Jennifer Ivy Walker's 3 favorite reads in 2023

I absolutely loved this story of Blue Echohawk, a rebellious young woman who was abandoned as a toddler and raised by a Native American artist and bohemian spirit. I loved how a passionate young teacher helped Blue see the world differently and helped her discover the beauty within herself through the history and literature lessons that resonated with her artistic soul.

As a former teacher and lover of nature and Native American lore, this gripping, emotional tale had me crying, smiling, and experiencing Blue's growth as she left her cynicism behind and emerged like the free hawk for which she was named.

This was a spell-binding, nail-biting suspense thriller about a young French woman who must steal flawless diamonds from Belgium and deliver them to the Allied Forces before the industrial-grade gems fall into the hands of the Nazis. 

 I loved the intricate, well-developed plot, memorable characters, and imminent danger at every turn. As a French teacher who spent a summer in Normandy and visited many of the sites of the Allied invasion, I appreciated how the heroine was a French woman trying to save her country by aiding the Allies.

This novel was one of the best WW2 stories I have ever read!

I loved this story of a feisty female Robin Hood who lives as a woodland outlaw with an odd group of very likable bandits. As a young girl, I adored adventure stories set in Sherwood Forest, with memorable characters such as Little John, Maid Marian, and Friar Tuck.

This medieval romance combined all the elements that I loved about Robin Hood but with a delightful twist of reverse gender roles. As a dog lover, I adored the heroine Temair’s loyal wolfhounds and how the hero Ryland de Ware charmed them in subtle, humorous ways as he wove his way into capturing Temair’s heart.

This was a fabulous, steamy, and entertaining medieval romance.