Today in America is the National Day of Forgiveness. In a country where we’ve set aside days to celebrate trivial things like corned beef, scarves, and crushing cans (all also today!), I can actually get behind taking time to focus on forgiving others.
Books, too, can serve as reminders for important themes that need attention in our own lives. Have you read a book that poked at your consciousness? Caused you to reflect? Or even moved you to take action?
The themes at the center of each book I’ve written were inspired, at least in part, by issues with which I’ve had personal experience. Weaved into these sweet, small-town contemporary romances are characters in need of all kinds of healing—just like each of us.
Considering today’s “holiday,” I’ll use the third novel in my Laurel Cove Romance Series as an example. In Someone Found, Quinn is a hiker who finds herself injured near the quaint mountain town of Laurel Cove—far from the stifling life and painful disappointments back in Maine. Eli, a handsome and kind camp director, offers her one of his cabins while she recovers. When he helps to spark a glimmer of hope in a life darkened by resentment, Quinn soon realizes the only way to move forward is to forgive those who’d wronged her.
I didn’t know it when I began writing Someone Found, but eventually I found myself painfully aware of a grudge I’d been holding on to in my own life. Over a decade in the making, God used Quinn’s story to highlight my need to forgive.
Without getting too personal, I’d love to hear about books you’ve read that shed light on a God-inspired promptings. Are there Contemporary Christian Romance authors whose books often speak to you in this way?
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Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern contemporary romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications professional. Teresa is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She’s an introverted Enneagram 4 (if you know, you know) and loves coffee, traveling, and almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.
I recently read Can’t Help Falling by Kara Isaac and parts of it definitely felt like they were hitting close to home.
Oh, that’s a great one!
One book I’ve read that was deeply meaningful to me was Heather Blanton’s first book in her Burning dress Ranch series, a Distant Heart.
I’m glad it was meaningful to you!
The Cowgirls Redemption is a very good book , I really enjoyed reading it.
Great post! I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance. Secrets She Kept, by Cathy Gohlke, is WW2 fiction. A lot of reviews I read of the book complained about the theme of forgiveness. But to me that was the most important theme of the entire book.
I just finished Toni Shiloh’s In Search of a Prince and was grateful to see that each step that Brielle made on her way to becoming the reigning Princess had her praying and turning to God in order to make her decisions. A breath of fresh air!
Thanks for sharing a thought-provoking book!
I wonder if the complaints were because it hit close to home for a lot of those readers, too!
Great example! And a great book!
Not entering the give a way – thanks though – but Bad Girls of the Bible and Really Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs – Preacher Man by Laurie Larson – A Mighty Fortress by Faith Blum to start with
can’t think of any
Exactly!
Tacos for Two by Betsy St. Amant. made me look at how I perceive other people by their jobs or class. It is easy to think that they may not like the same things that I do because they maybe lawyers or doctors. I also read a book by Lysa Terkhurst, Forgiving What You Cannot Forget. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I know there are books that have touched me but right now cant think of any to mention. II do understand the forgiveness. I was bullied at school and it has left a lasting effect. a few years back thanks to our school reunion and my friends husband I knew I had to tell him I forgive him. Which I did a few months later (he lives in the town) He had no idea what I was talking about and I said I know it probably means nothing to you but it does to me. It had been around 40 years and he still had power over me. Telling him I forgive him released me. I still react inside when I see him but I can at least say hello now and don’t feel paralised. When they say unforgiveness affects the person wronged more than the person who is at fault it is so right. He had no idea what he did for a few years at high school had affected me but it was affecting me. We will never be friends but least he has no hold on me now.
Also right now I am praying hard to forgive someone for some things they accused me of without facts and when they found the facts instead of saying sorry said well I got it second hand so didn’t really see the post/conversation etc. Even when they attacked me and I was so upset I was crying there was no compasion. I am praying so hard to be able to let it go and forgive them but it is hard. Seeing these things in books and how it is handled is a huge help at times.
I’ve often had moments from books resonate with me on a personal level. Tamera Alexander’s books have been the first to do that, that spring to mind.
I read There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones last summer and I remember it deeply impacting me. I wrote in my review, “This book was so emotionally powerful and moving, such a great story of self-discovery and finding who you are through Christ.” Love when books inspire discovery and change!
Also, The Literary Thimble cozies are amazing! Yay! Such a great prize!
I was reading a historical Christian book by Heidi Chiavaroli and it was set in a specific place. I was impacted because I was moving to the same place across the world. At that moment I was debating with myself about my decision. God spoke to me through this book.
Oh, I love that! How special.
Thanks for sharing those titles!
That’s okay. Thanks for reading!
That’s a wonderful example! Thanks for sharing.
You’re so right about forgiveness being so important to the one forgiving. I’m glad God has helped you work through that. Blessings!
Yes, hers are so good!
Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing about these books.
The cowgirls redemption was a really good book I read it awhile ago since I received an advanced copy of the book from the author