The Romancies: Part 4 - Favorite Quote

 

*The books eligible could be published in any year, they simply had to be read by me in 2021. 

Clicking on book cover brings you to my review if I wrote one or GoodReads page if I didn't.

Nominees:

1.  A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

Honey-colored hair, just on that border between blonde and brunette. The kind of hair that went luminous under sunlight, but kept its secrets indoors. 

This is an example of some of that gorgeous writing I've been talking about in this book and gah, I could talk about this line and description all day. I want to live in this sentence.

2.  Night in Eden by Candice Proctor

"I despair," said Bryony quietly. "Yes. But you don't give way to it."

This quote maybe needs a little context to really feel it, Bryony was sentenced for murdering her husband and sent to Australia where numerous horrors happen to her as a woman convict.  It was a quote that had you feeling her anguish and strength all at once and just hit upon that inner core that woman have.

3.  An Unlikely Governess by Karen Ranney

He breathed against her ear. She turned her head and brushed her lips against his bristly cheek. He'd traveled all night to be with her. He traveled in the darkness like a demon, and in the dawn light, he offered her a hint of depravity. Dear God, she wanted it so.

I live for the tension between the leads and the last part of this sentence delivers on that fraying rope feel that wild horses couldn't pull my attention from.

4.  Lumberjack by Jenika Snow

Jake now sat across from me, cleaning and sharpening the blade of his ax. Maybe doing that should have scared me, because it was intimidating watching him do it, but I wasn’t afraid of him.  

I was wet for him.

I never want anyone to forget about my pervy side and the "I was wet for him" had me laughing and delighting in the delivery of this line. Like, YES. So glorious in it's this story gets down to business vibes.

5.  To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman

“I want you again, Emmy Danvers. And I want to take my time.” 

Classier in it's perving? Who cares, we love it all here at WhiskeyintheJar Romance. I do know that this line is make you shiver out of your panties delightful. 

He's going to take his time. 

Damn.

6.  The Last Confession by Regina Madrigal

“I suppose there can be only two outcomes to our friendship; you will save me or I will damn you.”

A little context for this one, the story is about a courtesan and a priest. Hits differently now doesn't it?

7.  Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

She tipped her sleek head toward me, lazy grin glinting like a blade's edge. “Enter the final member of our vengeance coven.”

VENGEANCE COVEN. I will sign up every time for a story that has it's characters in a vengeance coven (added bonus that two in the coven fall in love!).

8.  The Last True Cowboy by Kathleen Eagle

Ok, this is a long one and some might think it should have been in Favorite Scene but, to me, it's one long quote. It encapsulates the tone of the story I loved, a trailed finger, Texas drawl slow burn of a book. 

If you remember back to Favorite Scene and me talking about "girls had try", you'll also catch why I liked this quote so much, K.C. appreciates our try.

“I like women,” K.C. said, thinking about the one who had just greeted him with a sassy slap on the ass. Pretty little redhead, couldn’t remember her name. “I like them very much.” 

Weslin nodded, smiling like he got the message, loud and clear. “She left her mark on your face.”

K.C. laughed and went after the lipstick with a cocktail napkin. 

“What do you like about them?” Weslin asked, and when K.C. gave him an incredulous glance, he shrugged it off. “No, I’m serious.” 

“Hell, I like their spirit, their heart.” 

Weslin looked at him as though he found the answer to be intriguing. K.C. decided to take the reaction at face value; he’d said something interesting. If Weslin had been a woman, K.C. would have known better. Women weren’t interested in what he said so much. It was more the way it was said. That and the way he listened. K.C. glanced at the dance floor. Watching people dance always made him tap his toe, itching to get out there and enjoy the music with some sweet partner. He leaned across the table. “A woman’s heart is different from a man’s. It’s not a matter of soft, even though there is that softness about some women. It’s more like extra room, maybe a secret chamber. They always seem to have a little hope in reserve.” 

“Heart.” Weslin seemed to be turning the word over in his mind, like a questionable coin. Finally he smiled. “That’s not the part most men would name.” 

K.C. shrugged as he sipped his whiskey. “I generally just say I’m a leg man and let it go at that, but you did say seriously.” 

“And I don’t threaten you.” 

“Threaten me?” 

