Welcome to the blog party Five Fall Favorites, where we get to do one of our favorite things: talk about books! It’s hosted by Kate @ Once Upon an Ordinary and Rebekah @ Read Another Page. I’ve followed along with FFF for several years, but this is my first time participating as a blogger. This year is also the 10th anniversary of FFF!
Now let’s take a look at the giveaways. Yes, I said giveaways. There’s a first and second place prize, this year! Let’s take a look at what’s included.
This year, the bloggers are divided into teams, and Yours Truly is on Team Oak. My fellow team members are:
Rebekah @ Read Another Page
Bethany @ A Ruby In The Rough
Cate @ Southern Scribblings
Ellie @ Ellie’s Book Haven
Rhys @ A Handful of Quietness
Savannah @ Savannah Jane Author
Be sure to check out their blogs, too, to see what books they’re recommending! Now, let’s get to my top books that I’ve discovered through the years at FFF. The official category for today was top books recommended at FFF, but since this is my first year participating as a blogger, I opted for this substitute category.
Jim Wood by Rebekah A. Morris
“Something sinister is afoot, but where?
The arrival of a gun-toting stranger in a little Western town causes quite a stir. Who is this man? What is he after? And most importantly, which side of the law is he on?
Jim Wood likes the look of the area, but before he can think of settling down, he’ll have to finish the business that brought him here. With doubt and suspicion on every side, can he find the answers he needs? Or will evil win out before the truth is revealed?”
This book was offered at a discounted price one year at FFF, so I snagged a copy of it. I’ve since read it several times. It’s my favorite book in the Woodbreak series and is one of my all-time favorite books by this author.
Jack and Jill by Louisa Mae Alcott
“When Jack and Jill tumble off of their sled their injuries cause them to be bedridden for many months. Their parents fill their days with the joys of Christmas preparations, a theatrical production and many other imaginative events.”
This book is a light, fun read that readers of all ages will enjoy. I discovered it last year during FFF, but I can’t remember who recommended it.
Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery
“British airman Dym Ingleford is convinced that the young German prisoner, Max Eckermann, is his brother Anthony who was kidnapped years before. Raised in the Nazi ideology, Tony has by chance tumbled into British hands. Dym has brought him back, at least temporarily, to the family he neither remembers nor will acknowledge as his own. As Tony keeps attempting to escape, his stubborn anger is whittled away by the patient kindness he finds at the White Priory. Then, just as he is resigning himself to stay with this English family, a new chance suddenly opens for him to return home—to Germany!”
When I first discovered this book a couple of years ago in one of Rebekah’s FFF posts, I knew right away that I wanted to read it. I went looking to see where I could find a copy, discovered it was on Archive, and promptly devoured it in one day. That was probably the first time I read an FFF book while the blog party was still going! And not only is it one of my top 5 from FFF but it’s also become one of my all-time favorite books! I’ve read it more than once and I’ve also listened to the Audible version several times.
The Land of Cotton by Ryana Lynn Miller
“The Land of Cotton is a story of two strong wills: the will of man and the will of God. Watch how each is played out in hearts and lives both on and off the battlefield.
“You mean to tell me that you plan to lead part of this family into this rebellion? Don’t think that this only affects you, Silas. You married my daughter and this affects all of us!”
Join the Masons, an ordinary family living during an extraordinary time in our nation’s history, the Civil War. See them challenged to do some extraordinary things while seeking the will of God. Read History on almost every page as the Masons realize God has a time for everything…even war! (Ecclesiastes 3:8)
This book that the whole family will enjoy has a two-fold challenge in it: meet the Savior and know Him well, and study your history and know it well.”
This was a free book during FFF of 2021, I believe, and I was excited to get my hands on it since Civil War stories that portray the war accurately are few and far between. I read it shortly after getting it and liked it so well that I asked for the series for Christmas that year! And now, I’m excited that the author has resumed writing the final book of the series. I can’t wait until it’s available.
