In J.R. Ward’s The Angels' Share, the second in her Bourbon Kings series, the mighty Bradford family has fallen. Patriarch William’s apparent suicide is beginning to look like murder. And since the man bred hate more easily than most people draw breath, there is no shortage of suspects. There is also no one at the helm of the Bradford Bourbon Company—or the BBC as it’s known—their billion-dollar family business. It falls to Lane, the youngest Bradford brother and a former playboy (reformed now that he's gotten serious with gardener Lizzie King), to take charge.

It soon becomes clear that William has left the business all but bankrupt. And the hits keep coming as Lane uncovers one transgression committed by his father after another, all of which threaten the family estate of Easterly and the survival of the BBC. Still, Lane is damned if their generations-old family business will fail on his watch. But this is new territory he’s trying to map his way through, and he is certainly getting little help from his family. His mother is a prescription medicine-addicted recluse, oldest brother Edward is a fragile shadow of his former self after the kidnapping and torture he suffered on his father’s orders, Lane’s middle brother Max is MIA, and his wild child sister, Gin . . . Well, she’s Gin—not interested in being useful.

The Angels' Share hosts a large cast of characters. If you missed The Bourbon Kings, the first book in the series, it may take you a while to get them all straight and become truly engaged in the story. Yet these characters will suck you in. A number one New York Times bestseller many times over, J.R. Ward has written an operatic lollapalooza of a story, filled with a rich mix of good guys, bad guys, back stabbers and hard workers, high-stakes business deals and small gems of personal growth. Ward has infused it throughout with her affection for Southern sensibility, which sings in the characters she has created, who love, care and fight for the continued success of Easterly and the BBC.

A chain of events leads to unexpected romances, secrets and the discovery of true love in a small Cotswolds village in Jill Mansell's 27th book, You and Me, Always.

Prior to her untimely death, Jo Harper wrote a set of birthday letters to her young daughter, Lily. On her 25th birthday, Lily opens the last of them and learns of her mother's real love—Declan Madison. Surrounded by a tight network of people who helped raise her after her mother's death, Lily's network comprises of Coral (Jo’s best friend), Patsy (Lily’s former babysitter) and Dan (Patsy's younger brother). This final letter has unexpected consequences for Lily and the kind friends she has gathered around her.

Now as the close-knit, cobbled together family grows older, they are discreetly looking for their true loves. Patsy experiences one internet date failure after another, Dan always has a new girlfriend, and Coral struggles to love again after her husband's unexpected death. Declan's entrance into the tale is a breath of fresh air for the familial quartet. In the meantime, movie celebrity Eddie Tessler hopes to win Lily's heart. However, Eddie is not the only person vying for Lily's attention. That is just the one of many secrets brewing in the quaint village of Stanton Langley.

Mansell's novel is a wonderful mix of romantic tension and uproarious comedy, and her complex characters share a common desire to be deeply loved and appreciated. You and Me, Always is a deliciously charming read from beginning to end!  

Swedish author Simona Ahrnstedt makes her English debut with All In, the first Swedish-language romance novel to be translated and published in the U.S. Featuring a billionaire venture capitalist and a businesswoman making a name for herself in the boy’s club of corporate banking, All In will have readers talking with its sizzling chemistry and cat-and-mouse intrigue. 

Set in the world of Sweden’s elite, CEO David Hammar is looking to acquire a private financial firm, Investum, owned by the aristocratic De la Grip family. It’s a bold move, but David is known for his aggressive and, at times, conniving tactics. But to David, this acquisition is more than just a business deal—it’s a chance for revenge. And nothing will stop him from destroying the De la Grips once he owns Investum.

Natalia De la Grip is making a name for herself as a corporate banker. She’s dogged and headstrong, working long hours in hopes for some recognition from her father, whose ego and pompousness only drive Natalia to achieve even greater success. Her goal: to earn a spot on the board of Investum. 

David’s plan for power and revenge relies on getting a member of the De la Grip family on his side, and Natalia is the perfect target. She wants an active part in the company, and he needs someone on the inside to aid in his corporate takeover. David just has to convince Natalia that he’s only looking out for the best interests of Investum. 

