Best Historical Christian Romance
Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. "The timeless biblical themes...are beautifully portrayed and brought to life through her unforgettable characters." "My heart and soul were profoundly shaken as I realized anew the lessons portrayed through the stories of Hosea and Gomer, Michael and Angel.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A lovely story inspired by the Biblical book of Hosea. Just like the wife in the book of Hosea she runs away many times."
"This book was recommended for our book club and we have not met to discuss it yet, but I think it will be a very interesting conversation."
"What a true portrait of our Lord's love."
"Still, if you appreciate a story of redemption and faith that are grounded in a persons religious belief, you will love this story."
"There was so much self-analyzation going on and so many lessons to learn in this book as it serves as a reflection of our own stubborn ways and shines a light on how merciful, loving, gracious and kind the Lord really is and has been to us. I can imagine as well that most girls and women who have read this book also feel a personal connection and have in some ways been impacted by Sarah. Whenever I would put the book down I'd feel empowered by her like she taught me some things; an older sister type. My prayer is that the book transforms people as it serves as a great self-checker if read with an open and honest heart especially as one longing to please the Father."
"I read this book because it was on a reading list for my school, and I really love the story of Hosea and Gomer. I really don't want to give away spoilers for anyone who hasn't read this yet, because YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!"
Books in this latest edition include a foreword from the publisher, a preface from Francine Rivers, and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use. #1 A Voice in the Wind: Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome. Francine Rivers began her literary career at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I knew they were mean but aftr reading this first 2 books it certainly makes the first 6 books of the New Testement come alivr.The letters that St. Paul wrote to the Christians are made come alive."
"I was in a place where reading Scripture in some ways felt like a chore to me and this book helped revive my love for God's Word."
"I recently ordered this set for my mother-in-law, and I am extremely happy with the condition that the set arrived in."
"I fell in love with, Hadassah, the 1st century Jewish slave girl who's humility and faith in Christ teaches 21 century women lessons in true loyalty. Though she is a slave her influence reached further than she even knew. I found myself laughing out loud and crying over certain passages that I had to stop reading just to blow my nose and dry my eyes."
"My most favored books by Francine Rivers."
"The characters stay with you."
"It helped in my walk with Jesus...I could never be like the main character, but it did so much for making me look inside my own life..and I was amazed at the testimony and how it touched my life."
"I have read this series several times over the years, and each time, I find myself engrossed in the story."
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed the parallel storylines in this book, and found these narratives to hit just the right balance of depth and lightness - illuminating the needs and desires of these two women, while revealing their quirks and - yes, even their playful sides, in a beautiful ode to the human experience."
"The reference to panty hose near the beginning of the book made me go, "Ut-oh" because panty hose wasn't available to consumers until 1967 or 1968 and I thought it showed the author put no research into the book."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its well thought out characters."
"I appreciated the wholesome way she chose to write this love story and if she gives in to the pressure to write smut I will no longer be a fan."
"The storyline focuses on Maggie's love affair with William and ends with Sara finding a love of her own."
"Just a good interesting book."
"It isn’t maudlin, but it irritated me the way the author broke the novel into segments; usually a short part about the grandmother, and her painful life, then about the granddaughter and some difficult decisions she had to make."
"Sometimes I love the book so much I read it during the day as I can't put it down."
Best Historical Christian Romance Fiction
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ). In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed the parallel storylines in this book, and found these narratives to hit just the right balance of depth and lightness - illuminating the needs and desires of these two women, while revealing their quirks and - yes, even their playful sides, in a beautiful ode to the human experience."
"It isn’t maudlin, but it irritated me the way the author broke the novel into segments; usually a short part about the grandmother, and her painful life, then about the granddaughter and some difficult decisions she had to make."
"I liked the history and unfolding story of lives well lived but taking different turns."
"I enjoyed this book very much with the exception that I, personally, do not like jumping back and form in between every other chapter."
"I read this book in 2 days."
"Immerse yourself in a world where simple times, good people and family are a part of everyday life."
"The story of life in another time, with different morals and expectations."
"..which made me a little sad."
Best Christian Romance
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ). In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed the parallel storylines in this book, and found these narratives to hit just the right balance of depth and lightness - illuminating the needs and desires of these two women, while revealing their quirks and - yes, even their playful sides, in a beautiful ode to the human experience."
"The storyline focuses on Maggie's love affair with William and ends with Sara finding a love of her own."
