Best Contemporary Romance Novels

More Contemporary Romance Books in Archives and Reader Favorites

Smooth Talking Stranger
Lisa Kleypas
St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2010
Contemporary romance

Billionaire playboy, and all-around ladies’ man, Jake Travis has a reputation as big as the state of Texas. He drives too fast, lives too hard, and loves too many women to count. In her advice column, and her love life, Ella Varner is always practical. So when she’s left holding her reckless sister’s baby, she decides to ask Jake Travis to take a paternity test. Ella is instantly struck by Jake’s bold good looks and easy charm—but she’s not falling for his sweet talk. This big sexy tomcat needs to take responsibility for his actions, and Ella’s making him stick to his word. More...

“Smooth Talking Stranger has a story which zings straight to your heart...” – Xeranthemum, Long and Short Reviews …full book review

Available at Amazon

Crush on You
(Three Kisses)
Christie Ridgway
Berkley, 2010
Contemporary romance

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that's been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa"-didn't need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett. More...

“It’s fun, it’s hot and it’s a pleasure to read.” – Bunny Callahan, RT Book Reviews …full book review

Available at Amazon

Sugar Creek
(A Destiny Novel)
Toni Blake
Avon, 2010
Contemporary romance

Welcome to Destiny, Ohio—where two families have been at odds as long as anyone in town can remember.

Rachel Farris returned to her childhood home with one mission in mind: get Mike Romo out of her family's apple orchard business and out of their lives. But hard-nosed and totally hot Mike, who happens to be the law in Destiny, is convinced the Farris clan stole the land from his family fifty years ago and he's not backing down. More...

“...this is one hot read!” – Danielle, Coffee Time Romance & More …full book review

Available at Amazon

Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella
Dial Press Trade Paperback, 2010
Chick Lit

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie—a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance—mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it. More...

“Sophie Kinsella's TWENTIES GIRL is pure fun!” – Kay James, Romance Reader at Heart …full book review

Available at Amazon

The Icing on the Cupcake
Jennifer Ross
Ballantine Books, 2010
Women’s fiction/Chick lit

In this delectable novel—complete with recipes—Jennifer Ross frosts a sweet story of a young woman fulfilling her dreams, one delicious cupcake at a time.

In Ansley Waller’s world of Southern belles and gentlemen, getting a diamond ring isn’t just important—it’s the ultimate goal. So when her fiancé, Parish, unceremoniously kicks her to the curb and cancels their upcoming wedding, Ansley is so ashamed that she decides to leave Dallas and make a fresh start. In a surprise move, she heads to New York City to live with her recently widowed grandmother, Vivian, whom she’s never met. In turn, Vivian gives Ansley a no-nonsense ultimatum: Rather than wallow in misery, either get a job or go home. More...

“All in all, a fabulous story of personal growth—with the added bonus of mouth-watering cupcake recipes!” – Kay James, Romance Reader at Heart …full book review

Available at Amazon

A Piece of My Heart
Kemberlee Shortland
Highland Press, 2010
Contemporary romance

Kate hadn't been just the girl next door. She'd been Mick's life, and he hers. When an unforeseen force drives them apart they're left with wounds that refuse to heal. Now, ten years on, Mick's father's will should have been straightforward, except his addendum was like ice water in Mick's face. It's essential Mick and Kate work together to save his family's farm. He doesn't count on his new manager being accused of murder… More...

“Kemberlee Shortland creates a stunning read that touches upon the heartstrings.” – Cherokee, Coffe Time Romance & More …full book review

Available at Amazon

best contemporary romance, on the steamy side

On the Steamy Side
(Recipe for Love)
Louisa Edwards
St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2010
Contemporary romance

When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses … More...

“…On the Steamy Side is a delight from cover to cover.” – Paula, A Romance Review …full book review

Available at Amazon

best contemporary romance, Something About You

Something About You
Julie James
Berkley, 2010
Contemporary romance

Staying overnight in a luxury hotel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde overhears a high-profile murder involving a U.S. Senator. Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the investigation-the same Jack Pallas who still blames her for nearly ruining his career three years ago. More...

“From the first page until the last, Julie James knows how to keep a reader entertained with her amusing repartees and hilarious, argumentative characters.” – Danielle, Coffee Time Romance & More …full book review

Available at Amazon

Mounting Desire
Nina Killham
Bloomsbury USA, 2006
Contemporary romance/Chick-lit

Jack Carter, born-again virgin and bestselling romance author, has a problem, and her name is Molly. Foisted upon him by his sister, Molly has just been fired from her high-paying management position for sexually harassing her male assistant. She’s also been evicted from her apartment, and has landed—for just a few weeks, she promises—in Jack’s Georgetown town house. Worse yet, she decides to take advantage of her new environment and try her hand at writing romances herself, using the pseudonym Molly Desire. More...

“…Mounting Desire is more than an unexpectedly heartwarming and very funny love story - it is also a playful peek into the world of romance writing.” – Mrs. Giggles Reviews …full book review

Available at Amazon

Scandal Sheet
Gemma Halliday
Making It, 2009
Contemporary romance

Gossip columnist Tina is stopped in her tracks when she learns one of the celebrities she's reported on wants her dead. Teamed with an oversized bodyguard, a bubbly blonde, and an alcoholic obituary writer, Tina sets off to find out which juicy piece of Hollywood gossip is worth killing over.

“Gemma Halliday has written a laugh out loud book filled with gossip, scandals, and dirt…” – Theresa, A Romance Review …full book review

Available at Amazon

The Clergy Affair
Jennifer Johnson
The Wild Rose Press, 2009
Contemporary romance

Reverend Deborah Reynolds wasn't expecting to fall for--or over--Sam Perry, one of the groomsmen at the wedding she was officiating. But when Sam answered her door early the next morning and greeted the biggest gossip in town, Deborah found herself in hot water with her congregation. She never imagined soon after she would be flying cross country with Sam and broadening her horizons by visiting a nudist beach, learning the paths of ants, and falling in love. More...

Top Read
WRDF Reviews
“… I was laughing my head off.” – E. Horizon, WRDF Reviews …full book review

Available at Amazon

All The Right Reasons
Sandy James
BookStrand, 2009
Contemporary romance

Can love heal all wounds? Lucas Mitchell returned from Iraq a bitter, changed man, wracked with guilt over his friend's death. He buys an old mansion and deals with his injuries and grief by restoring his new home and rehabilitating retired racehorses. Joy Kovacs falls in love with Lucas at first sight. Descended from gypsies who are still influenced by the lingering effects of the Holocaust, her family follows the traditional ways. A husband has already been selected for her, and her father insists she work at their ethnic restaurant. More...

“ What an emotional story, filled with anger and bitterness, love and joy, heartache and pain, acceptance and trust.” – Matilda, Coffee Time Romance & More …full book review

Available at Amazon

A Coventry Wedding
Becky Cochrane
Zebra, 2009
Contemporary romance

Jandy Taylor's grandfather always teased her about not being able to finish anything. So perhaps it's not a shock that a few days before her wedding to soap star Hudson Blake, Jandy postpones the ceremony and hitches a ride to Coventry, Texas, with a stranger named Sam, a dog named Sue, and an overwhelming desire to escape - if only for a few days... More...

“ Hats off to Becky Cochrane for writing such an amusing read…” – Val, Manic Readers …full book review

Available at Amazon