Fiction Favorites

Keep an eye out for my favorite fiction finds.

(Oh alliteration, how I enjoy you!)

Here I will share my favorite books, favorite authors, favorite book genres . . . all the favorites! If you’re looking for another good addition to your collection, I’ll be sharing my recent reads & recommendations (audiobooks included, of course)!! 📚🤗 Click on any of the book images below for my affiliate links to the books on Amazon.

You’ll notice that the common denominator in all my book recommendations is that they are Christian Fiction. The reason for that is because I want to be intentional with what stories I allow to fill my thoughts and the messages and themes they impress upon my heart.

The best books are those that leave me feeling motivated to walk more faithfully in my relationship with Jesus!

This story was incredibly heart-warming and inspiring, representing the power and glory of God in a way that was evident of His love and care for His children. I laughed, and cried, and cheered, and worshiped as I imagined the lives of these characters who made their way into my heart with every chapter!

The Prayer Box
Book 1 of the Carolina Heirlooms Series by Lisa Wingate
Genre: Christian fiction, romance novel

The Prayer Box

Two women drawn together by suffering and rejection, living across the yard from each other, but worlds apart. Tandi, a broken, single mother, only expects to have a temporary hiding place in the back cottage of the grand Victorian house where she can detox and remain anonymous. But when Iola Anne passes away, she’s tasked with cleaning out this historical home, which introduces unexpected friendships and discoveries of a controversial legacy and heritage. Upon finding eighty-one boxes filled with a lifetime of prayer notes to Iola’s Father, Tandi begins to recognize a deeper resilience amidst the memories of the older woman’s treasures.

“I wanted to write it on paper and fold it up in a box to remind myself, the next time I couldn’t see anything but mountains ahead, that where there’s a mountain there’s always a river flowing nearby. Ultimately, the river is the more powerful of the two.”

Unwanted and abandoned, growing up in a culture where her only crime was the color of her skin…

“Why does she sing when the work is hard? ‘All labor is joy…all we do for others we do for the One Most High.’ I think of this for a moment. Is it possible that all service is worship?”

The victim of slanderous town gossip of how she came to be the owner of this estate…

“We must go by the name our Father has given us. Beloved. Not by the names which others might seek to place upon us.”

Iola Anne’s humble endurance of the ridicule inspires Tandi’s own conviction and determination to push through the lies in her own memories of a troubled upbringing to see clearly her true identity.

“I am your child. My father has named me. I am Beloved. Your daughter.”

Smitten series by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter & Diann Hunt
Genre: Christian Fiction, Clean & Wholesome Romance

Smitten

^{Book #1}
At risk of being erased off the map, the lumberjack town of Smitten, named after its founder, is given a makeover in desperate need of a woman’s touch. Four separate stories of best friends, each finding love in an unexpected way, make this book fun and light. These four women are challenged to hold onto their faith, stand up against past fears, forgive loved ones who’ve wronged them, and speak the truth at the risk of humiliation and heart break.

Secretly Smitten

^{Book #2}
Four more stories of mystery and love in the second book of the Smitten series. Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt… four authors who are best friends in real life have written about the friendships of four new women on the path to love in the romance capital of the world – Smitten, Vermont. A decades-old secret sparks intrigue and mystery in the lives of a family of Smitten women – Grandma Rose, Anna, Tess, Clare, and Zoe…three generations of strong, determined, stubborn and compassionate women.

Smitten Book Club

^{Book #3}
Heather, Abby, Lia, and Molly find another read for their weekly book club. The century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship written by a prominent woman of Smitten three generations back provides how-to wisdom for finding a suitor. The old book turns out to be both hilariously irrelevant and surprisingly crucial among four best friends finding healing, courage, love… and buried treasure!

In this series I cheered, swooned, and laughed out loud. It’s another great pick with regular references to Christian faith, healing, God’s provision and redemption.

---

I listen to the majority of my books on Hoopla. If you haven't discovered this library app, it's a must find on your smart phone! Six free audiobook library borrows a month are almost enough for this avid listener. I take the characters from my books along with me on the drive, around the house doing chores, or on the treadmill and block walks. Check it out!

Brides of the West series

by Lori Copeland
Genre: Historical Westerns, Christian Fiction, Clean and Wholesome Romance

Six stories of six brides set in the late 1800s on the trail out West, these books of adventure and romance are an exciting and hysterical listen. In every book I found myself laughing out loud several times because of the hilarious antics and predicaments in which these young women found themselves. 

“Wanted: Women with religious upbringing, high morals, and a strong sense of adventure, willing to marry decent, God-fearing mean. Applicants may apply by mail.”

Faith, June and Hope – three sisters in the wake of grief at their father’s sudden death find their only option in an ad for mail-order brides. Each soon-to-be bride travels a completely unique journey across the country to find her husband, a perfect stranger.  A solid faith in God from the upbringing as a preacher’s daughter is the only anchor in a whirlwind of suspense and hardship as each sister searches to find the life she’s dreamed of since they were all little girls.

The second half of the series tells the story of a group of orphaned friends on a wagon train ride West to become mail-order brides. Escorted by an independent wagon master in over his head, the girls learn how to care for one another and protect their new family. Will their futures be waiting for them at their destination, or will they find love on the trail?

Faith – strong-willed tomboy, struggling to find her purpose, conflicted by her desire to take part in the heavy lifting and physical labor with the men and her obligations as a lady to stay out of the way. Perhaps her purpose in this new town is something altogether different than a domestic housewife.

