Author: Amanda

Amanda https://romancereviewedcom.wordpress.com
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New Year, New Books

Happy New Year! Here are a whole bunch of books I’m eagerly anticipating in 2024. These are mostly romance (of course) with a couple thrillers written by romance authors. 

Do you set reading goals? I don’t set solid ones because this is my hobby and if I feel like I’m falling behind on a goal I will STRESS so I hope to keep reading as much as I can while enjoying what I read. I did a terrible job reading diversely in 2023 so I absolutely need to step up my game in 2024. So that’s it.

Read. read diversely, and have fun doing it.

(release dates are subject to change, these are the dates Amazon US had as of December 24th)

JANUARY: 

  • Jan 5 -Shots and Barbs – Lily Mayne
  • Jan 8 – One Night – Lena Hendrix 
  • Jan 18 – I Wish You Were Mine – Jessica Peterson 
  • Jan 18 – Loving Romeo – Laura Pavlov 
  • Jan 18 – Time for Us – LM O’Halloran 
  • Jan 18 – Tanner – Katy Regnery 
  • Jan 24 – Head Over Heels – Karla Sorensen 
  • Jan 30 – Wild For You – Kristen Proby

FEBRUARY

  • Feb 1  – Through the Glen – Samantha Young
  • Feb 6 – The Accidental Crush – Mia Heintzelman
  • Feb 8  – Ashes Of You – Catherine Cowles
  • Feb 13 – Meegan – Rebekah Weatherspoon
  • Feb 13 – Fangirl Down – Tessa Bailey
  • Feb 13 – Ready or Not – Cara Bastone
  • Feb 13 – How You Get The Girl – Anita Kelly
  • Feb 13 – Fish Out of Water – Katie Ruggle

MARCH:

  • March 4 – Small Town Swoon – Melanie Harlow
  • March 5 – Swift and Saddled – Lyla Sage
  • March 5 – This Could Be Us – Kennedy Ryan
  • March 7 – Blitz – Devney Perry
  • March 26 – The Boyfriend Subscription – Steven Salvatore
  • March 26 – The Trail of Lost Hearts – Tracey Garvis Graves
  • March 26 – The Other Side of Disappearing – Kate Clayborn
  • March 28 – Wild River – Laura Pavlov

APRIL

  • April 2 – Just For the Summer – Abby Jimenez
  • April 2 – Here We Go Again – Alison Cochrun
  • April 9 – Only and Forever – Chloe Liese
  • April 9 – Wild Love – Elsie Silver
  • April 9 – The Kiss Countdown – Etta Easton
  • April 16 – Late Bloomer – Mazey Eddings
  • April 23 – Funny Story – Emily Henry
  • April 30 – The Feud – Sawyer Bennett

MAY:

  • May 1 – Their Last Resort – RS Grey
  • May 7 – The Five Year Lie – Sarina Bowen 
  • May 9 – Skies Over Caledonia – Samantha Young
  • May 14 – The Paradise Problem – Christina Lauren
  • May 21 – Savor It – Tarah Dewitt 
  • May 21- The 7-10 Split – Karmen Lee
  • May 28 – The Unravelling – Vi Keeland 

Summer: 

  • June 4th – Crossroads – Devney Perry 
  • June 4 – Napkins and Other Distractions – MA Wardell
  • June 24 – Leather & Lark – Brynne Weaver 
  • June 25 – Tangled Up In You – Christine Lauren
  • July 2 – The DM Diaries – Teagan Hunter 
  • July 9 – The Game Changer – Lana Ferguson
  • July 16 – The Best of All – Karla Sorensen 
  • July 16 – Not Another Love Song – Julie Soto 
  • July 16 – The Ex Vow – Jessica Joyce
  • July 16 – Catch The Sun – Jennifer Hartmann
  • July 23 –  All Folked Up – Penny Reid
  • August 6 – The Truth According to Ember – Danica Nava

Beyond: 

  • 9/3 – A Dawn of Gods and Fury – KA Tucker 
  • TBD – Lyri – Lily Mayne 
  • TBD – Haven Brothers Book Two – Claire Kingsley

Grumpy Santa

Grumpy Santa is out today! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This was a quick and sweet but spicy romance filled with all the tropey goodness you’d expect from Kat Baxter. In this we get a surprise pregnancy, boss/employee, grumpy sunshine, small town romance.

There are lots of connections and cameos from previous stories from the author, which is good because I had to rely on that previous knowledge to really get the feelings between Audrey and Jared. All these books are quick and insta-love but because of the way this story is presented (present, past, present) it feels extra quick with not a lot of time building the romance.

Overall though a quick and fun read!

