I’m enjoying this time of year because wonderful and highly convenient lists of fantastic books keep popping up. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for the next great read.
So for this blog post, I’d like to start a discussion. These are the finalists for the ACFW’s 2014 Carol Awards. All are wonderful… but I haven’t read each and every one, nor would I expect have many of you.
I hoped we all might chime in on the ones we have read so that we can fill up those TBR lists, get some new perspectives on these stories and share our love for powerful and transformative fiction.
I’m going to save my comments for the “comment” section too!
Enjoy!
Debut Novel 
The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editor Natalie Hanemann)
Jasmine by April McGowan (WhiteFire Publishing, editor Roseanna White)
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Becky Monds, Natalie Hanneman, L.B. Norton)
Contemporary
The Language of Sparrows by Rachel Phifer (David C. Cook, editor Tonya Osterhouse)
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Becky Monds, Natalie Ha
nneman, L.B. Norton)
The Dance by Gary Smalley and Dan Walsh (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Andrea Doering)
Historical
When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell (David C. Cook, editors Ingrid Beck, John Blase)
Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Becky Philpott, Julee Schwarzburg, Jodi Hughes)
Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate by Diana Wallis Taylor (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Lonnie Hull Dupont)
Historical Romance
Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editor Raela Schoenherr)
A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editor Dave Long)
The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky (Waterbrook Multnomah [Random House], editors Shannon Marchese, Karen Ball)
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Dave Lambert, Sue Brower, Ellen Tarver)
Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins (B&H Publishing, editors Karen Ball, Julie Gwinn)
Fear Has a Name by Creston Mapes (David C. Cook, editors L.B. Norton, Jack Campbell)
Novella
An Ever After Summer from A Bride for all Seasons by Debra Clopton (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editor Ami McConnell)
Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editor Raela Schoenherr)
A Christmas Prayer by Linda Wood Rondeau (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, editor Amberlynn Noelle)
Romance
Silver Bells by Deborah Raney (Summerside Press [Guideposts], editor Rachel Meisel)
Catch a Falling Star by Beth K. Vogt (Howard [Simon & Schuster], editor Jessica Wong)
Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade, Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editors Sarah Long, Charlene Patterson)
Romantic Suspense
Trapped by Irene Hannon (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Jennifer Leep)
Vanished by Irene Hannon (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group, editor Jennifer Leep)
Jungle Fire by Dana Mentink (River North [Moody Publishers], editor Deb Keiser)
Short Novel
Seaside Blessings by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired [Harlequin], editor Melissa Endlich)
The Doctor’s Family Reunion by Mindy Obenhaus (Love Inspired [Harlequin], editor Melissa Endlich)
Mending the Doctor’s Heart by Tina Radcliffe (Love Inspired [Harlequin], editor Rachel Burkot)
Speculative
A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editors Dave Long, Karen Schurrer)
The Hero’s Lot by Patrick W. Carr (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing, editors Dave Long, Karen Schurrer)
The Sinners Garden by William Sirls (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Natalie Hanemann, Lisa Bergren)
Young Adult
A Simple Song by Melody Carlson (Revell – A Divison of Baker Publishing Group, editors Lonnie Hull Dupont, Wendy Wetzel)
Captives by Jill Williamson (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, editors Jacque Alberta, Jeff Gerke)
Project Gemini by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press, editor Jeff Gerke)
Let’s chat… What have you loved? What surprised you? What was fresh and new? Made you think in a new way or feel deeply? Or made you laugh out loud?
This is why we’re here…
Katherine Reay is a wife, mother, runner, and avid chocolate consumer. She has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries and, at the encouragement of her family, recently began an affair with food – cooking that is – and this new passion strongly influenced her next novel, Lizzy and Jane, which will release in October 2014. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine and her family live in Seattle, WA. You can also find Katherine at www.katherinereay.com and lurking somewhere within the pages of her first novel, Dear Mr. Knightley.
I remember judging a contest a while ago, and The Heiress of Winterwood was one of the entries. I was so impressed with the writing and the story line. She won the Genesis for historical romance in 2011, which was well deserved. I am definitely going to read this. Even as an unpublished contest entry, the writing was excellent.
It is wonderful and Sarah second book, The Mistress of Highland Hall, is another lovely story with excellent writing. Of this list, that was one of the first I read and so completely enjoyed it. Glad you felt the same.
Any others you’ve read?
I guess I haven’t read very many on this list. The ones I have read are here.
* Dear Mr. Knightley
* A Noble Groom
* The Governess of Highland Hall
* Love by the Letter
* Undeniably Yours
All the books that I read on the list are very good. I would have a hard time choosing just one. I have read:
The Heiress of Winterwood( and The Mistress of Highland Hall)
When Mountains Move
Dark Justice
Fear Has a Name
The Sinners Garden
A Simple Song
I’ll also add The Governess of Highland Hall and Dark Justice to my listing, for the moment… Both were excellent. Collins did a wonderful pacing and leading us with well developed characters. And Turansky completely absorbed me in her scene and world. Cantrell’s When Mountains Move was outstanding also (so my list gets revealed further…) and I have her Into the Free on my kindle right now.
Now I haven’t read The Dance or Snow on the Tulips. Thoughts?