Favorite Christian Fiction of 2021

 Here are my favorite releases from 2021!

  

Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter (Bethany House); Hearts on the Heath, book 2

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano (Revell)

To Write a Wrong by Jen Turano (Bethany House); Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency, book 2

 

 

Every Word Unsaid by Kimberly Duffy (Bethany House)

Proposing Mischief by Regina Jennings (Bethany House); Joplin Chronicles, book 2

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House); Hope and Glory, book 3

  

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin (Revell)

Let It Be Me by Becky Wade (Bethany House); Misty River Romance, book 2

Autumn by the Sea by Melissa Tagg (Indie); Muir Harbor, book 1

"The Journey of Runs-Far" by Lori Benton

While Runs-Far, beloved elder of the Cherokee, lays dying, he dreams of Sedi, the wife who bore him two children and was carrying a third when she was captured by white soldiers, and never seen again. For the next forty years, Runs-Far taught his people the ways of Jesus, yet Sedi’s loss distanced him from the God he served. In his dream, his long-vanished wife accuses him of abandoning his search too soon. Even Creator is telling him it is not his day to die—he has unfinished business. But Runs-Far is old. Learning what happened to Sedi will lead him through lands settled by white men. He cannot go alone. Blue-Jay, his son, must go with him. Blue-Jay fears to lose a father as once he lost a mother—a loss over which he still carries guilt. Dare he believe forgiveness lies in making a journey seemingly born more of folly than faith? If he and his father find what they seek, will they wish they hadn’t? Knowing only that the journey begins where Runs-Far abandoned his search long ago, the two set out from the mountains of their home with little more than hope to guide them.

 I think the story could just as accurately be called The Journey of Blue-Jay, from whose perspective we follow most of the story. He's the one who is reluctantly along for the ride, and whose heart is in need of as much as if not more healing than his father's. Blue-Jay has suffered significant loss--his mother, two wives, and his children. He very nearly lost his father, and he doesn't want to lose him on what is likely to be a fruitless journey.

I probably should have made the connections sooner as to who Runs-Far is searching for, but it was a delight when I realized precisely who it was--all the clues were there, tucked between the pages of various novels, but I had completely missed it until this story!

To understand Runs-Far's journey, it helps to be familiar with pretty near all of the author's books. The King's Mercy tells how Runs-Far met Sedi, and the Kindred duology (Mountain Laurel and Shiloh) definitely precede this story. However, Burning Sky is helpful for understanding Shiloh, and there are cameos of characters from Many Sparrows and The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn along the journey. So if you're like me and have read every book by Lori Benton, it's a wonderful opportunity to look in on beloved characters a few years--or decades--later than their stories took place. But if you haven't read all her other books, it may feel like there are things you're missing. I'd highly recommend her novels, just for how excellent they are, and then read this novella for a satisfying conclusion to a story that has secretly spanned several novels.

Related novels in chronological order:

The King's Mercy (tells how Runs-Far met Sedi)

Many Sparrows (character cameos)

Burning Sky (helpful to read to best understand Shiloh)

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn (character cameos)

Kindred
1. Mountain Laurel
2. Shiloh
2.5 The Journey of Runs Far

"Shadows of Swanford Abbey" by Julie Klassen

News of her brother's worrisome behavior spurs Miss Rebecca Lane to return home to her village. Upon her arrival, he begs her to go to nearby Swanford Abbey, a medieval monastery turned grand hotel rumored to be haunted. She reluctantly agrees to stay at the abbey until she can deliver his manuscript to a fellow guest who might help him get published--an author who once betrayed them. There she encounters Sir Frederick--baronet, magistrate, and former neighbor--who long ago broke her heart. Now a handsome widower of thirty-five, he is trying to overcome a past betrayal of his own. When the famous author is found dead, Sir Frederick makes inquiries and quickly discovers that several people held grudges against the author, including Miss Lane and her brother. As Sir Frederick searches for answers, he is torn between his growing feelings for Rebecca and his pursuit of the truth. For Miss Lane is clearly hiding something. . . .

This book put me in mind of the author's Ivy Hill books, but with a murder mystery in it; there's the same close-knit sense of village life, with all its connections and shared history--both the positives and negatives. It isn't a fast-paced mystery by any means, and definitely more of a classic mystery than suspense, as there's very little sense of danger to the story. I'd hoped there would be a more Gothic flavor like some of the author's earlier novels, but in spite of the supposedly ghost-haunted abbey, the story didn't have a dark or spooky feel. It was interesting learning more about the police procedurals of Regency village life--or nearly lack thereof, since any investigation beyond cause of death falls to Sir Frederick as magistrate and the village constable, who is even greener in his elected position than Frederick. 

