Amanda Diehl

RomanceHistorical RomanceContemporary Romance

School is in session

Feature by Amanda Diehl

In romance, the teaching occupation transcends time and subgenres. Reasoning with a kid, whether it’s a toddler or a teen, can require some unshakeable persistence, and the teacher heroines of these two romances are patient, empathetic and just a bit stubborn. It’s no wonder that when faced with these determined women, two guarded heroes finally take a chance on love.

The latest installment in Marie Harte’s Turn Up the Heat series, Hot for You, finds multiple meanings in the phrase “hot for teacher” as a love-shy firefighter meets a charming teacher and her daughter amid disastrous circumstances. 

Firefighter Reggie Morgan first encounters Maggie Swanson when she’s lying unconscious on the side of the road. Minutes earlier, Maggie and her 6-year-old daughter, Emily, had stopped to rescue a stray puppy, and the young teacher was clipped by a passing car. When Reggie responds to the hit-and-run call, he finds a distraught girl, one ugly dog and a woman in need of medical attention. 

Maggie’s injuries aren’t serious, but thanks to a fracture, her dominant arm has to be in a sling for several weeks. Reggie can’t help but check up on her, which puts him at risk of breaking his personal rules about avoiding serious romantic relationships. Maggie, on the other hand, is quickly and uncomplicatedly attracted to Reggie. After all, he made quite an impressive knight in shining armor, and Emily and Reggie get on like a house on fire. But Maggie senses there is something beneath the affable firefighter’s exterior that holds him back. 

Reggie is an attentive and kind hero whose previous relationship with another single mother ended with him nursing a seriously broken heart. Maggie slowly coaxes him to trust her and their feelings for each other, giving this tender love story an emotionally resonant arc as Reggie learns to be vulnerable again. As an added bonus, Harte throws some wonderful puppy hijinks into the mix of this sizzling and sweet contemporary romance.

Author Anna Bennett offers a Regency take on the teacher heroine and kicks off a new series with Girls Before Earls, an angsty historical romance between a headmistress and a slightly curmudgeonly earl.

Gabriel “Blade” Beckett, Earl of Bladenton, has had it with his teenage niece and ward, Kitty, who has been kicked out of several schools. His attention is firmly set on making an advantageous match in London, and Kitty’s scandalous behaviour is driving him to distraction. He hopes to find her another school, far away from his life and London, and sets his sights on the seaside Bellehaven Academy.

Hazel Lively, the headmistress of Bellehaven, has settled into her spinsterhood (she’s practically ancient, having reached her late 20s) and dreams of turning her struggling school into a success. Hazel and Blade immediately lock horns when he arrives to enroll Kitty in Bellehaven, as Hazel correctly senses that Kitty is acting out because of her distant relationship with her uncle. Hazel declares that she’ll agree to admit Kitty on one condition: Blade must visit every two weeks. 

That two-week space between encounters places Girls Before Earls firmly in the delicious slow burn category. Readers who love a bit of banter and antagonism between the leads will especially love this romance, as Hazel and Blade are natural opposites with diametrically different approaches to life. Hazel is a dreamer who wants to nurture the minds of young women and help them on their paths to greatness. Meanwhile, Blade is pragmatic and dry, with a mind for business and structure. Bennett keeps the relational momentum going with each new scene Hazel and Blade share and with every obstacle they need to overcome. It’s quite the uphill battle to happily ever after, but despite her lofty ideals, Hazel is a tenacious force to be reckoned with. Blade may be stubborn, but he never stood a chance against a headmistress who dedicates her time to teenage girls.

Bennett knocks it out of the park while also setting up plenty of opportunities for side characters to get their own love story in future installments. The entertaining Girls Before Earls is an utter delight until the very last page.

Two teacher heroines give their respective heroes lessons in love.
RomanceContemporary Romance

A Certain Appeal

Review by Amanda Diehl

A Certain Appeal is a rompy and raunchy retelling of Pride & Prejudice—with a burlesque twist. The Jane Austen inspiration is clear, but debut novelist Vanessa King excels at infusing her own fresh voice and sparkling ideas into this contemporary romance.

Liz Bennet had dreams of becoming an interior designer, but her career in Los Angeles crashed and burned before it really even got off the ground. Looking for a new start, she heads to New York City and quickly falls into a routine with Jane—in this retelling a Black, gay man who is Liz’s best friend and roommate. By day, Liz works as an executive assistant. But at night, she’s at the Meryton, a burlesque club in Manhattan where Jane is employed as a singer. Liz is a “stage kitten,” tasked with picking up after the performers and collecting their discarded bits of costuming.

Stuffy, buttoned-up wealth manager Will Darcy certainly isn’t prepared to attend a show at the Meryton but goes along with his friend Charles, who’s interested in investing in the club. He’s quite taken aback by Liz’s flirtatious nature, and when Liz overhears Darcy describe her as merely “tolerable,” the stage kitten shows her claws. Liz is a confident and saucy heroine, always ready with a sly innuendo or a sharp, witty remark. It’s a torturous delight watching her unravel the starchy Darcy. 

Despite that disastrous first impression, the pair keep crossing paths thanks to Jane and Charles’ whirlwind romance, graduating from acquaintances to confidants to something much more. It’s a slow burn that keeps its momentum, even amid all the fun of King’s detailed, luxe descriptions of buzzing nightlife, sexy show performances and extravagant costumes.

