Hello, dear readers, do you have a minute? I have a question for you.
My husband and I are about to take a vacation that will involve about two days of travel on either end. We will be on planes for fourteen-hour stretches and I am looking to stuff my Kindle to the brim. I read a lot, but I know I barely scratch the surface when it comes to good stories and that is where you come in! I’d like some recommendations of what you think I sho
Here’s my parameters: I’m most partial to contemporary – romance, suspense, or fiction – but historical is my second love. I’m here for anything involving a country house party or a small town where good people are trying to find love and some of them have dogs. I’m trying to get more into romantic suspense, but I will not read paranormal or fantasy. No matter how hard I have tried to get into those, I just can’t.
I love enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, second chances, and when people are really good at their jobs. I loathe anything where rape is passed off as sex, and I’ve got triggers around drug use of any kind. I will read any and all gender and sex combinations, as long as there is a HEA at the end of it all.
My favorite things I’ve read lately are Penny Reid’s Dr. Strange Beard, Tessa Dare’s The Governess Game, Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient, and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
So take it away! I’d love to hear what you think I must read. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for a follow-up blog after my travels of what I loved best!
~ Kristen Donnelly
About the author
Voracious reader, with a preference for sassy romances and happily ever afters. In a relationship with coffee, seeing whiskey on the side.
I don’t know what you have read but some ideas.
Act Like It by Lucy Parker
The To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Trilogy by Jenny Han
Undecided by Julianna Keyes
Eyes of Silver Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell
Men in Kilts by Katie MacAlister
Play by Kylie Scott
Bitter Legacy by Dal McLean
Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Once Upon a Rose by Laura Florand
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Bev, thank you! I’ve loved a lot of those, so I’ll make sure to check out the others.
I’m addicted to kdramas right now. Not books but I think would make a nice flight companion. Just some back up.
You might try the following, which have not been mentioned yet:
Falling for Trouble (2017) – Sarah Title
All In (2014) – Simona Ahrnstedt
The British Knight (2017) – Louise Bay
Not a Mistake (2016) – Amber Belldene
Eversea (2013) – Natasha Boyd
And since this is now a movie being distributed on Netflix (which poor me cannot watch):
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2008) – Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Belledene and Bay are two favorites – so I will definitely look at the other ones you mentioned.
Actually it’s 7 deaths…and I think it might be published in the US as 71/2 deaths…
You know, I’ve never read Christie. This might be a good vacation to start on!
Have a read of the synopsis as it’s your classic AC country house murder setting but with a SF twist and shades of Groundhog Day. It shouldn’t work but does and Is just brilliant
I loved The Ruin aswell so definitely recommend that. Also Lisa Jewell Then she was gone and how about The 7 Lives of Evelyn Hardcaste (Agatha Christie murder mystery with a big twist!)
Enjoy!
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Excellent recommendation! She’s incredible.
Well, if you want to be so engrossed you forget to get off the plane, read The Ruin. It’s a Tana French-esque mystery set in Galway and it is riveting.
done and done. plus a Galway read?! IN.
O.M.G. I can’t forget to mention the Sebastian St. Cyr series. IT’S EXCELLENT…I’m listening my way through the 13 books!!! I’m on book 2, When Gods Die, and I can’t wait to get in my car everyday and listen. Stories/characters (primary & secondary)/settings…I’m enjoying every bit. Davina Porter is the narrator on the audio books and she’s outstanding.
Yes! It’s a wonderful series and just gets better and better.
I haven’t read any of them, so sounds good!
Agreed and seconded (thirded?). They’re very much mysteries with a dash of romance though, just so you know…
Some contemporary series I’ve enjoyed: Julie Kriss’s four-book Bad Billionaires series: Bad Billionaire, Dirty Sweet Wild, Rich Dirty Dangerous, Back in Black. Heroes are working class (they unexpectedly come into some money, but not actually billionaires). Two series by Ainsley Booth: Forbidden Bodyguards (Hate F*@k, Booty Call, Dirty Love) and Billionaire Secrets (Personal Delivery, Personal Escort, Personal Disaster). Bright and sexy fun reads—with an undercurrent of seriousness.
If you don’t mind some violence, Carolyn Crane (aka, Annika Martin) has four books in her Undercover Associates series that I’ve enjoyed. Also, I usually don’t care for motorcycle club romances, but I make an exception for Kati Wilde’s Hell Fire Riders series (I’ll read anything Wilde writes—so so good). There are a lot of books in the series and you could probably read them out of order, but the first three books were available as a bundle for 99-cents in the Kindle store (at least they were earlier this week). Intelligent, thoughtful heroine’s, smoking-hot alpha males with enough self-awareness not to be alpha-holes, page-burning sexy-fun-times, angsty without being melodramatic, and couples who actually talk and listen to each other.
I am usually MC averse, but those sound intriguing enough to give it a go. Thanks!
I can’t remember if you’ve read any of Virginia Heath’s historicals, but if you want shorter reads, all her books for M&B/Harlequin have been Bs and above for me.
If you want something on the spooky side, definitely pick up Laura Purcell’s The Silent Companions (read with the lights on!) I also really enjoyed Simone St. James’ Silence for the Dead and The Other Side of Midnight (wasn’t so into her last couple, but those are great). Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation books are also fab, but it’s an eleven-book series, so might be more than you’re looking for! Oh – and I can’t believe I didn’t mention Joanna Bourne’s Spymasters books – the reading order is slightly different from publication order and they do benefit from being read more or less in order, but they’re wonderful, too, if you haven’t already read them.
