At the heart of every small town is a community—neighbors who have watered each other’s plants for years, friends who have grown up together and family businesses that have proudly hung signs on Main Street. These three romance novels capture the homespun charm of creaky porch swings, bake sales and softball games, as well as the sweet thrill of falling in love with the whole town watching—and usually cheering.

SWEET SUMMER NIGHTS 
Moonlight on Butternut Lake by Mary McNear is the next entry in the best-selling and emotionally rich Butternut Lake series, and it’s a nuanced story of healing and second chances. Badly injured in a car accident, Reid Ford retreats to his brother’s cabin at the lake, still confined to a wheelchair and struggling to recover physically and mentally. Mila Jones is the home health aide hired to care for Reid, but Mila is fighting her own battle—on the run from her abusive husband, moving to Butternut Lake is just the first step in her plan to make a new life for herself.

As the story opens, Reid is gruff and resentful but proud, and Mila is skittish and fragile but determined to make a better life for herself. From the beginning, they’re wary of each other—Mila is intimidated by Reid’s stubborn temper, and Reid is startled to find that the pretty aide has a surprisingly strong spine. But as the summer blooms around them, the walls they’ve built start to come down—and the tight-knit community serves to rehabilitate them both in different ways.  

Love is the last thing on Reid and Mila’s mind when the book begins, which makes their tentatively growing friendship sweetly satisfying. Workaholic Reid is surprised to find himself thinking about a relationship rather than a quick fling, and Mila is stunned to learn than she can still trust—both herself and others—at all. Suffused with all the magic of firefly-lit summer nights, this entry in the series is especially heartwarming.

A NOVEL LOVE
Emma Cane’s Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch is the next book in her popular Valentine Valley series, and it’s as warm and welcoming as spring itself. Cane writes extended family well, and the novel includes many characters readers have already met while it explores the story of a writer and a rancher who make an unlikely but wonderful couple.

Lyndsay De Luca is a dedicated schoolteacher who plays trumpet in a jazz band and writes fiction in her spare time—a true geek, in Lyndsay’s own words. Will Sweet is her polar opposite, a cowboy who thrives on Colorado’s wealth of outdoor activity and has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, at least briefly. More than their temperaments stand between them, though. Will was in love with Lyndsay’s best friend, until an accident took her far too early. And Lyndsay’s mortified to realize shortly before her first book is due to come out that her hero bears an overwhelming resemblance to Will.

For Lyndsay, it’s going to be hard enough to publically own up to the steamy book simply because of her job, and she can’t imagine what will happen if Will finds out he was the inspiration for the swaggering, sexy hero of her book. In Cane’s hands, the story plays out with humor and compassion as Lyndsay learns the real thing might be better than the fantasy, and Will discovers that love is a risk worth taking more than once. 

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
An ex-con and a waitress find everything they didn’t know they were looking for in The Closer You Come, by longtime paranormal romance favorite Gena Showalter. This novel is the second in her first-ever contemporary series and follows the Original Heartbreakers, three men raised as foster brothers who settle in quiet Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, for a fresh start.

Showalter hits the mark with this series. Newly out of prison, Jase Hollister is a deliciously hot bad boy with the kind of emotional wounds that will melt even the hardest heart. Brook Lynn is scrappy, stubborn and struggling not only to make ends meet but to keep her wild sister, Jessie Kay, in check. Jase and Brook Lynn meet when she finds her reckless sister in Jase’s bedroom, and the sparks never stop flying.

Showalter takes a refreshingly straightforward approach to Jase’s history and Brook Lynn’s struggles, including the implants she needs to modulate her hearing. Showalter’s gift for snappy, realistic dialogue and electric sexual tension are on full display here, and the community spirit that helps to bring the couple together makes this book everything a small-town romance should be. The next book in the series promises to be just as satisfying—and sexy.

Amy Garvey is a freelance editor and the author of several romances and two novels for young adults. 

