Fabulous Romance Reads of 2024
By Celia Breslin
Fun fact: I’m a total Book Nerd. Yep, in addition to writing my own stories and editing stories for other authors, I read. A lot, a lot, a lot. I generally read at least one new book per week, so if you’re doing the mental math gymnastics right now, that’s at least 52 books per year. Huzzah! So, my fellow Book Nerds, this booklist is for you.
Books & Series I loved this year…
Contemporary Romance
* A Very Bossy Christmas, by Kayley Loring – steamy, heartwarming, and loud-out-loud funny!
* The Knockemout Series, by Lucy Score – three great books, small town, sizzling romance, and addictive alpha heroes and heroines.
* Downside of Dating Series, by Avery Flynn – two stellar books, hilarious wedding shenanigans (book #1), and hockey hijinks (book #2).
Dark Reverse Harem Romance
* Bay Ridge Royals Series, by Heather Long – six addictive books, deep, dark, and riveting, with super spicy romance, graphic violence, and intrigue. Not for the faint of heart. Reading tip: You don’t have to, but I’d start with the 82nd Street Vandals series, where you first meet our current cast of characters.
Romantasy/PNR/SFR
* Quicksilver, by Callie Hart – Enemies to Lovers, oodles of action, and spicy romance. Love the Fae.
* The Lair of the Wolven series, by J. R. Ward – three books, steamy romance, mystery and action, and a few familiar faces from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Yay.
* Dauntless Cyborgs series, by Cynthia Sax – super fierce and hot cyborgs, strong heroines, and seriously sizzling romance. Reading tip: read ALL her cyborg romance series…Cyborg Rebels, Cyborg Unity, Cyborg Sizzle, Cyborg Space Eploration, and more. 5 stars!
* Zodiac Academy series, by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti – twelve books and it’s Fae all day. A little bit dark and a lot of bit riveting. Note: I’m five books in. Be warned: it’s a continuing series with cliffhanger book endings so far…
Well, my dear Reader Pals, that should keep you busy for a while. For more book recs, follow my blog, follow me on GoodReads, or sign up for my newsletter.
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
Xoxo,
Celia
Discover passion among the stars… Blast off to the future with this limited-edition collection of sizzling, science fiction romance stories!
Beyond Earth
By: Stephanie Morris, Lola Blix, Celia Breslin, Leslie Chase, Candice Gilmer, Alina Riley, Robin O’Connor, Sky Robert
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance, Science Fiction Romance
Publisher: Carnal Imprint
Date of Publication: December 10, 2024
Book Description:
Otherworldly seduction and intergalactic adventures await you in these high-heat, open-door tales from a diverse group of authors. Meet alien gladiators, cyborgs, AI lifeforms, psychic aliens, interstellar royalty, psy-changelings, fearless humans, and more. Visit alien worlds, travel on high-tech vessels, and immerse yourself in red-hot seduction blazing brighter than any quasar.
The Beyond Earth anthology is a pulse-pounding, toe-curling journey into the cosmos. If you enjoy out-of-this-world romance with guaranteed happily ever after’s, lovers from different worlds, fated mates, enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine, rescue romance, and more, then you’ll love this treasure trove of spicy, steamy, futuristic stories.
Order your copy of Beyond Earth to begin your passion-filled voyage into the galaxy today!
Amazon * Apple * Kobo * B&N * Google
Excerpt from “Claiming Kaden” by Celia Breslin
The station’s vid screen flared to life, blocking her view. A handsome and angry male face filled the space. The brightest amber eyes she’d ever seen glared at her.
“Stop shooting,” the man growled.
The face disappeared.
“Who the hell was that, Athena?” A Zyphorran? She ignored the gorgeous stranger and kept firing at the battleship.
The face reappeared. Dark brows furrowed over his blazing whiskey eyes. “Desist, woman!”
“Desist this, you jerk!” She shot at the enemy. Continued to miss. “Ugh!”
She didn’t care how handsome he seemed, with his pale, silvery blue skin and spiky dark hair, and those glowing eyes which looked like they could melt a girl’s panties.
No one told her what to do, and no one would force her into servitude.
Never again.
The green vessel took out two enemy ships before it planted itself in front of Calie’s station.
Angry Guy’s face filled her screen. “I’m trying to help you. Stop firing!”
Oh… Cranky Guy was the pilot of the green ship. Possibly a good guy? Calie lifted her hands away from the controls.
As she watched, he took out every single destroyer then turned his attention to the warship.
“Shield at eight point seven percent,” Athena announced. “Hm…”
“What do you mean, hm? Should we head for an escape pod?”
“This is most intriguing. And disconcerting,” Athena murmured, not answering her escape question.
“What, that guy’s amazing battle prowess?”
“No. He infiltrated and took over my communication system to speak with you.”
Okay, now Calie was doubly impressed with good-looking Mister Frowny, because Athena was a powerful genius. No one bested her.
Calie plastered her palms on the controls. “Let’s help him kick that warship’s ass.”
“Don’t you dare,” their unknown ally barked, audio only.
“Are you eavesdropping on us? Rude!”
“The unknown male is attempting to take control of all station systems, Calie.”
“Cut it out, whoever you are,” Calie warned him. She aimed one of the station laser cannons at his ship.
