• Best Historical Romance Books

    One Wylde Night by Chasity Bowlin

    August 4, 2023

    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
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  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Island House by Elana Johnson

    August 2, 2023

    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
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  • Best Historical Romance Books

    The Commander’s Desire by Jennette Green

    August 2, 2023

    She must decide: betray allegiance to her kingdom–or her enemy who is quickly claiming her heart.

    Princess Elwytha wants revenge on the monster who murdered her brother. In a false exchange for peace, she offers herself in marriage to the enemy Prince. The plan? Kill the Prince’s battle-scarred Commander–the man who ended King Thor’s life with one filthy sword thrust through the back. To her horror, the Commander agrees to take Elwytha as his bride. Worse, the wedding date will be sooner than expected. Not all is lost, however. Now she has more opportunity to be alone with him–and exact justice. But the deed is not so easy now. Fighting her innate sense of honor, she begins to see the ironclad integrity of the man behind the scars. And with this knowledge comes doubt. Did he slay her brother? What exactly is the new king’s plan? Whom can she trust? Elwytha must decide well, for more than her life is at stake. Soon she must betray either allegiance to her kingdom–or the man who is quickly claiming her heart.

    5 Star Reviews

    “A very nice play on my favorite Beauty And The Beast theme, THE COMMANDER’S DESIRE pairs a beautiful warrior-princess with an ugly giant… It is a touching and wonderful tale.” – Stephie, Cupid’s Library Reviews
    “The Commander’s Desire is a historical novel that reaches you deep down to your soul….Simply stated, I loved this book.” – Cindy K. Green, WRDF Reviews

    Historical background for the novel, from the author:

    “This sweet (rated PG-13) historical romance takes place in 715 A.D. in Galwyddel, which is modern day southern Scotland. The 6th to 8th centuries were a time when many small Briton kingdoms warred for preeminence in this area, although Northumbria, a giant power to the east, ruled them from afar. In this book, Elwytha’s kingdom and the Commander’s land have been at war for almost a century, and distrust of the enemy has been bred deep into her soul.” – Jennette Green
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  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    I Want to Hold your Hand by Marie Force

    June 23, 2023

    For the Abbott siblings, the Green Mountain state has always been an idyllic place to call home. But it isn’t until they open themselves up to love that they’ll truly discover how fulfilling life can be…

    Almost seven years after losing her husband in Iraq, Hannah Abbott Guthrie isn’t sure she’s ready—or able—to move on, but the attentions of a lifelong friend are making her think about it for the first time. The memory of the sweet kiss she shared with Nolan Roberts hasn’t strayed far from her thoughts, but she also fears that pursuing something with him would mean betraying her husband’s memory. Nolan has loved Hannah for years, but he’d been giving her the space she needed to heal from her devastating loss. Now, when an opportunity arises to show her how he feels, Nolan can’t resist, but he knows earning her love will take more than a kiss. Somehow he has to prove to Hannah that finding love twice in a lifetime is possible—and well worth risking her heart. The author’s favorite inspirational quote:

    “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.“
    Calvin Coolidge
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  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

    June 9, 2023

    Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was. Can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

    Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down. Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.

    A five-star review on the novel:

    “From beginning to end, Coble’s conclusion to the Lavender Tides series kept me riveted and riding the action-packed suspense. I loved that all the characters from previous books appeared in this book, and many of the loose story plots were brought to wonderful conclusions.”
    Loraine –Goodreads
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  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Not Like a Lady by Judith Lynne

    May 19, 2023

    She could lose everything if she can’t behave. She can’t behave.

    Letty’s lost everything but one friend, and her horse. She desperately needs to convince the fierce baronet to buy any horse but hers. Now she’s causing her own problems, because she cannot stop touching a man she’d been prepared to hate.

    The only way Sir Michael Grantley knows how to be the baronet of Roseford is to do what his father did. But he’s not his father, he’s a salty ex-sailor who lost half a leg in the war and has a far worse temper than his father ever did. Struggling to fill his father’s role, he’s desperate to get outdoors again – but for that he needs a biddable horse he can ride. He’s not prepared for the horse to come with a woman who wants her own life… and who decides that the key to her future is helping him ride again.

    Letty has never been anything even close to a lady. Sir Michael imagines that the lady of Roseford Manor will be like his mother: calm and elegant. Neither of them can resist the one person they ought to refuse.

    The author on the character Sir Michael:

    “Some people’s fantasies may include men who are mean, or transforming men who are mean, but mine don’t. Michael is never mean. When he’s thoughtless or dumb, he corrects himself. And he shows with his actions every day that his gruffness hides a big goofy heart.”
    Judith Lynne
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  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Problem with Planning by Claire Cain

    May 5, 2023

    Single dad. Divorcé. Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army. She’s got a plan for love, and it’s not him.

    Livie Anderson’s got a plan for her life and she’s on track for her next step. The last three years traveling Europe and working on a US Army base helped her experience all the adventure she wanted before she settles down in one place and stops the nomadic life. Now, her deadline to return home and start a family is fast approaching and there’s a wrench in her perfect plans. Lieutenant Colonel Eric Wolfe came into her life and it’s getting hard to picture leaving this world behind—but the Army life is the opposite of what she’s always planned for.