There was nothing particularly objectionable about Frederick or Rebecca, though they didn't stand out to me like some of the main characters in other books by the author; maybe it's because the investigation took up more of the spotlight, leaving less room to delve as deeply into their dreams and desires. I did like Sir Frederick's patience and kindness--he knows that Rebecca is hiding something if not outright lying, but instead of pushing her into a confrontation, he lets her know that he will be willing to listen whenever she's ready to talk; he doesn't impute his unfaithful wife's actions upon Rebecca. And I can't blame Rebecca for wanting to protect her brother--fearing he's done something terrible, castigating herself for thinking such things, and hoping against hope she's wrong.

It was not my favorite, but it was still a pleasant read.

"Proposing Mischief" by Regina Jennings - Joplin Chronicles, book 2

Maisie Kentworth is stuck on the ranch. Having fallen in love with the wrong guy, she can't risk inflaming things between her former beau and her protective family. Left to rue her mistakes, she keeps busy exploring the idle mine at the edge of their property. Boone Bragg is also stuck. With his parents on vacation, the management of Bragg Mining falls on him, and one of his advisors wants him as a son-in-law. One wrong move, and Boone will end up either offending an associate or getting married to a woman he can't endure. While closing up a spent mine, Boone gets two surprises. One is an untamed farm girl who's trespassing with a pickax, and the other is the amazing crystal cavern that she's discovered. Suddenly Boone sees a way to overhaul the family business. With part of the cavern on Kentworth land, Boone makes Maisie a proposal that he hopes will solve all of their problems. Instead it throws Joplin into chaos.

This was a fun marriage of convenience story. I enjoyed the progression of strangers marrying for practical reasons to friends to finally in love, with all sorts of shenanigans in the meantime. 

Although they come from two very different worlds, Boone and Maisie ended up being a fun and believable couple. They're both awkward in their own special ways--Maisie mostly out of country bumpkin-ness, and Boone out of extreme single-minded focus. But they do have one other trait in common--sheer practicality. It's a bit scary what creative activity Maisie might get up to when bored, but it's amazing that how no matter how off the wall her decision might be--like breaking into a locked trunk to borrow equipment for her trespassing expedition in a mine, or marrying a basic stranger--it's undergirded with practical thinking. And they both have a strong sense of commitment and loyalty. Perhaps they do have a lot in common after all!

It was fun learning more Joplin history, like the fact that a crystal cave did (and does) exist--it's just no longer physically accessible. And getting more of the Kentworth cousins was a delight--from rough-and-tumble Hank and Amos, to dogged--but elegant--former Pinkerton agent Calista, to genius architect Olive. Hopefully Olive will star in the next book, but I'm looking forward to it, whichever cousin it will feature!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Joplin Chronicles
1. Courting Misfortune
2. Proposing Mischief
3. Engaging Deception

"You and Me" by Becky Wade; Misty River Romance book 2.5

Easy-going, artistic Connor Bryant fell hard for his friend Shay Seaver when they were both in the seventh grade. Now, sixteen years later, he's returned to Misty River. She's finally between boyfriends. And his crush on her hasn't wavered. Now's his chance. He tells Shay that he's found someone he wants to date and is in need of a makeover when it comes to his appearance and dating strategies. He asks if she'll serve as his consultant -- in hopes that he'll learn how he can become her ideal man. What he doesn't tell her? That she's the one he wants to date. Shay immediately agrees to Connor's request because he's one of the best guys she knows. However, she quickly realizes she's in over her head. She's pledged to help him win the affection of another woman -- even though she dearly wants to claim his heart.

If you're looking for a short, sweet romance, look no further! It's full of the author's trademark humor (gotta love Connor's mom's quirky relationship with food), which enhances the fully satisfying romance. Those who love Christmas romances will take joy in the setting. I was glad, though, that the author doesn't attribute the story to nebulous Christmas magic--rather, she turns Shay's focus to the true reason for the season, and that's not her desires, or Connor, or her family. 

While connected to the novels in the series--with cameos by most of the main characters from Stay With Me and Let It Be Me--this story stands on its own; it's not actively about the Miracle 5 like the novels. So it's a fun supplement without being vital to the series, and vice versa. I enjoyed it.

Misty River Romance
0.5: Take a Chance on Me (prequel novella)
1. Stay With Me
2. Let It Be Me
2.5: You and Me (novella)
3. Turn to Me