ProudGrandma Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 I want to get some books for these 2 dear ladies in my life for Christmas. They are both Christian ladies and do not like books with inappropriate things in them, but they are also not a huge fan of the Christian stories out there that are as predictable as a Hallmark movie. Mother in law is a huge mystery fan. So, that would probably be the best direction to go. But also any nice story with some humor tossed in would be fun too. Mom would probably like more of just a nice story with some humor, but nothing too deep. Both would be interested in books that are part of a series. Any thoughts for me would be great. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 You might check out Hallmark publishing. I know they were planning to print some mystery series, though I haven’t read them. I did try a few of their audiobooks (romance), and there was nothing inappropriate in them. The conflicts were believeable, nothing too dramatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Carla Kelly (who is LDS) writes some wonderful romances -- English set regencies (often featuring everyday people rather than aristocrats) and also American western romances. Here are two that happen to be free for Kindle readers as I write this ~ A Season of Love: A Christmas Anthology Softly Falling Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ema Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 How does their humor tend to run? Normal or quirky? If they don’t mind books that are not blatantly Christian, though that do not have inappropriate or crude things, you may look at Alexander McCall Smith’s books. He has a number of series. My mother likes the Number One Ladies Detective Agency. My favorite of his are the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, though that humor is a bit more quirky and you *may* have to either be German or love someone who is German to truly appreciate it. Jan Karon is also a good option—clearly Christian. I would also be remiss not to mention one of my favorite authors of all time, Thomas Eidson. He does write Christ-friendly books, but you would not find them in the “Christian” section of the book store. Though there is a strong Christian message, and strong Christian characters, life is messy and he writes about people who do not necessarily know Christ and His peace. So there are hard things in the books, like real life and the pain and hardships of real life, but I have been blown away by all of them. All his books are set in the old west. Like I said, maybe not for your mom and MIL, but there is a lot of meat in the books and I love Eidson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ema Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Also Tony Hillerman for a mystery series. My mother really liked his books, and there are a lot. I have never read any of him so I cannot say 100%, but my mom is a gentle soul who would not enjoy crude or inappropriate books. Could check them out at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 For your mother-in-law, I'd recommend The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which takes place in Botswana. (I see @Ema recommended that series too.) I think she'd love it! Or another option would be the Mrs. Pollifax Series. (About an elderly woman who joins the CIA.) For your mother, I'd recommend the Fairacre series with Miss Read. I think the first book in that series is Village School. (Takes place in a small village in England.) I think the first ones take place in the 1950's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 My mom loves The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and the Miss Read books. She is also recently a fan of the Gervase Phinn series beginning with The Other Side of the Dale (recommended here; thank you, whoever you were!). And of course I would be remiss not to mention, as I always do in threads like these, the James Herriot series beginning with All Creatures Great and Small. 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoraBora Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) For your mother: What about the Miss Read books? They feel like the Mitford series, but they're set in the fictional English villages of Fairacre and Thrush Green. The Mitford books would also be great, particularly Shepards Abiding for the Christmas season. Edited November 15, 2020 by DoraBora typo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 For mysteries: Colleen Coble, Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey and Dee Henderson. General: Karen Kingsbury has a lot of books on general family themes. The Baxter series comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 There is a newly translated Christian novel by Bo Giertz that I just LOVED. I'd say it's shot up to being one of my very favorite Christian fiction books, and since it's never been available in English before, chances are they haven't read it yet: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54406741-faith-alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
math teacher Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 I can recommend Dee Henderson for mystery books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 When you say that they "do not like books with inappropriate things in them", is that code for "no gays" or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Jan karon is my all time favorite. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) squeaky clean "cozy" mysteries - The Club of Queer Trades (Chesterton) -- collection of short stories with an overarching thread; with a healthy dose of humor - The Complete Father Brown Mysteries (Chesterton) -- collections of short stories that are "paradox" based - Daisy Dalrymple series -- 1920s England - No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series (Smith) -- note: the first book is rough in writing and a bit harsher in tone than the rest of the series, as the author was just getting started; maybe start with a later book, OR, give the first 5 books and encourage reading past the first book; otherwise, these are so charming and encouraging with gentle humor, and the mysteries are almost never a murder, which is such a delightful difference - Wodehouse on Crime (Wodehouse) -- light humorous collection of short stories; 1920s/30s England; by the author of the Wooster & Jeeves stories, but about a variety of characters doing "crimes" (like, stealing the future mother-in-law's copy of the "ripping good" murder mystery novel because the character left his copy on