Emma St. Clair

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The BEST Clean Beach Romance Reads

April 29, 2020 by emma Leave a Comment

Summer is coming!

And I don’t know about you, but I’m giddy at even the thought of it, especially as I’m writing in 2020, when most of us are at home. I love reading AT the beach (even though it makes my books smell like sunscreen) and I love reading ABOUT the beach.

I thought I’d do a roundup of some of my favorite clean beach reads, with a focus (of course) on romance! Some series, some individual books–all clean, all romance.

*This post contains affiliate links! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Want a sweet escape? Check out these clean beach romance books!


THE BEST CLEAN BEACH READS ROUNDUP!

SANDOVER ISLAND SWEET ROMANCE SERIES by Emma St. Clair (me) 

This series takes place on the fictional Sandover Island, which I’ve based on Nag’s Head. If you love the Outer Banks, these stories will come to life in your head. They follow interconnected relationships, so are best read in order, though each can be read as a standalone if you want to jump in on one.

They’re focused on romance with light Christian themes. As with all my books–nothing too preachy! Real characters, real flaws, real faith.The Best Clean Beach Reads! Check out this roundup of great clean beach reads.

Sandover Beach Memories – She never thought the island would be home again. But when Jenna returns to get her late mother’s house ready to sell, her past and future intersect in ways she couldn’t imagine.

Sandover Beach Week -Is it ever too late for a second chance at love? Even if that love is your best friend’s younger brother?

Sandover Beach Melodies – She broke her own rules … you can’t fall in love when you’re on the run.

Sandover Beach Christmas  – Relationships don’t start with getting a speeding ticket. But what about FAKE relationships?

Sandover Beach Forever (coming in 2020)


BEACH RENTAL by GRACE GREENE

This is one of the FIRST clean romances I read. While there were some things that bothered me about it (I agree with some of the low reviews–but there are spoilers!) but it stuck with me and was such a memorable read. 

On the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, in the small town of Emerald Isle…

Juli Cooke, hard-working and getting nowhere fast, marries a dying man, Ben Bradshaw, for a financial settlement, not expecting he will set her on a journey of hope and love. The journey brings her to Luke Winters, a local art dealer, but Luke resents the woman who married his sick friend and warns her not to hurt Ben—and he’s watching to make sure she doesn’t.

Until Ben dies and the stakes change.

Framed by the timelessness of the Atlantic Ocean and the brilliant blue of the beach sky, Juli struggles against her past, the opposition of Ben’s and Luke’s families, and even the living reminder of her marriage—to build a future with hope and perhaps to find the love of her life—if she can survive the danger from her past.


THE TRUST OF A BILLIONAIRE by Michelle Pennington

I loved this book! (And the whole series.) The ending is so sweet.

Can their love survive her secret?

Hannah Rhodes is determined to keep her beachfront property, even though she can’t afford to. But it’s her childhood home and she can’t bear to see it plowed down by the billionaire investor who keeps raising his offer to buy it. When the same man hires her to be his daughter’s nanny—providing her the income she needs to reject his offer—the irony is not lost on her. However, seeing him as a loving, worried father makes it difficult to enjoy her secret revenge.

For Carter Ellis, building his own resort was a massive risk, but worth it to build a new life for his daughter away from his controlling mother. Everything is going to plan except that the owner of the tumbled-down home blocking his resort view and threatening its success refuses to sell. If only his new nanny would stop distracting him, he just might be able to figure out how to solve this problem. Not only is she beautiful and vibrant, she’s helping his daughter bloom. Just when he begins to give in to his feelings, he discovers who she really is.

When their trust is shaken, will Carter and Hannah sacrifice what they wanted most for a chance at something more?


SWEET ADVENTURE by Tamie Dearen

Will Katie jump into the shark-infested waters for a second chance at love?

Katie Carson is afraid of everything. Spiders. Sharks. And especially love… thanks to her ex-fiancé. That’s why her immediate attraction to the reckless Gary Lassiter scares her to death. Sure, he looks like Superman and he saved her from a giant arachnid, but he’s an adrenaline junkie.

Gary Lassiter owes his life to his best friend, Steven. But his loyalty is tested when he meets Steven’s PA, Katie. Though Steven and Katie are probably a better-suited match, Gary wants Katie for himself. He sees a lot of spunk behind her overtly timid façade, and he’s determined to bring it out in the open.

