2021 Book List Commentary

My book list for 2021 was AMAZING! As far as book reading goes, I had a pretty decent year. Here's a look at my stats:

Book Reading Goal: 100 books

Books Read: 84 books (not bad)

Christian Fiction/Clean Reads by Christian Authors: 62

Children's/YA Books: 11 (one of those was also Christian fiction)

Other fiction: 9 (including 1 classic)

Nonfiction: 2

Favorite Reads:

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

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

3. A Lady in Attendance (Rachel Fordham)

4. Castle of Refuge (Melanie Dickerson)

5. To Write a Wrong (Jen Turano)

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

7. The Prince of Spies (Elizabeth Camden)

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

9. The Red Canary (Rachel Scott McDaniel)

10. Dusk's Darkest Shores (Carolyn Miller)

Honorable mentions:

11. Set the Stars Alight (Amanda Dykes)

12. The Thief of Blackfriar's Lane (Michelle Griep)

 

That was difficult, because there were so many others I loved enough to give 5 stars!

Author I read the most: Agatha Christie (8)

Favorite authors I discovered this year:

Ashley Clark

Abigail Wilson

Amanda Dykes

Kimberly Duffy

New-to-me authors I want to read more of:

Rachel McMillan

Pepper Basham

Kate Breslin

Esther Hatch

Jess Heileman

2022 is shaping up to be another great year. I already have a huge TBR stack, and all of my favorite authors have new books coming out. How will I keep up???

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!

2020 Book Log

This begins my 10th year of doing the 100-book reading challenge. My rules? Books must be chapter books (or long books of plays, poetry, short stories, etc.), and my list may not include any books I read in 2019.

In addition to the 100-book challenge, I have 4 lists of books I wish to read this year. One list is my own TBR list. The other 3 are monthly challenges put out by facebook groups I am a part of. I will keep a log of all books read, followed by logs of books I have read for these challenges.

2020 Book Log
1.  A Daughter's Devotion (George MacDonald/Michael Phillips)
2.  Exit Betty (Grace Livingston Hill)
3.  Christmas Love & Joy (Alexa Verde)
4.  Remembering Dresden (Dan Walsh)
5.  Cloudy Jewel (Grace Livingston Hill)
6.  A Distance Too Grand (Regina Scott)
7.  A Heart Most Worthy (Siri Mitchell)
8.  Diamond in the Rough (Jen Turano)
9.  The Tryst (Grace Livingston Hill)
10.  The City of Fire (Grace Livingston Hill)
11.  The Bride of Ivy Green (Julie Klassen)
12.  Duplicate Death (Georgette Heyer)
13.  The Merchant's Daughter (Melanie Dickerson)
14.  Tomorrow About This Time (Grace Livingston Hill)
15.  Pearl Maiden (H. Rider Haggard)
16.  The Big Blue Soldier (Grace Livingston Hill)
17.  The Bridge to Belle Island (Julie Klassen)
18.  In Good Company (Jen Turano)
19.  Among the Fair Magnolias (Tamera Alexander, Shelley Gray, Dorothy Love, Elizabeth Musser)
20.  Mrs. McGinty's Dead (Agatha Christie)
21.  Forevermore (Cathy Marie Hake)
22.  Peril at End House (Agatha Christie)
23.  A Most Inconvenient Marriage (Regina Jennings)

24.  A Lady of Esteem (Kristi Ann Hunter)
25.  A Noble Masquerade (Kristi Ann Hunter)
26.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows)
27.  Re-Creations (Grace Livingston Hill)
28.  Not Under the Law (Grace Livingston Hill)
29.  Waterfall: A Novel (Lisa T. Bergren)
30.  Raiders from the Sea (Lois Walfrid Johnson)
31.  Mystery of the Lost Coins (Lois Walfrid Johnson)

32.  A Woman's High Calling (Elizabeth George)

33.  The Invisible Friend (Lois Walfrid Johnson)

34.  Ariel Custer (Grace Livingston Hill)

35.  The Hiding Place (Corrie ten Boom)

36.  A New Name (Grace Livingston Hill)

37.  Heart of Courage (Lois Walfrid Johnson)

38.  Always Green (Patti Hill)

39.  The Raider's Promise (Lois Walfrid Johnson)

40.  Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O'Brien)

