Books with Strong Romance Elements

Joining up with ThatArtsyReadergirl

I’ve chosen to list some books I read in 2022 with strong romance elements. I usually now leave the outright romance books but I love a good story with a strong romance element.

Looking at these books and you think you could recommend me something equally as good – go for it.

Flirting with the Beast: Jane Porter. Is pretty much outright romance but for older characters. Four stars.

State of Shock Marie Force: An ongoing series with two of the most romantic married characters in a book. Romantic suspense.  4 stars

Snowed in For Christmas. Sarah Morgan. Another pretty much outright romance but has the best grandma and family characters that would make me want to reread this one at some point. And…. set in Scotland. Five stars

Thank You For Listening.   Julia Whelan.  Audiobook narrators who eventually meet! It’s a Rom Com that I really recommend, but its more than that. It has wisdom and growth of character and things to think about. Five stars

The Choice: Nora Roberts. This is a paranormal fantasy set “beside” Ireland. Keegan and Breen are a pair who over three books ( this is the last in the trilogy) defeat evil and celebrate love.  4.5 stars.

Nora Goes Off Script. Annabel Monaghan. Thoroughly enjoyed this romance, loved the characters and especially the down to earth family and friends. Nora and Leo – what a pair. Bernadette and Arthur not far behind. It was cute and made me laugh out loud at times. I never saw what caused the trouble and kept wondering what on earth is going on. Well now I know! Very satisfying. Would definitely read another by this author.  4.5 stars.

Storm Echo.  Nalini Singh. Another very enjoyable addition to the series. Pay/changeling/human unite in a way that brings about a welcome result. Ivan believes he is fated to have to live in a cage, but since Silence has fallen and what was once believed has altered is that actually going to happen? Soliel is a changeling delight and I really loved her story and her strength and love. I love the values of family and hope and the right use of power that underlines this book and all the series.  4.5 stars.

The Bodyguard.  Katherine Center. Read in a day. Just couldn’t put it down. Feel good, warm hearted book with entertainment and sprinkles of life giving wisdom.  4.5 stars

Hana Khan Carries On. Uzma Jalaluddin. Very much enjoyed this book. A rom com, but…. The kind I like, great characters, comedic bits, interspersed with serious issues. Full of family, immigrant issues and most of all love. Highly recommend.

Dance Away With Me Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Five big fat stars. I loved this book, worth every big fat dollar I paid to get a hardback copy. I loved the characters, the serious issues covered and that Wren, she was just baby delicious. And sprinkled through was Susan Elizabeth Phillips smart, funny voice. It’s there, don’t say it’s not. I savoured every morsel of this book,  This was a reread in 2022 via audiobook, every bit as good second time round.  5 stars.

September Reading Round Up

Total books read this month:  14

Book Ratings

The Best is Yet to Come. 4 stars
Thank You for Listening. 5  stars
The Book Haters’ Book Club. 3 stars
Snowed in for Christmas. 4.5 stars
Flirting with Fifty.   4 stars
All is Bright.  4 stars
A Brighter Flame. 3 stars
The Italian Daughter 4 stars
Grace Under Fire. 4 stars
Murder on the Poet’s Walk. 4 stars
LowCountry Boil.  4 stars
The Bodyguard 4.5 stars
State of the Union 4 stars
Becoming Beth. Meredith Appleyard. 3.5 stars.

New to me authors:

Gretchen Anthony
Susan M Boyer*
Julia Whelan*

*Would read again

Top Print Book for September

Top Audio Book for September

Top Kindle Book for September

Looking forward to reading in  October

It’s going to be just about all review books. My finger was trigger happy at NetGalley!  There is nothing that stands out, but they all looked good enough for my my finger to go “Read it!”

Review of Reading Goals  for September

• read one or two off my shelf.  I did get one print and one Kindle book from my own shelf.
• keep up to date with library books with my turn. Read three from the library.
• Read the review books on my calendar.  Yes – done
• Choose and start my slow and steady read. I chose Emma by Jane Austen and I am happy to say I am more than half way through it.

Main Reading Goals for October

• Read the review books I have on my calendar
• Continue with my slow and steady read – Emma
• Maybe sneak in one off my shelf or a library book if necessary.

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

Snowed in for Christmas. Sarah Morgan

Published: HQN
Date:  20th September 2022
Source:  Publicist via NetGalley

A family gathering
This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal—to avoid their well-meaning family’s endless stream of prying questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest
Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone and the prospect of losing her job. Unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller, the season promises to be anything but festive. She’ll just deliver her proposal to his family home and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller family’s perfect Christmas.