Summer is the perfect time to get swept away by a great romance while you relax by the water, and we’ve rounded up three great romance novels about love by the bay. These novels are the perfect beach read—even if the only beach you’ll be visiting is in your imagination!

GOING FOR IT IN NANTUCKET 
The Montgomery-Taggert saga continues in Ever After, the final novel in romance legend Jude Deveraux’s wildly popular Nantucket Brides trilogy. As a physical therapist, Hallie Hartley is used to taking care of people, even at the expense of her own happiness. She has long been the guardian of her spoiled, self-centered stepsister, but Shelly has finally pushed her too far. So when Jared Montgomery arrives on her doorstep and tells her that she has inherited a mansion in Nantucket, she takes the first plane out—literally. 

Part of the deal for her immediate move to Nantucket is her acceptance of a position as a live-in physical therapist for the guarded Jamie Taggert, who, she is told, was injured in a skiing accident. Hallie assumes Jamie is a spoiled trust-fund playboy, but as Hallie gets to know him, she suspects there is more than meets the eye. Jamie is plagued by horrible nightmares, and it’s obvious that his wounds go far deeper than the physical. But when the truth of Jamie’s past is finally revealed, can Hallie get over the betrayal and look toward a future together?

Both Jamie and Hallie have their guards up, but as the beautiful island of Nantucket works its magic on them, they find it hard to resist falling in love, especially when Jamie’s relatives arrive to celebrate a wedding. Throw in a pair of matchmaking ghosts, and these two really don't stand a chance against love. Filled with family, friends, ghosts and the magic of love, Ever After is sure to please longtime fans of Deveraux, as well as new readers. 

LAKESIDE LOVE
RaeAnne Thayne returns to Haven Point in her latest novel, Redemption Bay. McKenzie Shaw loves her adopted hometown of Haven Point, so when she was nominated for mayor, she happily accepted the position. But the charming small town nestled in the Idaho mountains and surrounded by a pristine lake has its fair share of issues. And in McKenzie’s mind, there is one man to blame for all of them: Ben Kilpatrick. 

After a privileged but unhappy childhood in Haven Point, Ben was glad to leave the small town filled with bad memories behind. But his desertion left Haven Point in the lurch; his decision to sell his family’s boatworks factory devastated the town’s economy, and by abandoning his numerous downtown properties, he’s almost single-handedly destroyed Haven Point’s tourism potential. 

When Ben returns to his hometown in order to scope it out as an expansion site for his hugely profitable tech company, McKenzie is loathe to see him. But when she learns that he might be bringing new revenue to the town, she’s determined to put her best foot forward. To her immense surprise, however, she finds herself enjoying spending time with Ben. Grilling out and lounging by the lake with their dogs doesn’t feel like business—it feels like pleasure. And Ben can’t help but be charmed by the feisty young mayor. As they wrestle with their feelings toward each other and cope with deep pain from their pasts, the unlikely pair find themselves wondering if embarking on a new journey together might just be worth the risk. 

FINDING SAFE HARBOR
Donna Kauffman kicks off her Brides of Blueberry Cove series with Sea Glass Sunrise. After being blindsided when her seemingly perfect boyfriend turns out to be married and expecting his first child, headstrong and high-powered D.C. attorney Hannah McCrae heads back to her coastal hometown of Blueberry Cove, Maine, for her brother’s wedding and a little solace. But on the way to her childhood home, she’s again blindsided—this time by a stop sign—and narrowly misses town contractor Calder Blue’s pickup, crashing her sports car into an old wooden sign.

Calder rushes to her aid, and after the airbag dust settles, an undeniable attraction arises between them. Calder also has family in the Cove, but this particular branch hasn't spoken to his side in generations. He’s hoping to make peace while he’s there and build the town’s new yacht club, but he’s convinced that there’s something sinister going on behind the contested project—and he’s determined to find out what. Hannah’s wounded, judicious heart doesn’t take long to warm up to Calder’s gentle pursuit, and the unlikely pair finds they have many surprising things in common, including a secret love for classic Hollywood films.

