My top favorite books of 2023

 

This post may be a bit premature, as I will most likely read a few more books before the end of the year. However, I decided to post it now since I met my reading goal for the year. 

I used to pick my 10 top favorite books of the year, then started listing my top 20 when it became too difficult to pick 10. Then the last few years I read so many that I didn't even attempt to pick a top 20.

This year I set a goal of 600 books, and hit it yesterday, December 21, with Nightfall, Benson First Responders Series #6 by Lisa Phillips. 

Someone in a Christian fiction group asked me what my favorites were. It is pretty difficult to pick 20 out of 600. I went through the list and did manage to pick 20, and did something I didn't do other years: Instead of listing more than one book in a series in my top 20 favorites, I also did a list of favorite series. I tried to do a top10 series, but ended up with 13. Counting series that I read at least 3 books in a series, I read 71 series this past year. My top favorites are listed after my top favorite books.

I did make two exceptions: One of my favorite series that made the list is The Detectives of Hazel Hill by Liz Bradford. The second book in that series, Pursued, was so good that it made my top 20 books also. The other book, Imperfect Justice is part of the Holly Books by C. C. Warrens, and is technically a different series from the Holly Series, but they all go together and need to be read in order, not as separate series.

A couple other statistics: I read books by 74 new to me authors this year.

The most books I read by the same author was 39 books by a new to me author, Rebecca Deel. A few of her books lean Christian, but most are just squeaky clean profanity-free books. (Something some Christian authors can't seem to do.)

The author who comes in second is Lisa Phillips. I read 27 books by her. And it was her newest book, Nightfall that was #600.

And third is a new author to me for 2023: Cynthia Hickey. I read 25 books by her. Most of her books aren't what you would call Christian fiction, but they are clean/profanity-free with a Christian world view.

So here are my top 20 favorite books for 2023, in no particular order of favorites:

1) Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

2) The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse

3) Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

4) The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

5) The Shifting Current by Dani Pettrey

6) Unseen Danger Jerusha Agen

7) A Father for Her Boys by Danielle Graninetti

8) River Queen by Stephenia H McGee

9) Christmas In the Crosshairs by Lynette Eason, Kate Angelo, Kelly Underwood, Sami A. Abrams

10) On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

11) Imperfect Justice by C.C. Warrens

12) The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jamie Jo Wright

13) Better Watch Out Natalie Walters

14) Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra Bricker

15) For the Sake of Her Sons by Allie Pleiter

16) 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse 

17) Running to You by Robin Patchen

18) The Adventuress by Lori Bates Wright

19) The Heart's Choice by Kimberley Woodhouse and Tracie Peterson

20) Pursued by Liz Bradford

And my top 13 Series, in no particular order (out of 71 series):

1) The Minnesota Marshalls by Susan May Warren

2) The Benson First Responders by Lisa Phillips

3) Brand of Justice by Lisa Phillips

4) Georgia Rae Winston Series by Marissa Schrock

5) Barks and Beans Series by Heather Gilbert Day

6) Finnegan First Responders Series by Laura Scott

7) The Holly Series by C.C. Warrens

8) The Detectives of Hazel Hill by Liz Bradford

9) Hope Landing by Edie James

10 Men of the Texas Rangers by Margaret Daley

11) Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age by Crystal Caudill

12) The Saberton Legacy by Lori Bates Wright

13) The Mountain Protectors by Mindy Steele

Nightfall, Benson First Responders #6 by Lisa Phillips

 

Book description:

BIG CITY CRIME. SMALL TOWN HEROESA woman determined to save lives.Violet Anderson fights for survival every day, as an EMT and volunteering at a center for teens. But nothing will erase the fallout of hitting rock bottom. Determined to keep going, Lettie has to juggle her callings and pray nothing falls out of her grasp. When her personal and professional lives crash into each other, she lands in the middle of a police investigation. Her carefully constructed boundaries are about to fall. But facing the path God puts in front of her head on means she could gain everything she’s ever wanted.A cop looking for a place to call home.Detective Blake Reed might be new to Intelligence, but he’s spent years training for this. All his skills will be put to the test when he’s given an assignment to sniff out drug deals at the Benson Teen Center. When he realizes who Lettie really is, the flimsy foundation of his career is shaken. Will the past come back to bite him and destroy the good he’s been able to do?With a dangerous bomber on the loose, Violet and Blake have to figure out how to keep it all from burning down. This time the entire first responder community is on the line.

My review:

Lisa Phillips has become one of my favorite authors, and this series may be my favorite of hers. I have been looking forward to reading this one, and it did not disappoint. In fact, I think it is the best of the six book series.

Both Violet and Blake were extremely likable characters, but especially Blake. To still have a relationship with his dad after what his dad had done, to raise his sisters after his mom died...he made an excellent hero.

I was telling a coworker about this book and some of the things that happened in it, and she said "man, it sounds like an action movie." And yes, it kind of does. A lot happens in the book, and the series goes out with a bang. Pun intended.

About the author:

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 60 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

Check out her website: AuthorLisaPhillips.com

And check out the rest of the Benson First Responders Series:

When Love Comes, Wyoming Sunrise #3 by Penny Zeller

 

Book description:

Can love be found amidst broken hearts and unexpected loss?

Determined to heal her broken heart, Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. What should be a time of peace and calm becomes one of chaos and unwelcome surprises when she discovers her longtime foe, Tobias Hallman, is the new blacksmith. To make matters worse, her two meddlesome aunts are constantly inviting him to supper and encouraging friendship between the two sworn enemies.

Tobias Hallman has always wanted to be a blacksmith, so when an opportunity arises to own his own shop in Prune Creek, he seizes it. However, he doesn’t expect to cross paths with his childhood nemesis, the annoying Charlotte Eliason.

