Valentine's Day Romance Book Recommendations

As Valentine's Day is this weekend, here are some romance book recommendations for readers who enjoy indulging in a love story.

One of my favourite genres of fiction is romance. Over the years, I've read a lot of romance books, from dark romance to romantasy to YA romance.

I also love a good romcom and watching TV shows and movies that have feel-good love stories. There's just something about the predictability, but also the heartbreak of a romance story that appeals to lots of people.

So, as we are a few days away from Valentine's Day, I'm sharing some of my top romance book recommendations.

Throne of the Fallen

Sub-Genre: Romantasy

Blurb: "With the curse broken, the Prince of Envy is finally free to get his revenge. His scheme requires the assistance of Camilla Antonius, a talented gallery owner and artist. Camilla's skills are needed to help him access a stolen memory Envy believes was painted into an illuminated manuscript that his spies claim is currently being housed in a goddess-run temple on the Shifting Isles.

Camilla's knowledge of art history makes her the best choice for the job, but—despite his allure and how intrigued she is by him—Camilla wants nothing to do with the demon prince, or the Seven Circles after seeing the chaos that follows them. Envy has been plotting for ages and came prepared. He reveals he purchased her father's debts and her assistance is the price he's asking for to clear them. If Camilla refuses to help, he vows to ruin her family, take her gallery, and turn them out on the streets.

Backed into a corner, Camilla is forced to accept the devil's bargain and they soon embark on a journey that may be as dangerous for their hearts as it is for their world."

The Seven Year Slip

Sub-Genre: Magical Realism Romance

Blurb: "Six months ago, Clementine West had the worst day of her life. So, she came up with a plan to keep her heart safe: stay busy, work hard, take no risks. And it’s been working.

That is, until one day she finds a strange man standing in her kitchen. A man with kind eyes, a crooked smile, and a recipe for the perfect lemon meringue pie. The kind of man that, before everything, she could have fallen for …

He’s perfect, but for one thing: he lives in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact.

This should be impossible, but Clementine used to love impossible things. And maybe, just maybe, she will again. After all, love is never a matter of time – but a matter of timing."

Yours Truly

Sub-Genre: Medical Romance

Blurb: "Dr Briana Ortiz's life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalised, her brother's running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants . . . ? Oh, that's probably going to the new man-doctor who's already registering eighty-friggin'-seven on Briana's 'pain in my ass' scale.

But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter. It's a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn't actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who's terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her 'sob closet' and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses.

When Jacob turns out to be the perfect donor for her brother, Bri starts to realise that this quietly sexy new doctor might just be her perfect match, too."

Book Lovers

Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: "One month. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn't see coming....

Nora is a cut-throat literary agent at the top of her game. Her whole life is books.

Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers. And he's Nora's work nemesis.

Nora has been through enough break-ups to know she's the woman men date before they find their happy-ever-after. That's why Nora's sister has persuaded her to swap her desk in the city for a month's holiday in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. It's a small town straight out of a romance novel, but instead of meeting sexy lumberjacks, handsome doctors or cute bartenders, Nora keeps bumping into...Charlie.

She's no heroine. He's no hero. So can they take a page out of an entirely different book?"

Love Redesigned

Sub-Genre: Small Town Romance

Blurb: "Julian:

If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile. So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer. At least until my meddling mother exploits my saviour complex. The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town.

But while I was busy getting rid of Dahlia, I overlooked one potential issue.

What happens if I want her to stay?

Dahlia:

People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one. Julian Lopez - my childhood rival and family frenemy. I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer. Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits.

Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years' worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions.

Giving into our desire is inevitable . . . but falling in love?

That isn't part of the plan."

Fragile Sanctuary

Sub-Genre: Romantic Suspense

Blurb: "The scowl should've been my first sign to stay away from Anson Hunt. The sexy smirk and the fact that he's my brother's best friend? Reasons two and three.

Anson is my opposite in every way: grumpy, rude, and loves his solitude. It doesn’t matter how many times I try to kill him with kindness; the man simply won’t crack.

Until he sees me shatter.

When my world falls apart, Anson catches me. And as so-called “accidents” put my life in danger, he steps in to keep me safe.

But Anson has secrets with a price.

And when they're revealed, neither of us will escape unscathed. . ."

One Golden Summer

Sub-Genre: Summer Romance

Blurb: "I never anticipated Charlie Florek. But Charlie Florek changed my life.

Good things happen at the lake. That's what Alice's Nan always says. And it's true. It's where Alice took that photo, the one that catapulted her career.

But when Nan falls, Alice puts down her camera and heads back to Barry’s Bay. No camera. No deadlines. Quiet… until he shows up.

Charlie Florek. He was nineteen when she accidentally photographed him. Now he’s back - taller, hotter, and somehow even more unforgettable.

Sun-soaked days, slow-burning nights - and when Charlie looks at her like that, Alice starts to wonder if her heart’s in danger.

She’s spent her life seeing others. But no one’s ever truly seen her...until now."

Better Than the Movies

Sub-Genre: Young Adult Romance

Blurb: "Perpetual daydreamer and hopeless romantic Liz Buxbaum gave her heart to Michael a long time ago. But her cool, aloof forever crush never really saw her before he moved away. Now that he’s back in town, Liz will do whatever it takes to get on his radar—and maybe snag him as a prom date—even befriend Wes Bennet.

The annoyingly attractive next-door neighbour might seem like a prime candidate for romantic comedy fantasies, but Wes has only been a pain in Liz’s butt since they were kids. Pranks involving frogs and decapitated lawn gnomes do not a potential boyfriend make. Yet, somehow, Wes and Michael are hitting it off, which means Wes is Liz’s in.

But as Liz and Wes scheme to get Liz noticed by Michael so she can have her magical prom moment, she’s shocked to discover that she likes being around Wes. And as they continue to grow closer, she must re-examine everything she thought she knew about love—and rethink her own ideas of what Happily Ever After should look like."

First-Time Caller

Sub-Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb: "Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom Lucie, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending. . . even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her."

Problematic Summer Romance

Sub-Genre: Holiday Romance

Blurb: "Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.

Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It's such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother's best friend and the girl he never even knew existed.

As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

But not everything is as it seems - and clichés sometimes become plot twists.

When Maya's brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her.

And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs - even if it's a problematic one."

So, if you're looking for new romance novel to indulge in this Valentine's Day, then I hope you enjoy these recommendations.

Until next time...