Gena Showalter’s paranormal romance Shadow and Ice pulses with exciting and near-unrelenting action. Irreverent heroine Vale London manages to maintain her equilibrium when she suddenly encounters supernatural soldiers engaged in a battle, even as she unwittingly and unwillingly becomes one of the competitors. When she reluctantly partners with immortal warrior Knox of Iviland, their fierce yet unexpected attraction is just another war to wage—and one they end up losing. Superb world building—from the governing body pulling the strings to the special powers of each combatant—fulfills the authorial promise of this high-concept romance. Readers will be enthralled by Showalter’s details and root for her ruthless yet sympathetic characters in this not-to-be-missed adventure.

FINDING FOREVER
Painful pasts stand in the way of future happiness in Recklessly Ever After by Heather Van Fleet. Although their best friends have become lovers, Gavin St. James and McKenna Brewer aren’t particularly comfortable in each other’s company. There’s a sizzling attraction between them, but he’s a forever-type guy, and she’s sworn off believing in a long-term relationship. But the closeness of their friend circle makes it hard to stay apart, and one night they give in, which leads to consequences that can’t be ignored. Along with gratifying glimpses of characters from the previous books in this series, Van Fleet ably explores her characters’ vulnerabilities and flaws in alternating first-person narratives. Gavin and McKenna aren’t perfect, but their imperfections will make readers root for them to overcome their doubts and fears. Frank language and sizzling love scenes make Recklessly Ever After a fast-paced and steamy read.

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
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.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Grace Burrowes about My One and Only Duke.

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

Old-school romance novels can feel like the ultimate guilty pleasure. Where else can we have the fun of being ravaged by a sexy Scotsman or having a notorious pirate take us to bed (or in a carriage, or on horseback or up against a wall . . .)? But so many of the old classics mix erotic delights with the more unsettling elements of racism, sexism and a disturbing tendency to believe that if the scene is steamy enough, the reader won’t mind that the heroine said no and the hero treated it like a yes.

The remedy is found in delicious historical romances such as these three novels. They deliver on all the elements you’d expect: The historical settings are rich and engaging, the drama is fast-paced and exciting, the passion is turbulent and scorchingly hot and the men are strong and sexy (and Scottish, in two out of three—always a nice bonus). But above and beyond that, the heroines are fierce, forthright forces to be reckoned with as they defy conventions and choose their own paths to happiness.

A WOMAN BETRAYED
Athena Trappes, the lovely heroine of Between a Highlander and a Hard Place by Mary Wine, starts worlds away from rugged Scottish laird Symon Grant. We first meet her happily settled in Elizabethan England, on the verge of marriage to a handsome, charming royal courtier. She seems perfectly poised to live very properly ever after. But when her groom-to-be turns villainous and attempts to force Athena into becoming his mistress rather than his bride, her true strength is revealed. Far from swooning into the man’s arms or waiting to be rescued, she sets his house on fire and walks out with her head held high—right up until she’s forced to run for her life to avoid retribution. In a plot that might appeal to a certain bard of that period, Athena safeguards her passage by disguising herself as a boy. And this successfully protects her, until her true nature is discovered by Symon.

He’s the polar opposite of the man she’d once planned to marry—Scottish rather than British; rough-edged rather than manicured; plainspoken rather than full of empty compliments. But most of all, he’s honorable and generous rather than deceitful and cruel. He falls for Athena in an instant, but he challenges her to make her own decisions, to embrace her passion, and to choose a life with him. It’s not an easy journey for Athena, and more than once she finds herself held against her will and viewed as a commodity by ruthless men, yet through it all, she maintains her spirit and strength, and even finds the courage to love the gorgeous highlander who offers her his home and his heart.

A WOMAN ABANDONED
A loving home is exactly what the orphaned heroine lacks in Julia London’s Seduced by a Scot. Taken in—with reluctance—by a friend of her father’s in 18th-century Scotland, Maura Darby is treated with cold indifference when she’s a child. But that’s far better than the outright contempt she receives as she grows into a beautiful woman and attracts too much male attention away from Sorcha, the daughter of the house. When Sorcha’s betrothed forces a kiss on Maura—a kiss for which Maura is blamed, of course—both Sorcha and her mother insist Maura must leave, at once. But where exactly is a woman with no resources meant to go? And how can the family that raised her be rid of her without generating speculation? Clearly, the only solution is to call in Nichol Bain, the capable and clever “fixer” for the upper class. At the start, he’s so confident in his abilities that he’s actually disappointed to be given such an “easy” problem. Foolish, foolish man—he has no idea what he’s in for with Maura!

