Favorite Fiction Reads of 2023

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. When he dies unexpectedly, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham in hope of finding the mother she thought was dead.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream--and makes the dangerous decision to print resistance newspapers.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony--two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she's also desperate to find the closure she's convinced will come with Cecelia's missing final manuscript.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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The Art of Victory by Martha Keyes

Diana Donovan was raised aboard a naval ship on a steady diet of war strategy, so when her orphaned friend, Lucy, is denied a perfectly respectable love match by her controlling guardian, Diana sees an opportunity to put her battle knowledge to use in service of a deserving friend.

But Marmaduke Russell is not the middle-aged curmudgeon Diana is expecting. He is a maddeningly cool, unmarried gentleman who seems uniquely able to parry her tactics—and infuse her with even more determination to win. As battle ensues, though, it becomes clear that there may be more hearts in the balance than just Lucy's.

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The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar 

Jemmah has always thought of herself as perfectly ordinary . . . until she faces extraordinary circumstances. When her mother, the Persian king’s famous senior scribe, is kidnapped, Jemmah and her sister must sneak undetected into enemy territory to rescue her. Their survival depends on the skills of a stranger they free from prison: a mysterious prince named Asher.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie.

Learn more about the book and read my review.

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A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether Peter Holstein, a wealthy gentleman, is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name? When Rosemary sees Peter's gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if it is too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

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An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

September & October 2023 Reading Recap, + November 2023 TBR

My September 2023 Reads: 

1. Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Iris by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I wish Iris and Hudson's story had been completely in this book instead of part of it being in "Ned." It took awhile for things to come back to me even though I read "Ned" only a few months ago. Overall, a good story that held my attention and had me rooting for the good guys.


3. The Evangelical Imagination by Karen Swallow Prior - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Review to come.


4. Creed by Susan May Warren - ⭐⭐⭐½  - Read my review.


5. A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson - ⭐⭐½ - Read my review.

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My October 2023 Reads: 

1. The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


3. The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky - ⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.

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Expected November 2023 Reads:

1. He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox.


2. The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox. - My local book club's selection for November.


3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. The Lexicologist's Handbook by Dane Cobain - Currently reading. Similar to a dictionary, but with less words and an aim for fun.


5. Mom Enough: Inspiring Letters for the Wonderfully Exhausting but Totally Normal Days of Motherhood by Rachel Marie Martin. - Currently reading.


6. Suing Cinderella by Stephanie Mack.

What will you read this month?

Book Review: Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White

About the Book:

In two world wars, intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations.

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the Great War rock Evie and Sterling's lives in World War II, it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Read an excerpt on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White gave me all the emotions. I cried at a tragic moment. I felt the drama of a long-held secret. Trying to figure out the family connections simultaneously frustrated and intrigued me. I rooted for the couples to live happily ever after. I abhorred a character who acted terribly. The racism of the time saddened me. I felt so invested in this story and these characters that I didn’t want the novel to end.  

Beyond my emotionalism, I admired Roseanna M. White’s clever plotting and fantastic writing in Yesterday’s Tides.  Both timelines held my attention and had soft romances that included tasteful attraction without lustfulness. The romantic relationships showcased couples who loved each other well despite racial barriers and wartime conflicts. The familial relationships demonstrated strong bonds between both blood and chosen family. In fact, relationships are so integral to the plot that I created a relationship/family tree to identify the connections between characters.  

In Yesterday’s Tides, Roseanna M. White deftly integrated spiritual truths into the character development and themes of the novel. The main characters of each timeline faced challenging circumstances that resulted in significant character development, and none of the healing or growth came easily. Each character’s journey cultivated an organic, enduring faith. I loved the integration of different forms of prayer as a daily practice. 

I read Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White with my church’s book club and the novel received lots of positivity. Most everyone loved the story but agreed that the family tree was complicated. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Blog Blitz: The Christy Award Finalists 2023

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2023 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2023 Finalists & Winners!

YOU ARE INVITED

The Christy Award Gala 2023
Via webcast November 16, 2023 | 7 pm CT
Featuring Chris Fabry, Davis Bunn, Janette Oke, and a host of Christy-winning authors

Hosted by Christy Hall of Fame author Chris Fabry, the Christy Award Winners Gala will be held Thursday, November 16th at 7pm CT via free webcast to recognize the finalists and announce the winners of The Christy Award in nine categories, Book of the Year, and Amplify Award. The event will feature two literary greats, Christian fiction legacy authors Janette Oke and Davis Bunn. Award presenters will include Christy winning authors Amanda Cox, Toni Shiloh, Nicole Deese, Patricia Raybon, Jocelyn Green, Sarah Sundin, Terri Blackstock, Karen Witemeyer, Sharon Hinck, and Kara Swanson.

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The Christy Award Finalists 2023

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg (Larkspur Press)
All That It Takes by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
To Believe in You by Emily Conrad (Hope Anchor LLC)
To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

FIRST NOVEL

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon by Linda MacKillop (Kregel Publications)
Porch Music by Kathy Maresca (TouchPoint Press Faith)

GENERAL FICTION

By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
When Stone Wings Fly by Karen Barnett (Kregel Publications)
Where the Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar (Tyndale House Publishers)
Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barratt (Kregel Publications

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

By Way of Deception by Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn (Harvest House Publishers)
Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Forged by Sara Davison (Mountain Brook Ink)
The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

SHORT FORM

Always a Lady (in A Return to Hawthorne House) by Kristi Ann Hunter (Oholiab Creations, LLC)
Hopes and Fears (in O Little Town) by Amanda Wen (Kregel Publications)
Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon (Sarah Monzon)

SPECULATIVE

Drawn in Ash by John W. Otte (John W. Otte)
Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Yesterday's Gone by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall (Tyndale House Publishers)

YOUNG ADULT

Blood Secrets by Morgan L. Busse (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
This Dreamer by Sara Watterson (Sara Watterson)
The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd (Scrivenings Press)
Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (Thomas Nelson)
The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive their choice of The Art of Writing registration OR print copies of The Christy Award finalist titles for one category!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 27, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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REGISTER FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD 2023 EVENTS

The Art of Writing webinars on Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. CT $69
online October 19, October 26, November 2, November 9
This virtual conference for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators includes access and
recordings to four webinars organized by publishers.

The Christy Award winners webcast on November 16 at 7 p.m. CT. - free but registration is required.
Celebrate this year's finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!

REGISTER

The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. For more information about ECPA, visit ECPA.org. For more information about the Christy Awards and Art of Writing conferences, visit ChristyAwards.com or email TheChristyAward@ecpa.org

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

August 2023 Reading Recap & September 2023 TBR

My August 2023 Reads: 

1. Wake Up to Wonder by Karen Wright Marsh - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Read my review.


2. A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White  - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review.


3. Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ - Read my review.


4. Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - A well-written story that was simultaneously sad and hopeful. Full of spiritual truths, it reminded me of the spiritual warfare surrounding this human existence.


5. Under the Blue Skies by Tricia Goyer and Elly Gilbert. - ⭐⭐½ - Read my review.

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Expected September 2023 Reads:

1. He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox.


2. Iris by Susan May Warren. - I enjoyed this entire series and am eager for Iris' story!


3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!


4. Yesterday's Tides by Roseanna M. White. - My local book club's selection for September.


5. The Evangelical Imagination by Karen Swallow Prior - Currently reading.

What will you read this month?