Three Weeks with a Princess is an adorable and fun return to Vanessa Kelly’s Improper Princesses historical romance series. When an illegitimate duke’s daughter grows up as the childhood friend to a rather respectable, duty-bound boy, things can only get more scandalous from there. Packed with humor and a well-balanced cast of characters, this is a lovely addition to a series that just keeps getting better.

Lia Kincaid is no stranger to gossip. Not only is she an illegitimate child, but the woman who raised her—her grandmother—was a notorious mistress. The fact that her actress mother had an affair with a duke dashes any hopes Lia ever had of being respectable. At a young age, she finds a friend in Jack Easton, a man destined for the title of marquess. While they may be friends, Lia knows nothing can come of her crush on Jack. Because of her background, she’s destined to become a rich man’s mistress.

Jack is protective and loyal to Lia, and watching him take care of her as much as propriety allows—and then some—is enough to make any reader swoon. He knows he must revive his crumbling estate by making a sensible (and wealthy) marriage match. But even though he has a lot on his plate, Jack can’t resist Lia’s plea for help. She trusts him, and he’s her only hope when it comes to meeting a titled man in need of a mistress. What Jack doesn’t count on are the torturous, detailed questions Lia asks about how to seduce such a man.

Fans of a friends-to-lovers romance will find Three Weeks with a Princess to be utterly charming. There are uptight relatives, bawdy bits of family history and tender moments between Lia and Jack. But deeper than that, this is a romance about two people who want to veer from the course set out for them. Lia wants to eschew the infamous Kincaid name and does not want to be a kept woman like her mother and grandmother before her. Meanwhile, Jack lacks the desire to be a marquess and sees his title as more of a burden than any sort of honor.

Kelly’s pacing is brilliant, and there are snappy bits of dialogue and sticky situations galore as Jack dashes through London after Lia, clearly distressed by the idea of helping her become some man’s mistress. The pair complement each other so well: Jack with his endearing practicality and care, and Lia with her brash self-confidence. Jack truly is a knight in shining armor when it comes to her—the way they feel for each other is obvious to everyone but them.

It’s a “Just kiss already!” type of book.

The late Jo Beverley, a New York Times bestselling author, has left us a parting gift—her final Regency historical, Merely a Marriage. The year is 1817, and Lady Ariana Boxstall has grown increasingly anxious since the Regent’s only child, Princess Charlotte, died in childbirth. If death can claim a woman so young, Ariana fears for her brother Norris, the Earl of Langston, given all the risks he takes in his Corinthian lifestyle. She feels it’s imperative Norris take a wife and quickly present an heir to secure the succession. Should it pass to their drunken, gambling-mad uncle, their mother’s life will be left in shambles. Norris, however, has no desire to marry at this time and shows no sign of changing his mind—until he determines that if she is married by the end of the year, he will follow suit by the end of January.

Putting herself in the ton’s sights is the last thing Ariana wants to do. She is inordinately tall, and her debut when she was 16 was a disaster. Yet, reluctantly, she agrees. Her mother accompanies her to London where their hostess Lady Cawle will usher Ariana through the unofficial marriage mart. The first thing Lady Cawle hands Ariana is a written list of possible husbands she has arranged for Ariana to meet, including the Earl of Kynaston, who broke Ariana’s heart eight years ago.

When Titus Frederick Delacorte, the Earl of Kynaston, met Ariana years ago, he was the toast of the town. Then life introduced him to heartbreak and taught him in the worst way possible that no one’s life is forever golden. He has sworn off love, but being thrown together with Ariana makes staying steadfast to his avowed oath increasingly difficult.

With trademark authority and vivid characterization, Jo Beverley paints a stunning picture of aristocratic Regency London life as Ariana and Kynaston’s inability to stay away from each other courts scandal during a countrywide mourning period.

Never Trust a Pirate, the seventh book in Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides series, is a delicious mix of intrigue and red-hot romance.