It doesn’t take long before he realizes that this is not a woman who will submit to having her life arranged without having her say—at full volume. Half of the fun of the story is seeing how thoroughly Maura ruffles Nichol, shaking him out of his comfort zone and pushing him to live his life to the upmost as she strives to do the same. This is a man who believes he has all the answers, but it isn’t until Maura enters his life that he starts asking the right questions—such as what a person might be willing to sacrifice for a true and lasting love.

A WOMAN ABUSED
Compared to these other adventures, the setting of Barbarous might seem almost staid by contrast. Our Regency-era heroine—Daphne Redvers, widow to the Earl of Davenport—is a bookish, bespectacled matron living quietly with her children on her late husband’s country estate. But she shows her grit right from the start when she breaks a man’s nose on the first page! The man in question—her evil cousin, Malcolm—spends most of the book stubbornly insisting he can overpower and intimidate her while she spends the book proving him wrong, with the assistance, of course, of the exceptionally dashing hero. Hugh Redvers is, technically, Daphne’s nephew-in-law—officially titled Baron Ramsay and standing next in line to become earl before Daphne’s sons were born. He’s also a pirate, both feared and revered on the high seas as One-Eyed Standish. (Yes, he has an eye patch. And a parrot. And a monkey.) He left his aristocratic family behind decades earlier, content to let them think he was dead while he pursued his own adventures, but when he receives word that Daphne might be in danger, he comes home to help—and is stunned to find himself in danger of losing his heart for the first time.

As with Dangerous, the first title in Minerva Spencer’s Outcasts series, the story brims with all the swashbuckling excitement anyone could ask for, mixed with high-society hijinks all wrapped around a blazingly hot love story. But this book also has the most poignant departure from the old romance model. Daphne is a mother to twin boys who are the result of sexual assault—something she grapples with over the course of the story. Healing comes with time, and with the shock of finding true understanding from Hugh who, following a capture at sea, spent time as a sultan’s slave. When he comforts her, he does it as someone with intimate knowledge of how it feels to be stripped of bodily autonomy; to be used with no concern for consent. It makes their conscious choice to be together—to share themselves and enjoy each other freely—all the sweeter.

What better time than the holidays to set aside a little “me time” with a good book? Romances are always good for your heart, but if you want some added adrenaline, try one of these suspenseful romances.

SCAPEGOAT
Jannine Gallant kicks off the appetizer course with Hidden Secrets, the third installment of her Siren Cove series. This cozy mystery is as comfortable as the lifelong friendship between restaurateur Quentin Radcliff and antiques shop owner Paige Shephard. It starts off with a simmer, after Quentin moves back home to open his latest restaurant, and kisses Paige on a whim. The slow burn kicks in when they decide to push the boundaries of their relationship and take a chance on love. After all, they’ve loved each other forever—they have to decide if they “can figure out how to be in love.”

But sometimes love isn’t the only answer, particularly when it’s been in front of you for a lifetime. Love and attraction and chemistry are the easy parts—trust is the challenge. Quentin’s last two girlfriends have turned up dead or missing, and he’s the scapegoat. Were it not for Paige’s unwavering trust in him, the investigation might not have turned its attention to an old, unsolved crime. And when Paige attracts the killer’s attention through her most recent antiques acquisition, she comes between him and the cover-up that’s been going on for years.

GUILTY CONSCIENCE
Marie Force is 13 books into her Fatal series and doesn’t see herself slowing down any time soon, thank goodness. Her most recent installment, Fatal Invasion, is a meaty main course, full of love and heartbreak, insider trading and organized crime, and a race to the finish line that’ll leave you breathless.

Fans of “it couple” police Lieutenant Sam Holland and Vice President Nick Cappuano will rejoice. They’re back and as likable as ever. One of the best hallmarks of this series is that although Sam is involved in every book of the series, each installment focuses on a different member of her investigative team. Invasion focuses on Sergeant Tommy “Gonzo” Gonzales, and his battle with an opioid addiction caused by debilitating guilt over the death of his partner nine months ago. Like most functional addicts, Gonzo is able to mask his illness from his fiancé and his colleagues. But hiding the truth and living with his addiction is bleeding over into every facet of his life. His police work is failing, his love life is failing, and his will to care is failing. So on top of the team’s main investigation—the murder of a wealthy couple whose two young children come to live with Sam and Nick—they have to circle the wagons to help one of their own heal. This is an excellent series that hits every emotional, psychological and romantic note.

The holidays are a time to celebrate the future and to think back on the past. What more delicious way to honor the Ghost of Christmas Past than with a trio of romances set in days gone by?

