Christie Ridgway

RomanceFantasy Romance

Romance: February 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

From a fantasy kingdom to a scientific outpost to a not-exactly-dream wedding, these five new romances feature settings to sink into.

★ A Heart of Blood and Ashes

Milla Vane tells an engrossing, epic story of warriors, gods, leaders and lovers in A Heart of Blood and Ashes. Commander Maddek learns of his parents’ wrongful deaths and seeks to avenge them while finding a way to keep an alliance of countries together. At his side and at his mercy is the daughter of the very king involved in the murders. Yvenne claims Maddek’s mother had approved their marriage before her father betrayed them, but he’s unconvinced someone so small and weak could be his mother’s choice. But Maddek comes to realize that Yvenne may be his own choice for a life partner—if they can survive. The characters walk through the pages with heart, soul and courage, and are matched by Vane’s equally stellar world building, which weaves seamlessly with thrilling action scenes. Be aware that Vane’s fantasy world contains some raw, grim elements, but this Heart is one to sink into!
 

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Whiteout

Thrills and (literal) chills are hallmarks of Adriana Anders’ Whiteout. Antarctica serves as an exciting location for this romantic suspense story in which a chef and a scientist must survive a life-and-death trek to safety. Angel Smith has been eyeing glaciologist Ford Cooper during her gig at a remote research station, but she’s made no headway with the “Ice Man” as her return to the U.S. approaches. But after a sudden attack on the station, Angel and Ford are left alone to trek for miles through the unforgiving landscape. With only each other to rely on, the pair finds a passion that keeps their bodies heated and their will to live primed. Riveting action and fascinating glimpses into life at a research station and what it takes to survive the harsh climate make this superb page turner stand out.

The Worst Best Man

A wedding planner rom-com is the very definition of romantic fun, and Mia Sosa doesn’t disappoint with The Worst Best Man. Three years ago, Max Hartley had to explain to his brother’s bride, Lina Santos, that the wedding was off. Fast-forward to the present, and the pair must work together to secure a lucrative new business deal for them both. Lina, who has built walls to contain her emotions, vows that nothing will stand in her way, and Max is sure his easy-breezy personality will see them through. But as they work together toward a common goal, Max begins to see Lina as more than just a business partner, despite their tangled pasts and her determination to protect herself. Sosa’s romance also addresses issues of work and family, and touches on the challenges facing women of color in business. The pages smoke from time to time, but this is essentially a sweet, light confection for the Valentine’s Day season.

Seduce Me With Sapphires

A Victorian-era aristocrat breaks through class walls in Seduce Me With Sapphires, the second book in the The London Jewels Trilogy by Jane Feather. The Honorable Miss Fenella Grantley secretly takes acting classes and is surprised when a playwright, Edward Tremayne, the illegitimate son of an earl, wants her to star in his new work. But Fenella never backs down from a challenge, though she finds Edward both fascinating and irritating. Their physical attraction propels them quickly into bed, allowing Fenella more new experiences, but the divide between the noblewoman and the man scorned by society because of his birth still remains. Feather’s love scenes burn, and readers will hope this intrepid heroine and brooding hero find their way to a bright future as they fight and make up, only to fight and make up again. 

Mermaid Inn

Small-town contemporary romance is iced with extra charm in Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday. The romance genre is beloved in part for its tropes, and this story not only includes a character returning home but also a clause in a will that forces the two leads together. Eve Abbot inherits her great-aunt’s inn, which means spending time in the proximity of her first love, who is now police chief of Moonflower, aka Matchmaker, Bay. Sawyer Collins once broke Eve’s heart, and she’s determined not to let him have another chance at it now, but there’s that pesky will and the pesky matchmaking neighbors and her pesky feelings for Sawyer that haven’t gone away. A picturesque locale, delightful citizens and some smoking-hot love scenes give this book all the feel-good joys one expects from the small-town romance subgenre.

 

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Milla Vane about A Heart of Blood and Ashes.

From a fantasy kingdom to a scientific outpost to a not-exactly-dream wedding, these five new romances feature settings to sink into.
★ A Heart of Blood and Ashes Milla Vane tells an engrossing, epic story of warriors, gods, leaders and lovers in A Heart of Blood…
RomanceWestern Romance

Romance: March 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Ride into the sunset of a happily ever after with this trio of new romances, featuring couples who've fought hard for their futures.

★ A Cowboy to Remember

NYC glamour meets Southern California dude ranch in Rebekah Weatherspoon’s A Cowboy to Remember. Suffering from amnesia after an accident, chef Evie Buchanan flies west to recover with the dazzling, successful Pleasant family, with whom she lived as a child. The three handsome brothers are eager for her to recover, and she has eyes for one, Zach, in particular. She suspects that she and Zach could’ve had something before she left for culinary school, but Zach is slow to own up to their past—or his mistakes. Readers will root for Evie to reclaim her life, but it feels wrong to leave behind a blossoming romance. However, Evie has fought hard for her achievements, and walking away from them isn’t a win either. This is a pleasurable ride to happily ever after.

