Why am I passionate about this?

I really enjoy coming up with fresh, unique storylines. I have to applaud books that have a new approach and surprise us—it’s not easy for authors to do! The perfect story, to me, is romantic drama and family life all entwined. Family is everything, whether it’s the family we’re born into, one created by marriage, or one by random circumstances. I enjoy reading and writing romance in the context of family drama because it’s the core of who we are. The best stories have romance and also tell about a family coming together. 


I wrote

More Than Memories

By Kristen James,

Book cover of More Than Memories

What is my book about?

Molly Anderson returns “home” to a town she doesn’t remember, hoping it will spark a memory. She meets Trent Williams,…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Where the Forest Meets the Stars

Kristen James Why did I love this book?

I love offbeat stories that surprise me! We meet Jo as she arrives at a cabin out in the woods for a scientific bird study, and of course, she arrives with a lot of emotional baggage. She soon meets a little girl who comes out of the woods like she’s homeless. Jo gets a neighbor involved, although not through her choosing. The neighbor doesn’t seem to like people or want to be bothered, but soon they both find themselves responsible for this lost little girl. This story has mystery and intrigue, and a slowly developing romance and family dynamic that I love. The setup is new and fresh, and the writing is amazing. It’s hard to tell you how much I loved this story! 

By Glendy Vanderah,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Where the Forest Meets the Stars as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller, and a Goodreads Choice Award finalist.

In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot…


Book cover of Sold on a Monday

Kristen James Why did I love this book?

This is a surprising backdrop for a romance, and I didn’t even buy the book for a romance read. The start is sad and intriguing – based on a true event – where a reported snapped a photo of a sign saying “children for sale” with the children in the background. The reporter is trying to build his career, and the photo was just a personal shot he took because he was shocked. But it ends up in the paper and causes a horrible cascade of events, which also brings him together with a woman who works at the same paper. This is such a different story and the romance is very sweet. 

By Kristina McMorris,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Sold on a Monday as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
A WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
A NATIONAL INDIEBOUND BESTSELLER
An unforgettable bestselling historical fiction novel by Kristina McMorris, inspired by a stunning piece of history from Depression-Era America.
2 CHILDREN FOR SALE
The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.
For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family's dark past. He snaps a photograph…


Book cover of What Alice Forgot

Kristen James Why did I love this book?

This is such a unique plot! And it reminds me a little of my own novel, so double points. This second chance married romance happens because Alice gets a brain injury and loses 10 years. She thinks she has a happy marriage, not that she’s going through a divorce. She doesn’t remember her three kids! It’s a fun twist on a popular trope. You could say many authors use the amnesia plotline but it’s so satisfying when done well! 

By Liane Moriarty,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked What Alice Forgot as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the bestselling author behind the addictive, award-winning HBO sensation BIG LITTLE LIES comes the compelling and thought-provoking story of love, life and memory

'Gripping, thought-provoking and funny' MARIE CLAIRE
______________

How can ten years of your life just disappear?

Alice is twenty-nine.

She adores sleep, chocolate, and her ramshackle new house.

She's newly engaged to the wonderful Nick, and is pregnant with her first baby. But there's just one problem.

That was ten years ago . . .

Alice slipped in her step-aerobics class, hit her head and lost a decade.

Now she's a grown-up, bossy mother of three…


Book cover of Comfort & Joy

Kristen James Why did I love this book?

I spotted this novel in the supermarket and bought it for the pretty cover some years ago, and it introduced me to Kristin Hannah. I like getting into a story without really knowing the plot, and this was surprised the heck out of me! This sweet Christmas story is about rebuilding family and finding happiness and joy again. Joy leaves her life behind and finds herself deep in the rain forest in Washington, where she meets a sad little boy who lost his mother. The dad doesn’t know what to do. All three of them are hurting, and it’s magical when they start to heal together. It’s such a good, sweet story, and it’s still on my bookshelf.

