Tag Archives: contemporary romance fiction

Top 10 Tuesday — Ordinal Numbers

10 Mar

Today’s TTT topic, Ordinal Numbers in book titles, looks easy on the surface. It proved harder than I thought though. There are lots of books with first and second in the title, but beyond that there are not many others. Plus, I wanted to include books that I have either read or that I want to read. I ended up adding a few books that my husband has enjoyed (the Joel Rosenberg titles) as well. I hope you find a book that interests you!

For more book fun, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with Ordinal Numbers in Their Titles

America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

The First Hostage by Joel Rosenberg

Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie Kirby DeVooght

The Third Target by Joel Rosenberg

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

The Lights on Tenth Street by Shaunti Feldhan

The Twelfth Imam by Joel Rosenberg

Twelve Days And Twelfth Night by Sarah Sundin

Spotlight on Contemporary Romance — A Texas Easter Blessing

5 Mar
A Texas Easter Blessing JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Texas Easter Blessing by Mindy Obenhaus, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

A Texas Easter Blessing

Title: A Texas Easter Blessing
Series: Legacy Ranch #3
Author: Mindy Obenhaus
Publisher: Love Inspired Books
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Christian Romance

A new ranch home
could lead to a new family.

After his marriage fails, single father Ryder Sinclair returns to his hometown with his young son to care for his ailing mother. He’s surprised to run into his teenage crush, Kendall Hunt, whose career as a professional chef has been shaken by scandal. As the two work together to save an Easter event usually hosted by Ryder’s mother, Kendall finds herself longing for this sense of family with Ryder and little Shepard. But when she has a chance to go back to the life she once knew, will she choose the dream she’s spent years chasing…or the new dream that has taken hold of her heart?

Excerpt

“I’m sorry I’ve been behaving like a jerk.”

The corners of her pretty mouth tilted upward. “Oh.” Dropping her arms, she shifted from one sneaker-clad foot to the next. “In that case, please, go on.”

“You’ve brought something to Shepard’s life that he’s never really had.”

Her brow puckered. “Such as…?”

“The way you interact with him. You treat him as if he’s special. That his thoughts and opinions matter.”

“That’s just common decency, Ryder. You know, the whole ‘do unto others.’”

“Yes, but he rarely got that from his mother.”

“What does that have to do with you behaving like a jerk?” One eyebrow arched in a playful manner.

He stretched out his arms before clasping his hands atop his head, knowing what he was about to say was going to make him look even worse.

“I was afraid he’d get attached to you only to be disappointed when you leave.” There, he said it.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop

More Books from This Series:

An Unexpected Companion
Their Texas Christmas Redemption JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz


About The Author

Mindy Obenhaus

Best-selling author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching heartwarming romance movies.

Connect with Mindy by visiting www.MindyObenhaus.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of A Texas Easter Blessing and $25 Amazon gift card!

A Texas Easter Blessing JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 11, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Top 10 Tuesday — Great First Lines!

24 Feb

Happy Tuesday! TTT‘s topic today is bookish quotes. I regularly participate in First Line Friday hosted by Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower. What a great way to introduce new books to readers! So today, I am including some of the best first lines from the past few months. I hope you find a book to pique your interest.

For more bookish quotes, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top First Lines!

I deeply regret to confirm that your son Lance Corporal Mark James Taylor died in Vietnam 1 November 1968.

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

Viola Chambers had always wondered at what point in the dying process a person understood they weren’t long for this world, and now she’d give anything to unlearn it.

The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox

“The sea never gives back what it claims . . .”

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard

A shrill sound pierced the night, sweeping through the house like the unearthly wail of a banshee.

Dragonfly Ashes by C. C. Warrens

Lizbeth Bennet clutched the handle of the wicker basket with hope.

The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

No one knew that Carol Langstrom hated Christmas.

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

Natasha shifted uncomfortably on the rock floor of the icy cave, shoving her gloved hands under her armpits to keep warm.

Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert

Death had always been fashionable.

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Pandemonium has broken out in the streets of New York City.

Under The Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

When I was eight, I watched my mother disappear in fading pixels.

Wicked Is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert

Top 10 Tuesday — Bucket List Books!

17 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is books for the armchair traveler. Isn’t it great that a book can transport you to another place and time? I love it when a book makes me feel I am really there. I also love to add places to my travel bucket list after reading a book. I have had great experiences visiting places I first traveled to while reading — Alaska, the Shetland Islands in Scotland, Yellowstone, Zion National Park. Today I am listing a few books that make me want to get up out of my armchair and really experience in person their settings. Will I be able to go everywhere on my list? Probably not, but these books really make me want to! (I have 3 books set in Washington State — looks like I should really plan a visit.)

