I read all year, mostly fiction, and primarily romance. Summer is peak reading time for me. I don’t know why I seem to read more in the summer, I’ve always been that way. By far my most favorite thing to do is to float around in my pool with a good book in my hand. I literally chew through a novel or two a week. I don’t get to float around in my pool everyday, but I try to carve out fifteen minutes on my daily lunch break and about thirty minutes before bed each night to read. Weekends, those are reserved for my pool and a good book.
Over the past few years, I’ve read through a couple of romance series, and found some absolute treasures in romance and erotica during my summer reading sprints. A few years back I did a post about my favorite beach reads. I wanted to revamp this list a and share some candidates for Hot Romance Book Summer:
Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
Okay, so historical romance is not normally my cup of tea. I found this gem of a book in a funny way. I bought a Kindle a few years back, especially for pool reading after I had a few sunken book mishaps. One night I grabbed a couple of samples and this one piqued my interest. I read a few pages and decided to read something else instead, after all I don’t really read historical romance, but the thing was, I literally could not stop thinking about those few pages. Long story short, I went back and bought the book, and holy cow, I am so glad I did.
The story opens in 1853 with a wagon train headed West from Missouri to California. Naomi May, is a young widow travelling with her family for a new life out West. Her family buys a few mules from trader in Missouri and she meets John Lowry, the shopkeeper’s son. John Lowry is half native-American, rugged and damn handsome. As the train moves West a love story develops over the rough terrain between Naomi and John. It is at time passionate and intense, and soft and nuanced. I literally could not put this book down. The ending to this book left me speechless, and I will never forget it. This was an incredible read!
Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders
I found this book over at Love’s Sweet Arrow a Romance only book store in Tinley Park, IL. I recognized the author from the book Whiteout (epicly good btw!). I didn’t realize Ms. Ander’s has written quite a few romance novels, and I adore when I find a new author who I can read through their catalogue of work. I picked up this title, a little unsure if I’d like but, I thought why not give it a shot.
From the first page I could not put this book down, it just kept getting better and better. This book tells the love story of Uma, a woman who is fleeing an abusive relationship, and Ive, a man with a past. Uma, take a job as a caretaker for a cantankerous old woman in a small town where a tattoo removal clinic helps women with a history of domestic abuse remove them free of charge.
Ive, the old woman’s neighbor, is big, tattooed and would scare most away, and yet for Uma, the man is butter inside. This book is a scorcher as well! I only read Ander’s Whiteout prior to picking this up so I didn’t realize that the woman can write intimacy, boy can she write intimate scenes. In both of her books that I’ve read so far, the hottest, and I mean 4-alarm hottest, scenes have been when one or both of the characters are still dressed! I am not kidding! This is a masterclass in writing sex.
All of the sexiness aside, the story was complex, layered and kept me on the edge of my seat. I read this book so fast, that I had to remind myself to read more slowly and savor the book. Afterall, you only get to read a book for the first time, once. Do yourself a favor, grab a copy of this one, (or Whiteout!) you will not be dissapointed.
Follow Me Darkly By Helen Hardt
Falling squarely in the erotic section section of my summer reading que, Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt was a steamy affair. I spent the last two summers reading though her Steel Brothers Saga (also incredibly good.. but MAJOR TRIGGER WARNINGS on that series!) so, I thought it might be fun to pick up a newer work of hers.
The story opens on the main character Skye Manning, a receptionist to Instagram influencer Addie Acres. She is the quintessential assistant, and has aspirations of one day being a world famous photographer. She meets the infamous Braden Black, bachelor, and Boston playboy one day by chance in Addie’s office.
Hardt wastes no time in cranking up the heat between the two characters. I liked the story and while it tells a love story, it’s all about the sex. Having read a lot of Hardt’s other work, I know that she primarily writes about power, and dominance in her sex scenes. This book is no exception. Braden Black sizzles as the hunky domineering alpha-male in this book.
I liked the book, I really did but, I think stories where one partner must fully submit to the other, even as a willing partner is no longer entertaining for me to read. Braden’s command is that he will give the climax-challenged Sky orgasms galore, as long as she willingly gives up all control to Braden in the bedroom. At no point does Braden, coax, manipulate or abuse Skye, but I just don’t think this genre meshes with who I am as a person. That being said, the book is hot, steamy, and a great summer read.
The Last Chance Rescue Series by Christy Reece
So I picked up the entire Last Chance Rescue series at my favorite second-hand bookshop in Michigan. This series is the penultimate summer book series, they’re full of action, a great love story and their steamy! I’ve read books 1-4 at this point and I have to say, they are so much fun to read. I highly recommend picking up the series, for a summer of romantic adventure.
To Be Read Titles This Summer:
With all of the awesome books already listed, I have a literal stack in my to be read pile. These are the titles that next up for my hot book summer.
Grown Ups By Marian Keyes
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
Faker by Sarah Smith
Neon Gods by Katee Robert
The Invisible Husband of Fisk Island by Colleen Oakley
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