I love to read! I just got back from a two week vacation and read 6 books. Summer and vacations are really the only times I get to enjoy reading. During the school year I read assigned literature for classes and the occasional enjoyable book which takes a few months to get through. So I soak up summer reading while I can.
I was looking for a list of Christian fiction books before my trip to get some good suggestions. I was disappointed when I didn’t find many and decided to make my own list for all of you!
I used to think good reads were Nicolas Sparks love stories I could lose myself in, but I found that those books left me entertained but empty.
My new definition of ‘good reads’. Good for the heart, good for the mind, good for the soul. As Christians we should constantly be searching for new ways to find God in our lives and to challenge ourselves. I reduced my reading of secular books a year or so ago and have never been more pleased. There a decent selection of Christian fiction out there I had no idea of before.
Christian Fiction Novels:
Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon: The descriptions in the book take me right to Alaska in the 1930s. This book is about going for your dreams and letting God lead you. The main character, Kate, is a bush pilot in the Alaskan wilderness. She’s spirited, independent and adventurous (my kind of gal!). This book is a good, but predictable, read. Definitely a chick flick type with a feminist view of woman pilots during a time where that was not common. There’s a sequel, Wings of Promise, I have yet to finish.
There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones: I’ve read this twice! The story is a predictable love story but the inner thoughts of the main character, Finley, really struck me. It’s honest. She doubts herself and her God. This book is set in Ireland in modern times. I love the description of the Irish culture and how God is ever present there. Finley is faced with many trials throughout her study abroad term in Ireland, will she crack under the pressure or find out that God was there all along?
A Love to Cherish by Janet Lee Barton: This book is all about trusting God in his timing and his plans. Set in the 1920s it is just a charming setting! The main character, Becca, recently lost her fiance and vowed to never fall in love again. But sometimes God has his own plans. When Becca starts a new life in a new town, she meets Luke who instantly becomes a good friend. Will it turn into more? There’s also an underlying mystery of Becca’s late fiance and the man who killed him throughout the novel. Keeps you on your toes 🙂
Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren: When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery (Amazon.com summary). I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. There are many cultural and historical references interspersed with love interests and unanswered questions which keeps the book interesting. This is part of an ongoing trilogy. The second book, Grave Consequences, I also enjoyed reading, and I can’t wait for the third book, Glittering Promises, to come out in October.
Second Chances by Alison Stanley
Just between You and Me by Jenny Jones
Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones
And my Beloved is Mine by Kate Nash
Back Home Again by Melody Carlson
Finding Alice by Melody Carlson
