My Recommended Reading List

These are all my favorite romances so far. I’ve looked at each of these books at least twice I am sure of. They are all romances but My Family and Other Animals. Some Contemporary and some regency, but all amazing. I think out of this entire list my favorite is Geek Girl so save that one for last!

• Geek Girl- Cindy C. Bennett: A goth styled foster child makes a bet with her friends to turn the sweetest, cutest geek into someone like her. Super cute, modern day romance. There’s one scene that could be a bit triggoring because she is remembering a time she was almost raped by her stepfather at age 12. You fall in love with the guy and I ended up really liking her too.
• Reforming Lord Ragsdale- Carla Kelly: A Lord who’s life is a rich mess, a servant forced into an indenture through horrific situations. They hate each other but the servant makes the Lord sign a contract for her freedom in exchange he reform him. This is truly my favorite book (besides the Bible, of course). I appreciate the fact that the author can make the characters go from enemies to friends to lovers. I hate in books when the characters go from hating each other’s guts then suddenly being in love with one another for some dumb reason like “They know the real me.” This makes the romance more believable. I hate it when I am enjoying a plot then the author throws a crazy curveball in the form of a horrific backstory. This annoys me. I like to know something’s up with their past before and it can’t be so terrible I can’t relate or understand. This was done perfectly. You understand from the beginning that both characters have sad backstories and it is smoothly laid out for the reader at the right times. As thier relationship grows, so does our understanding of the characters. Other than that it’s hilarious, especially at the beginning. It gets super sweet by the end. The guy does have a mistress at the beginning but he gets rid of her pretty quick and you kind of end up liking her.
• Veil of Pearls- MaryLu Tyndale: An escaped slave flees to America where she is able to pass off as white and start anew. This was a really sweet book. I liked it a lot. The romance is cute and the characters are endearing. I also read this a long time ago so I kind of forget.
• Beautiful Beast- Cindy C. Bennett: A contemporary version of the famous Beauty and the Beast. It’s short and sweet. This was actually really good. It was a refreshing yet classic tale. I recommend. I’ve read it twice I think.
• The Healer’s Apprentice- Melanie Dickerson: She’ll be the next healer which keeps her safe from unwanted marriages that her parents plan. She finds this appealing but at the same time, the betrothed duke seems very appealing as well. One of my first historical figtion romances and again, I haven’t read it in a while, although I did read it twice.
• Friends and Foes- Sarah M. Eden: A beautiful girl with a damaged leg and a secret service agent trying to pass off as a lazy fop. They hate each other and they’re stuck in the same house together in the 1800’s. I liked this one. I wanted these two to get along so badly but they were just so mean to each other for the longest time.
• The Captive Maiden- Melanie Dickerson: A new twist of a Cinderella story in medieval times. Knights, capture, and rescue. This one was okay. I haven’t read it in a while.
• Seeking Persephone- Sarah M. Eden: We all know the story of Persephone and Hades. Now add a regency, English setting, a barring duke and a beautiful girl who’ll do anything for her family. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. The girl was super cute and the guy was pretty good. If you like an intimidating leading man, this guy is it. He is feared throughout whereever he lives (I don’t remember, its been a while). He decides to get married because he doesn’t want his idiot cousin inheriting his estate and title when he dies. He gets I think his stewart to to find a low income family with a daughter of marrying age to hitch himself up to. He expects some ugly, quiet spinster but gets Persephone instead. She’s pretty and young and marries him to give her sisters a chance at a pleasant life. She’s had to mother them most of their lives. I really liked this one. I’ve read it a ton of times.
• Short-Straw Bride- Karen Witemeyer: Orphaned Meredith Hays is forced to marry a standoffish rancher and his brothers after an assured ruin of reputation. I liked this one and read it a few times. The girl was sweet and the guy too but at the time, he just seemed so old to me. Now I’m sure he’s fine. 30 isn’t that old. The beginning is the most exciting.
• Edenbrooke- Julianne Donaldson: Her father left for France after her mom dies, her sister left for London for a season. She lives with her grandmother who expects her to be prim and proper. No one wants her. Now her mother’s old friend has extended an invitation to spend the summer at her home. This is the book that started it all. The story has everything you’d want in a romance apart from sex. Propriety is important to the characters and they don’t even allude to it. You hate her sister and love the guy. The guy is super flirtatious but only towards her which makes her slightly uncomfortable but she knows she’s in love with him. THeir meeting is the most adorable two scenes I have read ever. I’ve only read this one twice which speaks volumes. When I really, really like a book or movie, I avoid it because I get way to excited and I always want to save it for later. That’s why I’ve only watched the Lord of the Rings once and haven’t seen Frozen or 10 Things since I stopped watching it on repeat years ago.
• Heir to Edenbrooke- Julianne Donaldson: The short backstory of Philip’s perspective from the time he was in the army to time he met the love of his life. This is a perfect followup to Julianne’s last novel and only adds to the to your love of it. I akmost love this as much as the first book though it is only a novela. I’ve read this alone so many times without Edenbrooke.
• A Spy’s Devotion- Melanie Dickerson: An orphan, unkind guardians, and a task of collecting information against the people who’ve taken her in. Will she pull it off to help out her country and a sweet beau? I liked this one and read it a few times.
• P.S. I like You- Kasie West: She gets her note book taken away. Now she finds entertainment in class through note writing a mysterious guy in the next class period. This one’s cute. I’ve read it a few times.
• On the Fence- Kasie West: Stuck with no mom and a bunch of smelly boys, this jock chick now has to get a job to pay off one of her many speeding tickets. What she doesn’t appreciate is that she’s actually got to dress like a girl and model make-up. I actually reread this more recently and I was a little annoyed by the tomboy stereotype played throughout but it was pretty solid overall.
• My Family and Other Animals- Gerald Durrell: You will laugh out loud multiple times and try not to wish you could meet this family. Poor Jerry and his family, one day, decide to move to a Greek island because they thing it’s to cold in England. This rowdy bunch is hilarious. Just wait for all the muck they get them selves into.
• The Weaver’s Daughter- Sarah E. Ladd: The industrial revolution hits traditional weavers pretty hard with the invention of the mills. Now Kate Dealborn must choose between her brother with the mill and kind, handsome mill owner and her stubborn father. I liked this one but we rented it so I only read it once.
• A Walk to Remember- Nicholas Sparks: You will laugh, and then you will cry. About half way, grab your tissues. I’m not going to spoil anything. Really sweet. But you will cry. Get ready with a mop for your puddle of tears.
• By Your Side- Kasie West: A girl gets stuck in a library for a three day weekend with limited food and not heater. Except, she’s not the only one in there. But is he there on purpose or by accident? I read this maybe twice. I liked it.
• The Merchant’s Daughter- Melanie Dickerson: A girl forced into servitude for a harsh duke. I liked this one a lot but then she gets into some trouble covering up for someone else and her guy tries to help her cover it up. It was kind of annoying and I didn’t want the guy to get into trouble. I also haven’t read this one in a while so give it a try. Melanie Dickerson does a lot of Christian romances.
• The Kiss of a Stranger- Sarah M. Eden: Only to get rid of an annoying lady, Chrispin kisses a random perceived servant. Then her uncle gets upset and involved. Now it seems they will be married whether they like it or not. I read this one twice and Loved it both times. Their romance was sweet and you really got to see her grow and fall in love.
• If you ever need a good mini-series the Pride and Prejudice mini-series in 1995 is pure gold. It’s on Youtube I’m pretty sure. I watched it like a comedy and I am obsessed. I’ve had to limit myself to watching twice a year. It never gets old.