SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of Nov 2, 2015

*** WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS & RECAP ***

 
HOT NEW RELEASES (NOW LIVE): 

• The Play by Karina Halle (opposites attract, he’s a Scottish rugby player)
• Untamed by SC Stephens (Thoughtless series, Griffin’s book)
• Hard Beat by K. Bromberg (Driven series standalone)
• Tough Enough by M. Leighton (MMA fighter romance)
• Epic Sins by Trudy Stiles (rock star romance)
• Third Base by Heidi McLaughlin (sports romance, he’s famous/she’s a fan)
• The Game Plan by Kristin Callihan (football player hero)
• Sweet Nothing by Jamie McGuire & Teresa Mummert (unique romance)
• A Winter Wedding by Brenda Novak (heart-broken hero falls for new tenant)
• Incumbent by Joanne Schwehm (he’s a U.S. senator, she has secrets)
• This Is Love by Caroline Nolan (love after loss/second chance romance)
• Once Kissed by Cecy Robson (he’s hired to protect her but falls in love)
• The Raven Room by Ana Medeiros (erotic thriller — sex club)
• Melting Into You by Laura Trentham (injured NFL player)
• Edge of Danger by Katie Reus (romantic suspense, Deadly Ops series)
• It’s Only Love by Marie Force (contemporary romance)
• Burn It Up by Cara McKenna (biker romance)
• Baking and Babies by Tara Sivec (romantic comedy, Chocoholics series)
• The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende (historical multigenerational romance)
• Wherever There Is Light by Peter Golden (historical)
• Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins (sounds unique)
• Life Before Damaged 10 by HM Ward (Ferro Family series)
• Tomorrow’s Lies by S.R. Grey (‘finding love in the most unlikely of situations’)
• Leveled by Jay Crownover (M/M romance)
• The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens (YA romance, she’s scarred)
• Born Of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon (sci-fi romance, League series)
• Coup De Grâce by Lani Lynn Vale (Code 11- KPD SWAT, tattooed hero)
• Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young (romantic suspense, sounds unique)
• Shattered by Cari Quinn (rock star romance)
• In a Bad Way by Karin Tabke (he’s a Special Agent, she has a secret)
• One King’s Way by Samantha Young (On Dublin Street novella)
• Cam Girl by Leah Raeder (F/F romance)
• Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts (potentially PNR?)
• The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett (YA)
• Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies by Denise Grover Swank (Rose Gardner Mystery #8)
• The Beautiful Collection by Christina Lauren (paperback set A)
• The Beautiful Collection by Christina Lauren (paperback set B)

 
6 RECENT TOP RECOMMENDATIONS:  

All of these books can be read as standalones and are ones I’ve most recently read and fallen in love with. If you’re looking for a personal recommendation from me, these are my latest favorites! (more here)

 

The Play by Karina Halle — New Release!!

Sexy sports player alert!! This is a standalone romance! — Tired of being the third wheel, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner. That is until she lays her eyes on Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to… It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again. Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.

 

Untamed by SC Stephens — New Release!!

Rock star fans, here’s Griffins book from the Thoughtless series!
— Being the bad-boy bassist for the world’s hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife, Anna. The one thing it hasn’t brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine… Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he’s caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos. One that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers .

 

Hard Beat by K. Bromberg — New Release!!

This is the latest standalone romance in the Driven series! — Foreign war correspondent Tanner Thomas is addicted to living on the edge. Needing the adrenaline rush of his job to help him cope with a personal loss, he throws himself back into the game, concentrating all his energy on getting the next big story. But when he meets his new photojournalist, Beaux Croslyn… With secrets she won’t address, Beaux is far from your ordinary woman. Determined to keep her distance, she’s willing to pull Tanner in closer and hide behind the sparks flying between them. But… he’s ready to chase her to the ends of the earth to find out if what they had was real, or if the danger surrounding them was just a heat fated to burn out…

 

Tough Enough by M. Leighton — New Release!!

