Reading Lists - Twelve Days of Christmas - Christian Fiction 2

The Modern Magi by Carol Lynn Pearson

In a fable about the true meaning of gift giving and sacrifice, waitress Annabelle Perkins dreams of traveling to Bethlehem and bringing a gift to the birthplace of Jesus.

Naomi’s Christmas by Marta Perry

In the weeks before Christmas, Naomi Esch's father announces that he is remarrying and needs the house to himself. In this Amish story, Naomi is left with an uncertain future, but one that holds a surprising miracle.

Once upon a Christmas by Lauraine Snelling and Lenora Worth

Two heartwarming Christian romances appear together in this volume. In Snelling’s "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," a walk in the park leads to romance for a single father. In Worth’s "'Twas the Week Before Christmas," a beautiful socialite is hired by her grandmother to perform a task involving a handsome man.

One Shenandoah Winter by T. Davis Bunn

Connie Wilkes, the assistant mayor of a small rural town in the Shenandoah Valley, is forced to cope with matters beyond her control when the town's new doctor shows little interest in staying and her beloved uncle, who insists on living in an isolated mountain cabin, becomes desperately ill. Though it doesn’t take place in the Shenandoah Valley, you will also like Bunn’s Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston

Anna Mae was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community to marry a non-Amish man in Baltimore. She arrives back in Lancaster County for Christmas. Is it too late for a miracle? She's determined to follow God's will regardless of the outcome.

Sarah’s Song by Karen Kingsbury

Having learned tough lessons from a lifetime of wrong choices, Sarah attempts to intervene when a troubled young woman compromises herself during the Christmas season. For another holiday tale by bestselling Kingsbury, also try Gideon’s Gift.

Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon

Having pursued intellectual matters all of his life, Father Tim discovers the joys of working with his hands when he discovers a worn-out nativity scene and begins to restore it. For further Christmases in Mitford, try Esther’s Gift and The Mitford Snowmen.

Tidings of Peace by Tracie Peterson

Bestselling Peterson presents four Christmas love stories from World War II. Moving from the home front to the front line, each story features brave men and women trying to find meaning—and love—during the uncertainties of war. The unique Christmas settings will put you in the spirit of the season, showing the miracles and mercy so often found during this time of celebrating Jesus' birth.

Unwrapping Christmas by Lori Copeland

With only the best of intentions, Rose masterminds a spectacular Christmas for her family, crowding out their true enjoyment of the holy season. When she's forced to slow down—-in a most unexpected way—-God provides her with the opportunity to discover the real meaning of giving

White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter

In this bittersweet holiday romance set in Amish country, Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, meets Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers as they both become involved with a desperate father searching for his son.

Zanna’s Gift by Scott Richards

When the Pullman family lost their eldest son to an unexpected illness just before Christmas, it was devastating to all of them, but especially to four-year-old Suzanna. Her brother never saw the Christmas drawing Zanna had made for him that year. This is the story of that gift, and how it inspired the Pullman family to keep alive the spirit of  love, imagination, and hope for generations to come.

Reading Lists - Twelve Days of Christmas - Christian Fiction

A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher

During the holiday season, when anything can happen, Carol Burke must choose between her lifelong dream of becoming a singer and repairing her broken marriage--a decision that unexpectedly reveals the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas at Harrington’s by Melody Carlson

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless and nearly hopeless until a secondhand red coat lands her a job as Mrs. Claus at a department store. This is a tender story about fresh starts.

Christmas Cake by Lynne Hinton

Despite their excitement over a cake cookbook idea, Louise Fisher, Beatrice Newgarden and Jessie Jenkins hope to give Margaret Steele, whose cancer has returned, her Christmas wish by taking her to see Charlotte Stewart, the former Hope Spring pastor, in Texas. This book has the added bonus of a cake recipe in each chapter!

The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

When an angel visits the home of candle maker Edward Haddington and touches one of his candles on Christmas, it bestows a miracle on every person who receives it, and Edward hopes that the angel will visit since it has been 24 years since the last one.

