A Few Of My Favorite 2014 Reads

My aim was to post this list at the first of the year, but I'm 13 days late! Better late than never, as they say. This is a list of some of my favorite reads of 2014. You may not have heard of many of these books because I typically only read books my friends have written and they all qualify as Christian Fiction. These aren't in any particular order, but I do recommend every one of them!

 The Circle Girls: Once Upon A Witch, By: Anya Novikov

God will give you blood to drink. An ordinary teenager finds out what witch-hunting is all about—in her own everyday world. Deliverance “Delli” Willis, a normal, almost-sixteen-year-old, finds herself dreaming wild dreams about a girl in 1692 who is also named Deliverance. And then, to Delli’s amazement, the stuff of dreams appears in her classroom unit on the Salem Witch Trials! It will take lessons from her dreamscape and a stand against bullies to tighten Delli’s faith in God and pull her through some trials of her own.

Homeschooling Can Be Murder, By: Susan Lyttek

When army wife and homeschooling mom, Jeanine Talbott’s husband’s transfer orders come through, she lets him pick out the new house while she and the kids wrap up the life they’ve grown to love. She arrives at their new residence to discover he bought a charming fixer-upper complete with strange neighbors—a graveyard full of Civil War veterans and one fresh dead body. Suddenly, the Talbotts have two mysteries on their hands: who killed the treasure hunter, and what secret was he trying to uncover at the tomb of town hero, Captain Cooperton?

That Wasn’t Chicken – Linda Kozar 

Murder, mystery meat and morning sickness! Hudson and Lovita are expecting and she’s having trouble keeping food down for the first time in her life. Her best friend, Sue Jan is busy juggling mommy-hood. And the Crown of Glory Beauty Salon and Boutique is busier than a one-toothed man in a corn-on-the-cob-eating contest. Things are great until a handsome law intern disappears after an argument with their top stylist’s once-upon-a-time wayward son. So Lovita and Sue Jan put down their forks and pick up the trail to solve the mystery before Jolene’s son has to trade in his chef’s uniform for prison stripes. But the super-sized sleuths soon discover something very unusual about a popular new barbecue restaurant in town. Does everything taste like chicken, or did they risk it eating brisket?

Unlikely Praise, By: Carla Rossi

A tattooed rocker and an uptight music teacher-who says God doesn't have a sense of humor? Candi has been the worship leader at her church since the doors opened. So when the church explodes into mega-church territory, Candi is sure she'll be the one to take her team to the next level. But, church leadership has other ideas. She's given a partner, a one-time rocker with zero praise and worship experience? Recently saved Samuel, "Shade" is new to the church scene and is convinced it’s just what he needs. The Ex-Dead Lizard rock guitarist is shocked when the pastor suggests he might be just what the worship team needs. But could God really want him? And what about his less-than-Godly lifestyle to this point-not the least of which is a baby girl he's never seen? Worship practice has never been this interesting as Candi and Shade work their way towards each other-and Unlikely Praise.

Worth The Wait – Laura Jackson
Ellie Lansing has a picture-perfect life with a close-knit family and the perfect boyfriend. But her world is suddenly knocked off center when her drool-worthy boyfriend cheats, and her always-has-it-together mother is diagnosed with cancer. Ellie doesn't get it. She always does the right thing - doesn't God owe her a happy life? Through her heartache, Ellie learns that sometimes what seems like the end is really just the beginning and that what God has for us is always worth the wait. 

 Adventures With Vinnie – Donna Winters

Fred and Donna Winters, a retired couple from Michigan cares a great deal about shelter animals. After the loss of one of their dogs they decide to give an older dog a chance to have a ‘forever’ home and chose Vinnie from the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter. Adventures With Vinnie is the true story of the Winters’ life with their not-so-trainable, Doberman Lab mix named Vinnie.

A Cry From The Dust, By: Carrie Stuart Parks

In the shadow of the Mormon Church, a 19th-century conspiracy is about to be shattered by a 21st-century forensic artist. In 1857, a wagon train in Utah was assaulted by a group of militant Mormons calling themselves the Avenging Angels. One hundred and forty people were murdered, including unarmed men, women, and children. The Mountain Meadows Massacre remains controversial to this day—but the truth may be written on the skulls of the victims.