Last year, I wrote a list of my favorite authors from 2014. Some were old favorites, and others were new discoveries. This year, after looking over my 2015 book log, I have a new list! Of course, last year's list still contains some of my favorites authors, and I read several more books by Grace Livingston Hill and Georgette Heyer. I also read a few more by Elizabeth Camden, and she is quickly becoming a favorite author. Here are some new favorite authors I read this year:
1. Clare Darcy--Very similar to my favorite Regency author Georgette Heyer, I discovered Clare Darcy through the same friend who introduced me to Heyer. While Heyer is probably a slightly better author, I loved Darcy's books! They are very similar to Heyer's, and they are all very clean. I mean to begin collecting them at some point. Darcy is an American author, and her books are rare in England; however, you can order them online in America. This past year, I read seven of Darcy's books.
2. Melanie Dickerson--This is my new favorite author! I actually discovered her last year when I read one of her books, but I read all her other books this past year. She is a Christian writer of both young adult and adult historical romance fiction. Her current books are all based on fairy tales, but she writes them as if they could really have happened (no magic, no fairies) in medieval Germany and England. Dickerson is also working on a new series of Regency fiction (the first will be out in February 2016). I have read all of her books, and I can truly say that I LOVE all of them! Most of Dickerson's books belong to a series involving the same family (or at least connected to the same family). So far she has written stories based on Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Frog Prince, and Rapunzel. Another book, which is the first of a new series, is based on Swan Lake/Robin Hood. Dickerson has several more of these books in the works, and I can't wait to see how both series play out (one will be based on Princess and the Pea/Beauty and the Beast and another on Little Mermaid). I have already pre-ordered two of her books, coming out in February and May 2016.
3. Emilie Baker Loring--I discovered Loring when someone mentioned her on a Grace Livingston Hill facebook page. Her books are written in the same general time period as Hill's, only they are not Christian books. They are similar to Hill's stories, and they are very clean. I've only read two so far, and I intend to buy more because I loved the two I read. They are out of print and not easily found in used book stores, and only one is available on Kindle. You can buy older copies online.
4. Tamara Leigh--I discovered this author through a free book I downloaded on Kindle. It was the first of a series of five, and I have read them all. Not all of Leigh's books are Christian. Some of her older books I'm not sure of (may or may not be clean reads), but the series I read are Christian and mostly clean. Having said that, everyone's opinion differs on what "clean" is, and Leigh's books, even these Christian ones, are sort of on the border line. Sex takes place (between married couples), but is not explicitly described. In one case, a woman loses her virtue to a man she is not married to, but this is only mentioned. A few of the male heroes have a lust problem, which is referred to a few times, but they resist temptation during the story. This is why I put this series on a borderline of "clean." There are no descriptions of the sex scenes themselves--only the before/after, and even those aren't explicit (though nudity is mentioned). I don't care for books with sex scenes, but I felt the instances in these books were tastefully written without describing anything--you just know that characters experience their wedding night. I say all of this to warn anyone who is particular about books being "clean." Despite these issues (as well some very difficult situations that are almost painful to read about), I fell in love with the characters and kept wanting to read more about them. The books focus on a family of 3 brothers and 2 sisters and their love stories. They are not overly Christian in a preachy sense, but there are references to trust in God, etc. I enjoyed the books, but I can't say whether I would recommend them. Some people will love them, and some will not.
5. Sarah Ladd--Sarah is a Christian novelist from America. I have read only 3 of her books, but I like them very much. Her stories mostly take place in Regency England, and I found them very enjoyable to read.
6. Tamera Alexander--Alexander is a Christian novelist, and most of her stories take place in America in the 1800s. I downloaded two of Alexander's books free on kindle, and I finally read them. I enjoyed them enough to want to buy more!
7. Cathy Marie Hake--I discovered this Christian novelist this year (thanks to a friend), and I've read four. Most of her books (and she's written several) seem to take place in the 1800s American West. I have thoroughly enjoyed the books I read, and I intend to read more of them!
So, those are my new favorite authors (to add to last year's list)! I did manage to work my way through a few books I did NOT like, but most of the 100 books I read in 2015 were good reads. What's up for 2016? As a Christmas gift, I downloaded two books I can't wait to start on. One is by Julie Klassen and the other by Karen Witemeyer, two of my favorite Christian novelists. My son got a Gregor the Overlander book (by Suzanne Collins), the only one of the set we never could find at the library. He's already finished it, so I'll be reading it soon. The same friend who introduced me to Georgette Heyer, Clare Darcy, and Cathy Marie Hake, has informed me that she got some new books for Christmas...lovely stories that she's going to loan me. I can't remember the author's name, but I hadn't heard of her. Of course, I'll be reading Melanie Dickerson's books that I pre-ordered. After that, I don't know. I have some books I'd like to reread, and I always have several waiting on my Kindle. Several of my favorite authors have new books out, so I'm hoping I can buy those at some point.