MMA fighter fans, this is a standalone in the Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series!
— There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away where no one can see my scars… Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid. But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most. I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.

 

Epic Sins by Trudy Stiles — New Release!!

Rock star fans, this is the first standalone in a new series!
— Garrett Armstrong, the lead guitarist of Epic Fail, womanizer and not so nice guy, leaves a trail of women in his wake. A recent one-night stand wreaks havoc, and turns his present completely upside down. He’s faced with a reality that he never expected. Never wanted… Samantha Weston can’t escape the black cloud that follows her. She suffered an unspeakable loss as a teenager and has been climbing uphill ever since… A heartbreaking situation throws this unlikely pair together. They’re forced to face things that seem impossible. Can Sam get past the demons that haunt her? Can Garrett accept a fate he swore to avoid at all costs?

 

Third Base by Heidi McLaughlin — New Release!!

Sports romance alert!! This is the first standalone in a series of standalones!
— “He’s already Boston’s most eligible bachelor. In his second season with the Boston Renegades he has set his eyes on the girl behind the visitors’ dugout… That girl is a journalism student and a die-hard fan. But with new found love comes challenges and they have to deal with his crazy schedule, school finals and his presence on her campus for some much needed media training… Nothing can come between them, until a secret that she’s been keeping threatens to destroy them both…”

 

The Game Plan by Kristin Callihan — New Release!!

Football player hero!! This is the latest standalone in the Game On Series!
— “His focus has always been on playing football and little else. Except when it comes to one particular woman. But she’s also never looked at him as anything more than one of her brother-in-law’s best friends… She doesn’t know what to make of him. The bearded, tattooed, mountain of man-muscle looks more like a biker than a football player. Rumor has it he’s a virgin, but she finds that hard to believe. Because from the moment he decides to turn his quiet intensity on her she’s left weak at the knees and aching to see his famous control fully unleashed… He’s looking for a forever girl [and] is using all his considerable charm to convince her that he’s her forever man.”

 

Sweet Nothing by Jamie McGuire/Teresa Mummert — New Release!!

It is enough to break any man: watching what could have been my future slip away before it was ever in my grasp. The possibility of losing someone I loved before she was even mine is something I never would have imagined—certainly nothing I’d ever wish on anyone. I went to her every day and waited. Waited for the impossible, for a sign, for her to look at me … hoping sinners are granted miracles, too.

Just one glimpse of him was all it took. In the next lane, at a stop light, was the man I would fall in love with and marry. People talk about love that takes time—the kind you fall in to. We were more like a crash and burn. When our lives intertwined, I knew I would never be the same. He was the man I would cherish the rest of my life, who would father my children. In an instant our life together began, and in an instant it would end. The late nights; the excuses; the lies. And in the blink of an eye, it was like we never were.

When you think you know what’s happening, you’re only half way there.

 

Incumbent by Joanne Schwehm — New Release!!

This is the first standalone in a series of standalones
— “Secrets and lies have been the foundation of her life. We’re taught to learn from our past, and she’s definitely learned from hers. Now that she knows what not to do and whom not to trust, her life is finally coming together, just as she hoped. Until she meets him… He was that kid; you know the type. Both an athlete and a scholar, he was determined to achieve his goals and dreams, the most important being elected president of the United States. Now an incumbent U.S. senator seeking reelection and paving his road to the White House, he’s living his dreams. Until he meets her…”

 

A Winter Wedding by Brenda Novak — New Release!!

This is a standalone holiday-themed romance within the Whiskey Creek series!
— The hero had his heart broken and now “he’s determined to be extra careful about the next woman he gets involved with—which is why he fights his attraction to the beautiful stranger who rents his farmhouse for the Christmas holiday… She’s a country music artist. She’s only planning to stay long enough to write the songs for her next album. Her dreams don’t include settling in a town even smaller than the one she escaped. But as she comes to know him, she begins to wonder if she’d be making a terrible mistake to leave him behind…”

 

This Is Love by Caroline Nolan — New Release!!

