Author: Kasie West.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Gia is completely caught off guard when her boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom. She's been telling her friends about him for a few months, and now they'll never get the chance to meet him. When she sees a handsome guy waiting to pick up his sister, she concocts a plan. He can be her "fill-in" boyfriend, just for the night. He agrees-but little does Gia know that their fake relationship won't end at prom. Fill-In Bradley's sister enlists her to be his date to his ex's graduation party. Three hours and a few white lies, what could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. Because Gia thinks she might be falling for her pretend boyfriend.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama, young adult. Ages 14+ for romance.

Profanity: 1/5. Three uses of the p-word. "Crap," and "sucked/sucks" show up a few times. There's also one use of "douche." "Hooker" also shows up, in the context of a girl who goes from boyfriend to boyfriend, not in an explicit way.

Violence: 0/5. No violent elements.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some kissing, hugging, and handholding. A girl mentions how her mom has had many boyfriends.

Faith Elements: 2/5. Mentions of going to church, and visiting a friend who is a member of Fill-In Bradley's church. A girl is named after a Bible character.

Additional Content: Talk of a "sober" graduation party, but no alcohol is discussed. Some drama between family members, and a mean girl.

My Take: This is definitely one of my new favorite romance novels! Gia was a relatable, sweet main character who learned valuable lessons throughout the book. Kasie West handled all the troubles and triumphs of high school, and I felt so many emotions while reading this. It was so light and wholesome, a fantastic read!

Author: Haley Pham.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Blair and Declan were the best of friends, until an impulsive kiss in high school took them to something more. But then one tragedy shattered everything and left them both heartbroken. Fast forward four years. When her beloved great-aunt's health declines, Blair returns to Seabrook to help out. She gets a job at the local coffee shop, owned by none other than Declan, who she might still have feelings for. Coincidentally, their paths keep crossing, and sparks are reignited. Will they move on from the wounds of the past to find love again...with each other?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama. Ages 14+ for some themes of grief and romance.

Profanity: 1/5. A few, very rare uses of the p-word. One cutoff of the s-word. Mild expressions like "gosh," "crap," and "freaking" show up here and there. "Sexy" is used once or twice to describe things, not people. 

Violence: 2/5. A car accident is recalled, not in detail. Aunt Lottie's aunt has cancer, so we see her health decline, but it's not graphic.

Spice Level: 3/5. Kissing (some are a tiny bit descriptive), affectionate words.

Faith Elements: 1/5. A few mentions of God.

Additional Content: A woman who has had previous alcohol problems (she explains later that she was from a rough background), has a relapse but gets called out.

My Take: I'M IN LOVE. Haley is a very promising debut author, and I can't wait to see if she writes any more books! This was a fantastic story of love and loss that kept me turning the page to see what happened next. Clean, without spice and strong language! And while you're at it, check out Haley's YouTube channel :-)

Author: Kasie West.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Indy's life was going great. Perfect friends, perfect grades, and she was cool, calm, and collected...until everything came crashing down and her life changed. Her closest friend group breaks, and the hardest part of it all is being estranged from Beau (not that she likes him or anything, at least she didn't think so). Beau was her best friend-turned-worst-enemy, and things couldn't get any worse, she gets stuck in the bathroom with him. Now Indy and Beau are forced to deal with the past...and forced to feel the real feelings towards each other.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, drama, young adult. Ages 14+.

Profanity: 1/5. Some uses of "oh my God."

Violence: 0/5. No violence.

Spice Level: 3/5. Doesn't go beyond kissing.

Faith Elements: 0/5. No religious themes.

Additional Content: None.

My Take: This book was the perfect mix of drama and romance. While the actual story was interesting and kept my attention, the romance made it all the more fun and enjoyable to read. It's the perfect read for the beach or to enjoy with a cup of cocoa and a warm blanket!

Author: Eva Marie Everson.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: It's 1941, and the United States has just entered WWII. Sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann confesses her love for her older brother's friend, Mack. Soon, they're writing letters back and forth, and she knows she is smitten. Until Alice-Ann begins caring for her friend's war-torn brother. Carlton is kind and genuinely wants to get to know her. As the years go by, Alice-Ann grows closer to him. Her heart is torn in two directions when Mack returns from war. Will she choose who she loves, and grow her faith in the process?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, Christian, historical. Ages 14+ for some romantic themes and references to war.

Profanity: 0/5. No swearing. A few uses of "gosh."

Violence: 2/5. Talk of the war and injured soldiers. A woman gives birth, but Alice-Ann doesn't witness it. Several mentions of soldiers who died in the war.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some non-descriptive kissing and hugging. Also some uses of "I love you" and other sweet romantic phrases, but nothing questionable.

