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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What’s Going on In the Christian Fiction World Right Now?

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

Murder in the City of Liberty was a surprise on many levels, most of them delightful. It did teach me more than I expected, however. See how. via @chautonahavig

In January of 2018, I wrote a blog post about where I thought Christian fiction would be going in the next few years.

One of my “predictions” is already becoming obvious—and not in the way I thought.

I said:

But what is weird is a new (but age-old) attitude of “I’m okay, you’re okay” in it…I think we’re looking at an even bigger split in the Christian fiction market because of it. More people will be “crossover” writers. We’ll lose our “clean” fiction writers who make sure to include a prayer and giving God the glory. They’ll just drop the rest and write clean fiction for the masses.”

Yep. I was totally right and totally wrong.

Because you see, I thought this would be a predominately Indie author thing. But seriously, I’m seeing it hugely in one of the biggest Christian fiction publishers out there—Thomas Nelson.

I’ve had niggles before, but then the book I reviewed a few days ago gave me fits because I didn’t know how to handle a few things.

And guess what? I just read another one from Thomas Nelson Publishing that has my head spinning. Even more than the last one, the faith element of this book is so subtle it’s almost not there. Certain statements can be taken with the lens of the Gospel or the world’s philosophy.

Like this one:

Why don’t I forgive you first, and then you at least have some forgiveness until you can catch up, huh?”

Seriously! That was one of the sweetest scenes I’ve ever read. It’s beautiful. But since I think we’re supposed to assume that the character spoken to is a Christian (after all, he sought solace in the North Church of Boston…), I don’t think she’s the first to forgive. That would be the Lord.

Nitpicky? Perhaps.

I won’t pretend it isn’t possible. But here’s the thing. After reading a book in which the only characters who seem to have a true faith at all are Jewish… it does make one wonder.

Then again, many of the things that were said could be taken on a deeper, spiritual level if the reader knew to do it and understood the subtext—assuming we should read into what’s there.

Look, it could happen to anyone anywhere. When my publisher was trying to write the synopsis for one of my books, I could have ignored it when they added the line, “…the importance of following your heart.” I could have!

But I didn’t.

Because see, I don’t believe following the heart that Jeremiah says is deceitful and wicked above all else is something we should follow! Sure, I could have left it and trusted that readers would just automatically know that I meant that Jesus is in my heart so I’m talking about the importance of following Jesus.

Sigh.

Here’s the thing. We all know I hate preachiness in fiction.

I don’t care if it’s a historian droning on and on about some historical fact, if it’s someone going on and on and on about some minute Biblical thing until your eyes cross, or if it’s a mathematician explaining… something mathy. Once it becomes a sermon without benefit of a preacher, it gets old fast.

Show me the sermon. Don’t preach it to me.

Look, when I requested a review copy of Murder in the City of Liberty, I didn’t know anything about the series (or that it was the second book. Oops!). I just liked the sound of the story and the chance to find a new author.

And I did—like both of them. But coming on the heels of a few others like it, I’m confused. I decided to write this out there so future reviews would make sense. I’m going to have to point out if they are weak on the faith issue, but my star ratings will have to do with how much I enjoyed them if read through the lens of Biblical truth. But I’ll point out what’s missing in the review.

What's Going on In the Christian Fiction World Right Now?

Note: Links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and chose to review it.

What’s Going on in the Christian Fiction World Right Now?

I’d say a whole lot of good stuff. Seriously. Despite my frustration with this new trend of “Christian fiction” that has very little spiritual encouragement, if any at all, there’s a whole lot of great stuff coming out right now.

And part of me really does appreciate that authors (and their publisher) are giving me credit for having a Biblical lens with which I read things.

Okay, here’s the deal. When I recently fought and struggled with what to do about star ratings on a Christian book that, on the surface, had things in it that screamed borderline heresy… something kept coming to mind.

While I firmly believe Christians have an obligation to warn one another of potential issues in fiction or nonfiction books—in anything outside the straight Word of God—I also believe in Matthew 7:12. I Corinthians 13.

I am a Christian. I don’t pretend to be anything else.

If that’s the case, and it is, when my words seem to imply something that my life and my admission of faith would say otherwise, then I hope people will assume the best of me until I’ve given them a reason not to. Until they see me write or hear my say something that revokes my previous statements of faith, I hope they’ll be merciful. Kind.

So that’s what I’m going to do with Murder in the City of Liberty (and the one I read a few days ago).

Murder in the City of Liberty is a well-written, engaging book with fabulous characters. I seriously had so much fun with them. You have no idea. Quirky, interesting, consistent but not predictable all the time. And, of course, my favorite. Flawed. Thanks to a character arc that is going through the series, I suspect there’ll be even more.

And actually, thinking about that. The character arc could explain the lightweight faith elements. If they don’t have much yet, maybe it’s because something is coming… An interesting thought.

The mystery isn’t one you’ve never seen, but seriously, with the characters, the setting, etc—it made it seem new and fun.

Though I haven’t read the first book, I didn’t have any trouble getting up to speed. Rachel McMillan did a fabulous job giving us the past without dumping it on us or giving us too many spoilers. It all feels like stuff we’d likely figure out early on reading the other book—okay, a couple of minor things we wouldn’t have known but nothing that will ruin those stories.

I spent the entire book on tenterhooks about everything!

It wasn’t that Murder in the City of Liberty was that suspenseful. Instead, it was more like it was that delightful. You just knew something fun would happen every now and then—something bad—something unexpected.

With every element that a solid mystery needs—red herrings, fun detectives, means, motives, opportunities, and more than just the mystery driving it… this Van Buren and De Luca series promises to be a whole lot of fun.

Meanwhile, I’m off to buy the first book. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Arletta says

    June 12, 2019 at 7:37 pm

    A girl not marrying the man she was supposed to in 1940 was almost unheard of. Sounds like she found her niche when she moved to Boston. Thanks for the review. It sounds like a fun book.

    Reply
  2. Cheryl says

    June 11, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    This blog came at a fortuitous moment. I was in the midst of a book by an author I wasn’t familiar with, and at least twice in the first half I found myself stopping and searching the cover and the back for clues that it was indeed ‘Christian’ fiction. I’d purchased it at Lifeway, after all, though know from experience that’s not necessarily a guarantee of all things Christian. Still, it was probably at least more than halfway through the book before God was even mentioned and then almost as a token or afterthought. After I read the blog, I looked at the publisher of the book I’d just read and sure enough, Thomas Nelson. Very disappointing. Very uninspiring. Nothing in the book encouraged me toward a closer walk with the Lord, or challenged me in my faith. it was just a ‘nice’ story. Barely clean, in some spots. Bummer. Now I need to look at all the other bargain books I got at their going out of business sale…

    Reply
  3. Tabitha says

    June 11, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    I’m glad I’m not the only one noticing this trend in Christian Fiction. I can’t say I like it. While I’ve enjoyed the books, I would love a bit more spiritual density. Great blog, Chautona.

    Reply
  4. Andrea Stoeckel says

    June 11, 2019 at 10:02 am

    This does look like a fun series. Looking forward to reading them

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    June 11, 2019 at 7:41 am

    I appreciate your reviews. I have been reading book one. I struggle with the label of Christian fiction for this book. Thank you for the truth that you write both in reviews and your books.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
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Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
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