• Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Country Heaven by Ava Miles

    Emotions Rye faked for the tabloids become all too real, but will the country heaven he’s found in Tory’s arms survive in the real world?

    When famous—and infamous—country singer rock star Rye Crenshaw saunters into the diner where she cooks, Tory Simmons is certain she’s got him pegged. He’s a bad boy who lives large. But while she couldn’t care less about country music or arrogant men, Rye makes her an offer she can’t refuse when he asks her to be his private chef. The job is the answer to all her prayers: it will clear out her debt and finance the fresh start she desperately needs.

    Rye is certain his sassy new cook is the last woman who’d ever tempt him, but spending time with the wholesome girl next door will do wonders for his damaged public image. Her food also happens to be the best he’s ever eaten, both comforting and seductive. They find themselves becoming friends although both are secretly hoping for a whole lots more.
    When an emergency in his family whisks him home, Rye does the one thing he’s never risked: he lets a woman into his heart…

    The author on the theme of hope in this novel:

    “Hope is the breath of life, and we could all use more of it. My characters go through such tremendous transformation, some of it pretty tough and painful. I’m thinking about Rye in COUNTRY HEAVEN, who has to totally transform his view of himself and his profession. He had to heal some serious childhood wounds to get there. The love he feels for Tory gives him hope and helps transform him. To me, hope is the taste of eternal promise. It’s the Holy Grail that keeps us moving forward when we’re confused, overwhelmed, or feel totally out of control. Hope is magic, as a friend recently told me. And to be human, and call in more abundance into our lives, we need to have the courage to hope that it will find us”

    Ava Miles

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Mad About Matt by Theresa Paolo

    A hot cop and a sweet baker get a second chance at love in this small town romance.

    Seventeen years after Shay Michaels said goodbye to summers in Red Maple Falls and the only boy she ever truly loved, she’s back and the proud owner of Sweet Dreams Bakery. Life is good until someone breaks into her shop, making her question if the life she left behind in New York followed her.

    As the local sheriff, Matt is keeping a close eye on the place and an even closer eye on the beautiful owner who refuses to take the break in seriously. Two conflicting personalities that burn bright on their own become down right explosive when thrown together. But in order to move toward a future together, they will have to let go of their past and accept the mistakes they made.

    A 5-star review on Goodreads:

    “Small town setting with fantastic chemistry and a cute romance- I absolutely adored this book!! There was a good amount of humor and the romance so totally sweet – I didn’t want this book to end. I’m so excited that there are going to be more books in this small town series! Highly recommend this one to anyone who wants to read a sweet romance that will leave a smile on your face!”

    Mandy, Goodreads

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Summer with the Marine by Ellie Hall

    He’s a marine figuring out how to be a dad. She’s out of work and moves in with her mom. A surprise reunion brings the old friends together. Will a dare turn them into something more?

    Eisley Higgins is laid off and needs a fresh start. Her mother offers her the loft space at her new beach cottage. The last thing she wants to do is move to a retirement community in coastal Florida. She gets a job at a local restaurant and her coworkers insist she follow through with the new-employee ritual to go on a date with her first customer. She’s shocked when it turns out to be her childhood best friend.

    Ford Armstrong spent over ten years in the military serving his country. During that time, he married, but the relationship and his hope for a family quickly fizzled. After what felt like a failure, he fully turned his focus to the Marine Corps, but then received two life-changing pieces of news. While figuring out his future, he runs into the girl from his past. Only, the first thing out of her mouth is the last thing he expects to hear.

    Over a decade of friendship. Then over a decade apart. Can they overcome their hardships, get past secrets, and come together to create a future?

    A note from the author on writing in the romance genre:

    “I love writing period and have written in numerous genres, but what I adore about writing sweet romance are the firsts—the beginning of big, positive changes in the lives of the characters. It’s so much fun as a writer to explore what a character’s reaction and response is to the crush she has on a guy, or their first kiss, and then carrying the thread through the story’s beginning to their happily ever after. Bringing the feelings of love and hope, the ability to overcome and find happiness, to the page brings me so much joy.”

    Ellie Hall

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Romance Reset by Kay Lyons

    A woman on a mission to get pregnant. An empty nester and widower. When a professional matchmaker brings the two together will sparks fly?

    Thirty-eight-year-old set designer Amelia Parker is on a mission to get pregnant—soon. That’s why she’s researching sperm banks and procedures. It’s also why her best friend hires a matchmaker for her. She insists Amelia deserves—needs—a romance reset before she embarks on single parenthood.

    Widower Lincoln Hayes is about to be an empty nester with his twins going off to college. He’s ready to have some fun, but he doesn’t want to do it alone. Dating, though…. Staying offline and hiring a matchmaker who vets his dates makes sense. Imagine Lincoln’s surprise when his first date in twenty years is actually his first love, the one who broke his heart and got away. Amelia is shocked to see Lincoln, and the chemistry between them is as strong as ever. Amelia can easily imagine having Lincoln’s baby— but is her biological clock and desire for a child more than Lincoln can handle?

    A five star review from Goodreads:

    “Lovely story with a quirky plot.
    Finished it in one go. There’s humor and plenty of family drama in this second chance romance. The two main characters have depth and the chemistry between them was great.”

    Reet Singh – Goodreads 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Always Mine by Ruth Cardello

    He won’t change. She won’t back down. But together they sizzle.

    When it comes to getting what he wants, Asher Barrington is a hammer who is known for crushing his opponents. From the moment Emily walks into his office and challenges him, winning takes on a whole new meaning.