The 39 Steps by John Buchan
“Adventurer Richard Hannay, just returned from South Africa, is thoroughly bored with London life—until he is accosted by a mysterious American, who warns him of an assassination plot that could completely destabalise the fragile political balance of Europe. Initially sceptical, Hannay nonetheless harbours the man—but one day returns home to find him murdered… An obvious suspect, Hannay flees to his native Scotland, pursued by both the police and a cunning, ruthless enemy. His life and the security of Britain are in grave peril, and everything rests on the solution to a baffling enigma: what are the ‘thirty nine steps?'”
This book, recommended two years ago by Bethany W., will keep you on the edge of your seat, that’s for sure. One of my favorite parts of it is how a large portion of the book is set in Scotland. I should add that this book does have some language, but that can easily be removed.
And there you have it! My top five books that I’ve discovered through FFF. Have you read any of them? Which ones look the most interesting to you? Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win some great books!
Enter the Giveaway!
Ooh, I’m really wanting to read Enemy Brothers! I’m currently doing a lot in-depth research on WWII for my writing and good WWII fiction is hard to find, but that one sounds really good!
It’s a really great book! And it was written during World War II which would make it an accurate source for your research.
Lovely books! I’ve read the first 3, have heard of the 4th multiple times, but the last book is new to me. Thanks for sharing your books!
Wow, you’ve read Jim Wood? ;P I think you’d enjoy The Land of Cotton, though I might suggest waiting until the series is finished!
Ooh, I love how under-the radar these books are! Always great to find new reads that aren’t the same-old, same-old, isn’t it!! <3
Yes, it is! Glad you were able to find some new ones!
YOU MENTIONED ENEMY BROTHERS!!!!! *cries happily in a corner* no, I’m not obsessed, why do you ask….?
ahem. anyways. LOVELY list, Hannah; Jack & Jill is soooo underrated and I love the 39 Steps. I also need to finish the Jim Wood Series…
So glad you enjoyed the list, Katja! Enemy Brothers would have to be one of my absolute favorite books! And yes, I suggest you read the other books in the series 😉
I have also learned of Enemy Brothers through FFF (probably recommended by someone every year, haha), and, like you, noted it was available on Internet Archive. Definitely need to choose that one someday!
I’m so glad you’re participating in Five Fall Favorites this year!
CutePolarBear/Hanna Kraft
Yup, it’s certainly mentioned often, isn’t it, Hanna? You should definitely read it sometime soon. Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for the book recommendations! Enemy Brothers and The Land of Cotton sound really good. I am also looking forward to read your books one of these days. 🙂
I’m glad to hear they sound interesting to you! I hope you get a chance to read them. And I hope you enjoy my books when you read them!
This was such a fun post, and I love being on Team Oak with you!! I’ve read all of these books except for the last one (thanks to you keeping on me to read some of them). The last one is set in Scotland? I may just have to get you to put it on my e-reader one of these days!
I’m glad we’re on the same team! Any time. I’m always glad to keep pestering, I mean encouraging you to read more books. Anytime you’re ready, I’ll be happy to load it on for you!
I’m pretty sure that I read Enemy Brothers because of FFF!
Abigail @ https://authorabigailkay.wordpress.com/
Oh, that’s fun!
So glad you could join us for the first time as a blogger, Hannah! <3 I'd heard of Jack and Jill but wasn't sure what it was about, so now I'm excited to give it a try. 😉
I’m so glad to be here! And I hope you enjoy it!
So glad to be doing FFF with you!!!! And you picked so many of my favourites! Jim Wood, Enemy Brothers, and 39 Steps – all sooo good😍
It’s so fun we can do it together for the first time! And yes, I love those books!
Awesome list of books! I added The Land of Cotton!
Thanks! I’m glad it looked interesting to you!
Oh Hannah your blog is so lovely, truly my first impression was really just that everything is so pretty! 😀 I love your notes about each rec! Looking forward to more! <3
Aw, thanks Livie! That makes me so happy to hear. Glad you’re looking forward to more book!
Jim Wood and 39 Steps are SO good! Now I need to read these others!
Yes, you do! Especially Enemy Brothers! And if you need a second opinion on that one, just ask your sister! Or mine!
Wow, I hadn’t realized this was your first time actually doing FFF! Yayy! Cool! Oooh and you’ve read 39 steps…
Yup, I’m a first timer! Though definitely not a first time attendee. And yes, I have!
Jack and Jill is one of my favorite books!
It’s such a sweet, fun story!