The best books on families when you want to get lost in a romance series binge

Why am I passionate about this?

I hate saying goodbye. Picking up a book and being introduced to an entire group of people—family, friends, teammates—and knowing you get to continue to watch these relationships bloom over a course of books is part of the reason I pick up a book in the first place. I want to see these characters pop in twenty books down the road. I absolutely love cameos of old characters! Because of this, I write in a singular world as well. My Prescotts may be the base of the world at the moment, but it’s also their friends at O’Gallaghers and their teammates with the Enforcers hockey team that keep the world growing—and it’s not ending anytime soon.


I wrote...

Butterfly Save

By Mignon Mykel,

Book cover of Butterfly Save

What is my book about?

The first to get married, the only to get divorced… Jonny Prescott is the “broken” brother. 

After his surprise retirement announcement, hockey goaltender Jonny Prescott decides to hide away in the Northern Wisconsin woods—away from everything and everyone. No limelight. Little recognition. The last thing he expects is to be drawn to his equally isolated neighbor. Summer is far too young to be so jaded, but Jonny can’t help but want to break this butterfly free.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Worth the Fall

Mignon Mykel Why did I love this book?

Connor introduces us to the McKinney brothers with this emotional single mom romance. This book tugs are your heartstrings, making you fall in love not only with Matt and Abby, but with Abby’s kids and the entire McKinney clan. Once you’re done with the McKinneys, you’re going to want to dive right into the Walkers—whose sister is featured in book two of the McKinney Brothers series!

By Claudia Connor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Worth the Fall as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Prepare to be swept away by a talented debut author with a passionate, powerful story to tell.
 
They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.
 
They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories…


Book cover of Elude

Mignon Mykel Why did I love this book?

This book happens to be in the back half of a series, but it’s my favorite in this mafia “family.” Van Dyken does break the romance rules a little with this one, but the growth that Sergio goes through makes it (mostly) worth it in the end. While reading a series in order is usually the goal of a reader, I’m an emotional reader and have zero issue starting in the middle of a series. There isn’t a true overall series arc here, so picking up in the middle won’t hurt you. But seeing these mafia men come together for Sergio and Andi… You’ll fall in love with this group easily. Bring tissues.

By Rachel Van Dyken,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Twenty-Four hours before we were to be married — I offered to shoot her. Ten hours before our wedding — I made a mockery of her dying wish. Five hours before we were going to say our vows — I promised I'd never love her. One hour before I said I do — I vowed I'd never shed a tear over her death. But the minute we were pronounced man and wife — I knew. I'd only use my gun to protect her. I'd give my life for hers. I'd cry. And I would, most definitely, lose my heart, to…


Book cover of Shielding Sierra

Mignon Mykel Why did I love this book?

Stoker is the queen of military/former-military “families.” You pick up a book and instantly fall in love with that team of men. Shielding Sierra is her latest (as of January 2022) and it happens to be at the end of a series. Stoker writes in a single universe, so while we know this team, we also see previous teams she’s written, and the family unit that they all build with one another really shines in Sierra, when one of their own purposely becomes a POW in order to save the heroine.

By Susan Stoker,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Shielding Sierra as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As a civilian contractor, Sierra Clarkson thought she’d found the perfect way to serve her country, short of joining the military…until she was kidnapped from a base in Afghanistan. Turns out terrorists don’t care if you’re a soldier or not; everyone bleeds the same. Even worse, no one knows she’s been taken. Her missing belongings point to desertion—which means no one is looking for her, either

But someone is.

Fred “Grover” Groves never forgot the redheaded spitfire working the chow line on a base in the Afghani desert. He’d felt an instant attraction to the petite woman, a connection deep…


Book cover of Royally F*cked

Mignon Mykel Why did I love this book?

I had the pleasure of reading this while Valentine was writing. We’re back to the true definition of family in this book, as we’re looking at a (modern-day) royal family. Immediately in chapter one, you cannot help but fall for the prince, his little sister, and their grandfather, the reigning king. This one checked all my boxes—a bit naughty, a touch of comedy (the ties!), and a greatly written age gap! A little birdy told me she’s planning on expanding this into an interconnected standalone series, too, and I cannot wait to see what else unfolds!

By Aubree Valentine,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Royally F*cked as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Prince Charming? Forget it. Crown Prince Julius has no time for falling in love.

From the author of the Too Hot to Handle series comes an unconventional fairytale about a rebel prince and his curvy (soon to be) queen.

Best known to my kingdom as the Rebel Prince - I, Julius Hugh Rexford, III - hold the record as the oldest bachelor crown prince. A record I intended on keeping until my grandfather, Julies Sr., informs me that it’s time for me to take over the throne. There’s just one small problem, to do so - I am required by…


Book cover of Jerk It

Mignon Mykel Why did I love this book?

Another author who writes in a single world, Vale’s group of cops, motorcycle gang members, and CrossFit enthusiasts (to name a few of the groups) are always enjoyable to read about. Once again on my list, family is more than blood (although there are a lot of blood family ties in her world!). Once-friends, to delivering a baby on the side of the road, and trying to avoid one another makes for a story where you can’t help but cheer this couple on. Mavis and Murphy’s relationship starts with a wail and leaves you emotionally wrung out—in the best of ways. 

By Lani Lynn Vale,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jerk It as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Mavis always assumed that she would be in a hospital with the good drugs when her time came. Not in the middle of the road, with no one around but the damn town mechanic that hated her.

But there she was, having a rock star’s baby, with no one to rely on but the one that let it be known around every turn that she was a horrible person.

From the time that she met Murphy and became best friends with him at the age of eight, she knew he was destined for greatness.

But then her grandmother fired Murphy’s…


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The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

By Jane Buehler,

Book cover of The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

Jane Buehler Author Of The Ocean Girl

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Introvert Romantic Norm avoider Backyard birdwatcher

Jane's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Burne’s been hiding out in the forest since deserting the King’s Guard. Each time he tries to return to the village, he begins to panic. And then one day, he encounters a handsome stranger picking flowers and hides behind a tree instead of talking.

He wants to be braver—and he’s about to get another chance. Because the stranger is Gray, a fairy and master of illusions who’s now following Burne home. And Gray’s got more on his mind than talking. Would a fairy that beautiful ever want someone like him? Stranger things have happened.

The Woodland Stranger: A Fairy Tale with Benefits

By Jane Buehler,

What is this book about?

Whoever said, Don't talk to strangers?


Burne hid behind a tree. He wanted to talk to the handsome man picking flowers at the edge of the forest, but he'd only flub it if he tried-he'd stumble over his words and blush bright red. And now the man is gone.


He tries to continue on to the village, but the same thing happens as always: his hands start shaking and panic wells up inside him. What if he runs into the bullies who tormented him in the King's Guard last spring? Ever since he deserted, he has hidden out in the…


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