the train -- hilarity ensues) Also, this page of the Cozy Mystery website lists mysteries with "No Profanity and/or Faith-Based" squeaky clean nice stories with humor - Life With Jeeves (Wodehouse) - trilogy: Miss Buncle; Miss Buncle Married; The Two Mrs. Abbotts (Stevenson) - Anne of Green Gables + Anne of Avonlea (Montgomery) -- plus the rest of the series, if interested - Enchanted April (Von Armin) - The Great Wheel (Lawson) -- upper elementary level book, but SO fun and interesting I don't remember anything inappropriate in these, but it's been awhile since reading: - Cold Comfort Farm (Gibbons) -- humorous; 1920s/30s England - Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (Wrede) -- a light, humorous, short work that is like Jane Austen meets Harry Potter; a bit of a mystery as well, so it might go to either Mom or MIL Edited November 15, 2020 by Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Tanaqui said: When you say that they "do not like books with inappropriate things in them", is that code for "no gays" or not? I don't know the OP well enough to know what she means by that, but no, usually on these boards I have NOT seen "inappropriate" used as code for "no gays". Usually it means "no graphic s*x" and also usually means no r*pe or inc*st or p*dophili*, no affairs or living together, as well as no same-s*x relationships. It also usually means no graphic violence, doing or selling drugs, or other violent crimes esp. when graphically described or "condoned" (or explored) by the author as part of a main character's personality qualities. And probably also means no swearing, or at least no really bad profanity. Yes, most mystery books are about murder, and murder is inappropriate (lol, what a polite euphemism), but I think what is meant here in the original post is the "cozy mystery" book variety, that is a bit like playing the board game of Clue -- a body has been found (not graphically described or dwelt on), and the book is about solving the mystery of "whodunnit", which has the underlying theme of restoring the moral order and bringing to justice the person who has transgressed. At least that is how I see "inappropriate" used in other threads on these boards. 😉 Edited November 15, 2020 by Lori D. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 I have enjoyed the Mary Russell series by Laurie R King. It's a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, with Mary Russell as Holmes's very much younger wife, who sleuths in partnership with him. They are pretty light mysteries, not thrillers; I can't think of any sex or language in them. (Maybe a mention of sex as part of the marriage?) The Beekeeper's Apprentice is the first one. The Jeeves and Wooster stories and novels mentioned above are hilarious and clean, very fun reading! The Enchanted April is lovely too. There is a slight hint of possible adultery in it but definitely not a major theme and nothing actually happens. Georgette Heyer's Regency romances are great fun; my favorites are Cotillion and The Grand Sophy. Heyer also wrote some mysteries which are not as good in my view, though every December I read A Christmas Party. The Amelia Peabody mystery series by Elizabeth Peters is very popular. I read a couple and tired of them, but I know a lost of people love them. Set in Victorian England and Egypt. None of these is a Christian book, but I didn't notice any anti-Christian themes in them that I recall. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 3 hours ago, Tanaqui said: When you say that they "do not like books with inappropriate things in them", is that code for "no gays" or not? yes. Please not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 thank you so much.....you guys have given me a lot to consider....and might have taken me into some birthday gifts as well. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 56 minutes ago, kfeusse said: yes. Please not. There may be a gay character in one of the Mary Russell novels. If you want more detail let me know and I'll try to find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 For mysteries, the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters is well written and not graphic. And the Flavia De Luce series is charming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 The Mrs. Pollifax series is charming. A retired lady decides she wants to be a spy and joins the CIA. The series has been around for a while. I loved reading them. The first book in the series was written in 1966 and that last was written in 2000. Here’s a wiki page about the series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Pollifax 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanabug Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 You can't go wrong with anything by Regina Jennings. She is a homeschool mom friend of mine and has written around 16 or so books. Hers are historical Christian fiction, but not overly heavy on the cheesy Christian stuff like a lot of authors are. I've read several and they are all very good quality writing, clean and lighthearted, but always with an element of light romance and mystery. Lana 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, Tanaqui said: When you say that they "do not like books with inappropriate things in them", is that code for "no gays" or not? 4 hours ago, kfeusse said: yes. Please not. ANNDDDD... I was mistaken @Tanaqui. I guess OP did specifically mean "no gays", and not "no graphic-ness". Sorry. I have just not seen that as such a specific euphemism on these boards before. Edited November 15, 2020 by Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudGrandma Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 6 minutes ago, Lori D. said: ANNDDDD... I was mistaken @Tanaqui. I guess OP did specifically mean "no gays", and not "no graphic-ness". Sorry. I have just not seen that as such a specific euphemism on these boards before. no worries....thanks for understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 An older series with some humor ~ I'll recommend the Don Camillo books by Giovanni Guareschi. It is a series of some six books about an Italian priest and his nemesis the Communist mayor; the books are set in the 1950s in Italy. The priest sometimes talks to Christ on the cross who talks back to him. The wikipedia entry will give you a good idea of the content of the series. The first book is The Little World of Don Camillo; the stories were originally written in Italian in the fifties and sixties. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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