Did you find any new favorite authors in 2015?
Tuesday 3 November 2015
Monday 5 January 2015
Favorite Authors of 2014
Just looking through my 2014 reading log, I noted that I had some favorite authors that I read again and again. Some were new, and some were old favorites. Here are some of the authors I enjoyed to a huge degree this past year.
1. Georgette Heyer--Heyer was a British author of both romance and mystery. Her romances were mostly set in Regency England, but several were set in earlier time periods. She wrote from the 1921-1972. I had read a few of Heyer's books a few years ago, but my love for her books really took off in 2014, and I couldn't stop! I mostly read the romances. She was not a Christian author, but her books are clean (other than a small number of curse words common to the era), and the dialogue is superb. I read 29 of her books in 2014.
2. Grace Livingston Hill--Hill was an early 20th-century American author of mostly Christian romance. She wrote over 100 books, and I've been reading them since I was 13. Her romances are very sweet, old-fashioned, and clean, and most of them have a strong Christian message. I got out my collection when we returned to America for 4 months, and I read as many as I could (which ended up being around 22).
3. Agatha Christie--I can't say I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, but when I'm in the mood for a good "who-done-it" book, I check one of hers out of library. I've read a few of her books that I definitely did NOT like, but most of them have been fun reads. I read 7 of Christie's books this past year. If you're not familiar with this author (always that chance), she was a very famous English crime novelist who wrote from about 1919 through the early 70s.
4. Anthony Horowitz--Horowitz is a current British author who writes for adults, teens, and children. I've only read his Alex Rider series (spy novels written for young adults), which my 13-year-old son and I are both huge fans of. We've only read 9 of the 10 novels, the last one being published in 2013 and more of a side story than part of the series about Alex (we haven't read it yet). His stories (which are probably unrealistic but still really cool) are very exciting and hard to put down.
5. Julie Klassen--Klassen is a current American author of inspirational Regency romance novels. Yes, I can't help loving the Regency era (yes, I'm a fan of Jane Austen)! Klassen is one of my best discoveries of the year--I haven't yet read a novel of hers I didn't like. I read 5 of them this year, and I have another one waiting on my Kindle.
6. Karen Witemeyer--Witemeyer is another of my favorite discoveries of the year. She's an American author of Christian novels that are set in the 1800s American West. I've read 4 of her books this year and look forward to reading more.
7. Miranda Dickinson--Dickinson is a newer British romance author. She is a Christian, but her books are not. However, they are clean, and the stories are lovely. I've read 3 of her books and would definitely read more.
8. Elizabeth Camden--I discovered Camden when I downloaded a free novel to my Kindle. She's a newer American author of inspirational romance novels. I've only read 2 of her books, but I enjoyed them enough to read more (she's only written 5 so far).
There were other authors that I read more than once, but those eight were my favorites. This coming year, I have some more new authors to discover (as in, I already have the books, but I didn't get them read in 2014).
One author I just read is Fiona Hill/Ellen Pall. Pall's information was hard to track down, but she's a current American author who happened to write Regency romances in the 1970s and 80s under the pen name of Fiona Hill. I loved the book I read and found it very much like a Georgette Heyer romance.
I also have several Christian novels waiting to be read, and they're by authors I haven't tried out yet--Tamera Alexander, Laura Frantz, Tamara Leigh, and Sarah E. Ladd. If I enjoy them, I'll write about them next year!
1. Georgette Heyer--Heyer was a British author of both romance and mystery. Her romances were mostly set in Regency England, but several were set in earlier time periods. She wrote from the 1921-1972. I had read a few of Heyer's books a few years ago, but my love for her books really took off in 2014, and I couldn't stop! I mostly read the romances. She was not a Christian author, but her books are clean (other than a small number of curse words common to the era), and the dialogue is superb. I read 29 of her books in 2014.
2. Grace Livingston Hill--Hill was an early 20th-century American author of mostly Christian romance. She wrote over 100 books, and I've been reading them since I was 13. Her romances are very sweet, old-fashioned, and clean, and most of them have a strong Christian message. I got out my collection when we returned to America for 4 months, and I read as many as I could (which ended up being around 22).
