Review - - Hot in Hellcat Canyon

Hot in Hellcat Canyon

By Julie Anne Long

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 31, 2016

 

Unroll the banners, strike up the band, and profligately fling confetti. Julie Anne Long’s debut as a contemporary romance author is reason enough for romance readers to celebrate. Hot in Hellcat Canyon is funny, sexy, smart, and heart-melting. I added it to my best of 2016 list the minute I completed my first reading.

After her life in Southern California disintegrated, Britt Langley retreated to Hellcat Canyon, a quirky small town in historic Gold Rush country. She works as a waitress at the Misty Cat Saloon and as manager for Gold Nugget Property Management. She enjoys the individuals that make up the Hellcat community while preserving a distance that protects her privacy and her heart.  Her past is past chronologically, but its effects are still very much with Britt. Just the name of her former husband is enough to paralyze her with fear.

John Tennessee McCord, known as J. T., is a forty-year-old actor best known for Blood Brothers, a popular television series in which J. T. played a cop, and as half of a super couple that ruled as media darlings for five years (in the tradition of Bennifer and Brangelina). But Blood Brothers is seen only in reruns nearly a decade after its final episode, the super couple is history, and J. T.’s recent films, although they have won him critical acclaim, have not been commercial successes. He is hopeful that The Rush, the new TV series set in the California Gold Rush in which he is set to star, will be received more warmly. On his way to a friend’s wedding, he decides to check out the site where The Rush will be filmed. His truck breaks down in Hellcat Canyon, and what was meant to be a brief stay becomes an extended one.

Britt and J.T. meet when he stops at the Misty Cat. The scene that introduces J. T. is just one example of the brilliance of Long’s word craft in this book as she evokes the hero of an old-time Western, has Britt draw the comparison, and ends with a simple statement that awards J. T. that heroic stature. The attraction between Britt and J. T. is immediate, but it involves more than physical appeal. They appreciate one another’s intelligence and ready wit from the first, and as they get to know one another better, the attraction encompasses all the dimensions of the persons they are. J. T.’s celebrity world intrudes on their idyll, bringing complications in the guise of a long-time frenemy and J. T.’s glamorous and scheming ex, but it is Britt’s fears that are the biggest obstacle to their HEA.

When Julie Anne Long announced that her next book after the long-awaited Legend of Lyon Redmond would be a contemporary romance, I went into mourning. Her historical romances have been a highlight of my reading year for more than a decade, and while I did not doubt that her contemporary romance would be written with her usual skill and grace, I did question if it could possibly compare to the Pennyroyal Green books. My worries were wasted. Hot in Hellcat Canyon showcases this author’s deft characterization, attention-grabbing plots, and wondrous prose—all the qualities that made me love her historicals.

Words are inadequate to express my delight in watching Britt and J. T. fall in love. First, there is the fact that these are characters who have lived. Their years have developed their characters, and neither is defined by one bad love affair. Even more rewarding is the fact that they are fully dimensional characters, and the progress of their relationship involves all these dimensions. I loved that J. T. is initially intrigued by Britt’s use of “enigmatic” in conversation. The sexual tension is high and the love scenes sizzle, but there is a refreshing absence of the insta-lust that too often prevails in current contemporary romance. When Britt thinks about her first encounter with J. T., her thoughts are anything but generic sexual longing. They are specific to Britt and J. T., and for readers, they touch what Faulkner called the “resonant strings of remembering.”

Because from the moment he’d walked in, it was as if someone had dialed the universe up a notch: all the colors were just a little brighter and everything seemed more distinct and more beautiful, and her very blood seemed to buzz.

And oh, that first kiss. I do love an author who understands how important that scene is. Long had already won a place on my best-first-kiss scenes ever with What I Did for a Duke (2011), but I think this one is even better. To give you just a brief sample . . .

And then her eyes closed, and magically, as if they both knew this was the next step in the dance, they were leaning into each other, and his lips leisurely, softly brushed across hers. It was the kind of caress, he knew from experience, that let all of your other nerve endings know that mind-blowing pleasure was on its way. 

The humor is another delight, and it ranges from subtle wit to physical comedy. I particularly loved J. T.’s reaction to the girly bread-and-breakfast and Britt and friend as inebriated artists. Although Long keeps the focus on the romance, she also shows the reader Hellcat Canyon as a physical place and as a community. It is as if the reader is watching as a gifted painter creates a landscape or a brilliant cinematographer captures the features and the faces. Only the medium this artist uses is words. From the pets to the jerks to the town eccentrics, the secondary and tertiary characters are individuals who have their own stories. With enthusiasm and eagerness, I await whichever of those Hellcat Canyon stories Long chooses to tell in coming months and years. 

I give Hot in Hellcat Canyon my highest recommendation. I’ve read it twice, and writing this review has left me hungry to read it again. If you love contemporary romance, be sure this one is on your TBR list. I have the feeling that it will be showing up on many lists at year’s end.