Engaged to the Earl

Lisa Berne offers a charming Regency romp with Engaged to the Earl. Beautiful and determined Gwendolyn Penhallow believes she’s the luckiest girl in the world when she finds herself engaged to the Earl of Westenbury, the most handsome man she’s ever laid eyes on. She is even more delighted when an old friend and former neighbor, Christopher Beck, arrives in London. He’s soon brought into their social circle, and she finds herself as drawn to him as she was in her childhood. Since she’s promised to another, she can be content with a platonic closeness with Christopher—or can she? Humor abounds in Berne’s witty, tongue-in-cheek romance. And her choice to tell the story through multiple viewpoints puts the reader in the center of the action, adding to the fast-paced fun. 

Forbidden Promises

Synithia Williams’ Forbidden Promises lives up to its title. India Robidoux’s visit to her family home was supposed to be a temporary stop in her career as a touring violinist. But her brother is in the middle of a political campaign, and soon she’s sucked into the family drama. That means facing her sister’s ex, Travis Strickland, an attorney from a humble part of town who is working on the campaign. Emotions, relationships and business are tangled in this soap opera-esque tale, and readers will find themselves unable to look away from Williams’ well-drawn and larger-than-life characters. It’s impossible not to enjoy this entertaining glimpse into a world of wealth, political ambition and familial loyalties.

 

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Rebekah Weatherspoon about A Cowboy to Remember.

Ride into the sunset of a happily ever after with this trio of new romances, featuring couples who've fought hard for their futures.

★ A Cowboy to Remember

NYC glamour meets Southern California dude ranch in Rebekah Weatherspoon’s A Cowboy to Remember. Suffering from amnesia after an…

Romance

Romance: April 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

A clever comedy of manners, a tuneful contemporary romance and sexy shapeshifters top the list of April's best new romances.

★ To Have and to Hoax

Debut author Martha Waters delights with a clever Regency comedy of manners, To Have and to Hoax. Lady Violet Gray and Lord James Audley married in haste, madly in love. Five years on, they’re barely speaking. James’ fall from a horse could break the ice, but when Violet arrives at his side and finds him perfectly fine, she gets her revenge by pretending to be gravely ill. At the center of this ever-escalating war of words and wits is a broken partnership, and Waters makes readers eager for Violet and James to fight their way back to trust. The London Season, complete with dance cards and theater outings, serves as the setting, which will further please fans already delighted by the beloved trope of an estranged married couple reuniting at last.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Martha Waters tells us why her cat, Puffin, deserves absolutely no credit for helping her write.

The Happy Ever After Playlist

A grieving woman falls in love with a musician on the rise in The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez. Sloan Monroe meets Jason when she rescues his dog. They’re instantly attracted, first via texts and calls and then in person, but Sloan is leery of their connection. Obstacles litter the path to true love in the guise of a vengeful ex and the pressures of fame. Sloan thinks a breakup is for the best, but Jason is impossible to get over. He fixes leaky pipes! Donates bone marrow! Writes love songs dedicated to her! The dazzling and very public finale to the story is no surprise, given the title, but readers will enjoy this enchanting and unabashed romantic fantasy, complete with the perfect playlist, all the same.

Bears Behaving Badly

MaryJanice Davidson follows shifters on the brink of trouble in her new paranormal romance, Bears Behaving Badly. Bear shifter Annette Garsea teams up with her secret crush, fellow werebear David Auberon, to protect some at-risk juvenile shifters. Davidson doesn’t clobber the reader with world building, yet it’s easy to slip into the reality she’s conceived, where the bears are always hungry for sugary snacks. Annette and David have very human doubts about getting involved with each other, and only by relaxing their guards can they find happiness. This madcap adventure is written in an irreverent, tongue-in-cheek style, with the author occasionally addressing the reader directly. The language and lovemaking are gritty, and the wordplay is nonstop in this fun read.

A clever comedy of manners, a tuneful contemporary romance and sexy shapeshifters top the list of April's best new romances.

★ To Have and to Hoax

Debut author Martha Waters delights with a clever Regency comedy of manners, To Have and to Hoax. Lady Violet Gray…

RomanceWestern Romance

Romance: May 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Travel to the Georgian era, outer space and the Old West in May's best new romances.