This is a standalone romance with themes of both love after loss and second chance love. — “Her life comes to halt as mourns the loss of her fiance. Then one night she discovers it doesn’t have to. By way of dreams, they continue to live the life they had planned together. It’s unconventional, it’s not even real, but it’s enough for her. For the first time since his death, she’s happy…whole. That is until she runs into someone she barely knew from years ago and suddenly real life is just as great as her dream one… Now she doesn’t know what to do. Will letting someone new in threaten what she has with [her fiance]? Is it crazy to chase after a ghost while being caught up by someone very real?”

 

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson — New Release!!

Sexy bad boy cop hired to protect her! This can be read as a standalone romance!
— “He’s pissed to be stuck on a cushy security assignment for the DA’s office… until he gets a good look at the sweet, strait-laced intern he’s supposed to protect—but not touch. She recognizes him instantly… Back in college [their] sizzling one-night stand was the only indiscretion she ever allowed herself. Now that she’s interning on a major case, she won’t jeopardize her career by giving in to temptation again. She just never expected temptation to look so damn hot in uniform… But soon she’s falling for him all over again. And when danger emerges, he will prove just how good a bad-boy cop can be.”

 

The Raven Room by Ana Medeiros — New Release!!

Erotic thriller fans!! This is the first book in The Raven Room Trilogy!
— “Drawn by a need he cannot control, he ventures to the secret and exclusive sex club in the underbelly of Chicago. It goes beyond sex. It goes beyond kink. It is the only place where he finds release from the dangerous urges that threaten to destroy the successful life he’s worked so hard to build… When the police link the club to the death of a young woman, it threatens to expose a number of powerful people… [The heroine] can’t get enough of him. He has opened her sexual horizons to tempting new possibilities. But out of bed she’s an aspiring journalist, and club is the story she’s been looking for. How much can she trust the man who has laid bare her erotic nature and how much will she sacrifice in order to protect him?”

 

Melting Into You by Laura Trentham — New Release!!

Injured sport star falls for a girl he dated in high school! (standalone)
— Alec Grayson returns home to rebuild his life after a knee injury ended his NFL career. As the high school quarterback coach, Alec’s love for the game is reignited. Meanwhile, he puts his hard-partying past and the betrayal of the people he trusted most behind him, and adopts a hard demeanor. That is, until a spitfire artist with soulful eyes and a body that haunts his dreams gets under his skin and threatens to crack his armor… Lilliana Hancock is forced home after her father’s unexpected death leaves her a decrepit family mansion. Determined to use her skills to turn the home into a successful bed and breakfast, Lilliana is stopped at every turn by the town contractor, who happens to be Alec, the gorgeous and arrogant jock to whom she lost her virginity in college. Except Alec doesn’t remember, which infuriates her. Too bad she can’t forget the way his body felt against hers or how his heated gaze follows her…

 

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende — New Release!!

An “exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from San Francisco in the present-day to Poland and the United States during the Second World War.” — In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma’s parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei, the quiet and gentle son of the family’s Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family—like thousands of other Japanese Americans—are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.

Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the elderly woman and her grandson, Seth, at San Francisco’s charmingly eccentric Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, eventually learning about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years…

 

Wherever There Is Light by Peter Golden — New Release!!

A “sweeping, panoramic tale of twentieth-century America, chronicling the decades-long love affair between a Jewish immigrant and the granddaughter of a slave.” — One evening in 1938, Mrs. Wakefield hosts a dinner that reunites Julian with his parents—who have been rescued from Hitler’s Germany by the college—and brings him together with Kendall for the first time. From that encounter begins a thirty-year affair that will take the lovers from the beaches of Miami to the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village to postwar life in Paris, where they will mingle with Sartre, Picasso, and a host of other artists and intellectuals. Through his years serving in American intelligence and as an interrogator at the Nuremberg trials, what Julian wants most is to marry and find the joy that eluded his parents. Kendall craves her freedom, and after trading her oil paints for a Leica camera, becomes a celebrated photographer, among the first American journalists to photograph the survivors of a liberated concentration camp. Yet despite distance, their competing desires, and the rapidly changing world, their longing for each other remains a constant in the ceaseless sweep of time.

