Christian/Inspirational Fiction

Baumbich, Charlene. Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet? Penguin, 2002.

For the legions of readers who enjoy books that celebrate life’s simple pleasures, eighty-seven-year-old Dorothy Jean Wetstra and her beloved farming town of Partonville, Illinois, will become instant favorites. In this hilarious, touching series, Charlene Ann Baumbich introduces readers to Dearest Dorothy, who tools around town in a 1976 Lincoln Continental nicknamed “The Tank,” plays bunco regularly with her pals, and grabs a stool at Harry’s counter often enough to stay on top of the latest-breaking news—which she is often creating. In the series debut, Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet?, Dorothy faces a decision that may change her town forever, and her gift for shaking things up comes in handy. In the second book, Dearest Dorothy, Slow Down, You're Wearing Us Out!, the town’s irresistible cast of characters is back in full swing as they confront some of the many surprises life sends their way. So pull up a chair and get ready for fireworks, laughter, and we’ll-get-through-it-all-with-faith friendships.

Blackstock, Terri. Last Light. Zondervan, 2005.

Imagine getting off a plane in Birmingham and, before you can leave the airport, planes start falling from the sky. Then, your car won't start, your cell phone doesn't work, even your watch isn't ticking. This is the scenario in the first of the Restoration series when anything that depends on semiconductors stops working. How does this family and their neighbors survive without any of the modern conveniences we take for granted? How widespread is the power outage? What caused it? Many of these questions are not answered until later in the four volume series. So, keep reading!

Caldwell, Taylor. Dear and Glorious Physician. Doubleday, 1959.

In her preface to the novel Dear and Glorious Physician, Taylor Caldwell comments at length upon her lifelong fascination with the gospel writer we know as Luke. He is, as she points out, the only one of the four who was not Jewish and who had never met Christ face to face, and his profession as a physician allowed for some interesting perspectives on the healing miracles in Christ’s ministry. Caldwell’s sense of connection with Luke also makes for an absorbing novel, in which the young Greek boy Lucanus is adopted into the family of the Roman centurion Diodorus. This allows him to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. As he grows older, however, Lucanus’ determination to heal acquires a bitter edge. The death of a young woman he loves, despite his fervent prayers for her healing, convinces Lucanus that God is a cruel and unjust destroyer who delights in human suffering, and so his resolve to be a physician also becomes a vow to snatch men from the jaws of death and frustrate the malicious designs of God. Consumed by grief and anger, Lucanus nevertheless misses the spiritual element in his life from when he was younger and believed wholeheartedly in the goodness of the Creator. After his medical training at Alexandria, Lucanus wanders through the world, ministering to suffering men and women and seeking he knows not what . . . until word reaches him of a Jewish rabbi in an obscure province, a man who claims to be the son of God. This novel appeals on multiple levels as Christian fiction and as historical fiction, with compelling, dynamic characters; even the ones who appear only briefly on the page will remain vivid in the reader’s memory, and the tone of the book will resonate with any reader who has experienced loss and suffering and asked, “God, why?” Caldwell’s Lucanus, who later came to be nicknamed “Luke” by the Apostle Paul, is reminiscent of Job in his passionate and bitter invective against God, yet the progress of his reconciliation with God is believable and moving. Highly recommended.

Downs, Tim. Plaguemaker. Westbow Press, 2006.

The Black Plague, riding the backs of rats, swept over Europe in the 1300’s and became infamous as one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. Worldwide deaths were estimated at 75 million people….it is believed that 30-60% of the population of Europe perished during that time and the massive death toll changed the course of the development of Western civilization. Outbreaks of the plague have occurred over the years since the 14th century, but never with such deadly results. Fast forward to the present day. FBI agent Nathan Donovan is investigating what seems to be a fairly average murder case until the techs discover the fleas. Now the clues are mounting up and Nathan is in a race against time to stop the destruction of the U.S. and the world as they are threatened with the pestilence once again, only this time it is a genetically engineered, more lethal killing machine. This was the first faith-based thriller I’ve attempted to read since Tim LaHaye began his Left Behind series nearly thirteen years ago and I must say that the difference is refreshing. Downs knows how to write a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat and the Christianity is no where near as aggressively proselytized as it is in the Left Behind books. Donovan’s interactions with his ex-wife and his attempts to get information from the elderly Mr. Li are by turns funny and poignant without approaching cloying. This novel made me consider themes of forgiveness, selfless love and personal sacrifice while at the same time I wondered if I had enough duct tape at home to seal off the windows and doors in case of a pandemic. I think that’s a pretty tall order for one book. I’ve obviously been reading the wrong Christian/Inspirational fiction if I’ve been missing this!

