It’s a new year! And one of my favourite things about the new year is looking ahead to all the wonderful new releases that are just waiting to be devoured.
Erm…I mean, read. 😊
The fact that there is no practical way I will actually be able to read every single book that calls to me doesn’t do a single thing to dampen my excitement at this point of the year, because right now, the possibilities are endless. It’s the time for dreaming and planning, for gazing at pretty covers and allowing the delicious sense of anticipation to bubble as I wonder what stories await me.
Please tell me you’re with me, otherwise I might sound just a wee bit crazy!Â
Over the next week or so, I’m not just going to be sharing my TBR dreams and plans for the next six months; I’m going to be helping you make your own TBR dreams and plans. That means I’ll be giving you a detailed look at what’s coming in the next six months in all your favourite genres!Â
Looking forward to…
Romantic Suspense
Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
Historical Romance
Biblical Fiction
General and Time-Slip Fiction
Speculative and YA
Before you begin browsing your contemporary romance selections, here are a couple of things I’ll point out:
- Nicole Deese is back, and she’s with Bethany House. Check out her March release!
- Becky Wade is releasing the first book in her new Misty River Romance series—with an Australian-born hero, I might add!
- Make sure you check out the new kids on the block (no, NOT the band) – Melony Teague releases her debut, A Promise to Keep, on 21 January and Janine Rosche releases her debut, This Wandering Heart, on 5 May.
- Lisa T. Bergren is updating and releasing one of her backlist titles, Treasure, as Once Upon a Caribbean Summer. Treasure hunt, anyone?
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Contemporary Romance Releases
Here’s a quick rundown on the contemporary romance releases from the major Christian publishers for the first half of 2020.
BETHANY HOUSE
Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese (31 March 2020)
Stay With Me by Becky Wade (5 May 2020)
Revell
The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson (3 March 2020)
Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon (31 March 2020)
Hadley Becket’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner (5 May 2020)
THOMAS NELSON
A Girl’s Guide to the Outback by Jessica Kate (28 January 2020)
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter (19 May 2020)
TYNDALE
If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh (3 February 2020)
The Solid Grounds Coffee Company by Carla Laureano (4 June 2020)
Beach Haven by T.I. Lowe (7 April 2020)
The Best We’ve Been by Beth K. Vogt (5 May 2020)
Driftwood Dreams by T.I. Lowe (1 June 2020)
There’s a whole world of contemporary romance reading beyond the output from the major Christian publishers too.Â
Here are some upcoming releases from Christian authors who are being published by general market publishers.
Tranquility Falls by Davis Bunn (31 March 2020 – cover to come)
The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm (31 March 2020)
Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury (5 May 2020)
This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche (5 May 2020)
Contemporary Romance readers should also keep an eye on these two independently published collections.
The Potter’s House Collection
Note: These books are only listed for pre-order four weeks prior to release
The Hope We Share by Juliette Duncan (7 January 2020)
Beyond the Deep by Kirsten M. Fraser (21 January 2020)
Honor’s Reward by Mary Manners (4 February 2020)
Hands of Grace by Brenda S. Anderson (18 February 2020)
Always You by Jennifer Rodewald (3 March 2020)
Her Cowboy Forever by Dora Hiers (17 March 2020)
Changed Somehow by Chloe S. Flanagan (31 March 2020)
Sweet Scent of Forgiveness by Delia Latham (14 April 2020)
The Mosaic Collection
More Than Enough by Lorna Seilstad (8 January 2020)
And last but in no way least are our indie (independent) and small press contemporary romance authors.Â
Note: Indie and small press releases are not usually available for pre-order as far in advance as traditionally published novels, so new releases for this category only go up to March at this point in time.
When I Come Home Again by Jennifer Rodewald (1 January 2020)
Star Rising by Janet W. Ferguson (4 January 2020)
Waiting For You by Andrea Boyd (7 January 2020)
Lean On Me by Pat Simmons (7 January 2020)
Once Upon a Caribbean Summer by Lisa T. Bergren (9 January 2020)
The Last Shot by Amy Matayo (14 January 2020) *Classified as general market
Yellowstone Yondering by Kristen Joy Wilks (17 January 2020)
A Promise to Keep by Melony Teague (21 January 2020)
A Gift to Cherish by Victoria Bylin (4 February 2020)
Finding Home by Carolyn Aarsen (4 February 2020
Desert Willow by Patricia Beal (12 February 2020)
The One Who Rocked Away by Joanna Alonzo (20 February 2020)
The Unsuspecting Heather Meyers by Shawna Robison Young (27 February 2020)
And I’ll be keeping an eye out for release information from a few authors who I know have novels in the works, but don’t have release dates yet:
Kara Isaac
Sarah Monzon
Toni Shiloh
Carolyn Miller (yes, this Regency romance author will be releasing a contemporary romance as part of Celebrate Lit’s Independence Islands series)
At least some of them likely won’t release until the second half of the year, but if they release sooner, I’ll be sure to let you know!
Katie’s TBR and Reading Goals
So, want to know which contemporary romances I’m planning on reading? Here they are:
One of my reading goals for this year is to discover some new or new-to-me authors, so I’m ticking that goal with Melony Teague’s A Promise to Keep. But I’d love to find some more new-to-me contemporary romance authors this year, especially romantic comedy, or at least contemporary romance that has that kind of chick-lit sassy tone to the writing (one of the reasons I love authors like Jessica Kate, Amy Matayo, and Bethany Turner). I’m open to clean general market reads too, so I’d love to hear your contemporary romance recommendations!
And that’s a wrap for contemporary romance!
Which contemporary romance novels are on your TBR? And be sure to let me know your top contemporary romance recommendations. If they’re new-to-me authors I’ll be checking them out!
There are so many! I had a hard time listing only 5! You rock with this list! So many amazing reads coming out💖💖💖
Aww, thanks! And yes, so many amazing reads!
Thank you so much for including my book in your lovely list!
You’re welcome!
If you haven’t yet read Rhonda Rhea and Kaley Rhea’s “Off Script and Over-Caffeinated”, I recommend you do. Great contemporary romance with all the feels. Slightly awkward MC who turns out to be so endearing.
There are so many authors I love on this list. I will have to take a look at Goodreads when I have more time. I know I will be adding several to my TBR.