The 2017 Christy Award finalists have been announced! I’m always fascinated to see the finalists ~ many I expect, some are surprises, and this time around there’s two I haven’t heard of before. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the nominees and how many of them you have read. With 27 finalists across 9 categories there’s plenty of choice if you want to use the finalists as a reading list! It’s been a slow reading year for me, so I’ve only read 12 of these novels but I’m hoping to catch up on some of them soon. It’s wonderful to see Joanne Bischof’s indie published novel, The Lady and the Lionheart, final and the Christy Awards acknowledging literary excellence whether traditionally or independently published.
Looking forward to your thoughts on this years nominees!
Contemporary Romance
First Novel
General Fiction
Historical
Historical Romance
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Short Form
Visionary
Young Adult
The 2017 Winners will be announced at The Christy Award™ Gala held Wednesday evening, November 8th, at Lipscomb University in Nashville—featuring Karen Kingsbury, Andrew Peterson, Chris Fabry, and more. The gala will follow The Art of Writing conference for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators held that afternoon.
September 22, 2017 at 10:42 am
Thank you so much for the list 🙂
September 22, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Have you read any of these, Jeanne?
September 22, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Yes! I’ve read Tamara Alexander & Elizabeth Camden’s books, and I have Mark of the King, and The Lady and the Lionheart , The Red Door Inn, and Counted with The Stars on my TBR pile!
September 22, 2017 at 2:26 pm
You have some great reading ahead of you, Jeanne 🙂
September 22, 2017 at 2:18 pm
There are a few I’m disappointed not to see here, such as the first in The Tox Files series.
The Writing Desk
Fragile Hope
Are you heading to Nashville, Rel?
So wish I could,
Thank you for thie list.
September 22, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Yes, I’m sad Tox isn’t there, too!
Sadly, I won’t be there for the announcement, Laura, though it would be lovely to be, I agree 🙂
September 22, 2017 at 3:36 pm
What a great group of books! The Lady and the Lionheart is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I really enjoyed the others on this list that I’ve read. Need to add a few of these to my TBR pile. 🙂
September 25, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Susie » Add away, Susie 🙂
September 22, 2017 at 7:01 pm
What a great list of books! I’ve read a few on the list – Rescue Me, If I Run, and Unblemished – and most others are on my TBR list. I recently bought Lady and the Lionheart and still struggling upstream through my TBR river to get there 🙂
Thanks for the list.
And, yes, I’m sad that Tox isn’t there either. Sigh.
September 25, 2017 at 1:18 pm
MH » Those TBRs are shockers, aren’t they?!
September 22, 2017 at 9:48 pm
I’ve read 14 of the nominees and they were lovely. One of those nominees I won from your post – The Promise of Jesse Woods. 🙂
Several of the titles I haven’t read are on my TBR.
Congratulations to the authors making the nominee list!
September 25, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Staci » Love hearing that about Chris’ book, Staci 🙂 Get through that TBR pile, friend!
September 23, 2017 at 12:24 am
Cool. Good luck to all the nominees.
September 23, 2017 at 4:14 am
i too have read 12! I’ve even read the entire contemporary romance category. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed in some of the choices. I think the general category had some better choices than the ones chosen but to each their own.
September 25, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Deborah » Which ones would you like to have seen in the General Category? Would love to hear your thoughts xo
September 23, 2017 at 5:39 am
Congratulations to the finalists. There are a lot of great books here. I’ve read Her One and Only, Rescue Me, and Restoring Christmas. I have The Red Door Inn, The Mark of the King, and The Lady and the Lionheart in my TBR pile (hopefully I’ll get to them soon). I have a lot of the others on my wish list. So many great books to read. I need to borrow some of Carrie Schmidt’s reading superpowers.
Thanks for posting this.
September 25, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Winnie Thomas » Get to those three in your TBR, Winnie – all are excellent and you will wonder why you waited 😉 Except we all know why…all the fabulous books!!
September 25, 2017 at 1:26 pm
LOL! Yes, I’ve heard amazing things about those books, but all these other great books keep popping up. . . Must. Read. Faster!
September 23, 2017 at 5:42 am
Ive read The Mark of the King-awesome A Note yet Unsung-love her book was my favorite in that series The Red Door also the best in her series! From this Moment Loved it! Jamie Bischoff’s The Lady and the Lion Heart Excellent!
September 25, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Mary Jill Coombs » Great to hear your thoughts, Mary.
September 23, 2017 at 6:44 am
Wow! I really appreciate this list – I’ve added 5 to my TBR list. I’ve read “Counted with the Stars” – an amazing story of the plagues that hit Egypt and the release of the Israelite’s (very unique pov as it is written from the prospective of a non-jewish girl who was a slave in an Egyptian household but left with the jewish congregation) – I am now reading “Long Way Gone” – love all of Charles Martin’s books. “The Lady and the Lionheart” – Joanne Bischof has such a unique way of taking the simple and making it extraordinary. I really applaud all the nominated authors and their books. You are following God’s call to write from His heart to ours – Thank you!
September 25, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Pam – Florida » So true, Pam – as always love hearing your thoughts!
September 23, 2017 at 7:20 am
I read and loved The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green! The Lady and the Lionheart and King’s Folly is in my TBR.
September 25, 2017 at 1:17 pm
carylkane » Jocelyn’s is excellent and you will LOVE Joanne’s, for sure 🙂
September 24, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Clearly I read far too slowly these days 😔 I think I’ve only read one of those books. But there are authors in every category that are all my favourites (I have a very wide circle in my “favourite” category!). I am looking forward to seeing who wins.
September 26, 2017 at 4:22 am
What a super line up! I was so excited for Joanne’s win with The Lady and the Lion Heart. We met, and she’s super sweet. I send congrats to all the wonderful authors who were up for the awards! I have read Tamara Alexander’s book and loved it, too, as well as Charles Martin’s. I have several of the others waiting on my bookshelf or Kindle.
September 26, 2017 at 6:29 am
The win for Joanne was the Carol, I should’ve said. Wishing everyone blessings on the Christy!