When the three spend a week at Indigo Bay, Katie starts to fall for Gary, even stepping outside her comfort zone. It’s all fun and games until her adventure brings her to a moment of life or death. Thrown into the nightmares of her past, she’s convinced they can’t have a future together. Will Gary get past her defenses?


Don't miss this list of clean romance BEACH reads!

PACIFIC COAST WEDDING by Laura Walker

His new business partner. Her ex.
When they realize each other’s connection to the groom,
will their own fledgling love survive?

Attending her ex-husband’s wedding is the last thing Lacey Wells wants to do, even if it’s happening along the gorgeous Pacific Coast where she once dreamed her own beach wedding would take place. Now that dream is coming true for someone else, and to add insult to injury, she needs to get their daughters to the wedding on time. If only her car would cooperate . . .

Noah Grady doesn’t expect to come to the rescue of a beautiful woman and her two daughters on the way to his friend and new business partner’s wedding, but meeting Lacey makes the long drive and an unpleasant visit with his half-brother worth it. Hitting it off with her makes Noah feel like he might finally be ready to begin a new chapter in his life.

But things start to unravel when Noah discovers Lacey is his business partner’s ex-wife, making her off-limits unless he wants his career to disintegrate. Can he throw it all away for a chance at true love?


SWEET BEGINNINGS by Melissa McClone 

A little hope changes everything…

Hope Ryan dreams of seeing her work displayed in top galleries again, but after a devastating betrayal destroys her career, she spends her days creating unique items for tourists and wedding couples in her hometown of Indigo Bay. To keep her heart safe, Hope refuses to venture from her comfort zone, even if she longs for…more.

Sportscaster Josh Cooper never overcame his bitterness after a football injury sidelined him for good. Finding his solace in alcohol made matters worse until he finally hit rock bottom. Now, he wants to make amends. After flying cross-country as a favor to someone he’s wronged, Josh’s path to redemption leads him to Hope.

Hope finds a kindred spirit in the former quarterback. Josh’s journey to sobriety inspires her to take charge of her own life—something she’s put off doing for far too long. But as their relationship straddles the line between friendship and romance, can Hope and Josh find the strength to overcome their pasts and build a life together? Or will the fear of repeating mistakes drive them apart?


RESORTING TO ROMANCE by Franky Brown

Two rivals + five days in paradise = one inconvenient attraction

Joselyn Bell has a hundred reasons to stay away from her business rival, Luke Callaway, at their work retreat—the biggest being he dated the boss’s daughter to get ahead. Maybe it’s the magic of the surf and sand, but hanging out with him isn’t nearly as terrible as she expected. Could she have misjudged him? He’s as charming as he is maddening and makes her feel again, which is terrifying.

Luke vowed never to mix romance and business again. He’s still recovering from the fallout from his last relationship, with hopes of leaving the company completely after this retreat. But then there’s Joselyn. Her loathing for him is thawing into the most amazing friendship, and keeping his secrets and his heart from her is so much harder than he imagined.

The timing is all wrong. But what if they risked the consequences and took a chance on love?


GRACE’S FAKE GROOM by Francesca Lane

A make-believe engagement sends their lives into chaos …

Grace Morelli lands her dream job at Ryan & Ryan only to walk in one morning to a mass exodus. Not good timing–especially with her parents’ quirky last wishes hanging over her head. She fears her long-sought career could be over before it really begins.

Chase Ryan, her enigmatic new boss, has been ambushed in both his professional and private life. When he delivers his newest recruit some very bad news, Grace finds a way to solve her problem–and his.

But while Chase and Grace join forces for the simple purpose of helping each other out, their hearts just might not get the memo. Will they be able to untangle their hearts … once the farce is over?


WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU by Delany Cameron

A woman unsure of her future, a man determined to hide his past, and the meeting neither of them can forget.

Rowan has no regrets about spending most of her adult life taking care of her younger siblings, but she can’t help feeling that she’s been standing still while everyone else has moved on. A new job takes her to the coastal town of St. Marys and brings her face to face with the man she’s never forgotten. While she’s thrilled to see Frank again, the passing of time hasn’t changed the underlying reason they can’t be together.

Frank has worked hard to dig himself out of a pit of his own making. Now a successful florist, he only wants to forget his troubled history and focus on creating lasting memories for his clients. Running into Rowan is a reminder of a missed opportunity. When they met before, their paths were going in opposite directions. Is that still true now, four years later?


SUMMER WITH THE MARINE by Ellie Hall

He’s a marine figuring out how to be a dad. She’s out of work and moves in with her mom. A surprise reunion brings the old friends together. Will a dare turn them into something more?

