Tackling my TBR list. (My Top Ten and a few Book Reviews too!)

So, I've been spending so much time writing that my TBR list on my kindle now stands at over 400 books! Not far over, but still, that's a ridiculous amount of books for any one person to get through. I don't even think my local library has that many in the romance section!

Anyway, at the beginning of the year, that total was actually a little over 500 (Yeah I know, I think I might have a book problem!), and I decided that enough was enough - I was going to tackle that list, get it down, work my way through some novels I knew I was going to love but that I had put off reading so I could focus on my own writing. I had to find a balance though between the reading and the writing. I'm still not sure I've found it but, as a total insomniac, I've started reading during those nights I can't sleep. My Kindle is easier on the eyes at 2am and, instead of just the glow of my laptop screen and the characters in my own world for company, I have fantastic new people and places to get to know and explore. All while my partner sleeps (annoyingly!) soundly beside me.

You'll be pleased to know that I've made great progress and, to date, I've read 91 books so far this year and am halfway through number 92. I'm definitely kicking that TBR list's arse!

I've read so many great books that I thought I'd do a top ten list of my favourites for this blog and even review the top 3.

As a writer, I'm often asked whether I read the same genre of books that I write, and the answer is simply yes, so you'll see this list is completely romance based. And why not? I like romance, I enjoy writing it, I enjoy reading it, I even enjoy a good romantic movie (and honestly, sometimes a few of the not so good ones too), because let's face it, who doesn't like a happily ever after?

However, my needs in a book may change from one read to the next. One day I might fancy curling up in bed with a steamy read and a sexy alpha male main character who you can't help but crave, whereas the next, I might quite like to stretch out on the sofa with a sweet and charming tale of romance and love that pootles along with no more than a chaste kiss. Both are enjoyable - Love is love after all!

So, what have I been reading recently? What's made it into my top ten?

(Just bear in mind that my TBR list has been growing for some years so these books are not all new releases)

Here we go. . . (Cue cheesy Top of the Pops countdown music!)

10. The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland.

9. The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary.

8. Mr Bloomsbury by Louise Bay.

7. Gentleman Nine by Penelope Ward.

6. The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent.

5. Mr Right Across The Street by Kathryn Freeman.

4. The Last Eligible Billionaire by Pippa Grant.

And now for my top 3, with reviews of course!

3. The Secrets of Hawthorn Place by the wonderful Jenni Keer.

Now, if you haven't read it, go get yourself a copy right now. It's one of my favourite books that I've read so far this year and one that I know will stay with me for absolutely ages and still be in my top five come the end of the year.

I know, I know, it's only April you're saying, but just trust me on this one.

The book is written as a dual timeline story and it blends the past and present so effortlessly that it's absolutely charming. The magical and intriguing story of two identical houses where not everything is quite as it seems, is full of love, mystery, humour and characters so well written that you can't help but fall completely in love with them.

In the present we meet Molly, a young woman who has spent her life so far being taken care of by her mother and stepfather, her long-suffering best friend and then her boyfriend. A little self absorbed and entitled she makes a less than convincing adult and, of course, when she's dumped by her boyfriend and left working a job that isn't going to pay for the life she wants, she finds herself with nowhere to go.

Her living situation is sorted when she goes to stay with her grandfather at Hawthorn Place on the Dorset coast. There, she has no job, no money, no internet and no-one to look after her and so struggles to find her feet.

When forced to apply herself, she has to learn to look after herself (and her grandfather) and eventually, with a few false starts, she teaches herself (mostly) to run a house, to cook, to clean, to do things on a budget. She even manages to get herself a job or three, even if they are gained with a few lies!

In all her jobs, she perseveres and muddles through, learning along the way. She even makes a little time for a social life, getting herself a new boyfriend in the form of the young and good looking Harrison.

One of her jobs is working for Rory, a reclusive, socially awkward and sometimes grump of a man who lives in a house the exact image of Hawthorn Place! Their employer/employee dynamic is written brilliantly and with the development of this into a friendship, with Molly bringing him out of himself and him making her want to do her best for him, to prove herself, it's not long before you're longing for them to open their eyes and realise all is not as it seems. You then find yourself unable to put the book down just because you want to see how the story unfolds.

In between the present story, we have chapters set in the past where we meet Percy, the architect of Hawthorn Place. As he falls for the wife of the man paying for his services, their forbidden love, spanning years, draws you in, leaving you wishing and hoping for a happy ending to their tale. As their story plays out, parts of the mystery surrounding Hawthorn Place are revealed and we find out the secrets, the magic and the connection Percy has to one of the modern day occupants of these two identical houses.

