Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation by Christa Brown
Baptistland by Christa Brown is a brilliant and honest memoir. She meticulously recorded her earliest memories and the history that drove the behaviors of her family members. As readers who grew up in the ’60s and ’70s are aware, bullying and other abuses in families and broader communities weren’t just tolerated; they were expected–as was silence. Anyone who spoke out was labeled whiny or selfish. The family (and neighborhood) culture of children being seen and not heard was also a part of church culture. The most vulnerable members of the congregation, like Christa, were not protected from known predators and had no mechanism through which they could report. Throughout her life, Christa had to find pockets of freedom where she could escape from home and church to establish her own life. As an appellate lawyer, blogger, and writer, she exposed the known pedophiles and molesters from the Southern Baptist denomination. She became an advocate for the children forced into silence. Baptistland is the latest cry of modern-day Cassandra, begging the SBC to listen to the truth and FINALLY take action to protect its congregations.
The Genesis Experiment by Jeri Massi
The Genesis Experiment by Jeri Massi is a YA sci-fi adventure with plenty of thrills, excitement, and mystery.
A horrible accident puts Jack Derwood in the hospital and under the unconventional treatment of the mysterious Dr. Sorenson. While family, friends, and hospital staff object to Sorenson’s practices, Jack’s consciousness has been whisked backward to a time closer to creation. Jack and his friends fight for the truth at two different times in history, trying to solve the mystery of Sorenson’s experiments before it’s too late.
The Sisters of Corinth by Angela Elwell Hunt
A Roman family living in a Greek colony and split between two religions is the focus of The Sisters of Corinth by Angela Elwell Hunt. This well-written historical Christian novel guides readers through a world from 2,000 years ago while remaining relevant. Two sisters, one a Christian and one a worshipper of Aphrodite, share a home but little else. When the opportunity arises for one of them to marry into a high-ranking Roman family, it shatters the precarious peace between the two women. It is an excellent novel for those who love early-church history and family drama.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is more than a memoir. McCurdy bravely relates her early childhood experiences, not analyzing, simply revisiting the key moments and her thought processes from the time. As the book continues through her acting career highlights (and lowlights), it becomes increasingly insightful. At no point is the I’m Glad My Mom Died boring. It offers more than a window into the life of a child actor. Instead, it is an unflinchingly honest look at a dysfunctional family and the determination of their most famous member to rise above expectations.
*Contains language and adult situations
What Faith Washed Up by Catherine Brusk
What Faith Washed Up by Catherine Brusk is the shortest novel in the Finding Faith series, but it takes me the longest to read. I don’t want the stories to end.
When the matriarch of the Parks family goes on hospice, her sons and their families gather to spend the last days with her. Each chapter is told from a different family member’s POV, and the novella uses these accounts to create a beautiful tapestry of a realistic family as they deal with loss and reach for hope.
A brilliant and original ending to a phenomenal series.
Love in Three-Quarter Time by Rachel McMillian
Evelyn is romantic-but her life is not. When she gets the opportunity to work in Vienna for several months, she takes it. The job cataloging a wealthy family’s heirlooms for sale for an American audience is good, but the bigger appeal is working with Rudy, the family’s handsome heir. She’s had a crush on him for ages and hopes that being thrown together on this project will open his eyes to the fact that she’d be perfect for him.
During her visits to a nearby cafe, Evelyn begins sharing a table with a grumpy professor of history. Over time, Evelyn learns the beauty of comfortable silence, historical adventures, and subtle humor. Between work with handsome Rudy and coffee breaks with fascinating Klaus, life is getting more romantic by the day.
Love in Three-Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan is a beautiful love letter to Vienna and the joy of living a romantic life.
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh is a sweet hockey romance with some important underlying themes. Gray Hawke was raised by an abusive father who convinced him that any relationships off the ice were a distraction. When the team hires Eloise Hart to be his assistant- and hopefully help him get over being traded to Chicago- he comes face-to-face with a woman whose primary personality trait is getting people to like her.