3. Agatha Christie--I can't say I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, but when I'm in the mood for a good "who-done-it" book, I check one of hers out of library. I've read a few of her books that I definitely did NOT like, but most of them have been fun reads. I read 7 of Christie's books this past year. If you're not familiar with this author (always that chance), she was a very famous English crime novelist who wrote from about 1919 through the early 70s.
4. Anthony Horowitz--Horowitz is a current British author who writes for adults, teens, and children. I've only read his Alex Rider series (spy novels written for young adults), which my 13-year-old son and I are both huge fans of. We've only read 9 of the 10 novels, the last one being published in 2013 and more of a side story than part of the series about Alex (we haven't read it yet). His stories (which are probably unrealistic but still really cool) are very exciting and hard to put down.
5. Julie Klassen--Klassen is a current American author of inspirational Regency romance novels. Yes, I can't help loving the Regency era (yes, I'm a fan of Jane Austen)! Klassen is one of my best discoveries of the year--I haven't yet read a novel of hers I didn't like. I read 5 of them this year, and I have another one waiting on my Kindle.
6. Karen Witemeyer--Witemeyer is another of my favorite discoveries of the year. She's an American author of Christian novels that are set in the 1800s American West. I've read 4 of her books this year and look forward to reading more.
7. Miranda Dickinson--Dickinson is a newer British romance author. She is a Christian, but her books are not. However, they are clean, and the stories are lovely. I've read 3 of her books and would definitely read more.
8. Elizabeth Camden--I discovered Camden when I downloaded a free novel to my Kindle. She's a newer American author of inspirational romance novels. I've only read 2 of her books, but I enjoyed them enough to read more (she's only written 5 so far).
There were other authors that I read more than once, but those eight were my favorites. This coming year, I have some more new authors to discover (as in, I already have the books, but I didn't get them read in 2014).
One author I just read is Fiona Hill/Ellen Pall. Pall's information was hard to track down, but she's a current American author who happened to write Regency romances in the 1970s and 80s under the pen name of Fiona Hill. I loved the book I read and found it very much like a Georgette Heyer romance.
I also have several Christian novels waiting to be read, and they're by authors I haven't tried out yet--Tamera Alexander, Laura Frantz, Tamara Leigh, and Sarah E. Ladd. If I enjoy them, I'll write about them next year!
Friday 2 January 2015
2015 Book Log
Welcome to my personal book log for 2015. This is my 5th year attempting the 100-book challenge. I more than beat my goal this past year. Thanks to discovering new authors and rereading old favorites, I managed to read 127. If you're interested in what I read, here's the link: Book Log 2014
I will keep the same rules I had last year, for my 2015 challenge. Basically, the books on my list must be chapter books and can't include any repeats from 2014. This year, I'm going to keep one running book log and will not list books by genre. However, I will still list books of the Bible separately.
January 1, 2016 update: I read exactly 100 books this year. After I reached my goal, I worked on reading the Bible. Though I read my Bible frequently, I didn't read any full books until the last few days of the year (except Revelation, which I read in the spring). I chose several short books, as you will see, but I also managed to read Matthew. This year, I endeavor to improve!
2015 Book Log
1. The Tryst (Grace Livingston Hill)
2. Daphne Deane (Grace Livingston Hill)
3. The Country Gentleman (Fiona Hill)
4. The Wedding Portrait (Fiona Hill)
5. The Unveiling (Tamara Leigh)
6. Dawn of the Morning (Grace Livingston Hill)
7. The Fairest Beauty (Melanie Dickerson)
8. The Merchant's Daughter (Melanie Dickerson)
9. The Princess Spy (Melanie Dickerson)
10. Viscount Vagabond (Loretta Chase)
11. Bride of Paradise (Katie Crabapple)
12. Too Close to Home (Lynette Eason)
13. The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
14. The Trail of Conflict (Emilie Baker Loring)
