Best of 2019 Romance Books

Heather from @bookandablanket on Instagram hosted a challenge for anyone to share their favorite romance books of 2019 leading up to the New Year.
The break down of the days were:

• Day 1: Best Female Main Characters (December 26)
  
• Day 2: Best Male Main Characters (December 27)
• Day 3: Best New-to-me authors (December 28)
• Day 4: Best Covers (December 29)
• Day 5: Best Series (December 30) 
• Day 6: Best Standalones (December 31)

I had so much fun participating in this challenge and look forward to doing more in the future! Please let me know in the comments if we had similar favorites for 2019! 

Day 1:

I love reading about strong heroines. Women who know what they want and go get it. Women who admit they may need help and show their vulnerability. Women who, when faced with adversity, rise above it and come out stronger than when they started. And finally, women who have an incredible support system.

• The Coven is a group of women who live within the pages of the BTU Alumni Series by Alley Ciz. Even though each Coven member does not have her own book, they are well represented within Power Play, Tap Out, and Sweet Victory. (Be on the lookout in 2020 for Puck Performance, the fourth book in the BTU Alumni Series!)
• Natalie from Best Laid Plans by LK Farlow is a kick-ass single mom who would do anything for her Tater Tot. Natalie is as selfless and nurturing as they come. She is always striving to be the best she came to be for her daughter, and it was a gift to read/watch her relationship with Alden unfold.
• The Fighting Series by Nikki Ash is full of strong, independent, and vulnerable women. Liz, Kayla, Hayley, and Ashley all have such different stories, yet at the end of the day, they all want to be loved. I was moved while reading this series and thoroughly enjoyed every single page of it.

Day 2:

What do I look for in a book boyfriend? Someone caring, hardworking, and a true mans-man. He understands that he needs to step back and let his woman shine like the diamond she is, and sexy, of course.

• Beginning with Lachlan from Nikki Ash's Through His Eyes, he is one of my most favorite heroes I’ve read this year. Not letting an age difference separate him from the one his heart truly desires; he is determined to show Quinn that she is enough.
• Next, a few men from the Charleston Heat series by Jessica Peterson. Elijah, Luke, and Ford are sexy southerners who know how to treat a woman right. From friends-to-loves to brother’s best friend to single dad, these gentlemen are the epitome of southern class and are exactly what I look for in a book boyfriend.
• Ford from All Grown Up by Vi Keeland is a sexy 25-year-old who has fallen for his 37-year-old single neighbor. When age seems to get in the way, Ford proposes a plan that is a win-win for everyone involved. Ford is a caring big brother and an intelligent businessman, which means he looks good with a suit on and off.
• The Put a Ring On It series by Maria Luis is a trilogy composed of irresistible Alpha men. Nick, Damon, and Owen are as manly as they come. A best friend’s brother, enemies to lovers, and slow-burn forbidden romance are just what you will need for your 2020 TBR list.
• And last but certainly not least, Able from Desperately Seeking Roommate by Micalea Smeltzer. With an existential choice between pink starbursts or yellow, loving Able was never a question. From the first time he was introduced in this book, it felt like fate. Able is so accepting and understanding and just a real favorite!

Day 3:

I read many new authors this past year, but these where the three who really stuck with me. Each one of them wrote stories unlike any other I’ve read.

• Wait For Me by Tia Louise is a newer release and is by far one of my top reads for the year! Taron and Noel’s chemistry is off the charts. The delicate way Tia touches on Taron’s PTSD is a true testament to how talented of an author she is. I look forward to reading more of her books in 2020!
  
• I read The Kiss Thief by LJ Shen back in February for an online book club. I had no idea how much I was going to love the premise of this story, as well as the writing style of LJ. I have so many of her books in my TBR! I highly recommend The Kiss Thief if you are interested in an enemies-to-lovers romance with a twist… One kiss. Two men. Three lives. Entwined together.
  
• And finally, no surprise, Nikki Ash. Nikki is just a mastermind when it comes to writing. She forces her readers to go on a journey whither they want to or not. There are plot twists and tears and laughter and more tears! I had to take breaks to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for specific chapters in Unbroken Promises. If you haven’t added Nikki Ash’s books to your Amazon cart, you must!! 

Day 4:

• The Put A Ring On It series by Maria Luis contains my favorite covers from 2019. I love the colors, the font, the models, the stories! You must read these books if you haven't yet! The attention to detail within these covers blows my mind! I could keep gushing, but I LOVE them!
  
• The Stay With Me series by Nicole Fiorina has not only beautiful covers but also a beautiful story. Ollie and Mia wrecked me and then put me back together and then wrecked me again. I have never been so emotionally moved by two books before, and Nicole is releasing the third and final book of the series in 2020! I don't think I'm ready!
  
