December isn't a month that sees many new fiction releases since most publishers aim for earlier release dates in order to market their books throughout the Christmas season. However, three novels that didn't reach me in time for an earlier review all merit attention as excellent examples of this year's noteworthy LDS fiction.

Speaking of noteworthy fiction, the year is drawing to an end and the deadline for Whitney nominations is almost here. The Whitneys are prestigious awards given to LDS writers in various categories. Nominations do not come from a panel, but from the reading public. I urge all readers to think back over the books by LDS authors you have enjoyed this year and nominate those you think are deserving of an award. You can find a list of 2008 LDS novels here. To be eligible for consideration a novel must be nominated by at least five different people. Unfortunately some very fine novels did not receive enough nominations to be in the running last year. You can make certain that doesn't happen this year. You can nominate more than one novel in any category, but you can only nominate a particular title once. For more information and to make your nominations, go here.

I read the three novels I'm reviewing today in the order received and was charmed by the first of the three.

Easterfield by Anna Jones Buttimore is like taking a step back in time to nineteenth century England . The story is set in the same time period as the Bronte sisters' books, though the style is lighter and more reminiscent of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . Buttimore was born in England , educated in Wales where she lived for twenty years, and she now lives in the village in England where she lived as a young child, which gives her writing an authentic rural English touch.

Catherine with her sister and cousin live in an out-of-the-way village with the sisters' mother and widower uncle. Life is slow and predictable until the day the three young women happen on an American preaching a new religion in the village square. Catherine pauses to listen and a friendship forms between her and the preacher. Shortly thereafter the family receives an invitation to dinner at the Easterfield estate which sets the stage for all three young women to become embroiled in relationships fraught with difficulties and the disapproval of the uncle. After the preacher is suddenly called back to Utah , Catherine meets handsome Dr. Davenport who pursues her with the promise of love and security, but only if she gives up her interest in religious matters. In a world where women have few rights, all four women's lives are turned upside down by the conniving, unscrupulous uncle and startling changes in their circumstances.

This is a tight, well-written story with charming, versatile characters and a plot that flows smoothly. Readers of Buttimore's earlier books found them thought-provoking, but the pacing a little slow. This book is also thought-provoking, but is paced just right for a highly satisfying read. It also has moments of delightful humor. Careful attention is given to the customs, prejudices, and manners of the time period. The main love story is proper and has a quaint, endearing quality reminiscent of Austen's classic love stories. The one area I found less than satisfying was in the copy editing. The British spelling and phrasing enhance the story, but the careless omission of small connecting words, substituting that for than, and other typos detract from an otherwise exceptional book that will, I suspect, become a classic favorite of women of all ages.

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Promises to Keep, Diane's Story is the keeping of a promise by Dean Hughes to his readers who constantly asked “What happened to Diane?” who left her abusive husband in Hearts of the Children to protect herself and her young daughter, Jenny. Hughes answers this question by picking up the story years down the road as Diane faces conflict with her daughter, now a teenager.

Both Diane and Jenny are impulsive and headstrong. Diane would prefer that Jenny have nothing to do with her father, but Greg woos the teenager with expensive gifts and subtle manipulation. Her desire to be loved by her father blinds her to the fact that Greg lives in a fancy house, takes expensive vacations, yet claims he can't afford to make child support payments. Diane struggles to finish an advanced degree program so that she can become an administrator and earn more than she has all these years as a teacher. Jenny is sometimes as manipulative as her father and Diane still barges ahead without thinking situations through well. Their conflict eventually leads to Jenny leaving her mother to live with her father. Complicating matters farther is Diane's relationship with Spencer, a man she cares about, but who is manipulated by his children to whom he doesn't seem to be able to stand up. Diane has to come to terms with some serious questions concerning her future and the question of whether happiness lies within herself or does she need someone else to make her happy.

Hughes can be counted on to write interesting, thought-provoking stories. Even on the rare occasion when I don't particularly care for one of his leading characters or can't identify with him or her, I still find myself absorbed in the story. Such was the case with this book. For a supposedly smart woman, Diane was too argumentative, short-sighted, and self-absorbed for my taste. Still I could sympathize with her as Greg played on her weaknesses and made her a sucker over and over. The plot is handled well and the conflicting political views are consistent with today's political environment.

This book has a great deal of appeal for both men and women, parents of teenagers, those who have faced divorce or troubled marriages, and Hughes's legion of fans.

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Abinadi by H. B. Moore took me by surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but something surely of a lighter nature. Yes, there's a love story, but it isn't remotely what is considered a romance. Moore's first few books seemed intended for a young audience, though her last book in her Out of Jerusalem series showed greater depth and took a great leap forward in technical form and maturity level, so I guess I was expecting something lighter and more romantic than this book proves to be. This one holds drama and excitement, reveals serious research, an understanding of a mature commitment to God, and the ability to speak directly of the sins and excesses of King Noah's court and is, by far, Moore 's most outstanding work to date. Even those with a superficial knowledge of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon are aware of the results of Abinadi's preaching to King Noah and his priests. We know how the stories of Abinadi and Alma overlap so it's no surprise to see Moore weave the story of Alma 's role as a priest and his conversion into Abinadi's story. What will surprise many is to see Abinadi portrayed as a young man. We're so accustomed to the Arnold Friborg painting that depicts him as an elderly prophet at the end of his life that to visualize him as a young man in his twenties with so much to live for, including a wife whom he loves and a child, is a bit of a shock. Yet there is nothing in the scriptural account that even hints at Abinadi's age and in making Abinadi a young man, the tragedy and poignancy of the story reaches a more intense level.

The book begins with a prolog or preface of the death sentence given Abinadi and his thoughts leading up to the carrying out of this sentence. This is my only criticism of the story. I have a strong dislike of this literary device where an intense scene from the back of a book is picked to stick at the front as a give away teaser. Though, in this case, most readers already know what will happen, I just don't like spoilers or teasers. That said, the story is beautifully told from that point on of a young man who chooses to serve God, care for his elderly mother, and who is intrigued by the daughter of a high priest.

Raquel is Amulon's daughter, a young woman who catches the king's eye and must flee for her life when she rejects both his proposal and his amorous advances. She befriends a young shepherd boy who is instrumental in her conversion to the gospel. She is a strong woman, facing realistic conflicts, yet is tender and sensitive to the feelings of others. Moore handles this tender relationship well without getting bogged down in maudlin sentimentality.

The author paints a vivid picture of the dangers found not only in the wicked city of King Noah and his court, but gives a feel for a city that is isolated in the midst of Lamanite lands, much of which is rugged forests and jungles inhabited by wild beasts. The reader is given a strong sense of the geographic conditions, but the setting never overwhelms the story.

I only spotted one typo in the book. If there are more I was too absorbed in the story to notice. This high rate of accuracy is something to be commended. This book will appeal to both men and women, scholars, and those who read for entertainment. I highly recommend it.

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EASTERFIELD by Anna Jones Buttimore, published by Leatherwood Press, soft cover, 295 pages, $16.95

PROMISES TO KEEP, DIANE'S STORY by Dean Hughes, published by Deseret Book, soft cover, 255 pages, $17.95

ABINADI by H. B. Moore, published by Covenant Communications, soft cover, 261 pages, $16.95