★ The Housekeeper’s Secret
Downton Abbey gets a dark and delicious twist in The Housekeeper’s Secret by Iona Grey, a historical romance spanning the years just before and during World War I. Running from her past, Kate Furniss hides as the housekeeper of Coldwell Hall, an isolated house on the moors of northern England. She feels relatively safe until a handsome young footman, Jem Arden, joins the servants’ ranks. She can’t afford to lose her heart, but Jem is irresistible—even as he conceals his own mysterious purpose. In this haunting and heart-rending story, Grey skillfully captures the isolation of the location, the powerlessness of the servant class and the growing sinister atmosphere at Coldwell Hall. A variety of perspectives and time shifts enrich the story, as well as Grey’s depictions of the desperation of warfare. Readers will breathlessly wait to learn the fates of Kate and Jem in this fabulous story.
Viscount in Love
Eloisa James pens a delightful historical gem with Viscount in Love. Viscount Dominic Kelbourne has just become the guardian of his eccentric, recently orphaned niece and nephew, and he counts himself lucky to be on the verge of getting married—until his fiancée elopes. His ex’s sister, Victoria “Torie” Sutton, takes an interest in the twins, and could be persuaded to marry Dominic for their sake. Problem solved? But Torie, a passionate artist with her own eccentricities, wants to be a true and beloved wife, not a convenient nanny figure. James dazzles with her cast of appealing characters in this laugh-out-loud romance; the twins especially shine as they compile an ever-growing list of topics prohibited from polite discourse. Don’t miss this one.
Cross the Line
Simone Soltani revs up the always-popular “brother’s best friend” trope with the fast, fun Cross the Line. Recent college graduate Willow Williams is desperate for a job, so she takes on the temporary role of social media manager for Formula One driver Dev Anderson, her childhood crush and her brother’s BFF. She’ll accompany Dev to races all over the world, and while the job is everything she could want, trying to keep control of her feelings for Dev presents a challenge. Flirty, sexy and downright dangerous, ladies man Dev doesn’t make things easier. But despite their chemistry, he knows that succumbing to his and Willow’s attraction for each other might break family ties—and their own hearts. Readers will enjoy the friend group surrounding the starring pair as well as details of the glamorous Formula One world as they root for Dev to win the races and the girl.