Captivating and infused with historical detail, this is the epic tale of three generations, two different but intertwined families, and one unforgettable love story.

 

Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins — New Release!!

Ok this just sounds totally unique! Read the blurb to see what I mean:
— The last thing Cassandra wants is to spend the summer before her senior year marooned in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. Cass craves drama and adventure, which is hard when she just feels stuck. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on her family’s private beach, claiming that it is his property-and that the year is 1925 — Cass is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making. As she searches for answers in the present, Cass discovers a truth that thrusts Lawrence’s life into jeopardy. It won’t matter which century he is from if he won’t live to see tomorrow. Desperate to save the boy who’s come to mean everything to her, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

 

The Lies About Truth by Courtney C Stevens — New Release!!

YA fans!! — Sadie Kingston is living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max… As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she’s unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him. But Max looks at her scars and doesn’t shy away. And Max knows about the list she writes in the sand at the beach every night, the list of things that Sadie knows she must accomplish before she can move on from the accident. And while he can help her with number six (kiss someone without flinching), she knows she’s on her own with number three (forgive Gina and Gray) and the rest of the seemingly impossible tasks that must be made possible before she can live in the now again.

 

Born of Betrayal by Sherrilyn Kenyon — New Release!!

This is the latest novel in the League series (sci-fi romance)!
— Years ago, family loyalty caused Fain Hauk to give up everything he loved: His military career. His planet. His fiancée. Even his name. Now decades later, everything has changed. He’s built a new life out of the ashes of his old, and he’s vowed to never let anything threaten his loved ones again. But when old enemies align themselves with new ones, he’s caught in the middle of a brutal war. And when fate throws his former fiancée back into his world and she has her own agenda that includes taking his head for what he did to her years ago, more than just his life is at stake. The fate of the Ichidian universe and that of his brothers-in-arms hangs in the balance. Winner take all. It’s killed or be killed, and never has the battle been more fierce…

 

Coup De Grâce by Lani Lynn Vale — New Release!!

Romantic suspense fans, this is the latest Code 11- KPD SWAT book!
— Michael was that guy. The one that everyone was cautious of. Maybe it was the tattoos. Maybe it was the way he gave off a ‘don’t screw with me’ vibe. Maybe it was because he just told them to leave him the hell alone. He was screwed up, and everyone knew it. And the only thing he had going for him was that he was a good cop. Everyone wondered about him, but no one asked. The only one that didn’t treat him as if he was screwed up was Nikki Pena, a woman that he couldn’t have. Nikki was that girl. The one that everyone loved. The one girl that he’d destroy if he let her have her way. What did she want? Him. But, he couldn’t give her him. She didn’t deserve what it would take to be with him. So Michael would suffer in silence…or so he thought. The woman who loved him had different ideas.

 

Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young — New Release!!

A “haunting, romantic, and suspenseful story about one girl’s search for healing in a grand and mysterious hotel full of secrets.” — Stay tonight. Stay forever. When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. She and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past [that] only add to the mystery behind the 13th floor… Welcome to the Ruby.

 

It’s Only Love by Marie Force — New Release!!

This is the latest standalone in the Green Mountain Romance series!
— Ella Abbott has long been secretly in love with Gavin Guthrie. A few recent encounters have only added to her infatuation, especially the kiss they shared at her sister’s wedding. It doesn’t matter to Ella that Gavin is in a bad place. He says there’s no hope for a future with him, that he has nothing to offer her. But all Ella cares about is the love she feels… Gavin knows it wouldn’t be fair to drag Ella into his darkness, but when she inserts herself into his life, what choice does he have but to allow her to soothe his aching heart?

 

Burn It Up by Cara McKenna — New Release!!