June – generous and nurturing spirit with the singing voice of an angel, she’s drawn to her new town’s orphans who have been overshadowed by the plans for a grand, religious landmark. When conflicts challenge her convictions, will she be strong enough to stand up for the underdog?

Hope – a feisty beauty, prone to danger, stands up to her kidnappers showing them who’s boss… (SO many laughs!) Her escapades on the road cause significant delays, only making her betrothal to the pen pal fiancé that much harder to desire any longer.

Glory – kind and optimistic personality with an isolated upbringing, her instinctive independence ruffles some feathers in this great, big world of firsts. Capable and tough, but untrained and clueless, she learns the basics of life while adjusting to a new definition of family.

Ruth – spunky and stubborn spitfire, yet grounded in her faith with many opportunities to practice humility and repentance, when she makes up her mind there’s no changing it. On the trail she realizes that her dream of becoming a mother is now her biggest loss, reality too much of a cruel punishment…or is it?

Patience – determination and desperation her only motivation, she finds herself alone and lost after escaping her kidnapper…but not for long. Will the abandoned gold mine pay off in the end to provide a good life for her new family, or will the greed and revenge of her competition be the death of her?

#LoriCopeland #bridesofthewest #historicalwesterns #christianfiction #cleanromance #wholesome #audiobooks

Miracles by Terri Blackstock

Raw pain transformed by real Love, these two stories are both gut wrenching and inspiring! What would it be like to face off with fear and rejection in an attempt to meet the needs of the broken and lost souls all around us? Such convicting truth in the pages of this book!

#ChristianMystery #ChristianFiction #TerriBlackstock

If you’re looking for a good mystery series, I highly recommend Terri Blackstock’s work in her Sun Coast Chronicles Series. She does not fail to deliver! I love how she uses fiction to convict my heart of God’s powerful truth in Love. This series includes four exciting, suspenseful page turners…

Evidence of Mercy

Could God use a near-death experience to change Jake’s arrogant and narcissistic ways? And why would someone want Linda dead? Two strangers bonded by tragedy are used in God’s bigger plan to bring healing through restoration and redemption.

Justifiable Means

Revenge vs. justice, does one justify the other? Is honesty really so important when a violent criminal is walking free? It was hard to not be sucked in by the conflict between Melissa’s torn convictions, when both were on separate sides of the law. Waiting on God’s timing can be so hard sometimes, but for Melissa, it meant life or death.

Ulterior Motives

Was he framed for murder, or could Ben be as diabolical as the evidence shows? And when two young girls are kidnapped for ransom, will their family’s desperate prayers for a miracle be answered? It was the faith of a child that stirred up my trust in God’s faithfulness.

Presumption of Guilt

Terrified of reliving her tortured childhood in the foster system, will Beth risk exposing her abusive foster parent if it means putting a target on her back for the hateful man capable of murder? Tears and adrenaline throughout this struggle for freedom, found in God’s mercy and grace, make this an excellent story to wrap up this series!

Genre: Christian Fiction, Detective & Mystery Fiction, Suspense

#terriblackstock #christianfiction #christianmystery #detectivemysteryfiction #suspensefiction #evidenceofmercy #justifiablemeans #ulteriormotives #presumptionofguilt

One of my favorite book genres is Life-Changing Christian Fiction. Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers are my two favorite authors of these types of stories. Their books often have themes of redemption and restoration and inspire me as the reader to push harder to live a life pleasing to the Lord. It’s that fired-up feeling I’m charged with after a good book that makes this genre my favorite to write as well!

I recently finished Karen Kingsbury’s book, Forgiving Paris, which is a follow-up story on the life of one of her main characters from her series The Baxters. As I’m typing this, I’m tempted to jump into my review of this book; however, I will save that one for another Friday Favorite!

Today’s favorite is another genre – Christian Romance! Kingsbury and Rivers write romance so well, which is why I’ve read almost all of their books…the few I haven’t read are at the top of my TBR (to be read) list!

Two more favorites who know how to include a good romance in between the lines of their mystery and suspense stories are Terri Blackstock and Colleen Coble. You’ve seen me post several of their books, and here are a couple more that I loved!

Emerald Windows

by Terri Blackstock

Scandal from a decade prior prevents Brooke from moving forward with her life. Not until she learns that opinions of others shouldn’t dictate her life does she have the freedom to step into her true calling. This is such a great story of validation and redemption. Circumstances aren’t always what they seem. The truth doesn’t stay hidden forever.

#FridayFavorites #christianromance #christianfiction #colleencoble #kristinbillerbeck #denisehunter #diannhunt #terriblackstock #karenkingsbury #francinerivers

Ascension of Larks

by Rachel Linden

Maggie can’t stay in one place for long as she follows her photography career around the globe. When her best friend spirals after the death of her husband, the only man Maggie ever loved, she must fight the instinct to run in order to stay and care for their children as her own. Coming face to face with the shame of her secret love forces Maggie to grieve more than the obvious loss. Will she walk in the freedom of forgiveness?
#Romance#ChristianFiction

The Enlightenment of Bees

by Rachel Linden
Genre: Psychological Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance

Looking for her place in this complicated world, it takes a few road blocks and detours from what she thought she wanted before Mia discovers what she’s really looking for. Her alternate life of international aid work, helping to bring relief to war scarred refugees, provides an eye opening perspective of what the intersection of passion and compassion looks like. Tears of joy intermingled with tears of devastation create such a heartwarming dynamic to this story. The author paints a beautiful picture of the importance of being true to the person God made you to be, because there is intentional purpose in His design.