If you’ve shopped till you dropped and ho-ho-ho’ed your way through hours of prep, take a well-deserved break from the hectic holiday season and curl up with a good book. We’ve found three wonderful romance novels with nary a Christmas wreath in sight that we’re sure will make you smile.

RUNAWAY WALLFLOWER
Loretta Chase begins her new Difficult Duke series with A Duke In Shining Armor. It’s June 1833, and a duke is about to be married. Unfortunately, the bride’s aunt has given her a ‘fortifying’ cup of brandy-laced tea. Lady Olympia Hightower drank the entire cup and is now certifiably tipsy. All the reasonable arguments for a marriage between herself, a titled bookish wallflower, and the duke, a disgraceful scoundrel but nonetheless, a duke, are hard to remember. Deciding she needs time to ponder her situation, she climbs out her window and runs off.

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley and best man at the wedding, arrives just in time to see the bride disappear out the window. Taken aback, he does the only thing he can—he follows her. Given that Olympia’s usually pragmatic personality has been knocked askew by the brandy, she fails to notice that the handsome, rakish duke shouldn’t be accompanying an unchaperoned lady down the streets of London. Olympia is determined to travel to an aunt’s house to confer with her regarding the abandoned nuptials. Hugh is equally determined to accompany Olympia and convince her to return to marry his friend, for surely this is something a best man must do. They set off on an adventure that tests the limits of Olympia’s virtue and Hugh’s honorable intentions. Is there any possibility that a virtuous lady and a famous hellion can make a happy match? And what about Hugh’s best friend, drunkenly awaiting them back in London? Not to mention Olympia’s family and potentially scandalized friends? Oh, what a tangled web these two weave—and watching them extricate themselves is a delicious treat.

This wonderful novel boasts a marvelous tall, dark and exasperating hero and a brilliant, lovable heroine. The witty dialogue sparkles, the period details are authentic and vivid, and the cast of characters absolutely charming. Readers will love this start to what promises to be an excellent series.

FOR THIS GREEN CARD, I THEE WED
After six months of crushing on New York City subway musician Calvin McLoughlin, Holland Bakker finally musters the courage to speak to him. She mumbles; he replies in an Irish accent that stupefies her. Days later, she thinks of Calvin when her uncle, a Broadway producer, is stressing over the lack of a star for his show. Inspired, Holland drags her uncle down the stairs to the subway to see Calvin’s mesmerizing guitar playing. There’s an audition; Calvin’s performance enraptures the professional cast. An offer is made—and Calvin turns it down. Because the Irish citizen has an expired visa and he’s in the States illegally. When a snide cast member suggests Holland marry the guitarist, everyone rejects the idea. But after some consideration, Holland approaches Calvin. She knows she will have to conceal her deeper feelings but believes in his talent as much as she wants to help her uncle solve his casting dilemma. Holland is certain her attraction to the handsome, brilliant musician isn’t reciprocated. But when she discovers Calvin feels the same and their relationship grows daily more complicated, will her heart be broken when the musical’s run on Broadway ends?

Christina Lauren’s modern tale of a heroine’s search for real meaning in her life will make readers sigh, laugh and cheer. Holland is a young woman whose talents and strength are obvious to everyone except herself, and watching her come into her own is a delight.

BETROTHAL OR BUST
Beautiful American silver heiress Daisy Bumgarten is determined to capture a duke. She needs the cachet of marriage to an English peer to launch her three younger sisters into society. Her plan to attract the Duke of Meridian is going well when his younger brother, Lord Ashton Graham interferes. Ashton is handsome, charming and just what Daisy’s rebellious heart and body want. But Ashton isn’t the duke, and even worse, he’s openly determined to prevent Daisy’s marrying his brother. When the Duke’s aged relations demand Daisy provide proof of her family’s connection to the peerage, Ashton is assigned to verify her search. Together, they set out to track down birth records. What they find is astonishing, and Daisy will have to choose between following her heart or sticking stubbornly to her original plan.

