(One of) My 2019 Reading Challenges

Hi everyone! Hope you enjoyed 2018’s Holiday Romance Month. I had fun compiling the list of books to feature and sharing them with you. I feel it’s a great way to end the year and I hope you feel the same. If you missed any of those posts, you can find the entire list HERE and just for fun, here’s the list from 2017, as well.

With the holidays coming to a close and life getting slightly less hectic, it’s the time of year when reading goals are set. However, I don’t normally set reading goals for myself. I don’t count my Goodreads “goal”. That’s just a number that is easily accomplished if you read picture books and short stories. We’re not kidding anyone with setting 200 as a goal. I do it often. (I set it at 50 or so this year just to try something new.)

For 2019 I want to try something different. Well, if you’re a long-time reader this won’t seem too different. Back in 2014 I basically set this same challenge for myself (Click HERE and HERE to see that mess). I want to read at least two classic novels this year. This doesn’t seem like a hard challenge, but I’m a reluctant classics reader. Most of the ones I’ve read were audiobooks. It’s not cheating or anything. Audio makes it easier to get passed outdated language and long drawn out boring parts. It’s been a great help in the past. Not this time! This time I want to read the text. I want it to be a challenge.

What I need from you, friendly neighborhood readers are recommendations. I’d like to read classics from two vague categories: “regular classic” and “modern classic”. I won’t get more specific since everyone will think differently about those terms. I don’t even know how I’d define them (maybe pre-1920 and 1950-1990? I don’t know).

Please comment on this post, message me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads (message, not recommendation please), or Instagram. Or send me a message through the blog’s contact form. And please, without spoilers, help sell the book to me. I don’t want just a list of books. I’d like to feel compelled to read them based on other reader’s opinions. You can see which books I’ve read and haven’t read by searching through my Goodreads shelf.

HRM – Ring in the New Year with New Year Themed Books…wow, that’s a long post title, isn’t it?

Holiday Romance Month is coming to a close. I was able to feature many, many more books this year than I expected and I hope you’ve been able to expand your holiday reading TBR because of it. I discovered new books as well as new authors. It’s always a fun way to end the year.

Another fun way to end the year is with books that take place at the years change over. That’s what this final HRM post is all about. It’s not as easy to track down New Year themed books, but I was able to put a little list together to rind in 2019. I hope you check some out. And don’t think that just because the holiday season is coming to a close that you can’t read a holiday themed book. Sometimes the best times to read them are when the holidays are far away. I find it true at least.

Hope you enjoyed this years Holiday Romance Month. I’ll be back with more next December. But if you ever want to share other holiday romances with me or my readers, just let me know. I’m always open for overloading my TBR!

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Ring in the New Year with these New Year books!

• Diced by Ginger Scott
• Broken Resolutions by Olivia Dade
• What Happens on New Year’s Eve anthology
• The New Year’s Breakup by M.D. Loveheart
• Stroke of Midnight by Andie J Christopher
• Ringing in the New Year by Alexa Riley
• Round Midnight by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner
• Countdown to a Kiss anthology
• Adventures of a New Year’s Kiss by Milda Harris
• Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Kait Nolan

HRM – Life in Bits, by @IHeartLesfic and Harper Bliss

Can a Christmas romance mend a life that’s broken to pieces?

Eileen Makenna is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who has traveled the world for over two decades, chasing the next big story. She returns home for the holidays shattered by a life-altering event and facing the terrifying prospect she’ll never be able to work again.

When Eileen meets Naomi Weaver, a small-town girl who dedicates her free time to helping those in need, Eileen is entranced by Naomi’s zest for life. Can Eileen overcome her inner demons and troubled family relationships to let Naomi in?

Best-selling lesbian romance authors Harper Bliss & T.B. Markinson have teamed up to bring this touching age-gap love story to life. Grab your copy of the holiday romance that’s the talk of the season.

If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:

Amazon

About the Author:

T.B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs, or reading. Not necessarily in that order.

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon author page

About Harper Bliss:

Harper Bliss is a best-selling lesbian romance author. Among her most-loved books are the highly dramatic French Kissing and the often thought-provoking Pink Bean series. She is the co-founder of My LesFic, a weekly newsletter offering discount deals on lesbian fiction.

Harper lived in Hong Kong for 7 years, travelled the world for a bit, and has now settled in Brussels (Belgium) with her wife and photogenic cat, Dolly Purrton.

You can follow Harper on her YouTube channel. She also has an Amazon and GoodReads profile.

Together with her wife, she hosts a weekly podcast called Harper Bliss & Her Mrs.

Find out more:

• Website
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon author page

HRM – The Christmas Compromise, by @SusanHatler

Formerly titled “Forever Yours in Christmas Falls”

Morgan Reed is excited to return to her hometown of Christmas Falls and open her beauty salon, but when she arrives to her rented business space she’s shocked to find it already occupied by Dallas Parker—her brother’s best friend, the guy she had a childhood crush on, and the one her mom blames for their family’s greatest tragedy.

With their landlord out of the country and unreachable, Morgan and Dallas must open their businesses together. But, no worries, all small towns need a combo furniture store/beauty salon, right? Ugh. As they work together, Morgan tries to keep her emotional distance but time and off-the-charts chemistry soon turn a childhood friendship into a blossoming romance.

Unfortunately, just when their relationship develops into something deeper, an unexpected crisis re-opens her family’s old wounds and the blame is on Dallas once again. Will Morgan’s sadness and fear pull them apart, or make her realize Dallas has always been her heart’s true safe harbor?

