2021 Book Log

I'm very excited about my reading list this year! I have a huge pile of books I bought or won in 2020 that I haven't had the opportunity to read yet. I also have a large wishlist, which includes many of my favorite authors who have books coming out in 2021. Yay! 

As always, I count chapter books or works such as books of poetry or plays. I do not count children's picture books toward my goal of 100, but I do include children's chapter books if they're a normal sort of length (not beginner chapter books or really short chapter books like the American Girl series). I will keep one log of books read. I will also include the 2 reading challenges I'm joining this year, and I will add to them each month as I complete the required book.

2021 Book List

1. Prince Caspian (C.S. Lewis)

2. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)

3. The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis)

4. The Last Battle (C.S. Lewis)

5. After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)

6. The London Restoration (Rachel McMillan)

7. Marrying Miss Milton (Ashtyn Newbold)

8. Set the Stars Alight (Amanda Dykes)

9. The Dress Shop on King Street (Ashley Clark)

10. Court of Swans (Melanie Dickerson)

11. To Steal a Heart (Jen Turano)

12. Sophie's Heart (Lori Wick)

13. A Mosaic of Wings (Kimberly Duffy)

14. The Swan: The Seventh Day (Piper Huguley)

15. Postern of Fate (Agatha Christie)

16. Falling for You (Becky Wade)

17. Up From the Sea (Amanda Dykes)

18. The Light at Wyndcliff (Sarah E. Ladd)

19. Vying for the Viscount (Kristi Ann Hunter)

20. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane (Michelle Griep)

21. On Wings of Devotion (Roseanna M. White)

22. Manor for Sale, Baron Included (Esther Hatch)

23. In the Shadow of Croft Towers (Abigail Wilson)

24. Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey (Abigail Wilson)

25. Dreamspell (Tamara Leigh)

26. Murder on the Orient Express (Agatha Christie)

27. Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion (Julie Campbell)

28. The Love Note (Joanna Davidson Politano)

29. Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery (Julie Campbell)

30. Her Mother's Hope (Francine Rivers)

31. The Prince of Spies (Elizabeth Camden)

32. Far Side of the Sea (Kate Breslin)

33. Trixie Belden and the Gatehouse Mystery (Julie Campbell)

34. A Castaway in Cornwall (Julie Klassen)

35. The Robe (Lloyd C. Douglas)

36. Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Visitor (Julie Campbell)

