Top Ten Tuesday – Indie and Small Press Love

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s official topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is Hidden Gems. I find it’s always helpful to set some parameters with a topic like that, and this time I decided I would focus on indie (independently published) and small press books that I think deserve more love. All of the books listed in this post have fewer than fifty reviews on Amazon, and as many of you would know, fifty reviews is kind of a big deal on Amazon because some cross-promotion begins happening then.

With the exception of the first book on this list (which I only finished reading today, and will have a review for on Thursday) each of these books are ones that I have personally read and enjoyed. They represent a variety of genres, so why not pick one and give it some love!

My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay

This is an absolutely riveting read about a group of teens who go on a mission trip to Indonesia that takes an unexpected turn for the worse when religious tensions erupt. Make sure you stay tuned for my review!

 

 

Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh

This is the second book in Toni Shiloh’s Freedom Lake series, and the best book she has written to date, in my opinion. These two have to overcome some significant past hurts in order to grasp the future they could have.

My review

 

Grace in the Shadows by Christine Dillon

Another second-in-the-series, Grace in the Shadows continues the story of Esther Macdonald that began in Grace in Strange Disguise. Esther has survived cancer, but wounds within her family remain unhealed.

My review

 

Finding Evergreen by Jennifer Rodewald

Jennifer Rodewald really knows how to put your heart in a vise. Newlyweds Ethan and Brandi have a heart for foster children, but eleven-year-old Sonja adds extra strain to a marriage that is already beginning to show its cracks. It’s raw and real, but so worth the read.

My review

 

Three Words and a Kiss by Sondra Kraak

This is a great series if you’re looking for a historical romance that’s on the lighthearted side. Samantha Klein might come from a high-society family, but she has a heart for the downtrodden. When she’s forced to strike out on her own, she purchases Cameron Wallace’s smithy and turns his neatly ordered world upside down.

My review

Mowed Over by Christina Coryell

This is such a cute, quirky novella that I became an instant Christina Coryell fan once I’d read it! Willow Sharpe is a chatty fairy artist with multi-coloured pastel hair, and Clint Kirkland is the burly, bearded, and very non-chatty landscaper who nearly mows over her fairy village.

My review

 

Amongst the Roses by Meghan M. Gorecki

A Civil War story that will have you stalking the author for the next book! So apologies in advance. 😉 War brings many changes to Margaret Bryant’s privileged life and tests everyone, whether they be at home or waiting to face down the enemy.

My review

 

The Scarlet Coat by Angela K. Couch

Another war-time romance, this time during the American Revolution. Rachel Garnet’s sense of Christian duty compels her to help a badly wounded British officer when she hears his groans on the quiet battlefield. But each day of his recovery increases the risk of discovery—and the risk to their hearts.

My review

 

A Conspiracy of Breath by Latayne C. Scott

This novel is based on the interesting, and perhaps slightly controversial premise that Priscilla may have been the vessel through whom the book of Hebrews was written—or ‘breathed’, to use the novel’s parlance. It’s beautifully written, and a wonderful exploration of what Priscilla’s life may have been like.

My review

The Sacred Writings by April W. Gardner

This is the second book in the Creek County Saga, and I definitely recommend starting with book one, but it currently has a lot more love than book two. Totka has to wait a year before he will be allowed to see his beloved Copper Woman again, but in the meantime he has promised to give her Jesus Creator a chance to prove his existence. I absolutely adore these characters and this series!

My review