historical romance

Best Books to Read Now - May 2020

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Best books to read in 2020.png

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

We’re all still stuck at home, hopefully healthy or recovering. Because we need books now more than ever, I’m still doing this.

My book recommendations for May….


Untamed - Glennon Doyle
Amazon
|| Apple Books

I’ll be honest. I bought this book.

Yes, I know I’ve been on a book no buy this year but my book club wanted to read this and what, exactly was I supposed to do in the middle of the pandemic?

WAIT for it to become available on the CloudLibrary app???

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Dear reader, I hate to wait for books.

I mean, I do it all the time, but I don’t have to like it.

I recommend this book, a selection of essays mostly written about the last few years of Ms. Doyle’s life, for anyone who’s reached their 40s and are rediscovering who they are supposed to be or wondering why they are the way they are. This book won’t necessarily explain it for you, but you’ll definitely walk away with new insights about how we’re all still growing up even when we’re supposed to be adulted already. I highlighted a bunch of parts that I need to go back and re-read so I’m really glad I bought it.

Say Yes to the Duke - Eloisa James
Amazon
|| Apple Books

I did NOT buy this book. Instead, it was graciously sent to me by my good friends at Avon/ Netgalley. (Thanks guys!) I’ve read the entire Wilde series now and jumping back into the pages with this fictional family meant this was an extremely comforting read. I felt like I used to feel, back when I could see friends in person. Remember those days???

Manhunting - Jennifer Cruisie
Amazon
|| Apple Books

I DID buy this book… a long time ago. It’s from my TBR pile! Look at me! I think I bought it a long time ago because a friend told me it was her favorite Jennifer Crusie book. Now, I’ve loved and read Ms. Crusie’s romcom classic, Bet Me, at least five times but I’ve never dug into her other books and let me tell you, I LOVED THIS. Another comforting, funny, easy read during my stay-at-home days. It was published in 1993 (I think) which somehow added to the 2020 comfort. Why? No one had cell phones or internet or email in this book. It’s set at a resort and everyone there has to basically TALK TO EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TIME. What a concept. I can’t even imagine.

I saw some reviews that stated that the book was dated for another reason: The female main character keeps getting grabbed on dates/ in bars. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can say that this is what dates the book as this kind of behavior does still happen, and often. I will say that it is done for comedic effect and the female main character is in NO WAY a victim. In fact, she handles each of the offenders efficiently and on her own, which is very au courant.

The Forbidden Rose- Joanna Bourne
Amazon
|| Apple Books

Another one from the TBR pile! This one is a prequel/ sequel to a book I included in my uber popular Swooniest Book List: The Spymaster’s Lady. (I think it’s officially the first book in the series if you go by events but it was published after The Spymaster’s Lady so it’s listed as #2). A Joanna Bourne book is like a box of expensive, dark rich chocolates. Exquisitely crafted. Meant to be savored. Extremely satisfying.

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If you’re looking for EVEN MORE comfort read recommendations, I made a separate list (along with everything I’ve ever recommended, practically) here: What To Read During a Pandemic.

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved while stuck at home or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!


Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Best Books to Read Now - April 2020

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Best books to read in 2020.png

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

We’re all still stuck at home, hopefully healthy or recovering. Because we need books now more than ever, I’m still doing this.

My book recommendations for April….


Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid
Amazon || Apple Books

This was an interesting read for me and I 100% recommend it for book clubs because I think that everyone can pull something different out of it. But it’s not a usual read for me, as it’s not a mystery, romance, etc. It was a page turner because the author did such a good job twisting and turning the characters until you weren’t quite sure how or if you should root for anyone… which is probably the point. So no HEA but definitely worth your time.

Where the Lost Wander - Amy Harmon
Amazon

LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE.

Already one of my best books of the year. You can hear my full gush on the Women With Books podcast soon but here’s an abbreviated version:

WAGON TRAIL.
HISTORICAL FICTION.
ADVENTURE!

ROMANCE!

CHOLERA!

Okay, that part might not be alluring, but y’all. If you’re part of the Oregon Trail generation especially (See here if you don’t know what that is), you need to pick up this book ASAP.


The Virgin and the Rogue - Sophie Jordan
Amazon || Apple Books

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw that cover, that deliciously old-school romance cover. I knew the plot involved a love potion trope but here is a content warning for anyone who might want to know about consent issues. The female main character is under the influence of a love potion when she first… ah… puts the moves on the unsuspecting male main character. Trying not to spoil this, but I want to give fair warning that there’s a fine consensual line, on both their parts.

Anyway, I felt that the love potion plot made for a topsy-turvy romance book, one that was very enjoyable and easy to read. It’s mostly in the heroine’s voice, as she untangles what her feelings are, which are due to the love potion, and why she’s never known her true self before.


Feels Like Falling - Kristy Woodson Harvey
Amazon || Apple Books

A great read for your Mother’s Day gifts or just a quiet quarantine day or your book club! I’ve included Kristy Woodson Harvey books multiple times on the blog (and had her on the Women With Books podcast here) and as soon as I saw she had a new release, I requested an early copy. This one is set in a new beach town in North Carolina and has alternating stories of two very different women who soon become best friends. It’s a story of friendship, but it’s also a story of how women can mother each other, their friends, their siblings - which is why I’m recommending this for Mother’s Day! Get this for all your friends who are also willing to set you up on dates/ hold your hair back/ let you come live in their guest house on the beach. (And also I would like to be that person’s friend, thanks).


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If you’re looking for EVEN MORE comfort read recommendations, I made a separate list (along with everything I’ve ever recommended, practically) here: What To Read During a Pandemic.

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved while stuck at home or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!


Best Books to Read Now - March 2020

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Best books to read in 2020.png

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

We are living in strange times, my friends. Most of the world is in quarantine/ shelter in place / social distancing. We’re working differently, we’re exercising differently and we’re going to school differently. But. What’s fascinating is that - for those of us who are privileged enough to be reading this blog post - many of us are not entertaining ourselves differently.

TVs, computers, books, cell phones, podcasts… they’re all still functioning as normal. Movie theaters shut down but movie studios seemingly flipped a switch and my family and I were able to watch a new Pixar release from the comfort of our living room.

With so much uncertainty, I’ve taken comfort in seeing that my books and music and favorite re-watched movies are still available to me.

So for the time being, until these things drastically change, I’m still going to be sharing my favorite new books every month. And next week (or sometime soon) I’ll be posting my list of ultimate comfort reads, books to pick up when you’ve turned off the news and want to tune out the world.

But for now… My Best Books for March 2020. Let’s get started, shall we???

Who Rescued Who – Victoria Schade 
Amazon
|| Apple Books

First of all, Victoria is a fantastic person and when she asked me last fall if I’d be interested in reading an early copy of this book, I jumped on the opportunity. AND I AM SO GLAD I DID.

Me when Victoria asked me to read her book.

Me when Victoria asked me to read her book.

It’s a rom-com set in the middle of a Rosamunde Pilcher book. It’s got an English village, a rescued dog, a found family and it’s the perfect thing to read on a drizzly spring day when you’re trying to avoid the real world. Go. Read. It. Now.
(Also, hear me talking to Victoria on my podcast, Women With Books, here.)

You reading WHO RESCUED WHO.

You reading WHO RESCUED WHO.

Scoundrel – Zoe Archer
Amazon
|| Apple Books

When I saw this book on sale before Christmas, I sort of freaked out. HOW did I not know this series existed??  It sounded like it was totally up my alley: action / adventure AND romance? 

I’ve stated my love for this The Mummy-like combo here and here and of course you can see my affection for it in The Royal Runaway and The Royal Bodyguard.

Love when the heroine saves the hero….

Love when the heroine saves the hero….

The book is #2 in a series that follows Victorian-era secret societies that battle over powerful magical artifacts. I KNOW. But now I know. And so do you.

Catch & Kill – Ronan Farrow
Amazon
|| Apple Books

I listened to the podcast first and then decided to check the book out at the library. Even though I have followed the story in real life AND I’ve listened to Ronan Farrow telling the story on the podcast, I was still sucked into the book, that reads as fast and as gripping as a spy/suspense novel but has the added elements of being true life. Now I’m tossing around the idea of reading She Said, by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times reporters who also broke similar stories about Harvey Weinstein in 2017. (Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, this book also kinda sorta fits my romance-mystery-adventure genre love because Ronan Farrow gives us little peeks at his relationship/ proposal to his partner.)

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill – Abbi Waxman 
Amazo
n || Apple Books

In some ways, this book was right up my alley. Nina Hill is a trivia-nerd who keeps a planner and who loves books. I mean, she could be me.  It’s not at plot-heavy as some of my other reads this month but the world building and interesting voice grabbed me and wouldn’t let me put the book down.

This GIF reminded me of the cover and I also think Nina Hill would appreciate it.

This GIF reminded me of the cover and I also think Nina Hill would appreciate it.

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved while stuck at home or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!

Best Books to Read Now - February 2020

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Best books to read in 2020.png

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

So… I know what you’re thinking.

That’s an … interesting… selection of books you got there, Lindsay.

And to that I’ll say YES! YOU ARE CORRECT!

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This is a VERY eclectic selection but oh, soo good (and something for everyone!) Not convinced? Read on….


