Hidden Book Gems aka Books I Think Deserve More Love

Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl Head on over to her site to see other lists for today! This week’s theme is Hidden Gems, or books that I think deserve more love and publicity than they have received.

This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail. I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of some of these books, all opinions are my own.

The first books are The Last Policeman Trilogy by Ben H. Winters. Book one is The Last Policeman, Book two is Countdown City and Book three is World of Trouble. These books center around Concord, New Hampshire Police Detective Henry Palace. He is investigating a suicide that seems very suspicious. The catch? An Asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, and most of the planet will be destroyed, and strange things are already beginning to happen. That doesn’t matter to Henry, because he is set on solving this crime. Each novel in the series stands alone with its mystery, but the whole arc is so believable and satisfying with its post-apocalyptic setting. The books are fast paced, the characters are quirky and fascinating, and the ending is very satisfying. I think the covers of the books leave a bit to be desired, but the stories are top notch.

The Expats and The Accident by Chris Pavone, as well as his excellent third novel The Travelers. Pavone is a fantastic writer of spy thrillers, and these two novels kept me intrigued throughout. Although both books stand alone, The Accident wraps up the story from The Expats that I thought ended a bit abruptly. Read in succession they give a complete story that is overall exciting and full of a bunch of twists that I didn’t see coming. I don’t think people give these novels enough love, I like his fast-paced way of writing and how no character is who they seem like they are at first.

Dean Koontz is an author that I think is misunderstood quite often. He gets lumped into the “horror” genre with Stephen King, but many of his books don’t really fit in there (yes, some do). He’s more of an out-of-the-box mystery writer with occasional horror/supernatural books thrown in there. One of my hands-down favorites of his that doesn’t get enough love is Life Expectancy.  It’s a twisty, suspenseful tale, yes, but it’s so much more about the power of family and love to overcome obstacles. At its core, it’s the story of Jimmy Tock, whose grandfather Josef died on the day Jimmy was born. Before his death, his grandfather ominously says that Jimmy will have five dark days in his life, and tells the exact dates those will happen, along with some other details that prove to the family these will happen. As the years unfold, the tale is more captivating. I rarely re-read books, but this is one that I occasionally will pick up to read again.

What an absolutely stunning book! I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi is a layered tale with meaningful things to say about life, death, grief and moving forward after tragedy. The writing talent on display is remarkable; Fabiaschi delivers such heartfelt emotion without ever becoming maudlin. The characters become real people who help the reader experience a gamut of complex emotions.
Madeline is a stay-at-home mother who kills herself by jumping off a building. She observes the life she left behind, including her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve. Her goal is to find a woman for Brady to date and marry in order to make his life complete again. As Brady and Eve attempt to find their way through this tragic time in their lives, they are pushed toward Rory, a teacher who Maddie determines is just the right pick for both Brady and Eve. Through some maneuvering, Maddie causes a friendship to grow — but things aren’t always as they seem, and Maddie must figure out how to help make her family happy before she is gone completely.

Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes is the fourth book in the Walsh family series. I love all of the books in the series, and you should really read all of them, but this one is just touching and beautiful. Anna Walsh is at home in Ireland recovering physically and mentally after being in an accident. She longs to return to New York and Aiden, but she has to recover first. It’s a bumpy road full of potholes, valleys, and eventual peaks. This is women’s fiction at its best, and Keyes doesn’t get enough love from the US audience.

 Come Away with Me by Karma Brown is cathartic and heartbreaking. The travel settings will make the reader feel right in the midst of amazing foreign countries. The turn of events in the story will leave you in tears, so definitely have a box of tissues handy.
Tegan and Gabe are recently married and expecting a baby when a car accident turns their world upside down. The losses she experiences drive Tegan into a deep depression. When Gabe suggests they pull some ideas from their “jar of spontaneity,” Tegan reluctantly agrees. They set out on a journey to three different destinations in order to begin the process of healing.

Long Way Gone is a stellar novel from Charles Martin. His fabulous gift for characterization is evident on each page. Layers of the story are peeled back to show the spiritual truth underneath the gripping plot. This is a reimagining of the prodigal son story from the Bible, and the reader’s faith can’t help but be enriched and encouraged after completing the book. Cooper is an intricate character with an amazing story to tell, and the supporting cast is just as important to provide additional depth and understanding. This novel should be on everyone’s must-purchase list.
At age 18, fed up with his father’s straight-laced, restrictive life, Cooper O’Connor takes his father’s beloved guitar, money and a vehicle and drives away to find his way in the music world. After losing everything, Cooper slowly finds his way in Nashville and his musical talent comes to the surface when he meets singer Daley Cross. Just when his life and musical career is hitting its stride, another tragic event takes place. He returns home to Colorado and sets about rebuilding his life in a new way. When Daley walks back into his life, Cooper must decide if telling her the truth about the past is the right decision.

Debut author Bethany Turner has an incredibly unique voice that draws readers into The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and won’t let them go until the gorgeous conclusion. This is a modern Christian novel that touches on realistic subjects and themes and shows how any situation can be directed back to God. The romance is both scorching-hot and completely appropriate, which is a difficult task to pull off, yet Turner does so amazingly. The novel is filled with humor, stellar characterization and conflict balanced with faith and love. Readers will definitely want to put this on their “to buy” list.
After going through a divorce, Sarah Hollenbeck searches for a way to express her emotional state. She tries her hand at poetry, but stinks at that, and decides to write a cheesy, steamy romance novel under a pseudonym. It becomes a hit and Sarah writes two more, rocketing herself to the top of the bestseller charts. Then, under the mentorship of her friend Piper, Sarah becomes a Christian and her outlook on life and writing changes. On her first day at church, she meets Ben Delaney and the attraction is present from the first moment they meet. All seems great, until Sarah discovers that Ben is the new pastor. How can she reconcile her career with her budding relationship?

James L. Rubart has done it again with another uniquely written, stellar novel, The Long Journey to Jake Palmer. The author comes up with the most original, thought-provoking concepts that readers can take lessons from to apply to their own lives. On the surface, the story is engaging. Jake is a fascinating character with many layers and hidden pain. Yet delve deeper and there is a gold mine full of spiritual and personal treasures to uncover. Who wouldn’t want to find a mysterious corridor that grants your deepest desires?

Jake Palmer is a corporate trainer who encourages others to see themselves through the eyes of those around them. When a tragic incident shakes his self-worth to its very core, Jake must come to terms with what he has lost. A chance meeting with a man on an airplane leads Jake and his friends to rent a cabin on a lake. Once there, they hear about a hidden corridor that can grant a person’s greatest wish. Jake sets out to see if it really exists, and what he finds will challenge everything he thinks about himself and others around him.

Do you have any book favorites that you think deserve more love and attention than they get from everyone? Any books you find yourself recommending over and over to people? I’d be excited to add some of your favorites to my list.