It’s the last day of the year again and time for my Top 10 list for 2013.
As always, this is a difficult list to create as I want to fit so many more than 10 but here are a list of my favourite stories from the past year, stories that have challenged, encouraged, entertained, or touched me in a special way. And as for 10….let’s just say I’m number challenged!!
And a hint – I’ve already read a number of 2014 releases that will be making next year’s list, I’m sure, including some stories by authors already on this list!
A HUGE thank you to every one of these authors in my list, and many others, who have blessed me by their stories this year ~ you are amazing, talented, giving people and it is such a pleasure to share a little of your world through your books.
I’d love to hear your Top 10 (or other number!) for 2013…do share!
In no particular order………
Dear Mr Knightley by Katherine Reay
Burning Sky by Lori Benton
Talon and Beowulf (review to come) by Ronie Kendig
A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears
The Redeeming and The Kindling (review to come) by Tamara Leigh
The Outcast by Jolina Petersheim
Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter
Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Catch A Falling Star by Beth Vogt
A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund
The Ryn and The Remedy by Serena Chase
Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews
Dear reader friends ~ thanks for sharing 2013 with me ~ praying 2014 is a year full of blessing and encouragement, no matter what it might hold for you and me.
I appreciate you all! xo
Happy New Year
Thanks for all you do for the writing (and reading) community. Happy new year, Rel.
Richard Mabry » Thanks Doc!
2013 was quite a year–with some truly amazing titles! Thank you so much for choosing Talon and Beowulf for your list!
Praying you have an AWESOME 2014, Rel!! You so deserve it!!
Ronie » Love your stories, Ronie, LOVE!!!
Love your list, Rel! I’m with you on Dear Mr. Knightley and Burning Sky. Amazing stories.
Another big favorite of mine was To Know You by Shannon Etheridge and Kathryn Mackel. It’s Christian fiction that dives into consequences of life lived without God. But there’s tons of hope too. I hope the book does well so that publishers start looking for similar manuscripts (like mine, cough cough). Plus I just like to read stuff that grapples with real life.
I’m reading Trinity right now so I haven’t read Talon or Beowulf, but I really enjoy Ronie’s books. Her men always seem so real.
In YA, I read Stephanie Morrill’s Ellie Sweet series. Very, very good! While they’re two separate books, you really have to read the second one to get the whole story. They’re great. Stephanie’s an amazing writer, and her YA stuff is definitely strong enough for adults to read.
Hope you’re having a Happy New Year there!
Sally Bradley » Thanks for your great response, Sally! I’ve been eyeing off To Know You so good to have your recommendation. Really hope I get to read your story one day!
Woo-hoo! Love your list, Rel (these lists are highlights at the end of the year). So many good ones on it – DMK was, of course a jewel and ‘Barefoot Summer’ was one that really touched me. Got ‘Beowulf’ for Mom as a Christmas gift which she’s reading now and as usual, she’s enjoying it. 🙂
LOL, like you, I’ve read a few 2014 books and almost put them on the 2013 list just thinking, “oh, yes! That was a favorite read too!” Then I remembered, the publication date is 2014. 😉
Happy New Year, Rel! Hope 2014 is fabulous.
Rissi » Thanks, dear Rissi – it is shaping up for another great year of reading, isn’t it?! Hope your year has started wonderfully!
Happy New Year to you and your family Rel!
Wonderful list. These are always my favourite posts of the year but detrimental to my reading list. Here is to another amazing book year 🙂 2014 is already shaping up to be a winner.
Lydia » Thanks, lovely Lydia – loved your list, too xo xo
Rel, thanks so much for including me! I’m honored. Your other choices could be taken straight from my “favorite authors” list. 🙂 Happy New Year!
Carla Laureano » We obviously love classy authors, Carla 🙂
LOVED Burning Sky, and I have Five Days in Skye and The Noble Groom waiting for me on my Kindle. I’ve heard amazing things about Dear Mr. Knightley, I’ll have to add it to my to-read list. Wait, let me get a pencil, I’ll just write down the whole list you have here. 🙂
Karen Barnett » 😉 Ooo, you have some great reading coming your way, Karen!
Rel, Thank you! What a blessing you are to writers and readers both. Thanks for all you do, and for you love of story and its power to touch and transform. Happy New Year!
Lori Benton » Such lovely encouragement, Lori – thank you! So looking forward to Tamsen’s story, my friend!
Ooh lots of great books many of which I loved or are on my to-read list! I hope your 2014 is fabulous!
Abbi Hart » Thanks Abbi – you, too! No doubt we will love more of the same books this year 🙂
What a great list! Several were on mine this year or almost made it to mine. Here’s to another great year of reading!!
Casey » Definitely, dear Casey xo
Thanks so much for listing The Ryn and The Remedy on this list! And thanks, too, for the tips on a couple of good ones I must have missed in the shuffle, but will have to add to my TBR pile, ASAP!
Have a lovely 2014, dear Rel! Cheers!
Love,
Serena
Serena Chase » They were that good, Serena – can’t wait for more pirates, er, I mean, books from you!!
Rel
Thanks for your continued enthusiastic commitment to the writing, reading & reviewing communities. Wishing you every happiness in 2014 and here’s to lots of great new novels to read.
Grace and peace to the Mollet family.
Ian » I appreciate that, Ian ~ thank you very much! Here’s to more books from you 🙂
Rel, I’m honored that The Redeeming and The Kindling made your list and is in such excellent company. Thank you for all the years of support and all you do to bring writers and readers together. I wish you the most wonderful year ahead.
Blessings,
Tam
Tamara Leigh » Thank you for your fabulous books! I’m very much enjoying your self publishing journey – more books to readers quicker!
Rel,
I just celebrated the beginning of 2014 — and your blog popped into my inbox. And then I find Catch a Falling Star on this list? You’ve started my year off in the best way possible — I’m humbled and blessed to be part of this list! Thank you!
Beth K. Vogt » A pleasure, dear Beth xo
The Outcast is most definitely on my list too. I adored it. I also reallllly liked Bride for Keeps too. 🙂 I gotta get my hands on DMK.
Juju at Tales of Whimsy… » Yes, you must!!
Happy New Year!
Juju at Tales of Whimsy… » And to you, Juju….a few days late!!
I forced myself to really suffer this year and do a Top Five which were Five Days in Skye, The Outcast, Snow on the Tulips (Liz Tolsma), Dear Mr. Knightley and The Secret Keeper (Kate Morton). I’ve just started Burning Sky but from what I’ve heard no doubt it will be on my 2014 list!
Kara Isaac » Great list, Kara – we obviously share excellent taste in books!
Thanks for the honor, Rel! I hope you like Dancing with Fireflies just as much. And now to add your favs to my must read list . . . .
Denise » I have no doubt, Denise 😉
What an honor to be on this list, Rel! Thanks so much for including Broken Vessel. I LOVED Burning Sky and will add several others to my TBR list! Blessings, dear lady!
Mesu Andrews » A pleasure, Mesu 🙂 Hope you enjoy your selections from my list!
Hi! Thanks for the great list! I always get excited to see what books you pick as your favorites each year. I finally got my list done. Now I can’t wait to read some of these books. Happy New Year and thanks for all you do!
Tami