8 great #RomanceReads I discovered lately and why YOU should, too

As you know, I cut back on book reviews a while ago for many reasons, but that doesn't mean I've stopped reading. I've found LOTS of great reads lately, and today, I'm going to let you in on what I've found and why I think YOU'D like it, too. Gather round, friends, and check this out: 

The Wrong Heart by Jennifer Hartmann

Why it's awesome: First of all, a bit of warning. This is an INTENSELY EMOTIONAL read. These characters are going through ROUGH times. It is not a light-hearted laugh-a-thon. This is a rip your heart out, deep, thought-provoking angst fest. It's about a woman named Melody who loses her beloved husband and the people she runs into as she tries to rebuild her life. She eventually falls for Parker, who has iron walls around his heart (for good reason), and somehow, the dark in him calls to the light in her and they balance each other perfectly. As gut-wrenching  as it all is, it's actually a very hopeful, beautiful love story. Now, that said, I would recommend skipping the last epilogue--the one that goes into the distant future. It was a bit too much of a downer for me. But everything up until that point was FLAWLESS and I can't recommend it highly enough. I think readers who loved Disgrace by Brittainy Cherry and anything by Emma Scott will instantly fall for this book.     

Bohemian by Kathryn Nolan

Why it's awesome: The banter between characters is flawless, the scene descriptions are so amazing I can practically smell Big Sur while reading, and the sexy times are off-the-charts hot. But if all that isn't enough reason to pick this one up, frankly, I can never get enough of nerdy heroes getting the girl of their dreams. It's not a trope I've seen enough of in romance. I mean, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a nerdy bookworm GIRL in romance, but nerdy men? That doesn't hardly ever happen. And Calvin is the perfect nerdy shy guy to be paired with an outgoing supermodel. *chef's kiss*   

The Gravedigger's Son by Darynda Jones 

Why it's awesome: If you, like me, are a huge fan of the Charley Davidson series (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, you're missing out and need to go grab First Grave on the Right IMMEDIATELY), then trust me, you'll want to know what happened to Amber and Quentin. This novella is hilarious, action packed, sexy, and SO MUCH FUN. 

Semi-Fated by Isabel Jordan

Why it's awesome: I mean, where do I even start? There's the humor (which is top-notch), there's the sexy times (which are super hot), there's the plot (which is intricate without being so intricate that it's hard to follow, there's the strong, smart heroine, there's the smokin' hot (literally in this case) hero...I mean, if you haven't been reading this series, what are you waiting for? This one is perfect for fans of Darynda Jones, Dianne Duvall, Jeaniene Frost, and MaryJanice Davidson. If you're a virgin to the series, start with Semi-Charmed. But for more info on THIS book, I did actually make time for a full review right HERE.

The Segonian by Dianne Duvall 

Why it's awesome: If you're looking for kickass heroines and swoony alpha males who are NEVER alphaholes, then there's not really any reason to keep looking. Just read this book. But if you're new to the series, you'll enjoy this one more if you start with book 1, The Lasaran. 

A Good Man by Rosanna Leo 

Why it's awesome: As the title would suggest, Michael, the hero, is a genuinely good man. He's respectful of the heroine at all times, he's stupid hot, he's great with his hands, he's crazy hot, he's not afraid to commit...did I mention he's ridiculously hot? Frankly, why this book isn't on more "must read" lists, I'll never understand. Oh, and I almost forgot my favorite part! The couple doesn't have a big blow-out where they break up in the 3rd act of the story. Nope. Not this couple. They work through their problems like grownups. It's AWESOME. Highly recommend. 

Loner by Jamie Schlosser

Why it's awesome: This is a fun Rapunzel retelling, and I adore a good fairy tale retelling. The heroine, Rosalie, has been a prisoner in her crazy mom's attic her whole life. Preston is hired by her biological father (who is NOT necessarily what anyone would call a "good" guy) to rescue her. Instead, he falls for her and does everything in his power to keep her safe and to just...keep her in general. Preston hasn't had an especially great life himself, and as far as pairings go, this one couldn't really get more perfect. Rosalie and Preston are made for each other. Now, I'm sure some instalove haters in the audience would argue that they fell for each other too quickly. But I would say they're wrong. Because of how this hero and heroine were raised and how they met, I found it perfectly reasonable that they'd fall for each other quickly. I wasn't bothered at all by the speed of their relationship. That's a testament to the author's skill, I think.    

Pause by Kylie Scott

Why it's awesome: I used to avoid amnesia romance like I avoid cauliflower. (I REALLY hate cauliflower) It always just felt like a cheap plot contrivance, you know? Like something writers on soap operas do when they run out of plausible reasons to keep a couple apart. But Kylie Scott made me realize what I'd been missing out on with Repeat. So, I picked up Pause without hesitation, and I was NOT disappointed. Long-story-short, pretty much everything about this book is great, but it's worth a read for Leif, the hero, alone. He's funny and kind-hearted, and the way he's drawn so quickly to Anna is super sexy. If you loved Repeat (and all of the other awesome Kylie Scott books out there), you'll love Pause.    

But those are just a few of MY recent faves. What about you? Read anything amazing lately? Let's discuss!