I was having a twitter conversation with Inez Kelly about how little reading time I’ve had lately. Seriously, this year has been CRAZY and the ironic thing is, that it was supposed to mark a slowdown for me. But uhm yeah, not so much. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve written a historical romance, two shorter contemporary romances for Harlequin Desire, an erotic longer novella (40k words) the 4th KGI book and now I’m immersed in Sweet Addiction. So yeah, my reading time has been non existent because along with all the work I’ve been devoting time to, things have been really busy with my family.
We’ve traveled. My daughter is playing softball and we’ve devoted a lot of time to her practices and her tournaments. The year has sped by so frighteningly fast that well, reading has just fallen by the wayside. Which makes me sad.
But I’ve found that even if I can’t commit to a full length novel (even as insanely fast as I read) that shorter works really do the trick when I really just need time to let my brain rest and enjoy something. Such was the case when I impulsively picked up Cara McKenna’s latest short story, Don’t Call Her Angel. It was perfect, see, because I was done in about half an hour. And then I could go back to work, or go take my daughter to practice or even cook supper. OMG you guys seriously don’t know how long it’s been since I last cooked lololol. My poor husband was in shock last night when I actually went into the kitchen and fixed supper.
I’m getting off topic….
So to get to my point, I’d LOVE some recommendations for SHORT stories. Novellas, short stories. But I want them to be really good. And satisfying. They don’t have to be “change the world” earth shattering. I just want something yummy that satisfies my need for a “quick fix”
Got anything for me? Oh and yeah, I should clarify, I want it to be romance. Don’t make me sad when I’m trying to work!! :)
*blinks* You’ve done all that? Uhm…wow.
I recently read IRON SEDUCTION from JK Coi and loved it. Very short with great characters, lots of action, and hot smexy scenes. Sort of Chinese Steampunk with stone zombie warriors. Highly recommend.
I have been ready a lot of Linda Warrens books lately. So sweet and great love stories.
Stacey Kennedy and Eve Langlais have some AWESOME short reads. Whatnots and Doodads by Stacey Kennedy. The Last Minion Standing by Eve Langlais. Also, by C. Milan, Unlocked was great! (Yes, I have read them all, lol)
Good luck!
Before the Witches by Karina Cooper was really good.
I also enjoyed The Naked Truth by Lilly Cain.
First, my head is totally spinning at how much you’ve written! That is completely awesome.
I second the Karina Cooper novella. It was very good, especially given the word count, and how much she packed into such a tight space. I also loved Courtney Milan’s Unlocked (she’s a personal friend of mine) but it really was one of those stories that stay with you long after you’ve read it.
I went to B & N and Ellora’s Cave and downloaded the free “Naughty Nooners”. When I need something quick, that’s what I turn to. They are usually less than 30 pages so, no problem finishing them quickly.
Willing Victim by Cara McKenna. (LOVE)
Friendly Fire by Megan Hart.
Nothing Personal by Jaci Burton.
I’m a big fan of novella and shorts. So. Keri Ford has some good novellas, so does Emily Ryan-Davis (I am a crazy fan of her Changing Thumbelina and her All the Secrets in Pearl); also, I love mima’s stuff, and she has some shorter pieces. Also recently loved some RG Alexander I read.
A lot of the mainstream novellas I’ve read recently have been in anthos, and there will be one good story in the antho, so I hesitate to recommend any of those, because I hate buying an antho and finding there is only one decent story. Makes me cranky.
Hope that helps.
Since you are a Harlequin writer you may have already heard of this book, but if not this is a GREAT book. Her Last Line of Defense by Marie Donovan. It’s only 200 pages and believe me when I say that I wish there was more. It’s not only is a good story with a really hot guy but the sex scenes are really steamy!
sounds to me like you need to relax…a great short story would do that
to me a short novel is 150 – 300 pages…if so i recommend all of Sophie Oak’s work…she has Siren series, Bliss series, another series regarding vamps, faeries and she has a couple of others stories as well…hers has humor, tears, love and alpha flavored heros cowboys etc…got to love that
These two were short stories I really enjoyed. If you decide to read them, I hope enjoyed them too.