37. The Kissing Tree (Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, Nicole Deese)

38. Alex Rider: Secret Weapon (Anthony Horowitz)

39. Courting Misfortune (Regina Jennings)

40. Trixie Belden and the Mystery Off Glen Road (Julie Campbell)

41. Merciless (Tamara Leigh)

42. The Butterfly and the Violin (Kristy Cambron)

43. Death by the Book (Julianna Deering)

44. A Murder is Announced (Agatha Christie)

45. And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)

46. Winning the Gentleman (Kristi Ann Hunter)

47. The Trouble with Love (Toni Shiloh)

48. The Nature of a Lady (Roseanna M. White)

49. The Red Canary (Rachel Scott McDaniel)

50. Midnight on the River Grey (Abigail Wilson)

51. Lady Maybe (Julie Klassen)

52. This Wandering Heart (Janine Rosche)

53. Skin (Ted Dekker)

54. The Heart's Charge (Karen Witemeyer)

55. Partners in Crime (Agatha Christie)

56. Mr. Gardiner and the Governess (Sally Britton)

57. Sleeping Murder (Agatha Christie)

58. A Lady in Attendance (Rachel Fordham)

59. Murder at the Vicarage (Agatha Christie)

60. Paint and Nectar (Ashley Clark)

61. Echoes Among the Stones (Jaime Jo Wright)

62. Sweet on You (Becky Wade)

63. Whose Waves These Are (Amanda Dykes)

64. To Write a Wrong (Jen Turano)

65. The Accidental Guardian (Mary Connealy)

66. Dusk's Darkest Shores (Carolyn Miller)

67. Castle of Refuge (Melanie Dickerson)

68. On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor (Jaime Jo Wright)

69. The Barrister and the Letter of Marque (Todd M. Johnson)

70. A Tapestry of Light (Kimberly Duffy)

71. Undercurrent of Secrets (Rachel Scott McDaniel)

72. The Vanishing at Loxby Manor (Abigail Wilson)

73. The Indebted Earl (Erica Vetsch)

74. The Dressmaker (Kristie Self)

75. Mountain Laurel (Lori Benton)

76. Flirtation Walk (Siri Mitchell)

77. The Nabob's Daughter (Jess Heileman)

78. Carved in Stone (Elizabeth Camden)

79. Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection (Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch)

80. The Mistletoe Countess (Pepper Basham)

81. Christmas at the Inn (Ashley Clark)

82. A Life That Matters (Ron Hutchcraft)

83. The Story of Codebreaking (Al Cimino)

84. Twice Freed (Patricia St. John)

Posse Reading Challenge 2021 (Karen Witemeyer)

January--A book written by an author with the same last-name initial as you: Marrying Miss Milton (Ashtyn Newbold)

February--A book written by an author of color: The Swan: The Seventh Day (Piper Huguley)

March--A book set in the state/country you live in: Falling for You (Becky Wade)

April--A book in a genre you don't normally read: Dreamspell (Tamara Leigh)--time travel

May--A book with a single-word title: Merciless (Tamara Leigh)

June--A book with a horse on the cover: Winning the Gentleman (Kristi Ann Hunter)

July--A book by a Posse author other than Karen: This Wandering Heart (Janine Rosche)

August--A book with a conjunction in the title: Mr. Gardiner and the Governess (Sally Britton)

September--A book with a main character who has the same first-name initial as you: To Write a Wrong (Jen Turano)--Daphne--AND The Accidental Guardian (Mary Connealy)--Deb 

October--A book recomended by the Posse: A Tapestry of Light (Kimberly Duffy)

November--A book by a new-to-you author: The Nabob's Daughter (Jess Heileman)

December--A book with a red or green cover: The Mistletoe Countess (Pepper Basham) and Christmas at the Inn (Ashley Clark)

Avid Readers of Christian Fiction's  Pizza Reading Challenge 2021

January--Copycat Reader (a new-to-you author who others say is similar to a favorite author): Set the Stars Alight (Amanda Dykes)

February--Nostalgic Reader (re-read a favorite book that speaks to your heart): Sophie's Heart (Lori Wick)

March--Global Reader (read a book set internationally from your home country): A Mosaic of Wings (Kimberly Duffy)--partially set in India

April--Intrepid Reader (read a book that feels daunting to you): Her Mother's Hope (Francine Rivers)

May--Experimental Reader (read a new-to-you author's debut novel): The Butterfly and the Violin (Kristy Cambron)

June--Diverse Reader (read a book written by an author who doesn't share your racial or ethnic background: The Trouble with Love (Toni Shiloh)

July--Eclectic Reader (read two books back-to-back that are as different as possible from each other): Skin (Ted Dekker) and The Heart's Charge (Karen Witemeyer)

August--Co-Reader (read a book with a book club or just with a friend, then discuss): Echoes Among the Stones (Jaime Jo Wright)...read and discussed with my daughter

September--Mysterious Reader (read a book with a crime or mystery to solve): The Barrister and the Letter of Marque (Todd M. Johnson)

October--Storytelling Reader (read a book aloud): Twice Freed (Patricia St. John)

November--Artistic Reader (read a book that you chose primarily based on the cover): The Nabob's Daughter (Jess Heileman)

December--Festive Reader (read a book with a Christmas scene or premise): Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection (Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch)

