Dating isn’t just a young man’s game. The flames of romance can begin to burn at any stage of life, taking hold of college-bound teenagers, middle-aged spinsters and retired divorcees alike.
To celebrate this agelessness of love, we’ve compiled a list of 7 later-in-life romances for you to read — or, better yet, listen to on audiobook! From tender and endearing to wild and funny, there’s a romance here for everyone to enjoy.
Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch by Carolyn Brown
Retired combat medic Jesse Ryan returns home to help take care of his aging foster parents and run Sunflower Ranch. But when he gets there, he finds his parents’ live-in nurse is Addison Hall, his high school best friend and the woman he always regretted leaving behind. He’s not at all surprised that their chemistry is still sparking, but Jesse is shocked to learn Addy gave birth to a little girl about nine months after he left — his little girl. Addy has her hands full as a single mom, the last thing she needs is Jesse Ryan complicating her life even further. But the more time she spends with Jesse, the more she wonders what might happen if they finally let their friendship blossom into something more and become the family she’d always hoped for.
Henderson House by Caren Simpson McVicker
In May 1941, Bartlesville, Oklahoma hums with talk of spring flowers, fishing derbies, and the growing war in Europe. And for the residents of a quiet neighborhood boarding house, the winds of change are blowing. Self-proclaimed spinster Bessie Blackwell is the reluctant owner of a new pair of glasses. The landlady, Mrs. Henderson, senses that the new tenant, Frank Davis, could throw Bessie’s spinster status into question with his gentle eyes and ready smile. But the scar on his forehead and rumors of divorce speak of a troubled past. Bessie’s sister, Florence, knows all about troubled pasts. In a desperate attempt to undermine Bessie’s budding romance, Florence exposes the sisters’ darkest secret. A secret that will change their lives, and the lives of those they love, forever.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart
When Olivia’s grown kids set her up with a fake date to her ex-husband’s tropical island wedding, she expects sun, sand and plenty of fruity cocktails — not steamy nights with a shirtless pro hockey player! Roman might be all swagger on the ice, but this growly, egotistical male model of perfection has a soft side too. While Olivia battles dresses made for twenty-somethings, awkward run-ins with her ex, and unwelcome hot flashes, Roman is there to distract her with flirty compliments and make her feel vibrant and ageless. As good as it feels, none of this is real — but as the big day approaches and the two grow closer, Olivia starts to wonder if he could be her shot at a real happily ever after.
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer’s affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books’ previous owners. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers’ tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about the two authors, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story — and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.
The Half of It by Juliette Fay
When 58-year-old Helen Spencer reviews her life, what she sees are a series of mistakes. She can even pinpoint where it all started to go awry: a wonderous, romantic night in the woods her senior year of high school with a boy named Cal Crosby. A night she would soon work hard to forget. Forty years, one marriage, three children, and one grandbaby later, suddenly there he is, right in front of her with grandchildren of his own in tow. The chance to finally get some answers and sort out what happened is within reach. But Helen would much prefer not to face what happened that night, and all the fury, hurt and sorrow that followed. But Cal is ready to talk. He has no idea of the can of worms he’s about to open. In fact, he doesn’t know the half of it. (Read the full BookTrib review here.)
Key Lime Garden Inn by Annie Cabot
Everything about Daniel and Maggie Wheelers’ life seems full of joy and love — just as long as no one looks too closely. When Daniel makes an announcement that Maggie never anticipated, her world is turned upside down. With her faith in everything she has ever known completely shattered, Maggie is forced to look within to understand how she ended up where she is. It will take all her courage to forge a new life for herself and her family. A trip to Captiva Island, Florida, new friends, a beloved property, and a handsome stranger open a new world with exciting possibilities for Maggie and a belief that just when you think that you can’t go on, a beautiful future awaits.
Dirty Little Midlife Crisis by Lilian Monroe
Forty-five, recently divorced and a certified hot mess, the last thing Fiona needs to start her vacation is a flooded hotel room and a broken-down car… Alas, that’s what she gets. She’s ready to pack it all in and go home when her knight in a wet T-shirt strides in to save the day. Jaw-dropping, panty-melting Grant Greene takes the ‘mess’ out of ‘certified hot mess’ when he walks up to Fiona and offers her a room to stay. No strings attached. Great, right? It would be, apart from the sparks that immediately start to fly. Sparks are bad. Sparks are dangerous. Sparks can cause a fire. And for a divorcee trying to start over, a fire is really bad news. But bad decisions can be fun…right? Just as long as you don’t get burned…
English (US) · 