Best Love Stories

These are some of my favorite love stories. They made me cry, smile and fall in love. I know not every love story is going to be easy but that means they tend to be emotional and those are the kinds I enjoy best. In fact, I like for a love story to take work and go through good and bad times. I picked the ones that stayed with me long after.

The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred All I can say is keep plenty of tissues handy! It's a second chance story and these two are so tormented and desperately in need of a happily ever after.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers I don't read a lot of Christian fiction but this is one of those stories I wish everyone could read. It is dark at times and heart-wrenching. The hero is so patient and shows her what love is and how it can heal.

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) by J.R. Ward It's book three of the vampire series so it's probably best if you read them in order. I cried reading this. Zsadist is probably one of the most tortured alpha hero I've ever encountered.

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons It's a forbidden love story and the couple's journey towards love is a long but unforgettable one. You'll have to read the sequel to find a happy ending though.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas One of my favorite romance by her. The woman faced domestic violence in a former relationship and the hero teaches her to love again. I love Hardy! He first makes an appearance in Sugar Daddy (the book before this one), although he's not a hero but it gives us a look into his life growing up.

  Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson Sometimes sad but mostly sweet. Alex is a wonderful hero and I love seeing him and Annie fall in love in a simple and touching way.

Paradise by Judith McNaught You can't really go wrong with a book by her and she writes some of the best second chance romances. Paradise is one of them.

Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips If you want a great romance with some humor then definitely try her books. Her characters are so much fun!

Best Books to read in the Winter

When the snow is falling, when it's cold, all I want to do is stay indoors, keep cozy and read a good book. I've read and enjoyed all these books. I would enjoy them all year round, but because they are set during the Winter season it's that much better. Are there good winter reads that you recommend?

          The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

Series: Twilight, Texas #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance

On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny."

The townsfolk of Twilight, Texas, believe the legend, but not Sarah Collier--not since she was a pudgy teenager, running down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. She may be grown-up, slimmed-down, bestselling children's book author "Sadie Cool"now, but Sarah will never forget that day. And she'll never fall foolishly in love again!

But when a letter from a sick fan brings Sarah back to Twilight, she's shocked to discover that Travis is the little girl's father--unattached and hotter than ever. His smile still makes her melt, but Sarah knows that ship has sailed. Travis, however, might have different ideas.

This story truly brought home the message of the miracles of the season. I was rooting for Sarah and Travis from the sweet. I couldn't resist the sweet girl who needs her own personal miracle. Very sweet and it left me with a good feeling.

Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Lakeshore Chronicles #4

Can a single moment change your entire life?

International lawyer Sophie Bellamy has dedicated her life to helping people in war-torn countries. But when she survives a hostage situation, she remembers what matters most—the children she loves back home. Haunted by regrets, she returns to the idyllic Catskills village of Avalon on the shores of Willow Lake, determined to repair the bonds with her family.

There Sophie discovers the surprising rewards of small-town life—including an unexpected passion for Noah Shepherd, the local veterinarian. Noah has a healing touch for anything with four legs, but he's never had any luck with women—until Sophie.

Snowfall at Willow Lake speaks from the heart about all the loves that fill a woman's life, and all the ways that love is tested and made to grow. It's the story of what comes after a woman survives an unspeakable horror and finds her way home, to healing and redemption and a new chance at happiness.

I love this series, and this book is one of my favorite of it. It can be read standalone. Features a handsome and vet, who I believe is younger then the heroine. Sophie has a dark past and definitely needs a change of pace, which small-town living brings. I could tell right away that Noah was just what she needed.

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

          Genre: Fiction
   

In 2011, Sarah Jio burst onto the fiction scene with two sensational novels--The Violets of March and The Bungalow. With Blackberry Winter--taking its title from a late-season, cold-weather phenomenon--Jio continues her rich exploration of the ways personal connections can transcend the boundaries of time.

Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, goodnight and departs to work the night-shift at a local hotel. She emerges to discover that a May-Day snow has blanketed the city, and that her son has vanished. Outside, she finds his beloved teddy bear lying face-down on an icy street, the snow covering up any trace of his tracks, or the perpetrator's.