    Eric can’t deny his interest in Livie, which is monumental in itself considering his total disinterest in everyone since his divorce three years ago. Despite his efforts to remain just friends, he can’t resist Livie’s pull—her joy, love for life, and genuine way of dealing with people. But he can’t see a way to be with her without subjecting her to the military life that ruined his first marriage, and Livie’s leaving anyway, so why can’t he bring himself to let go?

    Their lives are too different, and their plans don’t match. They definitely shouldn’t date, and they certainly shouldn’t develop feelings. Too bad neither one of them can seem to stay away.

    The author’s view on setting goals:

    “I tend to make goals for every aspect of my life, and sometimes that’s overwhelming, but usually it gives me peace of mind—I feel focused when we get back to work and the routine crushes in. Some things fall by the wayside, but I view that as clarifying more than anything. I’d argue it’s ok to set a goal that you fail to attain—failure isn’t what keeps us from succeeding at accomplishing our goals. As so many smart minds tell us, never starting is the bigger issue.”
    Claire Cain
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  • Best Historical Romance Books

    Who’s That Earl by Susanna Craig

    April 5, 2023

    Will scandalous secrets stand in the way of a second chance at love?

    Miss Jane Quayle excels at invention. How else could the sheltered daughter of an English gentleman create lurid gothic novels so infamous someone wants their author silenced forever?  Fortunately, Jane has taken steps to protect herself, first by assuming a pen name, and second, by taking up residence at remote Dunnock Castle, surrounded by rugged scenery that might have been ripped from the pages of one of her books. Her true identity remains a secret, until one dark and stormy night . . . After years of spying for the British army, Thomas Sutherland doubts the Highlands will ever feel like home again. Nevertheless, thanks to a quirk of Scottish inheritance law, he’s now the Earl of Magnus, complete with a crumbling castle currently inhabited by a notorious novelist. When the writer turns out to be the woman Thomas once wooed, suspicions rise even as mutual sparks reignite. As danger closes in, can Jane and Thomas overcome their pasts to forge a future together?

    The author’s inspiration for the novel:

    “My inspirations for this series were my favorite romantic suspense TV series from the 1980s, such as Magnum PI and Remington Steele… I had a lot of fun both researching and imagining Regency-era spies and secrets, so that each book is full of intrigue, adventure, and, of course, romance.”
    Susanna Craig
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  • Best Contemporary Romance Novels

    The Sweet Talker by Gina Azzi

    April 5, 2023

    I’ve sworn off hockey players. Until the pregnancy test turns pink.

    Noah Scotch is revered in Boston, a veritable god on the ice. I’m a nerdy, newly minted college professor who would rather color code my planner than hit the club scene. Noah shouldn’t look at me twice but when he does, I falter. Who can blame me? The sweet talker with the deliciously chiseled abs and sinful chocolate eyes is a force. On and off the ice. One hot and intense night with Noah has me second guessing my lack of a dating life. Growing up in a hockey family, I know better than to get serious with a player. But the more time I spend getting to know Noah, the more my intention to keep things casual rings false. Now, I’ve got a hopeful heart and a baby on the way. I just need to tell Noah. But when I do, will I end up with everything I never knew I wanted? Or on my own? A  review of the novel:

    “Indy is a great character: smart, driven, focused and still fun. Noah is super sweet and funny, so I liked them both immediately. The supporting cast is Indy’s family, Noah’s brother and other players for the Boston Hawks and I liked them all. They set up the next story in the series well and make me want to read the next one. This is a low-angst, HEA story with real heart and lots of laughs. I highly recommend it.” Daisy Knox
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  • Best Christian Romance Books

    Hope for the Cowboy by Hannah Jo Abbott

    March 3, 2023

    He’s committed to the ranch he loves, she’s just here for a job, but they just might find each other too.

    Katie Wadford is devastated after being fired from her job as an account manager. When no other large firms in town will hire her, she’s desperate to find a place to prove herself. Reluctantly she returns to her hometown in hopes of working for a small business to boost her resume. Sawyer Macklin is certain that his family ranch doesn’t need a business manager. When his father hires one anyway, Sawyer agrees to get along. But the woman who shows up in high heels isn’t anything like what he expected. When Katie offers the ranch as the location for a church fundraiser, Sawyer volunteers to help, but only so he can tell her it’s a bad idea and put an end to it. He finds out Katie is a hard person to say no to. As they learn to work together, will Sawyer’s fears of his past mistakes keep them apart, or will they both find a future they didn’t expect? A five-star review of the novel:

    “Hope for the Cowboy is a well written, sweet, heartwarming, small town romance. I love the characters, the family dynamics (6 brothers, wow!), small town nosiness and more. For both Katie and Sawyer, life has not worked out as they had hoped. Their first meeting is upsetting for both, but as they work together, their relationship grows in a realistic way. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their story unfold.” Bernadette Cinkoske – Goodreads
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