Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
- The hunt BEGINS on 10/21 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
- Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).
- There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 10/24 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them.
- Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!
Hi all! I’m so excited to be a part of this fun scavenger hunt with some amazing authors. And look at all the books!!
I adore a good story, don’t you?
I’m Pepper Basham: wife, mom, speech-language pathologist, and author of historical and contemporary romances peppered with grace, humor, and a dash of whimsy. My newest release really embodies those three things: grace, humor, and whimsy. The Mistletoe Countess is a marriage of convenience story with a little mystery sprinkled in for good measure. If you enjoy fiction that tickles your funny bone and warms your heart, my books might just be for you! To learn more about me and my stories, check out my other books here or learn more about me here 🙂
Speaking of fiction!
I don’t think you’d be enjoying this scavenger hunt if you didn’t like reading fiction, but why? Why do we love fiction so much? I posed the question to a group of avid readers and their answers fit within 3 main categories:
TRAVEL, ESCAPE, & INSPIRATION
Here are what a few had to say 🙂
FOR TRAVEL
“I love the ability to a story to take me new places and introduce me to new people. Sometimes, when life is tough, fiction gives me a way to relax and ignore the madness. I come back when I’m ready.” Vicky Sluiter “Fiction has the unique ability to make history feel personal to us, because if a book is historically accurate and well written we come away not just knowing a list of dates and events but feeling as though we’ve lived it.” – Caitlyn SantiFOR ESCAPE
FOR INSPIRATION
“Why not fiction? A story is a powerful think; it moves, it breathes, it inspires, it encourages, it instructs, it forms an everlasting memory about things that were never meant to be forgotten.” – Rebecca Maney
“The best of fiction weaves spiritual truths into the story and those can speak to us and stay with us and even help us in our lives. Fiction touches our minds and hearts in a unique way that leaves us changes because of the encounter with the story and characters.” – Andrette Brown Herron
What would you add to the list?
Leave your answer in the comments and have your name put into the drawing for a paper copy of one of my books of your choice (U.S.A only). Or a digital copy for outside of the U.S.A. If you leave your email address in the comments it will make it easier for me to contact you if you win.
If you’re interested, you can order The Mistletoe Countess on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore!
(Here’s a little bit about The Mistletoe Countess)
Now….
Here’s the Stop #23 Basics:
Clue to Write Down: in which
The Next Stop on the Loop: Lynette Eason’s site!
I love Christian Fiction because the books are good clean reads that allow me to escape into a great story and relax.
Exactly!!
I recently read a Nancy Mehl book where the character always thinks she’s less. Finally she is challenged that believing that is saying God did a bad job
Christian fiction is a way for me to escape my realities, but also show me how others work through their struggles and see how God is there through it all. I love the special messages that I take away from the books… even if I can’t always remember which one it came from.
Katie,
I love those special messages too!
All three reasons are why I read fiction…travel, escape, and inspiration. I love the adventure of putting myself in someone’s story and learning and growing from it.
Exactly, Hannah.
Reading is a way of life and I love suspense with a good mystery to solve.
I read fiction to escape to another time and place, to learn about new things, and to learn life lessons along with the characters.
Christian fiction allows me to enjoy my love of reading, lets me travel without leaving my house, and encourages me through the storyline. Thanks for having this giveaway!
Angela, I love being able to travel through books!
I love mysteries, including historical ones. I like “visiting” the Victorian era in books.
I love Christian Fiction because they always leave a very good feeling in my heart, and they are easy to read and comprehend and they are so real. Thank you for the chance.
I love that you said they “leave a very good feeling in my heart”. Mine too. I love the hope Christian fiction brings!
Christian Fiction just helps to put my mind in a place comfort and a fun vacation for a bit.
Nice!! I love that “place of comfort”
I read Christian fiction because of its inspirational messages. Reading these books bring me joy.
I’d also add learning. From every book I read, I usually learn something new or gain a different perspective.
