New York Times bestselling author Roni Loren returns to her emotional series about the survivors of a school shooting with The One You Fight For. This third installment might just be Loren’s most heart-wrenching romance yet—it will undoubtedly bring you to tears.

Psychology professor Taryn Landry is still haunted by her sister’s death during a horrifying mass murder at Long Acre High School’s prom night. Motivated by her grief, Taryn devotes her career and research to the prevention of gun violence, determined to make sure no one else has to lose their little sister like she did. Wracked with guilt over her sister’s death and the way it destroyed their family, Taryn becomes consumed with trying to establish preventive measures to combat future shootings. But a chance encounter at an open mic night leads to an unexpected and complicated romance.

Shaw Miller is desperately trying to rebuild his life after establishing a new identity. His brother was one of the perpetrators of the Long Acre massacre, and the fallout from his actions destroyed Shaw’s Olympic dreams, his family and nearly himself. Treated as a villain in the media after the incident, Shaw struggled daily, but nearly fifteen years later, he hopes he can finally have a normal life—until he meets Taryn.

Neither Taryn nor Shaw immediately realize how the two of them are connected, and that sense of dread hangs over their initial romance, making The One You Fight For an addicting and tense read. When will they find out about their pasts? How will they handle it? By the time they connect the dots, it’s too late. Though Taryn and Shaw acknowledge their chemistry, they’re soon faced with bigger issues of forgiveness and whether their families can accept a relationship so fraught with emotional baggage.

It’s truly a feat to address the issue of gun violence with the delicacy, care and realism of Loren’s series, which somehow gets better with every new release. Loren does an outstanding job crafting romances that balance love, grief and a whole slew of other messy, complicated emotions. Tissues are a must for this book. At times, The One You Fight For can be painful, but the beauty of romance is that there will always be a happy ending, and its one that Taryn and Shaw definitely deserve. Two people whose lives have been consumed by loneliness and forever marked by tragedy learn to open themselves up to love, instead of continuing to punish themselves. It’s a beautiful sentiment and is couched in a romance that is seriously worth the read. Full of complex relationships and friendships forged through trauma, this is an unforgettable addition to an equally unforgettable series.

Top Pick in Romance, December 2018

Susan Fox sends an arrow to the heart with Sail Away with Me. Family obligations bring successful musician Julian Blake back to Destiny Island in the Pacific Northwest. He ran from the island as a teen, under the shadow of a terrible secret. But now he must manage his complicated emotions concerning the island in order to return and help his injured dad. Iris Yakimura, the introverted local bookseller, acts as a balm to Julian’s soul. They build a friendship, albeit one that has a limited shelf life, since he’ll be returning to his career and she believes she’s island-bound forever. But they both find hidden strengths—Julian exposes the man who sexually abused him, and Iris faces up to her near-crippling shyness. This is no saccharine Christmas tale, though there’s sweetness to be found in the courageous actions of the characters. The discussion of the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II adds another dimension to this wonderful story of finding love in the midst of hardship and pain. Prepare for tears and smiles, and have tissues at the ready.

This article was originally published in the December 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

In Lori Wilde’s The Christmas Key, a soldier with PTSD reluctantly experiences the annual celebrations in the small town of Twilight, Texas. Consumed with guilt for his part in a fellow soldier’s death, Mark Shepherd is on a mission to return an heirloom key to the young man’s family. Upon meeting the Luthers, he’s astonished to find that Naomi Luther is straight out of his dreams—as in, he’s literally dreamed about her. Naomi doesn’t let on at first, but she’s dreamed about Mark, too. Are they soul mates? There are obstacles aplenty to real romance—from Naomi’s out-of-town sweetheart to Mark’s need to address his childhood and wartime experiences. The events surrounding Christmas ensure the two have plenty of time together, and as their feelings grow, so do the issues lying between them. Questions of destiny and faith are explored, and readers will cheer when the couple finds their way to forgiveness and love. The Christmas Key is a romance brimming with holiday spirit.

This article was originally published in the December 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Brenda Jackson kicks off a sensual new series set along the sultry Lousiana Gulf Coast with Love in Catalina Cove, a complicated tale of renewal and second chances. There’s an old-school feel to this book, with its colorful characters and gasping melodrama. Catalina Cove is a small town, with gossipy, small-minded people who circle around a scandal like a pack of vultures. Vashti Alcindor is living proof that sometimes, there’s no escaping the nosy small-town opinions. Years ago, they turned her personal tragedy into a community-wide scandal.

The book is written in two parts, the first focused on the weight of forging a new path after a tragedy. Vashti became pregnant by the boy she dated and loved in secret, but her parents drastically changed the trajectory of her life by letting her think the son she delivered died shortly after birth. Every choice she’s made since then has been influenced by the scandal that developed afterward, from leaving town to closing off her heart. Part two of the book deals with the reality of moving forward when, fourteen years later, Vashti returns to Catalina Cove. She meets the handsome sheriff, Sawyer Griffin, a single father raising his sixteen-year-old daughter, and he wants to forge a new future with Vashti, despite her reluctance for scandal.