• LK Farlow has some of the prettiest covers for not only the Bay Ridge series but all her books. (Have you seen the cover for Rebel Soul releasing January 23?!) I had so much fun reading this series. I laughed, I cried and envied the relationship displayed in each story.
  
• ​Finally, Wait For Me by Tia Louise. Wow. I could not picture a more beautiful cover for this amazing story! This brother's best friend stand-alone romance will forever sit pretty as one of my all-time favorite books! (I'll have a whole post dedicated to it this book in the coming year, so stay tuned!)

Day 5:

​I love me a good series and these books here are some of the best! Each one of these books has profoundly impacted my life. Within these pages, I have learned so much about myself and the woman I want to be. I am so thankful for the time each of these authors poured into their words because I know my life is forever changed because of them.

• The Blades Hockey Series by Maria Luis was the bunch of books that not only introduced me to Maria but made me fall in love with reading. I found myself relating to Charlie from Power Play with her curly hair and straight forward attitude. I laughed out loud reading Zoe and Andre's love story in Sin Bin. While reading Hat Trick, Gwen and Hunt's story, I remembered my first love… even though it was unrequited. Finally, I was moved to tears reading the unstoppable, unbreakable, and unconditional love between Holly and Jackson in Body Check. I learned lessons about trust and taking risks and the different types of adrenaline. But now, I believe I need to make it a tradition to reread this series at the start of every year because I owe my love of reading to the Boston Blades Hockey Team!
  
• Next, the Put A Ring On It Series by you guessed it, Maria Luis. Nick Stamos from Hold Me Today is the ULTIMATE book boyfriend, and because of it, I need to find myself an Adonis with dark curly hair, tattoos, and skillful hands! This series is a must-read, y'all! You will fall in love with each Alpha and sassy Heroine, and I promise you won't be able to put it down! I will leave it at this, Maria is an author I will follow until the end of time. Maria, you can never stop writing because what you have to say is important and need to be heard by millions. I love you!
  
• Moving on, the Imperfect Love Series by Nikki Ash is a newer read for me, but is no question one of my favorites! Each book is so uniquely different that I became so invested in each story and character that I never wanted the books to end. This series is one I will absolutely read again because of how beautifully it is written. Celeste and Jase's story from On the Surface is one everyone needs to read. There is such an intimacy between the two that you truly get lost within the pages!
  
• Last, but certainly not least, the Charleston Heat series by Jessica Peterson. Wow, what a series! I pray that Jessica never stops writing about the men of Charleston because they are steamy and sweet and just everything I want in a good romance. Each book can be read as a standalone; in fact, I read Southern Player first because I love the brother's best friend trope. However, Southern Charmer is the book that has my heart. Olivia's journey of self-discovery and awareness is so inspiring; I believe every woman should read it! Jessica is another author I absolutely love reading and will for a very, VERY long time!

Day 6:

Finally, the time has come to announce my favorite standalone romance novels of 2019! I am obsessed with each and every one of them and have recommended them to everyone I know!

• Voyeur by Fiona Cole was one of my favorite reads of 2019. The teacher-student trope is one of my favorites, and the chemistry Callum and Oaklyn have is truly jumping off of the page. Callum may be the voyeur in the story, but Fiona makes you the reader feel like the voyeur. I highly recommend this book.
• Unbroken Promises by Nikki Ash is an MFM and MM standalone staring Delilah, Cole, and Xander. I was very emotional during this book, and the Nikki wrote with such sympathy; it was just an honor to read this story.​
• Josh + Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren was such a cute and fun read! If you are looking for something that will make you laugh out loud and make you swoon, then here it is! It's the perfect read for a relaxing weekend!
• Breaker by Harloe Rae is a brother's best friend trope featuring Grady, the broody and broken hero, and Sutton, the sweet and genuine heroine! This small town, country romance is full of trials and tribulations that will undoubtedly hit you in the feels.
• Sugar Daddies by Jade West is a deliciously naughty MMF and MM story featuring Englishmen Carl, Rick, and their Little Miss Right, Katie. I don't want to say too much, but this novel is HOT, and if you've read Sugar Daddies, let me know what you think of it in the comments. Reader discretion is highly advised.
• Wait For Me by Tia Louise is a beautiful brother's best friend love story between Taron and Noel. It's a small-town, second-chance romance that will have you feeling all the feels! I absolutely loved this story and wished there were another 200 pages of it!

Thank you for following along with my best romance books of 2019!
​Happy New Year to each and every one of you! 

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