Books like On a whim by Robin Jones Gunn

Jonathan Tropper’s debut novel follows the Foxman family, united for the first time in a decade after the death of their father, exploring love, loss, and the quirks of sibling life with humor and depth.

A young woman from a poor background discovers the privileged life of an Ivy League college, forcing her to confront her values and self-esteem.

When a biotechnology firm discovers a blood sample with unusual Y chromosomes that may have come from Jesus Christ, and experiments produce kinder, gentler mice and baboons, they make a deal with Michael Coleman, a convict awaiting execution.

After an eleven‑year retreat in the New England mountains, Nathan Zuckerman returns to New York, where the city’s post‑9/11 landscape and aging muse Amy Bellette test his literary ambitions.

Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she's spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is--and what she's done--is bursting to the surface and sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will she walk away from everything, or can Maggie allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty--before it's too late? Maggie Stovall. One of the golden people. She has it all together. At least on the surface... Ben Stovall. Godly husband. Successful attorney. Has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life... Amanda Joy. Child of society. Abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive... When Joy Came to Stay is the heart-wrenching story of one woman's descent into the shadows of depression, her husband's search for understanding, and a precious child's unwavering faith. "Kingsbury's poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God's miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers." --Melody Carlson bestselling author, Diary of a Teenage Girl series "A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer's life. It leaves no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful." --Nancy Moser author, The Mustard Seed seriesStory Behind the Book"Each of my novels is a piece of my heart. Where Yesterday Lives was my first-ever novel, and as such it is somewhat autobiographical. The childhood story of Ellen Barrett, her love for her parents and siblings, is my story--though her current story and struggles are fictional. On Every Side sheds light on the struggle for religious freedom in today's climate; something I am passionate about. Finally, When Joy Came to Stay is the story of one woman's battle against depression and the secrets of her past." --Karen KingsburyFrom the Trade Paperback edition.

Teri, a young teacher spending the summer with her sister and brother-in-law in Hawaii, relies on her Christian beliefs for guidance when she finds she must choose between three very different men.

In 1997 London, Karen is drawn into a crumbling mansion run by the enigmatic Biba and his brother Rex, where a summer of hedonism ends in blood. Ten years later, she must protect her family from the shadows of a murder they are tied to.

Christy Miller learns the true meaning of friendship when she lets go of her best friend Katie and her boyfriend Todd, whose brief missionary assignment forces her to reevaluate her priorities.

In 1920s New South Wales, four twin sisters from the Latimer family break traditional molds, pursue nursing, and confront personal, familial, and societal expectations while defining their own futures.

Christy is back at Aunti Marti and Uncle Bob's house on the beach for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's... and Todd is in town, too! The cute surfer completely captured Christy's heart last summer, and she's eager to spend every possible minute with him. But soon Christy and her aunt are barely speaking, and it seems like all her friends are mad at her, too - including Todd! Is he hers or isn't he? And why would God let things get so tangled?

**"Forever" takes on a deeper meaning for Christy and Todd...** Christy Miller is back in southern California and ready to experience normal college life at Rancho Corona University. Finally she gets to room with Katies and spend quality time with Todd. But after bumping into Matthew Kingsley, whom Christy grew up with in Wisconsin, she suddenly questions her "forever" relationship with Todd. The situation becomes even more awkward when Katie gets involved. Then Todd opens up and tells Christy about his childhood - secrets he has never before dared to share. Shaken, she isn't sure how to respond, or what it means for their future. As Christy sorts out her increasingly complex feelings about all her friendships, something unexpected happens and she finds herself in the quiet corner of a hospital room, praying like she's never prayed before. Will Christy and Todd be able to start fresh, even when everything in life doesn't turn out as they wish?

A Christian fiction novel, Soul Tracker deals with life after death, loss, and the struggles of single fathers and their daughters.

In 1893, Thorliff Bjorklund dreams of becoming a writer while attending college in Northfield, Minnesota, but his new life and a job at the town newspaper pull him toward a different future.