Eisley Higgins is laid off and needs a fresh start. Her mother offers her the loft space at her new beach cottage. The last thing she wants to do is move to a retirement community in coastal Florida. She gets a job at a local restaurant and her coworkers insist she follow through with the new-employee ritual to go on a date with her first customer. She’s shocked when it turns out to be her childhood best friend.

Ford Armstrong spent over ten years in the military serving his country. During that time, he married, but the relationship and his hope for a family quickly fizzled. After what felt like a failure, he fully turned his focus to the Marine Corps, but then received two life-changing pieces of news. While figuring out his future, he runs into the girl from his past. Only, the first thing out of her mouth is the last thing he expects to hear.

Over a decade of friendship. Then over a decade apart. Can they overcome their hardships, get past secrets, and come together to create a future?


BEACH HAVEN by Tammy L. Grace

When a woman loses her only love, will a change of scenery and a canine connection reclaim her heart?

Lily Reed is numb with grief. After her husband died in the line of duty, she struggles daily with the emotional reminders of their shared world. So when she inherits a quiet beachside cottage property, she tries to piece her life together one wave at a time.

Losing herself in one refurbishment project after another, Lily’s surprised to make easy relationships with her new neighbors. And when she befriends a hearing impaired man and agrees to train his service puppy, she can feel her heart beginning to heal.

Will Lily’s new connections help her discover a future lined with joy?

 


LOVE AT THE SHORE by Teri L. Wilson

She came to the beach to write…
But she’s getting distracted by the surfer next door.

Jenna, a single mom and successful author, has five weeks to deliver her next young adult novel to the publisher. This year’s summer getaway with her kids will be a working vacation.

The only problem? Lucas, the devil-may-care surfer in the beach rental next to hers. He cranks up his music at night, hosts loud volleyball matches, and allows his dog to run around at will.

Jenna often blames him for her writer’s block. But before long, she begins to see a new side of her neighbor at the shore. Maybe opposites do attract…but will that attraction fade like a sunset once summer is gone?

 


SWEET COMPLICATIONS by Stacy Claflin

He can have any woman he wants… except her.

NFL quarterback Dylan Manley’s life revolves around his career and the fame associated with it. He’s only back in Indigo Bay to help with a fundraiser in memory of his best friend. But then finds he has to work with Brooke—the one person who has always made him trip over his own feet.

Brooke Davenport is a far cry from the girl next door who left town years ago. Focused on her political aspirations and still recovering from the loss of her doting brother, she wants nothing more than to return to DC for good. But first she has to get through the fundraiser with Dylan, who she blames for her brother’s death.

When a family emergency pulls Brooke’s parents out of town, the success of the fundraiser depends on Brooke and Dylan. He’ll do whatever it takes to show her he’s a new man, but every attempt only makes him look worse. If he can’t make things right, he’ll lose her forever.


THE PARAMEDIC’S SECOND CHANCE by Elana Johnson

A widowed florist, her ten-year-old daughter, and the paramedic who delivered the girl a decade earlier… Love’s second chance on the beach!

Paramedic Andrew Herrin delivered Gretchen Samuels’s daughter on the side of the road when she and her husband couldn’t make it to the hospital in time. When their paths cross again in small-town Hawthorn Harbor, she’s a widow and the baby is ten-year-old Dixie.

Dixie gets along great with Drew, and Gretchen finds herself falling in love with the man who’s rescued her twice now. But when Drew’s ex-girlfriend comes back to town, Gretchen’s trust issues rear their ugly head. Can she and Drew find their way toward finding love in the lavender?

 

 


A KISS AT MIDSUMMER by Meg Easton

They’re total opposites, and falling in love was not part of the plan.

When fun-loving Elise Stevens lost her mother six years ago, she worked hard to score a job at the Royal Palm Resort–the job that would enable her to finish her mother’s bucket list. Now she’s working hard to get a shot at buying her childhood home back, but only if she can earn the money before they sell to someone else.

Billionaire Merit Casselman pours all of his focus into running his business, or at least he does until his business partner decides that Merit needs to refill his creative well and thinks a vacation at The Royal Palm might do the trick. Merit would rather hide out and work, but his business partner also hired a personal activities director to make sure he doesn’t.

But after connecting with Elise over sand castles, an unplanned couples spa day, dancing at the Midsummer Ball, and spending every day with her, Merit discovers that there might just be more to life than work.

