Welcome back to a brand new year and a new decade! I trust you all had a lovely new year and for a few lucky readers such as myself, a relaxing school holiday break, filled with many fabulous romance reads. In the month of January 2020, the romance category accumulated a hearty collection of reviews and I am confident that this trend will continue for the rest of the year. Many of the books that were added to our database this past month were brand new 2020 romance releases, but we also had a solid group of returns from previous months, along with some back list titles. There was also a good sample of reviews across the various sub genres that define the broad category of romance. There really is something for everyone to enjoy this month!
The official result for romance in January 2020 reflects a total 26 reviews, of 23 books, of 22 authors.
As I mentioned, January seemed to signal the start of many fabulous new release books that we will be blessed with throughout the year. The first cab off the rank and by far the most popular book for the first month of the year was The Lawson Sisters by Janet Gover. This family drama, crossed with rural romance, or ‘chooklit’ title, was reviewed by Shelleyrae of Book’d Out and Helen Sibbritt. There is also an accompanying feature interview by Mrs B’s Book Reviews to celebrate the release of this book.
Adding to the historical romance genre this month is Maddison Michaels, with her brand new 2020 release, The Sinful Scot (Saints & Scoundrels #3). Claire’s Reads and Reviews, along with Helen Sibbritt both highly recommend this intriguing romantic mystery title.
Switching back to rural romance again, which really is thriving this month, Alissa Callen returns with another heartwarming chapter in her popular Woodlea series, which is now up to book seven. Helen Sibbritt bestowed The Boundary Fence five stars. I am reading this one at present and I can see why Helen Sibbritt has rated it so highly.
A rural romance title that is about to officially hit shelves this week is Charlotte Pass by Lee Christine. If you prefer your rural romance novels with undertones of mystery, suspense and intrigue, this one will appeal. Brenda assures us that Charlotte Pass is an excellent read.
A rural romance series that is going from strength to strength is Renee Dahlia’s Merindah Park set. Book three in this series, Two Hearts Healing, was released on January 1st and it struck a chord with Claire’s Reads and Reviews.
The Bindarra Creek A Town Reborn series continues to entertain rural romance fans with two releases that arrived late last year. Brenda explored A Twist of Fate by Erin Moira O’Hara (book #7), while Helen Sibbritt enjoyed meeting the characters of Lauren K. McKellar’s With Every Breath (book #5).
A book that I would have dearly loved to have read myself over the Christmas holiday period is Second Chance Christmas by Nicki Edwards. This one hit shelves in early November and Mic Loves Books declared she loved everything about it!
Harlequin Dare title The Fling: A Scorching Hot Romance (Close Quarters #2) by Stefanie London was also released at the start of the month. According to one of our resident romance experts Helen Sibbritt, this one features plenty of sensual sizzle.
If you are partial to steam in your romance novels, it is well worth looking up Reid, a regency title penned by Sasha Cottman. This one was also highly recommended by Helen Sibbritt.
I am sure you will concur, January 2020 has got off to a promising start, with so many great new romance novels begging for our attention!
I always like to give some air time to the books that we may have seen in previous round ups, with new reviews attached. Please click on the links to be taken directly to the reviews of each title. In January 2020 we covered the following books again:
- Fleeting Moments by Rania Battany
- The Life She Deserves by Maggie Christensen
- Wildflower Ridge by Maya Linnell
- Last Bridge Before Home by Lily Malone
- The Postmistress by Alison Stuart
- Love and Other Battles by Tess Woods
The older romance titles category saw a nice handful of reviews added during the month of January. Here is a run-through of what we read:
- In Safe Arms by Lee Christine, published in 2014
- Dangerous Echoes by Leisl Leighton, published in 2018
- A Place to Remember by Jenn J. McLeod, published in 2018
- Jasmine Sea by Phillipa Nefri Clark, published in 2017
January 2020 sure outdid itself in the romance stakes! I’m impressed by all the enticing new releases and the wonderful selection of romance reviews coming through already. Until we meet again next month, happy reading!
About me: I am a mum of two young boys, an early childhood teacher, dressaholic, book reviewer and self confessed book geek. In 2016, I turned my passion for reading into my own blog, Mrs B’s Book Reviews. I blog daily and love nothing more than to showcase books by our talented crop of Australian women writers, especially rural romance, along with a number of other genres. Check my reviews out at the following sites, Mrs B’s Book Reviews, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram and Twitter.
What a great start to the year.
Thanks so much Claire, I’m very pleased with our January results too!