"beyond all dreams" by elizabeth camden

Sweet romance, intriguing mystery, and US history intersect in Elizabeth Camden's fascinating new novel Beyond All Dreams.

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Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglements with members of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?

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Beyond All Dreams is a fascinating story full of romance, intrigue, and a gorgeous library! The fact that the heroine is a librarian ... a map librarian ... was just icing on the cake! (I simply adore maps, and I used to dream of being a librarian, so her job is basically the greatest thing ever.)

The characters in Beyond All Dreams are particularly strong. Anna is quiet and shy, yet she possesses surprising tenacity. Luke, handsome and charming yet still very flawed, makes a great love interest for Anna. And the supporting characters, from Anna's friend Neville to Luke's troubled family to the enigmatic Speaker of the House, are fleshed out and realistic.

The romance is sweet, the plot (partially based on actual events) is intriguing, and the setting (Washington, D.C. in the late 1890s) is fascinating. I especially loved the look at the inner workings of Congress and the mention of real political figures like William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt. Overall, I found Beyond All Dreams to be completely captivating. Those interested in American history (or simply a good romance) will love it! 5 stars.

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Read my review of Camden's Against the Tide (4-1/2 stars).

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Elizabeth Camden is the author of six books and a RITA and Christy Award winner. With a master's in history and a master's in library science, she is a research librarian by day and scribbles away on her next novel by night. Elizabeth lives with her husband in Florida.

Find Elizabeth online: website, Facebook

Travel back in time to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress in Elizabeth Camden's newest release, Beyond All Dreams. From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?

Elizabeth is celebrating the release of Beyond All Dreams with a Kindle giveaway and Facebook party on February 17.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy of Beyond All Dreams

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/17. Winner will be announced at Elizabeth's 2/17 Beyond All Dreams Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Elizabeth and historical fiction fans, as well as for the opportunity to win some great prizes!
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"always on my mind" by susan may warren

Warren's excellent Christiansen Family series continues with Always on my Mind.

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After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.

Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

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Not since Karen Kingsbury's Baxter saga have I been so engrossed in a book series. (We all know how that turned out, but I don't think this series will have the same fate.) In the Christiansen family, author Susan May Warren has created characters who are realistically flawed yet wholly likeable. (With the exception of youngest son Owen who, at this point, isn't very likeable at all. I have no doubt he's redeemable, though!)

Casper Christiansen and Raina Beaumont's story, which began in When I Fall in Love, takes center stage in Always on my Mind. Casper and Raina are both lost souls, though in different ways, and in each other they find someone who causes them to become better versions of themselves. Isn't that what we all want in a partner—someone who loves us as we are, yet pushes us to be better?

Though I loved the preceding novels in the series, I soon realized that Always on my Mind had the potential to be supremely annoying. (Don't worry: it wasn't!) Raina made decision after decision that I didn't agree with, and I tend to have a low tolerance for heroines (or heroes) who make "stupid" decisions. Here, though, Raina's decisions—while not what I would choose—were understandable. Warren did such an excellent job of fleshing out Raina's past, both here and in When I Fall in Love, that while I wanted her to be with Casper and tell the truth about certain events, I understood why she was so hesitant.

I went into Always on my Mind with one idea of what would happen, and the book's actual events turned out to be completely different, yet wholly satisfying. Of course Susan May Warren had a better idea of what should happen to her characters than I did! Also, there's a delicious set up to the next novel, The Wonder of You, which will finally let us know what on earth happened to Amelia Christiansen in Europe. I can't wait! 5 stars.

Note: The Christiansen Family series is one you'll want to read in order. Each book leads into the next, and you could be pretty lost if you don't go in order. You probably could get away with skipping Evergreen, which is a novella that falls between When I Fall in Love and Always on my Mind, but why would you want to?

Read the first chapter.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of When I Fall in Love (5 stars) and Evergreen (5 stars).

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Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors.

Find Susan online: website, My Book Therapy, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the greatest is love" by kitra kaspar

Readers who enjoy inspirational romances set in small towns that are full of quirky characters should check out Kitra Kaspar's The Greatest is Love.

