Welcome to Christian Fiction Devourers!

[Kim]

Hi, I'm Kim. I checked out this group several months ago when a friend who is part of it told me about it. I devour Christian fiction, about 20-30 books a month (my friend reads and listens to about 40-50 books a month!). I so appreciate that this group is clean. Unfortunately not all "Christian" fiction is. I like to review the books I read and let people know if they are clean or not - I'd love to read more reviews that let me know if there is language or sexual content so I can avoid even starting that book! I'm so happy to be here. God bless.

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Kim, welcome! We're glad to have you join us. I'm with you on being disappointed in some Christian fiction books. But I've found some great ones too. Have you tried Kim Vogel Sawyer? She's one of my favorites and always has some really great faith threads in her stories of hope.

[Sofia]

Hi! My name is Sofia. I am 25. I love reading a book in the morning with a cup of coffee before work and at night with some herbal tea. I love Christian fiction, but only discovered it about a year ago (I became a Christian in college), so still have a lot to read and find. especially what I like to call realistic fiction (The Glenbrooke Series and all the Christy Miller books by Robin Jones Gunn, for example). I recently started the first Baxter family series and have loved it. If anyone has any recommendations along these lines I'd love to know! I am also visually impaired, so I read all my books with text to speech on my iPhone. Glad I found this group!

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Welcome, Sofia! I've enjoyed a couple of books by Robin Jones Gunn too. Have you tried Katherine Reay? Her books would also fit in the realistic fiction genre. Glad you discovered us.

[Sofia]

Andrea wrote: "Welcome, Sofia! I've enjoyed a couple of books by Robin Jones Gunn too. Have you tried Katherine Reay? Her books would also fit in the realistic fiction genre. Glad you discovered us."

I haven't. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Ramón]

My name is Ramon and I love to read something that inspires faith in Jesus and helps me to evangelize. Thank you for accepting me in this group

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Welcome, Ramon! You’ll find lots of recommendations in this group. Glad you found us.

[J]

Sofia wrote: "Hi! My name is Sofia. I am 25. I love reading a book in the morning with a cup of coffee before work and at night with some herbal tea. I love Christian fiction, but only discovered it about a year..."
Hi Sofia. I'm the same, start the day with coffee and a book. Before I found this group, it was difficult to know what a book really had in it. I, too, wanted to be spared the sex in romance, profanity in dialogue, and violence in action/adventure. When I couldn't find one, I wrote one (Mojave Rift by JW Gilbert). Then I found this group. It would have been a lot easier to read reviews here!

[Loraine]

Welcome Kim, Sofia and Ramon. We are so glad you joined us. You will find more great books here than you can ever read. Also the challenges are fun and will help you make lots of book addicted friends!

[J]

Kim wrote: "Hi, I'm Kim. I checked out this group several months ago when a friend who is part of it told me about it. I devour Christian fiction, about 20-30 books a month (my friend reads and listens to abou..."
Hi Kim. I'm relatively new as well, hoping to get back to devouring Christian fiction like I used to. I, too, wanted to be spared the sex in romance, profanity in dialogue, and violence in action/adventure. When I couldn't find one, I wrote one (Mojave Rift by JW Gilbert). Then I found this group. It would have been a lot easier to read reviews here and find what I was looking for! Writing a book is a lot harder than reading one (like building a house is harder than living in one).

[Kim]

J W, I am always looking for clean reads. I found your book on Amazon and will begin it shortly. Thanks so much for letting me know. I review everything I read, so you should see my review soon! Kim

[Kim]

Andrea wrote: "Kim, welcome! We're glad to have you join us. I'm with you on being disappointed in some Christian fiction books. But I've found some great ones too. Have you tried Kim Vogel Sawyer? She's one of m..."