The culmination of both stories, I'll admit, brought me to tears, and if I could have given it more than 5 stars I would have.

2.The Blossom Tree of Dreams by the talented Holly Martin.

I have read and enjoyed every single one of Holly Martin's books and I honestly thought nothing would beat The Little Village of Happiness. (If you've not read it, get it, get it now. I mean it, stop reading this and head over to whatever shopping app you use and buy it!) I believed there was no character she could write that I would fall in love with more than Andrew. . . . And then she gave me River! Is he better than Andrew? More lovable? More memorable? Can I just love them both equally so I don't have to choose?

Anyway, back to The Blossom Tree of Dreams. . .

Our female lead, the brilliantly named Indigo Bloom, meets River on a night out and they spend a wonderful evening together filled with conversation, laughter, great sex and a connection like nothing Indigo has felt before. The next morning however, she runs away not wanting things to be awkward and just wanting to treasure the wonderful magical memories of the night.

She goes about her life thinking she'll never see him again, that he's just to be a gloriously delicious memory, a one night stand. But as usual, life has other ideas when she finds out she's pregnant!

Knowing she has to inform him he's going to be a father, she sets out for his holiday resort on the Welsh coast. However, an instant misunderstanding and the fact it's clear that River doesn't remember her or the connection she thought they shared, leaves her devastated and, although she doesn't reveal the reason she's there, she is offered a job.

Thinking she'll see how things go before revealing all to him, she begins her duties at the resort. It's not long though before it becomes obvious that there is still very much something between them. River feels it too but is still hung up on someone else, a certain woman he met on a night out two months ago, a woman he who looks nothing like the one he's just given a job to, one he spent an incredible night with but who left before morning, and yet, he feels the same connection with her as this other woman.

As with any secret, the longer she keeps the pregnancy a secret, the harder it is to reveal all to him and eventually things come to a head. . . But I'm not going to reveal the ending, you need to read the book!

The fairy-tale like magical setting of the treehouses within a woodland make a wonderful backdrop to this beautiful romance and I guarantee you'll find yourself wanting to pack your bags and go glamping in Wishing Woods. You'll find the characters are stunningly created and crafted to be relatable, likeable and I dare anyone not to giggle at the fantastic Tierra and her inquisitive and questioning nature.

I can't wait for the Holly's next book because I can already guarantee that I'm going to love it. She manages to capture your imagination while taking you on a journey to beautifully breathtaking places that are described so perfectly that you feel like you're actually there and creates characters written so perfectly that they'll have you laughing, crying and rooting for them from that very first chapter.

And now for number 1.

1. Wait For Me by Tia Louise

Tia Louise is a recent discovery for me, and I have not been disappointed with any of her books. However, this book was one of those that stayed with me long after reading it and is one I know I'll go back to and read again.

The novel tells the story of Noel and Taron who meet whenTaron accompanies Noel's brother Sawyer to his peach orchard where he's going to help out until they both head off to serve their country. The attraction and connection between the two is instant and the pair grow close despite the fact he'll be leaving soon. When that day comes, Noel promises to wait for Taron and once he's deployed they make the most of any contact when they can, keeping in touch via messages and calls.

The still loved-up pair look set to be reunited when he gets a few days leave but when something happens and he has to go on a mission, a mission where they cannot contact each other, a mission where things happen that will be forever with the team, it changes everything.

The team get an honourable discharge and Sawyer returns home to their orchard. Taron however is not with him. The events changed him, he's struggling and he refuses to let Noel see him like it.

Determined to see him though, she travels to him and they share a night of passion before he pushes her away. Cue the tears as you start to think that this might not turn out how you want.

Seven years later, having finally sought help for his issues and realising that although Noel has probably moved on with her life, probably married and happy, he's only ever really been happy at the orchard. And so he goes back.

It's not just Noel who gets a shock when he walks through the door! That night of passion when she went to see him. . . Made him a father!

As he gets to know his daughter, as Noel fights against her feelings, as they learn to once again live and work alongside each other, you're pulled deeper into their story, practically begging and praying for it to all work out.

This book caused me to absolutely fall apart more than once, the tears at some points would just not stop coming. But that's not a bad thing, far from it. It moved me, it had me staying up late and getting up early just to finish it. I wanted to see how it all played out, desperate to find out what happened. This book would make the most beautiful movie, but then again, so many of this talented author's books would!

There you go, from the 91 (and a half) books I've read so far this year, that's my top ten. The ones that have made me laugh, cry, think, the ones that have stayed with me long after reading them, some I know I'll read again (well, maybe once this TBR list is a little shorter) and the ones that, in my opinion deserve a read as soon as possible.

So, if you're looking for a bit of romance, check them out!