Betina Krahn’s delightful A Good Day to Marry a Duke features a plucky, determined heroine and a handsome hero who’s cynical without tipping over into outright misanthropy. Both find their hearts overruling their sensible plans, and watching them struggle to find their way is a pleasure. With vivid historical details, a lively supporting cast and plenty of sexual heat, readers are certain to impatiently await the next title in the series.

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

It’s February—time for chocolates, hearts, flowers and romances! Our Valentine’s Day gift to you is a trio of books by rising stars.

WOUNDED HEARTS HEALED
If you love the popular television series “Victoria,” you’re certain to enjoy Never Dare A Wicked Earl. Twice a finalist for the coveted Golden Heart Award from Romance Writers of America, Renee Ann Miller makes her historical romance debut with the first in her Infamous Lords series.

Widower Hayden Milton, Earl of Westfield, has an infamous reputation. When an ex-mistress shoots him, medical student Sophia Camden is assigned to tend him as he recuperates. Hayden finds her annoying—and enticing. Sophia finds him exasperating—and handsome. He’s determined to shock her into resigning, while she’s equally determined to ignore his teasing. Their sickbed-set battle of wills forces them into near constant proximity, and both begin to open up to the other.

Both the hero and heroine have pasts darkened with loss, regret and guilt that hamper their ability to fall in love. These difficult beginnings lead to lots of engaging emotional conflict. Miller lightens the stressful moments with a delightful child, a hilarious dog, a harried sister and other equally charming secondary characters in Never Dare a Wicked Earl’s engrossing pages. This first novel will surely have readers looking forward to the second in the series.

ROMANCING THE CHEF
Everyone loves fabulous food. The terrific characters of More to Love, the latest romantic comedy from Alison Bliss, certainly do. The residents of Granite, Texas, flock to plus-size heroine Jessa Gibson’s food truck. Unfortunately, local electrician Max Hager discovers that Jessa’s mouthwatering food is about to put his favorite restaurant owner out of business. Outraged and determined to save the restaurant, Max comes up with what is arguably the worst scheme ever conceived. Posing as the local health inspector, he introduces himself to Jessa and begins listing violations of local rules. Jessa is taken aback at his odd, finicky comments but is also distracted by how cute the “inspector” is. Max is equally distracted by Jessa’s lush curves.

Although there are moments when a reader may wish Max would just man up and lay his cards on the table, Bliss gives him good reasons to hesitate. Max knows he should confess his charade, but before he can do so, things between him and the very sexy chef are careening out of control. The attraction between these two is off the charts. He’s in love and afraid to lose her; she’s in love and confused by his reticence. When the inevitable revelation occurs, will Max be able to keep both their hearts from breaking? The only things missing from this story are recipes for the wonderful dishes. Be warned—this one should be read with a snack close at hand.

SNARK AND SPARKS
Maggie Wells explores the wage gap and the world of college sports in her terrific new novel, Love Game.

Kate Snyder is a former Olympic gold medalist, WNBA all-star and current coach of the Wolcott University Warrior Women, a team she’s led to four national basketball championships. When the university hires famous but disgraced Danny McMillan to take the reins of the school’s low-ranked football team, Kate knows her contract negotiations are under threat. She expects to dislike the sports legend, but as she spends time with Danny, neither can deny the powerful connection that draws them together. Kate and Danny’s sexual chemistry is never in doubt, and Wells’ devotion to showing how much the pair enjoys and respects each other make the eventual payoff even sweeter.

Wells’ kickass heroine and confident hero trade witty banter and have some sigh-worthy sex scenes. Wells earns an A-plus, however, for creating a power couple that fully embodies being grown-up, intelligent adults who fall madly in love.

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

We love the inherent escapism of billionaires and wealthy nobles who don’t have to work for a living as much as the next reader. But there’s also something to be said for romances where the leading lady has an extremely cool job. We might not want to be a daring professional gambler or an aspiring supersoldier in real life, but it’s thrilling and fascinating to experience their world for a couple hundred pages or so—with, of course, the requisite happily ever after. (We do, however, fantasize about being a librarian. Because every book-loving soul does.)

