Carole Towriss Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Carole Towriss

For readers diving into Carole Towriss's catalog, your best starting point depends on your preferred subgenre. If you want to experience her signature biblical epics, start with In the Shadow of Sinai, the first book of the Journey to Canaan trilogy. It showcases her talent for taking lesser-known scriptural figures and turning them into fully realized characters navigating real historical struggles.

If you prefer New Testament historical fiction focused on the early church, start with Sold Into Freedom, which kicks off her Planting Faith series. For contemporary romance lovers, the seasonal Brandon Beach duology begins with Just Until Christmas, which provides a modern, clean romance reading experience.

Journey to Canaan Trilogy

This is Towriss's flagship biblical fiction series, set during the Hebrew Exodus. It follows the Israelites as they journey from the desert of Egypt toward the Promised Land. The books build on each other sequentially, so they should be read in order:

1. In the Shadow of Sinai (2012) – Follows Bezalel, a Hebrew builder tasked with crafting the Ark of the Covenant, and Lani, a half-Egyptian woman seeking her place among God's people.
2. By the Waters of Kadesh (2013) – Picks up the journey at Kadesh-barnea, focusing on the spy Joshua and a young woman named Miriam, dealing with the aftermath of Israel's refusal to enter the Promised Land.
3. The Walls of Arad (2016) – Follows the final leg of the wilderness wanderings, centering on the battle of Arad and the challenges faced by the next generation of Israelites.

Planting Faith Series

This New Testament series explores the dramatic growth of the early Christian church under the Roman Empire. These books should be read in order of publication:

1. Sold Into Freedom (2018) – Tells the story of the Philippian slave girl (named Julia in the novel) who was freed from a spirit of divination by the Apostle Paul, exploring her journey of healing and faith.
2. More than Conquerors (2024) – Set in 50 AD Thessalonike, following the characters Kassandra and Jason as they encounter Paul's teachings and face rising persecution.

The Psalm Series (Collaborative Project)

The Psalm Series is a unique collaborative collection of biblical novellas written by different authors, each inspired by a specific Psalm. While the series shares a thematic bond, the stories are standalone. Carole Towriss contributed the third installment:

• Book 1: The Hunter and the Valley of Death (2018) – Written by Brennan S. McPherson.
• Book 2: By the Waters of Babylon (2018) – Written by Mesu Andrews.
• Book 3: Deep Calling Deep (2018) – Written by Carole Towriss. Inspired by Psalm 42, it follows a Levite singer who struggles to find his song again after the destruction of Shiloh.

Ordinary Women of the Bible (Collaborative Series)

Published by Guideposts, this multi-author series focuses on minor or unnamed women mentioned in the Bible. While Guideposts lists many books in this collection, Carole Towriss specifically authored four key volumes. Because they focus on different women and time periods, they can be read as complete standalones in any order:

• A Mother's Sacrifice: Jochebed's Story (2019) – Reimagines the desperate efforts of Moses' mother to save her baby from Pharaoh's decree.
• No Stone Cast: Eliyanah's Story (2020) – Centers on the woman caught in adultery and her transformative encounter with Jesus.
• The Ones Jesus Loved: Mary & Martha's Story (2020) – Explores the lives of the famous sisters of Bethany as they walk with Christ.
• The Dearly Beloved: Apphia's Story (2020) – Follows Apphia, briefly mentioned in Philemon, as she protects an abandoned infant in the early Roman church.

The Brandon Beach Series

For a complete change of pace, Towriss wrote a contemporary Christian romance series set around Christmas. These should be read in chronological order:

1. Just Until Christmas (2016)
2. A Different Kind of Christmas (2017)

Standalone Novels

Towriss has also published standalone stories across both historical and contemporary settings:

• The Other Brother (2016) – A contemporary romance novella about a man living in his late brother's shadow and finding hope with a local NICU nurse.
• Prize of War (2017) – A standalone biblical novel focused on Acsah, the daughter of Caleb, and her marriage to the warrior Othniel.