Uplifting romance books to look forward to this January

Lilac Mills
Jan 1
5 min read

Cozy chair with beige knit pillows and blanket, a mug, and books. Fairy lights and plants adorn the window sill, creating a warm atmosphere.

January is the perfect time to refresh your TBR with fresh romance novels that promise to captivate your heart and imagination, and with my lastest book Seaside Dreams on the Scottish Isle due out on 22nd January, I took a look at what other heartwarming romances are on offer to lift our spirits in this dreariest of months.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the most anticipated romance books hitting shelves this month that will keep you turning pages.

But first, here's a wee gander at my book!

Seaside Dreams on the Scottish Isle

The man she's never forgotten is about to change her life forever.

Giselle Ellis loves nothing better than to make gorgeous art from the sea glass she finds on the shores of the wild and beautiful Duncoorie loch. Living in a cute little cottage with a studio in Coorie Castle’s craft centre and a close-knit community of crafting friends, she has everything she's ever needed.

Then tragedy strikes and the castle has a new owner – someone she once had a brief but passionate fling with many years ago…

Rocco Moore isn’t the man Gisele remembers. When he threatens the craft centre’s very existence, she knows she has a fight on her hand. But as they reconnect and she begins to fall in love with him, Giselle realises she risks more than losing her livelihood. She might also lose her heart.

Available from Amazon

The Sweet Life Café by Helen Rolfe

Colorful book cover with café illustration and striped awning. Title: "The Sweet Life Café." Text: "Three lives. One café. A recipe for coming home."

When sisters Addie and Susanna return to Anchor Island for their Aunt Gayle’s memorial, they’re stunned to find her alive and planning her own “Celebration of Life” at The Sweet Life Café. Staying to help, they’re forced to confront old family wounds, struggling marriages, and the lives they left behind.

But as Gayle fills the café with brownies, lattes, and warmth, she hides a secret that could reshape everything the sisters believe about their family.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4oK4Kbx

Tomorrow Starts Today by Jessica Redland

Woman in purple sits by a lake with boats and mountains, surrounded by yellow flowers. Text: "Jessica Redland, Tomorrow Starts Today."

Five years after losing her husband, Yvonne Kellerman lives quietly with her parrot and her crafting table, feeling life slip past. Joining the Willowdale crafting club brings unexpected friendship, laughter, and a renewed love for her Lake District home - along with the return of someone from her past.

As Yvonne rebuilds her confidence, she must choose whether to keep her heart guarded or embrace the possibility of love and a fresh start.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/48rroRa

Not Quite Done with Dating by Bella Osborne

After one disastrous date too many, statistician Nora turns to numbers - not fate - to find her perfect match. Testing her new dating formula leads her through a series of questionable encounters, but she refuses to give up.

Somewhere out there is “the one”… even if he turns out to be the last person she ever expected.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/48FPqqr

A Yorkshire Affair by Julie Houston

Jess Allen has always played it safe, but with a new restaurant job on the horizon and her family moving on, her quiet life is shifting fast. Stepping into the stylish White House gives her a chance to pursue her passion for cooking - just as her love life grows complicated by an unreliable ex and intriguing new faces in Beddingfield.

As routines unravel, Jess discovers that change might be exactly what she needs…and that the right person may be the one she least expected.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4oE4Ktk

Rules Don’t Apply in Paradise by Sophia Karlson

Relaxing beach scene with a woman sipping a drink and a man lounging. Palm trees, vibrant text reads "Rules Don't Apply in Paradise."

When Lexi O’Reilly is fired and facing a looming social-media scandal, escape sounds perfect - especially when an exclusive island job opens up.

The catch? She has to apply as part of a couple. Enter Tristan Martinelli, her brother’s best friend and an oceanographer desperate to save his TV series. Agreeing to fake an engagement gets them both what they need… except pretending to love the man she already has feelings for turns out to be far from easy.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3KDHkGA

A Fresh Start at the Cornish Country Hospital by Jo Bartlett

Two years after her fiancé’s life-changing attack, A&E doctor Eve Bellingham has moved to Cornwall to support his family - but the man she loved is gone. Trapped between loyalty and grief, Eve meets Felix Grainger, the occupational therapist helping Max regain independence, and he sparks feelings she thought she’d lost.

To embrace a second chance, Eve must find the courage to let go of the life that no longer fits and choose a future of her own.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3KuWQVp

Journey to the Scottish Highlands by Julie Shackman

When Daisy’s career stalls, she jumps at a chance to work a fancy event and escape London for a road trip to the Scottish Highlands. After stranded guest Evan needs a lift north, she offers him a seat, and their unexpected journey becomes a chance for both of them to reset, reconnect, and discover something neither saw coming.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4rGJbeq

The Arctic Cruise by Caroline James

Two people stand on a ship deck under northern lights, with snowy mountains and houses in the background. Text: "The Arctic Cruise." Mood: Adventurous.

Widowed Joy boards an Arctic cruise hoping to rediscover happiness, though a secret weighs heavily on her heart. Henry, a bachelor chasing the Northern Lights with his camera, has long given up on love - until he meets her.

As the ship drifts through snowy fjords and magical winter adventures, Joy and Henry must decide whether they can let go of the past and embrace a new beginning.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4pt4VZZ

Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields by Victoria Walters

After leaving her fiancé at the altar, Daisy retreats to Birch Tree Farm - her cousin’s place and the last spot she truly felt like herself. There she meets Blake, also hiding out after a painful breakup. With strawberry-season chaos approaching, they agree to fake a relationship to keep their exes at bay, but their harmless plan quickly turns complicated as real sparks begin to fly.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4oEn99m

Final thoughts on January’s romantic new releases

Adding these books to your reading list can bring warmth and excitement to the start of the year. Pick one that speaks to you and let yourself get lost in a new love story.

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About the Author

Lilac Mills writes heartwarming romance inspired by life in the Welsh countryside, her love of simple pleasures, and the beauty of everyday moments.

She’s the author of over twenty feel-good novels, and also writes as Liz Davies and Etti Summers.

Learn more about Lilac

All Lilac Mills' books

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