Can David give up his lifelong, cold-hearted motivations for a woman from the family he hates?

Cutthroat and manipulative, David is used to remaining steadfast in the face of temptation, but Natalia’s loyalty—and especially her naïveté—might prove too much to resist. As business lunches turn into late-night dinners, his plans for revenge begin to falter as his attraction to Natalia increases. Can David give up his lifelong, cold-hearted motivations for a woman from the family he hates?

With glamorous details of the lifestyles of Sweden’s rich and famous, All In is a high-stakes romance entrenched in corporate corruption and overflowing bank accounts, and it feels not unlike a Shakespearean drama with schemes, power struggles and family betrayals. 

Ahrnstedt has given American readers a romance they won’t soon forget. With a smart heroine striving for her father’s acceptance, a jaded hero out to bring down his enemies, and the beautiful setting of Sweden, All In grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last word.

RELATED CONTENT: Read Simona Ahrnstedt's blog post about the book.

Wynona Bailey loves her hometown of Haven Point, Colorado, and despite the tragedy of losing her father and one of her brothers in the line of duty, she’s followed in their footsteps as a local police officer. She adores her job, but Wyn has an impulsive side that often lands her in trouble with Police Chief Cade Emmett, a former bad boy and her brother’s best friend. Lately, though she hasn’t told a soul, Wyn’s become restless and feels that her life trajectory has hit a dead end.

Wyn’s penchant for impulsive behavior lands her in hot water when, in order to save two young boys from a burning barn, she disobeys Cade’s orders. The prospect that Wyn might have died in the fire knocks Cade off his center, and he suspends her from the force. Wyn is determined to talk Cade out of the suspension, which leads her to the police chief’s front door. He surprises her—and himself—by inviting Wyn inside to share a steak dinner on his moonlit deck.   

When Wyn is with Cade in the (extremely attractive) flesh, his appeal is impossible to ignore, sparks fly on both sides, and they share a passionate kiss. However, a phone call from work reminds Cade that he’s her boss, and he immediately regrets what has happened between them. Cade is harboring a dark secret, and Wyn, usually honest and open, is hiding both her feelings and her uncertainty about her plans for the future. There are plenty of  good reasons why Cade and Wyn should keep their hands off each other, but they don’t seem able to leave each other alone.

Award-winning romance novelist RaeAnne Thayne takes us into the hearts and hopes of the small-town community, keeping us intrigued with her well-rounded and likeable characters. Believable and refreshingly well-written, Riverbend Road, fourth in Thayne’s Haven Point series, provides plenty of titillating moments and reads like time well-spent.

Daring in a Blue Dress is the third in Katie MacAlister’s fanciful A Matchmaker in Wonderland series. Set in England amid a modern-day festival of sword-wielding knights and ladies-in-waiting, this fast-paced story delights the armchair tourist with new places, adventure and romance.

Handsome, curly-haired Alden Ainslie is displeased. His sister-in-law intends to find him the perfect girl, and once we see how tongue-tied and bookish he is, it’s clear he’ll need plenty of help. Alden has sunk his inheritance into Bestwood Hall, a wreck of a property from the 1500s, which he plans to flip despite the fact that the former owner of the manse, the eccentric Lady Sybilla, has claimed the right to live there for the remainder of her life. Alden is optimistic, however, that renovating Bestwood Hall will turn his sorry life around.

Mercy Starling’s trusting nature has left her penniless in England, heading for a summer job tutoring several “spoiled kids”—and she’s not the maternal type. A chance meeting on the train redirects her to a job with a medieval reenactment company at Bestwood Hall, where, unbeknownst to Alden, a medieval festival is about to be held.

When Mercy meets Alden, she assumes he is her new boss, and Alden assumes Mercy was sent by his sister-in-law. Though both assumptions are wrong, they are not displeased by the attraction sparkling between them. However, Alden is so remote and awkward, Mercy assumes he doesn’t truly like her. She’s been unattached for two long years, and though she doesn’t want to be charmed by a pretty face, she can’t help but be dazzled by Alden’s blue, blue eyes.