41.  The Lost Lieutenant (Erica Vetsch)

42.  Winning Miss Winthrop (Carolyn Miller)

43.  The Scarlet Pimpernel (Baroness Emmuska Orczy)

44.  An Awakened Heart (Jody Hedlund)

45.  Where the Stars Meet the Sea (Heidi Kimball)

46.  Storing Up Trouble (Jen Turano)

47.  The House at the End of the Moor (Michelle Griep)

48.  The Number of Love (Roseanna M. White)

49.  Coming Through the Rye (Grace Livingston Hill)

50.  Nightshade (Anthony Horowitz)

51.  The Beloved Stranger (Grace Livingston Hill)

52.  Stealing Adda (Tamara Leigh)

53.  At Love's Command (Karen Witemeyer)

54.  The Thief of Lanwyn Manor (Sarah E. Ladd)

55.  The Honor Girl (Grace Livingston Hill)

56.  A Gilded Lady (Elizabeth Camden)

57.  The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)

58.  Catching Katie (Robin Lee Hatcher)

59.  A Life Once Dreamed (Rachel Fordham)

60.  Serving Up Love (Tracie Peterson, Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Jen Turano)

61.  The Peasant's Dream (Melanie Dickerson)

62.  Out of the Ordinary (Jen Turano)

63.  A Work in Progress (Staci Stallings)

64.  A Talent for Trouble (Jen Turano)

65.  The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Suzanne Collins)

66.  To Wager Her Heart (Tamera Alexander)

67.  Easy to Kill (Agatha Christie)

68.  The Major's Daughter (Regina Jennings)

69.  Revival Fire (Wesley Duewel)

70.  The Centurion's Wife (Davis Bunn and Janette Oke)

71.  Cat Among Pigeons (Agatha Christie)

72.  Aiming for Love (Mary Connealy)

73.  Above the Fold (Rachel Scott McDaniel)

74.  Crimson Roses (Grace Livingston Hill)

75.  Brand of Light (Ronie Kendig)

76.  The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus (Jaime Jo Wright)  

77.  The House on Foster Hill (Jaime Jo Wright)

78.  The White Flower (Grace Livingston Hill)

79.  Found Treasure (Grace Livingston Hill)

80.  The Gentleman Spy (Erica Vetsch)

81.  Les Misérables (Victor Hugo)

82.  Blue Ruin (Grace Livingston Hill)

83.  An Ivy Hill Christmas (Julie Klassen)

84.  Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen)

85.  Christmas at Whitefriars (Elizabeth Camden)

86.  Duskin (Grace Livingston Hill)

87.  Rules of Murder (Julianna Deering)

88.  Death in the Air (Agatha Christie)

89.  Out of the Storm (Grace Livingston Hill)

90.  Brentwood (Grace Livingston Hill)

91.  The Prodigal Girl (Grace Livingston Hill)

92.  The Printed Letter Bookshop (Katherine Reay)

93.  The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis)

94.  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)

95.  The Horse and His Boy (C.S. Lewis)

96.  The Laird's Inheritance (George MacDonald/Michael Phillips)

97.  Job's Niece (Grace Livingston Hill)

Avid Readers of Christian Fiction 2020 Challenge
1.  January: Indie published author you have never read before: Christmas Love & Joy (Alexa Verde)
2.  February: A book with hearts on the cover or in the title: A Heart Most Worthy (Siri Mitchell)
3.  March: An author that has a last name that starts with the first letter of your first name: The Merchant's Daughter (Melanie Dickerson)
4.  April: A book with water (of any form) in the title: Waterfall: A Novel (Lisa T. Bergren)
5.  May: A book that features a garden, planting, bulbs, or flowers: Always Green (Patti Hill)

6.  June: Wedding-themed story: The Beloved Stranger (Grace Livingston Hill)

7.  July: A book that features the making of a nation, political change or reformation: Catching Katie (Robin Lee Hatcher)

8.  August: An independently published book that features college students or students: A Work in Progress (Staci Stallings)

9.  September: Biblical fiction that is about a lesser-known biblical character: The Centurion's Wife (Davis Bunn and Janette Oke)

10. October: CF with speculative elements: Brand of Light (Ronie Kendig)

11. November: Story told from a male point of view as the main character: The Laird's Inheritance (George MacDonald/Michael Phillips)

12. December: Christmas historical fiction set before the 1950s: An Ivy Hill Christmas (Julie Klassen)

The Posse 2020 Challenge (Karen Witemeyer)
1.  January: A book written by an author with the same first name initial as you: Remembering Dresden (Dan Walsh)
2.  February: A book you own but have never read: A Heart Most Worthy (Siri Mitchell)
3.  March: A book set outside the United States: The Bridge to Belle Island (Julie Klassen)
4.  April: A young adult or children's book: Waterfall: A Novel (Lisa T. Bergren)
5.  May: A book published the year you were born: The Hiding Place (Corrie ten Boom) AND Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O'Brien)

6.  June: A book with a cowboy on the cover: At Love's Command (Karen Witemeyer)

7.  July: A nonfiction book on a topic of interest to you: Revival Fire (Wesley Duewel)

8.  August: A book with a verb in the title: To Wager Her Heart (Tamera Alexander)

9.  September: A book with a main character who has the same last-name initial as you: Aiming for Love (Mary Connealy), Character is Jo Nordegren

