Welcome to our favourite reads for April. Each month some of ARRA’s members will tell you a little bit about one of the books they’ve recently read and loved.
These are not full reviews of the books, just honest opinions on why they enjoyed the book so much. Hopefully one of these will strike a chord with you.
So, we asked our members to tell us about some of their favourite reads for April …
The Sister Trip by Mel A Rowe (rural romance)
Mel A Rowe is a must-read author for me and there is a reason: she writes fabulous stories that are filled with all of the emotions that we go through in life. This new book is a beauty of a story. I was laughing out loud in the first two chapters (you have to meet Quakers) and then there was frustration and sadness and then I was cheering. I loved this story from start to finish. You need to come along on this fabulous road trip through the Northern Territory and meet Tea, Lottie and Devin. [Helen, NSW]
Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller (historical romance)
A lush, evocative historical romantic suspense, set in Vienna in 1877. The heroine is the manager of her family’s once-famous hotel; she is trying to bring it back to life. The hero is an American foreign agent, ostensibly undercover, but really, in Vienna, everybody knows who’s who. The plot is complex, the family dramas and relationships are complicated, and the romance is slow-burn with great banter and tenderness. Add in that the heroine is the sexually experienced one and the hero is a virgin, and I’m sold. [Deb, NSW]
The Rebel by Jennifer Bernard (Rockwell Legacy #1) (contemporary romance)
I’ve just read The Rebel , the first in Jennifer Bernard’s Rockwell Legacy series. The Rockwells are the children of ‘Mad Max’ Rockwell who owns a run-down lodge in the remote Cascades Mountains. In The Rebel , Kai, the eldest son who left home at 17, is back, and is suspicious of the motives of Nicola a beautiful nurse hired to care for his ailing, difficult and possibly susceptible father. Kai’s right to be suspicious, but it’s not his father who’s in danger. Fun, sexy and most enjoyable—and it’s free. [Anne, Vic]
How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parish (Rebels with a Cause #1) (historical romance)
This book was very kindly given to me at the recent ARR event in Sydney by the author, so of course I read it (thank you Samara!). What a refreshing and wonderful Regency romance based on the ‘forced marriage’ trope, with a big dollop of the fish-out-of-water scenario thrown in for good measure, always fun to read! I loved the extra insight we’re given into building the new steam engines. Everything to enjoy, I was cheering for both the H&H all the way. [Malvina, NSW]
The Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score (Knockemout #2) (contemporary romance)
I was so looking forward to this book and was not disappointed. I love Lina’s character now even more than the glimpse in the first book. Nash took a while to wake up to himself in relation to Lina—such a good move by Knox to shift Lina into Nash’s building. With evil people circling around to kill him, everyone is on tender hooks and there was a lot of drama to catch the bad guys and stay safe. The epilogue was fantastic and I can’t wait for #3. [Linda, WA]
The New Guy by Sarina Bowen (Hockey Guys #1) (sports romance/mm romance)
Hudson Newgate is a hockey player who has been traded several times and is used to the nickname New Guy. Gavin is starting as a trainer on Hudson’s new team and they meet each other the night before and there’s an instant connection. Gavin has his life sorted out, despite some challenges, but Hudson has a long way to go before he can settle into the life he really wants. I loved this couple. The connection between them right from the start is fantastic. There are some heartbreaking scenes in this book, but they just makes the journey to a HEA more special. [Debbie, ACT]
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