Olivia Waite is, quite simply, one of the finest critics of the romance genre working today. I would advise any skeptic of the genre to read her eloquent celebrations of romance, and her ability to evoke the tone and feeling of a particular book is astonishing. So I was excited, but also a little apprehensive, to hear that she would be publishing a new historical romance, having never read any of her previous books. It was a relief and a joy to find that The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics is just as elegant, just as incisive and intelligent, as Waite’s criticism.

Waite’s writing is gorgeous and always purposeful throughout this Regency-era romance. The introductions to astronomer Lucy Muchelney and her aristocratic love interest, Catherine St. Day, are striking and immediately effective, as the text itself shifts to express the differences in their personalities. The reader is thrust into Lucy’s mindset at the start of Lady’s Guide, and Waite renders her keen intelligence and longing for a life in pursuit of knowledge with immediate, straightforward prose. Then when Lucy meets Catherine, the woman who will offer to be her patron, Waite allows her writing to unfold into more fanciful, evocative turns of phrase: “You wouldn’t think, looking at the pinned-up gold of her hair and the sweet pink-and-cream plumpness of her figure, that this was the same woman who’d traversed so much of the globe. . . . She’d sat in that parlor as if she’d been grown there, as immoveable and domestic as a potted rosebush.”

Catherine is Lucy’s last and best chance to emerge from her recently deceased father’s shadow. Having been the mathematical brains behind his theories for years, she knows she is capable of translating the game-changing latest text from French genius Olerón, a task Catherine offered to Lucy’s father before he died. And while Catherine is inclined to allow the single-minded and alluring Lucy to take on the job, she fears becoming further involved with the younger woman. Catherine’s late husband, George, was also devoted to science, a calling that eventually eclipsed all other concerns and excused any emotional cruelty he visited upon his wife.

Waite patiently excavates Catherine’s memories of her difficult marriage, as well as Lucy’s lingering heartbreak over a rejection from a former lover, as the two women grow closer professionally and personally. As they attempt to gain the support of the early scientific community, Waite is able to explore the fascinating world of Regency astronomy, a booming field that commanded rapt popular interest while still warped by the same sexist, racist gatekeeping present in scientific endeavors today. The championing of women in STEM has become a bit of a romance cause célèbre in recent years, especially in historical romance, and Lady’s Guide is among the most nuanced and satisfyingly detailed works in this category. The thrill of discovery, the satisfying internal click when a new concept is fully understood, is beautifully expressed, both in Lucy’s internal monologue and in Catherine’s when Lucy explains her work and her passion for it.

However, Waite also captures how the heady rush of more equal-opportunity Enlightenment-era scientific discovery was slowly but surely narrowing via the staid nature of the following Regency period. As science began to settle into an established role in society, an interested party increasingly needed either wealth of their own or a generous patron to make an impact. This unpleasant fact becomes one of the largest stumbling blocks in Catherine and Lucy’s affair and also complicates Lucy’s relationship with her unsupportive brother, a working artist who is familiar with the dangers of becoming an aristocrat’s pet project.

In the character of Catherine, Waite is able to not only explore the personal costs of the pursuit of science but to also mount a full-throated celebration of so-called “womanly pursuits.” A devoted embroiderer, Catherine turned to needlework and design throughout her difficult marriage for solace and emotional expression. Waite describes Catherine’s embroidery just as rapturously as she details Lucy’s stars and glories in how clothing can be both art and a source of social power.

By the time I reached the wonderful, warm and quite frankly inspirational ending of Lady’s Guide, I only had one main critique, which can also be taken as a compliment. When the Black Moment* arrived, I didn’t accept it. Because I was that certain that Lucy and Catherine were destined for each other.

*the point in a romance when the central relationship seems doomed

I always tell my son, who is a supremely kind young man, that the world is often unkind to kind people. It’s a defense mechanism I’m trying to install because kindness is an incredibly important trait, and one that seems to be waning. So I deeply enjoyed Rogue Most Wanted, Janna MacGregor’s latest Cavensham Heiresses romance. The most recent Cavensham to fall is Lord William, a good son and loving friend who is devoted to his family’s estate, but overly protective of the heart that was broken a decade ago.

Will is a sexy, capable, nice beta guy who gets the girl for exactly those reasons. Lady Theodora Worth has an appropriate name, as she’s been raised by her grandfather on remote family lands and prioritizes things like caring for her tenants and being a good person over being the most fashionable, sought-after woman in society. One of the biggest annoyances for me in historical romance is the monotony of storylines concerning life in the Ton—of being graceful and solicitous and flirty, but not too graceful or solicitous or flirty. Thea’s earnest authenticity makes her an extremely compelling heroine. And Will’s genuine fondness of and friendship with Thea before their relationship blooms into romance is refreshing.

