Book picks similar to
Born to Serve by Charles M. Sheldon


christian
fiction
christian-classics
domesticity

The Bethany Tales: Four Intertwined Stories of Restoration and Hope


Bryan E. Canter - 2020
    Peer into the lives of four people from the village of Bethany—a harlot, a mistress, a beggar, and a leper—as their worlds interweave and collide. Throughout similar circumstances, they each have unique and personal encounters with Jesus. Along the way, they learn what it means to experience authentic relationships, genuine community, and true faith. These emotionally charged stories reveal people who struggle with the same kinds of life issues that we all encounter today—feelings of loneliness, guilt, inadequacy, betrayal, and despair. Yet their interactions with Jesus bring profound changes to the way that they view their world, each other, and themselves. These four tales use the creative gift of imagination to explore what each of these men and women might have been thinking and feeling, while remaining true to the biblical accounts and consistent with life in first century Israel. So come on a journey that will challenge you, inspire you, and like these characters from Bethany, leave you forever changed.

What We Had


Jacalyn Wilson - 2016
    From the foothills of North Carolina to the mountains of West Virginia, Birdie weaves her story with homespun simplicity, creating a tapestry that vibrates with the colors and textures of her life and times, spinning a tale from the years before the Great Depression on up through the end of World War II. Enthralled by her first taste of womanhood, she follows her heart with the man of her dreams, only to find that life is not fair. Or perfect. Or easy. Will she find the courage to risk everything in order to reclaim what she once had?

Nobody’s Child


LaShonda Bowman - 2016
    But she's not looking for a happy and tearful reunion.After a life of pain, loneliness and neglect, Makayla wants revenge.Her search leads her to Robin Jones, but she’s nothing like the monster Makayla imagined. While pursuing her mission to destroy Robin’s life, Makayla comes to know, and even love her.But by the time she realizes her mistake, her plan for payback has already been set in motion, leaving Makayla helpless to stop it.With disaster looming, Makayla needs help. The kind only God can give. What she doesn't realize is, she's going to need Him for a lot more than that.Because Robin's life isn't the only one about to be blown to pieces. There's a secret Makayla doesn't know. A secret worse than anything she experienced in her past. A secret that will change her life forever.

Archer Sisters of Goldrush 3 Book Box set


Faye Sonja - 2015
    Adeline Archer is twenty-five and she is DESPERATE!She needs to run from the luxury she's known in New York.Their affluent lifestyle is at an abrupt end! Now her father has taken his own life, leaving either Adeline or her younger sisters commanded to marry to Lex Baxtor- the man they hated most!Well . . . so she needs an ESCAPE PLAN - to become a Mail order Bride with a strict no-love policy. Perfect!Gold Rush . . . and James Blair, are her ONLY option.What will happen in a marriage when two hearts committed to a strict-no-love policy?Will they go through with the annulment they think they want?AMELIA - The Idealistic Bride for Her Insecure Rancher ~ Book 2Amelia Archer is almost twenty - a romantic artist and DREAMER by nature...As a matter of fact, she's imagined her wedding day for as long as she can remember.Along with a wonderful wedding, her thoughts had often to be with her one true love. The touching and poetic letters from Jack Blair have had Amelia's heart in a spin and she knows he's the perfect husband for her.Everything had worked out perfectly well......well... until reality struck...What will happen when Amelia comes crashing down to earth on a ranch which is more rustic than she expected and nowhere near as romantic as she imagined?Dashing Jack Blair loves the ranch but hates ranching. He's insecure about his future and maybe a bride can help give him hope for the future.Will he choose his own bride for love and not for her ability to further the family empire?AVERILL- The Careful Bride for Her Impulsive Sheriff ~ Book 3Averill Archer is eighteen, an intellect, careful and YEARNING for a NEW FUTURE to fulfill all her ambitions . . . and at the same time to fulfill her sister's escape plan.If she must marry, she will do so with a man to match her bright and active mind. When well-written letters arrive from Jacob Blair,. she's EXCITED and absolutely POSITIVE he's the one for her.But there's a problem . . . . .Averill Archer hates liars and drinkers!What will happen if her future husband - Jacob Blair is both a liar and a drinker?Jacob can't read or write and doesn't believe he can ever learn.Being impulsive and hot-headed, his main answer to problems is a bottle of booze.Will Averill's discovery about Jacob's lies and deceit over the letters that captured her heart and his pig-headedness be the end of budding young love?The Big Feisty Bride tamed by Her Scarred Banker ~ BONUS STORY: Book 1 in

