The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Tangled Violets: A Novel of Redemption

Ellen Gable Why did I love this book?

Tangled Violets is beautifully written, and I could not put this book down. It's told from the point of view of an adopted child who grows up with many questions.

When she is an adult, she searches for her birth parents, and the story then takes an unexpected and disturbing turn. The characters are so real that I felt I was experiencing the story with them. The writing is rich in imagery, and the story is compelling. It handles uncomfortable subjects with finesse.

Not only is this my favorite book of the past twelve months, but it's also my favorite book of the past five years. I loved this book, and I can't wait to read more by this author.

By Denise-Marie Martin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tangled Violets as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Award-Winning Finalist in the Christian Inspirational category of the 2022 American Fiction Awards

“... an uplifting story of realistic struggle, a desperate drive for connection, and ultimately Christian redemption. ... Martin’s strength in this story comes from a refusal to shy away from life’s difficulties as Lizzie faces tough choices and desires. ... Readers eager for stories about connection and faith will find this engaging. Great for fans of Josie Riviera, Francine Rivers." — BookLife Reviews

“... a moving novel, crackling with sexual volatility and emotional intelligence. An engrossing emotional drama, both shocking and thoughtful ... a provocative subplot handled…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Shooting at Heaven's Gate

Ellen Gable Why did I love this book?

This is a compelling story about a series of horrible events from several points of view. As in real life, characters’ lives are sometimes connected in mysterious ways.

The author draws the reader not only into the story but into the hearts and minds of believable and well-developed characters. It’s beautifully written and was a joy to read.

By Kaye Park Hinckley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Shooting at Heaven's Gate as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Malcolm J. Hawkins, the Head of Psychology at Bethel University in Alabama, feels his position and his credibility threatened by up-and-coming English professor Ginnie Gillan, he decides to use her husband Edmund’s gullibility against her. Feeding Edmund a steady diet of drugs and manipulation, Mal lights the fuse of the greatest tragedy Bethel has ever known.

Eighteen-year-old Alma Broussard, her quirky mother Moline, and her feisty Aunt Pauline run a chicken farm in Bethel. Their lives seem wholly separate from the feuds of academia—but dark secrets lurk in Moline’s past that will bring the people she loves straight into…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Fallen Graces

Ellen Gable Why did I love this book?

Fallen Graces is a wonderful story that illustrates forgiveness amidst a challenging situation and is my favorite book of the Fr. Tom series.

The entire Boston community is baffled by a series of macabre murders. Fr. Tom risks his life to unmask (and humanize) the killer. The theme of forgiveness is portrayed with sensitivity.

This is a riveting, page-turning mystery/thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

By Jim Sano,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fallen Graces as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When a dead man’s body is found in the upper basin of a historic fountain in Boston Common with a cryptic message in his pocket, Detective Brooks reluctantly calls in Father Tom and Angelo to help solve the clues in the hunt for a killer set on justice and revenge. Fallen Graces, the fifth book of the award-winning Father Tom series, delves into the psychological and religious complexities of a killer who becomes as equally unpredictable as dangerous to the parish neighborhood of St. Francis, and Father Tom has no choice but to become more involved, risking his own life…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Where Angels Pass

By Ellen Gable,

Book cover of Where Angels Pass

What is my book about?

Teenager Evie Gallagher is stunned when her 45-year-old father dies tragically. Many unanswered questions accompany Evie's challenging journey to adulthood. When she discovers why her father led such a troubled life, shock turns to anger.

When 14-year-old Hank Gallagher steps inside Holy Archangels High School for the first time in September of 1954, the majestic archangels' statues inside the lobby present an air of protection. However, it's not long before Hank passes under them and into the hands of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Confused and cornered by threats, Hank attempts to abandon his secret, but the horrible wound eventually leads to a catastrophic breakdown. Chapters alternate between Evie and Hank to reveal a life haunted by betrayal and a revelation of true justice and hope.

Book cover of Tangled Violets: A Novel of Redemption
Book cover of Shooting at Heaven's Gate
Book cover of Fallen Graces

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