Biker fans, this is the latest romance in the Desert Dogs series!
— After a decade spent chasing shadier pursuits, Casey Grossier has come home to the badlands to settle down. Vowing to put his days of dirty money behind him, he’s cleaned up his act . But despite his efforts to be a better man, he can’t shake his crush on his sweet-faced bartender, even though the woman screams trouble… Abilene Price hopes she can outrun her mistakes and build a safe, respectable life for herself and her baby. So she’d be wise to keep her distance from her boss, Casey, and the rest of his roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. But she just might need their help. The return of a violent figure from Abilene’s past ignites a powder keg—and it’s only the beginning…

 

Leveled by Jay Crownover — New Release!!

This is an M/M romance novella in the Saints of Denver series.
— Orlando Frederick knows what it is to be leveled by pain. Instead of focusing on his own, he’s made it his mission to help others: sports stars, wounded war vets, survivors of all kinds. But when Dom, a rugged, damaged, sinfully attractive cop, makes his way into Lando’s physical therapy practice, he might be the biggest challenge yet. Lando loved one stubborn man before and barely survived the fallout. He’s not sure he can do it again. As attraction simmers and flares, Dom sees that Lando needs repair of his own…if only the man will let him close enough to mend what’s broken.

 

New paperback boxed sets of the Beautiful Series by Christina Lauren.

The Beautiful Series Collection: Chloe & Bennett includes BEAUTIFUL BASTARD, BEAUTIFUL BITCH, BEAUTIFUL BOMBSHELL, BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING.

The Beautiful Series Collection: Two Brits and a Player includes BEAUTIFUL STRANGER, BEAUTIFUL PLAYER, BEAUTIFUL SECRET.

 

The Fall Up by Aly Martinez (My Review)

I loved everything about this book!!! From the moment I started reading, I was hooked. It had the perfect balance of a gorgeous romance, heart-melting swoon, sexy hotness, hilarious banter, and incredibly deep emotions, that all came together in a unique love story loaded with feels!! I couldn’t put it down, can’t stop thinking about it, and highly recommend it to every romance reader!! Aly Martinez’ books always have that absolutely perfect blend of sexy romance, deep emotions, light hearted fun, and unique storylines. They are the very best kind of love story! Oh and also, this is easily one of my favorite covers of 2015 and I promise you that the story inside is every bit as beautiful as the cover. I highly recommend it!!

 

Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

What a gorgeous love story!! Kristen Ashley really outdid herself. The emotional journey that Logan and Millie went through and the depth of their love — the things they sacrificed for their love — just hit me so hard. Theirs was the kind of ‘bottom of your soul, straight to your gut’ epic love that made them willing to walk through fire for each other. I cried, I swooned, and I completely adored this book!! If you’re a fan of emotional, heart-felt second chance romance, and you happen to love Alpha male heroes and bikers, then this book and series are must-reads!

 

Lev by Belle Aurora (Read my Review)

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! I love love LOVED this book!! It was perfect!!! SO HEART-WARMING!!!! My heart is overflowing with happy feels!! Seriously, if you want a UNIQUE story that is SWEET, SWOONY, and SEXY, with a romance that is downright freaking ADORABLE, then read this book!!! The hero is wealthy, the heroine is homeless, and he takes her in when he catches her stealing money to buy food. There’s a gorgeous love story and a lot of focus on family. I loved EVERY single thing about it!! Barely a few pages into the book and all my heart-strings were tugged!! By 6%, I could already tell that this book was going to deliver ALL THE FEELS. And it most certainly did! Again and again and again! (Standalone.)

 

Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O’Keefe (Read my Review)

LOOVED this and can’t wait for the next one! It was HOT HOT HOT… with it’s sexy mysterious hero, strong feisty heroine, and uniquely captivating story, I was addicted from start to finish!!! Seriously though, the hero was just the kind of guy I fall in LOVE with most… scarred and sexy … just mysterious enough to keep me wondering, just tortured enough to tug my heart strings, just sweet enough to make me swoon, just dangerous enough to give him an edge, but with that possessive and protective edge that defines him as an ALPHA male. I loved him, I loved her, and I loved the book!! It’s a “gritty and erotic romance” where “a phone call from a mysterious stranger is picked up by the wrong woman and ignites a dangerous game of seduction.” The story is really quite UNIQUE!

