The Best Of Christian Chick-Lit
I love chick-lit almost as much as I love fantasy. I love the smarmy attitudes, the slightly-more-realistic romances than typical romance novels, the independence... But in most chick-lit there's one element that I just can't get past.
Believe it or not, I'm not talking about the over-abundance of pointless sex. I'm talking about unlikable characters.
Christian chick-lit however, generally has quite likable characters, sexual tension without the low moral standards, and is often funnier than its secular counterparts.
As a reviewer, I've had access to more authors and books than I ever would have gotten on my own. This lens is for the best of the best. Enjoy!
Kristin Billerbeck's SplitEnds
Kristin Billerbeck is credited as the first Christian chick-lit author. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but she certainly deserves to be!Her Ashley Stockingdale novels are awesome, with the typical chick-lit trappings of an independent-ish woman with a shopping obsession and boy troubles.
Her Trophy Wives Club straddles the line between chick-lit and serious womens fiction with a hard look at divorce among Christians, and how Christians treat divorce (and divorcees).
But my all-time favorite Billerbeck book is SplitEnds.
In SplitEnds, Billerbeck makes a complete 180 from the typical chick-lit and creates a heroine out of a small town hairdresser who only goes to LA to learn to be the best- not to be rich and famous.
She initially hates couture, preferring her old, worn out jeans, hates shopping, hates everything that makes LA, LA. But she grows as a person as well as professionally. She learns to make wise choices, and to indulge a little. And to be honest? She struggles the most with sexual temptation, which makes her seem more real to me as a woman.
Split Ends: Sometimes the End is Really the Beginning
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/26/2009) 
She's Out of Control (Ashley Stockingdale Series #1)
Amazon Price: $10.79 (as of 12/26/2009)
The Trophy Wives Club (The Trophy Wives Club, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 12/26/2009)
Erynn Mangum's MissMatch
Erynn Mangum's first novel MissMatch had me laughing so hard that the bed shook so hard it woke my husband up. Several times. It's a good thing I finished it overnight.The plot of each of Mangum's novels revolves around matchmaking, which may seem obvious from the titles MissMatch, ReMatch, and MatchPoint. The stakes are light, but the romps are hilarious, and anyone addicted to chocolate and coffee will wish Lauren was their best friend.
I wonder if it's a problem that I occasionally substitute her novels for actual social interaction?
(Note: Erynn's new book Cool Beans is being released April 2010- I still miss Lauren Holbrook, but it's all Erynn, through and through!)
Erynn Go Blog
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Miss Match (Lauren Holbrook Series, Book 1)
She's make you want coffee. And chocolate. A lot.
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 12/26/2009)
Rematch (Lauren Holbrook Series, Book 2)
Slightly less hyper-active than MissMatch, ReMatch is an excellent continuation of the series.
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 12/26/2009)
Match Point (Lauren Holbrook Series, Book 3)
Definitely excellent, though MissMatch is still my absolute fave.
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 12/26/2009)
Cool Beans: A Maya Davis Novel
Not available till April 2010. You'll miss the continuation of Lauren Holbrook, but Maya is every bit as quirky and weird. And a caffeine addict. But this time the caffeine addict works in a coffee shop (oy vey!). And the best friend is a little more mature, making the whole book read more like a strange and funny chick-lit rather than simply a romp with an over-caffeinated sugar addict. Although it is that, as well.
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/26/2009)
Rachel Hauck's Diva Nashvegas
Ever wanted to read a chick-lit about a woman who's already rich and famous? What's left to strive for? Ah... love and happiness.I have to list Hauck's Diva Nashvegas because it's the only one of her books that I've read- so far. But I loved it, and can't wait to read the Lost in Nashvegas (the predecessor), as well as a few of her more recent novels.
Lost in NashVegas
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/26/2009)
Diva NashVegas
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/26/2009)
Love Starts with Elle
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/26/2009)
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- Going to open presents! Yay!
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- @apr_424 May your day be bright April!
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- Merry Christmas! Christ was born and reigns forevermore! Peace on earth, goodwill toward men!
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- @JOYFULLTOO Merry Christmas to you!
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- RT @TamiHeim: "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19 (May you do the same - Merry Christmas!)
Camy Tang's Sushi Series
Sushi for One starts out a little slow, but picks up very well pretty quickly. However, Only Uni starts out strong and continues that way. Trish is sweet and adorable, and her boy interests/temptations/banes of her existence are most excellent. Now I just need to get off my butt and order Single Sashimi- the third book in the series.
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- I ate WAY TOO MUCH but it was all good food! Got a lot of knitting done, too!
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- LOL I hope so too.
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- @danicafavorite Forget Santa, Mama gave Snickers some pieces of prime rib tonght.
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- @philstaudt Merry Christmas!
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- My dog Snickers waiting for Santa picture: http://bit.ly/5XSnxA
Camy Tang's Chick-Lit
Sushi for One? (The Sushi Series, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $12.34 (as of 12/26/2009)
Only Uni (The Sushi Series, Book 2)
Amazon Price: $12.34 (as of 12/26/2009)
Single Sashimi (Sushi Series, Book 3)
Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 12/26/2009)
Deadly Intent (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense)
Amazon Price: $5.50 (as of 12/26/2009)
Jenny B Jones
Her newest novel, releasing Sept 1, 2009, is Just Between You And Me. This candie-holic heroine ditched her little home town of Ivy, Texas the second high school released her to the world. She, Maggie Montgomery, quickly climbed the ladder of success in the documentary world, but sadly, her true dream of helping the hurting children of the world was deemed unmarketable.
When her father unexpectedly calls her and begs her to come home, Maggie has to choose between climbing that career ladder to the heights she dreams of, or throwing it all away for the love of her niece, the good of her sister, and an irritating vet.
While it's a shame that there's no Mad Maxine in Jones' non-YA offerings, her trademark humor is definitely prevalent. I haven't gotten to my copy of So Not Happening yet, but based on Just Between You And Me (not the same series), I have a good feeling about it. Besides, my mom is from Oklahoma.
Jen's Zippity Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Stuff on Amazon
Just Between You and Me: A Novel of Losing Fear and Finding God (Women of Faith (Thomas Nelson))
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/26/2009)
So Not Happening (The Charmed Life)
Amazon Price: $9.35 (as of 12/26/2009)
I'm So Sure (The Charmed Life)
Amazon Price: $9.35 (as of 12/26/2009)
Never The Bride
Never the Bride: A Novel
Amazon Price: $10.07 (as of 12/26/2009)
Don't let the blah cover and title fool you, Never The Bride by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay is hilarioius, and not your typical romance. Or even your typical chick-lit. After all, there's hardly anything typical when you can see and talk to God... and he's cute.
No other book has made me truly appreciate the love story that is God. I mean, we're the bride of Christ, right? I always saw it as a simple metaphor, but this book totally put it into perspective for me.
As God romanced Jessie Stone right out of her boots, dancing with her in crowded restaurant, having her chase him down an empty strip of beach, even driving her home once (all very unusual since Jessie was the only person who could see Him), I began to feel the way Jessie did- what romance on earth could compare to this? How can you possibly improve on perfect love?
But as God romances and leads Jessie Stone, he's leading her right into the earthly love of her life.
by WordVixen
Aspiring writer, marketer, and web publisher, who is also a Disney addict.
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