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan may just turn out to be my very favorite Christmas story of 2022.

It just had such a warm, cosy, family feel to it. I felt like I was there in Scotland, with snow and wonderful smells and the chaos of family interactions.

There is a cast of characters. So we have Lucy (the outsider) and  Ross, Alice and Clemmie the three adult children returning home for Christmas. At home there is Glenda the mother and Douglas the dad and the best nana ever. Nana Jean.

Firstly Nanna Jean just made me laugh so many times and her little interlude with a computer had me smiling more than once. Glenda is the heart of the home and is anxious that her children will be happy and that she is has mothered in the right way. Douglas is getting older and with no one in the family to carry on the business – where to next?

There is plenty of drama, finding out mistakes have been made and seeing how things might be set right. There is plenty of emotion and things taking on a life of their own. Of course being snowed in provides the perfect situation for everyone to stay together.

Lucy, the outsider – well if Nana Jean has anything to do with it she won’t be that for long.

I am not going to say more, except if you like a good family snowed in story with romance at Christmas this is definitely for you. It was for me.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Welcome in to another week of reading. I’ve been reading review and library books as both are a little ‘brimming over’ at the moment.  I am occasionally getting outside to walk as the weather improves, some days better than others of course. My viewing is piling up as any time I go that way its mainly to see what is going on in England with the death of the Queen and the new King. They do pomp and ceremony so well.

What I read last week:

Both great reads.

What I am reading now:

Another review book for a blog tour.

Up next:

 

Last Week’s Posts

Dewey Decimated.  Allison Brook

 

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May Reading Round Up

Total books read this month: 11

Book Ratings

You Can’t Hide.  Karen Rose 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Beach House Summer. Sarah Morgan 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Fairy Godmother.  Mercedes Lackey 🌟🌟🌟. 5

A Whisker of Trouble.  Sofie Ryan 🌟🌟🌟. 5

Twilight Shadows.  Emilie Richards 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Librarian.  Salley Vickers 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Mother’s Heart.  Carmel Harrington 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

South of the Buttonwood Tree.  Heather Webber 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Court of Thorns and Roses.  Sarah J Maas 🌟🌟🌟

The Last House on the Street.   Diane Chamberlain 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

New to me authors:

Mercedes Lackey
Salley Vickers
Sarah J Maas

Top Books for May

Looking forward to reading in June

Very likely ones.

Review of Reading Goals for May.

• five books read from my print TBR. – yes
• read more of Pride and Prejudice – not sure I read any
• read a book from library – yes. The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain.

Main Reading Goals for June

• read five more books from my print TBR
• continue to read Pride and Prejudice
• read a library book if one comes in

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

Sarah Morgan. Beach House Summer

Published: Harlequin Books
Date: 17th May 2022
Source: Publicist via NetGalley

When Joanna Whitman’s famous ex-husband dies in a car accident, she doesn’t know what to feel. Their dysfunctional marriage held more painful secrets than she cares to remember. But when she discovers that the young woman with him in the crash is pregnant, Joanna feels compelled to act, knowing exactly how brutal the media spotlight will be on celebrity chef Cliff Whitman’s ex-wife and his mysterious female friend.

Ashley Blake can’t believe it when Joanna shows up in her hospital room and suggests they hide away at her beach house on a sleepy stretch of California coast. Joanna should be hating her, not helping her. But alone and pregnant, Ashley can’t turn down Joanna’s offer. Yet she knows that if Joanna ever found out the real reason Ashley was in that car, their tentative bond would shatter instantly.

Joanna’s only goal for the summer is privacy, but her return causes major waves in the local community, especially for the man she left behind years ago. All Ashley wants is space to plan for her and her baby’s future, and to avoid causing any trouble for Joanna. But as secrets spill out under the hot summer sun, this unlikely friendship is about to be put to the test.

Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan is a delightful summer read. It draws the reader in with a bit of a small mystery at the beginning about Ashley and Cliff. 

Joanna begins out as a person in hiding – mostly from the press. She has had a few bad experiences in her earlier life and that plus the present pressure of the press hounding her has made her want to curl up into herself. But… her personal assistant and later Ashley have things to say about that.

Ashley is pregnant and alone, or so she thinks. She has fled from an unsure situation into the fire. When Joanna takes an interest in her, things look up for her. Together both of them support each other and help build each other up into stronger women.

