Monday 29 January 2018

The Breathless List - Our Favourite Reads for 2017

We're back!

Every January we Breathless Bloggers choose our favourite romantic reads from some wonderful Aussie and New Zealand authors to share with you in our Breathless List. 

It's never easy, but here are our top picks for 2017. You are in for a treat!

MIRANDA 

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I was delighted to discover Marry In Haste by Anne Gracie, Book 1 of her new 'Marriage of Convenience' series - my favourite romance trope! Returning war hero Major Calbourne Rutherford discovers he's unexpectedly become Lord Ashendon, with duty of care for a neglected estate, two unmanageable half-sisters and a wild niece he didn't know he had. Wrangling the girls is a bit like herding cats, so he tries to engage the services of their previous teacher, Miss Emmaline Westwood - and unexpectedly offers marriage when she refuses 'the job'.


Anne Gracie creates a wonderful family for us to enjoy, one that prickly Cal didn't realise was ever possible, aww... So fabulously heart-warming. A little bit unusual because Cal and Emm don't really fire off together until about halfway through the book - then, wow! Another stunner, Anne. 💞






MARILYN FORSYTH

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Every now and then, as a reader, I’ve been lucky enough to find a book that hits that sweet spot inside. In 2017, that story was Sasha Wasley’s Dear Banjo.

It’s a poignant ‘friends to lovers’ story; the tale of Tom and Willow (nicknamed Banjo), childhood bffs who grew up on neighbouring cattle stations in the Kimberley (a spectacular setting I’m particularly partial to 😉). The pact they made as teenagers, not to let anything destroy their special connection, is broken when Tom attempts to kiss Banjo before she leaves for university. She sees it as a betrayal of their friendship and the letters he sends her, one each month for the next year, go unopened.


Ten years later, Banjo returns home where she must confront the past by finally reading Tom’s letters.


I’m a sucker for epistolary narrative and Tom’s letters are heart-rending (such a gorgeous hero). The book is filled with gentle humour and heartfelt emotion, and I loved every minute spent with Banjo and Tom.


CASSANDRA SAMUELS

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 A Love to Remember by Bronwen Evans is a story full of emotions, guilt and steamy love scenes. Evans pulls the reader into the story from the first page and tugs at the heartstrings the whole way through to the end.

Rose is a widow with a young son, and Phillip is her best friend's brother. When she offers condolences and support at his brother's funeral they become lovers. At the time, the terms of their affair were clear. Neither of them ever wanted to marry again, but years later they have both fallen in love with each other. Rose wants to marry Phillip and have more children but when he refuses to even discuss marriage she ends the affair, breaking both their hearts.

This is when the story takes the reader on an emotional journey through jealousy, guilt and heartache that made me yearn for the 'happy ever after' these destined lovers deserved. Thankfully, Bronwen Evans gives the sigh-worthy ending that only a great book can give. 



SHARON BRYANT

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Nineteen Letters by Jodi Peri is a beautifully constructed, sweet romance novel. It tells the story of Gemma and Braxton, childhood sweethearts who are separated by fate when a car accident causes Gemma to lose all memory of her past life.

Braxton shares his most powerful memories of their time together by writing Gemma a series of letters – nineteen in all. He hopes that she will learn to love him again, and that they may once more live as man and wife.


The sheer emotional tension woven by Peri, together with the well-constructed characters, made me struggle to put this novel down.






ENISA HAINES

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After a wild night out, football star Nick Harding meets Anna, a waitress. She’s smart, gorgeous, different to the usual women flocking around celebrities, and Nick is instantly attracted. An attraction that threatens his career. Still, he pursues her. Anna, a refugee haunted by a horrific past, won’t risk hurting her conservative family, but Nick draws her.

Nick’s sister, Lily, a medical student conflicted about completing her degree, crosses paths with Toby, a man grieving his estranged wife’s death. Intense emotions pulling them together, they fall into a passionate affair that soon overwhelms them.

