If you’re looking for some great novels to read while you’re wearing a sweater and sipping a pumpkin spice latte, add these books to your fall reading list.
Created by Janice Boekhoff
Professor of Paleontology Travis Perego faces a major conflict when he must reconcile his newfound Christian faith with evolution. Meanwhile, a fellow professor claims to have used bird DNA to reverse engineer a dinosaur—thus proving the validity of evolution. When the professor disappears along with his creature, Travis sets out to find him—along with answers to help him resolve his faith conflict.
This compelling tale has a few elements that remind me of the TV series Zoo. However, unlike that show, this story doesn’t feel far-fetched and will appeal to many readers who will appreciate the excitement of Travis’s search and spiritual journey.
You’re the Cream in My Coffee by Jennifer Lamont Leo
Small-town girl Marjorie Corrigan is engaged to Dr. Richard Brownlee. When she experiences a fainting spell, her doctor sends her to a cardiologist in Chicago. While there, she spots a man in a train station who’s a dead ringer for her high school sweetheart Jack—who was killed in the Great War. Marjorie takes a job at a department store and moves to Chicago for adventure and to find the truth about the mystery man.
Aspects of this story remind me of Grace Livingston Hill’s books, which I devoured in the 1990’s as a teenager. However, Leo’s choice to use first person point of view gives this story a fresh, modern feel while transporting the reader to the Roaring 20’s. I loved the hint of mystery, and the protagonist is delightful. This novel won the 2017 Carol Award for debut novel.
The Lady and the Lionheart by Joann Bischof
This is a beautifully written historical tale set in 1890’s Virginia where a circus comes to town. Nurse Ella meets lion tamer Charlie Lionheart when his adopted daughter falls ill. While dealing with her own past, Ella is drawn to Charlie Lionheart’s world—and to his secrets.
Bischof’s attention to detail brings the circus to life, and her characters are well-developed. This book won the 2017 Carol Award for historical romance and is a 2017 Christy Award finalist in the historical romance category.
Plummet by Brandilyn Collins
After enduring years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Cara Westling is thrilled to be starting over in small town Idaho with her thirteen-year-old daughter. Only a few days into her new job, Cara’s boss murders a woman at his office. He forces Cara to make a choice: Help him hide the body or pay with her life—and leave her daughter motherless.
Knowing Collins’s talent for weaving a captivating tale, I waited until I had a chunk of time to begin this story. That proved to be a good call because I zoomed through this suspense novel in one Sunday afternoon. The story is well-paced and absorbing.