• Book cover of Bless Your Heart Rae Sutton
    Best Christian Romance Books

    Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton by Susannah B. Lewis

    Sometimes what your life is missing is an eccentric group of older ladies to take you under their wing…

    When Rae Sutton’s mama passes away and leaves her the house where she grew up, Rae can’t imagine how the little old place might restore her broken life. Mourning the recent loss of her marriage, she takes the house and settles back into her tiny hometown with her fourteen-year-old daughter, Molly Margaret, and their overweight dog.

    There she’s embraced by her mother’s close-knit circle of friends, the Third Thursday ladies. Though almost half their age and far less confident of positive outcomes, Rae joins their ministry-slash-book-club-slash-gossip circle and allows the women to speak wry honesty and witty humor into her tired heart. As a new career and a new romance bring their own complications, Rae relies on the unlikely family she’s found and begins to wonder if her future holds more hope than she ever could have imagined.

    How the author on her inspiration for the novel:

    “Years ago I was invited to a book club hosted by my great aunt to discuss one of my self-published fiction books, Ten Years Taken… While sitting in my aunt’s friend’s home and listening to their rhetoric, their prayer requests, their friendly digs at one another, I told them, ‘This would make a great book. And that’s where Rae Sutton was born… it’s the story of 30-something Rae who is invited to her mother’s friend’s “ministry” held on the third Thursday of each month. She learns so much from those eccentric Southern ladies. They help her mourn losses and find joy. They point her to the Lord.”
    Susannah B. Lewis

     

     

  • Book cover of Faith in the Mountain Valley
    Best Christian Romance Books

    Faith in the Mountain Valley by Misty M. Beller

    This epic journey is the only way to leave her secrets behind.

    After eleven years spent looking for the girl who stole his heart, Jean-Jacques Baptiste—better known as French to his friends—is tempted to give up. Until the day he spotted the flaxen-haired stranger traveling the wooded path with Blackfoot Indians. He never imagined he’d find his childhood friend masquerading as a man in this Rocky Mountain wilderness, hundreds of miles from the Canadian town where he last saw her. No matter her reasons, he can’t let her go this time.

    Colette Mignon’s life has become a cacophony of lies, including the fact that her Blackfoot Indian companions believe she’s a man. She’s willing to live the taxing life of a trapper in these desolate mountains as long as it keeps her secrets hidden. When her childhood friend and first love discovers her, his determination to help might put everything at risk.

    As the worst of her past threatens to catch up with her, the hope for Colette’s new life shatters. But no matter what, she must protect the one good thing that came from all her mistakes. Though French is determined to stay at her side, she can’t let him become entangled in the perilous consequences of her actions. If only it wasn’t so painful to push him away. The danger pressing in may leave her only one choice—leave everything behind…again.

    The author on writing about certain topics, periods, or characters:

    “I don’t generally like to shy away from settings or characters because of the way our culture views them today. I love history and try to stay as true to the setting as I can. I also firmly believe that no group of people should be judged as a whole on their general reputation. People are individuals, and there are good and bad in every race and time period. I work hard to portray that clearly through my characters.”
    Misty M. Beller

     

     

  • Book cover of The Lost Castle
    Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Historical Romance Books

    The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

    The French Revolution, World War II, and present day—three resilient women’s stories are interwoven by an enchanting storybook castle that stands witness to their lives.

    1789: Aveline Saint-Moreau is a wealthy and beautiful young aristocrat preparing for her betrothal to the Duc et Vivay’s heir Philippe, but the French Revolution looms as the Bastille is stormed in Paris. 1944: Viola Hart is a Resistance fighter in France during World War II, desperately trying to root out the evil taking hold in her country as the Nazis occupy France. Present day: Ellie Carver is in a race against time to deliver a decades-overdue message as her grandmother fades into the shadows of Alzheimer’s. Embarking on a journey to France’s Loire Valley, Ellie can only hope to unearth the secrets of the mysterious castle before time silences them forever. As Ellie’s journey unfolds, so too do the journeys of the two other women, each of their stories woven together through their connection with the forgotten French castle—a castle that plays a part in saving each one of them. The author on her favorite part of the writing process:
    “I’m an art and history addict. I love the research part of each writing experience, and falling into the characters’ worlds. Sometimes the experience is so real, it takes me a few days to remember I’m not living in France, 1944… Examining a place in history and then breathing life into it through the characters’ eyes really is an incredible journey that I long to relive with each book.”
    Kristy Cambron
       
  • Book cover of Kari
    Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Historical Romance Books

    Kari by Miriam Minger

    A sweet Western historical romance series that reminds us angels are near and love is where you least expect to find it…

    Still grieving the loss of her mother, Kari Hagen leaves her younger siblings behind and travels to Walker Creek, Texas. She promised to deliver a letter to her mother’s first love, so now she just has to find him. Should she accept an offer of assistance from that tall cowboy who’s as handsome as any man she’s ever seen? The sooner she gives the letter to Mr. Caleb Walker, the sooner Kari can start earning money as a seamstress for train fare back to her family in Minnesota. Seth Davis isn’t expecting any surprises when he meets the train. He plans to pick up his uncle’s new racehorse and head back to Walker Creek Ranch. Yet what about that pretty little miss standing alone on the platform…all honey-gold curls, blue calico, and no taller than his chin? Is she lost? He’s never seen her before, though she looks oddly familiar, something telling Seth that his day just got a whole lot more interesting.

    A 5-star review:

    “Kari really touched my heart. It was about the overcoming of prejudices, forgiveness, acceptance, and pure love that happened. You have to believe in the possibility off angels and just plain Christian romance. Its suspense is great and keeps you on the edge but also with so many other emotional aspects too this book; it’s too much to describe. Reading it will give you a warm homey feeling of love and courage with strength that you never thought possible. I loved it.”
    Shamika L. Bland  – Goodreads

     

     

  • Book cover of Leaving November
    Best Christian Romance Books

    Leaving November by Deborah Raney

    There’s one thing she’s vowed to never abide in a man… could the horrible rumors be true? Is her life repeating itself?

    Eight years ago, Vienne Kenney moved away from Clayburn and all its gossip to pursue a law degree in California. But now she has failed the bar exam again. Is she destined to be stuck forever, a failure—just like her father—in this tiny Kansas town? Nine months ago, Jackson Linder left Clayburn with no explanation to anybody. Now he, too, is back. He isn’t sure he’s ready to face the rumors and well-meaning questions of the town’s busybodies. Yet he’s determined, once more, to make his art gallery a success—despite the secret that haunts him every day… The author’s faith in her writing process:

    “I love that my research is often like a Bible Study, as I try to discover what God’s Word says about the situations my characters find themselves in. In addition, as a writer of Christian novels, I’ve become friends with other Christian writers who enrich my life immensely with their perspective on spiritual matters. Very often, writing feels more like worship than work. And that is a blessing beyond words.”
    Deborah Raney