Jackson is a smooth storyteller, setting a pace as leisurely and sultry as the southern setting. Though older and wiser upon her return, Vashti’s relentless focus on the scandal can be frustrating. Fortunately, Sawyer is a refreshingly forward-thinking man, who loves his daughter to distraction and encourages Vashti to move beyond the bubble of safety in which she’s enveloped herself.

Jackson was the first African-American author to make both the New York Times and USA Today romance bestsellers list. And after twenty years in the business, books like Love in Catalina Cove prove that she’s still a prevailing force in romance.

Painful pasts stand in the way of future happiness in Recklessly Ever After by Heather Van Fleet. Although their best friends have become lovers, Gavin St. James and McKenna Brewer aren’t particularly comfortable in each other’s company. There’s a sizzling attraction between them, but he’s a forever-type guy, and she’s sworn off believing in a long-term relationship. But the closeness of their friend circle makes it hard to stay apart, and one night they give in, which leads to consequences that can’t be ignored. Along with gratifying glimpses of characters from the previous books in this series, Van Fleet ably explores her characters’ vulnerabilities and flaws in alternating first-person narratives. Gavin and McKenna aren’t perfect, but their imperfections will make readers root for them to overcome their doubts and fears. Frank language and sizzling love scenes make Recklessly Ever After a fast-paced and steamy read.

This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Family, culture and tradition run deep in Kianna Alexander’s Couldn’t Ask for More. A North Carolina native, Alexander sets the action close to home in the romance between fashion designer Alexis Devers and textile manufacturing heir Bryan James.

Over the last few decades, the Tar Heel State has evolved from an agrarian economy to a hub of world-class universities, technology and creative arts. And Raleigh is the epicenter of that progressive boom. The people moving in are young, professional and multicultural, bringing a diverse new face and vibe to one of the South’s most dynamic states. One of the most compelling things about Couldn’t Ask for More is its evocation of the diverse, vibrant culture of Raleigh.

Like the city, fashion designer Alexis is young and bright and driven. Having enjoyed a successful decade in the industry working for other designers, she’s finally building her own brand and fashion line. It doesn’t even dim her excitement to learn that part of the buzz circulating around her new line is the fictional fiancé that her business partner made up—so Alexis propositions Bryan James, whose company will be manufacturing her new line. Not only is he handsome and willing to go along with the façade, he’s her brother’s best friend.

This story isn’t fraught with tension, and there’s no romantic waffling. Rather, with her fresh voice and obvious penchant for life in a big, nosy family, Alexander weaves a modern tale of two individuals forging their own paths to success, on their own time and in their own way. Her characters, like her voice, are contemporary, moving and effortlessly relatable.

Susan Mallery hits all the romance sweet notes in Why Not Tonight. Part-time gallery manager Natalie Kaleta braves an epic storm to check up on reclusive artist Ronan Mitchell and ends up stranded at his mountainside home. The circumstances allow them to become better acquainted—and to acknowledge their simmering desire. A relationship wouldn’t be a bad thing, they decide, as long as it remains casual. But that’s not as easy as it sounds, even though Ronan has good reasons to resist getting serious. Returning to the charming community of Happily Inc. is like dropping in on old friends for coffee and cookies. Mallery’s breezy narrative and knack for penning good-humored dialogue pair well with a story in which the stakes are no more dire than healing hearts. Why Not Tonight arrives blissfully at the kind of happy-ever-after that every romance reader treasures.

This article was originally published in the October 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

An Amish artist and an arson investigator unraveling a series of mysterious barn fires form a special bond in Fall from Pride by Karen Harper. The small Amish community of Home Valley is struggling and Sarah Kauffman’s church elders give her permission to paint quilt squares on picturesque barns to draw tourists. But then one after another of the barns is burned—is it just chance or is someone targeting Sarah’s work? When arson investigator Nate MacKenzie seeks the answer, he’s stymied not only by the crimes but also by his lack of understanding of the Amish people. Turning to Sarah for help, he finds himself falling for her—and she for him, though their romance is completely forbidden. With danger plaguing the community, the two work together to put an end to the present trouble, while it appears there’s only heartache in their future. A story of wrenching personal choices is set in a locale both bucolic and exotic. Though only kisses are exchanged, Nate and Sarah’s romance feels real.

The characters are appealing, the animals adorable and the romance absolutely enjoyable in Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis. Over a year ago, a scary event propelled Jade Bennett to leave her high-powered job in Chicago to become a receptionist at a vet clinic in Sunshine, Idaho. Nearly 18 months have passed and she’s made friends in the small town—particularly with her boss, veterinarian Dell Connelly. With a month left before she’s set to go home, Jade and Dell begin to explore the chemistry they’ve been ignoring. Before, it had made sense to pretend it wasn’t there: Dell doesn’t do relationships, and any person’s touch made Jade cringe. But everything changes when Dell teaches Jade to trust herself again and she motivates this closed-off man to open up. There’s no flash-bang here, but instead the steady-yet-hot flame of a building relationship. Dell and Jade are trying to protect themselves on the way to love—but of course it’s unattainable until they drop their armor.