• 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 Historical Romance Books

    Lady by Chance by Cheryl Bolen

    Can a forced marriage rise a love as powerful as the canons of the war which tears them apart?

    Driven by fierce patriotism to England, the Marquess of Haverstock will do anything to reclaim the money his best friend lost at cards, money that was to purchase battle plans from a French official.

    The bewitchingly beautiful but illegitimate Anna De Mouchet agrees to give the marquess back the money she “won.” On one condition: that he marry her.

     Manipulated into a marriage of convenience to prove their patriotism, Anna and Charles, the Marquess of Haverstock, question each other’s loyalties. But there’s no question that Anna’s silken touch has bewitched the powerful lord who has become her husband, and no question that she craves every moment in his arms.

    The author on her research on regency England:

    “After writing 33 historical romances and probably a hundred articles on English historical topics, I rarely have to research anymore. That is because I’ve spent more than twenty years educating myself about a narrow period in English history and have an extensive library of research books. Added to this, I’ve been to England on about a dozen trips, some of these for several weeks at a time.”

    Cheryl Bolen 

  • 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 Historical Romance Books

    To Heal an Earl by Alexa Aston

    Both wronged by their families . . . two souls alone in the world . . .

    Instead of making her come-out during the upcoming London Season, Lady Charlotte Nott finds herself tossed from her home after her father’s untimely death by a vengeful half-brother. Penniless, she makes her way in a world new to her, first serving as a companion and then governess to the three children of Lord Crampton. When the earl dies moments after hiring her, Charlotte takes on the running of Gray Manor’s household and estate until the children’s new guardian arrives. Guilt weighs heavily on Major Danforth Grayson, having lost too many men under his command over the years. When he receives word of the death of the brother who wronged him, Gray returns home, bitter with the hand life has dealt him. He intends to hire competent people to manage the estate and care for his nephew and nieces and retreat to a solitary life in London—until he meets the inimitable Miss Nott.

    Charlotte is drawn to Gray but knows she is no longer of his world. When he suddenly becomes the new Lord Crampton, she knows it’s time to leave her charges behind—for what woman would care to watch the man she loves wed another and start a family as she suffers in silence? Yet Charlotte knows Gray is a broken man and her leaving might shatter him forever. Can Charlotte walk away from a flawed man who desperately needs her, or will she leave before she loses her own soul?

    The author on the main characters and how they pave the way for other heroes and heroines in later books in the series:

    “Lady Charlotte is turned out of her home just before she is to make her come-out… She must find a way to earn her living and does so, first as a companion and then as a governess. Gray, an officer in the Napoleonic Wars, resigns his commission and returns to England a broken man because of his war experiences. He has been named guardian to his deceased brother’s three children, whom he’s never met. Gray doesn’t have it in him to love these strangers when he can’t forgive himself for all his sins. Yet Gray is drawn to Charlotte and love blossoms between them. Fortunately, these two will discover they are better together than apart and their love will be an example for other men and women in Soldiers & Soulmates.”

    Alexa Aston 

  • Best Christian Romance Books

    A Doctor’s Promise by Laura Scott

    Will he uncover her deepest secret? Will the truth tear them apart?

    Dr. Jared O’Connor has given his parents a promise–to find his dead brother’s fiancee and child. But his mission is derailed when he meets beautiful flight nurse Shelly Bennett. The sadness in her eyes, mirrors his own, and he is drawn to her and to her young son in a way he’s never experienced before.

    Shelly can’t afford to be distracted by Jared’s attention. Her son’s upcoming testing may confirm he has kidney failure–there’s no room for anything else in her life. But when Jared uncovers the truth, she realizes her days of running from the past are over. But can she forgive Jared long enough to accept his love?

    A 5 star review from Goodreads:

    “I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! I really enjoy the characters, the storyline and the sweet clean romance with happily ever afters. I especially love that these are medical stories with accurate medical information.”

    Donna Campbell – Goodreads 

  • Best Historical Romance Books

    A Winter’s Vow by Kate Condie

    A wanted woman. A haunted man. Can a fake marriage save them both, or will their secrets tear them apart?