Twins Cade and Rafe Cavendish grew up rough in Seven Dials, London. But while Rafe was bestowed a viscountcy by the Prince Regent for his work during the war and married the sister of an earl, Cade has spent the past decade doing something decidedly different. He knows he’s rumored to be the infamous pirate Black Fox and shrugs at being titled the family black sheep—hell, if the black wool fits. He is pleased his brother found happiness, but Cade knows better than to think love is for the likes of him. He only plans to be in town long enough to get the information for which he came. Then he’s in the wind.

A former heiress who was left penniless after her parents died, Miss Danielle LaCrosse is now Lady Daphne Cavendish’s new maid. She arrives at the Cavendish household with secrets and an agenda of her own. Yet even as she pursues the latter, Danielle finds herself getting drawn into the warmth and welcome of both the servants with whom she works and Lady Daphne, who is like no member of the ton Danielle has ever known. As for the viscount’s brother, Cade—well, every time the two of them run into each other, they generate some serious sparks. While both know it’s the last thing they need—for their emotional well-being and the agendas that brought them to this destination—they cannot seem to stay away from each other.

Bowman pens a fun, fast page-turner of a romance, filled with characters that communicate even as they struggle to trust each other. For readers who like a soupçon of suspense with their romance, this is a book to keep you guessing.

New York Times bestseller Julia London’s second book in her Highland Grooms series hits the ground running. Widow Daisy Bristol, Lady Chatwick, is under a deadline to remarry, forced into matrimony by the terms of her late husband’s will. When she receives a letter from her long-lost first love, it gives her hope that, if wed she must, this time she might do so with genuine affection. She flees with her son to the family holding in Scotland, hoping to buy time until her long-ago suitor can get back to England. The first Scot she meets is a brusque, imposing man who introduces himself only as Arrendale.

Cailean MacKenzie, laird of Arrendale, doesn’t want any Londoners in his glen, but Lady Chatwick is hard to ignore. She’s unlike the usual Sassenach: He comes across her barefoot and in bedclothes, her hair uncombed. Then he spies her once again, dirtied, sweaty and sporting a bleeding scratch from clearing her own garden. And she flirts with him with bold eyes and an even bolder, sassy mouth. He doesn’t want to be interested, but his heart isn’t listening.

How is Daisy not supposed to notice when Cailean wears his plaid, displaying bare knees and a peek of his powerful thighs? He has told her in no uncertain terms that he’s not interested in her, yet a curious friendship begins to unfold between them. And soon, even that line becomes blurred as each is drawn more and more fiercely to the other.

Then Daisy’s first love, Captain Robert Spivey, arrives on the scene. Not only is he an old enemy of Cailean’s, but Spivey is a cold fish whom Cailean knows will kill the very passion that makes Daisy the woman she is. So Cailean risks his own safety to assure the union between Daisy and Spivey will never take place.

Julia London pens a lush, sweeping story of love, loyalty and cultures clashing that will keep readers glued to their seats, hearts in throats, as they turn pages at lightning speed to make sure Daisy and Cailean get their just deserts: the happily ever after both so richly deserve.

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas returns readers to the world of the Ravenal family and Victorian England in Devil In Spring.

Lady Pandora Ravenal is quirky, brilliant, beautiful and completely opposed to marriage. She’s participating in the London social season solely to support her twin sister, whom she adores. Determined to endure the endlessly boring hours of balls and soirées without causing a scandal, Pandora finds corners to hide in and declines gentlemen’s offers to dance.

One warm summer evening, her dress becomes caught and she’s stuck in the wooden carvings of a settee. When handsome, eligible, cynical bachelor Lord Gabriel St. Vincent comes to her aid, their host finds them in an innocent, yet compromising, position. Honor demands Gabriel offer marriage.