Rogue Most Wanted draws parallels to the modern dating and social scene as well. The snide meanness of chapter-opening quotes from gossip rag The Midnight Cryer evoke the cyber bullying on current social media. And MacGregor shines a light on the unfairness women faced in not being able to inherit family lands and wealth because of their gender, and the necessity to marry—even a stranger—to keep what should rightfully be theirs. Fortunately, Thea falls in love, quite easily, with Will, whose family that is amazingly likable and supportive and dependable (especially rare in historical romance novels). And for all Will’s pragmatism, he’s a lovable romantic deep down: “When we find love it’s completely, decidedly, and forever.” Who wouldn’t want that, in any era?

Sabrina Jeffries introduces a family of dukes in Project Duchess. Fletcher “Grey” Pryde, the fifth Duke of Greycourt and eldest brother of the clan, leaves London to support his newly widowed mother. Her other children and relatives are with her, including Beatrice Wolfe, the cousin of Grey’s half brother. Outspoken Beatrice catches his attention, and Grey volunteers to prepare her for her society debut. Through dancing and etiquette lessons, they grow closer, and though whispers grow louder regarding Grey’s stepfather’s death, suspicions don’t get in the way of passion. An excellent blend of great characters and witty dialogue make this a delicious first in a new series

Joanna Shupe kicks off her new Uptown Girls series with a headstrong, feminist heroine and the smooth-talking lawyer who is hopelessly in love with her. With a backdrop of New York City on the cusp of the suffragette movement, this romance introduces readers to the strong-willed Greene sisters and their exploits to further women’s rights.

Marion “Mamie” Greene is an uptown princess with a penchant of getting into trouble. She and her sister, Florence, frequently sneak out to casinos where they use their winnings—and their spoils from pickpocketing oblivious rich men—to give back to communities in need. There’s just one problem: their father’s lawyer, Frank Tripp, who takes his duty to his well-paying clients very seriously.

Frank knows that if Mamie’s father finds out about her exploits, it’d be disastrous for all involved. As he consistently tries to keep her out of harm’s way or from ending up in the city’s gossip rags, their sniping banter heightens to an unbridled lust. But Frank has admired Mamie for years and is painfully aware of how out of reach she truly is. Not only is Mamie soon to be engaged, but Frank is also hiding the truth about his pedigree. He isn’t a Yale graduate, conveniently hailing from Chicago. Instead, he grew up in the slums of Five Points and escaped a life he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy.

With Mamie’s upcoming engagement, a murder case, corrupt policemen and an unexpected family reunion, The Rogue of Fifth Avenue is bursting with tension, supplemented by complicated, emotional moments. It’s a page-turner with a fantastic heroine who is tired of living her life on other people’s terms. Mamie wants something more than marrying to uphold a family legacy or maintaining her status among New York’s elite. She’s brash, confident and serves as a wonderful foil to Frank’s subtlety and charming facade. Their romance leans more toward a slow burn, and it’s torturous in the best way possible as they fight their attraction at every opportunity.

Shupe shines when writing complex social and political dynamics, and she adds fascinating cultural layers to an already beautiful story. And if this first book in the Uptown Girls series is any indication, that same energy is going to be continued in the next book with Florence. Despite being the middle sister, she’s definitely the defiant ringleader of the group (with a penchant for reading bawdy books).

Don’t miss out on this wonderfully crafted historical romance. Shupe’s sense of place is unmatched, and she does a fine job creating heroines who exude strength in all manner of ways and heroes who know how and when to grovel.

The fourth installment in Theresa Romain’s Royal Rewards series, Lady Notorious, is a delightful, enthusiastic jaunt through Regency-era London. It picks up with another tale of the Bow Street Runners—focusing this time on a twin sister and brother duo—and the case of the Duke of Ardmore, who needs protection from an unknown foe.

When the duke’s son, George, Lord Northbrook, learns his father entered a wager with 10 men 40 years ago, and all but one of the investors have died (three under suspicious consequences in the last year), he decides to hire Cassandra and Charles Benton. But early on, Charles breaks his leg, so it’s up to his sister to forge ahead and ultimately save the day.

