I’m an avid reader of all genres, but I especially love romance. (Probably why I write them!)
My favorite subgenre is romantic comedy, with romantic suspense being a close second.
In more than 250 books read this year, here are my favorite romances and their spice level.
Romantic Comedies
These all have heroines who are over 30.
One of my favorite rom-com authors is Lucy Score. Three of her books make my favorite list this year.
Things We Never Got Over is a small-town, grumpy/sunshine rom-com with a runaway bride, evil twins, an instant family, and a smokin’ hot silver fox.
The dialogue is fabulous.
It’s a 3.5 on the chili pepper/spice scale.
The love story between Naomi and Knox will have you cheering, crying, and laughing out loud.
If you liked her Blue Moon Series, you’ll love this book.
(Book 2 in the Kockemout series comes out in February.)
By a Thread was one of those books I knew Lucy wrote but kept languishing on my TBR list. Then, I saw a review from someone in Lucy’s reader group and knew I needed to read it ASAP!
It is hands-down one of her top books and probably the spiciest.
Grumpy boss/sassy assistant. Stubborn woman. Even more stubborn man. Couple is over 39. Loads of laughs and emotions.
And a sweet as-hell doggy. (Spice 3.5)
Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past had me howling in laughter, and I nearly choked on my water while reading.
This is book three in the series about Riley, a reluctant psychic, and her detective boyfriend. There is a cast of wackadoo characters.
And the scene between Riley’s dad and Nick, the boyfriend, will have you CACKLING!
Spice is about a three on the chili pepper scale.
Pippa Grant is the other author I fawn all over because she also writes romantic comedies with older heroines.
Irresistible Trouble is book four in the Copper Valley Fireballs series, and the hero is Cooper Rock.
This wise-cracking baseball player finally met his match in pop superstar Waverly. Their love story is awesome with a glitter coating. The book is a love letter to Pippa Grant’s fans, and I was there for it.
RomCom, spice, second-chance romance, epic pranks, cameos from the Bro Code series, and the ending that will send you for the tissues. (Spice 3)
My friend read Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez and sent me a screenshot of the “ring light” scene. I immediately ran out to buy this book. (Then cursed my friend when I got to the emotional ending!)
Alexis is a big-city doctor who lands in a small town courtesy of a raccoon and heavy fog. She meets Daniel, a younger innkeeper.
This reverse age gap, opposites attract, small-town rom-com will have you busting a gut laughing. There is spice. And don’t drink anything when you get to the scene where Daniel is trying to take an – ahem – intimate picture. (Spice 3)
Romantic Suspense/Darker Romance
Mercy by Sara Cate is book four in the Salacious Players Club series. Four friends start a BDSM/kink club. One of them is a woman who thinks she’s vanilla but finds out she’s a Domme – female dominant. This book explores that dynamic with a younger man. That man happens to be the estranged adult son of one of the owners.
I loved that this book had a dominant woman who wasn’t bitchy or mean. The emotional connection between the two main characters will have you falling in love and wishing there was an SPC near you. (Spice rating 4.5)
*On a personal note, I met Sara at Shameless 2022 in Orlando this year. After I fangirled all over her, I asked about the upcoming books in the series. It nearly set my hair on fire. HOT!*
Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger is another book I immediately picked up because of a review I saw on social media. The review went something like this – I can’t tell you more about this book because it will spoil the ending.
Holy shirtballs.
This romantic suspense with spicy scenes will leave you breathless. A woman gets a mysterious letter on the day she buries her husband. The letter is from a prisoner who knows all too much about the woman. They exchange letters until one day, the letters stop.
And she finally figures out why.
This is a psychological thriller that will keep you up way past your bedtime. There are a lot of trigger warnings, so read those before downloading. Spice is a 4.
[After reading this book, I dove into her Queens and Monsters series, which was excellent. Darker romance. Check TWs.]
Clean/Sweet Romance
Need a little break from all the spice?
Let me suggest a few titles for you…
Piece of Cake is book three in the Midnight Bluff Series by Susan Farris.
I’m a fan of small-town romance with a cast of wacky characters. This friends-to-lovers/fake dating romance is between Willow, the town baker, and Ruffin, the town fire chief. Their friendship is fine until Willow needs protection from an ex, and Ruffin needs a date for his family holiday party.
This is a clean romance (no spice), but there’s a kiss that was so hot it nearly melted my Kindle. (And it made me check I was still reading this “clean” romance!)
The whole series is fantastic and starts with Nuts About You.
No Ordinary Hate is book one of the Gamble on Love series by Melanie Summers & Whitney Dineen. A Hollywood starlet going through a very public divorce decides to take her kids to the last place on earth anyone would look for them – Gamble, Alaska.
And, of course, she runs into the hottest mountain man in town – Digger McKenzie – who runs the lodge and flies a seaplane.
Funny small-town “mom-com.”
No spice.
Alrighty.
Those are the books at the top of my list (so far) for this year.
What were yours?
If you’re looking for more spicy romantic comedies with older couples – check out my books here.
Happy reading!
xoxo,
Dawn
Dawn Dugle writes spicy romantic comedies with couples over 35. Her books and social media videos have been known to make people snort-laugh.