Gray and Eloise’s story is entertaining and adorable.
Random Act of Shyness by Chautona Havig
Random Acts of Shyness by Chautona Havig is a sweet romance about two people who can’t quite make a love connection.
Heath is a zoologist (specializing in mammals) who tends to spout obscure and somewhat inappropriate animal facts when he’s nervous. His sister knows he’s a great guy. She wishes he’d relax and let his loving and caring personality shine through. It’s Selby’s idea to put him on the dating website. Even if he doesn’t find the love of his life, at least he could practice appropriate date conversation.
Jordan spends her life caring for older people. She’s happy being single but would love companionship with someone her age. Unfortunately, every blind date ends in disaster, or in the case of her last night out, the regaling of random animal facts. Jordan only joined the dating website because she thought she should. She’s not expecting miracles.
It is a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable book.
The Chocolate Trap by Jeri Massi
The Chocolate Trap by Jeri Massi features Penny Derwood, an intelligent and spunky heroine reminiscent of Trixi Beldin and Nancy Drew. She has a head for science and a strong faith. Penny needs both when, as part of a select group from her school, she visits the Royalty House Chocolates headquarters. Everything seems wholesome on the surface, but rumors of illegal operations, disappearances, and suicides tell Penny that not everything is as perfect as it appears.
While exploring issues of betrayal and worthiness, Jeri Massi packs her YA mystery with action.
Finally Forever by Karin Beery
Finally Forever by Karin Beery is a sweet romance with heart. The story follows Caroline, a former ballroom dancer working for an insurance company. It’s not exactly her dream job. She’s always wanted to work for a non-profit and help those who need it most. Instead, she plans corporate retreats, writes employee handbooks, and mentors new employees. Her latest protege is Ben. He was her sister’s best friend in high school, but now he’s back from college with an injury that ended his pro football career before it started. When they are thrown together to dance for a charity event, they discover they have more in common than their athleticism and the desire to help the women at Pathways get the support they need for their group home. Finally Forever is a compelling and beautifully written novel.
Message in the Box by Dawn Merriman
Everything is going well for Gabby. She has a burgeoning business and a boyfriend. Her mother is released from prison after spending years locked up for a crime she didn’t commit. Even her brother is treating her with more respect. So, of course, that’s when she starts doubting her gift. Gabby wants to help so much, but the visions aren’t clear, and she isn’t sure if she can trust them. Still, she pushes through, putting her life on the line to solve the mystery of the man in the box before someone else is murdered.
The Message in the Box by Dawn Merriman doesn’t let Gabby get comfortable, but it keeps the reader pulling for her. It is another excellent book in the Messages of Murder series.
A New Leash on Life by Cassandra Joelle
A New Leash on Life by Cassandra Joelle is a delightful story about a woman ready to start living again. In the years after a life-changing tragedy, Katie has become an introverted homebody. She prays daily, almost hourly, for a husband to share her life, but doesn’t go anywhere other than work and church. It isn’t until Katie adopts Dolly, a sweet little poodle who has also gone through tragedy. Taking on the responsibilities of a dog means Katie gets pulled back into society at the end of a leash. With her new buddy, Katie finds new friends, happiness, and a chance to love again.
The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright
Jaime Jo Wright’s duel timeline/POV novel The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond explores the murky history of a small town. One hundred years earlier, a series of tent revival services sparked riots, protests, and even murder. But as suddenly as those events happened, they were relegated to the deepest hidey holes of Gossamer Grove. Today, the place looks like a picture-perfect slice of Americana, but it is still far from ideal. The death of a local eccentric sparks an interest in discovering the dark truths just under the surface.