BLURB

Audrey

I’ve been in love with big, brooding Jared Sawyer ever since he hired me to work in his hardware store. He scowls a lot and growls more than he talks, but there’s something about him that makes me feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. After one explosive night in his arms, I’m even more certain we belong together. But then he never mentions the way he kissed and held me, or the naughty things he whispered in my ear.

How is it possible that what felt like forever was just a one and done?

Just when I’m sure that the only consequences of our night together are awkward silences at work, I find out Jared left me with more than a broken heart.


GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200271720-grumpy-santa


PURCHASE LINKS 

US: https://amzn.to/3tb25Re
UK: https://amzn.to/3RuKrkV
CA: https://amzn.to/3GvJqCN
AU: https://amzn.to/3sV7D2s

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Romance Novellas

Novellas are great for a lot of reasons. 

I love to squeeze them in between longer reads as a break, they’re perfect if you’re trying to reach a reading goal, they work wonders if your attention span isn’t great (especially during busy times such as the holiday season).

For whatever reason you have for reading them, here are quite a few options. Some I’ve read, some were recommended to me by others.

Contemporary

  • Denise Williams – Love and Other Flight Delays (3 novellas bound into one)
  • Rachel Lacey – Out of the Blue 
  • Suleikha Snyder – Tikka Chance on Me 
  • Devney Perry – Timeless 
  • Rilzy Adams – Treble 
  • Evie Mitchell – Knot My Type
  • Tessa Bailey – The Sweetest Fix 
  • Chelle Sloan – Thirst Trap 
  • Jenny Bunting – Safe With You
  • Penny Reid – Live and Let Grow

Historical

  • Erin Langston – A Day Until Forever 
  • Beverly Jenkins – A Prisoner of love 
  • Alyssa Cole – Let It Shine 
  • Courtney Milan – A Governess Affair
  • Mimi Matthews – A Holiday by Gaslight  
  • Erin Langston – Some Winter’s Evening
  • Felicity Niven – Duke the Halls 
  • Nicola Davidson- Her Virgin Duke 
  • Tessa Dare – When She Was Naughty 
  • Megan Frampton – The Earl’s Christmas Pearl

Audible Originals

  • Rebekah  Weatherspoon – A Walk In The Park 
  • Cara Bastone – Sweet Talk 
  • Kennedy Ryan – Coming Home
  • A Thief in the Night- KJ Charles
  • Michelle Stimson – Let It Snow 
  • Codi Hall – Along Came Holly
  • Karen Schaler – Once Upon a Christmas Carol 
  • Mahi Cheshire – Whisked Away At Christmas

Monster Romance

  • Lucy Eden – Bear with Me
  • Monster Pucker – Clio Evans & Ashley Bennett
  • Honey Phillips – Her Alien Farmhand
  • Ruby Dixon – Ice Planet Barbarians

Series Starters

  • Claire Kingsley – Protecting You
  • Max Monroe – Gotta Have Fate
  • Elsie Silver – Out of the gate
  • Devney Perry – Christmas in Quincy

Christmas I’ve read and recommend:

  • Talia Hibbert – Merry Inkmas
  • Devney Perry – Holiday Brothers (3 novellas) 
  • Lucy Score – One Night Only
  • Chloe Liese – Mistletoe Motive 
  • Melanie Harlow – Baby it’s cold outside
  • J Saman – Just One Kiss 
  • JR Jenner – One Week With You 
  • Talia Hibbert – Wrapped Up In You
  • Katie Reus- How the Hitman Stole Christmas
  • Melissa Ivers – Mistletoe and Mischief

Christmas recommended to me by others:

  • Hannah Bonam-Young – Set the Record Straight
  • Rilzy Adams – Spiked Hot Chocolate
  • Kate Clayborn – Missing Christmas 
  • Wren K Morris – From Cocktails to Sleigh Bells 
  • Rachel Holm – Carry Me Through Christmas
  • Carrie Aarons – A Wonderful Lie 
  • Stacey Kennedy Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
  • Oona Grace- Santa’s Broken Toy
  • Dirty Santa – Daphne Loveling 
  • The Christmas Blanket – Kandi Steiner 
  • Exes and Ho Ho Hos – Pippa Grant 
  • Gingerbread Kisses – Lucy Eden

2023 releases on my TBR:

  • Ilsa Madden Mills – Christmas Cupid
  • Victoria Wilder – December Midnights
  • Jessica Joyce – A Risk Worth Taking
  • Ann Einerson – If You Give A Grump A Holiday Wishlist
  • Echo Grayce – Provoking Saint Nick
  • Maren Moore – A Festive Feud
  • Nellie Wilson – Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance
  • Adriana Herrera – Run Darling