★ The Rakess

Seraphina Arden, a notorious women’s rights advocate, retreats to Cornwall to write about the past that “ruined” her in Scarlett Peckham’s passionate Georgian romance, The Rakess. Widower Adam Anderson is an architect with ambitions, and consorting with a scandalous woman might hinder his goal of securing a good life for his young children. So Seraphina and Adam embark on a secret affair to assuage their mutual hunger. Their appetites are lustily described, but it’s how their hearts are affected that will keep the reader turning the pages. Peppered with Seraphina’s well-reasoned arguments on gender relations, Peckham’s print debut is unique, dramatic and vastly entertaining.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: How women’s rights activist Mary Wollstonecraft inspired Scarlett Peckham's “alpha heroine.”

Starbreaker

Strap in for a rollicking ride with Starbreaker by Amanda Bouchet. Tess Bailey and Shade Ganavan continue their quest to thwart the evil Galactic Overseer. The pair encounters challenging and surprising obstacles as old friends and old enemies pop up to create problems or become unlikely allies. And while Tess and Shade share a bed, issues still cast doubt on their romantic future. Tess learns of secrets from her past, and Shade must accept that he can never return to his previous life. This is a high-octane adventure with life-and-death stakes. Sci-fi romance must satisfy on many levels, and Bouchet proves she’s up to the task. Her characters are witty and wise, and her world building is first-rate.

Stages of the Heart

Jo Goodman’s Stages of the Heart is rich in detail and plot. Laurel Morrison—independent, tough and determined—manages a station that provides meals and accommodations along the stagecoach route. When a mine’s payroll goes missing from her station, she needs to solve the mystery to ensure her success. Enter quintessential Western hero McCall Landry, a laconic man with steely nerves and a shadowed past. McCall is looking for work and takes on the task of determining who stole the strongbox from the stagecoach. The couple is intrigued and attracted, but Laurel doesn’t expect forever—maybe McCall’s just passing through. The author of some 50 books, Goodman has a true storyteller’s voice that will have you feeling the dust on your boots and the wind in your hair. 

Christie Ridgway is a lifelong romance reader and a published romance novelist of over 60 books.

Travel to the Georgian era, outer space and the Old West in May's best new romances.

★ The Rakess

Seraphina Arden, a notorious women’s rights advocate, retreats to Cornwall to write about the past that “ruined” her in Scarlett Peckham’s passionate Georgian romance, The Rakess. Widower…

Romance

Romance: June 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Whether duke, werewolf or software engineer, the heroes in these engaging romances have met their match.

★ Wolf Under Fire

In Wolf Under Fire, Paige Tyler introduces the Special Threat Assessment Team, an international group tasked with stopping threats by supernatural creatures. While tracking down a kidnapped child, alpha werewolf Jake Huang’s team, including FBI-trained Jestina Ridley, uncovers a possibly world-­destroying plot. Along the way, Jake and Jes struggle against physical temptation while bullets fly and creepy creatures do not die. Are they perhaps fated mates as spoken of in werewolf lore? And how can Jes trust a dangerous man who isn’t fully human? This well-balanced blend of sizzle, supernatural intrigue and suspense is also imaginative: One team member is a “technopath” who can communicate with electronics. Wolf Under Fire is superb, exciting and escapist fare.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Paige Tyler explains why she plans out all her books at P.F. Chang’s.

Say Yes to the Duke

Eloisa James takes us back to Georgian times in Say Yes to the Duke. Viola Astley, step-member of the infamous Wilde clan, must make her debut before she can declare herself a spinster for life. But she soon encounters the enigmatic and autocratic Duke of Wynter, who’s in search of a wife and thinks a Wilde daughter would be perfect—which means he must overcome Viola’s innate shyness to persuade her to become his bride. The delightful Wildes light up the story with humor and energy. James’ vivid descriptions of fashion are a treat, allowing readers to immerse themselves in this very satisfying romance. A professor of English literature, James often freshens a plot with something unique; in this case, it’s the production of a medieval biblical play. This romance is enchanting in every respect.

The Boyfriend Project

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon is a thoroughly modern workplace romance with a bonus handful of scene-stealing friends. Successful software engineer Samiah Brooks goes viral when she confronts a cheating boyfriend, which leads her and the two other women he deceived to swear off dating for six months. Of course, this is exactly when Samiah meets new hire Daniel Collins. She resists her attraction as long as she can, but soon they’re both succumbing, even though Daniel has a secret that could spell disaster. Samiah’s struggles to balance work, dreams and love will resonate with readers of this clever, pleasurable read.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Farrah Rochon on why romance should celebrate female friendship.

 

Whether duke, werewolf or software engineer, the heroes in these engaging romances have met their match.
Romance

Romance: July 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Practical work to build a long-lasting romance leads to a guaranteed HEA for the couples in these three love stories.