Message in the Snow by Dawn Merriman
This is a novella about a “day in the life” of Gabby. Unfortunately, for a psychic who would love to spend the holiday without drama, that day happens to be Christmas Eve. When she and Lucas pass a car that has been driven off the road, they discover murder and the mysterious disappearance of three children. Following the instructions from her tingling tattoo, Gabby is determined to locate the kids and ensure their safety ASAP—despite her brother and boyfriend’s constant reminders to wait for them and the rest of the town’s police force. More light-hearted than the other novels in the series (it’s great seeing Gabby getting the respect and love she deserves), Message in the Snow by Dawn Merriman is a solid addition to the Messages of Murder collection.
The Big Book of Bad Baptist Preachers: 100 Cases of Sex Abuse of Children and Exploitation of the Innocent by Jeri Massi
I never thought “NONE” could be such a chilling word, but as I listened to Jeri Massi’s The Big Book of Bad Baptist Preachers, that repetitive “NONE” hit hard every time. As in, “Church discipline taken: Excommunication-none, Public Rebuke-none, Other Churches Notified-none.” These phrases were written regarding the majority of criminals exposed in this book. Massi’s compilation uses public court and press records, offering transparency when the churches involved were intent on coverups. This is a must-read for anyone whose church leaders claim they know best and use their position to promote the restoration of abusers over the care of their victims. It is a remarkable resource.
Bitter Root: Atheistic Practices Embedded in Christian Fundamentalism by Jeri Massi
In Bitter Root: Atheistic Practices Embedded in Christian Fundamentalism, Jeri Massi has a knack for tracing fundamentalist Christianity’s twisted teachings back to their non-biblical roots. From B.F. Skinner-inspired troubled teen homes to the near worship of the “Man of God” as a Nietzschean Ubermensch, religious movements like the IFB have neglected Bible teaching in favor of humanistic practices. Massi’s work provides clarity and provokes thought. Bitter Root is a must-read book for anyone dealing with the IFB movement.
Clock Tower Bound by Chautona Havig
Another excellent novel by Chautona Havig, Clock Tower Bound (book 2 of the Bookstrings series), is a tale of friendships and fallout. Anne Montgomery opened a charming bookstore in the small town’s clock tower. It would be perfect, except it is across the street from her former best friend’s bookstore, and the tiny village can’t support both. The town also can’t support the rift between the two bookstore owners. Their year-long battle frustrates everyone, especially their mutual friend, Gage. Enter bookstore doctor Milton Coleridge. Yes, he can help Anne with her focus and marketing, but his real focus will be healing the relationship between two sisters in Christ.
Unashamed: Rahab by Francine Rivers
Unashamed: Rahab (book 2 of the Lineage of Grace series) by Francine Rivers is a brilliant novel about an unexpected heroine. Presenting Rahab as an intelligent, independent, and insightful woman who believed in the One True God and fiercely loved her family, Rivers gives her the depth of character often overlooked in Bible studies and sermons. This is a book worth reading.
What Hope Washed Up by Catherine Brusk
What Hope Washed Up is book 4 in Catherine Brusk’s Finding Faith series. It is a split-time story that has all the feels. The first plotline follows Officer Jason Batman and social worker Sarah Campbell as they are compelled to work and live together to protect Matty, a sweet but troubled 5-year-old boy who witnessed his mother’s murder. In the story’s second part, Evelyn, the daughter of Jason and Sarah, reads an overly familiar email from a man named Matthew who wants to reconnect with her parents. Wanting to protect her folks, Evelyn travels to Boston to check this mysterious man out. As they talk, Evelyn realizes that Matthew’s history is also her parents’. That fantastic story makes up the crux of this beautifully written book.
The Woman They Wanted by Shannon Harris
The Woman They Wanted by Shannon Harris isn’t a tell-all about the Harris marriage. Instead, it is a heartfelt exploration of a woman’s journey into young adulthood where, instead of being encouraged to develop her talents and abilities, she was pushed to focus completely on supporting her husband’s ministry and raising their children. It was supposed to be enough. The other members of her church helped fuel the idea of giving up her god-given talents and gifts for what they considered women’s “real” purpose. After years of exhaustion, Shannon Harris finally broke away and began to explore what life meant to her.