Past Forward: Volume VI


Chautona Havig - 2013
     When Willow Finley awakes on a hot summer morning, she is unprepared for the grief that awaits her. Jerked from a life of isolation with her mother, Willow learns what alone really means when she finds her mother still in her bed, never to awaken again in this life. From the moment Willow arrives in the police station with her startling announcement, Chad Tesdall fights the friendship he knows he can't avoid. Follow Willow's life, Past Forward. The many changes that have taken place over the past few years slowly reverse as Chad and Willow find a comfortable groove for their little family. But amid the good and wholesome, something--or someone--foreboding lurks in the shadows, threatening the tranquility of their home and lives. When Becca feels threatened, Josh wants something done and now. In the weeks before Becca's wedding, Willow finds her life turned upside down by a very pregnant Aggie and her nine children--yep. Nine! Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and work, Willow finds herself struggling with more than just the excess dishes and laundry. Amid all of life's upheavals, the changes at Walden Farm continue, but when tragedy and loss arrive, they help the Tesdalls determine what is most important to their family, bringing Chad and Willow closer than ever. Volume 6 is the final volume in the Past Forward Series. Look for more about Chad and Willow in its sister series, HearthLand. Past Forward is a serial novel originally released in individual episodes.

...And Family Drama Just Won't Stop


Daniel Whyte III - 2011
    How will these church families handle the sins of their past and the challenges that life is giving them?Stacy Wilmington is on her way to college when a devastating secret from her father’s past threatens to ruin her relationship with him and causes her to commit a sin of her own. In hiding his past for so long, will Stacy’s father lose the two most important people in his life — his wife and his daughter?Terrence Montague, a man committed to providing for his wife, Stella, and daughter, Monica, finds himself caught up in an illegal drug delivering business that he knows is against the law and against his Christian convictions. Will he choose to love God and be true to his family over loving money?Meanwhile, the new assistant pastor of New Mt. Zion Missionary Evangelical Church, Dwayne Reynolds, believes he has left his past behind…only to discover that it has found him again. Will he choose to face it head on or hide it from the congregation that has come to love and trust his family? In the middle of all this drama, is Reynolds’ son, Jonathan, and Montague’s daughter, Monica. What does the future hold for them?

A Harvest Bond


Lee Tobin McClain - 2017
    Healthy living, working his Pennsylvania farm, and mentoring troubled boys have brought him back from grief and illness into a whole new life. Emily Stern has recovered from losing her husband too young, and she can’t wait to get started on her dream: creating a rural retreat for struggling midlife women. The farm she’s inherited is the perfect place, so much so that she’s willing to move across the country to make it happen. But when Emily arrives at the Covenant Farm, she’s shocked to find her long-ago love, John Moretti, living there… and contemplating very different plans for the place. Forced to compromise by staying at the farm together, they quickly realize there’s still a spark between them. But only John knows what else stands between them: a secret that could break Emily’s heart. Jump into the final novella of the Sacred Bond series… a touching love story about sowing, reaping, and gathering in the harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. John 4:36

The Zion Covenant Books 4-6


Bodie Thoene - 1993
    Book 4: Jerusalem InterludeBook 5: Danzig PassageBook 6: Warsaw Requiem

Called to Battle: A Supernatural Thriller of Heart-Pounding Mystery & Suspense (A Christian Thriller Series Book 1)


J. Henry Watson - 2021
    But now, the winds have changed; sin has become rampant and drug dealers rule.Dark powers lurking in the shadows threaten to destroy anyone standing in the way of their plans. The evil hits its mark when the police discover Jim with a smoking gun in his hand and the body of a church member on the floor. Jim soon finds himself at the epicenter of a courtroom drama that is fought not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual realm.The opposition is ruthless, but with Jim’s guidance and godly wisdom, a small team of ordinary people come together with only their faith and willingness to fight the good fight. Victory seems impossible, but with God’s power made accessible to them, they just might be able to reclaim the battlefield. But will it be enough to win the war?This gripping murder mystery, inspired by real events in the author’s life, offers keen insight into spiritual warfare, the reality of evil, and the power of prayer. If you enjoy a great legal thriller or suspense novel from Christian fiction authors like Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti and Joel Rosenburg, don’t miss this heart-pounding novel from J. Henry Watson.★ Scroll Up Now To Buy A Copy Today ★From the ForewordIf anyone understands spiritual warfare, it’s Pastor J. Henry Watson.In this compelling supernatural thriller, he weaves together his real life experiences and keen spiritual insights into a non-stop legal battle centered around a small New England congregation. From the opening pages, the reader is swept up into the mystery and suspense as a team of dedicated Christians work together to solve a puzzling case of attempted murder.Buckle up for a “can’t put it down” roller-coaster ride featuring plot twists, surprising suspects and unlikely heroes. With each turn of the page, you’ll not only be entertained but inspired by the power of prayer and the value of friendship.I’ve been privileged to know J. Henry and his wife Kristin for several years. I have witnessed their faith under fire, and their tremendous courage in the face of tragedy. When J. Henry writes about the challenges of the pastorate, local politics and the legal system, he draws from a deep well of both pain and purpose.Anyone who enjoys reading Christian fiction books will love this “courtroom drama meets supernatural thriller.” I highly recommend to you both the message and the messenger.Donna PartowAuthor of more than 30 bestselling Christian books including Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be

Henry and the Great Society: A novel


H.L. Roush - 1997
    Man's longing for paradise.

