Christian Contemporary Fiction

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You Won’t Be Able to Put It Down – If You Dare To Pick It Up!

I don’t know how she does it… Jaime Jo Wright never fails to deliver a story that is simultaneously haunting yet redemptive, atmospheric yet spiritual, and macabre yet beautiful.  Talk about a fascinating juxtaposition of themes!  “The Premonition at Withers Farm” is one of the most gripping novels I’ve read in a long while, as the mystery and murder sweeping through a small town in the year 1910 brings mayhem and unexplainable intentions.  The unexpected part?  It seems to be happening again, in the same town, but this time in the present day… Continue reading →

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A Tale Of Secrets That Will Speak To Your Heart

I’ve never before read a book by Amanda Cox, but I was so impressed with “The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery” that I will definitely be searching out more titles by this talented author!  Published by Revell in the summer of 2021, this book captivated me from start to finish with the story of how a family-run grocery store is the thread that ties generations of women – and their secrets – together into a heart wrenching tale of love and loss.   Continue reading →

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A Captivating Start to the “Heirloom Secrets” Series – by Debut Author Ashley Clark

Don’t you love it when a debut novel blows you away with a complex story that comes to life so vividly, it feels as though you lived it yourself? “The Dress Shop on King Street” is an absolutely beautiful time-slip tale by Ashley Clark, the first of a series called “Heirloom Secrets”, and one of the most poignant books I have read in a long while. Published by Bethany House, this story weaves pain and joy of past and present, while gently unveiling a theme of hope long held and dreams unfurled. Continue reading →

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A Rich Story About the Power of Words

I have been anticipating Erin Bartels’ new story for a long time – pretty much since her debut novel, “We Hope for Better Things”, released! Published by Revell in the late summer of 2019, “The Words Between Us” is a memorable, complex, rather haunting novel that fascinated and challenged me even as it swept me into a world that lingered in my imagination long after closing the book. As the back cover summarizes so well, “With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words – the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write – have more power than we imagine.” Continue reading →

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A Captivating Work of Art

I just finished reading a book that can be described in one word… wow. It was a work of art unlike anything I’ve read before. Continue reading →

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Another Masterpiece by Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron’s second installment in her “Lost Castle” series is even better than the first! Captivating and compelling, “Castle on the Rise” tells three unique but connected stories of three generations of women (from 1797, 1916, and present day), all woven into one unforgettable masterpiece of a novel. Released from Thomas Nelson early in 2019, this beautiful story is a must-read for anyone who has enjoyed the previous story in the series, loves the intricate weaving of dual- or triple-time novels, and/or is a fan of the incredibly talented Kristy Cambron. Continue reading →

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Beautiful Dual-Time Story of Redemption

Best-selling author Rachel Hauck never ceases to amaze me with the fascinating plots of her stories – where does she come up with her unique ideas?! “The Love Letter” is her newest release from Thomas Nelson, and is a dual-storyline novel that weaves together the lives of four people… Two are from the glamorous but shallow, modern-day world of Hollywood, and two are from the tumultuous unrest of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Their connection? A simple letter – a love letter… Continue reading →

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A Poignant and Unforgettable Novel… It Will Take Your Breath Away

Have you ever read a book by an author who possesses the incredible ability to tell a story that crawls into your imagination and comes to life with the vivid clarity of a movie? Does that author also have the ability to plumb the depths of the heart and soul, bringing to light some of the questions we all have inside? For me, Charles Martin is just such an author. Although I’ve only read two of his books so far, both affected me deeply, and I don’t think I will ever forget the poignant tales that he shares or the quotes that are so filled with truth. Mr. Martin’s newest work is “Send Down the Rain”, and was published by Thomas Nelson in the spring of 2018. Continue reading →

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The Hope Harbor Saga Continues. . .

It’s the time of year I’ve come to anticipate for four years in a row… when we can grab a cup of tea, find a shady spot in the backyard, and take the journey to the sweet little (fictional) town of Hope Harbor, “where hearts heal . . . and love blooms”! The newest installment in Irene Hannon’s beloved, ongoing, contemporary romance series from Revell is “Pelican Point”, and brings us the story of two unlikely people brought together in a quest to save a town landmark – a lighthouse – and perhaps find healing for their hearts at the same time. Continue reading →

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Disappointed, to Say the Least

It is very rare that I do not finish a work of Christian Fiction once I start reading it. Unfortunately though, every once in a while there will come a novel that just steps too far outside the boundaries of what I believe should be included in the genre. “The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck”, written by Bethany Turner and published by Revell in 2017, not only crossed the boundaries, it leaped over them and ran quite a distance on the other side! Continue reading →