10.  October: A classic novel you've never read: Les Misérables (Victor Hugo)

11.  November: A book published in 2020: The Gentleman Spy (Erica Vetsch)

12.  December: A book with a Christmas theme: Christmas at Whitefriars (Elizabeth Camden)

Grace Livingston Hill 2020 Challenge
1.  January: Exit Betty
2.  January: Cloudy Jewel
3.  February: The Tryst
4.  February: The City of Fire
5.  March: Tomorrow About This Time
6.  March: The Big Blue Soldier
7.  April: Re-Creations
8.  April: Not Under the Law 

9.  May: Ariel Custer 

10. May: A New Name

11. June: Coming Through the Rye

12. July: The Honor Girl

13. August: Job's Niece

14. September: The White Flower 

15. September: Found Treasure 

16. October: Crimson Roses 

17. October: Blue Ruin

18. November: Duskin

19. November: Out of the Storm 

20. December: The Prodigal Girl

21. December: Brentwood

Favorite Authors of 2019

It's that time of year again, when I look back over my reading log to see what I read most, which authors I read a lot of, which new authors I've discovered, and so on. I like doing this so I can get ready for a new year of reading! I like to think about what books I want to read and to challenge myself to read authors and genres I have read very little or not at all. So, I'm going to tally up this year's results, list my favorite authors of the year, and make comments as I go.

To start off, which authors did I read the most this year?

Agatha Christie wins! I read 21 Agatha Christie murder mysteries this year. This is, I think, very unusual for me, considering my normal reading habits. I'm an enormous fan of historical romance, and here I am gorging myself with murder mysteries of all things! I first read Christie when I found one of her books left in a house my parents bought--I was a young teen at the time. Years later, I went through stages of checking Christie's books out of the library where we lived in England. This year, I have become addicted. Agatha Christie paperbacks, and I like vintage ones the best, are very easy to find at used bookstores and thrift stores, and they are very cheap to buy. I have started collecting them...because that's the sort of thing I do...collect books. I can't say I've enjoyed all her books. A few I've found very depressing, but generally, I like them very much...almost like a guilty pleasure. And, to be honest, they're not so far off my normal genres. They're historical in the sense that she wrote them during a period which is now historical--the early 1920s-early 1970s (I personally prefer the earlier books). Many of them even have a little romance, so they fit quite well with what I like.

Second place in the "author I read the most" contest is a tie between Sarah E. Ladd and Elizabeth Camden, two of my favorite authors. I have now read every book those two authors have written, with the exception of a novella Elizabeth Camden JUST published (and Sarah has a new one coming out in about a week). I read 4 of each author's books this year.

Third place goes to Jen Turano, an author I discovered last year. I intend to read all of her books as I am able to acquire them. Set during the Gilded Age, they are laugh-out-loud historical romances. Seriously, they are so hilarious...I really do laugh out loud. I must have more! I read 3 of Jen's books this year.

Have my favorite authors changed? No, but I have added some. A few favorite authors only got 0-2 books read by me this year, but that's simply because I'd already read all but one or two of their books, or I have some saved for next year because I simply didn't get to them this year.

I did discover a few new favorites. One is Rachel Fordham. Rachel is a fairly new author, with 2 books published and a third in the works. After hearing about her first book repeatedly on my favorite Christian fiction facebook page (Avid Readers of Christian Fiction), I finally decided to try it. The Hope of Azure Springs has earned top spot on my favorite reads of the year...I loved it THAT much! Not long afterward, I read her second book Yours Truly, Thomas. Rachel is from my state (my new home state), which is really cool. Her books are mostly set in Iowa in the 1800s.

The second new-to-me author is Becky Wade. Becky writes contemporary Christian romance. I am not normally a fan of contemporary. I will read one and find it either disappointing or just okay, nothing that makes me want to read more. I read one Becky Wade book this year, after having her recommended to me on the same facebook page I mentioned previously. True to You was enjoyable enough that I want to read all of her books...maybe next year! I will now put Becky Wade as my favorite author of contemporary romance.

I mentioned that Rachel Fordham's book The Hope of Azure Springs is #1 on my favorite books read this year. Second place goes to She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. I highly recommend both books!

I impressed myself this year by reading 3 nonfiction books and 3 classics. The nonfiction were all Christian books, and I really enjoyed them (I'm not normally a nonfiction reader). These were Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge, Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn, and The Blessed Life by Robert Morris. The classics were Frankenstein (Mary Shelley), A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens), and Ben Hur (Lew Wallace). I'm surprised how much I enjoyed Frankenstein. I had never read it before. It's a very tragic story, but well-written and interesting...in a very tragic sort of way.

