• Best Christian Romance Books

    For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

    Is he married or isn’t he?

    Years ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down. 

    Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret. When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her. 

    What the author has learned through writing this novel:

    “My heroine Joy has a lot of mommy-guilt, the feeling where you feel you’re trying so hard to be a good mom, but are still failing your child. I realized I’ve had and still have a lot of that guilt even though my kids are in their mid-twenties. I know I could have done better at some things, but through writing this novel, I learned (am learning) that I have to give that to God, forgive myself, and just try to do the best I can with the days I’m given now.”

    Janet W. Ferguson

  • Best Clean and Wholesome Romance,  Fantasy Romance

    Pathways by Camille Peters

    Eileen has never been interested in love. But the enchanted forest has different ideas… 

    Ever since her father’s abandonment, she’s vowed to never experience such pain again. When the continuously shifting pathways on the enchanted forest lead her to a mysterious stranger, Eileen finds her promise to fiercely guard her heart increasingly difficult to keep.

    One night when she becomes lost in a storm, the enchanted forest’s pathways lead her to the castle, home to the kingdom’s Dark Prince, where Eileen finds herself entangled in what many consider an opportunity but which Eileen believes to be a curse: competing for the Dark Prince’s hand through a series of tests that judge one’s royal worth. Eileen is neither royal nor interested in becoming a princess. But the mysterious stranger she met in the woods has his own reasons for helping her succeed, although the cost of his assistance may be too high: that of Eileen’s heart, the one thing she’s vowed never to give.

    The author on creating a fairy tale fantasy world in her novel:

    “I also wanted to give the setting a medieval, fairy tale feel while weaving elements of magic and fantasy throughout the setting. So far my favorite is both the magical moving Forest that plays a prominent role in my first novel, Pathways, and the enchanted gardens in my upcoming novel. Nature is very dear to my heart, so I wanted to make something that already feels magical to me become enchanted in some way. I love creating settings with a light element of magic so that they feel more real, like something we can discover and explore in real life rather than just through the pages of my books.”

    Camille Peters

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Night Fall by Susan Sleeman

    She faces dangerous situations all the time, but she has no idea what lurks in the shadows…

    Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

    Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

    The author on writing romantic suspense novels:

    “I write romantic suspense books because I love to read romantic suspense novels. Plots in the books I write usually come from news stories that peak my interest. I start thinking about the stories and ask myself questions until I can come up with an interesting plot filled with twists and turns. This all inspires me to create characters who will be conflicted over the main plot and soon their personalities are formed in my mind.”

    Susan Sleeman

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Twice Shy by Mona Ingram

    He broke her heart all those years ago. Now he’s living at her grandmother’s B&B.

    Rebecca returns to her childhood home after her grandmother dies, only to discover that she might not have known her beloved Gran at all. Arriving at Waterlily Bay Lodge, she’s surprised to discover her childhood sweetheart in residence… the same young man who disappeared on the night of their high school prom. As the truth about Mitch’s disappearance is revealed, can they come to terms about what tore them apart?

    The author on the this “Power of Love” series:

    “These are individual stories featuring the healing power of love when lives are shattered and relationships go wrong. ”

    Mona Ingram

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Duchess of Chocolate by Sydney Jane Baily

    Step into Rare Confectionery on New Bond Street, where three talented sisters create treats as delectable to the tongue as they are appealing to the eye. One taste is all it takes to be captivated…

    The Duke of Pelham desires an original confection to win the Season’s loveliest lady. Naturally, he turns to London’s premiere chocolatier for assistance. Amity has never had a customer quite like the duke. In status, he’s far above ordinary men, yet he is one of the friendliest, funniest, and most engaging males she has ever met.

    As the duke enters the scrumptious world of confectionery, he discovers the chocolate-maker is as delightful—and tempting—as her creations. While Amity designs the perfect proposal chocolate, her heart begins to wish the duke could be her very own mouthwatering reward. Join Amity and her duke on a chocolate-filled romance in the heart of Mayfair, where nobility often acts in a less-than noble fashion. Will the upper-echelon of society sour their happiness and keep them from the sweetest of endings?

    The author on her writing style:

    “I tend to have a slow pace, with in-depth simmering characterizations, which take time to develop, though my heroes and heroines often recognize an attraction almost instantly. So, I am a character-driven writer, rather than thinking of an entire story first.”

    Sydney Jane Baily

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

    As pride, duty and passion clash, will these two stubborn hearts find more than they ever dreamed of?

    Major Calbourne Rutherford returns to England on the trail of an assassin, only to find he’s become Lord Ashendon, with the responsibility for vast estates and dependent relatives. Cal can command the toughest of men, but his wild half-sisters are quite another matter. They might just be his undoing.

    When he discovers that Miss Emmaline Westwood, the girls’ former teacher, guides them with ease, Cal offers her a marriage of convenience. But strong-minded and independent Emm is neither as compliant nor as proper as he expected, and Cal finds himself most inconveniently seduced by his convenient wife. to face with Harmony. Over the next several weeks, the two become unlikely friends as Steve learns to love and trust God, and mutual attraction surprises them both. Emm knows they didn’t marry for love, yet beneath her husband’s austere facade, she catches glimpses of a man who takes her breath away.

    The author on the hero and his relationship with his sisters:

    “Poor Cal — he’s used to getting instant obedience from the soldiers under his command, but in this story he discovers that females, especially female relations, are quite a different matter. And besides, heroes need to learn.”

