2023 Top Historical Fiction

Next up is our favorite picks from the past. At least in fiction. Grab a copy of any of these fantastic reads and you won’t be disappointed!

Top Pick: The Long March Home by Tosca Lee

I don’t remember the last time I was so moved by a work of fiction. If you had told me that a book about World War II, a historical fiction novel, would become one of my favorite books of the year, I would have laughed at you. This story was about so much more than war and history, this story was about the men that went over there and how they were changed; a story of character development that is some of the best of any written I have read in a very long time.

Read the full review here.

The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

Every time I pick up a new Susie Finkbeiner book, I always think that this can’t be better than the last book she wrote. And every time she pretty much proves me wrong. This is quite possibly her best book (and I’ve read them all multiple times). It is also likely the best book that I have read all year.

Read the full review here.

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

As I’ve come to expect, Sarah Sundin delivers yet another fantastic story set within World War II. This time she has chosen the setting of Copenhagen, Denmark and shines light on its occupation by the Germans. I love how she manages to find the local stories and legends during wartime and bring those to life for her readers. There is an underlying tone of forgiveness throughout this book.

Read the full review here.

To Love a Falcon by Nancy C. Williams

Nancy Williams has done a fabulous job of crafting a story that not only held my interest on a topic I normally don’t pick up, but she also had me caring deeply about these characters and what they were going through.

Read the full review here.

The Girl from the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright

This was a different take on the old story of Bonnie and Clyde from the 1920s and how they got their start to the bitter end. The pace was fast throughout the book and readers will want to see what happens next with each chapter and see how the story parallels that of Bonnie with Beatrice and Clyde with Jack. Very similar instances in both, but the ending is quite different, but you’ll have to read it to figure that out.

Read the full review here.

Summer in the Spotlight

Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Prince Edward Island Shores #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 1, 2023

The final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series finally gives readers insight into the Island’s most reclusive character.

Levi Ross is known to be very softspoken, but few people realize just how intelligent he is. As the facilities director at the local high school, Levi is getting everything ready for a hurricane, but when it hits earlier than expected, he discovers that Kelsey Ahern, the drama teacher, gets trapped in her classroom. After getting her to safety, Kelsey learns the local playhouse has been destroyed and likely her future with it. Turning to Levi, the two team up to produce a play to raise money to rebuild the theater. With a score of obstacles in their way, the two set out to make dreams come true.

I’ve enjoyed the story of each Ross brother, but I think this one was probably the best. Levi also had such a small part in the first two books that this one was greatly anticipated. Each brother had their past issues, but Levi was just a regular guy that was set on seeing his dreams come true, but genuine enough that he would put his own dreams aside to help someone else achieve theirs. What a great story! I can’t wait to see what Johnson dreams up next!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Sulla’s Fist

Author: Vincent B. Davis II

Series: Sertorius Scrolls #5

Publisher: Thirteenth Press

Release Date: September 12, 2023

The Sertoris Scrolls continue with another great piece of history!

After years in battle, Quintus Sertoris can’t wait to return to Rome to see his wife and son. But so much time has passed, he wonders if they will even remember who he is. After the triumph parade, he hastily makes his way home to find Arrea, but after only minutes of time with her, his nemesis Lucius Cornelius Sulla arrives at his home, spoiling his time alone. He not only discovers that Sulla has been keeping Arrea happy with the plush comforts of Rome, but his son has enlisted and is a part of Sulla’s detachment. Could anything more spoil his return? Oh wait….. Upon his first day at the Senate, Quintus learns he has been elected Quaestor (not knowing he was nominated) and will be leading a detachment to enlist new members into the Roman army to help stop an upcoming civil war. With traitors in the midst, Sertoris knows that this may be the end of his marriage or his career as a soldier.

Every year I look forward to the newest Sertoris Scroll to learn more about the man himself and see how Davis’s interpretation of Roman history parallels the real thing. Needless to say, I am never disappointed. Sulla’s Fist pushes several years into the future from the previous scroll and readers see the strain that has been put on Sertoris, primarily by the conniving ways of Sulla. Several past characters make appearances throughout, some for the last time. It’s been very interesting to watch these characters mature throughout the books and read about their historical accounts as well. The tension keeps building towards the actual showdown between Sertoris and Sulla and I can’t wait to read it when it happens!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Girl from the Papers

Author: Jennifer L. Wright

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: August 8, 2023

Parallel story of Bonnie and Clyde!

Beatrice Carraway grew up in the small dusty town of Wingate, Texas with big aspirations after winning a couple of beauty queen competitions. But as she gets older, the winnings get less and eventually her mother makes the decision that to save the family, she can no longer rely on Beatrice and gets married to a local well-respected church elder. Beatrice soon learns that this man is all for show and has a cruel nature and gives her mom an ultimatum: stay or leave with her and her sister to head to Dallas.

Living in West Dallas has its own challenges. Everyone is poor and no one will hire someone from West Dallas for a show. When Beatrice meets Jack Turner, they quickly hit it off and learn that they both want more from a world that doesn’t seem to want them. Eventually, they turn to crime to get money. Small things at first, but then comes the first bank robbery. And then another. Before long, the papers are picking up their names and everyone knows who they are. But this type of fame also brings misfortune. Can they keep up the spree forever? Or will they eventually make their final stand in the papers?

