christian fiction
May 26, 2010SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS Movie studios and big publishing houses save their big moneymakers for this season, and Christian fiction publishers are no different. Just in time for that relaxing week at the beach or lake is Terri Blackstock’s latest thriller, Predator, which is sure to be a huge hit. Evan Drake Howard’s The Galilean Secret is a sure bet as well, with its Da Vinci Code–like tale of a young Palestinian boy who stumbles across an ancient text that might be letters from Jesus to Mary Magdalene. Lovers of Amish fiction won’t want to miss the latest from Ann H. Gabhart (The Seeker) and Marta Perry (Anna’s Return). And popular chick-lit author Kristin Billerbeck makes her YA debut with Perfectly Dateless. So pull up your beach chair, slather on the suntan lotion, and pick one of these titles for a relaxing (or in some cases, not so relaxing) summertime read.
Billerbeck, Kristin. Perfectly Dateless: A Universally Misunderstood Novel. Revell. Jul. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-0-8007-3439-8. pap. $9.99. CF
Daisy Crispin is definately not in the “in” crowd at her high school. Her parents are strict. Her mother makes her clothes for her; she’s not allowed to hang out with the cool kids; and she’s not allowed to date. Her latest challenge? Convince her parents to let her go to the prom. VERDICT Well known as a chick-lit author (What a Girl Wants), Christy Award finalist Billerbeck turns her talent for witty dialog to the YA market. The title and cover alone ensure that teens will pick up this book, and parents will be pleased that there is nothing offensive inside the covers. Adults who enjoy YA fiction and are nostalgic for their high school years may also want to try this hilarious novel.
Blackstock, Terri. Predator. Zondervan. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-310-25066-1. pap. $14.99. CF
Blackstock’s latest stand-alone thriller (after the Christy-nominated Intervention) brings readers into the world of social networking. The murder of Krista Carmichael’s 14-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken the foundation of her faith and makes her determined to find the murderer. When Ryan Adkins, who started The Grapevine from his dorm room at college and turned it into a successful corporation, meets Krista, he becomes even more determined to stop the misuse of his invention by a serial killer targeting young girls. VERDICT Blackstock, who first found success as an author of secular romances before turning her talent to Christian suspense, has built up a large readership and repeatedly hits the Christian best sellers charts. Her fans will want this, but it is also recommended for readers who enjoy suspense stories with endearing characters.
Bowen, Michele Andrea. More Church Folk. Grand Central. Jul. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-446-57776-2. $24.99. CF
This sequel to Church Folk finds the Rev. Theophilus Henry Simmons, his wife, Essie Lee, and their three children in St. Louis where he is leading a new congregation. His friend Eddie is running a fast-growing church in Chicago but struggles with the way church affairs continue to be handled. Together, Theo and Eddie take on church politics and thieves who are trying to bleed the coffers dry. VERDICT As with Church Folk, this might be a hard sell to CF readers who expect a gentle story free of sex and profanity. Readers of African American contemporary fiction, however, will love the urban setting and the struggles that Theo and Eddie face.
Boykin, William G. & Tom Morrisey. Danger Close. Fidelis. Jul. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-8054-4955-6. $24.99. CF
Blake Kershaw is going to school to earn his degree while he recovers from wounds he received while serving in Afghanistan. But his college career is cut short when the army asks him to go deep undercover within al-Qaeda to avert a plot to bomb a U.S. city. The young Blake accepts the mission, changing even his physical appearance in order to infiltrate the terrorist organization. VERDICT Boykin brings his notably fundamental belief system to the forefront in his fiction debut, setting the war on terror in a Christian framework. His notoriety as the former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and the media controversy he stirred with remarks about the war on terror will attract readers who may not usually read in this genre. Be sure to note the fundamentalist nature of the writing to potential readers when recommending this title, which, despite the heavy-handed message, is a suspenseful page-turner.