The Whisper House by Dawn Merriman
When an old boyfriend turned mystery writer invites Riley and Micky to his house to investigate strange happenings for their YouTube show on ghost hunting, they jump at the chance. After all, he’s purchased the most beautiful old mansion in the area—a place they’ve always wanted to explore for themselves. However, a tragic event cuts the interview short and prompts Micky to quit their YouTube show and avoid her best friend. Riley is suddenly alone, but she won’t stop trying to find the truth.
The Whisper House by Dawn Merriman is the third in the Rylan Flynn series. The characters and stories keep developing, and there is never a dull moment.
Message in the Grave by Dawn Merriman
In Message in the Grave by Dawn Merriman, the FMC, Gabby, is finally claiming her gifts without (much) remorse or embarrassment. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s well worth the wait. Now that she has a business, she’s ready to receive messages and solve mysteries for whoever hires her. Of course, her first customer has to be Lucas. His sister has been missing for years. Everyone assumed she ran away, so the investigation has been spotty to non-existent. But this is what Gabby was made for.
Full of twists, turns, and shocking developments, Message in the Grave is another brilliant novel by Dawn Merriman.
Through Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. Hunt
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I downloaded Through Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. Hunt. I certainly didn’t anticipate being swept away by a book so simultaneously grand and homey. The novel features a young woman struggling to raise her niece and nephew without much emotional support. As long as she focuses on them, she’s able to muddle through her days, but the truth is, her family history is a mess, the house is falling down around her, and she’s lost too many people to disease, war, and betrayal. When her older brother, Davis, returns from the war, they can finally update the family home. They hired Adam to make the repairs, never expecting his presence to fix more than structural issues. It’s a beautifully written novel.
What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
What is a Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander is a dynamic and detailed memoir of one specific girl in the Larry Nassar case. Rachael’s experience as a young teen being sexually abused by a trusted and well-respected doctor is heartbreaking, but for the reader, it is the years of begging someone to believe her are frustrating and rage-inducing. We go along for the ride as Rachael experiences PTSD, files police reports, sits for interviews, does intensive research, and confronts the many adults who failed in their responsibilities as mandatory reporters. She also explains how a pedophile/child molester doesn’t just groom the victim but everyone in the community. Nassar believed his charming personality would carry him through it all, including a court case, but a group of worthy girls and women stood up to him and demanded justice.
Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg
Because Diane Langberg is an experienced psychologist and counselor, her book Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church has amazing gravity and insight. Power and authority have their place and SHOULD be used to protect the most vulnerable people in a community. However, those intent on using power for their own advancement can lead to abuse and destruction. This is an excellent book for church leaders at every level of ministry.
Schizophrenic Christianity: How Christian Fundamentalism Attracts and Protects Sociopaths, Abusive Pastors, and Child Molesters by Jeri Massi
Jeri Massi is concise and clear as she systematically presents the marks of Christian Fundamentalism and its practicing organizations in her book Schizophrenic Christianity. After a brief historical overview of modern fundamentalist leaders, Massi delves into the behaviors of specific leaders who used positions of authority to abuse people in their churches, camps, and children’s homes. By creating uncompromisingly rigid gender roles and enforcing immediate and unquestioning obedience, these leaders have created multiple victims while simultaneously covering their own evil deeds. An eye-opening, must-read book for anyone who has ever been involved in a toxic religious situation.
Message in the Fire by Dawn Merriman
The Messages of Murder series by Dawn Merriman is a perfectly created literary universe.
