Introducing our new monthly romance column with Amy Andrews – Amy in Romancelandia!

Hello and welcome to Romancelandia! If you’ve fallen down the romance rabbit hole with me – welcome. I’ve turned on the lava lamps and there’s mojitos over in the corner, so kick off your shoes and enjoy.

This is the first of what I hope will be many columns intro’ing the broad church of romance novels to the Booktopia crowd. I’ll feature a selection of books out each month written by Australian authors as well as some not written by Aussies. All are available via Booktopia so just click on the covers if something takes your fancy!

So … romance. Yeah. I know what some of you are thinking. Romance novels, Amy, really? I can see you looking down your noses over there or maybe even holding them. That’s fine – move on along or drop a ponderous witticism about trash and frivolousness in the comments. It’s okay, those of us in the biz expect nothing less from critics who think it the height of intelligence to judge and shame another person’s reading choice. There isn’t anything you can say that we haven’t heard a zillion times. But for those who like and value books about some of the most important relationships we form in life then read on, because that’s what we’re all about here in Romancelandia, and God knows this world needs more love than ever right now!

Okay, for those who are still with me but may be confused about what exactly a romance novel is – and if you’ve read any of the romance book lists that usually do the rounds on Valentine’s Day then I get it – let me enlighten you. As someone who’s been writing romance for a living for fifteen years and reading it for much longer, I feel reasonably qualified to explain. At the very least I feel qualified to tell you what a romance novel is not.

Girl meets boy. They fall in love. Their families forbid it. One takes poison the other inflicts a fatal wound upon their body. They both die. Not a romance.

Beautiful woman trapped in a loveless marriage has an affair with an officer. Throws herself under a train and dies. Not a romance.

Woman finds a message in a bottle. Tracks down the man who sent it. Man is still in love with his dead ex wife but wants to move on. He sends his dead ex one last goodbye message in a bottle and dies in a storm while sending it out to sea. Not a romance.

Generally books where one (or both) of the love interest dies or leaves = not a romance.

Also, ageing literature professor starts an inappropriate relationship with a twelve year old girl. Not a romance. Really, really, really NOT a romance.

So … what is a romance novel then, I hear you ask? It’s really very simple. A romance novel is a book that features a central romantic relationship – which does not have to be between a man or a woman or even two people for that matter – with an emotionally satisfying ending. We call them HEA’s (Happily Ever Afters) here in Romancelandia although we can also get on board with a HFN (Happy For Now).

That’s it. It’s not rocket science. Central romantic relationship + HEA/HFN = romance.

And if that is your catnip then do I have some books for you!

Mr Right Now

by Karly Lane

Griffin Callahan and Olivia Dawson were inseparable. Everyone in town knew it. But when Griff went off to Ag College, Liv told him it was over and fled her family’s farm to study law. Griff had never understood her reasons but eventually accepted that first loves don’t last. Until now.

Currently back on the farm to help her twin brother with the harvest, Liv is the same gorgeous, laughing, hazel-eyed girl he’d always loved. Yet Griff can sense a difference, an uncertainty playing beneath the surface that wasn’t there before.

Amidst crossed wires, drunken declarations, and families on a mission, will Griff and Liv finally have a second chance? Or will the old saying – If you love someone set them free – become their reality?

Buy it here

One Night With His Rival

by Robyn Grady

Wealthy horse breeder Ajax Rawson can have any woman he wants. So why can’t he keep his hands off the one woman he can’t?

Beautiful, independent and passionate, Veda Darnel is the daughter of his family’s biggest competitor. Years of bad business blood makes their affair dangerous … and forbidden. But will accusations of foul play end their star-crossed romance before it even begins?

Buy it here

Contracted to Her Greek Enemy

by Annie West

‘I wouldn’t date you for a million dollars.‘ ‘How about two million?‘

Stephanie Logan would love to throw Damen Nicolaides’s outrageous proposal that she pose as his girlfriend back in his face, but the truth is she needs his money to save her family.

The arrogant Greek seduced and discarded her once before, so Steph makes sure their contract says Damen can’t kiss her again! But she might soon regret that clause. Because trapped in paradise with her enemy, his all-too-potent chemistry is pushing her ever closer to breaking point …

Buy it here

And here are a couple of non-Aussie romance offerings …

Island Affair

by Priscilla Oliveras

Sought-after social media influencer Sara Vance, in recovery from an eating disorder, is coming into her own, with a potential career expansion on the horizon. Despite the good news, her successful siblings (and their perfect spouses) have a way of making her feel like the odd one out. So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiance …

Luis’s big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island’s laidback style. Though guarded after a deep betrayal, he’ll always help someone in need – especially a spunky beauty with a surprising knowledge of Spanish curse words. Soon, he and Sara have memorized their “how we met” story and are immersed in family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips … sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses. But when it’s time for Sara to return home, will their island romance last or fade with the stunning sunset?

