Hello lovelies and welcome back to Romancelandia, the land that, in this week of International Women’s Day, is all about celebrating women’s stories. Celebrating books that are largely written and published by women. For women. Books that do not say – contrary to popular belief – that a woman needs a man/partner to be a fully realised human being but acknowledges that the journey of life, if one so chooses, can be sweeter when shared with another and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Books that say it’s okay for women to have good sex and great love and spectacular orgasms and you don’t have to throw yourself under a train or wear a scarlet letter around your neck. Yes, down this rabbit hole, we are all about books that privilege women and their pleasure.
So, come on in and relax. Helen Reddy is belting out ‘I Am Woman’ and there are jugs of Frida Kahl-adas, not to mention a bunch of books out this month from Aussie and international authors where women win – hallelujah!
All are available via Booktopia in either print or digital, so just click on the covers if something takes your fancy.
Australian Romance Authors
A Home Like Ours
by Fiona Lowe
A picturesque small town, a cosy community garden, a facade of tolerance and acceptance – but when three women with wildly different loyalties come together, what secrets and lies will be revealed? A timely novel exploring prejudice and privilege, from bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe.
Buy it here
The Code Breakers
by Alli Sinclair
1943, Brisbane: The war continues to devastate and the battle for the Pacific threatens Australian shores. For Ellie O’Sullivan, helping the war effort means utilising her engineering skills for Qantas as they evacuate civilians and deliver supplies to armed forces overseas. Her exceptional logic and integrity attract the attention of Central Bureau – an intelligence organisation working with England’s Bletchley Park codebreakers. But joining Central Bureau means signing a lifetime secrecy contract. Breaking it is treason. When the man she loves asks questions she’s forbidden to answer, how will she prevent the double life she’s leading from unravelling?
Buy it here
The Lady Detective
by Ava January
How does a wealthy widow avoid the marriage market in 1890s London? If you’re Lady Theodosia Fortescue-Brown, you hide behind outrageously bad clothing and glasses you don’t need. After the disappearance of her husband, Theodosia can’t imagine giving up her freedom to marry again and relishes her role as detective to the ladies of the upper echelons of society. When a priceless necklace on loan from the Royal family is stolen, Theodosia must work with the scandalous Lord Montague to recover it before the theft is discovered …
Buy it here
Rescuing the Paramedic’s Heart
by Emily Forbes
Paramedic Poppy is back in Sydney. Her first stop? Bondi Beach’s surf and sand! There’s just the small matter of bumping into the bay’s newest elite lifeguard — Ryder Evans. Her first love who was forced to move away …taking a piece of Poppy’s heart with him. If she wants him back, she must be bold enough to let gorgeous Ryder show her what she’s been missing.
Buy it here
International Romance Authors
Patience & Esther
by S.W. Searle
Ever tried a graphic novel? For something a little different why not try this steamy, lesbian, period romance?
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Patience is a kindhearted country girl, eking out a living in Edwardian England as tremors of social change rock the world around her. When she starts her employment in formal service on the grounds of an opulent country manor, she has no idea that her own personal revolution is about to begin. Selfless, dutiful, and just a touch naive, she takes to both her place as a parlor maid and to her new roommate, the bookish and progressive lady’s maid, Esther.
Buy it here
Enemies with Benefits
by Zara Cox
Our families are bitter enemies, but I’ve wanted Wren Bingham since she first strutted into my boardroom. One decadent taste during a party and I’m addicted! So I tempt Wren with an indecent proposal. She works on a deal with The Mortimer Group, and I give her the release she craves. But the feelings she stirs make me wonder — am I falling for the enemy?
Buy it here
Bride Behind the Desert Veil
by Abby Green
Sharif Marchetti is deliberate. Controlled. Especially in his strategic choice of a royal bride. So after surrendering to his instincts with a mystery woman, he must erase their desert encounter from his memory. Until they meet a second time … moments before they exchange wedding vows!
Princess Aaliyah Mansour is stunned that her arranged marriage is with the man who’d stirred her soul. She was prepared for a union that left her independence and defences intact. Not a jet-set lifestyle with a husband who’s the ultimate distraction …
Buy it here
Amy’s Favourite of the Month!
Each month I choose an author who I simply adore and showcase one of their books. This month I’m choosing the ab fab Talia Hibbert.
Talia is an English author who writes (quoting directly from her website) ‘steamy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation’. And I couldn’t put it better if I tried. Her books are funny and charming and lovely, as well as witty and sexy and bitingly insightful.
Hard to know which one to pick but how about starting with the first in the Brown sisters books and just, you know, keep on going?
Get a Life Chloe Brown
Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan and a list. After almost – but not quite – dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her ‘Get a Life’, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items?
- Enjoy a drunken night out.
- Ride a motorcycle.
- Go camping.
- Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
- Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
- And … do something bad.
But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job. Redford ‘Red’ Morgan: a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs …
Buy it here
And that’s it for this month. See you down the rabbit hole, next month!
Amy Andrews
About Amy
Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written eighty plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.
She’s sold three million books and been translated into over a dozen languages including manga. She has won three Ruby awards and is a triple RITA finalist.
In her other life, she was a paediatric intensive care nurse for twenty-one years. Amy lives near the sea with her husband of thirty years.
You can find out more about Amy and her books here.
Breaking All the Rules
Credence, Colorado: Book 4
A stressed out LA ad executive looking for some rules to break. A laid back, small town police officer more than willing to assist.
A fun, sexy romp through the trials of starting over, and finding what you didn’t know you needed in the last place you expected.
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