Christian Fiction Book Recommendations for the Book Lover on Your Christmas List...in Book Graphic Form

This is not an extensive list but a few that I thought to share with y'all that I've enjoyed reading, whether this year or in the past. Some  are part of a series so be sure and check them out on your favorite book info site.

I've also read some really fun novella compilations, especially last year's Something Borrowed with authors Teresa Tysinger, Andrea Boyd, Jaycee Weaver, Toni Shiloh and Mikal Dawn. Each of these authors has since released the novellas independently. I think they're all available on Amazon. Here are the graphics I did for those with updated book covers.

Can you recommend any books that you've enjoyed this year to give as gifts?

Leave a comment and let's chat!

Sharing Tea with a Friend

While I didn't share my tea time yesterday on social media, I did share it with my lovely friend, Becky. It was a beautiful morning to sit on the porch and fellowship and catch up on life. The following quote is apropos–

“No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea.” 

– Clemantine Wamariya

Today, however, is solitary tea time and I just had to show y'all the gorgeous tea cup my friend gave me. Well, she gave me two but of course, I'm only using one :-)

"TA Made in Japan" is all it says on the bottom so I have no idea of a pattern but they are hand painted!!! The lusterware finish is spectacular!!! I LOVE them!!!

The I. Godinger teapot is another amazing gift from a friend. And the lusterware creamer belonged to my paternal great Aunt Florence. It was part of a tea set gifted to her as a wedding gift in 1921. 100 years ago!!! That's one of the things I love about most of my tea things; gifts with memories!

Take some time to slow down today and remember those you love and who love you. Say a prayer for them. We all need our names to be lifted up to our perfect Father in Heaven who can bring peace and stability to our lives.  

Early morning quiet time is essential to my day. How about you?

The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (April 21, 2020)

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well? 

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith. 

Purchase:

Christian Book


I'm not affiliated with Christian Book and make no monies if you use the link to purchase a copy. Link provided as a courtesy only.

My Review

5 STARS!!!

"Love was more than regard, more than trust, more than companionship. It was getting everything without reservation, without secrets."

A friend gifted me The Lost Lieutenant because she knows I adore Regency era stories. Well, this one was an incredible tale! I was captivated from beginning to end. My emotions went for a wild carriage ride that came to a spectacular happily ever after ending. I'm looking forward to the next book in this exciting series filled with intrigue and blessings. There's a sneak peek of The Gentleman Spy at the end and oh my....Marcus Haverly is going to be amazing. 

THREE Book Reviews ~ KNOX, TATE, & FORD: The Montana Marshalls by Susan May Warren

KNOX, BOOK #1

Montana rancher Knox Marshall's danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider's Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and...ordinary. He can't help but wonder if his best years are behind him.

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be—vivacious and confident—burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X's next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.

Knox and Kelsey's paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey's crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.

When Kelsey's past threatens Knox's family, he'll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he's always longed to be.

The explosive beginning to the Montana Marshall series. 

My Review

4 STARS!!!

“You’ll never find your path by looking at yourself, Knox.”

Now I know what all the hype was about with this series of books. A friend loaned me Knox and I was hooked from the first page. A master at storytelling, Warren has impeccably set the scene for the Marshall family with plenty of action, drama, emotion, and humor. I was pleasantly surprised by the deep emotional pull one of the characters had on me. I could so clearly relate to the frustration felt when her world was turned upside down. I especially like that the book spends an almost equal amount of time on two siblings and their love interests. Warren gives multiple POVs from the characters and I love it! The second book will pick up where this first one leaves off like a season finale of a TV show. This is a contemporary romantic suspense and showcases the famous chemistry between characters that Warren is so good at writing. 

TATE, BOOK#2

Personal security guard, Tate Marshall, has always been the family troublemaker. Maybe it's his propensity to get entangled in other people's problems. Now, he's in over his head because he's desperately in love with the woman he's tasked to protect, the beautiful Gloria, "Glo" Jackson, daughter of US Senator and presidential hopeful Reba Jackson. A member of the country band, the Yankee Belles, Glo was targeted in a recent terrorist attack designed to deter her mother from running, and Tate will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means letting her go.