Mail Order Bride: A Discarded Bride for the Bachelor Brothers


Emma Morgan - 2018
    So when Melrose Stephens sweeps her off her feet with a whirlwind marriage proposal, she feels like she has finally found happiness. But life has more pain in store for Sarah, and again she is left alone. With no hope in her heart, she accepts an offer to travel west as a mail order bride. But when she arrives at the home of her intended, she finds herself rejected again. Jed Jackson lives on a sprawling farm with his five brothers and elderly aunt. He needs a wife to help tend to house and its needs, but he did not expect Sarah—or rather, he did not expect her to be scarred. Jed is unwilling to accept Sarah’s disfigurement, but Sarah is ready for a new life. She has given up on love, and she convinces the family to let her stay on and assist the aunt in running the house. Soon, Sarah finds herself growing closer to her new family. And as one door closes, she discovers that another one has opened.

Snow Country


Kristin Neva - 2016
     JILTED THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER WEDDING, Beth Dawson escapes sunny California for the snowy Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where a young State Trooper challenges her to let go of her rules for Christian courtship. Her domineering mother chides her to stay single and wants her to talk her ailing grandmother into moving to Los Angeles. COPPER ISLAND averages over 200 inches of snow annually. The fictional towns of Douglass and Quincy mirror the actual towns of Houghton and Hancock, and although the names of businesses and persons are imaginary, the history, landmarks, and spirit of the region described in the novel are real. Reader praise for Snow Country: “Her novels—and the characters that live in them—are endearing and wholesome. But they’re also so real, full of healthy grit, humor, flaws and appetites. She creates an authentic Yooper world that I think other readers, including those who don’t know anything about life in da UP, will find as fascinating as I do.” (Cyndi P.) "Kristin Neva’s fiction invites the reader to consider the weightier questions of life and offers wise insights to ponder. It’s not just entertainment – it’s worth your time. Snow Country offers a fascinating look into the local culture of an isolated part of the United States. With surprising, yet believable characters and storyline twists, it is at once captivating, suspenseful, funny, and reflective. The light-hearted scenes balance some very intense – but real-life – drama. (It may be more believable to those of us who have lived in the unique cultural landscape. Outsiders beware: truth IS stranger than fiction!) More than a romance novel, it is a story of life in its many complexities: family loyalties and secrets, faith, vocation, AND love.” (Alexandra L.) “Fun book, and with a message or two! The characters and conflicts feel real.” (Dan R.) About the Author: KRISTIN NEVA grew up in an old farmhouse on Copper Island in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula where the hard-working, rugged residents persevere through harsh winter weather, sustained by friendship and family, surrounded by natural beauty. As an adult, she lived in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas for seventeen years before returning to her hometown with her husband and two children. Kristin’s first book, Heavy, co-authored with her husband, Todd, journeys through the first year after Todd’s ALS diagnosis as the Nevas struggle to find meaning, hold on to faith, and discover joy in the midst of pain. It is this life experience that brings authenticity to Kristin’s fictional works as she explores themes of love, loss, and faith on Copper Island. Learn more about Kristin and explore Copper Island at KristinNeva.com.

Jason Apsley's Second Chance


Adrian Cousins - 2021
    Struggling with life which is exacerbated by his negative attitude.A random event shifts time, causing Jason to continue life in 1976, six months before he's due to be born. Leaving behind Beth, his one and only friend who supported him through some difficult times. Can life get any worse?Although Jason is the same person, he finds himself teleported into the life of another Jason Apsley from a different generation, one with a very different outlook on life. All alone, Jason tries to enlist the support of his grandfather on this turbulent journey and finds he has to adapt quickly as every encounter brings further head-spinning challenges.But what of Beth, his one true friend who suffered a traumatic childhood. Will Jason be brave enough to seize this opportunity to change her past?Can Jason change the future and become more like other Jason, or will time refuse to bend?Will Jason learn from his past and take this second chance?

The Journey to the Inner Chamber: Discovering the Treasure of the Universe


Rocky Fleming - 2006
    Why is this? It is because there is something stirring deep within their being, telling them that there is more that God wants to show them about Himself and there is more of Him that they desperately need in order to answer those questions. The Journey to the Inner Chamber is a creative novel that introduces a path of discovery that will lead the reader to the answer for many of those questions.

Dinner With a Perfect Stranger / Day With a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering


David Gregory - 2005
    Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.………….."You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe." He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."…………. As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever. From the Hardcover edition.