Like the helpful mice in Cinderella, rodents play a role in getting Alden and Mercy into the same bedroom. With Alden’s social ineptitude and Mercy’s mistrust of her own feelings, both doubt their relationship could be more than a brief fling. The medieval fair only lasts three weeks—and then, poof! Will that be the end of their romance? Mercy’s spunky, outgoing personality and Alden’s introversion make for a match that is sure to ignite some sparks.

New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux brings us the charming The Girl from Summer Hill, the first book in her new Summer Hill series.

Following a bad breakup with a boyfriend jealous of her career success and a falling out with her too-demanding-to-be-borne-a-moment-longer boss, chef Casey Reddick has sworn off men for the foreseeable future. She is charmed by the town of Summer Hill, Virginia, and by the little guest house on the Tattwell plantation that the owner’s cousin is letting her stay in. All Casey needs is peace and quiet and a great kitchen in which she can cook to her heart’s content, and she’s good to go. Then one morning, she discovers a naked man showering on her front porch.

Tate Landers is a megastar in Hollywood and the owner of Tattwell, and he is back in Spring Hill for the first time in a long while. His cousin Kit is putting on a production of Pride and Prejudice at the local theater, and in a moment of weakness and familial love, Tate promised he would play Mr. Darcy. The last thing he needs is a woman he mistakes for a reporter spying on him from the guest house, especially when he's showering, and especially when that woman turns out to be his new leading lady.

The Girl from Summer Hill is a story within a story. Deveraux has set up the main conflict to mimic Pride and Prejudice as our sparring lovers act out that very story onstage. Will The Girl from Summer Hill knock Pride and Prejudice off its throne? Of course not—that’s a classic for a reason. But conscripting Austen’s plot doesn’t take away from the clever and well-executed hook on which Deveraux hangs an engaging, page-turning story. 

In the opening pages of the first book in bestselling author Kylie Scott’s Dive Bar series, a rock-star-turned-bartender discovers a brokenhearted bride in his bathtub. With that, Scott launches into Dirty, a contemporary romance with passion and humor that’s definitely a good time.

Lydia Green’s wedding day is shattered when someone anonymously sends her a video of her soon-to-be husband getting steamy with his best man. Panicking, Lydia bolts, scaling a fence and trudging through an overgrown lawn to reach the house behind her own. With her future in tatters, Lydia breaks in and breaks down, setting up camp in the bathtub of a stranger’s house.

Vaughn Hewson first meets Lydia while she’s wearing a ruined wedding dress and he’s wearing, well, nothing. He was prepared to take a shower, but instead he finds a crying bride in his bathtub. However, as a former rock star, it’ll take more than a ripped white dress and streaked mascara to scare him. From there, the two form an easy friendship that’s sweet and flirty. Both are down on their luck and dealing with their own messes—Vaughn financially and Lydia emotionally. 

Sometimes, life needs to be shaken, not stirred.   

Watching Lydia gain her footing again after the betrayal of her fiancé is fulfilling. She’s angry and hurt, but she remains strong as she picks up the pieces of her life and alters her plans for the future. Vaughn becomes a great support system—building her up when she needs it, giving a comforting touch—and it shows how a sweet friendship formed in a time of need can turn into something much, much more. But as Lydia realizes she wants more than friendship and furtive glances, Vaughn discovers he might have another chance at rock stardom.

Scott fans and new readers alike will easily fall for Lydia and Vaughn’s whirlwind love story, though those familiar with Scott’s other romances will enjoy seeing old characters pop up. With a plus-sized, confident heroine and a tattooed, teasing hero, Dirty is unforgettably fun and reminds us that sometimes, life needs to be shaken, not stirred.   

In Nobody But You, the third in New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis’ Cedar Ridge series, Shalvis delivers a fast-paced love story deftly interspersed with themes of coming home again and learning to move beyond entrenched preconceptions.  

Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid left home at 18 and—aside from quick visits to his mother—has avoided Cedar Ridge, Colorado, ever since. But Jacob’s hometown tugs at him with irresistible force following his Army buddy’s death in a mission gone sideways. This time, he hopes to reconnect with his entire family—especially his twin, Hudson—and soak up the peace and quiet of the spectacular Colorado mountains until he has to report back to duty. Before he can make a dent in his plans, however, he discovers a beautiful redhead tying her boat to his dock.

