Do you prefer to read standalone titles that are not connected to any other book or a series of loosely interconnected stories? Maybe the town provides the same setting throughout the series. Maybe the heroines are all part of the same group of friends. Or the heroes are all brothers.
I can go either way. Standalones have their time and place, but I really like to sink my teeth—er, eyes—into a good series with some overlapping characters. By the end of book one, I am usually ready for some cameo appearances in the next books. Characters become so real to me, I don’t want to let them go!
One Christian contemporary romance series I can’t recommend highly enough is the Seasons of Faith series by fellow Inspy Romance author Milla Holt. The setting is a small town in Norway, and Milla brings this location to life in such a way I feel I’ve been to Norway when I never have and likely never will. (I live vicariously through books, thank you very much.) She uses authentic vocabulary and names but not to the point of confusion for this mono-lingual American. Her heroines belong to a friend group that goes way back, and now they are all in their forties and getting a second, a final, or even a first chance at lasting love. And throughout it all, she ties in beautiful and moving themes of faith and redemption.
In Book One, Into the Flood, Sonia Krogstad is a feisty firecracker that won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. That is, until she meets Axel Vikhammer and ends up working for him. He’s going through his own difficulties raising a daughter he barely knows. They aren’t exactly a couple you would predict getting together. But romance—off the page and on—is anything but predictable.
Book Two, Through the Blaze, is my absolute favorite in this series. We meet Lisa and Kai, married though separated for many years due to Kai’s past gambling addiction. Lisa will never believe he’s truly changed, but their painful past and yet-raw wounds come to a head when their adult daughter announces her engagement. Is there hope of reconciliation after all these years of brokenness?
In Book Three, Within the Storm, Lisa’s friend Bethany is searching for uplifting information about her late husband, who was a popular celebrity. Instead she finds nothing good, all while in the company of her brother-in-law, Lukas, who has secretly loved her as long as he’s known her. But Bethany has to realize she deserves the best before she could possibly consider letting go of the illusions of her past in hopes of a future of real love.
Milla is finalizing the fourth book in the series right now, Admid the Ashes, due to release on October 18. I can’t wait to get my hands on it! If you haven’t read any or all of the above titles, now is the time so you are all caught up in time for her next release. The good news is that the first two books are included in several of the Back to School Bash giveaway bundles, and today is the LAST DAY to comment on the blog and register to win a bundle.
That being said… What is your personal favorite CCR series EVER? Yes, you must pick one. Comment away, reader friends!
Emily Dana Botrous is an east-coast transplant who now calls San Diego home. She is a wife and mom of four. When she’s not busy doing laundry, packing lunches, and picking toys off the floor, she enjoys reading, cooking, music, long walks, and writing. Always writing. It is her goal in all things to make Jesus first, last, and always.
This is hard but it is not CCR it would be Gilbert Morris’s The Appomattox Saga. I loved how he infused the history of the war from a non bias view showing both sides.
A more contemporary series would be Robin Jones Gunn’s Sisterchicks books. I loved these books.
I love Susan May Warren’s Deep Haven series.
I like Jessie Gussman’s Strawberry Sands Beach series.
Wow, Emily, thank you SO much for your kind words! You made my day. It means so much coming from you, because your Hometown Holiday Heartstrings series is a gold-standard for me.
I have these books on my TBR list but haven’t read them yet. It sounds like I need to bump them up to the top. :) My all-time favorite series The Mitford Years by Jan Karon isn’t CCR but is Christian fiction. I really enjoyed Carla Laureano’s Supper Club series, which is much closer to CCR if not totally within that genre.
Good Morning Emily. As a SW Michigan retired high school teacher with friends in farming, my favorite series remains Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh series. Her series inspired me to look at the Inspy Romance website and for the last decade I have been following the blog. Enjoy interacting with familiar and new authors and readers. Thanks for the informative and inspiring post – more books to add to my lengthy TO READ pile. Enjoying the fall like temperatures in SW Michigan. Been a rainy two days, but the sun is finally shining.
I have been enjoying Jessie gussman strawberry sands beach series.
I can go either way too, but no cliff hangers please :)
Redemption series by Karen Kingsbury and Christiansen Family Series by Susan May Warren
Oh, good grief, to pick just one!! That’s sooooooooooo hard!! I love the Gilead series that I’ve been reading by some of the Inspy authors, and I also love Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor Series. I soooo would love to go there and have Charley’s fish tacos!! Not to mention, just to meet Charley!!
Hi Jenny, my dad loves Gilbert Morris! I should probably read that series, because I am a total American history fan. And I’ve heard so much about the Sisterchicks series. So much to read…so little time.
Nice, Andrea! I need to read more by Susan May Warren. She’s an amazing author.
Hi Lori, thanks for joining in! Jessie Gussman’s stories are so good. I haven’t read that series, though. My TBR list is exploding!