“Seriously.” Weslin chuckled, sat back sipping on his bourbon and water. He was a good-looking cowboy, a little on the thin side with slender, elegant hands, but the kind of a guy a woman would surely notice. “My life is full of women, too,” he said, as if he’d read K.C.’s mind. “Women I love. Women I hate. Women I hate to love. I know just what you mean by a woman’s heart. There’s a gentleness about them that scares some men, I think. You’ve got it just right, though: gentleness and stamina. Unbelievable combination, but there it is.” 

K.C. raised his glass in fraternal agreement. “If we were talking about horses, we’d call it try. Some guys don’t appreciate that, either. They say they do, but the first thing they wanna do is break her, break her in, which means break her spirit.” 

“And when that doesn’t work out, they come to you.” 

“We talking about women or horses now?” 

Weslin smiled. “We’re talking about soft hearts and gentle creatures. Do you ever get tired of trying to make amends for other men’s mistakes?” 

“It’s probably fifty percent of my business, ”K.C. said. As for women, he figured it wasn’t possible for one man to make amends for the mistakes of another. He’d gotten himself in trouble over it a time or two and given up trying. Thought he had, anyway. He sure as hell meant to.  

“You’re the kind of man a guy wants to introduce to his sister.”

9.  Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Muttering beneath his breath, he paced away from her, swung around, and returned to her with heightened color and a scowl. “I’m haunted by you,” he said brusquely. “I can’t seem to stop looking for you everywhere I go."  

A scowl and fan yourself line! I mean, I'm haunted by you. *Wheezes*.

10.  After Dark with the Duke by Julie Anne Long

She didn’t even precisely know what she wanted from him. Apart, perhaps, from being seen.

Probably my favorite thing about romance stories, two people being seen and loved for their true selves and to have a character come out and verbalize this want, gah, broke my heart. 

Winner:

I'M HAUNTED BY YOU

Just, gahalkjidoaihgah!!!!!

2020 Winner

2018 Winner

2017 Winner

2016 Winner

2015 Winner

2014 Winner

What's a quote you read in 2021 that still lingers in your mind?

Next time Favorite Leads.....

The Romancies: Part 3 - Favorite Scene

 

*Books eligible could be published in any year, they just had to be read by me in 2021. 

Clicking on book cover brings you to my review

Nominees:

       

    

1.  Unbound by Cara McKenna

There were multiple scenes that could have made the nominees list but I try to use the Romancies to highlight as many different books as I can, so, even though it was tortuous, I whittled it down to one.

Scary as this was . . . telling her these things was like a bloodletting. The initial cut hurt like hell, but with it done he could feel the toxins escaping, making room for relief. 

The hero Rob is the stereotypical visual of a manly man, there's a scene where he's chopping wood in a flannel that I wanted to nominate that has the heroine Mary having some Feels. What I loved so much about this story was how the author played with power dynamics and duality of "manliness" and Rob's need to be subservient in the bedroom. This scene is when Rob finally opens up to Mary about his wants and desires that he's felt so ashamed off all his life and Mary not letting him shied or hide away from what she sensed in the bedroom and it just made my eyes water. The way Rob not only finally gets what he wants but realizes that he doesn't have to be ashamed of it. It's obviously not a full turn around because the shame he holds is a lifetime accruement but the beginning is there and I love when the romance genre gives readers this, acceptance and love for who you are.

Honorable Mention:  The ending but I can't put it here because it is too much of a spoiler.

2.  Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins

If I read a Jenkins in the year, it is almost assured to show up as a nominee in Best Scene. This author's family dynamics never fails to hit me in the heart and gut. This time it was between the hero Garrett and his father. The scene is of them having a heart to heart and Garrett trying to tell his father how he wants to live his life his way and his father trying to explain why he tries to control and hold his two children so tightly. It's about love, different generational struggles, and that complicated parent-child relationship and Garrett's father's reasonings will make your eyes water. 

3.  Love at First by Kate Clayborne

This is kind of three scenes but I'm getting around this because it's all in the same spot and they all tie together. The leads first and second meetings sixteen years apart and then the ending balcony scene. GAH THE ROMANCE

4.  A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

Another one that I was tortured with picking out only one scene! I went with one-ish, two scenes that tie together that ended up having nothing to do with the romance.

Of course no girl in this cottage was likely to attend balls, but the simpleminded daughter might have to remain here always, watching her younger sisters grow past her to contrive their own establishments. 

