Five Fall Favorites {Contemporary Christian + Blankets}

Good morning, party-goers! Are y'all ready for another day of bookish fun? Today's genre is contemporary Christian—a favorite of mine! So choosing these books was tough. ;)

As always, don't forget to enter the giveaway!

I'm in charge of passing out the blankets today. Fall is in the air, so outdoor reading may call for some warm coziness. Grab a quilt or a throw and settle in!

Thursday: Contemporary Christian

The Rebellion by Livy Jarmusch (Tales of Tarsurella, #2)

Something is brewing. Like the far off rumble of a train in the distance, a rebellion is stirring. A cry for change arises in the midst of a traditional monarchy, where King Addison has inherited the throne. Who are the underground troublemakers? What is stirring their defiant banner and demand for change? Find out in The Rebellion! (The Tales of Tarsurella #2)

Vanessa Bennett lands her dream job working at the Palace in Tarsurella. She struggles to balance everything on her plate: life in a new country, stressful deadlines, crabby co-workers, college classes at the local University, and blossoming feelings of romantic adoration toward her boss–King Addison. Keeping up with her To-Do list, while trying to earn respect in Addison’s male-dominated administration, presents its challenges. Nevertheless, she can’t help but fight a reoccurring thought and the excitement rising with it: is Addison interested in her?

Addison is adjusting to his new role as King. Rumors of a rebellious uprising among the youth in Tarsurella intensifies, as acts of violence and protest break out across the city. Addison is determined to uncover the hidden instigator who fearlessly blogs democracy-driven ideals with a secretive pen name. Will Addison discover and expose the fiery rebellion leader? Or will his efforts fail to stop the rebellious thoughts spreading like wildfire, causing a heartbreaking rift in his divided nation?

What a delightful story! While I enjoyed The Coronation (book one), I absolutely adored this book. Eloquently tying together romance, family relations, and sibling love, with threads of politics and mystery, Miss Jarmusch did a lovely job with this beauty. <3 

Read my full review here.

Child of Mine by Beverly Lewis

Jack Livingston has been raising his nine-year-old adopted niece, Natalie, since the accident that took her parents' lives. While he travels for work, Natalie is lovingly cared for by Laura, an Amish nanny who loves her as her own. 

Kelly Maines is nearing the end of her rope. Her baby was kidnapped, the apparent victim of a black market adoption ring, and for eight years, Kelly has tirelessly pursued every lead to its bitter end. Now, there's one last lead from a private investigator: Just a few miles away lives a girl who matches the profile. Could this, at long last, be her beloved child? 

Desperately, Kelly initiates a "chance" meeting with Jack Livingston. It goes really well. So well, in fact, that Jack asks her out. One date leads to another, and before she can come clean with her original motives, Kelly realizes Jack is falling for her--and she for him. 

Now how can she tell Jack why she's really here? And having gotten to know Natalie, what if she isn't her long-lost daughter, after all? This was all supposed to be so simple. 

But nothing in Natalie's world is simple...

Eeeps, so cute! I buddy-read this book with a friend this past summer and I enjoyed it ever so much. Jack and Natalie had the absolute sweetest uncle/niece relationship. With the adoption themes, it could've also fit into our pro-life genre earlier this week! 

Meet My Boyfriend by Willowy Whisper

One accident. One man. One dance. 

She'd never noticed Levi Grant. Not really. Everyone knew about him, though. Everyone remembered the accident, the tragedy. It was hard to forget. Especially since he had no arm. 

She only said yes because of her soft-heart-syndrome. He'd never asked anyone to the dance. Never even had a girlfriend. How could she say no? 

But as she's thrust into a whirlwind of misunderstandings and danger . . . the whole world seems to change. Will her heart change with it?

Wow, y'all. Going into this book, I totally underestimated what it would hold. While I expected sweet, cute, and fun, it was amazing, adorable, and real. The love story was beautiful and the mystery and suspense? So fabulous. 

Read my full review here.

A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade (Porter Family, #3) 

Former Marine Jake Porter has far deeper scars than the one that marks his face. He struggles with symptoms of PTSD, lives a solitary life, and avoids relationships.

When Lyndie James, Jake’s childhood best friend, lands back in Holley, Texas, Jake cautiously hires her to exercise his Thoroughbreds. Lyndie is tender-hearted, fiercely determined, and afraid of nothing, just like she was as a child. Jake pairs her with Silver Leaf, a horse full of promise but lacking in results, hoping she can solve the mystery of the stallion’s reluctance to run.

Though Jake and Lyndie have grown into very different adults, the bond that existed during their childhood still ties them together. Against Jake’s will, Lyndie’s sparkling, optimistic personality begins to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart. A glimmer of the hope he’d thought he’d lost returns, but fears and regrets still plague him. Will Jake ever be able to love Lyndie like she deserves, or is his heart too shattered to mend?

I didn't expect to love this book so much, people. It was amazing and it hurt and it was real. I cried and smiled and laughed. Jake's struggles were presented very well, and his love story with Lyndie was precious. 

*Brief content review here. If you're under 13 and/or uncomfortable with any of those topics, this may not be the book for you.* 

Kate's Innocence by Sarah Holman (Kate's Case Files, #1) 

What would you do if you were accused of a crime you didn’t commit?

Kate watched as her campus was torn apart by bombs and now is being accused of perpetrating the crime. As the evidence quickly stacks up against her, she begins to lose hope that the truth will come to light. Even though the handsome FBI Agent, Patrick, has taken up her cause, will they be able to prove her innocence? Will God, who she neglected for so long, listen to her prayers for help?

Patrick is an agent with a very special team of agents. He wants to help Kate prove she is innocent, but as each new piece of evidence is revealed, that goal seems harder. He wonders why he feels so compelled to help her and so sure she is innocent despite the evidence. Will he be willing to put his job on the line to help her? Can he trust in God to make sure the truth will come out in the end? 

I've read the first two books in this series, and I loved them both so much! I actually listened to the audios (which were amazing, by the way. I don't do many audios, but I can be turned off to a book if the narrator isn't that great). If you enjoy contemporary stories with FBI agents and mysteries, this series is definitely worth a shot! 

What's your favorite contemporary? Can you believe the party is more than halfway over?
~Faith