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Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you. Into her hiding place – the bookstore where she works – come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries. Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets?

As per the usual, I didn’t read the back of this book before I picked it up. I had no idea what it would be about, but I like book shops, so I thought I’d try it.

It took me a few chapters to get into it, as I’m not a fan of split timeline. This book not only has a split timeline, it’s also full of flashbacks. Neither are favorites of mine. The story, however, and the writing grabbed my attention enough that I kept reading. By the time I was halfway through, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

Loveday lives her life trying to avoid her pain (or pretend like it doesn’t exist). But a few people intrigue her enough and respect her enough to let her work through the pain in her own way and time. Along the way, she learns about forgiveness, bravery, friendship, and what true love (friendly and romantic) is really like.

If you enjoy Katherine Center or Sophie Cousens, I would give this book a try.

Rated PG-13 for some tough themes, alcohol, and adult activities, but nothing graphic shown on the page.

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For more women’s fiction with romance, check out:

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center 

Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.

When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room—but only until her car is fixed—then she’s on her own.

Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more.

Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.

This is everything you want from a grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity sweet romance:
– A likeable grump
– An adversarial sunshine
– Interfering sisters
– Lots of steam but no spice

This book kept me up all night because I needed to see how Amelia and Noah made it work (because you know they’re going to make it work). Their chemistry is fantastic, and his family is delightful. It’s completely appropriate that Noah bakes pies for a living, because he’s almost too sweet to handle.

If you want to get lost in a closed-door romance with all the swoon, I highly recommend this book. A must-read for fans of Courtney Walsh and Leah Dobrinska.

Rated PG.

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For more sweet/clean romance, check out:

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay, and without even a suit.

But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband to be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past.

Literary women’s fiction?

I’m not really sure how to classify this book. There wasn’t a specific plot per se; it was more of a slice of life story but with a popular romance trope. By it wasn’t a typical literary novel either, though there was an emphasis on theme over story.

Regardless of the flimsy plot, the author pulled me into Gail’s life and made me want to keep reading. The story did slow down a bit during day three, but overall I enjoyed this book. It’s nothing flashy or surprising but a great example of how good writing can pull a reader into the character’s world.

If you enjoy Mauve Binchy books, you might enjoy this one.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

For more literary-style fiction, check out:

The Beach House by Jane Green
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

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It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . . So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I’m all in. I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met. It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well. I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened. How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else. I love to talk. Gray only stares. I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is. And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember.

The first two Courtney Walsh books I read were pretty serious, so I was surprised to get a rom-com from her. But I’m a sucker for grumpy/sunshine AND hockey, so I was excited to read it.

This book is everything you want in a rom-com: easy to read, light hearted, sweet, and swoony. The only thing that would have made it perfect is a little more tension beyond “we can’t; we work together. ” Still, it was a delight to read.

If you like Gracie Ruth Mitchell or Jenny Proctor, you’ll like this book.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

For more rom-coms, check out:

The Accidental Text by Becky Monson
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

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Are you tired of falling into frustrating relational patterns in your marriage? Do you and your spouse fight about the same things again and again?

Relationship experts Milan and Kay Yerkovich explain why the ways you and your spouse relate to each other go back to before you even met. Drawing on the powerful tool of attachment theory, Milan and Kay explore how your childhood created an “intimacy imprint” that affects your marriage today. Their stories and practical ideas help you:

* identify your personal love style
* understand how your early life impacts you and your spouse
* break free from painful patterns that keep you stuck
* find healing for the source of conflict, not just the symptoms
* create the close, nourishing relationship you dream about

Revised throughout with all-new material and additional visual diagrams, this expanded edition of How We Love will bring vibrant life to your marriage. Are you ready for a new journey of love?

A friend recommended this book when she was trying to help me navigate an issue in my marriage. I’d never heard of attachment styles before, so it was a new topic for me.

I love the opening comparison–that marriage is often two people trying to dance together, but they’re each doing a different dance because they were taught different things about what love looks like and how it acts. The authors describe five common attachment types, then show what it might look like if each of those type married someone of a different type.

This goes deeper than simply showing or telling a person you love them; it’s understanding how and why they interpret your actions (even when your actions are benign). It was fascinating to read the possibilities (and odd to recognize myself and my spouse in two of the types!).

The book also includes steps for learning how to adapt and support your spouse and his/her attachment type. It was a bit annoying that several parts ended with “get the workbook for more info,” but I feel like the book gave enough info that it could help readers who don’t buy the companion.

Very interesting. Easy to read. I’ll definitely recommend it.

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For more books for marriage, check out The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian.