How precious are Your thoughts to me, O LORD ... how vast is the sum of them!

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Five Fall Favorites Day 2

 




Today I’m featuring my favorite Books by Indie Authors. As an indie author myself, I have a special place in my heart for the many independently published books I’ve read. It was hard to narrow this list to five ... and even now I keep thinking of more I could have added!





    

    Friendship and Folly by Meredith Allady – This is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read—it’s written so much like a novel that’s actually from the Regency period that you’d think it was a classic rather than historical fiction. If you’re a Jane Austen fan, I’d highly recommend the books by Meredith Allady for something that resembles her humor, writing style, and character development more than any other contemporarily written books set in the Regency.

 

Kate’s Case Files by Sarah Holman – This is currently an eight-book series, but there will be nine, and I’ve loved walking (and running!) with the characters on this fictional FBI team that the series follows. Their strong camaraderie and their journeys of finding deeper faith in God warms my heart, while there is plenty of suspense to make me turn those pages fast.

 

The Thaw Series by E. Kaiser Writes – This fantasy series isn’t completely wrapped up either, but the three books that are currently published are rich with character development, evocative prose, luscious worldbuilding, and breathless adventure. A loose retelling of The Snow Queen and The Snow Maiden, there are also elements that might seem familiar from Frozen, but with even deeper themes and a more complex storyline. My favorite from the series is the third book, Prince of Demargen.

 

Wilkester Mysteries by Barbara Cornthwaite – These are unique even in the world of cozy mysteries. With strong and heartfelt Christian themes, these stories follow a forty-year-old single woman who is a literature professor and an editor—two of my favorite professions (I once considered becoming a literature prof!). I appreciate the romantic elements—focused on godliness and very encouraging for those who are going through prolonged singleness—as well as all the bookish references, even apart from the intrigue of the mysteries themselves.

 

There Was Always Laughter in Our House by Sarah Holman – This nonfiction memoir of a Christian homeschool family is a delight from cover to cover. There are so many things for other homeschoolers to relate to and to be encouraged by. It’s refreshing and positive yet realistic. 


Here are the links to the other bloggers on my team, Team Walnut. Be sure to check them out for more recommendations!



And be sure to visit the hostesses' blogs by clicking on the links below:


Lastly, here is the link to the giveaway for all these fantastic books shown in the graphics below:






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8 comments:

  1. Abigail HarrisSeptember 23, 2025 at 9:40 AM

    I still need to read Brought to Book even though I've had it on my TBR list for a long time.

    Abigail @ https://authorabigailkay.wordpress.com/

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    1. Kelsey BryantSeptember 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM

      It's so worth it! The Wilkester Mysteries are not super short, but they read fast because they're so good and hard to put down. :)

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  2. KateSeptember 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM

    Lovely recs, Kelsey!

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  3. Katja L.September 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM

    I've read and loved both of Sarah's books, and I have wanted to get my hands on the Meredith Allady books for ever! The Wilkester Mysteries also sound awesome—I remember Sarah recommending them a few years ago.

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    1. Kelsey BryantSeptember 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM

      I think you'd really enjoy the Meredith Allady books! I have yet to read all of them, but this reminds me I need to move them up on my tbr. And I, too, first heard about the Wilkester Mysteries from Sarah. :)

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  4. Stephanie @ Books Less Travelled September 23, 2025 at 10:06 PM

    Agreed, it's so hard to pick just five! I have read some of Kate's Case Files, but don't think I've heard of any of these others. I'll have to look them up!

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