Green, Betsy Brannon. Foul Play. Covenant Communications, 2004.

The story follows Billie Murphy, a full-time public relations representative with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. She's put on a job with Blalock Industries to help them find land for their new business. She meets one of the men with the company, and she will never be the same. Behind the scenes of the Global Football League, GFL, is a huge plot of fraud and deceit. Little does Billie know quite how involved she is. I loved this book. It's a great mystery, and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Green, Betsy Brannon. Hearts in Hiding. Covenant Communications, 2001.

This debut novel by Betsy Brannon Green is an excellent read. It is a mystery set in a small Southern town. The main character is Kate, a young Mormon bride, who’s husband Tony is an FBI undercover agent. Tony is killed in the line of duty and Kate’s life is threatened when Tony’s cover is blown. The FBI gives her a new identity life and another undercover agent to pose as her husband (Mark Iverson). As each assumes a new identity in a new town much like "Mayberry", life unfolds with quirky homespun characters as friends and neighbors. A growing attraction develops as they keep each other alive and begin to solve the mystery of Tony’s murder. This book is so entertaining: a good mystery and a great love story to boot. The Mormon faith is discussed, but only in a matter of fact way as the main characters clear up some of the misconceptions of their neighbors about their faith. This adds to the interest level in the novel. If you like this book Above Suspicion, is a sequel. Kate & Mark Iverson along with the ladies from Haggerty make an appearance in sequels here, too. They are also in Until Proven Guilty, but not as much...

Groot, Tracy. Madman: A Novel. Moody Publishers, 2006.

Tallis arrived in this little Palestinian town on the shores of Galilee looking for the Decaphiloi, League of Ten Friends, an Academy of Socrates begun by his master Callimachus several years ago. The progress reports from the school stopped arriving several weeks ago and Cal sent Tallis to find out what went wrong. Upon arriving in Hippos, Tallis discovered the school had been disbanded three years before. No one in town would talk to him; no one would profess to know anything about the once thriving Academy. Who sent the progress reports? Who collected the money Cal sent for supplies? Why did the school disband with no word to Callimachus? Of the ten teachers, he found news of only four: a murder, a suicide, a priestess in the cult of Dionysus, and one madman. The hills of Kursi and the tombs found there are home to the madman and the town is becoming increasingly frightened of the whole area. As Tallis investigates the disappearance of the school and the background of the madman, other forces are just as purposefully determined that he will not find out the truth about either one. I found this novel hard to put down from the very beginning. The historical detail Groot includes about biblical Palestine truly evoked a real sense of time and place without seeming hokey. There were many elements of this story that I found comparable to Robert Harris’ gripping novel, Pompeii, with Madman giving you the same barren landscape, menacing hills and breathless tension. The people in the story know that something bad is going to happen and Groot made me just as nervous about it as they were. The Christianity in this book was subtle and powerful without being overwhelming. There were many scenes in the book which dealt with personal sacrifice, love of all kinds but most especially the topic dealt with in Madman seemed to be “choice”, choosing between good and evil, selfish and selfless, the high road and the low. I don’t know how these authors can walk such a thin line between powerful and paltry, but Tracy Groot has done it. She has taken the biblical story of the Gerasene demoniac and rendered it into a story that makes you think instead of one that preaches at you.

Gunn, Robin Jones. Sisterchicks on the Loose! (#1 in Sisterchick series). Bethany Press, 2003.

Reading this book was like taking a relaxing and entertaining vacation for a day. That sounds like a cliché, but I can't think of any more accurate way to describe it! As a twenty-something mother of a toddler, I wondered...would I even enjoy a book about middle-aged mothers of teenagers and their friendship? However, the story carried me across the world from my daily responsibilities and gave me a 24-hour vacation! I loved it! Best friends and middle-aged mothers Sharon and Penny embark on a crazy trip to Finland to search for Penny's roots and relatives. While dealing with lost luggage and entertaining encounters with strangers (and consuming great quantities of chocolate), they each discover new sides to their identities and hidden strengths in themselves and their friendship. The hilarious chapter describing their first encounter with a Finnish sauna is worth the price of the book alone! Robin Jones Gunn has created genuine, down-to-earth, endearing, unfailingly fascinating characters. Just make sure you have plenty of time to read when you pick up this book because it will be hard to put down!

Hamilton, Jane. The Guardian. T. Nelson Publishing, 1994.

