Book Bosomed Book Blog's Best Romances Reads in 2019

🎉It’s that time of year again! And I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure this list was going to happen. I’ll freely admit I debated whether to create my annual best books list or not, which is kinda sad.  For one, I’ve had some health issues crop up this year, and time in the hospital, at doctor’s appointments, and for medical testing seriously ate into my free reading time. Secondly, the corruption in the romance market still runs rampant, which really takes the fun out of what should be a happy and relaxing genre.  But in the end, I decided that it’s not fair to let the bad apples ruin things for the good ones.

Now, I did make a few changes this year for the Best Of list. In the past, one of the requirements was that the book was released in the current year. I’m making an exception this year since my romance reading time was scarce, and I found a few good books that were actually released prior to 2019. So this year the list is comprised of my favorites romances that I read in 2019 because I feel that if I missed seeing them, maybe some other readers did too. And all of these books are ones you don’t want to miss if your're a romance reader!

(Top Reads in No Order of Significance Other than 2019 Releases are First)

Magic Man by Jamie Schlosser

She’s a young single mom. He’s a reformed drug dealer ready to build a new, clean life…

“‘Holding your hand makes my dick hard. Smelling you makes my dick hard. Talking to you makes my dick hard. Thinking about you—’'”

These two were just so super sweet and super sexy together.  I loved how their romance was built on all the special little moment they shared.  This is a total heartwarming romance. Get the scoop in my review HERE!  GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Jamie is making at least her third yearly appearance on Book-Bosomed’s annual Best Of list. In fact, she might even hold the record for the most number of books on the lists.  Be sure to check out her other fabulous good guys and romcoms.

Never Kiss a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

She’s the rockstar drummer. He’s the tattooed recluse who doesn’t know and doesn’t care that she’s famous...

“‘I’ll make a trade…I see you watching my lips. I know what you want. I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want.’”

Wow, it was so refreshing to have the heroine be the badass, no strings rockstar.  I hope we see more non-virginal heroines paired with celibate heroes to come in the new year.  This pair was rockin’ in more ways than one. (Yes, there’s a sexual pun there.) Find out how hard they rock in my review HERE!   GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Sarah appeared on Book Bosomed’s very first Best Of list with her double HEA romance He Belongs to Me. If you haven’t read it, be sure to check it out as well as her Kill Devil Hills series.

My Best Friend's Sister by Hazel Kelly

She’s needs a place to stay rent-free. He needs love to bring down his walls. When her brother is out of town, they might both get just what they need and more…

“‘…I was an asshole who’d never even considered the idea of reforming, and you were a princess who couldn’t tell I was a prince.’

‘When did you go from being an asshole to a prince?’

‘The day I rearranged my kingdom for you.’”

Each year it seems I have a last minute addition to the list and this year is no different. As I finalized the list, I was reading this story and couldn't help but feel compelled to add it. Any story the reminds its readers of the things that are most important in life is one to point out. Positive presentations of love is what the romance genre is all about, and I think you'll find plenty HERE!   GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Hazel is making her first of two appearances on Book-Bosomed Best Of list this year! If her swoon-worthy dates in these two books are any indication, she has more winners out there to be read. 

Do You Feel It Too? By Nicola Rendell

He’s an urban legend hunting reality TV star. She’s the local sound tech…with one very vocal and hilarious pet…

“There were a lot of mysteries in the world, but the way I felt about her wasn’t one of them.”

Though released in 2018, I couldn’t keep this one off the list. It was the best romcom I read this year.  If you enjoy funny and steamy alongside an entertaining story, then I can’t recommend this enough. The General will crack you up, and Gabe’s total book boyfriend material.  Find out more in my review HERE!   GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Nicola is a first time author to Book-Bosomed Best Of list. She was recommended to me by one of my awesome Goodread friends.  This was the first of several books I’ve now read by her, and I’m definitely looking forward to more.  Check out this and her other titles.

Friends With Benefits by Hazel Kelly

He’s the college frat boy. But she’s the one insisting on no strings…

“Honestly, I don’t think lightning could’ve struck my dick any harder, and no thunderstorm would’ve left it so drenched.”

