Christian Fiction

With the Christmas season upon us, one theme that remains strong in the CF genre is family. While frontier family tales have given way to contemporary stories about modern families dealing with complex issues, the idea of keeping the family unit strong is as important to inspirational storytelling as ever. Whether celebrating generations of a family in rugged 1830s Texas (Al and Joanna Lacy's A Line in the Sand), rebuilding a family during the holidays after the loss of a mother (Leisha Kelly's Till Morning Is Nigh), returning to a childhood home full of painful memories (Denise Hunter's Surrender Bay), sticking together even when a brother is accused of being a criminal (Libby Sternberg's The Case Against My Brother), or coping with being newlyweds and new parents while living in a foreign country (Susan May Warren's Chill Out, Josey!), family life still drives story lines and captivates readers.

Samantha Owens returns to the resort island of Nantucket to sell the beach cottage she unexpectedly inherited from her estranged stepfather. Sam is reluctant to revive old secret sorrows, but she needs the money for herself and her daughter, Caden. So she faces her memories and lost love, Landon Reed, who still lives two doors from her old childhood home. Intended as an allegory of God's love for us, Hunter's series launch is a romantic adventure about unconditional love and forgiveness. Recommended for inspirational romance collections. Hunter is a resident of Indiana.

It's December 1932, and the Worthams are doing their best to help the ten Hammond children, whose mother died a year ago. When their father, George, disappears, Mrs. Wortham decides to lift the children's spirits by carrying on with holiday decorations and festivities. This heartwarming tale will touch readers' hearts and put them in the Christmas mood. It communicates the true meaning of the season and evokes the strength and power of family love, not to mention of the enduring human spirit. Kelly's (Julia's Hope; Emma's Gift) latest historical novel has the earnest charm of an episode of The Waltons. Recommended for holiday collections. Kelly lives in Illinois.

Al and Joanna Lacy—Western Writers Hall of Fame members and a husband-and-wife writing team ("A Place To Call Home," "Frontier Doctor Trilogy," "Orphan Train Trilogy" series)—here launch a new historical trilogy. In 1836, brothers Alan and Adam Kane, who left Boston's rough-and-tumble docks for new lives in Texas, join up with Jim Bowie to rally against General Santa Ana's Mexican army at the Alamo. Readers who enjoy historical Westerns with family values will enjoy this lively introduction to the close-knit, gutsy Kanes. The Lacys make their home in Colorado.

Harriet Bisset, preacher's kid and former party girl, is living a well-ordered, straight life in her hometown of Franklin, TN, until the unorthodox and hunky Maddox McCray is hired by First Grace Church to revive membership by introducing a less stodgy service and lifestyle. What ensues is delightful, romantic chick lit at its best, with a quirky protagonist addicted to Jelly Bellys who needs the spark that Maddox puts back into her life. Well-drawn supporting characters add to the fun in this novel that will certainly appeal to twenty- and thirty-something women. For CF and popular fiction collections. Leigh (Stealing Adda) lives in Nashville.

When Ellie McFarlane's depressed mother, Jana, abandons her husband and child, Jana's widowed father and his second wife, Julia, must step in to care for Ellie. Likewise, the entire family learns to cope with Jana's leaving and the impact it has on Ellie. Raney's sequel to A Vow To Cherish is a skillful drama that tackles the subject of depression and its devastating toll on those affected. This title would make a good book club selection, as it provokes discussion of families coping with mental illness and the issue of grandparents raising their grandchildren. Recommended for public libraries. Raney lives in Kansas.

In 1922, the Ku Klux Klan led the drive for an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant referendum that made it illegal for Oregon parents to send their children to parochial schools. Against this historical backdrop, teen brothers Carl and Adam Matuski travel to Portland, after their mother's death to live with their Uncle Pete. Unfortunately, life in a bigotry-poisoned town is unbearable, and 15-year-old Carl wants to go back east until Adam is accused of stealing jewelry from an affluent family whose daughter Adam had been dating. Addressing themes of religious intolerance and ethnic discrimination, this YA novel is taut, vivid, and stirring and will appeal to all ages. Highly recommended. Sternberg, a finalist for the Edgar Award (Uncovering Sadie's Secrets), resides in Pennsylvania.

In this sequel to Everything's Coming Up Josey, former unlikely missionary Josey Anderson has married Chase and is looking forward to a quiet, traditional newlywed life in Minnesota. But her plans are thwarted when her new husband accepts a job in Russia, where Josey had spent a tumultuous year in missionary service. As usual, Warren (Tying the Knot; The Perfect Match) presents a likable heroine who learns about the compromises and joys of married life and impending motherhood while adjusting to living in a foreign culture. Readers who enjoyed Kristin Billerbeck's "Ashley Stockingdale" series will appreciate this chick-lit title.

In Ball's final series title (after Shattered Justice and Kaleidoscope Eyes), Kyla Justice's business, Justice Construction, has become extremely profitable. Meanwhile, her personal life is lacking. Although it means opposition from every direction, she throws herself into completing a project that will help urban kids. Based on the Old Testament's book of Nehemiah, this final chapter addresses the issue of what truly gives a person purpose and meaning in life. A spirited, agreeable modern heroine breathes life into a standard plot; readers will cheer her on to victory. Recommended for CF and women's fiction collections. Ball lives in Oregon.