When Merit’s business partner offers Elise a bonus that’s large enough that she’d be able to put an offer on her childhood home, it feels like a gift dropped into her lap. But when their newfound love threatens each of their lifelong dreams, can their relationship survive?


THE PERFECT WAVE by K.C. Grant

He lives to surf.

She’s learning to live.

Can they both learn to love or is this leading to a wipe-out?

Winning a vacation to Hawaii during one of Chicago’s worst winters, Bridget O’Connell couldn’t imagine her mundane life getting any better…until she meets Australian surfing champion, Chase Beckett. Now life becomes a tidal wave of excitement and adventure. But what about her job, her home, and a disabled father who needs her?

Chase has spent most of his life searching for the next big wave and outrunning commitment. But then he meets Bridget and everything starts to change, forcing him to face fears that are bigger than the monster waves he rides.

When the attraction between Bridget and Chase becomes undeniable, will it lead to true love or be a total wipe-out?


HER IRISH INHERITANCE by Michelle Brouder

Have you ever wanted to press the ‘Escape’ button on your life?

Nothing is going right for Caroline Egan. Her partner has left and she’s lost her job. The only thing that remains is a piece of property three thousand miles away. Her plan is to sell the place and use the money to move on with her life. But the house needs some work and she ends up staying in Ireland much longer than she anticipated. Soon, she’s torn between the plans she has for her life and her growing attraction for both the property and the carpenter fixing it up.

Patrick Kelly is all too familiar with loss. A single parent, he’s trying to raise his young daughters as best as he can. When he lands work at a nearby cottage, he’s grateful until he discovers who the new owner is. But as time goes on, Patrick begins to wonder if Caroline holds the key to him moving on with his life.

Both cannot deny their attraction for one another. Both are cautious. There’s an ocean between them as well as hearts that have been broken in the past. Can they overcome insurmountable odds for a chance at happiness?


How’s that for a handful of great reads for you?? From Irish beaches to Hawaii, real places and fictional, you’ve got enough clean beach romances to keep you reading all summer!

 

Check out a list of great clean romance beach reads!

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The Reality of Free Books

January 27, 2019 by emma 2 Comments

As a reader, the idea of getting books for free sounds great! Who doesn’t like free? I remember as a child, being completely AMAZED when I went into my very first used book store. They weren’t free, but trading in my old books made them seem free. I didn’t ever have to use my money! So… free.

It was called The Book Rack and I begged to go several times a week. My biggest regret was not realizing that when I turned in my old books to get credit for new books, I didn’t get them back. AND in the end, the number of books I owned went DOWN.

Seems logical, but to a fourth grader, I just didn’t quite get it.

There is no such thing as free. A look inside the costs and VALUE of books.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH — OR BOOK

As an adult, I now know that there is a cost for everything, EVEN for free. I actually learned this lesson as a teenager when I went to Nature Camp. One of the big lessons we learned in terms of conservation and the way that the natural works is that there is no such thing as a free lunch. AND that this didn’t apply to eating food!

When a bear ate a fish, that cost the fish its life. When someone chops down a tree to use it for firewood, there is an impact on the creatures who lived in the tree or maybe even the smaller vegetation growing in the shade of the tree. Everything has a cost.

I am a big-time bargain shopper, especially when it comes to books. When I see cheap or free books, I get super excited! But, like the no-free-lunch rule, there is no such thing as a FREE BOOK.

As an author, I thought I’d share a bit of what goes on behind the curtain when it comes to a free book and what that cost REALLY is.

THE COST OF WRITING A BOOK

First, I’m going to break down what it costs a self-published author to write a book.

Financial costs of writing a book:

  • software needed to write the book (Microsoft Word, Scrivener, etc)
  • device you’re writing the book on (computer, tablet, typewriter)
  • editing (proofreading, copy-editing, etc)
  • formatting (for print & ebook)
  • cover
  • marketing

These are just the basics! You might also end up with costs like childcare or coffee (if your writing “office” is not at home). A lot of these costs may vary, but for one of my books, the basic costs are at least $500. 

There are also costs that aren’t strictly financial and harder to measure. I get joy from writing, but it can also be emotionally exhausting. It does take a lot of my time. For different authors, the amount of time it takes to write a book varies. But realize that there are HOURS going into every book. And these are not hours where we are getting an hourly wage, since that’s not how we get paid.

Now let’s breakdown how pricing works for books to see how authors get paid.