Oh and email is: eclitton at gmail dot com
It’s a way for me to be someone else, somewhere else, for a while. abenabek13@gmail.com
Love books that make me think! chendryx (at) nctv (dot) com
I love fiction for entertainment, but also to know what it’s like to live a different life. Interesting historical fiction usually gives me lots of new things to learn.
nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com
I love fiction for the chance to experience different times and places. In books we travel to so many places and see things we might never see in real life. Fiction can teach us truths, through story, that we might not otherwise be willing to learn.
I would love to win the book so much! I have read the preview and enjoyed it. The book has everything that I love: Christmas, aristocracy, romance, and mystery.
My email address is: annieclark11@yahoo.com
I would add learning to the list as with every book you learn something new/useful. sheliarhaq64(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love fiction for many reasons, including (but not limited to) bringing history to life, giving an escape when I need a break and it’s ability to take me on adventures when I have to stay where I am!
jcservantslaveATicloudDOTcom
I really enjoy the power of story and also love learning. Whether historical fiction, contemporary, and everything in between, I always learn something
learning
i love how fiction can bring history alive hethas1@yahoo.com
The three reasons you have listed are why I read. I couldn’t come up with any other reasons.
Christian fiction brings home that every relationship will have hurdles, but as long as you both have faith and God is part of the marriage, everything is possible.
I love that Christian Fiction can not only take readers to another time or place, but does so in an uplifting and inspiring way.
I love reading Christian books because they are clean wholesome and actually fun to read.
Books are my relaxation
I love Christian fiction because it is entertaining but also inspires me to be better.
I love fiction for many reasons. Several of those are: for the adventure to another place and/or time period, the joy of engaging my imagination in other’s stories, and the physical/spiritual/mental reprieve it provides.
Thank you for being involved in this scavenger hunt, Pepper. I love your books!
I love Christian fiction for many reasons. I feel good after finishing a book. With secular fiction, I would not always feel clean. I love to travel so reading about places that I have already visited bring back good memories. Reading about places that I have never been give me a view into other countries. I like that there is a connection made to God and His redemption. I also like a bit of humor in the stories. As they say, laughter is good medicine.
I love humor in stories too!!
I love a good clean Christian romance story with a little mystery, like Jen Turano’s books!!!
Historical books are my favorite. Learning more about how life used to be lived is fascinating to me.
Christian fiction can be so inspiring and is often times such an encouragement!
I love fiction as an escape from reality. I also love Christian fiction because I am often encouraged, inspired and challenged in my own spiritual walk while following the characters. So appreciate all these authors!
Email is: mehandley4031@gmail.com
The language of books rips age barrier and gender, uniting souls with the art of words.
I love Christian fiction because it inspires me!!!!
Reading is the perfect way to end the day. One of the best gifts gained through my life was the gift of reading.
I love Christian fiction because it reminds me of His promises through great stories like yours! 🙂
I love reading fiction books because authors are able to show their own creativity through their writing and this helps to relieve my own stress when I read their books.
I love Christian fiction for al the reasons Pepper listed, but it is also provides a respite from my own crazy life, a break that can refresh or re-energize me before I return to the real world. I also appreciate learning new things from many of the books I read.
Christian fiction just makes me happy and provides clean romance books.
I like Christian fiction because the stories are great and encouraging and clean!
I enjoy reading historical christian fiction , for the history, it intrigues me to know the author had to research for their story. It makes for a good read.
I have always been an avid reader – for escape, enjoyment, and adventure.
For the ability to stretch your imagination. Take you places your mind might not take you
I love fiction books because they can take me to a time and place that I only can imagine. I have many medical problems and a good book can help take me away from pain without the use of all of the pain meds that the doctors prescribe.
Christian fiction allows me to “get out of my head” and learn so much about myself and those around me. I love especially well-researched historical fiction where I can learn at the same time!