“Who I am? I’m the male who’s going to disable and commandeer the warship, then eliminate everyone on board it while you sit on your pretty ass and stay out of my way.”
He thinks I’m pretty? She shook off the frisson skating down her spine. “Screw you. I’m blowing up that warship. Athena, take it out.”
$20 Amazon Gift Card
Celia Breslin lives in San Francisco, California, USA, with her family, which includes three feisty felines who like to stalk across her keyboard while she’s hard at work crafting urban fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal romances. Her current creature obsessions are cyborgs, the Fae, vampires, wolf shifters, and warrior-class angels, and her action-packed stories include some of her favorite tropes: fated mates, second chances, rescue romance, opposites attract, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and more.
When not glued to her laptop, Celia likes to work out, read books (of course!), hang with her family, and binge-watch sci-fi and fantasy TV shows and movies. Matcha lattes keep her fueled for All The Life Stuff!
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Lo9ks like a great book
Thanks, Michelle. Happy Holidays!
What makes a great story?
Hi Barbara, “Great” is subjective, don’t you think? What one person loves in a story might not be another person’s cup o’ tea. Good thing we have a variety of genres to choose from.
Psychic aliens..I guess nothing could be hidden from them.
Hi Regina, There are a lot of fun otherworldly beings in this collection! 🙂
Lookin forward to reading this
Hi Bill, Great! Happy holidays!
This sounds great! Thank you for the excerpt! And the guest post with all the recs of favorites! I loved it 🙂
Hi Nina, Glad to hear you like the excerpt from my story. It was sure a fun story to write. I have a few more planned in this series. And I’m always happy to share reading recs! 🙂
This definitely sounds like my kind of read. I’ll be putting this in my wish list for sure.
Yay! Happy Holidays, Mary!
I always wonder why so many contests ask for daily comments for entries, since I have found that many commenters just put in a few words (ie, great cover, sounds good, etc.). Admittedly, it is sometimes hard to find something different to write!
Hi Carol, The tour manager typically sets up giveaway options; I imagine it’s offered as a way to increase one’s chances of winning the prezzie. I can definitely see how it would be challenging to find something new to say daily! On the flip side, I don’t mind answering questions. It’s fun. 🙂
I can imagine how fun and maybe challenging it would be to write about another race. Science fiction is fascinating. Is it your favourite genre?
Hi Piroska, It is one of my favorite genres. I basically enjoy the same genres I write in (Urban Fantasy, Romantasy, Paranormal Romance, Sci-fi romance), plus contemporary. Oh! Speaking of contemporary, I recently read a great story from a new-to-me contemporary author and I highly recommend if you like laugh-out-loud humor and sizzling romance: “A Very Bossy Christmas” by Kayley Loring. I liked it so much I immediately read the next one, instead of waiting for that holiday, LOL: “A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day”. Aaaand I’m not reading the third one: “A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day.”
ugh! typo! “I’m NOW reading A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day!” LOL. 😉
The one thing I always wondered about is the male anatomy on other planets- would female humans be able to mate with them at all?
Ha! Good question. This depends on the author’s world/character rules. For me, I’m writing about cyborgs who are humanoid and 100% compatible with humans.
How important are book reviews?
I suppose it depends on one’s perspective. As a shopper, I tend to base my purchases on the blurb and sample and/or excerpt. I imagine other shoppers might read and make decisions based on reviews. As an author, I appreciate it whenever someone takes the time to write a review. Feedback is nice!
Anthologies are good when someone just needs a quick read.
Yes! I like to read them, too, for a quickie read and also to discover new authors. And contribute stories to ones in my genres.
The book sounds fascinating. Great cover.
The book sounds fascinating. I love the covers.
Hi Piroska, I like our cover, too. 🙂 Happy holidays.
Sounds like a good read.
Thanks, Carol. Happy Holidays.
I’m looking forward to continue to lose weight. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for stopping by. Happy Holidays.
How do you handle writer’s block?
Hi Barbara, Whenever I’m stuck, I move. More often than not, that means taking a walk outside in beautiful San Francisco, but if the weather isn’t great, I’ll pace around my house, or maybe do some cleaning. Don’t know what it is about moving (or even driving, LOL) but it really makes a difference.
The book sounds fascinating. I love the cover.
Thanks! I love our cover, too. Happy Holidays!
Hi Piroska, I love our cover, too. 🙂 Thanks for visiting the tour.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year, too! 🙂
I enjoyed reading this well done excerpt!
Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Barbara, So glad you liked the excerpt from my cyborg story! 🙂
Hi Angela,
Thanks for hosting our sci-fi anthology on your blog. Happy Holidays! 🙂
It was my pleasure. Thank you for visiting!
This sounds exciting. Great cover too.
Hi Bonnie, Thanks for visiting the tour! I like our cover, too. 🙂
This looks like an interesting read.
Hi Wendy, Thanks! Glad it sounds interesting. It was certainly fun to write a cyborg romance for this collection. It’s the first my new cyborg romance series. 🙂
Hi Wendy, Thanks! It was fun writing a cyborg romance for the anthology. It’s the first in my new cyborg romance series.
looks like a fun one
Thanks, Daniel.
You can definitely tell it is a sci fi read by the cover. Sounds like a good read.
Hi Cathy, I so agree and love our cover. 🙂 Happy holidays!