Read on to discover our picks and let us know in the comments if you’ll be picking any!

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this charming rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, an herbalist fake dates a star musician–perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

A swoony, steamy, STEM romance in which two curators at a science museum—a handsome but grumpy astronomer and an anxious but sunshine-y entomologist—realize they are the perfect match. 

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.

Single Player by Tara Tai

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Two video game creators go head-to-head in this delightful, queer enemies-to-lovers workplace romance debut, perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Helen Hoang.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
With his funny, big-hearted adult rom com debut, bestselling, award-winning YA author Julian Winters shows sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

Work In Progress by Kat Mackenzie

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this Latinx adult romance debut from National Book Award Finalist Sonora Reyes, two friends enter into a marriage of convenience to save one from deportation—but everything changes when they unexpectedly fall in love.

Unromance by Erin Connor

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

For One Night Only by Jessica James

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Let’s Call A Truce by Amy Buchanan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

Only In Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A spicy small-town, brother’s best friend, sports romance “packed with sizzling tension, heat, and sweet, swoon-worthy moments” (Peyton Corinne, author of TikTok sensation Unsteady) between a college football coach and the one that got away that you’ll want to devour in one sitting.

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Archaeologist Miriam and journalist Rafael are destined to be rivals and must journey together to find the Lost City of the Moon. As they navigate treacherous paths and rival crews, their hearts become entangled in a thrilling adventure where love and duty collide in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The game is on for two nerds who love to outplay each other . . . even when their hearts are on the line, in this charming and geeky romantic comedy perfect for fans of Olivia Dade and Jen DeLuca.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti returns with another hot, hilarious Regency romp about a reclusive earl and the wallflower-turned-radical-pamphleteer who turns his life upside down.

Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
After a case of mistaken identity and an almost one-night stand, two stranded wedding guests have to find their way to their final destination together, in this riotously fun debut romance.

A Lady Would Know Better by Emma Theriault

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Get ready to swoon for this dreamy, forget-me-not romance that’s filled with the delightful tartness of Jane Austen and the sweeping, unputdownable drama of Bridgerton.

Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
She needs a divorce from her husband—but a hurricane threatens to dredge up their stormy, passionate past in this sizzling romance from the bestselling author of Say You’ll Be Mine.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A married couple joins a week-long wilderness expedition to help them reconnect in this heartfelt companion novel to the viral TikTok sensation Out on a Limb.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Summer camp heats up for a grumpy rockstar and a cynical dance instructor in this funny and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke’s half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
There’s more than one way to love and more than one place to call home in this rousing small-town romantic comedy that’s sure to charm fans of Hannah Bonam-Young’s Next to You and Ashley Herring Blake’s Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date

Book People by Jackie Ashenden

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
When a fledgling bookseller opens a shop and café celebrating popular genre fiction across the street from a well-established upscale bookshop, she incurs the wrath and disdain of its highbrow owner, until a long-held family secret that connects their pasts comes to light during a literary festival . . .

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A stolen latte results in a meet-cute for the ages in this brand-new edition, with bonus content, of New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter’s rom-com Accidentally Amy.

All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Sometimes the last thing you expect is exactly what you need, the final missing piece. And sometimes it comes in the form of a towering, broody sheriff, determined to get in your way at every step.

The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
A heart-warming friends-to-lovers romance about the magic and mayhem of weddings – and what happens when everything you thought you knew about love is turned upside down.

What January releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 28 New Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In January 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Need a little romance to kick start the new year? Well, look no further than these incredible January 2024 romance book releases! With new releases from Katee Robert, Jenny Holiday, Jayne Ann Krentz, and many more, along with some exciting debuts, read on to discover some new books!

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.

Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Orpheus lost everything when he lost Eurydice’s love…but now he’s ready to brave the Underworld to take her back, even if that means going toe-to-toe (and heart-to-heart) with the right-hand man of Hades himself.

Last Call At The Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this charming rom-com about two star-crossed lovers, a woman whose life is guided by her belief in the red-string of fate finds her perfect match—but his skepticism about true love puts a knot in their chances.

Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Opposites attract in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy of feuding neighbors and dueling hearts from Jayne Denker, the author of The Rom-Com Agenda.

Not Bad for a Girl by Anastasia Ryan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.

Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this delightfully witty Victorian romance, a governess spy running away from her past falls for an ex-soldier turned railroad magnate—perfect for fans of Manda Collins and Bridgerton!

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this utterly charming debut romance, a teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex’s wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

Love, Me by Jessica Saunders

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reminiscent of novels by Sophie Kinsella and Rebecca Serle, Love, Me is a sweet, honest foray into love, marriage, and the fantasy of a second-chance romance with the one that got away. Readers will find this lively debut romance book easy to devour and hard to put down.

Don’t Want You Like A Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Review
A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other—the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed!

Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Fate brings together a ballet teacher and a hockey player in this big-hearted novel about second chances and taking risks by the bestselling author Entertainment Weekly calls the “master of witty banter.”

Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A charming opposites-attract romance, Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan is for anyone who ever stepped outside their comfort zone and found that all the best things can happen when you take a chance.

The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The disappearance of a mysterious informant leads two people desperate for answers to an island of deadly deception in this new novel in the Lost Night Files trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?

Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Lessons in Chemistry meets advanced mathematics in Sara Read’s heartwarming, STEMinist novel, PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION follows a female genius who solves a famously elusive math problem only to struggle with anxiety and prejudice when challenged to prove that the work is her own.

What January romance books are you looking forward to reading? Tell us in the comments below!

The post From Sweet To Spicy: New Romance Books To Read In January 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Jenny Holiday’s So This Is Christmas, which is out now from Avon Books.

Matteo Benz has spent his life serving at the pleasure of the Eldovian crown. His work is his life and his life, well…he doesn’t have much of one. When he is tasked to aid a management consultant who has been flown in to help straighten out the king’s affairs, he is instantly disturbed by her brash American manner—as well by an inconvenient attraction to the brainy beauty.

Cara Delaney is in Eldovia to help clean up the king’s financial affairs, but soon finds herself at odds with the very proper Mr. Benz. As intrigued by his good looks as she is annoyed by his dedication to tradition for its own sake, she slowly begins to see the real man behind the royal throne.

As they work together to return Eldovia to its former glory during the country’s magical Christmas season, Matteo discovers he is falling hopelessly in love with the unconventional American. But a man who has devoted his life to tradition doesn’t change easily. Can he become the man Cara needs, or will their love be another sacrifice to the crown?

“Doesn’t it seem suspicious that if Noar is looking to acquire  shares, or if Daniel is looking to sell shares, neither has thought to mention it, given that there is a companywide overhaul underway?”

“It does.”

The way she was responding calmly and briefly to his thinking-out-loud statements made him think she had a theory about what was happening. She had just opened up to him. He decided to give her more reason to do so. “I don’t usually publicly criticize people.”

“You leave that for behind closed doors.”

He wasn’t sure if that was a question, and if it was a statement it wasn’t a flattering one. “I don’t usually publicly criticize people, but Noar Graf is a raging egomaniac, and I detest him.”

She burst out laughing.

“What, pray tell, is so amusing?” Once again, the way her face lit up made his start to echo hers. It was supremely annoying.

“You! You’re so buttoned-up, usually. It’s strange to see you so freely expressing emotion. It reminds me of the time Data— Forget it.”

“Data from Star Trek? Were you about to compare me to an android?” He didn’t know whether to laugh or to be offended.

“No!” She was trying and failing not to laugh as she turned her face away to look out her window. “I would never do that.”

He waited a beat and asked, “What do you think is happening with the shares?”

His uncharacteristic display of emotion, be it human or android, must have worked. “I don’t know yet, but . . .” She turned and looked into his eyes, searched them, as if trying to decide whether she could trust him.

“Do you remember an episode of The Next Generation in which Data befriends Tasha Yar’s sister, only to find she was set on betraying them all?” he asked.

Her brow wrinkled. “I thought you were Team Star Wars.”

