Another Stellar Group of Christy Award Nominees

May was such a crazy month for me that I completely missed the announcement on May 6 of this year's nominees for the Christy Awards. Created in 1999 by a group of publishers, and named after Catherine Marshall's beloved novel Christy the recognizes excellence in Christian fiction. The awards will be presented at a dinner in Atlanta on July 11, 2011.

As expected, the nominees are the "creme de la creme" among Christian fiction. While I have clear favorites in several of the categories, I am conflicted in others and glad it is not up to me to decide which book should receive the award! Seriously, it would be like choosing my favorite child!

Here are the nominees. Books I have reviewed are hyperlinked to that review.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Blood Ransom
by Lisa Harris (Zondervan)

Indivisible
by Kristin Heitzmann (WaterBrook Press)

Sworn to Protect
by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

CONTEMPORARY SERIES< SEQUELS< AND NOVELLAS
The Reluctant Prophet
by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook) - - I cannot BELIEVE I haven't featured this yet. I will remedy that ASAP. This is an absolutely phenomenal book.

The Thorn
by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Waiting
by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
Almost Heaven
by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

Lady in Waiting
by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

FIRST NOVEL
Crossing Oceans
by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)

Heartless
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

HISTORICAL
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther
by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)

For Time & Eternity
by Allison Pitman (Tyndale House Publishers)

While We’re Far Apart
by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

She Walks in Beauty
by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Within My Heart
by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

SUSPENSE
The Bishop
by Steven James (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Bride Collector
by Ted Dekker (Center Street)

Predator
by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)

VISIONARY
To Darkness Fled
by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Konig’s Fire
by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)

The Last Christian
by David Gregory (WaterBrook Press)

YOUNG ADULT
The Charlatan’s Boy
by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)

The Healer’s Apprentice
by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book
by Nancy Rue (Zondervan) - I have not read this one, but my girl has. After avidly reading every one of Nancy Rue's books for tweens (the Sophie series, the Lily series, the Lucy series) she was thrilled that Nancy wrote a new series for teens. I remember when she finished reading this one, she closed the book, smiled contentedly, and said, "This is the best one she's ever written! When will the next one come out?"


If you're looking for a summer reading list, you can't go wrong with these books! More info to come in the days ahead!