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a very good author. I also love Jennifer Beckstrand's Amish stories, hilarious and clean! There are a lot of clean authors out there, but I have found recently that even my go to authors have started using cuss words in their stories. Ted Dekker was clean for a long time, I had to stop reading him. Recently a friend read a Shelley Shepard Gray and found cussing in it - augh! I have to be sure that I'm not reading earlier books by an author that I like as well, they used to write secular romance but switched to Christian, so checking the publishing dates is important. Fantasy is probably my favorite genre, or fairy tale re-tellings and I have found quite a few clean authors but without the Christian bent to their stories, and I enjoy them but miss the Christian message. I'm excited to be a part of the team!

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Kim, those are wonderful notes. Thank you for sharing what you've discovered. Like you, some of my tried-and-true favorites have recently disappointed and ended up on my avoid list. It's so sad when their formerly high standards dip, for whatever reason.

[Loraine]

Unfortunately, some of our favorite Christian authors have slid down the slippery slope of foul language and other inappropriate scenes to garner buyers from the secular scene. Once they jump on that wagon, I don't want to read their books any longer.

[J]

I came from a life where every other word was profanity, but I still knew it was unacceptable in mixed company. Now I despise it, but it seems accepted by society. I'm even concerned that Book Cave is relaxing its standards. Disney, too. But sex, violence, drugs, and profanity are addictions of the unsaved, and they will part with any amount of money to satisfy their cravings. Full-time authors need the money. They won't get mine if they include that stuff. That's why I'm glad for a group like this that will help me keep from doing it accidentally.

[J]

Kim wrote: "J W, I am always looking for clean reads. I found your book on Amazon and will begin it shortly. Thanks so much for letting me know. I review everything I read, so you should see my review soon! Kim"
I appreciate that a lot, Kim. I'm looking forward to hearing how you like it. As a new author I desperately need reviews. I'm not allowed to post all of the 5-star reviews I got from Readers Favorite.

[Carol]

Hi! New to the group. I’m a PK in the Anglican Church, love the Lord. Christian fiction was the reading material I lived on in high school, series specifically. Top three series I’ve read that are my favorites are Francine Rivers The Mark of the Lion (first series I literally could not put down), Michael Philips and Judith Pella’s The Russians, and Tracie Peterson’s The Heirs of Montana. I’ve read more of Francine Rivers and Tracie Peterson, as well as Beverly Lewis, and a brief Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti phase. I don’t mind the predictability romance ones, but I would be interested in series and stand alones that are still Christian, but maybe more subtle? Looking for GOOD stories. I have been terrible at picking secular fiction for myself. It just disappoints me. I’ve read two of Katherine Reay’s books and liked them so looking for more books like that I suppose. Any recommendations? Nice to meet everyone!

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Carol, welcome! I was just going to recommend Katherine Reay, but I see you've already discovered her books. Have you tried Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano? I really enjoyed that one last year. We're so glad you've found us!

[Bess]

Hi Carol! Welcome!
What's a PK?

If you like biblical fiction, I suggest Ginger Garrett. It is edge-of-your-seat excitement!

My go-to-author is Marylu Tyndall. She has one series that is spiritual fantasy. And most of the rest of her books are pirate novels! They are great reads!

Andrea's suggestion of Joanna Davidson Politano is another fabulous read!! Anything by her!

If you like medieval romance, look for Tamara Leigh. It is clean and wonderful!

Happy reading!!

[Hannah]

John wrote: "I came from a life where every other word was profanity, but I still knew it was unacceptable in mixed company. Now I despise it, but it seems accepted by society. I'm even concerned that Book Cave..."

If you're checking a writer you're interested in trying out, there's a trick to see reviews easily here...go to the group "bookshelf" and there are lots of Christian novels listed. For any that are there, if you click "view activity" and scroll up, you can see a listing of all the ratings and reviews for that book by members of this group. :)

[Hannah]

Carol wrote: "Hi! New to the group. I’m a PK in the Anglican Church, love the Lord. Christian fiction was the reading material I lived on in high school, series specifically. Top three series I’ve read that are ..."

Another contemporary author I really enjoy is Robin Lee Hatcher. Her stories get really deep. Also Nicole Deese...

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Bess, PK is Preacher's Kid.

