My name is Chimezie and I’m a ravaging reader. Once my eye is set on a book, I won’t rest until I’m done with it. I love books because they expand not just my vocabulary but also my mindset and how I see life as a whole. When you read, there’s either an addition or subtraction to your wealth of knowledge in one way or another, and most of the time both actions happen at the same time.
In 2020, when I decided to take my Christian faith seriously, I knew that I needed to sieve the books that I read. It hurt so bad because I thought that I’d never find books that would tickle my imagination like the secular ones, but I was wrong! Here are just a few that I’ll love to share with you;
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
This is a story of Prophet Hosea and Gomer in the Bible. When I first heard this story as a Christian Religious Studies (CRS) student in secondary school, I thought that Hosea was just the unluckiest man of his time, I threw stones at his wife Gomer for being a wicked wife but after I read Francine River’s book on the same story, it shifted my lens just so that I would see a bit of myself in Gomer.
Gomer was a prostitute who didn’t feel worthy enough to be the wife of a prophet much more a prophet as pure as Hosea. This story made me see the love of God in the most bountiful ways and it was the first book that made me promise to read all of Francine Rivers’ novels at least before I die. The book was adapted into a movie in 2022 with Abigail Cowen and Tom Lewis as the main characters.
2. The Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers
The Mark of the Lion is a trilogy; a collection of three books with related characters. It starts with A Voice in the Wind, the story of a Jewish Christian slave girl called Hadassah and a Roman aristocrat named Marcus. The book is set in 70 A.D. when the persecution of the early Christians was an everyday form of entertainment. It’s a romance novel that touches on strong themes such as love, contentment, faith, and family.
The second book is Echo In The Darkness, which continues the story of Hadassah through the eyes of Marcus. Marcus struggles with his own metamorphosis but later finds satisfaction in the strangest places. The last book, As Sure As Dawn is the thrilling conclusion of Marcus and Hadassah’s story but with a new character named Artetes. It’s a story of a German warrior who is searching for his lost son, a son that he once rejected and left for dead.
3. The Chance by Karen Kingsbury
The Chance is a story about childhood friends, Ellie and Nolan who made quite an impossible promise to each other in the foolishness of their childhood. This promise becomes almost impossible to fulfill as life begins to happen to them, reality came knocking and the only memory of the childhood friendship that they shared was bound up in an impossible promise. Karen Kingsbury is another Christian fiction author that is out of this world, when I saw that some of her books were highly recommended by Francine Rivers, I jumped in and since then I’ve never looked back.
4. The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar
The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar is a Babylonian story about Keren, a daughter of Jewish captives who was later sold as a help to Daniel’s household in order to make ends meet. She becomes closely knit to the family and becomes one of Daniel’s most trusted scribes, her path intertwines with Jared, the best friend of one of Daniel’s sons. An unfortunate accident happens that tears them apart, they hid under their hurt and dismay not knowing that God was working out a bigger picture to fulfill a long-lost prophecy through them.
5. A Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers
A Bridge to Haven resonated with me in subtle ways so much so that I don’t think that it’ll be easy to forget. It’s a tale of many temptations, grace, and unconditional love and it all revolves around a red-haired woman named Abra. The story wraps around her quest for fame and the many mistakes that she made while she sought a name for herself. She found all that wanted in Hollywood but it became a snare rather than a comfort. However, as a result of a daring friendship, the Lord helps her get the best out of life in places where she never imagined.
6. Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar
Jewel of the Nile is a historical fiction that plots the details of Charline’s life, who was raised as an orphan by her aunt. I loved how Tessa Afshar was able to weave the story to encapsulate the biblical Ethiopian Eunuch, John the Beloved and you also get to see his fictional daughters too. The story was set in Cush and the Roman Empire, I loved that she made us see through the inner conflict of Charline who is the product of a forbidden love story between a royal Cushite official and the daughter of a high Roman Official.
If I say that it’s only these novels that changed my life then I’ll be telling lies, truth be told Christian fiction and all the anointed authors have challenged my faith with their personal stories and their books too. Forsake every thought that tells you that Christian fiction is boring, my dear, that’s a very big lie, start with my list first and see for yourself.
You can recommend more Christian fiction in the comments, I’ll love to see it, and if you’ve read any of the books in my list do well to tell us how much you love it in the comments.
P.S: I’m reading presently a compilation of novellas by Francine Rivers titled, Sons of Encouragement, I just finished reading The Priest, and now I’m reading, The Warrior.
Once again, kindly let me know the Christian Fiction you’re currently reading and if you’ll need recommendations don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments!
Wow, nice books and also interesting novels
Keep it up dear. I am also looking forward for more. Thanks
Thank you ma ❤️
Chimezie steps into the Rivers and finds out her reservations about Christian novels were farce. As with our fears when God tells us to do something “new”.
(Did you see the puns and rhythms in these lines 🤧😩😂)
Ahhh! Francine Rivers, my darling. Then Karen Kingsbury (I remember writing a letter to this woman after reading the Baxter Family series, weeping and repenting and longing. I sha posted the letter to my diary🤧)
But have you read the Elsie Dinsmore series???😭😭
Please, do.😩🤲 It’s Father-daughter love book and romance later on as she grew of marriageable age.
Cheers.🥂
Honestly, Francine Rivers is literally one of my greatest discoveries 🥺🤗
And yes I’ll check out your Karen Kingsbury recommendations 🥺🙌🏻
Thank you so much Lily
Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury are amazing authors, for real.😩❤️ My current read is Forever and Ex by Victoria Christopher Murray and her books are equally amazing.✨❤️
I’ll check it out 🥺🥺 Thank you
And yessss, Francine Rivers and Karen are really good 🥺