Sophie Marren’s been in limbo since divorcing her serially cheating husband. She’s living on the boat he loved far more than he ever loved her, but she’s weary of having to move it daily to avoid moorage fees and fines she can’t afford. She’s set aside her own dream of starting a concierge business to accept a series of temp jobs that allow her to (barely) make ends meet. Scoring a dock in front of an empty cabin feels like her first stroke of good luck in way too long. Right up to the moment she comes up against a rule-spouting hunk she assumes is Lake Patrol.

Nobody But You flows like a refreshing Colorado river on a hot summer day. The only glitch is the cutesy treatment of the hero’s mother’s dementia. Readers who have dealt with this debilitating disease with their loved ones will likely wince at the portrayal of a character who, even as she thinks herself back in a time when her grown sons were young, has no difficulty playing chess, understanding social media and verbalizing her wishes without the short term memory loss and confusion that generally typifies this condition. That said, few authors write family dynamics better than Shalvis. She yet again enchants with her trademark style and wit, eliciting tears one moment, delighted laughter the next—and always, always a huge sigh of satisfaction.

Susan Andersen is a New York Times bestselling author of 23 romance and romantic-suspense novels.

Melanie Scott returns to her New York Saints sports romance series with a tale of unlikely love between a baseball player and a Wall Street economist. Full of heat and heart, Playing Hard is a lesson in being selfish when it comes to taking a chance on love.

First baseman Oliver Shields is nearing retirement after nearly 15 years of playing with the New York Saints. The cocky, young upstart, Finn Castro, is poised to take his place, and he’s making more enemies than friends on the team. Finn has a penchant for partying, and Oliver is tasked with escorting Finn home after one too many at a team function. Heartbreakingly, the ride home ends in an accident that leaves Oliver with a season-ending injury, one that could quite possibly force him into early retirement.

Amelia Graham has had her nose to the grindstone for as long as she can remember. Taken in by Finn and his family after her mother got sick, she’s lived her life for other people and set aside her dreams of traveling the world. With a 6-year plan in place to climb the Wall Street ladder, Amelia doesn’t have much time for fun and games, let alone love. She certainly doesn’t plan on being attracted to Oliver Shields, the very man who jeopardizes her surrogate brother’s shot at sports stardom.

The attraction between Amelia and Oliver sizzles off the page, and it’s impossible not to be whisked away by their whirlwind romance. Though Amelia feels as if she’s sleeping with the enemy, she can’t help herself around Oliver. However, as the two become more serious, she finds herself wondering if she’s just a convenient distraction while he recovers from his injury. And when a once in a lifetime opportunity is offered at work, one that requires relocating across the globe, Amelia just might take the advice everyone’s been giving her and do something for herself for a change.

Scott does a wonderful job of creating a couple that complements one another. Watching Amelia grow from people pleaser to a woman who takes charge of her own life is a beautiful and at times emotional journey, and Oliver proves himself to be an ultimate beta hero: caring, supportive and genuine. With their relationship threatened by Finn’s disapproval and Amelia’s promotion at work, the pair discovers that there are things worth fighting for, and a once-in-a-lifetime love is certainly one of them. 

USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Lang offers up the second book in her Magnolia Beach series with Everything At Last. Molly Richards has built a new life for herself in the charming coastal Alabama town of Magnolia Beach. Her coffee shop, Latte Dah, is a success, and little by little, she’s widening her group of acquaintances. Life is good. 

But then her new friend Helena begins trying to set Molly up with Helena’s best friend, town veterinarian Tate Harris. Molly, however, has become adept at sidestepping Helena’s matchmaking efforts. Not that she wouldn’t like to have sex again sometime in this decade, but a downside to small-town living is that everyone knows everyone else’s business. Well, that and the fact that although she would welcome the chance to blow off some pent-up steam, she’s definitely not looking for love.

Tate has burned some bridges, dating-wise, in Magnolia Beach. It’s difficult for Tate not to when the dating pool is filled with women he has known since birth. So on general principal alone, he wants nothing to do with Helena’s new friend. Still, he has to admit that Molly is funny. And sweet. And hot. But when he makes a move on her, she shuts him down and makes it clear that while she would like to have him as a friend, she’s not looking for romance. 