Stubborn and brave, Glo isn't about to hide from threats, at least the kind that won't cost her heart. She's already paid a terrible price for the war on terror, and she refuses to fall for a man who might die, especially because of her.

As the presidential campaign heats up and the threats deepen, so does the attraction between Tate and Glo. But what will it cost Tate to keep her alive? And what will Glo do to keep from losing another man she loves?

My Review

4 STARS!!!

It’s hard to believe someone who is a former Army Ranger could doubt his courage and noble deeds but Tate Marshall is such a man. His past haunts him and is tangibly felt within the pages of his story. Gloria Jackson is his perfect counterpart, if only they can figure it all out. Another thrilling ride with the Marshall family, along with more great characters introduced. Warren is one of the best at creating a fascinating and compelling family on paper. You’ll feel like you know them by the time you’re finished and wish you could take a long vacation at their ranch in Montana, a safe place where family is everything. As with the first book, this second offering incorporates another Marshall brother, and long before I was finished with Tate, I was chomping at the bit to read Ford. Thank you, SGS, for loaning me the book! 

FORD, BOOK #3

Family…country…or the woman he loves…

Navy Seal Ford Marshall isn’t the kind to stand by and let a woman get hurt—especially when it involves his twin sister, RJ. So, when she makes the news, accused of sparking an international incident, he doesn’t care what it takes—he’s going to find her and bring her home.

But he might need a little help, so he calls on the woman who has had his back during the last three years—Petty Officer Scarlett Hathaway, former communications expert-turned Rescue Swimmer candidate. She’ll help him get into the country, watch his back, and…well, they might be able to have one last mission together before she leaves for a new life, a life he very much wants to be a part of now that she is off his team. Maybe he can convince her to give them a chance to kindle the spark that’s simmered between them for years.

Scarlett Hathaway isn’t sure what future she wants—not when she suddenly has to care for her little brother. Maybe she should quit the Navy and start a life with the man she can’t seem to get out of her heart. So yes, she’ll help Ford find his sister. And maybe, along the way, figure out if they have a future.

But finding RJ somewhere in the vastness of Russia with the FSB chasing them will push Scarlett beyond even her courage and make her question everything she thought she wanted…including Ford. What will it cost her to love a man who saves the world?

And when Ford is asked to choose between saving his sister, saving the world from a war, and rescuing the woman he loves…can he live with his decision?

My Review

4 STARS!!!

Ford is a fast-paced story with great family dynamics. That's one of my favorite aspects of the Marshall clan. Warren writes family better than any author I'm familiar with. This book was loaned to me by a friend and I'm so glad she got me started on this series!

There's probably a lot more I could have said about FORD but the synopsis does an excellent job. All I needed to add was that I enjoyed the book and how great Warren is at incorporating deep faith themes into her stories. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A dear friend loaned me all three books in September so I would be ready to read WYATT when it comes out this month, TODAY, in fact!!! Little did I know at the time I borrowed these books that I would apply for the upcoming launch team and actually get chosen! I have been a huge fan of Susan May Warren for years! If you enjoy action-packed, fast-paced, faith-filled fiction (both contemporary and historical, because Warren writes them both), then she is an author you need to read. 

Do you have any recommendations for other authors that cross genres and still do an amazing job at creating meaningful stories? I would love to hear from you in the comments! 

Time Flies When You're Having FUN!!!

I'm not sure where September went but it flew by! I can't believe it's October already.

This my dear friend, Tracey and I, at work. Yes. Work!!! 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

This was after a busy non-stop four hours! 

I started a part time job in September as a Keto Baker's Assistant!!! I haven't had a 'real' work-outside-the-home job since...well...ever!!! And by that, I mean a paying one! Not since I graduated high school and before I got married, that is. It's a lot of fun and even though it's not too many hours, I am not used to standing on my feet for several hours at a time. It has shown me how out of shape I really am!!! As if I didn't already know.  :-) 

You can check out some of the sweet treats Pro Baker Tracey Ferguson and I make right here. Tracey is also a certified Essentrics Instructor and Keto Health Coach. 

