Top 5 Supernatural Thrillers

We’ve grouped our thrillers into two different categories. The first is supernatural thrillers that have a bit of the paranormal tied to them. All are very worthy of your time!

Dark matter

1st Place

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Ever heard of string theory? Like most people, it may only be from a certain comedy TV show, but after reading this mind blowing novel, you’ll be questioning all of your decisions for the rest of your life.

Read the full review.

the-gates-of-hell

2nd Place

The Gates of Hell by Michael Livingston

The second novel of this series is just a good as the first. Set in ancient Rome and Egypt, the exploration of the shards and ark of the covenant keep us wanting more!

Read the full review.

There Will Be Stars

3rd Place

There Will be Stars by Billy Coffey

This book puts one of the most known citizens of Mattingly into a type of Purgatory disguised as Heaven. Unfortunately, it is anything but for the people stuck there.

Read the full review.

Jake Palmer

4th Place

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart

Another book that gives you an illusion of heaven if you are only looking skin deep for your heart’s true desire.

Read the full review.

domino-effect

5th Place

The Domino Effect by Davis Bunn

This financial thriller could easily occur today with the tumultuous stock market. Just reminder, once the first domino falls, the others won’t be far behind.

Read the full review.

Top 5 Historical Fiction

Moving on to our top picks for historical fiction. These awesome pieces of work have a wide range of genres and settings, but we sure are glad we had the chance to read them.

child-of-the-river

1st Place

Child of the River by Irma Joubert

Joubert returns to South Africa with a tantalizing story about a young woman with ambitions of becoming more during the 1930s and 1940s. Lovers of civil rights readings will enjoy this book.

Read the full review.

The Buried Book

2nd Place

The Buried Book by D.M. Pulley

Set in 1952 Detroit, the entire book is seen from a nine year old boy’s perspective. This read may make you cringe at times, but it is worth it.

Read the full review.

the-whiskey-sea

3rd Place

The Whiskey Sea by Ann Howard Creel

Prohibition and rum running. Need I say more to get you hooked into this story?

Read the full review.

Reliance,

4th Place

Reliance, Illinois by Mary Volmer

This story is chock full of romance, adventure, murder, deception, mystery, and secrets. Plus tons of twist and turns with a great historical setting.

Read the full review.

Three Wishes

5th Place

Three Wishes by Lisa T. Bergen

If you loved Bergen’s River of Time series, you will enjoy the new spinoff. If you’ve not read them, this is a great place to start.

Read the full review.

Top 5 Nonfiction

As the holiday season continues, we’ve decided to release our remaining Top 5 lists. Even though we are primarily dedicated to fiction, we also like to mix it up with a little nonfiction every now and then. 2016 brought some great reads in this category. Here are our selections:

5 Things

1st Place

5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know about Their Kids and Sex by Anne Marie Miller

A hard topic to tackle, but done so with the best information possible to adequately prepare parents and children for this difficult issue. If you are struggling to have this conversation with you kids, this is a great place to start.

Read the full review.

shaken

2nd Place

Shaken by Tim Tebow

A football fan I am not, but a fan of Tim Tebow I am. This book really shows how to handle unexpected situations that life throws your way.

Read the full review.

troubleshooting-your-novel

3rd Place

Troubleshooting Your Novel by Steven James

Need some help getting that novel polished up for publishing? Join master storyteller Steven James as he dives deep into making complex topics seem simple.

Read the full review.

made-well

4th Place

Made Well by Jenny Simmons

Simmons explores a topic that many will find refreshing. If we are willing, the spirit is ready to make us well.

Read the full review.

the-pug-list

5th Place

The Pug List by Alison Hodgson

Find out how one family found happiness after a tragedy through the adoption of a pug. Laugh and cry throughout the whole book.

Read the full review.

Top 5 Contemporary Fiction

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good story! For a special Christmas treat, we are releasing our top 5 picks for contemporary fiction. Grab any one of these (or all of them) for a great year ending read!

Everything we keep

1st Place

Everything we Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

This fantastic read kept us guessing what was going to happen the whole way through. Just when we thought we had it all figured out, Lonsdale through us a curve that blew everything out of the water. Meet us at Aimee’s when you done!

Read the full review.

long-way-gone

2nd Place

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin

This was an amazing back and forth read about faith, music, and love. Truly a beautiful story.

Read the full review.

all-the-breaking-waves

3rd Place

All the Breaking Waves by Kerry Lonsdale

Just as incredible as her debut novel, Lonsdale continues to breach the surface with her sophomore novel. With a little supernatural and a great romance, this one easily made the list.

Read the full review.

Promise of Jesse Woods

4th Place

The Promise of Jesse Woods

Fabry spins an amazing tale set around a young boy’s summer spent in a new place with some new friends that aren’t all too popular. His love for the girl Jesse and the Pittsburg Pirates makes this a fun, but sometimes emotional, read.