This is another 2018 release that also made the list.  Once again, I loved that our heroine wasn’t innocent or virginal and that our hero understood that, respected that, even when he started wanting more. And the romance totally wooed me over.  Like this hero can knock a date out of the ballpark.  He was sweet, and he burned up the sheets. Grab a bag of M&M and read the full review HERE!    GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Hazel is making her first appearance on Book-Bosomed Best Of list this year, but she makes it twice! If her swoon-worthy dates in these two books are any indication, she has more winners out there to be read.

Last but not least—

Smut by Karina Halle

She’s serious about a writing career. She thinks he isn’t. When they're paired together in class, they produce a whole lot more than a short story…

“If I come in my pants, that’s not going in the book.”

How this came out in 2016 and I never saw it till this year I have no idea. But it’s a must read for any romance reader. It’s funny; it’s hot; and it has the romance market’s number. Get all the smutty details HERE!    GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

About the Author: Karina is also new to Book-Bosomed Best Of list this year. This is the first title of hers that I've read, but I sure hope there's more like it.

Have a happy and safe holiday season everyone!💕

Missed the Previous Years' Lists? 
Have No Fear; They're Right Here; 
Just Click on the Year!

2018

2017

2016 

2015

2014

BOOK REVIEW: A Taste of Temptation by Saskia Laine

4 Stars

The third tale in the Layovers series takes us to the Tuscan countryside. There Élodie Martel’s life keeps getting more and more complicated when a visit to her aunt lands her in the middle of a contested estate and an attraction to the hired help, Vico Fierli, who may or may not be able to help her sort out the problems of the present as well as the betrayals of the past.

“‘It would only be wrong if the attention is not welcome. And you have seen the proof that I welcome your attentions.’”

This novella packs more story than I originally expected. It’s not simply the attraction between El and Vico. There’s intrigue that fuels the plot and kept me turning pages to find out how all the pieces fit together. In fact, I think it could really be fleshed out into a full length novel.  At places, I craved a little more development to make it reach its full potential.

For example, I would have loved some chapters from Vico. (This is told soley by El’s first person POV.) While he exhibited that sexy but slightly mysterious vibe, I also wanted to learn more about him. A little more build-up would have been welcome. None the less, that first pool scene was hot!

Plus, it’s always refreshing when the heroine is an accomplished, capable women, and El (or Elodia as Vico calls her) fits that bill. The romance market sorely needs more presentations of women in highly educated professions like El. Not only that, but points for the places where the gender roles seem to reverse and for the presentation of their relationship as teamwork rather than El needing Vico to save the day.

“‘It is you, straniera, who is going down. Onto this bed, right now.’”

All in all, for an afternoon read, this is one to check out. Be forewarned though, you might want to have an Italian translation app handy. I’ll freely admit, I was lost on some lines of dialogue.

GOODREADS    

*I volunteered to review this ARC. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

BOOK REVIEW: My Best Friend's Sister (The Masons #1) by Hazel Kelly

4.5 Stars

Maddy Mason, 25, just got offered an internship she’s dreamed about…except it’s unpaid. Her brother just offered up his apartment for her to live rent-free in while he’s out of town….except he lives with a buddy who Maddy thinks doesn’t like her.

Quinn Draper’s been enamored with his best friend’s sister since they were in college…except he’s a no-commitment guy who doesn’t want to get attached. But when living together brings the walls down, Quinn finds he’s faced with a version of himself he doesn’t recognize or know how to take.

“‘…I was an asshole who’d never even considered the idea of reforming, and you were a princess who couldn’t tell I was a prince.’

‘When did you go from being an asshole to a prince?’

‘The day I rearranged my kingdom for you.’”

Told via Maddy and Quinn’s alternating first person POV, these two had good banter right from the start so it wasn’t hard to get sucked into their story. I liked that even though Maddy didn’t always know how to take Quinn, she was upbeat and held her own.  I also liked that even though Maddy is the “little sister character,” she wasn’t shy or virginal. And the poker scene was the best…a total hoot. I adored it.

“If I was ever going to see Maddy Mason’s tits, I wanted it to be because I unwrapped  her slowly in a situation where she felt like she was winning the whole time.”