Fans of cozy small-town settings—where everybody knows your name and your business, but also has your back—will be eager to see what happens next in this bayside New England locale.

Triumph and tragedy, love and betrayal, danger and sacrifice—the powerful emotions packed within inspirational-themed romance novels are sure to bring hours of reading pleasure. So curl up in your favorite chair and settle in for a most excellent reading adventure tinged with the spiritual.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
With her latest novel, Ties That Bind, New York Times and Christian Booksellers Association best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall begins a new series, The Amish of Summer Grove. Wise and compassionate, lovely Ariana Brenneman is determined to find a man to build a family with, and she believes Rudy may be that person. Still, she’s never been able to forget, nor forgive, her childhood love, Quill Schlabach. When Quill left their Amish community to live in the outside world, he broke her heart and shattered her dreams. She can’t seem to fully recover.

Quill has never stopped loving Ariana, but his convictions demanded he reject the strict rules of the Amish world. Worse yet in Ariana’s eyes, he feels called to aid other Amish who want to leave the community. He knows Ariana will never be able to forgive him for his actions. He also knows that she is a woman who cannot—and will not—leave her Amish community.

While Quill and Ariana tread carefully through the minefield that is their non-relationship, her parents receive shocking news. They need Quill’s help, and what they learn will forever impact Ariana’s life.

Woodsmall’s depiction of Amish life feels true, and Quill and Ariana’s struggle to come to grips with their feelings for each other and their place in the bigger world is absorbing. Readers will cheer for these two honorable, dedicated characters and impatiently await the next installment in this new series.

LOVE DURING WARTIME
Kate Breslin’s sophomore novel, Not By Sight, is a wonderful historical tale set in 1917 England. The British are caught up in World War I, and wealthy suffragette Grace Mabry is determined to make a contribution to the war effort. She plots to expose men avoiding military service, but she mistakenly assumes the handsome Earl of Stonebrooke, Jack Benningham, is a malingerer. However, he is actually a spy working on the home front. There is an instant spark of attraction during their first meeting, which is all too brief. Months later, they find each other again when Grace is assigned to a work crew at one of Jack’s family estates. Jack has been injured and is recovering at the beautiful country home.

Circumstance and attraction draw them together, and Grace and Jack both struggle with their feelings. A dark cloud of suspicion hanging over Grace complicates their situation, and Jack will have to unravel a sinister plot, uncovering lies and betrayal to find the real enemy. It’s by no means certain that they will find a way to defeat evil forces and reach a happy future together.

Breslin’s research and attention to historical detail is impeccable. Britain in 1917 comes alive with lush landscapes, colorful period costumes and cultural references. The hero and heroine are compelling, their romance emotionally satisfying and the plot absorbing. Readers of historical romance will thoroughly enjoy this tale set in “Downton Abbey”-era surroundings.

A SEASON FOR CHANGE
Best-selling author Lynn Morris transports readers to Regency England in her latest novel, A Sapphire Season. Lady Mirabella Tirel is the daughter of a Marquess and has led an idyllic life. She has a warm, loving, supportive family and when she decides to spend the Season in London, determined to find a husband, she’s accompanied by her three best friends. One of those friends is neighbor Sir Gyles Knyvet, a Baronet, who feels far more than friendship for Mirabella. Gyles is in love with her, but due to his family’s tenuous financial circumstances, he feels unable to declare his feelings.

The three begin the social whirl that makes up the British social elite’s Season. Mirabella makes a list of possible suitors, but the list gradually grows smaller as each name is eliminated. As the weeks slip by, the four friends find themselves gaining a different perspective and discovering new things about themselves and each other. But will Mirabella’s new view of Gyles come too late to guarantee a happy ending for the couple?

This novel is absolutely charming, with witty dialogue, honorable and intelligent characters and a character-driven plot that will thoroughly engage readers. Fans of Julia Quinn will enjoy this lovely tale.

Lois Dyer writes from Port Orchard, Washington. 