AN INFAMOUS WAGER
Regency romances often delight readers by featuring a passionate connection between a dangerous rake and a very proper lady. In My Once and Future Duke, Caroline Linden flips this classic setup when she pairs a female card shark with an uptight duke. Linden is a Harvard-educated mathematician and makes good use of her background to create her gifted heroine. The brilliant Sophie Campbell is an orphan with no prospects. Her goal is to save 10,000 pounds to ensure her independence. But if she is to ever have a chance at marriage, she must also maintain a pristine reputation and keep a low profile. She manages to do that as a member of the Vega Club, deftly fending off potential male advances while counting cards and calculating odds. Her careful balancing act between respectability and notoriety is threatened when Jack Lindeville, Duke of Ware, arrives at the club and finds her playing cards with his reckless brother. Jack never gambles and is incensed to find his brother incurring further debts even though he promised to stop spending time at the tables.

Since luring the lady gambler away would clearly irritate and remove temptation from his brother, Jack offers Sophie a wager she can’t refuse. Beat him at a game, and he’ll give her 5,000 pounds. Lose, and she has to stay at his country house for a week. The duke is a terrible gambler, so Sophie accepts the tempting wager, certain she cannot lose. But then she does.

In normal circumstances, it’s unlikely Jack and Sophie would ever cross paths. However, when these two wary, thoroughly engaging characters spend a week together, they discover that appearances can be deceiving. Beneath the trappings of their assigned places in society, they have far more in common than they ever expected, which surprises and delights them both. Their conversation is witty, sensitive and sometimes blunt, slicing deeper than the light comments normally deemed proper between a man and a woman in polite society. Unexpected revelations and confidences allow insights that result in an emotional connection even more powerful than the sexual tension that simmers between them.

WARRIOR WOMAN
There’s a great romance in Linda Howard’s latest novel, The Woman Left Behind, as well as a fascinating evolution as the heroine—sassy, gutsy Jina Modell—finds the strength to transform from office tech geek to elite soldier.

Jina loves her work in communications for a secretive D.C. paramilitary organization. So when she’s tapped to become part of a field team and use her skills to operate a drone on-site, she’s reluctant. Everyone, including the battle-weary, physically hardened team members and their leader, Levi, expects her to fail. Jina hates to sweat, she’s OK with having soft muscles, and she loves sitting in front of the TV. What Jina hates even more, however, is quitting. Much to everyone’s surprise, she not only survives the insanely rigorous physical training but also thrives. Six months later, she’s out in the field with the guys and getting shot at by enemies in riveting, realistic action scenes.

Gaining acceptance by the team takes effort but isn’t nearly as hard as hiding her attraction to Levi. It’s forbidden to fraternize within the team, but Levi feels the same irresistible pull. Both characters are stubborn, brave and scrupulously avoiding any acknowledgment of their feelings. With dialogue that’s often bluntly hilarious, each conversation they share is fraught with underlying sexual tension and rich with growing affection.

SWIPE RIGHT
The heroine in Stefanie London’s Bad Bachelor is the fabulously nonconformist Brooklynite librarian Darcy Greer. She’s obviously passionate about books, but is equally passionate about her tattoos and comfortable Doc Martens. She knows she’s the complete opposite of the glamorous women eligible Manhattan bachelor Reed McMahon dates. Nevertheless, she finds herself equal parts annoyed and drawn to him, even though a notorious dating app has labeled him the worst bachelor in New York City. But each time Darcy starts believing he’s nothing but a coldhearted womanizer, she catches glimpses of a good man beneath his smooth, cynical exterior. Unfortunately for her peace of mind, she can’t avoid Reed because his pro-bono project for the year is her beloved library. She tells herself she has to suck it up and endure his company because the library needs his PR expertise.

Reed finds Darcy’s prickly attitude an unexpected turn-on and thinks her blunt, snarky comments are endlessly amusing. It’s a treat to watch Darcy zap Reed’s man-about-town persona with dry barbs and equally fun to see Reed blast away Darcy’s emotional shields with unabashed flirtation and humor.

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

For readers who love a little intrigue with their historical romances, A Devil of a Duke by Madeline Hunter and Lady Rogue by Theresa Romain are two great contenders for your keeper shelf.

