Favorite Book Titles 2024

November 22, 2024January 6, 202611 Comments

Yes, I know— “a rose by any other name…” and sometimes different books’ names are the same. 😀 Even so, it’s something when the very sound of a book title makes a remarkable impression on me. Here are the books I read over the past year with titles that most stood out to me. They’re listed in the order I read them.

Readers:
Don’t miss the additional books to pick up at the end of the list, along with the bottom link to Annual Book Awards posts.

Inventing Victoria
•
I was immediately intrigued to find out what the exact nature of such an invention would be.

Young Adult Historical Fiction
by Tonya Bolden
•
A young woman wishes to reach the upper echelons of Black society in 19th-century America.
(some violent historical events; some references to sex work but no explicit sexual content)

Audacity
•
The title, left to one word rather than having further terms for embellishment, is a bold preview in itself.

Young Adult Historical Fiction
by Melanie Crowder
•
A young woman devotes herself to the labor fight in New York near the turn of the 20th century. Inspired by the real-life story of Clara Lemlich.
(some violence)

Before the Ever After
•
Because there’s always a “before”…

Middle Grade Fiction
by Jacqueline Woodson
•
The young son of a pro football star, and the effects of his dad’s head injuries.

The Supreme Macaroni Company
•
First, the title is so blatantly different from the titles of the two previous novels about this heroine. Then, reading the novel gave me a strong impression about the title’s significance—which I’ll explain in a private message, if you ask me. (Private, because spoilers.)

Women’s Fiction
by Adriana Trigiani
•
It’s up to Valentine to turn the esteemed past of her family’s shoemaking business into a glorious future.
(minimal language; fade-to-black marital intimacy)

Earth’s the Right Place for Love
•
Isn’t it, though?

A Historical Love Story
by Elizabeth Berg
•
He’s in love with the most desirable girl in his high school class. But she has a crush on his older brother.
(some violence; brief language)

Embers in the London Sky
•
In a sky that was made for heathery clouds and plenty of rain, instead there floated remnants of fire.

Christian Historical Romance
by Sarah Sundin
•
World War II. A BBC correspondent in a burning capital city. And a widow desperate to find her three-year-old son.
(war violence; theme of domestic abuse)

Saving Savannah
•
In a novel following the invention of a certain Victoria, I couldn’t help but wonder how this Savannah would need saving.

Young Adult Historical Fiction
by Tonya Bolden
•
After the Great War, an upper-class Black American teenage girl longs to play a role in widespread social change.
(some violence)

The Inimitable Jeeves
•
Indeed, there’s a no-brainer-ish quality to this title. Because, hey, within about a minute of meeting the iconic Jeeves, you know he’s inimitable. (Whether or not that’s a term you use on the regular.)

Go to The Inimitable Jeeves on Goodreads

Fan art by Nadine C. Keels: not an official book cover

Vintage Fiction | Humor
by P.G. Wodehouse
•
An aunt’s unwanted matchmaking. A chump who falls in love every other day. And a savvy valet to get it all sorted.
(Gentle Read)

Love & Saffron
•
Two key, simple ingredients make for an effective, flavorful title, here.

Historical Fiction
by Kim Fay
•
Their shared appreciation for cuisine. And the start of their life-changing friendship.
(Gentle Read)

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice
•
Sparkling, chilling, beautiful—the wonder of nature. Even as, sometimes, the wonder can be ominous.

Christian Historical Fiction
by Rebecca Connolly
•
The captain of the Carpathia wakes to a distress signal from a ship on its maiden voyage: the Titanic.
(brief mild language; brief violence)

In the Shadow of a Queen
•
I got such a sense of this novel’s plot from the title…the more so as my eyes followed the title down the queenly, imposing portrait on the book cover.