His frustration at the situation quickly becomes fascination, and he’s determined to claim the high-spirited Pandora. She is equally determined to find a way out of their predicament without damaging her family’s reputation and her sister’s marriage prospects. When the two spend long hours together at Gabriel’s family seaside estate, Pandora quickly realizes she can’t resist the powerful attraction that draws her to Gabriel. But when independent, business-minded Pandora inadvertently runs afoul of Irish terrorists, danger threatens her life. Can these two strong-willed, passionate people survive a love neither expected but cannot live without?

This thoroughly delightful novel is a showcase for Kleypas’ strengths as a writer. The time period details are flawlessly executed and the relationship between the hero and heroine, two people who at first meeting appear to be wildly disparate, intrigues and delights. The dialogue is witty and often hilariously funny, while the characters are engaging and eminently likable. Readers will find themselves thoroughly absorbed in this deeply emotional tale and anxiously awaiting the next novel in the series.

Lois Dyer writes from her home in Port Orchard, Washington

So you love brainy American heroines and the stalwart, strapping English heroes who love them? Then this is the book for you. USA Today bestselling author Maya Rodale wraps up her Keeping Up With The Cavendishes series with Lady Claire Is All That.

When her brother James shockingly inherits a dukedom, it's Claire who convinces her siblings to give England a chance. She possibly has an agenda. OK, fine, she is fervent about math and numbers, and this is her only way to meet the Duke of Ashbrook. She has dreamed of telling him how much she loves the papers he’s written for the Royal Society. Claire longs for the opportunity to discuss his difference machine with him and offer a few possibilities she has worked out to enhance his analytical machine even further. She certainly doesn’t desire crossing an ocean to attend silly balls. She will, however, put up with them for her siblings’ sake.

Maximillian Frederick DeVere, Lord Fox, took a hit to his pride when his perfect-for-him fiancée eloped with an actor. Still, he’s a competitive man. So when a comrade insists no one can transform Lady Claire, given the rapidity with which she has been driving prospective grooms away by the droves with all her talk of math, Max promptly bets he can. He even goes so far as to wager his beloved dog. Almost as quickly, he wonders what the hell he was thinking. He loves all things physical and he’s a social creature. God knows he doesn’t understand a fraction of what Lady Claire talks about. Yet he is genuinely drawn to the passion she displays rhapsodizing over the very topics he fails to understand.

Claire finds Lord Fox a mental lightweight. But he certainly is physically appealing. And he manages what she was unable to do for herself: He introduces her to the very Duke she’s been dying to meet, then escorts her to the Royal Society to talk with likeminded mathematicians. And before she knows it, Fox is introducing her to a passion that owes nothing to math.

Maya Rodale has penned a quirky novel peopled with unique characters and situations not often seen in historical romance.

Grace Burrowes weaves a plot as intricate and warm as a fine Scottish plaid in The Trouble with Dukes, the first in her Windham Brides series.

Blue-eyed and bespectacled, Megan Windham is worried on the night her family's ball kicks off the fall season in London. She's certain that the “goldenly glorious” Sir Fletcher Pilkington—a man she despises—will ask for her hand. How can she refuse his offer when she foolishly penned 31 love letters to the social-climbing cad?

Hamish MacHugh has distinctly different problems. Although he has a disdain for small talk and polite society, he’s just learned he’s a duke. Along with the title and wealth comes a wealth of responsibilities. The reluctant Hamish, now the Duke of Mordoch, declares his beloved bachelorhood to be doomed, but he’s pressured into donning his best kilt and attending the ball.

Megan Windham turns his head early on with her understated beauty, intelligence and confidence. But when she teaches Hamish how to waltz and throws a little Gaelic his way, he nearly swoons.

Sir Fletcher, eager to keep Megan for himself, spreads ugly rumors about Hamish. But winsome Megan sees something different in His Grace: strength, kindness and solidarity. These are qualities that Sir Fletcher, insistent on blackmailing her with her own love letters, lacks immensely. 