★ About a Rogue

A marriage of convenience becomes more in About a Rogue, the latest historical romance by Caroline Linden. As one of three men in line for a dukedom, Maximilian St. James is exhorted to rehabilitate his reputation. Max, wallet empty and ever the pragmatist, offers marriage to the elder daughter of a successful ceramics maker. But after his intended elopes with someone else, he ends up “I do”-ing with her younger sister, Bianca. Watching them go from cool companions to passionate husband and wife is warmly satisfying. There is no hot flash of insta-lust or even the slow burn of banked longing. Instead, true regard grows naturally as Max and Bianca learn about each other through work, friends and shared interests.

Just a Heartbeat Away

Cara Bastone delivers a cozy and charming Brooklyn-set romance in Just a Heartbeat Away. After his wife’s death, Sebastian Dorner shifted his life to focus on his young son. While serving as lunch monitor at his son’s elementary school, he’s surprised by the sparks that fly between him and school counselor Via DeRosa. But she’s got a boyfriend, and Seb’s convinced their 15-year age gap is a deal breaker. However, the pair bumps into each other so often at school and in their shared neighborhood that the attraction grows unstoppable. Bastone explores universal themes of grief, love and parenthood through Seb’s and Via’s relatable fears and hang-ups in this heartwarming story.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Vanessa Riley opens up about what she’d like to see more of historical romance.

A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby

A secret group dedicated to helping ill-­treated widows takes up the case of West Indian heiress Patience Jordan in A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley. Patience is determined to reunite with her infant son and return to her island home. But the arrival of her son’s guardian, a heroic soldier and powerful duke named Busick Strathmore, means she must masquerade as the child’s nanny until she can secure their escape. Riley opens up the world of Regency romance by depicting a heroine whose society views her as the Other and pairing her with a powerful man whose war wounds now cause him to see himself differently. There’s wordplay and swordplay in this not-to-be-missed romance, plus subtle love scenes that prove Patience and Busick’s mettle as helpmeets and lovers.

Practical work to build a long-lasting romance leads to a guaranteed HEA for the couples in these three love stories.

★ About a Rogue

A marriage of convenience becomes more in About a Rogue, the latest historical romance by Caroline Linden. As one of three men in…

RomanceWestern Romance

Romance: August 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Impish fun, heart-tripping danger and a cowboy to remember can be found in the pages of August's best new romances.

★ Would I Lie to the Duke

An ambitious woman with a family business to save falls for an aristocrat in the Regency historical romance Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh. Hoping to secure an investor, Jessica McGale, posing as “Lady Whitfield,” finagles her way into an elite group that includes Noel, the Duke of Rotherby. They’re immediately attracted, and Jess impresses him with her intelligence, common sense and ability to treat him as a man rather than a title. Their romance is charming, their conversations witty and sly, and their love scenes are positively scorching. But all good masquerades must come to an end, and Noel feels betrayed by Jess’ deceit, despite its good cause. There are well-rounded characters, drama and some impish fun—one man pitches what sounds very much like an impractical version of Twitter—but the satisfying sense of female empowerment makes this a standout.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Eva Leigh shares which 1980s movies inspired Would I Lie to the Duke.

Say No More

A horrific past shadows the heroine of Karen Rose’s Say No More. Sexual abuse survivor Mercy Callahan returns to Northern California to reunite with her brother and uncover details of the dangerous cult that raised them. Police detective Rafe Sokolov can’t help but admire Mercy’s grit as they team up to stop recent killings that may be connected to the cult. Mercy is no isolated damsel in distress, and Rafe is no driven lone wolf. Loyal family and friends step in to help the protagonists, and it’s a richer story for their presence. There’s lethal, heart-tripping danger, but the tender love story and powerful friendships provide a positive emotional core to this exciting thriller.

Wild Cowboy Country

Park ranger Lacey Montgomery suffers a concussion while protecting a wolf den from harassment by teenagers at the beginning of Erin Marsh’s Wild Cowboy Country. But she and the cubs are saved by one of the teens and his uncle, rancher Clay Stevens. Mutual respect and then romantic feelings follow as Clay and Lacey trade views on wolves and ranch management. Another star of the story is the local zoo, as sections are told from the points of view of various four-legged inhabitants. What are the thoughts of a capybara, honey badger and camel? Find out here! Whimsy, a bit of suspense and a whole lot of heart make this a super summer read.

Impish fun, heart-tripping danger and a cowboy to remember can be found in the pages of August's best new romances.

★ Would I Lie to the Duke

An ambitious woman with a family business to save falls for an aristocrat in the Regency historical romance Would…

Romance

Romance: September 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Swoons, sighs and secrets await in this month's best new romances.

