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Christian Fiction January 2020 "That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:15
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| Smoke Screen by Terri BlackstockStarring: recently divorced Brenna, who's in an ugly custody battle with her wealthy ex and has turned to alcohol to cope; her high school sweetheart, injured fire jumper Nate, who's come home to recover.
What it's about: Nate's dad went to prison for murdering Brenna's pastor father 14 years ago. Now, Nate's dad has been pardoned, shocking Brenna's family. As Nate tries to help Brenna keep her kids, he also reluctantly works with his dad, who wants to prove he's innocent.
For fans of: twisty romantic suspense stories, realistically flawed characters, and novels with themes of grace and redemption. |
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The Bridge to Belle Island
by Julie Klassen
What it is: a gratifying romance set in 19th-century London.
What it's about: Investigating a mysterious death on a remote island on the Thames, a disgraced lawyer is unexpectedly drawn to the case’s chief suspect, an enigmatic woman who has been having recurring nightmares about the victim.
What the critics are saying: "With its subtle faith elements, Klassen's evocative romance will appeal to fans of Jody Hedlund." (Publishers Weekly)
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Protecting Tanner Hollow: Four Romantic Suspense Novellas
by Lynette Eason
The setting: The town of Tanner Hollow, North Carolina, where suspenseful events can stir up old feelings and create new relationships. But sometimes secrets get in the way...
What it is: Four nail-biting novellas about women in danger and the men who are determined to keep them alive. Includes Lethal Homecoming, Lethal Conspiracy, Lethal Secrets, and Lethal Agenda.
Series alert: Fans of the St. John family from Eason's Blue Justice series will especially enjoy Lethal Agenda, the highly anticipated story of Derek St. John.
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| A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott1871 Arizona Territory: After her photographer father's death, strong-willed Meg Pero escapes her staid aunt's home in the east to take his place as part of a U.S. Army survey of the Grand Canyon.
What happens: Meg finds the crew is led by the man she once loved, Captain Ben Coleridge, and that he has a secondary motive for the journey -- locating his own father, who went missing months ago.
Why you might like it: This evocative 1st entry in the American Wonders Collection has a charming second-chance romance, a bit of suspense, and offers a glimpse at photographic technology of the time. |
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Books You May Have Missed
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| Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti CallahanWhat happens: Joy Davidman, an atheist, writer, and housewife with two small children and an unfaithful alcoholic husband in 1940s New York, reaches rock bottom and prays. Wanting to know more about God, she writes to Christian apologist C.S. Lewis, beginning years of correspondence that eventually leads to love and marriage.
For fans of: C.S. Lewis; touching, thoughtful historical fiction.
Awards buzz: Written from Joy's point of view, this lyrical novel won two 2019 Christy Awards, for Historical Romance and Book of the Year. |
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What it's about: Robin Windsor has spent much of her life under an assumed name to avoid association with her infamous parents. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary running her used bookstore in quiet River City, Michigan. But when she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. Why would Peter be making contact now? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again? Why you might like it: With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Bartels pens a story that shows that words--the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write--have more power than we imagine.
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| The Persian Gamble by Joel C. RosenbergWhat it's about: Former U.S. Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker forms a precarious alliance with a Russian double agent -- who happens to be the son-in-law of Russia's president -- to halt a world-threatening nuclear war involving enemy nations Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
Series alert: This 2nd in the Marcus Ryker trilogy after The Kremlin Conspiracy will be followed by The Jerusalem Assassin in March.
Who it's for: those who enjoy fast-paced political thrillers with an evangelical Christian worldview. |
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| A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel SawyerFeaturing: Laurel, a naive 18-year-old who longs for her own family but is committed to helping her aging mother; Langdon, a spoiled playboy; Willie, a night watchman with an ill father, who falls for Laurel; Quincy, a groundskeeper, the son of a former slave, and Willie's friend.
What happens: Laurel works at a silk loom at the 1895 Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition where she meets the others and is courted by Langdon, who's using her to secure his inheritance.
Why you might like it: This moving novel thoughtfully addresses racism and social class disparities. |
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| A Reluctant Belle by Beth White1870 Mississippi: Five years after the Civil War, strong-willed Joelle Daughtry manages her family's plantation-turned-hotel and runs a school for the children of freed slaves. But with the KKK becoming more active, prejudice and danger abound. When a progressive political candidate is murdered, Joelle helps his son, who's her childhood friend, look for answers, and finds herself in the middle of a love triangle.
Series alert: This thought-provoking, richly detailed 2nd in the Daughtry House series features complex topics and characters and touches of humor. Newcomers can start here or pick up the 1st book, A Rebel Heart; the 3rd entry, A Reckless Love, comes out in June. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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