"I appreciated the wholesome way she chose to write this love story and if she gives in to the pressure to write smut I will no longer be a fan."
"It isn’t maudlin, but it irritated me the way the author broke the novel into segments; usually a short part about the grandmother, and her painful life, then about the granddaughter and some difficult decisions she had to make."
"This book is a special."
"Her life of privilege didn't prepare her to be independent and strong."
"I liked the history and unfolding story of lives well lived but taking different turns."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its well thought out characters."
Best Christian Historical Fiction
I’m in love with the characters, I can’t sleep because I’m too busy reading, I have learned more than I ever thought possible, and I’ve been inspired to become a better person. Storm Clouds Rolling In is the first book in the ongoing Bregdan Chronicles historical novel series. Book Description: Carrie Cromwell comes of age as the dark clouds of the Civil War swallow the country. The activities of the Underground Railroad and her close friendships with the Cromwell Plantation slaves create agonizing choices. But when her decisions put her at odds with her heritage, and challenge her dreams, will she be able to give up all that is precious to her? You'll experience the Civil War era (and all the years to come) through the eyes of both White and Black, free & slave, Southern & Northern - and you'll fall in love with every character. I would finish one, and immediately hop online to go get the next one....sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, when my tail should have been asleep. Thank you Ginny Dye...not only for an amazing journey....but for those light bulb moments,throughout each book, that reached beyond the pages, and made their home inside the soul. Well, let me put it like this: these books are like... "Gone with the Wind" meets up with "Eat,Pray,Love"; then whispers some "Secret life of Bees", forges some "Steel Magnolia's", and at times, wraps itself with the "Color Purple." She has managed horse ranches in Texas and Oregon; worked with teenagers all over the country (she love them! Her heart is at home there with the snow covered mountains; the glistening waters of the Pacific; the eagles and Orca whales; the towering fir trees surrounding her home; and the miles of trails on her own Magic Mountain. This fabulous organization is committed to creating a world-wide community of people with a passion to make a difference and live their best life - using the multitude of FREE resources provided.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have read Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind" 4 times from cover to cover, and in my opinion, this book and the following 3 books in this series rank right up there with that masterpiece of historical fiction."
"This is the first book in the series."
"I also learned a lot I didn't know about slavery and how the plantation owners justified this abominable practice of owning other human beings."
"The characters are so well written, bringing joy and sorrow, it felt as if I was there sharing in their lives."
"Excellent series. The other great grandfather fought for the Confederate army."
"But as the title says, storm clouds are rolling in for not only the country but also her, as she questions her lifestyle and the treatment of slaves. Although this is historical fiction, it is packed with facts of how the country, Virginia in particular was handling the disturbing trends that are sweeping the South. If you are looking for a good fictional series involving the Civil War, this one is off to a great start!"
"History had never been my forte but after getting involved with Carries' open mindedness I had to follow her like a fly on the wall."
Best Religious Historical Fiction
Books in this latest edition include a foreword from the publisher, a preface from Francine Rivers, and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use. #1 A Voice in the Wind: Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome. Francine Rivers began her literary career at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I knew they were mean but aftr reading this first 2 books it certainly makes the first 6 books of the New Testement come alivr.The letters that St. Paul wrote to the Christians are made come alive."
"I recently ordered this set for my mother-in-law, and I am extremely happy with the condition that the set arrived in."
"I fell in love with, Hadassah, the 1st century Jewish slave girl who's humility and faith in Christ teaches 21 century women lessons in true loyalty. Though she is a slave her influence reached further than she even knew. I found myself laughing out loud and crying over certain passages that I had to stop reading just to blow my nose and dry my eyes."
"My most favored books by Francine Rivers."
"The characters stay with you."
"It helped in my walk with Jesus...I could never be like the main character, but it did so much for making me look inside my own life..and I was amazed at the testimony and how it touched my life."
"I have read this series several times over the years, and each time, I find myself engrossed in the story."
"Only Francine Rivers could weave these characters into a story that you cannot put down, and at the same time be a life changing experience for you too."
Best Religious Romance
Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. "The timeless biblical themes...are beautifully portrayed and brought to life through her unforgettable characters." "My heart and soul were profoundly shaken as I realized anew the lessons portrayed through the stories of Hosea and Gomer, Michael and Angel.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book was recommended for our book club and we have not met to discuss it yet, but I think it will be a very interesting conversation."
"Throughout the story there are several flashbacks that help tell Angel's story so you can better understand her character."
"A very special lady in my life recommended I read this book."