RENOVATION ROMANCE
It takes a strong woman to hold on to what belongs to her. No one knows this better than Thomasina Thorne, steward of Enderley and heroine of A Duke Changes Everything, the latest title from Christy Carlyle. Miss Thorne has a comfortable life at the estate she loves—unless a certain handsome scoundrel can snatch it away from her.

Mina Thorne is proud of the role she’s played as protector and caretaker of her beloved Enderley estate. However, in the eyes of the men around her, Mina’s bravery and discipline count for nothing given her gender. So when she receives word that the new Duke of Tremayne is coming to take over the estate, signaling her imminent dismissal, she is bound and determined to keep things the way they always have been, with her trusted staff close to her and the duke far away. Unfortunately, the newly christened Tremayne may find a way to get closer than Mina ever imagined.

In truth, the new duke, Nicholas Lyon, isn’t any happier with his new post than Mina is. All Nick really wants is to run his already-successful gentlemen’s club and see it grow. He’d also like to keep his past where it belongs, in the past. But when his brother dies and burdens him with a dukedom he never wanted, Nick’s demons aren’t the only surprise waiting for him at Enderley. Entering Mina’s home means surrendering to her world. When all is said and done, it may not be his only surrender.

Christy Carlyle, it seems, was born to write historical romance. In a former life, she studied and taught history herself, and professes that she’s happiest when imagining the worlds of her stories. She pens lush, delicious stories about love amongst the Victorians, and Nick and Mina are a stunning pair. Writing strong characters comes with the risk of making them too strong and ending up with one character being off balance. Not so in A Duke Changes Everything. Nick and Mina hold their own when they must, but they bend, too. Mina treats Nick’s painful family memories with compassion and understanding, and Nick strives always to be Mina’s equal, never dominating or submitting to her strong personality more than he should.

Think you know every story Victorian romance has to offer? Pick up A Duke Changes Everything this winter. I promise, you’ll never be happier to be wrong.

AN ACCIDENTAL KIDNAPPING
At first glance, being kidnapped by pirates does not exactly sound like a dream come true. In fact, for Poppy Bridgerton—the brash, beautiful captive in question—it is a nightmare. Can she survive two weeks aboard a ship sailing far from home? For another matter, can she manage not to strangle the handsome, infuriating ship’s captain who kidnapped her?

Poppy, the heroine of Julia Quinn’s newest novel The Other Miss Bridgerton, is headstrong, sharp-tongued and trapped aboard a privateer’s ship after wandering into the wrong cave during an afternoon walk. She misses her family, there is constant bickering between herself and the captain, the voyage itself is dangerous and the goal is high-stakes. Will Poppy ever see her home again?

Captain Andrew James Rokesby, is, if possible, in an even worse predicament than his beautiful prisoner. For starters, she is a Bridgerton, daughter of a high and prestigious family (not to mention a family his own noble house is closely connected to). Add to this that he must now bring her home safely from a secret mission he’s not even sure that he’ll survive, and it’s a (ship) wreck of a situation. Besides, he’s not sure why, but he is more and more drawn to Poppy by the day.

Julia Quinn’s novels are a staple of the historical romance genre. She has written dozens of lush, heart-warming stories, all with her unique brand of humor and whip-smart writing. It’s appropriate, seeing as how Quinn’s mission as an author is to prove that smart women can both read and write romance—a philosophy that’s evident in every quip and tightly paced chapter.

Speaking of smart women, Poppy is an utter delight. She is witty, headstrong (not simply in a cute, rescue-me sort of way), and fiercely protective of the weak around her and her loved ones. Andrew falls for her exactly as she is, flaws and all, and it’s clear that their relationship is built on mutual admiration rather than simply desire. However, do you want some sexual tension? Julia Quinn will give you tension. It’s a relationship as thoughtfully crafted as the book’s impeccable plot and pacing. If winter has you longing for warm days at the beach, immerse yourself in The Other Miss Bridgerton for the most delicious pirate (er, privateer) story on the shelves.

AN AMERICAN IN LONDON
What do you get when you combine a happily single young heiress, her handsome partner-in-matchmaking and a duke with the absolute worst intentions? Well, this winter you get The Girl with the Sweetest Secret, Betina Krahn’s newest romance.

Frankie Bumgarten has had it with the men of London. As a sensible American girl, Frankie loathes the idea of marrying a stuck-up nobleman, much to the dismay of her mother. She’ll settle for finding her younger sister a match, with the help of a young English nobleman known as the Fox. Soon, however, Frankie finds herself caught between her growing attraction to the Fox and the attention of an ominous foreign duke who’ll do anything to have her. There’s more to her dilemma than meets the eye, and she’s determined to find out exactly what.