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What happens when city doctor Joey Winters meets country lawyer Brad Freeman? Nothing, because Joey is determined to stay unattached. Rural Freeman, Oklahoma is not in her life plan, which means falling for a handsome small-town lawyer is out of the question. Too bad she forgot to tell her heart. However, when Joey’s painful past haunts her, she realizes she will never have a meaningful relationship with any man unless she battles her demons. She knows she needs help but believes God abandoned her long ago. Add in a gorgeous banker named Evan, and the doctor’s life seems to spin out of control. Can Joey trust in God? Does He even care about her?

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The Greatest is Love is an enjoyable, quick read, filled with characters that are, for the most part, quite realistic. (More on that later.) I really enjoyed watching Joey's transition to small-town life and her transformation as she opened her heart to Christ. I found myself completely captivated with the story as I read.

Probably because I was so captivated, Joey annoyed me far more than she would have in a novel in which I didn't feel so invested. See, Joey had two men interested in her: Brad and his cousin Evan. It was glaringly obvious, almost from Joey's first interaction with each man, which man was right for her. Her persistence in dating the "wrong" man—and her rationale for it—made me want to throttle her. Joey did have some issues from her past that informed her present decisions, but for a smart doctor, she certainly seemed dense at times! I do have to say, though, Joey did finally redeem herself, so if she drives you crazy while you're reading, just keep going!

The Greatest is Love is deeper and deals with the ugly side of life more than much of what's in the inspirational market today. I would definitely categorize it as edgy Christian fiction—it's not something you'd want your 12-year-old to read, but it's great for older teens and adults who want more than just a simple love story. 4 stars.

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Buy the book.

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A retired teacher/counselor, Kitra now enjoys retirement and the opportunity to do what she’s always dreamed of doing—write. Kitra and her husband of thirty-two years live on a farm in northwest Oklahoma. They raise cattle, chickens, quail and occasionally, a litter of kittens. Kitra has three grown children and two grandchildren. She is active in her church and several organizations.

An avid reader all her life, Kitra became hooked on romances early on. She knew she would write nothing else. Her first successes came in the way of confession stories. One titled “Face to Face with a Rattlesnake” won the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Crème de la Crème contest in 2005-the first time for a confession story. However, as her relationship with God grew, Kitra realized she couldn’t write graphic sex, language or violence.

As Kitra read and explored inspirational romances, she felt disappointed—not because of their squeaky clean content, but because they seemed to deal with such superficial conflicts. Kitra decided she had to tackle the tough issues, like sexual abuse, alcoholism, marital infidelity and sexual promiscuity. The Greatest Is Love is Kitra’s first inspirational novel. It introduces the reader to the small Oklahoma town of Freeman. Somewhere between Mayberry and Peyton Place, Freeman has good and not-so-good people struggling with modern-day issues. Her message is one of hope that God can overcome any hurt the world can inflict, and nobody is so deep in sin that he or she can’t find redemption.

An avid observer of people, Kitra likes to use characteristics of her friends and family in her books. However, even a casual passerby with an obvious quirk is not safe from her observant eye. Book two of the Men of Freeman series is titled Lost Sheep and deals with the destructive nature of guilt and the uplifting results of forgiveness.

Connect with Kitra at Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"hidden agenda" by lisa harris

An intriguing novel that moves at breakneck speed, Hidden Agenda is sure to delight fans of suspense.

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His cover is blown. Now his enemies are on his heels and closing in.

Michael Hunt is alive--and on the run. Presumed dead by friends and family, the undercover assignment he's been working for the past eight months has just been blown. With a hit out on his life and corruption inside the Atlanta police department, Michael finds himself hunted by both the cartel and the law. His only hope is Olivia Hamilton--the daughter of the man who wants him dead.

This nonstop chase from Christy Award-winning Lisa Harris will leave you breathless.

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I picked up Hidden Agenda on a Sunday afternoon, and after reading for just a few hours, I turned the final page. The novel begins with a bang (literally), and the intense pace continues to the end, making this 300-page novel a very quick read.

The story itself, about an undercover cop and the grown children of a prominent official in a drug cartel, is incredibly entertaining, if a bit confusing at times due to the number of characters (mainly bad guys) who are mentioned but not necessarily seen. I had a hard time keeping track of which bad guy was which—but at least I knew who was bad and who was good!