There aren't many images more emblematic of the romance genre than a strong, kilted hero standing on the moors. To celebrate these burly heroes, we've reviewed three of the best recent Highland romances. Make sure you've got a tartan blanket and a hot toddy ready to enjoy with these novels!

STEALING KISSES
Jennifer Ashley’s latest installment in her Mackenzies series, The Stolen Mackenzie Bride, reaches back to the height of the Jacobite uprising in 1745 as this tale of courtship between two beloved Mackenzie ancestors unfolds.

English noblewoman Lady Mary Lennox is resigned to leading a dutiful, if not especially blissful, life as the soon-to-be-wife of one of her father’s political allies—until she locks eyes with Malcolm Mackenzie.

Mal has spent the past few years chasing skirts and enjoying his fair share of whisky, but one look at Mary and the mischievous Scot’s mind is made. She’s the elegant, passionate woman of his dreams, but he’ll have to find a way to break Mary’s legally cemented engagement—and break the fact of her British birth to his high-born Scottish father.

The politically unstable Edinburgh of the mid-18th century is not the most swoon-worthy setting for star-crossed love, and there are plenty of dark, violent moments that make this abundantly clear. Mary is given little choice in her life, and she is frequently used as a political bargaining chip by the warring sides, but the convention-breaking Highlander sparks her desire for respect and independence, and she makes some surprisingly daring decisions where she can. Mal may be a fierce, rugged warrior who gets what he wants, but his charm and emotional maturity make him an especially lovable hero. This is a sweeping saga in which a rare love blossoms in the shadow of war and political brutality.

AN UNLIKELY LOVE
The romance in Paula Quinn’s The Taming of Malcolm Grant, part of her MacGregors series, develops in the most unlikely of places. When the Grant brothers are in need of a bit of relaxation, the womanizing Highlander Malcolm knows the perfect place to unwind: his old friend Harry Gray’s brothel, Fortune’s Smile.

Unfortunately, almost immediately upon arrival, the brothers spark up a brawl with the wrong people. Malcolm and his brother, Cailean, are injured and in desperate need of medical attention. Luckily, Harry Gray is willing to hide the brothers above the brothel, and his sister, Emmaline, is a skilled healer.

Blinded at a young age by the fever that killed her parents, Emmaline has spent most of her life sequestered away, learning the art of healing. However, she has recently reunited with her brother, whom she barely knows. Uncertain what exactly to do with Emmaline and worried about her safety, Harry rarely allows her to leave her upstairs quarters above the raucous brothel, and never without a companion to guide her.

Malcolm is stunned to find the gentle likes of Emmaline in Fortune's Smile, but as she works to heal the gravely injured Cailean, Emmaline’s sweet-tempered demeanor and empathetic nature unexpectedly begin to heal Malcolm’s hardened heart, as well. Will it be the quietly confident Emmaline who finally tames the notorious Malcolm, or will a lingering threat end their relationship before it begins? 

QUITE THE MISTAKE TO MAKE 
When Riona Duff is awakened in her uncle’s York home by hand over her mouth and a gruff Scottish voice telling her to get dressed, she assumes the worst. But in The Wrong Bride, the first book in Gayle Callen’s Highland Weddings series, a bevy of assumptions are proven false. 

Lady Catriona Duff was promised to clan chief Hugh McCallum when they were both children, but her father now renounces the betrothal, and Hugh refuses to accept the slight. His clan desperately needs the money from Catriona’s dowry, and he believes he has no choice—he either claims his bride or his clan will suffer. Hence sneaking into the Duff’s estate in the dead of night and stealing Catriona away to his Highland keep. 

However, there is a flaw in Hugh’s plan. A large one: He’s stolen the wrong Duff woman. The very stubborn Hugh refuses to believe he’s made this big of a mistake, assuming that she is lying in an attempt to weasel out of their impending nuptials. But the woman is resolute: He is betrothed to her cousin, not her. 