    Anne Gracie

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Harmony for Steve by Hallee Bridgeman

    Harmony and Steve draw closer and spiritual war wages when heaven meets hell.

    Christian contemporary singing sensation, daughter of Christian radio and media family counselor icons, Harmony Harper, has spent her entire life serving God. From teen sensation to celebrated adult Christian contemporary music artist, she regularly plays sold-out concerts everywhere she goes. Nearing thirty, and nearing burnout, Harmony heads to her mountain cabin hideaway to commune with Christ and compose some new music.

    Hard rocker Steve Slayer faces an ultimatum: keep rocking life the hard way and watch his organs fail due to addictions, or, sober up – for real this time – and live. Hiding out in the mountains of Oregon, he spends weeks detoxing. Finally strong enough to venture into town, he comes face to face with Harmony. Over the next several weeks, the two become unlikely friends as Steve learns to love and trust God, and mutual attraction surprises them both.

    Once news of their budding romance reaches the world, no one is happy. Not her people – not his people. Then letters written in blood start arriving. An attack on a concert threatens more than just their lives. Harmony and Steve realize the threats might just be real. Can Harmony and Steve discover who wants to destroy them, or will the enemy bring their house down in a dissonance that strikes at their very souls?

    The author on her emotions while writing the novel:

    “I was writing A Harmony for Steve, and… the antagonist is actually a satanic cult and so there’s a couple of really dark people in that cult… So, I started writing it and found myself writing darker and darker and darker even though I’m writing this, you know, Christian romantic suspense. But my writing got darker, and my personal countenance got darker, and I had to stop writing it. I put it aside wrote the Virtues and Valor series… then went back to a Harmony for Steve and shored myself up with prayer. Like, I know that this is the book I need to write, I know what has to be in it. I need the shield of these emotions as I’m writing it so that I can not drag myself into the darkness with it, and that worked! I was able to punch out the book and it was a really good book. It’s one of my favorites.”

    Hallee Bridgeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Carol for Kent by Hallee Bridgeman

    A Ruthless Serial Killer Seeks to End a Love Song Eight Years in the Making.

    Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Carol Mabry heads up an investigation into a string of stranglings in Virginia’s capital. The serial killer known as Richmond Red remorselessly snuffs out beautiful young women with violin strings before ritually enshrining their lovely lifeless bodies inside a pentagram of blood red candles. Country music superstar Bobby Kent makes an unscheduled return trip to his Virginia home for the first time in years. To his shock, he discovers that he and Carol have a young daughter, Lisa. His parents have kept Lisa hidden from him her entire life while simultaneously deceiving Carol about Bobby’s interest in fatherhood.

    Angry and hurt over the deception, Carol and Bobby strive to cope with this newly discovered reality. They struggle to overcome harmful secrets and years of lies to decide whether they have a future. Neither of them realize how every waking moment they move closer to the serial killer who harbors an unnatural and deadly obsession. With the beautiful Carol locked in Richmond Red’s sites, the clock is ticking down to her destruction. Will the two find love, or is their sonata striking a dangerous final chord?

    The author on her emotions while writing the novel:

    “I’ve realized as I was writing A Carol for Kent that, whenever I wrote the serial killer scene or wrote in the journal of the serial killer, I was kind of done for the day. I started analyzing that and trying to decide why and I think that the reason is because the the way that I write when I am writing a scene I’m completely immersed in that scene. So it’s like I hear it, I see it, I taste it, I smell it. Where the characters are is where I am also… and so I guess that there’s a part of me that also emotionally dives into the character too, because in A Carol for Kent that serial killer was the darkest character I have ever dug into in the point of view. I’ve had bad guys, but never like a truly evil point of view.”

    Hallee Bridgeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    An Aria for Nick by Hallee Bridgeman

    The Only Man who can Save her Life Has been Dead for a Decade…

    Raised in a loving home, Aria Suarez dreamed of becoming a professional pianist happily married to her high school crush. After the only boy who ever caught her eye dies a hero’s death and her wrist is shattered along with her future plans, she turns her brilliant musical mind to nuclear engineering and solving mysteries of science. Abandoned to an abusive father at five, Nick Williams grew up dreaming of escape; of enlisting in the Army and leaving his wretched life behind; of proving himself worthy of the girl he loves. But the crucible of combat offers only the escape of death.

    A decade later, Aria uncovers a nuclear plot that threatens the heart of our very nation. Sinister forces surround and threaten her when, out of nowhere, the man who reportedly died so many years before returns as if from the grave — intent on protecting her.
    Has God finally joined them together?
    Or is Aria doomed to mourn Nick twice?

    The author on her character Nick Williams:

    “Nick is such a deep character who has suffered so much in life that you just find yourself rooting for Aria and him to be together so that maybe some of his demons will quiet.”

    Hallee Bridgeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Melody for James by Hallee Bridgeman

    Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.

    Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back. Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.

    Sinister forces threaten to destroy their new found happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together. Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.

    The author on her character James Montgomery:

    “The main character in aMelody for James, James Montgomery, is autistic. I never say it in the book, and I’ve had five people call me out on it, but it’s not at all in any way shape or form part of the book other than that’s who he is and his personality. A friend of mine a couple weeks ago was all excited because I had normalized an autistic character without making it be like this thing–this label,this negative space.”

    Hallee Bridgeman