• Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    On the Market by Rachael Herron

    The Bachelor meets The Property Brothers: Love, property, and construction. What could possibly go wrong?

    Liam Ballard is good at buying houses, fixing them up with his brothers, and flipping them for a profit. When Felicia from the network shows up to offer them a reality show (the brothers renovate a house while one of them dates the buyer), the pay is too good to turn down. With it, they’ll finally be able to open the after-school program for at-risk youth to honor the man who raised them. But when the very LA-like Felicia decides she’ll be the buyer of the property (and his date), Liam wonders for the first time what set of keys he’ll want to pass over to her, and will one of them unlock his heart? The author on the inspiration for this novel:

    “I’ve figured out over the years there are two kinds of people: those who like reality TV and those who mock reality TV but watch it in private… There’s a secret about reality TV that no one talks about, though. Those shows can be good for the heart. Just like romance novels… Six seasons of America’s Next Top Model got me through my mother’s death… When I didn’t know how to help a friend when she was very low, I attempted to hook her on Project Runway… We all need escape sometimes from a life that while often very, very good, can be very, very hard. That escape doesn’t have to be mindless. It can be mindful… And I realized that I’d love to write a reality show series. So here’s the first in the Ballard Brothers series. It’sThe Property Brothers meets the Bachelor, set on the California coast in the town of Darling Bay. I fell in love with Liam while writing him, and so did Felicia, the network executive who ends up accidentally starring in her own show (oops!).”

    Rachael Herron

     

     

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Treasure Coast Homecoming by Leigh Duncan

    She has one final wish before she puts a For Sale sign in front of the only home she’s ever known, but can her family make her dream come true?

    Margaret Dane Clayton has spent her entire life at the Dane Crown Inn, the beautiful resort located in the quiet beachside town of Emerald Bay. But the inn once hailed as the “gem of Florida’s Treasure Coast” is showing its age, much like its fiercely independent owner. Margaret swears she’ll keep the doors of the inn open forever … until an accident forces her to accept the fact that she can no longer cater to guests on her own. After reaching the most difficult decision of her life, Margaret asks her daughter and nieces to grant her one final wish before she places the property on the market. But will these five women put their busy lives on hold to grant it? One by one, each of the cousins arrives in Emerald Bay with armloads of excuses and far too much baggage. But when the town’s grumpy—yet oh, so handsome—mayor threatens to close the inn for good, the women agree to give the resort the overhaul it desperately needs. Working with a bank account that’s far too small and facing one crisis after another, Margaret’s daughter and her nieces race to fulfill her final wish. Only one question remains: Can this fractured family set aside their differences long enough to restore the inn … and rebuild the closeness they once treasured? A five-star review of the novel:

    “This new series and its intriguing set of characters is going to be a nailbiter. There are so many things going on, and each character has his or her own challenges. The characters aren’t all likeable (most are), but I suspect we are going to love them all by the end of the series. It’s going to be so much fun seeing how Leigh “fixes” all of those difficulties and shows us the true character of each family member. The inn needs a lot of work, and I suspect we are going to see a lot of fun and work to it as the series unfolds. I can’t wait!”

    Pat Pollock—Goodreads

     

     

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Read Between the Pines by Mary Walden

    She traded the skyscrapers of New York for the small-town charm of Maple Ridge, but running her aunt’s bookstore is just the beginning.

    Abby thought escaping her fast-paced city life would be easy, but between a grumpy, brooding handyman (who just might be the most ruggedly handsome man she’s ever met), a tight-knit community eager to play matchmaker, and exes that just won’t get the hint, nothing is as simple as it seems. The author’s description of what to expect::

    “For fans of small-town charm, grumpy x sunshine, cinnamon roll heroes, and inheriting a new life, this heartwarming romance full of cozy fall vibes is a must-read.”

    Mary Walden

     

     

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Historical Romance Books

    Healing the Mountain Man’s Heart by Misty M. Beller

    In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, loyalty…and a hidden fortune.

