Into the Fire

Contemporary Romance
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson (Thomas Nelson)

Contemporary Standalone
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)

First Novel
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen (Bethany House Publishers: a Division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Howard Books: a Division of Simon & Schuster)

Visionary
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Young Adult
North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

In red are the novels I’ve read. I continue to wonder why they don’t make a separate category for “literary” novels. Putting Lost Mission in Suspense robs other true suspense nominees of a more valid competition. Winter Haven by Athol Dickson was real suspense. This novel is not. River Rising, another of Athol’s Christy Award winners, competed against Robert Liparulo’s Comes A Horseman. The two novels couldn’t be more opposite. Robert writes thrillers that more easily fit into Suspense than River Rising which was really a thoughtful literary novel about racism.

So glad to see Lisa Samson’s The Passion of Mary-Margaret win. Such a profound novel.

Lord, for all your people who write for you: bless them with true communion with you and more stories to demonstrate who you truly are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.