A symphony of typewriters fills the room. Clacks of the keys, zips of the carriage, and the percussive ting! as they reach the edges of the pages.
Applause drowns out the final notes as the conductor turns to address the audience. “Welcome to the Second Annual Just the Write Awards! It is my distinct pleasure to get off this stage by introducing your master of ceremonies, Chautona Havig.”
I step up to the podium and crack a joke. Don’t ask what the joke is—if I rehearsed it, I guarantee it wouldn’t be funny.
Just work with me here.
Note: links are affiliate links and as such, I may receive a small commission if you click to make a purchase. Additionally, I purchased some of these books myself and others I requested review copies for.
Okay, back to the awards. I hold my hand up to block the flashing lights of all the photographers… JUST KIDDING. C’mon. This is my bedroom, folks. No photography here. I’m not that kind of author. Just sayin’.
“Welcome, welcome! I’m so excited to do this again. Last year’s awards were so much fun that I knew it had to be an annual thing. All those gift bags at the back of the room? They were supposed to be filled with one of each of the winning books this year, but alas the mail truck with all those books was hijacked by book dragons who consumed them in one breath. So, enjoy your empty bags and you can fill them from the sales table instead!”
(yes, I feel ridiculous writing this… just sayin’ also, please note that these are books read, not necessarily published, in 2018)
“This year, I found it twice as hard to narrow down the awards to just ten… again. Seriously, authors! Stop writing such amazing books! You’d save me a boatload of trouble. However, a few books made it on the list at first read.
I mean, I wrote down my very first book in January. I knew it would make the list. That’s pretty impressive. Later in the year, the next in that series made the list, too. So, we’re combining those books into one award: Best Series Ending.
And the award goes to… (can I get a carriage roll please?):
Roseanna M. White with A Song Unheard and An Hour Unspent.
This series is one of my favorites in recent years, and these books didn’t disappoint. In fact, I loved one part of A Song Unheard so much that I begged for a spin-off series about that character. Guess what I found out… we’re supposedly getting a Margot book. Squee!
The next on my list is a new-to-me author and a new author. With her debut novel, people, we have the Best Debut Author award going to J’Nell Ciesielski for Among the Poppies. This book is seriously one of those books that just blows the idea that any book topic is “done.” I loved it, and I have her next book, The Songbird and the Spy in progress now. So far… I may have my first book of 2019 on the list. It remains to be seen.
The next book that made the list—even before I finished it, mind you—was my first book by Joanne Bischof. The Sons of Blackbird Mountain for Best Historical Fiction. I’d just like to say that this book did not win because many of the characters are Norwegian. Or that one speaks only through sign language. Those just made a great book even better.
Whew! We’re booking along here! So many awesome authors.
Okay, let’s shift eras (because those are all pretty close together and go wwwaaaay back to ancient times with a new award this year!
Introducing the Best Convert-Me-to-a-Genre Award and it goes to Connilyn Cossette with her fabulous book, Shelter of the Most High. As I said in my REVIEW, I’ve never been a fan of Biblical fiction, but she’s converted me—at least to her way of doing it! I have the first book in that series waiting for me at The Lighthouse, and I can’t wait to read it in preparation for book three. Squee!
As you can see, we have quite the historical theme going on here.
2018 was a fabulous year for historical. I’m just sayin’! I fell in love with the covers for the next author’s books, and the stories were just as good or better! The only problem is that when I finished the second, there wasn’t a third yet. So, for the Best Dying-for-a-Sequel Award for 2018… Karen Barnett and her Vintage National Parks Novels. Let’s just say if Yellowstone doesn’t hurry up, I might go crazy!
Moving into the 21st century…
First up is a book that I thought would make a “Best Most-Recommended by Others” Award, but the content was too good not to give it a new, better one. So, for the first ever Best Retelling Mash-up Award… Katherine Reay and Dear, Mr. Knightley. Anyone who can combine Jane Austen’s Emma with Jean Webster’s Daddy Long-Legs and make me love it deserves two awards, but alas, she only gets one. This year. I plan to read another of her books in 2019, so we’ll see if it makes the list again.
I can thank J’Nell Ciesielski for this next award winner. Because of her, in a long, roundabout way, I ended up needing to read a book—fast. So, I chose a cover that had always enchanted me but an author I’d never read and really hadn’t heard much about. I just wanted a quick read and push it off my Kindle Unlimited shelf. If I’d only known.
So, for the Best New-to-Me Author Award—Sarah Monzon and her Bookishly series including Bookishly Ever After and Literarily Yours. Seriously, folks. The only complaint I have about these books is that I can’t get them in paperback. I’m not even going to complain about first-person with these!!!
