My review of The Delusion by Laura Gallier

About the book:

By March of Owen Edmonds's senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded--until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.

The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.

Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.

Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he's not imagining the evil--everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it's too late?

Owen's heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.

My review:

I haven't read many spiritual warfare/ fantasy novels so I can't say how this is similar or different to other authors who write in that genre. I did find the plot interesting and the premise held my attention I especially liked the subtitle "we all have our demons." This captured the heart of the story. I am more of a fan of historical fiction, but the hero in this book was likeable enough to make me want to see how he'd turn his life around. His sudden ability to see the spiritual realm kept the story moving along.

The novel had a YA feel to it and the author had an interesting way of storytelling. The high school had darkness surrounding it that dated back to the occult group that lived in the area over a hundred years prior. Spiritual strongholds were a big part of this story. The illustration of bondage and chains weighing people down made me think about the trappings in my life.  I liked how the author showed that even people in churches have bondage sometimes, and yes, even people who have the light are susceptible to the enemy's schemes. Prayer was the one thing that called the good guys to action. The author also showed that there is always a larger story or plan beyond what we can see. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to us how things turn out, but that doesn't mean God is not aware of the situation. Good message. Good book. If you like novels about spiritual warfare then this book is for you.

The Delusion; We All Have Our Demons was published by Tyndale and released in Nov. 2017 Movie production has already begun on this novel (based on the media alert included with the advance review copy of the book.) Than you, Tyndale, for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

My review of Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle

About the book:

Lights, camera, love!

After being plucked from obscurity, Hollywood’s newest starlet, Paige Townsen, has a hit film to her name and Rainer Devon on her arm. But being half of the world’s most famous couple comes with a price. No matter where Paige goes, someone is always watching. Soon she finds herself dodging photographers; hiding her feelings for her other costar, Jordan Wilder; and navigating tabloid scandals that threaten to tear her and Rainer apart—and end her career as quickly as it began.

As she navigates her new L.A. life in this sequel to Famous in Love, Paige finds that she doesn’t know who to trust: Old friends could be betraying her secrets, and new friends are keeping secrets of their own. 

My review:

I ordered this book because after watching season 1, I wanted to see how everything ended. I really didn't know what was going to happen. The main character matured a lot in the second book, but Paige lost some of her innocence that made her so loveable in the first book.

I have seen this happen in real life where people hang on to relationships because they don't want to hurt the person they are with, but not because they really love them. You only live once so allow yourself to love the person that makes your heart throb, not the one that makes you feel more safe than loved. That's what I got our of the story, anyway.

The main theme of this book is to be true to yourself and not do what others expect or want. That's living a falsehood and hurts everyone involved. You can care for more than one person at a time and even love them both, but in the end what matters is that you do what is right for you.

I have seen this happen in real life where people hang on to relationships because they don't want to hurt the person they are with, but not because they really love them. You only live once so allow yourself to love the person that makes your heart throb, not the one that makes you feel more safe than loved. That's what I got our of the story, anyway.

Truly, Madly, Famously was published by Poppy books and released in October 2015.

My review of Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson

About the book:

What happened to Brigitte Berthold?

That question has haunted Daniel Knight since he was thirteen, when he and eleven-year-old Brigitte escaped the Gestapo agents who arrested both their parents. They survived a harrowing journey from Germany to England, only to be separated upon their arrival. Daniel vowed to find Brigitte after the war, a promise he has fought to fulfill for more than seventy years.

Now a wealthy old man, Daniel's final hope in finding Brigitte rests with Quenby Vaughn, an American journalist working in London. He believes Quenby's tenacity to find missing people and her personal investment in a related WWII espionage story will help her succeed where previous investigators have failed. Though Quenby is wrestling her own demons--and wary at the idea of teaming up with Daniel's lawyer, Lucas Hough--the lure of Brigitte's story is too much to resist. Together, Quenby and Lucas delve deep into the past, following a trail of deception, sacrifice, and healing that could change all of their futures.

My review:

Lately it seems I rarely finish a book because I tend to get bored with the story. I finished this one, so that tells me something. I wasn't bored. Nor was I on the edge of my seat. The author wasn't trying to create anxiety, but it was more like a tender longing and a deep need to understand the past and find healing in it. She did a great job showing the fear of abandonment and the wariness when it came to trusting anyone. I was intrigued with the story. It gave me a warm feeling in my heart rather than an anxious one. While nothing scary happened, it captured my heart anyway.

There is just something about Melanie's writing and characters that pulls me in. I have yet to come across a pathetic or annoying character in any of her books, and I have read plenty of them. Eleven so far (to be exact) and I have enjoyed them all. They are often quite different. It's not so much the subject matter that captures me (though I love WWII era fiction) but the author's voice that compels me to keep reading.  The first book I have ever read by Melanie was "Together for Good" and from that point forward I have been hooked. She never has tension in a story or a plot that feels contrived. Regardless of how far from my own experience the characters' experience tends to be, they always manage to speak to me and make me think about my life and my decisions. And like the author, her books have a sweet and calming tone to them despite how deep the story goes. None of her novels are fluffy and fake. All of them will pull you in. At least for me, that's how it is.

This book slips between the past and the present day. Both eras intrigued me and while a bit more was in the present day, at least a third of the book contained historical chapters. I tend to prefer the historical chapters but in this book I liked them the same. I felt some of the angst and fear that Brigitte had when she couldn't find her friend and was taken in by a man and woman who didn't like her and only used her for her knowledge of the German language. It was interesting how the twists and turns through her life caused her to develop a strong desire to help abandoned children feel loved. I also loved how the main character resisted feeling anything for the man in the story because she didn't want to get close to anyone lest they hurt her again. Well done!

I give this story five stars because of it's pull on me and my desire to finish it. I don't want to give any spoilers, which is why some of this review is a bit vague. Discovering things is half the fun of reading a good book so it ruins it for me if someone tells me the plot in the review.

Catching the Wind was published by Tyndale and released in May 9, 2017.

Sorry you haven't heard from me in awhile

I used to read a lot and it seems like every book I start lately I never finish. So today I am posting because I just re-released two books that didn't sell for whatever reason like I had hope for so when I got the rights back I decided to rework them and offer promotions. So here are my two re-released, re-titled and revised novels. They are The Finish Line (Out of Time, book 1) and Love in Surprise, Arizona. They are both sexy and inspirational. I know, what a combination. But they are not sweet love stories like people are used to reading (rated G books) they are more like real life, which is gritty and flawed. So I hope you check them out. I will post them with their pics here below, but the buy links are also above in the narrative.