Favorite Authors & Thoughts on Books 2020

The end of 2020 marked 10 years of doing reading challenges. Each year since 2011, I have had a goal of 100 books. Some years have had addition goals, such as reading award-winning books, reading so many books from different genres, or, like this year, monthly reading challenges from different facebook groups. Three different years, I have made it to 100 or more. In 2020, I was close with 97 books read, which isn't bad! As usual, I like to look back on the books I've read during the year and give my thoughts on the books and authors. Here are the stats and thoughts for my 2020 book list:

Total books read: 97

Favorite book: The House at the End of the Moor (Michelle Griep)

Total authors: 55 (counts by book/novella, not co-authors or author/editor)

Which authors I read the most: Grace Livingston Hill was my most-read author, which is not surprising since one of my monthly reading challenges was all Grace books! I read 22 of her books in 2020. Second place goes to Jen Turano. I read 5 of her full-length novels and 1 novella.

Favorite authors list: I've had a list of 10 for a number of years, but that list has grown this past year. In no particular order, my top 20 favorite authors (and I'll probably add more than that this coming year) are: Melanie Dickerson, Karen Witemeyer, Elizabeth Camden, Jen Turano, Julie Klassen, Sarah E. Ladd, Erica Vetsch, Michelle Griep, Rachel Fordham, Tamara Leigh, Tamera Alexander, Regina Jennings, Rachel Scott McDaniel, Jaime Jo Wright, Siri Mitchell, Grace Livingston Hill, Mary Connealy, Kristi Ann Hunter, Lynn Austin, and Roseanna M. White. If I were to take it to 25, I'd add Carolyn Miller, Regina Scott, Julianna Deering, Heidi Kimball, and Cathy Marie Hake. My list might rearrange itself based on the books I have on my TBR in 2021 and based on reading more than one or two books by the authors I already mentioned.

Re-reads: 33, including all the Grace Livingston Hill books, 2 Christian fiction books I read in my teens, 1 other Christian fiction, 5 children's books, 2 non-fiction, and a Jane Austen.

Favorite reread and why: The Laird's Inheritance by George MacDonald (as edited by Michael Phillips). I read this one in my upper teens in the late 80s; in fact, I read several of these editions of MacDonald's edited books. This one was my favorite because of the mystery, the romance, and the finding of treasure (always cool). In rereading it as a middle-aged adult, I enjoyed those things all over again, but I also took in the spiritual lessons, and I was blown away by how deep and yet simple the teachings are in these books, and in this one in particular. My other favorite reread book (which is also my favorite nonfiction) was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. More on that later.

New-to-me authors: 28

Favorite new-to-me authors: Regina Scott, Kristi Ann Hunter, Erica Vetsch, Carolyn Miller, Heidi Kimball, Roseanna M. White, Rachel Scott McDaniel, Ronie Kendig, Jaime Jo Wright, and Julianna Deering

Total Christian fiction: 80, most of which were historical fiction/historical romance, which is my genre of choice.

Total Contemporary Christian fiction: 5 (plus one that is futuristic)

Total Split-Time Christian fiction: 4 (historical/contemporary)

Favorite Christian fiction this year (top 15, in no particular order except the first 2): The House at the End of the Moor (Michelle Griep), The Bridge to Belle Island (Julie Klassen), Forevermore (Cathy Marie Hake), A Noble Masquerade (Kristi Ann Hunter), The Lost Lieutenant (Erica Vetsch), The Number of Love (Roseanna M. White), At Love's Command (Karen Witemeyer), A Gilded Lady (Elizabeth Camden), A Life Once Dreamed (Rachel Fordham), The Peasant's Dream (Melanie Dickerson), The Gentleman Spy (Erica Vetsch), Storing Up Trouble (Jen Turano), Aiming for Love (Mary Connealy), Above the Fold (Rachel Scott McDaniel), and The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus (Jaime Jo Wright). It's so hard to pick favorites. If I could add some honorable mentions, which I also really loved, it would include the following: A Distance Too Grand (Regina Scott), Where the Stars Meet the Sea (Heidi Kimball), The Thief of Lanwyn Manor (Sarah E. Ladd), To Wager Her Heart (Tamera Alexander), The House on Foster Hill (Jaime Jo Wright), Diamond in the Rough (Jen Turano), In Good Company (Jen Turano), Out of the Ordinary (Jen Turano), A Talent for Trouble (Jen Turano), and Rules of Murder (Julianna Deering).

