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5 Romance Novels To Cozy Up With

If I must be indoors, I feel like I need to just make the most of it. Have a bit of hygge and lean into the cozy if you will. One of my favorite things is to read books that I just know will make me happy and will make me swoon. FYI, my favorite books for that feeling are Romance novels – regardless of subgenre. Below are five romance novels that I promise you are worth curling up in a big comfy chair with for the long haul.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan
Also by this author: Firelight, Hidden, Reign of Shadows, How the Dukes Stole Christmas
Length: 7 Hours 17 Minutes
Published by HarperCollins on March 12, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780062463678
Goodreads

A daring deception…

Desperate to escape her vile fiancé, Lady Clara devises a bold lie—that she’s pregnant with another man’s child. With her reputation in tatters, Clara flees to Scotland to live out her days in disgrace, resigned to her fate as a spinster…until she claps eyes on the powerful and wickedly handsome Laird Hunt MacLarin.

She’s the answer to his curse…

Laird of an ancient clan, Hunt needs an heir, but he comes from a long line of men cursed to die before the birth of their firstborn. When the Duke of Autenberry approaches him with a proposition—marry my ruined sister—it seems the perfect solution. Even better, the defiant lass stirs him to his very soul.

No escaping the truth...

Except marriage cannot set them free. No matter how much Hunt desires her. No matter how much Clara burns for him. Soon she is falling for her husband, but is love enough to end the curse? Or is the tragic history of the MacLarin Clan doomed to repeat itself?

This Scot Of Mine by Sophie Jordan is the fourth in her Rogue Files series – which I’ve enjoyed reading both print and audiobook depending on my mood. I decided to go for the audiobook as I knew I’d get to it faster, plus I wanted something that would be a light easy listen.

Jordan’s This Scot Of Mine features Clara, who is the daughter of the main character in The Scandal Of It All. So, it is nice to see her get her own story. Anyways, to avoid having to marry a guy who is no good, Clara fakes a pregnancy and runs away to Scotland where she meets Laird Hunt MacLarin. Hunt, FYI, is cursed to die before the birth of his firstborn. He’s made the offer by the Duke of Autenberry to marry Clara because she’s ruined. Hunt thinks that’s the answer to the curse, because the baby isn’t his. Of course, you all know how the trope plays out. For me, it was an enjoyable listen even though I knew the path it would take.

Carmen Rose narrates This Scot Of Mine. It clocks in at 7 hours and 17 minutes. I listened to it a little bit sped up, in basically two days. And yes, I did really like my time listening to this book and would recommend for sure.


I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Also by this author: The Wedding Date, The Proposal, Royal Holiday
Narrator: Janina Edwards
Length: 9 Hours 15 Minutes
Published by Penguin on July 16, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Multicultural & Interracial, Contemporary, Women
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781984802200
Goodreads

As seen on The Today Show! The new exhilarating romance from The New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal, Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick!   Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

1. Alexa is their best friend 2. They hate each other After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa's wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they're comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won't fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn't looking, agreeing they would end it once the wedding is over. When it’s suddenly pushed up and they only have a few months left of secret rendezvouses, they find themselves regretting that the end is near. Two people this different can’t possibly have a connection other than the purely physical, right?

But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don't fall in love.

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory is third in her Wedding Date series and features Alexa’s best friends Maddie and Theo. Friends, I love love love this series. If I had to push a romance series for people who are maybe a little bit hesitant to try out romance, this would be the series I would press into their hands. Basically everything about this series is compelling to me.

So, this book has one of my favorite tropes: HATE TO LOVE. I will always always always read a hate to love book. So, anyways, Maddie is a personal stylist. Theo works for the mayor’s office with Alexa. Maddie thinks Theo is a bit pompous and arrogant and condescending. Theo thinks Maddie is a party girl. The two, however, are thrown together as part of Alexa’s wedding party. They end up sleeping together and the sparks are there. So, it becomes an impermanent arrangement that they’ll sleep together until all of the wedding stuff is over. As luck would have it, they have a lot in common. And unfortunately/fortunately Alexa’s wedding gets pushed up faster than expected and something has got to give.

I love this book! It’s charming and refreshing. Maddie and Theo are excellent well rounded characters. I liked seeing Alexa and Drew again. I even liked the cameo from Carlos and Nick. At this point, I am obsessed. The audiobook is a good listen too. I physically read the first two books, but I also have nothing but good things to say about the audiobook version of The Wedding Party narrated by Janina Edwards. It’s nine hours and fifteen minutes long and perfect for long drives.


