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.

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.

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.

A trio of glamorous romances await this month as two heiresses and a movie star find love.

★ Hero Wanted

A broken engagement leads to a unexpected love affair in Hero Wanted by veteran author Betina Krahn. In Victorian England, Lauren Alcott ends her betrothal to Rafe Townsend when he hesitates to rescue two women from drowning. Lauren saves them herself and decides she’s seen her affianced’s true colors. But their fathers, who hoped to merge their companies via this marriage, exhort them to try again, and they agree to more outings. From there, Lauren and Rafe truly get to know each other as they stumble into danger and find themselves teaming up to survive. This heated kisses-only story is fast-paced and delightful fun, grounded in authentic historical detail as Rafe learns to throw off society’s rules and applaud Lauren’s impulsive and daring nature. 

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Betina Krahn reveals the real life (and truly disastrous) date that inspired Hero Wanted.

The Way You Love Me

Readers get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a glamorous life in The Way You Love Me, the third installment of the Pure Talent series by Elle Wright. Paige Mills treasures her good-girl reputation as Black America’s sweetheart, but it’s been tarnished by an ugly divorce. Also tarnished is her relationship with her longtime talent agent, Andrew Weathers, who seems to have backed away when she needs him most. But then he tracks her down at her family’s lake house, hoping to reestablish trust . . . and maybe something more. Between the paparazzi, the tabloid stories and the interference of family and friends, Paige and Andrew wonder if taking their relationship to the next level is worth the stumbles and scrapes. Fans of hot contemporary romance will certainly think so, thanks to the smokin’ love scenes and the pair’s tender care for one another. Wright’s smooth, modern voice is eminently suited to this sophisticated story, making her larger-than-life characters feel like real people. 

The Heiress Hunt

An unusual heroine stars in The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe. Though Gilded Age heiress Maddie Webster wants to marry—and has an English duke on the brink of proposing—she’s just as committed to becoming a top U.S. tennis player. As she comes close to achieving both of her goals, an old friend enters the picture. Harrison Archer claims he needs help finding an heiress to wed, and Maddie volunteers to host festivities at her family’s lavish Newport “cottage” to aid in his pursuit. What Maddie doesn’t know, however, is that Harrison wants her as his bride—and he has another ulterior agenda as well. What follows is a look into the world of wealthy New Yorkers in the late 19th century: tennis, picnics and parties among people who judge a woman by the prestige of the match she makes. Maddie wants something deeper, but can she find it with the handsome and sexy Harrison, who is not the same boy she once knew? This is the first in a series about four rebellious sons of society families, but heroine Maddie still holds her own. Readers won’t forget her, the lushly detailed love scenes or the developing romance between two deserving characters.