The Best Fiction I read in 2024

 

Book Dragon is still around!

It's been two years since I did a "best books" post, and I did not mean for that to happen, but life gets in the way sometimes, even when it comes to one's writing. I am making extremely slow progress, but progress nevertheless on Tristam's Heart. I hope to finish and edit and publish in 2025, Lord willing....

Meanwhile, I do not have "10 top reads" like in years past, because most of what I've read in 2024 has been nonfiction as I have educated myself on alternative healing: acupuncture, NAET, tuning forks, singing bowls, grounding, and of course nutrition. This entire year my "theme song" has been "Staying Alive!" I can confidently say on this date--December 30, 2024--I am still "on the right side of the dirt" as my Dad used to say....

Another large section of my Goodreads challenge and "to be reads" has been picture books, and even though I read some cute ones this year, they are not included.

An Honorable Mention goes to my eldest granddaughter for her first published book (but hopefully not her last). She is a voracious reader and worked very hard to finish her fantasy story with literary techniques she has noticed while reading. I had written several stories by age 12, but none as creative and original as Olivia's Tunnels and Trapdoors. She also helped design the pretty cover.

#5: Shadows: Visible and Invisible

When the Catholic Teen Book authors announced their 2024 anthology, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it because I've never liked horror stories, and the theme seemed to be "Halloween." But the stories are MUCH deeper than mere "scary stories." Instead, the anthology deals with departed souls in seven very well-written stories spanning many times and places. Each one made me think about death and what comes after in a different light with strong themes of forgiveness and redemption.

#4: Running From the Past by Melanie D. Snitker

When I got an email notification that one of my favorite authors was releasing a new Christian romantic suspense novel, I downloaded it, even though it's #5 in a series and I've only read one other. They are stand-alones, so it was no problem to read this one out of order. And wow, was it sspenseful! I could hardly put it down! I think Ms. Snitker just keeps getting better and better! I recommend this one and pretty much everything else she's written--I have paperbacks of almost all her books. She's great!

#3: What's Done is Done (Book 10 of the unSPARKed series) by Corinna Turner

This excellent installment would not be as satisfying read alone because it is part of a series of short novels set in a dystopian future world where dinosaurs have been reintroduced (like Jurassic Park but much more satisfying). This series has been one of my favorites EVER, and my only "complaint" is having to wait for the next installment, because I've grown so attached to the characters! How Ms. Turner is able to combine dinosaurs, grave danger, and faith continues to amaze me! A must-read for anyone age 8-88 who likes dinosaurs, like I do!

#2: Weigh the Odds (Book 11 of the unSPARKed series) by Corinna Turner

I ranked book 11 higher than book 10 simply because there was so! much! danger! my heart was racing in several places, I became so anxious for my young friends, er, I mean the main characters! I'm not sure HOW I'm going to wait for book 12!!! Seriously, if you like this kind of adventure/survival story, start with book 1. You will NOT be able to put it down, and you will WANT to keep reading! As soon as the last one comes out I plan to take a day off and read all of them in one sitting as a single long novel.

#1: The best book I read in 2024 was Pamela Sharp's For What We Receive . . . which is book 3 in her Beth and Sarah series of literary historical fiction.

This series is every bit as good as those by John Jakes, which I read in high school when my mother managed a bookstore and would bring home stacks of books for me to read. Like Jakes' Kent Family Chronicles, this series follows the families of two cousins who are closer than sisters from the 1940's through the 1960's in the American Deep South. The time and place are strongly grounded and part of the story, but it's the characters and their realistic situations that make for an unforgettable, deep, and rich story. This book can stand alone, but I recommend starting with book 1. Though they are very long novels, the pacing is impeccable, and you will not want it to end when you get to the last page! That takes a special kind of talent, which Ms. Sharp definitely has!

Something exciting to share!

My two biggest singing bowls and three favorite tuning forks

It's been TWO years since Fiona's Gift was published, and for many months I struggled to begin the last book in the series, Tristam's Heart. Since the headstrong Fiona completely changed the plot of HER book (yes, I do give my characters their way, since I've learned not to argue with them; they actually know their own story better than I do) of course, the plot of her younger brother's book changed, too. I mean, SO completely changed that I had to begin from scratch....

The biggest problem with that is, I haven't been able to concentrate. At all! Between slowly losing my eyesight, unable to sell our house and buy one with a real pool I could use for therapy for my lymphedema, and having to put our house back together after not selling it in 2022, not many words were written that year. In 2023, for a little while things were better and I managed to write several chapters.