“I am. But I’m well-read. Well-viewed. When it comes to science fiction, anyway. At the end of that episode, Data is talking to Riker. He’s confused. He doesn’t understand these human concepts of friendship and trust. Riker tells him that without risk, there can be no friendship.”

The sense that she was trying to see into his soul deepened. He waited. Allowed her to look— allowed himself to be seen. It was difficult.

Finally, she said, “Are you calling me an android now?”

He chuckled. “No. I’m just saying that although we’ve had our differences, you can trust me in this matter. If one of the board members is doing something underhanded, that’s bad news any way you look at it.”

It felt like a triumph when she started talking.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘So This Is Christmas’ by Jenny Holiday appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

SYNOPSIS
Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is trapped. Under pressure from his domineering father, he must marry a suitable bride before he inherits a title that feels like a prison sentence. In New York to meet a prospective wife, he ditches his responsibilities and appears on Dani Martinez’s doorstep. He’s been intrigued by the no-nonsense professor since he met her at the Eldovian royal wedding and is determined to befriend her.

Newly single Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s trying to escape relationships, and she’s resolved to avoid them at all costs. All they want from each other is friendship and a distraction from their messy lives.

As their bond begins to deepen, so does their attraction, until they end up in bed together. Falling in love was never part of the plan—Max’s family doesn’t see Dani as a perfect match, even as his heart tells him she’s the one, and Dani isn’t sure she can make it in Max’s world. Can they find the courage to live they life they desire, even if it means risking everything?

Chapter One

When Dani Martinez woke up on Friday the tenth of December, she thought, It’s going to be a good day.

And then she thought, Liar.

But whatever, just because it was the last Friday of the semester and she was about to be inundated with forty-seven essays on The (Not So) Great Gatsby, it didn’t necessarily follow that today was going to be bad.

So she hadn’t done a lick of Christmas shopping, forget the fruitcake she was supposed to have started months ago. That didn’t mean this particular day was automatically going to suck.

And just because the cherry on top of the day was going to be the English department’s holiday party at which she would “get” to see her still-not-quite ex-husband with his trade-in trollop didn’t mean— Ah, forget it. This day was going to be crap.

Her phone dinged. It would be Leo, which would be a fortifying way to start this all- downhill-from-here day. Because of the time difference between New York and Eldovia, they often talked early in the mornings New York time. Dani missed Leo and his sister Gabby something fierce, missed being able to go across the hall and have coffee in the mornings.

Sometimes, before she was caffeinated, she forgot he wasn’t there anymore. And then it would hit her anew: her best friend lived in Eldovia, where he was engaged to a princess. Dani was going to be his best woman this summer at a freaking royal wedding.

Eyeing the slumbering ball of fur next to her, Dani executed a slo-mo roll to grab the phone from the nightstand—she wanted the ball of fur to stay slumbering until she’d had coffee.

The text was not from Leo. Good morning. It’s Max von Hansburg. Marie gave me your number. I’m in New York for a few days. Can I take you to dinner tonight?

Speaking of royal weddings. Dani blinked, surprised to hear from Max, who was Princess Marie’s best friend—and her ex-fiancé. Having been thrown over in favor of Leo, Max was currently scheduled to serve as Marie’s man of honor in the wedding.

Marie and Max’s past was like a telenovela, complete with glittering balls, arranged marriages, and conniving parents. Leo had crash-landed in the middle of it, getting swept up in a gender-swapped Cinderella story that had made even Dani’s stone-cold heart defrost a degree or two. Except in this version, Cinderella had left a bestie behind in the ashes. Or maybe Leo had passed the Cinderella mantle on to Dani?

Max—Dog Max, the main Max in Dani’s life—did one of his signature snore-snorts. Look, she even had an animal companion like Cinderella, except hers didn’t flit around helping with the tidying.

Max: The concierge at my hotel can get us into Momofuku Ko. I could send a car for you.

The thaw in Dani’s heart did not extend to Human Max, who, in addition to being a member of the Eldovian aristocracy, was insufferable. “I could send a car for you.” What, like this was Pretty Woman? She considered the various ways she could decline his invitation. In the end she went with brusque efficiency.