~Janga

Today's Special - - Wild at Whiskey Creek

Janga and I have been fans of Julie Anne Long's writing for almost ten years. The Legend of Lyon Redmond, the long-awaited conclusion of her Pennyroyal Green historical romance series was on both of our Best of 2015 book lists and I'm pretty sure her contemporary debut, Hot in Hellcat Canyon will be on both of our "best of" lists for this year. In addition to that, July brought one of the highlights of our reading lives when Long was awarded the 2016 RITA® for Best Historical Romance:Short for her 10th Pennyroyal Green novel, It Started With a Scandal and during her acceptance speech thanked both of us by name for our enthusiastic support of her books over the years. In light of all that, when it came time to talk about her newest book, Wild at Whiskey Creek, we thought we'd take a different approach. Instead of one of us writing a formal review, we've decided to share with you our recent conversation about why we love this book and give it our enthusiastic recommendation. 

PJ: Janga and I both fell in love with Julie Anne Long’s contemporary debut Hot in Hellcat Canyon and have been eagerly anticipating a return visit with the publication of Wild at Whiskey Creek. I was even more excited when I learned that this book would feature a friends-to-lovers journey for by-the-book sheriff’s deputy, Eli and always-pushing-the-boundaries musician, Glory. These two could not be more different, yet from an early age there has been an unshakable bond between them. Well, unshakable until Eli arrested his best friend, Jonah, who happens to be Glory’s older brother, and had him sent to prison. That would put a damper on any budding relationship, don’t you agree, Janga? 

Janga: Oh, yeah, you have to love that friends-to-lovers trope, especially when the friends to lovers journey runs into the kind of obstacles JAL gives her characters. Speaking of characters, I love the realness of Glory and Eli. Glory has the kind of toughness and tenacity necessary for a poor girl with a big dream, and JAL shows those qualities in ways that give Glory a certain edginess but also in ways that earn the reader’s respect. The toughness is offset by vulnerability. How can you not root for a heroine who understands the “chasm between wanting and having” and what it costs to build a bridge across it and who also still cherishes a stuffed animal? And I adore Eli! He is a man of integrity, not just in the sense of being morally upright and doing the right thing, even when it exacts a personal cost but also in the original sense of the word, possessing a wholeness. All the pieces of who Eli is fit together to give him a completeness that I find irresistible. Then there is the perfection of Eli and Glory together. As you say, PJ, they are opposites in many ways, but I believe in them as a couple because they are also alike in some significant ways. JAL is no slouch when it comes to creating secondary characters either.

PJ: That stuffed animal and all it represents about broke my heart. JAL has a knack for inserting things into her stories, like Glory’s tiger, that seem subtle and unimportant at first glance but carry a whale of an emotional punch. And yes, she is a master at creating complex, fully-dimensional, real characters, whether they are in the spotlight or part of the fabric of the town. One of the things I most enjoy about these books is the community she has created. Everyone has a role – whether large or small – and each contributes in their own way to the story. I have yet to find a single throwaway character. Also, I grew up in a small town and, believe me, she nails the class structure, humor, and emotion of small town life. And speaking of humor, once again she had me rolling with laughter at some of the antics of her characters and the brilliant dialog she gifted them. I’ve met more than a few retirees in mobile home parks in Florida that could be the real-life inspirations for the elderly spitfires at the Heavenly Shores Mobile Estates Retirement Community and the Elysian Acres Mobile Estates. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d think the elderly gentleman on the souped-up mobility scooter was based on my late husband. Did I ever tell you about how he used to challenge neighbor kids to races (they, on their bicycles and he, on his own mobility scooter)? Long's senior citizen characters are that outrageous, and that true to life. Also, while not a person, Glory’s music is such an intrinsic part of her being that it almost carries the weight of an actual character.

Janga: The small-town setting rings true with me too. I particularly liked the names of businesses like the Misty Cat and the Plugged Nickel. In my experience, small towns are great with those distinctive names. The music is a definite strength in this novel. I’m not musical generally. I’m much more attuned to the rhythm and lyricism of a writer’s prose (another reason I have always been a JAL fan), but I could hear Glory’s voice. I’m sure part of it was her covers of songs I know well enough by the original artists to have them in my head. Julie said in her recent AAR interview that there will be a “Spotify list for readers including those songs.” Hurrah! But I could hear Glory’s own songs too, and I was so happy that some of the lyrics were included. I always wonder about songwriter characters who don’t share any of their songs.

PJ: Yes! Glory was so authentic, so believable, her lyrics so heartfelt that when I turned the final page of the book the first thing I wanted to do was download her album. Sure, I know she isn’t real and that there isn’t an album but for one exciting moment, I let myself believe.

Janga: Overall, Wild at Whiskey Creek was another JAL winner for me. I confess that I still like Hot in Hellcat Canyon best, and I connected with Britt and J.T. in that way readers do with the leads in their best beloved books, but this second book is superb on its own merits. Best of all, I am eager for the next book.

PJ: I agree, Janga. Hot in Hellcat Canyon is one of the best books I’ve read in years and, like you, I connected with Britt and J.T. in a visceral way but Wild at Whiskey Creek is close on its heels and I’m excited to see what Julie Anne Long brings us next. There are so many fascinating secondary characters waiting in the wings for their stories. Whose books are you most excited to read?

Janga: Jonah is my first choice for book 3 and I’m also very interested in seeing Franco leveled by love. However, I hear that Eden Harwood is next, and her story is promising too - - plus that means more of Annelise (Eden’s adorable daughter). You know me, PJ; if a book has Julie Anne Long’s name as author on the cover, I’m going to be reading it.

