It’s been a while since I shared what I’m reading or what’s on my TBR (to-be-read) list. Spring is the perfect time to curl up with a good book—as is any time of year, of course—preferably in a rocker on the front porch now that the weather is turning milder. I have a lot of new books on my Kindle app, but here are six novels at the top of my list:
Water’s Break, Sophia L. Hansen
I just started this epic sci-fi adventure set on a water planet. Science Fiction is not my usual read at all, but this book was authored by a friend from my writing community, and I became intrigued about Water’s Break after hearing so much buzz about the debut novel. The action sucked me in from the start, and I can’t wait to see what happens.
About the book: What if fear itself is the deadliest undercurrent of all? Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history. In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people?
My Lucky Charm, Courtney Walsh
My Lucky Charm is a holiday-themed romcom, the second in Walsh’s Holiday with Hart series. I hoped to get this read in time for St. Patrick’s Day (which also happens to be my anniversary!), but it didn’t happen. If you haven’t noticed, hockey is having a moment, and romances featuring a hockey player are everywhere. This novel is one of three hockey-themed romances on this list!
About the book: A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?
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. My Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It’s the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.
An Uncertain Road, Abbey Downey
This is another novel by an author in my writing family. This historical fiction story features a female race car driver in the early 1900s, which fascinated me. Throw in that gorgeous cover, and I’m all in! I’m looking so forward to this one!
About the book: A female auto racer, a mechanic determined to walk away from the sport, and the race of a lifetime… When young widow Flora Montfort returns to America, she’s determined to use her training in auto racing to support herself and her French mother-in-law—even if female drivers are rare in 1905. So when the owner of a successful sporting goods store hires her to drive in the Glidden Tour, a ten-day race through New England, she jumps at the opportunity.
Jensen Gable must be convinced that joining the team as the ride-along mechanic is worth the risk. After losing his best friend in a tragic racing accident, Jensen has vowed never to participate in the sport again. But his promise to protect that friend’s younger brother, also on the tour, is the only thing that outweighs his fear of the dangers.
As they race through New England, Flora and Jensen find common ground that ignites their interest in each other, but doubts and old enemies come between them. Hazardous road conditions, meddling locals, and competitors who’ll stop at nothing to win—they all conspire to prevent Flora and Jensen from reaching the finish line. As the race of a lifetime heats up, one question rises above all others…can their love find the road that leads to forever?
A Groom of One’s Own, Emma St. Clair
This romcom is the second hockey romance in my near future. I first met Appies hockey player Eli in the first and last books in the Sweater Weather series. Now St. Clair and Proctor are writing the stories of several teammates for a new Appies series. This one features a marriage of convenience, so naturally, on my list it goes! I especially love to read a well-done contemporary MOC.
About the book: He always dreamed of getting married–but for love, not to avoid deportation.
Eli Hopkins has it all–almost. A hockey career with the wildly popular Appies. Teammates who are like brothers. The only thing he’s missing is someone to share it all with. Oh–and correctly filed visa paperwork. Due to administrative error, Eli is about to lose everything. Unless he can find someone to marry him in the next thirty days. And he might have the perfect woman in mind. The only problem? He’d like to marry her for real, not simply for legal purposes. Now Eli faces the challenge of winning over a wife who thinks the marriage is in name only …
A Groom of One’s Own is a closed-door marriage of convenience hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but NO spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat. This book connects to Just Don’t Fall & Absolutely Not in Love from the Sweater Weather series, but all books can be read as standalones.
To Win a Prince, Toni Shiloh
I just finished In Search of a Prince, Shiloh’s first in this contemporary romance series, and immediately downloaded this next book. I adored ISOAP so much—the characters, the setting, the story—and could not wait to get to the journey for some of the supporting characters. I am so excited to be immersed once again in this fictional African island and enjoy more Iris!
About the book: As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Oloro Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.
Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his countrymen. To pay for his actions against Oloro Ilé, he’s forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely–but he can’t allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.
As Iris strives to get her business off the ground while keeping her heart intact, will her dreams of happily ever after survive the challenges she faces?
The Golden Goal, Annah Conwell
Another hockey-themed romcom—this one from another of my go-to authors—The Golden Goal is the first of four stories in Conwell’s new More Than a Game series.
About the book: Shaw Daniels is the bane of my existence.
Always has been. Always will be.
When we were kids, he annoyed me to no end by being good at everything. He didn’t have to study or really even try. Meanwhile, I tried too much and still lost to him.
Then when we were teenagers, our rivalry became twisted. He started sabotaging all my relationships. I retaliated by doing the same to him.
Now, we’re adults and we should be able to move on. But when I become a physical therapist for his professional hockey team, it seems as though we can’t let go of our rival tendencies.
Suddenly, our teasing starts to border on flirting. Bets are made and lines are crossed. The kind of lines that once crossed … you can never go back to the way things were before.
The Golden Goal is a rivals to lovers, brother’s best-friend hockey romcom for fans of sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.
Your turn. What have you been reading? What’s on your to-be-read list? Have you read any of these novels? And what are your thoughts on the hockey romance craze?