It takes a certain moxie and cleverness for women in historical fiction to make their way in life as independent, modern characters that contemporary readers can connect with. Romain often writes about characters that aren’t nobility, which is refreshing in historical romance, and Lady Notorious is doubly refreshing with its stalwart, investigative heroine. Cass may remind readers of Irene Adler in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes—adventurous and confident, taking no quarter from the men around her. 

Lady Notorious is a quick read, with a busy cast of main and secondary characters. The pacing lags in some places, and reading the first three books in the series is a good idea, but it’s an enjoyable book all the same.

May McGoldrick (author duo and real-life couple Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick) gifts readers with a passionate, fast paced romance in Highland Crown, leaving satisfied but not fully sated readers ready for the next installment in the series.

History buffs will revel in the author’s expert geographical and historical knowledge, and romance fans will delight in the ever-present sexual and emotional tension between the protagonists. Doctor Isabella Drummond, née Murray, is a well-traveled, no-nonsense but kindhearted widow with unmatched medical prowess, her very existence an anomaly in both place and time. Beginning with the shipwreck of the novel’s namesake, the Highland Crown, upon the shores of Duff Head in the northeast Highlands, readers are immediately plunged into a fairy tale with a somewhat-familiar twist—in the vein of Hans Christian Andersen, there is indeed a human treasure from the wreck waiting to be saved on the beach—but the rescuer is none other than fierce Doctor Drummond herself, and her prize is a bedraggled, wounded seaman, Captain Cinead Mackintosh, who harbors a secretive past.

Isabella is immediately captivated by the stranger’s looks, but once they spend more time together and bond over life-or-death incidents, she finds herself drawn by the siren call of his confidence, warm demeanor and loyalty to protect those he loves. But questions eat away at her mind. Why did he destroy the cargo of his own beloved ship as she sank? Can they truly trust his relatives, Searc Mackintosh and Laird Lachlan? Can she even trust Cinead himself?

As lovable supporting character Auld Jean repeatedly chants, “The sea is a harsh mistress… [she] takes and [she] provides.” As both British soldiers and Scottish rebels pursue her, for the crime of alleged treason she hasn’t committed and the information she has been exposed to, Isabella soon loses sight of those she loves, but gains the mysterious and handsome Captain Mackintosh and his earnest promise to lay down his life for her in reciprocation for saving him. Together they must face vengeful British soldiers, angry Highland villagers and suspicious clan members to protect Maisie and Morrigan, Isabella’s sister and stepdaughter. McGoldrick expertly weaves true-to-life historical elements with the contemporary desire for numerous twists and turns on every page of Highland Crown. And in a fun, metafictional twist, each chapter opens with lines from the writings of a fictionalized Sir Walter Scott, a posthumous but nonetheless important supporting character in the plot.

McGoldrick has bestowed upon readers a feel-good whirlwind romance between two intelligent, driven individuals that is less about the complications of a new relationship and more about celebrating a partnership. Highland Crown also explores themes of self-discovery and the quest for happiness, as its main couple works together to pursue what is right for their loved ones, their country and their relationship.

When Phoebe, Lady Clare, travels to her brother’s wedding at the beginning of Lisa Kleypas’ Devil’s Daughter, she’s a reluctant guest. Phoebe knows she’ll meet West Ravenel, who bullied her sickly late husband at boarding school. But the old stories don’t do the mature West justice, even though he doesn’t deny the ugliness of his past. Phoebe sees the good man that West has become, and the only bad left in him is precisely the kind that a woman like herself finds oh-so-tempting. The romance is delicious as West’s best intentions to stay clear of Phoebe battle her resolve to get what she wants, and that push-pull drives the narrative. The reformed bad boy is a staple of the genre, and West is just the sort that readers adore. His regrets and overwhelming feelings for the heroine make him an unforgettable hero. Add in cameos from Kleypas’ beloved Wallflowers (Phoebe is the daughter of Devil in Winter’s Evie and Sebastian), and Devil’s Daughter is a must read.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read a Q&A with Lisa Kleypas for Devil’s Daughter.

Alyssa Cole returns to the 19th century in An Unconditional Freedom, the third and final installment of her Loyal League series, which follows an unconventional interracial romance that blooms during the dangerous peak of the Civil War.

Wealthy and sheltered Cuban Janeta Sanchez is forever self-conscious about having grown up in a “grey” category of society. Quite literally neither black nor white, her mixed heritage is seen as beautifully and dangerously exotic to the white Americans around her. To her confusion, her Latinx heritage is simultaneously praised for the stereotypical ideas of its attractiveness and passion by men who would harm her and denounced by loved ones and family members as being an unlucky and shameful target for hateful people. It is only when Janeta is forced to join the Loyal League as a double agent to save her beloved Papi that she realizes she may have been misled about the righteousness of the Confederate cause all along and has possibly aided some very treacherous individuals through her decisions.