There is a romance subplot, but it's pretty understated. Basically, there's not enough romance to annoy readers who prefer straight suspense, but there's enough to placate readers who (like me!) vastly prefer their fiction to have at least a bit of romance. 4 stars.

Note: This is the third book in Harris' Southern Crimes series, but it works as a stand-alone novel.

Buy the book.

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Lisa Harris is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 from Romantic Times. She has sold over thirty novels and novella collections. Along with her husband, she and her three children have spent over ten years living as missionaries in Africa where she homeschools, leads a women's group, and runs a nonprofit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project works in southern Africa promoting Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way for her to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice" (Proverbs 31:8).

When she's not working, she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa, visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com or her blog at http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com. For more information about The ECHO Project, please visit www.theECHOproject.org.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"crossing the ice" by jennifer comeaux

Crossing the Ice (Ice #1)
by Jennifer Comeaux
Release Date: 08/03/14
Narrated by: Emily Stokes
Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

As someone who used to be completely obsessed with figure skating (just ask any of my family members!), I couldn't pass up the chance to review Crossing the Ice, which takes place in the amateur skating world.

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Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?
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Overall, I enjoyed Crossing the Ice. At its core, it's a star-crossed lovers kind of plot, but it's made more interesting (at least to the 15-year-old figure skating fanatic that's buried inside of me) by being set in the figure skating world. I especially enjoyed the look at the inner workings of a pairs team. The novel was predictable in an unpredictable and satisfying way. (Does that make sense? Basically, I went into the novel fairly certain about how it would turn out, and it did ultimately end in the way I'd anticipated, but some of the events along the way completely surprised me in the best way.)

Rather than reading the novel, I listened to it on audiobook, and that definitely changed the way I consumed it. It certainly takes much longer to listen to an audiobook than it does to read the book (for me, anyway). At one point, I had five hours of listening left, and I kept thinking, "I could read the rest of this book in two hours. Tops."

The audiobook also had a few problems—repeated phrases, long pauses, etc. Obviously, this is not the author's problem, but I think you should be aware in case you decide to purchase the audiobook. 3-1/2 stars for the novel; 2-1/2 stars for the audiobook version.

Content note: Some mild curse words are sprinkled throughout the novel. While the novel does not contain any sex, the main character thinks about it a lot. There is quite a bit of passionate kissing which, had I read it on the page, probably wouldn't have phased me. But hearing the main character talk about it (the novel is written in first person) just felt a little ... icky and voyeuristic.

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Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers! Visit jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com for contact information and to learn more about her books.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

Book Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audiobook free for review via YA Bound Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"healer of carthage" by lynne gentry

When I heard The Carthage Chronicles described as a cleaner Outlander, I knew I wanted to read the series. I mean, I'm kind of crazy about time-related plot devices, so a series about a modern woman who ends up in the 3rd century sounded like something I'd love!

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A twenty-first-century doctor. A third-century plague. A love out of time.

First-year resident Dr. Lisbeth Hastings is too busy to take her father’s bizarre summons seriously. But when a tragic mistake puts her career in jeopardy, answering her father’s call seems her only hope of redeeming the devastating failure that her life has become. 

While exploring the haunting cave at her father’s archaeological dig, Lisbeth falls through a hidden hole, awakening to find herself the object of a slave auction and the ruins of Roman Carthage inexplicably restored to a thriving metropolis. Is it possible that she’s traveled back in time, and, if so, how can she find her way back home? 

Cyprian Thascius believes God called him to rescue the mysterious woman from the slave trader’s cell. What he doesn’t understand is why saving the church of his newfound faith requires him to love a woman whose peculiar ways could get him killed. But who is he to question God? 

As their different worlds collide, it sparks an intense attraction that unites Lisbeth and Cyprian in a battle against a deadly epidemic. Even as they confront persecution, uncover buried secrets, and ignite the beginnings of a medical revolution, Roman wrath threatens to separate them forever. Can they find their way to each other through all these obstacles? Or are the eighteen hundred years between them too far of a leap?

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Healer of Carthage would be a fascinating story if it was solely about Christians in Roman Carthage. When you throw in the added element of a 21st century woman sent back in time, the result is simply spectacular!

