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Christian Fiction March 2022
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| Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley ClarkStarring (in dual timelines): Alice, a New Orleans florist still missing her mother, who disappeared years ago during Hurricane Katrina; Clara, a 16-year-old abolitionist and daughter of a Confederate general in 1861 Charleston, S.C.; Rose, Clara's enslaved maid who longs for her young daughter, who was sold a year earlier.
What's inside: sensitive handling of difficult topics, well-integrated faith elements, details about the secret language of flowers, and romance.
Series alert: This is the moving final book in the Heirloom Secrets trilogy. The Dress Shop on King Street is the series starter, and readers may want to begin there. |
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| The Lady's Mine by Francine RiversWhat it is: a charming historical romance and the latest novel by Francine Rivers, author of the ever-popular Redeeming Love.
Thrown out: In 1875, after her wealthy stepfather maneuvers her exit, well-to-do Bostonite Kathryn Walsh has little to her name except a mysterious inheritance from her uncle that's all the way in California.
A fish out of water: In a rough mining town located in the Sierra Nevadas, she obtains her property (a mine claim, a printing press, and a shack), learns her uncle may have been murdered, and gets help from a handsome saloon/hotel owner. But trouble really arrives after she relaunches her uncle's newspaper and makes powerful men unhappy. |
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| In Search of a Prince by Toni ShilohA royal surprise: Brielle "Bri" Adebayo, a 25-year-old New York City teacher, learns she's a princess and heir to an African island kingdom.
A crown...or not? Since the king grandfather she never knew is dying, Bri's eager to learn more about him and her father, who died before she was born. But before Bri can decide if she even wants to rule, political rivals find a stipulation that will force her to marry or give up the throne.
Reviewers say: "a fun, contemporary romance delightfully full of favorite romantic tropes that also conveys serious messages of faith and destiny" (Library Journal). |
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| Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah SundinAmericans in 1940s Paris: Lucie Girard, who's lived in the city for years as a ballerina, buys a bookshop from fleeing Jewish friends, and uses it to pass messages for the resistance; Paul Aubrey, a newly widowed father and automotive manufacturer who stays in Paris because he's asked to by the U.S. military, in order to pass on information.
They meet... and feel drawn to each other, but neither knows if they can trust the other.
Read this next: For other well-researched historical novels set during World War II, pick up Lynn Austin's Chasing Shadows, Kristy Cambron's The Paris Dressmaker, or Tracy Groot's Maggie Bright. |
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| If I Were You by Lynn AustinThe setup: Audrey Barrett, the aristocratic English widow of an American soldier, needs support from the in-laws she's never met and heads to the U.S. with her young son in 1950.
The problem: When she arrives at her in-laws' home, she discovers that Eve, her friend and former maid, who also has a young son, has been impersonating Audrey for nearly four years.
Who it's for: Readers who enjoy sweeping historical fiction dealing with class issues will enjoy this faith-filled tale that includes vivid depictions of World War II-era England. |
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| Bookshop by the Sea by Denise HunterBells and books: With their mother passed on, Sophie Lawson plans her younger sister's wedding -- and she's also prepping for her own dream, opening a bookshop in a North Carolina beach town.
Stormy weather: The groom's best man is Sophie's high school boyfriend, who left her years ago for a job in another state -- but when circumstances force the two to spend time together, they remember how they felt about each other even as a hurricane approaches.
For fans of: second-chance-at-love stories, standalone romances, and quaint small town settings. |
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| A Long Time Comin' by Robin W. PearsonFeaturing: stubborn, secret-keeping Granny B, who raised multiple children alone but isn't close to them now; her pregnant granddaughter Evelyn, who's contemplating leaving the husband who's betrayed her.
What happens: After finding a tucked-away box filled with old letters at Granny B's small North Carolina house, Evelyn becomes determined to help Granny mend fences with her far-flung family before it's too late.
For fans of: amusing, heartfelt debuts; Southern fiction with authentic characters; African American fiction. |
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| Forever My Own by Tracie PetersonWhat happens: In 1871, Kirstin Hallberg leaves Sweden for Duluth, Minnesota, to join her grandmother. But she's shocked to discover her brother, who everyone thought died at sea, alive, living nearby, and wanting her to keep his secret. Meanwhile, Kirstin and her grandmother nurse a bitter young man injured in a logging accident.
Read it for: romance, complex family relationships, themes of forgiveness and trust, and details on the building of Duluth's canal.
Series alert: This is the 2nd novel in the Ladies of the Lake series following Destined for You; the 3rd book is Waiting on Love. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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