There is some additional conflict as Darcy and Liz explore their romantic connection: The Meryton is at risk of closing, and rumors swirl around Darcy’s past. But these factors don’t take much focus away from the romance, giving the large cast of side characters time to flourish. (Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see more of aerialists named Ginn and Tonic?)

Fans of the source material will have an immeasurable amount of fun identifying all the Easter eggs within, from recognizable characters to dialogue that harkens back to the original text. King captures the magical feeling of seeing New York City awash in lights, and the electric hum of a rapt crowd during a live performance. There is something both cozy and thrilling about the Meryton and its found family of performers, and readers will be sad to leave them.

A Certain Appeal is incredibly charming, and it knows it. The only big questions left are what King will write next and when can we read it?

A rompy, raunchy retelling of Pride & Prejudice with a burlesque twist, A Certain Appeal is incredibly charming and it knows it.
RomanceHistorical Romance

A new crop of wallflowers

Feature by Amanda Diehl

There are few things more iconic in the subgenre of historical romance than a wallflower, especially one who brings a rake or otherwise scandalous personage to their knees. Two new historical romances showcase the allure and adaptability of this beloved storyline.

Erica Ridley’s The Perks of Loving a Wallflower is a sapphic Regency romp that radiates all the good, fuzzy feelings readers want in a romance.

Bookish bluestocking Philippa York is sick of her meddling mother’s constant insistence that Philippa find a titled, wealthy man to wed. She doesn’t really believe in love, and she is content to remain a wallflower; despite the many suitors thrown her way, her heart refuses to beat faster. Her attention lies with her reading club, and with her quest to help one of her fellow members, Damaris, get credit for a cipher she created that was then stolen by her uncle. 

Damaris has also enlisted the aid of the wealthy, eccentric Wynchester family, as they have something of a reputation for vigilante justice. Thomasina “Tommy” Wynchester is a master of disguise. She and her siblings aren’t often welcomed by the more particular and upper-crust members of society, but that hasn’t stopped her from developing a crush on Philippa, whom she views as entirely out of her league. When Tommy and her family accept Damaris’ case, Tommy takes the opportunity to act on her feelings and help Damaris at the same time by posing as a charming baron named Horace Wynchester, a ruse that is quickly revealed to Philippa. The adorable interactions between “Horace” and Philippa soon give way to a delightful friendship between Tommy and Philippa, and then to a sweet romance.

In a sea of recent feminist historical romances, The Perks of Loving a Wallflower stands out due to its incisive examination of gender and sexuality. Philippa discovers that she’s not incapable of love; she simply has no interest in exploring it with men. Tommy uses disguises and cross-dressing to explore gender fluidity. When Tommy gets involved in Philippa’s quest, various hijinks ensue, and the interactions between the two winsome leads are what readers will remember most. There’s not a scene with Tommy and Philippa in it that doesn’t produce cheek-aching smiles.

Joanna Shupe’s sexy new Gilded Age romance, The Lady Gets Lucky, pairs an ambitious scoundrel who dreams of opening a supper club with a shy heiress looking to escape her horrible mother and marry for love. 

Handsome rake Christopher “Kit” Ward and desperate heiress Alice Lusk first meet at a house party in Newport, Rhode Island, where they come up with a mutually beneficial arrangement. Kit will teach Alice, who wants to escape her overbearing mother and marry for love, how to be desirable for more than just her dowry. In return, Alice will help Kit launch his supper club by passing along recipes from a famed chef who used to work in her household. 

Shupe excels at bringing to life the glamour and social climbing of the Gilded Age, which is especially refreshing given how the Regency and Victorian eras dominate historical romance. Alice is a trademark Shupe heroine who longs to pursue her goals and ambitions on her own terms. Not only does she want a full, loving marriage, but she has dreams of becoming a chef, something that Kit carefully facilitates for her at his club in scenes that will delight readers who have been enjoying the recent surge of foodie romances. And despite his bad reputation, Kit wants to be known and appreciated for more than just his rakish ways. It’s a joy watching the two of them support each other in their endeavors.

The Lady Gets Lucky,the second in Shupe’s Fifth Avenue Rebels series, is another well-balanced romance from this talented author, who weaves emotion, personal growth and some truly sizzling sex scenes together with effortless period detail.

Two historical romances showcase the allure and adaptability of the wallflower.
Romance

Crime in corsets

Feature by Amanda Diehl

For readers who love a little intrigue with their historical romances, A Devil of a Duke by Madeline Hunter and Lady Rogue by Theresa Romain are two great contenders for your keeper shelf.

TO CATCH A THIEF
Amanda Waverly has found an unlikely home with Lady Farnsworth. She’s taken up the unlikely position as the noblewoman’s secretary, joining a team of women as they work to publish a lady’s journal, Parnassus. But unbeknownst to the elevated society in which she’s found herself, Amanda left behind a rather scandalous upbringing as the prodigy of two thieves. When her past comes calling, Amanda is worried that her new life is in great jeopardy.

Gabriel St. James is handsome and possibly too nosy for his own good—the man loves a challenge. When he foils a mysterious and rather gorgeous thief’s con, he’s unable to rest until he discovers her true identity. His quest puts Amanda in a precarious position. If Gabriel finds out who she really is, the life she’s built will come crumbling down.

The complex Amanda, who’s been living two very different lives, is the star of the show. She slips back into the role of a thief as though it were a second skin. While she’s incredibly smart and capable, being lured back into her criminal past proves to be bittersweet. The friendships Amanda has formed with the other women working on Parnassus are heartwarming, and readers will come to crave any and all scenes where they’re together.