Read more about Tracey on her website at: Live Sprightly Co, or connect with her on Facebook (Be sure and LIKE her page to receive updates), and Instagram! 

What's everyone up to now that summer is officially over?? 

I still can't believe that! 

A Cuppa Trouble (The CafFUNated Mysteries #2) by Angela Ruth Strong

Kindle Edition, 235 pages

Published July 1st 2019 by Mountain Brook Ink

Can a couple of baristas chase down a car thief without spilling a drop of their favorite drink?

Plans for a Valentine's Day grand opening of a small town coffee shop go awry when the first customer is killed. Evidence points toward the victim being mixed up in a car theft ring, but shop owners Tandy and Marissa have reason to believe he was framed. An assortment of suspects--from a pink-haired heir to Tandy's charming ex--all seem to know a little too much about grand theft auto.

Without approval from either their boyfriends or the gum-chewing FBI agent in charge, the shop owners go on stakeouts, plan stings, and pursue justice in a high-speed car chase. If they don't find the killer soon, it might be more than their love lives in trouble.

Captions by Roderick Field read: 

"Tea is the finest solution to nearly every catastrophe and conundrum that the day may bring." 

"The first coffee of the day is a stalwart companion in the face of an unreasonable world."

My Review

4 STARS!!!

“Choosing to be vulnerable in a relationship was about as scary as being captured by a killer.”

Strong never disappoints me with her stories. Her contemporary novels and novellas always have plenty of charm, wit, mystery, fun and camaraderie between the characters.

A Cuppa Trouble is the second book in Strong's CafFUNated Mysteries and as ridiculous as Marissa is (she is a big-time klutz!), I couldn’t help shaking my head and chuckling at some of the crazy predicaments this girl gets herself into. And Connor, her boyfriend, is a saint. He’s steady (literally for her at times…haha), dependable, not without his tiny flaws but such a great partner for her that I adore him more with each book.

Tandy just gets better and better to me. Her character development is coming along nicely and she’s becoming my favorite. Greg, her new love interest, is rock solid and a nice man. It’s good to read a book where the guy is not some reformed rogue with a horrid past. At least, that’s not what Greg is yet. ;-)

The story, while it is a cozy mystery (it’s good and a bit predictable), is really more about Marissa and Tandy and their relationship. They discover a few things about each other in this book that reveals their inner insecurities and helps deepen their bond of friendship. Overall, I really liked this second offering and look forward to reading the next book.

I received a digital copy from the author. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.

Review ~ Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2) by Jen Turano

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 3rd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

As part of a bargain with her grandmother, Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season. Forced to travel to America to help his cousin find an heiress to wed, bachelor Reginald Blackburn is asked to give Poppy etiquette lessons, and he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

Purchase:

CBD

I am in no way affiliated with any vendors. Links are provided as a courtesy only.

My Review

5 STARS!!!

I absolutely loved this story! The writing is fabulously witty and fast-paced with tangible descriptions of countryside and mannerisms and costume. Poppy Garrison needs to be my best friend because then there would be someone in my life clumsier than I am. Her character is vibrant and fairly leaps off the page with enthusiasm. Reginald Blackburn was a bit uptight in the beginning but I still liked him immediately. He’s British, you know. ;) He has a big heart underneath his ‘stuffy’ exterior and is one of the best characters Turano has written, in my opinion.

Poppy and Reginald hold center stage in this book but there are a couple of other storylines that make it even richer in depth and characterization. 

Diamond in the Rough has a lot of heart amid the humor.

Fans of historical romance will want to grab a copy of this novel. I was provided a review copy from the publisher with no expectation of a review.

Review ~ Friendship Promises from (in)courage

Hardcover, 112 pages

Published February 1st 2019 by B Books

Friendship Promises is a meaningful gift book, for both the giver and the recipient. Sharing these encouraging words will help friends walk confidently toward a sweet, strong relationship grounded in honesty, kindness, and a devotion to God and one another. Featuring reflections about friendship from Never Unfriended by Lisa-Jo Baker, and Craving Connection from the (in)courage community, Friendship Promises combines beautiful graphics with devotional reflections, prayers, Scripture, and journaling prompts. By giving this lovely book, you are sharing your heart to be a friend that is authentic, present, encouraging, and rooted in Christ.

