Want to hear a funny story? I’ve been planning on mixing up my blog posts a bit this year, now that I’m settling into the book blogging community and discovering all the fun things that go on. One of the things I thought I would do this year is Top Ten Tuesday, masterminded by the gals at The Broke and the Bookish. Good plan, huh? Well, I’m good at plans. But here is a classic example of what happens when plans land in my hands:
- As if I could restrict my list to 10! I think I’ll limit myself to releases in the first half of 2017;
- *Looks through list of books releasing in first half of 2017* Okaaaaaay. Maybe we’ll make that the Top Twenty Tuesday. All good. Numbers are nebulous in these lists anyway.
- Oh no! It’s already Wednesday. Hey, that’s cool. Most of my readers are in the States. It’s still Tuesday there. It still works.
- *Reads other blog posts on the topic and notices word ‘debut’* Hmm. Do they mean debut authors or debut books. That could totally screw with my list.
- You know what, all of the books I’ve chosen are debuting in 2017. That totally counts, right? It’s not like they’re already on my ever-burgeoning TBR pile!
- Yikes! It’s almost Wednesday even in the States! I am so behind!
- *Decides to start blog post*
- Gets distracted by everyone else’s blog posts and all the extra books she could add…
- Top Twenty Thursday works, yes?
Sigh…
So, without further ado, here is my Top Twenty Wednesday post: 2017 New Releases I Can’t Wait to Get My Grubby Little Mitts On (in order of release):
Murder on the Moor – Julianna Deering
Releasing: 31 January 2017
What can I say? I ❤️ Drew! Quintessential English gentleman and amateur detective.
Rescue Me – Susan May Warren
Releasing: 31 January 2017
An author who needs no introduction. If you have read Wild Montana Skies you will be keen to follow some story threads that began there, and if you read the sneak peak scene at her Facebook party… whoa! Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Maybe It’s You – Candace Calvert
Releasing: 3 February 2017
Step by Step (the previous novel in this series) was one of my favourite reads of 2016, and I have been waiting for Nurse Sloan’s story ever since!
Sugar – Kimberly Stuart
Releasing: 7 February 2017
I discovered Kimberly Stuart through her Heidi Elliott series late in 2016. I was an instant fan! Boy can she make me laugh! But there’s always heart, too.
Redeeming Grace – Jill Eileen Smith
Releasing: 14 February 2017
Biblical Fiction is one of my favourite genres, and I can’t wait to read Jill Eileen Smith’s retelling of Ruth’s story.
The Illusionist’s Apprentice – Kristy Cambron
Releasing: 7 March 2017
I love Kristy’s writing, and it only seems to get better with each novel. Last year’s release, The Ringmaster’s Wife, was my favourite yet. But this is Houdini’s world! Irresistible!
If I’m Found – Terri Blackstock
Releasing: 21 March 2017
Talk about sucked in! I read the first in this series, If I Run, last year and from the moment I picked it up I couldn’t put it down. I NEED to read this book!
The Memory of You – Catherine West
Releasing: 28 March 2017
Like many readers, I love a good romance. But for me, a good romance has a lot more than romance to the story. Catherine West does this really well, and I loved her 2016 release, The Things We Knew, so I can’t wait to see what she has to offer in this story.
Beyond Justice – Cara Putman
Releasing: 4 April 2017
There is something so intellectually invigorating about a good legal/political thriller. As an ex-legal secretary myself, I have always had a keen interest in the law, and it gives me a great excuse to check out a new-to-me author.
Life After – Katie Ganshert
Releasing: 18 April 2017
Katie Ganshert will be another new-to-me author for 2017, but I’ve heard so many good things about her novel The Art of Losing Myself that I simply must read this book.
Wings of the Wind – Connilyn Cossette
Releasing: 2 May 2017
Another Biblical Fiction title, this time from 2016 debut author Connilyn Cossette. She won me over with both of her 2016 releases, Counted with the Stars, and Shadow of the Storm and I can’t wait to read Wings of the Wind.
True to You – Becky Wade
Releasing: 2 May 2017
A brand new series from Becky Wade? Yes please! What more is there to say?
Looking Glass Lies – Varina Denman
Releasing: 2 May 2017
I loved Varina’s Mended Hearts series, so I can’t wait to see what she has for us in this novel about a woman’s struggle with a distorted view of beauty.
Firstborn – Tosca Lee
Releasing: 2 may 2017
Progeny was another ‘Wow!’ read for me in 2016. Audra Ellison’s story continues in Firstborn and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
High as the Heavens – Kate Breslin
Releasing: 6 June 2017
I love WWII fiction, and although I haven’t reviewed it, I loved Kate Breslin’s first release, For Such a Time. I haven’t managed to pick up a copy of her second release, Not By Sight, but I’m sure not going to miss this one.
Bread of Angels – Tessa Afshar
Releasing: 6 June 2017
I did say I liked Biblical fiction, didn’t I? 🙂 Lydia, seller of purple cloth, made a brief appearance as a young child in Land of Silence, and now we’re going to get her story.
