If you read this blog, you’re probably a reader! So, rather than offer you platitudes about handling this pandemic (there are enough of those out there, right?), let me share with you *some* of my favorite Christian authors, by genre. I’d love to hear from you, as well. Which authors do you recommend?

Contemporary Fiction

Katherine Reay: Reay writes for readers – especially those of us who love the classics. Her books are thoughtful, engaging, and heartfelt. I have loved every one of them!

Denise Hunter: Sweet, clean romance at its finest, Hunter’s books are hard to put down!

Dani Pettrey: Her Alaskan Courage series is one my favorites – romantic suspense at its best.

Jeanette Windle: Lesser known, but SO good, Windle’s books are set all over the world. She draws on her experience as a missionary to deal with very real issues. The plots are fast-moving, and the locations are unique.

Historical Fiction

Francine Rivers: Her Mark of the Lion series is so amazing. It’s one of those you can reread a dozen times and still enjoy. And she has so many other brilliant works, as well.

Jen Turano: Historical “chick lit”, Turano’s heroines are spunky and unexpected. Her books just make me smile.

Julie Klassen: If you love Jane Austen, you’ll love Julie Klassen. These Regency romances have everything Austenites crave.

Tamera Alexander: I’m a sucker for books set in the Old South. Alexander’s Belle Mead Plantation series, set in Nashville, has so much to love. I’m transported to that era with every word.

Fantasy/Science Fiction

CS Lewis: I love everything about CS Lewis, and truthfully, he can be included in every one of these categories. But his Space Trilogy is so fantastic and so underappreciated. This is a brilliant work of science fiction, well worth the time and effort it takes to read it.

Ted Dekker: His Circle Trilogy is, for me, an absolute favorite. I don’t love his more recent works, to be honest, but these – and the books he wrote with Erin Healy (also terrific) – are SO GOOD.

Bill Myers: He’s another that could be included in all the categories. Also, I know him!! And he’s as real as they come. A great guy with an immense talent. He’s written hundreds of books, sold millions, and he’s still hard at work.

Young Adult Fiction

Lisa T. Bergren: She writes well in all YA genres, but I especially love her River of Time Series – it has a little of everything: contemporary, historical, and fantasy.

Jenny B Jones: She writes both YA and Adult romance, and she is laugh-out-loud funny. Teen readers will especially enjoy her Katie Parker series.

Melanie Dickerson: Her YA historical romances are terrific – sweet, strong protagonists with nods to our favorite fairy tales.

Krista McGee: *Insert shameless plugs for my own books ;)*

Nonfiction

CS Lewis: If you’ve never read Mere Christianity, put it at the top of your TBR pile. It’s one of the most brilliant works of practical theology ever written.

Nancy Pearcey: Known as “America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual”, Pearcey’s books are not light reading, but they are incredibly insightful. My favorite is Saving Leonardo, which addresses the arts and Christianity. But if you can only choose one, that should be Total Truth – a wonderful primer on Christian apologetics in the 21st century.

Ravi Zacharias:  Zacharias calls himself an “evangelist to the skeptics”. He addresses the tough questions head on, with great compassion and intelligence.

Lysa TerKeurst: Her books are very practical, dealing with issues faced by Christian women. TerKeurst is no stranger to difficulties, and she honestly and beautifully shares what God has taught her with others.