Steamy romance reads to get you hot

Here are some of the best romantic novels to read this winter, curated by the Jubimedia review team.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister, the lovely – and almost-on-the-shelf – Daphne Bridgerton. But it’s all an elaborate plan to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a complete sham.

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

During the summer of 1941, the Metanov family is living a hard life in Leningrad. As the German armies advance, their future looks bleak. For Tatiana, love arrives in the guise of Alexander, who harbours a deadly and extraordinary secret.

The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive Heather Simmons from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman ... and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family – rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. Beth Ackerley, a widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided she wants to take her money, find peace, travel, learn art, sit back, and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband. And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.

For plenty of romantic eBooks, please visit Jubimedia.

Romantic Quotes for Your Sweetheart

Share these special words with the beautiful person in your life this holiday season.

To me, you are perfect.

Love Actually

True love is putting someone else before yourself.

Frozen

I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

The Fault in Our Stars

You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.

Gone with the Wind

You’re the closest to heaven, that I’ll ever be.

Iris

Goo Goo Dolls

Finding someone you love and who loves you back is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. But finding a true soul mate is an even better feeling. A soul mate is someone who understands you like no other, loves you like no other, will be there for you forever, no matter what.

P.S. I Love You

Melanie: Why would you want to marry me for, anyhow?

Jake: So I can kiss you anytime I want.

Sweet Home Alabama

Take my hand, take my whole life too.

For I can’t help falling in love with you.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Elvis Presley

I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

Pride & Prejudice

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Dr. Seuss

Yours is the first face that I saw

I think I was blind before I met you

Now I don’t know where I am

I don’t know where I’ve been

But I know where I want to go

First Day of My Life

Bright Eyes

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True Love Quotes for the Hopeless Romantic

Whether you’ve found true love or are still looking, you’ll enjoy these true love quotes.

1. “Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.” – Jean de La Fontaine

2. “Two things you will never have to chase: true friends and true love.” – Mandy Hale

3. “You know, true love really matters, friends really matter, family really matters. Being responsible and disciplined and healthy really matters.” – Courtney Thorne-Smith

4. “Celebrate the people in your life who are there because they love you for no other reason than because you are YOU.” – Mandy Hale

5. “True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating, and its devotion is real and abiding.” – Ellen G. White

6. “True love brings up everything – you’re allowing a mirror to be held up to you daily.” – Jennifer Aniston

7. “True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked.” – Erich Segal

8. “True love is selfless. It is prepared to sacrifice.” – Sadhu Vaswani

9. “My brothers and sisters, true love is a reflection of the Savior’s love. In December of each year we call it the Christmas spirit. You can hear it. You can see it. You can feel it.” – Thomas S. Monson

10. “People will walk in and walk out of your life, but the one whose footstep made a long-lasting impression is the one you should never allow to walk out.” – Michael Bassey Johnson

11. “True love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart.” – Honore de Balzac

12. “Real love is always chaotic. You lose control; you lose perspective. You lose the ability to protect yourself. The greater the love, the greater the chaos. It’s a given and that’s the secret.” ― Jonathan Carroll

13. “True love doesn’t happen right away; it’s an ever-growing process. It develops after you’ve gone through many ups and downs, when you’ve suffered together, cried together, laughed together.” – Ricardo Montalban

14. “True love is not the number of kisses, or how often you get them, true love is the feeling that still lingers long after the kiss is over.” – Unknown

15. “True love, to me, is when she’s the first thought that goes through your head when you wake up and the last thought that goes through your head before you go to sleep.” – Justin Timberlake

For plenty more romantic content, check out www.jubimedia.com.

Fifty Shades: How fan fiction turned into a worldwide phenomenon

British author EL James could not have possibly imagined the runaway success of her Fifty Shades novels when she first started writing them a decade ago.

James was inspired to start writing after seeing the film Twilight and reading the novels which had inspired the movie. However, she confesses that she had no initial aspirations of becoming a novelist. She wrote fan fiction based on her love of Twilight and published each installment on fan websites. 

The original work was entitled Master of the Universe, however, it quickly morphed in to the beginnings of her first novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

The book tells the story of the relationship between a rich and handsome businessman Christian Gray and Anastasia Steele, who is college graduate who meets Gray when she is sent to interview him for a newspaper. The books achieved huge publicity due to its erotic nature, with scenes detailing bondage, dominance and submission.

The book was initially self-published on James’s own website and made available in ebook format. It steadily gathered a following, leading to the rights for the book being snapped up by Vintage Books and soon it was filling shelves in bookstores around the world.

James’s initial writings formed part of a trilogy which eventually led to the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. All three books have since been made into movies starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.

Although they received poor critical response, the books have sold over 125 million copies worldwide and earned EL James $95 million.

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Romantic festive date ideas

With the festive season drawing very near, it’s the time for Christmas markets, winter strolls and movie nights in - that you can’t really get a better romantic time of year. If you’re thinking about planning a romantic festive date, here are a few ideas:

Festive movie night in - It’s no doubt Christmas movies are some of the best and joyful movies available, that a movie night in with your other half is the perfect romantic idea. You can put up fairy lights, turn on the fire and buy loads of festive snack as you cuddle and enjoy all the very best Christmas movies.

Visit a local Christmas market - At this time of year loads of towns and cities run their own Christmas markets, and a little stroll around makes for the perfect date idea. Imagine you both wrapped up in your coats, sipping mulled wine, and buying all the little trinkets as you walk by.

Go to a Christmas light switch on - Like the markets, a Christmas light switch on is ever so festive and have a beautiful atmosphere. Huddle together, grab a hot chocolate and countdown to the switch on.

Bake Christmas goodies together - Festive baking is always a good idea and doing it with the one you love is extra fun. Google which recipes you’d like to do and go for it. Think gingerbread houses, cookies, cupcakes and more.

Go ice skating - If you picture New York at Christmas, ice skating is always the first thought so embrace that and head to your local rink.

For more romantic festive date idea inspiration, discover a collection of romance novels at www.jubimedia.com.