Historical Fiction
by Heather B. Moore
•
She’s a princess whose artistic passion and political beliefs set her at odds with her mother: Queen Victoria.
(Gentle Read)

Entries for 2024’s Favorite Book Titles giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and mailing addresses only in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. One randomly determined winner will be notified by email on Monday, December 2, 2024. If the winner does not respond by Wednesday, December 4, 2024, a different entrant will be selected. Add p[dot]prospects[at]live[dot]com to your address book to ensure that a giveaway notification isn’t sent to your junk mail/spam box. For additional giveaway terms, see the Blog Giveaways and Giveaway Privacy information on my Policies page. Entering the giveaway indicates your agreement to the terms.

You can pick up free Kindle copies of the precursor to The Inimitable Jeeves and one of my past picks with a Favorite Title below! (The Kindle book covers will differ.) Be sure to double-check the prices before downloading.

My Man Jeeves
A series of hijinks in New York City with a hapless English gentleman and his ingenious valet!
•

Where Love Is, There God Is Also
A shoemaker is in for an exquisite lesson.

A love story played on heartstrings
•
Thinking up titles for my own stories can be like taking a short soul journey. In the case of this love story series, I picked titles that really tug on my emotions:
We Were Real
and
A Christmas So Real.
To get a much better idea of why these two titles give me a number of feels, check out the
Heartstrings series.

Annual Book Awards Posts

Noteworthy Reads 2024

November 18, 2024January 6, 20262 Comments

I received a complimentary copy of one of these books for an honest review, which you’ll find in the related post I’ve linked to.

In addition to the book awards I give out every year, I keep note ( 🙂 ) of more good books I’d like to recognize whenever my award season calls for it. So here we have my latest picks of Noteworthy Reads! You’ll find them listed in the order I read them.

Readers:
Don’t miss the additional books to check out at the end of the list, along with the bottom link to more Book Awards posts.
Authors:
If you’d like a medal for making the list, head toward the bottom of this post.

Sky Man
Stacie Johnson
(pen name for Walter Dean Myers)
•
Vintage Young Adult Fiction

Can their basketball team become state champs if their star player flunks out of school?
I flew through this fifth book from 18 Pine St., a groundbreaking multicultural YA series from back in the ’90s. I got a nostalgic kick out of the signs of the times in the story. There’s also a serious romantic crush I didn’t see coming, a minor family crisis, a breakup (of sorts) that kind of broke my heart, and an ending to the main plot that I found to be a shame. In a good way. Because of its reflection of reality. Still, the conclusion isn’t too downbeat, with the central gang of friends and plenty of pizza involved.

She Deserves Better:
Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up
Sheila Wray Gregoire
Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach
Joanna Sawatsky
•
Social Issues, Christian Nonfiction
(includes topic of sexual violence)

It’s time to replace harmful messages taught to girls in Christian communities.
Because in my case, I’m not a mother with daughters to teach, I can see why this is a book for more than only mothers and their young daughters. There’s a lot of information here concerning girls—and women—that the church in general seriously needs to be aware of, because damaging instruction, predatory behavior, and even sexual assault have become normalized in too many churches and Christian circles. I appreciate how the authors of this book affirm girls and women without male-bashing or taking a vindictive stance. Truly worth the read.

Crowned with Glory:
How Proclaiming the Truth of Black Dignity Has Shaped American History
Jasmine L. Holmes
•
Social Issues, Christian Nonfiction
(includes violent historical events)

Their personhood. Their inalienable rights. A narrative of their own voices.
A book like this is so important, not only because some people are making efforts to block out or water down shameful and unjust parts of American history. I’ve also found over the years that Black Americans are oftentimes viewed or treated as secondary figures and voices—even in stories and discussions about them. This book gives readers the opportunity to hear from Black American voices of the past and not only as a supplement or a secondary angle to the narrative. I highly recommend this to anyone who considers it wise to gain perspective on history, including when it comes to the integral ways that American history and Christianity coincide.