This was a different take on the old story of Bonnie and Clyde from the 1920s and how they got their start to the bitter end. I love how it was told from Beatrice’s perspective and how her view of life was tainted from an early start. The pace was fast throughout the book and readers will want to see what happens next with each chapter and see how the story parallels that of Bonnie with Beatrice and Clyde with Jack. Very similar instances in both, but the ending is quite different, but you’ll have to read it to figure that out.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

2023 Top Romantic Suspense

It’s that time of year again! Time to pick our favorite 2023 reads in each genre. First up, is Romantic Suspense.

Top Pick: Brooke by Ronie Kendig

I always say suspense is my favorite genre, but honestly, I just want a well-written story that keeps me engaged with the characters and story. This series is just that and so much more. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a fast paced romantic suspense read that will keep them up far past their bedtime.

Read the full review here.

Havoc by Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig has blown it away with Havoc! She quickly pulls readers into the story with strong characters, both with two legs and four.

Read the full review here.

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

The third installment in the Extreme Measures series is another romantic suspense that will give readers exactly what they have come to expect from this genre.

Read the full review here.

Into the Fire by Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is one of the bestselling authors when it comes to Christian fiction both with romantic suspense and contemporary fiction books. This was a great first book in her new series and I enjoyed it as much as any Christian romantic suspense I’ve read lately.

Read the full review here.

A Royal Christmas

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 5, 2023

Melody Carlson delivers a great Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit!

Adelaide Smith has her goal of finishing law school and doesn’t want to let anything keep her from achieving that goal. When she receives a letter that shakes things up, she isn’t sure if she wants to pursue it or stick to her plan. Through a DNA registry, she is found to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V of Montovia. Curiosity gets the best of her and she takes a Christmas trip that changes her life and leads her down a made for TV movie path.

I waited until right at Christmas to read this one and it was just the thing to get me in the holiday spirit. I’ve come to expect fun holiday reads from Carlson each year. The setting of this one was fun and a great royal affair. This was a sweet novella that was a super-fast read and one that holiday readers will very much enjoy. As usual, Carlson will make readers ready for the holidays.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Her Secret Hope

Author: Shelley Shepard Gray

Series: A Season in Pinecraft #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: November 7, 2023

A great story about finding yourself before finding love.

It’s been almost two years since Lilly Kurtz arrived in Pinecraft, Florida wanting to make a fresh start. Finding that fresh start is not as easy as she would have hoped for when her past comes back to haunt her. Eddie Byler is a farmer and when Lilly meets him, she feels an immediate attraction, but secrets from back home will complicate their trying to be together.

Her Secret Hope is the final book in the series by Gray and readers will enjoy such a sweet finale for these characters. Lily going to find a fresh start is something a lot of us can relate to along with keeping secrets that can change us all. There are a lot of layers to this story and that is what kept me reading, it’s not just about happily ever after love stories, the real ones have so much more to them than that. I recommend this book to those that enjoy historical romance novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Legacy of Longdale Manor

Author: Carrie Turansky

Publisher: Bethany House Publishing

Release Date: September 26, 2023

A historical romance that will take readers on a magical adventure.

Gwen Morris is an art historian traveling to England to help appraise paintings for an old friend. She goes to Longdale Manor and meets David Bradford, grandson of the Manor’s owner, who wants to turn it into a hotel. Over a century earlier, Charlotte Harper finds secrets that she records in a journal later found by Gwen and ties these characters together through time.

This is a typical Turansky book, full of faith, interesting characters and an intriguing plot. Fans of historical fiction will find this one a fun and easy read. The story is charming with the way Turansky weaves together the lives of Gwen and Charlotte and all they go through that leads them to romance and a stronger faith. There was nothing that stood out in this one for me as fantastic, but it is also one I will recommend to others as a good, clean read.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Better Half

Author: Alli Frank & Asha Youmans

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: July 1, 2023

A rom com that wasn’t what I expected and am still thinking about it long after turning the last page.

Nina Morgan Clarke has had several difficult years and now that her ex-husband is across the country and daughter at a boarding school, she is getting ready to become the first Black female head of Royal-Hawkins school. Before starting the new job, Nina and her best friend take a girl’s trip to celebrate. It isn’t long into the school year that Nina is hit with hardships as Jared Jones, a new hire, pushes her to her limit. That is just the first in a string of events that make what was supposed to be the best time in Nina’s life far from that.

I had high hopes for this one, but as I read, I found myself confused as to why some of the characters acted the way they did and the way the story played out. I know this was a hit for many, but it fell flat for me. I wanted to love Nina and what she was going through but nothing felt natural about the story or the characters. This is a good book for the right audience, I just wasn’t that audience this time.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Woke Up Like This

Author: Amy Lea

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: October 1, 2023

This is a feel-good story that was just what I needed and can’t wait for others to enjoy reading it as well.

Charlotte Wu is getting ready for high school prom, a bucket list event for most high schoolers. She has been trying to plan the perfect prom and all is going well until she falls off a ladder and lands on J.T. Renner, her worst enemy. To make matters worse, when she wakes up next, she finds herself at 30 years old and in bed next to Renner. Neither of them knows how they got into their thirty-year old bodies and what happened in between then and now. Charlotte and J.T. must work together to find their way back to their time.

This story had several high points for me; first was the fact that even though most of the story had our main characters in the body of adults, they were still teens at heart and the story stayed light enough for those readers to enjoy. There were a lot of the usual clichés in this novel, enemies to lovers, teen love and self-discovery that played out nicely. This book will bring readers back to their high school days, the nostalgia is real and enjoyable. I recommend this book to those that enjoy rom-com and a good read in general.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.