Moving write along…
I suspected that the next book would make the list a couple of years ago, but I didn’t know in what year or why. I just knew that if Liz Johnson had another “book connection” moment with me, then I’d probably love the book. I’ve loved every other one she’s done that with. Aw, who am I kidding? I don’t think she’s written a book I didn’t love.
So, for Best Christian Mystery/Romance, I give you A Sparkle of Silver, although maybe it should be the “Best Great Minds Think Alike Award.” The only reason it isn’t is because of the rest of that saying. Who knows what comes after “Great minds think alike…”?
The next book award should also have another title.
I’m thinking it should have been called the Best When Will You Ever Get That Done award. Alas, it was too long and wouldn’t fit on the little award image, so I had to go with boring old, Best Fantasy of 2018. This goes to D.C. Marino and her fabulous Points Worth and Kingdom of Ruins. Since these are connected works, I decided I could go for both.
There’s so much I could say about these stories, but I really recommend reading my REVIEW if you haven’t already. I say that because there are actual pictures of her amazing book launch party in there. Deborah turned her entire, beautiful home into places from the book—complete with dirt in the carpet!!!
And the final (and most important award, I think) goes to author Alana Terry for her phenomenal book Out of North Korea. Seriously, folks, this was THE best book I read in 2018 and because of how important I think it is for today’s Christian church to read, I’m giving this the Best Christian Must-Read Award.
Seriously, folks. If you can only read one Christian fiction book in 2019, make it Out of North Korea because this book touches on so many things we in the church need to be aware of—now.
We had a HUGE upset this year.
After the awards were granted and the medals engraved, a book that couldn’t be ignored appeared on the scene. The plot was so full of twists and turns and upsets that I had to create an award just for it. So, I offer you a rare award I hope not to use often if ever again… The Best Last-Minute Award (for suspense) and it goes to Nancy Mehl for her wonderful book, Mind Games.
Whew! It’s been an amazing year for reads.
I’ve had very few disappointments and could have made a list twice as long as this—oh, so easily. And, I already have two huge stacks that I’m trying to get through before January 6th. We’ll see if I make it. Check these puppies out.
First up: my “personal choice” book stack. #7daughter chose A Rumored Fortune as the first read on it and well… you’ll have to stay tuned for the review to see what I think of it. Hint: I’m surprised at what I think!
The second stack holds my January reads for review. I don’t think I have to post reviews for all of them in January, but my goal is to have them done and ready to go! 🙂
So… there you have it. Another year of amazing reads down and another coming up!
What were your top 3 reads of 2018?
Leave me a comment below and I’ll buy one reader her next book—paperback or eBook. Whichever you like! Giveaway ends January 6th.
Can I say what an awesome list this is? And no, not just because I’m on it 😉 Boy, I can’t remember half of what I read this year, but the standouts were My Dear Hamilton and The Gentleman in Moscow. If you want poetry in language and depth of skill, these are for you. I also just picked up my first Laura Frantz book, can you believe that??!
I can believe it because I haven’t dipped my toes into her work yet. And now Hamilton and Gentleman are on my list to try.
My favorite books this year were The Hidden Side, and the entire series of Anne Mulliga’s Chapel Springs. There are four books in the series and I enjoyed all of them.
Have a blessed New Year!
OOOH! I need to get these!!
I also liked Among the Poppies. Also, I read Laura Frantz for the first time and enjoyed both Lacemaker and The Mistress of Tall Acres. I also liked the Orphan Train series by Jody Hedlund. And finally, the Hidden Masterpieces series by Kristy Cambron starting with The Butterfly and the Violin. I know, it is more than 3. I read about 220 books this year, so it is hard to narrow it down too much!! I read some good ones by Lynn Austin and several others as well…
I really enjoyed the Orphan Train series by Hedlund, too. I keep meaning to try Franz!
My top 3 were Rich Boys by Heather L. Benton, Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs, and Keeper by Jessica L. Randall.
Have a blessed New Year.
Keeper sounds GOOD. I’ll have to add that to 2019
It was. It’s YA sci-fi, but is squeaky clean reading and is a Swoony Read nominee.
Always a tough call!! I’m going with Joanne Bischof’s “Sons of Blackbird Mountain,” Joanna Politano’s “A Rumored Fortune,” and Melanie Dobson’s “Catching the Wind.”
I read two out of three and loved them!
Well, I agree with you on a great many of your choices. I haven’t read the rest so I’ll reserve judgment. I’m sure they are great though. Have a very blessed and happy New Year!
Sounds like we might have similar tastes!
I read 62 books this year according to Goodreads, that’s quite a few more than normal for me! I would normally say historical fiction is my favorite genre, but lots of great contemporary reads this year.