TO CATCH A THIEF
Amanda Waverly has found an unlikely home with Lady Farnsworth. She’s taken up the unlikely position as the noblewoman’s secretary, joining a team of women as they work to publish a lady’s journal, Parnassus. But unbeknownst to the elevated society in which she’s found herself, Amanda left behind a rather scandalous upbringing as the prodigy of two thieves. When her past comes calling, Amanda is worried that her new life is in great jeopardy.

Gabriel St. James is handsome and possibly too nosy for his own good—the man loves a challenge. When he foils a mysterious and rather gorgeous thief’s con, he’s unable to rest until he discovers her true identity. His quest puts Amanda in a precarious position. If Gabriel finds out who she really is, the life she’s built will come crumbling down.

The complex Amanda, who’s been living two very different lives, is the star of the show. She slips back into the role of a thief as though it were a second skin. While she’s incredibly smart and capable, being lured back into her criminal past proves to be bittersweet. The friendships Amanda has formed with the other women working on Parnassus are heartwarming, and readers will come to crave any and all scenes where they’re together.

Gabriel is no pushover and practically oozes with charm. He is clearly used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is to know who exactly his new lover is. But up against Amanda, he may be in over his head. Their romance is sexy, with a fun cat-and-mouse vibe. Readers who can’t resist a heroine who is always one step ahead of the hero will want to read A Devil of a Duke immediately.

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT
Lady Isabel Morrow is in quite a pickle when she discovers that her late husband’s precious artwork collection, much of which has already been sold, was full of forgeries. To complicate matters, Isabel is also responsible for her husband’s young cousin, Lucy. Should these forgeries be discovered, the potential scandal would ruin Lucy’s chances at making a suitable marriage. Isabel’s only recourse is to seek out her former lover and Bow Street Runner, Callum Jenks.

After the death of Isabel’s husband, Callum helped investigate its circumstances. His close contact with the young widow turned into something more, but their fling was short-lived and ended on good terms. Callum never expected to be thrust into Isabel’s life once more. As the son of a grocer, Callum knows he’s playing with fire by being around the well-known woman.

Callum agrees to help Isabel out, as a “friend” of course—he’d hate to see Isabel be scandalized by criminal activities of which she had no prior knowledge. Their best course of action is to replace the fakes with the originals, a monumental task that brings with it a very real sense of danger.

Lady Rogue isn’t your typical heist story. Rather than a cunning thief stealing precious works of art, Isabel is simply trying to restore her husband’s collection and get to the bottom of the forgeries’ origin. Callum obviously still carries a deep affection for Isabel, and the lengths to which he’d go to help her are very sweet. Isabel sees the art as the last tie to her past, and she’s looking for a fresh start. To discover this deception, when she’s so close to shedding all these things that have caused her such grief and an intense emotional burden, is incredibly sad for her. (Let Isabel be happy already!)

While A Devil of a Duke does a better job with the specific aspects of its crime, given the heroine is actually a thief, Lady Rogue has a more engrossing mystery with art forgeries and the strange death of Lady Isabel’s husband. If you love a good, caring beta hero making awkward flirtations around the heroine, Callum is the clear winner. Prefer winsome, silver-tongued rakes? Gabriel is your man! Though you certainly can’t go wrong with reading both books.

Summer days are long and slow, which is why it’s the perfect season for devouring a smart, spicy story that never lets up on the suspense or the chemistry between its characters.

DEADLY CRESCENDO
Julie Ann Walker’s award-winning Black Knights Inc. series comes to a heart-pounding conclusion this summer with Built to Last. Ten years ago, Interpol agent Sonya Butler had a whirlwind of a romance with a hard, mysterious man who left her behind in a tragedy that shook her to her core. Now, coerced into the service of the world’s most dangerous criminal kingpin, she comes face-to-face with a dangerous—and very hot—international legend whose ghosts have a startling amount in common with her own.

As an operative for some of the world’s most elite spy organizations, Angel has changed identities so many times he hardly remembers who he is. All that ever matters to him is his mission, and his drive to save the world. But regardless of how many years go by, he cannot escape the memory of the woman who still holds his heart. He is about to find out how hard it is to love when you have no name.

