Christian Shelves

I'm so grateful that many other readers pointed me toward A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure  by Angela Bell as it was the exact whimsy and joy I was seeking in my books while I was fighting an illness. With Angela being a featured author in the Clearly Christian Readathon  last year, I appreciated being exposed to a new author and a new genre at the same time! Book Synopsis When Clara's ex-fiancé spreads rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all she can do to protect them from society's prejudice. However, that proves to be difficult when her grandfather takes off on a flight of fancy. Thrown together with a vagabond tinker, Clara sets off on a whimsical adventure and finds a love that defies the odds. Source:  Amazon Book Thoughts What a world that Angela Bell has created! It was a sheer pleasure to disappear into her poetic language and escape to a world where a touch of the fantastical borders on the eccentric. Steampunk is a new...

One of my favourite topics in studying Christian theology and missiology is on culture, so this book immediately grabbed my attention. The Culture of God's Word by Harold L. Senkbeil and Lucas V. Woodford is a book that promises exactly what the title specifies. It's also a book where the refrain of “as the word is sown, its culture is grown” is aptly and appropriately repeated throughout, reminding readers that the Bible will always supersede culture. Many thanks to  Baker Publishing Group  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis When It Comes to Spreading the Gospel, Relevance Is Irrelevant A thoroughly biblical approach to social witness and the transformation of souls Reminds us that while we have a part to play in evangelism, it is God who Gives the increase Some fight to recover Christian culture; others abandon any hope of transforming culture. Both mindsets are at odds with the early church. The ...

My new go-to Canadian historical fiction author is quickly becoming Christine Hill Suntz , especially with such engrossing books stemming from the time of Upper Canada. The Heiress and the Woodsman is one such story that explores the powder keg of conditions that allowed rebellion and protest to become more commonplace by the day. Releasing on August 11, 2026, there's plenty of time to immerse yourself in this world by reading Christine's debut of  The Lawyer and the Laundress beforehand (though this is not necessary as the novels are standalone books). Many thanks to  Tyndale House Publishers  and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Charlotte Carruthers must find her brother. Joshua Robertson needs the funds to free his. On the road into the Canadian wilderness, they become reluctant allies in a race to save their siblings before brewing rebellion tears the colony apart. ...

I love that Elizabeth Camden has been venturing into contemporary stories as her meticulous research is a delight to encounter in more recent plots. The first book in the Far and Away series , Meet Me in Virginia , introduces us to the Chadwick family, with Alice kicking things off as our resident history professor with a penchant for Jane Austen. Being a woman of precision and refinement, it's quite fun to see her encounter a swashbuckling hero. I'm excited about what's next in the series as the Chadwick family has its own eccentricities, with the next book coming in spring 2026. Content to be aware of : yoga, a gym scene that readers may be sensitive to Book Synopsis She believes in elegance and tradition. He’s all about grit and smashing through obstacles. Together, they’re a disaster waiting to happen—or the perfect match. Alice Chadwick, a history professor devoted to the genteel values of Jane Austen’s world, has spent her career championing kindness and mannerly com...

If church history intrigues you, 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark W. Graham is an excellent addition to your home library, offering stories from the global church that are not to be missed. Ranging from well-known testimonies to more obscure happenings in farther reaches of the nations, it's a book that will develop your curiosity and cause you to rejoice in God's faithfulness throughout the ages. Many thanks to  Baker Publishing Group  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Discover 30 Remarkably Diverse Stories from the First Thousand Years of the Church Encouraging, inspirational, challenging, and convicting true stories of the global church Sheds light on Western and non-Western church history through stories from a wide variety of cultural, social, and political contexts Offers invaluable insights for our times For many Christians, our understanding of the history of the church ...

I am so overjoyed that I was able to read The Light of Stars by  Jenelle Hovde  as it was everything I hoped it would be, plus even more. I knew going into it that there would be suspense, intrigue, romance, crossing cultures, and science, but the way that everything came together was sheer bliss. A brilliant exposition into biblical justice without sacrificing any elements of the plot, the second book of The Bluestocking Society releases on July 14, 2026 and you'll want to add it to your TBR! Many thanks to  Tyndale House Publishers  and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : self-forgiveness; child abductions; violence toward labourers; references to debauchery, corruption Book Synopsis An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in g...