I enjoy fiction for all three of the reasons that were mentioned. I love reading descriptions of different places that I have never visited. It also is a wonderful escape from the everyday. There are also many times that I have been blessed by the Scripture references and insights of the characters in Christian fiction.
I read Christian fiction because I love finding God in the pages! There’s been many, many times when He speaks through a writer to encourage me, or remind me of His love & care, or how the characters handle a situation that resonates with me.
I’m also a hopeless romantic so I read it for the happily-ever-after at the end!
Thank you for participating in the hunt and the giveaway chance to win one of your books Pepper!
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
I read for escape. I had a super traumatic childhood and reading helped me survive. Once I met Jesus I fell in love with the Bible and also with Christian fiction because I could still escape while being pointed to Jesus.
I love Christian fiction because it is clean and has spiritual truths.
I don’t read any books unless they written by a Christian author.
I love Christian fiction because it gives me an escape from my daily chaotic (sometimes) life of being a public school teacher. Reading clean, pure content makes me happy!
I sometimes read just for entertainment. When the world is pulling me down, I look for a book that isn’t too emotion-laden, and has a light touch of humor and makes me smile.
I Love Christian Fiction because it is such an amazing getaway from all of lives challenges! Thank You for the amazing hunt!
Christian fiction can help give me ideas on ways to explain various things to people I am talking to about God, Jesus, and life.
I have learned more by reading Christian fiction than by listening to some preachers. It is also the way I travel and escape from my troubles.
I just really love your books!! Your writing style touches my heart in a special way.
Thank you so much, Margie!
I love Christian fiction because there are so many genres. I can enjoy a great romance (either contemporary, historical, or time split), a mystery, a suspense, or learn about history, all without explict language. Most have a message of faith and hope that is encouraging when facing life today.
pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Fiction is my way of escaping reality. Going to another world or time and enjoy a moving story helps me to take a break from my busy life and refresh myself.
I love to read fiction for the escape of relaxing and entering someone else’s story…but I also love to learn things along the way. Learn history or facts, learn new words, learn about myself and other people…all of the above 🙂
I love reading Christian fiction because it is a way of leaving all my cares behind to be whisked away to different time periods…engrossed in the lives of the characters…enjoying clean fiction without all the smut…and learning/experiencing vicariously God’s truth and lessons through the tapestry of these fictional stories.
Thank you, Pepper, for being a part of the fun of this scavenger hunt, and for this additional giveaway!!!
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
I have always loved to read, I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t. When I was grownup in a small town the library was just to next block over from our house!
I always feel like I learn something when reading, especially historical fiction!
Nothing new to add but I love the escape- that I can forget my responsibilities and everything going on around me for a while.
Oops! sethdezAThotmailDOTcom
I love a lot of genres I Christian fiction, and find them inspiring! I loved The Mistletoe Countess!
I enjoy reading Christian fiction. It opens up spiritual truths and I don’t need to worry that it real affect my Christian walk in a negative way, plus I can encourage my grandchildren to read them as well.
I have often been convicted and/or God has used the situations in a fictional Christian book to speak directly into my life. Of course the Bible is my first priority, but it’s so nice to have Christian fiction to read when you are an avid reader!
I love reading Christian fiction because I love watching the way characters work out their faith journey. Plus, they are often heartwarming, or at least the ones I love reading the most.
Love how they show people living the Christian life in everyday living situations.
Just suggested Hope Between Pages to our book club.
Joan,
If you guys want a bookclub packet or would be interested in me popping in via Zoom, let me know 🙂
It takes me to places and times I’ll never get to visit IRL.
huge fan here! can’t wait to read the Mistletoe Countess, but I’m making myself wait for December, LOL.
HAHA! I think a lot of folks are waiting until closer to Christmas to read it!! I can’t wait to hear what you think! It was such a fun book to write!!
I read also for comfort, pure enjoyment, and to keep my mind engaged and challenged.
