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!

NICOLE COOK'S Top Ten (or so) Reads of 2021 (with #Giveaway!)

When reflecting on the books I read during 2021, my reasons for choosing my favorites remain the same as in previous years: wonderful characters who remain with me long after the final page, the ability to make me experience deep emotions, and powerful messages of hope and grace that draw me deeper to my faith. My favorite genres are romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and time-slip/dual timeline novels, but I also have a few historical authors on my must-read list throughout the year. Hope you find some new favorite books to add to your TBR list this holiday season!

As a special gift to our Inkwell readers, we will be giving away one brand-new paperback copy of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox, which is one of the books on my Top Ten List.

Nicole’s Top Ten Books of 2021 (In Alphabetical Order by Title)

A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh

 The Curator's Daughter by Melanie Dobson

 The Glass Cottage by Alyssa Schwarz

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

 

Lights Out by Natalie Walters

 

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden

 

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

 Sunrise by Susan May Warren (Releases Jan 4, 2022)

 Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel

 

 Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn

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THE THIEF AND THE NOBLE by Dana LeCheminant, Reviewed by Rebecca and Paula

REBECCA'S REVIEW:

"You have a lot to learn, little thief".

The lovely Lady Marian Russell is determined to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate; not knowing exactly how, she disguises herself and literally falls into the lap of someone who can teach her . . .  how to become a thief? Surely not! With clever intentions, this particularly elusive man steals from the rich in order to give to the poor, choosing his targets wisely, efficiently executing a more-than-mild payback for cruel injustices. When Marian inadvertently uncovers his true identity, they strike up a bargain . . . her silence for his tutelage. Let the heists begin!

There's just one little problem. Someone else has decided to play copycat, and that burglar's intentions are not the least bit noble, and more than a little bit dangerous. How long will Marian and her mentor be able to play the game, especially when the rules change . . . to include attraction, which becomes a most inconvenient distraction.

"Until the world went to sleep, she was trapped as Lady Marian, subjected to fake smiles and ambitious fortune hunters hoping to make a well-bred friend of rank."

"If you're scared, Robin had told her, you have to remember why you are doing it. Who you are doing it for."

Shades of the infamous legend of Robin Hood pervade this story at every turn, making it a most entertaining, highly romantic tale. Even when you figure out the culprit before the characters themselves catch on, the author delightfully lets you tag along, sprinkling high doses of humor and unexpected spikes of suspense through-out this clean, romantic, story.
*I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5stars

PAULA'S REVIEW:

From the mysterious figure on the cover to the beautiful scroll design at each chapter head, this was a delightful Robin Hood story set in Regency England. The change in the time period lent itself to a fresh take and more opportunities for Robin Loxley and Marian Russell to hone their skills at thievery. Their ultimate goal, of course, was to take from the select pompous rich and give to the less fortunate. The villains are deserving of censure and the downtrodden are worthy of help.

Marian wants to help Rob, so he teaches her and her cousin Will. Robin, known as the Elusive Earl, finds her fascinating and is drawn to her. But all their lives are put in danger from a copycat thief who is not as discriminating in who he robs.

This is a clean read with a slight mention of God.

I loved every minute of the layered tale of intrigue with a healthy dose of romance and a lesson in appreciation for family.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communication through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. * 5 stars and a clean read

 

BackCover Blurb:

As the daughter of a marquess, Lady Marian Russell is poised to impress in her first London Season. She is young, beautiful, and wealthy―but catching an eligible husband is the last thing on her mind. Marian is disillusioned with how the upper class lives while the poor of London suffer, and she is determined to right this imbalance. When she comes face-to-face with a mysterious man who steals from arrogant aristocrats and redistributes the spoils to the poor, Marian recognizes a motivation that mirrors her own. She is determined to discover the true identity of the unscrupulous hero and offer her assistance.

When she unmasks the bandit, however, Marian is stunned: he is none other than the elusive Lord Robin Loxley. In exchange for her silence, Robin begrudgingly agrees to train the lovely Marian in the art of thievery, quickly realizing that his heart may be stolen next. But when Robin and Marian discover a copycat thief operating in London, they are faced with a foe whose purpose is far from noble. Amid distracting suitors, becoming champions of the poor, and a growing attraction they can’t ignore, can they expose the renegade pilferer without risking themselves―and each other?

Covenant Communications, February, 2022

Available for preorder at Amazon

SHILOH and THE JOURNEY OF RUNS-FAR by Lori Benton, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

SHILOH
" . . . but we ask for Your protection in this place we've come to settle . . . that Ye'd be the rock this man choose to build his house upon. Give him courage to go where Ye lead and do what Ye tell him to do."

Ian Cameron's life desperately needed a sure foundation. Having been rooted, uprooted, grieved and loved, he was once again following God's voice into places unknown. Intending to make a life for himself and his expanding family in Mountain Laurel, while struggling to come to terms with the absence of those he still loved, unforeseen circumstances provide a tenuous path forward, northward, offering a glimmer of hope that grace can indeed be enough. However, there is one question lingering in the forefront of his mind, what will Seona want?