Dani: No.
Max: Lunch?
Dani: No.
Max: A drink?
Dani: No.
Max: Coffee?
Dani: Coffee is a drink.
Max: So that’s still no? Dani: Yes.
Max: Yes that’s still no, or yes you’ll have coffee with me? Dani: Listen, dude. Or should I say listen, duke?

Ha! She cracked herself up. She sat up against her headboard to allow for easier texting, eyeing Dog Max, whose breathing did not change.

Max: Baron, actually.

She knew that. She’d googled Maximillian von Hansburg when she met him in Eldovia last summer. He was, despite his personality, unnaturally good-looking. And, really, who wouldn’t respond to meeting a baron by googling said baron? She had learned that he was low-level famous—or should she say infamous?—in European circles for being a globetrotting, womanizing rich boy. The European tabloids called him the Depraved Duke, which as far as she could tell was a nickname that originated when he was photographed frolicking with a mystery woman while wearing an adult onesie on the deck of a yacht during the Cannes Film Festival.

Max: My father has to shuffle off this mortal coil before I attain dukedom, and I can report that he is in fine health.
Dani: Okay, but here’s my point: I am post-men. As I told you last summer. Max: Yes, meaning you don’t want to date, correct?
Dani: Correct.
Max: But what about Leo? You talk to Leo all the time. You flew across the Atlantic last summer to visit him.
Dani: Leo’s my best friend. Max: I rest my case.
Dani: What does that mean? Max: Leo is a man.
Dani: Your powers of observation are astounding. You’ll forgive me if I’m suspicious, but I seem to have read an article with a headline that referred to you as a ‘man-whore.’
Max: Were you googling me? I’m flattered.

She didn’t bother replying. She wasn’t about to defend said googling. That would sound like protesting too much.

Max: My point is, I’m not asking you on a date. I merely want to spend time with you.

Not sure what to say to that and seduced by the smell emanating from her programmable coffeemaker, Dani army-crawled out of bed. Minute shifts in the mattress were enough to wake Dog Max, but once she was out of bed, she could turn on the radio and have a dance party and he’d be oblivious. She contemplated Human Max’s last text as she padded to the kitchen.

Dani: Why do you want to spend time with me?
Max: I like you.

That was such a weirdly straightforward answer.

Dani: Why?
Max: Because I get the sense that you are unimpressed by the fact that I’m an almost-duke.
Dani: That is correct.
Max: I would even go so far as to say that my almost-dukeness works against me.
Dani: Still correct.
Max: I like that about you. You’re normal.
Dani: Is that a supposed to be a compliment or an insult?
Max: You don’t like me. Therefore I like you. I’m like a kid who wants what he can’t have.

That tracked with her image of him. Also, she was texting with a baron over her morning coffee: how surreal was that?

Dani: So in this scenario, I’m a toy you want. Nice.
Max: No, you’re just an interesting person I would like to spend time with since I happen to be in your city.

She almost cracked as she took her coffee back to her bedroom to try to figure out what to wear that telegraphed “It’s just a normal day, a day in which I continue to be unbothered by the fact that my husband is boning Undergrad Barbie, tra la la.” You’re just an interesting person I would like to spend time with. When was the last time someone had said anything like that to her? Well, never, because grown-ass adults did not speak like that, so openly and without guile. Her limited interactions with Maximillian von Hansburg suggested that he did, though. He told the truth. And even though that truth was often about his many and varied romantic and sexual conquests, there was something refreshing about his cheerfully relentless honesty. Max was a fuckboy, basically—a fuckbaron?—but he was a remarkably self-aware one.

There was also the “unnaturally good looking” part.

Max: So there’s no scenario in which you’ll deign to get together with me today.

She was strangely tempted, but…

Dani: No.

She meant it about being post-men. Vince had done a number on her, and she was done. Not only done dating, but done arranging her life, even one day’s worth of it, to please a man. She felt so strongly about that position that she’d put it in writing. Just in case she was ever tempted.

She had never imagined that temptation coming in the form of a baron.