As mentioned above, I read Christian fiction because I like the wide variety of good novels that exemplify the values I have. I love the historical romances. I love the romantic suspense novels. I love the Biblical fiction novels. I can travel to another country or another time period without leaving my home. I can gain information about things I’ve never studied. I can relate to characters totally different from myself. And I don’t have to worry about reading foul language. It’s all clean, safe fiction!
Great book blurb for Mistletoe Countess
Being able to view life from a different perspective or even time period enables me to be more empathetic as a human. I don’t have to have lived something to be moved by it. I’ve “experienced” a life event through a character I love whether I relate to that character or not. And those different perspectives should grow my character and empathy to be more gentle and less judgemental, to be more compassionate and act on grace, to understand that everyone has a story and that extending patience and grace goes a long way in my mental/spiritual health as well as creating space for people to be human.
Yes! I like Christian Fiction because it builds me up while being entertaining.
While this technically falls slightly under each of the other reasons you listed, I’d add ‘for education’. It can be not only more fun, but also easier to learn something in a fiction book.
A new word, fun fact, or even a useful how-to lesson, can all be much more memorable when they are an important or entertaining part of a good story.
I mean, just look at how many people use a quick story about a bunny to teach kids how to tie their shoes!
I see that several other people here listed it too.
Thank you and your fellow authors for doing this scavenger hunt- and for adding more wonderful stories to the world!
I used to read for escape but now it is for entertainment and to learn. I have learned so much from reading fiction books! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
I like Christian/Inspirational Fiction because there aren’t going to be any offensive words or situations that I have no interest in.
Nothing worse than reading what you thought was a great book, with an unexpected, harsh expletive interjected. I’m not a prude, but good books can be written without being offensive.
Besides the spiritual aspect I also enjoy true history interspersed with the fiction.
tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
I love to travel to new places and learn new things.
Definitely for the escape and for the encouragement! To go back in time and history is a wonderful escape for me when I read fiction. Also, it is so refreshing to read fiction that is encouraging to the heart!
shannonpilch@hotmail.com
The book sounds really good!
To escape and to learn – both! All of the reasons above, though, are valid for me at different times.
Christian fiction not only relaxes me and takes me to places I dream of seeing, but it inspires me to do better and be better. It also encourages me that God is totally in control of the chaos that is often swirling around and throughout my life. eldora2193(at)comcast(dot)net
Entertainment. Depending on the sub genre reading fiction can be just for enjoyment, no stress, no fuss, just fun.
I often learn something from the books I read: life in a certain place, how society behaved during a specific time period, how people thought about faith in different places of the world.
Christian fiction gives me a different perspective on issues. It’s also encouraging.
A good fiction story allows you to be someone else, or experience someone else’s thoughts, talents, decisions, hurts, etc. I suppose this can fall under all three categories (travel, escape, inspiration).
I enjoy visiting different places and time periods.
Catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
I enjoy visiting different places and time periods.
Catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
I think escape is the main reason so I’ll mention a variation- a chance to experience a different type of life. For instance a single person what it is like to be married, or a contemporary person what it is like to live in the 1800s etc.
Christian Fiction allows me to travel to places I’ve never been, face situations I wouldn’t normally, all while being uplifted, and sometimes convicted, in my faith.
It can give me a new perspective or viewpoint on an issue
I absolutely agree with all of the above answers! There’s just something special about disappearing from your own world for a little while and embarking on an adventure you’d never be able to experience in reality. There’s also the added bonus of getting to “meet” new people without actually having to socialise!
Don’t get me wrong, there are some great nonfiction books out there…but I feel like they’re manuals or autobiographies in the way they’re written. I like the feeling of “Once upon a time…” storytelling. I learn more that way, similarly to how Jesus used analogies/parables all throughout his teachings. We thrive on stories!!
I think Fiction (particularly Christian) gives you a special connection to the author as well. You are treated to their research, insights and imagination in a novel that is a permanent gift to us.