    Jericho Coulter, the eldest of six fiercely devoted brothers, is entrusted with safeguarding his family and the secret that binds them together: the Sapphire mine. To keep tragedy from striking again, he allows no outsiders on their land. When two women stumble upon their ranch, claiming Jericho himself sent for one of them as a mail-order bride, he aims to send them straight back where they came from. Dinah Wyatt, a talented and determined doctor, wasn’t about to let her twin sister travel to Montana alone and marry a stranger. Dinah’s skills are immediately put to the test when one of the younger Coulter brothers is gravely injured, forcing the family to trust his life to her. As Dinah and her sister become entwined in the Coulter family’s life, sparks fly between the enigmatic Jericho and the captivating doctor. In a world where trust is hard to come by and secrets hold the power to change lives, Jericho and Dinah must learn that sometimes, the most precious secrets are those buried within our own hearts. The author on the research for her novel’s setting and plot:

    “The timing of sapphire discoveries in the state is perfect for my series as well. Early prospectors searching for gold in the gravel of the Missouri River repeatedly discarded the annoying blue pebbles that continually clogged their sluices without much thought to what they may be. It wasn’t discovered that these “pebbles” were sapphires until 1895… and [when it was] declared that the stones were ‘sapphires of unusual quality,’ a small-scale sapphire rush began. This rush is exactly what the Coulter brothers in the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series are trying to avoid. That’s why they keep the sapphire mine on their property secret during this first book in the series, Healing the Mountain Man’s Heart.

    Misty M. Beller

     

     

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Devil’s Lady by Deborah Simmon

    Was she under a spell or truly the Devil’s Lady?

    Bid by King Edward to marry, Aisley de Laci hopes to avoid the altar by choosing Baron Montmorency. She is certain none will agree to the union, especially the baron, who is rumored to practice the dark arts from his isolated keep. Renowned in battle, Montmorency has secluded himself at Dunmurrow for reasons of his own. And he does not want a wife, no matter how wealthy and beautiful. But even he cannot defy the king, and what comes to him he takes—and holds. Aisley refuses to believe that Montmorency possesses any mysterious powers. Yet how else to explain her own growing feelings for a man so shrouded in shadow she has never seen his face? The  5 star review for the novel:

    “This book was one of my absolute favorites when I started reading romance when I was younger. I still have it today and refuse to get rid of it. I love how Aisley grows through this tale. She goes from a spoiled child to a matured woman. And Baron Montmorency? I looooove this man. He’s dark, foreboding, and hoards a secret. Their relationship is both passionate and tender, and at times, emotional. There is a Gothic touch to this book, but it’s an amazing historical romance read!”

    Author Tiffany Roberts — Goodreads

     

     

  • Paranormal Romance

    The Alpha Option by Vivian Arend

    The learning curve just grew fangs and claws…

    The out-of-the-blue opportunity to take over a wilderness eco-lodge in the Jasper wilderness is the fresh start Cassidy Rundle and her friends have been looking for. Except the roof of the grand Timberwolf Lodge needs fixing, the rental cottages need to be overhauled, and the seemingly incompetent caretaker who comes with the place is sexy enough to make Cassidy’s brain stutter. Still, she’s determined to ignore all distractions and make this work. When Jace Carter discovers his auntie has given him the Timberwolf Lodge property, but not the building, he expects mayhem to follow. Now he’s back home, dealing with memories, multiple cousins, and an outstanding death threat from the local Alpha. (Who is also a cousin. Go family!) But nothing can compare with discovering his new “boss” is a petite woman with enough attitude to take on a bear—and she’s his fated mate. Cassidy wants to reach for her dreams? Jace will be there to make it happen, even if that means taking over the Jasper pack leadership. Once he explains shifters to his very human mate… The author about the novel’s characters and what to expect:

    “It’s been too long since I last walked on the wild side with the wolfies and other shifters. Writing The Alpha Option was a little like coming home. And this time there’s a brand-new theme to explore. A challenge to achieve, as the new owners of the wilderness lodge only have so much time to prove that they can make. That they belong… The Carter pack of the Jasper area is a big family you’ll get to know more over the series. Which means some great bro-mance banter (cousin banter…would that be cuz-ance banter?) as the pack deals with past troubles and moves into the future. And the heroines you’re about to meet are friends and family to each other in such a deep way that packing everything up and heading all the way across the country to try to run an eco-lodge together is simply the right move. Cassidy, Stephanie, and Stacy are going to be a delight to introduce to you as they find out about shifters, pack, and fated mates.”

    Vivian Arend

     

     

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Treasures Lost, Treasures Found by Nora Roberts

    The romantic adventure story of two former lovers seeking a fortune only to discover that love is what truly favors the bold.

    Kate Hardesty’s late father spent his life exploring the waters around North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island, hunting for sunken treasure. Now, it has fallen to his daughter to decipher his detailed notes, charts, and maps to complete his quest—but Kate knows she needs the help of deep-sea diver Ky Silver. Once, she’d given him her heart, only to break his when she left the island. That was four years ago, and Ky’s the only one she can trust to help her locate the gold. Reunited, Kate and Ky’s search rekindles their passion and recovers something between them even more priceless than a lost treasure. A five-star review for the novel:

    “An absolutely successful romance novel that has no kitsch in it and is written as sentimentally as only Nora Roberts can write. Ideal for enjoyable reading hours and exciting entertainment.”

