Book picks similar to
Faith, Hope, and Murder by Elise M. Stone


christian
first-in-series
christian-fiction
free-reads

A Storm of Stories


K.B. Jensen - 2016
    Swerving to avoid a hitchhiker out in a whiteout storm, Julie’s car ends up wedged in a snow bank. With the inches piling higher on the dark road, she can’t escape a man who makes little sense. Stranded in the freezing cold, the two tell stories to pass the time. From the Midwest to India, Denmark and Canada, they offer visions of lives and loves from young to old, far and wide. But as the hours blur together, and the snow and ice set in, it becomes less clear how their own story will end. A tale of love, craziness and impossibility.

Payne & Misery


Catherine Leggitt - 2010
    Mired in boredom, Christine develops a bad reputation for conjuring wild tales to explain ordinary occurrences. Then she meets someone who has true reason to complain, if anyone does.Lila Payne’s life is the mirror opposite of ideal. The plight of this seemingly abused woman gnaws at Christine, but the authorities turn a deaf ear to Christine’s pleas for help on Lila’s behalf.Spurred into action when her beloved dog Molly and Lila both disappear on the same night, Christine dives into a scary pool swirling with muddy secrets and misery. Sensing God at work in the situation Christine continues to search and pray, but even with God’s help, can they save Lila and Molly before it’s too late?

The Fall Of White City


N.S. Wikarski - 2002
    It rivals New York as the city of the century and the epitome of the Gilded Age. This melting pot of thieves and corrupt politicians, robber barons and immigrants is rife with scandal and social injustice. Eccentric heiress Evangeline LeClair and her friend Freddie Simpson find themselves repeatedly drawn into the hidden world of intrigue and murder that lurks beneath the shadows of the White City. THE FALL OF WHITE CITYIn 1893, the entire world has come to Chicago to marvel at the wonders of the Columbian Exposition World's Fair. When a penniless seamstress is found stabbed to death in Chicago's grandest hotel, wealthy and eccentric Evangeline LeClair sets out to discover who is responsible and why. From the slums and factories of the near south side to the wealthy suburbs of the north shore, Evangeline relentlessly tracks down clues that reveal more questions than answers. Inevitably, her amateur detecting draws the attention of someone who would kill to keep his identity a secret. Soon she is racing against time to unmask a murderer before she becomes his next victim!

#1 Bundle of Fun


Lizz Lund - 2014
     Lund's humor hits home with this delectable duo. Some reader ratings include: “…Kitchen Addiction is a "Must Read" light hearted comedy, perfect for the beach or a snowy day in front of the fireplace. You won't want to put it down. I finished the story last night & realized I would miss Mina's adventures. Congrats Ms. Lund, we look forward to your future stories!!” “I absolutely fell in love with this book! The characters are interesting (and all have their own flaws). I never knew what was coming around the next page in the story. I couldn't wait to finish the book so that I knew the who's and why's while never wanting the story to end. I can't wait for the author to publish another novel!” “Lizz Lund is an amazing author! this book [Christmas Bizarre] is both funny and witty! Made me actually laugh out loud :)” “Loved the book. I actually read it over 2 dreary days. Cannot wait for the next one. Lizz Lund is my favorite writer.” KITCHEN ADDICTION! Meet Mina Kitchen, a forty-something single who likes to cook - and cook and cook.  In fact, her zest for whipping up trays of canapés is dwarfed only by her weird luck and mountain-lion size tabby cat, Vinnie.  That, and her godmom's tendency for blackmailing new members into joining St. Bart's.  Okay, maybe Mina's Swiffer-addicted neighbor, Vito, is a bit weird, too.  As if all that wasn't enough, Mina's a Jersey girl transplanted in the midst of the Amish-flavored countryside of Lancaster, PA. Things get really complicated when she learns that her neighbor Vito is in a witness protection program, and her dry cleaner deals in prescription samples. Throw in a few mysterious flaming feces flingers and a fuse box labeled in Arabic, and you have a recipe for catering disorders. Kitchen Addiction! will keep you smiling when you're not LOL-ing.  Set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you'll find a surprising cast of characters, humorous plot twists, red herrings and actual recipes.  Well, some of the recipes are real.  The others you might to take with a pinch of salt, and some Tums.  CHRISTMAS BIZARRE What do Santa’s Sidekick, a dead lawyer and a geriatric vampire have in common? Meet Mina Kitchen – a forty-something single who finds trouble quicker than she can whip up a batch of breakfast breads. Plural. Her catering disorder runs neck-and-neck with her weird luck, and her cat’s weirder tendency toward gnawing elf gear. Okay, and getting kidnapped a couple of times in one week is a little strange, too. Her next door neighbor Vito's past as ex-leader of the Moils, the Jewish-Polish Family from Bumville, New Jersey, comes to light and throws a dollop of dilemmas into an already simmering plot. Top it all off with a counterfeiting ring, a county-wide dearth of holiday wrapping tape, and a mass of pets running loose at the local mall, and what do you have? A recipe for disaster that Mina whips to a froth. Christmas Bizarre will keep you smiling when you’re not shouting up a belly laugh. Set in Lancaster, “Pee-Ay” you’ll discover a lively cast of characters, funny dialogue and lots of twists and turns. Hang on tight – you’re in for a slalom of a holiday ride.

Rhapsody in Red


Donn E. Taylor - 2008
     Preston Barclay is a self-made recluse (and he likes it that way). Teaching college history allows him time to grieve the loss of his pianist wife and find relief from the musical hallucinations that have been playing in his head since her death. But when he and a headstrong colleague, Mara Thorn, discover the body of another instructor on campus, Press's monotonous solitude is shaken up. The preliminary evidence points to Press and Mara. Now they must take some chances, including trusting each other (and bending the rules) to build their own defense. With their unlikely alliance, they must stay ahead of the police, the college's incompetent administration, and whoever is trying to get away with murder. If not, they might end up unemployed, behind bars, or worse . . .