They are The Finish Line

Love in Surprise, Arizona

My review of You Make Me by Erin McCarthy

About the book:

The guy she wants…

Growing up on the coast of Maine with a revolving door of foster siblings, Caitlyn Michaud spent one intense and passionate year falling in love with her foster brother, Heath. Then he left without a word. The betrayal devastated Caitlyn and made her vow to forget the compelling bad boy. But forgetting his sensual touch and their deep all-consuming friendship is easier said than done.

Isn’t the guy she needs…

Determined to move on, in college Caitlyn has risen above her small town impoverished roots and has joined a sorority, reinvented her appearance, and landed the right boyfriend. Pre-law major and frat president, Ethan, is thoughtful and always laughing, and he makes her feel happy, calm. He also gives her the social acceptance she craves.

But the perfect world she tried so hard to attain is ripped apart when Heath appears one night out of nowhere. Caitlyn remembers all the reasons why she loves him, even if they don’t make sense to anyone but her. Out of the military, Heath is as brooding and intense as ever, and he is determined not only to win her back, but to exact revenge on everyone who kept him from her…

And when one love allows her to breathe, but the other feels as essential to her life as air, how does she choose between them? 

My review:

I saw this book on Bookbub, and it was free on Kobo, so I thought why not check it out. It helped that the intro said it was written by a NY Times Best-selling author, so I assumed the book would be decently edited and be well-written. I was right.  

Once I started I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end of the book. This was a very intense read and I loved this story. While steamier than I typically read, I found it to be tied to emotion so it was gratifying in a sensual yet emotionally-driven manner. That's my kind of story. Plus I love when people are so wrapped up in each other that it makes them feel crazy. Like they are fighting an irresistible pull.

The hero was very heroic. The heroine was lovable and never wanted to hurt anyone. I found some of her characterization deep because it tied into her very dysfunctional past. I totally adored the foster care them underlying some of the irrational emotion sand abandonment issues that came out during some heated arguments. This story had a theme that made me think of the line, "You complete me."

I don't want to risk a spoiler so I won't say anything else except that the feel of this book reminded me of a movie I watched with Kirsten Dunst called Crazy Love. The writing was excellent too. Steamy but not nasty like erotica. This was above love and intense need. It was about losing your heart so completely that... Okay, sorry I said I wouldn't give away a spoiler, so you'll just read the book. I read it straight through in a day. I can't remember the last time I did that. It has been years. Yeah, it truly was compulsively readable.

 It's free today on Amazon, Kobo and I think Ibooks. Snap it up while you can HERE. I do believe I will be buying more of her New Adult books.

Some thoughts on fiction and writing about my life

I own so many books I could probably read one a day until I die and I'd still have a ton left that I want to read and review. There are literally tons of stories I want to read. And then there are those I still plan to write. Sometimes I am caught between the two competing desires and it's frustrating. 

I am so close to finishing part two of my journeys series (Somebody Help Me) that I am hoping it will nudge up my sales a bit when people see the story continues and the end really isn't a bummer in Somebody Love Me. It's more like a pause at the end of the first part of Missy's journey. 

Part two has a different feel to it because of her crisis of faith, and at the same time she goes on another downward spiral resulting from the willful choices she makes to do what she knows is not right. That's real life and this four part series is as real for me as it gets. 

The crazy thing is that I had to tone the book way down from my reality in the 1980s for it to be palatable for readers. The truth is my teen years were tough and Missy's journey mimics mine quite a bit. Many snippets are similar. It's not an actual account of my life, though there are certainly many things that coincided with my true-to-life circumstances. I just divided my life lessons into four parts in order to section my life into four distinct areas where decisions were made, consequences dealt with, and healing eventually took place after many years of suffering from self-inflicted emotional wounds. 

That said, I hope to be releasing part two of the Journeys series within the next few months. It's a novella titled, Somebody Help Me. Make sure to look for it on Amazon soon.

My review of River Road by Carol Goodman

About the book:

From the award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages comes a chilling new psychological thriller about a professor accused of killing her favorite student in a hit-and-run accident.

Nan Lewis—a creative writing professor at a state university in upstate New York—is driving home from a faculty holiday party after finding out she’s been denied tenure. On her way, she hits a deer, but when she gets out of her car to look for it, the deer is nowhere to be found. Eager to get home and out of the oncoming snowstorm, Nan is forced to leave her car at the bottom of her snowy driveway to wait out the longest night of the year—and the lowest point of her life…

The next morning, Nan is woken up by a police officer at her door with terrible news—one of her students, Leia Dawson, was killed in a hit-and-run on River Road the night before. And because of the damage to her car, Nan is a suspect. In the days following the accident, Nan finds herself shunned by the same community that rallied around her when her own daughter was killed in an eerily similar accident six years prior. When Nan begins finding disturbing tokens that recall the death of Nan’s own daughter, Nan suspects that the two accidents are connected.

As she begins to dig further, she discovers that everyone around her, including Leia, is hiding secrets. But can she uncover them, clear her name, and figure out who really killed Leia before her reputation is destroyed for good?

My review:

This was a quick read and an adventurous story. What originally intrigued me about this novel was the setting took place in New York on a SUNY campus and I'm a SUNY alumni myself. I also love psychological thrillers. It didn't hurt that I love to write fiction and the main character was a writing professor at the university. Only the heroine came with baggage. She had a drinking problem and unresolved grief from the loss of her child and marriage. The story ended up being quite a ride. 

It read more like a mystery, but with some action like you'd find in a suspense novel. There were some red herrings along the way, but in the end I suspected one person was behind most of it and I ended up guessing correctly. The author gave you just a little bit of information here and there to make you suspect this character was somehow involved. 

Like with the game spin the bottle, the open end pointed at one person, but then they were cleared and the plot spun a bit more and someone else ended up being accused of the hit and run, and so on. The plot kept thickening and getting all twisty like River Road where the accident occurred. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the heroine for the majority of the story, so she was a sympathetic character as well. 

