Books

New & Noteworthy Fiction

Chosen by Rachel Hauck, author of “The Best Summer of Our Lives”.

Positively, Penelope

Pepper Basham (Thomas Nelson)

In this epistolatory romantic comedy, the delightful Penelope Edgewood plans to save fictional Skymar’s historic theater with her hard work, fueled by optimism, baked goods, and a local theater troupe. Love also takes center stage when two brothers vie for Penelope’s heart. After being offered a dream job, she must choose between returning home and a romantic happily-ever-after in Skymar. While the email and text exchanges between Penelope and her family and friends are lighthearted and fun, Basham weaves depth and truth into the characters’ journeys. Skymar is enchanting, a place you’ll want to visit again.

Ned

Susan May Warren (SDG Publishing)

Susan May Warren entertains with fast-paced, high-action novels dealing in strong characters and spiritual truths. In this third installment of her successful Minnesota Marshalls series, Navy SEAL Ned Marshall wants to settle down and marry his true love, Shae Johnson. He proposes in Geneva, but her yes is not as simple as it seems. Instead of making wedding plans, Ned and Shae find themselves embroiled in intrigue. Warren is a skilled storyteller with powerful prose, and she leans on her 10 years spent in Russia as a missionary, as well as her experiences in France and Alaska.

Dedicated to the One I Love

Beth K. Vogt (independently published)

Kylie Franklin left her successful career as a romance author under the pen name Veronica Hollins the day her husband died. Joe Edwards goes by Tate Merrick in his literary life as a military suspense author. Even with his success, Joe can’t hit the bestseller list. When his publisher suggests working with Veronica to add a touch of romance, resentment is the name of the game. But there’s a twist. Kylie/Veronica and Joe/Tate are actually good friends in an online game. When the truth comes out, sparks fly. Vogt’s book captures what we love about rom-coms: humor, irony, and a path toward happily ever after.

Also in this issue

How are the ways we interact with artificial intelligence shaping us? Our cover story this month explores how Christians working in tech fields are thinking through the ethical and spiritual implications of this and other AI-related questions. Also in this issue: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s prison poetry, compensation for women’s ministry leaders, and insights from Hebrews on Christ’s solidarity in human suffering.

Cover Story

AI Will Shape Your Soul

New Yorkers Watch as Their Only Evangelical Colleges Close

Putting Christian and Missionary Alliance Theology in Song

Honor Thy Church Mothers—with Wages

Christians Seek to Expand Holy Land Tours to Include Christians

Looking for a Detox for Unhealthy Masculinity

Colombian Christians Preached Social Justice. Practicing It Is Harder.

The Bots and the Bees

Testimony

I Hadn’t Committed Suicide. But I Was Spiritually Dead.

Culture War Is Not Spiritual Warfare

Stowaway Pastor Survives Atlantic Crossing

Praise Him with Harp and Tuba?

My High Priest Understands My Pain

5 Books on the Witness of the Old Testament Prophets

How to Handle Toxic Friendships

The Middle Ground Leads to Nowhere

Christian Imagination Can Change Our Culture Wars

Do Not Conform to the Work Habits of AI

The Cost of Creativity: Bonhoeffer Set Aside Ethics For Art. Did He Choose Well?

Take a Risk and Make a Friend

Review

The Gospel Is Greater Than Its Greatest Proclaimers

Review

Sticking Out and Fitting In as an Asian American Believer

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