The Family Dictionary


Lisa Walker - 2013
    Quiet, that is, until threatening notes show up to disturb the peace. Trying to discover who is sending the notes leads them to investigate long-dead relatives and a family heirloom, the dictionary passed down through generations. Connie and Rebecca rush to figure out the secrets enclosed in the family dictionary with the help of local cop, Brad Hamilton. But will they find the clues in time?

Middle Finger of Fate


Kim Hunt Harris - 2013
    But Lord have mercy on anyone who has Salem for their last hope, because that girl is a piping hot mess and always has been. Everyone knows that, including Salem.But Salem is trying. She quit drinking, and even started praying. Maybe if she can prove Tony's innocence and find the real killer, it would balance out some of the mistakes she's made in her past -- a past that includes betrayed best friends now bent on vengeance, ex-crushes who were supposed to be old and fat by now, and an ex-husband who might, possibly, not be an ex after all. If Salem can catch a break from reaping all the wild seeds she's sown, she might have a chance to redeem herself.Then again, maybe she should just settle for being a piping hot mess.

First Crush


Ashley Elizabeth Ludwig - 2016
    The search to learn more about her birth family drives Natalie to renovate the dilapidated chateau into a stylish bed-and-breakfast complete with wine tastings amongst beautiful vineyards. But danger awaits her around every corner of the aged home and every lush row of grapes. For twenty-five years a serial killer has left a trail of bodies in his wake. Now the Lakeview Slayer has his sights set on Natalie.  Nick Hardaway never recovered from his sister’s murder—a victim of the Slayer. When news of the killer’s latest murder breaks, Nick grows more determined to make amends for his sister’s death, and joins Natalie in her renovations of the chateau. Natalie may hold the key to capturing the Lakeview Slayer before he kills again, but first the pair must decide if their newfound love is worth dying for.

Invisible


Lorena McCourtney - 2004
    So when vandals romp through the local cemetery, she takes advantage of her newfound anonymity and its unforeseen advantages as she launches her own unofficial investigation.Despite her oddball humor and unconventional snooping, Ivy soon becomes discouraged by her failure to turn up any solid clues. And after Ivy witnesses something ominous and unexplained, she can't resist putting her investigative powers to work again. Even the authorities' attempts to keep Ivy out of danger and her nosy neighbor's match-making schemes can't slow her down. But will the determination that fuels this persistent, quirky sleuth threaten her very safety?

The Love of Grace: Prequel to Married By Fate (Annville Mail Order Brides)


Helen Christian - 2017
    He couldn’t wait to make her his wife and their engagement was the talk of the town. They were good people, wrapped in the love of God, waiting for their happily ever after.If only that were the end of the story...*This story is a Prequel to “Married By Fate"*-

Arranged Marriage (Amish Brides: Book #1)


Samantha Price - 2015
    Everything was arranged. Like every good Amish girl, Miriam knew she should do what her parents wanted. Even though she only had vague memories of the boy who had now turned into a man, she was going ahead with it. When she was reacquainted with him, the only thing she felt was disappointment. There is another Amish man who's taken her attention, and he's shown his interest.Will she have the courage to stop the wedding and ruin her parents plans?Is this new man worth it, or is she in for another let-down?You will love this sweet coming of age Amish romance because it's filled with love, independence, and making the right choices.

Dog Collar Crime


Adrienne Giordano - 2013
    A move that brings her back into the tempting arms of Frankie Falcone, the ex that never fails to make her heart sit up and beg.When Lucie parlays her temporary dog-walking gig into a career making fancy dog accessories, Frankie becomes her number one supporter. Life starts to look like a walk in the park…until three of her bling-wearing clients are dogjacked. Despite help from the on-again, off-again Mr. Fix-It in her life, Lucie is thrown into an investigation that’s more Goodfellas than good doggie. One that could shatter her new life and her second chance at love.

That First Montana Year


Donna L. Scofield - 2015
    But she's a minister’s daughter and pregnant. To save embarrassment for the families, and hoping a fresh start will help them become the sweethearts they were before, B’Anne agrees to leave everyone and everything she knows and go with Will to the Montana Territory. They hope Will's uncle Hiram, whom he has never met, will guide them in their homesteading. Uncle Hiram welcomes Will, but treats B’Anne coolly until he realizes she isn’t a “frills and furbelows” girl. Although Will seems to care for B’Anne, she loses her confidence when she discovers a letter from Will's former sweetheart. Will's secrecy threatens to build a wall between them. Spring arrives, and with it the promise of renewal. But is B’Anne's hope for a fresh start enough to sustain the young couple through the years of hard living under that big Montana sky?

The Prince and I


Julie Sarff - 2015
    One she doesn’t know anything about the modern royal family and has no time to prepare, and two she is named a person of interest in the death of her ex. Under enormous pressure, she goes about her day, trying to do her job and becoming more and more enchanted with the subject of her study. When the Prince gives her a private tour of Holyroodhouse she decides she is definitely smitten. There is no time for romance, however, as Trudy begins to uncover the dark secrets of her ex’s past, and the numerous people who might have wanted him dead.

Good, Clean, Murder


Traci Tyne Hilton - 2013
    But being independent brings big trials, like falling for a handsome professor, dealing with an obnoxious roommate, and then there's the dead bodies...Who knew being housekeeper to wealthy owners of a Roly Burger franchise would mean sweeping up clues to their death, while ministering to the needs of their heirs?This is one big mess that Jane is intent on cleaning up before things get even worse.