The minor romantic theme was nice and brought me some comfort, because otherwise she lived in a pretty lonely world and one that I wouldn't wish on anyone. There were no overt spiritual themes in this book and there was some mild cursing and sexual tension, but nothing graphic or over-the-top. I would recommend this story to mystery lovers and people who like getting lost in a story for a few days. This novel delivers and I enjoyed it quite a bit even though my favorite genre is historical fiction. 

River Road was published by Touchstone Books and released in January 2016.

My review of The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

About the book:

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love.

It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight," the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires.

Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen's Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.

My review:

I have read a number of Philippa's novels and have enjoyed them all. This one starts out with a semi-steamy scene, but then the rest of the book is rated PG. There is intrigue and suspense and the typical divided loyalties of a kingdom that is confused regarding what it believes. I enjoy stories that contrast Mary Tudor with Elizabeth Tudor and I felt like this was a fair portrayal with Elizabeth shown as a bit less noble and more flirtatious and devious than I have read in other books. Queen Mary was just pitiful and so emotionally distraught toward the end. I kind of felt sad for her but at the same time her marriage to the Spanish prince just caused more chaos in the kingdom. She would have been a better queen without him and the encouragement to persecute and burn Protestants. I enjoyed the story told through the eyes of the "fool" who was more like a spy and seer than what I imagined a fool would be like. She had conflicts on so many levels. I did enjoy watching her grow into a young woman and mature through the hardships she endured. I loved the subplot with her and her intended, Daniel. He was a very patient man and at the same time I wasn't sure whether they would end up together or not. I won't post a spoiler, though. She's a fictional character among real historical figures, so the outcome was completely up to the author. I think Philippa resolved things well and tied up the loose ends. It was a busy month for me or I would have finished the book much sooner.

The Queen's Fool was published by Harper Collins and released in 2004.

My review of Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn

About the book:

A.D. 69. Nero is dead.

The Roman Empire is up for the taking. With bloodshed spilling out of the palace and into the streets of Rome, chaos has become the status quo. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything—especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome….

Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister, Marcella, is more withdrawn, content to witness history rather than make it. Even so, Marcella has her share of distinguished suitors, from a cutthroat contender for the throne to a politician’s son who swears that someday he will be Emperor.

But when a bloody coup turns their world upside down, Cornelia and Marcella—along with their cousins, one a collector of husbands and lovers, the other a horse-mad beauty with no interest in romance—must maneuver carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor … and one Empress.

My review:

I love reading novels set in first century Rome. The culture of that day seems almost parallel to the 21st century. While it isn't the first book I've read about the Roman Empire, it's one of the better novels set during that time period. This novel had very realistic characters, and while there was some sexual tension at times, they fit the story and was not there to merely titillate the reader. It reminded me of how much I adore Francine Rivers's writing style and how much I enjoyed reading her "Mark of the Lion" series back in the mid 1990s.

The unique thing about this novel was that it took place during the year of the four emperors. I've read historical accounts of the ancient Roman Empire and some were set around 69 AD, but this is the first book I've read that fictionalized true life events. The perspectives shifted between four cousins, all women, who grew up together and were from prominent families. The politics of the time period were intriguing as were the parties (where people ate so much they had to throw up in order to indulge in more food,) chariot races and gambling, arranged marriages for political gain, and hostile takeovers by people craving power. I found it interesting how fickle the people of Rome were, but how they also had to shift alliances each time their was a new Emperor in Rome.

This author put and interesting fictional twist to this historical tale and suggested that a scheming woman may have been behind the changes in power. I found that intriguing, especially how in the end she was caught in a trap of her own making. That part of the theme made me think of monarchies in England and how people were often afraid for their lives when the king changed from one blood line to the next. Those were intriguing times as well.

I loved all of the characters in this novel and the tension in their relationships. I also loved how women had power, and at the same time, they were ruled by men. A woman's only hope for true happiness would be to have a good man in their life because an evil man could use and abuse them and other than possibly getting divorced, there wasn't much they could do to protect themselves. Anyway, I love this author's voice and style, I got a copy of Mistress of Rome, which is her first book, and plan to read that next. The back cover description sounds like my kind of story. 

Daughters of Rome was published by Berkley Books and released in 2011. 

My review of The Chosen by Carol Lynch Williams

About the book:

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters. That is, without questioning it much—if you don’t count her visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her secret meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that Kyra must marry her sixty-year-old uncle—who already has six wives—she must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.


My review:

I thought this book looked interesting when I picked it up at the store a few years ago. I put it on the shelf with my hundreds of other "to-be-read" books and decided to finally read it the other day. I flew through the pages because it was so intense and interesting. The crazy thing is there is an actual polygamist cult in Arizona that is way up northern border. A former coworker of mine (when I worked for CPS) said it's very dangerous to work up there due to the cults having guns and being very protective of their community. They are threatening to outsiders. In short, it sounded very much like the book. So that intrigued me even more.

I loved the author's "voice" and how she tells the story in the first person point of view. I also appreciated how well the other showed the women's fear and how trapped the families were inside the cult. To try to leave pretty much guaranteed you'd get hurt or go missing (and possibly killed.) Some of the young women had been raised in the cult and it was all they knew. People outside the cult, according to their leader, were Satan and must be avoided to prevent them from being negatively influenced. In truth, it was to keep them from finding out their way of life was abusive and morally wrong. But most of the women had been part of the cult for several generations. So they tolerated abuse to protect the ones they loved. The most offensive practice was the marrying off of young girls (ages 13 and 14) to older men (like in their 60s.) Those young girls were still growing up themselves but they had no choice but to obey, or be beaten and lose contact with their loved ones. Very sad stuff.

There is one last thing I have to share that I thought was pretty cool. The author showed how because Kyra was still strong and had not been broken in spirit, she had strength enough to recognize something wasn't right about "The Chosen" cult. Her greatest sin was reading books (that wasn't allowed) by borrowing them from a bookmobile. She also fell in love with another boy close to her age. Because she read books, she knew that there was another reality besides the cult that she lived in. She also knew that loving a boy close to her age seemed right, and marrying an old man who was also her uncle, was very wrong. In short, her strength came from the little things she did to rebel and keep her own identity. Those are the things that kept her spirit strong enough to fight and not just blindly submit to the leaders. Great story!

The Chosen was published by St Martin's Griffin and released in 2010.

My top fiction list for 2011!