Gabriel is no pushover and practically oozes with charm. He is clearly used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is to know who exactly his new lover is. But up against Amanda, he may be in over his head. Their romance is sexy, with a fun cat-and-mouse vibe. Readers who can’t resist a heroine who is always one step ahead of the hero will want to read A Devil of a Duke immediately.

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT
Lady Isabel Morrow is in quite a pickle when she discovers that her late husband’s precious artwork collection, much of which has already been sold, was full of forgeries. To complicate matters, Isabel is also responsible for her husband’s young cousin, Lucy. Should these forgeries be discovered, the potential scandal would ruin Lucy’s chances at making a suitable marriage. Isabel’s only recourse is to seek out her former lover and Bow Street Runner, Callum Jenks.

After the death of Isabel’s husband, Callum helped investigate its circumstances. His close contact with the young widow turned into something more, but their fling was short-lived and ended on good terms. Callum never expected to be thrust into Isabel’s life once more. As the son of a grocer, Callum knows he’s playing with fire by being around the well-known woman.

Callum agrees to help Isabel out, as a “friend” of course—he’d hate to see Isabel be scandalized by criminal activities of which she had no prior knowledge. Their best course of action is to replace the fakes with the originals, a monumental task that brings with it a very real sense of danger.

Lady Rogue isn’t your typical heist story. Rather than a cunning thief stealing precious works of art, Isabel is simply trying to restore her husband’s collection and get to the bottom of the forgeries’ origin. Callum obviously still carries a deep affection for Isabel, and the lengths to which he’d go to help her are very sweet. Isabel sees the art as the last tie to her past, and she’s looking for a fresh start. To discover this deception, when she’s so close to shedding all these things that have caused her such grief and an intense emotional burden, is incredibly sad for her. (Let Isabel be happy already!)

While A Devil of a Duke does a better job with the specific aspects of its crime, given the heroine is actually a thief, Lady Rogue has a more engrossing mystery with art forgeries and the strange death of Lady Isabel’s husband. If you love a good, caring beta hero making awkward flirtations around the heroine, Callum is the clear winner. Prefer winsome, silver-tongued rakes? Gabriel is your man! Though you certainly can’t go wrong with reading both books.

For readers who love a little intrigue with their historical romances, A Devil of a Duke by Madeline Hunter and Lady Rogue by Theresa Romain are two great contenders for your keeper shelf.

Romance

Pick your poison

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Angels, shifters and vamps—oh my! If you’re looking for something supernatural and sexy this Halloween season, these three action-packed page turners will satisfy your cravings for a happily ever after.

Highway to Hell

Jeaniene Frost, bestselling author of the Night Huntress books, begins her spinoff Night Rebel series with an incredibly fun, international paranormal adventure.

Veritas and Ian could not be more opposite. Veritas is older, wiser and the walking personification of justice given that she’s tasked with tracking down rogue immortals. Ian loves his vices. In fact, when readers first meet him, he’s hosting a circus themed orgy while wearing nothing but a ringmaster’s coat. But together they have a common enemy, and Veritas desperately needs Ian’s help in vanquishing a demon named Dagon.

Cue a road trip with a supernatural twist as the pair search the world trying to track down Dagon and goad him into a confrontation. Their antagonistic banter is hilarious as Ian tries relentlessly to rankle the serious immortal he’s found himself stuck with. But as we all know, trading barbs is typically the first indicator of amazing romantic chemistry. With danger lurking around every corner as the pair try to maintain the upper hand against Dagon, Shades of Wicked is a quick read that will leave readers breathless, full of adrenaline and begging Ian and Veritas to just kiss already.

Pack Mentality

The Leopard People series continues with this ferocious opposites attract romance between a bad boy and a cute barista with something to hide.

Leopard shifter Timur Amurov has two mottos: trust no one, and family is everything. Which is why he’s suspicious of his sister-in-law’s new bakery employee. After escaping from the abuse of his father, Timur has devoted himself to protecting his brother and his brother’s mate. And while Ashe, the new barista at the bakery, seems like a normal woman just passing through and in need of a job, he senses there are quite a few things she isn’t telling him.

There’s an addictive push and pull between Timur and Ashe as he tries to suss out all of her secrets and Ashe tries to resist giving in to the irresistible attraction she feels for the shifter. Their chemistry is off the charts and fans of protective alpha heroes will undoubtedly enjoy the way Timur looks out for those he loves.

Punctuated with plenty of danger and delicious tension, Leopard’s Run is a wild ride with a sizzling, passionate romance at its heart.

Apocalypse Now

Nalini Singh returns to her Guild Hunter series with Archangel’s Prophecy, featuring everyone’s favorite archangel, Raphael and his warrior consort, Elena.

Elena was once a human, but no longer. As the first human-turned-angel, she’s literally one of a kind, possessing fantastic powers and a unique set of wings. But something is wrong. Elena is starting to weaken and her angelic transformation is regressing. However, this soon becomes the least of Elena and Raphael’s problems.

Lava-filled sinkholes are opening up in the middle of New York. An archangel has gone mad. Weather has become sudden and unpredictable. It’s clear that something is very wrong.