Quinn was a complicated guy, but likeable just the same and a well developed character. As the reader, we get insight into what’s made Quinn Quinn, and my heart broke just a bit for the guy who deep down craved so much more but was “trained” not to show emotions.

“‘…he pretends to be this heartless badass, but I think he’s more like a puppy that’s been kicked so hard it’s forgotten how to cuddle.’”

That’s not to say I didn’t think he acted like a dick at a certain point, but he knew how to grovel and man did he know how to woo.

“I was going to be the gentleman she deserved, even if a few baseball socks had to die for the cause.”

This is the second book I’ve read from the author where the hero pulls out some swoon-worthy stops, and that kind of thing always makes romance great. It’s what’s romance is all about. So points for that.  

I’m going to *spoiler alert* this next section because it gets into the later part of the book, but I can’t not give it credit because it comes through when so many other romances with this premise fails in the 21^st century.

When it comes to the best friend’s sister trope there’s a careful line to tread or the whole notion of the conflict can fall into a very sexist line of thinking.  Not only that, but in my reading experience, the brother character tends to be a real obnoxious villain simply to make it more taboo.  But that did NOT happen here. So I’ve got to give the story so much praise for pulling this trope off with the maturity and respect.

“‘Shame making my life awkward is how you’ve both found happiness, but I suppose I’ll get used to it.’”

The story felt so much more real by getting at the root of the dilemma, by having adult characters behave like adults, by making it about caring for the feelings and happiness of your little sister rather than about dictating her life.  Not only were the confrontation scenes between Quinn and James and James and Maddie fun to read, but they made me crave a book for James so he could get his happiness too.  

There are a lot of good messages in this story—from reaching for your professional goals to the importance of love and the people who matter most. On that note, I was prepared to cry over the letter, and while I did tear up, it was gold.

All in all, a low-angst, cute, feel-good romance, and it doesn’t skimp on the steam factor either.

GOODREADS     BOOKBUB

*I volunteered to review this ARC. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

COVER REVEAL: Never Love a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Series: The NEVER TRUST Series, Book 3

IN LOVE WITH A ROCKSTAR?

No, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Rebecca Cooper knows what dating a rockstar is like. It’s late nights, months on the road, and constantly sharing your man with everyone else. It’s coming second. She’s been there, done that, and walked away with a broken heart. So how it is possible she’s put herself in this position again? In love with yet another rockstar. This time, his brother. 

Luke Mills is bitter. He’s bogged down by years of guilt and heartache. He goes through the motions. He’s rough with everyone around him. And then Rebecca walks back into his life. Sweet Rebecca. She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t have come back. But Luke sees her and can’t help the way his heart wants to respond. But, no, not in a million years—he’d never let her have a spot in his frozen heart again. Not when she was always his brother’s girl.

**NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the third book in Sarah Darlington's NEVER TRUST Series.

GOODREADS

Find the other books in the NEVER TRUST series here...

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR (Now available!)

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR (Now available!)

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5) *PRE-ORDER*

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5)

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. These days, she calls Virginia home, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and large dog. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves creating stories through her writing. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: Never Kiss a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Series: The NEVER TRUST Series, Book 2

Themes: Rockstar, No-Rules, Steamy Contemporary Romance

ONE NIGHT WITH THE DRUMMER OF SUNSET REVIVAL?

Yes, I'm game.

Dani Mills, drummer of the world-famous band, Sunset Revival, doesn’t have time for romance. Touring with her bandmates across the country, she’s content with meaningless sex: one-night-stands, no kissing, no personal details. These are her rules…and there are never exceptions.

John Michaels lives a life of seclusion in Corolla, North Carolina. He works, eats, and sleeps—and is perfectly content with his lifestyle. He doesn’t have the time, or energy, to deal with people. Or relationships. Especially women relationships.

When Sunset Revival gets stranded on the beach, it’s John who is asked for shelter. With his sexy-as-sin good looks—covered in ink with blue eyes so deep they shine—Dani finds herself desperate for one night in his bed. That’s all either of them wants, really…one night, no-strings, no promise of tomorrow.

