Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday on Stories By Gina. Thank you for joining me for another Top Ten Tuesday with The Artsy Reader.

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday Theme is Auto-Buy Authors. Those must-have authors. Must-read authors. I must confess that I rarely purchase books new. I’d love to be able to, but it’s not in the budget. I purchase most of my books on the resale market from used bookstores or at library sales. It’s also one of the reasons I became a book blogger. I receive new, hot-off-the-press releases for free and the authors/publishers get free publicity. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Because, I don’t buy new books often, I’ve tweaked today’s post to be My Top Favorite Must-Have Authors. These are the top ten authors that I aim to purchase every book they write and have written. This is not a comprehensive list, if it were it would be a lot longer!

As I was preparing this list, I kept thinking, “Oh, I like her books, too!” Honestly, it was very difficult to decide who to include, so authors please don’t feel slighted if your name is not here. I wish I could have included all the authors that I’m addicted to, but this was a short list. There is nothing specific about the order they are in, save for Mrs. Peterson being #1. She is my top favorite author.

So without further ado, those authors that I absolutely must read anyway I can get my hands on their books!

#1- Tracie Peterson

I have been reading Mrs. Peterson’s books since I was a teenager and I have been captivated by each one. I love the historical elements, but her books have also never failed to touch me on a spiritual level. I’m working on collecting every book she’s ever written, and I currently own about 45 or so.

#2-Colleen Coble

Mrs. Coble provides the perfect blend of romance and suspense for me with her stories. I also appreciate that while they are spell-binding and intense, they are not frightening. Mrs. Coble is also one of a few authors where I can never guess the villain before the end of the story.

#3-Karen Witemeyer

Mrs. Witemeyer is a relatively new author to me. I’ve only read two of her books, but I instantly fell in love with her characters and her sense of humor. I love that the characters in these stories are unique and feel real in the struggles that they face, often a physical trait that provides challenges to their daily life.

#4-Jen Turano

Mrs. Turano is also a new-to-me author, but I was instantly drawn into her stories by the personalities of her characters. They are bold and spunky and I love laughing at the peculiar circumstances they find themselves in.

#5-Michelle Griep

What captures my attention most in Mrs. Griep’s books is her attention to detail and the elegant turn-of-phrase to her descriptions. I can picture her scenes so vividly in my mind because she does such an excellent job at picturing them on the written page. When I pick up a book by Michelle Griep, I honestly feel like I am setting off on an adventure I won’t want to miss.

#6-Joanna Politano

Mrs. Politano’s books are history, romance, and mystery all rolled up in one neat package. I enjoy the adventure and the sweet love story, but also the intelligence of the characters. They have deep, meaningful conversations and this adds a lot to the story itself. I am also attracted to these books for the spiritual applications I find oozing from these pages.

#7-Kimberley Woodhouse

I’ve read several books by Mrs. Woodhouse, those she’d co-written with Tracie Peterson and those she’s written on her own. What I love most about these books is the emotional and spiritual depth to them. I connect with her characters on an emotional level and I cry when they cry and rejoice when they rejoice.

#8-Lynn Austin

Mrs. Austin is another author that I have read since my teen years. Her books have never ceased to reach me with their spiritual depth. I’m always brought to tears. The lessons I learn from God’s word are my favorite part of these books.

#9-Elizabeth Camden

When I read a Camden book, I always learn something new about history that I didn’t know before. I am blown away by the historical detail, but more than that I love the ingenuity she expresses by exploring areas not frequently covered in historical romances. Her female characters are given jobs/careers in male-dominated workplaces, then she builds off of the challenges they faced because of it.

#10-Regina Jennings

Mrs. Jennings books are witty and sweet. I’ve only read two so far, but I was attracted to her ability to make readers laugh or at least chuckle. I know that my funny-bone will be tickled nearly from the first line.

If any of these authors are new-to-you, I strongly urge you to check out their books. You won’t be sorry!