Christy Awards Finalists – Contemporary

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2025 finalists are books published in 2024. 

How does this giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Contemporary Romance finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Giveaway details may vary with each book (print, ebook only or winner’s choice of either, plus audible options for Canadians.) Edition availability will be noted in bold after the title/author/publisher of each entry. ALSO NOTE: Giveaway is for US and Canada OR ebook international if you have US Kindle account.

A Run at Love by Toni Shiloh – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse racing world. Raised on a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.

Award-winning author Toni Shiloh makes a run for the roses with this heartwarming novel that reminds us that sometimes the greatest victories are found within our own hearts. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/05/15/a-run-at-love-giveaway/

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she’s achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.

A wildlife enthusiast ready for more

Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.

Two hearts destined by nature

With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced.

The Nature of Love is a clean, African American contemporary romance with themes of friends to lovers and the healing power of love. This heartfelt happily-ever-after tale is the series finale of Shiloh’s beloved Love in the Spotlight novels. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/02/13/the-nature-of-love-giveaway/

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese – Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

As the youngest daughter of a country music legend, Raegan Farrow longs to establish an identity away from the spotlight and publish her small-town romances under a pen name. But after her dream is dashed when she won’t exploit her mother’s fame to further her own career, she hears a rumor from a reliable source regarding a tell-all being written about the Farrow family. Making matters worse, the unknown author has gone to great lengths to remain anonymous until publication.

Raegan chooses to keep the tell-all a secret from her scandal-leery sisters as they embark on a two-week, cross-country road trip at their mother’s request and makes it her mission to expose the identity of the author behind the unsanctioned biography. But all is complicated when she discovers their hired bus driver, Micah Davenport, has a hidden agenda of his own–one involving both of their mothers and an old box of journals. As they rely on each other to find the answers they seek, the surprising revelations they unearth will steer them toward their undeniable connection and may even lead them down the most unexpected of paths.

Who Touches the Mountains by Deborah Raney – Raney Day Press – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback or ebook, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

Traveling all across the country is exciting…until it isn’t anymore.

Liesl Bachman enjoys success as a travel writer, but that success comes at a price. Now she feels isolated and stuck in a way she never expected in the “cool” job she always wanted. Zach Freylan is bound by an unspoken promise he made to his beloved wife before her death in a mysterious one-car crash. For two years, he’s run The Inn at Rosebud Lane that belonged to Jenny’s grandparents, but he finds little joy in maintaining what was always her dream. From the moment Liesl checks in for an extended stay at the inn, something begins to shift inside Zach, letting him dare to hope that his life could be different. Liesl feels that same promise of hope, but the clock is ticking for them both as circumstances only grow more complicated. Is thirty-seven days enough to know for sure that this is God’s yes?

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 4 2025 (after 12 pm)  REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

50 thoughts on “Christy Awards Finalists – Contemporary”

  1. I’ve read books by each of these authors, but not any of these selections. I would choose Who Touches the Mountains by Deborah Raney.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  4. If fortunate enough to be selected, I would love the opportunity to read and review WHO TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN by Deborah Raney.

    Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  7. I’d love to have a copy of Who Touches the Mountains. I enjoy Deborah Raney’s books and just finished her Clayburn series a couple weeks ago. I’ve read the others listed, except for The Nature of Love, which is on my TBR shelf waiting for my attention!

    Thanks!

    Karen Rhoades (kcrhoadesATroadrunnerDOTcom)

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    1. Adding Who Touches the Mountains would have you totally up to date in this category. I haven’t read Deborah Raney in ages. I really need to check what she has published since then. Good luck, Karen!

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  8. Those are tough choices! Can you believe that I’ve only read one Deborah Raney novel? I will choose Toni Shiloh’s The Nature of Love to finish out her series.

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    1. I just checked her website. The last books I read by Deborah Raney is the Chicory Inn novels. Since then she’s published 4 more series, a total of 11 books! Yikes! How did I get so far behind?! Good luck, Kathleen!

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      1. Oooh, thanks the KU tip about Deborah Raney’s book. That’s timely! I need to read this Nicole Deese series and then I think I might be all caught up with her books? Maybe? lol Good luck, Trixi!

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  12. Wonderful authors and books in this category. Nicole Deese’s are always favorites and are already on my keeper shelf. I’d love to read Who Touches the Mountain by Deb Raney, I’m behind on her books.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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      1. I’ve read Who Touches the Mountains and loved it! 5 stars for sure, the second book is already out and it’s “almost” as good.

        Nicole Deese’s book is fantastic too. Another 5 star read! As good as they both Nicoles and Debs books are, I still think Nicoles book will take the Christy.

        Not joining in the draw for today. I just counted my books for October and it’s 17, not even count the books I have on my “maybe this month” list, eek! So many books, so little time.

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      2. Thanks for sharing the book love, Tracey. We’ll have to wait until November to see if your predicted winner is true! I’ve added Who Touches the Mountains to my wishlist. It wasn’t on my radar before at all! Happy Reading, sounds like it will be a busy month!

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  16. I’d choose The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh because I read A Run at Love and really enjoyed it. That book introduced the characters that appear in The Nature of Love.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  17. I’m finding it hard to pick, but I’ll go with “The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh simply because I never read a book by this author. I feel bad after all your positive words. Just finished a book by Deborah Raney and she’s good. Love her stories.

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