A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman (Revell)


Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Harper Collins)


Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes (Tyndale)


Rise by Stefne Miller (Tate)


Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin (Revell)


The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster)


The Gift by Bryan Litfin (Moody)


A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf (Thomas Nelson)


Falling Through Ice by Carolyn Heubner Rankin & Rosetta D. Hoessli (Crossover Publications)


The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker (Center Street)


Heiress by Susan May Warren (Summerside)


Desired by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)


Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (Thomas Nelson)


Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan (Revell)


Words by Ginny Yttrup (B & H)


Shadow in Serenity by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)


Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith (Revell)


The Jihad's Messiah by Nick Daniels (Risen Books)


Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay (WhiteFire Publishing)


Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West (OakTara)


Composing Amelia by Alison Strobel (David C. Cook)


Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress by Megan van Eyck (CreateSpace)


A Billion Reasons Why by Kristin Billerbeck (Thomas Nelson)


The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)


Dance of the Dandelion by Dina Sleiman (WhiteFire Publishing)


Snitch by Booker T. Mattison (Revell)


The Visionary by Pamela S. Thibodeaux (Five Star)


The Unforgivable by Tessa Stockton (Risen Books)


Martha: A Novel by Diana Wallis Taylor (Revell)


Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford (Bonneville Books)


Play It Again by Tracy Krauss (Strategic Book Publishing)


Never Been Kissed by Melody Carlson (Revell)


The Revelation Gate by Brian L. Thompson (Great Nation Publishing)


Shattered by Melody Carlson (Revell)


Warring Spirits by April W. Gardner (Vinspire Inspiration)


Mistaken Identity by K. Dawn Byrd (Desert Breeze Publishing)


Damaged by Melody Carlson (Revell)


The Good Fight by Shawna K. Williams (Desert Breeze Publishing)

Is this cool, or what? I loved this magazine. So much good stuff here!

Click on the picture to read more!

Christian fiction... who says we don't tackle real-life issues?

While this is not an exhaustive list, I think it shows just how much ground Christian fiction does cover. If you see a topic on this list and know of a Christian fiction title that covers that topic, but that book isn't listed below, please post a comment and I'll make sure it's added. Thanks!!! (Oh, and I'll make my titles bold and maroon so you can see what I write about. Hey, it's my blog. I can do what I want, right?)


Abortion
Tears in a Bottle (2006) by Sylvia Bambola
The Atonement Child (1999) by Francine Rivers
Showers in Season (2001) Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock
Rescued (2010) by Donna Dawson
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing (2009) by Allison Bottke
Cherished (2011) by Kim Cash Tate
Angels in the Shadows (2011) by Lisa Grace
Hush, Little Baby (2011) by Deborah M. Piccurelli
Rain Dance (2006) by Joy DeKok

Abuse/Rape
The Restorer's Journey (2008) by Sharon Hinck
What She Left for Me (2005) by Tracie Peterson
When You Believe (2009) by Deborah Bedford
Why the Sky is Blue (2004) by Susan Meissner
Mending Places (2004) by Denise Hunter
The Atonement Child (1999) by Francine Rivers
Antonia's Choice (2003) by Nancy Rue
In the Still of the Night (1997) by Deborah Raney
A Nest of Sparrows (2004) by Deborah Raney
Afton of Margate Castle (2000) by Angela Hunt
Song of Erin (2008) by B.J. Hoff
A Distant Music (2006) by B.J. Hoff
Justifiable Means (1996) by Terri Blackstock
In Plain Sight (2010) by Michelle Sutton
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
A Memory Between Us (2010) by Sarah Sundin
What the Bayou Saw (2009) by Patti Lacy
Watching the Tree Limbs (2006) by Mary E. DeMuth
Words (2011) by Ginny Yttrup
The Watcher (2010) by Sara Davison
Wolfsbane (2011) by Ronie Kendig
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
The Rhythms of Grace (2008) by Marilynn Griffith
The Amen Sisters (2007) by Angela Benson
Along Came Love (2006) by Carrie Turansky
Winter (2011) by Keven Newsome


Adoption
It's Not About Him (2009) by Michelle Sutton
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe (2010) by Irene Brand and Anita Higman
Maggie's Journey (2011) by Lena Nelson Dooley
An Irishwoman's Tale (2008) by Patti Lacy
Reclaiming Lily (2011) by Patti Lacy
The Rhythm of Secrets (2010) by Patti Lacy
Too Good to Be True (2007) by Trish Perry
Zora's Cry (2006) by Tia McCollors
Scrapping Plans (2009) by Rebeca Seitz
Long Time Coming (2010) by Vanessa Miller
Hailee (2011) by Penny Zeller

Adultery
The Familiar Stranger (2009) by Christina Berry
Never Without Hope (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
The Other Daughter (2007) by Miralee Ferrell
The Forgiving Hour (1999) by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Scarlet Thread (2000) by Francine Rivers
The Breaking Point (2003) by Karen Ball
Redeeming Love (1997) by Francine Rivers
Breach of Promise (2004) by James Scott Bell
Private Justice (1998) by Terri Blackstock
Times and Seasons (2002) by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock
Ulterior Motives (1996) by Terri Blackstock
Lying on Sunday (2008) by Sharon K. Souza
Deceit (2010) by Brandilyn Collins
Shadowed in Silk (2011) by Christine Lindsay
Tea for Two (2011) by Trish Perry
The Embittered Ruby (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
The Stones: A Novel of the Life of King David (2008) by Eleanor Gustafson
A Time to Remember (2009) by Sally John and Gary Smalley

Agoraphobia
Danger at the Door (2009) by Michelle Sutton
The Awakening (2004) by Angela Hunt

Alcoholism/Substance Abuse
Walking on Broken Glass (2010) by Christa Allan
I Can't Remember Me (2006) by Jude Urbanski and Courtney Martin Larson
Beyond the Shadows (2004) by Robin Lee Hatcher
Looking for Cassandra Jane (2002) by Melody Carlson
Shadow of Dreams (2003) by Eva Marie Everson and G.W. Francis Chadwick
It's Not About Him (2009) by Michelle Sutton
It's Not About Me (2008) by Michelle Sutton
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
An Irishwoman's Tale (2008) by Patti Lacy
My Name is Mike (2003) by Gail Sattler
Intervention (2009) by Terri Blackstock
Leaving November (2008) by Deborah Raney
Wolfsbane (2011) by Ronie Kendig
Burnt Orange: Color Me Waster (2004) by Melody Carlson
Beach Dreams (2008) by Trish Perry
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Reinventing Rachel (2010) by Alison Strobel