She set the phone on her dresser, opened the closet, and fingered the forest-green taffeta dress she’d impulse-purchased in a fit of optimistic shopping earlier this fall. She’d thought then it would be a perfect holiday dress. But in addition to being too formal for this evening’s party, not to mention for her afternoon class, taffeta was a try-hard fabric. Not an “I am completely over the fact that all of you in this room knew my husband was fucking around on me but apparently didn’t respect me enough to tell me” fabric. Anyway, who was she kidding? She was never going to wear that dress. A year ago, she could have worn it to the opera with Vince. But she didn’t go to the opera with Vince anymore. She didn’t go to the opera with anyone.

Which was fine, because she didn’t like the opera. She and Vince had been scheduled, a week after he left, to go see some avant-garde production about a dude who loses his nose. Dani had looked at the entry on their shared calendar and, even though she’d still been in the sobbing- hysterically stage of the breakup, thought to herself, Well, at least I never have to go to the fucking Met again.

She moved the dress to the back of the closet and pulled out her standard day-to-evening black dress. It was a contoured number with a pencil skirt that had a pleasingly 1950s vibe to it. She could wear a blazer over it for teaching, then lose the blazer and jazz up the dress to make it more festive for the party.

How, though? Scarf? No. If she added a scarf to the retro dress, she would come off a little too Rizzo from Grease—although maybe some Rizzo energy was exactly what she needed right now.

Maybe she could make a jaunty hat out of the divorce papers Vince wouldn’t sign?

Because wasn’t that the cherry on top of everything? Husband leaves not only her but also the country—to spend a year’s sabbatical in Spain where his girlfriend spends her time posting Instagram shots of herself hiking the Camino de Santiago in a bikini top—but that same husband will not sign the divorce papers.

Vince was back for the holidays. Maybe all that time relaxing in the sunshine with said girlfriend had inspired him to move things along? A girl could hope. Even though seven sessions of mediation before he left had not provided her with reason to do so.

Dani ran her fingers over a tangle of necklaces that hung from a stand on her dresser. She needed a statement necklace. And she needed that statement to be Eff you very much, Vince. No, that wasn’t right. The message she wanted to send was more Sorry, what was your name again? I have moved so far on while you were away that I can’t quite remember but please sign the fucking papers. If only she had an accessory that would communicate that.

Hang on. She grabbed the phone. Max, apparently having finally got the point, had stopped texting.

Dani: On second thought, there might actually be a scenario in which I want to get together with you today.
Max: I wait on bated breath.
Dani: Any chance you want to be my plus-one to my work holiday party, at which my soon-to-be-ex-husband Vince will be in attendance, as will his new girlfriend, who is a former student of both of ours and who is twenty years younger than he is?
Max: Is your soon-to-be-ex-husband the main character in a Philip Roth novel?

She laughed out loud.

Dani: He might as well be. He’s on sabbatical this year in Spain communing with the spirit of Picasso, but he’s back for the holidays.
Max: The answer is yes, but I have questions. Question the first: is this going to be one of those elaborately complex romantic comedies where we pretend to be in love to make your ex-husband jealous?
Dani: Unfortunately, he’s not technically my ex-husband. My fondest wish is to relegate him to that status, but we’re not there yet legally. As to your question, let’s leave it vague. No need to make out or anything.
Max: Well, that’s disappointing. I do so enjoy making out at office holiday parties.
Dani: No making out at the party. Or anywhere. In addition to being post-men, I am post-making out. If pressed, I’ll call you a friend. But if you wanted to do me a solid and appear to find me the pinnacle of wit, that would be appreciated.

Though, really, there was no reason Max should “do her a solid.” She’d been nothing but cool to him last summer in Eldovia.

Max: Question the second: Am I myself or am I pretending to be, say, a visiting scholar of nineteenth-century literature who is therefore extra suspectable to your pinnacle?
Dani: You’re yourself.

She was impressed, though, that he knew she studied nineteenth-century literature. If she’d said anything about it last summer, it had been in passing.

