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By Nicole Danielle
The Longer Winter Season
While my dear bosom buddy and fellow bookish biddy, Meghan Leigh, remains in the frozen north; I now languish in the south. I made the choice to move from Wisconsin to North Carolina just a little over two years ago. I honestly couldn’t take the winters up north anymore. I expected my seasonal depression to disappear immediately upon moving. But both my husband and I have learned the days are still shorter, still gray and cool, even here in the Carolinas. Granted, the temperature difference and the number of icky days are greatly minimized in this beautiful region, but there is still absolutely a form of winter here. (We actually received “snow” this season down here. I have to put it in quotes. It’s really not comparable to Wisconsin.)
Even so, I have definitely adjusted to the temps and climate. I regularly find myself turning on the gas fire place and looking for something warm to sip — cider, miso soup, bourbon. I know my Wisconsin friends and family will think me ridiculous. But I have to say, whether you fight for your life and toes in Wisconsin or languish in the South, we all like to warm up during our respective winters.
Spicy Books to Warm Us Up
In addition to the warming bevies, I am discovering I love a titillating read to help keep me warm. During the holiday season, I found A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas to be especially warming during the holidays (imagine Bridgerton meets Christmas). I gave it a habanero Scoville ranking and it was exactly the Christmas read I needed.
But what now? We’re still seeing gray, icky days in both Wisconsin and the Carolinas. We need romance novels to warm us. We need love, and trash rags, and spice in our life! But, if you know me at all, you know I love a theme.
And so I offer you Wintry Romance Novel Reads for your consumption in the wintry months of January, February … (and for those in the northern regions) March and April. I’ve included a mix of options from historical romance to LGTBQ+ to dark romantasy (romance + fantasy) for whatever tickles your fancy.
Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
I was introduced to the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas this past winter when I read A Wallflower Christmas for our podcast episode, Cheers to Christmas Romance Reads. I thoroughly enjoyed the Regency era book that was giving me definite saucy Bridgerton vibes. And while I haven’t read any of the rest of the Wallflower books yet, they are definitely on my list of romance novels to devour. One of my favorite characters from A Wallflower Christmas is Evie, and Devil in Winter is her story. She is an endearing character who is naturally shy and has a speech impediment — something you rarely see in a main character in romance novels.
Based on the book synopsis, she strikes a deal with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, an infamous scoundrel and rogue. Add in a marriage of convenience, unexpected desire, and a vengeful enemy from the past and you’ve got a recipe for a fabulous Regency romp. You can purchase the book from our affiliate, The Ripped Bodice here or from Amazon here. And if you’d like to listen to our podcast episode where we discuss Kleypas’ A Wallflower Christmas, click here to go to our in-house podcast player. (You can also listen to it on your favorite podcast streaming service. It’s Season 1 Episode 6.)
Winter’s Spell by Ursula Klein
Mermaids? Shakespeare? I’m not quite sure how they all tie in together in Winter’s Spell by Ursula Klein by I am absolutely intrigued by the book description. (Mermaids and theatre are two of my favorite things.) An LGTBQ+ romance, this book centers around theater director and high school drama teacher Tessa Flowers. Tessa convinces her old flame to help her put on a Shakespeare production and in the midst of putting on the play, they encounter a mermaid who was lured to land by an evil spell. This romance novel sounds like a fun romantic comedy and good winter read. You can purchase the book from The Ripped Bodice here or from Amazon here.
Wicked Deed’s on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole
If a wintry read featuring werewolves and witches is more your speed, then perhaps Wicked Deed’s on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole may be what you desire to read. This book is #4 in Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series but I’m told is a great stand alone book as well. After losing the woman he loved, Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan has grown cold and heartless. But he finds himself feeling strong stirrings again when he encounters Mari, a witch. Of course, passion ensues and it’s a total enemies to lovers storyline.
I’m intrigued by the idea of Bowen being not only a werewolf but also a Highlander. (It sounds like a sexy combination if you ask me.) And this story reminds me almost of the Underworld storyline with vampires vs. Lycans and two people fighting for each other and their love despite their respective groups being at odds. You can purchase the book from The Ripped Bodice here or from Amazon here.
When London Snow Falls by Hayden Stone
And now back to something more modern. When London Snow Falls by Hayden Stone sounds deliciously down to earth — and who doesn’t love a man with a British accent? This LGTBQ+ romance novel features Charlie Renfrew who is too busy and too broke for a love life. Between school, work and everything else, he doesn’t have time for romance. (I think many of us can relate to that.) Enter Ben Campbell who throws a a kink into things for Charlie.
Charlie is completely relatable in this story with his busy life, responsibilities, and challenges with anxiety. And I love that Ben shows him a different side of snowy London and what else life has to offer. (I used to live in High Wycombe outside of London so the setting of this novel really draws me in.) You can get the book here from The Ripped Bodice or here from Amazon.
Snowfall by Suzanne Cass
As a baker, I always love a good romance story that incorporates a pastry chef or bakery. Enter Snowfall by Suzanne Cass. This story is about French pastry chef, Stella Pereira, a hopeless romantic who finds herself on a ranch to work as an assistant cook. She meets Wyatt Wilson — a man with a troubling past — when he rescues her during a blizzard.
If you’re like our podcast co-host Meghan Leigh and love a mystery romance, Snowfall is a great option for a wintry read. There’s a plot with murder and stolen diamonds as well as a survival element when Stella and Wyatt have to head into the mountains to evade some murderous bad guys. (Gee, I wonder what they’ll have to do to stay warm?) You can purchase the book from The Ripped Bodice here or click here to buy it on Amazon.
Which of these books sounds like a good wintry read to you? Do you have a favorite winter romance novel? Let us know in the comments!
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