Anger
First Impressions (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Never Without Hope (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Nightshade (2010) by Ronie Kendig
Reinventing Rachel (2010) by Alison Strobel
The Heart of Memory (2011) by Alison Strobel
Son of Mine (2011) by Karen Malena

Anxiety
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
In Sheep's Clothing (2011) by Michelle Sutton

Bitterness
Maggie's Journey (2011) by Lena Nelson Dooley
I Called Him Dancer (2011) by Eddie Snipes
An Irishwoman's Tale (2008) by Patti Lacy
Book of Days (2011) by James L. Rubart
First Impressions (2010) by Michelle Sutton

Blended Family
The Other Daughter (2007) by Miralee Ferrell
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
The Embittered Ruby (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
Swept Away, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell

Broken Engagement
Love Turns the Tide (2009) by Gail Pallotta
The Perfect Blend (2010) by Trish Perry
A Man To Trust (2012) by Carrie Turansky

Cancer
After Anne (2002) by Roxanne Henke
A Time to Mend (2006) by Angela Hunt
Healing Quilt (2002) by Lauraine Snelling
Season of Blessing (2003) by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock
Seaside (2001) by Terri Blackstock
Crossing Oceans (2010) by Gina Holmes
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Winter (2011) by Keven Newsome

Child Abuse/neglect
Secrets Under the Midnight Sun (2010) by Elisa Maria Crites
Daisy Chain (2009) by Mary E. DeMuth
Watching the Tree Limbs (2006) by Mary E. DeMuth
Words (2011) by Ginny Yttrup
One Smooth Stone (2009) by Marcia Laycock
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
The Other Side of Darkness (2011) by Linda Rondeau
Long Time Coming (2010) by Vanessa Miller
Touched by Mercy (2010) by Tina Pinson
Refuge (1999) by Stephanie M.E. Gallentine

Depression
The Restorer's Journey (2008) by Sharon Hinck
Chasing Lilacs (2010) by Carla Stewart
Songbird (2003) by Lisa Samson
When Joy Came to Stay (2006) by Karen Kingsbury
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Composing Amelia (2011) by Alison Strobel
The Weight of Shadows (2010) by Alison Strobel
Alpha Redemption (2010) by Paul Baines

Disability
The Attaché (2012) by Dave Bond
The Fragrance of Roses (2009) by Nikki Arana

Disfigurement
Refining Fires (2010) by Erin Rainwater
Forever After (2011) by Deborah Raney
Embrace Me (2008) by Lisa Samson
It's Not About Me (2008) by Michelle Sutton
Surrendered Hearts (2011) by Carrie Turansky
Grow Old with Me (2010) by Melinda Evaul

Divorce
The Mother Road (2012) by Jennifer AlLee
Bitter Rose: Color Me Crushed (2006) by Melody Carlson
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Too Good to Be True (2007) by Trish Perry
Tea for Two (2011) by Trish Perry
The Embittered Ruby (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
Can I Get A Witness? (2008) by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Last Woman Standing (2009) by Tia McCollors

Domestic Violence
Sadie's Song (2001) by Linda Hall
Serenity Bay (2005) by Bette Nordberg
A Nest of Sparrows (2004) by Deborah Raney
Song of Erin (2008) by B.J. Hoff
Evidence of Mercy (1995) by Terri Blackstock
Broken Wings (2011) by Carla Stewart
Blue Skies Tomorrow (2011) by Sarah Sundin
Remember to Forget (2007) by Deborah Raney
Shadowed in Silk (2011) by Christine Lindsay
Fear No Evil (2010) by Robin Caroll
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
In Plain Sight (2010) by Michelle Sutton
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Swept Away, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Nothing But the Right Thing (2005) by Stacy Hawkins Adams
The Weight of Shadows (2010) by Alison Strobel
Kaydie (2011) by Penny Zeller

Drunk Driving
The Living Stone (2000) by Jane Orcutt
After the Rains (2002) by Deborah Raney
Waiting for Morning (2002) by Karen Kingsbury
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell

Eating Disorders
There You'll Find Me (2011) by Jenny B. Jones
Faded Denim: Color Me Trapped (2006) by Melody Carlson
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Skinny (2008) by Laura L. Smith
She Walks in Beauty (2010) by Siri L. Mitchell
Angels in the Shadows (2011) by Lisa Grace

End-of-Life Issues
Broken Wings (2011) by Carla Stewart
The Living End (2003) by Lisa Samson
Crossing Oceans (2010) by Gina Holmes
In the Shadow of Evil (2011) by Robin Caroll
The Mother Road (2012) by Jennifer AlLee
World's Collide (2005) by Alison Strobel

Envy
Deep Green: Color Me Jealous (2004) by Melody Carlson
It's Not About Me (2008) by Michelle Sutton

Family Obligation/Expectation
The Artist's Granddaughter (2011) by Robin Bayne
Love's Pursuit (2009) by Siri L. Mitchell
Hailee (2011) by Penny Zeller
Kaydie (2011) by Penny Zeller

Fear
Danger at the Door (2009) by Michelle Sutton
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
In Sheep's Clothing (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Blue Skies Tomorrow (2001) by Sarah Sundin
Just Between You and Me (2009) by Jenny B. Jones
Exposure (2009) by Brandilyn Collins
The Chair (2011) by James L. Rubart

Forgiveness
Wounded Spirits (2010) by April Gardner
Maggie's Journey (2011) by Lena Nelson Dooley
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico (2010) by Lena Nelson Dooley
An Irishwoman's Tale (2008) by Patti Lacy
Undercurrent (2011) by Michelle Griep
Rooms (2010) by James L. Rubart
Book of Days (2011) by James L. Rubart
The Chair (2011) by James L. Rubart
The Pastor's Wife (2010) by Jennifer AlLee
In the Shadow of Evil (2011) by Robin Caroll
Sunset Beach (2009) by Trish Perry
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Risky Business, (2010) by Nicole O'Dell
Swept Away (2010) by Nicole O'Dell
Dare to be Different, (2010) by Nicole O'Dell
Never Without Hope (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Along Came Love (2006) by Carrie Turansky
Seeking His Love (2012) by Carrie Turansky
Hailee (2011) by Penny Zeller
McKenzie (2010) by Penny Zeller