This is the story of a guardian angel who is on trial in Heaven for the murder of a young boy, his human charge. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to human characters and each of their guardian angels. The intricate relationships between the angels, the human beings they protect and guide, and the angels themselves makes for a fascinating read. This book transcends its genre to touch something deeply human in all of us. It is an uplifting story of how God's love and mercy helps one angel to move through tragedy to life. I recommend it to readers of any faith. Jane's angels are witty, fun, and wonderful and her characterization and dialog are lively and thoroughly believable. Hamilton is a master of creating believable, enjoyable characters and bringing them to life.

Heitzmann, Kristen. Halos. Bethany House, 2004.

Heitzmann does the Romantic suspense category justice here. Alessi Moore is a naive 21-year-old who still believes in fairy tales and miracles, despite a past that has left her orphaned and alone. As she drives across the country, looking for a new life, she stops in the snowy northern town of Charity. Her car and worldly possessions are stolen, and Alessi finds herself dependent on the kindness of strangers. She takes a job working in a bookstore for Steve, who distrusts all women; a clichéd, angst-ridden romance follows. But something is rotten in Charity. The sheriff seems uninterested in finding Alessi's car; her stolen clothes turn up piece by piece in occasionally gruesome circumstances; and Alessi bears an eerie resemblance to a woman who disappeared several years ago. As the townsfolk talk of a mysterious "pact" they have made with one another, they muse cryptically, "Maybe they'd slain the devil, but his works were not forgotten." Will miracles be enough to save those in danger? Heitzmann paces her story well, and there is an appealing tension as the plot unfolds. The joy of this novel is in Heitzmann's competent voice, engaging characters and many original touches.

Karon, Jan. Home To Holly Spring (Father Tim series #1). Viking, 2007.

Karon's bestselling series of Mitford novels has concluded with 25 million copies sold to date, but to the relief of eager fans, she introduces a new series featuring Father Tim. The beloved Episcopal priest returns to his childhood town of Holly Springs, Miss., where he reconnects with old friends and battles some old demons. The novel is thick with Father Tim's past, as Karon uses flashbacks to shed light on his early adulthood, especially his transition to seminary. In Holly Springs, his penchant for getting near strangers to open up to him—and his earnest, moving reflections on faith, prayer and the risks of love—are reassuringly present. His wife, Cynthia, is on stage far less than he, but when she appears, she is charming and insightful, as usual. Yet the book is far from perfect. Development of the quirky locals in Holly Springs is thin, and the end is a tad abrupt. Most frustratingly, the central drama of the novel falls flat: Father Tim discovers a long-buried family secret, but he doesn't grapple deeply enough with the emotional consequences of his discovery, nor does Karon fully explore the ways in which the secret plunges us into the Southern quagmire of race. Still, Mitford fans will enjoy this newest visit with wise, winsome, lovable Father Tim.

Meyer, Joyce and Deborah Bedford. The Penny. Faith Words, 2007.

I decided to try Joyce Meyer’s fiction just to see if she could write good fiction. I was not disappointed. This is a story of true friendship despite hardship maintaining it in a prejudiced United States. Inadvertently stopping a robbery when she makes a chance decision, fourteen-year-old Jenny Blake forges life-changing friendships which teaches her about meeting painful life challenges through faith. I recommend it.

Morris, Gilbert. The Mermaid in the Basement : a Lady Trent Mystery. Thomas Nelson, 2007.

This novel of Victorian England is from one of our most prolific Christian fiction authors. This novel is book one of a new series. It’s London, 1857, and everything is at stake for Serafina Trent. A woman of means …but not the typical Victorian lady who feels her place is to be seen but not heard. When a beautiful actress and also a friend of her brother’s is found murdered, all evidence points to him. Now everyone except his sister Serafina believes Clive is headed for the gallows. Convinced of his innocence, Sreafina sets out with unlikely allies to prove it. Mystery and history combine to hold the reader’s attention in this entertaining novel.

Tronstad, Janet. An Angel for Dry Creek. SteepleHill, 1999.

Welcome to Dry Creek, Montana. Folks here know everyone and their business; so when a stranger shows up during the Christmas season, there is a lot of speculation about who she is and why she has shown up in their small town. Is she part of the rustling operation going on in the area? Or just someone who needed a place to get away and ended up here? And why do the widowed preacher's twin sons believe she is an angel? Tronstad has just published the eleventh title in the Dry Creek series. Each book tells the romantic story of one couple, with recurring characters in supporting roles. For patrons who like light Christian fiction romance with a little touch of mystery.