Extra Spicy

  • Naima Simone – Only For A Night
  • Katee Robert  – Your Dad Will Do
  • Molly Doyle – Scream for Us
  • Briana Michaels – Glitch
  • Eve Dangerfield – Dysfunctional
  • Kayla Grosse – Trick Shot 
  • Eliza McClane – Santa Baby
  • Katee Robert – Gifting Me to His Best Friend

Kissing Only

  • Jenny Proctor – The Christmas Letters
  • Summer Dowell – The Elle Project
  • Cindy Steel – A Christmas Spark
  • Hailey Gardner – The Holiduel

New Years

  • Tessa Bailey – Same time next year 
  • Kathryn Nolan- Keep You Both 
  • MJ Duncan – Champagne Kisses 
  • G Marie – Snowed in Fling 
  • Erin McClellan – Party Favors 
  • Sara Ney – New Years Steve 
  • Alexandria House A New Year New Boo? 
  • JL Sterling – Kissing My Coworker

Bonus – Even More

Authors who have a lot of novellas:

  • Kat Baxter (insta-love)
  • Cassie Mint (insta-love)
  • TS Joyce (shifters)
  • Honey Phillips (aliens/monsters)

Novella Series

  • ST Abby – Mind*ck
  • Adriana Herrera – Toy Runners (3 books)
  • Aurora Rose Reynolds – Adventures in Love (3 books)
  • Evie Mitchell – Capricorn Cove (10 books)
  • Annabeth Albert – Portland Heat (6 books)
  • Jackie Lau – Holidays with the Wongs (4 books)
  • Ruby Dixon – Risdaverse (11 books, I think two are not novellas)
  • Multi authored – Bold Brew (10 books)
  • Jillian Dodd – Kitty Valentine (9 books)
  • Brook Blaine – The Elite (3 books)
  • Kendall Ryan – Hitched (3 books)

Not technically novella but short and very bingeable:

  • KA Tucker – The Wolf Hotel (5 books)
  • KA Tucker – Empire Night Club (4 books)
  • Ruby Dixon – Ice Planet Barbarians, Ice Home
  • Amber Kelly – Poplar Falls (6 books)
  • Rebekah Weatherspoon – Loose Ends (2 books)
  • Devney Perry – Runaway (5 books)

Among the Heather

Among the Heather is out now! I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love returning to Ardnoch! This world the author has built is my favorite – so cozy, so beautiful, so atmospheric. Among the Heather is book two in The Highlands series, which is a spin off of the Adair Family series.

In this we have characters we’ve met in the previous books – Aria, who is managing Ardnoch for Lachlan, and North, an up and coming hollywood star who’s laying low at Ardnoch after a scandal breaks about his past. The two are immediately attracted to each other but Aria, whose father is an extremely famous movie director, is distrustful of actors after being used by so many of them to try to get to her father. But, throw in a bit of forced proximity, a meddling sister, and intense chemistry and the two start a “no strings” affair … but will it turn into more? 

I loved both characters – Aria is so prickly but in an understandable way given her past. I loved her journey to self acceptance and her relationship with her family. I always love when we get a curvy heroine! North is just a superstar book boyfriend – so supportive, so loving, so open and willing to communicate his feelings. He definitely falls first and he made me cry at one point and I’m not usually a crier so that shows how much I love him.

There’s also a good bit of steam, some suspense, a gorgeous setting, and great secondary characters. I love this book, this series, this world, and this author. Definitely recommend!

Make Believe Match

This was such an enjoyable marriage of convenience romance! 

It’s a one night stand turned more when Lexi discovers the man she had a wild night with turns out to be none other than the man trying to buy out her family’s ski resort. She’s convinced he seduced her on purpose, but things take a turn when he offers to marry her so she can inherit the resort and he can get payback to his former employer. 

It has everything I love about marriage of convenience – the forced proximity, the tension (which these two give in to often), the “wife” nickname. I loved both characters – Devlin is so charming and confident but in a non-toxic way, and Lexi is so spunky and determined to save her family’s resort. The two had such a fun relationship with so much chemistry, and I loved the way Devlin supported her to help make her dream come true.

It’s a Melanie Harlow book so of course it’s very spicy but also funny and full of heart. We get plenty of Buckley family time, and also the fun addition of Winnie from Ignite as Lexi’s friend. This has been my favorite of the series so far and I’m still looking forward to the rest of the Buckley’s stories!

Side note – I have seen some reviews calling it enemies to lovers and I don’t think that’s quite true. She doesn’t like him at the beginning but he always likes her so it’s one-sided at best.