Max: So what I hear you saying is that in this one very specific scenario, you find it convenient that I’m an almost-duke.

God damn him.

Dani: God damn you.
Max: I might even go so far as to say that you’re using me for my almost-dukeness.

Dani didn’t want to be this petty, but… Okay, yes she did.

Dani: She’s twenty years old. He told me she was his Lolita. That she saw the real him and that in order to take his writing to the next level he needed someone who could be a “helpmeet,” and when I said we were each other’s helpmeets, he said there can only be one helpmeet and one help-ee in any relationship. And then they went to Spain for a year.
Max: What time am I picking you up?
Dani: Five. I’ll meet you there—it’s a building on campus but not mine. I need to look up the address. I’ll text it to you.
Max: Dress code? Formal? Business casual? Dani: Dukeish casual.
Max: Understood. Prepare to be the pinnacle.

Dani smiled, dived onto the bed, and prepared to be love-bombed by the other Max, the main Max, who genuinely thought she was the pinnacle, no pretending required. As he did every morning, the little Yorkie acted like waking up next to her was the greatest joy of his life, going from dead asleep to vibrating with happiness as he crawled onto her lap. He might not do dishes like Cinderella’s mice and birds, but he earned his keep in other ways, filling what had been a wrenching year with seven hyper pounds of unconditional love. “Good morning, my sweet,” she cooed. He yapped in greeting, and she buried her nose in his fur as she hugged him.

Maybe today wasn’t going to be as crappy as she’d feared.

Excerpted from Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday. Copyright © 2021 by Jenny Holiday. Reprinted courtesy of Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Duke, Actually’ by Jenny Holiday appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jenny talks about her new release, writing, book recommendations, what she’s working on next, and more!

Hi, Jenny! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I live in London, Ontario, Canada, which is about halfway between Detroit and Toronto. When I’m not working, I seem to spend most of my time with my neighbours (which is handy now that we’re in a pandemic) and tracking down middle-grade spy novels to feed my kid’s apparently insatiable appetite for them. I also enjoy trolling said child, who is an upstanding and earnest Griffyndor, with my Slytherin-ness. (He’s the one who made me take the sorting quiz—three times )

With the current state of the world, what are you doing to cope with the changes we’ve had to make with our day-to-day?

I’m lucky that I live in a place where cases have been low and, for the most part, the response to the virus has not been politicized. But of course it has been a tough year. My household, like a lot of others, has been  extremely stressed as we’ve tried to juggle home schooling and careers against a backdrop of generalized anxiety and worry for fragile family members. As for how I’m coping, I don’t really have any magic strategies other than to try to remember that we are all doing the best we can and that there are better days ahead.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I think it was always in me. I’ve been making up stories in my head as long as I can remember. But I think it was formalized in fourth grade. I had a great teacher that year, and she gave us notebooks and started us writing stories. (Strangely, mine were all horror stories back then!)

Your new novel, A Princess For Christmas, is out on October 13th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Hallmark Christmas movie plus sexytimes.

Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?

This book is a steamy romantic comedy that unapologetically plays with the tropes we know and love from Christmas movies: a fictional European monarchy, a Christmas ball, a kindly butler figure. But it also twists them: the Cinderella character in this story is the guy, aka Leo Ricci, a New York City cab driver struggling to make ends meet and to raise his little sister after the death of his parents. He runs into the Princess of Eldovia (as one does) after she’s done making a speech at the UN, is having some royal car trouble (as one does), and finds herself urgently in need of a ride.

What inspired you to write this novel?

Believe it or not, my dad. He’s a big fan of Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies. (I am too, but he loves them way more than I do.) We traditionally watch them together when I visit him for the holidays, and three years ago, after a marathon, I thought, “Hmm, I wonder if I could write one of these.” It turned out I could, but in keeping with the kinds of books I tend to write, mine is not as G-rated as those movies!

What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?

