Top Ten Books of 2010

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is Top Ten Books of 2010. I found this surprisingly easy to choose this year, but maybe that's because I've become more strict with my ratings? While there are lots of books I loved this year, these are the ten I truly adored. (In the order that I read them).

1. A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston I've really got into the Amish genre this year, and Clipston is definitely one of the best authors in this steadily growing market. This, the first in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, is the story of two teenage girls who go to live with their Amish aunt after their parents are killed in an accident. It's a heart-warming tale with characters who are very easy to relate to, not to forgot a lovely community-feel, fantastic setting and a bakery that'll make you very hungry! If you're an Amish fan and haven't yet read anything by this author then you're definitely missing out.

2. Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty I've been a huge fan of this author since I read her debut novel, Feeling Sorry for Celia, when I was thirteen. All of her novels are written in an epistolary style and I think she's one of the few writers who can really pull it off. If you like quirky, teen novels then definitely check this out!

3. The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin While my biggest book obsession is anything to do with the Amish, I'm also a huge Babysitters Club fanatic. I was so excited to discover that a prequel was being released and pre-ordered as soon as I could. And I was not disappointed. If you were ever a BSC fan, you need to get this book. But I also think it can be read by kids who never grew up with the BSC - it's an excellent introduction, and if they love it then you can always buy them the re-releases!

4. The Betrayal by Beverly Lewis This is #2 in the Abram's Daughters series, and while I found something a bit off about #1 in this Amish saga, I loved this one. The series follows four sisters in from the 1950s onwards, and while they're all wonderful characters, you may need tissues handy when you read these books! 

5. A Promise of Hope by Amy Clipston Spot a pattern?! Sometimes the second book in a series doesn't live up to the first but this one certainly did. This followed on from the events of the first book and told the story of Rebecca Kauffman's sister. I'm starting to really enjoy reading a series that follows several members of the same family.

6. Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon A bit different from my usual books, but while I'm really getting into the romance genre right now I still like a mystery/thriller now and then. This was almost impossible to put down and had wonderful twists - so if you're fed up with all the soppy books on this list, go check this one out!

7. The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis #3 in the Abram's Daughters saga, very addictive books! I just got #4 for my Christmas and can't wait to continue to read about the Ebersol girls. Although there seems to be a lot of sadness and tragedy, I've really come to care about these characters.

8. A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman I got an early review copy of this from Abingdon Press and can't wait for the next book from this debut author. This sweet romance is perfect for the Christmas season - add it to your list for next winter!

9. A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron Another early review copy from Abingdon, this is the story of a journalist who is injured in a war zone and goes to recuperate on her grandmother's Amish farm. She reconnects with an old friend, who is now a widower with children, and finds herself falling in love with the simpler way of life. Different from the other Amish books I've read but absolutely wonderful!

10. Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis I read this one just before Christmas and it's such a sweet little novella. For once, this Amish story wasn't focused on romance, but on Sarah trying to bring her older brother home to spend Christmas with their family. Short but very endearing.

What were your favourite books of 2010? Do you agree with any of my choices, or find any that you want to read?

(And yes, I know it's Wednesday but I didn't finish the post until now!)

Stylish Blogger Award

I'm very grateful to receive this award from my lovely fellow blogger Diane. Check out her blog for book reviews, quilting and card-making!

In order to accept this award, I need to tell you eight facts about myself:

1. I got a Kindle for Christmas and absolutely love it!

2. I started knitting again this month, after not picking my needles up since I was nine years old, and now have the beginnings of a blanket. I'm currently on square #3 so it's got a long way to go!

3. I have two cats, Sophie and Sparky, that I miss quite a bit when I'm away at university.

4. I have three beauty spots on my right cheek in the shape of a triangle.

5. While I love a glass of wine in the evening, I also rather enjoy Dr. Pepper. 

6. I started taking Zumba classes this year and recommend them to anyone who likes to dance but would rather have fun than follow strict posture rules!

7. I spent a quiet Christmas at home this year with just my parents, my younger brother and the cats... after doing the rounds with my boyfriend's family on the 23rd and 24th, that is!