As Megan and Hamish fall in love, they hide dark secrets from each other. Though Hamish falls quickly for Megan, he warns her that he’ll never fit in with London society. Rumors and gossip follow him everywhere, and he’s known as the Duke of Murder for his fierceness in battle. Meg should forget about him. So naturally, she is all the more charmed, even as Sir Fletcher attempts to force her hand.

Burrowes' savvy knowledge of history, language, clothing and customs, paired with her graceful writing and witty dialogue raise the bar for period romance. The Windham women are a fierce and feisty group, and Megan is an especially appealing character. If all the Windham women are as engaging, and if all the Scots have equally attractive humor and wit, Grace Burrowe’s Windham Bride’s series will exceed reader’s expectations.

Sabrina Jeffries matches an unlikely hero with a hesitant heroine in The Danger of Desire, the third book in the Sinful Suitors series, and the result is pure magic.

Miss Delia Trevor politely wiles away her days pretending to be in pursuit of a husband and her nights searching for the man responsible for her brother’s death. When Warren Corry, the Marquess of Knightford, discovers her clandestine visits to some of London’s most unseemly gambling establishments, Delia is forced to tell the infuriatingly handsome lord at least part of her plan, withholding just enough information to ensure the blasted man won’t interfere—or so she thinks. With seductive charm and helpful connections, Warren is soon aiding Delia in her scheme—and threatening her heart, to boot. But she doesn’t have the time to fall in love, especially with the marquess, who would hardly woo a woman like Delia. Or would he?

For his part, Warren can’t quite understand how he’s managed to become besotted with a woman so unlike any other female he’s ever met. Though his reputation paints him as a rake of the first order, the marquess would never abandon a woman in need. Besides, he couldn’t leave now, even if he wanted to. The smart, honest and damningly desirable Delia makes Warren wonder if it’s possible to love, even for someone such as himself, who has done everything in his power to protect his heart.

Risky midnight visits to gambling hells, scandalous behavior in carriages and a shocking twist you’ll never see coming are just a few of my favorite things about this passionate, Regency-set historical romance. 

The first novel in Mary Balogh's Westcott series, Someone to Love, is an adventure in self-discovery that follows an orphan who discovers she’s the sole heir to a deceased Earl’s vast fortune.

Discovering that you belong to a wealthy, aristocratic family is an orphan's dream come true. However, growing up in an orphanage, the thing Anna has always desired most is family. Yet Anna has shattered the world of the Earl’s widow and her children and created quite the scandal, and although she would do anything to have the Countess' children as her new siblings, they want nothing to do with her.

Anna is overwhelmed by the challenges of attempting to become a polished lady and distraught that her newfound family despises her. But Avery Archer, the Duke of Netherby, sees Anna's distress and rescues her by taking her out for long walks. It's during these moments that the two unexpectedly grow fond of each other, leading to a proposal of marriage. But as wedding plans are in the works, Anna discovers that Avery's life is in grave danger. Will the wedding even have the chance to occur?

This is a refreshing read from the always-stellar Balogh, and it is a great start to a new set of novels sure to become favorites.

Joanna Shupe’s Baron, the second book in her popular Knickerbocker Club series, is set in New York in the late 1800s. The novel features Will Sloane, the stuffy older brother of Shupe’s heroine in Magnate, and pits the wealthy rail baron against an irresistible force: Madam Zolikoff, aka Ava Jones, who is struggling to get by as a medium.

William Sloane and Ava come from very different walks of life. The Gilded Age of New York City means a mansion for the wealthy Sloan, but a gritty third story apartment for Ava. Left penniless by the death of her parents, she has become Madam Zolikoff, a performance medium wearing a blonde wig and faking a Russian accent, “conjuring” up the spirits of client’s deceased family members to make a buck.

As a pillar of industry and a rising star in politics, William Sloane needs a suitable wife, but first he must take care of business. He attends Madam Zolikoff’s performance with a specific purpose—to dissuade her from entering a relationship with his political ally, John Bennett. Bennett is the gubernatorial candidate who’s asked Will to join him on the ticket as lieutenant governor. With the election only six months away, any missteps must be avoided, and this impertinent actress with the flame-red lips simply screams scandal. William won’t let a curvy con artist ruin his political career, but the feisty medium draws him like a beacon.