Soon Janeta finds herself in the fray alongside the educated, handsome Daniel Cumberland, a recently liberated man who, although born free, was kidnapped and forced into a brief period of slavery. This traumatic experience has resulted in tremendous levels of mistrust, prejudice and apathy. Haunted by a plethora of “what-ifs” about his childhood love, Loyal League agent Elle Burns, and the fact that Elle’s white husband helped him regain his freedom, Daniel is reluctant to share any sort of sentiment or affection with Janeta, but their physical magnetism and connection over being outcasts soon bonds them.

After being betrayed by her manipulative “lover” (and Confederate conspirator) Henry and having to constantly avoid the lecherous advances of both Yanqui and Rebel soldiers, the last thing on Janeta’s mind is pursuing a new romance. Similarly, Daniel’s emotional and psychological baggage, as well as his suspicions that Janeta is harboring an important secret, leaves him wary of the alluring new recruit he’s been assigned to mentor. But Janeta and Daniel find themselves gravitating toward each other, and soon their bond reveals itself to be more than just physical attraction. As the pair begin to work together to track down Jefferson Davis and put a stop to slavery across the South, Janeta must question who she is doing this for, calling into question her true identity and her ever-growing attraction to the gruff, intelligent and fiercely loyal Daniel. Similarly, Daniel must decide whether to open his heart to Janeta and risk rejection, or keep his walls up and risk betrayal as the war rages on around them.

An Unconditional Freedom seamlessly melds historical fiction with a titillating tale of espionage, all the while remaining true to the expectations of the setting and building strong, vivid characters that will have readers rooting for them after just a few chapters.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Alyssa Cole about An Unconditional Freedom.

It’s Yuletide in London in Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman. Lady Regina Haversham is looking forward to the holiday season because she’s decided to gift herself a man. A particular man: the dashing and roguish Daffin Oakleaf, a member of the Bow Street Runners, London’s first police force. He and Regina indulged in a flirtation in the not-too-distant past, but Daffin doesn’t accept her indecent proposal. Embarrassed by his rejection, Regina thinks she wouldn’t mind never seeing him again, but after she experiences some frightening attempts on her life, the lawman is forced to stay near the tempting Regina to solve the puzzle of why someone wants to harm her. Scorching romance and enjoyable mystery twine together in this charming story of a hero and heroine battling strict class expectations. Regina is no wilting flower, and her determination to direct her own life makes her an admirable partner for the oh-so-honorable Daffin (who wields his handcuffs in some very decadent ways). Bowman’s latest is a sparkling holiday tale.

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

Another member of the Westcott family finds true love in Mary Balogh’s Someone to Trust. The setting is snow-covered and the company jolly, but two people at the holiday family gathering are feeling gloomy. Widow Elizabeth Overfield, at 35, wonders if now might be the time to find another husband and try for children. Eligible bachelor Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, is 26 and contemplates doing his duty in the New Year and beginning the business of finding a wife. The pair enjoys each other’s company and feels an undeniable attraction, but the age difference makes them incompatible—or does it? Colin and Elizabeth bring out the best in each other, but on the way to a happy-ever-after they must confront ugly gossip, societal expectations and manipulative relatives. The quiet, authentic intensity of the characters’ emotions is a hallmark of Balogh’s work, and it is a pleasure to experience each heart-wringing moment in this romance made for warming a winter night.

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

Top Pick in Romance, November 2018

Two people in desperate straits save each other in the latest historical by Grace Burrowes, My One and Only Duke. Facing execution for a crime he didn’t commit, wealthy banker Quinn Wentworth proposes marriage to minister’s daughter Jane Winston, saving her from poverty and also providing an escape from her sanctimonious father. Grateful to this man she’s barely met, Jane agrees, and they marry. Then at the last second, Quinn unexpectedly inherits a dukedom and is pardoned. He offers Jane an annulment, but she’s willing to stick by her vows. When they begin to live together as husband and wife, Burrowes delves into the heart of the marriage-of-convenience trope: the physical and romantic tension created by a sudden intimacy between two people who are still essentially strangers. Both Quinn and Jane soon discover they delight each other in the bedroom, but they must learn trust and compromise to build a real life together. This curl-up-and-enjoy read includes a mystery—who set Quinn up for certain death?—as well as intriguing family members who definitely deserve their own stories.

