It hot. It use to be warm and lovely and today it was 97. Ew.  It was a day where the sun seems to hunt me down. 

No bueno.

The cure? Ice cream and other frozen yummies! 

Here are some wonderful Romance Novels where ice cream, ice cream trucks, ice cream parlors, frozen desserts, gelatos, itailain ices, sorbets, sherbets, frozen custards, hawaiian ices, shaved ices, sundaes, soft serve, dip cones, malts, milkshakes, sno cones, Frappes, floats, Frozen Yorgurt, Froyo, mochis are central the the plot. 

My lists are never in any particular order. Enjoy!

1. The Vintage Ice Cream Van Road Trip by Jenny Oliver

If you were to ask Holly Somers how life is going at the moment she wouldn’t have a clue how to answer you… On the one hand she’s embarking on a retro-fabulous road trip in her vintage ice cream van all the way from Cherry Pie Island to the South of France. Plus, she’s sharing the journey with Wilf Hunter-Brown (quite possibly the most attractive man she’s ever met!) 

On the other? Well, apart from being unsure as to whether the rickety old ice cream van will actually make it to the Riviera, she and Wilf had a one-night fling a few weeks ago. Even worse, it seems there’s an unexpected little consequence of their impromptu night together. Life on Cherry Pie Island definitely hasn’t equipped Holly with knowledge of the best way to tell a super-rich entrepreneur with a womanising reputation that he’s about to become a Dad!

Despite the heat of the Provencal sunshine you’d think you’d be able to keep cool inside an ice cream van – but the temperature is definitely rising. And with time running out to tell Wilf the truth, Holly’s dream roadtrip is fast becoming a nightmare on wheels! There’s no denying that this will be a journey to remember. When it comes to sundaes, Holly has always been partial to the more traditional flavours - but something’s telling her that this could be the time to take a chance and try something new…

2. Boys of Summer by Leslie Kelly, Kimberly Raye, Julie Elizabeth Leto 

Sliding Home by New York Times bestselling author Leslie Kelly
Plain Janie Nolan's been sitting on the bench so long, she doesn't even realize she's still in the game. That is, until a sexy pitcher tempts her to come up to the plate and take a swing…

The Sweet Spot by USA TODAY bestselling author Kimberly Raye
Babe Bannister discovers that striking out with a sexy shortstop isn't so bad—especially when it leads to hitting a home run with a delicious coach…

Fever Pitch by New York Times bestselling author Julie Elizabeth Leto
Callie Andrews has been dying to have one last chance at bat…with her ex-husband!

3. Come September by Jacquie D'Alessandro, Cathy Yardley, Stephanie Doyle

When summer ends, everything else begins for... Summer Breeze by Jacquie D'Alessandro ELISE: THE ONE WHO GAVE IT UP A new town, a new house and new start for the kids--everything widow Elise Stanford needed. But she doesn't quite recall ordering Seth McGuire, a green-eyed contractor ten years her junior. Sweeter Than Wine by Cathy Yardley CHAD: THE ONE WHO AVOIDED IT Hedonistic playboy Chad McFee was ready to sell the winery he inherited, until winemaker Leila Fairmont hands him a challenge he can't resist. And he'll show her--as soon as his muscles stop aching. Ice Cream Kisses by Stephanie Doyle AND GRACE: THE ONE WHO STOPPED LOOKING Ice-cream-shop owner Gracie McMullen lives for Labor Day. Goodbye tourists, hello winter! But writer and city-boy Dean Wright is about to add entirely new flavor to Gracie's off-season.

4. Anything but Vanilla... by Liz Fielding

Even more tempting than ice cream!

Sorrel Amery is determined to make her summer event the talk of the town, and she knows just the way into people's champagne sorbet! It's the perfect strategy; Until the ice cream parlor's owner runs off, leaving Sorrels plans melting faster than a sundae in the summer sun.

All Sorrel wants is to get back into her comfort zone, but when the gorgeous Alexander West arrives to help pick up the pieces her life gets shaken up more than ever before! Especially as this globe-trotting adventurer is determined that nothing in Sorrel's life should ever be boring old vanilla again.

5. Family Blessings by Anna Schmidt

Her four stepchildren are thrilled when they learn an ice cream shop will be opening in their small Amish community. But widow Pleasant Obermeier isn't so pleased. Spending time with handsome shop owner Jeremiah Troyer is too much for a woman who's only ever been wounded by love. And now he wants to use her baking skills in his shop? Out of the question!

A harsh childhood left Jeremiah convinced that family life wasn't for him. Yet something about the Obermeiers moves his heart. If he can win Pleasant's trust and learn to trust himself, then he may gain the ultimate blessing—a lifetime of love.

