I’m linking up with the Broke and Bookish ladies today and sharing my spring To Be Read (TBR) pile. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a member of two street teams this spring. Such fun to have a tiny little role in supporting these authors, so their books are definitely at the top of my pile.
1. Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt: her third novel is already creating a buzz among fans of inspirational women’s fiction. Here’s the blurb from Amazon …
“Can a young widow find love again with her husband’s reflection?
Haley’s three-year marriage to Sam, an army medic, ends tragically when he’s killed in Afghanistan. Her attempts to create a new life for herself are ambushed when she arrives home one evening—and finds her husband waiting for her. Did the military make an unimaginable mistake when they told her Sam was killed?
Too late to make things right with his estranged twin brother, Stephen discovers Sam never told Haley about him. As Haley and Stephen navigate their fragile relationship, they are inexorably drawn to each other. How can they honor the memory of a man whose death brought them together—and whose ghost could drive them apart?
Somebody Like You is a beautifully rendered, affecting novel, reminding us that while we can’t change the past, we have the choice to change the future and start anew.”
2. Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg: this is book #2 in Melissa’s Where Love Begins Series and I’m eager to get my hands on this one. Melissa has a great sense of humor and it really shines in her writing. Blake played an intriguing role as a minor character in book #1, but now he’s back as the star of the show. Fans of heartwarming contemporary romance will take great delight in reading this story of a nomad trying to build a life in his hometown and win the heart of a girl who wants nothing more than to pursue her dream of living abroad.
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This has been on my TBR pile forever but it’s rising ever closer to the top. People just keep talking about the sarcastic, teenage protagonist and her battle with cancer. I have to read it before it becomes a movie.
4. Second Star to the Right by Mary Alice Monroe. My father-in-law introduced me to Mary Alice Monroe’s work a while back and I’m always thrilled when she releases a new novel. This one is described as a modern twist on the age-old Peter Pan fairy tale.
5. Love Gone Wild (Reality Show) by Amy Matayo. This new release by Amy Matayo strikes my fancy because the characters are filming a reality show in Alaska. Any contemporary novel set in my home state intrigues me. I loved Amy’s debut release, The Wedding Game. Fans of reality show television will love her sense of humor and find themselves rooting for the characters’ happily ever after.
6. A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert. This third novel is going to blow us away, I can already tell. One of my favorite things about Katie’s books is that she takes us straight into the conflict and turmoil of her characters’ lives. The subtle weaving of the characters’ journey with a heartwarming romance makes for an enjoyable read. Very excited about this one.
7. Surprised By Motherhood by Lisa Jo Baker. I’ve enjoyed Lisa Jo’s blog posts and participating in her Five Minute Friday flash mob of writing prompts for a couple of years. I’m thrilled that her honest, poignant and humorous perspective on motherhood is going to be published and available to the masses.
8. Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. Another new release that I’ve been talking about forever and now it’s finally available. Everything Sarah writes is magical and delightful.
9. Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen. A brilliant writer, this one needs no introduction. Her work is like the best cup of coffee with a side of decadent Swiss chocolate. I’m always sad when I turn the last page.
10. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. Heavy stuff here. Bullying. First love. Abuse in the home. Although the characters are teenagers and it’s probably a YA novel, I’m thinking this appeals to a broader audience. I adored Attachments and I’m thrilled that she continues to generate new novels. Good on ‘ya, Rainbow Rowell.
So many of these look fantastic! I will have to check out Love Gone Wild and her debut. I hope you love TFIOS!
Hi, Caitie! Thanks for stopping by. I finished Love Gone Wild over the weekend, a very enjoyable read. Yes, really looking forward to reading TFIOS. Have a great day.
Adding some of these to my list!! Thanks!
#ThrowbackThursdaylinkup
Hi, Carie. Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad I’ve fueled your TBR pile. Happy reading!
I really loved your synopses and recs! Second Star to the Right sounds like one for me. What is your book about?
Bonnie, Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to start reading Second Star very soon … I got pulled into Gone Girl when it became available through the library, so I need to finish that first. There just isn’t enough time to read. 😉 Thanks for asking about my book: Unraveled is about a young woman blindsided by her fiancé’s unethical behavior. She returns home to Alaska to find her grandmother battling dementia and her parents struggling to keep their bed and breakfast afloat. The hero of the novel is a whitewater rafting guide and the heroine’s childhood sweetheart. He longs to give their relationship a second chance. When the heroine’s shameful secret is revealed, the hero’s trust is shattered… will she run away again or open her heart to healing, hope and forgiveness? It’s inspirational women’s fiction with a touch of romance. If I’ve captured your interest, it’s available from Amazon on 4/29/2014 as an e book. 😉
Hi! Loved reading your list. Still Life with Bread Crumbs is on my TBR list too! Thanks for sharing — I am always looking for a new read. That is so exciting you have a novel coming out! I have always wanted to write a book, and have started some, but have never completed them! LOL
Hey, Lauren. Thanks for reading my list and taking the time to say hello. I put off my dream of writing a book until I just couldn’t stand it any more. The compulsion to write was very strong. It was also very hard and then enduring the editing/re-writing process. I’m going to give it another go, though. It’s a very rewarding experience.
I have a few of these on my TBR list, but some of the others sound so good I’m going to go check them out on goodreads! Thanks for the recommendations! Stopped by from #ThrowbackThursdaylinkup
http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com
Hey, Heidi. 😉 I’m hearing great things about Beth Vogt and Katie Ganshert’s new releases and their previous novels have been very good if inspirational fiction is a genre you enjoy. I’m working my way through this list. Thanks for stopping by, always fun to meet another Heidi.
#3, YES! YES! YES! It’s a wonderful book and you do need to read it before you watch it. I just read it in January but one of my top 3 favorite of all time. I missed this Top Ten Tuesday, but I would like to read #7, #8 and #10. Thanks for adding more books to my extensive TBR list already! 🙂
I appreciate you linking up with #ThrowbackThursdaylinkup and my Small Victories Sunday linkup. I enjoy getting to know you and your blog better.
Top 3 favorites of all time? Wow. Now I definitely want to read it. Thanks for hosting such wonderful linkups, Tanya. So fun to connect with other moms of 3 boys.