My Top Three Books of 2017

“So many books, so little time.” 
― Frank Zappa

If you have visited my Goodreads profile you might have noticed that I have very few books in my ‘favorite’ shelf. I am very selective when it comes to choosing a favorite book. Sometimes I am torn when I have to decide if a book has what it takes to make it to my 'favorite' shelf. In order for a book to make it to my ‘favorite’ folder, it must contain the following:

1 - An emotional ending – If a book makes me sob for hours and hours afterwards, until my eyes feel raw and completely shut!

2 - Memorable characters – Sometimes you read a book that stays with you long after you have finished reading it. I think the reason is mainly due to the characters. In my opinion, a good character will tug at your heart from begin to end. When you feel the character’s pain and go through highs and lows together, a very special connection happens. When you pray that everything turns out okay for them, you know you have encountered a memorable character. 

3 - Attention to detail – A great book will suck you right into a whole different world. The author has taken the time to describe the surroundings in every single page. Few books do this. When you are certain that you are able to smell what the author is describing, or vividly see what the character sees and feel the cold of a winter's night while you sit under a tree, reading this book during a warm summer's day.

Bellow you will find the top three books I read this year. There are so many out there and I was unable to get to a few I wanted to read before the year is over. I was 5 books short of my goal. This are only for books released within the last six months!

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#3 -  The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

I am not a big fan of fantasy. I have nothing against it or those who enjoy it. I don’t recall ever feeling compelled to read it. This book was one exception. I came across this book via Goodreads giveaways and was given to me as an Advanced Readers Copy. It sat on my shelf for weeks until I decided to give it a try. What do I have to lose, right? Boy, am I glad! I found this story refreshing and very entertaining with a very strong message. You cannot escape who you are and where you come from. It’s a wonderful story about destiny, love and family. At times I cried and laugh. I became angry and yelled at the characters! If you are a fantasy fan, or even if you are not, I am 100% sure that you will enjoy this book.

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# 2 - The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor

Historical fiction is my weakness! I particularly enjoy reading World War Two historical fiction and this book gave me exactly what I wanted. This book came to me as an ARC via NetGalley. I specifically requested this book after reading the blurb. WOW! This one hooked me from the start. I so enjoy a story about survival through the worst circumstances. I learned a great deal as I followed Nell and her sister Olive on an amazing journey. This book left me with a wonderful feeling inside and when a book manages to leave me wanting more, it makes it my favorite!

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#1 - The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

This one was in audio format and I think it’s the narration that did it for me. Though the story is fiction, a few events in the story were based on actual events. This book started out with a mediocre main character and I know it may sound mean. Believe me, I know! As the story moves along the character is developed beautifully. I went from “Wow, this character is really annoying.” To “I love you! Please be okay, please!” I am always looking for subtle ways in which the characters are developed and this one caught me completely off guard.  I was not sure when the change happen but the author did an outstanding job with this one. 

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Though there were others I enjoyed and would recommend (stay tuned for my top ten, all-time), these three have stayed with me and will remain in my heart for years to come! 

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New Year, New Books

2018 is right around the corner and with it comes new books!

2017 has been a productive year for me as far as reading goes. I discovered new authors like Barbara Claypole White, author of Echoes of Family which touches on mental illness. 

Kimberly Belle and The Marriage Lie, a great thriller! 

I discovered a refreshing voice in CathyLamb with Henry’s Sisters and The Last Time I was Me (among others).  

I still read my usual authors including JD Robb with Echoes in Death and Secretes in Death. This series remains my number one. 

I traveled up the California coast with Catherine Ryan Hyde’s Allie and Bea and read her newest release, The Wake Up. 

Diane Chamberlain’s The Stolen Marriage is in my top three this year. Not only is it an outstanding read but look at this stunning cover! 

I was late to the party (by a couple years) but Kristin Hanna’s The Nighingale finally made its way to the top of my TBR list. It broke me into a million pieces but it made it to my top three. 

Alice Hoffman’s The Rules of Magic stole my heart . It was a wonderful story about accepting who you are. This one completed my top three.

2018 looks promising with a few books that I am definitely looking forward to. This of course includes JD Robb’s Dark inDeath and Leverage in Death, number 46 and 47 in the series. 

Krisntin Hanna’s The Great Alone is one of the most anticipated books this year and one I am looking forward to. I do believe The Nighingale has set quite a bar for Hanna’s work moving forward. 

We will get acquainted with Louisa Clark in Jojo Moyes’ StillMe. I want to know what Louisa is up to when she moves to New York.

The Wife Between us by  Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is one of the best thrillers coming out next year. 

Of my newly discovered authors, I am looking forward to The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White. 

I have a good feeling about The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor. I believe it has the potential to be a number one along with Susan Meissner’s As Bright as Heaven.

I usually focus on the first half of the year that way I can attempt to keep up with my TBR list. What about you? Which books made your top three this year and which ones are you most excited about in 2018? I’d love to see your recommendations in the comments. Happy new year and of course, Happy Reading!

Review - The Runaway Children by Sandy Taylor

5 ✩✩✩✩✩

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.” ― Mark Twain

WOW!!!!! 

There are books that leave a mark in the heart of a reader. A book that is so beautifully written that you are sure it will become an instant classic. I believe this is one of them. It reads like a classic. If you love Anne of Green Gables, Jane Eyre and Before We Were Yours you will fall in love with this one. 

The story takes place in 1942 London during The Blitz bombings of WWII. Thirteen year old Nell, her eleven year old brother Tony, and five year old sister, Olive are asked to evacuate the city they live in as a means of surviving the threat of daily bomb raids. Nell is forced to take on the role of protector and be her siblings’ only guide. 

Sandy Taylor takes us on an unforgettable journey of hope, love, heartbreak and resilience. The book had me hoping and praying for a good ending because I fell in love with the characters right away. I wanted them to be okay, to fight and survive and be loved and cared for. 

I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction and this book is now one of my favorite. It’s Right up there with the Book Thief, The Nightingale and very few others. One of the character in particular, stole my heart; made me laugh and cry and hope and cheer right along. 

I always look for subtle ways in which the author develops their characters. I enjoy seeing them grow and I don’t mean in a physical-grown-up sense. Nell was developed in a way that left me feeling proud of her. From a lost girl in East End to becoming her sibling’s only hope. 

This story had me in tears throughout. Tears of joy and sorrow. I cheered and cringed. Each one of the characters is special to me as most showed how wonderful it is to be able to help those less fortunate. It left me feeling hopeful and wanting more! Only few books can have that effect on me. I am ready to read it again!