15. The Spanish Bride (Georgette Heyer)
16. Gregor the Overlander (Suzanne Collins)
17. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
18. Mary Arden (Grace Livingston Hill)
19. The Healer's Apprentice (Melanie Dickerson)
20. Ariel Custer (Grace Livingston Hill)
21. Re-Creations (Grace Livingston Hill)
22. Resilient (Ron Luce)
23. Sunken Treasure (Katy Lee)
24. The Railway Children (E. Nesbit)
25. In Times Like These (Emilie Loring)
26. Katharine's Yesterday (Grace Livingston Hill)
27. Healed of Cancer (Dodie Osteen)
28. The Yielding (Tamara Leigh)
29. Claiming Mariah (Pam Hillman)
30. Pistols for Two (Georgette Heyer)
31. The Quiet Gentleman (Georgette Heyer)
32. The Foundling (Georgette Heyer)
33. Russian Roulette (Anthony Horowitz)
34. A Civil Contract (Georgette Heyer)
35. When I Fall in Love (Miranda Dickinson)
36. The Heiress of Winterwood (Sarah Ladd)
37. Cousin Kate (Georgette Heyer)
38. Charity Girl (Georgette Heyer)
39. Lydia (Clare Darcy)
40. Elyza (Clare Darcy)
41. Georgina (Clare Darcy)
42. The Headmistress of Rosemere (Sarah E. Ladd)
43. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (Melanie Dickerson)
44. A World of Winnie-the-Pooh (A.A. Milne)
45. The Longing (Tamara Leigh)
46. The Governess of Highland Hall (Carrie Turansky)
47. Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred (Frank E. Peretti)
48. Full Steam Ahead (Karen Witemeyer)
49. Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls)
50. Sweet Mercy (Ann Tatlock)
51. The Duchess and the Dragon (Jamie Carie)
52. Sanditon (Jane Austen and Another Lady)
53. Victoire (Clare Darcy)
54. Eugenia (Clare Darcy)
55. Allegra (Clare Darcy)
56. Regina (Clare Darcy)
57. Stars Collide (Janice Thompson)
58. Hello, Hollywood! (Janice Thompson)
59. The Director's Cut (Janice Thompson)
60. Mountain Born (Elizabeth Yates)
61. Simon the Coldheart (Georgette Heyer)
62. The Redeeming (Tamara Leigh)
63. The Conqueror (Georgette Heyer)
64. The Female Correspondent (Eva Deverell)
65. The Fellingham Minx (Lynn Messina)
66. Song of Erin (BJ Hoff)
67. Bel Ria (Sheila Burnford)
68. Brentwood's Ward (Michelle Griep)
69. Striker: Sudden Death (Nick Hale)
70. Messenger (Lois Lowry)
71. The Family From One End Street (Eve Garnett)
72. Mary Poppins (P.L. Travers)
73. Gathering Blue (Lois Lowry)
74. Son (Lois Lowry)
75. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (Suzanne Collins)
76. Squanto: Friend of Pilgrims (Clyde Robert Bulla)
77. Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Suzanne Collins)
78. Gregor and the Code of Claw (Suzanne Collins)
79. Take a Look at Me Now (Miranda Dickinson)
80. Serendipity (Cathy Marie Hake)
81. The Dancing Master (Julie Klassen)
82. A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Sarah E. Ladd)
83. The Inheritance (Tamera Alexander)
84. Balto and the Great Race (Elizabeth Cody Kimmel)
85. Whirlwind (Cathy Marie Hake)
86. That Certain Spark (Cathy Marie Hake)
87. Letter Perfect (Cathy Marie Hake)
88. The Golden Braid (Melanie Dickerson)
89. Georgette Heyer's Regency World (Jennifer Kloester)
90. Sixty Acres and a Bride (Regina Jennings)
91. To Whisper Her Name (Tamera Alexander)
92. Against the Tide (Elizabeth Camden)
93. The Christmas Star (Ace Collins)
94. Toward the Sunrise (Elizabeth Camden)
95. The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis)
96. Little House on the Prairie (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
97. Until the Dawn (Elizabeth Camden)
98. The Kindling (Tamara Leigh)
99. The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
100. Love's Reckoning (Laura Frantz)
Books of the Bible
1. Revelation
2. Ezra
3. Esther
4. Ruth
5. Joshua
6. Obadiah
7. Haggai
8. Philemon
9. Matthew
I will keep the same rules I had last year, for my 2015 challenge. Basically, the books on my list must be chapter books and can't include any repeats from 2014. This year, I'm going to keep one running book log and will not list books by genre. However, I will still list books of the Bible separately.
January 1, 2016 update: I read exactly 100 books this year. After I reached my goal, I worked on reading the Bible. Though I read my Bible frequently, I didn't read any full books until the last few days of the year (except Revelation, which I read in the spring). I chose several short books, as you will see, but I also managed to read Matthew. This year, I endeavor to improve!