 

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (Read my Review)

HOLY HELL!!! This was an awesome book! It went waaaaay the freaking hell outside of my “usual” reading preferences. The genre is more of a crime thriller (no romance) which I almost never read but this particular blurb really grabbed me. So I opened the book. By the end of the prologue, I had CHILLS running through me and tears in my eyes…. So, I had to read it!!! And honestly I loved it!! But you guys, it is NOT for the faint of heart. The story starts out small but the “mystery” just gets deeper and deeper and deeper. And every new thing you discover is this whole other level of creepy. It has fantastic writing and even though it’s totally not a genre I usually read, I’d definitely recommend it as an amazing crime thriller!

 

Beyond What Is Given by Rebecca Yarros (Read My Review)

So, I’ve literally been meaning to read one of this author’s books for over a year and I’m so glad I finally did because I loved it!!! I finished reading this book with my heart racing and SO full of happy feels!!! Even though the story started a little slow and on the light side, oh-my-gosh did it ever get ANGSTY!!!!! There was this whole complex “situation” going on that kept me flipping pages like crazy!!!!!! And I loved that the story kept surprising me too!! If you’re looking for a romance with a swoony, sexy Alpha hero with a heart-breaking past and quite a unique storyline, then definitely try this book!! (military romance)

 

Night Road by Kristin Hannah (Read My Review)

5 STARS!!!!! My God, after finishing this book, I feel like I’ve been through some kind of emotional marathon. My heart is racing. I feel out of breath. There are tears in my eyes. AND I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! It’s not a romance in the sense that the guy-meets-girl isn’t the sole focus, but the heart of the story is ALL about different relationships and there IS a love story in it. SUCH an intensely beautiful, heart-wrenching love story (like the kind of love that is always in your heart even if it can’t always be acted on) and just… ALL THE FEELS!!!! Holy wow, this author can WRITE like you wouldn’t believe. I loved it. *deep breath* LOVED IT.

 

Every Wrong Reason by Rachel Higginson (Read My Review)

WOW!! What a BEAUTIFUL book! I loved every word and am sitting here wiping away the happy tears. It was such a powerful, emotional, and deeply profound journey. This story OWNED my heart. I was SO emotionally connected on every page and just FELT so much for it. It was raw and honest, but passionate and heart-felt. I cried, I hoped, I swooned, I was rooting for this couple so hard. The writing was just GORGEOUS (I have endless quotes highlighted) and I especially loved that this author showed a very rarely-seen side of contemporary romance by tackling both the subjects of marriage AND divorce… [standalone romance]

 

Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre (Read My Review)

I totally LOVED this standalone “opposites attract” Hollywood romance!! It was SEXY, fun, and fantastically well written (seriously, such STRONG writing), with an intense hate-to-love romance that made my heart race!! The perfect balance of ANGST, HUMOR, and HOTNESS!!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn’t stop reading. The hero is a world-famous superstar actor and the heroine is a girl from a small-town. Their worlds collided after he read a book about her town and decided to make a movie about it… “From the start, I knew he was trouble. For our town. And for me… Sometimes, opposites just aren’t meant to attract.”

 

Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis Graves (Read my Review)

This book had me laughing, smiling, and SWOONING non-stop!! I appreciated so much that there was literally no stupid drama. It was just this gorgeous romance with two people who fell madly in love and did everything they could to STAY together. There were definitely heart-stopping moments (omg 70%!!!!) but I totally loved the ride!! Plus, there was so much FANTASTIC banter (I have so many highlights!!) and sexy ROMANCE that it was an awesome, HEART-WARMING read mixed with a little mystery because the hero had a whole secret identity that the heroine didn’t know about at first… Definitely a top favorite!

