Grab a few of my books. Romance, Fantasy, YA–I like to try new things. Yes, most are still available at the ebook retailers, although some will be here exclusively, at least for now.
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These Christian fantasy books are slowly migrating to Dawnlight, one every couple months until they’re all here. Get ready for adventure and danger as you dig into these character-driven, stand-alone books exploring the rich cultures and stories of Balia.
He was never meant to live this life…
As he turns nineteen, Nick Kyngeston seems to have the world. He’s the heir to one of the most important kingdoms on Caperton Island. He’s engaged to the girl he’s loved all his life. He has wealth and looks and prestige. Unfortunately, all of it is supposed to belong to his twin brother, who drowned years ago, leaving Nick with a life he doesn’t want and memories that haunt him.
Anselm, a foreign stable boy, appears just as Nick is thrust into his new role as the adult heir, a commoner who knows nothing of noble life and propriety and makes Nick laugh. Then Anselm saves Nick’s life, nearly at the expense of his own, and they realize someone is trying to kill the heir to the throne, which puts Nick, his fiancée Cecily, and everyone else on the Kyngeston estate in danger.
While trying to thwart the danger, Nick and Anselm seek answers in a locked garden filled with mysteries and secrets from the past. But the tangle of secrets will lead them to discoveries that will change the lives of everyone on Caperton Island and could throw the future of the island into chaos.
When she brought a tiny feral boy into camp, Jenifry had no idea she’d just changed the entire world of her clan.
Pasco arrived in the Vinndal Sirocco gypsy camp when he was six years old, a filthy, naked, feral child. Jenifry, the childless elder who found him, had always longed for a child of her own, and it seemed this child was some god’s answer to her prayers.
However, Pasco wasn’t what he seemed. Danger, life, love, and new beginnings followed the strange child. But the clan stood by their own, no matter the cost, even if that cost meant everything the clan valued would have to change.
Jill’s Note: A lot of readers consider this to be the best Tale of Balia. See if you agree.
Loneliness felt safe…
College student Shawn Carpenter is new to Christianity, and when he finds himself surrounded by new people, new purposes, and especially a new girl, he has to decide whether to share his secrets and get involved or return to his old life of hiding and paying penance for past mistakes.
Adventure, danger, romance… Welcome to the Boys of Summer, a contemporary Christian series for teens and anyone who appreciates the challenges of stepping into adulthood.
All he wanted to do was ride some horses…
When Matt Tucker offered to lead horse rides at a Christian camp in Mexico to hide from a messy family life, he didn’t count on having to live with a team all summer.
Between his uncle who knows all his secrets, a guy who’s grieving, and a girl who instantly dislikes him, Matt wonders if it wouldn’t have been easier just to stay home. Christian fiction for teens and adults.
He was on a journey of discovery and healing…
Since losing his mother four years ago, Eric Van der Haas has spent two weeks with his brother. This summer he finds himself thrown into an RV with said brother to deliver it across the country, joined by his best friend Samantha his angry cousin Brenda. Let the fighting begin.
The foursome faces miles of regrets, questions, and heartache, stretching across an entire country and half a decade. If God wants the Van der Haas family to heal, this is the place to do it. Or maybe they’ll all separate for good. Eric doesn’t care which happens, as long as this ridiculous summer finally ends.
But maybe God’s plan is for new beginnings…
Friends call Tom Van der Haas the big brother to the world. He knows he’s a difficult person who struggles to keep friends at all, and it won’t be long before roommates Matt and Eric figure that out and walk away.
But this semester his friends will need him, and learning to see himself as his friends do could become a matter of life or death.
Does God visit the ICU on Christmas?
Unable to get home to the mountains for Christmas, Matt Tucker goes home with college roommate Tom Van der Haas for the holidays. Nothing goes as planned, and before the holiday season is over, Matt might have to say goodbye to someone he loves.