Gabhart, Ann H. The Seeker. Revell. Jun. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-8007-3363-6. pap. $14.99. CF
Charlotte Vance has been pampered her whole life. Now, things have suddenly changed. The country is in the midst of a civil war, her father has brought home a young bride, and the man she planned to marry has just joined the Shakers, a religious community that does not allow marriage. What is a girl to do? She joins the Shaker community herself, intent on showing Edwin exactly what he has forsaken. Imagine her surprise when she finds a peace and faith she has never known. VERDICT CF readers will enjoy this third book in Gabhart’s Shaker series (after Christy finalist The Outsider and The Believer) for its even pacing, in-depth characterizations, and redemptive story. It will also appeal to fans of Tracie Peterson.
Hatcher, Robin Lee. A Matter of Character. Zondervan. (Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Bk. 3). Jun. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-310-25807-0. pap. $14.99. CF
“Anonymous was a woman.” In this case, anonymous is Daphne McKinley, who has been publishing popular dime store novels in 1918 Bethlehem Springs under a male pseudonym. That’s the way she wants to keep it, since the villain in her stories is based on a local character. Trouble ensues when newspaperman Joshua Crawford arrives in town and asks her to help him find the man who has been dragging his grandfather’s name through the mud. VERDICT This latest title by a winner of the Christy, the RITA, and the Romantic Times Career and Lifetime Achievement award is essential for libraries. It will especially appeal to readers who enjoy heartwarming stories where faith plays a role in character development.
Howard, Evan Drake. The Galilean Secret. Guidepost Bks. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-8249-4794-1. $24.99. CF
In the spirit of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, Howard brings us the story of Karim Musalah, a young Palestinian who flees his father’s radical and terrorist connections. Along his journey, he stumbles upon an ancient scroll that appears to be letters from Jesus to Mary Magdalene. Suspense ensues as he tries to bring the scroll’s contents to the world’s attention. The story alternates between the present day and 33 C.E., where readers learn about Judith, who elopes with the brother of her betrothed on their wedding day, an action that brings her into the inner circle of Jesus. VERDICT This reworking of Howard’s 2007 self-published novel, The Lost Epistle of Jesus, is sure to bring him more readers, especially those who enjoyed Ki Longfellow’s The Secret Magdalene or Kathleen McGowan’s The Book of Love.
Lee, Tosca. Demon: A Memoir. B&H. Jun. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-1-4336-6880-7. pap. $14.99. CF
First published by NavPress in 2007, Lee’s acclaimed first novel (along with Havah; see below) is being rereleased with new added content. In this Christy Award finalist and ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award Winner, Lee introduces readers to Clayton, a Boston-based editor whose wife has left him. Immersing himself in his work, Clayton searches for that one novel that will win him recognition at his publishing firm. Enter Lucien, a fallen angel who is intent on selling Clay his story. Through Lucien, readers are forced to examine their own established beliefs on the origins of evil and the hope of salvation. Verdict The writing is never preachy, and readers are drawn in from the very first pages. Recommend this fascinating suspense tale to fans of C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters.
Lee, Tosca. Havah: The Story of Eve. B&H. Aug. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-1-4336-6879-1. pap. $14.99. CF
Along with Lee’s first novel, Demon (see above), her second, a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Bronze Award winner, has been updated to include new scenes, research notes, and discussion questions. Lee retells the story of the Book of Genesis, as narrated by a dying Eve. Eve recalls her idyllic life in the Garden of Eden—her life with Adam, their children, and their fall from Grace. Through it all, she never loses her belief in “the One” or in the salvation he promises through her children. Lee joins the legion of authors who have reexamined biblical events through female participants, but she does it better. Her lush descriptions of setting and a gut-wrenching inner perspective on the character of Eve will cause readers to reconsider the Genesis story from a fresh perspective. Verdict Readers who enjoy Francine Rivers’s “Lineage of Grace” series will flock to this title, but make sure to recommend it to others (who may not normally read CF) for its beautiful prose.
