Here are 13 books that O'Malley fans have personally recommended once you finish the O'Malley series.
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Long before I earned a degree in psychology, I was fascinated by human relationships and motivations. Since reading novels is an excellent way to delve into the minds of a variety of people, the library became my second home. I well remember my first binge-readāNancy Drew. I devoured the entire series sitting under a catalpa tree in my grandfatherās backyard. So itās probably not surprising that Iām now the author of 60+ novels in the romantic suspense and contemporary romance genresānone of which include sex, swear words, or gratuitous violence. Because as suspense superstar Mary Higgins Clark once said, you donāt need any of those to tell a compelling story.
I expected great things from this wonderful writer and was not disappointed. This was my first-ever split-time novel, and I was hesitant to pick it up because historical fiction isnāt my favorite genre. But this beautiful tale of love, duty, honor, devotion, and second chances seamlessly wove together two remarkable love storiesāone present day, one Civil-War eraāin a lovely, lyrical tapestry that tugged at my heartstrings. And as you can see from my list, it opened me up to other stories that use the split-time technique to tell generational stories.
New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight welcomes you to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, and a house that's rich with secrets and brimming with sweet possibilitiesĀ
Memories of motherhood and marriage are fresh for Julia Presleyāthough tragedy took away both years ago. Finding comfort in the routine of running the Peach Orchard Inn, she lets the historic, mysterious place fill the voids of love and family. No more pleasure of a man's gentle kiss. No more joy in hearing a child call her Mommy. Life is calm, unchangingā¦until a stranger with a young boy and soul-deep secrets shows up in herā¦
Long before I earned a degree in psychology, I was fascinated by human relationships and motivations. Since reading novels is an excellent way to delve into the minds of a variety of people, the library became my second home. I well remember my first binge-readāNancy Drew. I devoured the entire series sitting under a catalpa tree in my grandfatherās backyard. So itās probably not surprising that Iām now the author of 60+ novels in the romantic suspense and contemporary romance genresānone of which include sex, swear words, or gratuitous violence. Because as suspense superstar Mary Higgins Clark once said, you donāt need any of those to tell a compelling story.
This is an engrossing tale of love, loss, trust, and life-changing choices. Springerās endearing, well-drawn characters sucked me in from page 1 as they faced a myriad of real-life challenges while struggling to both maintain old relationships and develop new ones. But as Springer demonstrates, real loveānot just the romantic varietyācan see us through the messiest of situations. While none of the situations depicted in this book were ones I had personally experienced, the authorās deep-dive depictions gave me exactly the kinds of character insights I look for in my reads.
This handsome firefighter makes a living coming to the rescue, but Gin doesn't need a man to fight her battles.
After Raine's dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter's youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Wisconsin, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that's compromised when Raine reveals she's pregnant.
Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. Afterā¦
Long before I earned a degree in psychology, I was fascinated by human relationships and motivations. Since reading novels is an excellent way to delve into the minds of a variety of people, the library became my second home. I well remember my first binge-readāNancy Drew. I devoured the entire series sitting under a catalpa tree in my grandfatherās backyard. So itās probably not surprising that Iām now the author of 60+ novels in the romantic suspense and contemporary romance genresānone of which include sex, swear words, or gratuitous violence. Because as suspense superstar Mary Higgins Clark once said, you donāt need any of those to tell a compelling story.
A powerful, riveting, and unputdownable tale of three women from different eras (Civil War to present) that frames the issue of race relations within the context of family relationships, making the subject immensely relatable and deeply touching. Bartels spins this masterful tale with a deft touch and a caring heart to create a stunning debut. Because the characters were so vivid and the emotions so real, this book opened my eyes in new ways to an issue that remains a hot button in todayās society.
A 2020 Michigan Notable Book 2020 WFWA Star Award Winner 2019 Christy Award finalist
***
"In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A forbidden interracial marriage, an escaped slave, an expectant mother waiting for her Union soldier to return--all of these stories are deftly told by Bartels, as she explores the hard realities of racism and its many faces during various eras of American history. . . .Compelling characters make this winning debut also appealing for fansā¦
As an avid reader growing up, this list of books was influential in not only fostering my love of story, but also for inspiring me to become a writer. These books showed me what makes a page-turning story; from creating a rich setting to developing authentic characters with tension-filled dialogue, to heart-pounding twists and turns. In the end, the readers are taken on a suspenseful journey that will keep them up all night.
