Monday 30 January 2017

Favourite Aussie Romance Reads of 2016

By the Breathless Bloggers


So great to have our favourite reads get the thumbs up from Keith Urban (courtesy of giphy.com)!


It hasn't been easy! With all the wonderful Aussie Romances published last year, the Breathless Bloggers have somehow managed to select just one favourite Romance read from 2016. 

We hope you enjoy our reviews as much as we enjoyed reading these fabulous books.


CASSANDRA: THE EARL AND THE HIGHWAYMAN'S DAUGHTER by Maggi Andersen

link to buy this book

With so many great romance authors to choose from, it was a hard decision but my pick for 2016 is Maggi Andersen's The Earl and the Highwayman's Daughter. Maggi has an easy to read style which lends itself so well to novellas.

Eugenia Hawthorne and Brendan, Earl of Trentham are thrown together when he is wounded in an attack by highwaymen on his way home. Eugenia patches him up but when her father returns he and Brendan make a deal and Eugenia ends up as Brendan's unofficial ward. But there is more to this arrangement than meets the eye. There is a mystery, an emerald necklace and plenty of sexual tension to keep you turning the page.


MARILYN: THE ART OF KEEPING SECRETS by Rachael Johns


link to buy this book

While not strictly a romance, The Art of Keeping Secrets contains powerful romantic elements. In it, we meet Felicity, Genevive and Emma, three ladies attempting to deal with issues and situations that many women will be able to identify with: life after divorce combined with a life-threatening health problem, a ‘perfect’ marriage that isn’t as perfect as it appears, and a forced reunion with an old flame who happens to be the father of her son (although he doesn’t yet know it!). One of the story-lines in particular had me on tenterhooks till the very last page (no, I’m not telling which one; you need to read it for yourself J).




Flick, Neve and Emma are believable and eminently likeable characters, and the strength of their friendship is something I could easily relate to. I greatly enjoyed spending time with them all. ’Onya, Rachael. Another winner!







MIRANDA: THE HATING GAME by Sally Thorne
link to buy this book
This book is sharp and edgy in its writing; fresh and funny and a total winner. A perfect office romance between the geeky but ohmygosh gorgeous Josh, and the diminutive-in-size-only Lucy. It's told in Lucy's point of view, which gives you just enough information about how she's feeling about Josh - and what she thinks he's thinking and feeling about her - to keep you guessing. For half the book Josh remains somewhat of an enigma, although the paintball work-bonding day was a bit of a heroic giveaway. By the end of the book (and a lot of laughs and a few tears later) I was in love with both of them. Thank you, Sally, for bursting onto the romance scene with such a brilliant debut. Please write more!

Favourite funny quote:
I stumble into the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. I pee, flush, and then realize how unladylike I was. Oh, well. He's seen and heard almost everything now. There's nothing left to do but fake my own death and start a new life. 

There's more about Sally Thorne here: https://www.hachette.com.au/sally-thorne/the-hating-game if you want to follow her slavishly (which I now do).



SHARON: THE SUMMER BRIDE by Anne Gracie (Chance Sisters series #4).

Link to buy this book

Daisy Chance was raised in a brothel from which she helped two young women escape. Together with the sister of one of the women, they declare themselves sisters of the heart, and vow to support one another through life's challenges.
Daisy is a talented seamstress, determined to have her own shop and make it the best in London. She has no interest in marriage; a husband would get in the way of her ambitions. Patrick Flynn, a self-made man, orphaned in tragic circumstances he has never fully dealt with, is attracted to Daisy, but wishes to marry the finest lady in London. He feels he is good enough for anyone, and needs to show this to the world by marrying a high-born lady.


The well-constructed characters, captivating dialogue, sense of fun and poignant moments that tug at the reader's heartstrings which Anne brings to her writing make this book a must read.







ENISA: SUNSET SHADOWS (Goodabri series #3) by Bronwyn Parry

link to buy this book

In the stark isolation of the Australian bush there’s a madman on the loose. As sinister shadows in the untamed wilderness herald danger, police officers Steve Fraser and Tess Ballard put their careers on the line to save the lives of 50 cult members, and the people they care about. In a race against time, their pasts return bringing heartbreak, and as they wonder if they will survive, a romance slowly blossoms.


Wow! From first page to last, Sunset Shadows had me enthralled. I was there, in the isolated surrounds of the bush amidst the fast-paced action, tension gripping me by the throat as surely as it gripped Steve and Tess as I immersed myself in their rush to catch the madman and bring justice to those threatened. I was there hurting along with Steve and Tess confronting pasts too painful to face, and I was there watching in wonder as romance flickered through their friendship, the flame slowly burning, turning to love. Packed with emotion, edge-of-your-seat suspense and twists you don’t see coming, Sunset Shadows is a brilliant read. Is it any wonder Bronwyn Parry is a must-read author for me?




KAREN: BEYOND THE ORCHARD by Anna Romer

I am choosing Anna Romer's latest book, Beyond the Orchard, as my favourite romance for 2016 because it is an absorbing read shrouded in suspense and mystery from the very start.
A family saga of love, heartbreak, deceptions and discoveries written in the authors unique voice, it easily transports the reader from the present into the past and back again, while providing such detailed descriptions of the time periods and Australia's beautiful landscape, flora and fauna, that you almost feel it surround you.





An ominous old house full of secret crevices and hidden truths with supernatural elements that hang heavily in the readers mind, igniting fear only limited to one's own imagination. Rich characters with their own demons, sorrows and stories to tell. And a tale of love that keeps you hoping and wondering until the end.