Molly feels that she can’t afford to fall for Tate. Her track record with men is less than stellar, and she has secrets—secrets she has no desire to share. But after a sudden, middle-of-the-night emergency with her cat, the tension between Molly and Tate explodes. But just as their relationship takes off, Molly’s past comes calling.

Filled with relatable, sympathetic characters, Everything at Last is a delightful peek into small-town life. This sexy, heartwarming read will lift your spirits as the novel races toward its supremely satisfying conclusion.

Susan Andersen is a New York Times bestselling author of 23 romance and romantic-suspense novels.

Bestselling author Lorelei James introduces a brand new contemporary romance series with What You Need. This sexy office romance is about what happens when two people learn to let go of their pasts and begin rethinking the roles they should play.

Lennox Greene has been there, done that when it comes to living in the moment. She’s toured with a band, decorated her body with ink and played the part of a rebellious teen. But that’s all behind her, and she’s ready to fully embrace the buttoned-up atmosphere of her new job. What she didn’t account for was the company’s CFO feeling the need to get in touch with his wild side, preferably with her help.

Brady Lund is used to having all of the responsibilities. As the first-born and an important member in his family’s business, he’s burdened with both 80-hour workweeks and the pressure to settle down with a worthy girl. His life has been privileged and regimented for as long as he can remember, though after catching Lennox out at a bar one night, he finds that he wants a taste of the freedom and fun that seems to exude from her tattooed skin.

 Could the rumors circulating around the water cooler be true?

Lennox and Brady are complete opposites in every way, from their upbringing to their family dynamics. However, Brady hopes that Lennox can teach him how to live a little, and, in the process, Lennox will learn that there’s a happy medium between the life she lived and the one she's living. But as Brady and Lennox spend more time together and their romance becomes public, they have to wonder if the rumors circulating around the water cooler are true: Could Brady just be interested in a flavor of the week to break up the monotony, and could Lennox just be looking for a way to get ahead at work?

Though this isn’t a book about cowboys or martial arts experts like previous James novels, fans of her writing will recognize the way Lennox and Brady’s attraction sizzles off the page—their chemistry is unmistakable, even when they’re too stubborn to admit it. What You Need is a fantastic start to a new series and one that James fans will be clamoring to read.

New York Times best-selling author Jaci Burton returns to Oklahoma with Make Me Stay, the fifth book in her Hope series. A contemporary romance with a fun, close-knit cast of characters and adorable pets, Make Me Stay shows that sometimes the right person at the right time can make all the difference.

Reid McCormack and Samantha Reasor are at distinctly different places in life. Reid’s stay in Hope, Oklahoma, is only temporary. As soon as he finishes his restoration project, he’s on the first flight home to Boston. Samantha is a local business owner with ties deeply rooted in the small town, and any free time she has goes toward taking care of her grandmother. But in a town like Hope, where everyone knows everyone, Sam and Reid can’t seem to stop running into each other, and they can't help developing feelings for each other.

Reid knows that his time in town is limited, and as he and Sam grow closer, it’s hard for them not to visualize the countdown to Reid’s departure. But as fate keeps throwing them together, Reid slowly begins to realize that maybe Hope has everything he needs: family, love and some amazing burgers.

Sometimes the right person at the right time can make all the difference.

Sam is sweet and genuine, and her flower shop is a staple in the Hope community. She’s also independent and successful, and she’s looking for love that’s everlasting— something Reid isn’t in the business of supplying. However, something about Reid just seems to reach her core, and it’s impossible not to grin at their easy, adorable flirtations. As Reid gets closer to finishing his home renovation project, Sam hopes that he’ll find a reason to stay.

Quaint and full of character, the small town of Hope provides the perfect setting for this heartfelt romance. Fans of Burton’s previous Hope novels will enjoy seeing previous characters as well as meeting new ones. With relatable dialogue and characters who seem plucked straight from our daily lives, Make Me Stay demonstrates how love can disrupt even the best-laid plans. For those who prefer their romances with the perfect blend of sweet and sexy, don’t pass this one up.