Favorite Authors of 2018

I love looking back over my year of reading to see which authors I've read the most of, which new authors I've discovered, and what types of books I tend to pick up. I still have my favorites, but I did add some new ones this year.

So, which author did I read the most in 2018???

Her books are short, easy reads, and I've read them over and over and over since I was 13. Grace Livingston Hill was the author I read the most, and she remains a lifelong favorite! I read 19 of her books this year, including some I read aloud to my teen daughter.

Second place was Agatha Christie--I read 5. Over the years, I've taken spells of reading several Christie books in a row, and then I seem to take breaks for a long time. This year, I've grown to enjoy her crime novels more than ever. It helps that her books are very easy to find at libraries and used bookstores. A few of hers I have not enjoyed, but most of them I really do. I'm looking forward to finding and reading more!

Third place, with 4 books apiece, was Elizabeth Camden, Georgette Heyer, and Mary Connealy (a new-to-me Christian author I just discovered this year.) I also read 4 stories by Karen Witemeyer, another of my top 3 favorite Christian authors, but 3 of those were novellas in collections that included other authors as well.

Elizabeth Camden is one of my top 3 all-time favorite Christian authors. I have loved every single one of Elizabeth's books so far. Her books are primarily set in America, mostly in the late 1800s. I love that all her heroines are independent women with interesting careers. Her characters have flaws, but they overcome to get where they're at. I honestly think Elizabeth Camden is one of the best authors ever. Everything about her books literally tick every box for me: believable, likeable, round characters, unique plots, all kinds of fascinating historical details, often set around intriguing events, exciting adventure and mystery, and incredible romance. I still have 3 of her books left to read, not counting her upcoming release!

Georgette Heyer is a favorite of many years now. I discovered her Regency novels while living in England and bought them all. I reread one of her Georgian novels this year, and I also read 3 of her mysteries (which I'm now trying to collect). 

I bought a few collections of Christian novellas this year because they featured Karen Witemeyer. However, I also enjoyed the other authors who contributed to those collections, including Mary Connealy. I decided to go to my local library and checked out one of her books, and I was hooked. I've read three so far this year and intend to read more. Her books are set in the Old West. Another author in a few of those collections was Regina Jennings. After reading her novel At Love's Bidding, I think I'll be reading more of hers in the future.

Three of my favorite Christians authors got only two reads this year, though I am highly anticipating reading their new releases. They are Melanie Dickerson, Tamara Leigh, and Julie Klassen. Melanie and Tamara both write medieval novels, one of my favorite time periods to read stories from. Melanie is one of my top 3 favorite authors, as well as my teen daughter's (she won't hardly read anything else). Interestingly enough, one of Melanie's that I read this year was set in 1800s Alabama, a completely new setting for her. That didn't change the fact that it was a great book! My daughter and I are excited for her new Mulan story (The Warrior Maiden) coming out February 2019. Tamara just released a new book (Merciless), which I am eager to buy, and Julie Klassen also recently released the third book in her Tales From Ivy Hill series. I'm sure those will be on 2019's book list!

How about new authors? Aside from Mary Connealy, I discovered two new-to-me authors I really liked. The first was Jen Turano. I WON her newest release in a facebook giveaway and read it almost as soon as it came in the mail. How exciting! And, I found out that historical fiction can be laugh-out-loud funny as well as dramatic. The book was Caught By Surprise, and I LOVED it! I read two more of her books toward the end of the year, and I'm planning to buy more for sure.

Another new-to-me author is Lynn Austin. I checked two out of the library and loved both. However, the first one I read is probably my favorite read this year! A Proper Pursuit takes place during the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and does a superb job of showing the heroine's growth, as far as her character. It was a very enjoyable read, and I'm definitely going to have to get my own copy.

What about nonfiction? Sigh. I'm not a fan, really, of nonfiction, and a book really has to grab me. I don't know...certain writing styles hold my interest better. I keep trying, because my husband has challenged me to read 10 Christian nonfiction books (for a reward of $5...but hey, I can spend that on a used fiction book). I haven't made it to 10 yet...in 2 years...but anyway. I read two that really impacted me this year. The first is The Fire of Delayed Answers (Bob Sorge) and the second is Boundaries (Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend). Both were very timely and just what I needed to read, but Boundaries was probably my favorite. I would honestly recommend both those books to anyone!

I have a huge pile of books to begin 2019 with; in fact, I've already read several while travelling from Missouri to Washington, where we just moved. Once I get bookshelves in my new home, I can organize the hundreds of books I have, most of which have been in storage for years. So, between old books and new, I'm set to read, read, read!