KIM'S TOP TEN or so... Kim's Favorite Reads of 2021

What I noticed this year while making my top reads for 2021 list is that there are several authors that make an appearance in my top reads every year, which is a testament of their consistency and talent and why they are my favorite authors.

My top read of 2021 - Operation ZULU Redemption by Ronie Kendig - this story is epic and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. There is a character in this story that I seriously need to read more of! He is unforgettable and did I mention he may be more of an antihero than a hero?! This story is another example of why Ronie Kendig is my favorite author.

 

Next up are three stories by Rachel Scott McDaniel, yes, three! I thought about narrowing it down to my favorite of the three, but I couldn’t choose, so all of them made my top reads of the year list. They are all just that good! Undercurrent of Secrets, The Red Canary, and The Mobster’s Daughter should all be on your TBR list! 

Undercurrent of Secrets is a time slip novel that has great banter, a mystery that builds at a perfect pace, story lines that merge perfectly, and the writing is top notch! 

The Red Canary is a story with a wonderful romance that will make you sigh when you read the last page, 

and The Mobster’s Daughter is well, basically it’s perfection!

 

Tamara Leigh has also made my list with two novels this year. The Awakening and The Vexing.

 

Tamara writes the absolute best medievals and even if you’re not a fan of that time period, you will be when Tamara writes them! And her hero’s are the definition of swoon worthy!

 

Never Too Late by Susan Tuttle has perfect banter and an unforgettable hero! This story will tug at your heart strings for sure!

 

The Secret Place by Camille Eide has one of my favorite female characters ever, and that is saying something because I am super picky about heroines! Her witty inner dialogue was written perfectly and kept the story from being too heavy. And our hero was the perfect romantic lead!

Nicole Deese has become an auto buy author with All that Really Matters. Molly has such character growth in this story and Silas is another swoon worthy hero and just perfect for Molly! And the topic of this story is one that definitely needs more attention!

Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball is another one for the keeper shelf. I seriously loved everything about it. This story is much more than a romance. It’s a story of forgiveness, redemption, and hope and you will not want to put it down.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox is deeply layered with wonderful characters, secrets, unexpected surprises and valuable lessons. I became completely invested in these characters lives.

Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette is beautifully written and the redemption of Lukio was so well done! I loved this story and I wish this series would keep going! There are so many secondary characters that need their own stories.

 

Finally, two debuts made my list this year! After She Falls by Carmen Schober and Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen.

 

After She Falls sucked me in from the beginning and I became so invested in these characters that I needed to find out how their stories would turn out. I highly recommend the audiobook.

 

Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen is a stunning debut! It’s a time slip and I loved both stories. The banter and the development of the relationship in the contemporary story is so good and the love story in the historical story is just beautiful!

 

I am so thankful to these authors that put their time and their hearts into these stories. What a beautiful gift for them to share! 

 

*See Nicole's list and enter her giveaway of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery!