Saturday, December 31, 2016

Best Books That I Read in 2016!

Okay, so here we go! The top ten books I've read in 2016! Some of these I've written reviews for, others I haven't. I'll leave a synopsis below each photo. :) Thanks for reading!

10) Courageous (Book #3 in the Valiant Heart series) by Dina Sleiman 
Inspired by the vision of the Young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She gladly gives herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church, but dreams of protecting the innocent as a knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of young adolescents. When they face political machinations, danger, and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.
(from Amazon description)
Purchase it here!

9) The Golden Braid (Book #6 in the Medieval Fairy-tale series) by Melanie Dickerson 
Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?
(from Amazon description)
Purchase it here!

8) A Daring Sacrifice (Book #2 in the An Uncertain Choice series) by Jody Hudland 
In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers. Forced to live in the woods and hide with the poor people she's grown to love, she works to save and protect them, but she never anticipates falling in love with the wealthy knight who represents all she's come to despise.
(from Amazon description)
Purchase it here!
  
7) Chivalrous (Book #2 in the Valiant Hearts series) by Dina L. Sleiman
Read my review here!
and then
Purchase it here! 

6) Rules of Murder (Book #1 in the A Drew Farthering Mystery series) by Julianna Deering
Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.
(from Amazon description)
Purchase it here!

5) Summoned to Forgive (Book #2 in the Value His Mission series) by Kaitlyn Newlon 
Read my review here! 
and then 
Purchase it here!

4) Playing the Part (Book #3 in the A Class of There Own series) by Jen Turano 
Read my review here!
and then
Purchase it here!

3) Prophet (Book #1 in the Books of the Infinite series) by R.J. Larson 
Ela Roeh of Parne doesn't understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She's undignified and bad-tempered, and at age seventeen she's much too young. In addition, no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as Parne's elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite's prophet, Ela knows she will die young.

Yet she can't imagine living without Him. Determined to hear the Infinite's voice, Ela accepts the sacred vinewood branch and is sent to bring the Infinite's word to a nation torn apart by war. There she meets a young ambassador determined to bring his own justice for his oppressed people. As they form an unlikely partnership, Ela battles how to balance the leading of her heart with the leading of the Infinite.
(from Amazon description) 
Purchase it here!


2) The Silent Song Bird (Book #7 in the Medieval Fairy-tale series) by Melanie Dickerson 
Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II’s closest advisor, Lord Shiveley—a man twice her age with shadowy motives—Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grow between them.

More than Evangeline’s future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England’s monarchy.Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?
(from Amazon description) 

Purchase it here!

1) Lodestar (Book #5 in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series) by Shannon Messenger 
Read my review for the series here!
and then 
Purchase it here!

If you purchased, read or love any of these books because of my reviews, please let me know in the comments! If any of these books look interesting to you READ THEM! You won't be sorry! And then share this blog post with your friends! :)