Praise Through the Pain by N. Y. Dunlap
She walked away from the church. He’s finding his way back. One year after tragedy, their paths cross, and God’s not finished with either of them. A poignant Christian romance about rediscovering faith, and the kind of love that gently leads you home.
My Review:
It took me a little while to learn why the main character had been hurt by the church, but after we dove into Alexis's story, it began to surface. I think I was surprised that what Alexis and her nephew experienced because it's hard to believe that we're in 2025 and this kind of hurt is still around! I think there are probably a lot of families who actually experience this and it breaks my heart. An element that I loved about this story was the praise dance aspect since we never read about it in fiction!
Summary:
Rapha by D.T. Powell
After leaving her home church several months ago due to malicious rumors, Rebecca is tired of searching for a new congregation. When she settles on a church to visit through the holiday months, she discovers that her newest supervisee at work is the pastor. And not everyone is eager to have him behind the pulpit.
My Review:
This was such an interesting story! First, it's a good reminder that pastors (especially of smaller congregations) often need to get a second job to supplement their pastoral income. Also, when someone is hurt in a previous/current church, it's no surprise that they want to lay low and stay away from any hint of conflict. So, when the new pastor of the church she visits is confronted by church members, it's the last thing she wants to deal with. The story will resonate with those who have dealt with church gossip.
Summary:
For the Love of Truth by Sarah Hanks
Candi loves her role as personal assistant to megachurch pastor Richard Blake. But when she meets Justice, he exposes the flaws of her "perfect" church family and she discovers her pastor isn't who he seems to be. Freedom lies on the other side of truth, if only she'll allow Justice and the Lord to lead her there.
My Review:
This story really got my blood roiling, same as it did for Justice (yes, that's his name)! With his first visit to a new church, he sees Candi and is instantly attracted to her. Thankfully, his main goal is to find a church that teaches Truth and to worship the Lord. It's not long after he's there when he goes on a date with Candi and things go downhill from there. To say that the pastor is disgusting and manipulative is putting it mildly. But, the story definitely shows how someone how is charismatic and narcissistic can easily pull the wool over people's eyes! I think the author did a fantastic job of shining a light on such a hard topic.
10% of all proceeds go to beEmboldened, a non-profit that exists for the prevention of and healing from spiritual abuse.
About the Authors:
Sarah Hanks is a multi-award-winning author of split-time Christian fiction. Her background in teaching and children’s ministry prepared her for exercising her creativity as a writer, now her full-time job. She and her husband have ten children, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives jammed together in beautiful chaos near St. Louis, Missouri. She buys earplugs in bulk. You can follow her on Facebook or Instagram @authorsarahhanks
N. Y. Dunlap is an emerging Christian romance novelist who loves to string together words in a creative, poignant way. God called, and she listened. You can expect to read romantic stories that abide by faith, hope, and love. Nicole graduated with a Masters in Educational Counseling from Azusa Pacific University, where the motto, "God first," encouraged her to work with inner-city youth and their families. Nicole lives in Sunny California with her husband and three children.
D. T. Powell grew up in a Christian home, loving books and reading. Her daily habits include: reading dozens of pages, picking which book to read next, and archiving and listening to sacred music. When she was nine, God sent a fictional character into her life who changed the way she looked at the world—and herself. From then on, she wanted to show everyone what God had done for her, so she pursued an art degree… and was summarily kicked out of the program due to general lack of artistic talent. Only after she graduated with a degree in business did she pick up the one utensil she had never thought to use, a pen. And she hasn’t put it down since. To fill her writing day, she works on original stories, extensive fanfiction endeavors, and learning more about the craft of writing. Her hobbies include hanging out with her husband and their three kitties, reading, playing pickleball, listening to music, and imagining scenes to use in future books. She loves Psalm 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” You can find her at dtpowellwrites dot com, on IG - dtill359, or FB - D. T. Powell, Author.