So, here are my top 10 favorite books that I read this year:
1. The Hope of Azure Springs (Rachel Fordham)
2. She Walks in Beauty (Siri Mitchell)
3. A Daring Venture (Elizabeth Camden)
4. Flights of Fancy (Jen Turano)
5. The Spice King (Elizabeth Camden)
6. The Noble Guardian (Michelle Griep)
7. The Weaver's Daughter (Sarah E. Ladd)
8. The Piper's Pursuit (Melanie Dickerson)
9. Yours Truly, Thomas (Rachel Fordham)
10. The Princess (Lori Wick)

Current favorite Christian authors:
1. Melanie Dickerson
2. Elizabeth Camden
3. Karen Witemeyer
4. Jen Turano
5. Julie Klassen
6. Sarah Ladd
7. Michelle Griep
8. Rachel Fordham
9. Tamara Leigh
10. Tamera Alexander

I also still love Grace Livingston Hill, so she has to fit in that list somewhere. The only differences between her and the others is that she's not current, and her books are shorter.

Favorite...how do I put this...no-long-living authors of clean fiction that is not specifically Christian:
1. Georgette Heyer
2. Emilie Loring
3. Jane Austen
4. Agatha Christie
5. Clare Darcy
6. JRR Tolkien


What do I have ahead for 2020? Well, I have a to-be-read pile and also a to-be-bought list. My to-be-read pile has several books by Tamara Leigh, one by Tamera Alexander, another one by Siri Mitchell, and several new-to-me authors, including Carolyn Miller and Kristi Ann Hunter. My to-be-bought list includes new books by almost all of my favorite authors, either recently released or to-be-released in 2020, as well as some books I've been wanting for years...and I'm sure some more Agatha Christie!

2019 Book Log

As usual, I am attempting to reach 100 books this year. The last 3 years have been so hectic (with two gigantic moves) that I'm surprised I read as many as I did, though I didn't reach 100. Here's to 2019 and reading lots of books!

Rules: Books must be chapter books (no children's picture books count, no short novellas unless they're part of a collection), and I don't reread any books from the previous year.

1. Bachelor's Puzzle (Judith Pella)
2. Dawn at Emberwilde (Sarah E. Ladd)
3. A Stranger at Fellsworth (Sarah E. Ladd)
4. The Body in the Library (Agatha Christie)
5. Murder in Mesopotamia (Agatha Christie)
6. Love Came Laughing By (Emilie Loring)
7. The Warrior Maiden (Melanie Dickerson)
8. Towards Zero (Agatha Christie)
9. Cards on the Table (Agatha Christie)
10. To the Farthest Shores (Elizabeth Camden)
11. Captivating (John & Stasi Eldredge)
12. The Moving Finger (Agatha Christie)
13. Jesus Revolution (Greg Laurie & Ellen Vaughn)
14. The Man in the Brown Suit (Agatha Christie)
15. Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (Agatha Christie)
16. The Princess (Lori Wick)
17. Sad Cypress (Agatha Christie)
18. The Clocks (Agatha Christie)
19. Gingham Mountain (Mary Connealy)
20. Flights of Fancy (Jen Turano)
21. A Daring Venture (Elizabeth Camden)
22. The Weaver's Daughter (Sarah E. Ladd)
23. A Daring Sacrifice (Jody Hedlund)
24. True to You (Becky Wade)
25. Murder in Three Acts (Agatha Christie)
26. They Came to Baghdad (Agatha Christie)
27. Behind the Scenes (Jen Turano)
28. The Governess of Penwythe Hall (Sarah E. Ladd)
29. More Than Words Can Say (Karen Witemeyer)
30. The Noble Guardian (Michelle Griep)
31. With Every Breath (Elizabeth Camden)
32. The Hope of Azure Springs (Rachel Fordham)
33. Appointment With Death (Agatha Christie)
34. The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Agatha Christie)
35. Evil Under the Sun (Agatha Christie)
36. Hercule Poirot's Christmas (Agatha Christie)
37. Lord Edgware Dies (Agatha Christie)
38. Murder After Hours (Agatha Christie)
39. Remembered Death (Agatha Christie)
40. Murder on the Links (Agatha Christie)
41. She Walks in Beauty (Siri Mitchell)
42. The Spice King (Elizabeth Camden)
43. A Most Peculiar Circumstance (Jen Turano)
44. Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
45. Yours Truly, Thomas (Rachel Fordham)
46. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
47. Ben Hur (Lew Wallace)
48. A Desperate Hope (Elizabeth Camden)
49. The Piper's Pursuit (Melanie Dickerson)
50. Elephants Can Remember (Agatha Christie)
51. The Mystery of the Blue Train (Agatha Christie)
52. The Blessed Life (Robert Morris)
53. Astra (Grace Livingston Hill)

Add to the two giant moves in 3 years that I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Half-way through this year, we moved a 3rd time. So, I'm proud of reading as many books as I did!

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!