I loved Liz Johnson’s Prince Edward Island Dreams series (read them all back to back to back this year) and also the first two books in Becky Wade’s Bradford sisters series.
I don’t read many Amish/Quaker books, but I really enjoyed Phoebe’s Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher, and one other hsitorical that I enjoyed was Lady Jane Disappears.
I LOVED Phoebe’s Light and the rest of that series. And I have Lady Jane in the queue. I’ll have to read the Bradford Sisters. I’ve heard good things about it.!
What a great lineup! I hope you like J’nell’s new book. Publishers Weekly gave it an even better review than they did Among the Poppies!
Can’t wait to finish it. 🙂
Top three, huh? Kind of tough, but The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright, The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham, and A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep.
I loved Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof
Engraved On the Heart by Tara Johnson
The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck plus many others this is my first year being a Christian and reading Christian Fiction so it’s all new to me! I am so thankful God placed these stories on each of your hearts so we can fall in love with new characters and places while we are growing closer to Jesus in the process
AND THAT is the goal of my writing (and I suspect most Christian authors’ writings). Great book, right.
Super fun list! I loved Roseanna White’s series too! All of Connilyn Cossette’s books are my favorites :), and I’ve read Dear Mr. Knightley at least 5 times – I love it so much! The last two nights, I was up till at least midnight reading Sarah Monzon’s books per your recommendation. I really enjoyed the first one, but the second not quite as much. I am looking forward to the third coming out in a couple days!
Aside from those, my list of bests for this year would contain Tessa Afshar’s Thief of Corinth, Joan Deneve’s Redeemed Side of Broken trilogy, an ARC of Katherine Reay’s next book The Printed Letter Bookshop (so good!), Debbie Viguie’s The Spice of Life, and the three Crossroads Collections. Tammy Gray’s first two Bentwood books get honorable mention because they are so well written but the first one frustrated me greatly! The second one was much better and I can’t wait for number three!
Muy top 3reads this year were The Cherry Cola Book Club, The Midwife’s Revolt, and I finally read volume 1 of HearthLand!
OOOH. Wait. Cherry Cola Book Club? Tell me more!
It’s so hard for me to choose favorites! It’s like comparing apples to oranges; there’s good things about each one, but they’re all different. I made a list of all my 5-star ratings during 2018 on Goodreads. I had 9 re-reads of old favorites and 12 new favorites. 😉
My top three first-time reads are: (oh, this is like pulling teeth!)
1. My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer
2. A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer
3. Sunrise Cabin by Stacey Donovan
OOOH! See, now I have a list to read myself. Thanks! (Just gave away the true purpose in me asking, huh?)
How fun! My top 3 reads for this year were: “Shelter of the Most High”, “What Blooms From Dust”, and “The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond.”
I expected Reckoning to be one, but I didn’t get it read. 🙁
Great list! Thanks for including the Vintage National Parks novels. I can’t wait for everyone to read Ever Faithful when it releases this June. I think it’s turned out to be my favorite of the bunch. Of course, readers’ favorites sometimes differ from an author’s favorite. That happened with my Golden Gate Chronicles books.
It’s hard to say which novels I’m most looking forward to in 2019. Sarah Sundin’s second installment in the Sunrise at Normandy series would definitely be on there and Joanne Bischoff’s followup to Sons of Blackbird Mountain. And I hear Lori Benton has a new one coming out this year. And just to switch up the genre–anything by Ronie Kendig!
Thank you for sharing your awards! I know that The Shelter of the Most High, Mind Games, and A Rumored Fortune are def part of my top ten. Giving myself a few more days to determine which others make my list(so hard to only pick ten!!)
I’m in the middle of A Rumored Fortune right now. 😀
Awesome list 🙂
Of course! You’re on it! 😀
Judah’s Wife, Eve in Exile, and A Midwife in Amish Country would probably be my favorites for the year. Interesting that two of them are nonfiction.
Thanks for the list! I look forward to reading some of these!
I loved Sons of Blackbird Mountain! I am a history nerd and I think I would next like to read Among the Poppies. My local library doesn’t have a ton of Christian fiction books, but I will look for this one.
I would love to read Rosanna White’s or Sons of Blackbird Pond. Or Sarah Sundin’s newest in Feb. I adore her stuff! (I am such a history nerd! My favorites/wish list is all historical!)
Most of these authors are on my must-read list! I am not a huge fan of sci-fi/fantasy though…
If you ever decide to give another one a shot, I’d say Kingdom of Ruins is a good one to try. It doens’t “read” like fantasy, but it’s fantasy enough for die hards, too.