(I'm one too, so I'm familiar with that shortcut.)

[Bess]

Now that you say it, I do vaguely remember the shortcut. But I never seem to catch it! LOL! :D

[Loraine]

Carol wrote: "Hi! New to the group. I’m a PK in the Anglican Church, love the Lord. Christian fiction was the reading material I lived on in high school, series specifically. Top three series I’ve read that are ..."

Welcome Carol. If you like Biblical Fiction we have a thread here for both New Testament and Old Testament fiction.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Kelly]

Hello Everyone,

I am so happy to find a group that enjoys reading and discussing Christian Fiction. I may not have a lot of time to post and read on here as I am a homeschool mom and writer who is trying to finish and publish her first book too.

Anyway, I love reading Christian Fiction. I was introduced to it when I was in my twenties. The first Christian Fiction author I read and loved was Jeannette Oke.

I like a variety of genres. Therefore, I have lots of favorite authors:
Rita Gerlach, Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock, Mary Conneally, and more.

[Loraine]

Welcome Kelly. We're glad you have joined us. Best wishes on your writing! Jeanette Oke was my first Christian fiction author also. You seem to like a lot of the same authors I do.

[Kelly]

Hi Loraine and thank you for the welcome. Thanks for sharing things we have in common as well. I actually wrote to Jeanette Oke once and asked her some writing questions, and she actually responded to me personally and encouraged me to keep writing!

[Kelly]

Loraine wrote: "Welcome Kelly. We're glad you have joined us. Best wishes on your writing! Jeanette Oke was my first Christian fiction author also. You seem to like a lot of the same authors I do."

[Kelly]

I'm sorry, I wrote my reply before this Loraine. I didn't notice the tiny "reply/edit/delete" choices on the bottom right until I had already hit "Post".

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Welcome, Kelly! So glad you've found us. I'm a huge fan of Dee Henderson's O'Malley Chronicles. Such a great series!

[Loraine]

Kelly wrote: "Hi Loraine and thank you for the welcome. Thanks for sharing things we have in common as well. I actually wrote to Jeanette Oke once and asked her some writing questions, and she actually responded..."

How kind of her! I am a retired teachers, and I had my third graders write a letter to their favorite children's authors. Almost all of them got responses back. One had passed away and their daughter wrote back. Authors are special people.

[Kelly]

Andrea wrote: "Welcome, Kelly! So glad you've found us. I'm a huge fan of Dee Henderson's O'Malley Chronicles. Such a great series!"

Thank you, Andrea. Yes, reading that series was like becoming part of the O'Malley family. I was so sad when it ended. I hope to read it again one day, but it's hard for me to reread even books I LOVE because there are always so many new ones coming out that I want to read. :D

[Kelly]

Loraine wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Hi Loraine and thank you for the welcome. Thanks for sharing things we have in common as well. I actually wrote to Jeanette Oke once and asked her some writing questions, and she actu..."

That's fantastic! I agree that most authors are special people, but, sadly, some of the big name ones are not so kind and gracious. I wrote a letter to a very popular author once and received an obvious form letter in return. I was quite disappointed.

[Sara]

Hey, everyone! I'm Sara Blackard: Jesus-lover, a homeschool mom of 5, Alaskan off-grid living, and wife to the most amazing man. I've recently decided to dive into fulfilling my dream of becoming a writer (couldn't keep telling the kids they could be whatever they wanted to be without going after my own dream.) I'm so thankful to have found this group of like-minded readers!

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Welcome, Sara! Great job of inspiring your kids by chasing your dreams. That's awesome! Best wishes for your writing!

[Loraine]

Welcome Sara. Glad you have joined us. Best wishes on your writing career.

[Beth]

I’ve fallen off the welcome wagon lately! We are so glad to have you all here!

[Derica]

Hello! I haven't been on Goodreads in a long while. I am a follower of Jesus and like others have said, I felt like this would be a nice place to connect with others. I got the book for June "Sarai" and I am excited to start reading with everyone.