THE PRICE OF BOOKS

Traditionally published authors

For traditionally published authors, they will typically get an advance against royalties. That means if they get $5000 up front to write a book, they won’t get any more money unless the book sales go ABOVE that amount. The agent will get 15% of the advance and of any royalty.

If the author sells enough books above the advance to get royalties, they will receive somewhere between 10-15% of the list price of the book, maybe less for trade paperbacks. (Read this post if you want details on royalty rates!) They pay their agent 15% of those royalties. So on a $20 book, the author might earn $2.00, then have to pay the agent out of that.

Independent authors

For authors like me who publish ebooks themselves on Amazon or other marketplaces (Apple Books, Kobo, etc), there are no publishers or agents to pay. We will receive a commission based on the platform where we sell. On Amazon, independent authors will make 70% of the price of books listed between $2.99-9.99. Above or below that range, they will make 35%. (I’m not going to get into print, but we get less because of printing costs.)

When I launch a book at 99 cents on Amazon, I am earning somewhere around 30 cents per ebook. 

Think about this for just a moment. For all those hours, all that time, all those costs, authors are earning 30 cents per ebook sold at 99 cents.

THE VALUE OF BOOKS

When I first started writing, that number made me feel sick. I value my books. I want to write quality. It’s not even just about how much I’m paying out of pocket to write a book, but how I value my work.

As a reader, I love bargains. We have five kids and aren’t living on some giant income here, so we don’t have an unlimited budget for books. But as an author, I know how much other authors are making when their books are priced low. I want to value their work as well and to pay them a fair wage. 

THE STRATEGY OF CHEAP AND FREE BOOKS

If authors are putting $500 into writing a book, you might be wondering why they would ever sell a book at 99 cents or free. Usually it has to do with marketing strategies, which is probably way too boring and intense to get into here.

But in short, pricing books lower for a time allows authors to get visibility. At a lower price point (or free), authors can utilize promotional sites that will help get the word out about books on sale. (These are usually paid sites, so they factor into my marketing and advertising costs.) When books are selling more, they show up higher on the bestseller lists in categories on Amazon, which get them in front of more people.

Sales lead to more sales–assuming the books is GOOD and readers enjoy it. So free and cheap books will often help with marketing. Sometimes the best sales day I have in a month might be the day AFTER I had a book as free. (Typically I only do the occasional ONE free day on a book on Amazon.) 

Free books through sites like Bookfunnel can also be a way to help an author grow an email list. Readers exchange their email for an ebook or a sample. Then the author will have the ability to email that reader about future books and sales. So offering free books is generally a way that authors can be discovered by new readers, who will hopefully become readers who buy books.

A WORD ABOUT KINDLE UNLIMITED

If an author has their books in KU, this means that the books are not available on any other platform. They are exclusive to Amazon. Readers who pay for a Kindle Unlimited subscription can pay $9.99 a month and read any KU books for “free.” (With up to ten books checked out on their device from KU at a time.) 

Authors get paid by page reads, a percentage that Amazon changes every month. As a romance writer, a lot of readers use KU and 85% of my income comes from KU page reads. For a book priced at 99 cents, I will usually make more money if someone reads my book through KU. But this depends on the length of my book and the page read payout for the month.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR AUTHORS AND READERS

I wanted to write this post because I think it’s good for readers to understand what goes into the writing and how authors get paid. No, it won’t increase your book budget, unfortunately. But I hope it helps you understand a little about the business of publishing and how authors get paid.

Every week I get a few emails from readers requesting free copies of print or ebooks. Sometimes I get emails saying that my books at $3.99 are priced too high. Usually the reason is that people are on a fixed budget.

I get it! This past year, my husband has been between jobs. We don’t have a big book budget either! I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription ($9.99 a month) and we buy paperbacks at places like the Goodwill. So I very much understand book budgets!!

But look at the flip side: This past year, my income from writing has helped pay our mortgage and bills. If I’m giving away all my books for free or keeping them at 99 cents, that means a lower income for our family of seven. I can’t imagine going into a business of any kind and asking for a discount or free product because I can’t afford it.

Am I looking for pity or trying to be manipulative to readers?? NO WAY!

I am so happy to be in a time where I can write and publish my own books. I love knowing that people are reading my words! This past year, I’ve started making a full-time income which has helped since my husband was between full-time jobs. Doing something I love AND making money? This author gig is a dream come true!

But it’s also a LOT of work.

My books are all in KU, which means that if you have the means to pay $9.99 a month, you can choose to read my books and thousands of others for free. I also usually launch new books at 99 cents or at least have that price for a limited time. At full-price, my books are still less than the cost of a Frappuccino at Starbucks. 

