Last weekend, the ACFW Conference met in St. Louis, MO and announced its 2014 Carol Award winners. And the reason I’m posting is because it’s a list of great books — not all contemporary, I know, but still great…
Contemporary and Debut Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay (HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
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“Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley kept me up until 2:00 a.m.; I simply couldn’t put it down.” —Eloisa James, New York Times best-selling author of Once Upon a Tower
Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others—namely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story—by giving that story to a complete stranger.
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Historical When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell (David C. Cook)
“Julie Cantrell’s When Mountains Move is a classic American novel of risk-taking, struggle, renewal, and redemption. This book took my breath away. If you loved Ms. Cantrell’s debut novel, Into the Free, you will treasure this sequel.”
—Amy Hill Hearth, New York Times best-selling author of Having Our Say and Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women’s Literary Society
Historical Romance A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)
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“Swiftly becoming a well-known contender in the world of Christian historical fiction, Hedlund skillfully taps into her own German heritage to develop this tale of Old World romance and masked identity set against the backdrop of a nineteenth-century German American community.” — Booklist
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Truth Stained Lies by Terri Blackstock (HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
“Crisp prose, an engaging story, and brisk pacing make this thriller another home run for Blackstock (Downfall). Recommend it to readers who enjoy material by Lynette Eason and Erin Healy.” (Library Journal, starred review)
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Novella Love by the Letter by Melissa Jagears (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)
Love by the Letter is a companion Christian romance novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears’s full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.
Romance Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)
“Wade does a wonderful job of creating relatable characters as she explores the forces that shape a life.” “Wade does a
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wonderful job of creating relatable characters as she explores the forces that shape a life.” —Booklist
Romantic Suspense Jungle Fire by Dana Mentink (River North [Moody Publishing])
Join Nina and Shaw on an expedition where every turn can mean death and discovering the truth may make life even
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worse. A page-turner right to the very end.
Short Novel Mending the Doctor’s Heart by Tina Radcliffe (Love Inspired [Harlequin])
A new job in Paradise, Colorado, seems like the perfect fresh start for Dr. Ben Rogers. Only problem is, Dr. Sara Elliot has been counting on getting the same job.
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Speculative A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr (Bethany House [Baker] Publishing)
“[Good fantasy books] have to be excellent. Good storytelling and exceptional characters with circumstances that are easy enough to follow and wrap
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your brain around but keep you entertained and guessing… Cast of Stones has found itself firmly in that list of books. I absolutely, one hundred percent loved this book.” –Radiant Lit
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Young Adult A Simple Song by Melody Carlson (Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)
Katrina Yoder loves to sing, but her strict Amish parents view her singing as vain. Still, Katrina’s best friend, Bekka, is convinced Katrina is good enough to try out for American Star, a televised singing competition that Bekka has been secretly watching. Katrina has a good voice, but really–try out for a TV show? Her parents would probably disown her!
Enjoy some great reads this fall!
Katherine Reay is a wife, mother, runner, and avid chocolate consumer. She has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries and, at the encouragement of her family, recently began an affair with food – cooking that is – and this new passion strongly influenced her next novel, Lizzy and Jane, which will release in October 2014. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine and her family live in Seattle, WA. You can also find Katherine at www.katherinereay.com and lurking somewhere within the pages of her first novel, Dear Mr. Knightley.