The Divide – Jolina Petersheim
Releasing: 6 June 2017
In The Alliance we were introduced the Mennonite community who formed a tentative alliance with Englishers stranded in their midst after an electro-magnetic pulse wiped out the power grid. Now, we’re about to get the conclusion to their story. Not to be missed.
Jane of Austin – Hillary Manton Lodge
Releasing: 6 June 2017
Well, it’s Jane Austen! I mean, Jane of Austin; a modern adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. How am I supposed to pass that up?
The Evaporation of Sofi Snow – Mary Weber
Releasing: 6 June 2017
Not my usual genre, but I loved Mary’s Storm Siren trilogy, and every so often my dominant left-brain needs something to shake it up a little. Or a lot!
Ascension of Larks – Rachel Linden
Releasing: 20 June 2017
As far as I’m aware, Rachel Linden is a debut author in 2017 (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). It’s the cover and description that have me anticipating this release. I feel as though the story has already woven a web around my heart, and that’s only from the description!
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Is there such a thing as a baker’s twenty? You know, like a baker’s dozen? Well, there is now. Here’s another one I’m throwing in for free:
Catching the Wind – Melanie Dobson
Releasing: 9 May 2016
Melanie Dobson will be another new-to-me author in 2017, but doesn’t the cover alone totally capture your attention? And then you read the description. *shivers in anticipation*
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You didn’t really think I was finished yet, did you? The following books didn’t make my ‘official’ list because because they have unconfirmed release dates and I can’t provide any links yet, but they are DEFINITELY on my radar.
Begin Again – Crystal Walton
Crystal’s newest a contemporary romance will hopefully be releasing in February, and features Ti from Write Me Home. Here’s a little teaser from the back cover:
What happens when a free-spirited artist from big-city New York collides with an uptight business owner from small-town Ocracoke? Fireworks. The kind neither saw coming.
Connect with Crystal to keep up to date on this release:
Facebook | Website
Tamara Leigh – If you’re a fan of Tamara’s Age of Faith series, great news! Sir Durand is finally getting his own book! Sometime in the spring (northern hemisphere) is the word on the street. If you want to keep up to date, connect with Tamara:
Kara Isaac – A little birdie has told me to keep a look out for a new release coming in the early summer (northern hemisphere) titled Then There Was You. And it’s set in Sydney, Australia :-). Connect with Kara to keep up to date on this release:
Melissa Tagg – Another new release coming sometime in the summer (again, northern hemisphere) is Bear and Reagan’s story – part of the Walker Family series, tentatively titled All This Time. *Squeeeeee!* Connect with Melissa to keep up to date on this release.
Pepper Basham – I’ve saved this one for last (although it is in no way least), even though it will be releasing earlier than some of the others – April 2017 – because I can actually include a sneak peek at the back cover of this novel. Front cover reveal will be coming on Valentine’s Day, so keep your eyes peeled (or connect with Pepper via Facebook or her website). This will be the first in a new contemporary series Pepper has dubbed ‘Britallachian romance’ and it’s title is Just the Way You Are:
PHEW! I think that’s it. Until June…
Awww, thanks for including Drew. I hope you enjoy the new book. 😀
I’m sure I will 🙂
So fun!! You must read my friend Katie Ganshert’s books immediately!! You will love her. Thanks for your lovely words and for including The Memory of You on this list!! 🙂 Yes, there will definitely be romance. 🙂 And #tissuealert
I’ll be sure to have tissues on standby! Do you think a purse pack should cover it? 😢 Or will I get the value box? 😭
Kimberly Stuart has an odd bio on goodreads…
“Stuart writes comedic women’s fiction that has an infusion of faith. However, she seems to make Christians nervous. Read at your own risk, then, and e-mail her publisher if you must.”
I read your review of Better Together.
Did Kimberly Stuart make you nervous?
Oh dear! I hadn’t seen that! It definitely sounds like her sense of humour though! 😄 I can perhaps see why that might be said of ‘Balancing Act’ – the storyline deals with emotional unfaithfulness in marriage and I know she got some negative reviews for portraying a character who struggled with that. I guess that story did make me uncomfortable in some ways, but I saw that as a good thing because we should feel uncomfortable about some of the choices the character made in that novel. It was the same ‘uncomfortable’ feeling that should whisper to me if I fell into that trap in my own life. Does that make sense?
Also, some people may simply not ‘get’ her brand of dry humour. And I should add I have only read ‘Balancing Act’ and ‘Better Together’ so far…
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Looking Glass Lies. Thanks for including it on your list. LGL was challenging to write, but I really enjoyed it. 🙂
I’m sure it will be a great read! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
More great reads I need to make time for!
Indeed! And that’s not including the ones already waiting for me. Like yours 🙂
🙂
Wow, what a great list of books! Thanks so much for posting and including High As The Heavens!
I have to confess that when I first discovered Bread of Heaven I squealed out loud (usually it’s just in my head lol)
Lol! I’m becoming super grown up about keeping it in my head 😄
Haha!