Books Set in California
Our journey through the 50 states continues with a stop in California!
Book Club Pick – California
Memories in Morro Bay by Emi Hilton
What is Memories in Morro Bay about?
Asher never expected a second chance at love, not after he tragically lost his first. With a broken heart and shattered life, this doctor carefully put the pieces of his world back together, only for his walls to crumble when he walks into a patient’s recovery room and meets Layla, the woman from out of town who put her life on hold to care for her aunt… The woman who challenges everything Asher thought he knew.
Layla’s love, dedication, and passion give Asher a hope he thought couldn’t exist. Everything about Layla draws Asher in… But he can’t escape the guilt of falling in love again, of moving forward, even though his heart beats for Layla.
Their romance can only go so far before Asher’s past causes him to question their future, as Layla returns home and forces herself to move on. It feels impossible for Layla to fathom life with anyone else, and Asher is determined to prove just how far he’ll go for love.
When given their second chance, Asher and Layla will find out if love can truly forgive and overcome.
Emi Hilton on Literary Escapes Podcast
Want to know more about Jackie and her books? Listen to this conversation on the Literary Escapes Podcast!
coming 5/9
More Sweet Reads Set in California
Suede to Rest by Diane Vallere
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Unraveling family secrets can be murder…
When Polyester Monroe was young, she loved playing in her family’s textile store. But after a fatal tragedy, Land of a Thousand Fabrics was boarded up and Poly never expected to see the inside again. These days her time is spent designing prom dresses from cheap fabrics and covering the flaws with a glue gun.
When her great uncle passes away and leaves her the fabric store, she sees it as a sign to change her life. But when a man connected to her family’s tragedy is found dead in the parking lot behind the store the day after she moves in, her illusions of reopening the glamorous fabric store are shredded. Poly pulls at threads to unravel the truth, but can she keep herself out of the fray?
A Match for the Marine by Jess Mastorakos
Genre: Sweet Romance
Matchmaker Rule #1: Never fall in love with the client.
After working my way to the top, I’m in the running to become the CEO of Southern California’s premier matchmaking service. All I have to do is outmatch my conniving co-worker.
Maintaining my perfect track record should be no problem, especially since my client is a hot Marine with bulging biceps and a killer smile. Matching him up should be easy as pie.
Unfortunately, Dex isn’t too thrilled with his meddling mother for signing him up for my services. He seems more interested in me than any of the dates I arrange for him.
But I will not let this gorgeous gunny get in the way of achieving my life’s goal. No matter how dashing and adorkable he is.
Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.
They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.
Loving the Ladies’ Man by Kristin Canary
Genre: Sweet Romance
Connor is the last guy in the world I should fall for.
He’s the resident office flirt. I’m the quirky Pride & Prejudice-loving editor who uses big words and dresses like the world’s non-sexiest librarian. We have nothing in common. Plus, we’re competitors for the same job.
Fine by me. I’m happy to hold him at arms’ length forever. And considering I’m practically the only woman in the office he’s never flirted with, he’s obviously happy to do the same.
But then, everything changes.
Because when we’re stuck overnight in our office building thanks to an earthquake-induced landslide, I begin to realize that Connor isn’t actually the jerk I thought he was—the kind who leads women on, just like my ex.
And when he offers to attend my ex’s wedding as my fake boyfriend, things get even more interesting. Especially when he gives me that much-too-chaste kiss…
But I can’t fall for him.
That would be repeating the same mistake, just with a different guy. Tell that to my dumb heart, though—the one that seems to think Connor Bryant is my Mr. Darcy.
Seabreeze Inn by Jan Moran
Genre: Womens Fiction
Ivy was devastated to discover her late husband spent their life savings on a sprawling old beach house. But as a part-time art teacher in her forties with two daughters in college, she has to quickly recreate her life. Renovating the historical home with her sister reveals incredible hidden secrets—and a handsome small-town VIP turns out to be her former high school surfer crush.
Although it’s been ten years since his wife’s death, Bennett is avoiding the pain of loving—and possibly losing—another woman. Ivy’s request for a bed-and-breakfast variance couldn’t come at a worse time for him.
Despite heaps of challenges, Ivy has one summer to sway the town to salvage her livelihood and the new life in Summer Beach she has come to love. Will Ivy’s journey to revitalize her life also rekindle an old flame?
Interview with Jan Moran
You might also enjoy the interview with Jan Moran about her book, The Chocolatier which is set in California and Italy.
The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara
Genre: Sweet Romance
‘Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend’s phone?’
‘He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I’m the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.’
And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.
So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn’t expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more…
Interview with Olivia Lara
You might also enjoy the interview with Olivia Lara about this book, The Meeting Point.
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