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Individual Contemporary Novels

Here is a quick look at the individual (stand-alone) Contemporary novels by Janice Thompson. To see more information and to read a summary of each book, please use the links below.

Duty to Die

What if the “right” to die became your duty?

Duty to Die, a “what-if” fictional thriller set in the not-too-distant future, comes almost too close for comfort in a society lacking a sanctity for life.

Can death be packaged in such a way that it actually begins to look like a viable option for those in distress? If so, what will the consequences be for the elderly, terminally ill, and disabled? When does life end … when the body ceases to function properly? … when the quality of life doesn’t meet certain standards? And who has the right to make the decision … except God? Duty to Die attempts to answer all of these questions.

The story from multi-published Christian author Janice Thompson is shockingly close to reality: Congress has enacted the “Duty to Die” law, forcing euthanasia on wide groups of children and adults who find themselves meeting the definition of “defective” according to the new law.

A frightened young woman with a terminal illness, a new mother with a baby born with birth defects, a young man marked with HIV, and others fight against all odds. The “Duty to Die” law interferes with the rights guaranteed every American citizen in the 14th amendment. But who has the courage to fight this injustice? How can the raging tide be turned in time to save innocent lives?


Fill These Empty Arms

Meet five women with empty arms.

Lexie is only fifteen, and already facing one of the toughest choices of her life — whether or not to keep the baby no one knows she’s carrying. Kathryn, Lexie’s mother, has already lost her husband. Will she lose her wayward daughter, too?

Reena, an elderly woman who lives in the heart of Cincinnati, is widowed with grown children who live in other states. She knows the pain of empty arms, as well. And then there’s Grace, a young woman from Florida, who has been trying (unsuccessfully) to have a baby. She and her husband wonder if they will ever hold a baby in their arms.

Finally, Joanna, a successful businesswoman who seems to have it all, struggles with the agony of an empty heart, due to a secret she has carried for over twenty years.

When the lives of these five women intersect, they are forever changed. Lives are transformed. Hope is restored. Arms, once empty, are filled.

From multi-published Christian author Janice Thompson comes an inspirational novel with great depth of character and dealing with sensitive topics for women ages 14 and up.


I Think I Do

Hannah Hibble is only a little concerned about the fact that her parents keep trying to fix her up with guys who come into the family’s Van Nuys costume shop to rent costumes. Each of these lucky fellows leaves with a costume and the promise of a date with Hannah. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) In the last couple of months she’s been out on four mercy dates. . .and all have been fiascoes. She’s more convinced than ever that the single life is the life for her. Duncan Evers is fairly new to L.A. He hails from Topeka, Kansas, and has come to the big city with stars in his eyes. His visions of taking L.A. by storm haven’t exactly panned out. After accidentally driving his older model sedan through the plate-glass window of Hannah’s costume shop, he determines that things can’t possibly get any worse. Wrong. He’s forced to take a part-time job at his great-uncle’s exterminating company to pay the bills until an acting job comes along. When Duncan and Hannah meet in the most unexpected of ways, sparks fly. . .and chaos ensues! Will their chaotic getting-to-know-you end in a true happily-ever-after?


Never a Bridesmaid

Mari wants her sister Crystal’s wedding to be perfect. But a poorly-chosen maid of honor may turn it into a disaster.

Mari Hays’s older sister Crystal is getting married, and Mari is ecstatic to be part of the wedding. But she soon finds her expected role of maid of honor has been delegated to the worst possible choice: Sienna Jameson. She’s catty, selfish, and totally into herself, and when Sienna discovers handsome professional baseball player Derrick Richardson is the best man, she sets her sights on her next boyfriend instead of on the wedding plans.

Meanwhile, Mari is determined to keep the glamorous event afloat. Wrapped up in dress fittings, bridal showers, and baking teacup-shaped cookies, she is shocked when Derrick has taken notice of her. In fact, he treats her like she’s a home run.

With the wedding day looming, an emotional and sensitive sister, a selfish maid of honor, and intense pressure from Crystal’s soon-to-be in-laws, Mari fears her attempts to make her sister’s wedding perfect will be for naught. Can Mari keep the waters calm until the bride and groom jet off for their honeymoon? And will she allow herself to be caught by Houston’s most eligible bachelor?


On Thin Ice

J.J. Williamson has hung up her figure skates . . . for good.

The world of competitions, sequined skating dresses, and heartbreak is behind her. Until she receives a call from her old coach, needing help with a new skating program at a local rink. J.J.’s not interested . . . or is she?

Kevin Harrison is the new manager of The Big Skate, a rink once famous for its hockey teams. Can he help it if the old building is falling down around him? He doesn’t have the funds to renovate, so why bother? When his uncle decides the dilapidated rink needs a new figure skating club, Kevin is convinced it’s a mistake . . . until that gorgeous new coach enters.

Will J.J. and Kevin link arms to resurrect The Big Skate, or will their differences put them on opposite sides of the ice?


Return to Sender

Holly O’Brien’s plans are flipped upside-down when she receives what she believes to be a Christmas letter in the mail. Turns out, the letter is from a complete stranger, and is intended for someone else. The passionate note—written with shaky handwriting—clues Holly in to the fact that the writer wants to reconcile with her estranged family. Holly flies into action to find the sender of the letter. Getting it into the right hands is critical. Her journey leads her to the Shady Acres nursing home, where she meets Gertie, the writer of the cryptic letter. Only one problem: Gertie, who has Alzheimer’s, has no memory of writing it. Enter Liam, Gertie’s handsome grandson. Does he have to key to unraveling this mystery? When Liam and Holly come together, sparks fly, but not all of them in the right direction. Can they work together to solve the mystery behind the letter? And will Holly witness a Christmas miracle as she gets to know this wonderful family? Inspirational author Janice Thompson is thrilled to share this heartfelt holiday story with her readers and wishes them all a very Merry Christmas.


Starry, Starry Knight

(Previously published as Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee)

Steve Garrison is the newly elected mayor of the tiny town of Camelot, Tennessee. When his childhood friend Amy Hart comes up with a plan to revive the town’s economy, he jumps onboard. The townspeople will perform the musical “Camelot”
in the city’s park, drawing in nightly crowds at the new outdoor theater. While excitement is high, talent is lacking. Amy casts several of the parts but is stumped when it comes to the role of King Arthur.

In desperation, she turns to Steve. Will he pull the sword from the stone and save the day? Steve reluctantly agrees—on one condition. In exchange for his willingness to wear tights, Amy must play the role of Guinevere. And when a handsome newcomer cast as Lancelot takes an interest in Amy, the stage is set for a little tension—and perhaps love. Will they have the perfect “starry night” opening, or will the knights in Amy’s life provide drama of a different kind?


The Perfect Catch

(Previously published as Gone Fishing)

“Everyone in town knows Sassy Hatchett’s got a bite worse than any shark in the Gulf of Mexico. Why, she could kill a man with just a look. Is that the sort of woman you want to spend your retirement years with?”

Sassy Hatchett has a bit of a temper. Since she lost her husband Joe a few years back, she’s had trouble adjusting. When mild-mannered postman, Wendell Meeks, expresses interest in her, she panics. To cool down, Sassy heads to the pier at the Port Neches River, where she fishes away her troubles. Only one problem: there’s a new fish (er, fella) on the line, and he’s not giving up without a fight. Will Sassy calm herself in time to enter a new relationship, or will her feisty Texas temper get the best of her?

Join best-selling Christian author Janice Thompson for a small-town Texas story that will have you laughing, sighing and reaching for your fishin’ pole.