Leon, Bonnie. Touching the Clouds. Revell. (Alaskan Sky, Bk. 1). Jul. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-8007-3359-9. pap. $14.99. CF
Kate Evans is a woman before her time. Craving adventure and independence, she leaves her home in Washington to deliver mail by plane in the Alaskan wilderness. This being the 1930s, Kate has to confront people who think a woman’s place is in the home. She also meets Paul, who has protected his heart for so long he no longer knows how to let someone in. VERDICT With over ten historical novels (“Sydney Cove” series; “Queensland Chronicles”) to her credit, Leon launches a new Alaska-set series. She has won a Christian Booksellers Association Award, and two of her series have been translated into Dutch. Readers who like adventure stories of strong women facing the odds will enjoy her latest book.
Mills, DiAnn. A Woman Called Sage. Zondervan. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-310-29329-3. pap. $12.99. CF
In 1875, Sage, a half-Ute woman, experiences devastating loss when four robbers are responsible for the death of her husband and her unborn child. Vowing revenge, she becomes a Colorado bounty hunter. Six years pass before Sage learns of a band of four brothers who have killed a rancher nearby, and she sets out to apprehend them. But the gang kidnap two young boys, and she reluctantly joins forces with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. VERDICT Mills, a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and now nominated for a 2010 Christy Award for Breach of Trust (see p. 56), has penned over 40 novels, several of them appearing on the Christian Booksellers Association Best Seller List. Her fans would make her latest a must-purchase even if it was not so well written. Zondervan is marketing this title as a historical romance, but it is much more than that, blending suspense, romance, and history in a page-turner sure to appeal to fans of Dee Henderson and Tim LaHaye.
Perry, Marta. Anna’s Return. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). (Pleasant Valley, Bk. 3). Jun. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-425-23426-6. pap. $14. CF
Three years ago, Anna Beiler left her Amish community to live a secular life. Now she has returned home as an unmarried mother with a baby in tow. Her family assumes that she has come home to repent and seek forgiveness, but Anna harbors a deeper secret. She adopted the baby when her friend died, and now Anna tries to hide among the plain folk in the hopes of protecting the child from its abusive father. But she may have brought danger to the community and to a man with whom she may be falling in love. VERDICT Those who enjoyed the first two series titles (Leah’s Choice and Rachel’s Garden) will eagerly await this third entry, which does not disappoint. It will also appeal to fans of Amy Clipston and Shelley Shepard Gray.
Vogts, Deborah. Seeds of Summer. Zondervan. (Seasons of the Tallgrass, Bk. 2). Jun. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-310-29276-0. pap. $10.99. CF
When her father passes away, rodeo queen Natalie Adams returns home to Diamond Falls, KS, to take over his ranch and raise her two half-siblings. She meets the town’s new pastor, Jared Logan, who has found his congregation less than welcoming. He makes helping Natalie his personal mission. Though she is attracted to Jared, Natalie is a strong, independent woman who’s not about to become a pastor’s wife. But when she faces a custody battle to keep her siblings, his help proves invaluable. Can Natalie let Jared into her life? Can his congregation accept her as she is? VERDICT Vogts’s sophomore contemporary romance (after Snow Melts in Spring) will appeal to readers who enjoy strong women overcoming obstacles and who place emphasis on character development.
Whalen, Marybeth. The Mailbox. David C. Cook. Jun. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-7814-0369-6. pap. $14.99. CF
Following her painful divorce, Lindsey packs up her two children and returns to Sunset Beach, NC, where as a teen she met her first love. It was Campbell who had introduced her to the Kindred Spirit mailbox, where strangers would offer up their hopes, dreams, and troubles in journals for other kindred souls to read. It is only a matter of time before the mailbox helps Lindsey sort through her marriage and painful divorce, and she and Campbell, also divorced, cross paths again. VERDICT This debut story of heartbreak and second chances will appeal to Nicholas Sparks fans who enjoy the emotional rollercoaster ride of his novels. Whalen is a new writer to watch.
