Christian Fiction

Several of this season's Christian fiction offerings feature stories about tormented pasts and childhood secrets and how they affect our adult lives. The protagonists in these tales (Chris Fabry's Dogwood, Kristen Heitzmann's The Edge of Recall, and Alice J. Wisler's Rain Song) turn to God to help them finally face and deal with old traumatic events that they have tried to escape for so long.

Other notable summer titles include a new romantic treat by Lori Copeland (Now and Always), above-average suspense from Susan May Warren (Wiser Than Serpents), and promising first novels—Tom Pawlik's Vanish and Rob Stennett's witty The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher.

In Brunstetter's third Amish series entry (after A Sister's Secret and A Sister's Test), an unknown attacker has been viciously assaulting Martha Hostettler's family, which results in the death of Martin, Martha's brother-in-law. One bright spot in Martha's life is Luke Friesen, a boy her father will not allow her to see in part because he suspects Luke is involved in the attacks. Martha doesn't believe it, though, and secretly works with Luke to identify the real culprit. This interesting tale will appeal to fans of Beverly Lewis and Cindy Woodsmall. Recommended where Amish fiction is popular and in regional collections. Brunstetter lives in Washington State.

Gretchen Hanover's wedding falls through, leaving her unhappy and consoling herself with too much ice cream. To get out of her slump, she buys a house with the intention of fixing it up and flipping it for a tidy profit. Things don't go according to plan, however, and the home repairs needed for a quick sale are more than Gretchen can handle. She enlists the help of her father, who in turn brings in his attractive friend Noah Campbell. Noah may soon become more than just a handyman to Gretchen. Carlson's knack for humor and whimsical plots makes this a delicious chick-lit entry (following These Boots Weren't Made for Walking) that her fans will relish. Recommended for all public libraries and particularly in women's fiction sections. The prolific and award-winning Carlson (Finding Alice; Crystal Lies) lives in Oregon.

The latest inspirational romance from veteran Copeland ("Brides of the West," "Men of the Saddle," and "Morning Shade Mystery" series) features Katie Addison, whose big heart has left her in a financial crisis. She seeks help from Warren Tate, a financial expert, who is as wary of women as Katie is of straightening out her money troubles. Complicating matters is the local sheriff, out to win Katie's heart, though she has other plans. Copeland's blend of likable characters and absorbing plots makes this romantic yarn come alive. This is an essential read for fans of romantic fiction with a twist of faith. Highly recommended for public libraries. Copeland resides in the Ozark Mountain area.

In the small West Virginia town of Dogwood, Karin Ashworth is married to a minister and loves her three children even though her heart and memories are buried in the past. Will Hatfield returns home to Dogwood after spending several years in prison for a car accident that took the lives of two children. An elderly woman named Ruthie Bowles enters Karin's life and tries to help her face her unbearable pain and anger against God. Fabry, the author of the "Left Behind: The Kids" series, has written an unusual and emotional tale with a startling twist that will appeal to readers who enjoy Angela Hunt's suspense thrillers (Doesn't She Look Natural; The Elevator). Recommended for CF and women's fiction collections.

Set in Kentucky in the early 1800s, this novel centers on Gabrielle Hope, whose family falls apart following the death of her brother. She and her mother join a Shaker community, but her loyalty to the Shakers and their chaste way of life is challenged when she meets an outsider, a doctor brought in to save the life of a young man. The author of Orchard of Hope and Summer of Joy offers a glimpse of a bygone era in which the Shakers lived together in chastity and faith. With an appealing heroine and an intriguing plot, Gabhart's latest novel deserves a place in all public libraries. The writer lives in Kentucky.

Landscape architect Tessa Young has suffered from nightmares since she was a child, but designing and building complicated labyrinths has a healing effect on her. When she is offered a choice project of re-creating a beautiful colonial labyrinth, Tessa is tempted; yet the person offering the job, Smith Chandler, had let her down once before, and she doesn't know if she can trust him again. But then Tessa is assaulted, and the real suspense begins in this high-stakes, action-packed thriller. Heitzmann's first-rate prose and her engrossing story result in a satisfying beach read. Recommended for fans of Christian suspense featuring female protagonists. Heitzmann resides in Colorado Springs.

Fourth in "The Four Seasons of a Marriage" series (after Falling for You Again, Summer Breeze, and It Happens Every Spring), this final marital installment centers on newlyweds Brad and Ashley Hanes, who are having problems right from the start. Brad doesn't know how to end the fights and draw his wife closer to him, so he brings home a homeless puppy hoping to touch Ashley's heart. Then, an unexpected snowstorm shuts down their town of Deepwater Cove, and the residents try to make it through the dark winter. Veteran CF novelist Palmer (Sunrise Song) and relationship expert Chapman (author of The Five Love Languages) based the stories on Chapman's philosophy of marriage and love.

