Contemporary Romance You Don't Want To Miss

One of the things I'm very thankful for is the variety of genres in Christian fiction! One can rarely run out of something new to read in the various options. One of the genres I don't read a lot of, yet enjoy, is contemporary romance.

Now, that being said, I do want to share some of my favorite authors in this genre.

First is Toni Shiloh. She's a new-to-me author and I have absolutely LOVED the two books of hers that I've read. And yes, once again I've read them out of order with missing book one and reading books 2 and 3 in the Faith & Fortune series. The 3 books in the series are: The Trouble With Love, The Truth About Fame, and The Price of Dreams. While the books are romance books, there's a wonderful theme of faith built into the stories that make them even more enjoyable!

The Trouble With Love

I, Holiday Brown, have it all. A platinum record. Multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that I share with my two best friends. Life is looking fantastic until my roommate’s brother decides to bunk in our guestroom while his house gets renovated.

W. Emmett Bell has always been the bane of my existence. He’s annoying, stubborn, a know it all, and just might be the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on. But I refuse to fall for him. But when his sister’s threatened by a stalker, dynamics change. His unwavering faith isn’t quite as self-righteous as I’d always thought, and maybe he has a good side I’ve overlooked all these years.

Or maybe it’s all too much trouble.

The Truth About Fame

My life has always been in the spotlight. Born to two famous parents and then quickly rising to "super" status in the modeling world ensured that I, Astoria "Tori" Bell, would always have my image plastered across newsstands. Unfortunately, adoring fans weren't always magnanimous and now I have a stalker on my hands.

Oddly enough, the tall, dark, and all-too handsome bodyguard hired to protect me seems more harmful than the threatening notes from the stalker. As well as his plan to flush out the danger by proposing a fake engagement.

The lines between pretend and reality blur and I have to shore up my resolves. Baggage from my past means I can't let myself be vulnerable. But the way Marcel Fox treats me has me thinking otherwise. 

With a new rock on my finger and the man who put it there by my side, happily ever after seems like a possibility or is that as fake as my public persona?

The Price of Dreams

Ballet has always been my life, but one terrible moment may have destroyed everything I’ve worked so hard for—especially my title of Octavia Ricci, principal ballerina. I thought for sure my physical therapist, Dr. Noah Wright, could help me obtain my dream once more, but he wants more than I’m prepared to give.  

I’ve seen firsthand the trials of interracial relationships. I’m a product of one myself and promised I’d never put my hopefully-someday kids through that drama. Everyone keeps telling me to let go of other people’s expectations, but I’m just not sure I can. Besides, if my dreams of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love?

Ok, so the second author I'm sharing... gah, I don't even want to admit this... but I've only read one of her books. ONLY one. I actually have no idea why I haven't read any of Courtney Walsh's books before this summer. I've known about her and followed her on socials for ages. This summer I read her book If For Any Reason and loved it! It had me questioning why I hadn't read any of her other books. She just had her 4th novel come out in her Harbor Pointe series.

If For Any Reason

Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.

As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

Next on my list is Becky Wade. No surprise there! She writes such fantastic stories with fantastic characters! Seriously you'll fall in love with her characters. Her most recent novel Stay With Me was beyond what I had expected! She covered the difficult topic of addiction and added in a mystery that was definitely unexpected. It's part of The Misty River series. Of course I can't forget to mention The Bradford Sisters series. Her stories will make your heart pitter patter!

Stay With Me

Loving her is a risk he can’t afford . . . and can’t resist.

When acclaimed Bible study author Genevieve Woodward receives an anonymous letter referencing her parents’ past, she returns to her hometown in the Blue Ridge mountains to chase down her family’s secret.  However, it’s Genevieve’s own secret that catches up to her when Sam Turner, owner of an historic farm, uncovers the source of shame she’s worked so hard to hide.

Sam has embraced his sorrow, his isolation, and his identity as an outsider. He’s spent years carving out both career success and peace of mind.  The last thing he wants is to rent the cottage on his property to a woman whose struggles stir his worst failure back to life.  Yet, can he bear to turn her away right when she needs him most?

Another author I've come to know is Tara Grace Ericson. I've been so blessed to be on her launch team for her The Blooms Sisters series. It's been so fun getting to know first the only brother Hawthorne and then two of the sisters. There are 6 books in the series. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the parallel timeline in each of the stories. At least so far. Since the rest of the books aren't out yet, I don't know if it continues. I also love how the mom of the family, Laura, begins and ends each story speaking about her family and specifically one of her children. The books I've read so far are Hoping for Hawthorne, A Date for Daisy, and Poppy's Proposal.

Hoping for Hawthorne

His sister's friend. Her childhood crush. All grown up.

Hawthorne Bloom is living for the moment, until a beautiful stranger with intriguingly familiar eyes gives him a tongue lashing he'll never forget. When she shows up again at a family event, Hawthorne finds himself trying to dig a way out of a hole he didn't realize he was in.

When Avery Chase returns to Indiana, the last thing she expects is to run into her childhood crush, let alone to realize in the years since she left, he's turned into a complete jerk. Hoping for a man to change is a mistake she's made once before and is determined not to make again.

Then again, it's hard to resist when your childhood crush finally notices you.

A Date for Daisy

​He thinks she’s the captain of the Hot Mess Express.
She thinks he’s rigid and wound too tight.
And this renovation is about to get complicated.

Daisy Bloom is determined to turn her 100-year-old house into a bed and breakfast. The only problem? She knows nothing about renovations.

Enter Lance Matthews, construction guru and business owner. He is determined to tackle this project with his usual methodical, organized approach. His only problem? The beautiful and infuriating homeowner -- deeply involved with the project and completely averse to lists, schedules, or any form of organization.

When sparks fly between these wildly different personalities, will they find common ground? Or does God have other plans for each of them?

Poppy's Proposal

She vowed he would never hurt her again.
He hides his pain behind a campaign smile.

Harrison Coulter is in the spotlight. Rumored to be the next candidate for governor, there is just one problem – the people won’t elect the most eligible bachelor to the state’s highest office. He needs a wife, but he isn’t looking for love. There is one woman from his past though…

Poppy Bloom has roots as deep as the produce she grows on Bloom’s Farm. When her livelihood is threatened and she finds herself helpless to make a difference, Poppy agrees to a proposal she never saw coming.

Old feelings blossom into something new, but their individual goals clash with the promises made to each other. How will God use this marriage that was strategized instead of starry-eyed to open them both to the power of love?