Faith Elements: 5/5. Genuine, deep Christian faith is part of everyday life in Alice-Ann's hometown. Through her aunt and sister-in-law, she grows closer to God.

Additional Content: Occasional references to smoking, and Alice-Ann's aunt tells her that her former fiance was an alcoholic.

My Take: Such a beautiful, historical love story between a soldier and a small town girl, set during WWII. The tender romantic parts had me giggling! A definite reread.

Author: Britnee Meiser.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: In real life, Jane is an ordinary, clumsy, self-conscious high school freshman whose best friend is a boy she's known all her life. Online, she's the glamorous blogger, Anastasia, with a dreamy boyfriend and spontaneous trips to New York City. Under the pseudonym, Jane writes all about her life, including Brynn, the girl who seems to be cozying up with her best friend, Leo. When Brynn writes to "Anastasia," Jane decides to use the blog to get what she wants in real life. But will it totally backfire on her, and will she realize that the boy of her dreams is closer than she thought?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, young adult/middle grade. Ages 13+, since there are themes like dating and romantic relationships.

Profanity: 0/5. No swearing.

Violence: 0/5. No violence.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some kissing, hugging, and hand-holding.

Faith Elements: 1/5. A few reference to Mother Nature.

Additional Content: Adult characters drink wine occasionally.

My Take: Jane Stays Dreaming may be labeled as a "romance," but it's a lot more than that. It's a sweet story of friendship, navigating high school, drama, honesty, and being true to yourself. Loved it! A great reading option for Christian girls.

Author: Becky Dean.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Evie Whitmore is thrilled to go to Venice on her class trip. Not only is it an educational opportunity, but it's a great way to find out if the secret fan club for her favorite book series, Elven Realms, really exists. Armed with elegant costumes and Venetian masks, she sneaks out at night to find it. What she doesn't count on is running into a masked fellow fan named Angelo. By night, they search the streets of Venice for the club. By day, Evie tries her best to befriend her research partner, the handsome and standoffish Gabriel Martinez. As she learns to overcome her insecurities and be herself, will she find unexpected romance in the process?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, travel, mystery. Suitable for ages 14+ due to romantic themes.

Profanity: 0/5. The language is squeaky-clean throughout the entire book.

Violence: 2/5. At the Elven Realms fan club, Evie and others roleplay and have sword fights with plastic weapons. One character "dies" and bleeds fake blood from his jacket.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some kissing towards the end of the book, but it never goes any further.

Faith Elements: 1/5. On their outings, Evie and her classmates visit multiple churches.

Additional Content: Evie gives some great advice to Gabriel's younger sister on going to a party (like, don't go if there's alcohol, don't drink anything you didn't open yourself, call your parents if you feel uncomfortable).

My Take: I want to go to Italy now! Becky Dean did an amazing job with everything about Love Unmasked. Lighthearted, adventurous, and romantic, with some surprising depth that didn't feel too heavy. And the masked ball? Absolute perfection!

Author: Kristy Boyce.

Series: Gaming and Romance, Book 1.

Book Premise: Riley is a theater geek and Nathan is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. They couldn't be any different, but when they both want to get a special someone in their lives, they devise a plan to act like a couple to make their exes jealous. But as time goes on, are Nathan and Riley still acting, or are true sparks beginning to fly?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, young adult. Ages 14+.

Profanity: 0/5. No swearing.

Violence: 0/5. No violent moments.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some romantic themes like kissing and hugging.

Faith Elements: 0/5. No religious themes.

Additional Content: Reference to a gay couple, but it doesn't go into detail.

My Take: I absolutely loved this book. It's perfect for teenage Christian girls who want a cheesy, fun romance without all the spice. As someone who doesn't always like romance, I was surprised that I really liked this book. It's so cutesy and fun! Definitely recommended!

Author: Morgan Matson.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Stella doesn't believe in fairy tales. She isn't even sure if she believes in romance anymore, after her boyfriend dumped her just weeks before prom. So instead of going to dinner with Cooper before the dnace, she's going to Disneyland with her friends, Nisha and Allyson. However, she doesn't count on Nisha bringing her friend Reece, who happens to be single and handsome. Nor does she count on being sucked into Sleeping Beauty with him. Now they have to figure out how to get back to Disneyland without changing the story. And maybe, just maybe, Stella and Reece will realize how perfect they are for each other.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, fairy tale retelling, young adult, fantasy. Ages 14+ due to romantic themes. 

Profanity: 0/5. No swearing. Clean alternatives such as "what the heck" appear instead.

Violence: 2/5. A very brief (not gory) battle at the end of the book.

Spice Level: 3/5. Some kissing and talk of dating.

