Last week’s comments about why you read fiction were enlightening, encouraging, and as varied as the titles on my office book shelves. But it was the results that really touched my heart. Here’s a breakdown:

Reasons for reading fiction:

Refueling

Entertainment

Emotional and mental relaxation

Stimulation

Mental get-away

Results of reading fiction:

Hearing God’s voice

New hope

A changed life or marriage

Spiritual growth

Information and example

Experiencing unknown worlds

Meeting new people

 As a novelist, I read a lot of books. It’s my favorite pastime. In the last few months I’ve read several novels that offered one or more of all the things mentioned above. I‘d like to share a few of the newer titles and recent award-winners with you this week, and next week, I’ll list older releases.

In exchange, I’d like to hear what book or books have blessed you this year—that way we can all benefit from new-to-us stories. An old classic or a recent release, it doesn’t matter.

Resources:

 Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

2014 RITA Award winner for Inspirational Romance

All in Good Time by Maureen Lang

2014 Selah Award Winner, Romance

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

2014 Selah Award Finalist, Romance

For Such a Time by Kate Breslin

It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren

Four Weddings and a Kiss a Western Bride Collection by Margaret Brownley, Robin lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton

So tell me, what great book has touched you in a unique way this year? Any genre (other than those obviously inappropriate). Let me hear from you!