Spark Flash Fiction’s summer issue theme of Destination: Love has me all giddy over the travel romance genre. We’ve received some cute stories so far, and I can’t wait to read all the submissions! The adventurous summertime theme reminded me of several fun novels I’ve read that would fit the Destination: Love theme to a T. All of the following stories feature a transportation adventure on the journey to love.
So That Happened, Katie Bailey
This laugh-out-loud grumpy-sunshine, off-limits workplace romcom with a secret cinnamon roll hero and single bed trope features zany air travel woes.
The Mistletoe Countess, Pepper Basham
Marriage of convenience, Christmastime, and friends-to-lovers all figure into this adventurous novel that features a ship, a train, and an automobile. And perhaps a rope swing. 😉 And even though it’s set during Christmastime, I declare this story is a blast of a read year-round.
Out of Office, Annah Conwell
A novella from The Sweet Peach series, Out of Office is a forced-proximity, coworkers-to-lovers, he-falls-first, road trip story.
An Uncertain Road, Abbey Downey
A historical novel, An Uncertain Road pairs an emotionally scarred hero with a widowed heroine on a grumpy/sunshine, forced-proximity, cross-country road race.
Autumn Skies, Denise Hunter
A tenacious young woman leads a secret service agent recovering from a gunshot on hiking adventures as they each confront their pasts and forge a path to a new beginning.
The Wedding Date Deal, Jordan Millsaps
This sweet fake dating romcom juggles family drama and romantic baggage surrounded by beach vibes and features a funny air travel adventure.
Sadie and the Bad Boy Billionaire, Emma St. Clair
I love the description Emma shared on Instagram that sums it up perfectly: This is a billionaire on a boat with banter book, with perfect summer vibes. You’ll get romance, some adventure, and sister relationships. All on a small-town island with a unique personality.
Cruiseshipped, Savannah Scott
Oh my goodness, have you read the Getting Shipped series from Savannah Scott?! So good! I loved this one featuring a sassy Latina FMC and a firefighter MMC who begin their long-distance love affair on a cruise ship!
The Designated Friend, Drew Taylor
Childhood best friends grow to more on their he-falls-first road trip adventure featuring lots of sweet and swoony banter and flirting.
A Cross-Country Christmas, Courtney Walsh
A Cross-Country Christmas is a Christmastime, brother’s best friend, forced-proximity road trip adventure, but a sweet read any time of year.
The Roads We Follow, Nicole Deese
I haven’t yet read it, but another book that perfectly fits into our theme is written by this issue’s featured author and sits on my nightstand, just waiting to be read. Nicole Deese’s The Roads We Follow gives readers a bit of a mystery surrounding a secretive box of journals and a two-week cross-country road trip that leads to an unforgettable summer romance. I can’t wait to jump into it.
What transportation or adventure stories have you read that would fit the theme of Spark’s Destination: Love? Maybe try your hand at writing your own version of a journey to love. We’d love to read YOUR submission, so I encourage you to send us a story! The deadline is tomorrow (Friday, July 12). More details can be found on Spark’s website.