Fans of the Guild Hunter books will welcome the return of the series’ central couple to the spotlight as Raphael tries to save his consort, and Elena tries to save the world. Packed with action, twists and plenty of favorite secondary characters, Archangel’s Prophecy is another worthy installment as Singh deftly balances a threat of apocalyptic proportions with a seemingly mundane (in comparison), sweet romance between an archangel and his formerly human lover. Singh’s latest is a jaw-dropping, thrilling read.

Angels, shifters and vamps—oh my! If you’re looking for something supernatural and sexy this Halloween season, these three action-packed page turners will satisfy your cravings for a happily ever after.

Romance

The fine line between love and hate

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Tensions run hot, but chemistry runs even hotter in these two enemies-to-lovers romances. Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners transports two prickly siblings-in-law to gorgeous Maui, where the fiction of a honeymoon becomes quite real. And The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker gets creative with live theatre, as a snarky critic butts heads with an actress who comes from a theatrical dynasty.

Olive Torres and Ethan Thomas’ siblings were due to be married and off to Hawaii for their honeymoon. But when a food-borne illness ravages the wedding party, Olive and Ethan are the only two left standing. With the honeymoon nonrefundable, both bride and groom insist they go in their stead. The only problem is that Olive and Ethan don’t exactly get along. In fact, simply uttering a kind word to each other would take an act of god.

They set off for Maui with the understanding that, once there, they would do their own thing until the honeymoon is up. Unfortunately, familiar faces pop up in paradise, and Ethan and Olive get caught up in their newlywed charade. As they enjoy a couple’s massage, snorkeling and even a frustrating game of paintball, Olive and Ethan realize that their dislike stems from terrible first impressions on both sides. Though, when a huge secret is revealed, any hope for a friendship, let alone a romantic relationship, seems to be heartbreakingly dashed.

Filled with Christina Lauren’s seamless blend of wit and romance, and peppered with adorably nerdy moments, The Unhoneymooners perfectly illustrates how easy it is to get swept up in the tranquil bubble of a tropical vacation, where everything seems perfect, your nemesis looks positively criminal in their bathing suit and mai tais are a powerful, transformative truth serum. But what happens when real life resumes? If you can’t make it to a gorgeous Hawaiian beach, this warm and bubbly romance isn’t a bad substitute for sunny relaxation.

Though The Austen Playbook doesn’t have sandy beaches, the insular setting of a live television production amps up the stakes of this romance. Freddy Carlton is a veteran of the theatre scene, having started her career at the age of 11. When she’s cast in a new interactive murder mystery play titled The Austen Playbook, there’s only one thing that can dampen her excitement: James “Griff” Ford-Griffin.

Griff is one of the toughest theatre critics around, known for his caustic reviews and harsh sarcasm. He also panned one of Freddy’s recent performances. Too bad for Freddy that Griff is personally invested in The Austen Playbook, as the production will be performed at his family’s estate.

Freddy is an eternal optimist, a direct contrast to Griff’s more grumpy nature. With the two temporarily fixed in each other’s orbit during the play’s production, Griff’s moody disposition is hopelessly drawn to Freddy’s infectious and affable nature. If a live TV production wasn’t enough to tip Freddy and Griff’s relationship over the edge, there are high-strung actors, fraught moments of backstage cattiness and juicy family secrets. Learning her lines is the least of Freddy’s worries. Both Freddy and Griff have their own motivations for making the show a success, but flirtations, scandals and schemes push the pair to their limits.

Charming and honestly just plain fun, The Austen Playbook should be an immediate hit with Austen fans and theatre geeks.

Tensions run hot, but chemistry runs even hotter in these two enemies-to-lovers romances: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren and The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker.

Romance

Perfect poolside reading

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Summertime is prime time for reading! Whether you’re poolside with a cool drink or soaking up the sun on a sandy beach, these romances will make great company for any reader. Whether you love British werewolves, wicked wagers or a mix of sugar and spice, we have three books that are sure to satisfy.

For fans of contemporary romance

In Zuri Day’s Sweet Heat, tensions run high as two cooks battle their attraction and each other on a televised cooking contest.

With $50,000 on the line, Marvin Carter and Naomi Carson have no desire to get friendly. Both have their own dreams of how they want to spend the prize money to advance their culinary careers, and falling in love doesn’t factor into their plans. But as the stakes become steadily higher for Marvin and Naomi, close quarters and fierce competition have a way of producing unexpected results. With meddling contestants and scenarios that require keeping cool under pressure, their romance is hard won but so worth it.

Family and food is at the center of this delicious contemporary romance. (Seriously, don’t read this romance while hungry.) Marvin and Naomi’s banter crackles with electricity. Neither one wants to show the first sign of weakness, but their flirtation comes so naturally. Naomi is a tour de force with her soul food cooking, but she knows early on that she needs to keep Marvin from being her ultimate distraction. But loyal, lovable Marvin is quite the keeper, and he creates the most amazing desserts. The competitive setting is an entertaining backdrop, keeping the main characters conflicted as their ambitions are pitted against finding love. Of course, who says you can’t have both?

Fans of cooking shows and foodie romances will devour Sweet Heat.

For fans of paranormal romance

Paige Tyler returns to her SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series in Wolf Instinct, a romance between a werewolf in desperate need of answers and an FBI agent who is after things that go bump in the night.

SWAT werewolf Zane Kendrick and FBI agent Alyssa Carson are immediately attracted to one another when they cross paths during an investigation. There’s just one huge complication. Zane senses that Alyssa is his mate. Too bad that she hunts supernatural beings like him, and he isn’t sure she can see him as anything but a monster. Meanwhile, Alyssa is used to working alone. Teaming up with a partner is foreign to her, especially one who clearly isn’t a typical human.