A Princess for Christmas is my twenty-third book, and not to sound like the grizzled Jedi master of romance novels, but some books just come a lot easier than others. This was an easy one, probably because it started almost as a whim. I gave myself permission to just let it be what it was, to lean into the soapy tropey-ness of it, and honestly it was so much fun to write. It wasn’t that I didn’t have challenges; I just think they were fewer and more easily solved than usual. The biggest one was probably trying to figure out how to let the book be soapy and tropey but still have it be an honest, emotional story, which is always important to me. So yes, she’s a princess; there’s a Christmas ball. But she’s also figuring out some serious stuff about her life, like who she is underneath the princess-ness and whether and how to balance what she really wants with the duty she has inherited.

A Princess For Christmas features so much cocoa, which we love! Do you have a recipe you can share with us?

The elaborate cocoa creations in A Princess for Christmas are pure fiction. My secret is I don’t like sweet drinks, so I’m not really a fan of cocoa! But if I did have a cocoa recipe, this would be it…

1. Scoop some cocoa mix into a mug.
2. Add hot water (or milk if you want to be fancy!)
3. Look at the clock. Is it after noon?  If yes, add a shot of whiskey to your mug. If no, too bad for you. (But also: no judgements here!)
4. Enjoy.

With A Princess For Christmas obviously being set during the holidays, do you have any favourite holiday-themed books or movies?

My all-time favorite is Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. We watched this every year when I was growing up, and I’ve continued the tradition with my family. If you can get over the grainy picture and old-school production values, it has everything! That Muppet humor, a Bert and Ernie twist on The Gift of the Magi, great songs, and a gentle lesson on the power of belief over cynicism. But in the more traditional realm, I’m a fan of White Christmas, mostly for the Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen duet “Sisters,” which my sister and I are fond of parodying (and which, of course, is not a Christmas song!).

What is your writing process like?

Well, pre-pandemic, I used to work pretty solidly from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm when my son was at school. My process was always just “butt in chair.” I’m a big believer in the idea that creativity is not a mystical process so much as a habit. (Or at least that habit can make room for the mystical process to unfold.) I have a sign over my desk that says, “Motivation will die; let discipline take its place.” That said, I have learned over the past seven months that my process takes a big hit when I don’t have enough butt-in-chair hours, which I no longer do thanks to the constant presence of my beloved family!

What’s next for you?

I have a different rom-com series in progress that is set in a beach town on Lake Huron in Canada. The third book in that series, Sandcastle Beach, comes out in March and it’s about a theatre director and a bar owner whose buildings are next to each other and who have a longstanding rivalry. I also have another book set in the Princess for Christmas universe coming out fall 2021. Title TBA, but it’s about Max, Princess Marie’s abandoned fiancé.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything, and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

My two favorite books of the year have been Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade and Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. Spoiler Alert gives us a fanfic-writing heroine who doesn’t know that her online fandom bestie is actually the actor who plays the character she writes about. But at the same time, it’s about acceptance and finding a place to belong. Boyfriend Material is a rom-com about two men in a fake relationship for work reasons, so it has “we’re just pretending to be in love!” hijinks, but it’s also kind of a quietly devastating story about self-doubt and belonging. (Are you sensing a theme here? I guess 2020 has been my “rom-coms about belonging” year.)

Will you be picking up A Princess For Christmas? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jenny Holiday, Author of ‘A Princess For Christmas’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be checking any of them out!

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If Darcy Barrett hadn’t met her dream man when she was eight years old, the rest of the male population wouldn’t be such a let-down. No one measures up to Tom Valeska, but worse is the knowledge that her twin brother Jamie saw him first, and claimed him forever as his best friend. Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. One percent of Tom has had to be enough for Darcy. Will Tom ever see Darcy as anything other than a little-sister obstacle to get around? And can she stand up to her most formidable opponent—her twin? This time around, she’s determined to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers, and he’s never managed to say no to her yet…

The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen
Goodreads | Amazon

They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred. Mine were broken before we left church. They say your heart only beats for one man. Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end. I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit.Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage. They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.