8. My exams start on the 13th of January so I should really be studying right now!

And now I get to nominate eight bloggers who I think deserve this award:

1. Camille at A Book a Day

2. Jodie at All Things Amish

3. Brenda at WV Stitcher

4. SJH at A Dream of Books

5. Jodie at Books for Company

6. Dizzy C at Dizzy C's Little Book Blog

7. Sami Jo and Sami Jo's Book Reviews

8. Lorie at For the Love of Reading

Thanks for all the excellent reviews and recommendations, girls!

A Hickory Ridge Christmas - Dana Corbit

A minister's daughter and unwed teen mother: five years ago Hannah Woods had been the talk of Hickory Ridge. Her little girl was the light of her life, though Hannah was unable to forgive the one who'd loved her--and then left.

Todd McBride had left town a boy and returned a man with a quest: to find the woman he still adored and ask for a second chance. But Hannah's secret--a child he'd never known about--threw his plans into a tailspin. 

With Christmas rapidly approaching, it seemed the time for love and forgiveness was at hand...

There's not a lot I can say about this book. This was the kind of novel that you could read without needing to concentrate much, easy to put down and pick up again. I did enjoy it, but there wasn't anything original or special about it and I never really connected with the characters. And while I'm a Christian and generally enjoy inspirational fiction, it seemed as if God was mentioned on every single page of this book! I would have loved to have known how the characters felt, not how they thought God wanted them to feel. If the author had got inside the characters' heads a bit more and toned down the often unneeded and slightly forced references to God I would probably have enjoyed this more. While I'll probably try a couple more Love Inspired books, I wouldn't go out of my way to read anything else from this author. 6/10

Mrs Miracle - Debbie Macomber

Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family togethe...he needs a miracle. 

And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"—and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith—and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle—Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love.

I was far more impressed with this book than I was with The Shop on Blossom Street, the first novel that I read from this author. Mrs Miracle was the perfect Christmas story, packed full of characters overcoming past hurts and finding love again, as well as mysterious and heartwarming "miracles". 

The premise of this novel is that widower Seth's children are out of control and he's running out of options for a housekeeper when a lovely, grandmotherly woman named Mrs Merkle turns up unexpectedly and sets about organising his children, his home and his love life. His two sons continually call her "Mrs Miracle" and the name sticks. But is she truly a miracle from heaven? She does bring Seth together with Reba, and encourage them to let go of the past and learn to fall in love again. When Seth's in-laws arrive for Christmas she also paves the way to fixing their marital problems. And she still has time to teach the local church busy-body a lesson about gossip and jumping to conclusions!

I loved the device of a mysterious house-keeper who seemed to be an angel in disguise. There was no doubt that the author portrayed her as being heavenly or magical in someway, but the specifics were left up to the reader to decide. It's natural that you have to suspend all reason while reading this novel, but the way in which Mrs Miracle helps all of the characters isn't particularly predictable or cheesy. Just the right amount of romance and sentimentalism! Obviously all of the characters have happy endings, but they experience realistic heartaches and difficulties before they reach satisfaction. I appreciated that Macomber not only focused on the young couple, Seth and Reba, but also on Seth's in-laws, who were experiencing problems in their marriage despite being together for forty years. Both young and more mature readers have someone they can relate to, and I felt it was important to show that anyone can have relationship problems, irregardless of age. On a lighter note, there was plenty of humour in the form of a self-righteous, gossipy older lady from the church, who does have a part to play in the main story, even if she seems a bit out of place to begin with. 

All in all, I found this to be a surprisingly realistic novel considering the almost magical premise. If you're an old romantic like me then you're sure to love this, especially if you like a twist on the typical love story. With excellent characters and a sprinkling of humour and heart-ache, this novel was simply perfect for the Christmas season. There were only a couple of moments when I felt the story was getting too cheesy, and one almost racy situation that seemed a bit out of place, but this didn't spoil the novel for me. 9/10

Kate's Choice - Louisa May Alcott

In this heartwarming story, Kate is faced with a difficult choice. Her father's dying wish was for her to live with each of his estranged brothers - ultimately choosing one family with which to make her home. Although their motivation varies, all are anxious to have her - one because of her money, another because her great-grandfather had been a lord, a third in hopes of securing her hand for the son of a close friend, and a fourth because of love for her alone.

