So way back at the beginning of July (you know, eons ago), several bloggers were listing their favorite reads of the first half of 2013. I thought it would be fun to join in, but then never did. Well better late than never, right? So here I am. Giving you my list (picked from the 51 books I've read so far this year). I also decided to add to my criteria. Basically, to earn a spot on this list, the book had to be an excellent read along with having an excellent cover! So let's get to the lovelies, shall we? :) {As of this moment, these are in no particular order.}
I know I said these are in no particular order, but I do have to admit something. Barefoot Summer is by far my favorite read of the year! We'll see if the next five months bring a story to rival its place, but for right now? That one takes top honors! :) Cover-wise, all of these are fabulous. But I think Scarlet is my favorite there. What's your favorite read and/or favorite cover of the year so far?
My favorites so far are A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS and THE CAT THAT GOD SENT. I really enjoyed reading both these books very much and like both covers too! The first one is Christian historical romance by four different authors all writing a novella about mail-order brides.
ReplyDeleteA Bride For All Seasons sounds pretty good! I like novellas. They're good for when I don't have a lot of time to read. Thanks, Karen! :)
DeleteI haven't read as many as you, but some of my favorites are "A Most Peculiar Circumstance" by Jen Turano, "Glamorous Illusions" by Lisa T. Bergren, "Bleeding Heart" by Amber Stokes, and "By the Light of the Silver Moon" by Tricia Goyer.
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet got a copy of "Cinder," but I still do hope to try it.
Grace, you have no idea how honored I am to see Bleeding Heart on your list. Thank you so much for reading it! I'm blessed to know you enjoyed it. :)
Delete~Amber
P.S. You're planning on reading Grave Consequences, right?? I loved it even more than Glamorous Illusions! :)
Yay! Agree with you Grace regarding BH. :) Need to finish that.
DeleteGrace, I actually haven't read any on your list! One day I will get to Lisa's series. I keep reading such wonderful things about it! And for sure gong to get to Bleeding Heart. Cannot wait to dive into that one! :)
DeleteI loved Cinder! I hope you get the chance to read it soon. :)
Amber, CANNOT wait to read your book! I know I've been all excited about it for ages and you're probably wondering why on earth I haven't read it yet. But I'm saving it for my trip next week. I think it'll make an excellent story for the plane ride. :)
DeleteMe too, Rissi. Me too! I've got it planned for my trip next week. Another reason to look forward to August! :)
DeleteGoodness, you've read way more books than me! I like the cover for Edenbrooke. And I just took a look at your review! It sounds fun. Klassen's and Hunter's covers are nice as well. 'Barefoot Summer' will be coming soon for me. As for my answers, cover-wise I'd go with Katie Ganshert's 'Wishing on Willows'. Story-wise. 'No Safe Harbor' Elizabeth Ludwig. 'Iscariot' by Tosca Lee. 'What are You Waiting for' by Dannah Gresh. 'The Breath of Dawn' by Kristen Heitzmann. 'The Great Divorce' C.S Lewis. 'Wishing on Willlows'. 'To Whisper Her Name' by Tamera Alexander.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Kara! Hope you have a good day! :)
Oooo, you've got some great ones on your list, Ganise! Hope to get to some of those myself before too long. :) Katie's sounds great, and can't wait to crack open Kristen's! Your recommendations are usually wonderful, so I shall look forward to trying some of the others. Thanks!
DeleteAwesome list! I think I've read about the same amount (50-ish) so far this year... My favorites (stories, but they also have awesome covers!) of 2013 so far are Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren, Recalled by Cambria Hebert, and Songstone by Lena Goldfinch...however, I think Scarlet might need to be on that list, too! I gave it 5 stars but didn't mark it as a favorite... I might change my mind - we'll see! ;) I really did love it. :)
ReplyDeleteOf the ones you noted, I've read Cinder, Scarlet, Edenbrooke, The Ryn, and The Tutor's Daughter - all of which are fantastic reads! I also have For Darkness Shows the Stars, Glass Girl, and Barefoot Summer on my TBR pile. Excited to read them - and I'm especially excited to hear how much you loved Barefoot Summer!! Yay!!
~Amber
I've never kept track before, Amber. I'm amazed at just how many I do read! ;)
DeleteI have really got to get to Lisa's series soon, everyone is raving over them. Still haven't gotten to Recalled yet either, but I plan to! And oh yes, Scarlet is simply awesome. I can't wait to listen to it again! :D
I will look forward to your thoughts on those three books. Especially Barefoot Summer! Pretty sure that one is on my favorites list to stay! :D
Woohoo! Fun list, Kara.
ReplyDeleteYou know I almost did this a while back also then thought, "nope! I do a 'best of' at the end of the year and I am sticking with that." So that's what I did! Barefoot Summer was an EXCELLENT book (cannot wait for your thoughts Amber). It'll definitely be my top favorites also. Several of these are on my TBR list also. Just haven't gotten to them - glad to add your praise to help along that excitement.
There's been to many cool covers to pick the best!
Thanks Rissi!
DeleteMainly I used this as an excuse to look back at what I'd read so far and what I thought of them. After reading so many books, it was nice to go back and remember what I'd read at the beginning of the year. :)
I shall look forward to your thoughts on some of these stories someday soon! :D And I do agree. Picking covers is HARD! It helped to narrow my selection to just what I'd read this year. But still. So I know exactly what you're saying.
Nice list, Kara! I haven't read any of these (as yet), but I've got multiple on my TBR: The Tutor's Daughter, Edenbrooke and I just found out my library holds copies of Cinder and Scarlet, so I'll give those a try as well. My favourites this year were a reread of a Dutch children's favourite Crusade in Jeans and Her daughter's dream/Her mother's hope by Francine Rivers
ReplyDeleteThank you, Birdie! :) I hope you enjoy them. Will look forward to your thoughts someday! Have you read Laura Frantz's other books? She's a favorite author of mine.
DeleteI actually haven't read those by Francine Rivers. But I love her Mark of the Lion series. I'll have to try those two.
I just looked up Crusade in Jeans. It sounds quite fascinating! Thanks for the recommendation! :)
I think my favorite stuff I have read this year has been Rainbow Rowell's stuff, I just discovered Attachments and Eleanor and Park.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Alex! Rainbow is an excellent writer! I haven't gotten to Eleanor and Park yet, but I plan to someday. And Attachments is definitely a favorite! :)
DeleteI've read 4 of those, but the rest of them are on my wishlist! I just got Seraphina from PBS, so I'm looking forward to reading it. If Barefoot Summer is your favorite among *those* books(which I've heard marvelous things about), it's definitely going on my reading list! :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished Dragonwitch a few days ago, and it's definitely a favorite of the year for me. Blackmoore, too!
Yay for Seraphina and Barefoot Summer, Bluerose! I loved both of those so much. But definitely Barefoot Summer was amazing. Some books just hit the right moment and the right story and all that. This was that book for me. :D
DeleteOoooo, I cannot wait to read Blackmoore! And I haven't read any of Anne Elisabeth Stengl's series. I keep hearing everyone raving over them, so I must change that fact soon! :)