Faith After the Mountain: Parenting Duties, Angels in the Snow, and a Mystery Watch on a Fencepost

by J. C. Ryle

The only classic, old-school nonfiction on the list. J. C. Ryle lays out seventeen responsibilities for Christian parents, and the blurb itself admits there's nothing new in it, which is sort of the point. It's sitting at 4.66 with nearly 1,900 ratings, so plenty of parents have found it worth the short read. Best for anyone who likes their parenting advice direct and rooted in Scripture.

by Heidi Gray McGill

Historical Christian fiction set in 1858 Missouri, following Rachel as she holds onto the promise that joy comes in the morning while her circumstances stay dark. It's book one of a series, and a 4.61 from almost 1,400 readers suggests people stick around for the rest. A good pick if you want a gentle, faith-forward story with some weight to it.

by Rose B. Mashal

Not your typical shelf-mate for a religion list, and honestly the most divisive of the bunch at 4.08 with nearly 2,500 ratings. Marie Archer, an American CEO, ends up tied to a man from the Arab Kingdom of Alfaidya after her brother Joseph comes home engaged to a princess. She's got every reason to loathe him. Readers who love arranged marriage setups and clashing cultures will probably enjoy it, though a couple of reviewers warn that some spoilers slip through.

“***I was provided with a complimentary ARC from the publisher, through Netgalley.com, in exchange for honest feedback.*** When Marie is whisked away by her older brother to attend his rushed wedding to an Arabian princess, she had no idea that the wedding she would be attending was also her own. Nev”

by Hendricks, Jenna

A sweet small-town prequel about Mimi Bensen, who's believed she was the ugly duckling since high school and hasn't noticed she grew into the swan. It sits at 4.28 with over 500 ratings. This is a comfort read for people who want a Montana ranch setting and a makeover-of-the-heart storyline, and it works as a low-risk way to try the Triple J Ranch series.

by Bertie Stein

This one surprised me with how much it packs in. Dex Forrester lost his faith on a mountain in Afghanistan, and Holly has seen angels her whole life, which is a great pairing to throw into the deadliest Christmas either of them has faced. A 4.6 from 236 readers is strong, and one reviewer picked up on the angel who tells Dex that Holly will rescue him. Good for anyone who likes suspense with a faith thread and a holiday backdrop.

“This was an excellent story. One man not believing in anything since Afganistan and then he heard an angel telling him Holly would rescue him. They both belived in angels and their goal was rescuing 5 children that were being trafficked. They found out it was a huge operation and they just went one...”

by Kay DiBianca

A cozy mystery with a hook I like: 27-year-old Kathryn Frasier is training for a marathon in a deserted park when she finds a gold watch on a fencepost, and she's sure it was left for her. At 4.29 with over 300 ratings, it has fans who are practically bouncing, and one reviewer was thrilled to have found a new author and series. If you want a puzzle with a clean, gentle feel, start here.

“Y’all, this book was SO GOOD. Some of you have probably heard that I was really hesitant to read this story at first. I have a tendency to judge books by their covers- if a book has a really pixelated / low quality cover, it really turns me off, because cheap book cover = cheap writing and amazing...”