Which will she choose? Join us for the memorable story of how Kate makes the best choice of all.

Although the title of this book is Kate's Choice there are actually two other stories, What Love Can Do and Gwen's Adventure in the Snow. I have to admit that the last story is actually my favourite, not the main one. Written for newspapers or magazines when Alcott was first embarking on her writing career, these remained undiscovered until recently. Each of the stories centres around Christmas in some way. In the title-story, Kate is left orphaned just before Christmas and moves from England to America to be with her father's relatives. It was his wish that she visit each of his brothers in turn and choose who she wanted to live with. But Kate discovers her father's mother, alone in her big family home, and sets about bringing all of the relatives together at Christmas in order to cheer up her grandmother. In What Love Can Do the neighbours of a poverty-stricken family overhear the children talking about how they can't afford any Christmas gifts and decided to surprise them. And in my personal favourite, Gwen's Adventure in the Snow, Gwen and her cousins go for a sleigh ride and are struck by a blizzard. Sheltering in the family summer house, they have to make do with the few supplies they can scrounge and camp out until the storm is over. I think this one is my favourite because, as a child, I always adored stories about children "playing house" with the odds and ends that they discover in a shed, cellar, tree-house, abandoned house, etc. 

This book would be perfect for any Alcott fan, young or old. The editor has included lots of background information about Alcott, her writing and what can be learned from these stories, which would be interesting to a collector. And the shortness of the stories and the large print make the book perfect for a child who has enjoyed having Little Women read to them but isn't ready for full-length chapter books yet. While those unfamiliar with Alcott's work may find the stories rather predictable, long-standing fans will adore this and recognise her typical characters and values immediately. The presentation of this book is also beautiful, a little hardback with a lovely cover and illustrations and decorative fonts throughout. The perfect stocking filler for a girl who loves old-fashioned stories. 8/10

The Holding - Vicente Blasco Ibanez

This passionate and moving story of social injustice, violence and revenge, set in the Valencian huerta, has become the classic text of Spanish regional realism. Blasco Ibanez, the 'Spanish Zola', dramatically confronts one of the great social issues of the late nineteenth century, the possession of land, in a vivid recreation of the local types and traditional customs of a closed rural community which jealousy guards its rights and administers its own rough justice against the outsider. This novel is both a lyrical hymn to nature and an expose of man's inhumanity to man, narrated with a human compassion worthy of his master, Galdos.

Batiste and his family, poverty stricken and homeless, move into farm land that has been abandoned for ten years. Thinking themselves to be fortunate to get such a good offer from the landlord, they ignore the supposed "curse" on the land that is left from the previous tenant. But the locals haven't forgotten Barret, the old owner, and will do anything to protect his land from being possessed by a new tenant. Thus Batiste and his family are plagued by hostility, rumours and insults from the second they move in. The family are struck by continual misfortune, ultimately causing them to regret ever having dreamt that they could escape their previous poverty in this supposedly plentiful red soil. 

In a strange way, I did enjoy reading this book. It is wonderfully written and the land truly comes alive through the descriptions, but this doesn't detract from how depressing the story is. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that it isn't positive and uplifting in any way. While Ibanez made clear the plight of the tenant farmers in late 19th century Spain, I just couldn't get my head around how hostile the locals were to innocent Batiste and his family. It seemed absurd that they would hate them simply because they had taken up residence in the land that used to belong to their friend, when it was clear that they weren't intending to disrespect Barret, just wanting to make enough money to feed and clothe their family. I'm sure that there were many struggles like this at the time, but I couldn't help but be perplexed by the behaviour of the characters. 

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the area, time period or just Spanish literature in general. This book is hard to get hold of, unless you're willing to fork out £15+, but it is worth the read. Just be aware that there are few positive moments in this novella! 7/10

Sarah's Christmas Miracle - Mary Ellis

Sarah Beachy has plenty to be joyous about as autumn leaves start to fall. She loves her job at the English bed-and-breakfast where she cooks and refreshes rooms between guests. She has a serious beau, and everyone expects an engagement soon. Why, then, would she jeopardize everything by suddenly deciding to take a trip to Cleveland to track down a brother who left the Order years ago?