Read the full review.

say-goodbye-for-now

5th Place

Say Goodbye for Now by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Small towns and the wrong kind of relationships are the perfect mix for the right kind of story.

Read the full review.

Christmas Embers

christmas-ebmers Author: Chautona Havig

Publisher: Create Space

Release Date: November 23, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

When the thing you least expect to happen to you happens, how do you handle it?

Every year Emily Byrne plans a project she can do that is a way to give back. This year she sits in her daughter’s kindergarten classroom to draw portraits and write little stories of what each child’s deepest wish is. Everything is going good until Joey Cordell sits in front of her with tears in his eyes and says the only thing he wants for Christmas is to find his father. His mother is dying and came to Rockland to find his father. She had been living in Las Vegas as a prostitute and Joey’s father is a man she met there and she fell in love with after a few short hours. She knew he was married but as usual it didn’t make a difference to her. Emily meets her and promises to do all she can to help her find Joey’s father. As time runs out and Joey’s mother is about to die, Emily doubts she can find the father in time. With death seconds away, Emily promises to continue looking and to care for Joey who she has already fallen in love with. As the truth emerges, a family is crushed and the damage is going to be hard to overcome.

While reading this story, several times I pictured myself as these characters and tried to determine how I would act if this happened to me. I don’t want to give too much away in the synopsis or review, but I will say it is a story to be read by those in a marriage or preparing for marriage. Infidelity in marriage is a horrible thing. Some can get past it and some can’t. Seeing the way Chautona Havig crafted these characters, the situations they found themselves in, and how they dealt with it all put the reader in those situations as those characters. A few characters annoyed me, but not enough to pull me from the rest of the story. I really don’t know how I would feel if I was placed in this situation but am glad I read Christmas Embers to have a better understanding of the biblical principles behind infidelity and how it affects all those involved. A lot of this I didn’t know and am better for learning it all in this way. This was a very quick enjoyable read that I recommend to all.

Moore’s Code

moores-code Author: Chautona Havig

Publisher: Create Space

Release Date: September 2014

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fun lighthearted story about Santa, everyone around him, and what they do when a little boy finds out all their secrets.

Young Andy Heath is determined to find out the truth about Santa and Christmas after reading a famous poem and finding clues missed by everyone else who has read it. If he’s right, this will be the best Christmas he has ever had. Andy tries to capture Santa and get the huge sack full of toys all for himself. Unfortunately nothing goes as planned. While he tries to figure out how to solve his problem, the elves at the North Pole are dealing with their own problems. Not only is Santa missing, but now Clause Castle is under attack from Scrooge Clause who wants it for himself and to stop Christmas from coming again.

This is the cutest little book I have read in a long time. The tie-ins of all the extra characters made the story that much better. I don’t want to give much away and ruin the story but I will say that I had a smile on my face the whole time. Young Andy Heath is the kind of spirited boy you would expect to find in the middle of a tale like this. I did find his tantrums a little tiring at times, but that had to be included in order to show his change throughout the story. I thought I would enjoy the moments with him and Santa the best, but the real story kicked off with Mistletoe and Merry Clause as well as the other elves. All they did to find Santa and keep the castle safe really made the story.

One of the most fun I have had reading a Christmas story in a long time.

Top 5 Romance Picks

Now moving on to our top 5 picks for romance reads of 2016. Another tough category with lots of contenders. Hope these make it into you reading list for next year!

finding-libble

1st Place

Finding Libbie by Deanna Lynn Sletten

No matter how much I wanted the pain of this story to end, I just couldn’t put it down. And I’m glad I didn’t!

Read the full review.

Ringmasters wife

2nd Place

The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron

Not just one romance, but two for the reader’s of this great historical work. This book is yet another of Cambron’s masterpieces!

Read the full review.

3rd Place

Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren

With romance, broken hearts, and a cowboy on a mission, Wild Montana Skies reads better than a country western song sounds.

Read the full review.

June

4th Place

June by Miranda Beverly-Whitemore

Another double romance set in two different times. Lovers of contemporary and historical fiction will love this read!

Read the full review.

where-two-hearts-meet

5th Place

Where Two Hearts Meet by Liz Johnson

A cozy inn, scenic Prince Edward Island, and no lack of trouble makes this a fantastic romance read. Be sure to check out the first in the series too.

Read the full review.

Near Miss

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

A master writer of Romance, Hannon puts out another even paced theme at Hope Harbor.

Read the full review.

Say Goodbye for Now

say-goodbye-for-now Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: December 13, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Small towns and the wrong kind of relationships are the perfect mix for the right kind of story.

