*Books eligible could be published in any year, they just had to be read by me in 2020
Clicking on book cover brings you to my review
Nominees:
1. Gabriel and Charlotte - Love Hard by Nalini Singh
This might be cheating a bit, this couple already has their own book (Rock Hard), but the first 20% of this deals with their wedding. I loved this couple in their own book, so of course I delighted in how much they were in this one. Just, give me as much T-Rex and Mouse as possible.
2. Mama Joy and community - Rea Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
When this story starts, our characters are dealing with Mama Joy's death but the author did such a good job of allowing the readers to feel Mama Joy through the boys she adopted, now men who consider themselves brothers, and the community she helped create. I still wish we had gotten more flashback scenes of Mama Joy but her presence was still felt. I also made a term, community fiction, because of how well the author incorporated and created the setting's community. I read this believing that these characters and community were real.
3. Lord Stephen - A Duke By Any Other Name by Grace Burrowes
If you've been a reader of the Rogues to Riches series, you'll know all about the younger brother Stephen. His alcoholic father broke his leg when he was younger and he was bound to a wheelchair for a long time. He still limps and needs a cane but he's grown stronger. He can charm the pants off anyone but still drop the truth bombs down on his siblings when they need it. He's flittered throughout the series and I'm so ready for him to get his happily ever after.
4. Shoban - Recipe For Persuasion by Sonali Dev
I still think about this character once a week even though I read this a couple months ago, Shoban is the mother of the heroine and what a complicated relationship they had. I want Shoban's book more than is sane since I know we will never get it. This story turned out to be more about the mother and daughter relationship for me than the romantic one. The first half kind of vilifies Shoban through her daughter's eyes but the second half tells Shoban's side of the story and oh boy, what an emotional rollercoaster I went on.
5. Binat sisters and mother - Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
This book uses the hallmarks of Pride and Prejudice but set in Pakistan. The author did such a wonderful job capturing the family antics and relationships between the sisters and mother from P&P and applying them here. They were funny, eye-rolling, stubborn, angry, and loving.
6. Jack - Forever and a Duke by Grace Burrowes
This might seem like a wild pick, Jack plays a bit of the villain in the story, he's the cousin and former fiancée of the heroine. If you're a frequent reader of my reviews, you'll know I love grey characters and can't help side-eyeing anti-heroes hoping they get to be the hero in the next book. Jack is the anti-hero that toes and occasionally crosses the line in the name of getting ahead because of his poor beginnings; a Nick from Luck Be a Lady, if you will. He never does anything he can't be redeemed from and I'd love for him to star in his own story.
7. Ferdinand - Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik
Please tell me we are going to get his book! Ferdinand is the brother of the heroine and a leader for the von Hasenberg house. There's a scene where he is secretly meeting with the daughter of one of the other houses the von Hasenbergs are warring with. Brace yourselves, they are in a SECRECT ROMANCE. A space opera with a warring houses secret romance. Y'all, I NEED.
8. Taz - Total Bravery by Piper J. Drake
Is it even a WhiskeyintheJar Romance award show without a doggo? No. I loved this highly trained magnificent adorable dog. Taz is a German Sheppard and the hero's K9 partner. From the moment he leads the hero to the heroine, to him shutting the car door during a mission, I loved this pup. He will nuzzle and cuddle with you but also bite your enemies, couldn't ask for more.
9. Sebastien and Besom - Bliss by Judy Cuevas
This book, just, I feel like I'm still wrung out from talking about it. Sebastien is the brother to the hero and Besom is the employer of our heroine. I can in no way summarize here what these two bring to the table in the story. Sebastien is the older brother dealing with the hero's ether addiction and the family's moments from the poorhouse but the multi-layered issues and conflicts involved in all this that make their relationship so hateful and loving was incredibly emotional. A little more to the side but still teeming with conflict was Besom's relationship with the heroine. Besom is an older woman using the heroine as her companion and trying to maintain their class differences while being angry and hopeful for the way the heroine is trying to make her way through life. Incredible character depth from these two secondary characters.
10. Political climate and historical setting - Highland Sword by May McGoldrick
If you've read this author (comprised of a married couple) before, you'll know they never shirk on the historical content. Highland Sword had a glorious amount of historical content, real historical figures and events intertwined with fictional that engrossed me. The romance definitely gets eclipsed but my history loving heart didn't mind. If you bemoan the lack of historical elements and sense of time and place in your historicals, then you need to be reading McGoldrick books.
Winner:
Shoban
I can't even type her name without my eyes wanting to weirdly water. Just, ugh, the things Shoban had to live through, her strength, her fight, her pain, her will, her love, and really just Her.
2018 Winner
Who were your favorite Secondary Characters from 2020?
Next award, Favorite Scene...
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