Carrie's Best of 2012

Favorites of the Year

Veil of Pearls 
by MaryLu Tyndall

July 2012

Barbour Publishing

Must be made into a movie--simply stunning, like the cover!!!

Paperback and kindle
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The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
by Julie Klassen

January 2012

Bethany House

Fascinating!

I listened to audiobook. Available in multiple formats.

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A Love Surrendered 

by Julie Lessman

October 2012 

Revell

Fabulous!

I read on Kindle, is available in paperback and on CD.

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Short-Straw Bride 

by Karen Witemeyer

June 2012 

Bethany House


I listened to this on audiobook and it is available in multiple formats.

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Prize of My Heart 

by Lisa Norato

March 2012 

Bethany House

Memorable!

Kindle/paperback read for me.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY/AUDIOBOOKs

Author I have "discovered" and devoured her audiobooks like a fiend:

Tamera Alexander

I listened to six books and have downloaded three more!!!  And I have loved them all!

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Audiobook/Novella

A Marriage of the Heart

by Kelly Long

November 2012

Thomas Nelson

Amazing! Worth the wait to listen to this newest novella in the compilation by one of my favorite authors!!!


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Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series

by Vannetta Chapman

Fabulous series with a very satisfying third installment with "Material Witness."

audiobooks

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Not technically 2012 BUT 

Cascade went to audio in 2012 as did

Torrent 

by Lisa T. Bergren

David C. Cook/Oasis Audio

Exemplary audiobooks although more violent that I would normally listen to. But Lisa T. Bergren is so talented, she can get away with it.

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Novellas

A Wreath of Snow 

by Liz Curtis Higgs

December 2012 

Waterbrook Press

Wow!
Hardcover
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A Light in the Window 

by Julie Lessman

November 2012

Sigh-worthy prequel novella!!!

Ebook only

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Carving A Future

book 1 in Colonial Courtships

by Carla Olson Gade

October 2012

Barbour Publishing
Paperback and Ebook.

Beautiful!
(I did not make it through the other novellas in this collection--yet.)

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Highland Crossings
2012
Barbour Publishing


Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Gina Welborn and Pamela Griffin and Laurie Alice Eakes all have lovely novellas in this four novella collection.

My 2012 Favorites By Diana Flowers!

My favorite books of 2012 in no particular order are:

Before The Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach

February 2012

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Beside Two Rivers by Rita Gerlach

October 2012

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Love's Reckoning By Laura Frantz

September 2012

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A Light in the Window by Julie Lessman

November 2012

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A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman

October 2012

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Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

January 2012

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Veil of Pearls by MaryLu Tyndall

July 2012

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The Face of Heaven by Murray Pura

August 2012

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To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander

October 2012

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Love in Three~Quarter Time by Dina Sleiman

October 2012

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Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

June 2012

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Walks Alone by Sandi Rog

January 2012
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A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller

October 2012

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The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

December 2012

Diana Flowers Reviews Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren

Glamorous Illusions 
by Lisa T. Bergren
(David C. Cook, 2011)

5 stars~ *****

Glamorous Indeed!

In Glamorous Illusions, Lisa T. Bergren sweeps the reader away on a journey that begins on a struggling farm, to the copper mines of Montana; to the gorgeous cathedrals, chateaus, and palaces of the very wealthy in England and Paris. Our heroine, Cora Diehl, has come home to her farm in Montana to visit her parents after attending college, only to have her father suffer a stroke and is now unable to work the farm. Then a stranger arrives on her doorstep with a shocking secret and a proposition...one that she realizes she cannot refuse.

Cora finds herself on a fabulous journey of self discovery and adventure with her siblings--siblings she never even knew existed, in a world quite different than her own. With much trepidation and anticipation, Cora joins them on The Grand Tour of Europe led by tour guides, Will McCabe and his uncle. Suddenly thrust into a world of masked balls, gorgeous gowns, art museums, and magnificent palaces, Cora begins to question who she is and where she really belongs. And two very different men are falling for her; one an extremely wealthy, French Prince Charming, and her tour guide, Will. Where does Cora's path to self discovery lead her, and will she ever feel comfortable in this opulent lifestyle, and with her haughty siblings? Is she a Kensington or a Diehl?

Lisa T. Bergren takes us on a wonderful journey to places most of us only dream of visiting! Her use of imagery, and firsthand knowledge of Europe will fascinate and draw the reader in with a novel that is nigh unto impossible to put down. I loved the unpredictability and excitement of this book--one never knows what is going to happen next--not even which honorable character our heroine is going to end up with. With a wonderful cliff-hanger of a conclusion (to be continued in next book of series), and a spiritual thread throughout...this is an absolute must read! Nicely done, Lisa Bergren!


I received a copy of this novel from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review.