I hope that this post helps you understand a little of what goes into writing and publishing a book and how authors get paid! I value my books and want to put out the best product I can. I also value my readers and hope to have options even for people on a budget.

And if you ever thought about asking a writer for free copies (this is NOT most of you!!),  consider the value of books and the cost to the author.

 

 

 

 

 

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The Best List of Clean Billionaire Romance Series

August 13, 2018 by emma Leave a Comment

I’ve already shared my favorite clean billionaire romance novels, but if that’s not enough, I dare you to take on this list of clean billionaire romance SERIES. That’s right: whole series of love stories featuring a billionaire.

Side note: Can we talk for a second about how rare billionaires are? Especially the young, hot kind. I’m going to drop some billionaire facts on you before we move onto my list. Bear with me. You might enjoy these!

Fun Facts about Billionaires

  1. In 2018 there were 63 billionaires under the age of 40. There are only nine under the age of 30.
  2. The top way billionaires make their money is investing money. (According to a 2016 survey.)
  3. JK Rowling was the first person to become a billionaire through writing. (I LOVE THIS ONE.)
  4. John D. Rockefeller was the first billionaire.
  5. There are currently about 18 single billionaires.

Okay, so…the truth about billionaires is less fun than what we get in the pages of books, am I right? Let’s suspend reality for a bit and enjoy fictional billionaires, who have a lot more fun, are a lot younger, and seem to be in endless supply. 😉

Love clean billionaire romance books? This post shares the top billionaire romance series you'll want to read NOW!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission from your purchases. 


THE BEST LIST OF BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE SERIES

 A Clean Billionaire Romance – Bree Livingston


There are five books in this series from Bree Livingston, all tied together by simply the fact that they are CLEAN. I’ve read all of them and my favorite two are Her Pretend Billionaire Boyfriend and Her Fake Billionaire Fiance. Both are about (duh) fake relationships, which aren’t always my favorite. But these two had my favorite characters and storylines. You’ll also find a broken football star, a second-chance romance, and a plane crash on a deserted island.

You’ll love this best-selling clean billionaire romance series!

 

 


Southern Billionaires – Michelle Pennington

There are three books in this series, one of which made my list of my favorite billionaire romance books. (That would be the Truth about Billionaires, book 2!) I’ve read all three of these and enjoyed them. I feel like Pennington does a great job layering more into her characters than I see in some clean romance novels. As a Southern girl, I also loved the settings! You’ll also read about a billionaire falling for a single mom and a single billionaire dad whose love interest is also the one hurting his resort business.

 


The Billionaire Surprise Series – Emma St. Clair

This series deals with storylines where there is some element of surprise. In The Billionaire Love Match, that surprise comes as Casey meets and connects with a stranger just before the taping of a reality show. During the first episode, she finds out that the handsome man is actually a billionaire and that she’ll be competing for him with fourteen other women. In The Billionaire Land Baron, Shelby doesn’t realize that Jake, the man renting out the Airstream trailer on her property is a billionaire developer. And neither of them realize (at first) that her property is the last one standing in the way of his newest project. (Releasing September 12th!) These billionaire books have a good mix of humor and heart!


The Billionaire Club – Johanna Evelyn

There are two in this series with a third coming out later in 2018. I’ve read both and they are unique stories, both second chance romances. The first deals with a surprise and memory loss while the second features a really huge past conflict that the main characters have to get over. It was beautiful and painful to read about Anna Lynn trying to win Mark back.

 

 

 

 


 

Clean Billionaire Romance – Victorine Lieske

From second chances to fake relationships to billionaire bosses, this series from bestselling author Victorine Lieske has it all! I especially enjoyed reading Her Big Fat Dreamy Billionaire Ex (book 4). It features a lovely destination, rekindling old love, and a meddling, matchmaking granny.

 

 

 

 

 


Clean Billionaire Romance – Anne-Marie Meyer

This series has five titles with a variety of storylines. I read Forgetting the Billionaire, which has some incredibly sweet moments as Mitchell comes to see his ailing grandmother and falls for Charlie, who is trying to keep her retirement home afloat. You’ll also find a Christmas romance, a story involving a plane crash, and a billionaire trying to atone for his past mistakes.

 

 


This isn’t a full list, but includes books that I’ve actually read so that I can better recommend them! Do you have any favorite clean billionaire romance series that I’ve missed?