Burn For Me - Ilona Andrews
Amazon
|| Apple Books

Long time readers will surely detect something here…. Yes. This is a book that I’ve long had and raved about. I have re-read it so many times. So why is it on the list now? Well, I had to sit a few days in a hospital room and I reached for a “comfort read.” This was it. Still love it. Still recommend it. The Baylors still made me laugh when I needed it and Nevada and Mad Rogan still swept me away.


Bringing Down the Duke - Evie Dunmore
Amazon
|| Apple Books

If you’re in the romance community or book review community, you’ll know that this debut historical romance has been the subject of a lot of talk. Mainly because of that cover that is nothing like any other mainstream historical romance cover (at least, at the time of its release). When I finally got a copy of this at the library I was very curious about the insides and I can tell you I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Dunmore’s debut and I’m eagerly looking forward to her next release!

Things You Save in a Fire - Katherine Center
Amazon
|| Apple Books

Another book I heard a lot about and finally got at the library (because I’m on a book no-buy, remember?). Where has Katherine Center been all my life? This book was a perfect balm on a rainy, dreary winter’s day. Full of heart, humor, a touch of mystery, a smidge of family drama, a heartwarming romance. So good!

Realm of Ash - Tasha Suri
Amazon || Apple Books

I really really loved Tasha Suri’s first book last year and I was very excited to get this one… at the library, (Seeing a theme here?) I just love Ms. Suri’s worldbuilding and writing and I really liked her subtle exploration of female power in a traditional society. A fantasy win for me!

Another fantasy win… heh heh…

Another fantasy win… heh heh…

All in all, February was a very successful month of reading!

Me snuggling up with my TBR pile!!!

Me snuggling up with my TBR pile!!!

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved lately or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!

Best Books to Read Now - January 2020

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Best books to read in 2020.png

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

I want to cry, y’all.

First, take a moment to look at those books. The past few months have been a GOOOOOOOD time to read books.

So there’s that. These are all awesome books and there’s a genre here for everyone.

But then I realized.

Lauren.

Mia.

Julia.

Kate.

These women… well, I might be slightly presumptuous to call them all friends but I. KNOW. THEM. I’ve hung out with everyone but Mia and only because she lives very very far away. But I’ve talked to Mia (here) (And Julia HERE) (and Kate HERE) (and Lauren HERE) and I can tell you these women are LEGIT.

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They have it all. They’re talented, intelligent, funny, interesting and DAMN GOOD AUTHORS.

Don’t believe them. They TOTALLY KNOW ME.

Don’t believe them. They TOTALLY KNOW ME.


A Beastly Kind of Earl - Mia Vincy
Amazon || Apple Books

The MUCH anticipated second book from Ms. Vincy, it’s loosely connected to her award winning debut last year, A Wicked Kind of Husband. This book was also charming in UN-anticipated ways, funny and bright and sparkling, in a refreshing Beauty and the Beast take.


Love Lettering - Kate Clayborn
Amazon || Apple Books

What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said? It’s a romance, but it’s also a book about friendship and New York City and discovery. And the beauty of letters. It’s sweeter than you expect and understatedly sophisticated, but that’s Kate Clayborn for you.

The Whispers of War - Julia Kelly
Amazon || Apple Books

Now I think I CAN call Julia a friend, since I’ve helped her remove a hedgehog from her laundry room. I mean, if that doesn’t say ride or die, what does? This is also a MUCH anticipated book, the second historical fiction from Ms. Kelly. Once again, she takes a smaller, unknown story about women from World War II and brings it to life in heartbreaking and heartwarming ways.

Marriage on Madison Avenue - Lauren Layne
Amazon || Apple Books

IT IS HERE! I just included the 2nd book in this series in November and the third installment is here! This is a friends to lovers romance, which (to be 100% honest) is NOT my usual catnip. BUT Ms. Layne surrounds the couple with enough external conflict (and has made us wait for this story for SO LONG) that it worked for me!!

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I love this life. I love my JOB! I get to befriend fabulous women who are ALSO amazing authors and then I get to tell everyone to buy their books?!

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And now for a completely different note. I’ve mentioned it on Instagram briefly but I made a quarterly resolution to NOT BUY ANY MORE BOOKS.

I know.

Yes, I’ve been examined by doctors. Several, in fact.

But I bought A LOT of books in the last few months of 2019. And people keep sending them to me! And last month I just looked at my TBR pile and I said, I want to focus on all the amazing books I have stored up.

I’m not saying it won’t be hard, but I’m really really excited by this. So for the next three months (because my March reads might be in April’s BEST BOOKS BLOG), you should only see older releases OR the books I’ve been sent by publishers to review/ blurb.

Me snuggling up with my TBR pile!!!

Me snuggling up with my TBR pile!!!

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved lately or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!