Audacity
Melanie Crowder
•
Young Adult Historical Fiction
(some violence)

A young woman devotes herself to the labor fight in New York near the turn of the 20th century. Inspired by the real-life story of Clara Lemlich.
Part of the beauty of novels-in-verse is that even when they’re raw, tackling such difficult subjects, they can cover a lot but with an economy of just the right words. And there certainly is much beauty in the telling of this painful, angering story. Angering for me because I find it such a shame how long and how hard people must too often struggle and protest just to be treated as human beings. Even so, Clara’s determination in the midst of opposition and seemingly insurmountable odds reinforced to me that even when the struggle for human rights is hard, humanity is worth it.

The Supreme Macaroni Company
Adriana Trigiani
•
Women’s Fiction
(minimal language; fade-to-black marital intimacy)

It’s up to her to turn the esteemed past of her family’s shoemaking business into a glorious future.
This third and last book about Valentine Roncalli is rather different from the first two—not as light of a read. And maybe its critical twist is what it would ultimately take to get Valentine to mature in certain ways. And the heart-wrecking aspect of this novel is what I personally appreciate most about it. The wrecking and the love behind the story’s unusual title have stuck with me.

A Dream in the Dark
Robert Justice
•
Legal Fiction
(violence; one occurrence of the N-word)

She’s a lawyer working to free an innocent man imprisoned on account of one piece of evidence: a victim’s dream. A novel inspired by real wrongful conviction cases.
The second in a series, this novel confronts shortcomings and corruption in the criminal justice system. The story is nuanced and layered with complementary storylines. With flawed but sympathetic characters. With hard losses and raw emotion. With poignancy and flashes of hope that are compelling without resorting to quick, fairy-tale fixes. I strongly recommend both of this author’s Wrongful Conviction novels, and I’m staying on the lookout for his next book.

Entries for 2024’s Noteworthy Reads giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

The fight of a nation and tests of the heart in tales of hope
•
A noteworthy aspect of my writing life: Sometimes after characters of mine go through some heavy experiences in a particular book, I’m compelled to follow it up with a lighter story. Even if it’s been quite a few years since I wrote the previous book. Hence, my military romance entitled Eminence now has a sequel: a friends-to-lovers romance that can also be read as a standalone, Simplicity.
You can check out both of these “just kisses” romances in the
Hope Beyond series.

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If one of these noteworthy reads is yours, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!

Coming Up:

Favorite Book Titles 2024
Friday, November 22nd

More Book Awards Posts

Favorite Reads 2024

November 15, 2024January 6, 20262 Comments

I received a complimentary copy of one of these books for an honest review, which you’ll find in the related post I’ve linked to.

I look forward to these awards all year! As my blog is all about hope and inspiration, these are the books that most fit that bill for me in 2024 and that I highly recommend to fellow readers. You’ll find them listed in the order I read them.

Readers:
Don’t miss the additional books to pick up at the end of the list, along with the bottom link to more Book Awards posts.
Authors:
If you’d like a medal for making the list, head toward the bottom of this post.

Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?
Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
•
Children’s Fiction

She’s used to obeying the orders of her older sister—but now she’s had enough!
There’s a lot behind the simple words in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive. When reading other books in the series, I didn’t know for sure if “Baby” is Baby Lincoln’s real name or a nickname. That matter makes for quite the revelation in this story. Plus, I got kind of teary during a sisterly scene before the Coda. And the last couple of pages, along with the telling illustration at the end, made me weep. For real.

Sarah, Plain and Tall
and
Skylark
Patricia MacLachlan
•
Children’s Historical Fiction

Young Anna and Caleb’s widowered father has advertised for a new wife and mother.
I’m pleased to find that my appreciation for these stories of family has only increased since I first read them as a child. They’re gentle but not fluffy. The characters’ various emotions, while handled with a light touch, are real—from the youngsters to the adults. There’s so much said in just a few words, and I now hear more in the stories. Especially given the way that Book Two deepens the family’s journey as it continues from Book One.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Paul Gallico
•
Vintage Fiction
(Gentle Read)

A London cleaning lady. Her dream to own a Dior gown. And her unforgettable trip.
Oh my very goodness! Where has this extraordinary little 20th-century fairy tale been all my millennial life? Ada Harris is a wonder in her spunk, determination, and imperfections. I was fairly entertained by this light, clever, and quirky read for a while—and then, well, I can pinpoint the exact moment when I realized I was falling in love with this story. Reading this book was an experience that truly spoke to me and left me looking forward to reading the rest of the books about Mrs. Harris.

