Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

Jul - Dec 2023

Over the next six months, there will be a new genre to read from each month.

Some genres will be more specific than others. If you need help brainstorming books that work for any given genre, go ahead and ask. Our members are usually really great about tossing ideas out there.

Options:
Sample Platter: 1-3 book from each genre
Brunch: 4-6 books from each genre
Full Meal: 7+ books from each genre

Rules
* no page minimum
* rereads are allowed
* any format is allowed

July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character
August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old (share the age of the MC's child)
September - Fantasy
October - WWI
November - Western > set in Texas
December - Christmas > set in New England

Andrea

Brittany

Carissa
Carolyn
Crystal

Georgann

Jenn

Karen
Kate
Katrina
Kim

Lauri
Lydia
Lynnette

July's category is Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character.

I don't have specific examples just now, but I know Kim Vogel Sawyer has several Mennonite books. Perhaps one or two might feature a widow or widower lead.

Any other suggestions from the group?

I'm in for one from each category.

JULY - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character
The Tapestry of Grace (forgot date in notes)
Augusta (widow) and Konrad (widower)

AUGUST - Women's Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old
As Bright as Heaven 8/16/23
Pauline; daughters Evelyn, teen; Maggie, 12-14; Willa, 7-14

SEPTEMBER - Fantasy
The Wishing Game (GM) 10/16/23

OCTOBER - WWI
Yours is the Night 12/10/23

NOVEMBER - Western > Set in Texas
-

DECEMBER - Christmas > set in New England
-

Thanks for continuing this Andrea! I'm in for Sample Platter 1-3 from each genre. Will be first finishing my last 2 genres from Part 1.

July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character


August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old


September - Fantasy
(9/20/23) (9/20/23) (9/22/23)

October - WWI
(11/13/23)

November - Western > set in Texas
(12/10/23)

December - Christmas > set in New England

In for Sample Platter with a goal of one per month.

July-Mennonite Widow or Widower leading character


August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old
Lead character that fit for this challenge was Bekah, who is 13 years old.



September-Fantasy


October- WW1

November-Set In Texas

December-Christmas reads set in New England
(These are the states that comprise New England:
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont)

Also, is the first book in a two part series, and fits this category perfectly. After an EMP hits, a Mennonite community is shaken to its core. The main character is a young Mennonite widow. It's suspenseful for sure!

Genre Surprise, Part 2 | Jul - Dec 2023
Sample Platter: 1-3 book from each genre

July - Mennonite Widow or Widower leading character Lillian becomes a widow, but doesn't remain so very long.
August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old
September - Fantasy
October - WWI (World War I)
November - Western > set in Texas
December - Christmas > set in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

I'm in for a sample platter again.

July (Mennonite widow/widower 'lead') ~ When Hope Blossoms (finished 26 July)
August (women's fiction with a lead character who has a child under 16) ~ Like the Wind (finished 30 August)
September (fantasy) ~ The Light Princess (finished 11 September)
October (WWI) ~ High as the Heavens (finished 29 October)
November (Western set in Texas) ~ A Nanny for the Rancher's Twins (finished 22 November)
December (Christmas book set in New England) ~ Can This Be Christmas? {GM some language} (finished 16 December)

Crystal wrote: "Also, is the first book in a two part series, and fits this category perfectly. After an EMP hits, a Mennonite community is shaken to its core. The main character ..."

That book looks very interesting! Thanks so much for the recommendation Crystal! I'll be reading it!

I could find some good looking books with widows as the leading character but they were all Amish not Mennonite.

Andrea, KVS is a GREAT suggestion for this July genre! I haven't even gone through her entire catalogue yet, and have already come up with 3 great options for the challenge: Bygones, When Mercy Rains, When Hope Blossoms, the last of which I will be reading for this month's challenge.
I'm quite confident anyone going through the rest of her books are likely to find even more!

I’m in!

July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character
I read , and though it is Mennonite the main characters are not widow/widower…unless I missed something. I’ll try to find another option for this challenge.
Then I read , but the Mennonite single mom is not a widow, so still doesn’t fit this challenge.
Finally, last day of the month I finished and it has both a Mennonite widow and widower. Challenge complete! Great book..I really enjoyed it.

August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old (share the age of the MC's child)
Tonya’s daughter, Emma, is 13

September - Fantasy
I do not recommend this book.

