It’s been a pretty good year for reading when I can recommend more than 10 books! (Yeah, I know, I’m pickier than most.)
I would give all of those that made my list this year 4 or 5 stars.
Without further adieu, here they are in no particular order.
Fiction
The Vexing by Tamara Leigh
Tamara Leigh is one of the best historical romance writers out there, and this one is particularly satisfying as Sir Durand has shown up in numerous other books in this series, finally getting his own HEA. Sadly, I cannot recommend the book after this one in the Age of Faith series. (The Awakening needed a story editor who would be real with Ms. Leigh and tell her what to cut out.) This one, however is delightful.
Blood on the Tracks by Barbara Nickless
Sydney Parnell, railroad cop, is a broken ex-military woman solving mysterious crimes with her dog, Clyde, all the while seeing ghosts from her past. Well-written and intriguing.
Dead Stop by Barbara Nickless
Blood on the Tracks was so good, I had to read the next in the series, Dead Stop. Another page turner with great characters! Both of these books are award winners.
Midnight in Malemulele by Darla Bartos
I enjoyed this mystery in Africa very much even though I felt the story and the character motivations faltered a bit at the end. Another award winner.
Public Trust by J.M. Mitchell
Years in the park service gave Jerry Mitchell a unique perspective and a niche for story-telling that very few others have. He explores the tensions between land owners and the Bureau of Land Management all the while his main character, Jack Chastain, solves a mystery.
Killing Godiva’s Horse by J.M. MItchell
Another Jack Chastain mystery by Jerry Mitchell (the 3rd in the series. I still need to read #2, The Height of Secrecy, which was another award winner. On my list for 2019), this one also deals with land owner tensions coupled with an extra dose of politics concerning wild horses on public lands. A brief foray into Africa is a delight as Jack teaches park service methods and learns more than he wants to know about poaching.
Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice
Wicked Wyckerly would probably go on my all time favorites romance list. It is well-written with well-rounded, interesting characters. Like Tamara Leigh, Rice doesn’t just set her books in another time period, she makes you feel the time period with her writing style.
The Devlish Montague by Patricia Rice
Another in The Rebellious Sons series, this too is a romance winner that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Charlie Fiction by Todd Fahnestock
Two geniuses at odds, time-travel, and a ghost come together to take you on one wild ride, all for the sake of love and the future of the world.
Non-Fiction
More The Same Than Different by Lorraine Cannistra
If you’re a wheelchair user, you will be able to compare experiences with Lorraine. If you’re not, you will gain valuable insight into the lives of those who do. Personal stories and wisdom gained from a lifetime, Cannistra’s book is both entertaining and enlightening.
Breastfeeding is a Bitch by Cassi Clark
Raw truth good for commiseration and education, Clark doesn’t mince words as she destroys some of the myths surrounded breastfeeding. Her journey through the difficulties and the wisdom born of experience make for good reading.
Well, there you have it. A weird mix of romance, mystery, sci fi, and real life that you too might enjoy in 2019!
Francesca reached for a piece of bacon, her baby blue eyes wide. “How can you not want to go to Mars? It’s a two year adventure — the chance of a lifetime! If I was old enough to buy a ticket, I would.”