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My Favorite Clean Billionaire Romance Novels

July 24, 2018 by emma Leave a Comment

Novels featuring billionaire storylines or tropes have been so hot lately!! With so many clean billionaire romance novels, it can be hard to know which ones you should read next. For some ideas, you can read my Clean Billionaire Romance Series post or my Clean Billionaire Romance Standalone Novels post.

But here are my favorite clean billionaire romance novels!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission from your purchases. These clean billionaire romance novels will keep you turning the pages long past midnight! Don't miss these great reads.

MY FAVORITE CLEAN BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE NOVELS

The Truth about Billionaires – Michelle Pennington

What I loved most about this book was that the female main character was NOT in great need of money. Many of the billionaire storylines involve women who are in dire financial straits and need the help of the billionaire–even if they don’t want it. From the start, Jill and Blake are on more equal footing. She has success and money, so when she is hired as a consultant to work with his company, there isn’t the typical boss/employee relationship either. Her sass and strength draw Blake in, but also make him confused about where they stand. I LOVED the way this story unfolded and it didn’t hurt that it took place in Texas. Did I mention that Blake is a former bronc rider?? 

 


The Billionaire Bachelor – Judy Corry

This billionaire book rested more heavily on the trope of a second chance romance than the fancy billionaire lifestyle. Kate had always had a huge crush on her brother’s best friend Drew, but after her brother was killed in a car accident, she and Drew stopped speaking. She always assumed he didn’t return her feelings, but there was much more to their shared history and loss. This book had some more depth because of the back story and really did a great job of portraying the love between Drew and Kate as it unfolded.

 

 


Her Fake Billionaire Fiance – Bree Livingston

I was drawn to this story because of the unique characters. Alana is a musician who set aside her time at Julliard to be at home and help her father. When she starts working for billionaire and senate-hopeful Steele, sparks fly. While I’m normally not a fan of the fake relationship trope (they just are SO HARD to believe most of the time), I liked the setup here. Steele’s father has a serious chokehold on his life and controls every aspect of it because of a painful secret. Alana becomes the light that helps set him free. (Also– doesn’t that model look a little like Chris Pratt??)

 


The Billionaire Love Match – by Emma St. Clair

Is it bad to put my own book in here?? With The Billionaire Love Match, my whole goal was to be fresh with some of the billionaire tropes. When Colt meets Casey, she has no idea who he is. She is smart, sassy, and independent and doesn’t care about his wealth or reputation. She’s more afraid that he’s not who he says he is and that she can’t trust the growing feelings between them. Colt is struggling to gain control of his life again from his mother, who is the mogul behind their family’s entertainment empire. But to free himself, he’s got to let her control one more thing: the reality TV show meant to help him find his perfect match. You’ll find yourself surprised along the way, even though there are a lot of common tropes and elements in this novel. Find out if true love stands a chance on reality TV!


The Unwanted Assistant – by Evangeline Kelly

Already from the cover you might realize that this isn’t the typical clean billionaire romance novel! Ivy takes a job working for a reclusive billionaire who was burned in the fire that killed his parents. The book does a great job of weaving faith throughout without being heavy-handed or making everyone perfect. Ivy and Sawyer each have their insecurities, strengths, and weaknesses. I really enjoyed the push and pull of their relationship and watching the way they changed each other. This is a modern re-telling of Beauty and the Beast without being too cliche or stuck in that story. If you’re looking for an inspirational billionaire book, this one will be a perfect read!

 


The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage – by Tamie Dieren

This book has some of the familiar billionaire storylines–a single mom needing to make ends meet falls for her billionaire boss. Only this boss is blind and struggles with the insecurities that come from his disability. He struggles to feel like he can be loved and she is the only person who brings real calm and peace to his life. To seal a business deal, he agrees to marry a woman who makes Stephanie’s life much more challenging on a daily basis. One trip to Vegas changes everything! There was a lot of heart in this book and I love that this story hits close to the author’s home as her grandson is blind. 

 


There are a TON of great clean billionaire novels out there, but these are my top choices and recommendations. For more, you can read my post on clean billionaire series and clean billionaire standalone novels!

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Clean Romance Reading Guide

July 24, 2018 by emma Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, maybe you didn’t realize that clean romance was such a huge category. Or maybe you’ve heard people talking about sweet romance and weren’t sure what that means. We’ve all been familiar with steamy romance–the kinds of books my grandma used to read (REALLY, Grandma???)–with the bare-chested men and women in various states of bodice-ripping.