 

Sustained by Emma Chase (Read my Review)

If you’re a fan of stories with heroes/heroines with kids, then you HAVE to get this!! The heroine is the legal guardian of her late brother’s six kids, and the hero is roped into her life after a chance encounter with her… and now he just can’t stop thinking about her. OMG this book is just HILARIOUS!!! The scenes with the kids are ADORABLE!!! And it’s told from the guy’s POV which is pure GOLD!! It was hilariously funny, sexy, romantic, heart-warming, and kinda badass with that lawyer stuff too. Best of all, you can read it as a standalone romance!

 

Worth It by Linda Kage (Read my Review)

If you’re a fan of heart-meltingly sweet bad boys, tortured heroes, forbidden romances, and intense second chance love stories, then you HAVE to try this!!! I read the whole book from start to finish in one non-stop sitting because I honestly just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!! It’s well-written, full of feeeeeeels, and kept my heart racing!! You can easily read this as a complete standalone and it’s totally a new TOP FAVORITE recommendation!!! Note: each book in the series is about a different couple and written in a way that each one can be read totally alone.

 

Throttled by Elizabeth Lee (Read my Review)

Second chance romance fans, this book was awesome!! Ahhh, I couldn’t stop smiling after I finished it!!!! It had ALL THE FEELS! The hero was a famous Motocross racer who returns to his hometown to realize that the girl he left behind when he went to follow his dreams still holds his heart and this time around, he was willing to do everything and anything in his power to win back her trust and prove that he still loves her more than anything. I loved him, I loved her, I loved them, I loved the whole story. — It’s the first standalone in a series of standalones.

 

The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar (Read my Review)

I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVED THIS BOOK!!! Fierce, powerful, and absolutely breathtaking, this beautifully-written book will sweep you away in an epic love story that spans years and lasts a lifetime. The Paper Swan is a must-read for any romance readers who are searching for a completely unique story that’ll captivate you from start to finish. While the twists and turns are intense, gritty, and sometimes even dark, this was actually one of the sweetest and most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read. I loved every word and HIGHLY recommend it! 5 STARS!!

 

Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Ryals (Read my Review)

What a BEAUTIFUL story!! I was wiping happy tears at the end! The UNIQUE feel originally grabbed my attention and the gorgeous writing hooked me. It’s deeply introspective, almost poetic, but a very REAL, HEART-FELT story about an awkward girl with a past full of heartache and a good-looking boy she meets in high school who saw past her pain and, no matter what happened, he never gave up on her. This is their journey over 8 years of self discovery, first love, and second chances. I have almost 50 highlighted quotes in my book. It’s YA/NA and totally non-formulaic. If you’re in the mood for something different, try this!

 

Vanguard by CJ Markusfeld (Read my Review)

OMG!!!! I loooooooooooooved this gorgeous book!!!!!! From the moment I read the prologue, I was hooked and could NOT put it down even for a single minute!! I cried, laughed, swooned, was totally overwhelmed with emotion, and even had to take little “breathers” before turning the page because it could get literally that intense!!! It had ALL THE FEELS. This story was 100% unique and unlike any other I’ve ever read. It’s a modern-day wartime love story with fantastic writing, a gripping and emotional tale, and an epic romance that kept my heart racing from start to finish. This was smart, intelligent romance!! Book HEAVEN!

 

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Read my Review)

SQUEEEEEE!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVED this so freaking much!!! My gosh, that last 10% was seriously loaded with feels!! This was honestly one of the BEST BOOKS I’ve read this year. The story was unlike any other I’ve read, the writing was AMAZING, and it kept me glued to the page. It was totally unconventional and gave such a UNIQUE perspective on finding your soul mate and one true love. I cried, I laughed, my heart felt like it was bursting with emotions. I LOVED IT!!! 5++ STARS!!! — “I still love you,” he says. “I’ve always loved you. I might never stop.”