    Della Hampton answers an advertisement for a mail-order bride in the isolated mining town of Kirwin, Wyoming. Her hasty decision turns desperate when she arrives to find her intended dead. Della is determined to do whatever it takes to remain in Kirwin and find a new name for herself.

    Bastien Graham is a brand-new foreman ready to prove himself. Within days of stepping into the position, a mail-order bride is abandoned in town. Bastien, now assigned to take her down the mountain and into town, soon discovers the lady has other plans.

    But Bastien chose this lonely mountain for a reason and helping one woman doesn’t change the past. And for Della, a few months of kindness can’t replace a lifetime of hurt. Can they part ways when the winter is over? Or will their lies bind them tighter than they expected?

    A 5 star review from Goodreads:

    “This is a well written mail order bride romance with strong characters in Della and Bastien. The author does a wonderful job developing their relationship and pulling you into the story with all the mystery and happenings. She takes you back to the day with her detailed and descriptive writing and delivers a beautiful love story. I enjoyed and would recommend this book.”

    Brenda Moser – 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 Historical Romance Books

    The Mountain Man’s Mail-Order Surprise by Karla Gracey

    Life will throw a lot of trouble your way—but love is always the reward.

    Garrett Harding was orphaned then found and raised by the Chippewa, whose camp is near Red Lake. His connections to the tribe and his birth heritage meant he was perfectly suited to move between the white towns and the tribe to trade. However, his confusion as to whether he is a white man as he was born, or Native American as he was raised means he never feels connected to either community. So, he lives alone, between the Indian settlement and the small town of Iron Creek and only goes to either one for supplies/to trade/or the saloon to gamble. But he’s lonely and so he advertises for a bride.

    Katy Jones is young and alone in Mississippi. Her family have disowned her because she fell in love with the wrong man, married him and followed him from her home in Richmond, Virginia, as he had found work in New Orleans. He died in the 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic. Somehow, she managed to survive unscathed. She is desperate with nowhere to flee in order to get away from the epidemic. She writes to a number of men, and Garrett is the only one who writes back to her before her fear of the disease forces her to flee. Will Garrett and Katy form a destiny together? Or will a secret she is keeping jeopardize their future together?

    A five star review from Goodreads:

    “This was the first book by this author that I’ve read. I love mail-order bride stories, and this one was a bit different, which I liked – no cookie-cutter plot here. Not only does the book begin well before the ‘mail-order’ begins, which gives the reader insight into the characters, but it also includes an Indian tribe as an integral part of the story. The characters were very well-developed and the plot well-written. The meshing of Indian culture with the “white man’s world” was very seemless and added much to the story. I have just purchased book 2 in this series because I really enjoyed the author’s writing”

    Jill – Goodreads 

  • 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 Historical Romance Books

    Chills by Heather Boyd

    A lively tale of reckless spending, fraudulent correspondence, and the humorous twists and turns of falling for the right rogue…

    Jack, Marquess of Ettington, is at his wits’ end dealing with his twin sister’s distress. Under her name, he’s summoned Constance Grange, his vexing former ward, to London to act as his sister’s companion for the season. Although Pixie’s debt-ridden state comes as a complete surprise, what disturbs him more is his sister’s plan to find her a wealthy husband to pay off her overwhelming debts. And—despite his availability, wealth and title—he’s shocked to be overlooked for the position of Pixie’s husband.

    With a nickname like Pixie, Constance Grange should be used to disasters, but debt collectors pounding on the Marquess of Ettington’s door demanding payment is beyond mortifying. Given the precarious state of her finances and the previously unknown loss of her family estate, her choices are either incarceration in debtors’ prison or turning fortune hunter to secure a wealthy husband. Yet the man who comes to her rescue more times than she cares to think about is unavailable, betrothed, and her former guardian Jack—the cold-hearted marquess.

    A five star review from Goodreads:

    “Very realistic characters & relationships, had me laughing. That many things are not as they seem is true in life and is delightfully captured in this story. The contrasts within Constance and Virginia, and between them are revealed as the story evolves. The same is true of Jack and Bernard. Each of the four has a significant challenge to handle, and eventually does as surprises unfold and communication between them occurs overtly, subtly, and realistically. The supporting characters are believeable and surprising. The realism is a delight.”

    Lizette – Goodreads