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

While it’s fascinating to explore the exquisite manners and rigid expectations of high society in any era, it’s always deliciously exciting to see someone escape the lock-stepping pack and choose a different path. That’s why it’s so engaging to see the hero and heroine of this story—aristocrats in the stiflingly proper Victorian era—cut loose and go on a scandalous adventure. (Each chapter is headed with a tongue-in-cheek piece of advice directed to the heroine, from the heroine, presented guidebook-style as excerpts from Lady Ida’s Tips for the Adventurous Lady Traveler.)

Lady Ida herself is beautiful, rich and wellborn—but she’s considered unmarriageable because she’s also opinionated, outspoken and bookish. London’s society is a prison for her where she’s expected to simper and smile at men who earnestly mansplain to her that “breaking the fast” with breakfast doesn’t require her to break anything. She’s desperate for a way out and eagerly seizes an opportunity to “borrow” a carriage and just go. Her destination is an obscure little town where her disgraced sister, Della, has taken refuge. Ida wants to bring Della back into the family fold, but most of all, Ida just wants to get away. If it ruins her reputation, all the better.

Little does she know that Bennett, Lord Carson, is stowed away in the carriage she’s appropriated. As he is known for his intelligence, courteousness and ironclad sense of responsibility, it’s not surprising that he insists on accompanying her—it would be ungentlemanly to let her travel alone. The surprise comes when what starts as a duty quickly becomes a pleasure as he enjoys talking to a woman who has no interest in discussing the weather or anyone’s health. They banter, they argue, they discuss which animals they most resemble. (“Hedgehog” becomes his favorite term of endearment for her.) They fall into bed together—and of course, they fall in love.

Instead of the airless feel that sometimes defines Victorian-era stories, this book feels more like a freewheeling road trip rom-com in which two opposites learn just how deeply they attract. (I caught the occasional homage to some classics in this genre, including the originator—It Happened One Night.) The story and the writing are as fun and vibrant as the book’s protagonists, and while the happily ever after is a given, it really is all about the madcap journey they take to get there.

Joanna Shupe returns to her Four Hundred series with a sweet, heartwarming historical romance between a reclusive inventor and a shy Englishwoman. Both struggle to fit into society, but manage to find comfort and acceptance with each other.

The hits for Christina Barclay just keep coming. After her family flees England for New York to escape debtors, she quickly realizes her parents aim to pawn her off on the richest man willing to take her. The only way she copes with her family stress and anxiety for social gatherings is taking walks in her neighbor’s garden. It’s rumored that he’s a recluse and Christina doubts he’ll even notice her.

Oliver Hawkes is perfectly fine with his self-imposed exile. He doesn’t like dealing with new people, and has surrounded himself with a close group of servants and friends. Having lost his hearing as a young teen, Oliver has wrestled with the notion that he’ll never be fully welcomed by New York’s elite. But after meeting Christina, he slowly comes to realize there’s something magical in finding a friend.

After Christina returns from a harrowing experience with the man her parents have chosen for her to marry, Oliver knows he has to help her. And when her mother and father catch Christina seeking refuge at Oliver’s home, they insist she’s been comprised. Oliver knows the easiest way to help Christina and keep her from the scheming clutches of her parents is to marry her. They’ll dissolve the marriage in a year and he’ll send her on her way with a large sum of money, freeing her to move wherever she wants and pursue her dreams.

Both Christina and Oliver are, initially, lonely individuals. Christina has never felt as if she belonged, even while out with her cousin and friends. Meanwhile, Oliver insists he needs no one and that he can manage just fine on his own. They end up becoming fast friends because they’ve found a common ground in their introversion. There’s an adorable scene where Christina doesn’t feel like coming down for dinner, so instead, Oliver has dinner set up in their rooms to keep Christina from having to leave the comfort of her own space.

Shupe fascinatingly explores Oliver’s life as a deaf man, showing what sorts of accessibilities and technology were available in the late-nineteenth century. But his disability also comes with various prejudices, even given his wealth and standing in society. The threat of being thrown into an asylum is a very real concern. Though Christina is a homebody, Oliver begins to worry that not being seen in public will cause people to think that he’s mad, creating a looming, terrifying danger that hangs over the growing affection between husband and wife. Oliver and Christina’s love story is very much a slow burn, enhanced by the care and understanding they have for one another. Filled with lovely, sigh-inducing scenes and tense moments of longing and vulnerability, A Notorious Vow is a romance you’ll remember for a lifetime.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Joanna Shupe.