Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays: The Christy Nominees

It's time once again for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday with My Friend Amy, and if you'd like to participate, feel free to check out her blog post with this weeks question as seen here.


The 2009 Christy Award Nominees were recently announced. Today's assignment is to look at the list of nominees and share with us whether or not you have read any of them. If you haven't read that particular novel, have you read anything by that author? Have you read all of the books in any category? What are your favorite books on the list? Are there any books you haven't heard of?

And, I'm just throwing this out there, but I think one year there was a Christy challenge. A reading challenge is basically when you choose books off a pre-set list or around a theme to read within a certain time frame. Does anyone know if this is still going on? If it's not, would anyone be interested in joining in on one? I'd be willing to host it. And lastly, I'm working on Faith 'n Fiction Saturday having our own awards for books!

The Christy Nominees:

Titles that I have read are in BOLD print.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren • Tyndale House Publishers
Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney • David C. Cook

Beyond the Night was a really good book, and the only one I've read by Marlo Schalesky, but it definitely makes me want to read more by her. I've not read any by Claudia Mair Burney, but I have a couple of her books on my shelf. I've read a number of books by Susan May Warren, and one from the same series that Finding Stefanie is from. I enjoyed them all.

CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS
Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Summer Snow by Nicole Baart • Tyndale House Publishers
You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman • FaithWords

I've read almost every Robin Jones Gunn book there is, and all of the Sisterchicks books. All were good, but like most readers I have my favorites. *g* I have not read anything by Nicole Baart, but have heard many good things about her books. I have read some of Tracey Bateman's books - and I enjoy her lit books as much as her historicals.

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
Dogwood by Chris Fabry • Tyndale House Publishers
Embrace Me by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson
Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas • Moody Publishers

I've not read any of these books, and the only author that I've read of the three is Lisa Samson. I just loved her Hollywood Nobody series.

FIRST NOVEL
Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake • David C. Cook
Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler • Bethany House Publishers
Safe at Home by Richard Doster • David C. Cook

I've not read any of these authors, but all of these books look interesting.

HISTORICAL
Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley • B&H Publishing Group
Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers
Washington’s Lady by Nancy Moser • Bethany House Publishers

I've become more of a contemporary reader as of late and have not had the opportunity to read any of these books. I have read at least one of Lynn Austin's other books in the past, as well as a handful by Nancy Moser.

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy • Barbour Publishers
From a Distance by Tamera Alexander • Bethany House Publishers
The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen • B&H Publishing Group

I've not read any by these ladies, but I do have books by both Mary Connealy and Tamera Alexander on my shelf.

SUSPENSE
By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer • Tyndale House Publishers
The Rook by Steven James • Revell
Winter Haven by Athol Dickson • Bethany House Publishers

I've read all of these books, and I really cannot choose a favorite from among them. They all are very good but just in different ways. Randy Singer is an author whose books I always make it a priority to read. The two books I've read by Athol Dickson were just so unique - they definitely make you think, and they both had such an ethereal quality about them if you know what I mean. The Rook is the only book I've read by Steven James but I look forward to reading more by him.

VISIONARY
The Battle for Vast Dominion by George Bryan Polivka • Harvest House Publishers
Shade by John B. Olson • B&H Publishing Group
Vanish by Tom Pawlik • Tyndale House Publishers

I've not read any of these, but I have heard many good things about both the authors and the books themselves.

YOUNG ADULT
The Fruit of My Lipstick by Shelley Adina • FaithWords
I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke • Moody Publishers
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

I love YA books, but I haven't have a chance to read any of these yet. I do have one Shelley Adina book on my shelf.