I've enjoyed many time travel romances in the past (especially Tamara Leigh's fantastic Dreamspell), but Healer of Carthage is different. The romance is certainly there, but the main focus is on a small band of Christians and their quest to survive—well, that and Lisbeth's quest to return home! Gentry brought the time period to life for me in a way that not even movies like Gladiator have. (Of course, that could be due to the fact that I spent much of Gladiator with my hands over my eyes!) There is one scene with Christians in the arena that so vividly described the horror—without being too graphic—that I almost wanted to skip over the pages. We in America really have no idea what it means to be persecuted for Christ, that's for sure!

While I completely loved this novel, parts did seem to drag a bit—particularly the time before Lisbeth and Cyprian got to know each other. Overall, though, I couldn't fly through the pages quickly enough!

The book ends with quite a cliffhanger (which, I'll admit, I anticipated), so I'm very eager to get my hands on the next book! Fortunately, it's already waiting on my bookshelf. 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.

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Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright. Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer. She loves spending time with her family and working with her medical therapy dog.

Find Lynne online: website,Facebook, Twitter

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it because I wanted to. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"hope reborn" by caryl mcadoo

The older I get, the more I want to read about older heroines. We're not talking old old here, but a 21-year-old falling in love isn't really my thing anymore (with some notable exceptions). So when I learned that Hope Reborn was about a 40-something woman who had never before been married, well, I knew I wanted to read it!

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Historical Christian 'Western Adventure' Romance Novel Hope Reborn is Book 3 in Caryl McAdoo's Texas Romance series scheduled to debut Jaunary 9th, 2015.

Set in 1850, it tells the story of May Meriwether, a successful New York dime novelist thinking life is slipping away unfulfilled. She's bored with the same old heroes and heroines and stories and Uptown social circles. Then she spots an interesting article in the Tribune. Texas Ranger Levi Baylor and his Captain Wallace Rusk have captured the Comanche War Chief Bold Eagle. 

The wheels start turning. Throwing caution to the wind, she charges her companion Chester to arrange passage to Texas for the both of them. The Rangers will be wonderful hero models for some fresh stories wrought with adventure and intrigue. May couldn't know the troubles she'd find in Texas and what she could lose there in the new wild west state.

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Hope Reborn tells the story of May, a romance novelist, and Henry, a widower with quite the brood of children. The plot itself is simple and sweet: May is an independent woman who longs to be loved, and she finds that love with Henry. What complicates the situation is May's atheism, as Henry knows he can't marry a woman who isn't a Christian.

I enjoyed the slow unpacking of May's story and especially her connection to Chester, her companion. Actually, Chester was probably my favorite character in the novel—he wasn't afraid to "tell it like it was" to May, and he clearly loved her in a non-romantic way. Also, Henry's children (particularly the young ones) were completely adorable.

As for May and Henry, I struggled to get behind their romance. Perhaps I'm just a cynic, but "love at first sight" plots can be hard for me to swallow. Like or lust at first sight? Sure. But love? Not so much. Yet May and Henry were clearly in love just a couple of days after meeting, after spending only a small amount of time together. I also didn't particularly like May, and that made it hard to cheer for her happiness.

Also, though the book is written well, it never held my attention. I just couldn't muster up much interest in the story, and I struggled to get through the pages. I also had a hard time telling all the characters apart—there's a very large cast of characters—but I think that, had I read the previous two books in the series first, I would have been able to keep everyone straight.

When I was about 90% finished with the novel, something did grab my attention: the emerging story line involving Henry's daughter Mary Rachel. I do think that the novel featuring her story, which releases in May, could be fascinating.

Sometimes, a reviewer will have a completely different reaction to a book than virtually everyone else. This doesn't happen to me too often, but in this case, it has. I've seen the Amazon reviews for Hope Reborn, and I realize that my opinions are in the minority. While McAdoo's romance wasn't the book for me, I suspect many historical romance lovers will greatly enjoy it. 2-1/2 stars.

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Buy the book.

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In April 2012, Caryl met Mary Sue Seymour at NETWO’s Spring Conference and wrote her first historical Christian romance set in the 1800s especially for the agent. (Whose maiden name was remarkably ‘McAdoo’!) Mary Sue offered representation in August, and VOW UNBROKEN sold in October to Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It debuted on March 4, 2014.