I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Truly by Ruthie Knox
Series: New York #1
Published by Random House Publishing Group on August 5, 2014
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Women, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 365
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780345545268
Goodreads

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LIBRARY JOURNAL
RITA finalist and New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox kicks off a steamy series set in the city that never sleeps—alone, at least.
  May Fredericks hates New York. Which is fair enough, since New York seems to hate her back. After relocating to Manhattan from the Midwest to be with her long-distance boyfriend, NFL quarterback Thor Einarsson, May receives the world’s worst marriage proposal, stabs the jerk with a shrimp fork, and storms off alone—only to get mugged. Now she’s got no phone, no cash, and no friends. How’s a nice girl supposed to get back to safe, sensible Wisconsin?   Frankly, Ben Hausman couldn’t care less. Sure, it’s not every day he meets a genuine, down-to-earth woman like May—especially in a dive in the Village—but he’s recovering from an ugly divorce that cost him his restaurant. He wants to be left alone to start over and become a better man. Then again, playing the white knight to May’s sexy damsel in distress would be an excellent place to start—if only he can give her one very good reason to love New York.
Praise for Truly   “Knox writes such sultry, detailed romance. The sexual tension and the sex itself are very hot. . . . Highly recommend this story.”—Smexy Books  Truly is another Knox classic. Well written, heartwarming, sweet, super sexy with a dash of heartbreak and soul-searching, I devoured this fabulous story. . . . An absolutely fabulous read about two imperfect people . . . I can’t wait to see what Ruthie Knox will come up with next.”—The Brunette Librarian   “Knox is rapidly becoming my go-to author for excellent contemporary romance, providing all of the necessary components to a great read: accessible characters, solid plot, well-paced events and a whole lotta steam. And she delivers it all here. . . . Knox is amazingly talented at incorporating emotion with the physical that fairly sizzles with heat. I strongly encourage readers to immediately read this wonderful book.”—Pretty Sassy Cool   “Knox is an incredible writer. She has the gift of making ordinary people larger than life. She adds a special blend of humor, creative dialogue, unique characters, and an interesting plot with its own magical flare. . . . These two vastly different people will discover the magic of life, love, and happiness in a new way. . . . They will console each other about their past failures, cheer each other on, and find their chemistry is much more than sexual. . . . I highly recommend this book.”—Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews   “Well written and my favorite Ruthie Knox book to date, Truly is a powerful story and an amazing journey of self-discovery with a sexy love story thrown in for good measure!”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews   “Truly is one of those stories that just got under my skin and into my heart. . . . It’s not just a romance, it’s a story of two people finding a new path at those crossroads in life we all have to face from time to time. And while the romance between Ben and May is hot and intimate, it is their individual discovery of the path into their future that really hit home with me. This was the story that made me a Ruthie Knox fan for life. If you haven’t read it, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The writing is top notch and the story is interesting, fast paced and has very unique characters.”—Red Hot + Blue Reads

I seriously waited way too long to read Truly by Ruthie Knox. After a round of books that were okay, some good, but none that made me really feel anything deeply, Truly just begged for me to read it. I am so glad that I finally got to this book which was just languishing on my Netgalley queue, because it is excellent. If you like contemporary romance, you absolutely need to read this book.

Truly follows main characters May and Ben – both Wisconsin born and raised – who happen to now live in New York City. May is having a terrible go of it — she dumped her Jets quarterback boyfriend Dan in a way that went viral. After leaving his apartment and attempting to go home, her purse ends up getting stolen – which had her wallet, ID, and phone. So, May goes to the local Packers bar – Pulvermachers – in hopes of finding a person who would be sympathetic to her plight.

Enter Ben. Ben is currently a beekeeper who is super gruff and holding onto a lot of anger and bitterness. Somehow though May wiggles through his defenses and he ends up letting her stay with him for a little bit. The two get to know each other at their most honest – without pretension or falseness. Plus, Ben who is an excellent chef makes all this delicious food for May.

What we get is this spectacular romance with actual chemistry. The adult scenes are actually well written and not anything where I felt awkward to read. I found myself rooting for Ben and May to truly make it. They’re easy to relate to in different ways – Ben’s anger and May’s conforming to other people’s expectations of her. I found myself so excited to read this book every time I had a little bit of downtime and just hope this streak of enjoying what I’m digging into continues. I will definitely be reading the other two books in Knox’s New York trilogy.