Gangs
Fear No Evil (2010) by Robin Caroll
Tales of the Dim Knight (2011) by Adam and Andrea Graham

Gambling 
A Million's Blessings (2010) by Angela Benson, Tia McCollors and Marilynn Griffith
Til Debt Do Us Part (2009) by Michelle Larks
The Devil Is A Lie (2009) by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
The Deal, the Dance and the Devil (2011) by Victoria Christopher Murray
Going for Broke (2007) by Melody Dobson

Grief
Talking to the Dead (2010) by Bonnie Grove
To Dance in the Desert (2010) by Kathleen Popa
I Can't Remember Me (2006) by Jude Urbanski and Courtney Martin Larson
Wounded Spirits (2010) by April Gardner
It's Not about Him (2009) by Michelle Sutton
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Decision to Love (2012) by Michelle Sutton
Save the Date (2011) by Jenny B. Jones
There You'll Find Me (2011) by Jenny B. Jones
Wildflowers from Winter (2012) by Katie Ganshert
They Almost Always Come Home (2010) by Cynthia Ruchti
Powerline (2011) by Deb Kinnard
Lost in Dreams (2011) by Roger Bruner and Kristi Rae Bruner
Beach Dreams (2008) by Trish Perry
The Wishing Pearl, (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
Rhapsody in Red (2008) by Donn Taylor
Violette Between (2006) by Alison Strobel
Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl (2011) by Elizabeth Byler Younts
Alpha Redemption (2010) by Paul Baines
Burning Hearts (2011) by Nike Chillemi


Guilt
Bound by Guilt (2011) by C.J. Darlington
A Memory Between Us (2010) by Sarah Sundin
Yesterday's Tomorrow (2011) by Catherine West
Almost Forever (2010) by Deborah Raney
Damages, 2010 by Deb Kinnard
Pitch Black: Color Me Lost (2004) by Melody Carlson
The Weight of Shadows (2010) by Alison Strobel
Alpha Redemption (2010) by Paul Baines
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
First Impressions (2010) by Michelle Sutton
First Love (2010) by Michelle Sutton
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton

Homosexuality
Tiger Lillie (2004) by Lisa Samson
Spring Rain (2001) by Gayle Roper
A Season of Grace (2004) by Bette Nordberg
Edge of Grace (2011) by Christa Allan
Bright Purple: Color Me Confused (2006) by Melody Carlson
The EX Files (2007) by Victoria Christopher Murray
My Soul Cries Out (2007) by Sherri Lewis
The Things We Do For Love (2008) by Xavier Knight
Violette Between (2006) by Alison Strobel
Decision to Love (2012) by Michelle Sutton

Infertility
The Long-Awaited Child (2001) by Tracie Peterson
Lullaby (2002) by Jane Orcutt
In a Heartbeat (2004) by Sally John
Song of Erin ( 2008 ) by B.J. Hoff
Breaker's Reef (2005) by Terri Blackstock
Letting Go (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Maggie's Journey (2011) by Lena Nelson Dooley
Reclaiming Lily (2011) by Patti Lacy
Fill These Empty Arms (2011) by Janice Hanna Thompson
Every Good and Perfect Gift (2007) by Sharon K. Souza
Rescued (2010) by Donna Dawson
The Mother Road (2012) by Jennifer AlLee
Too Good to Be True (2007) by Trish Perry
Abiding Hope (2001) by Angela Benson
Scrapping Plans (2009) by Rebeca Seitz
An Inconvenient Friend (2010) by Rhonda McKnight
Rain Dance (2006) by Joy DeKok
A Promise Kept (2009) by Cara Putnam
He Remembers the Barren (2011) by Katie Schuermann

Infidelity
Grown Folks Business (2005) by Victoria Christopher Murray
Sins of the Father (2009) by Angela Benson
An Inconvenient Friend (2010) by Rhonda McKnight
The Deal, the Dance and the Devil (2011) by Victoria Christopher Murray
Never Without Hope (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
A Time to Remember (2009) by Sally John and Gary Smalley

Interracial Relationships
Boaz Brown (2005) by Michelle Stimpson

Kleptomania
Fool's Gold: Color Me Consumed (2005) by Melody Carlson

Loneliness
Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely (2003) by Melody Carlson
Winter (2011) by Keven Newsome
Shadowed in Silk (2011) Christine Lindsay

Marriage
Searching for Spice (2008) by Megan DiMaria
Never Without Hope (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Their Separate Ways (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Composing Amelia (2011) by Alison Strobel
One Little Secret (2007) by Allison Bottke
Happily Even After (2008) by Marilynn Griffith
Mom's the Word (2009) by Marilynn Griffith
The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee
Faithful (2010) by Kim Cash Tate
Secrets and Lies (2009) by Rhonda McKnight
World's Collide (2005) by Alison Strobel
Tales of the Dim Knight (2011) by Adam and Andrea Graham
McKenzie (2010) by Penny Zeller

Mental Illness
The Amen Sisters (2007) by Angela Benson
In The Midst Of It All (2010) by Tiffany L. Warren
Chasing Lilacs (2010) by Carla Stewart
Talking to the Dead (2010) by Bonnie Grove
An Irishwoman's Tale (2008) by Patti Lacy
Secrets of the Heart (2011) by Jillian Kent
The Other Side of Darkness (2008) by Melody Carlson

Money Crisis
Samaritan (2011) by Robin Bayne
Forever After (2011) by Deborah Raney
Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl (2011) by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Pain/Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness
Leaving November (2008) by Deborah Raney
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton

Parenting
Searching for Spice (2008) by Megan DiMaria
Reclaiming Lily (2011) by Patti Lacy
Learning to Fly (2008) by Roxanne Henke
Tea for Two (2011) by Trish Perry
Tales of the Dim Knight (2011) by Adam and Andrea Graham

