Brace for adventure when reading Amanda Bouchet’s Nightchaser, the first in a new sci-fi romance series. Captain Tess Bailey is on the run, having stolen a valuable, dangerous serum from a conformist galactic government that brutally insists on order and restraint. Finding temporary refuge after a particularly close call, the captain meets cocky and charming Shade Ganavan, who says he can provide much-needed repairs to her ship and perhaps some personal diversion, as Tess is weary of always watching over her shoulder. But danger is headed their way—will Shade prove to be ally or foe? This is pure, engrossing entertainment as Bouchet deftly builds a galactic world that desperately needs rebel champions like Tess and her crew. Characters’ backgrounds and motivations are slowly revealed throughout what is otherwise a fast-paced, action-packed story. There’s mystery, tension and more than enough romance to grab the heart.

Jayne Ann Krentz offers a smooth blend of romance and suspense in Untouchable. Cold case investigator Jack Lancaster is making strides in overcoming his horrifying nightmares with the help of Winter Meadows, a hypnotist and meditation guide. He might not know exactly what lies beneath her positive attitude and bright smile, but he’s intrigued enough to take their business relationship in a different direction. But when Winter’s life is threatened, Jack becomes worried that someone from his past might have tried to hurt him through her. In order to protect Winter, he must hunt down the man who tried to burn him alive many years ago. Some satisfyingly creepy villains, the atmospheric Pacific Northwest setting and a splash of potent sexual chemistry between the two leads let the reader know they’re in the hands of a master storyteller.

First loves find another chance in The Duke I Once Knew by Olivia Drake. The youngest daughter of landed gentry, Abigail Linton devoted her early life to caring for her invalid mother. Now her parents are gone, and at nearly 30, Abby opts to take a governess position on a neighboring estate. Caring for the absent duke’s younger sister will give her a new and independent life, so she ignores her worries that she’ll encounter the lord of the manor, Maxwell Bryce. Max was Abby’s first love, but she hasn’t seen him in 15 years. Then, unexpectedly, the duke returns and is astonished when he meets the newest member of his household. Learning to trust one another is the essence of all good romances, and that’s what Abby and Max must do, or else lose out on an opportunity for lasting love in this sweet and tender tale. 

This article was originally published in the January 2019 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.