Sand, sun, and a whole lot of trouble
Seth Roberts returns from Mexico broken, grieving, and alone, and he immediately offers to help Tom Van der Haas host a spring break week in Florida for teen girls.
He has no idea a bunch of girls, a little danger, and a mysterious homeless man can help get his life back on track.
Stephen is on the move…
Formerly-homeless Stephen Valentino has new roommates, a new job, maybe even a new girlfriend.
Unfortunately, a few secrets from his old life—some of them dangerous—could ruin it all. Christian romance for teens and adults.
In a perfect world, Kee would only talk to horses…
Cherokee “Kee” Jones is no fan of Matt Tucker, but since they work together at the same horse ranch, they’re stuck together. Then Matt kidnaps Kee into his life, forcing him to face a few mistakes from his past and take a chance on a girl who won’t leave him alone.
Who is Jake Branigan?
Jake grew up as a pastor’s kid, and he stayed out of trouble, respecting his dad’s position and what was expected of him. Now he’s living in an apartment and trying to put together an adult life, proud of his past and his family.
But after his dad makes epic mistakes, Jake has to figure out who the pastor’s kid is when his dad is no longer the pastor.
Tony is tired of living invisibly in his selfless big brother Shawn’s shadow. While Shawn works in ministry, Tony is making a mess of his own life.
The only people who see him are the girl across the street, whose issues are driving him crazy, and his best friend, who’s about to wreck Tony’s life. Maybe invisibility isn’t so bad.
To Marley, nothing is scarier than caring…
Sent across the country for his own good by his mother, Marley finds himself caring for his older sister’s collection of children and trying to put together a life when he’s not sure he cares to see another day.
A group of Christians in his building seems to have answers, assuming Marley doesn’t screw it all up like he usually does.
The Sekou Saga is an epic four-book series from the Tales of Balia series, stories about a world not unlike our own and a powerful god who works within it.
The tale follows a tired, ancient warrior and a misfit group of teens, including a circus freak, spoiled royal siblings, a mysterious merchant’s son, a servant’s daughter, and a cynical, broken guard, as they band together to find each of them a home and, unbeknownst to them, take on a dangerous mission for the god unlike anything they can imagine.
Warning: Cliffhangers ahead. Prepare to download them all.
Fantasy with a Christian worldview.
Galleo is an ancient, mystical warrior of the god who doesn’t age and can’t seem to die, and he’s tired. After spending lifetimes rescuing people of the god when they find themselves in danger, he simply wants to go home to Everworld and see the face of the god who, he hopes, loves and created him.
However, a bishop’s vision sends him on yet another mission, and he finds himself guardian to an unlikely group of children and teens searching for a missing princess: an innocent farm girl, an arrogant young prince, a worldly merchant’s son who hides great secrets, a toddler with an unknown past, a broken guard, and a strange-looking boy raised in a cage as a circus freak.
So begins an epic journey into dark continents, across the great seas, and over dangerous mountains as Galleo and the children discover their true mission might have nothing to do with a missing princess. Instead, the journey is all about finding homes for the lost young people and rescues for anyone they come in contact with, for it seems the god has grand, amazing plans for these teens. Galleo only hopes that somewhere along the line the god chooses to grant him death and peace, the things he has craved for lifetimes.
Having betrayed his friends to save his family, Dane the guard is now called on to right his wrongs, and he finds himself leading his friends back to his home, a dangerous mountain filled with enemies. His friends no longer trust him, and he deserves that. What he doesn’t deserve is their forgiveness and concern, and he is determined to keep them safe and be worthy of their misplaced care.
Friendship, trust, and faith have to come together to get the group and their guardian off the mountain and back to the task of finding safe homes for all of them. Along the way they rescue souls and discover their own strengths, for each has a role to play in this drama of the god. More than one will have to sacrifice to save the others.
Unfortunately, an old enemy follows, so the journey home isn’t as easy as they hope.