6. Hollywood Dreams and Buttercream by Sandra Sookoo

Gwynn Flannigan wants respect from her father and freedom from her big, loud family. The icing on her cake would be to win a decorating competition hosted by her favorite food magazine writer. Cole Marshall's one outlet from the stress of business life is writing his Cooking in the Buff feature. Who cares if he never has time for fun?

The answer for them both lies in the deep freeze at Sweet Endings, the struggling ice cream shop Gwynn manages and the one property Cole needs to secure a big promotion. He’s stuck in Madrigal, Indiana to unravel a knot of family drama that drives him crazy.

Things heat between Gwynn and Cole on the competition floor when Cole’s alter ego is revealed. Cake and accusations fly while dreams and goals are left crumbling. In order to balance family, business, and love, Gwynn and Cole will need to work together and become partners—in more ways than one.

7. On Any Given Sundae by Marilyn Brant

Nothing tops the sweetness of an unexpected love... 

When Elizabeth's uncle Siegfried and Rob's uncle Pauly rush off to Europe for a month, they temporarily relinquish the reins of their ice cream shop to their respective niece and nephew -- two people who may have grown up practically next door to each other but who have next to nothing in common. 

Elizabeth "Please Don't Call Me Lizzy" Daniels is a small-town Wisconsin girl at heart. Shy and inexperienced at love, the frizzy-haired dessert cookbook writer still resides in her quaint hometown of Wilmington Bay, stutters painfully when nervous and is only comfortable with her laptop and her tiny circle of cooking pals. She must come out of hiding over the summer to help her uncle, but she's convinced her childhood crush, Rob, barely knows she exists. 

Roberto "You'd Better Call Me Rob, or Else" Gabinarri is the town's golden boy and former football star who left home after high school, made a splash in the big city and never looked back. He has to return to Wilmington Bay to uphold a promise to his uncle, but he's counting the minutes until he can escape to the relative anonymity of his fast-paced, commitment-free city life and the sports-themed restaurant he owns in Chicago. Despite his chattiness and charm, Rob was always intimidated by quiet, brainy girls like "Frizzy Lizzy," and he isn't pleased to be back in the place where people like her still see him as that popular but dumb jock -- an image he worked for almost a decade to shed. 

The unlikely pair tries to make the best of being stuck together, but Elizabeth has a pressing publication deadline, and Rob has an Italian mother bent on lining up potential hometown brides for him. Rob comes up with an idea -- something that might help them both -- but it involves just a bit of family deception. With time running out to finish her cookbook and her friends already stretched to the max trying to assist them, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees. 

Neither Rob nor Elizabeth are used to playing games of pretense, but can love, hot summer nights and, maybe, some chocolate sauce, caramel and whipped cream...turn their farce into reality?

8. A Moment on the Lips by Kate Hardy

Dante Romano may be dark and delectable, but Carenza Tonielli will never sell him her family's ice cream empire. Only she needs him—to help her learn how to run it! And when Dante looks at her as if she's the next decadent sundae on the menu, even wary Carenza just can't resist mixing business with a bowlful of pleasure.…

Cue one red-hot fling that's blowing her mind! But, unlike Carenza, her ice-cool Italian is adept at keeping his emotions well under wraps, so she decides to turn the tables on Dante and prove that sometimes living in the moment is sinfully good for you!

9. At Last by Lisa G. Riley

African-American Caroline Singleton is the sole heiress to her family's ice cream business. She is beautiful, artistic and loves nice things. Brian Keenan is an Irish-American ex-cop, ex-lawyer and now part owner of a technology firm. Brian is down to earth, caring and extremely protective of those he loves.

When the two meet, sparks fly. Neither planned to find love at this juncture in their lives and certainly not with someone of another ethnicity. Brian does not have a problem with Caroline's brown skin; he sees her beauty inside and out and desperately wants a permanent relationship. However, Caroline sees Brian's Caucasian skin as a barrier that also challenges her general distrust of white men.

After succumbing to their overwhelming passion and working very hard to develop their relationship, Brian and Caroline face a treacherous situation when Caroline is stalked by a madman. The fear she experienced in college during an attempted kidnapping returns, and Brian vows to keep her safe.

10. Navy Husband by Debbie Macomber

Devastated by a breakup, Shana Berrie leaves her job, relocates and buys a combination pizza/ice cream parlor. Then her sister, a Navy nurse, is unexpectedly deployed at sea for six months and there's no one to care for her 9-year-old daughter, Jazmine—except Shana, who is unprepared and overwhelmed. When Jazmine's godfather, Lt. Cmdr. Adam Kennedy, enters the picture, Shana should be too busy to notice—but she isn't! Shana's not looking for a Navy Husband but it turns out that Adam's a persuasive guy. 

