Best Reads of 2022 So Far

So far this year i have read over 115 books so I thought I would do an almost mid year check in and share some of my favourite reads of the year so far! The last month has been a much slower reading month but these are the books I have absolutely loved in 2022 so far. All of these books are at least 4.5 stars but most of them have been five star reads.Dating Dr Dil - Sharma Nisha

"Hi! I’m Kareena Mann. As cheesy as it sounds, I’m looking for my soulmate. In four months. And he must gain the approval of my meddling aunties.

Kareena dreams of having a perfect love story like her parents did. That’s why on the morning of her thirtieth birthday, she’s decided to suit up and enter the dating arena. When her widowed father announces he’s retiring and selling their home after her sister’s engagement party, Kareena makes a deal with him. If she can find her soulmate by the date of the party, he’ll gift her the house, and she’ll be able to keep her mother’s legacy alive. 

Hi, I’m Dr. Prem Verma, host of the Dr. Dil Show. Prem means love, Dil means heart, and I’m a cardiologist. Don’t let my name fool you. I only fix broken hearts in the literal sense.

Prem doesn’t have time for romance, which is why it’s no surprise when his first meeting with Kareena goes awry. Their second encounter is worse when their on-air debate about love goes viral. Now Prem’s largest community center donor is backing out because Prem's reputation as a heart-health expert is at risk. To get back in his donor’s good graces, he needs to fix his image fast, and dating Kareena is his only option.

Even though they have warring interests, the more time Prem spends with Kareena, the more he thinks she’s might actually be the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. In this Taming of the Shrew re-imagination, for Prem and Kareena to find their happily ever after, they must admit that hate has turned into fate."

I typically don't need a lot of traditionally published books, I'm not sure why so I never pay too much attention to new releases. But I really enjoyed this one and I need more books from the author immediately. 

Terms and Conditions - Lauren Asher

"Declan

I'm destined to become the next CEO of my family's media empire.

The only problem? My grandfather's inheritance clause.

Fulfilling his dying wish of getting married and having an heir seemed impossible until my assistant volunteered for the job.

Our marriage was supposed to be the perfect solution to my biggest problem.

But the more we act in love for the public, the more unsure I feel about our contract.

Caring about Iris was never part of the deal.

Especially not when breaking her heart is inevitable.

Iris

My plan to marry Declan was simple in theory.

Move in together. Throw a wedding. Have a baby.

We set rules to prevent any kind of issues.

Ones that were never meant to be broken, no matter how much Declan tempts me.

But what happens when our fake relationship bleeds into our real one?

Falling in love was never an option.

At least not for me."

I loved this book so much I read it twice! 

Redeemed - Lauren Asher

"Santiago Alatorre 

One mistake destroys my career.

I go from most eligible bachelor to monster, hiding from the world.

At least until Chloe breaks into my home.

My new fake girlfriend is a temporary fix to my biggest problem.

But as our game changes, so do my feelings.

There’s only one issue stopping me from claiming her.

Me.

Chloe Carter 

It all started with a birthday wish, some vodka, and an ancestry kit.

That’s how I end up in Italy, finding my long-lost father.

But one decision lands me a fake boyfriend I don’t want.

The more we pretend, the easier our ruse becomes.

I told myself not to fall in love with a liar like Santiago.

I should have listened."

This is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone. If you love romance books and Formula 1, give this a read. 

Juniper Hill - Devney Perry

"Memphis Ward arrives in Quincy, Montana, on the fifth worst day of her life. She needs a shower. She needs a snack. She needs some sanity. Because moving across the country with her newborn baby is by far the craziest thing she’s ever done.

But maybe it takes a little crazy to build a good life. If putting the past behind her requires a thousand miles and a new town, she’ll do it if it means a better future for her son. Even if it requires setting aside the glamour of her former life. Even if it requires working as a housekeeper at The Eloise Inn and living in an apartment above a garage.

It’s there, on the fifth worst day of her life, that she meets the handsomest man she’s ever laid eyes on. Knox Eden is a beautiful, sinful dream, a chef and her temporary landlord. With his sharp, stubbled jaw and tattooed arms, he’s raw and rugged and everything she’s never had—and never will. Because after the first worst day of her life, Memphis learned a good life requires giving up on her dreams too. And a man like Knox Eden will only ever be a dream."

I loved this book so much I ended up reading the authors almost entire backlist. 

Souls - Brynne Asher

"The princess and a dead man.

They say money makes the world go round. 

They’d be wrong.

Sure, power can be bought, but you can gain a hell of a lot more with knowledge. With knowledge comes fear.

I’ve seen it.

I’ve caused it.

I’ve even been the brunt of it.

But when a stowaway princess barrels into my life like a runaway train, I throw patience out the window—the same one I jump out of, taking her with me. 

Now I’ve got more problems than any contract killer deserves.

That includes Aliyah Zahir—an internationally coveted socialite, a true royal, and a social media sensation. Returning to the lion’s den, she ends up in harm’s way—all for a mirage.

She’s chasing a ghost.

But instead, she finds a dead man.

I’m done being patient. It’s my turn to administer fear for a change, and no one is better equipped to fix Liyah’s problems than me.

And I’m never giving her back."

I adore this series, this is a romantic suspense series about ex assassins, need I say more?

Things We Never Got Over - Lucy Score

" Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.

Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger."

I have been a fan of Lucy Score for years now and this book went so viral (it has over 30k reviews on Amazon). I loved it and I am so happy it's going to be a series. 

Brutal Vows - J.T Geissinger

"An Irish mobster with a brutal grudge.

An Italian mafia princess with a dark secret.

Two enemy empires joined in sacred marriage vows.

Let the hating games begin.

Reyna

If this arrogant Irish mobster my brother sold my niece to thinks I’m going to play nice over this arranged marriage BS, he should think again.

I don’t care if this match with the Mob will make my brother capo of the Five Families.

I don’t care how much money, territory, or power it will gain us.

I especially don’t care that the Irishman is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.

I won’t allow my innocent niece to suffer the same way I did.

Even if I have to kill him.

Spider

I’m supposed to marry sweet, beautiful Lili. So why can’t I stop thinking about her swamp witch of an aunt?

Reyna who hates me. Reyna who challenges me. Reyna with the guts of a Viking, the body of a fertility goddess, and the attitude of a feral cat.

Nothing good can come of what I’m feeling for a woman who’s not the one in the wedding contract I signed.

A woman I want so much, I’ll have to burn the whole world down to get.

If she doesn’t kill me first"

Mafia romance books are some of my favourite kind of romances to read and this author is one of my favourites. She writes suspense and banter like no other.

Hook, Line and Sinker - Tessa Bailey 

"King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. 

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she'll choose him instead?"

You can read my full spoiler free review here. 

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Elizabeth O'Roark

"You don’t really know a guy until you’ve vacationed with him…

When Drew Wilson’s ex-boyfriend Joel “Six” Bailey asks her to go on his family trip to Hawaii with him just as her life is falling apart, she decides it's the perfect time to give him another chance.

The hitch? The Bailey family includes Six’s rude older brother, Joshua—a hot-nerd doctor who has hated Drew since the moment they met and once suggested she’d steal the family silver.

Drew is determined to win the Baileys over and give this thing with Six a fair shot…but Joshua is making that difficult. Not simply because he is in her way at every turn, but because—as one tropical adventure leads to the next—she’s beginning to wonder if obnoxious, odious Joshua might be the brother she actually belongs with."

A must have author to read if you have Kindle Unlimited. 

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