Christy Award Finalists 2021 -- First Novel and Young Adult

GIVEAWAY

What are the Christy Awards?

"The Christy Award is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres." (from the Christy Awards website)

These 2021 finalists are books published in 2020. You might have read them already. You might not. I'll include a link to my reviews of the books I've red underneath the descriptions.

How does this giveaway work?

You select which title from EITHER the First Novel OR Young Adult category you would like to win if your name is drawn. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you're entering that way.) If you win, that's the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the seven finalists. 

FIRST NOVEL CATEGORY:

A Noble Calling, Rhona Weaver, Two Oaks Press

A rookie FBI agent battles through adversity and danger to rediscover his true identity in this story of intrigue and suspense.

Special Agent Win Tyler never had the chance to visit Yellowstone as a kid, but he'd always imagined buffalo, wolves and bears. Heavily armed bad guys didn't fit into his expectations. But when Win arrives in the park during a spring snowstorm, danger is already at hand. His expectations of a dead-end duty station couldn't have been more wrong, as he finds himself fighting right-wing extremists, a determined assassin, and an anti-Semitic prophet who's twisted the faith Win holds dear.

A Noble Calling is a heartfelt debut that plunges the reader deep into Win Tyler's world for Yellowstone National Park...and world of wonder and majesty, invaded by forces that would divide and destroy.

The Edge of Belonging, Amanda Cox, Revell / Baker Publishing Group

When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames -- she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy's adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.

Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he's ever loved.

In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth -- both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others -- takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-edge-of-belonging.html

Rain, Dana McNeely, Mountain Brook Ink

He is destined to be a high priest -- but at what cost to those he loves?

In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread, He yearns to join the preisthood of Ba'al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. He's been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he'll rise to high priest.

On the eve of the rituals, Aban's mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Melqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban's world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.

Against his better judgement, Aban conceals the strange prophet's whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood. Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment to Ba'al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als -- and it may cost him his life.

Roots of Wood and Stone, Amanda Wen, Kregel Publications

Abandoned at birth, her family roots a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to making sure others know theirs. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesnt' expect much from the common artifact...until she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now she's on the hunt to find out more.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/04/roots-of-wood-and-stone.html

YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY:

Dust, Kara Swanson, Enclave Publishing

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is dark too dark for magic to be real -- since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire's desperate search points to London...and a boy who shouldn't exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a less with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire though she knew about Peter Pan -- and herself. 

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2021/03/dust.html

Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads, Enclave Publishing

When worlds collide, shadow wrestles light.

Seventeen-year-old Cera Marlowe wants a normal life; one where she and her mom can stop skipping town every time a disturbing vision strikes. But when a girl she knows is murdered by a monster she an't explain, Cera's world turns upside down.

Suddenly thrown into an ancient supernatural battle, Cera discovers she's not alone in her gifting and vows to use her visions to save lives. But why does John Milton's poem Paradise Lost keep interrupting her thoughts?

In a race against time a war against unearthly creatures, will decoding messages embedded in the works of classic literature be enough to stop the bloodshed and protect those she loves?

Rebel Daughter, Lori Banov Kauffmann, Delacorte Press

For fans of The Red Tent and The Dovekeepers!

Rebel Daughter transports the reader to one of the most dramatic and momentous events in human history -- the destruction of Jersusalem in the 1st century. This stunning tale of family, love and resilience was inspired by a major archaeological discovery in southern Italy: the 2,000 year-old gravestone Claudia Aster (Esther). The few Latin words chiseled into the ancient stone, proof of an unlikely romance, shocked and intrigued scholars around the world.

Rebel Daughter is Esther's story. An aristocratic young woman, she comes of age during the Jewish revolt against Rome. Ester dreams of so much more than the marriage her parents have arranged to a prosperous silversmith. Yet she is torn between her family duties and her own desires.

Meanwhile, the growing turmoil in Jerusalem threatens to tear apart not only her beloved city, but also her own family. As the alleyways turn into a bloody battleground between rebels and Romans, Esther's journey becomes one of survival. She remains fiercely devoted to her family, and braves famine, siege, and slavery to protect those she loves.

The thrilling and impassioned saga, based on real characters and meticulous research, seamlessly blends the fascinating story of the Jewish people with a timeless protagonist determined to take charge of her own life against all odds.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: giveaway formats vary, see list below

A Noble Calling by Rhona Weaver -- ebook 

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox -- paperback or ebook

Rain by Dana McNeely -- paperback or ebook

Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen -- paperback or ebook

Dust by Kara Swanson -- paperback or ebook

Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads -- ebook

Rebel Daughter by Lori Banov Kauffmann -- paperbakc or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of these Christy Award Finalists, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 16  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!