★ Bayou Baby

Southern delight awaits in Bayou Baby, Lexi Blake’s second Butterfly Bayou romance. Single mom Seraphina Guidry is focusing on her young son when a handsome newcomer arrives in her hometown. Harry Jefferys, nephew to the town’s wealthy queen bee, is an Army veteran looking to find his way in the world. One look at Sera and he thinks he’s discovered the answer, but there are bad feelings between his aunt and the young woman who’s captured his fancy. Will secrets and past grievances break Sera and Harry apart? This charming small-town drama is as smooth and sweet as a Louisiana drawl, with a good-guy hero who more than deserves his happily ever after.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Lexi Blake on how the villain's perspective unlocked the story.

Highland Gladiator

Medieval romance flourishes in Scotland in Kathryn Le Veque’s Highland Gladiator. Young Lor Careston is smitten when he meets Isabail Keith, a brash Highland lass. But his romantic dreams are dashed when his village is burned and he declares vengeance. He joins an infamous fight guild, Ludus Caledonia, where he trains as a warrior, gaining the skills he’ll need to enact his revenge. There, Isabail reenters his life and they find love—and a common enemy. Well-drawn characters and heart-thumping fight scenes give readers a lot to relish in this series starter. Lor is a hero made for swoons and sighs, evolving from callow youth to driven fighter-with-a-cause. And broadsword-wielding Isabail never waits to be saved, which is the hallmark of the very best kind of heroine.

Emerald Blaze

Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series continues to dazzle with Emerald Blaze. In this alternate universe, magical families known as Houses dominate the world. Catalina Baylor is a Prime, a particularly powerful magic user, and also the Deputy Warden of Texas, whose job it is to protect humanity from those who unscrupulously wield their magic. Tasked with tracking down the murderer of another House’s Prime, Catalina must partner with assassin Alessandro Sagredo, who recently broke her heart. There’s conflict galore in this wryly written story, but what appeals most are the relationships between the Baylor family members and the growing trust—and romance—between Catalina and Alessandro. Emerald Blaze sizzles with imagination, making this paranormal a true gem of the subgenre.

Swoons, sighs and secrets await in this month's best new romances.

★ Bayou Baby

Southern delight awaits in Bayou Baby, Lexi Blake’s second Butterfly Bayou romance. Single mom Seraphina Guidry is focusing on her young son when a handsome newcomer arrives in her hometown.…

Romance

Romance: October 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

This month's best romances cover difficult topics with warmth, wit and (of course) a happily ever after at the end.

★ Any Rogue Will Do

Bethany Bennett combines two beloved tropes in Any Rogue Will Do. In this Regency-set enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story, a reformed rogue finally gets the lady of his dreams. Ethan, Viscount Amesbury, tried to win Lady Charlotte Wentworth’s heart before, but the attempt ended in gossip and disaster. Years later, Ethan now has a chance to help the woman he once maligned. Self-aware, never self-indulgent and ready to go after what she wants, Charlotte knows she’s no longer the simpering miss that Ethan first met. But the two must also address disparities in class, wealth and gender autonomy. This is a fast-paced and spicy debut, with likable characters and a feel-good finale that boasts a just-right blend of tenderness and groveling.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: How Bethany Bennett nailed her debut romance's tricky plot progression.

The Love Study

An involvement-wary pair forges a relationship in Kris Ripper’s The Love Study. Declan is instantly intrigued by Sidney, the nonbinary host of a popular advice channel on YouTube. Sidney convinces Declan to participate in a series they bill “The Love Study” by going on arranged dates and discussing his experiences for Sidney’s audience. But Sidney is the one he truly wants. Can he convince them both that it will be worth their while? In a wry first-person voice, Ripper captures all the awkwardness of first dates. Dec is a self-deprecating and endearing protagonist, and readers’ hearts will ache for him and Sidney. Their many friends add to the fun in this dialogue-driven and warmly appealing romance.

Ties That Tether

Cultures clash in debut author Jane Igharo’s Ties That Tether. Azere knows that marrying a Nigerian man is her destiny, and she accepts her domineering mother’s setups in hopes that the right man will come along. But attraction knows no boundaries, and when she meets Rafael Castellano at a bar, she’s instantly smitten. Hot love scenes commence, but Azere knows this affair can only be fleeting. Rafael, the son of Spanish immigrants, has sympathy for Azere’s plight, but he’s not ready to give up on their romance. Azere’s anguish is clear, and readers will feel her wrenching conflict as she ponders how far she should go to please her mother and preserve her heritage. This exploration of identity, love and loss in the context of an interracial relationship feels authentic and bittersweet, yet hopeful all the same.

This month's best romances cover difficult topics with warmth, wit and (of course) a happily ever after at the end.

★ Any Rogue Will Do

Bethany Bennett combines two beloved tropes in Any Rogue Will Do. In this Regency-set enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story, a reformed rogue finally…

Romance

Romance: November 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Prank wars, a country house murder and a passel of irrepressible children add zing to three very sweet romances.