I just got a Jo Bourne from the library, so I’ll have that finished before I fly. I’m glad to hear that St. James’ earlier stuff might be better than The Broken Girls, which I did not care for. And I have read a few Virginia Heaths and liked them, so let me see what other ones I can dig up!
And spooky sounds super fun for a plane ride! Let me track it down.
I agree with Wendy about The Billionaire’s Wake-Up-Call Girl. (and Most Eligible Billionaire). I also really enjoyed Julie Anne Long’s 4 book contemporary series, Hellcat Canyon. Also, Robyn Carr’s latest series, Sullivan’s Crossing, is fantastic reading. And finally, Julie James has a FBI/US Attorney series that is great!
Girl, we have the same tastes! Yes to all of those!
The Billionaire’s Wake-Up-Call Girl by Annika Martin was hilarious.
I’ve liked Sarina Bowen’s True North series.
Evanovich’s Fox and O’Hare series is pretty fun, but I’m not sure I could read all 5-ish books in a row.
Emma Barry’s political romances (Special Interests, Private Politics and Party Lines)
Oh I loved The Billionaire’s Wake-Up Call too!
Yes to both the Bowen and the Barry series. Adding the Martin!
These are some possibilities from the last couple years:
Chef Sugarlips; (r) Fenske, Tawna; c; 2018; 3.5
The Varlet and the Voyeur; (r) Cosway, L. H. & Reid, Penny; c; 2018; 3
The Test; (r) Fenske, Tawna; c; 2018; 3
Picture Imperfect; (r) Frame, Mary; c; 2018; 3
A Touch of Flame; (r) Goodman, Jo; h:A; 2018; 3
Promise Not To Tell; (r) Krentz, Jayne Ann; c; 2018; 3
Grumpy Fake Boyfriend; (r) Lau, Jackie; c; 2018; 3
Mr. Hotshot CEO; (r) Lau, Jackie; c; 2018; 3
Wildcat; (r) Monroe, Max; c; 2018; 3
Making Up; (r) Parker, Lucy; c; 2018; 3
Dr. Strange Beard; (r) Reid, Penny; c; 2018; 3
The Daisy Game; (r) Warren, Nancy; c; 2018; 3
The List; (r) Fenske, Tawna; c; 2017; 4
Dirty Dancing at Devil’s Leap; (r) Long, Julie Anne; c; 2017; 4
The Duchess Deal; (r) Dare, Tessa; rh; 2017; 3.5
Pretty Face; (r) Parker, Lucy; c; 2017; 3.5
The Undateable; (r) Title, Sarah; c; 2017; 3.5
Surrender to the Marquess; (r) Allen, Louise; rh; 2017; 3
Bad for Her; (r) Barth, Christi; c; 2017; 3
The Hot One; (r) Blakely, Lauren; c; 2017; 3
This Time Around; (r) Fenske, Tawna; c; 2017; 3
The Hook Up; (r) Fenske, Tawna; c; 2017; 3
A Touch of Frost; (r) Goodman, Jo; h:A; 2017; 3
Miss Fix-It; (r) Hart, Emma; c; 2017; 3
Miss Mechanic; (r) Hart, Emma; c; 2017; 3
Catching Carly; (r) Hart, Emma; c; 2017; 3
The Thing About Love; (r) James, Julie; c; 2017; 3
Most Eligible Bastard; (r) Martin, Annika; c; 2017; 3
Dr. Obscene; (r) Monroe, Max; c; 2017; 3
Dr. Erotic; (r) Monroe, Max; c/er; 2017; 3
The Love Experiment; (r) Paton, Ainslie; c; 2017; 3
The Girl Who Knew Too Much; (r) Quick, Amanda; h:A; 2017; 3
Kissing Tolstoy; (r) Reid, Penny; c; 2017; 3
Remember Me and You; (r) Sey, Susan; c; 2017; 3
Accidentally on Purpose; (r) Shalvis, Jill; c; 2017; 3
Chasing Christmas Eve; (r) Shalvis, Jill; c; 2017; 3
Acting on Impulse; (r) Sosa, Mia; c; 2017; 3
Falling for Trouble; (r) Title, Sarah; c; 2017; 3
Laws of Attraction; (r) Title, Sarah; c; 2017; 3
The Sheriff’s Sweet Surrender; (r) Warren, Nancy; c; 2017; 3
A Talent for Temptation; (ssr) Jeffries, Sabrina; rh; 2017; 3
In Skates Trouble; (ssr) Meader, Kate; c; 2017; 3
If you haven’t already read them long since, any of the short romances by Janet Evanovich and almost any Georgian or Regency-set books by Georgette Heyer.
Mark, THANK YOU! Wow, that’s quite a list!
Contemporary romances that have really worked for me lately include J. T. Geissinger’s Slow Burn series, especially Melt for You. Also, Kate Clayborn’s Chance of a Lifetime series. They’re all really good, and I’m reading the third and final one right now.
Yes to both of these! Currently reading the latest Slow Burn. I didn’t love the first (but I liked it), LOVED the second, and on the fence on this newest one. TBD.