“Glutton for Pleasure” by Alisha Rai.
“Three’s Company” by Jayne Rylon.
Anything by Amber Kell is Great!!!!!
I would have to agree with Amber Kell. She writes m/m and her stories are short and great. I snatch them up as soon as they come out. lol
This will not be precisely what you are after, but these books are so good that I highly recommended them. They can be read a chapter here, a chapter there, without losing the thread of the overall story but they really are just made up of many short parts. Read in order! 1. Clairvoyant Countess and 2. Kaleidoscope by Dorothy Gilman. A lot of fun, and yes, romance is in there as well… for the main character’s HEA, you need to read both books. :)
Oh . . and don’t forget. Some of the multi-author books: Kiss Me, Kill Me (HP Mallory), Kissed From Beyond (K. Diablo, A. Scott, E. Hepner, S. Kennedy) . . and Amber Scott has some HOT short reads out there too. Love Lust was AWESOME!
Hi Maya!!
I have a few. Let’s see. For some hotties, try Mari Carr, or Jambrea Jones, or maybe Lexxie Couper, or maybe Rhian Cahill, J.R Patrick, Jess Dee, Lila Dubois, or Anne Rainey. Here’s a link to find out more : http://internationalheat.wordpress.com/
And one more, Elizabeth Moore: http://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-of-Fire-ebook/dp/B004GXAXAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306984060&sr=8-1
Happy Reading!!!
Billi Jean
The first one that comes to mind is Cynthia Eden’s Bound by Blood. Really good short story that left me wanting more :)
I have recently discovered Delilah Devlin She has a lot of short story ebooks if that is what your looking for I have recently read her novellas in Texas Men and Cowboy Fever. These are 3 short stories in each book. I prefer books to ebooks so I cannot recommend which of her ebooks to read but the books were really good.
Laura
I can also recommend http://www.denysebridger.com/home.html short story ebooks.
Have you read the Brava anthologies? The “Bad Boys” series – Bad Boys Over Easy, Bad Boys Next Exit, Bad Boys with Roses, Bad Boys Online, etc etc etc. Those are how I discovered Erin McCarthy, HelenKay Dimon, Shannon McKenna, Alison Kent, Jill Shalvis, Nancy Warren, Lori Foster, Sylvia Day, Katherine Garbera, Janelle Denison, etc. Or also the holiday ones – but I don’t know if you like to read “out of season.” Kissing Santa Claus, etc.
They’re a bit older though – but many are in MMP or out in e.
Have you read Courtney Milan’s novella “Unlocked”? Or I saw Lillie rec “Undercover Lovers” to you – it’s an anthology with four authors – Dee Tenorio, Cari Quinn, Christine Bell, and Chloe Cole. (There are additional excerpts on my blog if you wanna check it out.)
Otherwise… I know you’ve said you don’t read much erotic romance – but Jasmine Haynes has a series – three anthologies that are connected but also all stand alone as well.
That’s what I’ve got for now.
I really enjoyed Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey- it was a nice short story. I really love her books and if you’ll have more reading time I would highly recommend her Kowalski series- so far there are 3 books about the Kowalski family.
I too recommend Keri Ford and Alisha Rai. Shelli Stevens also writes some good, quick books. It’s hard to recommend because you probably are friends and read a lot of my favorite authors like Lorelei James and Inez Kelly.
Here are some of my recomendations most of these are around 100-200 pages in ebook format.
Bella Andre- Take Me
Shelli Stevens – Flash Point
Anne Rainey- Touching Lace & Taking Candy are books 1 & 2 in her Vaughn Series
Elle Kennedy- Out of Uniform series; Heat of Passion, Heat of the Moment, Heat of Storm
Beverly Havlir- Educating Emily
Hope you can take the time to relax and get some reading done.