Riley x

Tackling my TBR list. (My Top Ten and a few Book Reviews too!)

So, I've been spending so much time writing that my TBR list on my kindle now stands at over 400 books! Not far over, but still, that's a ridiculous amount of books for any one person to get through. I don't even think my local library has that many in the romance section!

Anyway, at the beginning of the year, that total was actually a little over 500 (Yeah I know, I think I might have a book problem!), and I decided that enough was enough - I was going to tackle that list, get it down, work my way through some novels I knew I was going to love but that I had put off reading so I could focus on my own writing. I had to find a balance though between the reading and the writing. I'm still not sure I've found it but, as a total insomniac, I've started reading during those nights I can't sleep. My Kindle is easier on the eyes at 2am and, instead of just the glow of my laptop screen and the characters in my own world for company, I have fantastic new people and places to get to know and explore. All while my partner sleeps (annoyingly!) soundly beside me.

You'll be pleased to know that I've made great progress and, to date, I've read 91 books so far this year and am halfway through number 92. I'm definitely kicking that TBR list's arse!

I've read so many great books that I thought I'd do a top ten list of my favourites for this blog and even review the top 3.

As a writer, I'm often asked whether I read the same genre of books that I write, and the answer is simply yes, so you'll see this list is completely romance based. And why not? I like romance, I enjoy writing it, I enjoy reading it, I even enjoy a good romantic movie (and honestly, sometimes a few of the not so good ones too), because let's face it, who doesn't like a happily ever after?

However, my needs in a book may change from one read to the next. One day I might fancy curling up in bed with a steamy read and a sexy alpha male main character who you can't help but crave, whereas the next, I might quite like to stretch out on the sofa with a sweet and charming tale of romance and love that pootles along with no more than a chaste kiss. Both are enjoyable - Love is love after all!

So, what have I been reading recently? What's made it into my top ten?

(Just bear in mind that my TBR list has been growing for some years so these books are not all new releases)

Here we go. . . (Cue cheesy Top of the Pops countdown music!)

10. The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland.

9. The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary.

8. Mr Bloomsbury by Louise Bay.

7. Gentleman Nine by Penelope Ward.

6. The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent.

5. Mr Right Across The Street by Kathryn Freeman.

4. The Last Eligible Billionaire by Pippa Grant.

And now for my top 3, with reviews of course!

3. The Secrets of Hawthorn Place by the wonderful Jenni Keer.

Now, if you haven't read it, go get yourself a copy right now. It's one of my favourite books that I've read so far this year and one that I know will stay with me for absolutely ages and still be in my top five come the end of the year.

I know, I know, it's only April you're saying, but just trust me on this one.

The book is written as a dual timeline story and it blends the past and present so effortlessly that it's absolutely charming. The magical and intriguing story of two identical houses where not everything is quite as it seems, is full of love, mystery, humour and characters so well written that you can't help but fall completely in love with them.

In the present we meet Molly, a young woman who has spent her life so far being taken care of by her mother and stepfather, her long-suffering best friend and then her boyfriend. A little self absorbed and entitled she makes a less than convincing adult and, of course, when she's dumped by her boyfriend and left working a job that isn't going to pay for the life she wants, she finds herself with nowhere to go.

Her living situation is sorted when she goes to stay with her grandfather at Hawthorn Place on the Dorset coast. There, she has no job, no money, no internet and no-one to look after her and so struggles to find her feet.

When forced to apply herself, she has to learn to look after herself (and her grandfather) and eventually, with a few false starts, she teaches herself (mostly) to run a house, to cook, to clean, to do things on a budget. She even manages to get herself a job or three, even if they are gained with a few lies!

In all her jobs, she perseveres and muddles through, learning along the way. She even makes a little time for a social life, getting herself a new boyfriend in the form of the young and good looking Harrison.

One of her jobs is working for Rory, a reclusive, socially awkward and sometimes grump of a man who lives in a house the exact image of Hawthorn Place! Their employer/employee dynamic is written brilliantly and with the development of this into a friendship, with Molly bringing him out of himself and him making her want to do her best for him, to prove herself, it's not long before you're longing for them to open their eyes and realise all is not as it seems. You then find yourself unable to put the book down just because you want to see how the story unfolds.

In between the present story, we have chapters set in the past where we meet Percy, the architect of Hawthorn Place. As he falls for the wife of the man paying for his services, their forbidden love, spanning years, draws you in, leaving you wishing and hoping for a happy ending to their tale. As their story plays out, parts of the mystery surrounding Hawthorn Place are revealed and we find out the secrets, the magic and the connection Percy has to one of the modern day occupants of these two identical houses.