The Time Keeper
Mitch Albom
•
Inspirational Speculative Fiction
(Gentle Read)

After trying to interfere with God’s gift of time, Father Time must redeem himself on a critical mission to Earth.
When I came across this inspirational fable, I had a pretty good idea of what I would be in for—but I also had little idea. I became increasingly intrigued about the “how” that would lead to the “what” in the characters’ lives. I’m most into a story when the storyteller gives me good reason to care. And, wow, I wound up caring to the point of my own tears. What a poignant, life-affirming story of hope.

Saving Savannah
Tonya Bolden
•
Young Adult Historical Fiction
(some violence)

After the Great War, an upper-class Black American teenage girl longs to play a role in widespread social change.
This novel highlights aspects of Black American history that aren’t as well-known or talked about as much as slavery and Jim Crow. As I got into the story, the more Savannah learned along her journey and the more determined she became, the more inspired I became. Reading the ending Author’s Note after finishing the story is a must. (And I’d say it’s also a good idea to read Savannah’s mother’s story in Inventing Victoria. A key aspect of this following book packed a stronger punch for me because I’d read about Savannah’s mother first.)

Marina
Susan K. Downs
Susan May Warren
•
Christian Historical Fiction
(war violence)

A Russian widow out for revenge against the Third Reich meets an American spy running from deadly mistakes.
The Heirs of Anton series begins in contemporary times and gradually goes backward in history. I started with Book Two, and then this third book riveted me from start to finish and left me so messed up. So meaningfully, wonderfully messed up. The characters’ spiritual reflections and comments felt organic to the story to me, not shoehorned in for the sake of a faith message. And the resounding hope in the beautifully bittersweet ending… My goodness. I just had to go on and read the rest of the series.
(Note: This novel was most recently published with the title A Greater Love.)

The Lady with the Dark Hair
Erin Bartels
•
Christian Split-Timeline Fiction
(some war violence)

Her family history is on shaky ground as questions arise about her ancestor’s greatest painting.
While this usually isn’t the case with me and split-timeline fiction, both heroines’ journeys in this historical/contemporary fiction novel spoke to me. The well-woven themes on truly being seen and also uniquely seeing, as a unique human being. And a crucial tie between artistic creation and hope. And the theme of hope to live in and live out one’s authenticity. To also realize the value in the pursuit of a dream. All of it spoke to me. Profoundly.

Love & Saffron
Kim Fay
•
Historical Fiction
(Gentle Read)

Two women in the 1960s. Their shared appreciation for cuisine. And the start of their life-changing friendship.
The pleasant and relaxing experience of watching Joan and Imogen’s friendship unfold in their earlier months would have been enough for me. But then my reading experience deepened as the two friends gradually opened up about their personal dilemmas, pain, and fears. And yes, the “read in one sitting” length works wonderfully for this story. The novel simply does what it needs to do. With warmth. With poignancy. And with lovable aspects that remain just that, rather than becoming saccharine. What a substantive and beautiful dish this novel is.

Entries for 2024’s Favorite Reads giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

You can pick up free ebook copies of one of my past Favorite Reads picks and one of my own books below! Be sure to double-check the prices before downloading.

Clean Hands
Can Instinct survive a critical battle in a human’s shaky dream world?
•

The Movement of Crowns
A princess aspires to sit on the National Council: a Council run solely by men.

An era for historic change. And the people who bring it.
•
Now’s a great time to check out one of my personal favorite series, featuring uncommon lead characters as they search for identity and belonging, face past trauma, and find love in unlikely places. Take a look at the
Eubeltic Realm series.

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If I’ve selected yours as a Favorite Read this year, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!

