In honor of the utterly wonderful Hard Times by Cara McKenna and its steamy love letters and texts, the last list of this week goes out to all those sensual notes and other ways the word makes us falls in love in Romance Novels and outside of them.
You may think the love letter faded away with the typewriter and the inkwell but it has just morphed. And when you get an actual letter it is even sweeter.
Should I tell in you in my freshman year of college that the computer lab tutor and I use to exchange flirty words on the closed server of the writing center? Until we got caught by my professor...awkward.
Should I tell you of the sweet and very naught notes, my husband use to leave under the windshield wiper of my beat up 69 VW Bug in the parking lot of my work when we were dating?
He always writes for my beloved in the books gives me.
And now that we have with a little pitcher with big ears, texting while in the same room is its own kind of date night.
He is smart. The Wordcat likes words.
I bet you do too!
Here are some of my favorite Contemporary Romances where falling in love happens (at least a little bit) in text...
In no particular order...
1. Hard Time by Cara McKenna
2. Three Little Words by Susan Mallery
3. Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir
4. The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers
5. Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid
6. Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockmann
7. Wait for You by J, Lynn
8. At Last by Billy London
9. Inside Out by Lauren Dane
10. Attachments: A Novel by Rainbow Rowell
Here are some Contemporary Romances with this theme I have yet to read but want to!
1. Accidental Texting by Kimberly Montague
2. Dear John... by Lyn Ellis
3. Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros
4. Undeclared by Jen Frederick
5. Letters From Home by Jo Barrett
6. Maverick's Black Cat by Maggie Casper
7. Reckless by Skye Jordan
8. Letters from Home by Rhonda Nelson
9. Kiss Me, Kate by Mari Carr
10. Male Call by Denise A. Agnew
Do you have a favorite I missed? Let me know!
To vote for the best of the best, go to the Goodreads list: Love Text: Best Contemporary Romance with Love Notes.
Look for Best Historical Romances with love letters next week!
Opening Line:"Kelly O'Brian lugged her heavy canvas bag of books into the back door of the university newspaper office.
This was an awesome little read that took me all of about 3 hours to finish and gave me everything I could possibly want in a romance. Charming, super fun and sexy. This story also contains a reunited lovers theme which is one of my personal favourites and comes complete with a sensitive, somewhat tortured (and very cute) beta hero as well as the hilarious historical romance character he’s writing and bantering with throughout. (The character talks back)
Letters To Kelly was also my very first foray into the world of Suzanne Brockmann. Why I’ve waited so long I have absolutely no idea?? Because if this little book, without a Troubleshooter, conspiracy or Navy SEAL in sight is any indication of her talents then I’ve got a ton of fantastic reading ahead of me.
After agreeing to take his best friends little sister to prom, T Jackson Winchester II (thankfully also known as Jax) suddenly see’s the 16 year old Kelly in a whole new light. Realizing that he’d actually been in love with her for years (this was a bit of an ick factor considering he’s known her since she was 12) He admits his feeling to her that very night and promises that the second she turns 18 he’ll propose. Kelly’s brother later catches them in a compromising situation and threatens to have Jax arrested unless he leaves town. Kelly never hears from Jax again and when her 18th birthday comes and goes she’s heartbroken.
Little does she know that for the past 2 years Jax has actually been a prisoner in a South American Jail. He hasn’t forgotten Kelly or his promise but without any way to reach her he starts composing letters to Kelly in his mind. The letters also serve to keep him sane and were another great aspect to this book. By the time Amnesty international steps in and frees Jax, Kelly has moved on and married someone else. The meat of this story takes place 3 years later with our persistent hero fighting to win back the woman he loves while maintaining a successful career as a romance writer.
My absolute favourite parts of this book (other than the scene with the suntan lotion) would have to be the scenes where Jax is writing his historical romance novel and arguing with its hero Jared. And anyone even slightly interested in the craft of writing will appreciate these clever and often hilarious scenes.
So, it seems I’ve now joined the league of Brockmann fans. Cheers.
“Don’t use words like bitch and dude” Jax reminded him tiredly. “You live in the 1860’s or have you forgotten?” “Look at you.” Jared ignored Jax’s question. “You look like total crap--” “Crap. Another fine word for a historical romance hero.” “--You haven’t showered in days and your drinking beer at 9 o’clock in the morning--” “Morning, night what’s the difference anyway?” muttered Jax.
3 1/2 stars. This book reminded me of a recent blog post at All About Romance, about how so many classic romances just wouldn't make sense in today's world. I'm seeing this Twitter conversation:Kelly @biggirlsdontcry Hey, way to miss my 18th birthday, @jaxsonfive . Fuck you and the sports car you did not ride in on. #brokenheartedAmnesty International @amnesty .@jaxsonfive is currently a political prisoner in South America; please join our letter writing campaign.Kelly @biggirlsdontcry Woah, glad I found out before I married some other dude! #awkward #boyismyfacered Even aside from the blatant lack of communication, I had trouble with the ickiness of 22 year old Jax falling in love with 16 year old Kelly, not to mention his stalking her. But the scenes of Jax arguing with the characters in the romance novel he's writing really made the book for me, and his internal "letters" to her while he's a prisoner are very touching. So a good read in many ways.
Delightfully surprised at how emotionally poignant this Suzanne Brockmann book is. Brockmann is known for her action-suspense-Navy SEAL themes & sizzling sex books. I was pulled in by the emotions of her main characters that tears were actually involved! One thing I didn't like was the heroine's stubborness. 
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