Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

The Year of Books

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I’ve always been an avid reader, but writing has kind of eclipsed my reading time lately. I used to make reading goals like 100 books a year and wildly surpass them. Recently, I’ve been doing well to finish a book in a week.

Not any more! 2022 is going to be a year of books for me. I’m ready to get back on that horse.

First things first: I needed a plan.

Of course, my organized heart wanted a list–something I could check off and complete to show my efforts and accomplishments.

So I have an official TBR! This is kind of a first for me since I’ve always made lists of the books I’ve already read, not the ones I intend to read. This year, I want to read 52 books. That’s starting slow, but I hope to surpass that goal and read even more in the coming years.

 

Here are some of the books I’m excited to read this year:

 

Jessie Gussman’s Baxter Boys series – I’m planning to listen to the audiobooks which are titled and covered differently. I’m listening to the first one now, and it’s fantastic! These are just the kind of emotional and romantic stories I want to read more of this year.

Hannah Jo Abbott’s Whispering Oaks Ranch series – I’m reading an early copy of the first book, Hope for the Cowboy, and I’m so excited for this series! I love Hannah’s other books, and it just feels right that she would be writing a Texas cowboy series next. I can’t wait to read about these brothers at Whispering Oaks Ranch.

Tara Grace Ericson’s Black Tower Security series – If you liked Tara’s Bloom Sisters series and you enjoy a little more suspense mixed in with your romance sometimes, this new series is for you! I read the prequel, Clean Slate, and I loved it. I rarely read romantic suspense, but these have already jumped out at me and demanded a spot on my TBR.

If you want to read the prequel, join her newsletter and watch for mentions of Clean Slate. You’ll also get her super cute short story, Love and Chocolate, when you subscribe.

Elizabeth Maddrey’s Postcards is releasing next week, and I can’t wait to read it! Elizabeth is a good friend of mine, so we talked frequently while she was writing it. I purposely kept my questions vague because I want to be completely surprised by this book. She said it was different from her other books, personal to her, and involved some changes she wanted to test in her writing. I trust that she’s always going to write a book I’ll love, so sign me up for this one!

Becky Wade’s Bradford Sisters series is on my list because I’ve never read a Becky Wade book. I know! It’s crazy, and I feel like I’m the only one. So when I decided I needed to have her books on my list this year, I asked my friends for recommendations, and they agreed on the Bradford Sisters series.

Courtney Walsh’s Paper Hearts series is also on my list because she’s a new-to-me author. Ditto all of the things I said in the last paragraph about being the last Christian romance lover to read her books. But this is the purpose of this list! I should have read these books a long time ago, and what better time to start than now?

Kera Isaac’s Then There was You is on the list because it gets recommended in almost every StoryChats episode. I’m pretty sure that isn’t an exaggeration. The Inspy leaders love this book, and that says a lot about it. I don’t care if it was published in 2017. I never said I would only read new books this year! It’s clear that I need to do some catching up.

Teresa Tysinger’s Laurel Cove Romance series is a must read for me this year for a number of reasons. I haven’t read Teresa’s books before, but I follow her on social media, and I love her content! She’s positive, uplifting, and all around kind. I need more of that in my life, so I’m moving her series up on the list. Plus, they’re set in the North Carolina mountains, and I’m a sucker for an awesome setting.

Pepper Basham’s The Mistletoe Countess has been ALL OVER bookstagram. I mean, the cover is gorgeous, and everyone is talking about it. Of course, that means I want to know what this book is all about. Pepper Basham has a lot of fans, and I haven’t read any of her books!

Kimberly Rae Jordan’s New Hope Falls series are talked about enough in the Christian romance community that I want to give them a shot. Plus, the whole premise of the series is a sanctuary for the lost. We all get lost sometimes, right? I love books where the wandering characters find their calling, home, or purpose. New Hope Falls sounds like my kind of place.

 

Now, I have a special giveaway for you! To enter, comment below and let me know which books you’re most looking forward to reading in 2022. The winner will receive a special advanced ebook copy of my upcoming book, Truth is a Whisper.

The giveaway ends on Sunday, January 16.

Happy reading!

Mandi Blake (18 Posts)

Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books, and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.


Comments

  1. I love your list! So many great books on there and I’m honored Postcards is among them.

    Shh…I also have never read Becky Wade. 🙈
    I keep meaning to and then get distracted by other books.

    I hope you love Then There Was You! (But it’s okay if you don’t.)

  2. I’m filmmaker with two of the writers you’re talking about. I love Hannah Jo Abboitt.

    Manie Blake is good too. I,he read a few books by Kimberly Tea Jordon as well.

  7. You have quite a few authors in your list that I haven’t read yet, either! I read 229 books last year, and am currently reading numbers 6 & 7 now for this year. 2020 was the first year I wrote down the books I read 221 that year. I’ve also reviewed most of the books I read both years. I review all of the ones I read ARC’s of, though!!

  8. There are so many good books coming out this year! I’m really excited for Tammy L. Grays newest that comes out in August, and Pepper Basham has a new one releasing this fall that I’m also looking forward to reading.

  9. I’m looking forward to Denise Hunter’s next book although. I’m a couple of books behind. I’m off to add a few to my wish list.

  10. Hi, there are so many books that I want to read, I don’t even know where to start! I intend on reading more books this year than I did last year. I love your books that you want to read, they all sound like great reads. I love, love your book cover of Truth is a Whisper , it is Beautiful! Not entering this ebook giveaway as I don’t read ebooks at all I am not tech savvy at all. I will add your book to my TBR list an look for it in paperback. :)

  17. I am looking forward to reading The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It is the story of the missing wedding veil from the Vanderbelt family. It sounds like a great historical story. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.

  20. Ditto on all the “new to me” authors! I look forward to hearing your comments on those books. :) And enjoy Jessie Gussman’s books! I love her and her writing, and that’s a series I need to finish/catch up on myself.

  25. I’m actually looking forward to reading the physical books on my shelves! They’ve been languishing there for far too long. I’m planning on starting with Deborah Raney’s Hanover Falls series ( Almost Forever, Forever After, and After All). Don’t know what I’ll read after that because it depends on my mood :-)

    I’m determined to read what I already have instead of wanting all the pretty new ones…lol! We’ll see how that goes *wink*

  26. I look forward to reading all of Hannah’s and Liwen’s books, the rest of Tara’s books and any new books written by Mandi, Jessie and Elle as I have read all of their books.

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