Also I have a question! For the reading for the month do we ever discuss it? I read the group reading posts but I'm not sure if that was stated. What happens after we finish a book?

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Derica, welcome! So glad you've found us and are joining in on a Group Buddy read already.

There are usually a list of questions posted on the 15th of each month in the respective Group Buddy and Book of the Month threads. If that isn't posted for some reason, feel free to ask your own questions or chat freely about the book at the halfway point of the month. We ask that folks don't talk spoilers until that point, as other readers following the thread may not be done reading yet. Happy reading!

[Beth]

Welcome, Derica! We're so glad to have you here at CFD! So glad to hear you're going to jump right in to a group read! :D

[Loraine]

Welcome Derica! So glad to have you here. I am moderating Sarai, and there will be discussion questions posted about the 15th!

[Stephanie]

Hello everyone. My name is Stephanie Martin. I am a homeschooled Christian girl that loves books! (as you can probably see). I love Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre", Francine Rivers "Mark of The Lion" Series (and most of her other books). I also like Shannon Messenger's "Keeper of The Lost Cities" Series. Just a quick question..... Are there any authors out there like Francine Rivers. I am starting to read Jill Eileen Smiths books so I already know about her. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Stephanie]

Stephanie wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Stephanie Martin. I am a homeschooled Christian girl that loves books! (as you can probably see). I love Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre", Francine Rivers "Mark of The Lion..."
Also feel free to add me as a friend. :)

[Andrea, Hospitality Coordinator]

Welcome, Stephanie! So glad you've found us. I haven't read Francine Rivers' books, so I'm not sure which authors I love have a similar tone to hers. I'm sure other members will chime in with some recommendations.

[Stephanie]

Andrea wrote: "Welcome, Stephanie! So glad you've found us. I haven't read Francine Rivers' books, so I'm not sure which authors I love have a similar tone to hers. I'm sure other members will chime in with some ..."

Thanks Andrea!

[Bess]

Welcome, Stephanie! I'm with Andrea. I've never read anything by Ms. Rivers. However, according to Amazon, the following authors are similar:
Mesu Andrews
Kristin Hannah
Karen Kingsbury
Lynn Austin
Connilyn Cossette
Lysa TerKeurst
Tessa Afshar
I've never read any of these authors, so I have no recommendations. Happy reading!! :D

[Emma]

Hi everyone, I'm Emma and I love Jesus. I live in Scotland with my husband and three kids. In my spare time (hah!) I love to bake sourdough bread, speak to my tomato plants, read romance and write. For 13 years, I used to work as a missionary with Youth With A Mission, and was based in the UK and part of leading teams all over the world. When I turned 30 I felt led to start writing fiction and so began a new journey.

I write contemporary Christian romance (mostly) set in Scotland, and I just released my second novel 'Heart of Us' last Tuesday, which is a second chance romance and currently free in Kindle Unlimited!

I'd love to connect with anyone that's interested in Christian romance - I love to talk romance and also I love to talk theology and discipleship and I love to explore the nitty gritty of what following Jesus can look like. So add me as a friend if you want! :)

[Stephanie]

Bess wrote: "Welcome, Stephanie! I'm with Andrea. I've never read anything by Ms. Rivers. However, according to Amazon, the following authors are similar:
Mesu Andrews
Kristin Hannah
Karen Kingsbury
Lynn Austin..."
Thank You! I will check these out! :)

[Loraine]

Stephanie wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Stephanie Martin. I am a homeschooled Christian girl that loves books! (as you can probably see). I love Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre", Francine Rivers "Mark of The Lion..."

Welcome Stephanie. I would recommend the following authors if you like Francine Rivers:
Jill Eileen Smith
Tessa Afshar
Mesu Aundrews
Connilyn Cossette
Lynn Austin

You also might check out our New Testament and Old Testament Fiction threads for more Biblical fiction authors.

[Loraine]

Welcome Emma. We're so glad you joined us. I made it to Ireland, but wanted so much to go back and see Scotland. You will find lots of great books to read here and keep us up to date on your writing.