Books I Love
One of the unexpected gifts of this journey has been discovering indie authors through ARC reading — Advanced Reader Copies that authors share before publication in the hopes of receiving honest reviews and, ultimately, helping their books find their audience.
I originally started reading ARCs because I wanted to understand the experience from a reader’s perspective as I worked on my own books. What I didn't expect was how deeply I’d fall in love with independent publishing along the way.
The books on this page aren't simply good books. They're the ones that stayed with me long after I finished the final page — the ones that made me stop mid-read and think: more people deserve to discover this.
I naturally gravitate toward the genres I write in — historical fiction, mystery, and international crime thrillers — but this journey has introduced me to remarkable stories far beyond those categories. I’ll continue updating this page as I discover more unforgettable reads.
Historical Fiction
Eight Pointed Cross (The Siege of Malta #1) — Marthese Fenech
Sweeping, immersive historical fiction set during one of history's most dramatic sieges. Fenech brings the 16th century Mediterranean world to vivid, visceral life. If you love historical fiction with real stakes and real heart, start here.
Historical Fiction
A Legacy Forged (Seller &Son Series Book 1)— Sara Fox
Such a moving and deeply human story. Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution in Victorian Birmingham, England, the atmosphere was vivid and immersive without ever overshadowing the people at the center of the story who’s lives completely enveloped me and I found myself thinking of them long after I finished reading.
International Mystery · Historical Mystery
Blood in the Parchment — Esther Knight Rich
Atmospheric, and meticulously crafted. A historical mystery that feels both deeply researched and completely alive.
Crime Thriller
Code to Murder — Pat McTaggart
A gripping, fast-moving mystery with sharp plotting and a confident voice. Hard to put down.
Crime Thriller
Tide of Bone — E.S. Meyer
Dark, atmospheric, and genuinely unsettling in the best way. Meyer has a gift for building dread slowly and paying
it off completely.
Memoir
Come Sit on My Tangerine Couch — Carol Y. Godsave
Warm, honest, and quietly profound. The kind of memoir that feels like a long conversation with someone you wish you'd met sooner.
Fiction
Before He Vanishes / After he Vanishes — Dua Adams
Compelling and emotionally resonant. Adams writes with real insight into the spaces between people — what's said, what isn't, and what disappears without warning.
A note about this list: these aren’t just five-star books to me. They’re the rare books that rise above even that — the stories I can’t stop thinking about, recommending, or talking about long after I’ve finished them. Not every ARC I’ve read appears here, and that’s simply because this page is meant to be a genuine curation of the books that truly moved me.
If you’re an indie author with an ARC and think your book might belong on this list, I’d love to hear from you at YourBookIsInThere@gmail.com.