"Wonderful story of a love that would not quit - beautifully describes the love that God has for His children."
"This book will have your heart exposed with emotions for the characters."
"This book grabs you from the first page, and keeps you till the very end."
"Read this book and you will understand on a totally different level the unending, undying love the Father has for you."
"This story is a beautiful depiction of redemption and grace and helps me to more fully understand God's enormous grace and love."
Best Clean & Wholesome Romance
When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed the parallel storylines in this book, and found these narratives to hit just the right balance of depth and lightness - illuminating the needs and desires of these two women, while revealing their quirks and - yes, even their playful sides, in a beautiful ode to the human experience."
"I enjoyed this book very much with the exception that I, personally, do not like jumping back and form in between every other chapter."
"I read this book in 2 days."
"Immerse yourself in a world where simple times, good people and family are a part of everyday life."
"The story of life in another time, with different morals and expectations."
"..which made me a little sad."
"Feeling those overwhelming pieces of joy as well as their hurtful hearts at times."
"This book is beautifully written."
Best Religious & Inspirational Fiction
With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. I marvel at her ability to weave together a story that grips hold of my heart and my imagination.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author. A Panzer tank through your heart, leaving dirt and rubble through which poppies bloom.” —Suanne Laqueur, author of An Exaltation of Larks. Amy Harmon is a New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including the Whitney Award–winning The Law of Moses . Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult books are now being published in twelve countries around the globe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Amy Harmon brings together the best and the worst of humanity on these pages, paving this journey with violence and bravery, horror and love. It's a ruthless barrage of emotions, this story, a relentless war between life and death, between good and evil, illustrated exquisitely by an author whose writing prowess knows no bounds. I've read many books of the true accounts of holocaust survivors, seen the movies and documentaries, taken classes concentrating on this area of study. To feel as though you know their strength, to get to know their life up until the moment it is stolen away, to know their helplessness in the face of something so unjust and so terrifying, it changes the way you look at the world, to see such atrocities through their eyes. This may be a fictionalized account inspired by true events, but you won't convince my heart Eva and Angelo aren't real. This story weaves it's way under your skin and into your soul so you feel every step of their journey, of their fight, of this miracle. Our world would be such a beautiful, peaceful, harmonious one if we sought to understand each other instead of judging each other for the ways we are different, for the God we pray to, for where each of our trees first took root. From Sand and Ash is a rich work of art, a stunning masterpiece that has moved me, altered me, captivated me. These characters, this fictionalized truth swathed in Harmon's unparalleled storytelling and her breathtaking writing style make for an epic story of bravery, love, resilience and loss that is both haunting and heartwarming all at once."
"But the mark of a great Amy Harmon book is her expertly crafted story that builds so very slowly - she builds you up and up and before you know it you’ve fallen for her characters and then it happens - the downfall that completely shatters you. The common theme within all of her books is that love and faith conquers all, and how hope and resilience can help you rise above even the most difficult of situations. I really hope that people give this book a chance. And strangely enough, I find myself convinced that God loves his children – all his children – that he loves me, and that he provides moments of light and transcendence amid the constant trial.”. “Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”. "Our immortality comes through our children and their children."
Best Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance
Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more. Charles Martin is the author of seven novels. The wind up here is steady, leaning against the tail of the fuselage…or what’s left of it. I guess both wings were still pretty full of fuel. There’s a wedding band, worn thin around the edges. I’ll never understand how he landed this thing without killing me, too. When we took off, the ground temperature was in the single digits. We couldn’t have fallen more than five hundred feet when Grover dipped the wing. The control panel sits dark, unlit. Every few minutes the GPS on the dash will flicker, then go black again. Makes snotty, gurgling sounds when he breathes. He’s shivering and the wrinkles around his eyes are quivering. Whenever the wind howls, he jumps up and growls at it. Grover and I were talking, he was flying, maybe banking right, the dash flashed a buffet of blue and green lights, a carpet of black stretched out below us, not a light bulb for sixty miles in any direction, and…there was a woman. Trying to get home to her fiancé and a rehearsal dinner. Right shoulder is dislocated and left femur is broken. I guess the storm finally caught us. If I don’t get us wrapped in something…we’ll freeze to death before daylight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is quite hard to focus your story on just two characters and make it readable when you have to face the most challenging situation of an air crash but Martin doesn’t disappoint. It is not just a survival story, not just a romantic novel but much more than that, subtly hinting at the finer nuances of life, which seem less important when we have all the blessings on a platter but don't acknowledge them."
