Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

historical fiction

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?

A western for women: Review of Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Since the first time I watched Tombstone, I’ve been a fan of westerns, a genre and setting for stories that I once thought was reserved for men–you know, gun-toting, hard-working, manly men.

That movie, and others, including some John Wayne classics, reformed me.

anna finchAnd books like Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y’Barbo are making me a fan of written westerns.

Anna Finch is an adventurous and unconventional woman who aspires to be a journalist when her father just wants her to get married. Unwilling to settle, Anna pursues her own interests, which lands her in the company of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. She’s also often in the company of Jeb Sanders, a Pinkerton detective her father hired to keep an eye on her.

The plot is somewhat predictable but the story is fun–a light read to pass the time–and I’d look for another book from Y’Barbo in the future. As a writer, I’m curious about where authors get the inspiration for their stories, and Y’Barbo’s explanation of how this story came about is interesting.

I was left with a desire to rewatch Tombstone, and I couldn’t get Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday out of my head.

Overall, if you like the Old West and you’re in the mood for a quick, light, fun read, then check this one out.

Here’s a sneak peek.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/v4QKFHr80t4]