However, this does nothing to abate the searing attraction between the two. Hugh is determined to court and seduce his wary bride, and Riona, who has spent a lifetime in the shadow of her sister, has a hard time resisting. Even though Riona knows she is not truly his betrothed, she finds herself tentatively falling in love with the burly laird. However, when Hugh’s scandalous past is revealed and Riona’s true identity is proven, their burgeoning hope for love may be dashed. Rich with historical detail and sexual tension, the first of Callen’s new series is a winner. 

The arrival of the new year always turns our thoughts to new beginnings. We’ve selected three romance novels featuring tales of a second chance at life and love that will give you hope and make you swoon.

FALLING IN LOVE, AGAIN
In bestselling author Erin Knightley’s The Viscount Risks It All, the latest in her Prelude To A Kiss series, former childhood playmates become more than friends. Gavin Stark, Viscount Derington, lost his heart to his neighbor Lady Felicity when they were only 15. At age 25, she broke his heart when she married another. Now, they’re both about to turn 30, and Felicity has returned to Bath for the summer, widowed and with a toddler in tow. Felicity is struggling to leave her grief over her husband's death behind, and she turns to her former best friend Gavin for aid.

Gavin has vowed never to love again, although as the future Earl of Carlisle, he knows it’s time to wed and produce heirs. As Gavin and Felicity struggle to come to terms with past hurts and an attraction that neither of them wants to acknowledge, circumstances inexorably draw them together. Just when it seems as though they will surely reach a happy future, however, they're torn apart. With all that separates them, can they find their way back to each other again? Knightley has created a warm world in Regency-era Bath filled with good friends, happy social events and a charming circle of family connections.

BEGINNING ANEW IN AMERICA
Award-winning inspirational author Susan Anne Mason delivers the second novel in her stellar Courage To Dream series with A Worthy Heart. This installment features the same depth of family drama and the historical Edwardian setting featured in Mason’s debut novel, Irish Meadows, which received enthusiastic praise.

Maggie Montgomery is anticipating a new life when she leaves Ireland behind and travels to New York City to visit her older brother and his family. Her arrival coincides with the release from prison of her sister-in-law’s older brother, Adam O’Leary. Although Adam and Maggie are drawn to each other, both are warned by family members that any connection between them is forbidden. Adam’s prison record is unacceptable to society, and their friendship could destroy Maggie’s reputation. Adam knows he should stay away from the lovely, kind Irish beauty, but they can’t seem to avoid each other. However, when Maggie’s life is put in danger, Adam must choose whether to keep her safe or walk away. The odds are stacked against a future, but can love and faith find a way for them to be together?

Edwardian life in New York comes to life in this well-researched novel. Adam’s struggle to build a life after prison and resolve lifelong conflicts with his father will have readers cheering for him, and the multiple twists and turns complicating the family relationships in this story are equally absorbing.

ONCE MORE, WITH LOVE
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Anderson returns to the small Oregon town of Mystic Creek in New Leaf. Divorced shop owner Taffeta Brown moved to Mystic Creek to hide from her past. Although she has fantasized about handsome sheriff’s deputy Barney Sterling, Taffeta has never dared to approach him. In fact, she does her best to fade into the woodwork when he’s around. When Barney accidentally sees her without her disguise of frumpy clothes, bad hairstyle and no makeup, however, his interest is piqued, and he begins to seek her out. Taffeta is drawn to him, but before she can resolve her feelings, news from her past about her young daughter shocks her. Caught off guard, she confides her problems to Barney, and to her surprise and overwhelming relief, he has a plan to help her.

The scheme requires Taffeta to pretend she’s romantically involved with Barney, and before long, the two are truly falling in love. But Taffeta’s daughter has issues that may drive the couple apart. With all the obstacles in their path, whether these two can find their way to a happy ending is anyone’s guess. The small town setting and its charming residents, along with Barney’s extended family, provide a rich, warm background for this tale of starting over and finding unexpected love. 

Lois Dyer writes from her home in Port Orchard, Washington.