For more books for armchair travelers, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Bucket List Books

Beyond The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox — the Outer Banks, NC

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd — Whidbey Island, WA

Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon — the Oregon Coast

My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island by Carrie Fancett Pagels — Mackinac Island, Michigan

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett — Mt. Ranier National Park

The Secrets of Paper And Ink by Lindsay Harrel — Cornwall

Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starnes Clark –Lancaster County, PA

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard– the Washington Coast

Where The Fire Falls by Karen Barnett — Yosemite National Park

Where Trees Touch The Sky by Karen Barnett — Redwood National Park

Top 10 Tuesday — The Love Boat!

10 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are celebrating all things romance with a Love Freebie! After many years of creating these posts it is a bit daunting to come up with something fresh. Today I am featuring romance novels — contemporary, historical, and suspense — that have part or whole of their settings on boats. You know, The Love Boat! 😉 Extra points for those whose characters cement their love on the open seas. Come aboard, they’re expecting you!

For more Love Freebie fun, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Books with Love Boats!

The Choice by D. L. Wood

The Glass Bottom Boat by Laura Thomas

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap

The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Stranded by Dani Pettrey

Book Review: Taking A Second Shot

9 Feb

Leslie Kirby DeVooght is an up-and-coming contemporary romance author you need to check out. With 3 novels published in 2025, she is well on her way to an impressive book list. She writes sweet romance with plenty of sass — something I love! Discover more about her third novel, Taking A Second Shot, below.

Can he convince her that he’s playing for keeps?

Struggling professional soccer player Rainey Allen has come to her grandparents’ small town in Georgia to train—certainly not to coach kids. But when a grief-stricken little boy gets excited about playing with her, she can’t refuse. Even if his uncle is Scott Wilcox, the source of Rainey’s worst preteen memory. Once on track to be a professional athlete himself, Scott is grappling with his new life as the high school baseball coach and guardian of his orphaned nephew. But as playing soccer puts the light back in Henry’s eyes, old wounds begin to heal. When Rainey gets her big break, will she give up on her dreams…or leave behind the family who stole her heart?

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.

My Impressions:

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie Kirby DeVooght is the perfect choice for those who love sweet romance. This Love Inspired title is a quick read perfect for a weekend getaway. Especially good for soccer or baseball moms between games! But if you don’t have an athletic bone in your body, don’t let that keep you from picking up this book. There is so much more than sports just as the main characters Rainey and Scott discover. Really, any career would have worked for these two driven people. Fully committed to their paths, they often lose sight of what is really important, even when it is right in front of their noses. The banter between the two is great which adds to the chemistry they strive to deny. I loved that the two had people in their lives offering guidance and a healthy push towards each other. 😉 Spiritual threads are strong, with emphasis on discerning what God has planned versus what we think is logical or correct.

Sweet and sassy, Taking A Second Shot is the HEA you are looking for.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Spotlight on Contemporary Romance — The Single Mom’s Second Chance

4 Feb
The Single Mom's Second Chance JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Single Mom’s Second Chance by Tara Randel, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Single Mom's Second Chance

Title: The Single Mom’s Second Chance
Series: A Golden, Georgia Romance #2
Author: Tara Randel
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Genre: Wholesome Romance

A fresh start…

Then an unexpected curveball

When Addie Lane returns to Golden, Georgia, to open her own fitness center, she’s surprised to find her late husband’s best friend, professional baseball player Nolan Travers, offering to invest. Recovering from an injury, Nolan finds solace in helping a friend—and coaching her son Jacob’s baseball team. As the summer continues, their close bond threatens to be undone by Nolan’s expected return to pro ball and Addie’s challenging relationships with her mother and sisters. Only time will tell if their separate paths will pull them apart—or if Addie and Nolan can hit their love out of the park together.

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Excerpt


Without turning from her chore, Addie heard Jacob’s voice. “You’re coming to my practice, right?”

“Couldn’t keep me away.”

Addie didn’t miss the yearning in Nolan’s tone. Staying away from the team for the season was tough on him. He was faithful about his regular physical therapy, but Addie wondered if he was at his wit’s end with all the free time. Perhaps that was why he was here. To put some distance between himself and the game he loved.

“Mom’s our coach. She’s pretty good for a mom,” Jacob announced.

Her hand froze in midwipe.

“Really.” Nolan held out the word, interest oozing from his tone.

She lowered the cloth and turned to face them. “Only temporarily.”

Humor laced Nolan’s tone. “Because…?”