PJ: I can’t believe I’m saying this (because I found him incredibly annoying in the first book) but I think I’m most excited for Franco’s story. He surprised me in this book with glimpses of depths I didn’t think he had. It’s going to be so much fun to watch him fall! Of course, I’m pulling for Jonah and his redemption. I do love a good second-chance story. But, let’s face it, it doesn’t really matter who is third…or fourth…or fifth. Returning to Hellcat Canyon for anyone’s story will be a treat. The truth is, Janga, if the book has Julie Anne Long’s name on the cover, we’ll both be reading it!

Readers, have you read Wild at Whiskey Creek yet? What did you think? Whose book are you most excited to read next?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janga and I hope you've enjoyed this post. We plan to make it an ongoing feature and already have a book in mind for the next one. What we don't have is a title for our book conversations so that they can be easily identifiable and grouped together for searching - like we have for Janga's "On Second Thought" reviews. So we're tossing it to you, the Dish readers. What do you think we should call our new feature? Leave your suggestions in the comments. If we choose your suggested name, I'll send you a package of books, including a copy of Wild at Whiskey Creek. (U.S. only) If the winner lives outside the U.S. I'll send you the book of your choice from bookdepository.com. (value not to exceed $10 US)

Everyone knows the Greenleaf family puts the “Hell” in Hellcat Canyon—legend has it the only way they ever leave is in a cop car or a casket. But Glory Greenleaf has a different getaway vehicle in mind: her guitar. She has a Texas-sized talent and the ambition (and attitude) to match, but only two people have ever believed in her: her brother, who’s in jail, and his best friend . . . who put him there.

Sheriff Eli Barlow has secretly been in love with Glory since he was twelve years old. Which is how he knows her head is as hard as her heart is soft—and why she can’t forgive him for fracturing her family . . . or forget that night they surrendered to an explosive, long-simmering passion. But when a betrayal threatens Glory’s big break, Eli will risk everything to make it right . . . because the best way to love the girl from Whiskey Creek might mean setting her free forever.

RWA Does Disney: A Look Back...And Ahead

With Susan Elizabeth Phillips at the Dolphin Resort - 2010

As we gear up for next month's RWA national conference at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Disney World, I thought I'd take a look back at the first Disney conference and ahead to this year's which is only four weeks away. 

The 2010 RWA National Conference was supposed to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. I was excited about exploring a city I'd only driven through before but torrential rains that led to catastrophic flooding had the folks at RWA scrambling to make a last minute change (the conference hotel was under water). They came through like champs and soon readers and authors were heading south to Orlando, Florida and the home of Mickey Mouse and his many friends. 

Tessa Dare: Literacy Autographing 2010

After rapidly selling all copies of her debut book, Goddess of the Hunt at her first Literacy Autographing in 2009, Tessa Dare turned that "sold out" frown upside down with a RITA® nomination in 2010. 










Several RITA nominations, and wins, later, Dare kicks off her fifth series August 22 with the publication of The Duchess Deal and she's once again a RITA finalist, this time for Do You Want to Start a Scandal, one of my favorite books of 2016. (read my Top Dish review)

Eloisa James:Literacy Autographing 2010

Eloisa James sure looks excited and with good reason. Those are two awesome EJ books she's holding! Have you read her newest, Seven Minutes in Heaven? Janga and I chatted about it in our February 2017 Just Between Us feature. Eloisa has a new series beginning this fall with the October 31 release of Wilde in Love, which features one of my all-time favorite covers and step-backs!

Step-back (inside cover) of Wilde in Love

Catching up with the lovely Emily March/Geralyn Dawson at the Harlequin party...which was fabulous! Are you reading Emily's Eternity Springs series? Stop by June 30 when Janga and I chat about the newest Eternity Springs novel, A Stardance Summer in a Just Between Us feature. 












Chatting with one of my favorite authors, Monica McCarty. She's been an autobuy for me since the publication of her debut book. 

I've loved McCarty's highlander heroes but I'm looking forward to meeting her Navy SEALs in her upcoming (present day) Lost Platoon series. It all begins with the September 5 publication of book one: Going Dark. 

The Avon party was held at the Living Seas Aquarium in Epcot. What a beautiful venue! Enjoying the party are Jeanne Adams, Terri Garey and Sarah MacLean. 









Are you as excited for The Day of the Duchess, the third book in MacLean's Scandal and Scoundrel series as I am? It publishes in two days! 

















Here I am with my favorite Brit, Anna Sugden. 

Have you checked out Anna's hockey hunks yet? A Perfect Strategy was released in February. 

You may think Anna Campbell and I spend a lot of time hugging and laughing at conferences. You'd be right! I'll miss her at next month's conference but she's back in Australia after three months jaunting around England, Scotland, and Belgium. Check out her gorgeous photos at her Facebook page.

Don't forget to also check out Anna's newest Dashing Widows novella, Catching Captain Nash. It releases June 30! 

Besides being one of my all-time favorite authors, Lisa Kleypas is also one of the sweetest, most genuine people I have ever met. And gorgeous. The woman is gorgeous.  

Are you reading Lisa's new Ravenels historical romance series? The third book, Devil in Spring released in February and the hero is the son of fan-favorite hero, Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent from Kleypas' Wallflowers series. You can read my review here. 

Debbie Mazzuca captured my attention with her debut book, Lord of the Isles, a paranormal historical romance. After meeting her in person, I was even more captivated by the sweet, genuine person she is. 