Christmas in Harmony by Philip Gulley

Quaker minister Sam Gardner copes with the eccentrics of his congregation while attempting to counter church elder Dale Hinshaw's plans for a "progressive" nativity scene on Christmas Eve. Follow further Christmas developments in Harmony in The Christmas Scrapbook.

The Christmas Visitor by Linda Byler (new!)

Amish widow Ruth, alone with her six children, does not know how she will be able to make ends meet. As Christmas approaches, generous gifts begin anonymously arriving at her doorstep, leaving Ruth to wonder if they come from a new admirer.

Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray

In the fourth Sisters of the Heart novel, it’s Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holidays. But when two unexpected and secretive visitors appear seeking shelter, the family’s commitment to hospitality is tested. As the two strangers settle in, the Brennemans try to make the best of an uncomfortable situation.

The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren

Marianne Wallace is focused on two things this Christmas: planning the greatest holiday ever and her youngest son's football game. But when she's asked to sub for the school mascot in a fish costume, organize the annual church tea, and cope with children who can't come home, it might take a miracle to restore her cheer.

Home for Christmas by Andrew M. Greeley

A war hero on his third deployment in Iraq, Peter is injured and finds himself both alive and dead on a wondrous spiritual journey where he is given a second chance at life from God Himself. With Christmas approaching, time is running out for Peter to complete the most important mission of his life: convincing himself that he and Mariana, the woman he left behind in Chicago, were meant to share a special message of love with the world. Also try Greeley’s A Christmas Wedding.

A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fischer

Mattie and Sol Riehl, members of the Old Order Amish community, have long yearned for a baby of their own. Jaime and C.J. Fitzpatrick, who are as secular as you can get, are on the verge of divorce. When a storm forces the Fitzpatricks to seek shelter in the Riehl home, both couples discover the true meaning of Christmas.

The Memory Quilt by T.D. Jakes

Life doesn't always unfold in a perfect way, even for God-loving, churchgoing people like Lela. It is the cold season in Chicago, and as the days of the season progress, Lela participates in a Bible study group that focuses on the Virgin Mary. Can Lela heed Mary’s guidance?

More Christian Christmas stories coming December 21!

Reading Lists - Christian Fiction for Men

We’ve previously written about Christian fiction for women—see our “Bonnet Fiction” reading list—but what about Christian fiction for men?  This list contains Christian novels in a variety of manly genres, from westerns and legal thrillers to paranormal suspense and adventure fantasy.    
 
Nothing to Hide 
by J. Mark Bertrand 
When a decapitated body turns up in a local park, Detective Roland March finds himself embroiled in a complicated mystery involving Mexican drug cartels and the FBI.  Bertrand mixes thrilling suspense with complex issues of faith and morality in this excellent mystery novel. 

Sun Dance
by Sigmund Brouwer 
Because of his excellent scouting skills and good standing with Chief Red Cloud, Marshal Samuel Keaton is asked by Lieutenant Grimshaw of the U.S. Calvary to guide a detachment of officers through hostile Sioux territory.  When the expedition goes horribly awry, Keaton sees the error of his arrogance and realizes he must place his trust in God if he wants to find redemption. 

Lion of Babylon 
by T. Davis Bunn 
The Middle East is the setting for this tense thriller by prolific Christian author T. Davis Bunn.  Featuring an ex-Intelligence Officer who returns to the field when a friend/former colleague disappears in  Baghdad, the action packed Lion of Babylon is filled with vivid descriptions, humane characterizations, and thoughtful insights into an often misunderstood area of the world.    

River Rising
by Athol Dickson 
Winner of a Christy Award for Best Suspense novel, River Rising mixes mystery and miraculous events when an unknown preacher wanders into rural Pilotsville, Louisiana right before the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.  Dickson skillfully handles what could have been an overly sentimental novel by realistically portraying the physical hardships and spiritual struggles of his characters. 

Soon 
by Jerry B. Jenkins
Jenkins, co-author of the popular Left Behind series, ventures out on his own in this electrifying apocalyptic novel.  36 years after World War III left the earth devastated, the nations of the world have outlawed all religions in an effort for peace, though the Christian underground movement continues to grow in the wake of miraculous signs and wonders. 