Alyssa is an admirable, resilient and smart heroine as she investigates why several missing people have turned up dead and drained of blood. As her inquiries lead her to the hunky (and British!) Zane, she reluctantly agrees to join forces. Her own reservations about Zane are put aside in the face of finding this vicious attacker. Tyler’s pacing is perfect for relaxing in the summer sun, as the action keeps things effortlessly moving. While the thriller elements add a shot of adrenaline, the real conflict comes from whether Alyssa can accept Zane as a man and not a monster.

Wolf Instinct is a great choice for readers who love tough heroines and a romance that develops in the face of danger.

For fans of historical romance

A battle of wills ignites between a woman longing for adventure and a man hiding from the world in Say No to the Duke.

Betsy Wilde has resigned herself to playing the perfect lady. She’ll marry a respectable gentleman and abide by society’s rules, but before that, she just wants one taste of being a little less than proper. Lord Jeremy Roden has exiled himself to the Wilde family estate, Lindow Castle, after being offered solace by Betsy’s brother. While Jeremy contends with the difficulties he’s facing from war and his lingering PTSD, Betsy proves to be a perfect distraction. And when he gets wind that she’s after a bit of excitement before marriage, Jeremy makes a dangerous proposal over a game of billiards. If Betsy wins the game, Jeremy will help Betsy disguise herself as a man and let her experience things most women cannot. If he wins, Betsy must share the night with him. He doesn’t expect her to call his bluff, hoping to scandalize her with his suggestion.

This is another entertaining romp of a romance from New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James, but it also explores the deep insecurities of both Betsy and Jeremy. Betsy is still paying for her unfaithful mother’s shocking behavior. She’s unable to be herself, always living in her mother’s shadow. Torn between doing what’s expected of her as the eldest daughter and pursuing her own passions, Betsy worries her own happiness isn’t worth her family’s status. Jeremy is battling his own demons, hiding his genuine and sensitive nature behind rakish behavior.

James’ wit and wordplay has never been better in this lovely romance marked with tenderness, shining moments of emotional bravery and the central notion that girls just want to have fun.

Summertime is prime time for reading! Whether you’re poolside with a cool drink or soaking up the sun on a sandy beach, these romances will make great company for any reader. Whether you love British werewolves, wicked wagers or a mix of sugar and spice, we have three books that are sure to satisfy.

Romance

Rich girls of romance

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Some say that girls just want to have fun, but fun backed by a hefty bank account is on a whole other level. Whether you’re a historical romance reader or prefer something a bit more contemporary, these two heroines are determined to take control of their lives—and with the privilege of wealth, the sky’s the limit.

Laura Lee Guhrke returns to her Dear Lady Truelove series with an heiress ready to find a husband and the stuffy guardian determined to reign in her reckless behavior in Heiress Gone Wild.

Jonathan Deverill made a vow to a dying friend that he’d become the guardian to his daughter, Marjorie. When he goes to collect the young woman from school in New York, he is shocked to find an adult and not some pink-cheeked runt of a girl. Eager to spend her inheritance and to make up for all the lost time spent secluded at a finishing school, Marjorie McGann hopes Jonathan will steer her away from any suspected fortune hunters but still give her a proper London season.

The couple butts heads quite often, as Marjorie’s carefree and oftentimes wild behavior scandalizes the buttoned-up Brit. Marjorie uses her flighty personality to mask her grief at having lost her father. She had hoped for a touching reunion, but loneliness quickly sets in. Her father is gone and the only thing she has to show for it is money. No memories. No adventures. She wants to rectify that and readers will be eager to see her succeed in finding happiness. Jonathan is tougher to like, given his closed off and at times snooty attitude. But romance fans who love stories with brazen heroines urging their heroes to let loose will find a winner in Guhrke’s setup.

After a frothy and bubbly start, Heiress Gone Wild quickly deepens into a tender tale of reclaiming lives half-lived.

In a more contemporary tale of escapism, Love on Lexington Avenue follows a young widow in uptown New York City as she clashes with a rugged contractor.

Claire Hayes is struggling to cope with the death of her husband, mainly because she just discovered he was a serial cheater and that certainly doesn’t mix well with grief. Now she’s ready to clean house and gut her Upper East Side brownstone in an effort to redefine herself following a tragedy and betrayal all in one. Unfortunately, contractor Scott Turner has the impression that Claire is nothing but a spoiled socialite who married for money.

Everyone knows that home renovations never go smoothly and as the complications pile up, so does Claire and Scott’s chemistry. These opposites definitely attract and in an attempt to the cool the building tension, they agree to a temporary, no-strings-attached affair. (That never works out well in romance.) Inevitably feelings get involved and the gruff, blue-collar, flannel-wearing contractor isn’t satisfied with having Claire in just the bedroom.

The emphasis on female friendship is a lovely bonus in Love on Lexington Avenue and the entire Central Park Pact series. It’s a great example of women supporting women through ups and downs and feels very reminiscent of “Sex and the City,” if that’s your jam. Author Lauren Layne is a master at sexy banter and funny dialogue. Add in some girl power and a man who knows his way around his power tools, and this one is a real winner.

Some say that girls just want to have fun, but fun backed by a hefty bank account is on a whole other level.

