As the cold winter days drag on, there is nothing that brings us more comfort than cozying up in our favorite reading chair with a warm blanket and a good read! Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or contemporary fiction, suspense or romance – there are so many incredible new releases from which to choose your next read.

Here at Christianbook, with so many incredible books hitting our desks on a daily basis, we often find it hard to choose which book to dive into next. So, we thought we’d round up our favorites to help make your next decision a little easier!

We’d love to know what you are reading right now – share with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter by tagging @christianbook and using the hashtag #everythingchristian 

The Land Beneath Us

by Sarah Sundin

Lover of historical fiction? Well, this The Land Beneath Us is one book you won’t want to miss! Readers will be introduced to Leah Jones, a woman who grew up in an orphanage and longs to rise above her lonely past and find a place to belong. While working as a librarian at Camp Forrest, Tennessee she meets Private Clay Paxton – a man who saves her life and her virtue by offering a marriage of convenience. Can their new relationship withstand the trails of grudges, foreboding dreams, and D-day? Sarah Sundin artfully blends emotionally rich romance and historical accuracy, with heart-pounding battle scenes for a seriously page-turning read!

Two Weeks

by Karen Kinsgbury

Cole Blake is months away from finishing college and kickstarting his dream career in medicine. But as he starts his final year, he meets Elise, a mysterious new girl who captures his attention and heart from the very beginning. Elise wants to mend her wild ways and become the good girl she used to be. But soon after, Elise finds out she is pregnant. Eighteen and alone, she shares her secret with Cole who is determined to support her. When Elise decides to give the baby up for adoption, she is matched with a couple who have spent seven painful years trying to start a family. But as her due date draws near, Elise becomes more and more torn. Two Weeks is such a heart-wrenching read – and certainly one that you’ll want to keep the tissue box handy for.

The Tea Chest

by Heidi Chiavaroli

In The Tea Chest we meet two women, separated by centuries, who must both find the strength to fight for love and freedom. Hayley Ashworth’s goal is to join the Navy SEALs, but first, she must return to Boston to confront memories of her childhood. When an unexpected encounter with the man she once loved leads to the discovery of a tea chest and the document hidden within. A document about the remarkable Emma Malcolm, a 1773 Patriot sympathizer who must do what it takes to protect those she loves. Even if it means giving up the life she desires. Back in the present, this document causes Hayley to wonder if perhaps true strength and freedom are buried deeper than she first realized.

Veiled in Smoke

by Jocelyn Green

Meg and Sylvie Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their veteran father, Stephen. But when the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago’s business district, they lose much more than their store. The sisters become separated from their father during the fire as they make their escape from the family with the help of local reporter Nate Pierce. When the smoke settles they learn a family friend was murdered the night of the fire. Even more shocking, their father is charged with the crime and committed to the asylum. Though homeless and suddenly unemployed, Meg finds herself having to gather the pieces of her shattered life and prove her father’s innocence. Believe us when we say, you’ll want to add Veiled in Smoke title to your bookshelf!

A Long Time Comin’

by Robin W. Pearson

Beatrice Agnew finds out she’s dying, and intends on keeping her family secrets to herself. She is of the firm belief that if any of her children have questions about their father and the choices she made after he abandoned them, they’d best take it up with Jesus. She has no room for regrets. But when her granddaughter, Evelyn Lester shows up and uncovers a box of old letters, the two women are forced to wrestle with their past and present pain as they confront the truth. A truth Beatrice has worked a lifetime to hide from her family. This is one of those reads that will resonate with so many people. A Long Time Comin’ is one of those books that will stay with you a long time after you put it down – you’re sure to want to share it with all your nearest and dearest!

Daughter of Rome

by Tessa Afshar

When the daughter of a Roman General meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they are banished from their home by an emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption. We highly recommend you add Daughter of Rome to your must-read list!

One Little Lie 

by Colleen Coble

After escaping from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother who refused to leave. Jane has been appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor after her father retires, there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane realizes someone from their horrible past has found them. To help clear her father’s name, she teams up with Reid Bechtol, the well-known journalist whose latest project is filming a documentary on her life. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross – especially when her father’s lie catches up with him. All we can say is, fans of Colleen Coble will not be disappointed with One Little Lie. 