Then my lymphedema got worse, which always increases brain fog, which decreases concentration. I was sitting our cheap little above-ground pool last summer and had a realio trulio Eureka! moment as I watched the wind ripple across the surface of the water: Could vibrations cause the lymph fluid to move like that and not get so clogged up??? I bought a 432 Hz tuning fork (the smallest one pictured) which helped a little, but it wasn't powerful enough.

Long story short, I discovered an entire new world of SOUND HEALING!  One by one I'm adding to my collection of tuning forks and Himalayan singing bowls, which I use daily to help move lymph fluid. By December 2023 I was feeling pretty good about it and felt like I had turned a corner: 2024 was going to be the year I wrote profusely, so I could finish Tristam's story and work on another book I started years ago.

Then on New Year's Eve, my health took a nose dive. After a Herxheimer reaction to antibiotic ear drops, I started seeing an acupuncturist, trying desperately to regain my precariously balanced homeostasis. In February my dependable lymphedema pump, whom I had used since 2018, the year I was finally correctly diagnosed with lymphedema, triggered atrial fibrillation and I had to go to the ER because I couldn't get it to stop, no matter what I tried.

One thing led to another, and by June I was starting to think my lymphoma had returned, I was that washed out. I couldn't write anything, even had trouble writing a note in a sympathy card!!! I discovered Fort Worth Wellness, a holistic clinic not far from us, and decided to give them a try.

Wow, am I glad I did! The very first visit, I immediately connected with the practitioner and founder of the clinic, Allison Blakewell. She spoke my language and then some! She had even trained with the woman who designed the large tuning fork in the picture, which can especially move lymph fluid! That was two weeks ago. My lymphatic system was only functioning at 12% TWELVE! My body had become so full of toxins from the sluggish, stagnant lymph, it was no wonder I felt like I was half dead. I started a detox, and she gave me one NAET treatment (a non-invasive way of teaching the body not to be hypersensitive to substances) and I had a return appointment in 2 weeks.

I felt good that I'd found someone who understood HOW important the lymphatic system is to the body! She had many patients with lymphedema and even had a type of lymphatic pump at the office (though I haven't used it yet). Within a week, I could walk briskly without getting out of breath, and had energy to do things without being completely wiped out. Today was my second appointment, and my lymph is functioning at 42% already! My brain fog is dissipating! I can actually think about writing again! Hooray!

If traditional Western medicine isn't helping, I highly recommend trying alternatives. It might be just the thing to bring back wellness and make life better.

Thanks for being patient, for Tristam's sake. Since the plot has changed (and I'm writing by the seat of the pants, which is exhilarating and very, very scary), the cover needed to change also. Here's a preview:

 

Review by the Book Dragon: #5 in a wonderful cozy mystery series

 

The Book Dragon has read Away With Words by Julie B. Cosgrove and gives it a roaring five claws!

My review: What a great book! After reading all the previous books in this series, I especially enjoyed following Wanda, Betty Sue, and Evelyn as they traveled to a women’s retreat in Louisiana, made new friends, and stumbled upon clues leading to yet another mystery. More clever word play and more scrumptious recipes to try! Wanda & Co feel like beloved friends now—all of them unforgettable and loveable and oh, so human. Just like us! Highly recommended.

I know this doesn't tell too much about the story, but I hate giving away spoilers. So here's the blurb from Amazon and a better image of the cover:

A brook, a shoe, and a bloody sock…

After two years of crime-solving, in which she was kidnapped, arrested, and had her kitchen blown to pieces, Wanda Warner agrees to go on a women’s retreat with her two best friends, Betty Sue and Evelyn… to get away for some much needed R&R. Especially when she hears they will play word games, her favorite pastime. Wanda has always had a way with words, as her nephew, the policeman, has told her many times.

But once again, solving the word puzzle clues to items on a scavenger hunt leads her to discover what could be a crime scene. Then she learns an area teenager is missing. So, why does the retired forensics scientist, who owns the retreat center, seem to downplay everything?

Can Wanda convince the authorities that the brook-soaked clues could lead to the girl’s whereabouts? And will she still be alive if they find her?

Here's the link to Amazon. Check out the entire series! (Though each can stand alone.)

