*The books eligible could be published in any year, they simply had to be read by me in 2020.
Clicking on book cover brings you to my review
Favorite Heroine Nominees:
1. Hannah van Evan - Bliss by Judy Cuevas
I lean into my jaded, cynical personality a decent amount, so heroines like Hannah can make me wistful, annoyed, happy, sad, and angry. Hannah's been burned by life but she still manages to maintain her open heart but kept out of being naïve because of how she does stop to think about motivations. The strength and fight in Hannah was glorious and inspiring.
2. Severine de Cabrillac - Beauty Like the Night by Joanna Bourne
If you read the series, you'll end up watching Severine grow-up. I loved the interaction between her and her family, which I thought brought out all the little nuances of her character. Severine serves time in the Military Intelligence and I would love to read a novella about her time in that. Severine is the heroine you wish you were even a little bit like, she's courageous, witty, vulnerable, and smart.
3. Evie Fleming - Nowhere To Hide by Leslie A. Kelly
Evie is a true crime novelist who survived her own serial killer attack and seems to draw them like a bee to honey. She's a smart tough cookie who takes some incredibly hard knocks in life only to get back up stronger each time.
4. Bianca von Hasenberg - Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik
Even though Bianca is still emotionally and physically dealing with the abuse from her first marriage, she has set-up a network of women spies, that with her technological skills, helps to rescue. It was immensely satisfying to read Bianca not gain emotional and mental strength from what was done to her but instead use that strength she already had inside her but was a bit too young to be able to access at first. The times she refused to back down because she knew she had the skills and know-how to get the done made me cheer for her even harder.
5. Chloe Brown - Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Chloe has fibromyalgia, which the author did a great job portraying how this not only takes a physical toll but also an emotional one. Chole's a little short tempered, grumpy, and closed off but has that soft-hearted center we all love to see shells crack to reveal. I enjoyed Chloe's grumpiness because of how it then faded away to a funny, sarcastic, and caring around people she cared about.
6. Anahera Rawiri - A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
Anahera grew-up with an abusive alcoholic father who's mom didn't kick out until he started to turn the physical abuse on Anahera. She's a widow who discovered her husband was cheating on her at his funeral and still emotionally dealing with a miscarriage. She's went back to her hometown where she doesn't have the greatest memories and gets caught up in a murder investigation. Anahera was that tempered steel heroine that I love reading about, the contrast of strength of will and vulnerability never fails to hit me in the feels.
7. April Whittier - Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
The foundation for April's character, how her father is hateful towards her and her mother's own insecurities with weight, obviously played a big role in her character make-up. What I enjoyed was how the author didn't make it the focus and this might make me sound like I'm contradicting myself because I call it her foundation, the story and April are not defined by weight. April's got it figured out, it's getting others up to her level. April gives us joy, mundane, and sexiness, which I often think gets left out in regards to characters that are, what April calls herself, fat.
8. Althea Wentworth - A Duke By Any Other Name by Grace Burrowes
Althea grew-up poor and with an abusive alcoholic father just trying to survive but when her brother inherits a dukedom, she's suddenly thrust into a social world she has no clue how to navigate. Althea's background and how that shaped her was heartfelt and had me feeling for her when the hero tells her never to beg, not understanding and appreciating the strength Althea displays in doing so because she knows what it takes to survive. At any rate, how can you not love a heroine that has the hero thinking this when first meeting: "Lady Althea Wentworth is, without doubt, the most vexatious, bothersome, pestilential female I have ever had the misfortune to encounter."
9. Samiah Brooks - The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
Samiah has trust issues because of the guy she was dating was two-timing her and while that brought two great women into her life, it killed any desire she had to keep putting herself out there. She's focusing on her career, which of course means that she ends up having amazing chemistry with a new hire. Samiah gets put through the ringer a bit in the story with how the hero has to keep his identity a secret but I loved how she never comprised her values and emotions. Samiah is going to succeed in her career and her love life and I greatly enjoyed reading her do it.
10. Kerry Fuller - Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
When we come into the story, Kerry has just lost Mama Joy, a substitute mother. She's dealing with that pain and the possible loss of a business that provided a community for her along with having to be around her childhood crush. Kerry's struggling with what she wants to do, work with children and keep Mama Joy's knitting store open, but also make money to live. It's a conflict I think a lot could relate to. Add this to being around her crush all the time and dealing with their chemistry and you have a heroine who will relate and touch a lot of readers.
