Books
14 Heartwarming Small Town Romances
One of my favorite things are the romance genre is the fact that there are so many different types of romance novels out there — including one of my favorite: small town romances. There are so many amazing romance novels out there, you're guaranteed to find at least one you’ll love... so long as you love to read about love, of course!
I grew up in a suburban town that doesn’t have very much personality. So the stories of quirky townspeople who all seem to know each other was endlessly compelling, and the idea of love blossoming in a small town is too adorable for words to me. It's like Gilmore Girls with more romance! Who can resist that? Particularly, I’m charmed by the idea of the city girl moving out to a small town in order to start a new life and finding love in the process… gee, I wonder why that is.
So whether you live in a city, a suburb, of the smallest of towns, check out these 14 romances set in a small town. Just imagine curling up in the charming little coffee shop on a quaint little Main Street somewhere with one of these books, enjoying a romance that’s just as charming as the setting.
1. Playing For Keeps by R.L. Mathewson
Haley is tired of being a pushover. When this shy schoolteacher decides to put her foot down, her newfound ire is pointed in the direction of her next door neighbor, Jason. Jason didn't anticipate his quiet neighbor freaking out over some ruined flowers, but as the two of them get to know each other, they soon start to realize that they have a lot of in common. Haley can't deny that there's a certain something about this playboy next door, but she has some serious plans for her life... and she has a hard time forgetting just what this bad boy is capable of doing to her heart.
2. Virgin River by Robin Carr
The first book in a series of small town romances, Virgin River centers on the small town of Virgin River, population 600. The population becomes 601 when the recently widowed Melinda Monroe arrives in the California town to take up residence as the town's midwife and nurse practitioner. As soon as she arrives, she regrets her decision: the cabin she's living in is a total dump, the local doctor doesn't want anything to do with her, and the road are terribly treacherous on her sporty BMW. She's all set to return to Los Angeles when she finds an abandoned baby on her porch. Then she meets Jack, a former Marine who runs a local restaurant and bar, and he really, really wants her to stay...
3. Falling Fast by Tina Wainscott
Raleigh West works tirelessly in an auto-shop in an attempt to leave his dark past behind him. It's been seven years since the car accident that landed him in jail and sent his teenage sweetheart to the hospital. He hasn't seen her since. But now, Mia Wentworth is returning to her small hometown on the Florida coast for the first time since it happened. She's not there to see Raleigh, but she can't help but feel his presence everywhere. Seeing him again rekindles old feelings, but can she open her heart to him again?
4. Share the Moon by Sharon Struth
Set in the small New England town of Northridge, journalist Sophie Shaw is days away from signing a contract to own her own vineyard. She's incredibly excited to start her life over and leave her past tragedies behind, but her dreams are swiftly dashed when Duncan Jamieson's offer for the vineyard blows hers out of the water. Duncan still hasn't forgotten Sophie from his boyhood days on Blue Moon Lake, and he has his own reasons for wanting that land. Despite their differences, they fall in love... until Sophie starts getting anonymous notes that imply that Duncan and his family are hiding something.
5. Poplar Place by Ellen Butler
In the sleepy, small town of Denton, South Carolina, former District Attorney Cara Baker believes she can finally find some peace. After leaving the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh, Cara finds the perfect house to start her new life, and everything seems to be lining up perfectly... except for the strange hermit that's living in the attic. After wooing him down from the attic, Cara is surprised to find that Danny, the hermit, is an attractive man who possesses a strange sixth sense. Sparks fly between them, but Cara's peace is disrupted when a call from the FBI brings a bit of danger to this small town.
6. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, North Carolina, many questions are raised about her past. Determined to avoid all relationships, she nevertheless falls into two: one with her next door neighbor Jo, and the other with Alex, a handsome widowed store owner with two kids. As Katie grows more and more attached to Alex and his family, her dark past begins to haunt her, and she has to decide between a transient life or a life with roots in this small town.
7. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Well-to-do Princess Samantha Reed has always wished that she was one of the Garretts. They are everything her family is not: loud, messy, and affectionate. Every night, she sits on her roof and watches them, until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up to her room and changes her life. The two of them fall desperately in love. But when a unexpected event throws Sam's world out of whack, she needs to figure out who is going to save her... or whether or not she's just going to have to save herself.
8. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
One night at their favorite after-hours hotspot, Jaine Bright and her friends start asking each other one big question: what exactly would make the perfect man? The women concoct the perfect tongue-in-cheek checklist.... which becomes an overnight sensation when it's e-mailed out to friends. However, what began as a joke soon turns serious when one of the women ends up murdered. In order to save herself and the rest of her friends, Jaine turns to her next door neighbor, a sexy but unpredictable police detective, for help. Jaine must catch a killer before the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a nightmare.
9. Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Francesca Day had it all: wealth, beauty, and more prospects than you can shake a stick at. However, after the death of her mother, her life slowly began to fall apart. Somehow, she ends up on the side of the road of some backwater Louisiana town in a hideous pink Southern Belle dress in the height of summer. Enter Dallas "Dallie" Beaudine, a professional golfer who sees her and simply can't leave her alone. This encounter launches an on-and-off love affair that spans ten years as Francesca works get her life on track.
10. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Honor receives her brother Finn's last letter from Iraq three days after learning of his death. She opens it after the funeral, and its contents are a surprise: tickets to see Kyra Kelly, Honor's favor pop star and Finn's biggest crush. In the letter, Finn jokingly wrote that Honor must go to the concert to tell Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her. Determined to honor her brother's final wish, Honor sets off with Rusty, Finn's best friend, on a voyage driven by grief and love.
11. Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson
Hairdresser Delaney Shaw only plans on staying in Truly, Idaho long enough to hear the reading of her stepfather's will. Unfortunately, her inheritance comes with some unforeseen stipulations: she has to stay in town for a year, and she can't have anything to do with sexy biker Nick Allegrezza! Ten years earlier, Nick swept Delaney off of her feet, and she learned the hard way that Nick didn't do serious relationships. Now Nick is sexier than ever — but does Delaney want to take a second chance on him?
12. The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
After being left at the altar, heartbroken Faith Holland fled from her hometown of Blue Heron, New York. A few years later, she's ready to return and take up residence at her family's winery, and quite possibly take up the position of potential matchmaker to her widowed father. It's not all bad, however; there's Levi Cooper, Blue Heron's chief of police and the best friend of Faith's ex. The two of them are drawn to each other, but Faith is having a hard time forgetting that he helped to ruin her wedding all those years ago.
12. Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Bobby Tom Denton had a promising career as an all-star wife receiver for the Chicago Stars, but a bad hit ended it all at age 33. As a new film production assistant, its Gracie Snow's job to get legendary Bobby Tom Denton back to his hometown to begin shooting his first major motion picture. It's not as easy as it sounds. After a misunderstanding where Bobby Tom mistakes Gracie for a stripper, the two of them embark on a battle of the sexes. What happens when Gracie discovers she isn't as plain as she believes, and Bobby Tom learns he's smarter than he thinks he is? You'll have to read to find out.
13. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis
Almost overnight, Maddie Moore loses her job and her boyfriend. She decides to leave LA for Lucky Harbor, Washington, where she'll claim the inheritance her free-spirited mother left her: a tiny ramshackle inn. Maddie sees potential for a new life and a new career... if only she can convince her two half-sisters, Tara and Chloe, to join her. That's going to be a challenge, considering the entire inn needs a makeover. But the bigger challenge will be resisting sexy Jax Cullen, the dark haired contractor she hires and can't seem to get out of her mind...
14. Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
Molly Jennings has a bit of a dirty little secret: she's an erotic fiction author. However, when a creepy ex causes her inspiration to dry up, she skips town and relocates to her tiny hometown of Tumble Creek, Colorado. When Molly takes one look at her high school crush-turned-chief of police Ben Lawson, she's right back to work. Unfortunately, Molly has a stalker, which means that Ben might have to come around more often. But it also means that she might have to reveal her profession to him... and he might not approve.
Images: Rachael Crowe/Unsplash
