When it’s cold outside, with the rain pounding down or snow settling on the ground, looking beautiful but causing no end of problems, it’s no wonder all I want to do it sit down with a mug of something warm and a book of something hot. Good job we are here, ready to give you our favourite winter reads! Whether the book has a winter theme or it’s just something we like to snuggle up with in the winter months, these are the books we recommend you give a try.
Suzanne
I love nothing better in the winter than reading something that warms me up, whether because it gives me the warm fuzzies or because the hero has me reaching for ice water and a fan.
In the ‘Warm Fuzzy’ category we have The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, one of my favourite books of all time, that tells the tale of Josey Cirrini, a woman firmly under the control of her mother and secretly in love with the postman…until she find a woman hiding in her secret sweets closet. It’s got a touch of magical realism that is bound to enchant you and I can’t even count the number of times I have read this book.
Now, on to heroes that will keep your blood red hot, if you like your heroes to be big adorable teddy bears with a dorky sense of humour, than you have grab ice-hockey player Blake Riley from Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. If you’re like me and you like your heroes blue (and I don’t mean broody!) and with 4 good arms to keep you happy and some beautiful horns to grab on to, then K’Thar from Lauren’s Barbarian by Ruby Dixon is the alien for you. I’ve recommended an ice hockey player, an alien and now a shifter. Valentin from Nalini Singh’s Silver Silence. A bear shifter and alpha, don’t let Valentin’s easy going manner and puppy dog (or maybe bear cub would be more appropriate!) eyes fool you, he’s not afraid to fight for the woman he loves.
On to the action. If you want some magic and action, as well as romance to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night then look no further than the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews. I love her mixture of smart heroines and smoking hot heroes it’s a combustible combination that is bound to keep liven up your winter!
Annie
When I thought of winter reads, the first book to pop up in my mind was Every Dog Has His Day by Jenn McKinlay. I totally blame the snowy cover. It’s a lighthearted, funny read that is sure to warm you up this winter season. Another book that is set in winter is one of my all-time favorite books, Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Not only is this a fantastic Historical Romance, but it has one of my all-time fave heroes. Sebastian is simply delicious! Following the snowy theme, Any Given Snow Day by Marie Harte and Death of a Coupon Clipper by Lee Hollis happily captures the essence of the winter season by exaggerating everything in the form of snowstorms. As a child, I loved them, but now that I’m responsible for shoveling the snow, I prefer just to read about them in my books.
One of my top favorites from this list is Unlawful Contact by Pamela Clare. A thrilling suspense novel with sizzling hot romance, this is a must-read if you are a Romantic Suspense fan. Just remember, I’ve already claimed Mark :P. For something more angsty and emotional, J. Lynn has Frigid, a New Adult Contemporary Romance that is perfect for a quick pick-me-up.
And lastly, there is Jill Shalvis who I think writes the best winter-themed books out there. A couple of my faves are Simply Irresistible and One in A Million, both from the Lucky Harbor series. I freaking love this series and I personally think it’s Shalvis’ best work to date. But she also devotes an entire series to the wild, wintery season in the Wilder series. If you like sports, snow, and manly men then this is one you need to read for yourself.
Francesca
Every year, especially at the very beginning of the year, I get in the mood for a really good wintery read. It has to capture the feel of the season, give me lots of beautiful winter settings and also a story that warms up. That can be with its action or romance.
Starting with stories that will warm your heart, a great place to start is one that I had on my TBR for a year and didn’t crack open until now. SILVER THAW by Catherine Anderson is the first in the Mystic Creek series and a beautiful story where the winter setting is EVERYTHING! There’s a snowstorm, an adorable mastiff and a sexy man who is a real life hero for our heroine and her daughter. Along those lines but maybe with less romance, I’m going to repeat one of Suzanne’s recommendations and talk about Sarah Addison Allen. Seriously, this is a perfect time of year to read any of her books. I think FIRST FROST would be an excellent choice to pick up right now.
To heat up a little more how about some sexier stories? Coming out this month we have SEDUCTION ON THE SLOPES by Tamsen Parker about two pro skiers during a competition. This is m/m, interracial, with an age difference and it’s the culmination of one of their lifelong fantasies and childhood crush. If you are up for some snowbound stories, then check out ROCKY MOUNTAIN RETREAT by Vivian Arend.
But now lets talk about action and far away lands! That’s one of my favorite things to read in the winter. First up, if you are into reading middle grade books I can recommend WHICHWOOD by Tahereh Mafi. This had all the winter vibes and a great story. HUNTED by Meagan Spooner may just be a perfect wintery read being set in a forest in this Beauty and the Beast retelling.
And then there’s the classics, which I can encourage you to read now if you haven’t read them yet. VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead, which always makes me think of snow and, most importantly, KUSHIEL’S DART by Jacqueline Carey. Ohhhh now is such a perfect time for you to dive into the Kushiel Legacy world and meet Phedre. One of my favorite heroines of all time.
♡ Don’t want to miss any of our posts? ♡
- Badass Women in History: Feminist Historical Romance Books - March 23, 2023
- Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole Series Guide - March 21, 2023
- Post Apocalyptic Books for Uncertain Times - March 20, 2023
Awesome selections ladies!!! Shared on all my socials!!
Great list!
I love all of the Shalvis books, as well as Devil in Winter and Any Given Snow Day! I own Silver Thaw & need to get to that one. Thanks for the reviews!
Thanks for the recs
Woo hoo!
So many awesome,great titles!
Thank you for the amazing book recommendations 🙂
Great list, I need to read more Jill Shalvis.
Awesome selections ladies!!! Shared on all my socials!!
I love all of the Shalvis books, as well as Devil in Winter and Any Given Snow Day! I own Silver Thaw & need to get to that one. Thanks for the reviews!
Thanks for the recs
Great list, I need to read more Jill Shalvis.
Great list!
Woo hoo!
So many awesome,great titles!
Thank you for the amazing book recommendations 🙂