Beautiful Messy Love grabbed my attention from the first sentence and wouldn’t let go, even after I’d reached the last word. Though everyone wishes it, love isn’t always happily-ever-after. It’s complex, at times hilarious and at other times sad, and often messy. Beautiful Messy Love reveals this so captivatingly.

This contemporary tale of four characters intertwined by tragedy, family and duty, hit me hard. Not only for its roller coaster of emotions, but also because Tess Woods shows that love can overcome the social issues of today. Beautiful Messy Love is a 5-star read for me, a book I will always treasure.


Well, there you have it - our favourite reads of 2017. What a fabulous selection from some great Aussie and New Zealand authors! 

Was your top pick among ours? If not, what was your favourite book from last year? Leave a comment and you'll be in the running to receive a copy of A Very Aussie Christmas, our anthology of short stories. 

19 comments:

  1. I know! I've read three of them (and loved them!) and look forward to reading the other two.

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  2. I'm honoured to make your list. Thank you so much. <3

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    1. I loved the incorporation of the letters in your book Jodi, and the final letter from Jemma made me cry (in a good way :) ).

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    2. I really enjoyed your book, Jodi. So much emotion. I loved being immersed in it.

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  3. Thanks for dropping by Jodi. "Nineteen Letters" is a fabulous book. I loved the premise and the interactions of your well-constructed characters. A real page turner.

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  4. Hi Ladies

    Some great books here 2 of which I have read and slso recommend Anne Gracie's and Jodie Perry's the others will be added to my must get list. Thank you 😀

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Hi Helen! Always a pleasure to have you drop by. I know you'll enjoy the other books as well. :) (PS: you're in the running for the giveaway.)

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    2. I forgot to list one of my favorites from the year so many but one would be The Greatest Gift Rachael Johns and Leaving Ocean Road Esther Campion and the Stationmasters Cottage Phillipa Nefri Clark

      Have Fun
      Helen

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    3. Helen, so many books, so little time!! Thanks for your suggestions!

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  5. So proud to be on this list! Thank you breathless babes.

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    1. You're very welcome Sasha! I wanted everyone to know just how much I loved Tom and Banjo's story.

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  6. I just love reading other people's best picks of the year, and am delighted even more when it's Aussie Aussie Aussie authors, oi oi oi... I love my pick (obviously) in particular. Anne Gracie is such a FINE writer, and the whole marriage of convenience is such fun to read. I've also read Enisa's pick 'Beautiful Messy Love', and although it's quite confronting to read at time - that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Loved the cross cultural references in it. Great job, Tess Woods. I've also read 'Nineteen Letters', Sharon's pick, and it's written in letter style in between narrative. Oh, those letters will tug at your heartstrings. Marilyn and Cassandra, I've just added your recommendations to my TBR list - mountain - whatever. Almost the size of a small island nation, actually. I'll never get through them all before I go to heaven, but by gosh I'm going to try. Happy reading, folks! I'll be back in March to chat about more good romances. Till then. xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Miranda. I'm looking forward to reading Nineteen Letters -- I love books with letters.

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  7. I've already read three of the books on this list. I've just purchased "Dear Banjo" and "A Love to Remember". Looking forward to more great reading.

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  8. A great selection here. So worthy of being winners. Congratulations, everyone.

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  9. Oh wow, thank you for including my MARRY IN HASTE in this gorgeous line-up. I'm so chuffed to be on the list. I've read half of the books mentioned and see I'm going to have to get the rest. Thanks, Breathless Bush-galz for the lovely way you support romance and romance authors.

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    1. Anne, we galz at 'Breathless' love your books! It's a pleasure to feature you here. And psst! everyone, I've been lucky enough to read Anne's next book in the series, 'Marry in Scandal', and it's just so fabulous. Mark your diaries for April 3, the day it's released! And thankyou for stopping by, Anne.

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  10. Oh, thank you for making my start to 2018 so exciting. It's always satisfying to hear readers enjoyed A Love To Remember! I'm honoured. Bron

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