Six months later, book two in the Texas Romance series debuted, HEARTS STOLEN set in 1839-1844. Then two months later a new Biblical fiction series The Generations was born with volume one A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Sheriah, and Abel in Paradise with a kindly old cherub named Namrel!

Caryl, also known as Grami, has fourteen grandsugars (one more than she has books now) and enjoys painting and gardening. A proclaimed psalmist, she’s dedicated to serving God, loving praise and worship and that He frequently gives her new songs. Caryl believes all good things are from Him and prays her new books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to her readers.

To learn more about Caryl and her writing, visit her website: http://carylmcadoo.com/.  Subscribe to The Caryler while you're there and receive a FREE e-book every quarter!

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads and Google+.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

best books of 2014: top 10

According to my Pinterest board, I reviewed 88 books in 2014. I'm not sure I remembered to pin all of my reviews, and I did read a few books that I didn't review, so I'm guessing that I read between 90 and 100 books during 2014. That's insane! I enjoyed—even loved—the vast majority of books that I read this year. It really seems like the inspirational market was on fire in 2014—there were just so many great books published, and I still have a bunch of titles on my TBR list. Here's hoping 2015 is just as good!

I had a really difficult time narrowing my list of best books down to ten, but after much debate, I did it ... though I will list some honorable mentions at the end. (Note that these are books that I read in 2014; they may have been published earlier.)

10. An October Bride by Katie Ganshert (my review)

I read each of Zondervan's Year of Weddings novellas, and An October Bride was my favorite. I absolutely love fake dating/engagement stories (almost as much as I love marriage of convenience stories), and Ganshert's novella nears perfection. Plus, it can be read in about an hour, making for a really enjoyable evening.

9. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck (my review)

I'm absolutely loving Hauck's Royal Weddings series, and Princess Ever After was a pure delight. If you like fairy tales with a side of reality, then this is the book for you! (Also note that you don't need to have previously read Once Upon a Prince in order to enjoy Princess Ever After.)

8. All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant (my review)

If you enjoy cooking competition shows like I do (my most recent fave was Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship), you'll love Betsy St. Amant's romance/behind-the-scenes look at a Food Network-ish show. Plus, the cover is to die for!

7. Luminary by Krista McGee (my review)

This may seem like an odd choice, since I also read the wonderful conclusion to McGee's Anomaly series in 2014. I gave both books 5 stars, but I enjoyed Luminary just a bit more. I think it was because it focused on Thalli's introduction to the world outside of the State, and Revolutionary (the final book) takes place almost entirely in the State. Both books are fantastic (as is Anomaly, which was #9 on my best of 2013 list); I just liked Luminary a bit more.

6. Silenced by Dani Pettrey (my review)

Finally in 2014, Pettrey gave us the story we'd been waiting years for—Jake and Kayden's story! (At least I'd been waiting years for it!) Silenced is the fourth book in Pettrey's fantastic Alaskan Courage series. Not only is the romance wonderful (and long overdue!), but the suspense in Silenced felt so much more, well, suspenseful than in the previous novels. Read this book ... but read the others in the series first (Submerged, Shattered, Stranded)!

5. A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga (my review)

Of all the books on the list, A Promise in Pieces surprised me the most. When it arrived in my mailbox, I thought, Why on earth did I request this book? Then I started reading. Not only is the story completely captivating, but this book is also responsible for the top "ugly cry" of the year. I was practically sobbing! A Promise in Pieces is so much more than a romance—it's a beautifully written, life-affirming masterpiece. (And I still say that Hallmark should make it into a movie!)

4. In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin (my review)

Is it any surprise a Sarah Sundin book landed on my list? Each year that I've compiled a list (2011, 2012, 2013), a Sundin book has made the cut. 2014 couldn't be the odd man out! In Perfect Time is the perfect (ha, ha) conclusion to Sundin's Wings of the Nightingale series, and I think it's probably my favorite of the three books in the series. Now I'm eagerly awaiting Sundin's next release!

3. Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter (my review)

Dancing with Fireflies is the second book in Hunter's Chapel Springs series to make one of my "Best of" lists—Barefoot Summer was #10 on my 2013 list. Where Barefoot Summer was wonderful, Dancing with Fireflies was simply phenomenal. In fact, for much of the year I thought it would end up in the top spot. It did get edged out (barely), but it's still one of the best books I've read in a long time.