But what is clean romance? Let’s get into the definitions and where to find some great books!

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Your guide to clean and sweet romance novels!

Your Clean Romance Reading Guide

Let’s start with the definition of clean romance. Which is actually a little harder to pin down than you might think!

There are a few terms that people often use interchangeably in this niche. Let me break down some of the wide categories of romance as this can be confusing! (Author Kristin Holt talks more about the potential confusion between clean and sweet romance!)


Clean Romance – Generally means no on-page sex, limited amounts of kissing/arousal. May also mean no alcohol (or limited use by adults) and no swearing or violence.

Sweet Romance – Sometimes used interchangeably with clean romance, but may mean that the book has a bit more leeway when it comes to language, might have more descriptive kissing, and has a focus on the developing emotional intimacy.

Inspirational Romance – Clean or sweet romance with Christian themes as a central part.

Steamy Romance – Novels that have storylines and at least a few detailed sex scenes.


Why Clean Romance Can Be a Confusing Title

The confusion is that for some readers, clean may mean different things. Some readers are fine with sex happening off-the-page. As in, a couple may live together or engage in sexual activity that’s implied, but it’s behind closed doors.

Other readers expect something more wholesome– the couples do not have sex before marriage or the idea of sex isn’t even implied.

There can also be some subtle distinction between the inspirational and clean romances. I’ll sometimes see varying levels of faith being a part of books that aren’t necessarily in the Christian or inspirational categories, or books that ARE in those categories are clean, but don’t really contain themes or elements of faith.

THIS CAN BE SO CONFUSING!!

Readers can be really disappointed and share that in the comments when the book doesn’t meet their expectations of what a clean romance is. I had negative comments once about a character  compromising her morals because she didn’t wear a sweater over a somewhat revealing top. Even though I made no mention of faith or her morals in the book at all.

Authors don’t always agree on definitions. Neither do readers. And Amazon? Sometimes they’ll stick a book in the completely wrong category, which causes more confusion.

(More on this debate about clean and sweet romance from Cathy McDavid!)

Where to Find Clean Romance Novels on Amazon

Amazon has a category for clean romance called Clean & Wholesome. You’ll find a mix of clean, sweet, and even inspirational titles in this big category.

You can also find some clean romance books with more of an inspirational bent in the Inspirational Romance category. But again, these will have varying degrees of faith included in the storylines. Some are primarily about faith, while others might mention God or church or praying, but not much more than that.

Common Tropes in Romance Novels

If you aren’t a writer or English nerd, you may be wondering what a trope is. (And no, it’s not to be confused with the Scottish dish tripe…) Tropes are common themes or elements within a story. A novel might be based on one particular trope OR have multiple tropes throughout.

Here are some examples of tropes:

  • best friends that fall for each other
  • fake marriage/fake relationship that turns real
  • second chance at love
  • enemies who fall in love
  • marriage of convenience

You can find a great list of tropes from Victorine Lieske of the Writing Gals that covers wayyyy more. These are the common themes or storylines or devices that readers expect when it comes to romance. Tropes in clean romance often have a lot of crossover to the tropes in steamy romance– just without the steam, of course.

How to Tell a Clean Romance by Its Cover

Unlike the bodice-ripping covers from my grandma’s steamy romance novels, clean romance novels are typically a lot less about hinting at sexual tension and a lot more about romance. And depending on the tropes, you’ll find some variations in what you’ll see.

For example, here are a few billionaire covers, which typically feature a male alone.

I’m a little partial to this book!
This is one of my fave billionaire books!

CHECK OUT MY FAVORITE CLEAN BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE NOVELS!

Here are a few covers in the fake marriage covers, which often have a female alone.

I’ve read and really liked this one!
I read this whole series and this was my favorite!

In the inspirational category, you might see more couples that look very happy and romantic.

I read and enjoyed this book!
This was a fun read, especially if you like the trope of falling for someone famous!

 

There will be some outliers, where books may not look like they fit in a certain category. There is definitely diversity!

I’m a huge fan of NOT having faces on the covers (except in the billionaire books) because I personally love imagining the main characters myself. Sometimes I find the cover images very distracting!!

 

I love the covers for the No Match for Love series by Lindzee Armstrong, which also let the faces stay up to the reader’s imagination!

 

I didn’t even touch on the clean historical or regency romances! (I’m a more contemporary girl…) If you had any questions about clean and sweet romance, I hope that this helped give you a good idea of what you might find in the category!

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