Check Me Out ;) LOVE AT FIRST SPITE By Anna E. Collins REMINDERS OF HIM By Colleen Hoover
REGENCY BUCK By Georgette Heyer
WORDS Winter Haven Public Library 325 Avenue A NW (863) 291-5880 mywinterhaven.com/library
UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS By T.I. Lowe
If you are a fan of deeply emotional romances, this book is for you; however, I recommend reading it with tissues handy. Kenna Rowan is a young mother who has been serving time in prison after a tragic mistake. Kenna moves back to try and reconnect with her daughter but finds no one willing to let her back in. Until Ledger Ward - a man tied to both Kenna’s past and future - risks everything to give Kenna a second chance.
This one’s for those who can’t get enough of rom-coms, it is breezy and easy to read. Interior designer Dani decides to build a “spite house” right next door to her cheating ex - a house designed to mess with his view and peace of mind. Cue the grumpy but loveable architect who is clueless about Dani’s true motives. “Love at First Spite” features an array of likable characters, some steamy romance, and more than a few laughs. As a bonus, in the author’s note, I learned that spite houses are actually a thing weird but true.
If you are a fan of Bridgerton, this book started the regency romance craze - way back in 1935. “Regency Buck” is a classic to read (and reread) featuring a comedy of manners, understated romance, and just a slight hint of mystery. Heyer’s writing is a delight with witty dialogue and lighthearted banter. And her detailed descriptions of the clothing and manners of the Regency period will satisfy any fan of Jane Austen.
Austin Foster was forced to grow up too fast. At 13, she became a mother to her six siblings while dealing with her mother’s death and her father’s mental illness. “Under the Magnolias” is both a heartbreaking and uplifting story. The story is a testament to the power of community, faith, and family. Inspirational romance at its best, where complex characters deal with heartbreaking realities and come out better on the other side.
ELECTRIC IDOL By Katee Robert
THE WINTER SEA By Susanna Kearsley
DANGER IN NUMBERS By Heather Graham
LOVE & OTHER DISASTERS By Anita Kelly
“Electric Idol” is the book for you if you like your romance with a little (ok, a lot) of heat. A modern retelling of the Greek myth Psyche and Eros. Psyche is a social media influencer playing power games in the city of Olympus, and Eros is a fixer for his mom, Aphrodite, and has been tasked with making Psyche “disappear.” A sham marriage is devised, but what follows is a steamy match made in Olympus. What sets this book apart is the well-developed, complex characters and the fast-paced action. It is a fun and sexy read.
Historical romance has been a favorite of mine since I was a teen and “The Winter Sea” is that genre at its best. The novel features a double romance as the story is told in two parallel narratives - one involving a modernday author researching her newest novel and the other featuring her own relative whose story is told in the book within the book. This novel is romantic, through and through, but also contains a well-researched and fascinating history lesson on the Jacobite uprising of 1708. Kearsley is so apt in her descriptions that I immediately wanted to travel to Scotland to see Slains Castle in person.
“Danger in Numbers” is for those who like a gritty crime mixed with romance. Set deep in the Everglades, police officer Amy Larson joins forces with FBI agent Hunter Forrest to solve a series of ritualistic deaths with cult-like overtones. The idea of a creepy, smalltown cult is fascinating, and the twists and turns are balanced with the perfect amount of sultry on the side.
A queer love story set in the world of reality cooking shows, “Love & Other Disasters” centers on Dahlia, recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy. She is ready to reinvent herself on the popular show Chef’s Special, where she is laser-focused on winning until she meets someone who may be more important than the prize money. Food, competition, and romantic chemistry collide in this fun, feel-good romance.
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