Five Books From Last Year I Would Read Again

 

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Every December I compile a list of my favorite books from the year. You can see past lists by clicking here. Sometimes I like a book a whole lot, but it gets slightly edged out for one reason or another from the official post. Here are some 2018 releases I really enjoyed and am likely to reread in the future. Click on the titles to read my original review.

  "When You Look at Me" by Pepper Basham
Timing had everything to do with this book not making my best-of list. I read it in between Christmas and New Years, after the list was finalized. Oops! I loved so many things about this book, but especially the characters.

  "The Lieutenant's Bargain" by Regina Jennings
A soldier who comes to the aid of his childhood friend promptly finds himself accidentally married to her. How does one get accidentally married and then strictly prohibited from annulment? You'll have to read the book to find out!

  "The Sea Before Us" by Sarah Sundin
This book is the start of Sundin's Sunrise at Normandy series, which follows a group of brothers who were split apart by horrible tragedy yet will all be brought together on D-Day. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.

  "A Song Unheard" by Roseanna M. White
The Shadows Over England series features a group of orphans who form their own family and become premier thieves in WWI England. In this book a state secret is rumored to be found in the family of world-class violinist, and Willa is on the case to find it.

  The "Tales From Ivy Hill" series by Julie Klassen
I actually read all three of these books last year. Klassen's first village series brought to mind Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford, and was sweet and full of memorable characters. One in particular, Mercy Grove, reminded me a lot of myself.

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"No Ocean Too Wide" by Carrie Turansky

 


When their widowed mother's illness and hospitalization leaves Katie, Grace, and Garth McAlister alone in 1909 London, the trio face hardship that soon lands them in a children's home. Although older sister Laura leaves her job as a lady's maid to try to reclaim her siblings, Katie and the others become part of the child emigration system and soon find themselves on their way to Canada.

Outraged, Laura uses an alias in order to be hired as an escort for the next group of children who will be leaving Britain. There is no measure she will not take to find each of her siblings and bring them home again.

While some children who make their way to Canada find loving homes, others face extreme hardship and abuse. The differing tales from the emigration system have put solicitors Andrew Frasier and Henry Dowd on the case to thoroughly investigate the various outcomes and turn in a report to the British government. Can Laura trust these gentlemen to help her, or would it be best to press forward on her own?

There is quite a bit of heartbreak in this book. I would not recommend it to sensitive readers or those who are triggered by accounts of child abuse. As Laura says in Chapter 19, "I don't take offense for myself, but I am offended for all the children who are suffering because of this broken system."

This is the first book in the McAlister Family series. As an oldest sister I could relate quite a bit to Laura. I hope there are happier days ahead for this family as the series continues!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.