A slight genre shift from the typical romantic suspense novel is the Gothic romance, and Victoria Holt (the pen name for Eleanor Hibbert) was one of the best. Like many of the stories published in this genre, there is a young woman, Martha Leigh, hired on as a governess to a troubled widow whose wife died under mysterious circumstances. Settingsāas in all gothic novelsāplay a strong role in this story with its foreboding mansion and the untamed cliffs of Cornwall.
Mount Mellyn stood as proud and magnificent as she had envisioned...But what bout its master--Connan TreMellyn? Was Martha Leigh's new employer as romantic as his name sounded?Ā As she approached the sprawling mansion towering above the cliffs of Cornwall, an odd chill of apprehension overcame her. Ā TreMellyn's young daugher, Alvean, proved as spoiled and difficult as the three governesses before Martha had discovered.Ā But it was the girl's father whose cool, arrogant demeanor unleashed unfimiliar sensations and turmoil--even as whispers of past tragedy and present danger begin to insinuate themselves into Martha's life. Ā Powerless against her growing desire for theā¦
Iāve always been a creative, imaginative person, and I love creating exciting, fantastical worlds, either through my fine art or the stories I write. As such, I am always intrigued by creations by others that depict all the interesting possibilities of reality. I consume and create fantasy and science fiction tales, which take up the majority of my readings and viewings. But I also love comedy! I love to think and laugh, and when I come across a story that makes me do both, thatās a beautiful double whammy! And I particularly love sci-fi because it isnāt just about escapism, but this genre leads to real-world scientific advancements.
I love this book because out of all the time travel tales Iāve watched and read, this one seemed the most plausible. I mean the method of time travel that was used, if time travel to the past is ever possible, the method they use in the book would probably be the means to do it.
So it made me think about that, but it also enlightened me about other aspects of time travel back to the medieval period in England that Iād never considered before: like for instance, the English they spoke would be mostly indecipherable, and youād need a translating device (which, sadly the movie version didnāt address). So, it had me thinking a lot about language and how itās evolved over time.
In this thriller from the author of Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Congo, a group of young scientists travel back in time to medieval France on a daring rescue mission that becomes a struggle to stay alive. Ā #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Ā āCompulsive reading . . . brilliantly imagined.āāLos Angeles Times Ā In an Arizona desert, a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates. Halfway around the world, archaeologists make a shocking discovery at a medieval site. Suddenly they are swept off toā¦
I adore crime fiction, especially mysteries. They make sense. In the real world, crime rarely has the resolution of fiction, and almost never has Belgian detectives with very neat moustaches, or old ladies solving a who-dunnitā¦ I grew up reading these books, mentally inhaling everything from Christie to Rankin to McDermid, and now I spend my days writing brutal but quite silly murders solved by a woman who would really rather wear an old grey fleece and jeans than a sparkly dress, and her friends, the fictional TRASH drag family. Murder mysteries are fun ā perfect escapism. In a world so messed up as ours is right now, donāt we need to escape into fiction?
I hate this book for all the reasons I love it: because itās perfect.
Itās a perfect crime novel and a perfect mystery, with perfectly awful characters, set in a perfectly fabulous situation, and as a mystery writer I know I will never ever top Christieās brilliance ā but oh my, any chance I have, I fall into this story.
Romance. Deception. Murder. Shiny things.
Genius.
Forget the movie, pick up the real thing. Poirot at his best.
THE MOST WIDELY READ MYSTERY OF ALL TIMEāNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY KENNETH BRANAGH AND PRODUCED BY RIDLEY SCOTT!
āThe murderer is with usāon the train now . . .ā
Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.
Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead manāsā¦
Iāve been a stay-at-home mom and author for the past decade, and during that time, I went through the stillbirth of my second baby. Grief taught me a lot about compassion, including the importance of being able to see the nuance of difficult subject matters. I learned itās easy to theorize what to do in a situation until you're in that situation. For that reason, I love books in all sorts of genres that are layered with charactersā past griefs, impossible scenarios, and tensions regarding the choices they make. I picked five of my favorite books with a heart-ripping plot that sparks interesting discussion and leaves readers pondering, "What would I have done?"