The Dead Don’t Dance 
by Charles Martin 
Men who enjoy literary fiction and aren’t scared off by a little emotion will enjoy The Dead Don’t Dance,  a poignant character-driven novel of a man faced with many trials and tribulations.  Protagonist Dylan Styles lives a comfortable life until his pregnant wife goes into a coma.  Alone and full of despair, Dylan seeks to understand God’s plan for his life.       

Eli
by Bill Myers 
The thought-provoking Eli by Bill Myers imagines a parallel universe where the Son of God arrives in our own contemporary age rather than 2,000 years ago.  Eli, the Christ figure in the story, is born in a laundromat and grows up to expose the hypocrisies of modern religious attitudes, mirroring Jesus’s own experiences with the Pharisees in the synagogues.      

The Visitation 
by Frank Peretti 
Frank Peretti gained renown as one of the best selling and most celebrated Christian fiction authors for his paranormal thrillers about spiritual warfare.  The Visitation, like his classic This Present Darkness, contains many supernatural elements.  Jaded minister Travis Jordan tries to uncover the truth about a miracle performing visitor who has amassed a large following in his town. 

The Legend of the Firefish 
by Bryan Polivka 
If you like adventures on the high seas and fantasy stories involving mythical beasts, then you’ll love this book.  Failed seminary student turned skilled swordsman Packer Throme seeks to catch the legendary Firefish, and his hunt has him crossing paths with a band of murderous pirates.  An inspiring tale of faith, The Legend of the Firefish is the story of one man’s quest for purpose in life. 

The Twelfth Imam 
by Joel C. Rosenberg 
The Twelfth Imam is the first book in an exciting suspense series from Joel C. Rosenberg, a WORLD Magazine contributor and author of the best-selling The Last Jihad.  David Shirazi, an undercover CIA operative who has infiltrated the Iranian government, must find the location of two missing nuclear warheads before an attack is launched on Israel.  

Dying Declaration 
by Randy Singer 
Dying Declaration, an arresting legal thriller from Randy Singer, does not shy away from difficult moral and theological issues.  The plot concerns a couple whose son dies when they believe his ailments do not need medical attention and can be cured solely through prayer.  To their defense comes Charles Arnold, a lawyer and street preacher who is persuaded to take the case. 

Paul: A Novel            
by Walter Wangerin 
Follow the dramatic transformation of Saul of Tarsus from self-righteous Pharisee to impassioned missionary in this fascinating fictionalization of the life of the Apostle Paul.  Steeped in historical and biblical research, Paul: A Novel will give you a new take on one of the most important figures of the early church.    

The Sacrifice
by Robert Whitlow 
Christy Award-winning author Robert Whitlow draws upon his  experience as a private  attorney in writing his fine legal thrillers. His stunning The Sacrifice, a story about a lawyer who agrees to represent a young man accused of a horrific church shooting, will have you on the edge of your seat. 

Reading Lists - Bonnet Fiction

“Bonnet fiction” is a term for Christian fiction that usually focuses on Amish or Mennonite communities. The plots often involve events that cause characters to reexamine their commitment to their faith, ultimately reaffirming their choices. Beverly Lewis is a popular author in this genre.

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Choosing to forsake her feelings for an outsider and enter into a marriage of convenience, Amish Carrie faces huge consequences, as both she and her husband, Daniel, bring broken hearts and buried secrets into their relationship. This first novel is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
Nomi longs to escape the confines of her strict religious life just like her mom and older sister have. She's stuck in a backward Mennonite town ruled by an over- zealous pastor, and rebelling seems to be her only option. This episodic, introspective first novel is bold, tender, funny and intelligent, In a twist on the genre, Toews explores belief and belonging in a coming-of-age story.

Eyes at the Window by Evie Miller Yoder
Miller's moving debut relates the saga of Amish settlers in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the 19th century, when simple survival is a triumph. Seen through the eyes of eight characters who alternate chapters, the story centers on how the mysterious death of an infant in 1810 reverberates for the next 50 years. This is highly readable and anachronism-free historical Christian fiction.