The 10 Best Books I read in 2022

I should have known by the water leak last New Year's Eve that 2022 wasn't shaping up to be an "easy" year. That leak led to a series of unfortunate events which necessitated many expensive repairs to our house, so expensive I had to go back to work. I now have a booth in Benbrook Antique Mall with a business name of "Third Time's the Charm" which has been slightly profitable this first year and more enjoyable than I anticipated. After trying unsuccessfully to sell our house (and moving out most of the stuff in the process to "show" the house) we resigned ourselves to staying in it and moved back in.

Needless to say, all those months of turmoil were not conducive to reading much fiction. Most of what I read, in fact, was for other indie authors--beta reading, proofreading, and in two cases, content editing.

I despaired of finishing my WIP, Fiona's Gift, but thankfully it came together and I managed to publish it over the summer, praise God! I have barely begun on the last in Mercy's Children series, and pray my words will return soon.

Another impediment to much reading has been failing eyesight. In the words of not one but TWO eye doctors, I have the "weirdest" eyes they've ever seen. I had to go back to the opthalmologist in our previous town to get a diagnosis of epiretinal membrane but I've decided not to do the surgery, which has extreme risks, especially since it's my only seeing eye. I'm just learning to cope with the vision I do have (it's like seeing the world through a wrinkled piece of cellophane) and be grateful.

So, I only read 25 books this year, and a good percentage of those were short ones. Thankfully there were some wonderful reads, and I can recommend these to you:

#10 War Between Worlds by Madelyn Braddock

This is a debut fantasy novel by a teen author that combines thoughtful world-building, interesting characters, and action, adventure, and a mystery. Book 2 is in the works.

#9 Fire from the Midst by Sarah Ashwood

This is book 3 of 4 in a suspenseful, gritty urban fantasy series combining a war between rival gangs of shapeshifters from Greek mythology and an unusual romance. Not my usual genre, but I've read other books by this author and got sucked into book 1 with her excellent writing skills!

#8 Fear by Corinna Turner

This is #7 in the unSPARKed dinosaur dystopian series that has become one of my all-time favorites, and not just because of the dinos! Turner's characters are unforgettable, and she makes the reader care deeply about what happens to them!

#7 In Other Words by Julie B. Cosgrove

This is book 3 in Cosgrove's fun cozy mystery series. I love her characters and the clever ways she weaves the plots around word play.

#6 All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk

This is a sweet contemporary romance with darker elements that bring to light current prevalent sins, but overall the story is uplifting with memorable and lovable characters.

#5 A Right Rex Rodeo by Corinna Turner

This is #6 in the dino series and is especially fascinating in its details of the hunter culture in Turner's realistic future world.

#4 Hang on Every Word by Julie B. Cosgrove

Book 4 in Cosgrove's mystery series is not quite as light as the others, and in some ways is the best so far! The MC is so human but relatable and admirable too!

#3 A Different Kind of Camouflage by Corinna Turner

A powerful episode #8 in the dino series, still suspenseful even though it takes place in the city and not outside the electrified fences where dinos are the obvious (but not the only) danger.

#2 Please Don't Feed the Dinosaurs by Corinna Turner

Turner's redo of book #1 made me nervous at first, because I couldn't imagine how she could improve on the original #1, Drive, but she did! It makes a stronger beginning to a fantastic series!

#1 A Different Kind of Freedom by Corinna Turner

This latest episode #9 in the dino series is so powerful, it was by far the best book I read this year (and for the past few years). Turner is a master at writing about characters of faith in mortal peril. I highly recommend this book, but it is best read as part of the series.

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Powerful, emotional story about one of my favorite characters ever

 

The Book Dragon has read Corinna Turner's A Different Kind of Freedom, book 9 in the unSPARKed series and gives it a resounding 5 claws!

My review: I'm so grateful Ms. Turner released #8 and #9 close together, because the two stories happen at the same time and are woven together in many ways. It would have been excruciating to wait to read what happened to Josh! And this story is all his. When we last saw Josh in book 7, he was near death from an infected rex bite and would rather have died from his injury than be trapped in city, in prison because of his real phobia of the city. He does survive and he is sent to prison, so his worst nightmares have come true! This book is his intense, nail-biting survival story among the worst of human predators. And yet, he learns so many spiritual truths while in prison and grows in many ways. A unforgettable, powerful scene near the end brought tears to my eyes, the first time that has happened in this series (so far). There are rays of hope by the end, and I'm anxiously waiting for the next in the series to see how everything comes together between Josh and Darryl & Harry, for an unexpected revelation has changed everything! That's all I'm going to say about it; you must read it for yourself, and you'll be glad you did!

This book is featured, along with all of Ms. Turner's many wonderful books, at Catholic Teen Books.