Yet, when one night turns into two, both find themselves breaking their own rules. Thrust into a whirlwind of passion and desire, the pair struggle to maintain the upper hand, with John learning the hardest lesson of all…never kiss a Rockstar.

**NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the second book in Sarah Darlington's NEVER TRUST Series.

GOODREADS

~BOOK REVIEW~

4.5 Stars

Dani Mills, 27, is the drummer in a famous band. When her cousin and bandmate fell for a girl in Kill Devil Hills, the group took a hiatus from touring and, while on the coast, ended up crashing at John Michaels’s beach mansion one night. Readers of the original Kill Devil Hills series will remember John, 33, as Sydney’s older brother, who it turns out is a bit of a recluse.

I really liked the premise from the time I read the original blurb so I was anxious to read this one. There are just too many player/manwhore heroes and sheltered virgin heroines in romancelandia, and this is SO not that set-up.

As a girl rockstar and non virgin, Dani was super refreshing! I do gotta say though, Dani’s lack of safe sex practice did skeeve me out a bit. For John it was a first time thing, but Dani gave me the impression it was a habit with her. I tried to get past it though because for some archaic reason readers overlook it all the time when it comes to the “hero” and that double standard just isn’t okay.  And I was pleased that despite issues from her past that led Dani to her ONS lifestyle, she was still a strong female character who spoke her mind while holding everyone together. 

John was also a welcome addition to the current romance market. In fact, he’s a romance safety lover’s wet dream. He wasn’t just a non-manwhore, he’d been celibate four freaking years! There was no OW drama this time around. Zero. Zip.

It was pleasingly low-angst and sexy. I just adore romances like this one where the story stays focused on the hero and heroine working through their feelings and making their relationship work.

 "I hoped like hell she'd still be in my life in six weeks. I couldn't imagine a future where she wasn't. Fuck—the alternative would cripple me."

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, John and Dani were both great characters and were just what each other needed.

“‘I’ll make a trade…I see you watching my lips. I know what you want. I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want.’”

Kudos when a romance captures what is so important in any relationship—bringing out the best in each other.

Like the previous title, I was up to 1am again…okay more like 2am. (There were bonus chapters.) But the pacing and elements are much different this time. Plus there’s a bit of suspense. A reveal I did not begin to even guess. But I love a good twist that pulls things together better than you expected. In fact, I really need another bonus scene. Hell I might even need a spin-off book.

Also fans of PulledUnder from the original Kill Devil Hills series will want to be sure to read this one as Sydney and Rhett make several cute appearances and continue their HEA. They were a great addition to the story, especially their interactions with John.

Luke and Rebecca’s story is up next and I might just have to take chance on them as I’m starting to get sucked in.

*I volunteered to review this ARC. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

Get Your Copy Now!

Or read for *free* in Kindle Unlimited here

Find the other books in the NEVER TRUST Series here...

Each can be read as a standalone.

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5)

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5)

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. These days, she calls Virginia home, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and large dog. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves creating stories through her writing. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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COVER REVEAL: Never Kiss a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Release Date: December 5th

Series: The NEVER TRUST Series, Book 2

ONE NIGHT WITH THE DRUMMER OF SUNSET REVIVAL?

Yes, I'm game.

Dani Mills, drummer of the world-famous band, Sunset Revival, doesn’t have time for romance. Touring with her bandmates across the country, she’s content with meaningless sex: one-night-stands, no kissing, no personal details. These are her rules…and there are never exceptions.

John Michaels lives a life of seclusion in Corolla, North Carolina. He works, eats, and sleeps—and is perfectly content with his lifestyle. He doesn’t have the time, or energy, to deal with people. Or relationships. Especially women relationships.

When Sunset Revival gets stranded on the beach, it’s John who is asked for shelter. With his sexy-as-sin good looks—covered in ink with blue eyes so deep they shine—Dani finds herself desperate for one night in his bed. That’s all either of them wants, really…one night, no-strings, no promise of tomorrow.

Yet, when one night turns into two, both find themselves breaking their own rules. Thrust into a whirlwind of passion and desire, the pair struggle to maintain the upper hand, with John learning the hardest lesson of all…never kiss a Rockstar.

**NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the second book in Sarah Darlington's NEVER TRUST Series.

GOODREADS

Find the other books in the series here...

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR (Now available!)

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR (Dec. 5) *Preorder Available!

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5) *Preorder Available!

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5) *Preorder Available!

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. These days, she calls Virginia home, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and large dog. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves creating stories through her writing. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: Never Trust a Rockstar by Sarah Darlington

Yes, please. Sign me up.

Emma has always been obsessed with Ollie Mills of the southern rock band, Sunset Revival. She follows his every move on Twitter, likes all his posts on Instagram, and stalks his page on Facebook. So when there’s a contest to win a date with the sexy-as-sin, bad-boy rockstar, of course she enters.

It’s a one in a million chance.

Caleb Mills has always been unlucky in love. From the girl who broke his heart, to every one-night stand in between, the lead singer of Sunset Revival barely feels anything anymore. He’s focused on his music and nothing more. Until he sees Emma, in a blue dress, on a hot night in Nashville. She’s meant to be his brother’s date, but the moment his eyes connect with hers he wants this beautiful girl all for himself.

Caleb knows, it will only take Ollie a minute to screw things up. And he’ll be there waiting to win this girl’s heart the moment he does. But can any girl, ever, really trust a rockstar?

*NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR can be read as a standalone, or as the first book in Sarah Darlington's Never Trust Series. Look for other books in the series, each available for preorder now. 

GOODREADS

~Book Review~

3.5/4 Stars

Winning a date with her favorite rockstar is a dream come true for Emma Winchester, 22.  That is until she actually meets him and discovers that the real catch is his brother.  Caleb Mills isn’t about to let his brother’s dick moves drive away the girl who’s caught his eye. If friendship is all it becomes he’ll be satisfied with that…until he isn’t.

This sucked me in right from the start. What began as I’ll just start this book before bed, became thirty chapters later at 1am. I’m pretty sure Caleb was to blame for keeping me up. He just had the whole cool, reserved good guy thing down, and it emanated from the page right from the start.

“‘But the second you don’t have a boyfriend I promise I will be all over you.’”

On the outside he’s hot lead singer; on the inside he’s a quietly struggling lyricist with a bit of middle child syndrome.

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, once he sees Emma, he’s all in for her. Caleb was really swoon-worthy.  He was so attentive to Emma and totally supportive of all she was going through.  He never had a big ego; instead he was down-to-Earth and came off as a sweet and sensitive guy.

““I’m trying my damnest to go slow with you. You seem to be trying your damnest to make that impossible for me.’”

Now the downside: I flew through the first two-thirds of this, totally engaged and with a smile on my face. The last third though was like hitting a wall at impact though. I really struggled with the OW drama and a trope I’m not fond of. In fact, I had to skip over it and go back and read it later.  I wish this section would have ditched the angsty twist for…well sex! I was okay with the slow burn until the drama got in the way of steamy times and her virginity became too much of an issue for my liking.

Despite my ending frustrations with the plot and pacing in the later half, I’m really looking forward to the next book with Dani and John.  Dani was a hoot in this one!

“‘Oh thank God!...We’re saved.’”

Set in Kill Devil Hills, we get appearances from some of our old friends from that series including the “blonde Jesus” (whose book was my fav.) But you don’t have to have read the other books to follow this story, though it did make me want to re-read.

*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

Get Your Copy Now!

$0.99 or *FREE* in Kindle Unlimited.

Series Order:

NEVER TRUST A ROCKSTAR (Nov. 5)

NEVER KISS A ROCKSTAR (Dec. 5)

NEVER LOVE A ROCKSTAR (Feb. 5)

NEVER LEAVE A ROCKSTAR (Mar. 5)

Sarah Darlington was born in Colorado and grew up all over the United States. She and her family call Virginia home these days. The best word to describe Sarah is 'creative.' She's passionate about designing, crafting, and photography. But most of all... she loves to write. Her creative bone and OCD personality mix well. Her romance books are sexy and heart-gripping at their core, guaranteed to make you swoon. Any of them can be read as a stand-alone, but all are connected within the same world.

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