EIGHT full-length FUN, Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors

An all-star collaboration by some of today's most popular New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and B&N bestselling authors. From the funny & sweet to the steamy & heartfelt, this collection has EIGHT full-length FUN, romantic love stories hand-picked to bring a smile to your face this summer. This is a limited edition collection available until July only so get your copy today!

At just ***99 CENTS*** for over 1,800+ pages, that's a huge SAVINGS of over 95% off retail for the individual novels sold separately!  

THE BOXED SET INCLUDES:
-- ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE -- USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant
-- FINDING THE RIGHT GIRL -- New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke
-- SWEET TO YOU -- B&N, iBooks & Amazon Bestselling Author Jessie Evans
-- UNAFRAID -- USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace
-- LOVE LOVE -- Amazon Bestselling Author Beth Michele
-- TEMPTING LOVE -- Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn
-- NOT OVER YOU -- New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine
-- GETTING OUT OF HAND -- And in her indie debut, Amazon & Samhain bestselling author, Erin Nicholas w/a never before published novel from her brand new Sapphire Falls series

 

 

UNAFRAID

 by USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace

Brittany Ray's learned the hard way that some dreams aren't meant for girls like her. Handsome, charming Hunter Covington is one of those dreams. Years ago, they shared one life-changing night together, but Brit walked away before he could break her heart. Now Hunter's back in Beachwood Bay, their reckless passion can't be ignored. But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning?

 

 

LOVE LOVE

by Amazon Bestselling Author Beth Michele

Gabrielle Willis is smart. She's funny. And oh yes, she's a bit klutzy.  But she's also running.  When she meets Brad Dixon, the sweet guy with the crooked smile, can he make her see that the very thing she is trying to run from is the very thing that just may push her to see the light?

 

 

GETTING OUT OF HAND

the brand new novel by Samhain Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas

Genius scientist Mason Riley can cure world hunger, impress the media and piss off the Vice President of the United States all before breakfast. But he's not sure he can get through his high school class reunion.  Then he meets the new girl in town.  Adrianne Scott loves the sleepy little town of Sapphire Falls--the perfect place to open her candy shop and live a quiet, drama-free life. Until Mason Riley bids four hundred dollars just to dance with her.

 

 

TEMPTING LOVE

by Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn

Haley Sloan knows exactly what she wants out of life. With her designer lingerie business booming, her career is moving forward, but her heart is still in the same place it had been for four long years...hopelessly in love with the former wild boy turned responsible adoring father, Eddie Thomas. Will this self-sacrificing single father finally realize that accepting his love for Haley may be just what his little girl needs to get the family they both deserve?

 

 

NOT OVER YOU

by NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine

Summer Holland is set on one thing--convincing her childhood sweetheart *and* local preacher's son, Gabriel Edwards, to marry her so she can get back the daughter she gave up for adoption. She's always been able to count on him rescuing her when she needed it most, but this time is different... there's a new woman in Gabriel's life. Only, Summer's not going to let that get in her way.

 

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FINDING THE RIGHT GIRL by Violet Duke

 

“You have no filter whatsoever,” growled Brian softly. “Not with what you do or say, and especially not with how you react.”

 

“That’s not my fault. You can just point that finger at yourself, buddy,” Tessa grumbled back before snapping her mouth shut.

 

Alright, so maybe he was right about the filter thing.

 

“What?”

 

Man, if looks could strip. She’d never felt this naked before, this out of control. Inwardly, she sighed. The guy just brought out the uncivilized in her.

 

Oh well. She came this far—may as well see where this ride ends. “You heard me.” Her chin came up defiantly. “I can’t think when you talk in that ridiculously sexy voice. Or when your biceps suddenly double in size in the middle of even the simplest of tasks, like lifting a coffee mug. And don’t get me started on your eyes. My god, I almost walked into a wall the last time you smiled and your eyes went from that soft ocean blue to deep turquoise. I mean who does that?!”

 

It was like she just couldn’t stop talking.

 

When he came to a standstill and stared at her like she’d lost her mind, she huffed, “It’s simply not reasonable to expect a girl to have a filter with all that steamy-eyed, bicep-bulging, talking-like-a-wet-dream-voice-over madness going on!”

 

Silence.

 

Huh, so where might one buy one of these filters, she wondered.

 

 

SWEET TO YOU by Jessie Evans

 

He crushed his lips to Maddie’s, his tongue swirling through her mouth as if he were determined to devour her from the neck down. She tasted like heaven, a mix of whiskey and Coke and a salty, sexy taste that was all woman, all Maddie, and more intoxicating than any alcoholic beverage.

 

 

UNAFRAID by Melody Grace

 

“Say it,” he demands. “If you want me to go, just tell me, and I swear I’ll never bother you again.”

