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
I am reading Lisa Jewel’s upcoming release and it’s a page turner. If you’ve not read I Found You, I recommend it highly!
I haven’t yet – but I remember you and DFG telling me I need to. Added to the list!
I LOVE Lily Morton’s queer Mixed Messages series – and the second book, Deal Maker, is hilarious and sexy and wonderful and I just love it so much. I think Summer of Us – which isn’t officially part of the series, is similarly good & I would start there.
I wish I couldn’t convince you to rethink your no PNR stance and try steampunk! Meljean Brooks, Bec McMaster, and Kristen Callihan are absolutely killing it in this space & I love their books so much. The romance + history + steampunk elements are extremely original and wholly entertaining. AND THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS WAITING FOR YOU.
But you did say no…so. Re: sports contemp – I’m assuming you’ve read Penny’s other series featuring rugby? And you’ve read the Callihan’s & Kennedy series? They’re also pretty great. Although I’m partial to Kennedy’s collaborations with Sarina Bowen best.
Under the radar writers (who no longer publish historical romance) that I love include Anne Mallory and Liz Carlyle. LOVE THEM BOTH a lot. Lots and lots of pleasurable reading to look forward to.
Steampunk and SFF all make me feel really dumb. I often can’t follow the world-building. However, you know the stuff I like… pick one and I’ll give it a shot again for you 🙂
And yes – I have inhaled Penny’s rugby books. The 4th was the weakest, I just read that on this last trip.
Since folks have recommended KJ Charles, might I suggest you start with Think of England? It ticks some of your boxes (country house party and historical, specifically), and is loads of fun..
Most of my fiction reads this year have been paranormals (just realized this yesterday, actually) so I’ll have to dig a little deeper into the past to think of other recommendations. 🙂
You can absolutely suggest that! I will make sure it’s the one I start with. Thanks, Robin!
Sounds like you might be open to historical mastery with some romance, so I’d suggest THE ANATOMIST’S WIFE by Anna Lee Huber, first in the Lady Darby series and set at a house party in 1830s Scotland (currently $2.99 on Kindle).
Also new contemporary by Suzanne Enoch BAREFOOT IN THE DARK, also a castle in Scotland, but present day. This is the most recent in the Sam and Rick series, but can be read as a standalone I think. This one is a caper/treasure hunt and where Sam gets to meet Rick’s family (so a bit of a house party feel). First in the series is very good if you want to start there, FLIRTING WITH DANGER.
A lot of Jayne Ann Krantz’s earlier standalone romantic suspense novels are great: GRAND PASSION or SILVER LININGS might work.
And just for pure wealthy family decadence I recommend CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwang.
YES to Kwan’s books! We’re actually heading to Shanghai for a part of this trip, so those were prep reads earlier this summer. SO MUCH FUN. Have you seen the film?
I’m going to recommend some older books that I consider comfort reads.
With regard to dogs in romance, I do occasionally stumble upon an author who shows a particular affinity for dogs. On that front, I recommend Nadia Nichols. Sharing Spaces and A Full House both spring to mind.
For an historical with a setting in the English countryside, I recommend Fiona Hill’s A Country Gentleman. I adored the hero in it. The heroine takes a little while to warm up to, but that’s part of her journey and the slow burn as she gradually learns to appreciate the hero. I also love Sheila Simonson’s Lady Elizabeth’s Comet. Mary Stewart’s cottage romances are good, quick comfort reads,. I especially like the The Rose Cottage.
I haven’t heard of any of those, so thank you!
I really like audiobooks on long plane trips and they don’t suck up the battery on my Kindle which is great. Nora Roberts Chesapeake Bay Saga is very good in print and audio. Her Born in Fire and Key trilogies are also good. I really like Georgette Heyer so any time I travel I load a few on my KIndle along with some Mary Balogh. Have fun!
Mel, I love audiobooks, but I still need something to do with my hands while I’m listening! When I’m home, I color, but on the flight, I may just download some stupid games for my iPad. Great shout on the audio!
I don’t know if you’ve read any Laura Florand (maybe you’ve read them all, maybe none) – but The Chocolate Kiss and the Chocolate Touch are my favorites.
Have not, but they went on my list after the reader poll, so I’ll bump them up!
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.
Geissinger’s books are working for me now too. What do you think Mariana Zapata? Not too long ago I read Wall of Winnipeg. I’m definitely in a contemp mood these days even though I usually read historicals. Next up: Act Like It by Lucy Parker, and the new Geissinger and Thorne books when they come out. Anyone know when the next Julie James will be out?
I am in the percentage of people who can’t with Zapata’s pacing. I felt like I aged during Kulti.
But I have Clayborn’s two on the Kindle already, I adore Parker, and that Slow Burn series is one that Em’s review made me pay attention to. Great shouts, guys!
I actually don’t mind the leisurely pace of Zapata but knowing that many readers find her slow helped prepare me to settle in and wait for it. The pay off in The Wall of Winnipeg was ultimately worth it, I thought. Kulti is coming up soon for me this month and so I’ll have to see if it holds true again. I kind of approach the slower paced books with authors like Zapata and even Susanna Kearsley with the knowledge that these books take their time and to enjoy the journey. I wouldn’t want them as my sole diet though.
Parker’s Act Like It was so fun and romantic, but I absolutely adored Pretty Face, the second book in her series. It was definitely one of my very favorite books from 2017. And I love new author Kate Clayborn.
I’m more of a historical reader too but over the past couple of years, I’m surprisingly finding contemporary romances more appealing.
Thanks. I’ll check out Pretty Face and Kate Clayborn books.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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…
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.
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
Excellent recommendation! She’s incredible.
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!
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
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.
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.