Novellas have always had a special place in my heart. When it comes to romance specifically, I love long, expansive books that allow me to get lost in pages upon pages of a love story. But I’m a total sucker for watching characters get or stay together in under forty thousand words. When they’re done well, they take a much shorter time for me to read, but still manage to give me an entire story to feel satisfied with. When I set out to write my very first romance novella, Just One More, I went back and read some old favorites as well as newer ones. Some of them were so amazing, I figured I should shout them out to the rest of the world.
Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera
I read this book for the first time in the middle of a marathon of The Great British Bake Show, so I was really, really invested from the get-go. The MCs are two Dominicanas, Kiskeya and Sully, who become reluctant partners who have to work together to win a holiday baking competition. One is kind of grumpy and wildly sexy, the other one is sweet with plenty of bite. It’s an expertly told story that makes you feel full in more ways than one by the end. It’s also hot as hell, so there’s that.
New Year, New We (The Spies Who Loved Her Book 4) by Katrina Jackson
Everyone should absolutely go read the entire The Spies Who Loved Her series, especially as this book centers the triad relationship built in book one. I did want to include it as an example of an incredibly well-done companion novella, though. The book starts months into the new relationship between the MC, Kierra, and married couple bosses, Lane and Monica. A new plot plays out while we watch the various relationships between three people get open and vulnerable. The chemistry between the characters is palpable and the sex is real and delicious.
So Sweet: A Sugar Baby Novella by Rebekah Weatherspoon
Billionaire romances and I have a tenuous relationship but I found this one impossible not to love. Out of a job and nearly out of money, the MC, Kayla, enters into a sugar baby arrangement with an older billionaire, Michael, that turns sticky when feelings start growing. Every aspect of the power dynamic between this couple is handled incredibly well. That made it even easier to me to enjoy the incredible, abundant sex the MCs have.
Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker
This book feels one of a kind in all the best ways. The MCs, Tzipporah and Elan, are a pair of Orthodox Jewish newlyweds who both come with their own shaky pasts and reservations. A large part of their initial connection is explored through exquisitely executed kink and their growth as a couple is incredibly romantic. The scenes are tender and sensual and sizzling and I felt for both characters immensely. The book is also full of morsels of Orthodox Jewish life and culture that were both riveting and educational.
About the Book
Just One More by Jodie Slaughter– releases tomorrow, 2/14
Tattoo artist Whitney Harris loves Valentine’s Day.
The bright colors, giant hearts, and sugary sweet coating that seems to cover the world on February 14th make her feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside. She may be more festive than the average person, but her plans for her long weekend are pretty tame. As long as she gets to stay in her bed, marathon a ton of romantic movies, and eat at least three of her favorite pink heart cupcakes, she’ll count it as a win. The very last thing she expects is for a handsome stranger to completely upend all of that.
The only thing Victor Grant enjoys more than being a barber is Valentine’s Day.
For him, it’s all about the experience of romance and the possibility of forever. The man loves love and he’s determined to be apart of his own great love story someday. Even if that means taking a few losses along the way when things don’t work out. Just when he thinks his Valentine’s Day has turned into a total bust, a beautiful stranger crashes into his life and suddenly makes his long weekend a lot more interesting.
A near-disastrous first meeting brings them together, but with both chemistry and desire running high, one sexy night together doesn’t feel nearly enough like true satisfaction.
About the Author
Jodie Slaughter is a twenty-something writer. She has worked in journalism, digital media, and soon, education.
She fell in love with romance through the melodramatic soap operas she watched with her grandmother as a child. She fell in love with writing thanks to an enthusiastic high school English teacher.
Dark storylines, antiheroes, and transformative love stories are all very close to her heart. In her own work, she hopes to entertain, excite, and shine a light on interesting, diverse characters. She likes her heroes intense and her heroines spirited.
She can normally be found failing at baking, making much-too-long playlists, or geeking out over her favorite bad boy TV boyfriends. On the off chance that she’s doing none of those, she may actually be writing.
Craving Flight is one of my favorite books, and introduced me to Tamsen Parker. I think I love the details I learned about Orthodox Jews more than I loved the romance, but that is good as well. I highly recommend it.
Argh. Please excuse my poor wording – I really enjoyed learning about Orthodox Judiasm in this book. Immersing yourself in stories that are different from your own experience are what I love about reading, and this book is excellent.
Thanks for your post, Jodie; I always enjoy seeing what works an author recommends.
I just reread two favorite novellas — His Road Home by Anna Richland and The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan. (The latter is currently free for Kindle readers.)
Craving Flight is one of my favorite books. Flawless writing, I loved the main couple’s connection and the romantic and powerful built of their relationship.