Coming Up:

Noteworthy Reads 2024
Monday, November 18th
•
Favorite Book Titles 2024
Friday, November 22nd

More Book Awards Posts

Favorite Covers 2024

November 11, 2024January 6, 20262 Comments

I received complimentary copies of some of these books for honest reviews of their content, which is separate from my personal assessment of their covers here.

I’m not strictly a “judge a book by its cover” kind of reader. Still, I have an appreciation for cover art as a part of the overall reading experience. Here are covers that particularly stood out to me from books I read this calendar year. The books are listed in the order I read them.

Readers:
Don’t miss the additional books to pick up at the end of the list, along with the bottom link to more Book Awards posts.
Authors and Cover Designers:
If you’d like a medal for making this list, head toward the bottom of this post.

Before the Ever After
Jacqueline Woodson
•
Middle Grade Fiction

The young son of a pro football star, and the effects of his dad’s head injuries.
There’s such genius in the illustration of falling autumn leaves, here. The way they’re slipping right through the fabric of the boy’s hoodie. The way the man’s frame, strong in its outline, is made up completely of those fragile, colorful leaves. Poignant imagery reflecting this story of father-son love.

The Healing Summer
Heather B. Moore
•
Women’s Fiction
(Gentle Read)

Two women head to San Francisco to find a hero from over 70 years ago.
Such a calming painting of a seaside sunrise with minimal colors. Distant birds hovering above as the sailboats with translucent sails grace the surface of a reflective body of water. Soothing signs of a healing summer indeed.

Miramar Bay
Davis Bunn
•
Contemporary Fiction
(Gentle Read)

Putting his acting career on hold, he escapes to a seaside town to soul search.
More of the seaside, but now at sunset—amber in its glow as the light glints off that golden key on a shore graced with shells. This isn’t the latest cover of this novel, but it’s still my favorite.

Earth’s the Right Place for Love
Elizabeth Berg
•
Historical Love Story
(some violence; brief language)

He’s in love with the most desirable girl in his high school class. But she has a crush on his older brother.
I love the way the larger-than-life flower petals and leaves partially frame an experience…as a guy and girl of simple, vintage style sit together in just the right place, under the bluish light of a faraway moon.

Embers in the London Sky
Sarah Sundin
•
Christian Historical Romance
(war violence; theme of domestic abuse)

World War II. A BBC correspondent in a burning capital city. And a widow desperate to find her three-year-old son.
No, the London sky—so often painted with heathery clouds ready to rain—isn’t supposed to be glowing deep red with the remnants of fire. But, there it is. Glowing over the dust and rubble created by war, while a mother in danger conveys love to her little boy. Such storytelling in an image.

The Blossom and the Firefly
Sherri L. Smith
•
Young Adult Historical Love Story
(war violence)

He’s ready to die for his country. She feels like she’s died already. And then the two of them meet each other.
That thoughtful look on the face of a young woman in a light, dusty sepia behind a pastel blossom near her ear, above a Japanese warplane diving straight downward: quite the blend of imminent danger, understated emotion, and quiet beauty on this cover.

Whispers in the Valley
Lance Wubbels
•
Christian Historical Fiction
(some war violence)

Her husband is home on leave from the war, but something more must be done to keep their farm going.
I miss the days when Dan Thornberg (yes, I’ve known his name since the ’90s) was the staff artist at Bethany House Publishers, adding wonderful visuals to historical fiction. This illustration of a wife in thought and her husband in observation as they stand amid the gentle hills and their farmland under puffy, white clouds in a blue sky—oh, my. Bring on the nostalgia.

The Lady with the Dark Hair
Erin Bartels
•
Christian Split-Timeline Fiction
(some war violence)

Her family history is on shaky ground as questions arise about her ancestor’s greatest painting.
With only about half of this dark-haired lady’s face visible before those multicolored smatterings of oil paint, this cover art strikes a perfect tone of gorgeous mystery.