A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston
In the first of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, Rebecca Kauffman's sister Grace, who left the Amish behind years earlier, is killed in an accident. Rebecca and her husband must raise Grace's two teenage English daughters in their Old Order Amish community. Complex relationships and cultural tension make A Gift of Grace a compelling read. The included recipes are an added bonus!

Leah’s Choice by Marta Perry
An Amish woman relies on her faith as she is courted by both Daniel Glick, widower and newcomer to Pleasant Valley, and Johnny Kile, her former fiancé, who seeks reconciliation after choosing to leave the community. Perry’s richly detailed, character-driven, heartwarming novel, the first in the Pleasant Valley series, is sure to become a reader favorite.

Levi’s Will by W. Dale Cramer
Running away in the middle of the night, 19-year-old William Mullet flees a dogmatic father, a pregnant girlfriend, and his Old Order Amish community in Ohio. It's 1943, and William enters an unfamiliar world, enlisting in the military, and begins living a lie that becomes more complicated with each turn. Will is a complex hero with complicated relationships, and his story is an original one.

A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller
When Amish wife Moriah Byler is abandoned by her husband, she fears that she'll never find a man of his word. What Moriah doesn't know is that Levi's twin, Gabriel, has loved her for years. The characters are well drawn and the plot involves a sweet but winning romance in the first Hearts of Middlefield novel.

The Outsider by Ann Gabhart
When one of Gabrielle's visions comes to pass and a doctor is brought in to save the life of a young man, a chain of events that challenge Gabrielle's loyalty to the Shakers is set into motion. The War of 1812 setting, two points of view, detailed descriptions of the Shakers and their stringent religious beliefs, and light touch of romance make a fascinating addition to the genre.

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman
When Linda discovers that she was adopted and that her mother, an "Englisher," wants to become a part of her life, her world is turned upside down and she begins to question God's plan for her. Wiseman’s vivid, lifelike characters populate entertaining, engaging, believable stories. Like the rest of the Daughters of Promise series, Plain Paradise is a real page-turner.

The Sommerfield Trilogy by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Twenty-three years ago, Marie left her Old Order Mennonite family and faith to begin a new life with Jep Quinn. But her husband's early death cut her dreams short. When her aunt leaves Marie a house and small café in Sommerfield, Kansas, she heads back home. Sawyer tells a good story with plenty of emotion and conflict. Her characters leap off the page and touch the reader's heart.

The Storekeeper’s Daughter by Wanda Brunstetter
Naomi helps her widowed father run a store, manage a household, and raise seven children. There is no time to think about courtship or having her own family, though her heart yearns for Caleb Hoffmeir. Naomi’s days continue unchanged—until the day her baby brother disappears from the yard. The first of Brunstetters’ Daughters of Lancaster County series is bittersweet but heartwarming.

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall
In the first Sisters of the Quilt novel, Hannah Lapp wants to marry outside her Old Order Amish community. Before Hannah and Mennonite Paul Waddell can marry, tragedy strikes and Hannah faces losing her place in the community forever. A powerful, emotional writing style, subtle subplot, and shocking conclusion make this a great read.

A Widow’s Hope by Mary Ellis
Hannah Brown, childless and widowed after six years of marriage, needs a change. She sells her farm, puts her sheep on a truck, and heads to Ohio to live with her sister. The first in the Miller Family series is a gentle tale of renewed hope that puts readers in the middle of Amish life. Hannah’s flock of sheep adds a unique twist!

Reading Lists - Gentle Fiction

Whether or not they are written for the Christian audience, Gentle Reads have an old-fashioned, unhurried feel to them. Frequently humorous and filled with colorful characters, these tales are quite charming and leave the reader with positive feelings. They generally contain no graphic material.

Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler
Rebecca is a fifty-three-year-old grandmother who discovers that she has turned into the wrong person, and she begins an exploration to find out who she really is. Elements common to Tyler's work are present here: a Baltimore setting, eccentric characters, and thoughtful themes related to marriage, aging, and making difficult choices.