Now writing as Debbie Mason, she's become one of my go-to authors for heartwarming contemporary romance featuring humor and emotion. Her next book, Primrose Lane releases June 27 and it's another winner in her Harmony Harbor series. 

2010

Anytime I get to see Julie Anne Long in person is a cause for celebration. I adored Long's historical Pennyroyal Green series and am head over heels for her new Hellcat Canyon contemporary romances. She won the RITA last year for the tenth book in her Pennyroyal Green series,
It Started with a Scandal. (Top Dish review) She's a RITA finalist again this year for her first Hellcat Canyon book, Hot in Hellcat Canyon. (Top Dish review)  

Book three in Long's Hellcat Canyon series, Dirty Dancing at Devil's Leap, will be out August 29. I've had it on pre-order since January 11. Yes, I love her writing that much. :) 

Roxanne St. Claire 2010

I'm a long-time fan of Roxanne St. Claire's books. I discovered her during her romantic suspense, Bullet Catchers years then followed her into her Barefoot Bay contemporaries, including her Timeless (Barefoot Bay) spinoff trilogy featuring sexy silver fox heroes, and her romantic suspense Barefoot Bay Undercover quartet where we finally got the long-anticipated story of fan favorite, Gabriel Rossi. One of St. Claire's sexy silver foxes brought her a RITA nomination this year for Barefoot at Midnight. We'll have to wait until Thursday, July 27 to see if she brings home another pretty gold statue. 

While I've loved all of her books, for me, it's St. Claire's current Dogfather series, centered around a large, boisterous, loving, Irish-American family in North Carolina and the dogs they rescue and train, that has wrapped up my reader's heart with a great big bow. And, for St. Claire, a dog lover and animal rescue proponent herself, these stories and the fact that she's donating a portion of book sales to a no-kill rescue organization in her home state show what a warm, loving, and huge heart this woman has. Start with Sit...Stay...Beg, then move on to New Leash on Life and the soon to be released, Bad to the Bone. 

Kristan Higgins 2010

Kristan Higgins was a recent discovery for me when I first met her in 2010. I adored her book, Too Good to Be True which was a RITA finalist that year. Kristan won the RITA and kept her promise to celebrate (fully clothed) in the center lobby pool at the Dolphin (see photo of fountain at top of this post), much to the delight of all who witnessed the event. Except, perhaps, the hotel staff? (grin) 

In the years since, I've come to know Kristan better and am happy to report that in addition to being an incredibly talented author, she's also one of the kindest, strongest, funniest, and most genuine women I've had the honor of meeting. Her next book, Now That You Mention It, will be out in December of this year.  








If you're in the Orlando area, you too can meet some of your favorite authors this summer. RWA will sponsor the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing on Saturday, July 29 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET.  Admission is free and all proceeds of book sales will benefit literacy organizations. As recently reported, in 2016, RWA reached $1 Million dollars in donations to benefit literacy organizations. For a complete list of the authors who will be signing, click here. 

Have you ever visited Disney World? What was your favorite attraction?

Are you a hugger? You've probably guessed from the photos that I am so be prepared if we ever meet in person. ;-)

Will you be attending next month's RWA conference or the Literacy Autographing? If so, I'd love the opportunity to meet you! 

What author(s) would you most like to meet and what would you ask them?  

I have a package of books and swag looking for a home. One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 p.m. ET, June 26 will win! (U.S. only)

Our Favorite Romances of 2016

We're almost halfway through December and 2017 will soon be here. Seems like a good time to chat about those books published in 2016 that touched our hearts, tickled our funny bones, kept us peeking over our shoulders late into the night, and gave us heroines to admire and heroes to fuel our dreams. Janga, Manda, Nancy, Hellie and I have worked hard to whittle our lists down (and, believe me, it wasn't easy!) and bring you our favorite romances of 2016. 

Janga’s Favorites

Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long

I’ve known for years that JAL was one of the best historical romance writers around, and this year she proved that she is also one of the best contemporary romance writers around as well. I loved this book. It was a win-win-win for me— Hot in Hellcat Canyon was the best romance of the year, Britt and J. T. are my favorite couple of the year, and Hellcat Canyon is my favorite new series of 2016. And if anyone starts a list of the best quote from a romance novel in 2016, J. T.’s wedding speech gets my vote. All this plus a second book, Wild at Whiskey Creek, that is a stellar follow-up to JAL’s contemporary debut. Read our review.

My American Duchess by Eloisa James

One of the many reasons that I am a major Eloisa James fan is her ability to take even the tiredest conventions of historical romance and make them fresh and uniquely hers. I love her use of several tropes in My American Duchess, ranging from favorites like marriage in trouble and an American in London to some I’m kind of meh about such as love at first sight and twins to one I try to avoid, the love triangle. I ended up loving them all in MAD as Merry and Trent made their complicated way to an HEA—and I’ll never look at a pineapple again without thinking of this book. Read our review.