This is a story about small community, second chances, growing up, friendship, sibling relationship, parenting and of course some romance. The characters had me on their side and I loved the setting of the house, and the way things all get sorted out, mainly by talking things out and finding what is important in each person’s heart.

Author Bio:

Sarah Morgan is a USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She has sold more than 21 million copies of her books and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives with her family near London, England, where the rain frequently keeps her trapped in her office. Visit her at http://www.sarahmorgan.com

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @SarahMorgan_
Facebook: Sarah Morgan
Instagram: @sarahmorganwrites
Goodreads

Buy Links: 
BookShop.org
Harlequin 
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Books-A-Million
Powell’s 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Welcome in all. Hope the week is starting well for you all.

Saturday for me was spent helping to dig out the veggie garden as roots from other things had grown up in it. All the soil was dug out ( no not me) and then we sifted it through some netting and put weed mat down and put the soil back. Hopefully it won’t compact like it did before. It’s a raised veggie bed. Now to grow veggies again. We had done half about a month ago and already I have some greens growing well. Helps with the growing price of vegetables at the supermarket.

Sunday I was a bit out to it, couldn’t even read I was so tired, so a few doses of Bridgerton and a Dancing with the Stars helped.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

And still listening to The Fairy Godmother.

Up next:

 

Last Week’s Posts

Emilie Richards and Twilight Shadows

2022 Books I want to Read

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Christmas Reading Plans

These are the Christmas books I have on my shelf and I hope to read some of them at least during December. I have most likely mentioned them in other posts, but now they are grouped as “Christmas”.   Book covers are linked to Goodreads in case you want to check them out.

Christmas in Peachtree Bluff is one. It is #4 in the series. Usually I listen to this series, but as this was a Christmas one and I seem to be getting behind in my listening I opted for the book.

The holiday season, three generations of women from the same family and a hurricane threatening.

I love the cover on The Christmas Escape.  Two friends, a marriage in crisis and set in Lapland over Christmas. Does sound promising.

And another that I would usually choose to listen to. However I decided this time I would buy The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan.

Set in Edinburgh and in an old dark bookshop. A woman who needs to sort out her life, and heal the rift with her family. And a bookshop that needs to be given new life.

An old house, an old Santa suit and in that suit a letter with a Christmas wish. Ivy sets out to find out about the writer and family. And no doubt discovers something that will make her happy.  The Santa Suit.

I don’t have The Christmas Wedding Guest. But it went on my list after reading a lovely review for it over on Nise’s blog.  Another family themed book. Two sisters and their parents. The parents want to renew their wedding vows at Christmas. The sisters of course help make this happen. And while doing so, perhaps they will find love of their own.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate that this week. Hope as many of you as possible are able to share that with your families this year.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

By Irish author and set in Ireland.

And still enjoying listening to The Legacy by Nora Roberts.

Up next:

 

Last Week’s Posts

Non Fiction Books I am Reading.

Call of the Penguins. Hazel Prior

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Plans for Kindle Books in November

November is going to be a month when I catch up on a few of my books lurking on my Kindle. A mix of review books and ones I’ve bought.  These are the ones I’ll put first from my own books on Kindle. I prefer reading an actual paperback or hardback, but sometimes Kindle is the way to go and I am very thankful for it. But as Katherine from I Wish I Lived in a Library commented books on our Kindles do tend to fall into black holes. So I am delving in a little to the black hole this month.

A while back I decided I wanted to go back and read a good swag of Lucilla Andrews books – a British author who was a nurse in WW2.  I am wanting to read them in the order she wrote them and I think this is about #3. I’ve read a couple that come before. They aren’t related but I just want to see how her writing develops.  They were once hard to get hold of, but now they have been republished for Kindle so that has made them available.

This one is about dangerous drugs going missing.

I always enjoy a Sarah Morgan book but when I buy it doesn’t mean I’ll read it so I am happy to single out this one for this November.

A light contemporary romance is usually very readable.

And Meg and Jo is another one I was keen to read but it got lost on my Kindle. Unseen is often forgotten.

A modern telling of the March Sisters from Little Women so I think I will certainly enjoy it.

A couple of readers I follow recommended Aunt Ivy’s Cottage and well… it only appeared on my Kindle today when I noticed the price was reduced.  In the spirit of not letting in sink into the Kindle black hole, I intend to read it this month! So there is a cottage and a trunk and a diary in the mix and secrets into the light no doubt.

The cover looks cute but evidently this is a tough family story with alcohol involved. It is Sonja Yoerg’s debut novel and has been sitting on my Kindle for a few years now. So time to try it out.

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