Top Ten: January to September
The first favorite of the year to go on this list is the third book in Karina Halle‘s The Dumonts series. So, if you want to get to the goodness that is this book you need to read Discretion, followed by Disarm. This is a pretty heavy book so if you’re looking for a light, Summer read, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one. Read this series in the Fall, perhaps.
My two-second blurb: I highly recommend this book and this series to everyone who is a fan of romance, suspense, mystery, murder!, travel, exotic locations, family tales, decadence and love.
“Pascal Dumont’s story of redemption is a bold and honest, epic master class in how to redeem a villain.“
Kate Grand
Amazon: 4.6 Goodreads: 4.10
The next in the Top Ten is a fantastic book from Kate Stewart. It’s Book 3 in her Underdogs series but it can be read as a standalone. It would certainly add to the back story to have read the two previous books but you don’t have to have read them.
My two-second blurb: This is a heartwarming, steamy, second chance romance that will kick you in the feels.
“What a perfect ending to this phenomenal series! Kate brings all the emotions with this final book. You do not want to miss a single page of this emotionally packed story with an epilogue that will leave you smiling for days. I can’t remember the last time I read a series with this much heart!”
Jewel E. Ann, Amazon bestselling author
Amazon 4.7 Goodreads 4.3
“Ireland made me realize we don’t have a choice who we fall in love with. We fall in love by chance. But staying in love and making it work isn’t something that happens by chance—that’s a choice. And I’ve chosen to love Ireland.”
Grant, Vi Keeland, Inappropriate
My two-second blurb: A hot and steamy, standalone, forbidden office romance with surprising depth. An incredible story with two vulnerable and strong characters. I think this is Vi Keeland‘s best novel yet. Just funny, charming and devastating. Truly touching.
Amazon: 4.7 Goodreads: 4.22
Lucy Score‘s Rom Com is still #16 on Amazon. While writing By A Thread, Lucy referred to it as “Grumpy Grump Face”. As a gift to the fans, she and her husband had a fake cover mocked up with that title and sent it out in her newsletter.
Content Warning: Alzheimer’s.
It is definitely a romantic comedy. But it also has some deeper moments and this quote in particular was very meaningful for me.
“He was the one person who never let me down,” I told him. “The one person whose love for me I was always absolutely certain of. To have that taken away? To have the man still here but to lose everything that made him Dad? It’s a devastation I didn’t know could exist.”
Ally, Lucy Score, By A Thread
My two-second blurb: Super hot and heartfelt swoon-worthy romance by Lucy Score! Loved this story! Recommend to fans of The Hating Game. Dom and Ally are relationship goals.
Amazon 4.8 Goodreads 4.43
You know I loved Clutch Player because I’m quoted in the reviews on the Amazon page! Yes! I got a blurb!
My two-second blurb: Clutch Player is superb, magical, heartfelt, and emotional second-chance romance with a wonderful ending that will leave you smiling. By Nikki Ash.
What you need to know about Clutch Player:
✔ Second chance romance
✔ Complete stand-alone
✔ Single mom
✔ Sexy baseball player Hero
✔ If you loved British Bedmate by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, you will get to see more of Simon and Bridget.
Amazon 4.8 Goodreads 4.61
This next book was just what I needed in a time of social isolation and I was actually really sick when this came out so it was a great pick-me-up for me. It is a perfect beach read for the summer. Shipwrecked on a tropical paradise? With a gorgeous man? Yes please! And that gorgeous cover by Hang Le?
My two-second blurb: Karina Halle somehow manages to get our minds off our current crisis while feeding us incredible bits of wisdom on leading our lives ‘one sunrise at a time’. All of this is wrapped in a perfectly gorgeous and hilarious, romantic and sexy novel that I highly recommend.
“Lighter than anything I’ve read by Karina Halle, but still very much her style, this is great escapism with a slow burn that turns scorching, some humor, a touch of suspense, and a grumbly hero that I just wanted more of.”
Jeeves Reads Romance
I know it’s cliché, that good things come out of the bad, that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, that the light at the end of the tunnel can be brighter than the light before. But they are cliché for a reason, because they’re true. If you can’t find rhyme or reason in this crazy, unpredictable world, at least you can find solace in that.
Karina Halle, Lovewrecked
Amazon 4.6 Goodreads 4.02
My two-second blurb: Beautifully Cruel by J. T. Geissinger really threw me for a loop. I had a major book hangover after this one. There was just something about it that really captured me. Perhaps it was Truvy’s surprising nerves of steel and wit in the face of such dangerous men? Maybe it was Liam’s vulnerability? It was all shockingly good. I highly recommend this book and I really hope there is a follow-up.
“I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to, but my mother didn’t raise a worker bee. She raised a queen.” I stare at him without smiling. “And I don’t give away the honey for free.”
J.T. Geissinger, Beautifully Cruel
Amazon 4.8 Goodreads 4.39
My two-second blurb: I recently reviewed Eighty Days to Elsewhere on this site so I’ve linked to that review above. And now we are getting ahead of ourselves. This book won’t publish until August 11th. So put it on your TBR on Goodreads. It’s a lot of travelling, a little bit of fun, excitement, with a dash of romance and a little bit of the Amazing Race.
“Travel changes a person. No matter how closed the mind is upon departure, it is forced open when faced with the shocking contrasts and terrible beauties of this earth. Every traveller discovers both how vast and how tiny our planet is, and the reminder that good people are the same, world over, is an excellent lesson to learn.”
KC DYER
My rating: 5.0
Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills will be released August 18th. It’s like they knew me or something. They hired one of my favorite male models to do the cover. May I introduce William F. Goodge? He’s British, btw. (swoons) Plus it’s a fun little rom com set in a small town.
I reviewed this book in April on this site. Here’s My two-second blurb: In this funny, charming, small-town romance sparks fly, walls come down and Shakespeare gets involved in an incredibly epic romantic ending. This novel has so much heart and sexy sizzle, warmth and depth that it will stay with you long after you finish. I absolutely loved this book and I thoroughly recommend this to fans of Tessa Bailey’s “Fix Her Up” and Helena Hunting’s “Pucked” series. I’m highly anticipating The Game Changers series.
Yes! It’s the first in a series! Very exciting!
My rating: 5.0
Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey is being released on September 22nd. I have already written a review and will post it closer to the release date. It is the last of the “Hot and Hammered” series that started with Fix Her Up.
My two-second blurb: I promise you a hot and steamy, fun read with a smidgen of HGTV-type shenanigans, a worthy romantic male lead and heartwarming romance.
If you haven’t read Tessa Bailey before, you should go and read everything in her back catalogue. Go! Do it!
My rating: 5.0
That is the end of the Top Ten. There are some runners-up of course: I would also recommend Beach Read and The Modern Gentleman.
Lastly, I don’t get anything for these links or my time spent. I am not an “Amazon affiliate” but If I ever become one I’ll be sure to let you know. 😉
What are your favorite books so far this year? Is there one you’re really looking forward to? Let me know in the comments.