Do You Want to Start a Scandal? by Tessa Dare

A Week to Be Wicked is still my favorite Tessa Dare novel, but it is only a hair ahead of Do You Want to Start a Scandal? Charlotte Highwood is a thoroughly likeable character, intelligent and witty and self-aware despite her youth. I am so glad she said yes to her marquess. Piers Brandon, the Marquess of  Granville, is competent and confident, and he is also that too rare hero with a great sense of humor. Their story made me smile, giggle to myself, and chortle in seeming stereo, but it also had some poignant moments, including a surprisingly different look at Charlotte’s embarrassing, managing mother. Read our review.

The Summer Bride by Anne Gracie

Anne Gracie is another of my never-fail authors, and she proved why she deserves that status with the conclusion to her Chance Sisters series. As much as I love romances filled with lords and ladies, I also cherish those that offer atypical characters. Gracie does just that with Daisy, a cockney foundling who grew up in a brothel, and whose highest ambition now is to establish her independence as the most fashionable dressmaker in London, and Patrick Flynn, a handsome Irishman who earned a partnership in a shipping company through native ability, hard work, and luck. I love a self-made hero, and Patrick is a charmer who won my heart. This was a wonderfully satisfying end to a terrific series. Read our review.

Play by Karina Bliss (in the You Had Me at Christmas anthology)

I’m in love with Bliss’s Solid Rock series, and Play is my favorite novella of 2016.  When it’s done well, marriage in trouble is one of my favorite tropes, and it is done superbly in this story. Jared and Kayla’s love is real, but so are their problems. Bliss mixes humor, heartache, and all the tangled connections in a long and loving relationship in this story—and she avoids simplistic fixes. I laughed out loud at times, and I wiped away tears at others. Even though the story is short, I never felt cheated. I give this novella practically perfect marks for excellence across the board. Read our review.

Temptations of a Wallflower by Eva Leigh

I have a deep affection for historical romances that feature writer heroines that I trace back to my favorite heroines of girl books—Jo March, Anne Shirley, and Betsy Ray. I also love the wallflower trope, vicar heroes, and lucid, lyrical prose. Temptations of a Wallflower gave me all these things in one book. I described it in my review as “a gem of a book that blends feminist themes, engaging characters, and sensual romance that succeeds on multiple levels.” I added it to my Best of 2016 list when I first read it in April. A later, second reading reaffirmed my conviction that it belongs on this list. Read our review.

Secrets of a Soprano by Miranda Neville

Neville is one of those authors who always give her readers something a bit different. In this novel, she creates not only a wonderfully rewarding romance but also a look at the world of opera at a time when the public’s fascination with the stars of opera paralleled contemporary obsession with rock stars and top box-office draws. Neville honors the unwritten contract with her readers and gives Tessa and Max their HEA, but their journey to a blissful reunion is a fraught one—and Tessa’s celebrity is a realistic complication and a reminder that ours is not the first age to create and destroy idols. This is a fascinating and intelligent novel, so no surprise that it is one of my top reads of the year.

Good Dukes Wear Black by Manda Collins

There is something particularly sweet about seeing a friend whose unpublished manuscripts showed she had the spark produce a book that clearly places her among the best writers of her subgenre. Ophelia is an amazing heroine—intelligent, compassionate, and believable in her independence and risk-taking. Piers falls in love with her for all these qualities and supports her rather than trying to change her. Added to this superb characterization is an ideal balance of romance and mystery. Good Dukes Wear Black is on my list because of its merits, but my cheers are especially hearty because the author is my friend. Read our review.

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

It has been more than twenty years since I first read It Had to Be You, the book that introduced the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I knew on that first reading that I had a keeper to which I would return many times. I felt the same way when I read the eighth entry in the series. With its rule-bending heroine who hides her vulnerabilities and arrogant alpha athlete hero, First Star I See Tonight is vintage Phillips; but it also has a fresh, twenty-first century appeal with its private-investigator heroine and its hero whose heart proves to be as big as his ego. The snarky banter showcases SEP’s genius, and the humor hits the mark every time.

Her Hopes and Dreams by Terri Osburn

Heroines who are recovering from domestic abuse and heroes who struggle with PTSD populate the pages of contemporary romance with a regularity that threatens to dull reader sympathies, but Terri Osburn proves in Her Hopes and Dreams that a gifted author can still take these characters and present them with a power that packs a stunning emotional punch. Carrie Farmer and Noah Winchester give these social problems working-class faces and a painful reality that makes their hard-won happiness incredibly satisfying. That letter scene is one of my favorites ever. (I must have read it at least six times.) And, as with Good Dukes Wear Black, I’m waving two flags for Her Hopes and Dreams, one for splendid authorial achievement and one for joy in a friend’s success. 

I promised PJ that I would whittle my much-longer list of much-loved books of 2016 to just ten, but I have to award Honorable Mention to The Wicked Duke by Madeline Hunter, Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney, Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan, When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards, and The Earl by Katharine Ashe. 

Manda's Favorites

It’s been a weird reading year for me. I haven’t had as much time as usual to read and what I did read ended up being gloms of older books or rereads of old favorites. Even so, the new books I did read were outstanding. So Here’s my, admittedly subjective, list:

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

Every time I think the writing team of Christina Lauren can’t get any better, or that they’ve bitten off more than they can chew, they prove me wrong. A sexy, emotional story about two people who don’t think they’re together for the long haul, who end up falling hopelessly in love.

Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra

I love everything I’ve ever read by Virginia Kantra (and I’ve read almost all of them) but this story really got to me with its ex-con determined to do the right thing hero and abuse-survivor heroine who wants to do right by her child. I especially loved the slow build romance, and Gabe’s relationship with Jane’s son, but it’s ultimately the decency of the hero—and indeed all of Kantra’s heroes—that will keep me coming back as fast as she can write. Read our review.

Deep Dark by Laura Griffin

Whenever I think of authors who write long series set in the same world, I somehow forget about Laura Griffin. I think it’s because every book in her long running Tracers series feels like an individual. They might be set in the same world, but each of the characters and crimes is different enough that it’s all new and exciting every time. In Deep Dark, she teams up a former computer hacker turned Cyber Crime investigator for the Delphi Center and a world weary police detective who can’t help but be drawn to the gutsy techie with pink hair and a smart mouth. The mystery was satisfyingly complex and the romance was smoking. Can’t get much better than that!

Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James

There’s a secret at the heart of Lost Among the Living, so I can’t say too much about the romance other than that this pair broke my heart, then put it back together again. St. James’ books are hard to categorize since they’re part mystery, part romance, part horror, but her excellent, lyrical prose and inventive storytelling made this not only one of my favorites of the year, but of all time. She’s just that good. If you are at all interested in the period between WWI and WWII, or you’re a Downton Abbey fan, these books are for you.

Steadfast by Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen published several wonderful books this year (Rookie Move, I love you!) but Bittersweet is the one that I’ve thought about the most since I turned the last page. You see a lot about the opioid epidemic in the news, but not so much in romance fiction—even in romantic suspense, which seems like it would be be a good fit. And when you hear that the hero is fresh from a stint in prison AND an addict you might think this isn’t the book for you. That would be a mistake. Bittersweet is gritty, it’s true, and some of the aspects of Jude’s life aren’t pretty (he’s broke, and there’s no billionaire on the horizon to bail him out or set him up in a new life) but it’s also a wonderful story about recovery and survival and how love can survive even the most traumatic circumstances. And heroine Sophie is tough despite her good girl exterior, making her Jude’s perfect match.

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

By now you might expect SEP to rest on her laurels, but with First Star I See Tonight, she’s proved she’s still got “it”—whatever “it” may be. It’s got a quirky heroine and a smooth-talking football player hero, and there are as many laughs as you’d expect from the author who introduced us to the “cereal killer”. But it also has a mystery plot, which, you know me, I LOVED. This book was just what I needed this year, and I was thrilled to spend a little time with some of my other favorite characters from The Chicago Stars series. Just happy sighs all around.

Nancy's Favorites

One particular writing project and months of remodeling have consumed much of my year.  I found myself reading some new books along with older ones I’d had for years, meaning to read them but never getting to them.   

Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney  
A soldier earl meets an unconventional woman in the mountains of Portugal at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.  As they defend her friends’ castle against marauding French troops, they’re drawn to each other. She thinks she’s too unconventional to appeal to a man, but can he convince her otherwise? Nice mix of romance, history, and action.  
Read our review.

Magic in the Stars by Patricia Rice
When an astrologer brings dire warnings to her cousins, they brush off her concerns. Theo, the hero, is an astronomer and has no use for astrology.  Still, Aster is determined to save Theo’s brother.  As she works to convince Theo of the threat, his knowledge of astronomy offers a chance to change her own star-crossed destiny.
Read our review.

Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
The latest installment in the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series has Kate and her fiancé, the former Beast Lord, planning their wedding while battling the usual assortment of vampires and other paranormal beings.  A worse problem is that Kate’s father is interfering in Atlanta. As though that weren’t enough, prophecies predict that Atlanta will be doomed if Kate and Curran marry. 

Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts
This second book in the Guardians Trilogy is my favorite.  Annika, a mermaid, has a sweet nature that sometimes masks her steely determination and courage.  Magical traveler Sawyer, a vagabond at heart, is drawn to that sweetness. But Sawyer, too, has steel at his core.  The quest for the second star turns ugly when Nerezza’s minion captures Sayer and Annika. The final battle shows just how much each will risk to save the other. Read our review.

The Kill Sign by Nichole Christoff
Private investigator and security expert Jamie Sinclair goes to Mississippi to see Lt. Col. Adam Barrett, her military policeman boyfriend, after a long separation, only to have the reunion disrupted by a bomb. Working to find the bomber, she realizes her relationship with Barrett, complicated by a DEA Agent who’s attracted to her, is going in a direction she isn’t sure she wants. The events of the story bring clarity on a couple of points as well as a resolution to the plot.

Alone in the Dark by Karen Rose
Newspaper publisher and former Army Ranger Marcus O’Bannion meets a troubled young girl in an alley, only to have her shot before she can tell him her situation.  The homicide detective who responds to the call, Scarlett Bishop, and Marcus have met before.  There was a connection between them then, and working to solve the mystery of the young woman’s death, which ties into a human trafficking ring, brings them closer together.  Action, suspense,  dominate, but the romance is strong. 

Though these four books weren't published in 2016, Nancy read them for the first time this year and wanted to give them special mention: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley, Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase, Shadow's End by Thea Harrison, and His First and Last by Terri Osburn. 


Hellie's Favorites

I narrowed my list to 5 because I wanted to focus on the MOST memorable for me, though I loved so many more books and there will be books on everyone's lists where I'm all, "Oh, I loved that!", but these have sat with me, even after I've read them (thought WAWC is rather new, I think it's going to sit with me a long time.)

Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long

My thoughts as gushed on The Romance Dish were: “I just finished reading it tonight--and the black moments were SO BLACK and the groveling was so ROMANTIC and that speech he gave. *swoon* I cannot wait for further books in this series and am STOKED that the next book will have the sheriff and the girl at open mike night. But I want books for Casey and Kayla and even Franco--I really want one for Franco. *LOL* I even want a book for Truck. This is going to be as brilliant a series as the Pennyroyal Green series. I want to read it again; I want to highlight my favorite passages; I want to write odes to Julie Anne Long.” Read our review.

Wild at Whiskey Creek by Julie Anne Long

My thoughts as gushed on The Romance Dish were: “OH MY GOD. I loved this story. It was so RAW and emotional and there were so many times I wanted to drunk text Julie and go, "OMG, how do you know my friends? Did I introduce you?" because seriously that sheriff and arresting the "blood" thing SO HAPPENED in my life. That whole dynamic was just freaky to read. I swear Julie and I MUST be cousins or something. We must know the same people. And yes, the thousand little details that Julie uses that CREATE the world of Hellcat Canyon, the language, the visuals--it's just...I'm amazed and excited to read such genius and learn from someone who is such a master at this craft. The layers. The quirks. The emotion.”  Read our review.

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

This book is on my keeper shelf because the opening scene is so damned hysterical, I wheezed all the way through it and my lunch co-workers were concerned for my health. When the heroine keeps trying to reassure the hero she has no designs on him for marriage (et al) and thus they must avoid each other at all costs. Why their marriage would be “an existence marked by tedium and punctuated by misery”, to which he says, “We’d be forced to base our entire relationship on sexual congress.” I then continued wheezing throughout the book.

Read our review.

The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath

This one nearly killed me. The hero is actually the younger twin brother-in-law of the heroine, and he promised his dying brother he would pretend to be him until the heroine has delivered their child safely. Clearly this is problematic in historical England because you can’t marry your brother’s widow, and we all know by the end of the book, they’re going to be madly in love with each other. How could a happy ending possibly work out? Oh, the angst! So, so lovely and romantic.

Love, Lies, & Spies by Cindy Anstey

This one is actually a YA Regency Romance. It’s more romp and sweet rather than sexy. A bit like the regency romances of old where you didn’t have sex until you were married—that sort—but you don’t miss it because you’re too busy cracking up at the antics and banter between these characters. Read our review.

If I were at add a 6th book, it wouldn't be a romance, but it's called "F*ck That: An Honest Meditation" by Jason Headley. I assure you it's brilliant and you'll want to add it to your keeper shelf. I think I've read it at least 12 times already.


PJ's Favorites

There were so many wonderful books published this year. I freely admit that narrowing my selections was extremely difficult but I managed to whittle my list down to eleven. Here are the books - in no particular order - that have continued to linger in my mind long after the final page was turned. 

Hot in Hellcat Canyon by Julie Anne Long
Janga and I have had many conversations about this book. I wholeheartedly agree with everything both she and Hellie have said in their summaries above. Julie Anne Long is an extraordinarily talented wordsmith who didn't miss a beat in transitioning this year from award-winning historical romance to contemporary romance. She brings readers a hero and heroine we can cheer for, quirky secondary characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and heart-tugging emotion in a sigh-worth story that stays with me still, more than six months after I turned the final page.  Read our review.

Then He Kissed Me by Laura Trentham
Laura Trentham is quickly becoming one of my go-to contemporary romance authors. In Cottonbloom, a town divided by a river, a state line, and a long-simmering feud, Trentham brings readers a second chance romance featuring long separated childhood best friends: Nash (now a sexy, book-loving college professor) and Tally (a dyslexic heroine with a battered self-esteem who hides her vulnerability behind a mask of bravado). She infuses her books with humor, emotion, quirky characters, and heartwarming romance, bringing it all - including the town of Cottonbloom - to vivid life through her words. Read our review.

Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare
I've been a fan of Dare's work since her debut and she has often been on my 'best of' lists but this book just may be my all-time favorite of everything she's written. I loved everything about it. I think I grinned from beginning to end. I'm grinning right now, just thinking about it. In this story, Dare pairs an adorably charming heroine with a thirst for adventure, no interest in marriage, and a determination to outwit her matchmaking mama with a sigh-worthy former diplomat (and secret spy) who discovers his perfect match in the most unlikely of places and circumstances. (Warning: Do not drink or eat anything while reading the first chapter of this book. Yes, it really is that funny!).  Dare perfectly balances humor and emotion along with her superb storytelling skills to deliver an all-encompassing, heart-tugging, feel-good romance that will elicit tears, laughter, and much joy. Read our review.