2015 Book Log
1. The Tryst (Grace Livingston Hill)
2. Daphne Deane (Grace Livingston Hill)
3. The Country Gentleman (Fiona Hill)
4. The Wedding Portrait (Fiona Hill)
5. The Unveiling (Tamara Leigh)
6. Dawn of the Morning (Grace Livingston Hill)
7. The Fairest Beauty (Melanie Dickerson)
8. The Merchant's Daughter (Melanie Dickerson)
9. The Princess Spy (Melanie Dickerson)
10. Viscount Vagabond (Loretta Chase)
11. Bride of Paradise (Katie Crabapple)
12. Too Close to Home (Lynette Eason)
13. The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
14. The Trail of Conflict (Emilie Baker Loring)
15. The Spanish Bride (Georgette Heyer)
16. Gregor the Overlander (Suzanne Collins)
17. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)
18. Mary Arden (Grace Livingston Hill)
19. The Healer's Apprentice (Melanie Dickerson)
20. Ariel Custer (Grace Livingston Hill)
21. Re-Creations (Grace Livingston Hill)
22. Resilient (Ron Luce)
23. Sunken Treasure (Katy Lee)
24. The Railway Children (E. Nesbit)
25. In Times Like These (Emilie Loring)
26. Katharine's Yesterday (Grace Livingston Hill)
27. Healed of Cancer (Dodie Osteen)
28. The Yielding (Tamara Leigh)
29. Claiming Mariah (Pam Hillman)
30. Pistols for Two (Georgette Heyer)
31. The Quiet Gentleman (Georgette Heyer)
32. The Foundling (Georgette Heyer)
33. Russian Roulette (Anthony Horowitz)
34. A Civil Contract (Georgette Heyer)
35. When I Fall in Love (Miranda Dickinson)
36. The Heiress of Winterwood (Sarah Ladd)
37. Cousin Kate (Georgette Heyer)
38. Charity Girl (Georgette Heyer)
39. Lydia (Clare Darcy)
40. Elyza (Clare Darcy)
41. Georgina (Clare Darcy)
42. The Headmistress of Rosemere (Sarah E. Ladd)
43. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (Melanie Dickerson)
44. A World of Winnie-the-Pooh (A.A. Milne)
45. The Longing (Tamara Leigh)
46. The Governess of Highland Hall (Carrie Turansky)
47. Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred (Frank E. Peretti)
48. Full Steam Ahead (Karen Witemeyer)
49. Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls)
50. Sweet Mercy (Ann Tatlock)
51. The Duchess and the Dragon (Jamie Carie)
52. Sanditon (Jane Austen and Another Lady)
53. Victoire (Clare Darcy)
54. Eugenia (Clare Darcy)
55. Allegra (Clare Darcy)
56. Regina (Clare Darcy)
57. Stars Collide (Janice Thompson)
58. Hello, Hollywood! (Janice Thompson)
59. The Director's Cut (Janice Thompson)
60. Mountain Born (Elizabeth Yates)
61. Simon the Coldheart (Georgette Heyer)
62. The Redeeming (Tamara Leigh)
63. The Conqueror (Georgette Heyer)
64. The Female Correspondent (Eva Deverell)
65. The Fellingham Minx (Lynn Messina)
66. Song of Erin (BJ Hoff)
67. Bel Ria (Sheila Burnford)
68. Brentwood's Ward (Michelle Griep)
69. Striker: Sudden Death (Nick Hale)
70. Messenger (Lois Lowry)
71. The Family From One End Street (Eve Garnett)
72. Mary Poppins (P.L. Travers)
73. Gathering Blue (Lois Lowry)
74. Son (Lois Lowry)
75. Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (Suzanne Collins)
76. Squanto: Friend of Pilgrims (Clyde Robert Bulla)
77. Gregor and the Marks of Secret (Suzanne Collins)
78. Gregor and the Code of Claw (Suzanne Collins)
79. Take a Look at Me Now (Miranda Dickinson)
80. Serendipity (Cathy Marie Hake)
81. The Dancing Master (Julie Klassen)
82. A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Sarah E. Ladd)
83. The Inheritance (Tamera Alexander)
84. Balto and the Great Race (Elizabeth Cody Kimmel)
85. Whirlwind (Cathy Marie Hake)
86. That Certain Spark (Cathy Marie Hake)
87. Letter Perfect (Cathy Marie Hake)
88. The Golden Braid (Melanie Dickerson)
89. Georgette Heyer's Regency World (Jennifer Kloester)
90. Sixty Acres and a Bride (Regina Jennings)
91. To Whisper Her Name (Tamera Alexander)
92. Against the Tide (Elizabeth Camden)
93. The Christmas Star (Ace Collins)
94. Toward the Sunrise (Elizabeth Camden)
95. The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis)
96. Little House on the Prairie (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
97. Until the Dawn (Elizabeth Camden)
98. The Kindling (Tamara Leigh)
99. The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
100. Love's Reckoning (Laura Frantz)
Books of the Bible
1. Revelation
2. Ezra
3. Esther
4. Ruth
5. Joshua
6. Obadiah
7. Haggai
8. Philemon
9. Matthew
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