    The only thing standing between Emily Harris and her goal to open a museum for the blind is an arrogant, sexy as hell billionaire, who thinks sleeping with her will not complicate the situation.

    The author on her preferred genre to write:

    “I write spicy contemporary romances about billionaires and cowboys. I call them bathtub reads. They’re fun, sexy, escapism romances about hot alpha men and the strong women who tame them.”

    Margaret Watkins – Goodreads 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Rancher by Julia Justiss

    When he sets out to regain his family’s heritage, he never expects to fall in love.

    Cowboy Duncan McAllister has worked tirelessly to make the family ranch profitable enough to buy back the section of land hard times forced them to sell a decade ago. When the owner of that land unexpectedly dies, leaving the ranch to his city-based daughter, Duncan finally sees his opportunity. After her business partner boyfriend runs off with an intern—and all their clients—CPA Harrison Scott retreats to her Daddy’s Hill Country ranch to decide her next move. 

    Her father’s sudden death leaves her floundering—does she rebuild her professional career or carry on the ranch he loved? After rebuffing Duncan’s offer to buy her out, Harrison is forced to turn to her handsome neighbor to learn the ropes of ranching.Duncan tells himself he’s just being neighborly, but their immediate attraction soon deepens. How can he convince her that he wants her even more than his beloved land when she’s already been betrayed once before?

    A 5 star review from Goodreads:

    “An engrossing novel, this story kept my interest from the opening chapter.”

    Margaret Watkins – Goodreads 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    When We’re Thirty by Casey Dembowski

    Two friends. One pact. The performance of their lives.

    Hannah Abbott is stuck in a dead-end relationship and at a job she loves but that barely pays the bills. The four walls of her tiny New York City apartment have never seemed so small. She’s barely toasted her thirtieth birthday when her old college friend Will knocks on her door with an unexpected proposal.

    Will Thorne never forgot the marriage pact he made with Hannah, but he also never imagined he’d be the one to initiate it. One ex-fiancée and an almost-career-ending mistake later, however, he finds himself outside Hannah’s door, on bended knee, to collect on their graduation-night pinky promise.

    With both of their futures at stake, Hannah and Will take a leap of faith. Now, all they have to do is convince their friends and family that they’re madly in love. As long as they follow the list of rules they’ve drafted, everything should go smoothly. Except Will has never been good with rules, and Hannah can’t stop overthinking the sleeping arrangements. Turning thirty has never been so promising.

    The author on the character Will:

    “The biggest surprise was Will. I started When We’re Thirty not knowing he would have a POV, and then a few chapters in, he just appeared. I love that first chapter with him, because while we see him through Hannah and how she perceives him, when we get into his head he’s even more of that spontaneous and loveable person. It grants him a depth that we would miss if we only saw him through Hannah’s eyes.”

    Casey Dembowski 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Like a Winter Snow by Lindsay Harrel

    Cozy up with this charming romance all about unexpected love, true friendship, and family loyalty.

    Women’s counselor Joy Beckman has always been a friend and helper to all. That’s why she’s given up everything to be with her parents as her mother suffers through Alzheimer’s. She may not have a thriving career or a love life at the moment, but she’s doing what she does best—taking care of others. And even though it’s difficult, she knows it’s where she is supposed to be.

    But life throws a curveball when she has to leave her parents temporarily to travel to England for the December wedding of her best friend. While there, Joy helps Sophia tackle her last-minute to-do list, and in the process, finally meets a man who turns her head—and her heart. The only problem? He lives in snowy London, and her life is with her parents back in sunny Florida. She tries to resist Oliver Lincoln’s charms, but it’s harder than it should be. With her heart torn in two, Joy is forced to choose between a life she knows she’s meant for and the one she didn’t see coming.

    A review of the novella:

    “This novella has just the right amount of sparkle, humor, and poignancy for the season, and a sweet friendship-to-romance.”

    Courtney C. 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    On a Night Like This by Barbara Freethy

    Sara had always been untouchable, his sister’s best friend, and the girl next door…

    Smokejumper Aiden Callaway never questioned his job until a fire took the life of his friend, Kyle, and left Aiden with injuries and fractured memories. The truth may clear Aiden of blame but destroy Kyle’s reputation and hurt the people he left behind.

    Sara has never forgiven or forgotten the way Aiden brought their teenage relationship crashing down. But the sparks between Aiden and Sara have been smoldering for a very long time. Sara is afraid to take another chance on the man who broke her heart, and Aiden knows better than anyone how dangerous an intense fire can be. As teenagers they weren’t ready for each other. Are they ready now? Or will secrets derail their second chance at love? 

    The author on her writing style:

    “On Night Like This will be my 34th published novel. My books are always complicated. I love big plots and deep emotional moments. I tend to write books that blend the romance genre with suspense and also with women’s fiction. I enjoy writing about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary adventures. And, I like to surprise my readers, which is always a challenge!”

    Barbara Freethy 

  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    Twice Shy by Mona Ingram

    He broke her heart all those years ago. Now he’s living at her grandmother’s B&B.

    Rebecca returns to her childhood home after her grandmother dies, only to discover that she might not have known her beloved Gran at all. Arriving at Waterlily Bay Lodge, she’s surprised to discover her childhood sweetheart in residence… the same young man who disappeared on the night of their high school prom. As the truth about Mitch’s disappearance is revealed, can they come to terms about what tore them apart?

    The author on the this “Power of Love” series:

    “These are individual stories featuring the healing power of love when lives are shattered and relationships go wrong. ”

    Mona Ingram