Perfectionism
Perfecting Kate (2007) by Tamara Leigh

Premarital Sex
It's Not About Me (2008) by Michelle Sutton
First Love (2010) by Michelle Sutton
First Response (2011) by Michelle Sutton
Wolfsbane (2011) by Ronie Kendig
The Rhythm of Secrets (2010) by Patti Lacy
Courting Trouble (2007) by Deeanne Gist
Deep in the Heart of Trouble (2008) by Deeanne Gist
Yesterday's Tomorrow (2011) by Catherine West
Torch Red: Color Me Torn (2004) by Melody Carlson
Sunset Beach (2009) by Trish Perry
The Embittered Ruby (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
Swept Away (2011) by Nicole O'Dell
A Heart of Devotion (2005) by Tia McCollors
The EX Files (2007) by Victoria Christopher Murray
Only Uni (2008) by Camy Tang

Prostitution/Child Trafficking
The Rhythm of Secrets (2010) by Patti Lacy
Redeeming Love (2005) by Francine Rivers
Deliver Us From Evil (2010) by Robin Caroll
The Elite of the Weak (2011) by Precarious Yates
Deliver Me from Evil (2011) by Kathi Macias
Pearl in the Sand (2010) by Tessa Afshar

Pornography
Exposed (2010) by Ashley Weiss
Last Light (2005) by Terri Blackstock

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Nightshade (2010) by Ronie Kendig
Digitalis (2011) by Ronie Kendig
Wolfsbane (2011) by Ronie Kendig
In Plain Sight (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Yesterday's Tomorrow (2011) by Catherine West
Jenna's Cowboy (2010) by Sharon Gillenwater
Burning Hearts (2011) by Nike Chillemi

Racism
Trial by Fire (2000) by Terri Blackstock
The Rhythm of Secrets (2010) by Patti Lacy
What the Bayou Saw (2009) by Patti Lacy
Above All Things (2009) by Deborah Raney
Too Good to Be True (2007) by Trish Perry
The Embittered Ruby (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
The Winds of Sonoma (2005) by Nikki Arana
The Rhythms of Grace (2008) by Marilynn Griffith
Chasing Moondrops (2010) by Jennifer Valent

Retirement
On a Someday (2010) by Roxanne Henke

Schizophrenia
House of Secrets (2011) by Tracie Peterson
Finding Alice (2003) by Melody Carlson

Self-Image
Save the Date (2011) by Jenny B. Jones
A Constant Heart (2008) by Siri L. Mitchell
Miss Invisible (2007) by Laura Jensen Walker
Perfecting Kate (2007) by Tamara Leigh
Faded Denim: Color Me Trapped (2006) by Melody Carlson
Surrendered Hearts (2011) by Carrie Turansky
Winter (2011) by Keven Newsome
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton

Self-Mutilation
Reclaiming Lily (2011) by Patti Lacy
Blade Silver: Color Me Scarred (2005) by Melody Carlson
The Weight of Shadows (2010) by Alison Strobel

Singleness
The Guy I'm Not Dating (2006) by Trish Perry

Spiritual Warfare
Rooms (2010) by James L. Rubart
Moon White: Color Me Enchanted (2007) by Melody Carlson
The Shadowed Onyx (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
Angels in the Shadows (2011) by Lisa Grace
Winter (2011) by Keven Newsome

Substance Abuse
I Called Him Dancer (2011) by Eddie Snipes

Suicide
Chasing Lilacs (2010) by Carla Stewart
The Novelist (2006) by Angela Hunt
Wildflowers from Winter (2012) by Katie Ganshert
Pitch Black: Color Me Lost (2004) by Melody Carlson
The Shadowed Onyx (2012) by Nicole O'Dell
Unlocked (2010) by Karen Kingsbury
The Amen Sisters (2007) by Angela Benson
Son of Mine (2011) by Karen Malena
Traumatic Brain Injury
I Can't Remember Me (2006) by Jude Urbanski and Courtney Martin Larson
First Love (2010) by Michelle Sutton 
The Familiar Stranger (2009) by Christina Berry
The Ex-Files (2007) by Victoria Christopher Murray

Unplanned Pregnancy
Child of Grace (2001) by Lori Copeland
A Moment of Weakness (2000) by Karen Kingsbury
Song of Erin (2008) by B.J. Hoff
Firstborn (2003) by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Atonement Child (1999) by Francine Rivers
The Mother Road (2012) by Jennifer AlLee
It's Not About Him (2009) by Michelle Sutton
It's Not About Me (2008) by Michelle Sutton
First Love (2010) by Michelle Sutton
Sunset Beach (2009) by Trish Perry
Angels in the Shadows (2011) by Lisa Grace

Workaholism
The Pastor's Wife (2010) by Jennifer AlLee
Composing Amelia (2011) by Alison Strobel

Worry
Out of Her Hands (2008) by Megan DiMaria
Unforgettable (2011) by Trish Perry
When Love Collides (2011) by Michelle Sutton

My best fiction list for 2010! I know the month isn't over yet. I'll amend it on 12/31 if needed.

The Healing Heart book review blog's best fiction titles for 2010! (Of the 123 + books I've read and reviewed in 2010, these were the best titles! I rate books based on how much they move me spiritually and emotionally. If I don't care about the story, I don't even finish the book. These titles are listed in no particular order.)


Walking on Broken Glass by Crista Allen (Abingdon Press)

Valeria's Cross by Kathi Macias and Susan Wales (Abingdon Press)

Unlocked: A Love Story by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan)

The Sword by Bryan Litfin (Crossway Books)

Swinging on a Star; a novel by Janice Thompson (Revell Books)

Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press)

So Over It by Stephanie Morrill (Revell Books)

Selling My Soul by Sherri Lewis (Urban Christian)

Screen Play; a novel by Chris Coppernoll (David C. Cook)

Salvaged by Stefne Miller (Tate Publishing)

Rooms; a novel by James L. Rubart (B&H Books)

Reinventing Rachel by Alison Strobel (David C. Cook)

Priceless by Tom Davis (David C. Cook)

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar (Moody Publishers)

Out With the In Crowd by Stephanie Morrill (Revell Books)

No Other by Shawna K. Williams (Desert Breeze Publishing)

Meander Scar by Lisa Lickel (Black Lyon Publishing)

Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers)

Loving Bella by Renee Ryan (Steeple Hill - LI Historical)

Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside)

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)

In All Things by Shawna K. Williams (Desert Breeze Publishing)

A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman (Revell Books)

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers (Tyndale House)

Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers (Tyndale House)

The Heart's Journey Home by Jen Stephens (Sheaf House)

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

The Gathering Storm by Bodie Thoene (Summerside Press)

Faithful by Kim Cash Tate (Thomas Nelson)

Driftwood Lane by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson)

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Revell Books)

Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House)

Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma (Thomas Nelson)

Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith (Revell Books)

Someone to Blame by C. S. Lakin (Zondervan)

Countdown to 2010....

