Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Read for the First Time in 2022

Happy Tuesday! Today’s theme for Top Ten Tuesday is authors I read for the first time in 2022. Some of these were debut authors but others were authors whose books I just sadly hadn’t had time to read yet. I definitely enjoyed my first experience with each of these author’s writing & I will be watching for more opportunities to keep reading them!

sorted alphabetically by author

Lori Altebaumer
A Far Way to Run

“From the very beginning of A Far Way to Run, readers are drawn to the three main characters – Shayne, Ethan, and Levi. Because it’s a few chapters before we definitively see how they’ll all connect to each other and the story, we remain glued to the page in collective anticipation, on the edge of our seats, waiting for it all to click into place. What is clear from the earliest scenes is that each of these characters is hurting and broken, and once all becomes clear maybe together they can find their buried strength… for such a time as this.”

Kris Bock
The Accidental Detective Series

“A great start to a new series, Something Shady at Sunshine Haven by Kris Bock has a little something for everyone. Emotionally-layered family dynamics, a delightful middle-aged protagonist turned accidental detective (love that series title!), an eclectic crew of supporting sleuths, and even a bit of romantic possibilities for future books.”

Ellen Byron
Bayou Book Thief

“Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron is a highly engaging read, with interesting characters and intriguing plot threads. Ricki delights as the series protagonists, and readers will become thoroughly invested in her story, along with the mysteries she’s trying to solve in this first book. The supporting players anchor the plot – and Ricki, for that matter – and add a lot of entertainment value. A hint of possible romance in future books has my full support, and I’m already eager for book two!”

Amanda Flower
Because I Could Not Stop for Death

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death is the kind of book you want to curl up with on a rainy day. Or a snowy day. Or a completely sunny day…because you shouldn’t let the weather stop you from reading this delightful cozy (though the former two options fit the mood of the book better). The combination of actual historical individuals with fictional ones, the juxtaposition of classes & gender roles, the tension of life for freedmen and escaped slaves alike… it all results in a captivating story that will keep you absorbed and engaged throughout.”

Linda MacKillop
The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon

“The author’s writing voice is so charming and full of warmth and wit, the characters so vividly drawn, that when you close the last page you feel as though you’ve been with friends instead of fictional people. A beautiful and heart-tugging portrait of home, yes, and certainly of aging, but also of intergenerational impact, the power of people who refuse to give up on you, and the Divine restoration of the years the metaphorical locusts have eaten. A winning debut novel in every way!”

Tom Mead
Death and the Conjuror

“Fans of Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr will be positively delighted to dive into Tom Mead’s debut novel! Death and the Conjuror is a classic Golden Age locked room whodunnit with a cocktail of eccentric characters and delicious twists and turns. The fact that the author opens the story behind the scenes of a production called Miss Death and then structures the pace of the novel to parallel the acts of a play is just another example of the attention to detail that makes this book so unique. The clues are all there for you to find, dear reader, but can you find them?”

Beth Pugh
Pine Valley Holiday series

“The Valentine’s Proposal is an endearing debut novel from Beth Pugh. Mason & Lily Anne’s shared past, mutual beliefs, and similar struggles make it easy at times to forget the whirlwind nature of their current relationship, a dichotomy that the author successfully uses to her advantage. There are also several supporting characters who intrigued me, and I hope to see their stories soon! A great choice for fans of Candee Fick’s Wardrobe series and Ruth Logan Herne’s Wishing Bridge series.”

Janyre Tromp
Shadows in the Mind’s Eye

“If there was such a genre as ‘hope-filled noir fiction’, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye would fit in nicely. The Arkansas mountain setting complements, even encourages, the haunting fog of suspicion, of uncertainty, of suspense that swirls through the story – keeping the characters and readers on their toes. The characters are tragically-flawed – almost every single one of them in their own ways – seemingly without redemption in sight. But, as Dovie May would say, light shines in the broken things – and in the broken people. Janyre Tromp has exquisitely painted this truth across the complex canvas of her debut novel, and you absolutely must not miss it.”

Jill Weatherholt
Searching for Home

“Adorable kids, a swoony cowboy, and a second chance at love with the girl who got away – yes please! Searching for Home by Jill Weatherholt is cute and sweet with memorable characters and a compelling plot. “Cowboy Luke’s” interaction with each of the triplets is so endearing, but it’s his relationship with hurting Tucker that most touched my heart. I could definitely relate to all the spinning plates that Meg is juggling and was empathetic to her throughout, even if I couldn’t relate to her specific struggles. I smiled a lot while reading this engaging romance, and I even wiped away a tear a couple of times. The perfect choice for fans of Lee Tobin McClain or Jill Lynn!”

Amy Willoughy-Burle
The Other Side of Certain

“Amy Willoughby-Burle’s latest is absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2022! I loved every word, and I so badly want the time to go back and read it again. It took me on a roller coaster of emotions, broke my heart a couple of times, and sewed it back up with a tender joy that spilled out my eyes. Amid the sweet tears there was also laughter. I grinned like a fool, and I certainly swooned like one. This is more than a historical romance – it is also a layered look at the beauty of grace. Fans of Christy, Wonderland Creek, and Beauty & the Beast will love The Other Side of Certain!”

What about you? Who were some authors you read for the first time in 2022?