This observation, thought, and feeling from the hero Theo hit hard. I feel like a lot of the time the compassion and empathy is directed to the family of an intellectually disabled member, instead of the person themselves. Usually, the hero or heroine is caring for them and it's always, "How noble of you!". The last of this little thought feeling was just, watery eyes. 

He’d come here with honorable intentions, and indeed, he could feel the first sparks of anger struck within him—but they were promptly smothered by thick, poisonous shame. What man could stand under Mrs. Weaver’s awful gaze and not suspect a monster lurked deep inside him after all? 

Oh this scene. Theo's went back to the house that Christine, the intellectually disabled girl, and brought gifts. Her mother Mrs. Weaver sees them close together and thinks Theo is trying to seduce her with gifts. Theo's angry and disgusted, at the situation and himself and I know we're probably supposed to feel bad for him but I was all about Mrs. Weaver in this scene. She breathes the fire at him in a way that she doesn't have to say a word, he owns the estate her family lives on, but Theo knows he's not getting pass this warrior to take advantage of her daughter. The guts, because of consequences, the love, and the bravery showcased by Mrs. Weaver here, just LOVE. 

5.  An Unlikely Governess by Karen Ranney

"Do you believe in love at first sight, Miss Sinclair?"  

"No."  

He laughed softly. "Now who's the cynic?"  

"Why fall in love with someone's appearance? People get sick, or grow old. The character matters more than looks, Mr. Gordon. Wit, intelligence, kindness, all matter more than appearance."  

"So, you would have love come after a conversation?"  

"Perhaps."  

"How long would it take?"  

"The conversation?"  

His smile chided her. "Falling in love."  

"How should I know if it's never happened to me?"  

"Perhaps we should talk longer, Miss Sinclair, have a few more conversations."  

He looked away, and it was just as well, because she didn't know how to answer him.  

Y'all. I mean, this stopped me in my tracks. Our stoic contained hero Devlen, just dropped a huge emotional bomb in a way that delighted the hell out of me. This was a hidden depth moment that always make me sit-up and pay attention, he's essentially saying, "I love you, now catch up!"

6.  The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

It's not all watery eyes and deep thoughts here in WhiskeyintheJar Romance, this scene gets nominated for pure pervy. At around the halfway point, the leads' tension finally snaps and we get a pretty hot clothes getting stripped off in an elevator sex scene.

7.  A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams

I lean towards more broody books and those tend to have angsty parental relationships, so when there's obvious love there between child and parent, they hit me a little harder. There's a scene between the hero Derek and his daughter Jamila where he is doing her hair and it was so sweet I felt my eyes water out of nowhere. 

8.  The Wildest Ride by Marcella Bell

If you read this book, then I know you're thinking, this has got to be the low slung towel on the hero cowboy scene, something along the lines of 

his late in the day, his face was all five-o-clock scruff and shadowed planes in low lighting and she fought the urge to run her fingers along his jawline.

Are those scenes tucked away in the ol' memory bank? YES. But, the scene that earned the nomination was the scene where the heroine Lil fights to prove and remind people that "girls had try" too. It's one of the personal chips on my shoulder, the disappointment/anger in my heart and that simple phrase "girls had try" had my eyes watering.

9.  The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne

Again, so many scenes to pick from! Like I said, I like broody, angsty tear your heart out and this damn book wrecked me. The scene I whittled it down to:

"I'm not going to help you destroy yourself." He drew a breath and looked at her, trying to recall how she looked and smelled when she was fresh out of a bath. "Getting drunk won't change the past. It's time to forget the past, clean up your life and move on."   

"I am so sick of your lectures! Stop drinking, stop smoking, stop swearing, stop remembering … I might as well stop living!" She stared at his tight jawline. "You just don't understand, do you? There's nothing in this whole miserable world I'd like better than to forget what he did to me! And I could forget if only I'd had the chance to say my piece and shoot the bastard. Everything would be different!"  

"It's too late for revenge. You've got this crazy idea that Frank Blevins can still see you and hear you. He's dead, Rosie. Blevins has been dead for three years. I'm sorry you didn't get to say your piece, and I'm sorry that life isn't fair; but it's too late to change that. It's over now."

It's when the heroine says "stop remembering" that I got that gut punch. I picked this scene out of all the others because it's more towards the beginning and it shows the reader the pain the heroine is in, giving context to some of her thoughts and actions and how the hero isn't going to help her and is going to help her. It's a lot of the crux for the raw open wound this story is. 

