Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

I'm looking for suggestions on Romance novels where the main character is struggling to find happiness after the death of a friend or family member. This topic is very personal to me and I'd love to find a book featuring a strong lead character who works through the pain and finds a HEA. I thought I found one, but the heroine just cried through 3/4 of the book. All suggestions are appreciated.

I have to think on this one. I know I've read some but nothing is coming to mind.

has this theme, but it is the male protagonist who is grieving. Well... he isn't exactly looking for happiness.

Maybe I'd better think on it.

Of course has the same set-up with the hero, but it is a much more upbeat book.

The heroine's mother dies under suspicious circumstances.



The heroine's ex, who is the soldier hero's best friend, is killed at the start of the book.


The hero's wife dies at the beginning of the book. Heroine is the wife's friend.


The heroine *thinks* her soldier husband was killed in the Middle East.


The heroine's first husband dies at the beginning of the book. The hero marries the heroine immediately after to give her financial security.


Hero is a widower.


Heroine is a widow.


A number of the heroine's family members are killed in the slums of London.


The book starts with the hero and heroine split up because of the death of their child.

is supposed to be excellent, but I've never read it.

On my phone and can't link.

I just finished Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross. It's YA but don't let that stop you (unless you're looking for a book with sex). Fantastic characters, fantastic story, excellent writing. It's set in the world of elite gymnastics which occasionally but rarely gets in the way.

The hero would be my book boyfriend if it wasn't creepy. ;)

The woman loses her husband in this novel.

I haven't read it, but I have read the sequel which I really enjoyed. The first book is on my "to read" list!

Two that feature widows:


* The Widow by Carla Neggers

* The Next Always by Nora Roberts

I thought this was pretty dark and negative, but it definitely fits into what you're asking about. The woman loses her boyfriend right before they are supposed to go to college and picks up two years later.

Also, I think this might be more in erotica than romance. In the end it is HEA, but getting there was rough, ugly, and dark. There is also which follows the same story but through the eyes of the best friends.

I just read a book called Letting Go by author Lauren Monroe .The protagonist loses her husband in an accident and the book is about how she finds happiness afterwards. I also read that it's going on sale on Amazon from July 10th until July 13th. Hope this helps.

Hero thinks his teenage love is dead and struggles to live without her.

Mary wrote: "I thought this was pretty dark and negative, but it definitely fits into what you're asking about. The woman loses her boyfriend right before they are supposed..."

Which is strange, her earlier works were fun and sexy.

This book, I really enjoyed. It's about a young woman whose husband dies while overseas in the Marines. She has just given birth to a baby boy and now has to raise him alone. But, it does have a HEA. I really enjoyed it!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Test-Heart-Trag...

Try this book. I hope you like it. They lost an autistic child.



Suzanne wrote: "I'm looking for suggestions on Romance novels where the main character is struggling to find happiness after the death of a friend or family member. This topic is very personal to me and I'd love ..."

Texas! Chase by Sandra Brown definitely would fit this category. As does Forgiving Jackson by Alicia Hunter Pace and To Forgive & Hold Safe by Carey Decevito.

West Winds of Wyoming by Caroline Fyffe also deals with overcoming loss, but it's a bit of a different type of story.

I'm looking for suggestions on fairy tale retellings and also for romance novels by authors who have debuted in 2014.Help would be much appreciated.

Kritika wrote: "I'm looking for suggestions on fairy tale retellings and also for romance novels by authors who have debuted in 2014.Help would be much appreciated."

The Lunar Chronicles is pretty good, Kritika. It is YA, though.

If you want pure Romance, you might look at what members posted for our Fairy Tale Retelling Challenge. If you need help getting to their "view books" screen for that, let me know.

I did enjoy . It is a light read.

Thanks LK. You are a godsend:)

I know - a bit of a self-serving recommendation. Not sure what you're seeking, but main character has lost both parents.

Thanks for the suggestion Rayanne. Actually, I'm looking for book in which the story is a retelling of a fairy-tale.

The Crystal Slipper by Selena Fulton. (On my phone and can't link.) I think the next one (Bad Apple) comes out in... March? Disclaimer: I know the author.

Thanks Abigail:)

I'm looking for historical romances where the hero dupes the heroine to whom he is betrothed or married and then realizes his mistake and his love. Also heroine should show some backbone and not be a simpering miss. Any recommendations would be appreciated.:)

You want the jerk guy to still be the hero, right, Kritika?

Yeeeeessss Lisa Kay.

Okay... nothing springs to mind, but let me think on it. I don't think quite fits... but kind of.

Sure Lisa Kay.Take your time:)