Congratulations to this year’s Christy Award nominees!

The Christy Award exists to celebrate excellence in the art of Christian fiction and to honor the power of faith in story. There were 33 finalists, from eleven different publishers, named in nine categories, with six ties in five categories.

Tyndale was well represented with nominees in the Contemporary Romance, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Historical Romance categories! Learn more about the four outstanding titles below.

The Christy Award winners will be announced November 14.

Indigo Isle – Contemporary Romance Nominee

Sonny Bates, a successful Hollywood location scout, returns near her South Carolina roots for a film project, where she encounters Hudson Renfrow. Hudson, a grief-stricken former New York attorney, lives in isolation, tending his indigo fields and avoiding contact with the outside world. Despite his reluctance, a hurricane forces them together, leading to an unexpected bond. As they spend time together, Hudson’s guarded exterior begins to crack, revealing his vulnerability and longing for redemption.

“T. I. Lowe mixes serious issues with her own unique sense of humor and style, and her Sonny Bates is a force to reckon with. . . . A terrific read!” – Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author.

The Year of Jubilee – General Fiction Nominee

The Year of Jubilee is a coming-of-age novel set in 1960s Kentucky, where the Mockingbird family faces a crisis when young Isaac falls gravely ill. Fourteen-year-old Grace, left under the care of her aunt while her parents are at the hospital, grows anxious and seeks ways to save her brother. She becomes influenced by a teacher advocating for change and forms a connection with a boy named Golden, who may hold the key to Isaac’s recovery. As tragedy strikes, Grace is forced to navigate shifting family dynamics and decide what she truly believes.

“Set in 1963, in the coal-mining town of Jubilee, Kentucky, author Cindy Morgan weaves the threads of the multilayered fabric of young Grace’s life through her interactions with family and their divided community. Against this backdrop of cultural change and uncertainty, Grace’s coming-of-age story is told. I’ve never experienced a more intimate and fascinating portrayal of these times in a story told with such empathy and compassion.” – Amy Grant, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and author

Appalachian Song – Historical Fiction Nominee

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years as a midwife in the Great Smoky Mountains, but none of her experiences is as impactful as when a young, injured, and pregnant teenager named Songbird arrives at her doorstep in 1943. As Bertie and her sisters care for Songbird, a strong bond forms between them, but a heartbreaking decision soon forces them apart. Thirty years later, country singer Walker Wylie discovers he was adopted and seeks answers about his birth parents with the help of Reese Chandler. Their search leads them to Bertie, who holds the key to Walker’s hidden past.

“Shocklee’s masterful descriptions thoroughly transport the reader to this unique time and place while bringing to light an issue both historically troubling and heartbreakingly current.” Jennifer L. Wright, author

Of Love and Treason – Historical Romance Nominee

In AD 270, Valentine defies the Roman emperor’s marriage ban by secretly performing weddings, becoming both a hero and a wanted man. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, he risks his life out of conviction, though his growing fame increases the danger around him. Iris, the blind daughter of a Roman jailor, seeks out Valentine’s church in hopes of healing her sight, but finds herself drawn to both his faith and him personally. As betrayal and danger close in, Valentine and Iris must trust in God as they fight for their lives and their future together.

“Jamie Ogle’s vivid novel takes us to the gritty streets of Rome in AD 270 and paints a picture of the price early believers paid for their faith in Christ. The unforgettable characters in Of Love and Treason touched my heart and made me thankful for the religious freedom we enjoy. I will never view that freedom—or St. Valentine’s Day—in the same way again.” – Lynn Austin, bestselling author

Grab your copy of all of these nominated books. Now on sale!