Seona's life as a freewoman has been an adjustment at best, but she, along with her mother and young son, have considered living under the Cameron family roof in Boston over the past months a blessing, although recently they have broached the topic of striking out on their own. When Ian arrives unannounced with his young daughter in tow, along with plans that have the potential to forever separate or join them together again, will Seona muster up the courage to choose faith over fear? One thing is for certain, neither choice is easy.

A glorious love story tucked neatly into the rarity of a great story! Every . . .  single . . . word has been scripted carefully, strategically and beautifully into just the right place at just the right time. What a privilege to spend time again with most beloved characters, not only from the first book in this series, but also from a previous stand-alone. Carved with precision, the story line not only offers keen insights into God's Word, but illustrates its many applications, for I daresay each of us has at one time or another put too much faith in the created, rather than the Creator, nearly drowning us in fear.

" There will always be fears, Seona, for as long as we live in a fallen world. They stalk us. They roar. Make it hard to hear the Almighty, see His hand at work. But ye've the power to refuse fear a welcome into your heart."

THE JOURNEY OF RUNS-FAR, (a Kindred Novella)
"There is another journey I must make first . . . . We must find your mother."

Supposedly on his deathbed, a beloved elder member of the Cherokee nation is revived by a haunting dream. His wife, who disappeared without a trace (or one that he could find) begs him to try again, even calling him "Runs-Far . . . Turns-Around-And-Goes-Home-Without Trying". Dragging himself off of his mat, Runs-Far convinces his son Blue-Jay to accompany him on a journey without a clear destination. The people that they meet along the way and the place where they arrive in the end, bring all of Kindred's characters together in one grand reunion which could only be surpassed by the gates of glory.

"Every tribe and tongue will sing your praise, Creator-Father,
With the blanket-coat of Creator-Jesus' blood read around our shoulders, Let All Peoples stand and praise you, Amen!"

Sorting out the characters at the beginning of this novella was a bit of a challenge, but just like the journey that the characters are impressed to make, the story is well worth the reading and the ending!
(a pretty amazing little story).

*I purchased both books and was under no obligation to provide positive reviews.

Tyndale Publishing. Shiloh - October 2021

BackCover Blurb:

December 1795
A year has passed since Ian Cameron reluctantly sent his uncle’s former slave Seona and their son, Gabriel, north to his kin in Boston. Determined to fully release them, Ian strives to make a life at Mountain Laurel, his inherited plantation, along with Judith, the wife he’s vowed to love and cherish. But when tragedy leaves him alone with his daughter, Mandy, and his three remaining slaves, he decides to return north. An act of kindness on the journey provides Ian the chance to obtain land near the frontier settlement of Shiloh, New York. Perhaps even the hope for a new life with those he still holds dear.

In Boston, Seona has taken her first tentative steps as a free woman, while trying to banish Ian from her heart. The Cameron family thinks she and Gabriel should remain under their protection. Seona’s mother, Lily, thinks it’s time they strike out on their own. Then Ian arrives, offering a second chance Seona hadn’t dared imagine. But the wide-open frontier of Shiloh feels as boundless and terrifying as her newfound freedom—a place of new friends and new enemies, where deep bonds are renewed but old hurts stand ready to rear their heads. It will take every ounce of faith and courage Ian and Seona can muster to fight for their family and their future . . . together.
Buy Shiloh at Amazon, Christianbook.com, and Baker Book House
 

The Journey Of Runs-Far, November, 2021

BackCover Blurb:
A final journey uncovers the hidden wounds of an old man’s soul, as he clings to hope that the God who redeemed him long ago has saved the greatest miracle for last.

Tennessee Country, 1798
Runs-Far, beloved elder of the Cherokee, lays dying. While family and friends gather to mourn, Runs-Far dreams of Sedi, the wife who bore him two children and was carrying a third when she was captured by white soldiers, and never seen again. For the next forty years, Runs-Far taught his people the ways of Jesus, yet Sedi’s loss distanced him from the God he served. In his dream, his long-vanished wife accuses him of abandoning his search too soon. Even Creator is telling him it is not his day to die—he has unfinished business. But Runs-Far is old. Learning what happened to Sedi will lead him through lands settled by white men. He cannot go alone. Blue-Jay, his son, must go with him.
Blue-Jay fears to lose a father as once he lost a mother—a loss over which he still carries guilt. Dare he believe forgiveness lies in making a journey seemingly born more of folly than faith? If he and his father find what they seek, will they wish they hadn’t? Knowing only that the journey begins at MacKinnon’s Cove, where Runs-Far abandoned his search long ago, the two set out from the mountains of their home with little more than hope to guide them.

The Journey of Runs-Far is book 3 in Lori Benton's popular Kindred series. Buy The Journey of Runs-Far at Amazon