Hi friends,
Happy Wednesday! I have a fun challenge and a special giveaway to share with you today.
I shared about this challenge in my FB reader group, The Suspense Squad, but I wanted to enlist your fabulous help too. I saw this reading challenge floating around social media, and since my goal is to read one novel a month in 2022, I thought it was a perfect opportunity! I’ll have January to catch up on, but reading an extra novel is always a plus.
Drop a comment with your suggestions and I’ll go through all the recommendations I receive and choose one for each month. I’ll share what I’ve chosen in my next blog post. I can’t wait to see your recommendations and to start diving into some great reads!
In case you’re wondering, I love a variety of genres. Romantic suspense (naturally), contemporary romance, historical romance, and YA are among my favorites. But I’m definitely open to any genre if it’s a great story. And I love finding new-to-me-authors.
In December, I shared my favorite covers of 2021, and just recently fellow Inspired by blogger, Bethany House author, and sweet friend, Becky Wade, shared her favorite covers of 2021 as well. If you missed her post, you really ought to check it out. She featured some beautiful ones. I love that we both picked Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund. It really is breathtaking.
Speaking of covers, I wanted to be sure to share about my special Cover Love Giveaway which launched this week. In gratitude to Paul at Bethany House for designing yet another exquisite cover for me, I’m giving away a copy of the first two books in my Coastal Guardian series, a handmade book cozy, The Killing Tide button pin, The Crushing Depth’s Pura Vida bracelet, an Amazon gift card, and a Starbuck’s one—because everything is better with coffee. Be sure to check out my social media platforms for all the rules and the entry link. (Hint: it posted on February 7th on my author FB page and on my IG account).
Reader Question: Remember to share your book recommendations for my Reading Challenge 2022. Can’t wait to see what you share!
Have a blessed day!
~ Dani
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I would recommend anything written by Deborah Raney – Bridges is excellent. Every Window Filled with Light by Shelia Stovall is great. And of course Colleen Cobles and Dee Henderson books. Hard to narrow down to only one author. Jennifer (or J.E.B.) Spredemann is great if you like Amish stories. I enjoy a wide variety of authors and books as long as they are “clean” and preferably have a Christian theme, even if it is in the background. I normally read way more than one book per month.
Thanks so much for the shoutout, Ann! And Dani, my favorite new author is Katie Powner. I loved The Sowing Season and A Flicker of Light equally (both stand-alone). Great idea for a challenge!
Hi Deb,
I’ve heard great things about Katie Powner. I’m definitely going to have to check her out. Thanks for the recommendation.
Colleen and Dee are great. Dee’s my favorite Christian Fiction author for sure. I usually read a good number of books a month, but I prefer not to read in my genre while I’m writing so I read other fiction genres and a lot of non-fiction. Then when I’m on vacation, I binge read romantic suspense.
Dee is one of my favorite authors as well. I really enjoy your books. My favorite is C.C. Warrens starting with Criss Cross. I have read all of hers and some numerous times as well as listening to several of them. Her narrator is fantastic. Another author who flies under the radar that I love is Anne Perreault. Finding Courage and her newest the Gift are favorites.
I HIGHLY recommend both Tamara Leigh’s medieval and contemporary romances. Her medieval books are artistry in written form. “The Unveiling” or “Lady At Arms” would be a fantastic start. Her contemporary are so funny, but have a heart message that challenges readers. “Faking Grace” was an absolute favorite of mine.
Oooh. I love medieval romances. Thank you SO much for the recommendation. “Faking Grace” just sounds great from the title alone.
I would recommend anything written by Jen Turano. Historical, Romance, Humor. I LOVED her series: American Heiresses Book 1-Flights of Fancy Book 2-Diamond in the Rough Book 3-Storing Up Trouble and then The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency Book 1-To Steal a Heart I would recommend anything by Mary Connealy. Historical, Romance Her series: High Sierra Sweethearts Book 1-The Accidental Guardian Book 2-The Reluctant Warrior Book 3-The Unexpected Champion I would also recommend these authors: Jody Hedlund Historical, Romance Heather Blanton Western, Romance Amanda Flower Cozy Mysteries Have fun choosing books
Hi Lori,
Thanks for the recommendations! I love Jody and I’ve been meaning to read Jen. I’ve heard nothing but fabulous things about her.
I loved No Less Days by Amanda G Stevens. (Also her Seek & Hide series)
Also look up Stealthy Steps by Vikki Kestell.
Both books are off the beaten path different.
I love off the beaten path different. Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll have fun looking them up.
I second several of the above suggestions, including Colleen Coble, Mary Connealy, Amanda Flower…
Two more recommendations:
– Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim series (Christian YA, near-fantasy, fairy-tell retellings, medieval setting)
– Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason (Christian historical romance, some mystery)
I really enjoy Christian YA and there’s not much of it out there so I really appreciate the recommendation 🙂
Breach of Honor by Janice Cantore; To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White; Life Flight by Lynette Eason
I’ve gotten a lot of recommendations for Life Flight by Lynette. It must be stellar. I’ll look forward to reading it during my vacation reading binge 🙂
My all-time top recommendation is Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore – and it’s even more stellar if you read the whole trilogy, because she does amazing things wtih it. It’s a Christian YA series that reads like suspense-fantasy topped off with romance. It’s amazing.
Trying not to repeat the great suggestions above .. Life Flight is awesome, of course, and Roseanna M. White’s Isles of Scillies series is the most fun historical fiction series I’ve read in ages. For a suspense-style series that is different and will make you think, though, consider the books by Julie Cave. The main character is a homocide detective and learns about faith from her investigations. They’re fantastic.
Along those same lines? The Raleigh Harmon series by Sibella Giorello. The main character is a forensic geologist and they’re written from a slightly different perspective, but I love them. I hear there may be TV/movie interest? There’s also a YA prequel series.
Happy reading! Can’t wait for your new one.
Oooh. Thanks so much for the awesome recommendations. I do love Christian YA. Will definitely have to check the trilogy out!
Thanks so much. Hope you’ll enjoy Noah and Brooke’s adventure!
Shaken by Kariss Lynch! It’s one of my favorite books.
Awesome. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
I have so many! I love Christian suspense novels, so I’ll say Living Lies by Natalie Walters.
Hi Debbie,
I’ve heard great things about Natalie’s books. They are in my TBR file. I might have to bump one up :)) Thanks for the recommendation.
Such a fun idea Dani! Karen Witemeyer is one of my all-time favorite authors! You can’t go wrong with any of her books- they are all phenomenal! I recently finished re-reading “More Than Words Can Say” by her. It’s so so good! I’m a sucker for a good marriage of convenience story! ☺️
Shadows of the Past by Patricia Bradley (1st of 4 in series)
Anything by Irene Hannon
Make You Feel My Love by Robin Lee Hatcher (1.99 today only)
Love Denise Hunter’s books too (Her last book RiverBend Gap is also $1.99 now)
Happy Reading!
I am now reading Book 6 of TheZion Covenant series by Bodie Thorne. This historical fiction series is based on the times during the rise of Hitler. Absolutely recommend this series to everyone!
I love Pretense by Lori Wick and Danger In The Shadows by Dee Henderson.
I would recommend “Lights Out” by Natalie Walters and” Hidden Danger” by Jerusha Agen. Both are awesome mysteries
Hi, Dani!
I highly recommend The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham (it totally works as an anytime of year read, not just Christmas!) It was the most delightful book I read in 2021!
I also highly recommend any of Rachel Scott McDaniel’s books, and any of Janine Rosche’s books (This Wandering Heart is first in her Madison River Romance series, and Aspen Crossroads is the first book in her Whisper Canyon Romance series!) All books by both of these ladies are fantastic!
I also highly recommend all of Bethany Turner’s books, including her March release The Do-Over! They’re all amazing romcoms!
And, lastly, I will be another person recommending Life Flight by Lynette Eason, it’s one of her best! (And one of my personal favorites of hers!)
Predator (or any book) by Terri Blackstock
I’m a big fan of John le Carré’s spy novels. If you haven’t read any, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a great one to start with. I also enjoy Joseph Kanon’s books. I’d recommend either Stardust. His books aren’t necessarily classified as clean, but if I remember correctly, this book has one scene that can easily be skipped. Le Carré doesn’t have any language or sensual scenes. Just a great spy story, in a very different vein than we typically see.
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green is amazing! It’s an epistolary novel (which I didn’t know existed) and about a part of history I didn’t know…German POW camp in America in WWII. It’s a must read!
My favorite book is The Princess by Lori Wick. Another great book that I highly recommend is Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson
Charles Martin, either “Where the River Ends” or “Life Intercepted”. I like all of his books but I think these were the first 2 I read that got me hooked.
I can’t wait for your next book!
I have read many wonderful books written by the “Inspired by Life & Fiction” authors, so there’s a slew of novels to choose from, and you wouldn’t go wrong if you chose any of them.
However, I would like to recommend The Healing of Natalie Curtis, by Jane Kirkpatrick. Jane’s books are always well researched about strong women in history. This particular novel has a beautiful cover that incorporates the beauty of a New Mexico mesa with music notes.
Enjoy!
I’ve thought of a second title: All that is Secret, by Paticia Raybon. This is her debut mystery set in Denver in the 1880’s (?). The main character is known as “The Colored Professor.” I thoroughly enjoyed this novel–and there was a lot of suspense–and also a lot of love. One theme would be family–what we do for those we love–even if they are not really blood relatives. I highly recommend All that is Secret.