Message in the Fire continues to follow Gabby, who, when she isn’t taking orders at a catalog company, helps those whose voices have been silenced by tragedy. Gabby’s power of seeing into the minds of those around her through touch and visions frightens some people and angers others. Very few see her talent as she does–as a gift from God. Despite repeatedly proving her worth, Gabby’s reputation is smeared, and her property is vandalized. Still, she keeps doing what she knows is right.
When Gabby comes across a comatose teen who’d been forced to give birth, injured and alone in a churchyard, she saves the lives of mother and baby, then reaches through the veil to discover the young woman’s secrets. Gabby is determined to find justice for the girl who can’t fight for herself.
What Strength Washed Up by Catherine Brusk
This was my second reading of What Strength Washed Up by Catherine Brusk. As much as I enjoyed it the first time, the second time was even better. It takes the formula of a romance novel and twists it. In the flashbacks, we get the usual tropes of the meet-cute, misunderstandings, and gorgeous engagement, but in the “current day” chapters, we look eighteen years into the future. It’s a “where are they now” kind of novel. But, where they are is in a marriage that is falling apart as James gets swallowed up in grief to the point that he neglects his home and family responsibilities, and Amanda pushes down her emotions to survive. It’s a heartbreaking story of a marriage on the edge and the desire to get back to the loving relationship they once had. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful novel of redemption and reconciliation.
Twice Sold Tales by Chautona Havig
Twice Sold Tales by Chautona Havig is the perfect novel for anyone stuck in a book hole. While reading the story of an introverted misanthrope who inherited a bookstore from her late aunt, I found myself smiling, then laughing, and then, out of the blue, sobbing. It’s a perfect slice of reading pie (think a Christian version of the BBC TV show Black Books). The characters are well-rounded and developed. The plot moves fast and grabs hold of the reader’s time and attention (to the exclusion of all else–so clear your calendar before you start). A brilliant novel that was a joy to read. On to the next book in the series!
Disobedient Women by Sarah Stankorb
Nonfiction
In Disobedient Women, journalist Sarah Stankorb gives voice and power to women formerly silenced by their abusers. Because it was powerful church/spiritual/religious leaders who mistreated these women (many of whom were underage at the time), the traumatic repercussions hit on multiple levels. Girls who were raised to be unquestioningly obedient felt that they could not report their attackers. As women, however, they learned the freedom that comes with naming names and demanding justice for themselves and for all of the women who have come after them.
The Imaginarium by Samara Risner
Christian Speculative Fiction
The author takes a conspiracy theory and uses it to jumpstart a novel with an intriguing premise. The first half of the book starts strong and keeps the suspense and the story moving in a two-pronged POV. The second half of the book jumps years forward and focuses primarily on one POV. The conflict of the early pages morphs into best-case scenarios for each of the characters.
Heart in the Clouds by Jennifer Mistmorgan
Christian historical fiction
A WWII novel with evenly matched main characters, Heart in the Clouds by Jennifer Mistmorgan features a bold but focused Australian pilot and an invaluable member of the RAAF. These complex characters deal with the conflicts of war, poisoned past relationships, and uncertain futures, all while serving their countries.
Alec is a Clark Gable lookalike who looks death in the face whenever he flies. He is counting down his required missions, hoping to complete them and return home to his mother and sister before his luck runs out. Mostly, he keeps his relationships with women on the lighter side since he’s not ready to commit.
Maggie’s hard work and responsibilities in the RAAF are a far cry from her beginnings as a vicar’s daughter from a sleepy village. As for relationships? Maggie had opened her heart to a man who used it horribly and convinced her never to trust another pilot with her affections. Now, she’s focused on her fellow WAAFS and her work as a radio operator. Romance can wait.
Heart in the Clouds is a phenomenal start to what promises to be a brilliant series.