Three Little Words by Jenny Holiday
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gia Gallo is officially in bridesmaid hell. Stranded in New York, Gia has six days to make it to Florida in time for the ceremony. And oh-so-charming best man Bennett Buchanan has taken the last available rental car. Looks like she’s in for one long road trip with the sexiest – and most irritating – Southern gentleman she’s ever met…

The One You Fight For by Roni Loren
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Taryn Landry was there that awful night fourteen years ago when Long Acre changed from the name of a town to the title of a national tragedy. Everyone knows she lost her younger sister. No one knows it was her fault. Since then, psychology professor Taryn has dedicated her life’s work to preventing something like that from ever happening again. Falling in love was never part of the plan…

Deal With The Devil by Meghan March
Goodreads | Amazon

“You can put that man in a suit, but he’ll never be tame.” One look at Jericho Forge and I knew the rumours were true. He was a predator, and he had set his sights on me. I knew better than to bet more than I could afford to lose that night. I knew better than to bet myself. But desperation leads to bad decisions, and I thought there was no way I could lose. I was wrong. Now I have no choice but to make a deal with the devil.

We Shouldn’t by Vi Keeland
Goodreads | Amazon

Bennett Fox walked into my life on one hell of a crappy Monday morning. We had one of those brief moments that only happened in movies. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad here after all. Until I walked into my new boss’s office and met my competition. The gorgeous man from the elevator was now my nemesis. His heated stare wasn’t because of any mutual attraction. It was because he’d seen me vandalise his car. And now he couldn’t wait to annihilate his rival.

Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely
Goodreads | Amazon

There is no rule in the Man Code as unbreakable as this: no matter how beautiful, smart, clever, and witty she is, do not—under any circumstances—fall in love with your best friend’s woman.
Yeah. So there’s that. Look, it’s not like I didn’t know I screwed up by falling for her. Also, for the record, unrequited love sucks big time.

If I Only Knew by Corinne Michaels
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

My life was perfect – until a shocking tragedy pulled the rug out from underneath me. My children were left without a father. I was without a husband and a provider. Instead of wallowing in my grief, I buried myself in my work. Landing the promotion as the CEO’s right hand was exactly what I needed. Getting saddled with Milo Huxley as an assistant is exactly the opposite. I can’t stand him. But soon enough, we’re fighting less and laughing more. He’s there for me when no one else is. And those good looks aren’t the only panty-dropping thing about him.

A Place Without You by Jewel E. Ann
Goodreads | Amazon

The Law of Henna and Bodhi: When love breaks, fall inward, fall together, and fall hard. Then let time pick up the pieces. Everything feels temporary when you’ve experienced tragedy—until Henna Lane meets Bodhi at a music festival. When Bodhi is forced to leave without a goodbye, Henna thinks she’ll never get over him. But then she meets Mr. Malone, her sexy, new guidance counsellor.

Lavender Blue by Donna Kauffman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When Hannah Montgomery buys a lavender farm in Blue Hollow Falls with three friends, she’s creating a life she never imagined–one she hopes will honour the memory of the sweet young son she tragically lost years ago. Hannah is ready to embrace this fresh, new start… Then she meets Wilson McCall. Hannah’s not surprised to learn the widower struggles with his own grief. Her deepening friendship with Will reminds Hannah that there’s a part of her that still needs to heal–awakening a tender yearning to have a life that isn’t just good enough, but lived fully–even if that means taking risks once more . . .

Drawn Into Love by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Courtney Williams wanted forever. She got six years of empty promises, a divorce, and a well-deserved settlement that’s paid her way to Manhattan. She has a new home under renovation, a new job, and a do-over as a happy “single in the city”—until she meets an architect with designs on more than her beams. He’s also a devoted single dad, a great cook, and has dark lashes to die for. Too good to be true. Now all Courtney can do is whisper, Oh no, not again.

When Ashes Fall by Marni Mann
Goodreads | Amazon

It’s been said that you can’t love two men at the same time. You can’t split your heart, soul, and body in half. But I’m here to tell you, you can. Dylan Cole is like ice, sharp and unpredictable, the thunder inside a tumultuous storm. Smith Reid is warmth, soft and gentle, perfect like a sunny day. Both are mine. But I can have only one.

Are there any books you will be checking out? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.