Novelists in November

The Novelists in November anthology is a sweet collection of stories sure to touch your heart. What a gift to be able to read so many works by various authors who infuse Christ into their writing! All the fall vibes of this anthology paired with the deep faith content make this the perfect mood setter for the season.

Each story was a joy to read and I applaud each author for crafting a delightful story. Here are a few quick points I took from each story:

A Melting-Pot Thanksgiving by Andrea Renee Cox: I loved the incorporation of so many characters with diverse backgrounds, including foster children, people from other countries, and a “normal” American family. A very sweet story!

And As She Talked by Bethany Willcock: Such a fun story! The mysterious element had me guessing the whole way through the story, and I finished the last sentence with a smile on my face.

Reasons to be Thankful by Hannah Gridley: This story had such a unique premise. A housebound woman living in secret with her FBI agent husband–yes, I was instantly hooked and had to understand why these characters were doing what they were doing. Loved this story.

Act in the Living Present by Katja H. Labonte: This gave me a throwback to my days of reading Lucy Maude Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott. The writing style was charming and old fashioned, and the story followed a nice arc.

My Heart Still Sings by Faith D. Cox: I wasn't expecting the twist in this story and enjoyed the depth and heart behind the healing that followed.

Tollemache House by Kellyn Roth: The setting came alive for me in this story. Loved the characters differing personalities and the subtle conflict. Effie's story dilemma about wanting to write a story about a happily married couple made me smile.

Finding Beauty in the Suffering by Katie Zeliger: Now, the setting of this story struck me as eerie, along with a lot of the characters. I would call this one imagination-stretching since it had me trying to guess what was going on in this place. The ending was a nice touch.

The Lost History of Lavender Lockbourne by Shira Rodriguez: The very title of this story drew me in. And then I read the first sentence, followed by the first paragraph and on down the page . . . it was hooking. The writing style was beautiful, written in a way that brought the main character's voice to life in a way I rarely see. The ending about made me cry, but it was a good, clean ache that's hard to explain. For such a short story, it impacted an incredible span of emotions inside me, everything from humor to heartache. A lovely story all the way through.

Pages of Grace by Heather Flynn: The friends-to-more trope was super sweet. The businesses felt real, from the diner with its friendly atmosphere to the publishing house with its frenzied pace. The ending put the perfect ribbon around this story.

The Sound of Healing by Averie Swan: This one. It was my absolute favorite. The backstory that wove through the main story was perfect. Just enough was revealed to raise a question, and then the answer wove its way into the story. The characters were a delight, and I could just see the family gathered around an old fashioned radio to get their evening entertainment. That last scene was a grand finale. Entirely. Perfect. This beautiful quote captures the feeling better than my words can: “Tell me one of your stories. A nice one, where the hero defeats the villain and rises up in a cloak of glory.”

Between Moor and Mountain by Kelsey Byrant: This story reminds me of a stream, gentle and meandering. It held a thoughtful, introspective bend. The Scottish highlands sprang to life on the pages.

Overall, Novelists in November is a collection you won't want to miss. Do yourself a favor and pick the book up now.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required to leave a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.