One Chance

Happy Monday! One Chance by Lena Hendrix is out today. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

It was so good to be back in Outtatowner and with the Sullivan family. We’ve seen playboy firefighter Lee and his bestie Annie circle around each other in previous books, and this was their time to shine. I don’t love the friends to lovers trope in general but I have to say – what an excellent friends to lovers romance! 

The two have been friends for a long time, continually insisting they’re just friends to everyone, until the town’s Matchmaker Gala inspires Lee to bid on a series of dates with Annie. It starts off as sort of fake dating but quickly turns to more as Lee tries to prove to Annie it’s been real between them all along.

There were some angstier elements to this one that I wasn’t expecting but loved. The two have a somewhat complicated history and I was curious how that would play out. It’s all mixed in with lots of humor and I love that quirky town and its residents. 

This has quickly become one of my favorite small town series and I’m so looking forward to Duke’s story! And then hopefully the Kings’ stories!

Shadows of You

It’s Roan day! 🧭

Finally we get Roan’s story! I’ve been waiting for this since the beginning of the series and it did not disappoint. We’ve seen Roan as the solitary, sort of outsider of the Hartley family and it was so wonderful to see him find the place where he belongs.

Aspen is in hiding with her daughter due to reasons we find out as the story unfolds, and when danger yet again arrives at her door, Roan is there to protect her even if that means sleeping on her couch and being attacked by her cat. 

I loved watching that grumpy loner fall for both Aspen and Cady. The relationship between Cady and Mr Grizz was just so precious. I also loved watching Roan start to open up to his family after seeing him as such a closed off guy during the series, and I loved how easily and wholly the Hartley’s accepted Aspen and Cady into their fold. 

The suspense will keep you guessing, the romance will have you swooning, and the Hartley antics will have you laughing out loud. An excellent edition to the series!

Obsession Falls

Happy Thursday! Today we are lucky because a new Claire Kingsley book has released. I am doubly lucky because I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This was such a sweet small town romance! It’s got all my favorite things – grumpy/sunshine, characters in their 30s, forced proximity, quirky small town, and a good dose of romantic suspense. 

It’s a slow burn as they move from strangers to friends to lovers and I loved watching how they melted for each other, especially Josiah because what’s better than a stoic man who is perfectly happy on his own falling for a quirky sunshine woman?

Though this is a spin off of the Bailey Brothers (which is a spin off of the Miles family) you could definitely read this one as a standalone. That being said, it sure was wonderful being back in Tilikum with all its weird residents and squirrels. I never thought I’d be rooting for the Havens but I can’t wait for more of these brothers!

I’m Your Guy

Happy Tuesday! I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen released today, I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This is a heartwarming, kick your feet and giggle kind of romance between grumpy very closeted hockey player Tommaso and sunshiney very out interior designer Carter. Tommaso’s mother is visiting for Christmas and he wants his (entirely empty) townhouse to be perfect for her visit so he hires Carter to transform his place.

Carter is having a rough patch both personally and professionally so this opportunity is a lifeline for him, but I love how he still knows his worth in the relationship as they move slowly from client/professional to friends to lovers. 

The two were such opposites, I love how they accepted each other so wholly despite their differences. Tommaso was so stoic & broody, afraid to be his true self due his unsupportive extended family while Carter was so outgoing, confident, and comfortable with himself. 

It just felt so warm and cozy and just filled my heart with joy. I love the whole Cougars team and the flashes of Bruisers we got to see. 

If you’ve read Roommate by the author and loved those vibes you will surely love this one too! But if you haven’t read Sarina Bowen before you could absolutely read this one as a standalone – I don’t ever say that lightly because I hate feeling like I’m missing something but you really could read this by itself. 

The audiobook has me intrigued too, Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan? Okay!

I Wish I Knew Then

Like a cold glass of sweet tea on a warm summer’s day, I Wish I Knew Then is a refreshing and very southern treat.

Riley and Louise had a whirlwind summer relationship when they were 18, only for Riley to unceremoniously dump Lu at the end of summer. It’s ten years later and the two run into each other at their respective best friend’s wedding, and Riley decides not to let Lu get away this time. 

Riley was a man determined, he sacrificed for love once before and wouldn’t make that mistake again. Louise is fresh off a long term relationship and not so sure she’s ready to start something new, especially with the man who broke her heart ten years before. 

It’s a very sexy story, full of exploration and rekindled feelings, but it’s also a warm and cozy story about a small touristy southern town and the wedding the two were brought together for. It’s also brimming with food descriptions that had my mouth watering as is common with any Jessica Peterson. Oh, and butt stuff. 

It’s a fairly low angst story, just a sweet second story with a lot of spice. I enjoyed it a lot!