Looking for some more great Christian fiction reads? Click here!

The post New Winter Fiction Releases appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Did you love the first book in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series? Well, this one is for you! The Sky Above Us is the second in the series and will show readers yet another side to the Paxton family through the eyes of Lt. Adler Paxton.

For those who love a historical fiction novel this one ticks all the boxes. It is incredibly well-researched and will transport readers to World War II and the moments leading up to D-day. The Sky Above Us is a perfect spring read that will have you gripped from start to finish!

Author, Sarah Sundin, kindly sat down to answer some questions about her latest novel, as well as to give us a little insight in to what she is working on next…

The Sky Above Us is now available for purchase, click here for more. 

Q: The Sky Above Us is the second book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. How is this book different from your preceding novel?

A: The first novel in the Sunrise at Normandy series, The Sea Before Us, looked at D-day from the sea through the eyes of US naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton and British “Wren” Second Officer Dorothy Fairfax. In The Sky Above Us, we’ll see the buildup to D-day from the air as Lt. Adler Paxton and his fighter group struggle for air superiority before the invasion – and while Red Cross worker Violet Lindstrom serves the airmen. We’ll see another side of the Paxton family and the tragedies that tore them apart.

Q: You introduce the readers to some new characters in your book. Do you have a favorite character?

A: I have to admit Adler’s best friend, pilot Nick Westin, almost stole the show. He’s very different from any character I’ve ever written, and I like him so much. He lives out the Christian life in a compelling way, patient with Adler when he’s angry and hurting, confronting him when he crosses the line, never judging him for his sin, but gently coaxing him toward the Lord. Plus, he’s funny.

Q: The Sky Above Us has some unexpected twists. What was the inspiration behind your creative plot?

A: For the action plot, I was inspired by the research I’d done for my first series, Wings of Glory, which featured bomber pilots. I longed to write about a fighter pilot – and about the Red Cross workers who served overseas. This allowed me to highlight the aerial aspect of D-day, which is often overlooked. From a story standpoint, I wanted to explore what it would be like to have committed sins that most would consider unforgivable. How do you live with yourself? How do you seek forgiveness from God and those you hurt? And how do you live with the truth that you might never be reconciled with your loved ones?

Q: Readers and reviewers have often commented on the historical accuracy of your novels. What type of research was required for this book?

A: This book was great fun for me. I was able to return to the research I’d done on the US Eighth Air Force for the Wings of Glory series, but approaching from a new direction. I read the pilot’s manuals for the P-51B Mustang fighter plane and learned how to fly it (on paper anyway – do not put me in the cockpit). I read stories of fighter pilots and the 357th Fighter Group. And it was fascinating to learn about the vital role of the American Red Cross overseas. Did you know they served over 1.6 billion donuts during the war?

Q: As you researched, did you find anything especially intriguing about D-day or World War II?

A: I’m constantly amazed how much there is to learned about World War II! Writing this book, I was struck by the role the Allied air forces played int he success in Normandy. When we watch footage or movies of D-day, there are no enemy aircraft overheard. Indeed, only two German fighter planes managed to get through to the invasion beaches on D-day. We can only imaging the disaster if the Luftwaffe had been able to attack in force. All this was the result of months of attacks on German airfields, aircraft factories, oil refineries – as well as the famous dogfights. On D-day, over eleven thousand aircraft protected the sailors and soldiers below. I enjoyed shining a light on a little-known aspect of this historic day.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading The Sky Above Us?

A: I hope readers see themselves in both Adler and Violet – I certainly did. Adler’s motto is “If it hurts, don’t think about it.” And everything hurts, from the loss of his fiancee to the “unforgivable” sins he committed the night she died. In Adler, I saw myself as a sinner who also does not deserve forgiveness – who does? I felt such compassion for him in his pain and joy as he came into the light.