Seven fabulous authors bring you this holiday romance series about a group of special friends returning to their hometown at the request of their high school mentor. Each book is a standalone, but read them all to fully enjoy the journey of these remarkable women and their emotional reunion with their mentor, an incredible woman who changes their lives and helps save a small town community forever.

If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

(This book will be available outside of Amazon for a limited time only!)

Is one book not enough for you? Don’t worry. I have you covered. This book is part of a multi-author holiday themed series taking place in the same Montana town. Check them out below:

Homecoming for Christmas by Ciara Knight

Honeymoon for One by Jennifer Peel

Once Again at the Falls by Becky Monson

Rumor Has It by Melinda Curtis

Love Notes in Christmas Falls by Beth Labonte

Finding the Truth in  Christmas Falls by Danielle Stewart

About the Author:

SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

For more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon Author Page

HRM – Jayda’s Christmas Wish, by @Amy_Sparling

Jayda’s junior year started off bad when her boyfriend dumped her, and then it became worse when her mom got laid off. With every week that her mom doesn’t find a new job, things get tighter. Now the holidays are approaching and there is no money for presents. When she intercepts her little brother’s letter to Santa, her heart breaks knowing they can’t get the dog he desperately wants. On a wing and a prayer, she writes her own letter to Santa, penning all of her holiday wishes that she knows can never come true because holiday magic just isn’t real.

Connor’s first Christmas without his mother is harder than he imagined. When a giant sack of letters to Santa shows up at his doorstep, he can’t believe he forgot that she used to reply to all the Santa letters in their small town. He’s about to throw them away, but then a letter from a girl he has a crush on catches his eye. Jayda has sent a Christmas wish into the universe, and although Connor isn’t technically Santa, he does the only thing he can do to honor his mother’s memory.

He writes back.

A sweet and clean Christmas romance that will make you smile!

You can grab a copy of this book from

Amazon

This novella was part of a multi-author special release leading up to the holiday season. The other novellas can be found below:

My Christmas Break Mistake by Anne-Marie Meyer

The Candy Cane Kiss by Maggie Dallen

Christmas Kiss by Tammy Andresen

The Christmas Gift? by Jordan Ford

My Mistletoe Mix-Up by Judy Corry

About the Author:

Amy Sparling is the author of The Summer Unplugged Series, Deadbeat & other awesome books for younger teens. She also writes books for older teens under the name Cheyanne Young.

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon author page
• Smashwords author page

HRM – If Only in My Dreams, by @keiraandrews

To be home for Christmas, they must bridge the distance between them.

Charlie Yates is desperate. It’s almost Christmas and his flight home from college has been delayed. For days. Charlie promised his little sister Ava he’d be home for her first holiday season since going into remission from leukemia. Now he’s stuck on the opposite coast and someone else grabbed the last rental car. Someone he hasn’t even spoken to in four years. Someone who broke his heart.

Gavin Bloomberg’s childhood friendship with Charlie ended overnight after a day of stolen kisses. With years of resentment between them, they don’t want to be in the same room together, let alone a car. But for Ava’s sake, Gavin agrees to share the rental and drive across the country together.

As they face unexpected bumps along the road, can Charlie and Gavin pave the way to a future together?

If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:

Amazon | Smashwords | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author:

If you enjoy reading steamy romances between two men who can’t live without each other, you’ve come to the right place.

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, fantasy, and paranormal fiction and — although she loves delicious angst along the way — Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said:

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon author page
• Smashwords author page

HRM – Three Wishes, by @ReanaMalori

Jordan Hunt’s need for Leticia James is coming to a boiling point. The beautiful, curvy, and oh so feisty woman grabbed his attention from the first moment he noticed her. Taking a chance, he introduced himself, not giving her a chance to walk out of his life. Two years, and a lifetime of memories later, he’s determined to make her his. Even as she continues to push him away. She doubts he’s ready to settle down with just one woman. Namely her.

Desire clawing at him to claim his woman, Jordan’s done all the right things. He’s bided his time and proven to Leticia that he’s not going anywhere. Shown her that he’d changed his ways. Still, the stubborn woman refuses to see they’re perfect for each other. Her lush curves would fit perfectly against his hard muscles. Those soft lips would kiss away the memories of anyone who came before her. If only she’d given them a chance.

When visiting her home one day, he finds a piece of paper hidden away from public view. Three words catch his eye. My Three Wishes.

Now Jordan has a mission. He’s determined to make Leticia his in every sense of the word, even if he must use a little Christmas luck to make it happen.

*BWWM Holiday Romance | Friends to Lovers | HEA*

If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author:

The characters I write will not be perfect. None of us are. They will make mistakes. All of the heroes will have redeeming qualities, but on the outset, you may not be their biggest fan. My heroines will be the kind of women you want to hang out with. They’re the women next door, down the street, and around the corner. They are the ladies you would want to spend time with on a Saturday night drinking a martini.

I have been an avid reader of romance novels since the age of fourteen and I know what appeals to me as a reader. My goal is, and will always be, to provide that same experience for the women and men who read my novellas and short stories.

I’m a former Marine and served for eight years, so strong military men will always be a favorite topic of mine. I will continue to write stories with military heroes’ front and center. I’m also a fan of Alpha-males and strong women who love with everything they have.

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon author page
• Smashwords author page