    V-Inkvotary–Goodreads

     

     

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage by Tamie Dearen

    Stephanie Caldwell fell in love with her boss, but he’s too clueless to notice. And being blind is no excuse.

    Steph doesn’t care that Bran is blind—at least he’ll never see the longing looks she gives him. If only she could warn him about the lack of love on his conniving fiancée’s face. But Steph has to keep her mouth shut, or she could lose her job, along with the health insurance that keeps her daughter alive. Billionaire Branson Knight knows women regard him as a pitiful blind man, his wealth his only attraction. So his engagement is merely a means to an end. But the last thing he wants to end is his relationship with Stephanie—he depends way too much on his efficient personal assistant. Can Stephanie stand by while Bran’s devious fiancée coerces him into a quickie marriage? Or will she lose her temper… and everything else along with it? A five-star review for the novel:

    “Loved this story! There was a lot of mystery and intrigue, but also great chemistry. Stephanie and Branson are so good together. There are moments when the story just gets so crazy and you’re left wondering how it will all work out. Tamie Dearen does a great job with this story. I really loved it”

    Melissa–Goodreads

     

     

  • Best Clean and Wholesome Romance,  Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Love & Chocolate by Elsie Davis

    Some say Valentine’s Day is for lovers, while others prefer to think of it as February Fool’s Day. The question is, which one do you believe, and which one rules your heart?

    The Sweeter Side of Life bakery in Hallbrook is in financial trouble and Amanda is determined to save the business her mother started twenty years ago. While honoring February Fool’s Day, Amanda’s name for the lovey-dovey holiday, she learns about the Anything Chocolate contest and is determined to win the cash prize. There’s only two drawbacks, one, it’s a statewide contest and the competition will be fierce, and two, she’s not a big fan of chocolate. Kevin is trying to adjust to his new job as the Turlington High School chemistry teacher and to small-town living, a task made more difficult by his twin ten-year-old daughters who aren’t happy with the move or the divorce. When the twins demand they go to the Heart-to-Heart festival for a chance to hang with their new friends, he relents knowing it was important. But a fellow teacher turns the night into a matchmaking attempt and Kevin finds himself signing up for the Secret Chef fundraiser dinner to avoid Amanda, the attractive, but off-limits woman his new friend deems perfect for him. Which worked wonders, at least until his winning dessert bid revealed Amanda as the secret chef and the woman who would come to his home and cook the six-course meal he’d won. So much for avoiding her. When the twins take objection, their shenanigans cause nothing but trouble at home and school. What they didn’t count on though, was their actions forcing him to spend more time with Amanda, putting his custody of the twins in jeopardy. Is Kevin willing to risk custody of the girls over love? A five-star review for the novel:

    “The characters are great and easy to connect with. It’s also very realistically insightful about relationships, the doubt and benefits. Such a great outpouring of love even from the community at large. Very well written, tears of joy with a few speed bumps with rambunctious kids which I think only help the adults deal with their dilemmas. Love this, very enticing story, it clearly depicts building a relationship without needing or having to add the physical to the romance of getting to know someone. I was provided a free advance copy and am voluntarily reviewing.”

    Annette–Goodreads

     

     

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Duke Alone by Christi Caldwell

    For an abandoned lady and a reclusive duke, the winter season brings a swirl of romance—and danger.

    Lady Myrtle McQuoid has always felt a little forgotten, and this season is no exception. When her boisterous family vacates their London townhouse for the country, Myrtle finds she’s been left behind. But she just needs to stay warm, keep her belly full, and distract herself until her relatives realize their mistake and turn back to collect her. Surely that won’t take long. Brooding widower Val Bancroft, the Duke of Aragon, has shut himself off from the world. He craves blessed solitude—a loyal dog, a silent house, and his own company are all he requires. Certainly not the nonstop chattering of the joyful, opinionated young woman next door. But with a potential threat lurking in the winter shadows, Myrtle may need to pluck up the nerve to approach the reclusive duke. And Val is not one to turn his back on a vulnerable lady. Amid the silent nights of London, beneath a blanket of snow, could the light of a new, warm love be kindling? The author’s messages in her novels:

    “I believe there are so many messages contained within the pages of a book. As an author, I want my readers to find whatever message they may within a book. Sometimes, I’ll receive emails or read reviews about something they came away with from the story and I’ll say ‘hmm, I didn’t necessarily think of that…’ and I love that words are meaningful and special to us all in different ways.”

    Christi Caldwell