11 Christian Fiction Novels and Series For Valentine’s Day

Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez

In the past few years I began incorporating Christian fiction in my reading diet and discovered several lovely romance novels in the process. Many love stories can be full of clichés or over-used scenarios. However, there are plenty of fun, unique stand-alone novels and book series to read as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Below is a mixed list of contemporary, historical, and suspense romances to check out!

01 | Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

Savannah Cade covertly works on her romance novel, hoping to be published by the illustrious Baird Books, which is considered to be the romance publishing house. The publisher she works for disapproves of commercial fiction, especially romance, so she hides the manuscript from everyone, including her new boss William Pennington. When she goes to retrieve her book, she finds harsh critiques written in the margins. When an agent gives her six weeks to rework the book, she reluctantly enlists the help of her mystery editor. But as the book develops, so does the romance between her and the shadow man who helps her. The question is, who is he?

02 | The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar

After a horrible accident with her friend and potential lover Jared, Keren is forced to flee Babylon to the northern country of Media. There she secretly tutors a shepherd boy who is a prince hidden from his bloodthirsty grandfather. When Jared comes to fetch her back home, she enlists his help to smuggle the boy back to his parents. All along the journey bitterness and love wage between them until Keren isn’t sure whether or not a relationship with Jared could ever happen. The sequel to this is titled The Peasant King.

03 | Cold Shot (Book #1 in the Chesapeake Valor series) by Dani Pettrey

Park ranger Griffin McCray just wants to be left alone after dealing with an unsolved murder, an incident as a SWAT team sniper, and the disappearance of one of his closet friends. But he joins forces with anthropologist Finley Scott when someone discovers skeletal remains at Gettysburg — remains that are not from the Civil War era. While he falls for the beautiful doctor, she uncovers secrets some would rather leave buried. With the help of his childhood friends they must race to find the killer before he silences them forever. The other books in the series are Still Life, Blind Spot, and Dead Drift.

04 | Authentically, Izzy (Book #1 in the Skymar series) by Pepper Basham

Izzy Edgewood is a thirty year old librarian who prefers the company of books to people and doesn't have any hope of romance in sight until her busybody cousin signs her up for an online dating site. Then she virtually meets bookish, slightly awkward Brodie Sutherland, who loves Lord of the Rings as much as her, owns a cliffside manor house, and helps run a chain of bookstores on a European island. In other words, he sounds perfect — too perfect — and she holds back so she won't get hurt. But she begins to realize she's been playing safe for far too long and she may have to take a leap of faith if she's going to get her happily ever after. The other books in the series are Positively, Penelope and Loyally, Luke.

05 | Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon

In the sixth book of Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series, Holly Miller is a pacifist, pro-life, do-gooder who isn’t ashamed of her beliefs. Ex-Delta Force sniper Steven Roark hides a dark past and disagrees with many of Holly’s stances. But when the two come together in the Oregon costal town of Hope Harbor, sparks fly despite their differences. Yet how can two people so opposite from each other fall in love, especially as they take separate sides on an issue that has the whole town fired up?

06 | Beneath the Surface (Book #1 in the Dive Team Investigations series) by Lynn H. Blackburn

When a body is dragged up from Lake Porter and an attempt is made on her life, Leigh Weston reaches out to her high school friend/homicide investigator Ryan Parker. After a few other close calls they conclude a serial killer that targeted Leigh the year before has resurfaced and Ryan vows to keep her safe. Unfortunately he can’t do more than that; Leigh’s brother made it clear years ago that none of his friends are allowed to date his sister. But Leigh and Ryan can’t ignore the attraction that’s been simmering between them for years and as the killer edges closer, it becomes impossible to hide their feelings from each other. The other books in the series are In Too Deep, One Final Breath, and Unseen Enemy.

07 | The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers

When suffragette Katherine Walsh is shipped off by her strict step-father to a run-down mining town, she’s determined to make the best of her late uncle’s inheritance. But Calvada is a far cry from Boston, with saloons, gaming tables, and far more men than respectable ladies. When she starts reporting unbiased news, the whole town gets stirred up, including Mayor Morgan Sanders and saloon owner Matthias Beck. Meanwhile both men compete for the fiery, unconventional lady, despite the fact she has no intention of marrying. As she struggles to make Calvada a better place, Katherine will have to choose to either protect her heart or allow herself to fall in love.

08 | The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

This rom-com will have you in stitches! Cassie Everson takes a chance going out with Jett Bentley, who had a major crush on her in high school. When they go on their first date, they find they are compatible in many ways, with each thinking the other doesn’t want children. Imagine their chagrin when they each wind up with three kids in their custody! Being mature, responsible adults, each decides to hide their wards from the other until they can figure out this mess. But hiding and caring for children is harder than they thought and the charade will be difficult to keep up. What could possibly go wrong?

09 | Dangerous Illusions (Book #1 in the Code of Honor series) by Irene Hannon

Grief after the sudden death of Trish Bailey’s mother is compounded when Trish is considered a suspect in the murder case. However, Detective Colin Flynn is skeptical of her involvement in the death, especially as other factors come to light. Such as the fake charities the family accountant claims her mother donated to. Or the “memory lapses” he says Trish has been having, but she is positive she hasn’t had such problems. Or the pressure the accountant puts on her to appoint him as a new trustee to her parents' foundation. As Colin and Trish investigate the answers to the case and the question of a possible romance, they are unaware of a whole nuanced layer of crime beneath the surface. The other books in the trilogy are Hidden Peril and Dark Ambitions.

10 | Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry

Based on the letters, books, and interviews written by or about them, this book follows the improbable love story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. When Joy seeks spiritual advice in a letter to Lewis (whom she comes to refer to as Jack), neither realize it’s the catalyst for a deep friendship and eventually a love that would span a decade. But so many things prevent them from voicing their feelings, including being separated by the Atlantic ocean, the obvious differences between them, and Joy’s marriage to a drunk, adulterous, needy man. How can the two of them become more than friends when the circumstances are so against them? A fascinating exploration into the story of the independent woman C.S. Lewis loved and the way they were finally able to be together.

11 | The Mistletoe Countess (Book #1 in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series) by Pepper Basham

While this is a Christmas novel, I couldn’t resist putting it on the list! Fredrick Percy is forced to marry for money due to the financial straits his family's estate is in. But less than a week before the wedding, his intended bride elopes and he's forced to marry her younger sister, Grace, or lose part of the estate. Grace’s imaginative, carefree nature captures the earl's heart immediately, but before the wedding bells have stopped ringing they are confronted with someone trying to kill Fredrick. As the couple draw closer together they must solve the mystery before their marriage is cut short by a cold-blooded killer. The other books in the series are The Cairo Curse, The Juliet Code, and The Highland Heist (coming out in July 2025).