★ My Last Duchess

Eloisa James pens a truly delightful prologue to her popular Wildes of Lindow Castle series in My Last Duchess, the love story of the family’s patriarch and matriarch. Hugo Wilde has eight children from two duchesses and is now in need of a third wife. There’s all those children, after all, ranging in age from 2 to 18. He had planned to make a sensible choice until he took one look at widow Lady Ophelia Astley. In keeping with Wilde family tradition, he falls in passionate love at first sight. But what does he have to offer her except the stultifying life of a duchess, not to mention those eight children? Their path to happiness is mostly smooth—who can resist a sexy, kind, besotted duke?—yet the journey is great fun all the same. The banter is witty, the secondary characters are exquisitely well drawn, and the glimpses of the children will cause readers who have read their stories to smile and entice those who have not.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Eloisa James reveals how she made instalove work.

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

Manda Collins smoothly blends romance and an English country-house whodunit in A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem. Newspaper owner Lady Katherine Bascomb pens an article critical of Scotland Yard’s investigation into the murders attributed to the “Commandments Killer,” causing Inspector Andrew Eversham to be pulled off the case. But he gets a second chance at stopping the villain when a similar killing occurs in a small village near the estate where the very curious and very stubborn Kate currently resides. Despite the class barrier between them, the pair realizes they have equally clever minds and an undeniable physical chemistry. The twists and turns of the plot will keep readers guessing, but Kate’s independent attitude and the interesting friends she gathers around her bring the story to vivid life.

The Cul-de-Sac War

Two neighboring houses, a big, slobbering dog without boundaries and one unwelcome attraction add up to a madcap romance in The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson. From the moment hunky, stubborn contractor Chip moves in next door to the home that free spirit Bree inherited from a relative, alarm bells go off. When Chip refuses to move a fence line, sparks fly and pranks ensue until they’re in a full-fledged war. But as these likable characters become better acquainted, they share serious thoughts about happiness, death, family and work. Love follows, but can they admit to it? This kisses-only inspirational romance is a sweet treat with a soft center.

Prank wars, a country house murder and a passel of irrepressible children add zing to three very sweet romances.

Romance

Romance: December 2020

Feature by Christie Ridgway

This sensual seasonal sampling of holiday romances has something for every reader.

★ In a Holidaze

A young woman gets a holiday do-over in In a Holidaze by author duo Christina Lauren. Maelyn Jones is looking forward to her annual Christmas celebration with family and friends, including her longtime crush, Andrew. But when it looks like she’s ruined her chance with him, some magical force intervenes and she gets a replay . . . or two. Trapped in a time loop in which she experiences the same cabin vacation over and over, will she seize the opportunity to pursue her heart’s desire? Lauren’s first holiday romance is feel-good from the get-go. Set in Park City, Utah, there are snowball fights and games around the fire, along with a pair of protagonists who are reluctant to upend decades of conviviality by changing their relationship. The story and characters have a cozy, old-fashioned vibe, and the love scenes are warm but not too detailed. In a Holidaze is an engaging and entertaining treat, with no sharp edges and plenty of seasonal sparkle.

A Highlander Is Coming to Town

A small Southern town celebrates Christmas in A Highlander Is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham. Highland, Georgia, has a genuine Highlander in its midst when traveling Scottish singer Claire McCready arrives in town. With her 25th birthday and a life-complicating inheritance looming, she hopes to lie low for the holidays while working as a live-in helper for a crotchety elderly woman. But despite her desire to stay attachment-free, Claire finds herself attracted to sexy neighboring farmer Holt Pierson. Claire plans to return home soon, so maybe they can indulge in their hot chemistry without anyone getting hurt. There are tropes on tropes in this charming story—the poor little rich girl, the fish out of water, the homebody vs. the wanderer—and readers will sink into this comforting read like it’s a warm bath. Glimpses of characters from previous books in the series add to the cozy feel.

Christmas at Holiday House

More than one heart finds its match in RaeAnne Thayne’s Christmas at Holiday House. For Abigail Powell and her young son, Christopher, the town of Silver Bells, Colorado, sounds like the perfect place to spend the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. She can help her best friend Lucy’s grandmother recover from a fall and give Christopher a snow-covered Christmas before they move to Texas. But she didn’t count on the compelling attraction of Lucy’s brother, Ethan. During the days of skiing, baking and general holiday merriment, Abby and Ethan share tender embraces, even though he thinks he doesn’t have the loving nature required to be her man. Meanwhile, Lucy struggles with similar self-doubts as she returns home to face an old friend who’s no longer silent about his feelings for her. This is romantic fantasy, pure and simple. It shines with holiday cheer, but Thayne also makes the goodness of these characters feel true. This kisses-only story is perfect for lovers of Christmas and romance.

