Here are the books that I found to be the Best of The Best of all that I read in 2014. Some were published years before, others were new in 2014. A few things about these picks: there are 11 that are historical fiction or have an historical thread, 4 are designated Very Highly Recommended, 2 are audiobooks, 2 were book club selections, 1 is a YA and Sci-fi, 1 is Biblical, and 1 has a supernatural element. I have added some information following each title so you can decide if it is a genre you are interested in. You can also find out more about the books and what I had to say about them by clicking on the titles. Have you read any of these book? What did you think?
*Bad Ground by Dale Cramer (contemporary/literary fiction)
The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry (suspense/North Korea)
*Burning Sky by Lori Benton (historical/late 18th century America)
*The Butterfly And The Violin by Kristy Cambron (contemporary/historical/WWII)
*The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey (contemporary/literary fiction)
Fear Has A Name by Creston Mapes (suspense)
Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton (historical/neo-Western/literary fiction)
Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot (historical/WWII/Rahab)
For Such A Time by Kate Breslin (historical/WWII/Esther)
The Heretic by Henry Brooks-Vyner (historical/Reformation England)
Into The Free by Julie Cantrell (historical/literary fiction/1930s America)
Jupiter Winds by C. J. Darlington (YA/Science Fiction)
Keepers of The Covenant by Lynn Austin (Biblical/Old Testament)
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (contemporary/historical/early 20th century America)
The Painted Table by Suzanne Field (literary fiction)
The Yellow Packard by Ace Collins (mystery/1930s-1940s America)
*Earned Very Highly Recommended Designation
I loved Bad Ground — especially the scene where Snake does his grocery shopping at night so nobody will see how disfigured he is, and even the automatic doors get out of his way, as if to reinforce his rejection. So well done! I liked The Butterfly and the Violin, and although The Devil Walks in Mattingly wasn’t my type of story, it was well done. I’m not a literary fiction fan, and it has to really grab me for me to love it. This year the literary ones I appreciated were Ithaca by Susan Fish and Consider the Sunflowers by Elma Schemenauer.
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. I will have to check out your literary favorites. The literary fiction novels that I love don’t hit the reader over the head, screaming “I am sooo well written; I am above all other books!”. 😉 The novels and novelists that don’t try so hard or take themselves so seriously are the best.
Too true about the best ones not taking themselves so seriously or trying too hard!
I also read and enjoyed Keepers of the Covenant, especially moved by Reuben’s journey and the effect his kippah had, and of course, The Butterfly and the Violin also made my list of favorite reads for the year. A-MA-ZING. 🙂 http://prismaticprospects.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/favorite-reads-2014/
Thanks for stopping by the blog and sharing your Best Of list.
The Yellow Packard by Ace Collins was one of the best books I’ve ever read. All his books are outstanding reads. Great gifts for the avid reader in your life.
Did you know that he wrote an ebook series featuring Helen Meeker? Book 1 is In The President’s Service. Have you read it. It is on my TBR list.
Beckie, thanks for linking at the Saturday Review. I just read two nonfiction accounts of life in the prison that is the entire country of North Korea, so I’ll have to read your #2 pick, The Beloved Daughter.
Sherry, I just finished Slave Again by Alana Terry. In this book she focuses on the human trafficking that goes on between N. Korea and China.