"I am new to Mr. Charles Martin's writing and I am sure I will be reading more of his books."
"What I felt so compelling was how I was instantly spell bound by how the words sprang to life inside the very depth of my heart’s soul."
"Save it for the dead of winter when the snow is falling and the wind howling."
"As an avid reader, this is the best book I've read in a long time. The only thing connecting the b movie and book was the theme "plane crash survival"."
"I really liked this book as it’s about people in difficult wilderness situations."
"A doctor that is physically fit, survivalist, McGyver, does not panic, get upset or ever say the wrong thing. Ashley the main female character is supposed to be a modern day damsel in distress. And do you really think after a plane crash a woman would really ask if the other survivor finds her sexy and dreams of having sex with her."
"Ben is just too perfect...an orthopedic surgeon AND trauma doctor AND a wilderness expert who can shoot a bow AND a track star with epic stamina and strength even though he is starving at high altitude?? I almost tossed the book in the fire when I read that Ashley was " frolicking in the bathtub like a dolphin" while lost in the wilderness half starved with a broken femur?"
Best Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance
Without food or shelter, and only Ben’s mountain climbing gear to protect themselves, Ashley and Ben’s chances for survival look bleak, but their reliance on each other sparks an immediate connection, which soon evolves into something more. Charles Martin is the author of seven novels. The wind up here is steady, leaning against the tail of the fuselage…or what’s left of it. I guess both wings were still pretty full of fuel. There’s a wedding band, worn thin around the edges. I’ll never understand how he landed this thing without killing me, too. When we took off, the ground temperature was in the single digits. We couldn’t have fallen more than five hundred feet when Grover dipped the wing. The control panel sits dark, unlit. Every few minutes the GPS on the dash will flicker, then go black again. Makes snotty, gurgling sounds when he breathes. He’s shivering and the wrinkles around his eyes are quivering. Whenever the wind howls, he jumps up and growls at it. Grover and I were talking, he was flying, maybe banking right, the dash flashed a buffet of blue and green lights, a carpet of black stretched out below us, not a light bulb for sixty miles in any direction, and…there was a woman. Trying to get home to her fiancé and a rehearsal dinner. Right shoulder is dislocated and left femur is broken. I guess the storm finally caught us. If I don’t get us wrapped in something…we’ll freeze to death before daylight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is quite hard to focus your story on just two characters and make it readable when you have to face the most challenging situation of an air crash but Martin doesn’t disappoint. It is not just a survival story, not just a romantic novel but much more than that, subtly hinting at the finer nuances of life, which seem less important when we have all the blessings on a platter but don't acknowledge them."
"It works ok most of the time except when he starts talking about things like his wife's tan lines and her hair blowing in the wind."
"I am new to Mr. Charles Martin's writing and I am sure I will be reading more of his books."
"What I felt so compelling was how I was instantly spell bound by how the words sprang to life inside the very depth of my heart’s soul."
"Save it for the dead of winter when the snow is falling and the wind howling."
"I hope they make more movies of Charles Martin's books."
"A doctor that is physically fit, survivalist, McGyver, does not panic, get upset or ever say the wrong thing. Ashley the main female character is supposed to be a modern day damsel in distress. And do you really think after a plane crash a woman would really ask if the other survivor finds her sexy and dreams of having sex with her."
"Ben is just too perfect...an orthopedic surgeon AND trauma doctor AND a wilderness expert who can shoot a bow AND a track star with epic stamina and strength even though he is starving at high altitude?? I almost tossed the book in the fire when I read that Ashley was " frolicking in the bathtub like a dolphin" while lost in the wilderness half starved with a broken femur?"
Best Religious Literature & Fiction
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. "The Shack" cuts through the cliches of both religion and bad writing to reveal something compelling and beautiful about life's integral dance with the Divine. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do's and don't that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the first time in my life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I didn't read this book when it first came out , I didn't have the interest."
"Both this book and the movie sure made me see that and made my heart so full. My only wish, if for more books and movies to come out like this."
"What I will say is it's an amazing book and if you have ever thought about reading about God and how it all works -- this book is for you."
"This book presents the triune God in a way that humans can relate to."
"A lot of this has helped me cope with my struggle with religion, life, sexual orientation, yet developing a relationship with God."
"I don't normally review books but this one deserves my praise."
"I bought this book for a lady that I work for she reads many books a week."
"A beautiful story that I loved so much I bought one for my sister as a gift."