Violet, on the other hand, is the “good” Christian girl who has always longed to be a missionary. She’s appalled by the crude ways of the airmen at the air base and struggles to serve them. Through events in the story, she comes to see the self-righteousness and judgmental ways that lurk inside – and how devastatingly harmful those sins can be. Her story forced me to confront those same attitudes in my heart.

The theme verses for this novel turned out to be Matthew 20:16: “The last shall be first, and the first last.” This played out in many ways in both Adler’s and Violet’s stories – and in mine as well!

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: Currently I’m writing The Land Beneath Us, the third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. This novel features the youngest brother, Private Clay Paxton, who serves as an Army Ranger on the ground on D-day, and Leah Jones, a librarian and an orphan searching for clues about her past. Can he truly forgive the brothers who wronged him? And will D- day – and foreboding dream – tear Clay and Leah apart?

The Sky Above Us is now available for purchase, click here for more. 

The post Q&A with Sarah Sundin, Author of The Sky Above Us appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Christian Fiction lovers you are in for a treat in 2019! We took a look forward at some of the books that will be released later this year – and we’re pretty sure these reads won’t disappoint. Some of our favorite authors will be making a return to delight their readers, including Colleen Coble, Karen Kingsbury, Dani Pettrey, and Joel C. Rosenberg.

While we couldn’t list all of the fiction we’re looking forward to this year, you can find more to look forward to in our Christian fiction store by clicking here. Or if Christian Living books are more your thing, click here to see what’s coming your way soon! 

Whether you’re a fan of an Amish read or a suspenseful page-turner, you’re sure to find something to add to your bookshelf on this list.

Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

Releases January 22, 2019

Filled with Colleen Coble’s custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin sweeps readers off to the evocative landscape of Washington’s coast where nothing is quite as it seems. Readers will be introduced to Bailey Fleming, a women running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout. Not to mention the tell-tale signs of a human trafficking ring nearby. Forming an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life. Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister who was abducted after running away as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings Lance calling to Bailey’s remote cabin – and he can’t help but be suspicious of her past and strange connections to his sister’s case. Is she really who she claims to be? And can she somehow lead him to his sister?

Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Releases February 5, 2019

What would you do if you found out someone has been impersonating you? That’s the question readers will ask themselves after reading Wanda Brunstetter’s upcoming releases, Forgiving Jar. Sara Murray had never met her mother’s parents and was surprised to learn that they were Amish living in Pennsylvania. When she is finally able to make the trip to meet them, she is shocked to learn someone else has been living with them – and pretending to be Sara. When her grandparents are quick to forgive the imposter, Sarah is dismayed. She is tired of the lies and deceit that seem to follow her everywhere. Enter Brad Fuller, a man who visits her grandparents during Christmas. Sara finds herself immediately drawn to the man, but even he seems to pull away from her. Struggling with the situation, Sara finds an old canning jar hidden in the barn, full of encouraging prayers. Can she find a way to forgive the past and move on to build new relationships?

The Sky Above us by Sarah Sundin

Releases February 5, 2019

Lovers of historical and war-time fiction, The Sky Above Us is the read for you. Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion. Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement. Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-day draws near… and secrets can’t stay buried forever.

Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews

Releases March 5, 2019

If you prefer reading more Biblical fiction, we’re sure you’ll be happy to hear that Mesu Andrews will release Of Fire and Lions this March! Readers will be transported to Babylon through the eyes of Belili. As a young Hebrew girl she escaped death as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. Belili thought she perfected her survival instincts through the many years she spent amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending, along with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Now, as Daniel’s wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she’s safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear–until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar’s palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili’s tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?

The Persian Gamble by Joel C. Rosenberg

Releases March 12, 2019

We don’t know about you, but we always eagerly await the next suspenseful read from Joel C. Rosenberg. They always sound like they can be ripped from today’s news headline! In The Persian Gamble we meet former U.S. Secret Service agent Marcus Ryker who finds himself facing an impossible task after being shot out of the air in enemy territory. Not only does he have to somehow elude detection and capture by Russian special forces, but he must convince his own government to grant safe harbor to the one man responsible for the global mayhem – Russian double agent and assassin Oleg Kraskin. While negotiating with the White House, Marcus learns the unstable North Korean regime plans to use the chaos as a smokescreen to sell nuclear weapons to Iran. With the fate of the free world on the line, Marcus makes a deal with the U.S. to go back and work as an international operative and track down the WMDs. Marcus and Oleg worked together before to avert a world war. Can they now find a way to stop world destruction?

Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof

Releases March 12, 2019

Aven Norgaard understands courage. Orphaned within an Irish workhouse, then widowed at just nineteen, she voyaged to America where she was wooed and wed by Thor Norgaard, a Deaf man in rural Appalachia. That the Lord saw her along the winding journey and that Aven now carries Thor’s child are blessings beyond measure. Yet while Thor holds her heart, it is Haakon—his younger brother and rival—who haunts her memories. Having fled the Norgaard orchard after trying to take Aven as his own, Haakon sails on the North Atlantic ice trade, where his soul is plagued with regrets that distance cannot heal. When the winds bear him home after four years away, Haakon finds the family on the brink of tragedy. A decades-old feud with the neighboring farm has wrenched them into the fiercest confrontation on Blackbird Mountain since the Civil War. Haakon’s cunning and strength hold the power to seal many fates, including Thor’s—which is already imperiled due to a grave illness brought to him at the first prick of warfare. Now Haakon faces the hardest choice of his life. Daughters of Northern Shores is another great read from Joanne Bischof!

Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon

Releases April 2, 2019

Irene Hannon returns once again with another dramatic romance – Driftwood Bay will have you absolutely hooked from start to finish! After tragedy robs Jeannette Mason of everyone she loves, she retreats to the tiny Oregon seaside town of Hope Harbor to create a new life. Vowing to avoid emotional attachments, she focuses on running her lavender farm and tea room until a new neighbor with a destructive dog and a forlorn little girl invades her turf. But she needn’t worry. Dr. Logan West is too busy coping with an unexpected family, a radical lifestyle change, and an unruly pup to have any interest in his aloof and disagreeable neighbor. Yet when both Jeanette and Logan find themselves pulled into the life of a tattered Christian family fleeing persecution in war-torn Syria, might they discover that love sometimes calls when it’s least expected?

Two Weeks by Karen Kinsgbury

Releases April 2, 2019

The Baxter family are back! In Two Weeks, we follow Cole Blake, the son of Landon and Ashley Baxter Blake. Cole is months away from going off to college and taking the first steps toward his dream – a career in medicine. But as he starts his final semester of high school, he meets Elise, a mysterious new girl who captures his attention. Elise is set on mending her wild ways and rediscovering the girl she used to be. But not long after the semester starts, she discovers she’s pregnant. Eighteen and alone, she shares her secret with Cole. Undaunted by the news, Cole is determined to support Elise – even if it means skipping college, marrying her, and raising another man’s baby. When Elise decides to place the baby for adoption. But as the due date nears, she becomes focused on one truth – she has two weeks to change her mind about adoption. Elise makes an unexpected decision – one that changes everyone’s plans.

Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

Releases August 6, 2019

Bestselling and award-winning author Lynette Eason returns to close out her Blue Justice series with Vow of Justice – a story that will have you tearing through the pages to get to the stunning conclusion. FBI Special Agent Lincoln St. John is living his own personal nightmare. When the woman he loves, Allison Radcliffe, is killed, he devotes his life to tracking down the killers and making them pay for their crimes. He expected it to be a challenge. What he never expected was to find Allison very much alive shortly after her “murder.” As his anger and hurt mix with relief, Linc isn’t sure how he’s supposed to feel. One thing he does know for sure: he and Allison will have to work together to stop a killer before she dies a second time – this time for good.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

Releases August 6, 2019

Now, we’ve got a little ways to wait for the release of this upcoming book from Dani Pettrey – but something tells us it will definitely be worth it! In The Killing Tide, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime year after a Coast Guard officer is found dead and another missing. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits. When investigative reporter – and Finn’s boss’s sister – Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it. Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

For more great Christian fiction reads coming soon, click here!

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