When tragedy strikes, close proximity soon forces two reluctant hearts to become allies in a quest to rescue Tobias’s orphaned niece. Can Charlotte and Tobias put aside their preconceived disdain for each other and find love in the midst of challenging circumstances? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl grieving the untimely loss of her parents?

A woman with a broken heart. A man struggling with the loss of his brother and the subsequent care of his young niece. And two silly aunts who discover it's never too late for true love.

My review:
  I just discovered this author last year, and have enjoyed everything I have read by her, contemporary and historical.

  And this one is one of her best yet. It is the third in a series, so some of the characters have already been in the other books. Tobias was a new character - I think. I don't remember him being in the other books.

 This was an entertaining read. Yes, the faith element was all through the book, especially as Tobias dealt with loss. 

 But there was a lot of humor. Tobias and Charlotte has been enemies since school, and they start up where they left off with picking at each other. Then there are the aunts. They fight and squabble, and one of them is a horrible cook, and there are some funny times regarding her cooking and baking attempts.

 There is a great cast of likable character in this book, and Lanie added a lot to the story.

 This is a romance, so of course the fighting between Tobias and Charlotte changes to something else. But getting there made for a great read. I definitely recommend this one.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks. To sign up for her monthly newsletter with book news and other fun morsels, go to https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/262119/74964679867237940/share

Check out the other books in the series:

                                                                       Prequel

Book #1

Book #2

Coming March 2024: #4

 

For the Sake of Her Sons, True North Springs #3 by Allie Pleiter

Book description:

 Fear has been holding them back

But love can open any door…

Healing from a tragedy has been challenging for Willa Scottson. And not even Camp True North Springs seems to ease the pain. But photographer and swim instructor Bruce Lawrence is determined to help the grieving widow and her twin boys, for their sake—and for his. Carrying his own sorrow and guilt, this is his chance to make amends, if Willa will let him once the truth comes out…

My review:
  This book is from the Love Inspired line of books put out by Harlequin. I really enjoyed this one, and it seemed it had less romance than most of their books. This book focused more on the healing process of the boys and their mother.

 Two years prior, Willa's husband drowned in front of her. Bruce has guilt from the accident and blames himself, even though Willa and her sons never met him.

 I loved the characters, and the author did a great job of showing the struggles of two six year old boys and their mother in conquering their deep fear of water. There's a scene involving a challenge coin and one of the twins that made my eyes water.

 There IS romance, but it isn't as prevalent as some of these books, and the book had a great ending. I have read a lot of these books, and I feel this is one of the best ones I have read in regards to "non fluff" content, not that many of these books are that.

Special thanks to the author for an advance  e-book copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author

Bestselling international author Allie Pleiter honed her talents in the world of popular fiction, where she still releases multiple books a year. Allie has over 50 published titles to her name, and over 1.5 million Allie Pleiter fiction and non-fiction books have been sold around the world.

Her well-known Chunky Method system trains writers at every level to formulate plans and meet deadlines in a way tailored to their unique working style. Allie runs an active coaching practice helping writers and all kinds of creative people be more productive, as well as training productive people to be more creative. Already a national speaker among writing associations, Allie now extends her reach to entrepreneurs, speakers, consultants, and anyone who needs to bolster their productivity and creativity in a demanding marketplace.

Allie is an avid knitter, confirmed coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better.” She holds a BS in Speech from Northwestern University and lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and the world’s most adorable dog.

Check out the other two books in the series:

Series spotlight: The Freddie and Grace Mystery Series by Pepper Basham

   I discovered this author a year ago, and the first book I read by her was a year ago yesterday: The Mistletoe Countess. I had heard a lot about the book, and totally loved it, the characters, and the author's writing style. 

  The book came out in September 2021. I am thinking the author didn't intend it to be a series. The second book, The Cairo Curse, didn't come out until February 2023, and the third book, The Juliet Code came out at the beginning of this month.

  The series starts out in 1913. There is an arranged marriage between Lord Frederick Astley and the oldest Ferguson daughter. The younger sister, Grace ends up having to step in and marry Frederick at the last minute.

  These books are really good. Frederick is a little older than Grace - about 10 years according to the author - and they are totally opposites. He is serious and a bit stodgy, and she is the opposite. Everything is an adventure, and she almost looks for trouble, and mysteries to solve, and he goes along for the ride.

 Here is an excerpt from the newest book that had me laughing out loud:

"His attention came to her, expression softening in that endearing look he always bestowed on her.

Well, when he wasn't staring at her as if she'd grown feather from her head.

Or as if he was going to lose her forever.

Or as if he was bracing himself for some horrible revelation.

And then there was merely the confused look.

Hmm. What an odd assortment of expressions.

"Yes?"

"I was speaking with Jack yesterday about something in his book." She squeezed her hands together on her lap, and suddenly her husband's endearing look took a confused turn. Now, what on earth could have caused such a change?

"There's a chapter on self-defense that references cane fighting." His expression dipped into the "horrible revelation" category. She'd better just rush on ahead to put him at ease. "And I thought that a parasol could be nearly as effective as a cane and wondered if you minded if I asked Jack to teach me how to cane fight." His expression moved through various other looks, starting with the feathers growing from her head and ending with him pinching the bridge of his nose and releasing a long sigh. Ah, she'd forgotten about that one. She called it the "God, help me" look."

 These books are mystery/suspense, and are awesome books that are extremely well written, and have launched the author into my favorites. The back and forth between the two main characters is very entertaining, as is Freddie's reactions to his wife's outlandish antics and words. 

 I am hoping there is at least one more book. 

About the author

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her twentieth book, The Cairo Curse, came out in February. Next up is Positively, Penelope, the sequel to her bestselling novel, Authentically, Izzy. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram. 

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com