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Stellar installment in an exciting dinosaur dystopia series

 

The Book Dragon has finished Corinna Turner's A Different Kind of Camouflage, book 8 in the unSPARKed series and gives it a ripping 5 claws!

My review: I have read and loved every installment of the fast-paced, nail-biting unSPARKed series, but this one went even deeper into the emotions of teen siblings Darryl and Harry Franklyn, who have been taken into the "safe" city by a CPS villainess who joins a sort of "club" with Harry Potter's Dolores Umbridge and Hunger Games' Effie Trinket, all outwardly primped and proper nasties. She causes much trouble for Darryl and Harry; this is their brilliantly written "survival" story. For nearly a year, they learned the skills of living in the wild among dinosaurs and now must adapt those skills to predators and obstacles of different kinds in separate living facilities: Darryl in a group home and Harry with kind but completely unfamiliar foster parents. Though their obstacles to freedom appear impossible to overcome, there are rays of hope, and two scenes at the end will make your heart smile, even though they are not out of danger yet ... and the reader can't help but be as anxious about Josh's welfare as Darryl and Harry are. This is a must-read series for anyone who has been a nerd about dinosaurs, ages 8-88!

This book along with other wonderful books by the prolific Ms. Turner can be found at the Catholic Teen Books site.

Birthing a book is hard work

 

I never intended to disappear for so many months. On New Year's Eve we had a serious leak under our kitchen sink which led to having our foundation leveled (apparently a common problem in North Texas), more expensive repairs, and months' of other plumbing issues which still aren't resolved, but it looks like we're going to have our entire sewer system replaced (cast iron pipes for PVC). Needless to say, with all the money going out and watching our savings deplete as quickly as the plumber's water test proved there was a leak somewhere, I went back to work. I signed a lease for a 10 x 10 stall in an antique mall. It's been a lot of work, but more fun than I anticipated, meeting new people all the time and learning about "vintage" stuff. And best of all, all those extra steps I walk every day are helpful in managing my lymphedema, even in this Texas heat.

For awhile, I feared I had lost my ability to write. I had planned to finish Fiona's Gift in January and publish in March or April, but I couldn't concentrate, either on writing or reading books of any kind. But I kept pushing ahead, sometimes only writing a couple sentences or paragraphs a day, determined to slog through the drought of words. The book was complicated by the fact that the headstrong Fiona changed the plot on me. Good thing I let her, though, because it made the story much stronger. It also turned out to be the longest novel I've ever written--156,000 words!

I was able to finish, to my great relief. The Kindle version releases June 24, but it will be next month before the paperback will be ready, in part because the manuscript is so long, and because I have to remember how to format. Because Fiona's story changed, Tristam's will, too. I hope to begin the last book in this series as soon as possible.

Also because of something that happens in this book (totally unexpected), a third series is percolating inside my head: Mercy's Grandchildren. I really, truly thought Tristam's story would be the end of my time in Levathia, but the characters have taken on a life of their own, and I no longer control their lives. I am merely a scribe to record the stories they wish to be recorded. One of the strangest (and coolest) things that has ever happened to me!

Fiona is Mercy's most difficult child: headstrong to the nth degree. Her story is a kind of "prodigal daughter" tale (along with the further adventures of Val and Emma, and getting to know Tristam better). Even I didn't know what her "gift" would be until I finished writing the book! I hope and pray it is a satisfying read and an encouragement, which is always my goal, along with glorifying God my Father.

I have dedicated this book to a precious young mother who lost her life last December while battling covid in a hospital. I never had the opportunity to meet Allie in person, but she and I connected on FaceBook after her mother introduced her to Mercy & the gang. Allie was such an enthusiastic participant in my FB launch party for Mercy's Joy, which I designed to "feel" like an actual coronation party with a medieval tournament. For the first time I was SO tempted to give her one of the prizes, even though random(dot)org never once picked her number! She was so sweet to message me with heartfelt thanks that reading how Mercy and Valerian and Kieran handled the extreme trials in their lives encouraged her in her own struggles. That has been an unexpected blessing of this author journey--to connect with readers on such a deep level, I felt like a family member died when sweet Allie succumbed to the ventilator.

May you find joy in the midst of trials, for there is definitely joy to be found when we open our eyes!

Fiona's Gift on Amazon is 99 cents to preorder, and if I forget to change the price, like I did last year for Valerian's Flight, it will still be 99 cents after launch date. My chemo-induced brain damage is your gain! LOL