What Grace Washed Up by Catherine Brusk
Contemporary Christian Fiction
As much as I enjoyed What Grace Washed Up the first time I read the novel, it was even better the second time around. Catherine Brusk creates multidimensional characters who grow and evolve while dealing with feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and loneliness. Ben is a widower with a young son who has taken a pastorate in a new town. He attempts to move on–even though he doesn’t want to. Bri is the director of the church’s daycare. She keeps others at a distance to protect her heart. She gave it away once, only to be rejected. She won’t let that happen again. It is a beautifully written dynamic story that focuses on the grace God so generously grants us–and the grace we often forget to give ourselves.
Message in the Bones by Dawn Merriman
Christian paranormal fiction
Gabby has a gift that she doesn’t want. She can see things that others might want to keep hidden–especially when those things include murder. This first novel of what promises to be an incredible series starts strong and gets stronger with each page. I’ll definitely be reading more Dawn Merriman books in the future.
The Reckoning Trees by Alicia Gilliam
Contemporary Christian Fiction
The Reckoning Trees is a remarkable debut novel by Alicia Gilliam. Set in a small town and its sparsely populated surroundings, the main character, Seth Browne, is a year into investigating the mysterious murder of his wife–and it appears that he’s the ONLY one still anxious to solve the case. Haunted by prophetic dreams and a handful of clues, he spends most of his time alone in the home that was once filled with love. When a desperate young woman shows up at his isolated home, he finally begins to realize that the picturesque town isn’t nearly as wholesome as he’d assumed.
The Reckoning Trees is beautifully written and promises great things to come from the main character, the series, and the author.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Classic suspense/horror
This is a book I read every other year with my 11-12th grade British Literature class, and it never fails to chill, entertain, and provoke thought. Students love it as much as I do.
Dorian seems faultless. After all, no one as handsome as he could be anything but picture-perfect. Whether as an artist’s muse or an amoral lord’s eager disciple, the only possible letdown in Dorian’s life is knowing that his youth must someday end.
When a simple wish brings permanent youth, Dorian’s real personality emerges.
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller
Contemporary Christian Fiction
There was no way Holly Travers could have predicted that spending a year as an exchange student with the Karlsson family would have a massive impact on her life. But here she is, a decade later, returning to act as maid of honor for her best friend, Bree, and dodging her determination to set Holly up with Bree’s twin brother, Brent. Yes, he’s a good-looking, professional hockey player, but his reputation as a lady’s man precedes him. Holly has bigger goals than having a boyfriend, like finally making it to the Olympic Games.
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller is a fast-moving contemporary Christian novel whose characters explore what success and love mean as they discover that they are so much more than the sports they play.
The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer
Sci-fi (strong language throughout)
What starts off as a space exploration novel quickly morphs into one that dives deep into the human mind and psyche. The Downloaded, by Robert J. Sawyer, is written in a mix of a series of personal observations and interviews; the story stretches thousands of years into the future when highly trained astronauts and ex-convicts meet face-to-face and discover that the futures they THOUGHT they had agreed to were never actually on the table.
A brilliant modern sci-fi novel.
TW: frequent coarse language
Untwisting Scriptures: Wolves, Hypocrisy, Sin Leveling, and Righteousness by Rebecca Davis
Christian Non-Fiction
Book four of the Untwisting Scriptures series by Rebecca Davis, this volume on Wolves, Hypocrisy, Sin Leveling, and Righteousness is eye-opening. It dives into how spiritual wolves pull Scripture out of context or misinterpret them in order to excuse the gross sin of their brethren. At the same time, those who have been victimized are accused of being unforgiving and failing to move on.
Ladelle and Jubulent by Cathy McIlvoy
Christian Historical Fiction
LaDelle & Jubilant by Cathy McIlvoy is a Christian historical novel that follows the lives of an aunt and her nephew as they are thrown together after a family emergency.
LaDelle’s whole life is one of maintaining her sense of control. A confident and self-assured career woman and proud homeowner, Ladelle is also the head librarian at Tuskegee University. One of the big motivations for her move to Alabama after the tragic death of her husband was her admiration for George W. Carver.