With their leader missing, the group looks to Gem to head the search to find him. Embarrassed by his upbringing and trying to avoid his destiny, Gem fights them, but eventually he leads his closest friends across the continent to find a beloved warrior of the god. However, Gem’s lies to his friends haunt, and restoring their trust and faith in him is harder than he expected.
Disguised as a gypsy troupe, the group touches villagers with music and dance, draws the attention of evil cults, and finds itself sailing into the great sea to find clues to some of their pasts. As the journey leads them into the waters, the group continues to fight their way home, even though they have no idea what will constitute home for this group of misfit, broken, exhausted teens and adults.
When a storm spreads the group across the shores of the great sea, they begin the long journey back to one another. Each finds clues along the way that speak of the true origins and purpose of Galleo, their ancient friend, as well as one final mission deadlier than all the rest put together.
Racing time, facing loss, and fighting enemies, the teens use visions, mystical gifts, wisdom beyond their years, and memories of things lost to make their way to one another and then to an inland mountain where thousands of lives hang in the balance. Much to everyone’s surprise, Casimir, the arrogant boy prince, suddenly becomes a force of his own, leading where nobody else wishes to lead and breaking hearts when he sacrifices everything for those he loves.
It seems the god has asked more of the group than they can possibly give, and they have little hope for success. However, each hopes that any who survive this final battle will finally have the blessing of finding home.
Drift down the river and enjoy a trio of novels from a simpler place and time.
Follow three sets of youngsters as they grow up in the isolated communities on the river, facing the dangers of the swamp and learning about life, responsibility, and love along the way. Sweet romance/coming of age.
Cree and Princess lose their mothers and grow up nearly alone in the swamps, enduring infrequent visits from abusive and absentee dads.
Raising Cree’s baby brothers, the pair has to grow up fast, and they learn as they go about the dangers of the swamp, the hardships of living alone, and the power of love to heal all wounds.
Emilie finds herself married to Luc, a boy she barely knows. When she realizes he married her to care for his ailing grandfather so he can tend his farm, Emilie determines to make Luc love her the way her papa loved her mama.
Unfortunately, their families and the unpredictable swamps threaten everything they hold dear, and Emilie hopes she can waken Luc’s heart before they both lose their dreams.
City-born Yeardleigh escapes to the swamp after her papa kills her mama. Longing to belong somewhere, she lives with a swamp family and learns everything she can about life on the river.
Although she and one of the boys in the household develop feelings for one another, he makes a decision that will take him far from her and eventually endanger them both. Only her strength and determination can bring healing to the family she loves.
Drift down the river and enjoy a trio of novels from a simpler place and time.
Follow three brothers—triplets—as they grow up on the river in the care of their big brother, learning to survive the dangers of swamp life and the joys and pains of becoming adults. Sweet romance/coming of age
Sheila grew up with triplet brothers, causing trouble and enjoying childhood to the fullest. Now that she’s grown up, she realizes she has feelings for one of those brothers, and the transition from playmate to romantic partner isn’t easy.
It’s made harder when an accident causes Montague to see himself as a monster not deserving of Sheila’s love and attention.
Suzette is a deep river rat, coming from an isolated childhood. While staying with an ailing aunt, she meets Pierre, who’s training with her aunt to become a healer. He’s beautiful and energetic and alive, unlike anyone she ever knew.
When her father marries her to a monster, she runs to Pierre for safety. Not only can he protect her, but maybe she can save him when a horrible loss nearly takes him apart.
City girl Natalie and her brother Charles come to the swamp to look for family, hiring a guide named Remy, a boy not much older than she is. He seems to own his world, strong and capable, except every bit of his personal life is a secret.
When he becomes ill, he has no choice but to take her to his family, where she discovers just how much brokenness her guide and friend has been hiding.
Strains of Portomare
This fantasy series is a Dawnlight Library exclusive. Visit the series page for more information.
Straw Hats and Old Lace
Coming in 2025. Romance, mystery, and faith combine in this contemporary Christian series.
