2019 was a great year for reading. According to Goodreads, I read a total of 127 books. Instead of listing the best books I’ve read, which is a hard list to compile, I thought I’d instead list the authors I was introduced to this year that I’ll be keeping an eye out for in 2020.
So here are the top 10 authors:
- Kristi Ann Hunter
- Sarah Sundin
- Pepper Basham
- Kate Breslin
- Kristy Cambron
- Jaime Jo Wright
- Melissa Tagg
- Lynnette Bonner
- Roseanna M. White
- Melanie Dickerson
Now that I’ve listed them, let me tell you why I’ve chosen each of these authors.
1) Kristi Ann Hunter
Kristi Ann Hunter writes Regency romances with fantastic characters, interesting plots, and witty dialogue. From the moment I read A Lady of Esteem, I was hooked. Her books have kept me up late at night because I just couldn’t put them down. The best part is that all her books are in the same universe. So characters from her Hawthorne House series appear in her Haven Manor series, and she’s teased that a character from the Haven Manor series will be in her next series.
(Check out my reviews for the Hawthorne House series, A Defense of Honor, A Return of Devotion, and A Pursuit of Home.)
2) Sarah Sundin
I’m pretty new to WWII fiction, but I can’t help but love Sarah Sundin’s novels. She has such a great blend of action and romance. The amount of research is incredible, and she uses it to create extraordinary detail. I’ve read two of her series so far. Hopefully 2020 will give me to opportunity to read more.
(Check out my review of her Waves of Freedom series.)
3) Pepper Basham
Pepper Basham creates these wonderful southern novels that mix Appalachian culture with British culture. The resulting “britallachian” novels are romantic, endearing, and addictive. Like seriously, I’m looking forward to the next time I can read a Pepper Basham novel. And she has a mix of historical and contemporary novels, and the more I read, the more I love her.
(Check out my reviews of her Pleasant Gap novels, Just the Way You Are and When You Look at Me.)
4) Kate Breslin
I’ve only had the pleasure of reading two of Kate Breslin’s books, but they were so good, I couldn’t stop talking about them. Her novels are gripping and poignant. And she knows how to keep you turning pages. Her novels are also some of the first I’ve read that weren’t set mostly in either Britain or America
5) Kristy Cambron
Her Lost Castle series is amazing, y’all. Compelling characters and interesting plots that intertwine into one larger story. I couldn’t get enough. Even though I was a bit skeptical of three storylines in one novel, Cambron won me over and earned a perpetual spot on my TBR list. I definitely need to read her other books in 2020.
(Check out my review of The Painted Castle.)
6) Jaime Jo Wright
Jaime Jo Wright’s The House on Foster Hill was my first time-slip, and she immediately had me hooked. Her novels can be a bit dark, which might be a turn off for some people. But I don’t mind a bit of gothic. I loved the romantic storylines, the suspenseful plots, and the hints she drops throughout the novel. Of the three novels of hers I read this year, The House on Foster Hill is my favorite.
(Check out my review of The House on Foster Hill or her latest novel, Echoes Among the Stones.)
7) Melissa Tagg
A Melissa Tagg novel is like a Hallmark movie but not as cheesy. Her novels are cozy reads with relatable characters and a homey feel. I’ve read two books in her Walker family series, and I’m a lifelong fan. She does such a great job of making her characters feel like family. I can’t wait to read her other books.
8) Lynnette Bonner
Lynnette Bonner’s Wyldhaven series is full of fun, action-packed reads. I love the townspeople of Wyldhaven. Bonner has really captured that small town feel, and each character is unique and stands on their own. The romances are sweet and the stories are interesting. I can’t wait to see what the next novel will be about.
9) Roseanna M. White
I haven’t finished any of Roseanna M. White’s series, but the books I’ve read of hers are incredible. Her plots are interesting, and her characters are amazing. I’ve read one Revolution-era novel and one WWI-era novel, and in each one, she did a great job of immersing me in the time period. I can’t wait to read more of her novels.
10) Melanie Dickerson
From Regency spy novels to fairy tale retellings, Melanie Dickerson is a must-read author. There was one book of hers I didn’t like as much, but her others were page-turners. Her spy novels are engaging, and when I read The Warrior Maiden, I couldn’t help but admire her creative spin on the story of Mulan. I can’t wait to read more of her fairy tale retellings in 2020.
(Check out my review of The Warrior Maiden.)
So these are the 10 authors I was introduced to in 2019 that I can’t wait to read more of. You can click on the book images to go to their websites and check out all of their books or learn more about them. Maybe you’ll find your new favorite author.
What authors did you discover this year?
One thought on “10 Best New-to-Me Authors of 2019”
Jennifer!! Thanks so much for featuring my books in such GREAT company!!!
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