Romance

Cozy and charming historical romances

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Take your coziness to the next level with three new historical romances that’ll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, inside and out.

Anyone but a Duke
In Anyone but a Duke by Betina Krahn, the quiet of a country estate is shattered when its mysterious owner returns to find a troublesome American woman managing its grounds.

Sarah Bumgarten has had it with the London aristocracy after being publicly rejected and has sworn off arrogant, titled men. Her only recourse is to lick her wounds in private at the Betancourt estate. The owner, the sibling of her brother-in-law, is presumed dead, and Sarah is grateful for the distraction of rehabbing the grounds.

But things quickly go awry when Arthur “Art” Michael Randolph Graham, the definitely not-dead owner of Betancourt, arrives injured on Sarah’s doorstep. It takes a village in despair and a greedy band of thieves for Sarah and Art to realize that the only way they can solve their problems and restore Betancourt to its former glory is to do it together.

Krahn’s subtle, insightful writing creates wonderfully tender scenes between the main characters. But don’t be fooled by the mischievous coterie of animals or the bucolic setting—Sarah and Art are survivors. The romance unfolds slowly and sweetly, with both Art and Sarah healing their emotional and physical wounds through love and understanding.

Forever and a Duke
Grace Burrowes puts a gender-swapped, historical spin on a “beauty and the geek” premise in Forever and a Duke.

Eleanora Hatfield hides behind numbers. Math makes sense, and she’s good at it. Of course, her workaholic behavior and all-business, no-nonsense attitude have absolutely nothing to do with the past she’d prefer to keep hidden. But when her abilities are recommended to the Duke of Elsmore, Wrexham “Rex” Dorset, she frets at leaving the safety and comfort of her bank job, though she’s not in a position to refuse.

Rex dearly loves his family, especially his sisters, and with so many accounts to run and lands to oversee, no one can blame him for being a little scatterbrained. With his sisters approaching the age to be wed, he realizes he needs to get his affairs in order, and Eleanora comes highly recommended.

And then Rex falls head over heels in love. He admires Eleanora’s knack with numbers, and while Eleanora may also be developing a crush, she knows a future together is nonexistent. Forever and a Duke is a lovely romance with a hero unabashedly embracing the feelings he has for the heroine (it is the sweetest thing) and the heroine doing everything she can to not fall madly in love with him. File this one under fun, flirty and just a little nerdy.

The Princess Plan
A Cinderella story between a privileged prince and a snarky spinster gets the royal treatment in Julia London’s The Princess Plan.

Sebastian is the crown prince of the fictional kingdom of Alucia, and he has a lot on his shoulders. He needs to broker a trade agreement with England, find an English wife to bolster the countries’ alliance and catch the person responsible for murdering his best friend. It’s, well . . . a lot. What he doesn’t need is a women’s gossip magazine spreading rumors and false accusations.

Enter Eliza Tricklebank: a judge’s daughter, co-publisher of Honeycutt’s Gazette of Fashion and Domesticity for Ladies, a repairer of fine clocks and the largest thorn in Sebastian’s side.

Eliza and Sebastian’s quippy banter is just a means of foreplay. They’re well-matched in terms of intelligence and personality, despite the glaring disparity in their titles. Eliza is a wonderfully feminist heroine whose actions are always punctuated with a scathing one-liner or wry observation. And Sebastian . . . sweet Sebastian! He is a true romantic hero, who loves Eliza wholly and completely as she is.

Steeped in fairy-tale elements—a prince, a ball, a crown—The Princess Plan is a sparkling introduction to a new series by London.

To take your coziness to the next level, check out these three new historical romances that’ll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, inside and out.

Romance

Two moving and magical paranormal romances

Feature by Amanda Diehl

The latest additions to two established paranormal romance series are sure to add a bit of bite to your reading pile. Christine Feehan's Dark Song and Maria Vale's Season of the Wolf don't just share characters with fearsome abilities; they also share a thematic interest in exploring how women handle trauma, whether it's being experienced personally or by someone else. These two authors are deep, dark and daring as they create and celebrate their complex heroines.

Dark Song marks the 30th title in Feehan’s Carpathian series and brings together two Carpathians (ancient beings who fight against vampires, for the uninitiated). Elisabeta Trigovise’s life has been nothing but centuries of torture and pain at the hands of an ancient vampire. It isn’t until she’s rescued and brought to a secure compound that she finally feels peace, though she fears it’s only temporary. Ferro Arany, a stoic, fabled warrior who is one of the oldest Carpathians, is surprised to learn that Elisabeta is his life mate. It’s a connection that doesn’t quite fit in either of their lives, but both are compelled to respond to its call.

Elisabeta is a fragile heroine. Hundreds of years of abuse have left her mind warped, and she doesn’t believe she deserves a mate like Ferro. It’s tragic and heartbreaking to see her wracked by fear and PTSD. While Feehan is known for her domineering alpha heroes, Ferro is attuned to Elisabeta’s pain and provides firm, unwavering support when she needs it.

For readers who prefer a romance that feels like an epic, hard-won love story (don’t worry, there’s a happy ending!), Dark Song will easily fit the bill. Longtime fans of the series will not be disappointed as they finally discover Elisabeta and Ferro’s romance. New readers, I dare you not to dive right into Feehan’s backlist after finishing this one.