10.  Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

As Justin crouched to stare at the carving more closely, a glass marble dropped out of his pocket and hit the inlaid parquet floor. Dismayed, Phoebe and Justin watched the little sphere roll away rapidly. But its momentum was brought to an abrupt halt as the dark-haired man pinned it with the tip of his shoe in a display of perfect timing. As he finished his conversation, he bent to pick up the marble. The housekeeper bustled away, and the man turned his attention to Phoebe and Justin. 

I loved this moment! "Brought to an abrupt halt, turned his attention to" It gives that zing of anticipation that I love in the beginning of romance books, the spark I keep talking about missing from historical romance stories lately. That moment that makes you feel giddy as the two leads make that first contact and enter each other's orbit. Gah, I love this reading feeling!

Winner:

Mrs. Weaver's love. I'm telling you, just typing up that snippet for the nominee selection had my eyes watering all over again. This scene with all the love and consequences wrecked me. I'm signing up for romantic love when I read a romance genre book but damn if romance doesn't deliver in a thousand other ways.

2020 Winner

2018 Winner

2017 Winner

2016 Winner

2015 Winner

2014 Winner

Have a favorite scene that sticks with you from 2021? 

 Next time, Favorite Quote...

The Romancies - Part 2: Favorite Secondary Character

 

*Books eligible could be published in any year, they just had to be read by me in 2021 

Clicking on book cover brings you to my review 

Nominees:

     

       

 

1.  Frederick and Julia - Ten Things I Hate About the Duke  by Loretta Chase

I feel like I always start off cheating a little bit in this category but the alluding, clues, and hinting at romance between the hero's uncle and a woman named Julia, really caught my attention. They had some tension there that whoo boy caught my attention. I need to know what happened between them.

2.  The Pig - Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant

I warned you all back in February when I first read this that this Pig had a great chance of showing up here and they made it! Usually a dog gets this spot but this pig bedeviled the hero so damn delightfully and got an actual honest to God laugh out of me that I couldn't deny them their spot.

3.  Aunt Teddie (honorable mention:  T.J. Kewadin) - Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

A pseudo mom to the girl in the story, she encapsulated all the strength of what it can mean being a woman.

T.J. Kewadin is the girl's ex boyfriend and my romance genre heart just wants him to get a HEA.

4.  World building - Heartless by Gena Showalter

I'm not the biggest paranormal fan but I have found myself getting more into fantasy lately and the world building was fascinating as heck. The fae realm called Astaria and it's five royal courts, Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring, Dusklands, and the heroe's created Midnight court and the mysterious Forgotten court were engaging. The creatures, magic, and land described by the author really placed me there and had me excited for the series on a whole.

5.  Katie - Anything For Love by Connie Brockway

A wild west woman that is surviving and thriving due to her own grit and gumption. She's the owner of a saloon and provides some humor and great personality to the story. I'd love a novella of how she fought her way to be the owner of the Gold Dust.

6.  Robert - An Unlikely Governess by Karen Ranney

I'm usually really bad with liking kids in stories but Robert stole even my cold crone heart. He's a seven years old heir who's parent's died in a carriage accident, lives with his cold uncle, and someone is trying to kill him. He was sweetly young but also a stoic little thing, I want to see him grown up and being the hero of his own book so bad.

7.  Martha (honorable mention:  Elvis) - Be Buried in the Rain by Barbara Michaels

You all know I love to have a villain nominee and Martha was one heck of a witch. Look, I have to give it up to someone who doesn't really leave her bed but can command a whole room with only one eye. She terrorized her grandkids so much in their childhood that they're still working out the trauma and she's still no slouch on her deathbed. I didn't personally like her but as a character, Bravo.

I simply can't have a Favorite Secondary Characters list of nominees without a dog, this year Elvis stole the show with his protective sweetness.

8.  Ned - How to Catch a Duke by Grace Burrowes

This is book #6 in the series and I've been calling for Ned's book since #1! He's more grown from the little boy we first met and with his appearances in this one, GIMME. April 26 Never a Duke is his book coming out this year and, to say the least, my expectations are High.

9.  Oliver - How to Survive a Scandal by Samara Parrish

He's the foreman at the hero's steam engine factory and, I don't know, there was something about his calmness, smarts, and strength that caught my attention. He doesn't show up often but when he does, he draws the the eye.