Christian children’s/YA: 12

Favorite Christian children’s/YA: I already listed Melanie Dickerson's The Peasant's Dream as a top 15 favorite, and it's YA. However, my favorite in this category was the Viking Quest Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson. I LOVED this series! My favorite was, of course, the last one, The Raider's Promise, which concluded the saga with a lovely romance. I would reread this series!

Non-Christian fiction (not children's/YA): 11--This includes several mysteries (mostly Agatha Christie), four classics (I read 3 with my daughter for school), and one other, which I'll mention next.

Favorite non-Christian fiction: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows). Written all in letters, this story held my attention and was a superb delight! I had seen the movie a few years ago and fell in love with it, and the book was not a disappointment! The history, the location, and the romance all appealed to me strongly, and it was very well-written.

Non-Christian children’s/YA: 3 (or 6 if you count The Chronicles of Narnia as non-Christian. They were published by a non-Christian company, but the author C.S. Lewis was a Christian author, so I did count the 3 I read in 2020 as Christian).

Favorite non-Christian children’s/YA: It's hard to choose a favorite. My 19-year-old son bought 2 new books this year that are part of popular series, and I read both because I also have enjoyed both series. One was Nightshade by Anthony Horowitze, and the other was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Colllins. The third was an old favorite of mine since 4th grade, the Newbery Award winner Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien. While I enjoyed all 3, I found Collins' prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy very sad and Nightshade (part of the Alex Rider series) thrilling (like the whole series is). I would probably stick with Mrs. Frisby as my favorite, though.

Total nonfiction: 3

Favorite nonfiction: I'm just not really into nonfiction unless it tells a story. It really has to grab me! I read 3. Two were rereads, and I really enjoyed both. The third I didn't really like. I got some really good stuff out of it, and some parts I just disagreed with, but I guess it wasn't a total loss. Anyway my favorite was The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. Even if the true-story nonfiction wasn't my favorite type of nonfiction, I'd still pick it. I had read it years ago, and I've also read a few of Corrie's other books in recent years. I've seen the  movie, and I've even toured the ten Boom house, location of the actual hiding place, in Haarlem, Netherlands. All I can say is that everyone should read The Hiding Place. I don't know if I can find the words to describe why, but it has history, miracles, and life lessons that are applicable for anyone in any age. With the future unknown, who knows but what we might someday find ourselves in Corrie's situation. With her faith, her determination, her mercy, her courage, and her ability to shine for Jesus in any circumstance, she's a heroine any Christian woman (or man) can look up to. Corrie is a true hero of the faith!

Total classics: 4

Favorite classic: While I'm always a fan of Jane Austen (I read Northanger Abbey this year), I'm going to have to pick a new-to-me classic this year. My daughter and I read The Scarlet Pimpernel (Baroness Emmuska Orczy) this year for her high school literature, and we both agreed that it was our favorite. My son also read it in 10th grade, and he said it was his favorite out of all his high school literature (and our homeschool high school curriculum requires a LOT of literature). It was a fun story, full of adventure,and we very much admired the hero's courage and intelligence as he and his men risked their lives to rescue others.

A word about novellas. Novellas are short novels, but I count them because they are still chapter books. However, I've never been sure how to count them if they appear in a collection. So, this year, at least, I counted separate novellas each as a book on my list, but I counted novella collections as 1 book because the novellas were contained in one book! I did count authors of these separately for my author count. I read 3 novella collections (1 by the same author and 2 featuring different authors). I also read 4 novellas on their own (not part of a collection).

That's it for 2020! The challenges I took part in pushed me to read some new authors and new genres, which was great. I already have a HUGE list of TBR books (both in book form and on kindle), and I have many more I'm looking forward to buying!