It is impossible to overstate how highly the Legend of All Wolves series should rank on a paranormal reader’s bookshelf. Vale’s writing brings to life the isolation of pack life and the harsh wilderness that surrounds the community in Season of the Wolf. If that isn’t a strong enough selling point, please meet the Great North Pack’s Alpha (yes, an Alpha heroine), Evie Kitwanasdottir.

Evie doesn’t have time to deal with her own personal baggage when she has a pack of wolves to watch over and must also maintain her position from those who hope to usurp her. She’s allowed Shifters into the Great North Pack's territory, an unprecedented decision. The alliance between the wolves, who remain in their animal form during the full moon, and their Shifter enemies, who transform at will, is tenuous at best.

Constantine is a Shifter who most wolves view as the greatest threat; he becomes Evie’s personal responsibility. To call this an enemies-to-lovers romance would be apt, but that label feels slightly shallow given the dangerous, bloody history between their people. Constantine’s presence makes Evie question the laws she’s lived by her entire life. She begins to realize that even family can find a way to betray you and that your greatest foe can give you strength and love.

This entire series is beautiful and immersive. Each book just gets better, and readers who love complex world building and mythology will be over the moon. Vale’s romances are a treat to be savored.

The latest additions to two established paranormal romance series are sure to add a bit of bite to your reading pile. Christine Feehan's Dark Song and Maria Vale's Season of the Wolf don't just share characters with fearsome abilities; they also share a thematic interest…

Romance

Hot Scots

Feature by Amanda Diehl

For lovers of Scottish brogues and dashing tartan, these historical romances combine dangerous action and fiery heroines while oozing tropey goodness. Kerrigan Byrne’s All Scot and Bothered follows its heroine as she tries to keep her identity a secret while running a recently inherited gaming hell. Meanwhile, a gruff highlander’s best friend’s sister becomes his unlikely rescuer in The Highland Laird by Amy Jarecki.

All Scot and Bothered is the second book in the Devil You Know series, featuring a trio of redheaded women (the Red Rogues) with a lasting friendship. Lord Chief Justice of the High Court Cassius Gerard Ramsay (a stuffy title for a stoic man) has launched an investigation against London’s gaming hells amidst the rumors that the most scandalous of them is run by a woman.

Cecelia Teague has always felt like a rug is about to be pulled out from under her. Her life as an orphan took a drastic turn after an enigmatic benefactor sent her to an affluent boarding school, entering her into high society. But now, she’s living a double life following her surprise inheritance of a gambling hall. Caught between her persona as a respectable lady of the ton and her new role as owner of a notorious establishment, Cecelia knows that the man she’s falling in love with is the same one looking to close her hall’s doors forever. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know she’s the mysterious owner he’s sworn to hunt down.

There never was a heroine more adaptable than Cecelia, who takes every drastic turn of her life with aplomb. She always seems to land, cat-like, on her feet; readers will applaud her willingness to tackle a problem and throw herself into a sticky situation. Fearless and fearsome, Cecelia’s quick thinking and breadth of experiences on her journey from rags to riches make her a great foil for the arrogant Cassius.

Cassius is a frustrating hero, with his walled emotions and frankly judgmental interactions. He has a long road to travel on his way to both opening himself up to those around him and broadening his opinions of society (and those who do and don’t get to participate in it in the ways he does). It’s a redemption arc worth reading; readers’ patience is definitely rewarded by the happily ever after.

Byrne makes her couples work for their relationship. She rarely makes it easy on them or on readers. Her historical romances feel almost epic in scope with the number of physical and emotional obstacles needed to be overcome by the heroes and heroines, but by the end of them, you’re left breathless at how she managed to pull such a story off—again. Pick up All Scot and Bothered for a roller coaster ride of smoldering glances, sniffly moments and steamy, sigh-worthy romance.

A dashing forbidden romance is at the heart of Amy Jarecki’s The Highland Laird, the eighth installment in her Lords of the Highlands series. Laird Ciar MacDougall has been imprisoned and is suspected of having murdered a British soldier. Emma Grant has carried a torch for Ciar for the longest time, but there are several reasons why their romance is off-limits. For one, Emma is the sister of Ciar’s best friend, a frequent complication in many romance novels. Secondly, Emma has lived in a rather protected circle of family and friends. Emma has been blind since birth, and was never afforded the same freedoms as her clansmen and women. When she hears of Ciar’s capture, she (and her trusty dog, Albert!) make haste to set him free. It’s a move no one quite expected from the demure Emma, certainly not Ciar.

The scene in which Emma becomes Ciar’s rescuer is both surprising and sweet, and becomes the catalyst for her to start expressing herself as a woman with her own wants and needs. The Highland Laird is as much a story of self-love and identity as it is a romance novel. Full disclosure: I am not a historian and I do not know if the ways Emma has trained Albert to support her are historically accurate. However, any books that include a helpful and/or adorable animal (see my review of A Touch of Stone and Snow by Milla Vane) get bonus points from me.

Though not as dark or angsty as All Scot and Bothered, there is still a delightful push and pull between this main couple. Ciar is particularly tormented, caught between the duty to his clan and the feelings he has for Emma. Is loving her a betrayal of his friendship with her brother? Will it jeopardize clan politics? Will his escape from prison only put her in further danger? These are all questions he faces while on the run with Emma, though their close proximity only muddles things more.

Since the Highlands of Jarecki’s books are teeming with hot Scots, you’d think they’d all start to blur together, but there’s always something new to be found in her leading men and women. Come for Emma’s grand rescue plans and her valiant hound, stay for Ciar absolutely melting for his leading lady.