Her family’s faith in God is put to the test as the holiest night of the year approaches and Sarah remains far away. Sarah’s mother, Elizabeth, has been missing her son for such a long time…will she lose her daughter to the English world as well? Or will the Beachy family receive an unexpected Christmas miracle?

Sarah Beachy is at a crossroads in her life, hanging on to her childhood as she's unsure about the responsibilities of entering the adult world. She's witnessed the hurt that her mother has experienced in losing her older brother to the English world, and this has made her cautious about becoming a wife and mother. But Adam Troyer is desperate to get married and can't understand why his beau is happy to remain at in her parents' home, working at the local inn. So both Sarah's family and Adam are worried when she sets off to Cleveland to visit her older brother and decide whether the life of an Amish mother and wife is best for her. But Sarah soon discovers that life in the city isn't as rosy as her brother made it sound, and her journey makes her realise what she really wants in life. 

This was the perfect Christmas novella; the return of a prodigal son mixed with the coming of age of a young woman. It only took me a few hours to read this book but it really warmed my heart and put me in the Christmas mood. Ellis crafted her characters wonderfully and I loved reading about Sarah and her family, as well as the other members of the community and the English couple who run the local inn. All of these characters were entirely believable and Fredericksburg sounds like a lovely place to live. I appreciated all the little details about the Amish way of life, from descriptions of the cookies that they were baking to the school performance on Christmas Eve. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a short Christmas story to put a smile on your face. As it's only 134 pages long this would also be perfect for someone wanting to try Amish fiction for the first time, or for a girl in her early teen years. This is the first book I've read from Mary Ellis but I'll definitely be looking out for more of her books as she's clearly the cream of the crop when it comes to Amish fiction! 10/10

What I'll be reading in December

As Christmas draws near and my university semester comes to an end, I'm looking forward to curling up on the sofa with some heart-warming novels and some German Lebkuchen (my favourite Christmas treat). Here's what I'll be reading over the next month, so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews! What is everyone else planning on reading this year to get them in the holiday mood?

The Three Day Rule - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

‘What’s the three day rule? Well, you know the saying: families are like fish. They go off after three days.’

When the Thorne family gather for the annual Christmas festivities – the arguments, jealousies and long-held enmities that make every family Christmas so special – they think they've only got to endure each other for three days, and then they can return to normality. But then the snows come, along with the ninety-mile-an-hour winds and the plunging temperatures, and the Thornes get cut of with only each other for support, or to blame. It promises to be a Christmas like no other...

Mrs Miracle - Debbie Macomber

Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family together...he needs a miracle. 

And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"—and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith—and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle—Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love.

A Hickory Ridge Christmas - Dana Corbit

A minister's daughter and unwed teen mother: five years ago Hannah Woods had been the talk of Hickory Ridge. Her little girl was the light of her life, though Hannah was unable to forgive the one who'd loved her--and then left.Todd McBride had left town a boy and returned a man with a quest: to find the woman he still adored and ask for a second chance. But Hannah's secret--a child he'd never known about--threw his plans into a tailspin. With Christmas rapidly approaching, it seemed the time for love and forgiveness was at hand...

A Prairie Christmas Collection - Various

 Experience Christmas on the historical American Great Plains as retold by nine different multi-published authors, including Tracie Peterson and Deborah Raney. Follow pioneers, immigrants, and orphans through their adventures, heartaches, challenges, victories, and romances. You are sure to find more than one favorite among the nine holiday romances in this unique collection to warm your heart and inspire your faith.

The Christmas Bus - Melody Carlson

The people of Christmas Valley always celebrate Christmas to the fullest extent. The mayor plays Santa, every business is holiday themed, and there's a nativity for the kids each Christmas Eve. This town knows Christmas. But this year nothing goes according to plan. Shepherd's Inn is full of strangers, Mad Myrtle is causing problems, and a young couple with a baby due any minute rolls in to the middle of town in their Partridge Family-style bus. It's hardly the holiday Christmas Valley wanted - but it may be just what they need. 