Winner:
Bianca von Hasenberg
This is the type of heroine that breaks your heart, gives you hope, and then inspires you.
2018 Winner
Favorite Hero Nominees:
1. Henry Tilney - Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Late to the party? Maybe, but also, Darcy who? Henry gifts the heroine with a Newfoundland puppy! Henry is so quick witted and teasingly cute with the heroine, he's at such ease with the heroine that I swore I could "see" the sparkle in his eyes when he talked with her. Henry was a great subtly charming hero.
2. Nardi de Saint Vallier - Bliss by Judy Cuevas
It would be so easy to dismiss Nardi, he's addicted to ether and struggling with not being the "hot, new artist" but the depth of character the author gives him won't let you do that. His emotions are raw and deep, I was right there with him as he struggled, was hurt, angry, and sad. The heroine helps him see parts of himself he'd rather not but it was his heart that redeemed him for me. Nardi will make you laugh and want to strangle him.
3. Carter Maguire - Vision in White by Nora Roberts
This is probably 90% a timely pick, Carter had strong Steve Kornacki vibes. He's a competent cinnamon roll that could help carry some of that #Korsnacki and #MapDaddy thirst. I quote the heroine: "She stopped, threw her hands up again. "Grandfathers wear tweed. Old guys in old British movies wear tweed. Why do I find it sexy that he wears teed? This is a question that haunts me."
4. Ruark "Black Dragon" Kerr - Claimed By a Scottish Lord by Melody Thomas
I was so pleasantly surprised at how sweet Ruark was, he's pretty gone for the heroine after meeting and getting to know her. Who doesn't love a man head over heels and all in for the heroine?
5. Aden MacTaggert - Scot Under the Covers by Suzanne Enoch
Aden is the middle MacTaggert brother and the one who keeps his cards pretty close to his vest, he's a bit mysterious with his emotions contained. The heroine is somewhat snobby to him at the beginning but he's great at subtly putting her in her place and then the attraction starts to simmer between them. There's some emotional pain from the abandonment of his mother and I hurt for how that made him more closed off as an adult. Aden's a quiet rivers run deep hero that I enjoy.
6. Hill Gamble - Unforgiven by Jay Crownover
Hill's a Texas Ranger who's helping to investigate the murder of the heroine's father. There's so much history between the two, the heroine was in a relationship with his now deceased younger brother but Hill always had feelings for her. The heroine blames things on the hero that isn't his fault and he stoically takes it and simultaneously burns for her. Ultimately, Hill was the perfect calm, cool, and collected hero for the more wild heroine.
7. Ethan Ridley, Lord Amesbury - Any Rogue Will Do by Bethany Bennett
Ethan is our hero who has some damage repairing to do, he unexpectedly inherits a title and loses himself to stupid drunken antics trying to fit in. Readers come into the story when he's older and ready to make repair to the heroine. They're in a fake betrothal but Ethan wants to make it real and it was nice to see his feelings for the heroine and him working to get her to love him.
8. Jay Shah - The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel
Jay was the perfect compliment to the heroine, he's a relaxed resilient guy who isn't a pushover, sticks around to poke the bear (heroine) enough to learn not to be afraid of the growls, even begins to like the growls. The relationship he had with his mother also showcased what a caring person he was.
9. Jake "Golden Boy" Esera - Love Hard by Nalini Singh
Jake is a single father, comes from a pretty loving family, and a fairly straight and narrow guy. He's went through therapy to help him deal with his controlling, anxious ways, losing his wife to cancer exasperated them. He's sweetly open with a heroine who needs it and was caring and protective in ways that made him seriously sexy in how he treated and supported the heroine.
10. Daniel Collins - The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
Daniel is a former Marine who now works for the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Already intrigued? He's undercover at the heroine's office and has to war with their sizzling chemistry, falling for her, and not compromising his job. I love to see a strong man struggling not to fall for our heroine and Daniel encompasses all that.
Winner:
Jake "Golden Boy" Esera
That night she dreamed of tracing the coils and shapes of his tattoo with her tongue, fantasized about licking sweat from his skin after a hard game of rugby, and woke at midnight to the impression of his strong body pinning her to the bed while he smiled down at her. "Oh hell." Juliet was in trouble.
We'd all be in trouble. He's not afraid to seek out therapy for help, sweetly open, a secret morning grump, caring, protective, and supportive. Sexy as sin.
2018 Winner
Who was the heroine & hero that captured your heart in 2020?
Next time, Favorite Couple...
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