A Princess by Christmas

Christmas comes to Victorian England in A Princess by Christmas, the third installment in Julia London’s Royal Wedding series. Young widow Hollis Honeycutt welcomes her sister and best friend—both married to foreign royals—to London while the queen hosts peace talks between the fictional countries of Wesloria and Alucia. Through the social events surrounding the occasion, Hollis meets the mysterious Marek Brendan, who is attached to Wesloria’s trade delegation. Curious and clever, Hollis begins to investigate for the biweekly ladies gazette she publishes and finds herself inexplicably drawn both to Marek and into the political intrigue surrounding the talks between the two rival countries. The unbending Marek makes an ideal foil for the ebullient Hollis, and they fall in love surrounded by the era’s traditions, such as elaborate wreaths and a party to celebrate the newfangled German import of a seasonal tree. Author London pens an imaginative tale peopled with smart, well-drawn characters who feel genuine in their love for one another. This thoroughly enjoyable romance is a stylish, fabulous escape to another time and place.

Christmas at the Island Hotel

Happy ever afters of all sorts abound in Christmas at the Island Hotel by Jenny Colgan. The author returns to the fictional and remote Scottish island of Mure, the setting of Christmas on the Island and The Endless Beach, where the impending holiday and the successful opening of a new hotel is critical to several residents: Fintan, a grieving widower who inherited the property; his sister, Flora, who finds her maternity leave a bit dull; Gaspard, a temperamental French chef; Konstantin, a playboy of a Norwegian prince who’s been ordered to work for the first time in his life; and Isla, a hardworking Mure native who is about to learn what love is. Told in the affectionate and understanding voice of an omniscient observer, this holiday tale sets readers smack-dab in the center of the island community, and it’s a delightful place to spend the season. As there ought to be at any proper Christmas, there are dogs and children and family strife, not to mention a little melancholy, as well as good food and good times.

This sensual seasonal sampling of holiday romances has something for every reader.

★ In a Holidaze

A young woman gets a holiday do-over in In a Holidaze by author duo Christina Lauren. Maelyn Jones is looking forward to her annual Christmas celebration with family and…

RomanceFantasy Romance

Romance: January 2021

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Escape the winter blahs with three thrilling romances that represent escapism at its finest.

★ The Stormbringer

The Stormbringer by Isabel Cooper gives paranormal fans everything they could wish for: imaginative world building, fast-paced adventure and characters ready to handle all that’s thrown at them. Darya, wielder of a sword inhabited by the spirit of a wise wizard named Gerant, discovers Amris, a man who’s been frozen in time for a hundred years. Gerant urges Darya to release Amris, whom she learns is not only a general ready to help fight a terrible villain but also Gerant’s former lover. Amris and Darya do their best to resist their immediate chemistry as they travel to warn others of the advancing danger, battling vicious creatures along the way. Written with verve and fantastically drawn battle scenes, this is great storytelling all around.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Isabel Cooper on the three-sided relationship at the heart of The Stormbringer.

The Princess and the Rogue

Kate Bateman pens a delicious Regency romance in The Princess and the Rogue. What’s not to enjoy about a roguish former soldier and a Russian princess in disguise? When they meet at a high-end brothel in London, Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, is immediately captivated by Anya, said princess, who is there to tutor the women of the house. Though Anya initially rebuffs Sebastien, they find they have a common enemy, and Sebastien offers Anya sanctuary at his gambling hall, leaving them at the whims of their shared physical desire. There’s danger, a dashing hero and some Cinderella-esque fun when Anya returns to society in a gown worthy of her royal status. Sensual love scenes add heat to this thoroughly entertaining read.

Special Ops Seduction

Megan Crane masterfully combines romance, suspense and a dash of family drama in Special Ops Seduction. Jonas Crow and Bethan Wilcox are lethal members of an elite security team based in Alaska. While they’ve worked together many times, Jonas has kept his distance from the beautiful and kick-ass Bethan. But then their assignment to solve the theft of a brand-new biological weapon requires them to attend Bethan’s sister’s California wedding as a couple. Pretending to be lovers brings the pair closer, and proximity to family gives Bethan a new perspective on herself and what she wants from Jonas. A strong sense of place, whether it’s the wilds of Alaska or the vineyards of California, draws the reader deeper into this irresistible and emotional story.

Escape the winter blahs with three thrilling romances that represent escapism at its finest.

RomanceWestern Romance

Romance: February 2021

Feature by Christie Ridgway

Whether you’re a longtime romance fan or are jumping in to the genre for the first time, celebrate Valentine’s Day with a love story.