Sarah's Christmas Miracle - Mary Ellis

Sarah Beachy has plenty to be joyous about as autumn leaves start to fall. She loves her job at the English bed-and-breakfast where she cooks and refreshes rooms between guests. She has a serious beau, and everyone expects an engagement soon. Why, then, would she jeopardize everything by suddenly deciding to take a trip to Cleveland to track down a brother who left the Order years ago?

Her family’s faith in God is put to the test as the holiest night of the year approaches and Sarah remains far away. Sarah’s mother, Elizabeth, has been missing her son for such a long time…will she lose her daughter to the English world as well? Or will the Beachy family receive an unexpected Christmas miracle?

Montana Man - Barbara Delinsky

Lily Danziger wanted more. 

With a newborn daughter and only herself to rely on, she was running from the shallow life she'd been living. Circumstances had changed and now she wanted more security than money could buy. Without looking back, she was heading to safety and a new start - until a blizzard stopped her and she had to ask a stranger for help.

He came with a Stetson, a gruff voice and an even gruffer manner, but he was their only chance for survival in the snowbound car. He led them to a temporary refuge, then offered her permanent security. It was everything she needed, but would it leave her wanting more?

This was a vast improvement on the last romance novel that I read from this author. Barbara Delinsky is one of my favourite writers and I've started investigating some of her earlier works. While I was disappointed by An Irresistible Impulse, this novel had the typical Delinsky charm. Well developed characters, excellent interaction and chemistry, a cute baby, a couple of subplots and one of my favourite plot devices - snowbound in a cabin! While initially I was a bit annoyed that Quist conformed to the typical alpha male stereotype of an aloof, masculine woman-hater, Delinsky quickly made him into someone that I could sympathise with and enjoy reading about. Both Quist and Lily make judgements about each other and come to realise that first impressions aren't always the best, and end up liking each other...and falling in love, obviously! I appreciated that they both had pasts, particularly that Lily had come from a broken marriage and had a baby. But one aspect of romance novels that has always bugged me is that men are allowed to have been promiscuous but even women who have been married have to have had bad sexual experiences until they met The One. I'm not a fan of this double standard! This book was originally published in the Harlequin Temptation line, so there is a fair amount of sex, some of it described quite graphically. This isn't normally something I look for in a novel, but the engaging characters and plot made up for it. I was particularly pleased with the ending, where the catalysts for Quist and Lily meeting - he looking for his sister and she escaping her husband's family - came to a head. It was nice to know that these subplots weren't forgotten in the whirlwind of romance, and it made the characters and their histories all the more realistic. All in all, this novel did have its faults where typical romance stereotypes emerged, but otherwise this was a sweet romance and a perfect comfort read. 8/10

Tree/House - Jessica Knauss

Upon the death of her strange and distant husband, Emma awakens into a world full of possibility. With the help of a vagrant who camps on her property, Emma comes to understand that her life, up to this point, has been little more than a bad dream. Does she have the courage and the strength to move on and create her own life, by her own rules? A fast and fascinating read that will leave you wondering about the pink kitchen sponge.

I actually enjoyed this book during the first two parts, but the last one was a bit of a let down. It started off as a slightly sad tale about a woman who was floating through college, unsure of where she was going in life, who ended up marrying her college professor because he was infatuated with her. Her marriage is stifling and boring and while her husband can spout romantic poetry he is unable to satisfy her in any other way. In the end, he loves Shakespeare more than her loves Emma, and she finds herself not terribly upset when he dies tragically. The novella starts with the aftermath of his funeral and then goes back to show how Emma and Franklin met. However, the last section became rather ridiculous and unbelievable. While the character of Geraldine, a vagrant who lives in one of the trees on Emma's estate, was quirky and interesting, all of the events in the final section involving her became more and more obscure. I won't spoil anything for you, but so much happened all at once that I was disappointed and this has made me drop my rating of this novella. It is an interesting tale and very well written, so if you're looking for something quirky and a little bizarre then I would recommend this. 6/10