Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Historical Romance + Giveaway

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 2026 finalists are books published in 2025. 

How does this Giveaway work?

You select one of the Historical 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.

Belle of Chatham, Laura Frantz
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746568

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides–Patriots and Loyalists–causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond.

As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.

The Collector of Burned Books, Roseanna M. White
Tyndale House Publishers, 9798400501746

Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with US Kindle account

In this gripping World War II historical about the power of words, two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

Mists Over the Channel Islands, Sarah Sundin
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group,, 9780800741877

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot’s peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father’s medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything–providing medical aid to escaped workers even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide–or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

A renowned author of World War II fiction, Sundin showcases a compelling tale of loyalty and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/05/21/mists-over-the-channel-islands-giveaway/

Through Water and Stone, Karen Barnett
Kregel Publications, 9780825448539

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with US Kindle account

In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son’s sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn’t diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he’s unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God.

Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers.

Talia navigates the rocky path into her past with Blake by her side, what she discovers may alter everything she knew to be true about herself. With the uncertain future looming, Talia must learn that family is deeper than genetics and that trusting God can mean being still and clinging to the Rock.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 24 (after 12 pm)  REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

37 thoughts on “Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Historical Romance + Giveaway”

  1. If I were so fortunate to be selected, I would LOVE the opportunity to read MISTS OVER THE CHANNEL ISLANDS by Sarah Sundin.  It’s been on my TBR way too long.  Thank you so much for the amazing chance to win a copy!

    Have a fabulous week starting with a magnificent Monday!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  2. I have read all four but would love a print copy of The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz. Historical is my favorite genre.

    paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom

    Hey Kav, can you send me an email with the subject Bingo? Again, I can’t get your email address to be recognized because it is from Canada. Thanks!

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  4. I’ve read half of these, so I’m choosing The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna White. I love her novels and her versatility!

    Is there anything special going on at the library for library month?

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. I have this on my favourites on Hoopla – hopefully I’ll get to it in November ’cause I’ve already used up my five checkouts for October. As to library events — seems like my branch is always a happening place. They have an open mic storytelling event this week which sounds like fun and they have a Memory Cafe for people with dementia and their care partners and family which sounds a lovely outreach kind of thing that you’d normally see a church do. And we’re in the middle of a Mystery Writers Festival so there’s lots of activities involving that this month too. Oh – and there’s a fun group starting up – Knit & Knatter where you can bring your knitting or crochet and they say beginners are welcome. I want to learn how to crochet so I might give that one a try. Good luck, Perrianne!

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  5. One of each, please. How are we to choose and congrats to these finalists!! The Belle of Chatham along with other Laura Frantz readers! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Kav, I’ve already got a copy of Laura Frantz’s book (of course!) and have read Sarah Sundin’s too. I would love to read both of the others but will go with Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett. I’ve heard some really good things about it so it’s been high on my want-to-read list for a while. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  9. What a great line up of books! We had Sarah Sundin speak to our book club a few months ago we discussed Midnight on the Scottish Shore: WWII Spy Historical Fiction with Mystery, Suspense, and Enemies to Lovers Clean Romance. I’m always amazed at how this author finds these fascinating nuggets in history we’ve never heard about.

    Mists Over the Channel Islands, Sarah Sundin looks like another gold nugget I’d love to read about. Thanks for the chance!

    norafinding hope at yahoo com

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  13. My favorite genre! I’ve read all of them except Through Water and Stone, so that’s my choice. A plus is that it’s set in Zion National Park which is in my state (although it’s about 350 miles away on the other end of the state)! I’ve been there a few times, and it’s amazing.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  15. I just recently read The Belle of Chatham, so that rules that one out. WWIi is not my favorite time period to read, although you can’t go wrong with either of those authors, do I think I will choose Through Water and Stone. I haven’t read a good split time book recently.

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  16. The Collector of Burned Books was wonderful and I would love to read the others but I have to go with Mists over the Channel Islands as I love Sarah Sundin. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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