You are so welcome, friend! I can’t wait to read Amid the Ashes. And thanks for your kind words about my own books. :)
Yes, Jessica, you totally should bump these ones up! I have heard so much about the Mitford Years, I think I need to check them out. Thanks for joining in!
Hi Renate, always nice to read your comments. Wow, you’ve been following the blog a long time! I really want to read Valerie’s Farm Fresh series. I have several on my Kindle. That TBR lit is loooong, as you mentioned! I used to live in MI. I love it there! I set a series there, too. Here in San Diego we don’t get much of a fall, but today is cloudy and cooler than it has been, so I was inpsired to light my first fall candle of the season. :)
Hi Kendra, you’re the second person to mention this series. It must be good! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for joining in today!
Cliffhangers are the worst! I don’t mind it IF I have the next book readily available. But otherwise… Ugh. I haven’t read either of those series, but with those two authors, you can’t go wrong! Thanks for joining in today, Natalya.
Was I unnecessarily specific? Hahaha. I’m sorry. I’m not sure I could JUST pick one as my favorite, either. So, good job narrowing it down to two, Trudy! The Easter in Gilead series sounds fantastic. I’ve been eyeing each new book wishfully. Maybe it’s time… ;) SO MUCH to read, so little time…. I’ve been wanting to try Irene Hannon, too!
I love series and have lots on my list. I am a fan of Milla Holt! I love travel vlogs but since I’m not in a place in life to travel anymore I go vicariously through books like Mila’s. It’s an immersive experience to read instead of just watch. I love the strong faith threads in Mila’s novels, too.
The first one that came to mind was Liwen Ho’s Fab Forties series, but I’d also recommend her Spark Brothers one. There are so many good ones it’s hard to choose only one!
Thanks for your wonderful post today. I have not been a contemporary book reader. But I started to read a series by Jessie Gussman “Sweet, Small Town Romantic Comedy in Good Grief, Idaho” Oh my goodness, they are so fun and sweet. I am now hooked on her books
I love so many but the first one that came to mind was Blueberry Beach by Jessie Gussman.
I really like Toni Shiloh’s Faith and Fortune series. I have all three books on my shelf. :)
I know, I gave you all an impossible task! Liwen Ho’s books are great, for sure.
Hi Lori, that series looks so fun! Are you usually more of a historical reader? I prefer historical, too, but since I write contemporary, I read more of that now.
Jessie Gussman is a popular author in the comments today! She is a prolific author. I need to read more by her. Thanks for the recommendation, Joannie!
Hi Elizabeth, I’ve heard great things about that series. I’m adding so many books to my TBR list today.
Hi Dalyn, Yes, I love to travel vicariously through fiction. Not a fan of long, international flights. I’ll stay home and read instead. Lol.
I need to read some of your books! I know Milla is a big fan, and that’s a solid recommendation right there.
Oh this is a hard one! I agree Milla’a series was great, such an unusual location. I’m really enjoying Elizabeth Maddrey’s Billionaires Next Door series, and I’ve lived Easter in Gilead so far, I also really like Autumn McArthur’s Love in London series, and Evangeline Kelly’s Blind Date Billionaires. I can’t decide!
I like Melissa Tagg’s Maple Valley series.
Wow, Ruthie, you have a lot of excellent recommendations! Thanks so much for joining in today.
Oooh, I haven’t read that one! I hear a lot of good things about Melissa Tagg. Thanks for joining in today, Megan!
Why must you do this. I am honestly not sure but ONE of my favorites is Carol Moncado’s books because all of her sereis interconnect. However there are so many great ones
I’m sorrrry. 😭 It seemed like a good idea at the time? Lol. At least you narrowed it down to an author! Thanks for joining in on the discussion, Angeline.
no fav
I’m an arc reader so I read them before they come out
You’ve asked an impossible question! One of my favorite series ever is The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. It’s not CCR though. I don’t think I can pick a favorite series out of CCR I’ve read.
Just one?? That’s so hard! 😆
A few of my favorites are Brenda S. Anderson’s Coming Home series, Robin Lee Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series, Eva Marie Everson’s Cedar Key series, and Denise Hunter’s Bluebell Inn series. But I think my all time favorite is Shanna Hatfield’s Women of Tenacity series. Heart of Clay is one of my favorite books of all time ❤️
I have enjoyed a lot of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s novels, especially the Heritage of Lancaster County. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Oh, that is a most excellent series, Melynda! I’m sorry for the impossible question!
All of these sound sooo good! Thanks for joining in today.
Thanks for joining in today, Debra! God bless you, too.
I can’t pick just one favorite book. I do love Lynette Eason’s books.
That’s another author I’ve been wanting to try. So many books, so little time… Thanks for joining the discussion, Cherie!