Blessings by Anna Quindlen
When a baby is left on their doorstep, the lives of Lydia , the elderly town matriarch, and Skip, her down-and-out caretaker, are transformed. Skip wants to keep the baby and raise it himself. To his surprise, Lydia wants to help. Quindlen's realistic dialogue complements the narrative, which is old-fashioned in a positive way. This is a dramatic story told through changing, developing characters.

By the Lake by John McGahern
A year in the lives of the unforgettable inhabitants of a modern-day Irish village--the Ruttledges, Londoners seeking a new way of life; the womanizing John Quinn; Jimmy Joe McKiernan, local head of the IRA; locals Jamesie and his wife Mary; and "the Shah," the wealthiest man in town--unfolds through a cylce of work, play, religious festivals, and the changing seasons.

Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Strange things begin to happen when Mrs. Shimfissle, an eighty-year-old woman, falls out of a fig tree in her own front yard, in a tale of one woman's offbeat experiences in the hereafter. Combining southern warmth with unabashed emotion and side-splitting hilarity, Flagg takes readers back to Elmwood Springs, Missouri and asks, “Why are we here?”

Civil and Strange by Cláir Ní Aonghusa
Three very different people are confronting a crossroad in life--Ellen, escaping a failed marriage and Dublin to recapture her magical youth in Ballindoon; her uncle Matt, a local farmer; and Beatrice, a widow recovering from the suicide of her son. This is a nice portrait of small-town Irish life studded with characters worth caring about.

A Country Affair by Rebecca Shaw
The first in a series of enchanting novels set in a veterinary practice on the outskirts of a Yorkshire town introduces Kate, the receptionist in a busy veterinary practice; Scott, the flirty Australian vet; her faithful boyfriend, Adam; and the entertaining animal patients. Shaw’s humorous novel is populated with fun, eccentric characters.

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
Berry’s celebration of life in a Kentucky town continues with the stories of Port William matriarch Hannah Coulter, an 80-year-old woman who has been widowed twice and has watched the town's sense of community deteriorate. Berry writes an impassioned, literary vision of American rural life and values.

Hens Dancing by Raffaella Barker
Abandoned by her husband, former urbanite Venetia Summers finds herself marooned in the country, surrounded by her three children, a dilapidated house and garden, a houseful of animals, and an abiding family love. This amusing novel is perfect for grownups who like their women quick-witted and their fairy tales fractured.

Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley
The new pastor in a small Indiana town experiences one hilarious adventure after another as he acclimates to his new congregation and lifestyle. Gulley blends humor with nostalgia effortlessly in the anecdotal sermons of his alter ego, Quaker minister Sam Gardner. Quakers, non-Quakers, and even non-religious readers will love the characters of this simple, heart-warming book.

Miss Julia Paints the Town by Ann B. Ross
When developers threaten to bulldoze the old courthouse to make way for condominiums, Miss Julia hatches a plot to scare off the money by exposing the town's many eccentric characters. The memorably droll Ross elevates such everyday matters as marital strife and the hazards of middle age to high comedy, while painting her beautifully drawn characters with wit and sympathy.

Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Thirty-eight-year-old widow Anne Marie Roche, the owner of a Seattle bookstore, creates a list of twenty wishes. While acting upon her wishes, she encounters an 8-year-old named Ellen who helps her complete her list--with unexpected results. Readers will find themselves rooting for the women in this hopeful story while surreptitiously wiping away tears and making their own lists of wishes.

Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly by Rob Dalby
With her favorite market, the Piggly Wiggly, on the verge of closing, Laurie Lepanto launches a campaign to save the store, enlisting the town's influential widows to help. The Nitwitts of Second Creek, Mississippi are feisty and opinionated widows, with all the eccentricities that come with age and life in a quirky Southern town.

The Winding Ways Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
Change is afoot for the quilting circle of Elm Creek, PA. The arrival of newcomers into the circle of quilters heralds unexpected journeys in this often powerful and poignant novel. Pieced together more like a quilt than a driving narrative, this installment is an easy starting place for readers new to the series who aren’t starting with the first book.