The Seeing Garden (2023) Ginny Kubitz Moyer "This well-written and captivating novel about social manners and stifling expectations imposed on women shines a light on a piece of California history that has been overlooked. A delight for the senses with Moyer's artistic descriptions of gardens and mansions, The Seeing Garden is a page-turner of a story that is sure to inspire today's women who seek creativity and love."
The Maiden of All Our Desires (2022) Peter Manseau "The Maiden of All Our Desires establishes Peter Manseau as an extraordinary storyteller whose ability to create an ominous mood holds the reader spellbound from the first page to the last. He brilliantly exposes the suppressed desires that shape the destinies of his characters. Original, eloquent, and heartbreaking but with delightful flashes of humor, this superb novel will be read and reread for decades to come."
The Chanel Sisters (2020) Judithe Little "With compassion, sensitivity, and dashes of humor, Judithe Little masterfully reveals the little-known story of Coco Chanel’s younger sister, Antoinette. From a convent orphanage to the rue Cambon in Paris, this meticulously researched and emotionally enveloping narrative about the sisters’ determined climb out of poverty and into high society is historical fiction at its finest. Antoinette Chanel will capture your heart. If you read only one book this year, make it The Chanel Sisters."
American Gospel (2020) Lin Enger "No one illuminates father–son relationships better than Lin Enger. He masterfully weaves a deeply moving and unforgettable story about faith, ambition, and the tangled threads that bind family and community. Wise and lyrical, American Gospel kept me spellbound from the first word to the last."
The Flying Cutterbucks (2020) Kathleen M Rodgers "Rodgers skillfully spins a poignant and necessary story about grief, buried memories, and the struggle to come to terms with the past. With sensitivity and an insider's awareness, Rodgers honors the resiliency of military wives and children. Moving and deeply affecting."
The Widows (2019) (Kinship, book 1) Jess Montgomery "With compassion and skill, Jess Montgomery deftly smashes stereotypes and puts a human face on the cost of coal mining in 1924 Appalachian Ohio. Rich with historical details, yet fast paced, The Widows revolves around a murder investigation. But it was the vivid voices of Lily Ross and Marvena Whitcomb that completely captivated my heart and kept me reading long into the night."
The Darkest Time of Night (2018) (Darkest Time of Night, book 1) Jeremy Finley "From the first page, I was hooked on Jeremy Finley’s action-packed thriller. Tension crackles, mysteries abound, and conspiracies escalate in this crisply-written and imaginative novel. As the indomitable heroines (think Thelma and Louise) race against time and UFOs to find a missing child, Finley’s unerring sense of pacing and suspense will make you read far into the darkest time of night."
The Faithful (2017) Juliet West "A vivid and unforgettable story of love . . . Absorbing, fast-paced, and poignant, the portrait of ordinary people caught up in movements bigger than themselves makes this a must-read for today’s readers."