10.  Lady Darvish - A Christmas Ball Anthology - My Lady Below Stairs by Emily Bryan

Lady Darvish, the Black Widow of Wembley Street, was on the prowl once again. She's apparently buried four husbands and has heard from a friend that one of the men in the story is good in bed, so now she's set her sights on him. She clues him into this by calling him Bertie and when the guy says that's not his name, “I called all my husbands Bertram. It kept things uncomplicated.” I mean, who wouldn't want a full novel about this woman?! 

Winner:

Martha

Am I proud of this pick? No. But I can't help it, her secondary character has stuck with me more than a fair share of leads. She commanded a whole room with just one eye open!!! As far as villains go, she had some longevity, those grandkids were just starting to realize how f'd up for life they are. Martha had a part to play in this story and she commanded it.

2020 Winner 

2018 Winner

2017 Winner

2016 Winner

2015 Winner

2014 Winner

Who were your favorite Secondary Characters from 2021? Next award, Favorite Scene...

Review: Riskier Business

Riskier Business by Tessa Bailey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

His tortured gaze finally met hers. “Your father is back in town.” 

Well, I'm posting this a day late for the #TBRChallenge but I finally was able to sit down and finish a book, so glass half full. 

January's theme was Quickie, and novella came to mind right away for me. I typically struggle with novellas because the relationship development is tougher to match the depth I like. Sticking with last years rule of the books I choose for this challenge have to have been on my tbr for at least 5 years, I chose Riskier Business, which has been on my tbr since 2016. Because I've now turned into a messy reader, I haven't read the book that stars the couple this novella is about. However, I have read the first book in the series that book is in, totally counts! 

This novella is .5 in the Crossing the Line series and seems to be the way the author is bridging Crossing the Line from Line of Duty series, which this couple's original book is in. Troy is a detective and Ruby is a former pool hustler who has now gone legit with her own custom pool stick company. This is a Tessa Bailey so the banging is front and center and has some hot moments but since I missed the buy me dinner portion (their first book) I wasn't totally connected to their steamy feels in the bedroom.

The author does a good job giving us the gist of what happened in Ruby and Troy's book, wrong side of the law pool hustler entanglement with detective and a life threatening situation that led to love. Ruby and Troy are now living together, Ruby has an employee named Mya, Troy still has issues with how close she is to her bestfriend Bowen, and now her shady father has come back into the picture. Daddy-o wants Ruby to hustle one more pool game, against her previously unknown uncle. Ruby's mother abandoned her and took off with $100,000 of shady daddy's money. If Ruby wins the pool game, uncle gives up abandoning mommy's location. Ruby has always been curious about her mom and though it makes Troy mad, she agrees to the game. 

Does the premise around the pool game make much sense? No. Nononono. Lol. But it brings tension and angst to Ruby and Troy's relationship while also bringing some mystery to who Ruby's mom could be. If you read their original book, you'd get a lot more out of this, you'd already be invested in their emotions and probably enjoy the glimpses of past couples from the Line of Duty series. There are copious amounts of secondary characters that could entice you to pick up their books. 

This satisfied the Quickie prompt in being short and having a fair share of sexual quickies. It resolved some issues I imagine readers felt had been left open for this couple and it bridged to a new series that looks to start off with Ruby's bestfriend and newly discovered half-brother! Bowen. Bailey delivered with what she's known for, sexcapades with some entertaining story.

View all my reviews

The Romancies - Part 1: Favorite Cover

  Like the Oscars but way more prestigious ;)

Happy New Year! It feels a little odd saying this when I have a feeling the next couple weeks are going to be extremely rough in the USA and other parts of the world but my sincere best wishes to everyone, where ever and how ever you spend and get through this beginning of year. 

I felt like I got my reading mojo back in 2021 but I only ended up reading 136 books, which is the lowest for me since 2011. I read 152 last year but a lot came from KU and some books that were, umm, less than challenging. I didn't fully make my goal of reading less ARCs but I did stick to not requesting any, I didn't accept any unless a publisher or author contacted me directly about the book. I also stuck to my themed months and this caused me to get behind in ARCs but helped me keep my reading mojo, I can't write a review for every book I read, I need books where I'm not taking notes and analyzing. I also got a Bingo in Halloween Bingo, which I am very proud of, joined in 10 out of the 12 months for SuperWendy's #TBRChallenge, and joined in a fair amount of buddy reads. I loved how joining and sticking to these challenges kept my reading feeling fun and fresh.

