Best romance books by New Zealand authors

The story starts like all the best rom-coms known to man – with an absolutely unbelievable turn of events. Thirty something Abby George, who was recently dumped by her fiancé and got laid off from her job, finds out that her sister Leigh owns a bed-and-breakfast in the Caribbean (surprise!). Of course, Leigh needs Abby’s help to sell that said bed-and-breakfast because she can’t travel herself at the moment.

Realistic? No! Do we care? Absolutely not! Because Anne Kemp’s beautiful, witty and immersive writing transferring us straight into the heat and beauty of the Caribbean is all that matters. Gorgeous landscapes, delicious local food, way too much alcohol (seriously, Abby, hold your horses, will ya!) and a few too many hot guys lead to adventures worthy 2 books, 2 novellas and one final book that Anne is currently hard at work on.

And the best part? The winner of our romantic giveaway will receive THE ENTIRE SERIES!

We’ll be honest with you – the best way to dive into this book is completely blind. The less you know about the plot, the more intriguing and unexpected it becomes! We’ll only mention that it involves an unusual tram, one very curious and very polite librarian named Beth, a lot of adorable and quirky side-characters, warm pastries and a mystery with an unusual twist.

Susan Holt’s voice is that of a beloved aunt, who travels the world, wears colourful skirts and shares marvellous stories no one truly believes in (they’re just jealous!) while sipping on herbal tea. It’s a bit old-fashioned but not in a musty, boring way. Quite the opposite – peppered with phrases like ‘You can jolly well walk’ or ‘You’ve lifted my spirits’, it’s endearing, funny and will coax a surprised laugh or two out of you.

A lot of books imply if you haven’t found the love of your life and a career you’re passionate about by the age of 25, you can wave it all good bye and start collecting cats.

Adriana Guyton’s novel is a wonderful reminder that it’s never too late for something special to happen to you! Jane Almond is a 39-year-old accountant whose relationships ended a year and a half ago. Now, she’s learning to love herself and enjoy her independence. Until one day, on her usual morning run, she finds herself sprawled at the feet of a handsome stranger in Ravenscourt Park.

This story is a slow-burn and it takes quite a few chapters before she meets Edward again. But those chapters are what makes this book so special, as they dissect all the pluses and minuses of living as a 40-year-old single woman in London.

Jane and Edward meet again under sad circumstances – at Jane’s parents’ funeral. From there on, it’s a wild ride with so many crazy turns, your head will be spinning by the time you finish reading. There will be secrets and lies, there will be heartbreaks, uncovered truths and difficult confrontations. So, buckle up!

Who doesn’t love a good ‘small town vibe’ story! And Tracey Drew certainly knows how to write one.

When Tessa Wakefield moves back to a tiny seaside village, Cape Discovery, to help her granddad with the yarn store, she expects nothing more than to take care of her Nana’s mischievous cats, to bump into some friendly (or not quite so) faces from her childhood and to share some gossip with a group of Serial Knitters and Happy Hookers (never mix the two, unless you’re prepared to get tangled in a heated rivalry).

What she definitely doesn’t expect is a knife sticking out of the most unpopular man in town and the police trying to pin the murder on her younger brother, Sean.

Looks like the former high school counsellor will have to take matters into her own hands!

If you visit our website every now and then, you might already be familiar with Sofia Grey from our ‘Best romance novels set in New Zealand in winter‘ article.

And where a cute His Sweet Fix is about a woman trying to find her confidence, a fast-rising young executive Marianne from Lying in Shadows definitely knows her worth and doesn’t need anyone’s approval. She’s put in charge of a team tasked with finding out the source of corporate espionage before their company loses another big contract. And there’s nothing like a sizzling attraction to her former colleague, now boss, Marcus, to mess up the investigation.

Is it a mystery? Is it a thriller? Is it a forbidden love story? With Sofia Grey you never truly know – this author will keep you on your toes till the very last page.

Don’t let the suspense and even hints of a thriller scare you away! Falling for You is a sweet, small town friends-to-lovers story in the first place and nothing can change that.

Both a successful artist Natalie Armstrong and a former NYPD detective, who’s now a well-known author, Gabe Lanigan, come to Sapphire Bay for tranquility they’re lacking in their busy lives. They form a friendship that slowly grows into something more. But Gabe’s past (here comes the thriller!) finds him amidst his peaceful getaway and now he has to decide whom he can really trust.

Leeanna Morgan writes amazing dialogues that flow effortlessly and add wonderful dynamic to the story.

New author? Not really! It’s actually Kris Pearson we all know and love writing as Kristie Klewes. The first mystery solved 😉 Now to find out who killed Isobel Crombie and left her lying in a sea of flowers in the aisle of Saint Agatha’s church! A freelance editor Merry Summerfield can help you with that. If only she wasn’t so distracted by a SEAL from California who looks like a younger Jon Bon Jovi…

As always, Kristie Klewes (ahhh…) delivers absolutely believable characters – yes, Merry is smart and fearless but she also suffers from panic attacks and makes the weirdest life decisions every now and then, she’s a mature woman with a divorce behind her but she also sometimes speaks and thinks like a teenager. No one in real life is ever perfect, so who said the book characters should be?