The culmination of both stories, I'll admit, brought me to tears, and if I could have given it more than 5 stars I would have.

2.The Blossom Tree of Dreams by the talented Holly Martin.

I have read and enjoyed every single one of Holly Martin's books and I honestly thought nothing would beat The Little Village of Happiness. (If you've not read it, get it, get it now. I mean it, stop reading this and head over to whatever shopping app you use and buy it!) I believed there was no character she could write that I would fall in love with more than Andrew. . . . And then she gave me River! Is he better than Andrew? More lovable? More memorable? Can I just love them both equally so I don't have to choose?

Anyway, back to The Blossom Tree of Dreams. . .

Our female lead, the brilliantly named Indigo Bloom, meets River on a night out and they spend a wonderful evening together filled with conversation, laughter, great sex and a connection like nothing Indigo has felt before. The next morning however, she runs away not wanting things to be awkward and just wanting to treasure the wonderful magical memories of the night.

She goes about her life thinking she'll never see him again, that he's just to be a gloriously delicious memory, a one night stand. But as usual, life has other ideas when she finds out she's pregnant!

Knowing she has to inform him he's going to be a father, she sets out for his holiday resort on the Welsh coast. However, an instant misunderstanding and the fact it's clear that River doesn't remember her or the connection she thought they shared, leaves her devastated and, although she doesn't reveal the reason she's there, she is offered a job.

Thinking she'll see how things go before revealing all to him, she begins her duties at the resort. It's not long though before it becomes obvious that there is still very much something between them. River feels it too but is still hung up on someone else, a certain woman he met on a night out two months ago, a woman he who looks nothing like the one he's just given a job to, one he spent an incredible night with but who left before morning, and yet, he feels the same connection with her as this other woman.

As with any secret, the longer she keeps the pregnancy a secret, the harder it is to reveal all to him and eventually things come to a head. . . But I'm not going to reveal the ending, you need to read the book!

The fairy-tale like magical setting of the treehouses within a woodland make a wonderful backdrop to this beautiful romance and I guarantee you'll find yourself wanting to pack your bags and go glamping in Wishing Woods. You'll find the characters are stunningly created and crafted to be relatable, likeable and I dare anyone not to giggle at the fantastic Tierra and her inquisitive and questioning nature.

I can't wait for the Holly's next book because I can already guarantee that I'm going to love it. She manages to capture your imagination while taking you on a journey to beautifully breathtaking places that are described so perfectly that you feel like you're actually there and creates characters written so perfectly that they'll have you laughing, crying and rooting for them from that very first chapter.

And now for number 1.

1. Wait For Me by Tia Louise

Tia Louise is a recent discovery for me, and I have not been disappointed with any of her books. However, this book was one of those that stayed with me long after reading it and is one I know I'll go back to and read again.

The novel tells the story of Noel and Taron who meet whenTaron accompanies Noel's brother Sawyer to his peach orchard where he's going to help out until they both head off to serve their country. The attraction and connection between the two is instant and the pair grow close despite the fact he'll be leaving soon. When that day comes, Noel promises to wait for Taron and once he's deployed they make the most of any contact when they can, keeping in touch via messages and calls.

The still loved-up pair look set to be reunited when he gets a few days leave but when something happens and he has to go on a mission, a mission where they cannot contact each other, a mission where things happen that will be forever with the team, it changes everything.

The team get an honourable discharge and Sawyer returns home to their orchard. Taron however is not with him. The events changed him, he's struggling and he refuses to let Noel see him like it.

Determined to see him though, she travels to him and they share a night of passion before he pushes her away. Cue the tears as you start to think that this might not turn out how you want.

Seven years later, having finally sought help for his issues and realising that although Noel has probably moved on with her life, probably married and happy, he's only ever really been happy at the orchard. And so he goes back.

It's not just Noel who gets a shock when he walks through the door! That night of passion when she went to see him. . . Made him a father!

As he gets to know his daughter, as Noel fights against her feelings, as they learn to once again live and work alongside each other, you're pulled deeper into their story, practically begging and praying for it to all work out.

This book caused me to absolutely fall apart more than once, the tears at some points would just not stop coming. But that's not a bad thing, far from it. It moved me, it had me staying up late and getting up early just to finish it. I wanted to see how it all played out, desperate to find out what happened. This book would make the most beautiful movie, but then again, so many of this talented author's books would!

There you go, from the 91 (and a half) books I've read so far this year, that's my top ten. The ones that have made me laugh, cry, think, the ones that have stayed with me long after reading them, some I know I'll read again (well, maybe once this TBR list is a little shorter) and the ones that, in my opinion deserve a read as soon as possible.

So, if you're looking for a bit of romance, check them out!

Riley x