Claiming Her by Kris Kennedy
If you enjoy an exquisitely written Medieval romance with an intelligent, determined heroine, a sensual, equally determined hero, action, intrigue, romance, and sizzling passion, then you won't want to miss this book. While Lady Katarina battles to hold the Irish barony of Rardove for the English Queen, our hero, Aodh is committed to reclaiming the family lands that should rightfully be his, not by force but by wooing both Katarina and the people of Rardove to his side. Though, in the end, Aodh may be the one who is wooed. And me. I was thoroughly wooed. I've enjoyed all of Kennedy's books but this is my favorite. I admired Katarina, was immersed in the story from start to finish, and yes, seven months later I am still dreaming about Aodh. ::Sigh::

Because I’m Watching by Christina Dodd 

From beginning to end, this is a story that refuses to let go. Dodd uses every facet of her creative mind to expertly guide her characters – and the reader – through this compelling, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Filled with intrigue, anguish, forgiveness, hope, enough twists and turns to keep me constantly guessing, and a love that heals two broken souls, this unforgettable story earned my highest recommendation.  Read our review.

Wild Man’s Curse by Susannah Sandlin 

I forced myself to read this book slowly, savoring each word, absorbing the steamy, mystical, sometimes sensual, sometimes sinister life on the Louisiana bayou when what I really wanted was to race through the pages to discover what awaited around the next turn. In this first book of her Wilds of the Bayou series, Sandlin paints a vivid picture of life on the bayou, the people who call it home, the sizzling sexual tension and gradually developing romance between the hero and heroine, and a chillingly depraved villain who threatens it all. Wild Man’s Curse is one wild ride and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Read our review.

Deception Island by Brynn Kelly

This dark, unrelenting journey of non-stop action, passion, and suspense sucked me in and left me breathless. Thrown into the center of soulless villains engaged in murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking, my heart raced with fear for anyone in their sights and ached for those in their grasp. While the villains made my heart ache, it was Kelly’s flawed hero and heroine who surprisingly captured it. I was in this unlikely couple’s corner the whole way; gasping at the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they were forced to overcome, sighing at the unexpected, tender moments, delighting in the verbal swordplay, and clueless as to how Kelly was going to pull off the impossible, happy ending they deserved. It’s one heck of a ride from an exceptionally talented debut author. Wherever Brynn Kelly decides to take readers in her next book, you can count me in! Read our review.

Her Hopes and Dreams by Terri Osburn

Terri Osburn has been my friend for many years. I have watched her evolution as a writer with pride and pleasure. I've enjoyed all of her novels but Her Hopes and Dreams is special and with this book she's taken her writing skills to a new level. Like Janga, I appreciate the everyday characters in this book. They aren't rich, successful, or powerful. They are hard-working individuals who could easily be our neighbors and they have not led privileged nor easy lives but I have rarely met two characters who deserve happiness more. Osburn digs deep into the emotional scars carried by both as she expertly guides them through the tumultuous journey to their happy ending. 

Barefoot With a Bad Boy by Roxanne St. Claire

This long-awaited story of former CIA agents, Gabe Rossi and Lila Wickham is one of those books that reaches into your soul and doesn't let go. While deeply emotional, there's plenty of humor, riveting suspense, passion, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the very end. It's the story of love lost, love changed, and love found - deep familial love, life-changing parental love, and the slowly evolving, ever challenging, soul-filling love between a man and woman that must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles for a chance to grow, solidify, and give this couple the happy ending they so richly deserve. It's deep, complex, heart-stopping, heartwarming, and, in my opinion, one of the best books St. Claire has written. Read our review. 

My American Duchess by Eloisa James

After reading this book (the first time), I tried to think of a word to describe my emotions. That word is joy. This story - these characters - filled me with such joy. Trent and Merry are one of my favorite couples of the year. I love their humor (traditional, smitten, English duke vs outspoken, effervescent, American miss), their intelligence, kindness, and definitely their passion. I want to be their friend, to hang out at their estate, digging in the garden with Merry and playing with George, their adorable puppy. I want to read their story over and over...and over again. This standalone historical romance is Eloisa James at her finest. I adored it.  Read our review.

The Study of Seduction by Sabrina Jeffries

I've been a fan of Sabrina Jeffries' work for many years and many of her books have spaces on my keeper shelves but even among the keepers, The Study of Seduction holds a special place. This poignant, suspenseful, and sensual story touched my heart, keeping me entertained from beginning to end and landing Edwin and Clarissa a spot among my favorite Jeffries couples. Both Edwin and Clarissa are deeply affected by violent events in their pasts that had a significant role in shaping who they have become as adults; events that are deftly handled by Jeffries with a delicacy and sensitivity that are deeply appreciated. She brings a depth to their relationship, granting them the necessary time to gradually deepen their friendship and trust of one another while carefully navigating the desire that blossoms between them. The Study of Seduction is one of my favorites from an author whose books litter my keeper shelves.  Read our review.

Oh, come on. You had to know I wouldn't be able to stop at eleven! Honorable Mention goes to: My Fair Princess by Vanessa Kelly, The Rebel Heir by Elizabeth Michels, Magnate by Joanna Shupe, Stone Cold Cowboy by Jennifer Ryan, Good Dukes Wear Black by Manda Collins, A Date at the Altar by Cathy Maxwell, Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle, Wild at Whiskey Creek by Julie Anne Long, A Duke to Remember by Kelly Bowen and, though it isn't technically a romance, The Saints of the Lost and Found by T.M. Causey (one of the best books I've read in years).

So those are our favorites. Have you read any of them? Did any of our titles make your 'best of' list?

Tell us about the books published this year that you loved. 

One randomly chosen person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM (PST) tonight will receive two of my favorites:a print copy of Wild at Whiskey Creek and a container of my handcrafted chocolates (includes nuts). U.S. addresses only