Perrianne Askew
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
I love to read fiction because it can take me to other eras and places I would never get to see otherwise. And I learn things about the past that I never knew before. It’s also I great escape from stress and troubles in my life.
Christian fiction inspires me to keep growing in my faith and to thank God for the wonderful Christian authors who share their gift of writing with us readers.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
I enjoy good clean stories. I don’t have to worry about a graphic sex scene as in some romance novels.
Beautifully messages! Christian fiction, other than a good escape from life stresses and living vicariously through another’s character adventurous life, helps me reflect on my own struggles and see them more by the light of God’s shining light, by my free given faith, and it helps me see things in a way that’s closer to what God wants from me, to trust him and turn the control to Him of my life, asking him to guide me!
Thanks for the chance! Would love one of your books! Have already read a few and LOVE them!
Fiction allows me to turn my mind off of my concerns and live in a fantasy for a while. It is an added benefit if it’s historical, and even better if it is inspirational.
For entertainment
Christian Fiction allows me to escape my own world for a bit, while still drawing me closer to the Lord and teaching me something new!
Fiction lets me travel through time.
I like Christian Fiction because it is a clean read that allows escape from reality and also let’s me learn things about different time eras, different cultures, etc
angiepool1606(at)gmail(dot)com
I love relaxing with a good Christian book… something that inspires me spiritually as well as entertaining me.
I absolutely love to read! I get to travel to other places and times. Through the eyes of the characters I can see fantastic worlds and creatures and go on amazing adventures. I can learn and experience key points in history and different time periods. I can experience so much through a book without going anywhere and take a bit of break from life. There is always an adventure to be had, new experiences, and something to be learned through a book.
Oops! I forgot to give my email. It is: lisey.boss@gmail.com
I love being transported to new places, or old familiar ones. staceylovestoread@gmail.com
Great giveaway, love REAL books!
Amber
FAIRYnForest@outlook.com
I read Christian historical fiction to learn more about history. I can’t count the number of times something in a book has caused me to do some of my own research!
I started out reading CF as entertainment, and I still do read it for that reason. However, I’ve learned so much along the way! Historical fiction has been much more memorable than history classes ever were!
My favorite reason to read fiction is to learn!!! I love history but, more than that, I just love learning new things – historical events, true American crime, societal mannerisms, even how search and rescue dogs do their thing! I’ve learned so much through reading fact-based fiction and it’s so fun, too!!! (Though, I *have* been known to sit and read from our set of 1967 World Books, as well. 🤭)
My email is dewdropsanddandelions(at)gmail(dot)com
I mostly enjoy reading fiction to travel to other time periods and also sometimes to escape stress.
jslegspoet @ yahoo.com
I enjoy fiction and I love historical fiction. I learn while I’m being entertained!
It is not a Christian fiction book but last night I finished “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” by Gabrielle Zevin and some of the closing lines made me think of this question so I had to come back and share them here. “We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone… We are not quite novels… We are not quite short stories… In the end, we are collected works….there are no collections where each story is perfect. Some hits. Some misses. If you’re lucky, a standout. And in the end, people only really remember the standouts anyway, and they don’t remember those for very long.”
Inspiration, Travel, Escape, Learning, History are the reasons I like to read. Historical fiction is my favorite.
Oh so many reasons: Relaxation, escape, edification, enjoyment, exciting new adventures, traveling to places I may never get to go, live vicariously through favorite characters, trying to solve the mysteries before I finish the book, learn something new from everything I read, really enjoy historical fiction (WWII era), also romantic suspense, and my favorite is when a book stays with me long after I’ve read the last page!
There are a million reasons I read, including Christian fiction. I love the chance to visit new places, new times (or old ones), meeting new (pretend) friends, getting that extra bit of inspiration I didn’t even know that I needed from the beautiful faith messages found where I least expect them, the happily ever after, and KISSES! (you know who you are ; )