 

I open my mouth. The words are there, so simple on my tongue, but nothing comes out. One simple lie, that’s all it would take, and I’d be free from him forever.

 

But it’s still a lie. I can’t do it, not to him. Not when Hunter is the only truth I’ve ever known.

 

I exhale a slow sigh and press my lips shut in defeat. 

 

Silence.

 

There’s a beat, and then victory blazes, fierce in Hunter’s eyes. 

 

“Brit,” he whispers. I wait for him to make his move, breath catching in my throat, but instead of a rough hold, he reaches for me gently, lifting one hand to touch my face in a slow, sweet caress.

 

I tremble. His fingertips softly stroke the outline of my jaw, like he’s memorizing every contour, watching me so closely that I feel more naked than when I was half-dressed.

 

It’s too much. I try to turn my head away, but he gently takes hold of my chin and keeps my face steady in place, so I have no choice but to meet his eyes again and lose myself in that piercing blue stare.

 

He sees right through me. 

 

I can’t fight it with a quip or a barbed comment. I can’t break away. His eyes demand everything from me, and I have no choice but to surrender. I feel naked, stripped bare, like all my fears and dreams and insecurities are right there for him to see. The worst of me, my darkest secrets. 

 

Still, he doesn't look away.

 

 

TEMPTING LOVE by Melanie Shawn

 

“Haley, it’s me,” he said as she jumped about a foot off the ground and spun around, sucking in a terrified breath.

 

On instinct, his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her close to him. For a moment she was tense and poised to fight, but then her eyes softened with recognition as her body molded against his. She was clutching her hands to her chest, but he could still feel her full breasts pressed against his chest as he held her.

 

His hands spread out on the small of her back and his fingers rested against the delicate dip of her spine. For just a moment, Eddie closed his eyes and let himself feel.

 

Never before had they been this close. Body to body. Pressed up against each other. He’d made it a point never to touch her. Whenever she would hug him, he’d made sure that full-body contact had not occurred and he’d always done the one-arm pat move.

 

Now he knew for a fact that had been the right thing to do because the feel of her in his arms was…amazing. Right. Perfect.

 

“You scared me.” Her quiet voice drifted into his consciousness.

 

“I’m sorry,” he rasped as he opened his heavy-lidded eyes. Looking down, he was temporarily speechless at what he saw. Her huge baby blues were staring up at him through long, inky lashes. Her full, pink lips parted as she took in short pants of breath. The seductive line of her cleavage was heaving against him through labored breathing.

 

Need. Arousal. Desire. All of those things coursed through his veins like raging water in the rapids. His fingers tightened at the strength of it, pulling her body even closer to his. A groan ripped from his chest as a needy sigh escaped Haley’s perfect mouth.

 

Dammit. This had to stop.

 

 

GETTING OUT OF HAND by Erin Nicholas

 

His eyes were focused on her lips. Her heart tripped and she pressed her hand against her chest.

 

“How is dancing better than kissing?” he asked.

 

His voice sounded a little husky. Which was dumb, because she didn't know him well enough to really know what his voice usually sounded like.

 

“Um.” She rubbed the pads of her first three fingers in a circle on her chest, willing her heart to slow. With a deep breath, she dropped her hand. “A dance lasts longer than a kiss, for one thing.”

 

He leaned in closer, his eyes on hers now. “I think maybe you've been kissing the wrong guys.”

 

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Connect with the authors on Facebook:
USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke
Amazon, iBooks, and B&N Bestselling Author Jessie Evans
USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace
Amazon Bestselling Author Beth Michele
Amazon & Samhain Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas
Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine

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I generally don't put down books without finishing them. But it took me over a month to read a little less than 20% of this, so in the end I decided my time will be better spent with another book.

The premise of the book is quite interesting: a teenage girl (and later on a woman) who can hear Jane Austen's voice, and thusly gets to benefit from her wisdom. But the whole thing falls flat because ultimately Ellie's life is not changed at all by the extra voice in her head. Leaving aside the fact where I didn't quite get why would Jane get in the head of a random teenager (Ellie doesn't stand out in any way, she never even read Pride and Prejudice before it was a school assignment), I found hard to believe this arrangement would last twenty years (or seven, in the pages I read, but even that is too much). Had Jane really nothing better to do than share head space with this random chick for decades?

And the thing that bothered me the most is that Jane's presence doesn't bring anything at all to the table, other than a few quaint phrases. The whole character felt simply tacked on because the author wanted to share a bit of the popularity of the Jane-Austen-revival genre that was en vogue at the time. Maybe the story would have been interesting otherwise -- I have no way of knowing, since I gave it up so soon -- but I personally felt cheated because I expected to see a book where Jane makes a contribution, and all I got was a book about a whiny teenager instead.