Dr. Lucy has given up her medical practice after extenuating circumstances and now focuses her time on helping the animals in need around her. However, she still occasionally takes in a client in trouble to help pay the bills. She doesn’t ask what kind of trouble they are in and they don’t tell. It also helps her keep to herself. It’s 1959 and no one wants a woman doctor and they also don’t want anyone of color mixing with the whites in town. Calvin and Justin Bell have just arrived and their dark skin makes them stick out and not in a good way. Dr. Lucy meets Pete Solomon when he brings a wounded wolf-dog to her for help. He is twelve years old and has been living with his dad, their relationship is not good. When Lucy shows him even the slightest affection he doesn’t know what to do with it. Pete and Justin quickly become friends and Calvin and Lucy’s own relationship heats up as well. It doesn’t take long for the town to turn against them. Calvin and Justin know it isn’t safe to stay in Texas and head back north. They all stay in touch and hope that one day they will be able to get closer than they are currently allowed.

Even though this story is set back in 1959, with today’s current events, it could easily be set in present day. There is so much hate in the world it keeps making me think that if we don’t learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. Catherine Ryan Hyde did an outstanding job crafting a story that with characters that are believable with conflicts that made the tension fly off the page. The way she made these characters, especially Pete, come alive really impressed me. It has to be some of the best character crafting I have seen in a very long time. Normally, to me, this wouldn’t be the type of book that kept the pages turning quickly but somehow that is just what happened. He was the best character to connect with but the rest made the story truly great. It dealt with some very tough issues, especially when you think of the time it is set in. But even today we are dealing with such issues of hate that the story will be very relevant and can make an impact with readers. It is not a story for an immature audience, but will be great for its intended readers.

Top 5 YA Fiction

Up next we have our top 5 picks for young adult fiction for 2016. With such great work out there, it was really hard to narrow it down.

A torch against the night

1st Place

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

Tahir’s sophomore novel shines just a bright as the first. The new viewpoint that is introduced really brings more of the story to the characters we are already dying to know more about!

Read the full review.

Remnants3

2nd Place

Remnants: Season of Glory by Lisa T. Bergen

The Remnants series is not well known, but it should be. It is quite possibly one of the best YA series that has been released. We hope that there is more to come.

Read the full review

Curse .

3rd Place

Curse by Steven James

Steven James is one of the best authors on the market, mostly known for his Patrick Bowers FBI series. But don’t let his YA fool you, it will draw you in just a quickly and give you a thrill ride like you can’t imagine.

Read the full review.

gilt-hollow

4th Place

Gilt Hollow by Lorie Langdon

A juvie convict, a forbidden love, and an axe to grind with the past. Sounds like high school. Don’t miss this the deeper mystery hidden in the hipster town of Gilt Hollow, Ohio.

Read the full review.

lock-and-key

5th Place

Lock and Key: The Initiation by Ridley Pearson

You can never go wrong with a YA novel written by Ridley Pearson. He gave us the Kingdom Keepers and Steele Trapp. Now he has brought a new version of Sherlock Holmes. Elementary you say?

Read the full review.

Top 5 Crime Fiction/Legal Thrillers

As we wind down the year, we are going to be counting off our top five picks in several categories for the year. To start with, we are kicking off with the Crime Fiction/Legal Thriller category.

1st Place

The Ninja’s Daughter by Susan Spann

With a quick pace and quirky characters, this book dives deep into Japanese Samurai culture. If you haven’t started this series yet, you better get going. The next one comes out summer 2017.

Read the full review.

Check out the author interview.

night-work

2nd Place

Night Work by David C. Taylor

Michael Cassidy is back at it and stuck in Cuba during the revolution. Adding even more to the pot is that Dylan has surfaced in Cuba bringing back the romance from the first book. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

Read the full review.

dressed-for-death

3rd Place

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering

After a two year absence, Drew Farthering has again graced our bookshelf with a new mystery. Can he and Madeline survive their first mystery as a married couple? Find out inside.

Read the full review.

In the Clearing

4th Place

In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni

Detective Tracey Crosswhite is back in action with a new mystery. As one of our favorite detectives, it is easy to see why Dugoni makes the list every year.

Read the full review.

Gabhart_MurderComesbyMail_front

5th Place

Murder Comes by Mail by A. H. Gabhart

Do you love fun, cozy mysteries? So do we. This series has keep us entertained the whole way through.

Read the full review.

fifth-column

Near Miss

Fifth Column by Mike Hollow

With plenty of British detective humor and banter, this book will satisfy both mystery lovers and WWII history enthusiasts.

Read the full review.

Who let the dog out

Near Miss

Who Let the Dog Out? by David Rosenfelt

Pet lovers, this is the series for you. Andy Carpenter will warm your heart and keep you hooked on the reading.

Read the full review.