Away From Me by Sophie Oak. A whole lot of story and emotions in a novella
Jayne Rylon has a couple of series that I really like….one is about Star, a sex worker in Amsterdam, three books, all short and all good…..the second is her Powertools series, about a construction crew and the women they love and their interesting relationships with each other.
Vivian Arend has a new series, Xtreme Adventures that is good.
Have fun checking out the books!
I’d like to second Terri’s comment about Jayne Rylon’s Star series. Some of the best short stories I’ve ever read. So powerful and beautifully written.
Wow! I feel a little star struck…..Can I just say I love your work Mari?!
Thanks Terri (and Mari!) My Red Light series are probably my favorite books I’ve ever written and my least read, go figure :P I’m thrilled you enjoyed Star’s adventures! It means a lot to me to hear that.
If you want a sweet romance i just finished a short story that was very emotional with a happy ending …second chance romance by Asrai Devin …
enjoy
I highly recommend Rebecca Royce’s Westervelt Wolves Series. They are short but incredibly yummy!! Cherise Sinclair’s books are amazing as well!
Eliza Gayle and Jules Bennett have some wonderful short ones….
Aw, thanks Sharon and Elise!
I can rec Elise Logan right back. Check out KJ Reed.
Renee Vincent has a slightly longer novella, Silent Partner, that I really love. Madison J. Edwards has a short story, The Perfect Secretary, that has done extremely well.
Olivia Cunning as a short story I absolutely love it is called Loving on borrowed time.
Maya,
Elle Kennedy has a much of short novellas, only out on ebook, and they are about some hot Navy Seals. The series is call “Out of Uniform”. 6 so far. Short, but very hot!!
Mari Carr, Jayne Rylon, and Paige Tyler have some fun, quick reads!
If you are OK with GLBT (MM) then I highly recommend Josh Lanyon. He has great award-winning romance stories, generally with mystery or adventure, and always with fabulous characters and relationships. He has a lot of short stories and novellas, as well as some fabulous novels and series.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered by Sierra Cartwright.
These are individual books, but are very short and good reads for fun: Dana Marie Bell’s Halle Pumas Series.
Book 1 – The Wallflower
Book 2 – Sweet Dreams
Book 3 – Cat of a Different Color
Book 4 – Steel Beauty
Book 5 – Only in My Dreams
Book 6 is due out soon. They are in general around 80 something pages, except for the first one that is the longest at 104 pages. I can read them in 30-40 minutes.
I just read the Karmic Consultant series by Vivi Andrews. I laughed so much. They are fun, quick reads.
Alexandra’s legacy,Issiah’s haven, really anyting by N.J Walters. Coming full circle by Liz Andrew’s. Short but not too short just what you for a little down time.
Recently found a free copy of Joely Skye’s “Marked”. Which led me to buy another in that series that I’m reading now titled “Lynx”.
Jayne Rylon’s powertools series is fun!
I am about to read Three Reasons Why by Mari Carr and Jungle Inferno y Desiree Holt.
Rogue for a Night
by Jenna Petersen ( 87 pages, but beautiful)
Unlocked
by Courtney Milan ( less tahn 200 pages I believe, this is is also very well done)
I read a lot of short stories… so here goes.
For sweet and sentimental (but still hot), I adore Mari Carr’s Do Over.
I really enjoyed Dirty Thirty by Cara McKenna (though it’s m/m/f but not one I think you’d object to since it’s about a couple that seeks a man for a hot night of fun).
I also really loved Holiday Bound by Beth Kery. An awesome twist or two made for a hot premise.
A short story with a great story in it is Cherry Pie by Samantha Kane…totally different from her Brothers in Arms series.
Also Megan Harts Friendly Fire..quick, sexy and endearing.
And any short story by Jayne Rylon is always a surprise and a treat
Whatever you chose..enjoy, enjoy, enjoy~~~
ALMOST A SPINSTER by Jenna Petersen
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