I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Published by Grand Central Publishing on April 14, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Women, Friendship, Family Life, Firefighters, Sagas
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781538715642
Goodreads

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Friend Zone comes an adorable and fresh romantic comedy about one trouble-making dog who brings together two perfect strangers. Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

I love books that leave you with a happy sigh and a little bit of a hangover. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez is the type of book you pick up for a dose of happiness in a time of uncertainty. I cannot recommend this contemporary romance highly enough.

The Happy Ever After Playlist is a companion novel to The Friend Zone and features Sloan, Kristen’s best friend. Sloan is driving when a dog happens to jump through her sunroof. He has a tag with his name, Tucker, and the phone number of his owner Jason. Sloan keeps calling Jason, but gets no answer, so she decides to steal Tucker. Eventually though, Jason responds and well, a flirtation between Sloan and him develops. Jason is a musician who is about to blow up. Can it work out between Sloan and Jason?

I inhaled The Happy Ever After Playlist. Sloan’s growth and her leaving the in between place she was living in was so captivating to me. This book is serious but sweet – and I loved that it shines a spotlight on just how much grief can impact your life. I also loved Jason’s family – they live in Ely, Minnesota and his parents are clearly in love. Jason also had his moments of wonderful – although there were times where I was like come on, just communicate.

Jimenez’s second book proves to me lightening does strike twice. It’s just as fantastic as The Friend Zone – blending laughs and tears. This book left me in my feelings in the best kind of way. Get your hands on it as soon as it comes out, I promise you that if you are similar to me in taste, you absolutely will not regret your time reading.


I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday
Series: Matchmaker Bay #1
Narrator: Meghan Kelly
Length: 9 Hours 45 Minutes
Published by Grand Central Publishing on January 28, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, Small Town & Rural, Women, Friendship
Pages: 480
Format: Audiobook, Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781538716526
Goodreads

Escape to Matchmaker Bay in this hilarious and heartwarming second chance romance from the USA Today bestselling "master of witty banter" (Entertainment Weekly). Eve Abbott has a problem--actually, make that a lot of problems. And they're all going to get worse the moment her toes hit the sand in Matchmaker Bay. Once a blissful summer escape, now the tiny town just reminds Eve of loss. Inheriting her aunt's beloved Mermaid Inn is the only reason Eve is coming back. She's definitely not ready to handle nosy neighbors, extensive renovations, or the discovery that a certain heartbreaker still lives down the street... Police Chief Sawyer Collins always does the right thing, even when it costs him everything. Like Evie. He's spent the past ten years trying to forget her--to forget how right she felt in his arms, to forget the pain in her eyes the day she left. The last thing he expects is to see her back in town or to find that the spark between them is as strong as ever. Sawyer knows this is his only chance to prove that his feelings have always been real... before Eve turns tail and leaves for good. Includes the bonus novella Meant to Be by Alison Bliss!

I have recently learned that Spotify has audiobooks and what better way to get through the books on my shelf than listening to the audiobook version through a service I already pay for. Well, it turns out there IS a better way, but I digress. Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday is the first Jenny Holiday book I’ve read but absolutely won’t be the last.

First, Mermaid Inn is the first book in Holiday’s new Matchmaker Bay series – so a good starting point for a new to me author. Second, this book follows a librarian and is a second chance romance. Third, it’s really an easy to follow read for these pandemic times we are currently in and after this is all over, future stressful times. I enjoyed the simplicity it brought me — I love when audiobooks and stories are easy to follow – particularly when I am stressed or busy.

Mermaid Inn is about Evie Abbott, a librarian who inherits the Mermaid Inn and returns to the tiny town it is in. It is also about Sawyer Collins who is the police chief of the small town and raising his younger sister who is now a high school senior. Sawyer and Evie have a past that absolutely ended on a sour note. Of course, they reunite and it is funny and my goodness the text messages. Holiday does not shy from the adult times, nor does she make it awkward.


I really enjoyed this book. I’ll be honest and say I probably would have enjoyed it more had I been able to speed up the narration. I started getting antsy. That’s nothing on Meghan Kelly, the narrator. It’s just 9 hours and 45 minutes feels like such a long time when you can’t speed up to 1.25 or 1.5, which is not a possibility that I know how to do when listening to an audiobook via Spotify. Kelly does a great Canadian accent and a good job inhabiting all the characters. I just would have liked a little small subtle boost in speed, that’s all. Recommended via Spotify audio to people who listen at 1x speed. Recommended via book form or some other app to everyone else.

The post 5 Romance Novels To Cozy Up With appeared first on Good Books & Good Wine.



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