Reynard Boulton earned the nickname “the Fox” because of his sharp mind, talent for collecting secrets and shady dealings in the underworld of London. Reynard has sworn to his best friend that he will protect the Bumgarten girls, and that means keeping Frankie out of the grasping hands of a certain Prussian duke. Although he swears indifference to eligible young women and their charms, he must admit that Frankie’s strong will and stunning beauty have begun to catch his eye.

The words you could use to describe Krahn’s books are the same words you would use to talk about a sunbeam. Her stories glow with charm, sweetness and warmth. It should also be noted that the bright quality of her stories never comes at the expense of their excitement, suspense and rich characters. She continues to rise above the rest of her genre (historical and otherwise) with the sparkling, optimistic novels we all deserve.

There’s nothing I love better than a fabulous romance that has more on its mind than just the central relationship. Those that deliver a sumptuous love story alongside real suspense and intrigue are the pride and joy of their genre. And oh boy, does this one deliver. Sweetest Secret gives readers true villains, complex issues to solve and two lead characters who really do keep you wondering if they will ever manage to end up together. It’s a richly dimensional story that will, I’m sure, stand the test of time.

As Christmas approaches, it’s good to take a break from the hustle and the grey skies that surround our favorite holiday. You’ll find no better shelter than the pages of The Girl with the Sweetest Secret.

ALSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Christy Carlyle about A Duke Changes Everything.

There’s something so delectable about a really juicy secret. The right kind of mystery or surprise hits a story like an earthquake, rattling things off the shelves and leaving everyone scrambling for stable footing. A secret can bring a story to life, lighting a fire under the characters and forcing them to decide what they truly value and how far they’ll go to protect themselves and their loved ones.

A HOUSE OF SCANDAL
Thomas Powell, heir to the Duke of Northfield and hero of Eva Leigh’s Dare to Love a Duke, is rich, handsome, capable, privileged, spoiled, dissolute and so bored with it all that the reader half expects him to run off to join the circus just to do something new. He believes he’s seen it all, until a friend takes him to a masked, equal opportunity sex club straight out of Eyes Wide Shut. Yet even when he’s surrounded by carnality in every imaginable combination, the only person to catch his eye is the beautiful and mysterious manager of the Orchid Club, Lucia Marini. Thomas’ pursuit of her is halted when his father unexpectedly dies, leaving him the title, the estate, a heavy load of responsibilities on his shoulders—and the absolutely stunning discovery that his staid, conservative father was the owner of the Orchid Club.

The club scenes are so sensually described by Leigh that they might have overshadowed the main plot if the characters were any less engaging and dynamic than Lucia and Tom. As it is, the wanton adventurousness of the club can’t hold a candle to the heat and tension that sparks between our hero and heroine, whether they’re dressed or not. The same passion they bring to the bedroom is reflected in all the aspects of their lives, as Tom grapples with how to balance his conscience and his sense of duty, and Lucia struggles to build a legacy she can be proud of in spite of a troubled past. Their road to happily ever after isn’t smooth or easy (where would be the fun in that?), but it leads to a fun and quite satisfying ride.

A HIDDEN PAST
By contrast, the heroine in Elizabeth Hoyt’s Not the Duke’s Darling seems like a perfectly respectable lady’s companion—as long as you aren’t aware of the spy work Freya de Moray secretly performs for the order of Wise Women, or the dark scandal in her past. But all her secrets risk exposure during at a house party where she’s targeted by witch hunters and in turn forced to interact with the man she blames for destroying her family. When Freya recognizes Christopher Renshaw, the Duke of Harlowe, she vows that she won’t waste this opportunity for revenge. The chemistry flaring between them is just the fiery passion of her hatred, right? Surely, it couldn’t be anything else . . .

There are so many secrets and scandals in this story that what I’ve written so far barely scratches the surface. (Are you looking for a neighbor who might be hiding matrimonial murder? This book has it. How about a secret affair with compromising letters leading to blackmail? Yep, they’re here, too.) There’s never a dull moment in Not the Duke’s Darling, and many of the truths revealed are genuinely shocking. But the biggest surprise may be how naturally the relationship between the characters grows from animosity, to attraction, to compassion, to respect. Falling in love with the “enemy” can be a hard sell, but Hoyt masters it beautifully. Most interestingly, the biggest obstacle between the two ends up being the future, rather than the past. In a period when wives were treated as not-very-bright pets rather than partners, Freya has trouble imagining giving up her independence. It takes a leap of faith to realize that Christopher truly sees her the way she wants to be seen, and intends to build a life with her as equals. Talk about shocking!