• Book cover of The Patriot
    Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Patriot by Jennifer Millikin

    I’m a soldier. A cattle rancher. A Hayden.

    My family’s legacy is spread out in front of me, just waiting for me to seize it. If it weren’t for one outdated rule, I’d be the owner of the Hayden Cattle Company and my aging father could retire. When Dakota Wright shows up to buy and develop twenty acres of Hayden land, I see more than a pretty mouth and strawberry blonde hair. I see a way around the decree keeping me from getting what I want. And, as luck would have it, Dakota has a big problem of her own. We strike two deals: one for the land, and a second that’ll make both our problems a distant memory. It isn’t too long before I realize I’m in over my head. I’ve convinced myself the ends should justify the means, but everything begins to fall apart when my birthright is no longer all that I’m after. I never thought there’d be anything I could love more than my ranch and my country. I was wrong. Turns out, I want it all. Including her.

    A 5-star review:

    “Throughout the whole book, I could see a change in both Dakota and Wes gradually and see this beautiful relationship evolve from the hurt and anger of being left alone to something inseparable and worth fight for! I highly recommend this fast paced story about second chances and taking risks in life.”
    Lauren frm Lala’s book reviews

     

     

  • Book cover of The Pride of Jared MacKade
    Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Pride of Jared MacKade by Nora Roberts

    For Jared, would it be cold pride – or warm bride?

    Jared MacKade always fights for what’s right. As a kid he was competitive, and that spirit has continued in his career as an attorney. So when a challenge arrives in the form of stubborn single mother Savannah Morningstar, Jared won’t be deterred by her cool and defensive attitude—quite the opposite. Jared is drawn in by the strong woman, and though Savannah is prepared to keep her guard up, Jared knows what he wants. Not only is he interested in Savannah, he’s grown to love her son too. The former bad boy has always longed for a family of his own, and now that he’s found the one woman he wants to come home to, Jared is ready to shed his pride and take a chance on love.

    A 5-star review:

    “I loved this book and it was all because of Savannah. Usually the heroines in romance books are indirect and too willing to be led by the man. When the hero is the one directing all the action because he makes the moves, initiates things, and so on, I get tired of the heroine. Savannah wasn’t that kind of heroine. She was determined, bad tempered at times – but also warm . The balance between her being temperamental and reasonable enough to apologize was excellent.”
    Kelly Kleeb – Goodreads

     

     

  • Book cover of Leaving November
    Best Christian Romance Books

    Leaving November by Deborah Raney

    There’s one thing she’s vowed to never abide in a man… could the horrible rumors be true? Is her life repeating itself?

    Eight years ago, Vienne Kenney moved away from Clayburn and all its gossip to pursue a law degree in California. But now she has failed the bar exam again. Is she destined to be stuck forever, a failure—just like her father—in this tiny Kansas town? Nine months ago, Jackson Linder left Clayburn with no explanation to anybody. Now he, too, is back. He isn’t sure he’s ready to face the rumors and well-meaning questions of the town’s busybodies. Yet he’s determined, once more, to make his art gallery a success—despite the secret that haunts him every day… The author’s faith in her writing process:

    “I love that my research is often like a Bible Study, as I try to discover what God’s Word says about the situations my characters find themselves in. In addition, as a writer of Christian novels, I’ve become friends with other Christian writers who enrich my life immensely with their perspective on spiritual matters. Very often, writing feels more like worship than work. And that is a blessing beyond words.”
    Deborah Raney

     

     

  • Book cover of One Wylde Night
    Best Historical Romance Books

    One Wylde Night by Chasity Bowlin

    A wallflower, a man trying to ferret out a blackmailer, and a fake betrothal… 

    Branded a wallflower along with her twin sister and her cousins, Miss Felicity Wylde has set out for London under the less than watchful eye of her eccentric aunt for one final season and one last chance to catch a husband. But her sister has convinced her it’s also a last chance for adventure. Goaded into attending a scandalous party, Felicity soon realizes her mistake. The women present are not ladies and men, though titled, are far from gentlemen. Closeting herself in the study, she hides there only to find herself trapped when a quarreling couple invade that space. Lord Phinneas Merrick attended Lord Hadley’s bacchanal as a means to an end. His entire relationship with the notoriously hot tempered cyprian, La Belle Rose, had been a carefully crafted ruse to gain entree to a particular set and ferret out a blackmailer in their debauched midst. But when he discovers a shockingly innocent young woman hiding in the study where his entanglement with the infamous demirep has come to a crashing end, he knows that the first order of business must be to remove her from that house before the unthinkable happens. But he can’t wash his hands of her so quickly. Not when the blackmailer has them in his sights. With her reputation and his honor hanging in the balance, Phin must convince her to a very public and very fake betrothal. There’s only one problem… the longer their fake betrothal lasts, the more he desperately wants to make her his.

    A 5-star review:

    “Another great book by Chasity Bowlin, One Wilde Night, kept me thoroughly entertained. I love Chasity Bowlin’s books and her feminine characters. Felicity is a woman hoping for some more adventure in her life but that desire leads her into trouble. Phinn is a character with an intriguing sense of honour and I really appreciated the relationship that developed between the two. Book 1 in a new series is an intriguing mixture of romance and suspense and I am really looking forward to book two.”
    Anne–Goodreads

     

     

  • Book cover of The Island House
    Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Island House by Elana Johnson

    Charlotte Madsen’s whole world came crashing down six months ago with the words, “I met someone else.”

    Thirty-seven, recently divorced, and childless. That’s Charlotte when she disembarks from the plane in Getaway Bay. She thought the best way to do that was to buy a run-down house overlooking the bay. She’s hoping as she overhauls the house, she’ll get a life makeover too. She was not expecting a tall, handsome man to be under the kitchen sink when she arrives at the supposedly abandoned house. And she certainly wasn’t expecting her heart to be well enough to feel anything for anyone. But former Air Force pilot, Dawson Dane, has a charming devil-may-care personality, and Charlotte could use some carefree laughter in her life. But everything with Dawson isn’t sunshine and unicorns. He’s estranged from his family, though he does speak to one of his brothers. And he’s never committed to anything except his career, even choosing flying over an engagement years ago. Can Charlotte navigate the healing process as she renovates the island house? Can Dawson finally make a commitment to a woman? Or will he and Charlotte decide a relationship is just too hard?

    A 5-star review:

    “This was such a sweet story about starting over when the life you knew is no longer yours… I really enjoyed watching this pair as they healed from those old open wounds and learned to trust one another and themselves. Remember, no matter where you go, there you are. You may be able to run from your life and problems for a time, but you can’t hide from yourself forever.”
    Kristen Lewendon–Goodreads