Ava grew up far from the fine and fancy Will Sloane and has done the best she can—single-handedly raising her younger siblings, scrimping and saving and building a  home for them. Years earlier, a romance with another privileged man left her sadder, wiser and mistrustful. She thinks she knows the kind of man Will Sloane is and wants no part of him. Unfortunately, Will is the kind of man one can’t help but notice, and unbeknownst to Ava, he has a heart of gold.

Though they come from different worlds, neither William nor Ava can ignore the compelling heat of each other’s company, and their resulting romance sizzles early and often. Readers should be advised not to scorch their fingers while flipping through the pages—or get them caught on all the hidden buttons of Victorian garb . . .

How unlikely is it for a strong Scottish lass to fall in love with a hardened British army officer? Extremely. Fortunately for Fiona Blackstock and Major Gabriel Forrester, their love lives are in the capable hands of bestselling historical romance author Suzanne Enoch, and a happily-ever-after just might be in their future in Hero in the Highlands, the first delightful installment in the No Ordinary Hero series.

A seasoned soldier with bravery in his blood and boldness to match, Gabriel lives for the fight. But when he suddenly inherits not only a title but a number of holdings as well—including a ducal seat, the cursed Lattimer castle in the Scottish Highlands—he’s forced to leave the battle against Napoleon’s men in Salamanca and see to his new duties across the channel. The turn of events is even less welcome news to the castle’s acting steward, Fiona Blackstock, who has kept the keep and its people from sinking into poverty with hardly any help. The last thing she needs is a man mucking about—and a British one at that,

When the two meet, sparks of all sorts fly, the enigmatic pull that each feels toward the other being the most notable. Though life away from the army has never held any interest for Gabriel, Fiona’s fiery temperament and deep devotion to the castle and her people stirs him in a way that speaks to his own sense of duty and honor. As for Fiona? She’d rather fail in her role as steward than give her heart to a Redcoat—or so she once believed. Gabriel’s charm and respect for her captures her attention, but it’s his growing love for the land and his newly acquired castle that keeps her captivated.

Sensuous, witty and replete with Scottish dialect that adds to the ambiance, beauty and lure of the Highlands, Enoch’s latest is an accomplished love story. Even more, it’s one that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page—and that’s a romance not to be missed.

Jody Hedlund imagines the early life of 18th-century preacher John Newton, as well as the inspiration behind his hymn “Amazing Grace” in Newton and Polly.

Fifteen-year-old Polly Catlett is out wassailing in her small English town with her aunt, but Polly is unaware that her aunt uses their caroling as a cover for rescuing children who were smuggled into slavery. Certain that their actions have been discovered and that they are being followed, Polly and her aunt quickly find a place to hide.

Luckily, the young sailor John Newton has noticed their plight and throws off their shadow. Polly soon learns that their savior is also her cousin when he pays a visit to the Catlett home. As Polly slowly warms up to her rebellious 17-year-old cousin, she also learns that he fell in love with her the moment he heard her voice while caroling.

Polly and John's relationship grows, despite the disparity in temperament between the pious Polly and the rather debauched John. However, a passionate kiss between them creates chaos in the Catlett household. John is pressured to leave and look for employment, and, while drinking away his sorrows, he is pressed into service by the Royal Navy. John is constantly dodging his responsibilities and creating trouble, and his time in the Navy takes him through France's war efforts and the horrors of slave trading. Prompted by these trials, John strives to become the godly man that Polly seeks and deserves, hoping that they will one day be reunited.

Hedlund deftly highlights both the romance and the strained aspects of Polly and John's budding relationship. While Polly is a devout believer, John struggles with his faith. But upon finding love, both with Polly and God, he is inspired to write one of the most beloved hymns in the world.