I read the Lauren Holbrook series by Erynn Mangum decades ago, so it was such a pleasure to discover a more recent novel by her that's set in my favourite city, London. Mind the Gap is definitely a trip you want to take while enjoying a sweet romance 💂 Book Synopsis The best thing to do when all your dreams get crushed? Pack your bags and head to London. Kate Macon has spent her life preparing to be a teacher and six weeks into her dream come true, everything crashes and burns thanks to budget cuts and a hiring freeze. With nothing but bowls of cookie dough and Pride and Prejudice marathons to look forward to, it’s not a hard decision when her grandmother calls and invites her on a trip to London. However, instead of being an escape from reality, London just proves to be a catalyst for bringing out the worst in Kate. All her fears, insecurities and frustration seem to be right in front of everything. And her feisty grandmother, not to mention their quick-witted tour guide, aren...

I've read several books from the Clarkson family over the years with this title being my first from Nathan Clarkson , and it's as creative and thoughtful as I would have expected it to be. I'm the Worst  releases on January 27, 2026 and it's as much an admission of weakness as it is a celebration of God's goodness and strength. Many thanks to  Kregel Publications  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis When it comes to the world's problems, it seems we know who to blame: them. The other party, team, tribe, or belief system. It's natural to ignore the log in our own eye while seeing the specks in others', but it might just leave us all blind and bound. Through personal stories, cultural anecdotes, scientific data, and biblical wisdom, Nathan Clarkson invites you to join him in a different, better way of living―one that begins with admitting our own failures and faults, and leads to ...

With surnames like Austen and Dashwood, you know that the people of Wisteria, North Carolina are just itching for a romance to play out before their eyes. A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is definitely a rude awakening for Daphne, and it's a fun journey that we get to go on as we see a small town band together to support old and new local businesses. Many thanks to  Thomas Nelson Fiction  and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : several New Age references including séances, hauntings, and manifestation; symbols of luck; mentions of speaking to and praying to deceased family members; near conflation of deceased family members to deity Book Synopsis Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival? In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings t...

It's always a pleasure to discover a new-to-me Canadian Christian author, and even more exciting when getting to encounter several cultures as I did in Broken Algorithms by Gloriaea . This new adult book is an interesting foray into the criminal justice system that tackles difficult topics while providing hope along the journey. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : criminal activities, kidnapping of children Book Synopsis All she wanted was a home… Brit has moved from one prison to another since she was eight. Now she’s free and nothing will stop her from getting back her family. Nothing…except the people who tore her life apart. She didn’t need his help. So why was he everywhere? Sam finally has his life on track. Working for the Canadian federal police is miles away from his teenage rebellion. Nothing could prepare him for the petite ex-convict with magnetic coffee ey...

I'm thankful that I was able to read this book during a time when being sick forced me to slow down and realize that I couldn't do much, even if I tried. As a result,  When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simons is the perfect reminder that no matter what season of life I am in, whether it's one full of vigour and energy or one that is depleted where I'm barely hanging on, I can cease striving and rest in the work that Christ has already completed for us. Content to be aware of : mention of the Enneagram, self-forgiveness Book Synopsis Find true freedom and peace for your soul when you discover that God's grace secures what striving never could. In this hustling, image-forward age of opportunity, we feel more anxious than ever. Despite all the affirming memes and self-reflections that dominate social media feeds, approval and worth often seem assigned to what we do rather than who we are. And we end up constantly feeling like we're behind, lacking, and failing—at...

What a special gift to be able to read Love in the Castle Library by  Ann Swindell  following the first book in the series, Christmas in the Castle Library . Having the mystery fresh on my mind made me even more eager to learn what was next for the Lost Queen, with this book answering more questions (and inspiring new ones!).  Now I'm excited for the next installment to find out more in this series 😊 Book Synopsis Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I. Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. T...

This is a devotional for readers who have experienced racial trauma, although Christian practitioners working in this field will also likely find value in the messages of hope and growth in Seeds of Racial Healing  by Sheila Wise Rowe, particularly through its use of rich imagery and storytelling through the Bible. Many thanks to InterVarsity Press and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : self-forgiveness; first-person direct messages from God; contemplative prayer techniques that readers may be unfamiliar with or choose not to practice such as breath prayer and listening prayer Book Synopsis A Spiritual Journey Toward Healing and Justice for Christians of Color You are born from a seed that cannot die. In a world filled with discrimination, racially motivated violence, and miscarriages of justice, hope and joy can feel unattainable, and lies denying your personhood tr...