Jubilant is the preteen son of a reverend. After losing his mother, Jubilant and his dad only have each other, but where the pastor is beloved by his congregation, the son is labeled a lazy, incompetent disappointment. When the reverend has a heart attack, the women of the congregation convince him his recovery will go faster if he doesn’t have to worry about his son. Arrangements are made for Jubilant to spend the summer with his Aunt LaDelle–and with Mr. Carver himself.
A sweet and homey novel that explores the pain of family expectations, loss, and growth. I came to love LaDelle and Jubilant as I joined them on their spiritual journeys.
The Shadow Girls by Dawn Merriman
Christian paranormal (some language and alcohol use)
The second book in the Rylan Flynn series, The Shadow Girls by Dawn Merriman, continues the cases of the Ghost Girls. Rylan and her partner, Mickey, have a popular show on YouTube featuring spirits of the dead who couldn’t cross over. In many cases, those who remain behind are victims of violent crimes who find themselves in limbo, not aware that they’re dead and frustrated at their inability to engage with the world around them. Fortunately, Ryland is there to help–both the dead and the police who need to solve the cases and bring justice to the families of the victims.
Like all of Dawn Merriman’s books, The Rylan Flynn novels are suspenseful, creepy, and beautifully written.
I Am In Here by Creston Mapes
Contemporary Christian Fiction
Creston Mapes set himself a nearly impossible task: write a suspense novel where the main character cannot move or communicate in any way. Hale Frodele is assumed brain-dead after an accident, but his mind, ears, and eyes work just fine. He is conscious of his surroundings and terrified of what is coming.
I Am In Here is a remarkable novel that will keep you engaged and silently pulling for the Frodele family as the money they’ve borrowed for Hale’s care comes due, and the sharks are circling.
What Love Washed Up by Catherine Brusk
Contemporary Christian Fiction
I first read What Love Washed Up in 2021. Since then, it has been my go-to recommendation for strong, gritty, contemporary Christian fiction. After two years, I decided it was time to read it again. It’s just as amazing as I remember. Kip was a golden child, raised by a Christian family in a biblically sound church, but he decided the standards and rules laid down by his parents just weren’t for him. Kip’s rebellion took its form in excess and nearly ruined his reputation. Jessi, on the other hand, suffered through her parent’s divorce, being torn away from her dad, and discovering in the worst way possible that her stepfather was evil. For five years, Jessi was a victim of human trafficking, and while she attempts to carry on living as normal a life as possible, the memories never leave her and make it impossible for her to trust anyone.
An absolutely brilliant debut novel by the talented Catherine Brusk.
The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham
Historical Christian Fiction/Mystery
A historical fiction rom-com mystery, The Juliet Code by Pepper Basham, has a little bit of everything for its readers. The newly-wed couple consisting of a landed gentry husband from England and his adventurous (and detective story-reading) American wife are the main focus. They’re cloying banter is balanced by their love for adventure. Their closest friend just happens to be a world-famous detective whose past is marred by betrayal. In the third installment of the Freddie and Grace Mystery Books, the couple and their detective friend work together to locate the stolen art of a modern master. The added twist? It seems that the series of scenes–all based on Romeo and Juliet–is cursed since the owners of the various paintings end up dead and their collections plundered. Hired by a man who has recently purchased one of the canvases, the three sleuths work together in an attempt to solve the mystery before the curse can strike again.
Hope for Christmas by Malissa Chapin
Contemporary Christian Fiction
The first book I read by Malissa Chapin, Hope for Christmas, was a wonderful introduction to her work. More than a Hallmark-type romance, this novella digs a little deeper into the emotions and motivations of Merry Noel, a hardened businesswoman who has come to hate Christmas–and isn’t too fond of people either. It isn’t until she loses her job and must return home that she starts to acknowledge that while she might not need anyone, others just might need her.
A well-written and engaging story.
Marbeth Skwarczynski, Author 