Best Inspirational Religious Fiction

Readers of The Five People You Meet in Heaven will recognize the warmth and emotion so redolent of Albom's writing, and those who haven't yet enjoyed the power of his storytelling, will thrill at the discovery of one of the best-loved writers of our time. Nicholas Sparks is the best-selling author of several beloved novels, with over 80 million copies in print worldwide. Nicholas Sparks: We first met years ago, when Tuesdays with Morrie and The Notebook were just out. Tuesdays was the first nonsports thing I had done, and it was written only to pay Morrie’s medical bills. I never imagined novels or the audience I’ve been blessed to find. MA: Five People mostly takes place in heaven, to teach Eddie, the protagonist, to appreciate his life on earth. NS: You wove the story of Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone into this novel. MA: It felt quite natural to weave a mystery—perhaps from all those years’ writing sports that count down and reach a climax. And yes, I definitely think if a town today claimed to be talking to heaven, it would be on twenty-four hours a day on cable news and the Internet. NS: Small towns—like Coldwater in First Phone Call —often paint the backdrop of your novels. MA: I was raised in a small town—local high school, one great pizza place, everyone knowing everyone. But storywise, Five People means a great deal, because everyone told me I was crazy—don’t write a novel.

At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home. Told as a memoir, the novel begins in the middle of Cooper O’Connor’s story as he struggles to get his life together on the streets and in the bars of Leadville, Colo. ' ( Publishers Weekly ). “Another stellar novel from Martin.

As a new tragedy provides Cornelia still more reason to reject her parent’s faith, a mysterious visitor appears in her hour of desperation. Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including the grandmother she adored. Terrie Todd is an award-winning author who has published eight stories with the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, created two full-length plays with Eldridge Plays and Musicals, and writes a weekly faith and humor column for the Central Plains Herald-Leader .

VISION IN WHITE Wedding photographer Mackensie “Mac” Elliot is most at home behind the camera for Vows, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into Carter Maguire—the bride-to-be's brother—in an encounter that has them both seeing stars. “Funny sparks fly...[Roberts’] gentle humor and likable cast will immediately endear this series to readers.”— Publishers Weekly.

Noah, a tribal leader, is a good family man who just wants to be left alone to make a living off the land with his loyal wife, Emzara, and their three rambunctious sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah Primeval and Chronicles of the Nephilim Biblical Fiction Series tells the original story from the ancient past that all began with Genesis 6. Noah Primeval has appendices that provide an explanation of Biblical concepts in the novel such as the Sons of God, Watchers, Nephilim, Giants, Leviathan, and fallen angels. The cinema-like action and suspense will keep you turning pages until you are finished, while the themes and concepts will remain long after you’re done.”. – Bill Myers - Bestselling Author, The God Hater. Noah Primeval is what Tolkien called “sanctifying myth” that we need in our own place and time.”. – Michael S. Heiser, PhD, Hebrew and Semitic Languages. Academic Editor, Logos Bible Software. Noah Primeval has an additional 100 pages of special appendixes that provide an explanation of Biblical concepts in the novel such as the Divine Council, the Nephilim, Leviathan, and the ancient Mesopotamian Cosmography in the Bible. Noah Primeval is written in the spirit of the book of Enoch, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings, blending fantasy and mythopoeia with history to retell the Biblical narrative with a fresh perspective, while staying true to the original spirit of the story.

Mass disappearances Political crisis Economic crisis Worldwide epidemics Environmental catastrophe Military apocalypse. “This is the most successful Christian-fiction series ever.” —Publishers Weekly. “Combines Tom Clancy–like suspense with touches of romance, high-tech flash, and biblical references.” —New York Times. Contains the following titles: #1: Left Behind. #2: Tribulation Force. #3: Nicolae. #4: Soul Harvest. #5: Apollyon. #6: Assassins. #7: The Indwelling. #8: The Mark. #9: Desecration. #10: The Remnant. #11: Armageddon. #12: Glorious Appearing.

When an opportunistic land developer threatens to seize The Hideaway, Sara is forced to make a choice—stay in Sweet Bay and fight for the house and the people she’s grown to love or leave again and return to her successful but solitary life in New Orleans. “Two endearing heroines and their poignant storylines of love lost and found make this the perfect book for an afternoon on the back porch with a glass of sweet tea.” — Karen White , New York Times bestselling author. 'Denton’s first novel charms readers with her idyllic settings and wonderful cast of characters, making Sweet Bay and the Hideaway places readers will dream about. Her exquisitely lyrical writing and character-driven story is a must-read, especially for those who loved Beth Moore’s The Undoing of St. Sylvanus.” ( Library Journal -- Starred Review, DEBUT OF THE MONTH ). In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent.

Jack Vines has the Victorian home of his dreams--or so it seems until he discovers an intriguing beauty lurking in the shadows. When her letters suddenly stop, can he unravel the mystery that threatens to alter both their lives forever? "This novel takes the reader on a voyage of emotions, making for a rich and satisfying conclusion.The final pages tie everything together in a poignant way. -Kirkus Reviews Virginia-born novelist Michelle Kidd enjoys writing about her native state and finds beauty and intrigue in the world around her.

But when her father’s past catches up with them, forces beyond his control draw them back to Dogwood, West Virginia, down a winding path that will change their lives forever. Chris Fabry ( Dogwood )—evangelical fiction author of more than 60 titles and coauthor of Left Behind: The Kid series—offers a lovely, moving, present-day account of sacrifice linking to the famed novel Les Misérables . Johnson, little June Bug's father, is obliged to face his past in short order as a series of unexpected media events force his hand and reroute his life. Fabry's retelling of the world-renowned Victor Hugo tale is a stunning success, and readers will find themselves responding with enthusiastic inner applause. Tyndale, $13.99 paper (350p) ISBN 978-1-4143-1956-8. Chris Fabry (Dogwood)--evangelical fiction author of more than 60 titles and coauthor of Left Behind: The Kid series--offers a lovely, moving, present-day account of sacrifice linking to the famed novel Les Misérables. Johnson, little June Bug's father, is obliged to face his past in short order as a series of unexpected media events force his hand and reroute his life. Readers of Fabry's well-received novel Dogwood (2008) will recognize many of the same themes here: the search for home and family; forgiveness and faith; and the best way to navigate the repercussions of old choices and wrong turns. Familiarity with the Hugo classic, though, certainly isn't required to enjoy this involving novel, and once again, Fabry inserts enough plot twists and dramatic tension to keep readers turning the pages. Some clichéd prose may distract some, but the story of love's infinite power to shape and sustain will draw readers, particularly those seeking fiction with Christian themes.

Compiled in this collector edition are Gideon's Gift, Sarah's Song, Maggie's Miracle, and Hannah's Hope. Karen Kingsbury was previously a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.