This book is a split-time masterpiece, and I was equally invested in both timelines. It also taught me about historical, harrowing events surrounding the adoption industry in the United States that I didnāt know about before.
While the characters in this story face impossible scenarios, itās also a lesson on the kind of grief that comes from horrific choices being made for a person that canāt be undone.
THE BLOCKBUSTER HITāOver two million copies sold! A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller
āPoignant, engrossing.āāPeople ā¢ āLisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nationās history and weaves a tale of enduring power.āāPaula McLain
Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their familyās Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in chargeāuntil strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Childrenās Home Society orphanage,ā¦
As an Infectious Diseases specialist and epidemiologist, I became aware of the clandestine bio-weapons program in Russia when exposedāafter the fall of the Soviet Union. I began to look at data and lecture on the potential problem before 9/11. I familiarized myself with the biology behind likely successful pathogens, including antibiotic resistance, inability to make a vaccine, and enhanced virulence designs. I also have a passion for Greek mythology that I wanted to stitch into a publication. This is the background for my book.
I especially like this page-turning book because it vividly describes the effects of viral hemorrhagic fever on patients. The reader can more effectively convey the signs and symptoms experienced by the victims than most writers can.Ā
This engaging book is even more relevant today, as our world has become smaller, allowing the possibility of airline travel to spread killer viruses from one continent to another in a single day.
The bestselling landmark account of the first emergence of the Ebola virus.
Now aĀ mini-series drama starring Julianna Margulies, Topher Grace, Liam Cunningham, James D'Arcy, and Noah Emmerich on National Geographic.
A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance ofā¦
Iām always inspired by nature. Iām sure thatās because my parents always took us to beautiful places on our summer vacations. I enjoyed snorkeling in Florida, hiking in the Rockies, exploring at Yellowstone National Park, to name a few places. Iāve never forgotten how in awe I was at seeing such beauty, and when I started writing romantic suspense novels, it seemed natural to look for a setting that not only inspired me to write but would lend to the suspense and tension aspect of my novels as well as provide an exciting adventure. Even now, when we travel and explore, itās always setting that inspires me with new story ideas.
Again, another title that really grabbed me. I absolutely adored this book about former pararescue jumper Orion Star who lives in Alaska and his romance with the CIA profiler he met while on a mission overseas.
Jenny decides she wants to climb Denali! The tallest mountain in North America doesnāt always play nice so Orion must rescue her. I loved every minute of this story, especially all the details the author includes about climbing this mountain as if sheād done it herself. Who knowsāmaybe she did.Ā
Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.
Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secretā¦
My passion and expertise for writing Christian Military Romance stems from the fact that I was a military wifeātwice. My first husband, an Army officer died eight years into our marriage. I then married a petty officer in the Navyāall this on top of growing up all over the world as my father worked in the foreign service. As someone who views the world through the lens of faith and who relies on God to overcome hardship, I'm convinced that the elite warriors who protect us and who fight giants on our behalf must also rely on faith. Tie all those elements together, and, voilĆ”, you have a Rebecca Hartt Acts of Valor book!
Can you imagine losing your entire family to a plane accident? Thatās what the heroine of this first-in-a-series book by Colleen Coble has to deal with.
With so many unanswered questions, Bree Nichols puts her K-9 search-and-rescue skills to work, looking for the bodies of her husband and son in the wilderness of Michiganās Upper Peninsula. Having been widowed young, my heart went out to her from the start.
Working with Park Ranger Kade Mathews, Bree stumbles upon a terrible crime that may be linked to the plane crash. I think this book speaks to the importance of never giving up on faith and hope, even when everything looks absolutely bleak.
The best thing about Ms. Cobleās books is her character development. The pacing is less of a thriller than a cozy mystery with a good dose of romance. While lacking a military hero, I do like that there isā¦
When a plane crash claims her husband and son, Bree Nichols and her search-and-rescue dog won't rest until they recover the bodies. But when quiet Rock Harbor is shaken by a violent crime, Bree discovers links to her husband's fatal accident. Would solving this crime bring her peace-or more incredibly, reunite her family?
It's been months since the crash. K-9 search-and-rescue worker Bree Nicholls knows the chances of finding her husband and son in the vast wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula grow more remote by the day. But her heart and her faithful dog, Samson, demand she keep searching.
