most. Without further ado, here they are in no particular order.

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Booked by Karen Swallow Prior - Read my review.

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Emberhawk by Jamie Foley - Read my review.

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A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy - Read my review.

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The Socialite by J'nell Ciesielski - Read my review.

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Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson - Read my review.

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Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar - Read my review.

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The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas - Read my review.

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Great Poems compiled by Kate Miles

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Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray - Read my review.

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With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander - Read my review.

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On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White - Read my review.

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Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green - Read my review.

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July Recap & Expected August Reading

My July 2019 Reads:

Today I'm sharing a bit about what I've been reading and what I hope to read. In July, I finished:

1. The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. A Book of Blessings by Helen Steiner Rice. - ⭐⭐⭐


4. Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


5. Becoming by Michelle Obama. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐


6. A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


7. Fair Play by Deeanne Gist. - ⭐⭐

My favorite book this month was...... Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette! The author combined a captivating plot, steady romantic tension, and deep character development to create a tale that made my laugh, cry, and stay up way too late. Read more of my review here.  

Expected August 2019 Reads:

In August, I expect to read:

1. Shame Off You by Denise Pass. - Currently reading!

2. With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander. - I read this one when it first came out and was delighted when the local book club I attend picked it as our August selection. We'll also be chatting with the author which is always exciting!

3. Play to Their Strengths by Analyn and Brandon Miller. - Currently reading (and loving) this book based on strengths-based parenting!

4. Woe Is I by Patricia T O'Connor - Yeah, still working on this one....

5. Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson. - I have both of Abigail Wilson's books sitting on my TBR stack, but I think I'll start with her newest release.

6. Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire by Lauralee Bliss. - I picked this one up from my library's used book store and the author is new to me, but I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

7. Confident Moms, Confident Daughters by Maria Furlough. - This is an area I struggle with so when the opportunity to review it arose, I thought I'd give it a try!

8. Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson. - Reading this as part of an online book club and looking forward to it!

Wow! That's eight books I'm anticipating in August, definitely more than my normal. But I'll give it a try and be back in early September to let you know how it went.

 What will you read this month?

Book Spotlight: With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander, the first full novel of the Carnton series, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: With This Pledge
Series: Carnton, Book 1  
Author: Tamera Alexander  
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: January 8, 2019  
Genre: Historical Romance  

History takes on vivid life in the stunning first full-length installment of USA TODAY bestselling Tamera Alexander’s new series, The Carnton Novels.  

What can a woman—a mere governess—do against the scourge of slavery?

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston’s quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause—but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home where she is governess is converted into a Confederate field hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie’s arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie’s heart softens toward the Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her heart while standing for what she knows is right—no matter the cost.

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

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EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.  

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a release copy of With This Pledge + $10 Amazon Gift Card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 14, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 28, 2019. US only for a print copy of the book. International winners will receive an ebook. Gift card prize will be issued as an e-gift card. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

About the Book:

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston's quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause – but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, in converted into a Confederate field hospital; and Lizzie must gather up her fortitude to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death – even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiance and lifelong friend.

A young soldier's last wish is that she convey an urgent message to his mother. She vows to do so, but Lizzie knows little more than the boy's first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers' respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton's walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn't realize she is already pledged to another. When Towny vanishes after a crushing battle in Nashville, Lizzie must confront the costs of war. And torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right – no matter the cost.

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

My Thoughts:

With This Pledge is the first full-length novel in Tamera Alexander's Carnton series. I was immediately drawn into the story by the tragic imagery of the Battle of Franklin's aftermath. Though the aftermath is extensive and Lizzie is right in the middle of it all, I found the story sobering, but not depressing.The author noted that she intended to authentically portray the experiences of those involved while weaving a compelling story of hope and that is exactly what she did. Hidden in the shadows of war, racism, slavery, and death, there is love. Not only romantic love, but also sacrificial love that bears the burdens of others.

The perfectly paced love story between Roland and Lizzie was steady and never angsty. There was always progression as they formed a deep, profound attachment. The characters' differences prompted them both to consider another's perspective and search for truth. They grew spiritually as their relationship blossomed.

I recommend With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander to fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Civil War period. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."