Christy Award Finalists – First Novel

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.

Darkfell by Amanda Wright – Quill and Flame Publishing House – Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

His is a life of books and peace…until a dying warrior’s touch ignites an ancient magic within his blood.

For years, Thom Darkfell has used his cartography skills to advise Lomair’s king of the country’s shifting borders. A valued academic, Thom is excluded from the military drafts until whispers of dark abominations and mass casualties reach the king’s ears. The resulting conscription thrusts Thom into Lomair’s losing army. A realist, Thom ignores the wild myths circling through the ranks—until a monster’s jaws snap through the folds of reality and crush a man before Thom’s eyes.

With his dying breath, the Realm Walker passes an impossible task to Thom. Hours later, the visions begin. The Creator, a deity Thom knows only from rituals spoken over meals and graves, appears to him while a girl with starlight in her blood calls from beyond the veil.

Armed with a cryptic map, a biscuit-loving tutor, and the brawn of his best friend, Thom sets out to find the star daughter and lock the barrier to bind the dark realm of Zakar.

If he fails, it will be the end of all.

Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M. Miller – Revell, Baker Publishing Group – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.

Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.

Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.

The Yellow Badge by Addison Crimson – Independently published – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

The Yellow Badge is a symbol of shame and reproach for those who wear it.
But for some, it’s a call to action.

After her parents are arrested and her brother Andrew joins the Dutch Resistance, Ruth DeVos is left to face the uncertain wrath of war alone. 
But when faced with persecution and threats of forced labor arise, Ruth has no choice but to seek refuge and go into hiding. Still Waters Inn is the home of an allied Dutchman and many other refugees who are hiding from the clutches of the Nazis. It is here that Ruth joins the Resistance and begins working anonymously for La Libre Belgique– the notorious underground rebel newspaper- and where she meets the quiet and intriguing Ezra Pik.

As the war rages on with no end in sight, hope becomes dire as courage falters and they must all learn to lean on their faith in order to preserve their freedom. But the enemy lurks closer than any of them knew, and whispers of betrayal soon ensnare them as they are handed over to the Germans and their actions are brought to a dangerous light.

In the end, Ruth must take a stand in the face of her enemy and learn the true value of love and liberty, faith and freedom- and what it costs to keep them.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 11 2025 (after 12 pm)  REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!