Faith Elements: 0/5. No religious themes. Some fairy tale-style magic is involved.

Additional Content: It's unclear whether or not Allyson and Nisha are good friends or a gay couple. However, they don't do anything that indicates the latter and seem to lean towards a close friendship more than anything else, and they're only in the beginning of the book and a tiny bit at the end.

My Take: I enjoyed this book! A slow start, but once you get past it a fun, clean romance starts to unfold. However, the potential gay couple definitely lowered my rating. But all that aside, there wasn't anything else that was concerning. And who doesn't love fairy-tale retellings?

Author: Pepper Basham.

Series: Skymar, Book 1.

Book Premise: Izzy is an introverted bookworm who'd rather marry Mr. Darcy than meet a guy online. But, with some nudging from her meddling cousin, she somehow ends up on a dating app. Not expecting (or wanting) to find her Mr. Right, Izzy decides to make the best of it. And surprisingly, a handsome man from Europe reaches out, wanting to get to know Izzy better. He's perfect for her, but there's also an equally attractive author in her hometown also vying for her affections. How can Izzy follow her heart when it's pulling her in two different directions?

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, comedy, Christian. Good for ages 14+ due to the romantic themes.

Profanity: 0/5. No questionable language.

Violence: 0/5. No violence.

Spice Level: 2/5. Some very brief (and not graphic) kissing scenes and discussions of being in love.

Faith Elements: 3/5. The characters go to church, pray, and are open about their faith.

Additional Content: Brief mention of Izzy's parents deaths' in a plane crash when she was a child, which explains why she is so close to her cousins (their parents adopted Izzy).

My Take: The best Pepper Basham book I've read so far! Izzy is such a sweet character, and I loved all the book quotes and references. The fact that the story was told in 90% emails made it unique and enjoyable. Super cute little rom-com!

Author: Nicole Deese.

Series: Fog Harbor, Book 1.

Book Premise: The story follows Ingrid "Indy", a book editor in San Francisco, who is devastated by the sudden death of her best friend and client, plus the earlier loss of her father. Haunted by grief, unresolved guilt, and even anger tied to her ex-boyfriend and the many losses in her life, the book begins in a place of despair. But the narrative quickly gains momentum when Indy's ex re-enters her life, setting the stage for forgiveness, discovery, and a second chance at love.

Reading Level/Genre: Mystery, Christian, romance. Suitable for ages 15+ due to mature emotional themes and loss.

Profanity: 0/5. Dialogue remains clean. Occasionally heated arguments occur but nothing too wild.

Violence: 0/5. No graphic or gory descriptions.

Spice Level: 2/5. Limited to kissing and light romantic description.

Faith Elements: 2/5. Present but understated. I personally wish Nicole Deese would've added more.

Additional Content: Brief mention of drugs and one bar scene.

My Take: While the sad beginning may deter some readers, perseverance is rewarded with a heartfelt story of love, family, and forgiveness. Nicole Deese balances mystery with romance in a way that feels authentic and uplifting.

Author: Pepper Basham.

Series: Standalone novel.

Book Premise: Katie Campbell is a young travel blogger who loves her job. However, various incidents and mishaps seem to follow her all over the globe, earning her the nickname "Miss Adventure." When her editor sends her to Scotland, Katie is thrilled. Her grandparents, who basically raised her and passed away not long ago, were born there! Not only does Katie go on the trip as a part of her job-she does it as a way to feel closer to them. Enter the cold, bear of a man named Graeme MacKerrow. In her full first day in Scotland, Katie has enough misadventures to make him strongly dislike her. But she isn't about to let Graeme (or anything else, for that matter) get in the way of her trip. And pretty soon, Katie finds herself falling for the burly Scot.

Reading Level/Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Christian, Adventure. Suitable for ages 14+ due to the romantic themes.

Profanity: 0/5. Some mild Scottish insults sprinkled throughout, but nothing questionable.

Violence: 0/5. Except for a brief reference to a car accident that is easy to miss.

Spice Level: 3/5. More frequent kissing towards the end of the book, some light (not graphic) romantic description and dialogue. Kate also briefly admires Graeme's muscles from a distance.

Faith Elements: 4/5. Christian beliefs are prevalent in this book. Characters attend church throughout the book, pray, and discuss their faith. Because this book is set in Scotland, there is some talk of local lore and legends.

Additional Content: Graeme's sister had cancer, so it is talked about throughout the book.

My Take: A lighthearted romp through Scotland! Wasn't a huge fan of Graeme (he wasn't my type of guy), but enjoyed it nonetheless. Kate is a great character, I love her can-do attitude and adventurous spirit. If you love Jesus, Europe, and the Hallmark Channel, go get a copy!