DANA: THE FARMER'S PERFECT MATCH by Marilyn Forsyth


Link to buy this book

I've chosen The Farmer's Perfect Match as my favourite romance read of 2016 for so many reasons. The setting, the characters and the plot brilliantly pack the book full of tension and romance. Our own Marilyn Forsyth weaves the story in and around the setting, creating and building tension so beautifully that you think you're there! The characters filled my heart with so much emotion that I ached for them! I wanted Evie and Adam to succeed at their goals but feared that if they did then they would never get together.




This is one of those books that you read from cover to cover and at THE END you want more...you need more. The Farmer's Perfect Match is one powerful read!






Did your favourite romance read from last year make the cut? No? Then please let us know in the comments of any books published in 2016 that you'd recommend. We're always on the lookout for wonderful romances.

We LOVE TO LOVE Aussie Romance Writers.
We LOVE TO LAUGH!Our monthly Writers' Group meetings are always a lot of fun.
We LOVE TO LEARN who each other's favourite Aussie authors are.



24 comments:

  1. Woohoo what a great list Ladies and I have read most of them and I do have another couple on the massive TBR pile so many fabulous boos never enough hours in the day :)

    I loved Rachael's, Anne's , Bronwyn's and Marilyn's such great stories that kept me turning the pages and I have heard so many good things about The Hating Game I have it on the pile to read :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Hi Helen! I suspected you may have read most of these :).
      I'm reading The Hating Game at the moment and really enjoying Sally's style of writing.
      So glad you enjoyed my book! Thanks for dropping by.

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  2. What a great line-up! Love reading this fave list for the year. So so SO hard to pick just one, I love our Aussie authors and give them all a big hurrah. Thanks for compiling the list BITB! (P.S. Just added a few more to my TBR pile... heavens...)

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    1. Hi Malvina! There's a really eclectic mix here, isn't there? Just shows what a diverse range of reading interests the Breathless Bloggers have, but we all have a love of Romance at heart.

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    2. Yes, absolutely fantastic. Adding a few to my list...

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  3. Thank you so much for choosing The Earl and the Highwayman's Daughter, Cassandra! It was a lovely surprise! Congratulations all! More for my TBR list, Cheers, Maggi.

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    1. I always enjoy your books but I really loved the hero in this book.i don't know how you make a novella feel like there has been no compromise made to make it short. This one left me sighing happily.

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  4. What an amazing list of Aussie authors we have here.

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  5. We do! And there are so many more who could have been added if only space allowed!

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  6. Sue Gerhardt Griffiths30 January 2017 at 14:46

    Great list! I have a couple of those on my bookshelf and the rest are on my to be read list except for Maggie Andersen's which I have now added to my massive growing list. I'm hoping to have all of them read this year especially Marilyn's book which I was lucky enough to have won and signed. Sorry Marilyn that I haven't had the chance to read it yet.

    My outstanding read of last year (and possibly of all time) was Black Diamonds by Kim Kelly although published 10 years ago it's being re-released this year. Another outstanding read is Castle of Dreams by Elise McCune. Both are phenomenal and outstanding reads. My third top read which I thought should get a mention is April's Rainbow by Cathryn Hein. Told by the hero's point of view which Cathryn did brilliantly. I still think about the story one year later.

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    1. Hi Sue! Thanks so much for all these extra reading suggestions. I've read a couple of Cathryn Hein's books and enjoyed them - what a wonderful recommendation to still be thinking about a book a year later.
      Hopefully you'll get a chance to read my book soon. Let me know what you think of it when you do.

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    2. I love April's Rainbow as well, Sue. Such a lovely story, and it lingers...

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  7. What a great list of books! Some I've read on there and others I really want to. Thanks so much Marilyn for loving ART enough to choose it as your fave. x

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    1. My pleasure, Rachael! As you know, I've been a fan of yours since Jilted and The Art of Keeping Secrets is, in my humble opinion, your best yet. Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  8. As readers we are very spoilt. So many great books to read, so many deserving highest praise but...we have to choose. It's terrific how diverse in reading taste we are.

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  9. It's fantastic to have such a great list of novels to read. I've read and loved so many of Anne's novels over the last year. I am currently reading "The Hating Game" and very much looking forward to reading the other titles discussed here.

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  10. Oh wow -- what a terrific list. I've read most of them, and I'm so pleased to be listed in such fine company. Thanks Sharon for picking my Summer Bride and thanks to all of you for the wonderful support you give to romance readers and writers. Marilyn, I'd agree that the Art of Keeping Secrets is Rachel's best yet. And Helen, you'll love the Hating Game

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    1. Hi Anne! Having you included in our Favourites list for 2016 will not be a surprise to anyone as you keep writing such wonderful books. Congratulations on the success of your Bride series.

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    2. Hi Anne, I loved the Chance sisters series. I felt close to the hero and heroine in each novel and loved the minor characters. I wish there was another book describing what happens next to Featherby and William.
      So many good romances reviewed in this weeks blog. I can't wait to buy some more books and continue reading.

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  11. A heartfelt thank you to Dana for the absolute thrill of having The Farmer's Perfect Match listed among such wonderful Aussie romances. I've read most of the other books (I'm in the middle of Sally's The Hating Game at the moment - really enjoying it) and to find myself in this company is fabulous!

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  12. I'm sorry I'm late to visit but I'm honoured to be included on such a fantastic list of books! Some I've read, and others heading to the TBR pile now. Thank you, Enisa and the Breathless Ladies for all your support of authors :)

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  13. It was a pleasure, Bronwyn. I've loved your writing from your very first book so it was no surprise to me that I'd love your latest book. Always look forward to your stories.

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  14. Great list! Some more to add to my reading pile. Thank you so much Karen for choosing BTO as your fave, I just loved your blurb about it! So inspiring. And thank you all for such a great blog for booklovers.... and cheering on Aussie authors.

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    1. Hi Anna! You are such a worthy inclusion here. I've loved all your books and look forward to reading Beyond the Orchard.

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