2. When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren (my review)

The love that I feel for Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series knows no bounds. In fact, this is one series that I think I could happily reread (and I very rarely reread books). While I completely adored Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You (though I never reviewed them ...), I fell head over heels for When I Fall in Love. Grace Christiansen is my favorite book heroine of 2014, probably because I see bits of myself in her. Because of the way Warren is writing this series, with one book flowing into the next, you really need to begin with Take a Chance on Me and just dive into the series. Trust me; you want to read these books!

1. Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade (my review)

In 2012, I read Wade's My Stubborn Heart and immediately knew I'd found another writer to watch. (That book ended up in the #1 spot on my Best of 2012 list.) While I enjoyed her follow-up novel, Undeniably Yours, I didn't have the same connection with that book that I'd had with My Stubborn Heart. (Don't get me wrong—I liked it. A lot. But it just wasn't quite as good as My Stubborn Heart.) So I went into Meant to Be Mine a bit cautiously, wondering if Wade could capture the magic of My Stubborn Heart again. And she did! I read Meant to Be Mine in one evening (and early morning)—I simply couldn't put it down! Not only was the romance sizzling hot (without crossing the line), but the characters were some of the most realistic that you'll find in the inspirational market. Celia and Ty were certainly not perfect ... and that made them even more likable. Even now, I'm itching to read the book again. It's so, so good!

Honorable Mention (because I couldn't stop at 10):
A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher (my review)
Take A Chance on Me, It Had to be You, and Evergreen (my review) by Susan May Warren
A May Bride by Meg Moseley (my review)
Friend Me by John Fabion (my review)
Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin (my review)

There are my favorites ... what did you love reading in 2014?

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"somebody like you" by beth k vogt

What a book to begin 2015 with! Somebody Like You has been on my radar for a while (see this Top Ten Tuesday post from August), but it wasn't until the book began showing up on blogger after blogger's Best Books of 2014 list that I decided I needed to read it now. What a book! It just may end up on my best of 2015 list this time next year :-)

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In this beautifully rendered, affecting novel, a young widow’s world is shattered when she meets her late husband’s identical twin—and finds herself caught between honoring her husband’s memory and falling in love with his reflection.

Haley’s whirlwind romance and almost three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he is killed in Afghanistan. As she grapples with widowhood and the upcoming birth of her son, her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her that Sam had been killed?

After a twelve-year estrangement, Stephen hopes to make things right with his brother—only to discover Sam died without revealing Stephen’s existence to Haley. As Haley and Stephen struggle to navigate their fragile relationship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. Haley is unnerved by Stephen’s uncanny resemblance to Sam, and Stephen struggles with the issue of Haley loving him as Stephen—and not as some reflection of his twin. How can Haley and Stephen honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart?

Somebody Like You reminds us that while we can’t change the past, we have the choice—and the power through God—to change the future and start anew.

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Somebody Like You is one of those rare novels that takes residence in your brain and won't let you stop thinking about it until well after you've finished reading. Though the story could easily veer into soap opera territory with the "identical twin the widow didn't know about" story line, it doesn't. (Vogt even acknowledges the soapy potential by having Stephen's friend ask him if he thinks he's living in a soap opera.) Instead, it's a very emotional, thought provoking novel.

Stephen and Haley's stutter-steps into a relationship struck me as very realistic given their circumstances, and the conflicting advice they got from friends and family just added to the realism. Though I was pretty sure I knew how the novel would turn out (and it would have been a terrible romance novel had it not turned out that way), some of the twists and turns along the way surprised and satisfied me.

It's always great to start off the year with a good novel, and Somebody Like You certainly fits the bill. I only wish it hadn't ended! 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Vogt's Wish You Were Here (5 stars), Catch a Falling Star (4-1/2 stars), and A November Bride (4-1/2 stars).

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Beth K. Vogt believes God's best is often behind the doors marked "Never." She's the wife of a former Air Force family physician who said she'd never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She's a mom of four who said she'd never have kids. She's a former nonfiction writer and editor who said she'd never write fiction. Beth's novels include Wish You Were Here, Catch a Falling Star, and Somebody Like You.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it because I wanted to. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."