Everlasting
Amanda MacLean
•
Christian Historical Romance
(some violence)

A missing gold miner. His twin sister, determined to find him. And a reporter posing as a detective.
Do you know what’s most significant to me about this collage of scenes featuring a romantic couple in vintage style? After discovering this novel back in the ’90s, I couldn’t remember the title, the author name, or the publisher. But the memory of this lovely illustrated cover art, especially the heroine pictured in the center, stuck with me for decades until I found the book again—identifying it by its artwork. Book cover designs indeed matter!

Jeeves and the King of Clubs
Ben Schott
•
Historical Fiction | Humor
(Gentle Read)

To fight treason, the British government needs the help of an inimitable valet’s hapless gentleman employer! Apparently.
Oh, what a cover of vintage high class: the dutiful valet, standing erect at service, as a shadow stretches from him in the silhouette of a wealthy man at stylish leisure. What a snazzy contrast!

Code Name Butterfly
Embassie Susberry
•
Historical Fiction
(war violence)

1941 Paris. A Black American journalist mistaken for Josephine Baker. And a spy network to resist Nazi occupation.
Below, a woman somewhat in shadow, appearing ready for travel as she faces warplanes flying over the Eiffel Tower. Above, the partial headshot of a serious, even shrewd woman in sophisticated vintage dress, with a telling butterfly brooch pinned near her shoulder. A beautiful cover that speaks perfectly of World War II intrigue.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice
Rebecca Connolly
•
Christian Historical Fiction
(brief mild language; brief violence)

The captain of the Carpathia wakes to a distress signal from a ship on its maiden voyage: the Titanic.
It is indeed a brilliant night depicted here, out on the ocean. The sparkling beauty is clear—and what gets me most is the image of the iceberg. Its imposing tip visible over the water’s surface, while the greater mass of it is visible in the darkening depths beneath. The overall imagery brings the brilliance and beauty together with an icy, oceanic omen.

Peace on Earth
Maia Ross
•
Cozy Mystery
(some mild language; brief violence)

This holiday season, a young friend asks the formidable Irma for help with figuring out a financial snafu.
I make it no secret that I absolutely love Christmastime, and I accordingly love the fitting holiday look of this cover. The string of multicolored lights against the blue background, the multicolored dots of light in the word “Earth,” the hint of bokeh lights above it all, the glassiness and snowiness of the snow globe—oh, wait. That beautiful globe is broken on one side. A sign that Irma does indeed need to save Christmas!

*Throwback*
from Favorite Covers 2019

Unscripted
Davis Bunn
•
Contemporary Fiction

An unlikely film project could help a ruined line producer redeem his career.
This cover strikes the right serious tone in clear but unassuming, deftly blended green and gold, with a contemplative hero looking out over Hollywood from “behind Hollywood,” where the lights make a statement without a bright and glamorous feel. Excellent imagery!

Entries for 2024’s Favorite Covers giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.

Before I read the homage to P.G. Wodehouse up there, Jeeves and the King of Clubs, I read some of the work of Wodehouse himself. I made a few fan art book covers too. 😀
You may enjoy reading Wodehouse’s classic British humor as much as I have so far. Feel free to click my fan art cover below to grab a free Kindle copy of Book One in the Jeeves and Wooster series,
My Man Jeeves.

The Kindle book cover will differ, but still.

“Our heartstrings are waiting for music we’ve yet to play…”
•
Last year, one of my books got a cover makeover to match the love and music theme reflected through the name of the series: Heartstrings. Take a look at this sweet contemporary love story,
We Were Real.

Congratulations, authors, and thank you for writing your books! If yours has one of my favorite covers this year, you’re welcome to a complimentary medal to display on your website, blog, social media—wherever you wish. If you know the artist who designed your cover, feel free to pass on the word about the award. The artists are welcome to display the medal as well. Click the image below and contact me to receive a full size PNG medal. Thanks again!

Coming Up:

Favorite Reads 2024
Friday, November 15th
•
Noteworthy Reads 2024
Monday, November 18th
•
Favorite Book Titles 2024
Friday, November 22nd

More Book Awards Posts