October - WWI


November - Western > set in Texas


December - Christmas > set in New England
(in Dashing Through the Snow the train goes through Connecticut)
GM GM, Content

I'm in for Sample Platter: 1-3 book from each genre


July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character
1. (Aug 12/23)

August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old
1. (Aug 25/23)
Amy age 12, daughter of leading character Cassie Carter

September - Fantasy
1. (Oct 15/23)

October - WWI
1. (Oct 12/23)

November - Western > set in Texas

December - Christmas > set in New England

I am thinking of reading the following for July:

I'm in.

I’m in for sample platter (1-3/genre)

July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character
August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old (GM content/language)
September - Fantasy
October - WWI
November - Western > set in Texas
December - Christmas > set in New England

Crystal wrote: "Also, is the first book in a two part series, and fits this category perfectly. After an EMP hits, a Mennonite community is shaken to its core. The main character ..."

Do you know if book two also features her as a lead? I've already read book one, but book two is in my to-be-read list.

Kate wrote: "Andrea, KVS is a GREAT suggestion for this July genre! I haven't even gone through her entire catalogue yet, and have already come up with 3 great options for the challenge: Bygones, ..."

Thanks for the tips on specific titles, Kate!

Andrea wrote: "Crystal wrote: "Also, is the first book in a two part series, and fits this category perfectly. After an EMP hits, a Mennonite community is shaken to its core. The..."

Andrea - from what I saw, it looks like she is the lead in book two as well.

I'm in! Will try to see how many times I can get a book or books read in a category.

December - Christmas > set in New England (Vermont)

Thanks, Karen!

I’m in for the sample platter

I’ll be working

Andrea wrote: "Crystal wrote: "Also, is the first book in a two part series, and fits this category perfectly. After an EMP hits, a menonite community is shaken to its core. The..."

Sorry I'm just seeing your question! Yes, she is the main character in the second book as well.

Kate wrote: "Andrea, KVS is a GREAT suggestion for this July genre! I haven't even gone through her entire catalogue yet, and have already come up with 3 great options for the challenge: Bygones, ..."

Thanks for sharing these suggestions! I'm going to read

Thanks, Crystal!

I'm in I just don't know if I'm going to get July's as I'm not fond of the genre.
July - Mennonite > Widow or Widower leading character-didn't get
August -August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old didn't get
September -Fantasy- Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham
October -WWI (World War I)- didn't get
November -Western > set in Texas-
December - Christmas > set in New England-Vermont-

Andrea wrote: "

Andrea

Brittany
Carolyn
Crystal

Georgann

Jenn

Karen
Kate
Katrina
Kim

Lydia
Lynnette"

I’m in for sample platter (1-3/genre) I have 'when hope blossoms' for the first read.

Welcome, ladies!

Can they be Amish instead? Or some characters Amish and others Mennonite?

The main character who is the widow or widower must be Mennonite.

Finished The Alliance

Great job!

Andrea wrote: "Great job!"

Thank you ☺️

As did several others, I read The Alliance. And no, the MC is not a widow, so it doesn't really fill the bill, but I'm out of time to find and read another, so I'm calling it "close enough!"

Thanks for the tip. Good to know that book doesn’t fit the task. I’ll likely read a Kim Vogel Sawyer one that does when I have time (probably in August).

I’ll read .

I will eventually be reading Waiting for Summer's Return

Great!

I finished When Hope Blossoms just now and absolutely loved it!

Great job!

I finished Waiting for Summer's Return

Great job!

Andrea wrote: "Great job!"
Thank you ☺️

August - Women’s Fiction > leading character has a child under 16 years old

Participants' List

Which book will you read? Please share what age the main character's child is when you post your finished book.

Andrea, what exactly is considered Women’s Fiction?
Would ChickLit qualify?

I will jump in for August. Couldn't do last moth's challenge.

Lynnette Cantrell wrote: "Andrea, what exactly is considered Women’s Fiction?
Would ChickLit qualify?"

Women's Fiction is usually a bit heavier in tone than Chick Lit, though some qualify as both. If you're unsure, I would say see if Women's Fiction is a main-page genre of the book.

Some examples of Women's Fiction books that have an MC with at least one child under 16 are:

Welcome, Lauri!