Seattle, 2010. Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge, assigned to cover the May 1 "blackberry winter" storm and its twin, learns of the unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth. In the process, she finds that she and Vera may be linked in unexpected ways...

There are two storylines, one of Vera from the 1930s and of Claire from the present. The mystery was very intriguing. I felt so much for Vera and Claire. It's interesting the similarities between their lives. Claire finds there is so much more to Vera's story and discover it's closer to her life than she imagined.

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Wallflower #3

A devil's bargain

Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian's reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden's good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

 But Evie's proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine's callously discarded broken hearts -- which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions...or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love. 

One of my favorite of the Wallflower series! You have to meet this family. They're each a bit eccentric but with a lot of love to give. The unlikely hero, previously a villain in another book definitely needs some of that love. Two opposites attract in a wonderful way.

If You Like Kristen Ashley, then try...

Own the Wind is here! The first in the Chaos series by Kristen Ashley.

 I love discovering new authors and earlier this year I came across Kristen Ashley's books. I found out about her books because they kept popping up as recommendations based on books I've read and enjoyed or added to my wishlist. Her covers were okay, not the best but I've seen worse. I try not to judge a book by the cover but when there are so many books out there, I can't help but do. Also, at that time I didn't read a lot of self-published books. I figured I might as well see what the buzz was all about. So, I caved in and read her books and I was HOOKED! She rocked my world and aptly has a series called the Rock Chicks. The first thing I noticed when opening up her book was that they were long, around 7,000 and higher in terms of Kindle locations. The ones I've read by her are about 7,000-11,000. I enjoy long books so I didn't mind. If a story is good I definitely don't want it to end too soon! It was different and unique and fun. It's hard to explain but when you read her books you'll see what I mean about her voice. It's not easy to find a book like hers or at least told in a way like hers.

I haven't read all of Kristen Ashley's books yet but the ones I have I loved. Her heroes are alphas. They are demanding, bossy, aggressive and protective! If you're looking for an over the top alpha then I recommend reading her books. A couple of my favorites are For You and Sweet Dreams.

Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town.

Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together.

Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe.

As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together.

Kristen has several titles releasing later this year including Raid, Own the Wind, Fire Inside and Jagged but while you're waiting check out these books...

Earlier I mentioned that it was hard to find a book that was told in a similar way to Kristen Ashley. Well recently I read a book called Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan and it reminded me of her books. Not the exact same but if you enjoy Kristen Ashley's books I recommend you try this book. It is very dark and not what you'd expect a romance to be. That's because it's not a romance for me but a story with romance in it. There are disturbing scenes and the male protagonist is far from perfect. The voice is also unique. It was a nice change for me and I'm glad I discovered it. It sort of reminds me of Creed by Kristen Ashley. Creed is part of the Unfinished Heroes series which is erotic romance and darker than her other series.

Warning: This is not a typical love story. This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.

Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.
This is Eva and Deuce’s story.

It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything.

I recently read Beautifully Damaged by L.A. Fiore and while I wouldn't say it has a voice like Ashley's, there was something about it that reminds me of her. Its a good story and if you like heroes who are very flawed and damaged then you have to meet this hero. There's a suspense in it too so it's not just a contemporary romance. 

 Ember Walsh was always the quiet one, enjoying a book and a glass of wine over the noise and crowds of a club. When her best friend asks her to come out on the town and meet the guy she likes, Ember's world is turned upside down. He appears like a mythical, avenging angel: inked, gorgeous and completely out of her league. After one look, Ember no longer wants the quiet; she wants him.

Trace Montgomery has buried his damaged past with the help of women and fighting until one day he suddenly meets an angel and wants more; he wants her. To have her, he's determined to overcome his demons but will the dark secret that links their pasts bring them closer or will it tear them apart?

If you like alpha males bikers, check out Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde. For me this also had a Kristen Ashley vibe to it. It features an alpha who's strong, scary but also head over heels over the heroine. There are points of views from both the hero and heroine. Marie is likeable because she's not afraid to say what's on her mind and face Horse.