Winner of the 2006 Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, this debut psychological thriller features three strangers who find themselves alone, while everyone else has vanished, following a mysterious storm. Conner Hayden is a lawyer who abandoned his family, Helen Krause is an aging model, and Mitch Kent is a man with a troubled past. Together, the three face the terror of realizing they are being watched by sinister and shadowy "observers" who are forcing them to see visions of their own pasts. As the observers become more aggressive, the trio flees from Chicago to Washington, DC, to discover the meaning of these troubling events and who is behind them. Fans of Dean Koontz or Ted Dekker will appreciate.

A consummate salesman, Ryan Fisher sees an opportunity to succeed and sell big, so he places an ad in the Christian business pages even though he is not a believer by any means. His plans get even grander when he decides to build his very own megachurch. This first novel is both a biting satire and a bittersweet account of a man whose machinations just may catch up with him as he juggles a failing marriage and tries to keep up the deceit that he is a man of faith. It will appeal to fans of Ray Blackston (Flabbergasted) or Brad Whittington (Welcome to Fred) or anyone who appreciates dark humor in their spiritual fiction.

Reeling from being dumped the evening before her wedding day, Chloe decides not to let the already booked honeymoon cruise go to waste. She invites her girlfriends from her book club and embraces her own inner adventurer. The girls live out the experiences that they have read about in books, and Chloe discovers the real woman she was meant to be. Author of Reconstructing Natalie, Walker creates quirky, endearing protagonists with whom twentysomething female readers will identify. Her latest will appeal to fans of chick lit and Kristin Billerbeck (the "Ashley Stockingdale" and "Spa Girls" series). Recommended for all public library CF and chick-lit collections.

Yanna Andrevka, an agent for the Russian Federal Security Service, will go to any length to rescue her sister from a human slavery ring; this means staging her own kidnapping into Taiwan's sex-trafficking underworld. Now in too deep to get out, Yanna must team up with Delta Force member David Curtiss, who is also working undercover to bring down the sordid leaders of the human slave operation. Only, David wants to catch the kingpin, while Yanna's primary mission is to find and bring home her sister. Top-notch suspense, well-drawn, intelligent characters, and skillful writing mark this contemporary thriller by three-time Christy Award nominee Warren (Everything's Coming Up Josey; In Sheep's Clothing; Happily Ever After). Highly recommended for women's fiction and suspense collections. Warren lives in Minnesota.

Nicole Micheli, the daughter of a missionary in Japan, is haunted by fears of secrets from her childhood. She writes an online column that brings an intriguing man into her life, but when she learns he lives in Japan, Nicole may not be able to face the past that prevents her from moving on, unless she can trust God to help her find the way. A worthy first novel with a Southern flair, this title addresses dealing with a painful childhood in a realistic way. Recommended for CF and women's fiction collections. The author lives in North Carolina.

In this sequel to Dead Man's Rule, Chicago attorney Ben Corbin's plans for early retirement are thwarted when the Food and Drug Administration approves dangerous human trials of a drug designed to make people think and react faster. Action-packed drama, embezzlement, and a bitter feud between siblings keep this legal and scientific thriller moving. Fans of James Scott Bell's Christian thrillers (see below) may enjoy.

Obstetrician Clay Reynolds objects to Molly's profession as a birthing coach, but she wants him to see that they can work in harmony. Molly's potbellied pig consoles her when Clay fails to see Molly for who she really is. Another witty tale from the author of The Whitney Chronicles and The Baby Chronicles. Baer resides in Minnesota.

In this follow-up to Try Dying, Ty Buchanan, recovering from the death of his fiancée and false murder accusations, is now offering free legal services to the poor in St. Monica when a mysterious woman and her six-year-old daughter seek his help in fighting an eviction from a transient hotel, which happens to be represented by his old law firm. When the woman is murdered, Buchanan must protect the child and find the killer.

Picking up where the "Gresham Chronicles" series (The Widow of Larkspur Inn; The Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter; The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark) left off, this title revolves around the children of Vicar Andrew Phelps and Julia Hollis in the English village of Gresham. Aleda is a reclusive writer, while Philip is a successful London surgeon who returns home to help his ailing father. Romance and mystery complicate their lives. Blackwell lives in Louisiana.

After being sweet-talked into helping a seniors group bilked in a property scam, former special operative Wayne has his hands full until a female lawyer named Tatanya enlists him in a unique case that will challenge his mind and beliefs. Tatanya's employer thinks he has received an angelic visitor. But could it really be true? Bunn (Full Circle), who lives in England, has won multiple Christy Awards.

In the third entry of Kelly's "Sensations" series (after Scent and Echo), Cassie and Nick's dream of teaching career skills to the disenfranchised has become a reality with their nonprofit Taste of Success, but someone is working overtime to oust them from their waterfront location. Mystery and suspense ensue, as those who want their property will stop at nothing to win. Kelly lives in Washington State.

The 2008 presidential election takes center stage in this political thriller by the former director of the Christian Coalition and a veteran of seven presidential campaigns. With both candidates under investigation by the Justice Department, the race is thrown into uncertainty when one of the nominees is assassinated. Terrorism and the ugly side of politics are the themes of this timely tale.