 

Rush by Emma Scott (Read my Review)

This was a really touching story! The first few chapters were a little slow but once they officially met, I was hooked. If you loved the “feeling” of Me Before You (minus the ugly-crying), then definitely try this! — The hero used to be a pro extreme sports athlete who was blinded and severely injured in a cliff diving accident. With his life and dreams shattered, he was left bitter and angry and shut himself away the world until the heroine arrived to work for him as a live-in assistant. She was a prodigy musician who’d suffering her own loss as well but they began to help each other heal as they fell unexpectedly in love…

 

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole (Read my Review)

TATTOOED HERO FANS!!! I recently finished this great new book!! The sexy, tattooed hero had me swooooooooning!!! The heroine had survived an attack that left her back covered in scars and the hero was a talented tattoo artist whose specialty was inking over scars. When she shows up at his studio, he cant turn her down, and designs the perfect tattoo while fighting his intense feelings for her that grow with each tattooing session… This story was swoony, heart-meltingly romantic, a little suspenseful (her ex was a real piece of work), a lot sexy… with a hot, protective Alpha male hero!! (It’s a standalone)

 

Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Bad boy biker alert!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! 5 STARS!! (Chaos series)

“Once upon a time, she believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy… Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire pondering her mistakes, when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower… In high school, he was a bad boy loner who put her on a pedestal… Today, he’s a hard-bodied biker, and it’s clear she’s falling fast.”

 

The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur (Read my Review)

WOWWW!!! I recently read this and LOVED it!! The WRITING was truly exquisite! It was a very slow-building, detailed story, but one where EVERY detail matters. Everything was connected and had DEPTH. It was vivid and powerful and completely UNIQUE. It told a love story that spanned 10-15 years, but didn’t follow ANY rules. Normally that would be scary to me but the way that everything was portrayed made me really *get* where these characters came from. And I was honestly blown away by how much I FELT and how BEAUTIFULLY it was written. It’s like I lived the story with them. It felt REAL. Highly recommended!

 

Never Let You Go by Katy Regnery (Read my Review)

HOLY HELL!!! I read reading this in one non-stop sitting because I could NOT put it down. I mean seriously… THE ANGST!!!!! Gah. *clutches heart* It’ll be a while before my heart rate to go back to normal, but WOW, it was unputdownable!!! It felt like I barely blinked or stopped to breathe because I was flipping the pages so fast…… It was sweet and romantic, heart-breaking and painful, angsty as all freaking hell, and really just a gorgeous story of UNDYING LOVE!!! The story was unique and it’s a complete standalone so if you’re looking for a new read, try this!

 

King by T.M. Frazier (Read my Review)

Holy wow, I totally LOVED this book!! Dark and gritty, sweet and sexy, raw and shocking, and utterly addictive, with an unapologetic, badass Alpha male hero and unexpected twists that I never saw coming!! I highly recommend it!!
— Homeless. Hungry. Desperate. Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from…A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go.

 

A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson (Read my Review)

SQUEEEEEEE!!!!! I absolutely LOOOOOOOVED this book!!! If you love SEXY BAD BOY heroes and unique love stories, then you have to try this!!!! The thrill of their forbidden romance kept my heart RACING the whole way through. I swooned over their love for each other, and really appreciated the way there was no ‘stupid’ drama. And now I just can’t stop smiling because the story was just so freaking GOOD!!!! I adored it!!! It’s about a “strong-minded prison tutor who discovers that her sexy bad-boy student is far more than he appears to be…”

*** This page is no longer being updated. See this post for the reason why. ***

*** UPCOMING FAVORITE ***

 

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

WOWWWWWWWW!!!! I recently read an advance copy of this STUNNING book. It blew me away!!! I read it in one sitting with my heart racing the whole time!! The story was SO unique and unexpected that it took me completely by surprise over and over again!! I swooned, I fell in love, my heart was broken, and then healed again. And THE TWIST!!!!! Holy hell, that twist!!! Total shocker but I LOVED the direction it spun the story in. This book was perfect from cover to cover and definitely one of the BEST BOOKS of the year!! It’s a standalone and trust me and pre-order a copy!! You’ll want to read it the MOMENT it’s live!!!

Standalone contemporary romance (not part of a series). 5 stars!

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist…

*** This page is no longer being updated. See this post for the reason why. ***

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