So far I've read 73 books since January 1st. I will finish another book tomorrow, which will bring the total to 74 books. If I continue to read the 8 books per month that is my goal, then I should have read another 14 by December 31st. The bummer is that means I'll have read only 88 books this past year. Last year I read 97. I began reading at least 30-40 books this year that I have not finished. That really ate away at my reading time. So did being Editor-in-Chief of CFOM. Now that I'm only reading and writing my own books, this should mean I'll have a better reading year lined up for 2010. We'll see. Just wanted you all to know how hard I do try to get those books reviewed for my readers. Thanks for stopping by my blog to read my opinion about fiction. Without my readers this blog would be a waste of time. Peace!

It's Faith 'n Fiction Saturday!

First, I just want to say that I am honored that Amy of My Friend Amy's blog gave my novel, It's Not About Me, and honorable mention on her top fiction for 2008 list! Whoo hoo! I like that.

Here is the deal...

Today's topic is meant to wrap up the year... What are your favorite Christian fiction books that you read this year? You can compile your list anyway you like, by genre, ranking, or a favorite book of each month. Be as creative as you like the only requirements are that you read the books this year and that they are Christian fiction.

HERE IS MY LIST!

Okay, for the year 2008 these 10 novels made me go ahhhh.... or they made me think about the story after I closed the book, or I wanted to call a friend to talk about the story after I finished reading it. (Had to add two more! I read them after I posted this!)

A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
Havah by Tosca Lee
Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
Healing Stones by Nancy Rue
Dogwoodby Chris Fabry
When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

Bonus books are:
Gallimore by Michelle Griep
Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter

And these are 5 stories I am pretty sure would've made me go ahhhh... if I'd had the time to read them.

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons
Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck
The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones

So what's your story? Give me your list by posting a comment!

March 2008 list of New Fiction Releases by ACFW authors.

1. A Lady of Hidden Intent, Book 2 in the Ladies of Liberty series by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers. Catherine Newbury flees her past, but has hidden intentions to right the wrongs done her family.

2. A Soldier's Family, Book 2-Wings of Refuge Series by Cheryl Wyatt from Steeple Hill-Love Inspired. A USAF Pararescue jumper recovering from a skydiving accident opens his heart to a widow and her troubled teen, and discovers he's been given a second chance at family.

3. A Suspicion of Strawberries Scents of Murder Series, Book 1 by Lynette Sowell from Barbour. Andromeda Clark loves control, and that's tough to hang onto while tracking down a murderer, saving her business, all while her boyfriend decides it's time to settle down.

4. A Treasure Worth Keeping by Kathryn Springer from Steeple Hill, Love Inspired. Single school teacher seeks solitude. . .and ends up on the adventure of a lifetime!

5. Amber Morn, Kanner Lake series #4 by Brandilyn Collins from Zondervan. The lives of the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers are on the line when they’re taken hostage by three volatile men whose demands are impossible to meet.

6. Another Stab at Life in The Volstead Manor Series by Anita Higman from Barbour Publishing. Another Stab at Life is about a woman who inherits not only a Gothic mansion, but the shadows and secrets that lie within.

7. Better than Gold Book Three in the Iowa Historical Series by Laurie Alice Eakes from Heartsong Presents. She wants to leave the small, Iowa town. He wants to stay and create a settled life. They both want to find the missing gold.

8. Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner from Harvest House. A jilted bride opens a secondhand wedding dress shop but can't seem to let go of the one dress that started her business - her own.

9. Broken Lullaby by Pamela Tracy from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When Mary Graham finally starts making right choices, DEA officer Mitch Williams interferes. From small steps to large leaps, trust, love, and faith are born in the midst of a mystery.

10. Dear to Me, Book 3 in the Brides of Webster County series by Wanda E. Brunstetter from Barbour Publishing. Melinda Andrews is torn between two loves -- her dear animal friends and Gabe, the man she loves.

11. Don't Look Back, #3 in Reunion Revelations (Love Inspired Suspense Continuity Series) by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill. Jameson vows to help Cassie solve her brother's murder by delving into his secrets. But Jameson has his own secrets that might tear them apart.

12. Goldeneyes by Delia Latham from Vintage Romance Publishing. In the darkness of a Depression-era night, an alcoholic man commits a heinous crime, and over twenty years will pass before the horrible wrong begins to be made right.

13. John's Quest by Cecelia Dowdy from Barbour Publishing. John, an agnostic science professor, finds romantic love while searching for Jesus.

14. Leaving November, Book 2 The Clayburn Novels by Deborah Raney from Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. After failing the bar exam twice, a young woman comes home to discover love--with an artist who is everything she never wanted in a man.

15. My Heart Remembers by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Bethany House. United by blood, divided by time, three orphan train siblings seek to reunite eighteen years after fate separated them.

16. Seneca Shadows by Lauralee Bliss from Heartsong Pesents, Barbour Publishing. Lucy's quiet world has been invaded as soldiers come to train in her valley. Will love be the consequence?

17. Sincerely, Mayla, The Sequel to Just As I Am by Virginia Smith from Kregel. For control freak Mayla Strong, learning to lean on the everlasting arms is the toughest lesson of all.

18. The Renovation: Carter Mansion, First book in the 3-book Project Restoration Series by Terri Kraus from David C. Cook. Single father Ethan Willis is a master at restoring old buildings, returning what was once in ruins to the beauty of its original design. Can a new woman help restore his life after a tragedy that changed everything?

19. The Truth About Love by Tia McCollors from Moody Publishers - Lift Every Voice Imprint. In this powerful sequel to Zora's Cry, four friends face issues that test the strength of their faith and their love.

20. Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz from Thomas Nelson. Three flawed women find God's healing in the loving hands of a Gullah community on a South Carolina sea island.

21. Wildfire Book #3, Snow Canyon Ranch series by Roxanne Rustand from Steeple Hill. Snow Canyon Ranch---where sinister family secrets lurk in the majestic Rockies.Happy reading ~