Buy it here

Crave

by Tracy Wolff

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place. Or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods … or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

And then there’s Jaxon Vega. A prince. A vampire. An annoyingly kissable boy who hasn’t felt a thing in over a hundred years. But there’s a darkness to him. A secret craving that threatens to consume him whole.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

Buy it here

Digital Romance

For those who prefer to read their books digitally, did you know Booktopia has partnered with Kobo to bring you a massive range of e-books to purchase? Which means so much romance – yay! Try these books by Aussie authors.

Scarlett and the Model Man

by Cathryn Hein

When up-and-coming artist Scarlett Ash discovers the perfect model in small-town Levenham, she can’t believe her luck. Her creativity abandoned her months ago and with her move to London to take up a prestigious residency fast approaching, she’s desperate for a muse to bring it back.

Surfing dairy farmer Sam Greenwood is delivering milk when a gorgeous girl accosts him. Charmed by her invitation to model for a painting, Sam wants to say no. While Scarlett might be stunning, she’s arty-farty weird, and he’s flat out with his growing dairy business. Somehow, though, he can’t resist.

As Scarlett struggles to find her way with her new work, Sam becomes determined to help. Scarlett is smart, talented and sympathetic to the unremitting toil of dairy farming, and they’re both healing from failed relationships. Soon burgeoning friendship blossoms into so much more.
Knowing that London beckons and her time in Levenham is short, Scarlett resists the lure of love. She has no plans to return to Levenham, and big-hearted Sam deserves more than a brief fling followed by a quick goodbye. Except as their affair deepens, how can she leave the man who’s not only given her back her passion but her heart?

Buy it here

True To Your Service

by Sandra Antonelli

Former butler Mae Valentine accepted the risk-filled life Major Hamish Kitt led when she married him. He’s out of the field, now teaching novice spies how to be spies. Then an accident – or terrorism – drags the couple to tulip fields and sex shops in charming, deadly Amsterdam. Suddenly it’s extortion, nasty little plants, and a bar full of monkeys.

As treachery unfolds and bodies pile up, the past, once dead and buried, resurrects to make their future an impossibility. A wife, a, dog, a home. Three things a spy like Kitt isn’t supposed to want. Can it be happy life, happy wife, or will Mae’s history destroy everything?

Buy it here

Amy’s Favourite of the Month!

As an extra treat each month, I’m going to be recommending one of my fave reads to you. Choosing just one a month will be hard because I could probably recommend a dozen but I’m putting on my big girl panties and going for it. This month I’m recommending Tikka Chance on Me by Suleikha Snyder!

He’s the bad-boy biker. She’s the good girl working in her family’s Indian restaurant. On the surface, nothing about Trucker Carrigan and Pinky Grover’s instant, incendiary, attraction makes sense. But when they peel away the layers and the assumptions-and their clothes-everything falls into place. The need. The want. The light. The laughter. Is it enough? Trucker and Pinky won’t find out until they take a chance on each other-and on love.

Buy it here

I loved this novella so much I downloaded all Suleikha’s backlist immediately after I finished, and she is now on my auto-buy author list!

That’s the rundown this month. I hope you join me next month in Romancelandia, but until then stay safe and happy reading!

–Amy Andrews

Amy Andrews

About Amy

Amy Andrews is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written seventy plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.

She’s sold three million books and been translated into over a dozen languages including manga. She has won three Ruby awards and is a triple RITA finalist.

In her other life, she was a paediatric intensive care nurse for twenty-one years. Amy lives near the sea with her husband of 30 years.

You can find out more about Amy and her books here.

Nothing But Trouble

by Amy Andrews

For five years, Cecilia Morgan’s entire existence has revolved around playing personal assistant to self-centred former NFL quarterback Wade Carter. But just when she finally gives her notice, his father’s health fails, and Wade whisks her back to his hometown. CC will stay for his dad—for now—even if that means ignoring how sexy her boss is starting to look in his Wranglers.

To say CC’s notice is a bombshell is an insult to bombs. Wade can’t imagine his life without his “left tackle.” She’s the only person who can tell him “no” and strangely, it’s his favourite quality. He’ll do anything to keep her from leaving, even if it means playing dirty and dragging her back to Credence, Colorado, with him...

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About the Contributor

Amy Andrews