★ Big Bad Wolf

Contemporary life looks different in the alternate reality of Suleikha Snyder’s Big Bad Wolf, where the existence of shape-shifters and other supernatural beings has recently been revealed to the public. Lawyer and psychologist Neha Ahluwalia’s new client is Joe Peluso, an ex-soldier and wolf shifter who committed murder in an act of vigilante justice. He’s big, brooding and so attractive that she can’t suppress her longing for him. When Joe manages to break out of jail, Neha is at his side, and he can’t turn her away. They hide out and then seek help from an underground team of supernatural beings devoted to people who, like Joe, were turned into shifters by the government. Big Bad Wolf is filled with cinematic action and blazing passion, but the characters (including an intriguing pansexual vampire) are well drawn, and the world building is first-rate despite the breakneck pace. Snyder’s vision of how the political and social order would change in the wake of such paradigm-­shifting news is spot on. Readers of sexy paranormal romance will thoroughly enjoy this first in a new series—and clamor for more.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: How Suleikha Snyder put her unique stamp on the shifter romance.

A Lady’s Formula for Love

A Victorian widow and scientist pursues her passion in A Lady’s Formula for Love by debut author Elizabeth Everett. Lady Violet Hughes has established a social club for ladies, the real function of which is to mask a collective of women interested in math and science. When Violet’s stepson asks her to use her scientific prowess for a secret government project, he also provides her with a bodyguard, Arthur Kneland, to protect her and the club. Violet is fascinated by the taciturn Arthur and even more by his rare smiles. Arthur is smitten as well, but he resists; he can’t afford distraction if he’s going to keep Violet safe. Though the pair are worlds apart in intellectual interests and social class, their hearts find common ground. Arthur represents a beloved romance trope: the silent hero who becomes a skilled linguist in the language of love. Sensual and tender love scenes and secondary female characters seeking their own empowerment make this an entertaining, standout debut.

★ Wild Rain

Adventure awaits in the Wyoming Territory in Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins. Rancher, horse-breaker and all-around badass Spring Lee (who stole many a scene during her first appearance in Jenkins’ Tempest) rescues an injured man during a blizzard. She brings Garrett McCray to her cabin, where she learns he’s a reporter from the District of Columbia who’s traveled all the way to Wyoming to interview her famous brother, Dr. Colton Lee. Garrett soon finds himself as intrigued by the independent and accomplished Spring as he is entranced by the surrounding mountains. The two discuss their families and personal experiences as a Black man and woman from very different parts of the country, and face down bigotry together in the neighboring community of Paradise. Spring is an engaging, action-oriented character, and she’s met her match in the more cerebral and softer-edged Garrett. Their love story is sigh-inducing, the scenes of passion sizzle, and the enriching historical details of the Black experience—including Garrett’s service in the Union Navy during the Civil War—make this a romance not to be missed.

Driven

An ex-FBI agent hunts a serial killer who appears to be back from the dead in Driven by Rebecca Zanetti. Angus Force shot the murderer himself and was grievously wounded in the process, but now women are dying in the same gruesome manner as before. As he and his team, the secret Deep Ops Unit, investigate the new deaths, the clues begin to point to Angus. Could he actually be responsible? Nari Zhang, the team’s on-staff psychologist, knows he’s innocent, even though it’s clear he’s a man driven by pain and guilt. She sticks close to help uncover the truth, even after it becomes clear that the killer has her in his sights. Angus is the sort of grim, wounded hero that every romance fan wants to see healed, but smart and self-aware Nari protects her heart even as the two reluctant lovers come together in spicy scenes that match the pulsing suspense. The story moves fast, and there’s an unexpected twist or two, as well as a scene- and booze-stealing German shepherd that provides a little levity to this dark and satisfying romantic thriller.

The Duke Heist

The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley introduces a new series via a delightful family of orphans. As the six adopted siblings of a wealthy and eccentric baron, the Wynchesters are determined to recover a painting dear to their hearts and to their dearly departed adoptive father. Chloe Wynchester takes point on the plan to retrieve the artwork from the newest Duke of Faircliffe, Lawrence Gosling. Rebuffed initial overtures mean she must resort to more nefarious undercover measures—something familiar to a woman who survived her childhood by picking pockets. A chance encounter leaves Lawrence in Chloe’s debt and begins an association that allows love to blossom. But the impoverished duke needs a respectable heiress to restore his family’s fortunes and make up for his father’s mistakes, and the scandalous Chloe wants a man to love her for herself, not her bank account. Both will have to learn valuable lessons about self-respect and the limitations of society’s rules before finding their happy ever after. Ridley’s motley crew of Wynchester siblings is as charming as it is unforgettable, signaling more great romance ahead. The Duke Heist is everything a Regency romance fan hopes for.

Whether you’re a longtime romance fan or are jumping in to the genre for the first time, celebrate Valentine’s Day with a love story.

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