My Review

4 STARS!!!

Friendship Promises is a lovely pinkish colored linen cloth-on-board covered book with gold lettering containing short devotions, inspirational sayings, pretty graphics and images, and space to journal. It's a book best shared with a friend, letting her know her friendship is important and you are beside her for the long haul. It's isn't deep in theology but it is deep in (in)couragement. God wants us to inspire and strengthen our sisters-in Christ and let each other know we are not alone on this life and faith journey. I visited the (in)courage website and this group of women do friendship well!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive review.

Review ~ Cards of Kindness for Courageous Girls: Shareable Devotions and Inspiration, Compiled by Barbour Staff

Paperback, 96 pages

Published May 1st 2019 by Shiloh Kidz

Courageous Girls Are Kind!

Your heart will delight in spreading kindness and inspiration wherever you go with these shareable Cards of Kindness!

Flip each page to discover a positive life message that will both uplift and inspire your heart—and the hearts of other courageous girls just like you. Once you’ve read through the devotion and pondered the message of loving-kindness, tear out the card and pass it on to another girl . . who will then be encouraged to keep the "Courageous Girls Are Kind" movement going. . .by passing the card along to yet another courageous girl!

Each Card of Kindness will spark positive, faith-building discussions with other like-minded girls. You’ll enjoy spreading kindness and God's love, page by delightful page! 

Be blessed, COURAGEOUS GIRL!

My Review

5 STARS!!!

Cards of Kindness is a lovely devotional and sharing book for girls! It’s durable and can be carried in a purse or backpack so it’s always on hand to read encouraging words and share with others. Each perforated card has a short devotional, a Scripture verse, and on the backside whimsical illustrations with positive and uplifting thoughts to be pondered. I highly recommend Cards of Kindness for girls of all ages! :-)

I randomly opened the book and the page headline read When You Need to Forgive. It’s about a friend hurting your feelings and maybe you’re angry or you’re holding on to the hurt. It talks about an opportunity to show Jesus to this friend. I was a little stunned as I recently was pretty upset about something and yes, I was feeling a good deal of anger toward a friend. They didn't know it but I did. I knew it was wrong to feel angry and had already asked the Lord to forgive me but how awesome was it for me to find further encouragement and confirmation in the pages of this sweet little book?!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

COVER REVEAL!!! A Cuppa Trouble by Angela Ruth Strong + Giveaway!!!

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.

From Goodreads: Plans for a Valentine's Day grand opening of a small town coffee shop go awry when the first customer is killed. Evidence points toward the victim being mixed up in a car theft ring, but shop owners Tandy and Marissa have reason to believe he was framed. An assortment of suspects--from a pink-haired heir to Tandy's charming ex--all seem to know a little too much about grand theft auto.

Without approval from either their boyfriends or the gum-chewing FBI agent in charge, the shop owners go on stakeouts, plan stings, and pursue justice in a high-speed car chase. If they don't find the killer soon, it might be more than their love lives in trouble.

Isn't this cover cute???

Have you read any of Angela's books? I've read several and enjoyed them all. 

Her voice is fresh and feisty and fun!

The first book in this series, A Caffeine Conundrum, was a 5 star read for me last year 

and made my Top Ten Reads in 2018!! If you have Kindle Unlimited, it's FREE to read on there and you'll be all ready for Tandy and Marissa's latest adventure in 

A Cuppa Trouble, releasing July 1st!!!. ☺

And guess what today is??

 National Beverage Day!!!

I'm a tea and coffee drinker.  

What about you? Do you prefer tea or coffee? Or maybe you enjoy soda more than hot drinks. 

Let's chat beverages and books in the comments. 

I'm giving away a Kindle copy of A Caffeine Conundrum  (The CafFUNated Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

to get one of my readers started on this series. Be sure and leave your email address in a non-spammy format (jane at doe dot com) and follow the blog thru GFC in the right sidebar. 
Ends May 10th!

Open internationally if you think you can retrieve the book!