Is there a state on your want-to-visit list that you haven’t quite made it to yet? Or maybe you enjoy seeing references to the geography and cities of the place you call home. Maybe you’ve even taken up a challenge to read one book set in each of the 50 states (a fun goal for a year!). Either way, this handy list will help you plan your reading road trip.
Here are a list of Bethany House books and their settings (published between May 2014 and June 2015). Enjoy!
I have this map up in my office marked with author names. Print out your own here.
U.S. Settings (in alphabetical order)
Alaska: Stranded and Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey
Arizona: Truth Be Told by Carol Cox
California: Until I Found You and Together with You by Victoria Bylin
Iowa: From the Start by Melissa Tagg
Idaho: Tried and True and Now and Forever by Mary Connealy
Kansas: A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears
Michigan: Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg, Captured by Love, Love Unexpected, and Hearts Made Whole by Jody Hedlund
Missouri: Gathering Shadows and Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl, A Most Inconvenient Marriage by Regina Jennings
New York: A Match of Wits and After a Fashion by Jen Turano
North Dakota: To Everything a Season and A Harvest of Hope by Lauraine Snelling
Ohio: Child of Mine by David and Beverly Lewis
Pennsylvania: The River and The Love Letters by Beverly Lewis, Becoming Bea and Amish Promises by Leslie Gould, The Midwife’s Tale by Delia Parr
Tennessee: Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman
Texas: Stuck Together by Mary Connealy, A Moment in Time and A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson, Full Steam Ahead and A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer, A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade
Oklahoma: Playing by Heart by Anne Mateer
Oregon: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade (half of it, anyway . . . the other half is in Texas)
Washington: Undetected by Dee Henderson, Steadfast Heart by Tracie Peterson
Washington D.C.: With Every Breath and Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
West Virginia: Miracle in a Dry Season and Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas, The Brickmaker’s Bride by Judith Miller
Non-U.S. Settings
Canada: Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
Egypt: Shadow of the Mountain: Exodus by Cliff Graham
England: Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering, Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell, The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen, Dauntless by Dina Sleiman
Greece: The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn
Israel: Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin
Persia (near modern-day Iran): Esther by Angela Hunt
Now it’s your turn, readers! Let us know where you’re from!
Fun! I see Texas representing. 🙂 I know Tracie Peterson had a couple Minnesota books a few years ago, but it looks like we could use some more. 🙂
Haha, yes, Gabrielle! During the winter, I always say that since so many of our authors live in Texas and we have so many books set in Texas, we should just move BHP there!
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
Born in Michigan, raised in Delaware. Have also lived in Okinawa, Japan & North Dakota. Currently live in New Mexico 🙂
That’s quite the variety of places! I’m sure they all had unique aspects that made them enjoyable.
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
I’m from Kentucky and mostly vacation in North Carolina. When I was a teenager I dreamed of writing a story set in every state.
Thanks for sharing this fun list.
I love that idea, Jackie! I’m sure it would take a lot of research to get each state just right…but what better excuse for travel!
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
I was born in Seattle, Washington. We moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, California when I was 5. After high school I joined the Air Force and then married a man who was also in the Air Force. He stayed in to retirement. During the Air Force years we lived in: Texas, Mississippi, Nebraska, West Germany, Texas, Maryland, West Germany, Arizona, and then back to the San Francisco Bay Area. After he retired we settled on the Central Coast of California.
This was a great list to read through. I’m going to have to get some of these books that I hadn’t heard about.
Wow, that’s quite a list! Thank you both so much for your service.
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
I was born in California moved to Texas when I was 5. Moved to N.C at 19, Michigan at 20, S C at 21 West Virginia at 22, back to Texas at 23 and at 50+ yrs I’m still in Texas.
Hi, Pam! I’ve noticed that Texans have a great deal of state pride…and for good reason. It’s a lovely state!
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
You need a NEBRASKA BOOK! I should get on that!
Absolutely, Mary! You authors are the only ones who can’t complain about a state being under-represented. 🙂
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
If you got Joan Wolf of Ct to continue her series famous women of the bible you woudl have someoen here
I do find it interesting how Biblical fiction expands our scope of settings outside our normal boundaries (and what we’re familiar with)!
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
Go Iowa! 🙂
I love your state pride, Melissa!
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
Minnesota here! Susan May Warren’s Christensen Family series is set in Minnesota.
Hooray for another Minnesotan! (That’s where BHP is headquartered too.)
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
Another Minnesota gal here. 🙂 For a time, “Cloak of the Light” by Chuck Black was in MN, and I’m sure there are a couple others – not a lot, but a couple. XD
I know Tracie Peterson did a series in Minnesota (Land of Shining Waters). It’s always fun to read a book set in a place close to your heart.
Amy Green
BHP Fiction Publicist
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Nothing from GA??? We have Oakland Cemetery and the Golden Isles. Savannah, people! Maybe when I finish my MS and submit to a fabulous agent, they will sell to Bethany! ❤