Walker’s signature style is a deadly, tightly paced combination of romance, intrigue and men on motorcycles. The perilous situations in this book felt so real, I found myself sincerely worried for the safety of the characters as I read. It can be difficult to combine multiple genres in one book, but Walker expertly toes the line between a high-octane spy thriller and an unforgettably steamy romance. Her characters are complex and believable, and readers will truly want to root for them.

If you’re looking for a genuinely unique summer read that will make those long days fly by and keep them endlessly exciting, I suggest you clear your schedule for Built to Last.

BURIED TREASURE
One of the unfortunate pitfalls of the romance genre is that, too often, the leading ladies of our favorite novels begin to blend together. An archetype has emerged: strong, sassy and sweetly unexceptional.

But now and then, a novel joins the ranks of books that have elevated the genre by breaking convention. This summer’s stellar new standout is One for the Rogue by Manda Collins.

Gemma Hastings has devoted her life to her work as a geologist and her friendships with the intellectual young women with whom she shares a home. The one person hampering her career (and her sanity) is Lord Cameron Lisle, who Gemma finds as insufferable as he is attractive. Her ambitions have painted a target on her back, however, and it soon becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to steal Gemma’s latest archeological discoveries. Complicating matters, she finds herself stuck in a sham romance with none other than Cameron himself after an indiscretion.

Lord Cameron would never admit it, but he’s found in Gemma a woman who is more than a match for his intellect as well as his stubbornness. As he grows closer to her, he realizes that he wants nothing more than to take a place in her life, and to keep her safe. Neither will be easy, but for Cameron, Gemma is worth the fight.

Manda Collins is a prolific author of lush, juicy Regency romances. She writes with style and intensity, and creates characters designed to uplift and empower women, which is a rare and valuable treat in today’s media. One for the Rogue stands out for its fierce dedication to developing interesting, engaging and worthwhile characters. Collins’ heroine is no shrinking violet, or even a strong but ordinary girl next door. Gemma is smarter and more passionate than average, and is completely driven by her work and her love and admiration for the women around her. Her suitor also develops more as a character than the typical romance novel hero. Cameron learns to support Gemma’s ambitions as he realizes that they are an integral part of the woman he grows to love.

Romance novels can run the risk of following convention too closely and becoming mundane as a result. For a story that is as sexy as it is empowering, pick up a copy of One for the Rogue.

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

LOVE UNDERCOVER
The suspense is chilling and the romance is hot in Rebecca Zanetti’s Hidden. Former undercover cop Malcolm West needs to recuperate from the mental and physical pain caused by his last assignment, so he moves to a small rural community where the most exciting part of his day is catching a glimpse of his shy, pretty neighbor Pippa. But almost immediately, a secretive government team recruits him to investigate a dangerous cult that the woman next door used to belong to. It’s not clear whether Pippa is in danger or is a danger, but Mal can’t control the attraction he feels for her. It’s mutual, and even though they are slow to trust, Pippa and Mal quickly find themselves in a passionate relationship. The start of a new series, Hidden stars flawed, freshly wounded characters. The ticking-clock plot stretches the nerves, but Zanetti balances this with touches of humor—a dog in high heels!—and the burgeoning bond between lovers in her engrossing, entertaining read.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
A most intriguing romance is found in the pages of Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd. In Victorian England, Eleanor Sheffield continues the family business of appraising art and antiquities. But times are hard—her father has died, her uncle is ailing, an employee seems deceptive, and the man she thought she loved, Harry Lydney, has been in Italy far longer than expected. But Eleanor is determined to earn the trust of her clients and to repair her relationship with Harry when he finally returns from Europe. Told in first person, this standout romance is spiced with fascinating descriptions of treasures and the details of how such items are evaluated. Cameos by real historical characters add another layer of interest. Eleanor is a stalwart heroine who works through the steadily compounding tension as she wrestles with her Christian faith. Readers will root for Eleanor to overcome her difficulties and for Harry and her to find their ultimate reward in each other.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Sandra Byrd about Lady of a Thousand Treasures.

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