A year ago, NASA astronaut Tuck Tucker's crew succumbed to a fatal illness in space, a disaster that devastated Tuck, the only survivor, and took a heavy toll on his faith and trust in a benevolent God. When Tuck is offered another chance to lead a commercial space crew catering to tourists, he can't resist the chance to go into outer space one more time despite the risks involved. Gansky handles the suspenseful plot well, keeping the reader engrossed as a dangerous conspiracy unfolds. This title will appeal especially to male readers who like action-packed suspense and strong male heroes. Highly recommended for men's fiction collections and public libraries. Gansky, author of the "J.D. Stanton Mystery" series, Director's Cut, and The Prodigy, lives in California.

Two holiday novellas by a Christy Award winner (Hatcher) and a rising author in the inspirational romance genre (Springer) offer romantic fare perfect for curling up in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. In Hatcher's A Cloud Mountain Christmas, Maddie Scott, reeling from the news that her ex-husband has remarried and is expecting a child, heads to Idaho's Cloud Mountain lodge to negotiate the sale of a valuable manuscript discovered there. But could the lodge's proprietor, Tony Anderson, a man she knew years before in college, be just what Maddie needs to have a merry Christmas after all? Springer's A Match Made for Christmas is equally entertaining. Small-town Wisconsin reporter Connor pursues Sarah Kendle for a story about her youth group, which delivers singing Christmas telegrams. Recommended for romance collections. Hatcher lives in Idaho, while Springer makes her home in Wisconsin.

What begins as a hunting-and-fishing getaway for four male friends into the wilds of Saskatchewan, Canada, turns into a Deliverance-style nightmare in which they are hunted by a high-tech menace named Declan Gabriel Page. Declan has taken over the town of Tiny Fiddler Falls and plans to use a satellite laser cannon to obliterate human beings at will. This long thriller tries to keep readers engaged until the climax, but it may move too slowly at times for some. Still, it will appeal to fans of Ted Dekker or Mark Olsen and those who enjoy thrillers with male protagonists and a futuristic, technological edge. Recommended for suspense collections. Liparulo (Comes a Horseman) lives in Colorado.

In Nelson's worthy third series entry (after Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Runaway), Desiree Jacob's security firm pulls out all the stops to protect priceless antiques from thieves. Helping her in trying to outwit looters, corrupt government officials, and drug traffickers is FBI boyfriend Tony Lucano. Along the way, Desiree and Tony try to figure out how to find time to build a life together without giving up their respective careers. This is a smart, fast-paced suspense title with enough relationship drama to please both fans of thriller and romance genres. Recommended for CF and women's fiction collections. Nelson lives in Minnesota.

Julia DeSmit's mother left when she was a child, and then her father died when she was a young adult. It's about time something good happened to her, so she decides to reinvent her empty life when she receives a college scholarship. Her new world, however, is not exactly what she had planned. First novelist Baart lives in Iowa.

The three Howard sisters (Back Home Again; Recipes & Wooden Spoons; Hidden History) continue their adventures as owners of the bed-and-breakfast in Acorn Hill, PA. One guest, Belle Bannister, sets out to find a husband, while Jane Howard's ex-husband reappears, causing Jane to do some serious soul searching. Prolific author Carlson (These Boots Weren't Made for Walking) makes her home in Oregon.

Distrustful of doctors, April Truitt prefers herbal remedies to medical science. But when newcomer Dr. Gray Fuller clashes with April's views, he can't help falling for her in this 19th-century Texas romance. RITA Award finalist Copeland lives in the Ozark Mountain region.

This volume reprints Cote's "Blessed Assurance" historical trilogy, Whispers of Love, Lost in His Love, and Echoes of Mercy, which tells the stories of three generations of women as they face challenges, participate in social activism, and manage tragedy.

The 50-year marriage of Charlie and Esther Moore suffers a crack after Esther lands the car in their backyard (she shifted into drive instead of reverse!). Combined with the stress of health issues, including Esther's increasing forgetfulness, this accident tests the couple's ability to maintain their happy union. This is the third title (after It Happens Every Spring and Summer Breeze) in the authors' seasonal-themed quartet, which is based on Chapman's best-selling nonfiction title, The Four Seasons of Marriage. Chapman lives in North Carolina; novelist Palmer (The Heart's Treasure) is a Missouri resident.

The fallout from a fatal car accident divides a community as two boys' deaths overwhelm their families and a lawsuit is brought by one mother against another. People in church and town take sides. Will the tragedy destroy them all? This is Cushman's first novel.

When a teenage girl shows up claiming that David Carson is her father, Susanne and David's tenuous marriage is put to the test. David's faith has conflicted with Susanne's doubt, but perhaps this new addition to the family will draw them both nearer to God and to each other. Farrell, who is a minister, lives in Washington State.

Just released from prison, Ivy Griffith (Ever Present Danger) wants to restart her life. After settling into her job at a Christian camp, she is pleased when Rue Kessler takes an interest in her seven-year-old son, Montana, who needs a father figure. But when it appears that Rue may be involved in crime, Ivy doesn't know where to turn. Herman is a Texan.

Susan, who defended a distant world in an alternate universe (see The Restorer), tries to readjust to her normal life as a housewife. Then, she returns to that other world to rescue her son. Kieran, who succeeded Susan as the Restorer, sacrifices his desires to accept his role as the one who will save his people. A nice blend of CF and fantasy. Hinck lives in Minnesota.

In this follow-up to Loving Liza Jane, mail-order bride Sarah Woodward has arrived in Little Hickman Creek to discover that her husband-to-be has fallen for and married another girl. But Rocky Callahan needs a woman to help him raise his late sister's two children, so he and Sarah decide to get married for convenience. MacLaren lives in Michigan.