Christian fiction will strengthen your faith and open your eyes to God's love in fresh ways, whether you are a new believer or have given your heart to Christ many years ago.

I'm sharing my all-time favorite Christian fiction books with you as an enthusiastic reader and Christian author.

I divided the list into two categories: contemporary Christian fiction and historical/science fiction Christian fiction. On this list, there is something for everyone.

Historical Fiction

Shelter of the Most High (Cities of Refuge Book #2) by Connilyn Cossette

Both of the books in this series are gripping fictional accounts of biblical history, so I had to add them. Book 3 will be released in July of 2019.

A Light on the Hill (Cities of Refuge volume one) chronicles the tale of a lady kidnapped, branded with the mark of the Canaanite temple gods, and eventually accused of murder.

Moriyah is granted asylum in Kedesh, a safe haven for persons accused of killing another person without malice. She is betrothed to another, but she falls in love with a member of the family of the people she is suspected of murdering.

Connilyn Cossette does an excellent job depicting living in biblical times. We are both saddened by Moriyah's plight and elated by her achievements. Anyone who has lost hope will find A Light on the Hill to be an encouraging read.

Sofea and Prezi are introduced in book two, Shelter of the Most High, when they are captured and later escape pirates. They are accepted and settle into life within the walls of a city of sanctuary after being rescued by Eitan, Moriyah's adopted son. These terrified, courageous women learn about Elohim and grow in faith while adjusting to a life unlike any they've ever known.

Despite the fact that book two and book one overlap, I read book two first. I was intrigued by the stories and felt compelled to learn more about the beginning of this incredible tale. While I recommend reading them in order, each one is intriguing in its own right. I'm looking forward to the third installment.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love, one of my all-time favorite books, was first published in 1991. In 2009, this edition was modified.

Based on the biblical book of Hosea, in which God tells Hosea to "marry a prostitute and bear children with her."

During the 1850s gold rush in California, we meet Michael Hosea, a farmer who follows God's urge to marry Angel, a local prostitute.

Angel, who has been broken by years of cruelty and injustice, is adamant in her refusal to accept Michael's love.

It is a story of forgiveness, love, and hope that is often used as an analogy for God's love for us and His relentless pursuit of our hearts.

Treasured Grace (Heart of the Frontier) by Tracie Peterson

Treasured Grace is a story about three sisters who travel west to Oregon Territory in the 1800s. They spend the winter at a mission that is shared by two Native American tribes: the Cayuse and the Nez Perce.

As tensions between the tribes escalate, the sisters' lives are put in peril.

Throughout the novel, Tracie Peterson does an excellent job with character development and setting representation. The sisters' encounters with danger, drama, and camaraderie are vividly depicted, and I found my own pulse rate rising as I read.

This is a must-read for fans of American historical fiction.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

The Hiding Place tells the story of a "spinster watchmaker" and her sister who lived in a cramped flat above their father's business in German-occupied Holland during and after WWII.

Corrie ten Boom, a devout Christian, gave her life and those of her family to fight against the injustice and hatred directed at Jews.

Corrie spent time in various concentration camps during and after the war. Despite the awful conditions, she thanked God for everything she had gone through, including the flea bites on her skin and the harsh beatings she received from the guards.

Corrie and her family acted with tremendous bravery, saving the lives of many people while going through hell.

Corrie had a strong relationship with God, and her faith was distinguished by bravery that few of us would ever experience.

Isaiah’s Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings by Mesu Andrews

This book tells the account of King Hezekiah in a surprising and beautiful blend of biblical history and prophecy. The story depicts life in 732 BC through the perspective of Ishma, his imaginary wife.

We learn about the Israelites' everyday routines and practices, as well as their worship of false gods and human sacrifices to these gods.

God sends prophets to guide His people back to Him during this dark and terrible period.

Despite considerable opposition, Hezekiah served the Lord and reigned with a servant's heart from youth until his death.

The Heart’s Appeal (London Beginnings) by Jennifer Delamere

Ms. Delamere mixes Christian values and romance into a lovely novel that is rich with backstories about the merchant shipping sector, as well as medicine, law, and high society in late nineteenth-century London.

Despite the fact that it took me a few chapters to get into the book, once I did, I couldn't put it down.

Together Forever (Orphan Train) by Jody Hedlund

This vividly recounted drama follows Marianne Neumann as she travels to the mid-west with a ragged group of orphans in search of their everlasting homes.

We learn about the difficult challenges that orphans (and their guardians) experienced in the mid-1800s through a story woven with romance, suspense, and humor.

This book has changed my life. It is beautifully written and well researched.

While I've always had a soft spot in my heart for orphans and single mothers, this book made me think about how I'm now helping orphans.

A Lineage of Grace: Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity by Francine Rivers

Francine Rivers takes us close to five women in Jesus Christ's lineage in this collection of the five volumes in the Lineage of Grace series: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each women faced enormous, and at times surprising, challenges.

Their stories, albeit fictional, are based on biblical accounts and allow the reader to experience what each women may have felt and endured.

Futuristic / Science Fiction

The Left Behind Collection by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

Few book series have all sixteen novels on the New York Times bestseller list. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins show us what the End Times might look like from a Christian theological perspective in this landmark series.

As they fight the Global Community and its leader, Nicholas Carpathia, the characters are relatable and well-developed (as the antichrist).

This series is a classic and virtually mandatory reading for Christian readers, with tremendous drama and suspense, laced with romance and religion.

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