For lovers of Scottish brogues and dashing tartan, these historical romances combine dangerous action and fiery heroines while oozing tropey goodness. Kerrigan Byrne’s All Scot and Bothered follows its heroine as she tries to keep her identity a secret while running a recently inherited gaming…

Romance

Take my hand

Feature by Amanda Diehl

Readers turn to romance novels for many reasons; they’re a bastion of enduring hope, as things are guaranteed to end well. But another draw is the way romance novels depict how characters who have experienced trauma and anxiety can find ways to heal and cope, with the added bonus of finding a partner who exudes support and acceptance. In these two contemporary romances, authors Sonali Dev and Roni Loren introduce characters whose lives have been changed by violence and fear and who carefully chart their paths toward recovery as well as true love.

Sonali Dev continues her Rajes series of Jane Austen retellings with Incense and Sensibility. Indian American politician Yash Raje has launched himself into the race to become California’s next governor, but while attending a campaign rally, he is the victim of a racist assassination attempt. Although the plot is foiled and he is unharmed, Yash is deeply traumatized. Being the direct target of gun violence leaves him anxious and fearful, despite the boost it’s giving him in the polls. 

Yash wants to treat his anxiety and PTSD before their severity is made public, so he seeks help from India Dashwood, a stress-management coach and yoga teacher. The situation is complicated by the fact that India isn’t a stranger to Yash; the two had a passionate affair 10 years ago, and he hasn’t forgotten her since. 

As with many of Dev’s central couples, Yash and India are endearingly bighearted. Their closed-off, protective demeanors cloak how much they’re seeking to be loved and understood by someone willing to make the effort. Dev masterfully explores the darker moments of being human while leading the reader to a realistic, hard-won romantic ending. Incense and Sensibility shares its source text’s focus on family, but it also launches Austen’s novel into the 21st century with its emotional, complex survey of racial identity in America.

What If You & Me, Roni Loren’s newest release in her Say Everything series, also puts mental health front and center. Andi Lockley’s life is shaped by a traumatic experience she had as a teenager, the details of which Loren carefully and sensitively spools out later in the novel. Despite her isolated lifestyle, Andi is still able to pursue her passions and work as a horror writer and true crime podcaster. But there’s one thing currently disturbing her carefully constructed peace: her neighbor, Hill Dawson, whose insomnia is annoying audible through the thin walls of his and Andi’s duplex.

To call Hill a grump is putting it mildly, but the former firefighter has a good reason for his standoffishness. He’s grieving the loss of his career and part of his leg following a disastrous rescue mission. When Andi and Hill finally come face-to-face, the two prickly neighbors feel something unexpected, and their instant attraction kicks off a casual arrangement.

Both Andi and Hill have issues to work through, and What If You & Me emphasizes that when it comes to healing from trauma, you don’t have to go it alone. This love story heaps on the yearning; Andi and Hill smolder through their agonizingly slow-burning romance. Loren’s unparalleled ability to plumb the depths of her characters is on full display in this multilayered and emotional romance.

In these love stories, mental health and the path to treatment are just as important as the journey toward a happily ever after.

Science Fiction & FantasyFantasy

The Death of Jane Lawrence

Review by Amanda Diehl

A woman in search of a husband finds one with more than his fair share of deadly secrets in the latest atmospheric, well-plotted horror novel from author Caitlin Starling.

The Death of Jane Lawrence takes place in an alternate version of Victorian-era Britain, known as Great Bretlain. The eponymous heroine is headstrong, wonderfully smart and knows that to live independently, she must wed. It seems illogical, but finding the right man would allow Jane to continue her own hobbies and pursuits, as a married woman is afforded far more freedom than an unmarried maiden.

Bachelor Augustine Lawrence, the only doctor in town, seems like a fine option for Jane. He agrees without too much fuss, under one simple condition: Jane must never visit his ancestral home. She’s to spend her nights above his medical practice, while he retires to Lindridge Hall for the evening. Eventually, of course, Jane finds herself spending the night at Lindridge Hall following a carriage accident, and where she slowly and methodically uncovers the skeletons lurking in Augustine’s closet.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: The year's best Halloween reads, ranked from slightly spooky to totally terrifying.

Anyone who has ever read a gothic novel knows exactly where this is going, but Starling does a magnificent, twisted job steering clear of the obvious plot beats. There are surprises galore in the secrets these characters keep and the lengths they’ll go to conceal them. Key to many a successful horror novel is having a main character to root for, one whom readers will want to see come out of everything not only alive but also stronger. Jane is absolutely that kind of character, a beacon of light in a dark world through her sheer tenacity alone, making her exploration of Lindridge Hall a white-knuckle reading experience.

Fans of Starling’s debut, the sci-fi horror novel The Luminous Dead, will find the same steadily growing sense of eeriness here, despite the markedly different setting. Jane isn’t exploring caves on an alien planet, but her journey still feels claustrophobic, almost asphyxiated by the estate’s mysterious walls. Are the horrors she senses of a supernatural nature? Or are they merely born of a man with too many internal demons? “Both” is also an option, and Starling keeps readers guessing until the very end.

For those who crave intense and detailed gothic horror, or those who just want more Guillermo del Toro a la Crimson Peak vibes in their life, The Death of Jane Lawrence is a must-read.

A woman in search of a husband finds one with more than his fair share of deadly secrets in the latest atmospheric, well-plotted horror novel from author Caitlin Starling.

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