Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

ephesus

5 on Friday: best fiction I've read this year

We’re nearly halfway through the year, and I’ve done a lot of reading already. And with summer on the horizon, maybe you’re looking for some good books to pick up for your free-er time in the next few months.

Here are five (in no particular order) I’ve read and would recommend without hesitation.sleeping in eden

1. Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart. I read this book early in the year and still can’t get it out of my head. Nicole’s literary writing style will grab you and not let go. It’s not a happily-ever-after escapist read, but it is a realistic picture of life and hope.

NobleGroom_mck.indd2. A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund. For the historical romance reader, this book is swoon-worthy. So encouraging and uplifting. Jody is one of my favorite authors and she’s outdone herself on this one!invisible cover

3. Invisible by Ginny Yttrup. This is the antidote to the false messages about body image in the media. This story of three women discovering who they really are despite what they appear to be is challenging and encouraging. Ginny writes from experience with compassion and grace.

congo dawn cover USE4. Congo Dawn by Jeanette Windle. This one takes you into Africa to expose the effects of greed and corruption on a nation rich in natural resources. Jeanette’s books are well-researched and action-packed. forsaken dreams cover

5. I couldn’t choose between So Shines the Night by Tracy Higley and Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall, so I’ll let you decide! Tracy’s is set in Ephesus during the time of the apostle Paul. The Bible stories we read and pass over come to life with her fictional touch. MaryLu’s book is also based in history, just after the Civil War, when Southerners fled to Brazil. A fascinating story, with two more books in the series to come.

so shines the night

This isn’t an exhaustive list of the great fiction out there, but it’s a place to start!

What are your recommended reads for the summer?

5 on Friday: Authors who feed my travel bug

It’s no secret I read a lot. And books have varying effects on me. At times I’m inspired. Often, I’m challenged. And sometimes, reading a story just makes me want to travel.

Here are five authors who make me want to get on a plane or a train and see the world after reading one of their books.

1. Tracy Higley. Her latest book is set in first-century Ephesus (pictured below).

ephesus_harbor_streetShe’s set her books throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, including Greece and Jordan. Every time I finish one of her books, I think about renewing my passport and saving up for a tour of biblical proportions.

2. Dani Pettrey. I’m no fan of cold weather, but she makes Alaska sound like an amazing place to visit. I’m not really into winter sports, either, but her books have put Alaska on my travel map.

3. MaryLu Tyndall. I’m new to her sailing adventures, but she makes sailing the high seas seem adventurous and fun, even if it’s also risky and terrifying. Her most recent series follows a group of Southerners to Brazil after the Civil War. Add Brazil to the travel map, please.

4. Liz Curtis Higgs. Scotland, oh Scotland, how little I appreciated you when I had the chance to visit. Her stories are dreamy, among other things, and my heart longs to see the sights of Scotland again.Minolta DSC

5. Colleen Coble. Whether she’s writing about lighthouses or beaches, she inspires me to take a relaxing vacation, even if the stories she writes are suspenseful and not altogether relaxing.

I need few excuses to want to travel. It’s a good thing budget, time and family keep me more tethered. At least with stories, I can dream a little.