“Mr. Landry has to work nights and bowed out as coach. He asked a parent to fill the position. No one volunteered and I was already the assistant coach, so…”

“And since you love baseball so much,” Nolan teased, his voice warm. Which made Addie’s heart pick up its pace again.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series


About The Author

Tara Randel

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. Tara has received the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Connect with Tara by visiting tararandel.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a reading journal, ‘It’s a good day to read’ tote bag and three autographed print books by the author!

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

The Single Mom's Second Chance blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 2, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 9, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Spotlight On Contemporary Romance: Chasing Kensie

7 Jan

Chasing Kensie JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Chasing Kensie by Drew Taylor, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Chasing Kensie

Title: Chasing Kensie
Author: Drew Taylor
Publisher: Taylor Made Publishing
Release Date: December 23, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance

She moved to Alaska for a fresh start. He made her the object of his wry affection.

Kensington Smith, a high school English teacher fueled by coffee and plaid, looks for the good in people. The hot-but-vexing P.E. teacher and football coach, who is unfortunately her best friend’s older brother, is the exception. When he’s tapped to assist her with the annual Winter Solstice Dance, he rewrites Kensie’s long-held lesson plans of loathing as he reveals the man behind the flirtatious façade.

Nicolas Lancaster has a little thing for the pretentious, people-pleasing English teacher of Crescent Cove High School… a thing where he revels in riling her up. But as his proclivities shift and he chases the heart of the woman he’s taught to despise him, Nick begins to understand the pain behind the practiced smile she dons—a mirror that reflects his own inner demons.

Two hearts. Two histories.

One source of Hope.

Chasing Kensie is a Christian contemporary romance sparkling with Alaskan winters, unknown feelings, and a love that will light up the darkest of nights.

Excerpt

“You’d be surprised, I guess. This instance wasn’t the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.” She didn’t miss Nick’s tilt of the head in question, but she kept on talking. “When those questions start invading my headspace, I make myself recite scripture. I remember that He says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. That He knows every hair on my head. That He will take care of me more than He takes care of the birds. That He will never leave me or forsake me. That He knows my appointed days.” Kensie held his stare, willing him to hear her as tears overwhelmed her. “That He sent His son to die for my sins. I mean, what more can God do to reassure me that He cares and that He’s with me?”

Nick fought back more drops of emotion, releasing a masculine groan as he surrendered. “You’re right. He’s here. He’s with me. Everything I went through led me to this moment. With you. And if you’re here in front of me, He has to care. Because He knows I don’t deserve you. Not after how I’ve treated you and how I’ve lived my life these past few years.” 

Kensie took his hands between hers. “This isn’t about me, Nick. Even if I wasn’t here in this moment, God still cares about you, and He’s waiting for you to run back to Him.”



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available


About The Author

Drew Taylor

Drew Taylor writes modern closed-door chick-lit romance stories from a Biblical worldview. She believes faith-based romance can be full of heart, humor, healing, and hope while showcasing the reality of our fallen human condition. Her redemptive and engaging stories point to the One who embodies true love–Jesus Christ.

Drew lives in the great state of Mississippi where she teaches high school English. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading, baking, researching conspiracy theories, and spending quality time with the people who mean the most to her.

Connect with Drew by visiting drewtaylorwrites.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive signed paperback copies of Chasing Kensie and Reverie with book swag plus a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Coffee Gift Card of winner’s choice!

Chasing Kensie JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 5, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 12, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

First Line Friday — A Brewed Awakening

2 Jan

Happy first Friday of 2026. To go with the New Year, I have a new book to bring you for First Line Friday A Brewed Awakening, a contemporary romance from the Queen of Kissing Books, Pepper Basham. This one looks like so much fun! Look for it in May 2026.

Here’s the first (at least the to me) line:

Ladies did not drool over cars.

Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival?

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She’s built her life–and her late grandmother’s tearoom, Tea Thyme–around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.

After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He’s looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn’t matter that she’s ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn’s heart is not open to being broken again.

But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled–Wisteria hasn’t seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.

When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship–and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.

Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com.

Happy Release Day — Taking A Second Shot

30 Dec

Happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght. Her lates contemporary romance, Taking A Shot, is now available! Whether or not you are a sports fan, if you love small town contemporary romance, you need to check this book out!

Can he convince her that he’s playing for keeps?

Struggling professional soccer player Rainey Allen has come to her grandparents’ small town in Georgia to train—certainly not to coach kids. But when a grief-stricken little boy gets excited about playing with her, she can’t refuse. Even if his uncle is Scott Wilcox, the source of Rainey’s worst preteen memory. Once on track to be a professional athlete himself, Scott is grappling with his new life as the high school baseball coach and guardian of his orphaned nephew. But as playing soccer puts the light back in Henry’s eyes, old wounds begin to heal. When Rainey gets her big break, will she give up on her dreams…or leave behind the family who stole her heart?

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.