The books eligible for my Romanices can be published in any year, (I'm still in 2017 for my new-releases tbr), they simply had to be read by me in 2021. There will be the usual 9 categories, Favorite Cover; Favorite Secondary Character; Favorite Scene; Favorite Quote; Favorite Leads; Favorite Couple; Favorite Contemporary and Historical, and Favorite of 2021. As I participate in Halloween Bingo, some horror books could sneak in there; basically any book I rate or discuss on GoodReads is fair game. 

Without further ado, let me kick off the award show today with Favorite Cover, I try very hard to not let how much I liked or disliked the actually story affect this one, all visual judging a book by it's cover here :)

Click on the cover for my review if I wrote one and if I didn't, you'll be directed to it's GoodReads page

Nominees:

1.  Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce -  I know this is the first question on everyone's mind and yes, this dress does make an appearance in the book. The dress, how the model is positioned, and the title over her, gah, perfection. I'm instantly transported to the 1920s and asking Alexa to play some blues and jazz. 

2.  Hang The Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur -  A cartoon cover! I know, I know, I've been known to bemoan these but this one is cute/swoony. The Seattle skyline to setting intrigue me and the couple's embrace (leg kick!) to romance me. The color palate is a personal favorite, I'm a fan of purples and pinks and I think it also gives a fantastic dusk or dawn!, we don't know what these two crazy kids have been up to, vibe. 

3.  The Wildest Ride by Marcella Bell -   If you've followed me for a while, you know all about my cowboy thirst and holy hell does this cover deliver for me. The cowboy hat with head tilt (I just know he's about to lift and turn his head to me and give me a slow sexy smile) and that fitted to perfection shirt, had me agreeing to read this before I even glanced at the synopsis. As I sat and scholarly pondered this cover, I had the fleeting thought that the shirt unbuttoned could have really put this over the top but, honestly, I might not have survived. The cool tones also give me some Western vibes, too. 

4.  Anatomy:  A Love Story by Dana Schwartz -   Her dress is in the shape of a human heart! Genius. The red and pink deliver on some romantic vibes while the shape gives me the Gothic tones. Look I thirst over the man titty but I also appreciate thought and ingenuity.

5.  Heartless by Gena Showalter -   My man titty selection for this year. Knowing the story creeped in a little here, he's King of the Dusklands in a fictional land and I like how the colors are dark, giving in to his character and homeland's persona, the lack of shirt tells me untamed! but the moon shining brightly behind him alludes to light at the end of the tunnel.

6.  Foolish Hearts by Synithia Williams -   Foreheads touching, hand holding, and the rising sun perfectly framed between them, romance cover at it's finest. This cover screams these two are going to be cute, romantic, and emotional. I am so so so glad they didn't do a cartoon version of this, it hits so much harder with the models. 

7.  Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, and Anna Bennett -   I mean, top notch holiday book cover, the vibrant dark green dress, the pine trees in the background, and the snow coming into the "camera" (genius by the way). I also love the title, it all welcomes me with open arms for some holiday goodness. 

8.  The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley -   Along with cowboys, I also have a love of dramatic cover dresses, I was a little shocked that this year I didn't really have any to pick from that grabbed my attention. This dress isn't that flaring dramatic but I love the gold, I feel like this is an underutilized color. It feels warm and silky sensual all at the same time. It's soft from the coloring and hot, with how they're sitting on the chaise lounge. I love historical romance covers like this.  

9.  Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams -   Another cartoon-y cover but it's cute with how it matches the title, a guy "hiding" that he is reading a romance. It's delivering the message that this story will be cute and fun and my broody heart likes those every once and a while. 

10.  Pestilence by Laura Thalassa -   I always feel like fantasy books get the best covers and this kind of gave me that crossover that I've been craving, adult romance fantasy. The glowing tattoos going up his hip bone and across collarbone, the long hair with armor, all chef's kiss. 

Winner:

#1  Wild Women and the Blues 

This was really a battle between the top row but the perfect title over that gorgeous dress takes the crown because of how I instantly am transported to the time; I can hear the music and smell the smoke.

2020 Winner

2018 Winner

2017 Winner

2016 Winner

2015 Winner

2014 Winner

What was your favorite cover of 2021?

Stay tuned for Favorite Secondary Character....