Friday, December 19, 2008

Faith 'n Fiction Saturday: Best Books of the Year


Hi and welcome to Faith 'n Fiction Saturday where we share chatter about our favorite topics...faith and books! To participate, just write an answer on your blog and then come back here and add the permalink to the Mr. Linky below. Please also remember to link back to this specific post in your post so that we can visit everyone's blogs easily.

Just a note that since I know we'll all be busy with the holidays in the next few weeks, Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays will take a short holiday break as well. We'll be back for more book chatter on January 3rd.

So today's topic, to wrap up the year...what are your favorite Christian fiction books that you read this year? You can compile your list anyway you like, by genre, ranking, or a favorite book of each month. Be as creative as you like the only requirements are that you read the books this year and that they are Christian fiction.

My List:
I had an excellent year of reading! I discovered a new favorite author who I also now consider a friend, and read many wonderful books that engaged my imagination, emotions, and mind. Couldn't have been better, really.

My top picks:
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen. I really loved this book. I just felt everything that Barbara felt and loved the authentic look at the life of a woman during that time period. You can read my review here.

Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz. Absolutely beautiful. Nicole is an artist and this book reflects that. I also remember crying a lot during it...read my review here.

A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman Julie burst onto the scene of Christian romance and showed us all just how AWESOME this genre can be with this beautifully written book. My review.

A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell Siri brought us this unique look at life in Queen Elizabeth's court in an engrossing book full of romance, tragedy, and insight. My review.

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner This book weaved together the past and present and showed us they are not so different...beautifully written book that also brought me to tears. (I sense a theme..) My review.

Get Cozy Joseyby Susan May Warren I love all of Susan May Warren's books but this conclusion to one of the best series in Christian chick lit was just perfect. But I'm going to miss Josey and Chase a lot. My review.


And now for the number one book of the year....

A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman! Words can't describe how much I loved this book. I tried here.

(honorable mentions go to On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson, It's Not About Me by Michelle Sutton, Only Uni by Camy Tang, and Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck)

I want to say THANK YOU to all the fantastic Christian fiction authors out there who write such wonderful books, who visit our blogs, answer our questions, and are obedient to God and write faithfully for Him. I love you all so much!

And I also want to say thank you to all my fellow bloggers who participate in Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays...you all bless me so much! I love reading your thoughts and being challenged by you unique perspectives. I love you all too and I hope that all of you have....

a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

See you on the 3rd!

1. Michelle Sutton
2. Bluestocking
3. CrittyJoy
4. Rhonda Clark
5. Deena @ My Bookshelf
6. Lynn Squire
7. Pam
8. Rann
9. Becky
10. Andi @ Radiant Light
11. Stormi
12. Nise\'
13. MizB @ Should Be Reading
14. Shellie Powell
15. Twiga

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10 comments:

Edgy Inspirational Author said...

Okay, for the year 2008 these 10 novels made me go ahhhh.... or they made me think about the story after I closed the book, or I wanted to call a friend to talk about the story after I finished reading it.

A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie Klassen
Havah by Tosca Lee
Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
Healing Stones by Nancy Rue
Dogwood by Chris Fabry
When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

And these are 5 stories I am pretty sure would've made me go ahhhh... if I'd had the time to read them.

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons
Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck
The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones

Anonymous said...

Hmmm wonder why we have the same favorite book :o)

I really liked this question...it was fun to think of all I have read this year!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the topic Amy. You've read some awesome books. Have a great break and we'll see you next year. :)Merry CHRISTmas.

Deena Peterson said...

Thus far--with mere days to go--:

Autobiography--Lost Boy by Greg Laurie

Chick Lit Series--Lauren Holbrook series by Erynn Mangum

Chick Lit--Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker

Christian Living--200 Pomegranates and An Audience of One by Shawn Wood

AND Mad Church Disease by Anne Jackson

Christmas Fiction--My Mother's Wish by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt

Debut Novel--Vanish by Tom Pawlik

Devotional--Teen People of the Bible by Daniel Darling

Fantasy series--The Dominion Trilogy by Robin Parrish

Historical--In the Shadow of Lions by Ginger Garrett and

AND Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley

Hobby-Lit--Sisters, Ink by Rebeca Seitz

Legal Thriller--By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer

Life Lesson Lit--Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn

Military Thriller--Monday Night Jihad by Jason Elam & Steve Yohn

Mini-Women Lit--Lucy Doesn't Wear Pink by Nancy Rue

New Series--Sister to Sister series by Virginia Smith

Political Thriller--Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg

Suspense Series--Kanner Lake Series by Brandilyn Collins

Teen Lit--My Beautiful Disaster by Michelle Buckman

Western Romance--Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

YA Ficion--Peculiar Treasures by Robin Jones Gunn

Lynn Squire said...

This is a great topic. I love seeing what other people are reading.

Pam said...

THis was a great topic. What a fun way to close the year. I enjoyed Michelle's book also.

Andi said...

Hi Amy,
Thanks for the great question. It was hard to come up with mine, although I'd made a list it wasn't just Christian fiction. Here is my link.
http://frommipov.blogspot.com/2008/12/faith-and-fiction-saturdays.html

Nise' said...

Fun question this week! My favorite book of the year was A Passion Most Pure too!!

twiga92 said...

I'm a little late, but wanted to post on this one. Great topic! I had some really good reads this year.

Unknown said...

Looks like the Mr Linky is already closed so here's my catch up post for this question and a few others.

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