By Kristin Hannah,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Comfort & Joy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Kristin Hannah is beloved by readers around the world for her unique blend of powerful emotion and exquisite storytelling. In Comfort & Joy, she offers a modern-day fairy tale—the story of a woman who gets a miraculous chance at happiness.

Joy Candellaro once loved Christmas more than any other time of the year. Now, as the holiday approaches, she is at a crossroads in her life; recently divorced and alone, she can’t summon the old enthusiasm for celebrating. So without telling anyone, she buys a ticket and boards a plane bound for the beautiful Pacific…


Book cover of The Fault in Our Stars

Kristen James Why did I love this book?

It’s hard to imagine people wouldn’t have put this story on their list already. It’s such a unique romance: two young people who both have terminal cancer. But the tone is light, funny, ironic, and so relatable. The characters really make the story. You can’t help but want to run along with them and hear more. The story is also very deep, meaningful, and impactful - it’ll change your view on life and how much life you can live in a short amount of time. The romance will stay with you forever – it’s the kind of love that makes each a better person, but they also see they don’t need to do that. They accept the gifts they get in life and show thankfulness that will blow you away.

By John Green,

Why should I read it?

14 authors picked The Fault in Our Stars as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

The beloved, #1 global bestseller by John Green, author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and Turtles All the Way Down

"John Green is one of the best writers alive." -E. Lockhart, #1 bestselling author of We Were Liars

"The greatest romance story of this decade." -Entertainment Weekly

#1 New York Times Bestseller * #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller * #1 USA Today Bestseller * #1 International Bestseller

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters…


Explore my book 😀

More Than Memories

By Kristen James,

Book cover of More Than Memories

What is my book about?

Molly Anderson returns “home” to a town she doesn’t remember, hoping it will spark a memory. She meets Trent Williams, a Ridge City police detective, and something else sparks. Trent takes on her case and promises to do everything he can to solve it.

Trent has his own secrets, but they have a mystery to solve. Molly quickly realizes her relationship with Trent went deeper than memories. How could she have forgotten her lifelong friend and love? Has he really been waiting for her for the last four years? Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him? There’s also the possibility that she did something awful, and maybe that’s why she’s afraid to remember her old life.

Book cover of Where the Forest Meets the Stars
Book cover of Sold on a Monday
Book cover of What Alice Forgot

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You might also like...

Defection in Prague

By Ray C Doyle,

Book cover of Defection in Prague

Ray C Doyle Author Of Lara's Secret

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been writing for many years, and my main preference is political thrillers with criminal overtones. I first became interested in politics when I worked at several political conferences in the 60’s and 70’s. I have been involved in several criminal cases, including my own, and within my family, I have a nephew in the police force. For many years I have had the opportunity to mix with the upper tiers of society as well as the criminal classes and this has given me great insight into creating my characters and plots.

Ray's book list on mysteries with complicated plots and risky characters

What is my book about?

Pete West, a political columnist, travels to Prague to find a missing diplomat, later found murdered. He attempts to discover more about a cryptic note received from the diplomat and is immediately entangled in the secret Bilderberg Club’s strategy to form a world federation.

Pete meets a Czechian agent who wants asylum. She has a murdered EU Commissioner’s diary containing clues to the civil unrest planned by the club, encrypted in algebraic chess notations. West seeks answers and links up with retired MI6 officer Tosh. While escaping would-be captors, they decode enough chess moves to reveal the anarchy of the…

Defection in Prague

By Ray C Doyle,

What is this book about?

Pete West, a political columnist, travels to Prague to find a missing diplomat, later found murdered. He attempts to discover more about a cryptic note received from the diplomat and is immediately entangled in the secret Bilderberg Club’s strategy to form a world federation.

Pete meets a Czechian agent who wants asylum. She has a murdered EU Commissioner’s diary containing clues to the civil unrest planned by the club, encrypted in algebraic chess notations. West seeks answers and links up with retired MI6 officer Tosh. While escaping would-be captors, they decode enough chess moves to reveal the anarchy of the…


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Interested in amnesia, life satisfaction, and breast cancer?

Amnesia 57 books
Life Satisfaction 225 books
Breast Cancer 12 books